Specifications

Section 9 Summary of Coordination and Environmental Compliance
EAA Storage Reservoirs Revised Draft PIR and EIS February 2006
9-13
9.6.13 Farmland Protection Policy Act of 1981
This project has been coordinated with the Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS) in accordance with the Act. The determination that unique
farmland would be taken out of production by implementation of this project has
been made by the NRCS in a letter dated May 6, 2005. Coordination with the
NRCS is in progress.
9.6.14 E.O. 11988, Flood Plain Management
The project has been evaluated in accordance with this Executive
Order. This project is in compliance.
9.6.15 E.O. 11990, Protection of Wetlands
Wetlands of marginal quality on-site will be eliminated with the construction of
reservoir. However, the reservoir design will include wetland features, such as a
vegetated habitat buffer, littoral shelves, and deep-water refugia. In addition,
the STA feature will provide additional wetland habitat. Justification for the
benefits to wetlands in the region of the project verses the removal of on-site
wetlands is documented in several sections of the PIR dealing with the analysis
of benefits to the region should the EAA Reservoir is built and functional. The
philosophy of CERP is that the individual components, or projects, of CERP to
restore Everglades’ wetland function and habitat compensate for the loss of on-
site wetlands. The fresh water wetlands within project lands are degraded and
provide minimal functional habitat for fish and wildlife. The loss of function
resulting from constructing a reservoir at this location would be offset by
improvements to fish and wildlife habitat in the Lake Okeechobee, WCA-2 and
3, and the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee Estuaries. Additional features, such as
deep water refugia, littoral shelves, and the ecological buffer zone are meant to
provide opportunities for fish and wildlife utilization and replace areas of
functional wetlands. Overall, the storage reservoir is anticipated to benefit the
adjacent wetland systems. This project is in compliance with the goals of this
Executive Order.
9.6.16 E.O. 12898, Environmental Justice
Executive Order 12898 requires the Federal Government to achieve
environmental justice by identifying and addressing disproportionately high
adverse effects of its activities on minority or low-income populations, and by
involving potentially affected minorities in the public coordination process. This
project would not result in adverse human health or environmental effects. An