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INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA BOARD MEMORANDUM TO: Joseph A. Baird, County Administrator THROUGH: Christopher R. Mora, P.E., Public Works Director THROUGH: Richard B. Szpyrka, P.E., Assistant Public Works Director® FROM: James D. Gray, Jr., Coastal Engineer P SUBJECT: UPDATE - USACE proposed plan to dredge and relocate bulk ocean sand from Martin and St. Lucie Counties to Miami -Dade County DATE: May 2, 2016 BACKGROUND In 2012, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) initiated the Southeast Florida Sediment Assessment and Needs Determination (SAND) study to identify and quantify offshore sources of sand to support Federal and non -Federal beach nourishment projects until the year 2062. The SAND study concluded that among St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, and Miami -Dade Counties, a volume of beach compatible sand in excess of 100 million cubic yards is available in Federal waters offshore (3 nautical miles or more) of Southeast Florida. Relative to St. Lucie and Martin Counties, approximately 5.2 million cubic yards of sand was identified in the SAND study. In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the USACE Jacksonville District prepared a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) to evaluate potential environmental impacts, including but not limited to, the dredging and relocating of bulk ocean sand from Martin and St. Lucie Counties to Miami -Dade County. Although the USACE Jacksonville District, pursuant to the NEPA process, received several comments, including opposing Resolutions from all the Counties along the Treasure Coast, expressing concerns with the USACE proposal to dredge and relocate sand from offshore of St. Lucie and Martin, a Findings of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was issued on March 8, 2016 by Jason A. Kirk, Colonel USACE Jacksonville District. F:\Public Works\JamesG\Sand Wars\Sand Update -- Agenda Item 5-10-16.docx 130