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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br /> Bob Solari , <br /> Wesley S. Davis <br /> Chainnan � C,o District 1 <br /> District 5 G <br /> Tim Zorc <br /> Joseph E. Flescher <br /> District 3 <br /> Vice Chainnan <br /> District 2 OR Peter D. O'Bryan <br /> District 4 <br /> June 9, 2016 <br /> Representative Lois Frankel <br /> 1037 Longworth House Office Building <br /> Washington, DC 20515 <br /> Dear Representative Frankel, <br /> Thank you very much for your ongoing work to amend federal law to permit the U.S <br /> Army Corps of Engineers (the "USACE") to consider and use non-domestic sand during <br /> federal beach nourishment projects. We support your efforts and urge you to continue <br /> your work as the Water Resources Development Act moves to House floor. <br /> As you know, all local domestic offshore sand resources near Miami-Dade and Broward <br /> counties in southeast Florida have been exhausted by past beach nourishment <br /> projects. Despite the fact that large quantities of sand are available approximately 60 <br /> miles east of Miami Beach along the Great Bahama Ban, the USACE lacks the <br /> authority to acquire non-domestic sand sources per Section 935 of the Water <br /> Resources Development Act of 1986 ("WRDA 1986"). Rather, WRDA 1986 restricts the <br /> USACE to use available domestic sand resources. According to the most recent study <br /> conducted by the USACE, the closest available domestic sand resources are located <br /> approximately 130 miles to the north of Miami-Dade County offshore of St. Lucie and <br /> Martin counties. The Indian River County Board of County Commissioners opposes the <br /> dredging and removal of bulk ocean sand from Martin and St. Lucie counties to benefit <br /> Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Indian River County is also concerned that its <br /> offshore sand resources will be targeted once the resources near Martin and St. Lucie <br /> counties are depleted. <br /> Your efforts would simply create options. The amendment does not mandate whether <br /> domestic or non-domestic sand should be used but rather would allow the USACE to <br /> use non-domestic sand if the USACE determines it is practical. Moreover, this could <br /> offer savings to the federal government and local sponsors due to lower transportation <br /> costs. <br /> 1801 2711, Street, Building A <br /> Vero Beach, FL 32960 <br /> (772) 226-1490 <br /> 112 <br />