View all text of Subchapter LIV [§ 410 - § 410r-9]
§ 410r–8. Modification of certain water projects
(a) Improved water deliveries
(1) Upon completion of a final report by the Chief of the Army Corps of Engineers, the Secretary of the Army, in consultation with the Secretary, is authorized and directed to construct modifications to the Central and Southern Florida Project to improve water deliveries into the park and shall, to the extent practicable, take steps to restore the natural hydrological conditions within the park.
(2) Such modifications shall be based upon the findings of the Secretary’s experimental program authorized in section 1302 of the 1984 Supplemental Appropriations Act (97 Stat. 1292) and generally as set forth in a General Design Memorandum to be prepared by the Jacksonville District entitled “Modified Water Deliveries to Everglades National Park”. The Draft of such Memorandum and the Final Memorandum, as prepared by the Jacksonville District, shall be submitted as promptly as practicable to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the United States Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Public Works and Transportation of the United States House of Representatives.
(3) Construction of project modifications authorized in this subsection and flood protection systems authorized in subsections (c) and (d) are justified by the environmental benefits to be derived by the Everglades ecosystem in general and by the park in particular and shall not require further economic justification.
(4) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the operation of project facilities to achieve their design objectives, as set forth in the Congressional authorization and any modifications thereof.
(b) Determination of adverse effect
(1) Upon completion of the Final Memorandum referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Army, in consultation with the South Florida Water Management District, shall make a determination as to whether the residential area within the East Everglades known as the “Eight and One-Half Square Mile Area” or adjacent agricultural areas, all as generally depicted on the map referred to in section 410r–6(a) of this title, will be adversely affected by project modifications authorized in subsection (a).
(2) In determining whether adjacent agricultural areas will be adversely affected, the Secretary of the Army shall consider the impact of any flood protection system proposed to be implemented pursuant to subsection (c) on such agricultural areas.
(c) Flood protection; Eight and One-Half Square Mile Area
(d) Flood protection; adjacent agricultural area
(1) If the Secretary of the Army determines pursuant to subsection (b) that an adjacent agricultural area will be adversely affected, the Secretary of the Army is authorized and directed to construct a flood protection system for such area. Such determination shall be based on a finding by the Secretary of the Army that:
(A) the adverse effect will be attributable solely to a project modification authorized in subsection (a) or to a flood protection system implemented pursuant to subsection (c), or both; and
(B) such modification or flood protection system will result in a substantial reduction in the economic utility of such area based on its present agricultural use.
(2) No project modification authorized in subsection (a) which the Secretary of the Army determines will cause an adverse effect pursuant to subsection (b) shall be made operational until the Secretary of the Army has implemented measures to prevent such adverse effect on the adjacent agricultural area: Provided, That the Secretary of the Army or the South Florida Water Management District may operate the modification to the extent that the Secretary of the Army determines that such operation will not adversely affect the adjacent agricultural area: Provided further, That any preventive measure shall be implemented in a manner that presents the least prospect of harm to the natural resources of the park.
(3) Any flood protection system implemented by the Secretary of the Army pursuant to this subsection shall be required only to provide for flood protection for present agricultural uses within such adjacent agricultural area.
(4) The acquisition of land authorized in section 410r–6 of this title shall not be considered a project modification.
(e) Periodic review
(1) Not later than 18 months after the completion of the project modifications authorized in subsection (a), and periodically thereafter, the Secretary of the Army shall review the determination of adverse effect for adjacent agricultural areas.
(2) In conducting such review, the Secretary of the Army shall consult with all affected parties, including, but not limited to, the Secretary, the South Florida Water Management District and agricultural users within adjacent agricultural areas.
(3) If, on the basis of such review, the Secretary of the Army determines that an adjacent agricultural area has been, or will be adversely affected, the Secretary of the Army is authorized and directed, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d), to construct a flood protection system for such area: Provided, That the provisions of subsection (d)(2) shall be applicable only to the extent that the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Army, determines that the park will not be adversely affected.
(4) The provisions of this subsection shall only be applicable if the Secretary of the Army has previously made a determination that such adjacent agricultural area will not be adversely affected.
(f) Current canal operating levels
(g) No limitation on other claims
(h) Coordination
(i) West Dade Wellfield
(j) Protection of natural values
(k) Acquisition of additional lands
(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of sections 410r–5 to 410r–8 of this title, the Secretary is authorized to use funds appropriated pursuant to sections 410r–5 to 410r–8 of this title, including any available funds appropriated to the National Park Service for construction in the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Acts for fiscal years 1991 through 1994 for project modifications by the Army Corps of Engineers, in such amounts as determined by the Secretary, to provide Federal assistance to the State of Florida (including political subdivisions of the State) for acquisition of lands described in paragraph (4).
(2) With respect to any lands acquired pursuant to this subsection, the Secretary may provide not more than 25 percent of the total cost of such acquisition.
(3) All funds made available pursuant to this subsection shall be transferred to the State of Florida or a political subdivision of the State, subject to an agreement that any lands acquired with such funds will be managed in perpetuity for the restoration of natural flows to the park or Florida Bay.
(4) The lands referred to in paragraph (1) are those lands or interests therein adjacent to, or affecting the restoration of natural water flows to, the park or Florida Bay which are located east of the park and known as the Frog Pond, Rocky Glades Agricultural Area, and the Eight-and-One-Half Square-Mile Area.
(Pub. L. 101–229, title I, § 104, Dec. 13, 1989, 103 Stat. 1949; Pub. L. 103–219, Mar. 9, 1994, 108 Stat. 98; Pub. L. 103–437, § 6(d)(9), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4584.)