LOSOM Project Delivery Team meeting scheduled
UPDATE: Due to Tropical Storm Elsa, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Jacksonville District postponed the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual Project Delivery Team Meeting set for today, July 7. It will now take place on July 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is for the PDT agencies to provide their recommendation on which Iteration 2 alternative should be carried forward as the preferred alternative.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Jacksonville District announced a Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM) Project Delivery Team (PDT) meeting for today, July 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“The purpose of the July 7 Project Delivery Team Meeting is for the PDT agencies to provide their recommendation on which Iteration 2 alternative should be carried forward as the preferred alternative,” LOSOM Project Manager Tim Gysan said. “Each PDT agency will be provided time to speak. A single agency representative should provide the recommendation. A short presentation on why the alternative is preferred is welcome, but not required.”
“Our schedule has us providing the preliminary preferred lake schedule alternative for stakeholders to consider as of July 19, and the final preferred lake schedule alternative on Aug. 4,” he said. “It’s really important for everyone to understand that we will be counting on the PDT and public to continue to be fully engaged after Aug. 4, as we begin development of the operational guidance that accompanies the schedule.”
“The PDT will help us with optimization of the preferred alternative and help us to write the guidance which provides additional detail to help decision-making and enhances the flexibility of the schedule,” Gysan said. “The schedule and guidance together make the operating plan that we will document in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Water Control Plan. The process of optimization and developing the operational guidance will continue through Oct. 14.”
“The release of the draft EIS for public comment is scheduled for February, the release of a final EIS by July of 2022, and a Record of Decision in November of 2022, so that we have the best possible plan ready to implement as soon as the Herbert Hoover Dike Rehabilitation is complete at the end of 2022,” he said.
PDT members include only the federal officials and elected officers of state, local or tribal governments or their designated employees with authority to act on their behalf acting in their official capacities.
Members of the public are welcome to attend the government agency PDT meeting and provide comment during the designated Public Comment periods. Log into the Webinar first and have it call your phone in order to avoid background noise so all participants can hear the discussion clearly.
Mute your phone and mute your computer upon joining the meeting. All lines except those who are scheduled to speak will be muted during the meeting.
LOSOM PDT meeting — PDT Member Identification of Preferred Iteration 2 Alternative
July 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
https://usace1.webex.com/meet/earl.t.gysan
Call-in toll-free number: 844-800-2712
Call-in number: 669-234-1177
Access Code: 1997788788
Attendees are asked to announce themselves when they join the meeting by signing in via the chat function with full name and affiliation, as well as either “PDT” for Project Delivery Team members or “Public” for members of the public.
There will be opportunities for public comment. Those who would like to provide comment are asked to wait until the public comment period is announced to add their name to the chat to do so. When announced, provide full name and affiliation again via the chat to reserve the opportunity to comment.
Comments can also be submitted to LakeOComments@usace.army.mil, using the recommended subject line of “LOSOM PDT Meeting Comments.”
Additional information is available at www.saj.usace.army.mil/LOSOM/.