FLORIDA KEYS CARRYING CAPACITY STUDY U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Florida Department of Community Affairs and Monroe County, Florida have initiated the Florida Keys Carrying Capacity Study. The Project Cooperation Agreement between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Florida Department of Community Affairs was signed on 18 December 1998. The Florida Keys Carrying Capacity Study is one of the Federal critical projects authorized by Section 528 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 and is required by Florida Administration Commission Rule 28-20.100. The carrying capacity analysis shall be designed to determine the ability of the Florida Keys ecosystem, and the various segments thereof, to withstand all impacts of additional land development activities. The carrying capacity analysis shall consider aesthetic, socioeconomic (including sustainable tourism), hurricane evacuation, quality of life and community character issues, including the concentration of population, the amount of open space, diversity of habitats, and species richness. The analysis shall reflect the interconnected nature of the Florida Keys' natural systems, but may consider and analyze the carrying capacity of specific islands or groups of islands and specific ecosystems or habitats, including distinct parts of the Keys' marine system. The public may visit the Florida Keys Carrying Capacity Study website at http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/projects/proj4.htm to view additional information, including a conceptual scope of work for the study and technical workshop dates. Solicitation for A-E Services will be advertised in the CBD under Solicitation DACW17-99-R-0019 on or about March 15, 1999. NOTE: Contracting information for the Jacksonville District is now available at our web site: http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/. WEB: Click here to view further information and bidders, http://www.saj.usace.usace.army.mil. E-MAIL: Click here to contact the Contract Specialist, kathleen.b.duke@usace.army.mil). Posted 03/11/99 (W-SN307269).

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