DRAFT
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
PALM BEACH COUNTY
SHOOTING SPORTS PARK
PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA
Prepared by:
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Proj.# 14023.01
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
NOVEMBER 2015
DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
PALM BEACH SHOOTING SPORTS COMPLEX
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 PURPOSE, NEED, AND SCOPE ............................................................................................1
1.1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 PROJECT BACKGROUND.......................................................................................................... 1
1.3 NEED AND PURPOSE ............................................................................................................... 2
2.0 PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES ...........................................................................3
2.1 PROPOSED ACTION ................................................................................................................. 3
2.2 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED BUT DISMISSED ........................................................................ 3
2.3 NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE ....................................................................................................... 3
3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................................4
3.1 DESCRIPTION .......................................................................................................................... 4
3.2 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ....................................................................................................... 4
3.3 UPLAND ECOSYSTEM .............................................................................................................. 5
3.4 WETLAND ECOSYSTEM ........................................................................................................... 6
3.4.1 SOILS ................................................................................................................................ 8
3.5 BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT................................................................................................... 9
3.5.1 VEGETATION .................................................................................................................... 9
3.5.2 LISTED SPECIES. ................................................................................................................ 9
3.6 LAND USE .............................................................................................................................. 11
3.7 CULTURAL/HISTORIC RESOURCES ........................................................................................ 11
3.8 SOUND .................................................................................................................................. 11
3.9 RECREATION ......................................................................................................................... 12
3.10 SAFETY ................................................................................................................................ 12
3.11 SOCIOECONOMIC CONDITIONS .......................................................................................... 12
3.11.1 PALM BEACH COUNTY ................................................................................................. 12
3.11.2 GEOGRAPHY................................................................................................................. 12
3.11.3 NATURAL AREAS .......................................................................................................... 12
3.11.4 ECONOMY. ................................................................................................................... 13
3.11.5 COMMUNITIES ............................................................................................................. 13
4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES .................................................................................14
4.1 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ..................................................................................................... 14
4.1.1 WETLANDS UPLANDS AND OPEN SURFACE WATERS .................................................... 14
4.1.2 SOILS .............................................................................................................................. 14
4.1.3 TOPOGRAPHY ................................................................................................................ 15
4.1.4 WATER RESOURCES ....................................................................................................... 15
4.1.5 WETLANDS/WATERS OF THE U.S. .................................................................................. 16
4.2 BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................................ 16
4.2.1 PROTECTED TREES/UPLAND PRESERVATION ................................................................ 16
4.2.2 VEGETATION .................................................................................................................. 16
4.3 LISTED SPECIES...................................................................................................................... 17
4.3.1 FEDERAL THREATENED, ENDANGERED AND PROTECTED SPECIES................................ 17
4.3.2 STATE THREATENED, ENDANGERED AND SPECIES OF SPECIAL CONCERN .................... 18
4.4 LAND USE .............................................................................................................................. 18
4.5 CULTURAL/HISTORIC RESOURCES ........................................................................................ 18
4.6 SOUND .................................................................................................................................. 19
4.7 RECREATION ......................................................................................................................... 19
4.8 SAFETY .................................................................................................................................. 19
4.9 SOCIOECONOMIC CONDITIONS ............................................................................................ 19
5.0 MITIGATION ...................................................................................................................20
6.0 FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................21
7.0 INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM, CONTRIBUTORS, AND AGENCIES CONSULTED ........................ 22
8.0 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PROCESS .....................................................................................23
9.0 WORKS CITED .................................................................................................................24
TABLES
TABLE 3.1 – POTENTIAL FEDERAL AND STATE LISTED SPECIES.................................................... 10
FIGURES
FIGURE 1.0 – SOUND STUDY AERIAL PHOTO OF ENVIRONS- G14
FIGURE 1.0 – VICINITY MAP AND AIRPORT BUFFERS – G15
FIGURE 2.0 – LOCATION SITE PLAN – FR-01
ATTACHMENTS
ATTACHMENT A – SITE PLANS AND PHOTOGRAPHS
A1 – SOIL SURVEY
A2 – FLUCCS MAP
A3 – WETLANDS
A4 – PHOTOGRAPHS
ATTACHMENT B – ALTERNATE SITES ASSESSMENT ANALYSIS
B1 – SETION 16 CORBETT WMA
B2 – N.E CORNER JW CORBETT WMA
B3 – PRATT WHITNEY COMPLEX
B4 – 20 MILE BEND COMPLEX
ATTACHMENT C – FLORIDA MASTER SITE FILE RESULTS
ATTACHMENT D - ACOUSTIC MEASUREMENT REPORT
APPENDICES
APPENDIX A – BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP OF FLORIDA
SHOOTING RANGES
DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
PALM BEACH COUNTY SHOOTING SPORTS PARK
1.0 PURPOSE, NEED, AND SCOPE
1.1 Introduction
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) proposes to construct and operate a
shooting sports complex adjacent to the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area located in Palm Beach
County, Florida. The project is being constructed in-part utilizing funds obtained through the Wildlife
Restoration Act, commonly known as the Pittman-Robertson Act of 1937 as administered through the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). One of the purposes of this Act is to provide for the education of hunters
and development of shooting ranges. The Shooting Sports Park will include pistol and rifle ranges, a
sporting clays course, a trap line, skeet fields and other support buildings and infrastructure. The proposed
shooting sports complex is intended to serve as a facility that will provide Hunter Education to the public
pursuant to State requirements.
The USFWS has prepared this Environmental Assessment (EA) in compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), regulations issued by the President’s Council on Environmental
Quality (CEQ), and applicable Federal and State laws, regulation and guidance. This EA analyzes the
potential environmental impacts of the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative. In addition,
alternatives considered and dismissed are also provided. The information provided in this EA supports a
Finding of No Significant Impact and is the basis for decision-makers and the public to make an informed
determination on the environmental consequences of the Proposed Action and alternatives.
1.2 Project Background
The proposed Palm Beach County Shooting Sports Park (PBCSSP) is to be located on FWC lands adjacent
to the entrance of the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area. The promise to build a public shooting
sports park in this area dates back to the 1970’s when Palm Beach County (County) closed the public
shooting range on the east side of I-95 to build a school. At that time the County promised the public to
build another facility west of I-95. Since then, the County allows public use of the sheriff’s office range for
rifle shooting for approximately 33 days a year; however, those desiring a public shooting range have never
acknowledged the promise to rebuild a public shooting sports facility in Palm Beach County has been
fulfilled. The FWC has always had a desire for a shooting sports complex in Palm Beach County in order
to support the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area and to bolster hunter safety training and related
educational programming in the area. On January 5, 2005 the FWC met with County staff to discuss
partnering together on this project. During this initial meeting both agencies brought an inventory of state
and county owned lands to review potential sites. These potential sites were evaluated using standard
filters for environmental impact, safety, sound and accessibility. There were site visits to analyze the
prospective lands within the County. During these analyses, it was determined that the site known as
Mecca Farms was the preferred site; however, at that time the County had invested over $100 million dollars
in this property to be used as a commercial development site. Hence, they were not willing to consider
letting it be developed into a shooting sports complex. In 2014, the County sold Mecca Farms to South
Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and an arrangement was made for FWC to acquire the
desired 150 acres from SFWMD for the shooting sports complex. The Mecca Farms site had a high level
of feasibility due to its isolated location, its proximity to the FWC’s JW Corbett Wildlife Management Area
and FWC’s Everglades Youth Camp, facility requirements, and to have the least impact on the natural
communities. Based on several key factors identified during the site selection process in Section 2.0, the
Mecca Farms site was determined to be suitable for the construction of a shooting range. In 2014 the
SFWMD transferred title of 150 acres from the Mecca Farms site to FWC for this purpose.
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1.3 Need and Purpose
The purpose of the project is to construct and operate a shooting sports complex to be used for hunter
education and safety training that is accessible for shooters and hunters in Palm Beach County. The FWC
operates five (5) administrative regions in Florida and range sites are operated in each region. FWC
attempts to provide additional facilities near expanding population centers to induce citizen attendance to
hunter education classes that by necessity must have access to shooting ranges. Hunters that use the
FWC’s wildlife management areas are in need of a place to safely sight-in and become proficient with their
firearms. The South Region is in need of an additional range to service the growing population in and
around Palm Beach County. The purpose and need for the Proposed Action as follows:
It is the mission of FWC’s hunter safety and public shooting range section to continue the heritage of hunting
by developing safe, responsible and knowledgeable hunters. FWC must also fulfill the requirements of
Section 372.5717 FS, regarding hunter safety courses and education to the public. This statute requires
FWC to institute and coordinate hunter safety courses. The establishment of an adequate number of public
shooting ranges is necessary to provide the facilities needed to teach these and related firearms safety
courses. Hunter education is essential to the success of many of FWC’s responsibilities. Education of the
hunting community about the proper use of firearms, protection afforded endangered species, and the
importance of protection of wildlife habitat are all significant aspects of FWC’s education duties. The FWC
currently operates nine public shooting ranges throughout the state. These facilities are used for hunter
safety training purposes and as a place for sportsmen and women to enhance their skills so they can
responsibly harvest game animals. Currently, there are no public shooting ranges in Palm Beach County
where Florida’s hunter safety program can offer the public a place to take a course and participate in the
firing of all the different types of firearms used in hunting. The area surrounding Palm Beach County has
some of the highest demand for hunter safety courses in the state. The hunter safety program has great
cooperation, but limited use, of the privately owned shooting facilities in neighboring counties.
A Customized Market Report by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) was conducted for the
Mecca Farms site. Their report analyzes state level data (e.g., population, projected growth, supplies
retailers, nearby ranges, household surveys) within a 15, 35, and 50-mile radius in order to estimate
participation. The NSSF report estimates a total of 2,332,871 recreational shooters 18 years and older
within a 50 mile radius of Palm Beach, FL.
In addition, J.W. Corbett, located just west of the proposed shooting sports complex, has no adequate place
for hunters to sight-in their rifles or to practice shotgun shooting. There is currently no location for people
to safely and responsibly shoot their firearms for practice, and they have a tendency to shoot where the
activity cannot be controlled. In order to fulfill FWC’s mission, a shooting range located in Palm Beach
County is necessary.
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2.0 PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES
Site analyses of prospective lands within the vicinity were conducted to determine potential areas where a
shooting sports complex might be most appropriate. The project team considered a total of five (5) potential
locations for the development of a new shooting sports complex in Palm Beach County. This research
produced five sites: 1) Mecca Farms – 2,300 acres of property on the east edge of the entrance to J.W.
Corbett the County purchased for the proposed Scripts project; 2) Everglades Youth Camp – expansion of
the current shooting range at the FWC’s Everglades Youth Camp; 3) Belle Glades – a parcel of land on the
western boundary of the county next to the County jail; 4) 20 Mile Bend – a parcel of land on 20 Mile Bend
next to the Sheriff’s shooting range, and 5) School Board Property – a section of undeveloped land on the
southern edge of J.W. Corbett designated as school board property. It was determined that the Mecca
Farms site had a high level of feasibility due to its isolated location, facility requirements, and to have the
least impact on the natural communities. The proposed shooting complex is on approximately 150 acres
of a previously disturbed land (abandoned citrus grove). This EA evaluates two alternatives – the Proposed
Action and the No Action Alternative. In addition, those locations that were initially evaluated but dismissed
are discussed in further detail in Section 2.2 and Attachment B.
2.1 Proposed Action
The Proposed Action includes the construction and operation of a shooting sports complex to serve as a
hunter education and training facility in accordance with State regulations. The location of the proposed
shooting sports complex is on the east side of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, and South of the C-18 canal
as shown on Figure 1.0 and Figure 2.0. The proposed facility would include two (2) pistol ranges, three (3)
rifle ranges, one 12 station sporting clays course and 11 trap skeet fields, support structures include pistol
range office/control building, maintenance building, covered shooting shed, restrooms,
office/classroom/concession, and associated access roads and storm water retention as shown Figure 3 Site Plan, Dwg FR01. The shooting sports complex will be designed according to the most modern
concepts of range design and will be in accordance with the National Rifle Association’s Source Book 2012
and the Best Management Practices for Environmental Stewardship of Florida Shooting Ranges (2004
Edition) of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Hazardous Waste Compliance Assistance
Program.
2.2 Alternatives Considered but Dismissed
The project team identified five (5) potential locations; however, due to issues related to safety, noise, flood
zone, impacts to natural resources, and appropriate size/configuration of the property, among others, four
(4) of the potential locations were dismissed. The only real feasible location to site the shooting sports
complex is the location identified in the Proposed Action. A separate assessment of the Alternative Sites
Assessment Analysis was prepared by Palm Beach County and FWC and is shown in Attachment B.
2.3 No Action Alternative
The No Action Alternative would result in not taking any action to construct and operate a shooting sports
complex in Palm Beach County, FL. Since a new shooting sports complex would not be established under
this alternative, the opportunity would not exist for FWC to provide hunter education and safety to the
shooters and hunters in the vicinity of Palm Beach County. In addition, the Pittman-Robertson Act is
intended to return federal funds to the State of Florida. The amount of funding is based on the hunter
population in the state. The State of Florida administers the Hunter Safety Program whereby students who
successfully complete the course of study, which include classroom and range activities, receive a Hunter
Safety Card. Successful completion of the hunter safety course is a requirement of all individuals who are
born on or after June 1, 1975 and wish to hunt without adult supervision. If there are no facilities in which
to provide the practical courses aspects such as what is proposed, then there will be less hunters, and
reduced funding to the State of Florida for the wildlife restoration program.
This alternative will be used as a comparison to the Proposed Action.
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3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT
3.1 Description
The 150.14 Ac. Palm Beach County Shooting Sports Park is in Palm Beach County - Section 06,
Township 42 S, Range 41 E. The purpose of this Environmental Assessment is to provide a
preliminary assessment of natural features located within the boundaries of the project
(assessment area) including wetlands, upland habitat, protected trees and other vegetation, and
the potential for listed species (flora and fauna).
The assessment area is located east of the northern terminus of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road
within the northern section of the Palm Beach County Biotechnology Research Park (also known
as Mecca Farms), Palm Beach County (Section 04, Township 41, and Range 42). The property is
bound to the north by the C-18 Canal and undeveloped lands, to the east by a 300 acre above
ground water supply impoundment and undeveloped lands, to the west by Seminole Pratt Whitney
Road and J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area and to the south by fallow crop lands within the
Palm Beach County Biotechnology Reach Park property. The assessment area is approximately
150 .14 acres in size.
The Environmental Assessment is based on aerial (2014) photographic interpretation, review of
Soil Survey of Palm Beach County Area (USDA, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Web Soil
Survey) and field investigations. Wantman Group Inc. (WGI) environmental staff performed site
visits on May 06, 2015 and August 11, 2015. An aerial photograph (Scale: 1” = 500’) was used to
attain a general indication of the natural features of the parcel and to indicate specific points of
interest. An on-site review of the site’s conditions was performed by walking transects through the
site while noting plant species, wetland ecosystems, and other potential environmental factors.
3.2 Physical Environment
The property was part of the Palm Beach County Biotechnology Research Park which was once
an active citrus grove under the ownership of Mecca Farms. The parcel is currently comprised of
fallow crop lands with overgrown furrows and lateral dry ditches. An approximately 1.5 acre
retention pond and abandoned caretakers housing are located in the northwestern section of the
parcel. Other than some landscaping vegetation installed adjacent to the abandoned caretakers’
houses the entire parcel has become vegetated with predominantly native and exotic invasive
shrub and ground cover species. No native upland or wetland habitats exist on the parcel.
One wetland was identified on the property at the time of the site inspections. The wetland is located
within the northeastern corner of the property. The wetland area is approximately 1.06 acres in size
and is highly disturbed by adjacent and internal lateral ditches and heavy infestation of non-native
invasive vegetation. The topo of the site has been altered with the construction of planting furrows
and secondary irrigation ditches for the past citrus grove use. The secondary lateral ditches are
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predominately in a dry state and are vegetated with both native and non-native invasive vegetation.
A perimeter irrigation channel is located along the parcels northern property boundary.
Please refer to the Florida Land Use Cover Classification System (FLUCCS) map included
Attachment A.
3.3 Upland Ecosystem
The majority of the assessment area is classified as an upland community. The dominant FLUCCS
land classification is Fallow Crop Lands (261). No native upland habitats exist within the property.
The following descriptions include the Florida Land Use, Cover and Forms Classification System
(FLUCCS) incorporated by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).
216 – Fallow Crop Lands (147.58 acres)
The 216 community is the dominant community within the property. These areas consist of a typical
fallow crop land community with remnant planting furrows and lateral ditches dominating the site
topography. Vegetation is limited to shrub and ground cover stratum and is dominated by a
combination of native and non-native invasive species.
The following is a list of the dominant native and non-native plant species identified on the subject
parcel during the environmental assessment:
Common Name
Scientific Name
Designation
Saw Palmetto
Serenoa repens
Native
Wax Myrtle
Myrica cerifera
Native
Gallberry
Ilex glabra
Native
Broomsedge
Andropogon virginicus
Native
Chalky Bluestem
Andropogon floridanus
Native
Grapevine
Vitis rotundifolia
Native
Catbrier
Smilax spp.
Native
Southern sandbur
Cenchrus echinatus
Native
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Cattail
Typha spp.
Native
Maidencane
Panicum hemitomon
Native
Caesarweed
Urena lobata
Native
Bracken Fern
Pteridium aquilinum
Non-native
Brazilian Pepper
Schinus terebinthifolius
Non-native
Earleaf Acacia
Acacia auriculiformis
Non-native
Paragrass
Urochloa mutica
Non-native
Spanish needles
Bidens pilosa
Non-native
Camphorweed
Pluchea spp.
Non-native
Common reed
Phragmites asutralis
Non-native
Crabgrass
Digitaria spp.
Non-native
Flatsedge
Cyperus spp.
Non-native
Bahiagrass
Paspalum notatum
Non-native
Cogon Grass
Imperata cylindrical
Non-native
3.4 Wetland Ecosystem
Wetland protection is mandated under both federal and state regulations. The U. S. Army Corps
of Engineers (USACE) regulates activities in Waters of the United States pursuant to the Clean
Water Act (PL92-500, Section 404) as further defined in the USACE regulatory program (33 CFR
320-330).
The State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has established wetland
identification and permitting processes at Chapter 62-330, and 62-340, and 62-312 of the Florida
Administrative Code (FAC). Current federal and state wetland definitions are derived from the
original definition found in 33 CFR 328.3, identifying wetlands as “those areas that are inundated,
or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that
under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted to life in
saturated soil conditions”.
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Delineation of federally regulated jurisdictional wetlands is determined by the Corps of Engineers
Wetlands Delineation Manual (USACE Waterways Experiment Station Environmental Laboratory,
1987). Delineation of wetlands regulated by FDEP and South Florida Water Management District
(SFWMD) is done according to Chapter 62-340 FAC, Delineation of the Landward Extent of
Wetlands and Surface Waters. The Florida Wetlands Delineation Manual (Gilbert et al, 1995)
serves as a guide to Chapter 62-340. Both manuals, which emphasize the identification of hydric
soils, hydrophytic vegetation, and wetland hydrologic conditions in making wetland determinations,
were used in this investigation.
According to review of the on-site conditions and review of the project area soil survey (Soil Survey
of Palm Beach County Area, Florida, United States Department of Agriculture, 1978) there is one
wetland that could be jurisdictional to either the USACE or SFWMD. Research on the SFWMD ePermitting website (http://my.sfwmd.gov/ePermitting) shows that there has been SFWMD
permitting activity on the subject property. In 2004, Environmental Resource Permit # 50-06558-P
was issued to Palm Beach County for the development of the Palm Beach County Biotechnology
Research Park. Review of the permit application, specifically the SFWMD staff report, indicated
SFWMD did not identify any wetlands within the property. This permit (50-06558-P) expired in
December, 2009. No federal/USACOE permitting activity concerning the project area was
discovered during WGI’s site previous permitting review.
The potential wetland area identified by WGI staff is located in the northeastern corner of the
property. The area is approximately 1.06 acres in size.
There is one retention lake approximately 1.50 acres in size located in the western portion of the
property and one irrigation ditch located along the northern property boundary. In addition to the
lake and irrigation ditch there are numerous secondary irrigation ditches located adjacent to the
planting furrows. These secondary ditches are predominantly in a dry state and heavily vegetated
with native and non-native invasive species. The retention lake, irrigation ditch and secondary
ditches have been previously classified as other surface waters (OSW) by the SFWMD (permit 5006558-P).
The opinions of wetlands and OSW boundaries identified in this report are approximations based
on best scientific judgment. A review by Federal and State agencies would be required prior to site
development.
The following descriptions include the Florida Land Use, Cover and Forms Classification System
(FLUCCS) incorporated by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)
534 – Retention Less Than 10 acres (1.50 acres)
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There is one retention pond classified under this code. The retention pond is in the northwest
section of the property. The pond was primarily open water with some cattail and willow along the
edges.
3.4.1 SOILS
The following are the historic soils and their descriptions found throughout the project site
according to the Palm Beach County Soil Survey from 1978. It must be noted that the upper
18 to 20 inches of soils profile within the site have been altered/disturbed by past
agricultural activities. Please see attached Exhibit C, Soil Survey.
15 – Floridana Fine Sand:
This is a nearly level, very poorly drained soil that is on broad, low flats and in depressions.
Under natural conditions, the water table is within 10 inches of the surface for 6 months
during the year or more during most years. Depressions are covered by water most of the
year. Natural vegetation is cypress, willow, bay, southern bayberry, St. John’s wort,
maidencane, ferns, scattered sawgrass, pickerelweed, sedges, and water tolerant grasses.
16 – Hallandale sand:
This is a nearly level, poorly drained, sandy soil on broad low flats between the Everglades
and the coastal ridge. The water table is within 10 inches of the surface for 4 to 6 months
during most years and within 10 to 30 inches the rest of the time. Natural vegetation is
slash pine, saw palmetto, cabbage palm, inkberry, scattered cypress, southern bayberry,
pineland three awn, and a wide variety of other grasses.
36 – Riviera fine sand:
This is a nearly level, poorly drained soil in broad, low areas. Under natural conditions, the
water table is within 10 inches of the surface for 2 to 4 months in most years and within 10
to 30 inches for most of the remaining year, except during extreme dry periods. Natural
vegetation is saw palmetto, slash pine, pineland three awn, inkberry, blue maidencane,
toothache grass, chalky bluestem, scattered cabbage palm, and cypress trees.
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36 – Riviera sand Depressional:
This is a nearly level, poorly drained soil found in shallow, well defined depressions. This
soil is covered with up to 2 feet of water for more than 6 months each year. Natural
vegetation is cypress, needlegrass, St. John’s wort, corkweed, melaleuca, pickerelweed,
sand cordgrass, maidencane, and water tolerant plants.
3.5 Biological Environment
3.5.1 Vegetation
The following is a list of the more prominent native and non-native plant species identified
with the 534 FLUCCS assessment areas. :
Common Name
Scientific Name
Designation
Primrose willow
Ludwigia peruviana
Non-native
Cattail
Typha latifolia
Native
Carolina willow
Salix caroliniana
Native
The wetland review performed in this assessment is preliminary and is not considered to
be a jurisdictional wetland determination. This report is not to be considered a wetland
survey.
3.5.2 Listed Species
The environmental assessment performed is informal with regards to surveying for specific
listed animal and plant species. Species specific surveys would need to be performed if
permitting is required. This assessment is targeted at identifying the potential presence of
listed species or their habitat on the subject property.
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The following table lists protected/listed wildlife species that may occur but do not
necessarily occur near the assessment area and the probability of occurrence on the
parcel.
No listed species or signs of their presence (scat, tracks, etc.) were observed on the
property during the site inspection.
TABLE 3-1 POTENTIAL FEDERAL AND STATE LISTED SPECIES.
A.
Amphibian
Common Name
Scientific Name
Protected Species
State
Gopher frog
B.
Rana capito (3)
SSC
Birds
Common Name
Scientific Name
Protected Species
State
C.
Federal
Federal
Southeastern American
Kestrel
Falco sparverius paulus (4)
Bald eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus(3)
Red-cockaded
woodpecker
Picoides borealis (3)
FE
E
Wood Stork
Mycteria americana (4)
FE
E
Everglades snail kite
Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus (4)
FE
E
Reptiles
Common Name
Scientific Name
ST
Protected Species
State
Florida pine snake
Pituophis melanoleucus mugitus (2)
Federal
SSC
FT
T
10
Eastern indigo snake
Drymarchon corais couperi (2)
ST
Gopher tortoise
Gopherus polyphemus (3)
FT
(S/A)
T
American alligator
Alligator mississippiensis (4)
FT
(S/A)
T
*: Observed on site
FT: Federally-designated Threatened
FE: Federally-designated Endangered
FT(S/A) Federally-designated Threatened species due to similarity of appearance
ST: State-designated Threatened
SSC: Species of Special Concern
Occurrence probability:
(1) = likely, (2) = minimal, (3) = highly unlikely, (4) = transient (pond, canal, ditches
wading birds and forging raptors)
3.6 Land Use
The project area is within the Mecca Farms D.R.I. Area. It still contains a historic citrus grove
previously utilized for agricultural operations. The majority of the project area is designated Other
Open Lands – Rural (FLUCFCS: 260) (Attachment A.2 – FLUCFCS Map). According to the Palm
Beach County Property Appraiser, the project area is zoned Commercial Use and is being rezoned
for Shooting Range Use.
3.7 Cultural/Historic Resources
A review of the Florida Master Site file indicates that subject site was professionally evaluated for
Cultural/Historical Resources in 2004. No known cultural resources have been documented within
the project area. Please see Attachment C which includes the letter from the Florida Division of
Historical Resources
3.8 Sound
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Except for air plane fly over from the airport to the east, noise levels for the site are currently low
since the area is undeveloped. Hunting does occur within J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area;
therefore, gunfire may occasionally be heard at this site.
3.9 Recreation
Recreational uses at the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area includes wildlife viewing, hunting,
fishing, trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, camping for hunters, geocaching, astronomy,
interpretive signage, apiaries and environmental education.
3.10 Safety
There are no current safety concerns at the location of the Proposed Action. The land use is an
abandoned citrus grove and has no specific use assigned.
3.11 Socioeconomic Conditions
3.11.1 Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County, Florida is fast being developed. The project adjacent areas, west
county, are rural in nature, and specifically within the vicinity of the J.W. Corbett Wildlife
Management Area. Palm Beach County is a county that as of the 2010 census, the
population was 1,320,134,[1] making it the third-most populous county in Florida. The
largest city and county seat is West Palm Beach
3.11.2 Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,383 square miles,
of which 1,970 square miles is land and 413 square miles (17.3%) is water. It is the
second-largest county in Florida by land area and third-largest by total area.
3.11.3 Natural Areas
Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, a 147,392 acres refuge in
Boynton Beach
DuPuis Management Area, a 21,875 acres area of protected lands.
J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area, a 60,348 acres area of protected lands.
Jupiter Ridge Natural Area, a 271 acres preserve in Jupiter, Florida.
Juno Dunes Natural Area, a 576 acres preserve in Juno Beach.
Frenchman's Forest Natural Area, a 158 acres preserve in Palm Beach Gardens
Sweetbay Natural Area, a 1,094 acres preserve in Palm Beach Gardens.
Royal Palm Beach Pines Natural Area, a 773 acres preserve in Royal Palm Beach.
Hypoluxo Scrub Natural Area, a 97 acres preserve in Hypoluxo.
Rosemary Scrub Natural Area, a 14 acres preserve in Boynton Beach.
Seacrest Scrub Natural Area, a 54 acres preserve in Boynton Beach.
Delray Oaks Natural Area a 25 acres prairie and xeric hammock preserve with a small
strand swamp and areas of flatwoods in Delray Beach.
Leon M. Weekes Environmental Preserve, a 12 acres preserve in Delray Beach.
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3.11.4 Economy
According to Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia, Palm Beach Office Depot and The ADT
Corporation are headquartered in Boca Raton.
A number of shopping malls exist throughout Palm Beach County, including the Boynton
Beach Mall, The Gardens Mall, Town Center at Boca Raton, City Place and Mizner
Park.[48] Formerly, the Palm Beach and Cross County Malls operated in the county,
though they closed in 1997 and 2010, respectively.
In undeveloped (central and western) Palm Beach County there is significant agricultural
production, especially nurseries, truck crops (vegetables) and sugar cane.
Previously, American Media was headquartered in the county.
3.11.5 Communities
The largest city and county seat is West Palm Beach, with an estimated population of over
105,000. Additionally, the approximate urban population is 250,000, when including
adjacent unincorporated neighborhoods. Boca Raton (South County), is the second
largest, having a population approaching 90,000. Boynton Beach (South County), is the
third largest city, with a population nearing 70,000 residents.
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4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES
This section analyses and discusses the potential natural resources impacts associated with the Proposed
Action and the No Action alternative for subject project including upland trees, wetlands and listed species.
Several natural resources were identified on the property that will require permitting in order to protect or
mitigate them should the property be developed. These natural resources are discussed below:
4.1
Physical Environment
4.1.1
Wetlands, Uplands and Open Surface Waters
One potential wetland area identified by WGI staff is located in the northeastern corner of the
property. The area is approximately 1.06 acres in size. There is one retention pond approximately
1.50 acres in size located in the northeast corner of the property and one irrigation ditch located along
the northern property boundary. See FR 01. In addition to the existing lake and irrigation ditch there
are numerous secondary dry irrigation ditches located adjacent to the planting furrows. These
secondary ditches are predominantly in a dry state and heavily vegetated with native and non-native
invasive species.
The retention lake, irrigation ditch and secondary ditches have been previously classified as Open
Surface Waters (OSW’s) by the SFWMD (permit 50-06558-P).
The project is currently being permitted through the USACE who will determine the existence of
jurisdictional wetlands and waters of the US. If any jurisdictional wetlands or waters of the US are
claimed by the USACE, review for wetland mitigation and potential loss of habitat (wood stork, snail
kite) mitigation will be addressed through the USACE permitting process.
The OSW’s identified previously will require accounting for the surface area and replacement of the
storm water management capability of these areas as part of the new storm water management
system which should easily be attained with the proposed development.
4.1.2
Soils
Implementation of the Proposed Action would have minor short-term adverse impacts on soils during
construction. The soils at the project location are mostly disturbed from past citrus operations and
are covered with vegetation reflective of this disturbance. The loss of this vegetative cover and
disturbance to soils from construction activities could expose soils to erosion from wind and water.
Construction traffic could result in some compaction of soils and would temporarily increase amounts
of surface water run-off from the site. The construction of the shooting sports complex would result
in some soil compaction due to access roads, buildings, and other impermeable surfaces. Impacts
14
will be mitigated through the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) as part of the
required Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) developed for the project. BMPs utilized in
conjunction with the SWPPP may include construction sequencing along with perimeter controls such
as silt fencing. In accordance with the SWPPP, all disturbed areas will be stabilized immediately
following construction.
In order to ensure that project area soils are not adversely affected by lead contamination resulting
from the proposed shooting range, the guidelines contained within “Best Management Practices for
Environmental Stewardship of Florida Shooting Ranges” (Appendix B) will be followed during the
design, construction, and operation of the shooting sports complex. These BMPs will include
containment berms and backstops with twenty (20) foot high backstops to prevent the introduction of
lead into adjacent areas. Project area soils will also be amended to bind soluble lead. These areas
will be planted with grass in order to slow down runoff and filter out particulate lead. During the
operation of the shooting sports complex, bullet fragments will also be removed from project area
soils both by hand raking and sifting or by mechanical separation.
Under the No Action Alternative, there would be no change to project area soils. No construction
would occur, and both erosion rates and lead levels would remain as they are at present.
4.1.3
Topography
Portions of the site will be graded to install access roads, buildings, and shooting ranges. The safety
berms and backstops will also be created affecting topography. The proposed design is such that
the project will result in no significant alterations to drainage from the site.
Under the No Action Alternative, no impacts to on-site topography would occur. No construction
would take place, and the topography of the project site would remain as it is at present.
4.1.4
Water Resources
The construction of the proposed shooting sports complex will require a permit from the South Florida
Water Management District (SFWMD). The SFWMD requires that regulated activities not cause
adverse impacts to water resources, including wetlands and surface waters, pursuant to 62-330.301.
In order to meet this condition, the project will include the construction of retention ponds that will be
utilized to treat storm water runoff (Attachment A – Site Plan, FR 01). The proposed storm water
management system and three retention ponds will ensure that post-development runoff does not
exceed pre-development conditions. It is therefore not anticipated that the Proposed Action will have
any significant adverse impacts to water resources. The SFWMD permit application has been
submitted and is currently under review.
15
Under the No Action Alternative, no construction would occur and there would be no adverse impacts
to water resources.
4.1.5
Wetlands/Waters of The U.S.
The project would include approximately 0.06 acre of impact to the upland-farm cut ditch along the
west perimeter of the project area due to fill required for construction of the proposed access road
(Attachment A – Site Plan, DWG FR01). It is anticipated that this impact will meet the requirements
for a Nationwide Permit #18 for Minor Discharge from the USACE and meet the exemption
requirements for a surface water management system from a permit from the SFWMD. Mitigation to
offset wetland impacts is not anticipated. Setbacks have been incorporated into the project design
in order to minimize the risk of secondary impacts to adjacent wetlands. The design of the shooting
sports complex also includes safety berms and backstops to ensure that wetlands will not be
adversely impacted by shooting activities.
Any wetlands not proposed for impact 1.06 ac at NE corner will be protected from damage by
construction operations. This includes the implementation of SWPPP including BMPs that will protect
them from erosion and sedimentation.
Under the No Action Alternative, no impacts to on-site surface waters or wetlands would occur. No
construction would take place, and project site wetlands would remain as they are at present.
4.2
Biological Environment
4.2.1
Protected Trees/Upland Preservation
According to Palm Beach County Unified Land Development Code (ULDC), Environmental
Resources Management Department (ERD) will require that each protected tree and palm (native
tree greater than 6” in Diameter at Breast Height (dbh) and native palm 8’ of clear trunk or greater in
height) be identified for preservation in place, relocation or mitigation.
No qualifying tree or palms were located on the project site.
4.2.2
Vegetation
Implementation of the Proposed Action would result in minor adverse impacts to vegetation. Impacts
would involve the clearing of the herbaceous cover and the sparse shrub cover interspersed through
some portions of the site. The vegetative assemblage within the project area is associated with
disturbed areas. Vegetation not disturbed would be preserved and protected from damage by
construction operations to the extent practicable. This includes the implementation of SWPPP
16
including BMPs that will protect vegetation outside of the project area from erosion and
sedimentation. Upon completion of construction, all areas within the construction footprint would be
graded for proper drainage and vegetation re-established in order to stabilize soils and prevent
erosion.
Under the No Action Alternative, no impacts to on-site vegetation would occur. No construction would
take place, and the vegetative cover of the project site would remain as it is at present.
4.3
Listed Species
No state or federal listed/protected species were observed within the project site.
The project site is located within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Consultation Area for the wood
stork and the Everglades snail kite.
Surface waters and wetlands with a seasonal water depth between 2” and 15” with 25% aquatic vegetation
coverage or less are considered foraging habitat for the Wood Stork. The shoreline of the retention pond,
and areas within the irrigation ditches could be considered Wood Stork foraging habitat on the property and
are not being modified. The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) will consult with the US Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE) and South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) during wetland permitting to
ensure that there is no net loss of foraging habitat. This is usually accomplished through the development
of storm water retention ponds and the required planted littoral zones. On-site mitigation can also be on
the three ponds proposed as required.
The irrigation ditch located along the northern property boundary could provide foraging habitat for the
Everglades snail kite. Impacts within this area may require consultation with the USFWS.
The project area contains habitat for the Eastern Indigo Snake. Due to the size of the site, the FWS may
require a biological consultation to review the site. At a minimum, the standard protection measures will be
required as a condition of the USACE permit. These measures include notification to construction crew of
who to contact and what to do if an eastern indigo snake is observed.
4.3.1
Federal Threatened, Endangered And Protected Species
Federally listed species that have the potential to occur in the project vicinity include the American
alligator and eastern indigo snake. None of these species was observed during field investigations,
and no documented uses of the project area by these species were identified during the desktop
assessment.
The project area is within a Core Foraging Area for the wood stork; however, the majority of the
habitat that satisfies the criteria of the wood stork Core Foraging Habitat consists of ditches along
the periphery of the project area that are not proposed for impact. Adjacent areas, outside of the
proposed project area, are available for foraging wood storks that are suitable and higher quality
than those habitats in the project area. It is expected that any wood storks will move to these
adjacent suitable habitats during construction and as a result, are not expected to be impacted
during construction. After construction, significant amounts of suitable wetland habitat will remain
adjacent to the project area to support the wood storks. Furthermore, the only direct impacts to
wood stork habitat consists of approximately 0.06 acre of impact to the upland-cut ditch in the west
portion of the site due to fill associated with the proposed access road. Using the USACE and
USFWS, “Effect Determination Key for the Wood Stork in Central and North Peninsular Florida
(2008),” the proposed activities are not likely to adversely affect the wood stork or wood stork habitat.
17
The only suitable habitat for the American alligator on-site is the man-made ditches along the
periphery of the site that are not proposed for impact. It is not anticipated that adverse impacts to
the alligator or alligator habitat will occur as a result of the project.
Since the site is currently a fallow citrus grove, wildlife utilization by federally listed species is low in
comparison to other more suitable habitat environs. Abundant habitat is available throughout the
environs of PBCSSP and the adjacent Corbett WMA’s to support federally listed wildlife.
Under the No Action Alternative, no construction would occur and there would be no adverse impacts
to any federally listed species. The project site has been disturbed due to past citrus operations and
it is unlikely that it currently provides any significant habitat to these species.
4.3.2
State Threatened, Endangered, And Species of Special Concern
As previously stated, it is not anticipated that the site is utilized by American alligator. No wading
bird rookeries have been observed on-site and the only suitable foraging habitat consists of manmade ditches along the periphery of the project area. Therefore, no adverse impacts to the little
blue heron, white ibis, limpkin, snowy egret, roseate spoonbill, or tricolored heron are anticipated.
In addition, only a minimal impact of 0.06 acre is anticipated to wading bird foraging habitat.
Furthermore, the project area does not include a forested canopy and is, therefore, unlikely to
support the Sherman’s fox squirrel. Finally, no burrowing owl nests were observed during the
site visit and none have been documented within PBCSSP. It is not anticipated that the project
will have a significant adverse impact on any species listed by the State of Florida as endangered,
threatened, or species of special concern.
Since the site is currently a fallow citrus grove, wildlife utilization by state listed species is low in
comparison to other more suitable habitat environs. Abundant habitat is available throughout the
remainder of the environs and the other adjacent WMA’s to support state listed wildlife.
Under the No Action Alternative, no construction would occur and there would be no adverse
impacts to any state listed species. The project site has been disturbed due to past citrus
operations and it is unlikely that it currently provides any significant habitat to these species.
4.4
Land Use
A net positive impact is anticipated. Use of the area will change from a disturbed area previously utilized
for citrus operations to a recreational shooting park. This project will provide shooting opportunities for the
public in an area of the state where safe shooting opportunities are limited.
Under the No Action Alternative, no construction would occur and there would be no adverse impacts to
any federally listed species.
4.5
Cultural/Historic Resources
18
According to the Florida Department of State letter, Attachment C, no cultural/historic resources have been
documented on the project site for the Proposed Action and no impacts are anticipated as a result of the
project. If cultural/historic resources are encountered during construction or operation, all operations will
cease, and the Florida State Historic Preservation Office will be consulted before any work or operation is
resumed.
Under the No Action Alternative, no impacts to cultural/historic resources would occur.
4.6 Sound
Sieben and Associates and Troy Acoustics conducted sound testing at the proposed site and reported their
findings July 17, 2015. Based upon the acoustic measurements and data analysis of the site, it has been
concluded that the gunshot noise measured and heard on the testing days does not impede on any nearby
neighbors and wildlife, and if standard acoustical design practices for outdoor shooting ranges are
implemented, should not be a noise nuisance to the surrounding community. Please see enclosed Acoustic
Measurement Report in Attachment D for details related to measurements and analysis.
4.7
Recreation
The Proposed Action is located within the PBCSSP in which the key recreational use is for outdoorsmen
and hunters. The construction of a facility that would provide the opportunity for hunter education and
training only serves to improve the recreational value of PBCSSP. In addition, it will serve to increase the
carrying capacity and number of visitors estimated per day.
The No Action Alternative would result in no change to the current recreational value of the PBCSSP.
4.8
Safety
The Proposed Action provides a net benefit to public safety by providing hunter education classes to
residents in Palm Beach County and the surrounding area and “a safe place to shoot”. The shooting sports
complex is designed in order to provide a safe environment where these FWC administered safety classes
will be conducted. Range safety officers will be present while shooting on the rifle and pistol ranges. Safety
features, such as baffles, berms and backstops, will be incorporated into the design of the shooting ranges
in order to ensure the safety of the community utilizing the shooting sports complex.
Under the No Action Alternative, the project will not be implemented. The opportunity would not exist to
provide firearm safety training and hunter education in this region of Florida.
4.9
Socioeconomic Conditions
The Proposed Action indirectly would contribute to the local economy since users of the shooting sports
complex would consume gas, food and lodging as do hunters at J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area
during hunting season. The immediate surrounding area is predominantly wetlands, agricultural lands and
conservation lands. Due to the remote location of the proposed project site and the distance to neighboring
properties, it is not anticipated that there will be any negative affect on adjacent properties or business.
Under the No Action Alternative there would be no change from the current condition.
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5.0 MITIGATION
Due to the minimal amount of impact associated with the fill of 0.06 acre of an upland-cut ditch fill associated
with the construction of the access road, it is not anticipated that the project will require wetland
compensatory mitigation for the USACE or SFWMD. If it is determined that mitigation is required, it will be
provided on-site or through a mitigation bank within the service area of the Proposed Action.
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6.0 FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS
As stated in Section 2.0, this EA includes the evaluation of two alternatives: the Proposed Action and the
No Action Alternative. Prior to the selection of these alternatives, a total of four (4) additional potential
locations were dismissed.
Proposed Action: A Shooting Sports Complex would be constructed and operated at the Mecca Farms site
located on Seminole Pratt Whitney Road to serve as a place for the public to safely practice their shooting
skills and a hunter education training facility.
No Action Alternative: No action would be taken to construct and operate a shooting sports complex in
Palm Beach County, FL.
An analysis of potential environmental and cultural resource impacts demonstrated that no adverse impacts
to physical environment, including soils, topography, and water resources, are anticipated with either the
Proposed Action or No Action Alternative. Nor are adverse impacts anticipated to vegetation, wetlands,
state or federal threatened, endangered and protected wildlife species, land use, or cultural/historic
resources with either alternative. The selection of the Proposed Action would result in a net benefit to public
safety by providing a safe environment in which FWC would offer residents of south Florida hunter
education/safety classes. The Proposed Action would also increase recreation opportunities that would
indirectly contribute to the local economy by increasing the number of visitors to the area. Overall, a net
benefit to the physical and biological environment would be anticipated with the selection of the Proposed
Action over the No Action Alternative.
21
7.0 INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM, CONTRIBUTORS AND AGENCIES CONSULTED
The following lists document interdisciplinary team members, resource specialists who contributed to the
process, and agencies contacted regarding the Proposed Action. The interdisciplinary team was
responsible for carrying this project through environmental analysis and NEPA compliance. Other resource
specialists helped review and analyze the Proposed Action and alternatives.
Interdisciplinary Team Members:
Wayne Waltz, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service NEPA Lead
Bill Cline, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission – Section Leader, Hunter Safety and Public
Shooting Ranges
Philip T. Stone, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission – Project Team Lead
Clark Vargas – C. Vargas and Associates Range Design Lead
Wantman Group, Inc Environmental Lead
Wantman Group, Inc Civil Engineering
Troy Acoustics Noise
Wantman Group, Inc Survey - Geotechnical and Environmental Consultants, Inc. Geotechnical Consultant
Federal, State, and Local Agencies contacted:
South Florida Water Management District – Palm Bay Service Center
United States Army Corps of Engineers – Cocoa Regulatory Office
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Vero Beach Field Office
Palm Beach County, Planning Department
22
8.0 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PROCESS
Following the public notice of this Draft EA, the document will be available on the FWC website for public
comment and review. The public commenting period is 30 days. Following the public commenting period,
the project team will review all comments, address the comments as they relate to the Proposed Action,
and include those comments and any resolutions into the Final EA.
9/16/2007 Public Input Meeting 6 to 9 p.m. IFAS Building Military Trail – Preliminary site plans were
reviewed for the 20-mile bend property. Public input was taken for additional amenities that would not fit
on this site. According to County staff, this meeting had the greatest attendance of any public meeting for
a County recreational project– over 300 people in attendance.
5/21/2013 Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners Meeting – Site plans and public comments
were reviewed from the 9/16/2007 public meeting and new site plans for the larger Mecca Farms property
were placed on the County Commission meeting website for public comment. The public was offered the
opportunity to speak at the 5/21/2013 meeting. Approximately 300 public comments on the shooting range
were captured on the County’s web site. All but two were positive; one of the negative responses was a
shooter wanting the facility closer to his house. All public comments for the land transaction and the
shooting range were positive except for the owner of Okeechobee Shooting Sports who claimed the facility
was not needed. The shooting range and land transfer were approved unanimously by the Board of County
Commissioners.
8/13/2013 FSCA – Florida Sportsman’s Conservation Assoc. meeting. Public input meeting on the shooting
range. Review of conceptual design. Added a 300 yard rifle range after this public meeting.
11/3/2014 2nd Amendment Coalition meeting. Public input meeting on the shooting range. Review of
conceptual design.
9/26/13 – Shooting Range Listening Session – Palm Beach County IFAS building. Further discussions with
key stakeholders and owners of area shooting ranges, including the owner of Okeechobee Shooting Sports,
to look at ways to cooperate in getting additional shooters involved in shooting sports.
10/1/2015 Palm Beach County Zoning Commission Meeting. Shooting range project was unanimously
approved with no public comments.
10/22/2015 Palm Beach County Board Of County Commissioners.
unanimously approved with 1 public comment (supportive).
Shooting range project was
23
9.0 WORKS CITED
Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 2004. Best Management Practices for Environmental
Stewardship of Florida Shooting Ranges.
Florida Department of State Division of Historical Resources, February 2014. FMSF Report.
FNAI, Biodiversity Matrix. Internet Site: http://www.fnai.org/, Accessed February 2014.
FWC, 2005. Redcockaded Woodpecker Active and Inactive Occurrence in Florida Shapefile, Obtained
from: www.fgdl.org
FWC, 2007. Wading Bird Rookery Surveys Shapefile, Obtained from: www.fgdl.org
FWC, 2013. Internet Site: https://public.myfwc.com/FWRI/EagleNests/nestlocator.aspx, Accessed March
2014.
FWS, May 2010. Florida Wood Stork Nesting Colonies Shapefile, Obtained from: www.fgdl.org
FWS, May 2010. Florida Wood Stork Nesting Colony Core Foraging Areas Shapefile, Obtained from:
www.fgdl.org
FWS, October 2013. NWI Data Shapefile, Obtained from: www.fgdl.org
National Rifle Association, 2012. The Range Source Book.
NRCS, June 2012. Soils Data Shapefile, Obtained from: www.fgdl.org
SFWMD, February 2012. FLUCFCS Data Shapefile, Obtained from: www.fgdl.org
Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia – Palm Beach County
24
FIGURES
PROJ# 14023.01
October, 2015
ATTACHMENT A
SITE PLANS AND PHOTOGRAPHS
A1 – SOIL SURVEY
A2 – FLUCCS MAP
A3 – WETLANDS
A4 - PHOTOGRAPHS
PROJ# 14023.01
October, 2015
EXHIBIT E
SITE PHOTOGRAFS
Photo #1, Fallow crop land (261)
Photo #2, Fallow crop land (261)
EXHIBIT E
SITE PHOTOGRAFS
Photo #3, Retention pond (524)
Photo #4, Exotic wetland hardwood (619)
EXHIBIT E
SITE PHOTOGRAFS
Photo #5, Exotic wetland hardwoods (619)
Photo #6, Irrigation ditch northern property boundary
EXHIBIT E
SITE PHOTOGRAFS
Photo #7, Irrigation ditch northern property boundary
Photo #8, Secondary irrigation ditch
EXHIBIT E
SITE PHOTOGRAFS
Photo #9, Secondary irrigation ditch
Photo #10, Abandoned caretaker residence
ATTACHMENT B
ALTERNATE SITE ANALYSIS
B1 – SETION 16 CORBETT WMA
B2 – N.E CORNER JW CORBETT WMA
B3 – PRATT WHITNEY COMPLEX
B4 – 20 MILE BEND COMPLEX
PROJ# 14023.01
October, 2015
Palm Beach County Range Talking Points
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
There was a full-service shooting range in the 1970’s. Palm Beach County closed this range with
the promise to build a new public shooting range.
As a partial fulfillment of this promise, Palm Beach County opens their sheriff’s office range to
the public on certain weekends. They do not allow the public to shoot handguns or shotguns at
this facility. As soon as the FWC range is complete, the county will stop offering this service.
FWC’s proposed Palm Beach County Range will be an educational range designed to introduce
novice shooters to specific shooting disciplines, and to allow for youth to practice for Olympic
style shooting events.
Most private ranges offer memberships and focus on avid shooters. No FWC shooting range
offers a membership fee. The specific reason that FWC ranges do not offer memberships, is that
we do not want to compete with the avid shooters that patronize private ranges.
A comparison: FWC provides public shooting opportunities on public shooting ranges, just as it
provides public hunting opportunities on wildlife management areas. In both cases, the public
facilities complement more than compete with private opportunities by encouraging a broadbased interest in the sport. Once shooters are introduced to the shooting sports at FWC
facilities, both shooting and hunting, many of those who enjoy the sport move on to join private
shooting sports facilities or private hunting clubs.
Before becoming a hunter, you must be a shooter. We believe our educational efforts make
safe, responsible, knowledgeable firearms-owners and hunters. FWC sees our educational
efforts in introducing more people to safe shooting and hunting practices as “increasing the size
of the pie” instead of making the private range owners slice of the pie smaller.
o For example, as of February 21, 2014, the FWC’s Indian River County shooting range has
87,158 registered shooters and 286,480 range passes. Hence, the average is only 3.29
trips per shooter at this facility.
o According to Indian River County shooting range manager, when private shooting ranges
in Okeechobee County opened – approximately 45 miles from the Indian River County
facility – they did not affect attendance on the public range. Many of the shooters who
were introduced to the sport at the Indian River County shooting range have since
joined the private clubs in the area to participate in the competitions and additional
shooting opportunities that are not offered at the public shooting range.
o The reason for this is that the restrictions FWC places on rifle and pistol ranges often are
not enticing to avid shooters. These shooters desire fewer limitations on their shooting
experience.
o There is a need for both private and public facilities.
This proposed facility is designed to focus on offering educational, introductory experiences to
shooters, a place for hunters to sight-in their rifles and a place for interested youth to train for
Olympic shooting events. (FWC’s plans for this facility fill unique voids left by the closing of
other facilities in the county.)
o The rifle and pistol ranges on FWC’s public shooting ranges are designed to shoot known
distances at stationary targets. This design caters to hunters, using sporting firearms,
x
x
who need to sight-in their rifles and those practicing for Olympic-style rifle and pistol
shooting. FWC does not host rifle and pistol competitions as the private ranges host.
We do not allow moving while shooting at targets, nor do we allow firearms such as the
Barrett .50 BMG that private ranges allow. This is a basic, introductory, educational
facility.
o The international (Olympic) trap field will be the second such facility in Florida. The only
other known international trap is located at a private club in Gainesville. Because of the
lack of facilities offering this shooting discipline in Florida, youth from central Florida
are currently driving to Georgia to practice international trap. (There was an
international trap in Palm Beach County; this facility closed years ago and sold the land
for development. The inclusion of the international trap at FWC’s new facility is to fill
this void.)
o The skeet fields will be built with machines that can be set to throw Olympic speed
targets; these fields also will accommodate American style trap fields. (Palm Beach Trap
and Skeet sold their property to developers approximately five years ago. Since then
there has not been a place to shoot trap or skeet in Palm Beach County.)
o Sporting clays is designed to give shotgun shooters different types of hunting scenarios.
Like golf, each course is different. The proposed sporting clays course is designed to
educate hunters on proper wing-shooting techniques and to involve novice shooters in
the sport. (FWC is not proposing any structures at the sporting clays facility to
accommodate special events such as those hosted at sporting clays ranges in
Okeechobee County.)
There are several (four known) indoor ranges in Palm Beach County. (For the nearest location of
a full-service shooting sports facility, see “Why Did FWC Choose Palm Beach County?”)
o The indoor ranges do not provide for adequate sighting-in of hunting rifles. The main
use is for handguns. There are severe distance limits with an indoor shooting range..
Also, there is no hunting-style shotgun use (trap/skeet, sporting-clays) offered in these
facilities.
o According the manager of the Palm Beach Shooting Center, 90% of his customers would
like to have an outdoor range in the area. He does not see the range as competing with
his business because the outdoor facility fulfills different needs of the shooters.
With the limited amount of undeveloped land in the county, it is not economically feasible for
private industry to build a full service shooting range in this county. FWC is the largest
landowner in Palm Beach County – all of it undeveloped. The additional county-owned property
next to FWC’s J.W. Corbett WMA made the perfect location for a shooting range. Hence the
county and FWC partnered on this project to fulfill the needs of the public.
Why Does FWC Build Shooting Ranges?
For Hunter Safety – Florida Statute 372.5717 requires anyone born on or after June 1, 1975 to
successfully complete a FWC approved hunter safety course to be able to purchase a hunting license,
and it requires FWC to deliver this course as well as a Junior Hunter safety course.
For Hunters – Hunters need a place to safely sight-in their firearm and to practice their marksmanship
skills so that they can safely, and humanely, harvest wildlife. (FWC is the largest landowner in Palm
Beach County – J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area.)
For Wildlife Restoration – the Federal Assistance for Wildlife Restoration provides federal assistance
from taxes generated by the sale of firearms, ammunition and archery equipment specifically
designated to Florida’s hunter safety program to provide hunter safety training and develop public
shooting ranges.
For Recreation – As an added benefit, in addition to providing marksmanship opportunities for hunters,
FWC shooting ranges can also be used to provide the general public a safe place to shoot. In addition to
providing for the needs of hunters and the hunter safety program, shooting ranges also benefit
competitive and recreational shooters.
Why Did FWC Choose Palm Beach County?
FWC’s ranks counties by the population and number of hunting license sold. The next consideration in
the assessment is if there are other outdoor shooting sports facilities in the county currently providing
these services. If there are no other public outdoor shooting sports facilities, then the county qualifies
to be on FWC’s needs assessment list. Palm Beach County is the top ranked county in the state by these
criteria.
According to the NRA’s range development experts, the average shooter will not drive more than 35
miles to shoot. Avid shooters will not drive more than 50 miles to shoot. The closest full-service
outdoor gun ranges to the proposed site are as follows:
Northwest – OK Corral Gun Club – 52.3 miles Northwest
Okeechobee Shooting Sports – 53.2 miles Northwest
Quail Creek Plantation – 65.2miles Northwest
North – FWC’s Indian River Shooting Range – 86.5 miles North
South – Broward Counties Markham Park – 70.6 miles South
East – None
West – FWC’s Cecil M. Webb Shooting Range – 131 miles West
There are four indoor shooting ranges in Palm Beach County:
Palm Beach Shooting Center; 501 Industrial Street, Lake Worth, FL – 26.8 miles South
Shoot Strait; 7171 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL – 22.6 miles South
Gator Guns and Pawn; North Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL – 18.8 miles South
Delray Shooting Center, 1505 Poinsett, Drive, Delray Beach, FL 40.2 miles South
These indoor ranges are designed for handgun shooting and do not off the rifle and shotgun shooting
that the proposed full-service facility will offer. The recreational needs of the shooting public in Palm
Beach County have been increasing over time. Safe gun handling is in the best interest of the
community. The development of this Park has been a longstanding goal of Palm Beach County since the
1970’s.
Why was the Mecca Farms site chosen in Palm Beach County?
Approximately 10 years ago, the FWC actively joined the County as a partner in planning for the
development of a public shooting park with an additional mission to bolster hunter safety and related
educational programming in Palm Beach County. In these meetings Palm Beach County staff searched
County owned lands, and state owned lands that might be suitable for building a public shooting range.
This research produced four sites:
x
x
x
x
Belle Glades – a parcel of land on the western boundary of the county next to the County jail.
20 Mile Bend – a parcel of land on 20 Mile Bend next to the Sheriff’s shooting range.
School Board Property – a section of undeveloped land on the southern edge of J.W. Corbett
designated as school board property.
Mecca Farms – 2,300 acres of property on the east edge of the entrance to J.W. Corbett the
County purchased for the proposed Scripts project.
FWC Staff’s research produced one site:
x
Everglades Youth Camp – expansion of the current shooting range at the FWC’s Everglades
Youth Camp.
Everglades Youth Camp expansion noted large parcels of undisturbed wetlands surrounding the camp.
Therefore, it was eliminated from the list of adequate sites.
During the evaluation process, Mecca Farms was the preferred location for the shooting range. It was a
disturbed piece of property directly east of the entrance to J.W. Corbett and had more than enough
acreage. However, since the County had such a large investment in this property they were not willing
to let it be developed into a shooting range.
The Belle Glades site was on the western edge of Palm Beach County. It was determined that for most
shooters, this site would be too far a drive. This site was also not adequate to fulfill the needs of FWC in
having a convenient location to host hunter safety training and provide the public shooting
opportunities.
School Board Property was also conveniently located next to J.W. Corbett. However, it was not
disturbed and there were issues with wetlands throughout the 640 acres. Its proximity to residential
housing on the east and a new proposed development to the west caused concerns with sound issues.
Historically, this site was previously selected to build a shooting range in the county and the political
opposition to building on property originally set aside for use of schools caused the project to be
abandoned. For these reasons this site was not selected.
20 Mile Bend was a disturbed site next to the Sheriff’s office range. It had size limitations and the site
required the removal of approximately 12 feet of muck before reaching suitable building material. Site
work alone was estimated to be $13 million dollars. However, with the site being relatively close to
Palm Beach, it was considered the best site in the original selection process. The process was started to
acquire this surplus piece of state property from the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD)
In 2007, Palm Beach County accepted the donation of approximately 95 acres from SFWMD at 20 Mile
Bend for a Shooting Park and partnered with FWC to build a public shooting-sports facility. A public
meeting was held to discuss the public desires for the amenities they would like to see in a shooting
park. According to county staff, this meeting drew the highest attendance of any public meeting for any
recreational activity within Palm Beach County. Not all the desired amenities could fit on the 95 acre
parcel, but several conceptual designs were developed to provide the best available recreational
shooting opportunities. As soon as the project was scheduled to move forward with construction,
severe economic downturns placed it on hold.
FWC and PBC staffs have always been of the position that building a Public Shooting Park adjacent to the
entrance to the FWC’s Corbett WMA was an ideal location. However, the private ownership and then
inconsistencies with the Scripps development program caused PBC Staff and FWC to identify other sites
resulting in the 2007 Master Plan for the Public Shooting Park at 20 Mile Bend.
In 2012, discussions for PBC to sell the Mecca site to SFWMD, brought back to life the desire to build the
Public Shooting Park adjacent to the entrance to the FWC’s Corbett WMA.
To reduce the likelihood of flooding adjacent neighborhoods, SFWMD needs approximately 150 acres of
the J.W. Corbett WMA to construct a levy around portions of the southeast boundary. An agreement
that calls for conveyances of land and easements between FWC and the SFWMD calls for allowing the
SFWMD to use portions of the J.W. Corbett WMA to construct a levy and giving FWC enough land to
build a suitable shooting park for Palm Beach County.
FWC is now proposing to develop a public shooting park in four phases on 150 acres of donated Countyowned land in the Northwest corner of Mecca. FWC will also assume all cost associated with the
development, operation and maintenance of the park. All operational and maintenance costs will be
funded through fees charged to users of the park. The first phase of the park, which will be opened in
2015, will include rifle and pistol ranges and a sporting-clays range. The FWC facility proposed at Mecca
will provide all the facilities and features that were requested by the public in the 2007 public meetings,
plus add enough trap and skeet fields to attract regional and national competitions to the area and an
international (Olympic) trap.
Public Shooting Parks/Ranges
There is a shortage of public recreational shooting facilities in Florida. From Pensacola to Key West a
pattern is emerging that is detrimental to the future of recreational shooting and is jeopardizing the
ability to practice the safe handling of a firearm. This pattern is that as more and more land is being
developed, there are fewer safe places to shoot. With the high price of suitable land, there are fewer
and fewer outdoor ranges being built. It is harder and harder to find a place to shoot anymore,
especially for people who live in urban and/or suburban areas.
FWC’s mission is to manage fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of
people. A large part of this mission is managing and conserving game wildlife for the future while
fostering safe and responsible hunting. Before one can become a hunter, they must be a shooter.
Firearms are a part of our society. The FBI estimates that there are over 200 million privately-owned
firearms in the U.S. It is often estimated that about 1 in 4 people owns a firearm, and on average
firearms owners own four guns each. More than one million Florida residents currently have a
concealed carry permit. Shooting is an Olympic event, and recreational shooting is growing in
popularity. Hunters and shooters need a place to train to safely use their firearms.
A recent study by Mark Duda of Responsive management, in internationally recognized public opinion
and attitude study survey research firm specializing in natural resource and outdoor recreation issues,
found that a large majority of Americans support the right of their fellow citizens to engage in shooting
activities:
- 71% of respondents in a 2011 survey indicated approval of legal, recreational shooting, with
44% saying they strongly approve.
- More than a third (37%) say they are interested in going recreational target or sport
shooting in the future.
- More than a quarter of Americans (27%) say they are interested in going hunting in the
future.
These statistics also indicate the public’s acknowledgement that we need ranges to train law
enforcement, military, hunters and to provide for shooting as a recreational activity.
Need and Justification for a Public Shooting Park in Palm Beach County
There are three primary reasons that a Public Shooting Park is needed in Palm Beach County:
1. To support and diversify the recreational opportunities of the community
2. For hunter safety and related education programs of the FWC – The J.W. Corbett Wildlife
Management Area FWC and Everglades Youth Center are adjacent to the property where the
proposed shooting range will be located. FWC is the largest landowner in Palm Beach County.
3. Public safety – there are limited opportunities to practice safe and ethical shooting in Palm
Beach County.
The recreational needs of the shooting public are not new. The recreational needs of the shooting
public and the initial proposal for a Public Shooting Park were first presented to the Palm Beach County
Commission in the mid 1970’s. Shooting is an activity which can serve a broad spectrum of society as
participants and not just spectators. The physically adept, the average person and the disabled can
develop competitive level skills in the shooting sports. It is a life-long sport.
Shooting and hunting develops important skills for participants. Gun handling teaches neuromuscular
coordinator, self-discipline, and teamwork. In addition, classroom instruction teaches respect for safe
handling of guns as well as other specific skills and attitudes. In the case of youth, this type of training
relates well to studies in other classes and can serve to motivate students in almost every other class.
Shooting is a lifetime sport. Competitive sport teams such as football and basketball are normally
limited to the school years. Shooting and hunting on the other hand are sports that many people
participate in even into retirement years. In this way, shooting and hunting have much in common with
golfing.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation estimates that about 10% of the population is involved in
shooting and hunting sports. In terms of population, Palm Beach County is the largest county in the
state without a Public Shooting Park. The National Shooting Sports Foundation’s Customized
Demographic Report shows that within a 50 mile radius of the proposed location of the Shooting Park,
the population age 18 and over is 2,332,871. Within that age bracket, there are approximately:
Shotgun Target Shooters
47,794
Handgun Target Shooters
98,437
Rifle Target Shooters
61,361
Bow Hunters
18,461
Muzzleloading Hunters
Hunters with Modern Firearms
6,853
34,896
Currently listed on “Where to Shoot.org,” there are 220 public and private shooting ranges listed in
Florida. These shooting ranges offer a variety of shooting disciplines: archery, handgun, rifle, trap &
skeet, sporting clays. Of the 220 ranges, only 10 are owned or operated by governmental entities: 3 are
municipal shooting ranges, plus 7 are operated by FWC. Of the 10 public shooting ranges, only 4 offer
the complete package of shotgun, rifle and handgun shooting opportunities.
Hunter Safety and Related Education Programs
The FWC Currently provides programs in the following areas:
1. Hunter Safety Certification
2. Jr. Hunter Safety
3. Becoming an Outdoors Woman
4. National Archery in the Schools
5. Youth Hunting Program of Florida
6. Youth Hunter Education Challenge
7. Hunt Camp
Many of these programs are currently provided from the J.W. Corbett WMA, but limited classroom and
range facilities constrain the programs offered and the number of people that can be served.
Florida Statute 372.5717 requires anyone born on or after June 1, 1975 to successfully complete a FWC
approved hunter safety course to be able to purchase a hunting license. All states require some form of
mandatory hunter education training. Many states require safe hunter certification regardless of a
hunters’ age. Many hunters from South Florida travel across the nation and around the world on
hunting adventures. Hunter safety training will be an integral part of the shooting activities of a Public
Shooting Park serving a large population such as Palm Beach County.
Hunters realize that ethical hunting requires them to have good marksmanship skills. Those skills must
be practiced. With one of the largest Wildlife Management Areas in the State located in Palm Beach
County, having a place to conveniently practice shooting skills benefits hunters. Advanced hunter
education opportunities such as the Youth Hunting Program of Florida and the Youth Hunter Education
Challenge have mandatory shooting events. Other youth programs such as the National Archery in the
Schools Program and the 4-H Shooting Sports programs require safe places for youth to hone their skills
and need facilities to host regional, statewide and national tournaments.
The fastest-growing segment in the hunting and shooting sports is women. The Becoming an Outdoors
Woman (BOW) workshops teach women to become competent, confident and aware. The workshops
introduce women to a variety of activities equally balanced between hunting, shooting, fishing and nonharvest sports like canoeing and camping. Other programs, such as Women in the Outdoors and
Women on Target, are also constantly seeking facilities to use in teaching women outdoor related skills.
In 1992, the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners first recognized shooting ranges as the
solution to the growing public safety issues associated with the discharging of firearms in developed
areas. Since 1992, the need for a Public Shooting Park accelerated due to:
1. Development pressures closing all private long arm, sporting clay and skeet and trap ranges in
Palm Beach County, and only a handful of indoor ranges exist for handgun use
2. Increases in the number of hunters, and
3. Increasing population of recreational shooters.
NOTE: Shooting ranges have one of the lowest incidents of injury of any recreational activities.
Safe gun handling is in the best interests of the community. Schools teach driver education to ensure
that cars are driven responsibility; using the same reasoning, since a large number of people have and
use guns, knowledge of the correct procedures for hunting, transporting, storing and firing guns will do
much to ensure responsible gun handling.
Economic Development
The five top service sectors that will be positively affected are: 1) ammunition and service goods, 2)
general merchandise, 3) gasoline and oil, 4) food and beverage, and 5) hotels and motels. The following
is an estimated annual spending from users within the local area economy and from those outside the
local area economy from typical routine use of the Public Shooting Park. These figures were derived by
Palm Beach County staff and are based on an economic impact study of the usage of FWC’s Babcock
Webb Range and adjusted to the estimated shooter base for Palm Beach County.
Spending Category
Users within Local Area
Economy
Food and Beverage
$1,589,000
Ammunition and Sporting Gds $ 964,000
General Merchandise
$1,012,000
Gasoline and Oil
$ 521,000
Hotels and Motels
$ 937,000
Total
$5,023,000
Users outside Local Area
Economy
$ 267,000
$ 347,000
$ 172,000
$ 397,000
$ 103,000
$1,286,000
The total economic effects of the Park are estimated at: 1) visitation/trips 126,000 annually, 2)
expenditures $12,866,000 annually, 3) employment 120, 4) labor income $3,983,000, 5) value added
$6,748,000 and 6) output $9,484,000. Value added (difference between an industry’s total output and
the cost of its intermediate inputs) is the most appropriate economic indicator to a region’s economy.
Proposed Palm Beach County
Shooting Park
J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area
1
Suitability
2
Selecting the Site
3
4
5
Public Service – 15 miles
ƒ Within a 15-mile radius of the
site, the population age 18 and
over is 378,399. In this age
bracket there are approximately:
– 15,967 potential handgun
target shooters
– 7,752 potential shotgun
target shooters
– 9,953 potential rifle target
shooters
6
Public Service – 35 miles
ƒ Within a 35-mile radius of the
site, the population age 18 and
over is 1,321,107. In this age
bracket there are approximately:
– 55,745 potential handgun
target shooters
– 27,066 potential shotgun
target shooters
– 34,749 potential rifle target
shooters
7
Public Service – 50 miles
ƒ Within a 50-mile radius of the
site, the population age 18 and
over is 2,332,871. In this age
bracket there are approximately:
– 98,437 potential handgun
target shooters
– 47,794 potential shotgun
target shooters
– 61,361 potential rifle target
shooters
8
Proposed Master Plan
Design Features
• 20 shooting positions on a 300 yard small bore rifle range
• 20 shooting positions on a 100 yard small bore rifle range
• 42 shooting positions on a 25/50 meter pistol range
• 30 shooting positions on a 10 meter/50 foot pistol range
• 1 international (Olympic) trap bunker
• 10 combination trap and skeet fields
• 15 position sporting clays course
9
Sound
10
Safety
‘No Blue Sky”
Design Concept
11
Environment
12
Importance to CERP and Local
and Regional Economy
ƒ Aids in Implementation of the Everglades
Restoration Plan
ƒ Aids flood control capacity for local area
ƒ Provides Hunter Safety Education and
Training Site
ƒ Add lands to J.W. Corbett WMA for habitat
and public use
13
Local Support
Supported by:
ƒ SFWMD In Cooperation and
Partnership with FWC
ƒ Palm Beach County Board of
County Commissioners.
ƒ Indian Trails Improvement District
ƒ Stakeholders
14
Questions?
15
Minutes of Public Shooting Range Meeting Wednesday, January 5, 2005
Those in attendance:
Audrey Wolf, Director Facilities Development & Operations Palm Beach County
Lt. David Sleeth, Training Bureau Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office
Steven Coughlin, FWC Biologist
Lynne Hawk, FWC Hunter Safety & Public Shooting Ranges
Ed Poppell, FWC Hunter Safety & Public Shooting Ranges
Bill Cline, FWC Hunter Safety & Public Shooting Ranges
The meeting started with a presentation on the necessity of building a public shooting range in
Palm Beach County. The presentation noted the following major points: 1) Palm Beach County
is one of the top three counties in the state in population and in number of active shooters, and is
the only one of the top three counties without a public shooting range. 2) FWC’s needs for a
public shooting range and classroom facilities in the county. 3) What the FWC brings to the
table in design experience, management, marketing training, instructor development, and partial
funding. 4) The benefits of the state and county teaming together on this project. 5) The Indian
River County Range success story—how teaming together with local government helped both to
accomplish a goal and recognize our greatest success.
Next, Audrey Wolf presented three land options that the county had available: 1) Section 16
land in the J.W. Corbit WMA, 2) Property adjacent to Belle Glade Correctional Institute; and 3)
land adjacent to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Range.
Lynne Hawk noted that the FWC had previously looked at two sites to build a shooting range: 1)
Section 16 land in the J.W. Corbit WMA and 2) land on the northeast corner of J.W. Corbit next
to the Pratt-Whitney complex.
Since the Section 16 land was some that the FWC had previous interest in, the team looked at
this site proposal first. In previous years, the Section 16 site was chosen and plans engineered
for range construction; however, this project was soon stopped by those not wanting to see a
public shooting range on any land held back for school use. Now that that political pressure was
no longer in the picture, the county saw this section 16 land as a viable option. The team
accessed the site. Pluses for the site were: 1) higher ground, requiring minimal fill and 2) a
county park is scheduled to be built close to this section providing a maintenance team and
supporting infrastructure. The negative for this site is that to the east of this section is a housing
development. The team agreed that due to the close proximity of a housing development to this
site it would be best to look elsewhere.
The second site studied was a parcel of land in the northwest part of the county next to the Belle
Glade’s Correctional Institute. The positives of this piece were that there was county owned
infrastructure close to support additional uses; the negatives were that this property was
perceived by the shooting public as too far out off the beaten path to host a successful shooting
range. The local team encouraged us to look to the next site.
The last site proposed by the county was property adjacent to the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office
Law Enforcement Training Facility. The positives of this proposed site were: 1) good access to a
major highway, 2) a proposed $25 million Community College facility could bring in the
necessary infrastructure to support a range, 3) east of the property is the Sheriff’s Office Range;
south and west is a water management district and north of the property is zoned agriculture
which is never to be developed. The only negative of the property is that it is low and will
require a substantial investment in removing the muck and bringing in fill dirt to build on. The
team agreed that this was the best of the three options the county has to offer. The group
inspected the site and toured the SO facilities.
Lt. Sleeth gave everyone a tour of the SO facilities. During this tour it was obvious to all that he
was keenly aware of what the public demands in a shooting facility: pistol and rifle ranges to
support not only bench rest shooting and hunter sight-in but also to allow for IPSC, Cowboy
Action Shoots, so on and so forth; shotgun ranges to include 5-stand, sporting clays, trap and
skeet. Because of his knowledge of the shooting sports, the proposed expansion of the SO’s
range, the proposed building of the community college on the property and the needs for a public
shooting facility it was agreed that the next step would be for the county to do a feasibility study
for this site.
The county is currently doing the feasibility study for this site that should be ready in about thirty
days.
As soon as the study is completed the team can make a decision whether to continue with the
plans to use this site or to look for other options.
EXHIBIT 1: Palm Beach County/
Corbett Wildlife Management Area - Land Transaction
TRANSACTION
SITE
TRANSACTION
SITE
KILDAY & ASSOCIATES, INC
Landscape Architects / Planners
1551 Forum Place, Suite 100A
West Palm Beach, Florida 33401
(561) 689-5522 (561) 689-2592
N.T.S.
ATTACHMENT C
CULTURAL RESOURCES DOCUMENTATION
PROJ# 14023.01
October, 2015
ATTACHMENT D
ACCOUSTIC MEASUREMENTS REPORT
PROJ# 14023.01
October, 2015
SIEBEIN ASSOCIATES, INC.
Consultants in Architectural and Environmental Acoustics
625 NW 60th Street, Suite C
Telephone - (352) 331-5111
Gainesville, Florida 32607
Facsimile - (352) 331-0009
July 17, 2015
Mr. Bill Bergiadis
Troy Acoustics
9128 Strada Place #10115
Brunswick, Georgia 31525
Dear Bill,
This letter contains the results of acoustical measurements conducted at the proposed Palm Beach County
Sports Shooting Park site in Palm Beach, Florida. The study included conducting acoustical measurements
of sounds produced by different firearms at 2 proposed firing locations on the Firing Range property as
well as sound levels produced by the firearms measured at locations around the proposed site at distances
of approximately 1,280 feet or 1/4 mile; 2,560 feet or ½ mile; 5,280 feet or 1 mile; and 10,560 feet or 2
miles from the site where locations were accessible and background noise allowed measurements of the
sounds produced by the firearms to be recorded.
METHOD
Acoustical Measurement Instrumentation
Short term acoustical measurements of overall-A-weighted and Z-weighted sound levels produced by
firearms operations at the site of the proposed Palm Beach County Sports Shooting Park were made at 2
locations on the property. Measurements were also made at 9 receiver locations around the site at which
the gunshots were audible above the background noise levels and able to be measured. These locations are
shown in Figure 1. GPS coordinates of the measurement locations are shown in Appendix A. Sound levels
measured at each of the receiving locations are shown in Appendix C.
The measurements were recorded at the 2 locations on the Mecca Farms site and at 14 locations off site
at increasing distances and varying directions from the site as shown in Figure 1. A Larson Davis Model
831 and a Cesva SC 310 Sound Level Meters were used as the basic instrumentation for the acoustical
measurements. The meters meet ANSI Standard S1.4 requirements for Type 1 sound level meters.
The Larson Davis 831 was set to LAeq and flat weighted octave band sound level data averaged every 100
milliseconds during the measurements. The Cesva SC 310 recorded data every 1 second and every 125
milliseconds.
Members of the Acoustical Society of America, American Institute of Architects, the Institute of Noise Control Engineers, American Society for
Testing and Materials, American Society of Heating, Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Engineers and the National Council of Acoustical Consultants
Troy Acoustics
Acoustical Measurement Report
Palm Beach County
July 17, 2015
Palm Beach County Sports Shooting Park
Florida
The Larson Davis was equipped with standard ½" diameter measurement microphone. The Cesva was
equipped with a Gras HD 40 1/4" microphone and associated preamplifier so it could measure high sound
pressure levels (up to 190 dB).
The meters were calibrated with a Larson Davis CAL 200 calibrator prior to testing and tested to within
0.1 dB of calibration after the measurements were complete. The meters were mounted on a tripod at
approximately 5 ft above the ground at each measurement location. A windscreen was attached to the
microphones for all measurements. The data were stored on the hard drives of the meters and downloaded
to computers in our office and analyzed.
Weather readings including dry bulb temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed were made with a
Kestrel 4000 Pocket Wind Meter from Nielsen Kellerman at each measurement location. These readings
are included in Appendix B of this report.
ACOUSTICAL OBSERVATIONS AND MEASUREMENT RESULTS
Three rounds in succession were fired from a 9 mm handgun, a 5.56 rifle, a 308 rifle at location A and
from a 12 gauge shotgun and at location B while sound levels were recorded at receiver locations A1, A2,
A3, B1, B2, C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, D1, D2, D4, and D5 around the proposed range site. The sequence of
firing was repeated at each of the receiver locations.
Locations A1, A2 and A3 were approximately 1,280 feet or 1/4 mile from the sound source. Locations B1
and B2 were approximately 2,560 feet or ½ mile from the sound sources. Locations C1, C2, C3, C4 and
C5 were approximately 5,280 feet or 1 mile from the sound sources. Locations D1, D2, D4, and D5 were
approximately 10,560 feet or 2 miles from the sound sources.
The sound levels recorded at each of the measurement locations are shown in Table 1. The acoustical
metrics reported are described below.
1.
2.
The LAeq is the A-weighted continuous sound level with an averaging time of 100 milliseconds.
The LAFmax is the maximum A-weighted sound level in the measurement period recorded with
the fast response of the sound level meter.
The LApeak is the A-weighted instantaneous peak sound level recorded with the peak detector
of the sound level meter.
3.
In general, the LA peak sound levels were higher than the LAFmax sound levels for the same firearm type
at the same distance in the same direction.
Table 1. Summary table of gun shots made from locations A and B.
Shot 1
Gun
Source
Shot 2
LAFmax LApeak
LAeq
Shot 3
Receiver
LAeq
308
A
A1
49
54
75
50
LAFmax LApeak LAeq
55
76
55
LAFmax LApeak
62
84
556
A
A1
48
55
77
50
55
75
47
51
75
9mm
A
A1
53
55
70
51
53
70
49
51
73
Shotgun
B
A1
58
60
71
47
49
69
44
46
63
SA ~
Siebein Associates, Inc.
Page 2
Troy Acoustics
Acoustical Measurement Report
Palm Beach County
July 17, 2015
Palm Beach County Sports Shooting Park
Florida
Shot 1
Gun
Source
Receiver
LAeq
Shot 2
LAFmax LApeak
LAeq
Shot 3
LAFmax LApeak LAeq
LAFmax LApeak
308
A
A2
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
556
A
A2
69
77
97
68
76
95
68
76
96
9mm
A
A2
63
70
91
64
71
91
73
81
104
Shotgun
B
A2
54
63
83
46
53
74
45
50
70
308
A
A3
41
59
67
40
42
63
44
50
60
556
A
A3
40
47
65
37
40
55
38
45
60
9mm
A
A3
35
38
52
35
39
57
38
41
52
Shotgun
B
A3
43
50
68
42
48
63
41
47
62
308
A
B1
59
68
89
47
55
73
46
54
74
556
A
B1
42
46
66
44
50
69
41
45
63
9mm
A
B1
40
46
65
49
51
67
43
45
68
Shotgun
B
B1
39
45
58
33
36
58
44
49
61
308
A
B2
50
53
65
46
49
61
50
53
64
556
A
B2
46
49
51
45
47
61
44
46
59
9mm
A
B2
49
50
62
48
50
61
48
50
60
Shotgun
B
B2
42
43
55
43
45
60
NA
NA
NA
308
A
C1
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
556
A
C1
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
9mm
A
C1
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Shotgun
B
C1
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
308
A
C2
52
59
76
51
55
72
51
56
74
556
A
C2
51
55
70
51
53
66
525
54
68
9mm
A
C2
NA
NA
NA
50
51
66
50
52
69
Shotgun
B
C2
46
48
61
45
46
61
45
46
60
308
A
C3
48
50
67
47
50
67
47
50
68
556
A
C3
49
51
68
49
51
67
48
50
67
9mm
A
C3
51
53
68
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Shotgun
B
C3
48
50
67
50
52
70
49
51
71
308
A
C4
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
556
A
C4
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
9mm
A
C4
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Shotgun
B
C4
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
308
A
C5
43
48
67
43
48
64
34
40
65
556
A
C5
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
9mm
A
C5
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Shotgun
B
C5
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
308
A
D1
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
556
A
D1
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
9mm
A
D1
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Shotgun
B
D1
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
308
A
D2
38
39
52
37
38
52
37
38
52
SA ~
Siebein Associates, Inc.
Page 3
Troy Acoustics
Acoustical Measurement Report
Palm Beach County
July 17, 2015
Palm Beach County Sports Shooting Park
Florida
Shot 1
Gun
Source
Receiver
LAeq
Shot 2
LAFmax LApeak
LAeq
Shot 3
LAFmax LApeak LAeq
LAFmax LApeak
556
A
D2
36
37
52
39
40
52
38
39
52
9mm
A
D2
48
52
64
43
43
55
42
43
57
Shotgun
B
D2
37
42
55
37
42
61
35
41
58
308
A
D3
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
556
A
D3
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
9mm
A
D3
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Shotgun
B
D3
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
308
A
D4
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
556
A
D4
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
9mm
A
D4
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Shotgun
B
D4
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
308
A
D5
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
556
A
D5
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
9mm
A
D5
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Shotgun
B
D5
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions regarding these findings.
Sincerely,
SIEBEIN ASSOCIATES, INC.
Kara Siebein
SA ~
Siebein Associates, Inc.
Page 4
Troy Acoustics
Acoustical Measurement Report
Palm Beach County
July 17, 2015
Palm Beach County Sports Shooting Park
Florida
APPENDIX A
GPS Coordinates of Measurement Locations
SA ~
Siebein Associates, Inc.
Page 5
Troy Acoustics
Acoustical Measurement Report
Palm Beach County
July 17, 2015
Palm Beach County Sports Shooting Park
Florida
Actual GPS Coordinates of Measurement Locations Where Gun Shots Could Be Measured
Location A1- N 26° 50.862' W 80° 17.357'
Location A2- N 26° 51.220' W 80° 17.520'
Location A3- N 26° 51.261' W 80° 16.688'
Location B1- N 26° 51.641' W 80° 17.528'
Location B2- N 26° 51.259' W 80° 16.357'
Location C1- Not Audible
Location C2- N 26° 51.160' W 80° 18.346'
Location C3- N 26° 51.884' W 80° 17.235'
Location C4- Not Audible
Location C5- Not Audible
Location D1- Not Audible
Location D2- N 26° 50.521' W 80° 19.209'
Location D3- Not Accessible
Location D4- Not Audible
Location D5- Not Audible
SA ~
Siebein Associates, Inc.
Page 6
Troy Acoustics
Acoustical Measurement Report
Palm Beach County
July 17, 2015
Palm Beach County Sports Shooting Park
Florida
APPENDIX B
Weather Data at the Measurement Locations
SA ~
Siebein Associates, Inc.
Page 7
Troy Acoustics
Acoustical Measurement Report
Palm Beach County
July 17, 2015
Palm Beach County Sports Shooting Park
Florida
Table 1. Summary of weather conditions at each measurement location.
Location
Temperature (F)
Relative Humidity
Hg
Wind Speed (mph)
A1
87
58%
30.11"
0
A2
86
62%
30.11"
2.9 - 4.7
A3
92
42%
30.12"
1.0 - 2.0
B1
94
44%
30.12"
0 - 1.2
B2
87
48%
30.10"
1 - 2.3
C1
96
46%
30.13"
1 - 1.7
C2
93
44%
30.11"
1.9 - 4.0
C3
95
41%
30.13"
2.0 - 4.0
C4
86
50%
30.11"
2.5 - 4.5
C5
92
49%
30.08"
0
D1
91
53%
30.12"
1.3 - 2.8
D2
94
40%
30.12"
1.0 - 2.0
D4
89
39%
30.10"
1.1 - 2.4
D5
91
46%
30.13"
0 - 1.0
SA ~
Siebein Associates, Inc.
Page 8
Troy Acoustics
Acoustical Measurement Report
Palm Beach County
July 17, 2015
Palm Beach County Sports Shooting Park
Florida
APPENDIX C
Sound Levels Measured at Each Receiver Location
SA ~
Siebein Associates, Inc.
Page 9
Project Location
Ambient LAeqs and Peak Sound Levels
Project Location
LAeq 38 - 43 dBA
Peak 52 - 60 dBA
LAeq 45 - 49 dBA
Peak 65 - 67 dBA
LAeq 36 - 42 dBA
Peak 52 - 69 dBA
LAeq 44 - 49 dBA
Peak 56 - 67 dBA
LAeq 30 - 34 dBA
Peak 52 - 55 dBA
LAeq 31 - 40 dBA
Peak 52 - 55 dBA
LAeq 38 - 49 dBA
Peak 52 - 63 dBA
LAeq 43 - 46 dBA
Peak 52 - 59 dBA
LAeq 39 - 44 dBA
Peak 52 - 67 dBA
LAeq 35 - 39 dBA
Peak 52 - 57 dBA
LAeq 37 - 44 dBA
Peak 52 - 60 dBA
LAeq 37 - 40 dBA
Peak 52 - 60 dBA
LAeq 40 - 52 dBA
Peak 55 - 71 dBA
LAeq 30 - 34 dBA
Peak 52 dBA
9mm Handgun LAeqs and Peak Sound Levels
Project Location
Not Audible
LAeq 51 dBA
Peak 68 dBA
Not Audible
LAeq 63 - 73 dBA
Peak 91 - 104dBA
LAeq 35 - 38 dBA
Peak 52 - 57 dBA
LAeq 48 -49 dBA
Peak 60 - 62 dBA
LAeq 50 dBA
Peak 66 - 69 dBA
LAeq 49 - 53 dBA
Peak 70 - 73 dBA
LAeq 42 - 48 dBA
Peak 55 - 64 dBA
LAeq 40 - 49 dBA
Peak 65 - 68 dBA
Not Audible
Not Audible
Not Audible
Not Audible
Shotgun LAeqs and Peak Sound Levels
Project Location
Not Audible
LAeq 48 - 50 dBA
Peak 67 - 71 dBA
Not Audible
LAeq 45 - 54 dBA
Peak 70 - 83 dBA
LAeq 41 - 43 dBA
Peak 62 - 68 dBA
LAeq 42 - 43 dBA
Peak 55 - 60 dBA
LAeq 45 - 46 dBA
Peak 60 - 61 dBA
LAeq 44 - 58 dBA
Peak 63 - 71 dBA
LAeq 35 - 37 dBA
Peak 55 - 61 dBA
LAeq 33 - 44 dBA
Peak 58 - 61 dBA
Not Audible
Not Audible
Not Audible
Not Audible
308 Rifle LAeqs and Peak Sound Levels
Project Location
Not Audible
LAeq 47 - 48 dBA
Peak 67 - 68 dBA
Not Audible
LAeq 40 - 44 dBA
Peak 60 - 67 dBA
LAeq 46 - 50 dBA
Peak 61 - 65 dBA
LAeq 51 - 52 dBA
Peak 72 - 76 dBA
LAeq 49 - 55 dBA
Peak 75 - 84 dBA
LAeq 37 - 38 dBA
Peak 52 dBA
LAeq 46 - 59 dBA
Peak 73 - 89 dBA
LAeq 34 - 43 dBA
Peak 64 - 67 dBA
Not Audible
Not Audible
Not Audible
556 Rifle LAeqs and Peak Sound Levels
Project Location
Not Audible
LAeq 48 - 49 dBA
Peak 67 - 68 dBA
Not Audible
LAeq 68 - 69 dBA
Peak 95 - 97 dBA
LAeq 37 - 40 dBA
Peak 55 - 65 dBA
LAeq 44 - 46 dBA
Peak 51 - 61 dBA
LAeq 51 - 52 dBA
Peak 66 - 70 dBA
LAeq 47 - 50 dBA
Peak 75 - 77 dBA
LAeq 36 - 39 dBA
Peak 52 dBA
LAeq 41 - 44 dBA
Peak 63 - 69 dBA
Not Audible
Not Audible
Not Audible
Not Audible