MARK SCHUMANN

In a letter to representatives of All Aboard Florida, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project manager Andrew W. Phillips explained that the Corps has put in abeyance AAF’s permit application for wetlands impact associated with the section of the proposed high-speed line to be constructed in Indian River County (Segment D08).

According to Phillips, the Corps cannot approve the Indian River County section of AAF’s intercity passenger service between Miami and Orlando independent of the Cocoa to Orlando segment.

Phillips wrote, “The D08 segment would likely not be constructed if the discharge of dredge or fill material into waters of the United States for the construction of the east west segments P01-04 (Coco to Orland International Airport) were not authorized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps).”

“This is a significant decision,” wrote County Attorney Dylan Reingold in a email to members of the local Train Impact Coalition.