News Release

Everglades National Park seeks public input on Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida Osceola Camp Cure Plan

Date: November 1, 2023
Contact: Media contact: Allyson Gantt, 786-610-8023
Contact: Project contact: Daniel Noon, 305-242-7717

Everglades National Park released today the Environmental Assessment (EA) for improvements to the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida Osceola Camp. The public is invited to review the EA and provide input through Nov. 30 on the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment site (https://parkplanning.nps.gov/osceolacamp).  

The Osceola Camp — situated within Everglades National Park — is home to several families of the Miccosukee Tribe and is located approximately 11 miles west of the intersection of Tamiami Trail and State Road 997/Krome Ave. The residential village, established in 1935, includes housing structures, chickee huts, generators, water supply systems, roadways, driveways and wastewater treatment systems. This federally-funded project is intended to protect the existing facilities, functions and residences of the Osceola Camp from flooding caused by ecosystem restoration efforts from the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan and Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP). The Osceola Camp needs to be raised in order to avoid a safety hazard to the residents and allow continued residential and commercial use of the site. 

The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida Osceola Camp Cure Plan EA evaluates a no-action alternative and one action alternative, describes the environment that would be affected by the alternatives and assesses the environmental consequences of implementing the alternatives. Under the no-action alternative, there would be no improvements to the Osceola Camp and the current conditions would remain unchanged.  

Under the preferred alternative, improvements would include:  

• Elevating the Osceola Camp’s ground surface elevations and select structures; 

• Re-establishing roadways and driveways within the Osceola Camp; and 

• Replacing utilities throughout the site. 

The proposed action incorporates input received during early coordination with Tribes and other federal and state agencies. 

The public may comment on the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida Osceola Camp Cure Plan EA from Nov. 1 to Nov. 30. The preferred method of providing comments is through the project website (https://parkplanning.nps.gov/osceolacamp) on the “Open for Comment” tab. 

Comments may also be submitted in writing to:   

Everglades National Park 
Attn: Superintendent, Osceola Camp Cure Plan EA 
40001 State Road 9336 
Homestead, FL 33034 

Mailed comments should be postmarked no later than Nov. 30.