80_FR_17792 80 FR 17729 - Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the East Rockaway Inlet to Rockaway Inlet and Jamaica Bay Reformulation Study

80 FR 17729 - Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the East Rockaway Inlet to Rockaway Inlet and Jamaica Bay Reformulation Study

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 63 (April 2, 2015)

Page Range17729-17731
FR Document2015-07580

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District (Corps) with (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as local sponsor) is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with Council on Environmental Quality's NEPA regulations; Corps' principles and guidelines as defined in Engineering Regulations (ER) 1105-2-100, Planning Guidance Notebook, and ER 200-2-2, Procedures for Implementing NEPA; and other applicable Federal and State environmental laws for the proposed Atlantic Coast of New York, East Rockaway Inlet to Rockaway Inlet and Jamaica Bay Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study. The study is re-assessing the feasibility of coastal storm risk management alternatives to be implemented within the congressionally authorized project area. This overall study area includes the entire Rockaway peninsula as well as the back-bay communities surrounding Jamaica Bay. During Hurricane Sandy, both Rockaway and Jamaica Bay communities were severely affected with large areas subjected to erosion, storm surge, and wave damage along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline and flooding of communities within and surrounding Jamaica Bay. Along the Rockaways, the Atlantic Ocean surge and waves exceeded the island height, resulting in flow of water across the peninsula, and contributing to the flooding along the shoreline of the interior of Jamaica Bay. Hurricane Sandy illustrated the need to re-evaluate the entire peninsula and back-bay area as a system, when considering risk-management measures. Acknowledging the amount of analyses required to comprehensively reevaluate the study area considering the influence of the Atlantic Ocean shorefront conditions on the back-bay system, a single Hurricane Sandy General Reevaluation Report and EIS (GRR/EIS) will be prepared. The Corps will use a tiered process to facilitate project decision-making. The EIS will build upon the extensive Atlantic shoreline alternatives analysis and environmental and technical studies and outreach conducted to date. The proposed tiering approach will allow the study to focus on both broad overall Jamaica Bay-wide issues while simultaneously assessing site specific impacts, costs and mitigation measures for the shorefront and back-bay alternatives. The scope of analysis in the Tier 1 and Tier 2 will be appropriate to the level of detail necessary for those documents and will receive input from the public and reviewing agencies. The Tier 1 shoreline analysis will provide the basis for the alternatives to problems associated with erosion, storm surge, and wave damage along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline the relationship of the shoreline with the back-bay. The Tier 2 analysis will specifically address the flooding of communities within and surrounding Jamaica Bay.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 63 (Thursday, April 2, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 63 (Thursday, April 2, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17729-17731]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07580]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the East Rockaway Inlet to Rockaway Inlet and Jamaica Bay Reformulation 
Study

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District (Corps) 
with (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as local 
sponsor) is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in 
accordance with Council on Environmental Quality's NEPA regulations; 
Corps' principles and guidelines as defined in Engineering Regulations 
(ER) 1105-2-100, Planning Guidance Notebook, and ER 200-2-2, Procedures 
for Implementing NEPA; and other applicable Federal and State 
environmental laws for the proposed Atlantic Coast of New York, East 
Rockaway Inlet to Rockaway Inlet and Jamaica Bay Coastal Storm Risk 
Management Feasibility Study. The study is re-assessing the feasibility 
of coastal storm risk management alternatives to be implemented within 
the congressionally authorized project area. This overall study area 
includes the entire Rockaway peninsula as well as the back-bay 
communities surrounding Jamaica Bay. During Hurricane Sandy, both 
Rockaway and Jamaica Bay communities were severely affected with large 
areas subjected to erosion, storm surge, and wave damage along the 
Atlantic Ocean shoreline and flooding of communities within and 
surrounding Jamaica Bay. Along the Rockaways, the Atlantic Ocean surge 
and waves exceeded the island height, resulting in flow of water across 
the peninsula, and contributing to the flooding along the shoreline of 
the interior of Jamaica Bay. Hurricane Sandy illustrated the need to 
re-evaluate the entire peninsula and back-bay area as a system, when 
considering risk-management measures. Acknowledging the amount of 
analyses required to comprehensively reevaluate the study area 
considering the influence of the Atlantic Ocean shorefront conditions 
on the back-bay system, a single Hurricane Sandy General Reevaluation 
Report and EIS (GRR/EIS) will be prepared. The Corps will use a tiered 
process to

[[Page 17730]]

facilitate project decision-making. The EIS will build upon the 
extensive Atlantic shoreline alternatives analysis and environmental 
and technical studies and outreach conducted to date. The proposed 
tiering approach will allow the study to focus on both broad overall 
Jamaica Bay-wide issues while simultaneously assessing site specific 
impacts, costs and mitigation measures for the shorefront and back-bay 
alternatives. The scope of analysis in the Tier 1 and Tier 2 will be 
appropriate to the level of detail necessary for those documents and 
will receive input from the public and reviewing agencies. The Tier 1 
shoreline analysis will provide the basis for the alternatives to 
problems associated with erosion, storm surge, and wave damage along 
the Atlantic Ocean shoreline the relationship of the shoreline with the 
back-bay. The Tier 2 analysis will specifically address the flooding of 
communities within and surrounding Jamaica Bay.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments and suggestions concerning the scope 
of issues to be evaluated within the EIS to Robert Smith, Project 
Biologist/NEPA Coordinator, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York 
District, Planning Division, Environmental, 26 Federal Plaza, New York, 
NY 10279-0090; Phone: (917) 790-8729; email: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the overall East 
Rockaway Inlet to Rockaway Inlet and Jamaica Bay Coastal Storm Risk 
Management Reformulation Study should be directed to Daniel T. Falt, 
Project Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, 
Programs and Project Management Division, Civil Works Programs Branch, 
26 Federal Plaza, Room 2127, New York, NY 10279-0090; Phone: (917) 790-
8614; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Background

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with the New York 
State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), is undertaking 
this study. The original multiple purpose (coastal erosion control and 
coastal flooding protection) project for East Rockaway Inlet to 
Rockaway Inlet and Jamaica Bay, New York was authorized by the Flood 
Control Act of 1965 (Pub. L. 89-298). The authorized project provided 
for the restoration of a protective beach along 6.2 miles of Rockaway 
Beach, between Beach 19th Street and Beach 149th Street. The beach 
erosion control features of the authorized project on the Rockaway 
Peninsula consists of a 100-foot berm width (i.e., beach) at an 
elevation of +10 foot NGVD (approximately 8.9 feet NAVD88) over the 
peninsula's entire project length.
    The 1965 authorized project also included measures to provide 
hurricane damage risk reduction within Jamaica Bay by constructing a 
hurricane barrier and closure structure across the entrance to Jamaica 
Bay (Rockaway Inlet). This original project authority was modified by 
Section 72 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1974 to provide 
for the separate construction of the beach erosion control on the 
ocean-front of the Rockaway Peninsula independently from the hurricane 
barrier addressing Jamaica Bay. For more than 30 years, the ocean-front 
portion of the authorized project has been maintained; the hurricane 
barrier portion of the originally authorized project was never 
constructed and was subsequently de-authorized by the Water Resources 
Development Act of 1986.
    In the early 2000s, the Corps began a reformulation effort to 
examine possible changes to the originally authorized East Rockaway 
Inlet to Rockaway Inlet and Jamaica Bay Project. The constructed 
shorefront features of the Atlantic Coastline (East Rockaway Inlet to 
Rockaway Inlet) were being reformulated with the goal of: Reducing 
coastal storm vulnerability to erosion, waves, and surge; identifying 
measures to reduce long-term re-nourishment costs; and extending 
federal participation in the project for up to 50 years. The 
reformulation effort was exclusively examining shorefront features as 
stand-alone alternatives for addressing shorefront damages. The Corps 
developed shorefront alternatives with the NYSDEC and the resource 
agency and public coordination of the shorefront alternatives was 
ongoing prior to Hurricane Sandy. The reformulation for the Jamaica Bay 
portion of the study area (i.e., the back-bay communities) had not been 
advanced prior to Hurricane Sandy due to funding constraints.
    In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy made landfall with a combination 
of massive storm surge, rising water levels and reshaping of local 
geography. In response to the damages and vulnerability of communities 
and ecosystems along the Atlantic Coast, the U.S. Congress passed the 
Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 (Pub. L. 113-2). In part, 
directing the Corps of Engineers to ``. . . reduce future flood risk in 
ways that will support the long-term sustainability of the coastal 
ecosystem and communities and reduce the economic costs and risks 
associated with large-scale flood and storm events in areas along the 
Atlantic Coast within the boundaries of the North Atlantic Division of 
the Corps that were affected by Hurricane Sandy.'' In partial 
fulfillment of the requirements detailed within the Act, the USACE 
identified authorized USACE projects for reducing flooding and storm 
risks that have been constructed or are under construction that could 
be re-evaluated under the new guidelines; the existing East Rockaway 
Inlet to Rockaway Inlet and Jamaica Bay, NY project met the criteria 
for re-evaluation.
    Because the reformulation for the Jamaica Bay portion of the study 
area had not been advanced prior to Hurricane Sandy, the Corps 
accelerated the reformulation effort for the back-bay portion of the 
study. The Corps is currently integrating the advanced plan formulation 
effort for the shorefront with the relatively recent planning effort 
for the back-bay into a single comprehensive document to address the 
entire system. Acknowledging the amount of analyses required to 
comprehensively reevaluate the study area considering the influence of 
the Atlantic Ocean shorefront conditions on the back-bay system, a 
single Hurricane Sandy General Reevaluation Report and EIS (GRR/EIS) 
will be prepared. The Corps will use a tiered process to facilitate 
project decision-making. The EIS will build upon the extensive Atlantic 
shoreline alternatives analysis and environmental and technical studies 
and outreach conducted to date. The proposed tiering approach will 
allow the study to focus on both broad overall Jamaica Bay-wide issues 
while simultaneously assessing site specific impacts, costs and 
mitigation measures for the shorefront and back-bay alternatives. The 
scope of analysis in the Tier 1 and Tier 2 will be appropriate to the 
level of detail necessary for those documents and will receive input 
from the public and reviewing agencies. The Tier 1 shoreline analysis 
will provide the basis for the alternatives to problems associated with 
erosion, storm surge, and wave damage along the Atlantic Ocean 
shoreline and the Tier 2 analysis will address the flooding of 
communities within and surrounding Jamaica Bay.

2. Study Area

    The study area encompasses the Atlantic Coast of New York City 
between East Rockaway Inlet and Rockaway Inlet, and the water and lands 
within and surrounding Jamaica Bay, New York. The southern extent of 
the study area is the Atlantic Ocean and

[[Page 17731]]

shorefront along the Rockaway Peninsula which separates the Atlantic 
Ocean from Jamaica Bay immediately to the north.

3. USACE Decision Making

    Developing the alternatives formulation, engineering design and 
environmental consequences assessment into a single GRR/EIS allows the 
New York District to comprehensively evaluate the project as a system. 
However, the USACE acknowledges that the shorefront and back-bay 
segments may not concurrently be ready for a recommendation. The 
shorefront portion of the project has undergone extensive alternatives 
analysis, while the back-bay re-evaluation process is in its earlier 
stages. Additionally, the shorefront measures being evaluated have been 
the subject of considerable public and agency coordination while these 
essential coordination efforts have not been completed for the back-bay 
alternatives.
    As a result, the Corps will develop the HSGRR/EIS evaluating the 
entire area, but will tier the decisions (i.e., issue separate records 
of decision) on the respective areas. This decision making approach 
will allow time to address agency policy issues and build consensus 
among cooperating agencies and the public. This option to issue 
multiple records of decision based on a single EIS is available to the 
USACE because of the flexibility in the NEPA process as described in 
the President's Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) NEPA-
Implementing Regulations.

4. Public Participation

    The USACE invites public comment on the scope of the issues and 
alternatives to be addressed in the draft EIS. Input will be received 
through public meetings with both oral and written comments being 
provided; written comments may be submitted at any time during the 
process. The New York District will host a series of three public 
scoping meetings to receive comments on the proposed scope of issues to 
be evaluated in the draft environmental impact statement. Each of the 
public meetings will begin with an informal open house from 5:00 p.m. 
to 6:00 p.m. followed by the formal meeting from 7:00-9:00 p.m.
    Two public meetings have been scheduled with a third TBD. The first 
will be held at the Knights of Columbus (333 Beach 90th Street, 
Rockaway Beach, NY 11693) on April 22, 2015 between 6:30-9:30 p.m. The 
second is scheduled at the Ryan Visitor Center (50 Aviator Road 
Brooklyn, NY 11234) for Wednesday, April 29 from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

5. Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the lead federal agency for the 
preparation of the environmental impact statement (EIS) and meeting the 
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and the NEPA 
Implementing Regulations of the President's Council on Environmental 
Quality (40 CFR parts 1500-1508). Within the study area, the National 
Park Service (NPS) manages the over 19,000-acre Jamaica Bay Unit of the 
Gateway National Recreation Area. Many of the actions evaluated within 
the EIS could occur within the National Recreation Area. Federal 
agencies interested in participating as a Cooperating Agency are 
requested to submit a letter of intent to Colonel Paul E. Owen, 
District Engineer (see ADDRESSES). The preparation of the EIS will be 
coordinated with New York State and New York City agencies with 
discretionary authority relative to the proposed actions. The Draft EIS 
is currently scheduled for distribution to the public November 2015.

    Dated: March 26, 2015.
Peter M. Weppler,
Chief, Environmental Analysis Branch, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 2015-07580 Filed 4-1-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE CODE 3720-58-P



                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 63 / Thursday, April 2, 2015 / Notices                                           17729

                                              III. Data                                               commercial entities that may be                       DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
                                                OMB Control Number: 0648–xxxx.                        interested in participating in the Africa
                                                                                                      Partnership Forum Day.                                Department of the Army, Corps of
                                                Form Number(s): None.
                                                                                                                                                            Engineers
                                                Type of Review: Regular submission                    DATES:    June 8–12, 2015.
                                              (new information collection).                                                                                 Notice of Intent To Prepare an
                                                Affected Public: Business or other for-               ADDRESSES:  Stage Palladium Theater,
                                                                                                                                                            Environmental Impact Statement for
                                              profit organizations, not-for-profit                    Plieninger Str. 102 70567 Stuttgart,
                                                                                                                                                            the East Rockaway Inlet to Rockaway
                                              institutions, state, local or tribal                    Germany.
                                                                                                                                                            Inlet and Jamaica Bay Reformulation
                                              government.                                                                                                   Study
                                                                                                      FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                Estimated Number of Respondents:
                                              70.                                                     Interested parties may send their intent              AGENCY:    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
                                                Estimated Time per Response: 10                       to participate to the following email                 DOD.
                                              hours (semi-annually).                                  addresses: (1) AFRICOM Stuttgart ACJ95                ACTION:   Notice of intent.
                                                Estimated Total Annual Burden                         Mailbox, africom.stuttgart.acj95.mbx.
                                              Hours: 1,400.                                           ppp-branch@mail.mil; (2) http://                      SUMMARY:   In compliance with the
                                                Estimated Total Annual Cost to                        www.ncsi.com/africom/2015/index.php.                  National Environmental Policy Act
                                              Public: $0 in recordkeeping/reporting                   Please include your company name,                     (NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of
                                              costs.                                                  point of contact information, the                     Engineers, New York District (Corps)
                                                                                                      number of potential attendees, and                    with (New York State Department of
                                              IV. Request for Comments                                indicate whether U.S. or non-U.S.                     Environmental Conservation as local
                                                 Comments are invited on: (a) Whether                 business entity. State in the subject line:           sponsor) is preparing an Environmental
                                              the proposed collection of information                  ‘‘USAFRICOM Africa Partnership                        Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance
                                              is necessary for the proper performance                 Forum (APF): June 8–12, 2015.’’                       with Council on Environmental
                                              of the functions of the agency, including                                                                     Quality’s NEPA regulations; Corps’
                                                                                                         Please respond to this notice no later             principles and guidelines as defined in
                                              whether the information shall have
                                                                                                      than close-of-business on April 10,                   Engineering Regulations (ER) 1105–2–
                                              practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
                                              agency’s estimate of the burden                         2015. The three-day, USAFRICOM APF                    100, Planning Guidance Notebook, and
                                              (including hours and cost) of the                       8–12 will be held in Stuttgart, Germany.              ER 200–2–2, Procedures for
                                              proposed collection of information; (c)                 Specific detail s of the event, including             Implementing NEPA; and other
                                              ways to enhance the quality, utility, and               a detailed schedule will be published at              applicable Federal and State
                                              clarity of the information to be                        a later date.                                         environmental laws for the proposed
                                              collected; and (d) ways to minimize the                 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            Atlantic Coast of New York, East
                                              burden of the collection of information                                                                       Rockaway Inlet to Rockaway Inlet and
                                              on respondents, including through the                      Monday, June 8, from 2 p.m. to 5                   Jamaica Bay Coastal Storm Risk
                                              use of automated collection techniques                  p.m., will focus on arrivals, registration,           Management Feasibility Study. The
                                              or other forms of information                           networking, and a ‘No-Host’ social.                   study is re-assessing the feasibility of
                                              technology.                                                Tuesday, June 9, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.             coastal storm risk management
                                                 Comments submitted in response to                    and Wednesday, June 10, from 8 a.m. to                alternatives to be implemented within
                                              this notice will be summarized and/or                   4 p.m., will consist of focused topic                 the congressionally authorized project
                                              included in the request for OMB                         plenary presentations and facilitate                  area. This overall study area includes
                                              approval of this information collection;                discussions to obtain greater mutual                  the entire Rockaway peninsula as well
                                              they also will become a matter of public                situational understanding; develop new                as the back-bay communities
                                              record.                                                 concepts, approaches, insights, and                   surrounding Jamaica Bay. During
                                                Dated: March 30, 2015.                                innovative solutions; and to capture                  Hurricane Sandy, both Rockaway and
                                                                                                      opportunities for shared cooperative                  Jamaica Bay communities were severely
                                              Sarah Brabson,
                                                                                                      engagements.                                          affected with large areas subjected to
                                              NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
                                                                                                                                                            erosion, storm surge, and wave damage
                                              [FR Doc. 2015–07547 Filed 4–1–15; 8:45 am]                 Thursday, June 11, from 8 a.m. to 2                along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline and
                                              BILLING CODE CODE 3510–JE–P                             p.m., will focus on vendors’ expositions              flooding of communities within and
                                                                                                      showcasing/demonstrating available                    surrounding Jamaica Bay. Along the
                                                                                                      products and capabilities and                         Rockaways, the Atlantic Ocean surge
                                              DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE                                   networking to foster greater                          and waves exceeded the island height,
                                                                                                      relationships with commercial industry,               resulting in flow of water across the
                                              Office of the Secretary                                 NGOs, academia, corporate social                      peninsula, and contributing to the
                                                                                                      foundations, international/private and                flooding along the shoreline of the
                                              Africa Partnership Forum (APF) Day;
                                                                                                      other organizational entities.                        interior of Jamaica Bay. Hurricane
                                              Notice of Meeting
                                                                                                         Friday, June 12 will focus on                      Sandy illustrated the need to re-evaluate
                                              AGENCY: United States Africa Command                    departure of attendees and compiling of               the entire peninsula and back-bay area
                                              (USAFRICOM), DoD.                                                                                             as a system, when considering risk-
                                                                                                      comments and contributions of
                                              ACTION: Notice of meeting.                                                                                    management measures. Acknowledging
                                                                                                      participants.
                                                                                                                                                            the amount of analyses required to
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                              SUMMARY:   The Headquarters, United                       Dated: March 30, 2015.                              comprehensively reevaluate the study
                                              States Africa Command (USAFRTCOM),                      Aaron Siegel,                                         area considering the influence of the
                                              plans to host an Africa Partnership                     Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison                Atlantic Ocean shorefront conditions on
                                              Forum (APF) Day, June 8–12, 2015. For                   Officer, Department of Defense.                       the back-bay system, a single Hurricane
                                              planning purposes, AFRICOM is                           [FR Doc. 2015–07575 Filed 4–1–15; 8:45 am]            Sandy General Reevaluation Report and
                                              gathering information on potential                      BILLING CODE CODE 5001–06–P
                                                                                                                                                            EIS (GRR/EIS) will be prepared. The
                                              number or ‘‘head count’’ of business or                                                                       Corps will use a tiered process to


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                                              17730                          Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 63 / Thursday, April 2, 2015 / Notices

                                              facilitate project decision-making. The                 Peninsula consists of a 100-foot berm                 the economic costs and risks associated
                                              EIS will build upon the extensive                       width (i.e., beach) at an elevation of +10            with large-scale flood and storm events
                                              Atlantic shoreline alternatives analysis                foot NGVD (approximately 8.9 feet                     in areas along the Atlantic Coast within
                                              and environmental and technical                         NAVD88) over the peninsula’s entire                   the boundaries of the North Atlantic
                                              studies and outreach conducted to date.                 project length.                                       Division of the Corps that were affected
                                              The proposed tiering approach will                         The 1965 authorized project also                   by Hurricane Sandy.’’ In partial
                                              allow the study to focus on both broad                  included measures to provide hurricane                fulfillment of the requirements detailed
                                              overall Jamaica Bay-wide issues while                   damage risk reduction within Jamaica                  within the Act, the USACE identified
                                              simultaneously assessing site specific                  Bay by constructing a hurricane barrier               authorized USACE projects for reducing
                                              impacts, costs and mitigation measures                  and closure structure across the                      flooding and storm risks that have been
                                              for the shorefront and back-bay                         entrance to Jamaica Bay (Rockaway                     constructed or are under construction
                                              alternatives. The scope of analysis in the              Inlet). This original project authority               that could be re-evaluated under the
                                              Tier 1 and Tier 2 will be appropriate to                was modified by Section 72 of the Water               new guidelines; the existing East
                                              the level of detail necessary for those                 Resources Development Act of 1974 to                  Rockaway Inlet to Rockaway Inlet and
                                              documents and will receive input from                   provide for the separate construction of              Jamaica Bay, NY project met the criteria
                                              the public and reviewing agencies. The                  the beach erosion control on the ocean-               for re-evaluation.
                                              Tier 1 shoreline analysis will provide                  front of the Rockaway Peninsula                          Because the reformulation for the
                                              the basis for the alternatives to problems              independently from the hurricane                      Jamaica Bay portion of the study area
                                              associated with erosion, storm surge,                   barrier addressing Jamaica Bay. For                   had not been advanced prior to
                                              and wave damage along the Atlantic                      more than 30 years, the ocean-front                   Hurricane Sandy, the Corps accelerated
                                              Ocean shoreline the relationship of the                 portion of the authorized project has                 the reformulation effort for the back-bay
                                              shoreline with the back-bay. The Tier 2                 been maintained; the hurricane barrier                portion of the study. The Corps is
                                              analysis will specifically address the                  portion of the originally authorized                  currently integrating the advanced plan
                                              flooding of communities within and                      project was never constructed and was                 formulation effort for the shorefront
                                              surrounding Jamaica Bay.                                subsequently de-authorized by the                     with the relatively recent planning effort
                                              ADDRESSES: Send written comments and
                                                                                                      Water Resources Development Act of                    for the back-bay into a single
                                                                                                      1986.                                                 comprehensive document to address the
                                              suggestions concerning the scope of
                                                                                                         In the early 2000s, the Corps began a              entire system. Acknowledging the
                                              issues to be evaluated within the EIS to
                                                                                                      reformulation effort to examine possible              amount of analyses required to
                                              Robert Smith, Project Biologist/NEPA                    changes to the originally authorized East             comprehensively reevaluate the study
                                              Coordinator, U.S. Army Corps of                         Rockaway Inlet to Rockaway Inlet and                  area considering the influence of the
                                              Engineers, New York District, Planning                  Jamaica Bay Project. The constructed                  Atlantic Ocean shorefront conditions on
                                              Division, Environmental, 26 Federal                     shorefront features of the Atlantic                   the back-bay system, a single Hurricane
                                              Plaza, New York, NY 10279–0090;                         Coastline (East Rockaway Inlet to                     Sandy General Reevaluation Report and
                                              Phone: (917) 790–8729; email: robert.j.                 Rockaway Inlet) were being                            EIS (GRR/EIS) will be prepared. The
                                              smith@usace.army.mil.                                   reformulated with the goal of: Reducing               Corps will use a tiered process to
                                              FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                        coastal storm vulnerability to erosion,               facilitate project decision-making. The
                                              Questions about the overall East                        waves, and surge; identifying measures                EIS will build upon the extensive
                                              Rockaway Inlet to Rockaway Inlet and                    to reduce long-term re-nourishment                    Atlantic shoreline alternatives analysis
                                              Jamaica Bay Coastal Storm Risk                          costs; and extending federal                          and environmental and technical
                                              Management Reformulation Study                          participation in the project for up to 50             studies and outreach conducted to date.
                                              should be directed to Daniel T. Falt,                   years. The reformulation effort was                   The proposed tiering approach will
                                              Project Manager, U.S. Army Corps of                     exclusively examining shorefront                      allow the study to focus on both broad
                                              Engineers, New York District, Programs                  features as stand-alone alternatives for              overall Jamaica Bay-wide issues while
                                              and Project Management Division, Civil                  addressing shorefront damages. The                    simultaneously assessing site specific
                                              Works Programs Branch, 26 Federal                       Corps developed shorefront alternatives               impacts, costs and mitigation measures
                                              Plaza, Room 2127, New York, NY                          with the NYSDEC and the resource                      for the shorefront and back-bay
                                              10279–0090; Phone: (917) 790–8614;                      agency and public coordination of the                 alternatives. The scope of analysis in the
                                              email: daniel.t.falt@usace.army.mil.                    shorefront alternatives was ongoing                   Tier 1 and Tier 2 will be appropriate to
                                              SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                              prior to Hurricane Sandy. The                         the level of detail necessary for those
                                                                                                      reformulation for the Jamaica Bay                     documents and will receive input from
                                              1. Background
                                                                                                      portion of the study area (i.e., the back-            the public and reviewing agencies. The
                                                 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in                 bay communities) had not been                         Tier 1 shoreline analysis will provide
                                              partnership with the New York State                     advanced prior to Hurricane Sandy due                 the basis for the alternatives to problems
                                              Department of Environmental                             to funding constraints.                               associated with erosion, storm surge,
                                              Conservation (NYSDEC), is undertaking                      In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy                   and wave damage along the Atlantic
                                              this study. The original multiple                       made landfall with a combination of                   Ocean shoreline and the Tier 2 analysis
                                              purpose (coastal erosion control and                    massive storm surge, rising water levels              will address the flooding of
                                              coastal flooding protection) project for                and reshaping of local geography. In                  communities within and surrounding
                                              East Rockaway Inlet to Rockaway Inlet                   response to the damages and                           Jamaica Bay.
                                              and Jamaica Bay, New York was                           vulnerability of communities and
                                              authorized by the Flood Control Act of                  ecosystems along the Atlantic Coast, the              2. Study Area
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                              1965 (Pub. L. 89–298). The authorized                   U.S. Congress passed the Disaster Relief                 The study area encompasses the
                                              project provided for the restoration of a               Appropriations Act of 2013 (Pub. L.                   Atlantic Coast of New York City
                                              protective beach along 6.2 miles of                     113–2). In part, directing the Corps of               between East Rockaway Inlet and
                                              Rockaway Beach, between Beach 19th                      Engineers to ‘‘. . . reduce future flood              Rockaway Inlet, and the water and lands
                                              Street and Beach 149th Street. The                      risk in ways that will support the long-              within and surrounding Jamaica Bay,
                                              beach erosion control features of the                   term sustainability of the coastal                    New York. The southern extent of the
                                              authorized project on the Rockaway                      ecosystem and communities and reduce                  study area is the Atlantic Ocean and


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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 63 / Thursday, April 2, 2015 / Notices                                           17731

                                              shorefront along the Rockaway                           Wednesday, April 29 from 6:00–8:00                    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:     This
                                              Peninsula which separates the Atlantic                  p.m.                                                  meeting is being held under the
                                              Ocean from Jamaica Bay immediately to                                                                         provisions of the Federal Advisory
                                                                                                      5. Lead and Cooperating Agencies
                                              the north.                                                                                                    Committee Act of 1972 (5 U.S.C.,
                                                                                                         The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is                Appendix, as amended), the
                                              3. USACE Decision Making                                the lead federal agency for the                       Government in the Sunshine Act of
                                                 Developing the alternatives                          preparation of the environmental impact               1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b, as amended), and
                                              formulation, engineering design and                     statement (EIS) and meeting the                       41 CFR 102–3.150.
                                              environmental consequences                              requirements of the National                            Purpose of the Meeting: The purpose
                                              assessment into a single GRR/EIS allows                 Environmental Policy Act and the NEPA                 of the meeting is to review and make
                                              the New York District to                                Implementing Regulations of the                       recommendations to the Secretary of
                                              comprehensively evaluate the project as                 President’s Council on Environmental                  Defense concerning requirements
                                              a system. However, the USACE                            Quality (40 CFR parts 1500–1508).                     established by the David L. Boren
                                              acknowledges that the shorefront and                    Within the study area, the National Park              National Security Education Act, Title
                                              back-bay segments may not                               Service (NPS) manages the over 19,000-                VII of Public Law 102–183, as amended.
                                              concurrently be ready for a                             acre Jamaica Bay Unit of the Gateway                    Agenda:
                                              recommendation. The shorefront                          National Recreation Area. Many of the
                                                                                                                                                            8:30 a.m.—Opening Remarks and Key
                                              portion of the project has undergone                    actions evaluated within the EIS could
                                                                                                                                                                 Updates.
                                              extensive alternatives analysis, while                  occur within the National Recreation
                                                                                                                                                            9:15 a.m.—Programmatic Updates.
                                              the back-bay re-evaluation process is in                Area. Federal agencies interested in
                                                                                                                                                            10:00 a.m.—Class of 2015 Boren
                                              its earlier stages. Additionally, the                   participating as a Cooperating Agency
                                                                                                                                                                 Scholars and Fellows.
                                              shorefront measures being evaluated                     are requested to submit a letter of intent
                                                                                                                                                            10:45 a.m.—Break.
                                              have been the subject of considerable                   to Colonel Paul E. Owen, District
                                                                                                                                                            11:00 a.m.—Strategic National Security
                                              public and agency coordination while                    Engineer (see ADDRESSES). The
                                                                                                                                                                 Hiring Needs.
                                              these essential coordination efforts have               preparation of the EIS will be
                                                                                                                                                            11:30 a.m.—Read Out From NSEB
                                              not been completed for the back-bay                     coordinated with New York State and
                                                                                                                                                                 Working Group on
                                              alternatives.                                           New York City agencies with
                                                 As a result, the Corps will develop the                                                                         Communications.
                                                                                                      discretionary authority relative to the
                                              HSGRR/EIS evaluating the entire area,                                                                         12:15 p.m.—Working Lunch.
                                                                                                      proposed actions. The Draft EIS is
                                              but will tier the decisions (i.e., issue                                                                      1:00 p.m.—Full Board Discussion on
                                                                                                      currently scheduled for distribution to
                                              separate records of decision) on the                    the public November 2015.                                  NSEP Strategic Communications
                                              respective areas. This decision making                                                                             and Branding.
                                                                                                        Dated: March 26, 2015.                              2:30 p.m.—Break.
                                              approach will allow time to address                     Peter M. Weppler,
                                              agency policy issues and build                                                                                2:45 p.m.—New NSEP Initiatives.
                                                                                                      Chief, Environmental Analysis Branch,                 3:15 p.m.—Board Discussion.
                                              consensus among cooperating agencies                    Planning Division.
                                              and the public. This option to issue                                                                          4:00 p.m.—Adjourn.
                                                                                                      [FR Doc. 2015–07580 Filed 4–1–15; 8:45 am]              Public’s Accessibility to the Meeting:
                                              multiple records of decision based on a
                                              single EIS is available to the USACE                    BILLING CODE CODE 3720–58–P                           Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552b and 41 CFR
                                              because of the flexibility in the NEPA                                                                        102–3.140 through 102–3.165, and the
                                              process as described in the President’s                                                                       availability of space, this meeting is
                                                                                                      DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE                                 open to the public. Seating is on a first-
                                              Council on Environmental Quality’s
                                              (CEQ) NEPA-Implementing Regulations.                    Office of the Secretary                               come basis.
                                                                                                                                                              Committee’s Point of Contact: Alison
                                              4. Public Participation                                                                                       Patz, Alternate Designated Federal
                                                                                                      National Security Education Board;
                                                 The USACE invites public comment                     Notice of Federal Advisory Committee                  Official, (571) 256–0771,
                                              on the scope of the issues and                          Meeting                                               Alison.m.patz.civ@mail.mil.
                                              alternatives to be addressed in the draft                                                                       Pursuant to 41 CFR 102–3.140 and
                                              EIS. Input will be received through                     AGENCY:  The Office of the Under                      sections 10(a)(3) of the Federal Advisory
                                              public meetings with both oral and                      Secretary of Defense for Personnel and                Committee Act of 1972, the public or
                                              written comments being provided;                        Readiness, Defense Language and                       interested organizations may submit
                                              written comments may be submitted at                    National Security Education Office                    written statements to the Department of
                                              any time during the process. The New                    (DLNSEO), DoD.                                        Defense National Security Education
                                              York District will host a series of three               ACTION: Meeting notice.                               Board about its mission and functions.
                                              public scoping meetings to receive                      SUMMARY:   The Department of Defense is               Written statements may be submitted at
                                              comments on the proposed scope of                       publishing this notice to announce that               any time or in response to the stated
                                              issues to be evaluated in the draft                     the following Federal advisory                        agenda of the planned meeting.
                                              environmental impact statement. Each                    committee meeting of the National                       All written statements shall be
                                              of the public meetings will begin with                  Security Education Board will take                    submitted to the Designated Federal
                                              an informal open house from 5:00 p.m.                   place. This meeting is open to the                    Official for the National Security
                                              to 6:00 p.m. followed by the formal                     public.                                               Education Board, and this individual
                                              meeting from 7:00–9:00 p.m.                                                                                   will ensure that the written statements
                                                 Two public meetings have been                        DATES: Tuesday, May 5, 2015, from 8:30                are provided to the membership for
                                                                                                      a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                              scheduled with a third TBD. The first                                                                         their consideration. Contact information
                                              will be held at the Knights of Columbus                 ADDRESSES: 1101 Wilson Boulevard,                     for the Designated Federal Official can
                                              (333 Beach 90th Street, Rockaway                        Suite 1210, Arlington, VA 22209.                      be obtained from the GSA’s FACA
                                              Beach, NY 11693) on April 22, 2015                      FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      Database—http://
                                              between 6:30–9:30 p.m. The second is                    Alison Patz, telephone: (571) 256–0771,               www.facadatabase.gov/.
                                              scheduled at the Ryan Visitor Center (50                Alison.m.patz.civ@mail.mil, fax: (703)                  Statements being submitted in
                                              Aviator Road Brooklyn, NY 11234) for                    692–2615.                                             response to the agenda mentioned in


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Document Created: 2018-02-21 10:03:24
Document Modified: 2018-02-21 10:03:24
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of intent.
ContactQuestions about the overall East Rockaway Inlet to Rockaway Inlet and Jamaica Bay Coastal Storm Risk Management Reformulation Study should be directed to Daniel T. Falt, Project Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, Programs and Project Management Division, Civil Works Programs Branch, 26 Federal Plaza, Room 2127, New York, NY 10279-0090; Phone: (917) 790- 8614; email: [email protected]
FR Citation80 FR 17729 

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