82 FR 55594 - Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Byram River Basin Flood Risk Management Study

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 224 (November 22, 2017)

Pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District (Corps) in partnership with the Town of Greenwich as the non-federal sponsor, is preparing an integrated Feasibility Report/Environmental Impact Statement (FR/EIS) for the proposed Byram River Basin Flood Risk Management Feasibility Study. The study is assessing the feasibility of flood risk management alternatives to be implemented within the congressionally authorized study area with a specific emphasis on the Town of Greenwich, Fairfield County, Connecticut and Port Chester, Westchester County, New York.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 224 (Wednesday, November 22, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55594-55595]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-25273]


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

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Byram River Basin Flood Risk Management Study

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District 
(Corps) in partnership with the Town of Greenwich as the non-federal 
sponsor, is preparing an integrated Feasibility Report/Environmental 
Impact Statement (FR/EIS) for the proposed Byram River Basin Flood Risk 
Management Feasibility Study. The study is assessing the feasibility of 
flood risk management alternatives to be implemented within the 
congressionally authorized study area with a specific emphasis on the 
Town of Greenwich, Fairfield County, Connecticut and Port Chester, 
Westchester County, New York.

ADDRESSES: 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. Pertinent 
information about the study can be found at: www.nan.usace.army.mil/Byram. Send written comments and suggestions concerning the scope of 
issues to be evaluated within the EIS to: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the overall Byram 
River Basin Flood Risk Management Feasibility Study should be directed 
to Rifat Salim, 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) 790-8215; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

1. Background

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), in partnership with the 
Town of Greenwich as the non-Federal sponsor, is undertaking this 
study. The Town of Greenwich and Village of Port Chester have been 
subjected to repeated, severe flooding caused by overflow of the Byram 
River due to precipitation of high intensity, large amounts, or 
prolonged duration. The Byram River Basin study was authorized by a 
resolution of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
Docket 2779, dated May 2nd, 2007.
    A Feasibility Cost Sharing Agreement (FCSA) was executed on August 
29, 2012 with the Town of Greenwich. The preliminary alternative 
analyses was completed early 2015 and identified Alternative #2a--
Nonstructural Within the 10-yr Floodplain, and Alternative #5--
Replacement of the Route 1 Highway Bridges, as each having a Benefit 
Cost Ratio over one and are being moved forward for further evaluation 
for eventual identification of the Tentatively Selected Plan.

2. Project Area

    The project area encompasses the portion of the Byram River located 
from southern section of the Pemberwick neighborhood to the Rt. 1 
bridges in the Town of Greenwich, Fairfield County, Connecticut and 
Village of Port Chester, Westchester County, New York.

Public Participation

    The Corps and the Town of Greenwich are currently anticipating 
hosting a NEPA Scoping Meeting in November 2017. Public notices 
announcing the meeting date, time, location and agenda will be 
published in the appropriate local newspapers, the Town of Greenwich 
Web page and on the Corps' New York District Web page (see the 
ADDRESSES section) and will be distributed to the local stakeholders 
and known interested parties.
    A scoping comment period of 30 days will be established from the 
scheduled date of the meeting to allow agencies, organizations and 
individuals to submit comments, questions and/or concerns regarding the 
Feasibility Study. Comments, concerns and information submitted to the 
Corps will be evaluated and considered during the development of the 
Draft EIS.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    The Corps is the lead federal agency for the preparation of the FR/
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 1500-1508). Federal agencies interested 
in participating as a Cooperating Agency are requested to submit a 
letter of intent to Colonel Thomas D. Asbery, District Engineer (see 
ADDRESSES). The preparation of the FR/EIS will be coordinated with the 
States of New York and Connecticut, Town of Greenwich and local 
municipalities with discretionary authority relative to the

[[Page 55595]]

proposed actions. The Draft FR/EIS is currently scheduled for 
distribution to the public in June 2018.

    Dated: November 14, 2017.
Peter M. Weppler,
Chief, Environmental Analysis Branch, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 2017-25273 Filed 11-21-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3720-58-P