83 FR 54919 - New York and New Jersey Harbor Anchorages General Reevaluation Study NEPA Scoping Meeting and Public Comment Period

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 212 (November 1, 2018)

Page Range		54919-54920
FR Document		2018-23879

In accordance with all applicable laws and regulations, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) plans to prepare a General Reevaluation Study (GRR) with an integrated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate environmental impacts from reasonable project alternatives and to determine the potential for significant impacts related to the improvement of the anchorages included in the Federal navigation project to take into account changed conditions and/or assumptions since the original feasibility study was completed in 2000. The GRR will address the need for anchorage areas capable of safely accommodating the vessels navigating the anchorages at present and reasonably projected to be navigating them in the future; or find that no plan is currently justified.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 212 (Thursday, November 1, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 212 (Thursday, November 1, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54919-54920]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-23879]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


New York and New Jersey Harbor Anchorages General Reevaluation 
Study NEPA Scoping Meeting and Public Comment Period

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

ACTION: Notice of Intent/NEPA Scoping meeting and public comment 
period.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with all applicable laws and regulations, the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) plans to prepare a General 
Reevaluation Study (GRR) with an integrated Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) to evaluate environmental impacts from reasonable 
project alternatives and to determine the potential for significant 
impacts related to the improvement of the anchorages included in the 
Federal navigation project to take into account

[[Page 54920]]

changed conditions and/or assumptions since the original feasibility 
study was completed in 2000. The GRR will address the need for 
anchorage areas capable of safely accommodating the vessels navigating 
the anchorages at present and reasonably projected to be navigating 
them in the future; or find that no plan is currently justified.

DATES: Scoping comments may be submitted until December 10, 2018.

ADDRESSES: The public is invited to submit NEPA scoping comments at the 
meeting and/or submit comments to Mr. David Schulte, Department of the 
Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, Fort Norfolk, 803 
Front St., Norfolk, VA 23510 or via email: 
[email protected]. The project title and the commenter's 
contact information should be included with submitted comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Schulte, (757) 201-7007.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Applicable laws and regulations are section 
102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as 
amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321-4370, as implemented by the Council on 
Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508). The primary 
problem is that existing Federal anchorages in the harbor are 
insufficient in meeting the variety of functions (ex. security and U.S. 
Coast Guard inspections, lightering, bunkering/refueling, waiting 
areas, and emergency ``bailout'' areas) they are used for as part of 
normal harbor operations, which reduces vessel safety and cargo 
transportation efficiency. Multiple issues have been identified by key 
harbor users and stakeholders. There is not enough anchorage area to 
accommodate all of the vessels that need to anchor for various reasons. 
The dimensions of existing anchorages cannot accommodate vessels larger 
than 1100 foot LOA (length overall) which is a significant portion of 
the vessels that regularly call on the harbor and anchored vessels 
regularly swing out into the navigation channel. Vessels are currently 
forced to wait outside the harbor in the ocean due to a lack of 
anchorage availability and/or anchorage areas designed for larger 
vessels.
    USACE is the lead federal agency and the Port Authority of New York 
and New Jersey will be the non-federal sponsor for the study. The GRR 
will address the primary problem of the New York and New Jersey Harbor 
Anchorages by studying all reasonable alternatives and determine the 
Federal interest in cost-sharing for those alternatives.
    As required by Council on Environmental Quality's Principles, 
Requirements and Guidelines for Water and Land Related Resources 
Implementation Studies all reasonable alternatives to the proposed 
Federal action that meet the purpose and need will be considered in the 
EIS. These alternatives will include no action and a range of 
reasonable alternatives for improving navigation in the New York & New 
Jersey Harbor Anchorages.
    Scoping/Public Involvement. The public NEPA scoping meeting will be 
held on November 8, 2018, from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. It will be held at the GSA 
Building, conference rooms 1-3 on the 30th floor, at 290 Broadway, New 
York, NY 10007. Federal, state, and local agencies, Indian tribes, and 
the public are invited to provide scoping comments to identify issues 
and potentially significant effects to be considered in the analysis.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-23879 Filed 10-31-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3720-58-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 212 / Thursday, November 1, 2018 / Notices 54919

The Shark Research Fishery Permit applicant that has submitted a complete 635.24(a). These retention limits will be
Application includes, but is not limited application by the deadline (see DATES) based on available quota, number of
to, a request for the following and has met the selection criteria listed vessels participating in the 2019 shark
information: Type of commercial shark above. Qualified applicants are eligible research fishery, the research objectives
permit possessed; past participation and to be selected to participate in the shark set forth by the shark board, the extent
availability in the commercial shark research fishery for 2019. The HMS of other restrictions placed on the
fishery (not including sharks caught for Management Division will provide the vessel, and may vary by vessel and/or
display); past involvement and list of qualified applicants without location. When not operating under the
compliance with HMS observer identifying information to the SEFSC. auspices of the shark research fishery,
programs per 50 CFR 635.7; past The SEFSC will then evaluate the list of the vessel would still be able to land
compliance with HMS regulations at 50 qualified applicants and, based on the LCS, SCS, and pelagic sharks subject to
CFR part 635; past and present temporal and spatial needs of the existing retention limits on trips
availability to participate in the shark research objectives, the availability of without a NMFS-approved observer.
research fishery year-round; ability to observers, the availability of qualified NMFS annually invites commercial
fish in the regions and season requested; applicants, and the available quota for a shark permit holders (directed and
ability to attend necessary meetings given year, will randomly select incidental) to submit an application to
regarding the objectives and research qualified applicants to conduct the participate in the shark research fishery.
protocols of the shark research fishery; prescribed research. Where there are Permit applications can be found on the
and ability to carry out the research multiple qualified applicants that meet HMS Management Division’s website at
objectives of the Agency. Preference will the criteria, permittees will be randomly https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/atlantic-
be given to those applicants who are selected through a lottery system. If a highly-migratory-species/atlantic-
willing and available to fish year-round public meeting is deemed necessary, highly-migratory-species-permits-and-
and who affirmatively state that they NMFS will announce details of a public reporting-forms or by calling (301) 427–
intend to do so, in order to ensure the selection meeting in a subsequent 8503. Final decisions on the issuance of
timely and accurate data collection Federal Register notice. a shark research fishery permit will
NMFS needs to meet this year’s research Once the selection process is depend on the submission of all
objectives. An applicant who has been complete, NMFS will notify the selected required information by the deadline
charged criminally or civilly (e.g., applicants and issue the shark research (see DATES), and NMFS’ review of
issued a Notice of Violation and fishery permits. The shark research applicant information as outlined above.
Assessment (NOVA) or Notice of Permit fishery permits will be valid through The 2019 shark research fishery will
Sanction) for any HMS-related violation December 31, 2019, unless otherwise start after the opening of the shark
will not be considered for participation specified. If needed, NMFS will fishery and under available quotas as
in the shark research fishery. In communicate with the shark research published in a separate Federal Register
addition, applicants who were selected fishery permit holders to arrange a final rule.
to carry an observer in the previous two captain’s meeting to discuss the
Dated: October 29, 2018.
years for any HMS fishery, but failed to research objectives and protocols.
Karen H. Abrams,
contact NMFS to arrange the placement NMFS usually holds mandatory
captain’s meetings before observers are Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
of an observer as required per 50 CFR
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
635.7, will not be considered for placed on vessels and may hold one for
the 2019 shark research fishery in late [FR Doc. 2018–23901 Filed 10–31–18; 8:45 am]
participation in the 2019 shark research
fishery. Applicants who were selected 2018 or early 2019. Once the fishery BILLING CODE 3510–22–P

to carry an observer in the previous two starts, the shark research fishery permit
years for any HMS fishery and failed to holders must contact the NMFS
comply with all the observer regulations observer coordinator to arrange the DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
per 50 CFR 635.7 will also not be placement of a NMFS-approved
considered. Exceptions will be made for observer for each shark research trip. Department of the Army, Corps of
vessels that were selected for HMS Additionally, selected applicants are Engineers
observer coverage but did not fish in the expected to allow observers the
New York and New Jersey Harbor
quarter when selected and thus did not opportunity to perform their duties as
Anchorages General Reevaluation
require an observer. Applicants who do required and assist observers as
Study NEPA Scoping Meeting and
not possess a valid USCG safety necessary.
A shark research fishery permit will Public Comment Period
inspection decal when the application is
submitted will not be considered. only be valid for the vessel and owner(s) AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S.
Applicants who have been non- and terms and conditions listed on the Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
compliant with any of the HMS observer permit, and, thus, cannot be transferred ACTION: Notice of Intent/NEPA Scoping
program regulations in the previous two to another vessel or owner(s). Shark meeting and public comment period.
years, as described above, may be research fishery permit holders must
eligible for future participation in shark carry a NMFS-approved observer in SUMMARY: In accordance with all
research fishery activities by order to land sandbar sharks. Issuance applicable laws and regulations, the
demonstrating two subsequent years of of a shark research permit does not U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
compliance with observer regulations at guarantee that the permit holder will be plans to prepare a General Reevaluation
50 CFR 635.7. assigned a NMFS-approved observer on Study (GRR) with an integrated
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

any particular trip. Rather, issuance Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
Selection Process indicates that a vessel may be issued a to evaluate environmental impacts from
The HMS Management Division will NMFS-approved observer for a reasonable project alternatives and to
review all submitted applications and particular trip, and on such trips, may determine the potential for significant
develop a list of qualified applicants be allowed to harvest Atlantic sharks, impacts related to the improvement of
from those applications that are deemed including sandbar sharks, in excess of the anchorages included in the Federal
complete. A qualified applicant is an the retention limits described in 50 CFR navigation project to take into account

VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:30 Oct 31, 2018 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\01NON1.SGM 01NON1

54920 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 212 / Thursday, November 1, 2018 / Notices

changed conditions and/or assumptions As required by Council on and analyzed various flood control
since the original feasibility study was Environmental Quality’s Principles, measures and formulated alternatives
completed in 2000. The GRR will Requirements and Guidelines for Water specifically for the Westminster
address the need for anchorage areas and Land Related Resources watershed. USACE also evaluated the
capable of safely accommodating the Implementation Studies all reasonable potential impacts of the alternatives and
vessels navigating the anchorages at alternatives to the proposed Federal ways to minimize such impacts. A
present and reasonably projected to be action that meet the purpose and need Notice of Intent to prepare the Draft EIS
navigating them in the future; or find will be considered in the EIS. These was published on January 13, 2006. A
that no plan is currently justified. alternatives will include no action and public scoping meeting was conducted
DATES: Scoping comments may be a range of reasonable alternatives for on January 25, 2006 in the City of
submitted until December 10, 2018. improving navigation in the New York Garden Grove, CA.
ADDRESSES: The public is invited to & New Jersey Harbor Anchorages. DATES: The Draft IFR is available for a
submit NEPA scoping comments at the Scoping/Public Involvement. The 45-day public review period, pursuant
meeting and/or submit comments to Mr. public NEPA scoping meeting will be to the National Environmental Policy
David Schulte, Department of the Army, held on November 8, 2018, from 5 p.m.- Act (NEPA), from Friday, October 19,
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk 8 p.m. It will be held at the GSA 2018, through Monday, December 3,
District, Fort Norfolk, 803 Front St., Building, conference rooms 1–3 on the 2018.
Norfolk, VA 23510 or via email: 30th floor, at 290 Broadway, New York,
NY 10007. Federal, state, and local ADDRESSES: Comments will be accepted
David.M.Schulte@usace.army.mil. The through the project email address at
project title and the commenter’s agencies, Indian tribes, and the public
are invited to provide scoping westminster_comments@
contact information should be included
comments to identify issues and usace.army.mil, by letter and at public
with submitted comments.
potentially significant effects to be meetings. See SUPPLEMENTARY
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: INFORMATION section for instructions on
David Schulte, (757) 201–7007. considered in the analysis.
how to submit public comments, public
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Brenda S. Bowen, meeting dates, and public meeting
Applicable laws and regulations are Army Federal Register Liaison Officer. locations.
section 102(2)(C) of the National [FR Doc. 2018–23879 Filed 10–31–18; 8:45 am]
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
1969, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321–4370, further information and/or questions
as implemented by the Council on about Westminster, East Garden Grove,
Environmental Quality Regulations (40 please contact Michael Padilla, Program
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
CFR parts 1500–1508). The primary Manager, by mail: U.S. Army Corps of
problem is that existing Federal Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, Chicago District, 231 South
anchorages in the harbor are insufficient Engineers LaSalle Street, Suite 1500, Chicago, IL
in meeting the variety of functions (ex. 60604, by phone: 312–846–5427; or by
security and U.S. Coast Guard Notice of Availability of the Draft email: Michael.C.Padilla@
inspections, lightering, bunkering/ Integrated Feasibility Report Draft usace.army.mil.
refueling, waiting areas, and emergency Environmental Impact Statement/Draft SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
‘‘bailout’’ areas) they are used for as part Environmental Impact Report (DEIS/ 1. Background. The study is being
of normal harbor operations, which DEIR) for Westminster, East Garden conducted in accordance with the study
reduces vessel safety and cargo Grove, California Flood Risk resolution adopted by the Committee on
transportation efficiency. Multiple Management Study Public Works, House of Representatives
issues have been identified by key AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Committee on Public Works on May 8,
harbor users and stakeholders. There is Army Corps of Engineers, DOD. 1964 (Flood Control Act of 1938). The
not enough anchorage area to ACTION: Notice of availability. goal of the Westminster, East Garden
accommodate all of the vessels that Grove Study is to identify sustainable
need to anchor for various reasons. The SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of flood risk management solutions within
dimensions of existing anchorages Engineers (USACE), in cooperation with the Westminster watershed to reduce
cannot accommodate vessels larger than Orange County Public Works, Orange flooding caused by overtopping of the
1100 foot LOA (length overall) which is County, CA announces the availability C05/C06 and C02/C04 channel systems.
a significant portion of the vessels that of a Draft Integrated Feasibility Report USACE conducted the Westminster
regularly call on the harbor and (Draft IFR) including Feasibility Report Study in consultation with other
anchored vessels regularly swing out and Environmental Impact Statement Federal agencies, Native American
into the navigation channel. Vessels are (EIS) for the Westminster, East Garden tribes, state agencies, local governments,
currently forced to wait outside the Grove, California Flood Risk and non-governmental organizations.
harbor in the ocean due to a lack of Management Study for review and 2. The Draft IFR. The Draft IFR
anchorage availability and/or anchorage comment. The Draft IFR presents includes an analysis of four alternatives,
areas designed for larger vessels. alternatives to address flood risk to the including the No Action Alternative, to
USACE is the lead federal agency and residents of the communities in the determine which plan or plans would
the Port Authority of New York and Westminster watershed. The purpose of merit further consideration for federal
New Jersey will be the non-federal this study is to evaluate the flood risk participation. The documentation also
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

sponsor for the study. The GRR will within the Westminster watershed that includes an analysis of the impacts of
address the primary problem of the New is primarily attributable to drainage each alternative on existing resources
York and New Jersey Harbor channels overwhelmed with having to within the Westminster watershed. The
Anchorages by studying all reasonable collect and convey more surface runoff alternatives were developed to a level of
alternatives and determine the Federal downstream towards eventual discharge detail sufficient to identify a Tentatively
interest in cost-sharing for those into the Pacific Ocean than what they Selected Plan (TSP), as well as a Locally
alternatives. were designed for. USACE evaluated Preferred Plan (LPP). The TSP is the

VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:30 Oct 31, 2018 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\01NON1.SGM 01NON1

Document Created: 2018-11-01 01:05:08
Document Modified: 2018-11-01 01:05:08

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of Intent/NEPA Scoping meeting and public comment period.
Dates		Scoping comments may be submitted until December 10, 2018.
Contact		David Schulte, (757) 201-7007.
FR Citation		83 FR 54919

83 FR 54919 - New York and New Jersey Harbor Anchorages General Reevaluation Study NEPA Scoping Meeting and Public Comment Period

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSEDepartment of the Army, Corps of Engineers

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 212 (November 1, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers