83 FR 6169 - Notice of Intent To Prepare a Tiered Environmental Impact Statement for the New York New Jersey Harbor and Tributaries Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 30 (February 13, 2018)

Page Range		6169-6169
FR Document		2018-02874

Pursuant to the requirements of section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District (Corps) is preparing an integrated Feasibility Report/Tiered Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed New York New Jersey Harbor and Tributaries Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study (NYNJHAT). The study is assessing the feasibility of coastal storm risk management alternatives to be implemented within the authorized study area with a specific emphasis on the New York New Jersey Harbor, including Raritan Bay, the tidally- affected stretches of the Passaic and Hackensack Rivers, and the Hudson River to Troy, New York.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 30 (Tuesday, February 13, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 13, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 6169]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02874]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Tiered Environmental Impact 
Statement for the New York New Jersey Harbor and Tributaries Coastal 
Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the requirements of section 102(2)(C) of the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, New York District (Corps) is preparing an integrated 
Feasibility Report/Tiered Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 
proposed New York New Jersey Harbor and Tributaries Coastal Storm Risk 
Management Feasibility Study (NYNJHAT). The study is assessing the 
feasibility of coastal storm risk management alternatives to be 
implemented within the authorized study area with a specific emphasis 
on the New York New Jersey Harbor, including Raritan Bay, the tidally-
affected stretches of the Passaic and Hackensack Rivers, and the Hudson 
River to Troy, New York.

ADDRESSES: Pertinent information about the study can be found at: 
http://www.nan.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Projects-in-New-York/New-York-New-Jersey-Harbor-Tributaries-Focus-Area-Feasibility-Study/.
    Interested parties are welcome to send written comments and 
suggestions concerning the scope of issues to be evaluated within the 
Tiered EIS to Nancy J. Brighton, Chief, Watershed Section, 
Environmental Analysis Branch, Planning Division, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, New York District, 26 Federal Plaza, New York, Room 2151, NY 
10279-0090; Phone: (917) 790-8703; email: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the overall NYNJHAT 
study should be directed to Bryce Wisemiller, 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) 790-8307; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Background

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), in partnership with the 
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and 
the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) as the 
non-federal sponsors, are undertaking this study. In addition, the City 
of New York is a non-federal partner. The NYNJHAT study area, which 
encompasses the New York metropolitan area, is highly vulnerable to 
damage from coastal storm surge, wave attack, erosion, and intense 
rainfall-storm water runoff events that cause riverine or inland 
flooding, which can exacerbate coastal flooding. The NYNJHAT study is 
authorized under Public Law 84-71, June 15, 1955 (69 Stat. 132) to 
conduct an investigation into potential coastal storm risk management 
solutions. A Feasibility Cost Sharing Agreement (FCSA) was executed in 
2016 with the NYSDEC and NJDEP.

2. Study Area

    The study area encompasses approximately 2,150 square miles and 
includes parts of Bergen, Passaic, Morris, Essex, Hudson, Union, 
Somerset, Middlesex, and Monmouth Counties in New Jersey and 
Rensselaer, Albany, Columbia, Greene, Duchess, Ulster, Putnam, Orange, 
Westchester, Rockland, Bronx, New York, Queens, Kings, Richmond, and 
Nassau Counties in New York. The study area extends upstream of the 
Hudson River to the federal lock and dam at Troy, New York, the Passaic 
River to the Dundee Dam, and the Hackensack River to the Oradell 
Reservoir.

3. Public Participation

    The Corps, the NYSDEC and the NJDEP hosted three agency workshop 
meetings in January and February 2017, with representatives from 
federal and state agencies, as well as representatives from local 
agencies and towns. The Corps, NYSDEC and NJDEP are anticipating 
hosting a NEPA Scoping Meetings in March and April 2018. Public notices 
announcing the meeting date, time, location and agenda will be 
published in the appropriate local newspapers, municipality web pages, 
and the Corps' New York District web page (see STUDY WEB PAGE and 
ADDRESSES above) 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 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the lead federal agency for the 
preparation of a Tiered Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in order 
to meet the requirements of the NEPA and the NEPA Implementing 
Regulations of the President's Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR 
1500-1508). The Corps has invited the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
the National Marine Fisheries Service, the National Park Service, and 
the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be Cooperating or 
Participating Agencies on this study. The preparation of a Tiered EIS 
will be coordinated with New York State, New Jersey State and local 
municipalities with discretionary authority relative to the proposed 
actions. The Draft integrated Feasibility Report/Tiered EIS is 
currently scheduled for distribution to the public Summer 2018.

    Dated: February 6, 2018.
Peter M. Weppler,
Chief, Environmental Analysis Branch, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 2018-02874 Filed 2-12-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3720-58-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 13, 2018 / Notices 6169

specific hardware, the information Section, Environmental Analysis meetings in January and February 2017,
could be used to develop Branch, Planning Division, U.S. Army with representatives from federal and
countermeasures which might reduce Corps of Engineers, New York District, state agencies, as well as representatives
weapons system effectiveness or be used 26 Federal Plaza, New York, Room from local agencies and towns. The
in the development of a system with 2151, NY 10279–0090; Phone: (917) Corps, NYSDEC and NJDEP are
similar or advanced capabilities. 790–8703; email: Nancy.J.Brighton@ anticipating hosting a NEPA Scoping
5. A determination has been made usace.army.mil. Meetings in March and April 2018.
that Finland can provide substantially FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Public notices announcing the meeting
the same degree of protection for Questions about the overall NYNJHAT date, time, location and agenda will be
sensitive technology being released as study should be directed to Bryce published in the appropriate local
the U.S. Government. This proposed Wisemiller, Project Manager, U.S. Army newspapers, municipality web pages,
sustainment program is necessary to the Corps of Engineers, New York District, and the Corps’ New York District web
furtherance of the U.S. foreign policy Programs and Project Management page (see STUDY WEB PAGE and
and national security objectives Division, Civil Works Programs Branch, ADDRESSES above) and will be
outlined in the policy justification. 26 Federal Plaza, Room 2127, New
6. All defense articles and services distributed to the local stakeholders and
York, NY 10279–0090; Phone: (917) known interested parties.
listed on this transmittal are authorized 790–8307; email: Bryce.W.Wisemiller@
for release and export to the usace.army.mil. A scoping comment period of 30 days
Government of Finland. will be established from the scheduled
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: date of the meeting to allow agencies,
[FR Doc. 2018–02876 Filed 2–12–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001–06–P 1. Background organizations and individuals to submit
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers comments, questions and/or concerns
(Corps), in partnership with the New regarding the Feasibility Study.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Comments, concerns and information
York State Department of
Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) submitted to the Corps will be evaluated
Department of the Army, Corps of and considered during the development
Engineers and the New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection (NJDEP) as of the Draft EIS.
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Tiered the non-federal sponsors, are Lead and Cooperating Agencies
Environmental Impact Statement for undertaking this study. In addition, the
the New York New Jersey Harbor and City of New York is a non-federal The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is
Tributaries Coastal Storm Risk partner. The NYNJHAT study area, the lead federal agency for the
Management Feasibility Study which encompasses the New York preparation of a Tiered Environmental
metropolitan area, is highly vulnerable Impact Statement (EIS) in order to meet
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to damage from coastal storm surge, the requirements of the NEPA and the
DOD. wave attack, erosion, and intense NEPA Implementing Regulations of the
ACTION: Notice of intent. rainfall-storm water runoff events that President’s Council on Environmental
cause riverine or inland flooding, which Quality (40 CFR 1500–1508). The Corps
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the requirements
can exacerbate coastal flooding. The has invited the U.S. Coast Guard, the
of section 102(2)(C) of the National
NYNJHAT study is authorized under U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the
Public Law 84–71, June 15, 1955 (69
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the
Stat. 132) to conduct an investigation
York District (Corps) is preparing an National Marine Fisheries Service, the
into potential coastal storm risk
integrated Feasibility Report/Tiered National Park Service, and the Federal
management solutions. A Feasibility
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Emergency Management Agency to be
Cost Sharing Agreement (FCSA) was
for the proposed New York New Jersey Cooperating or Participating Agencies
executed in 2016 with the NYSDEC and
Harbor and Tributaries Coastal Storm on this study. The preparation of a
NJDEP.
Risk Management Feasibility Study Tiered EIS will be coordinated with
(NYNJHAT). The study is assessing the 2. Study Area New York State, New Jersey State and
feasibility of coastal storm risk The study area encompasses local municipalities with discretionary
management alternatives to be approximately 2,150 square miles and authority relative to the proposed
implemented within the authorized includes parts of Bergen, Passaic, actions. The Draft integrated Feasibility
study area with a specific emphasis on Morris, Essex, Hudson, Union, Report/Tiered EIS is currently
the New York New Jersey Harbor, Somerset, Middlesex, and Monmouth scheduled for distribution to the public
including Raritan Bay, the tidally- Counties in New Jersey and Rensselaer, Summer 2018.
affected stretches of the Passaic and Albany, Columbia, Greene, Duchess,
Hackensack Rivers, and the Hudson Dated: February 6, 2018.
Ulster, Putnam, Orange, Westchester,
River to Troy, New York. Rockland, Bronx, New York, Queens, Peter M. Weppler,
ADDRESSES: Pertinent information about Kings, Richmond, and Nassau Counties Chief, Environmental Analysis Branch,
the study can be found at: http:// in New York. The study area extends Planning Division.
www.nan.usace.army.mil/Missions/ upstream of the Hudson River to the [FR Doc. 2018–02874 Filed 2–12–18; 8:45 am]
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

Civil-Works/Projects-in-New-York/New- federal lock and dam at Troy, New York, BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
York-New-Jersey-Harbor-Tributaries- the Passaic River to the Dundee Dam,
Focus-Area-Feasibility-Study/. and the Hackensack River to the Oradell
Interested parties are welcome to send Reservoir.
written comments and suggestions
concerning the scope of issues to be 3. Public Participation
evaluated within the Tiered EIS to The Corps, the NYSDEC and the
Nancy J. Brighton, Chief, Watershed NJDEP hosted three agency workshop

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Document Created: 2018-02-13 02:32:40
Document Modified: 2018-02-13 02:32:40

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.
Contact		Questions about the overall NYNJHAT study should be directed to Bryce Wisemiller, 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) 790-8307; email: [email protected]
FR Citation		83 FR 6169

83 FR 6169 - Notice of Intent To Prepare a Tiered Environmental Impact Statement for the New York New Jersey Harbor and Tributaries Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSEDepartment of the Army, Corps of Engineers

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 30 (February 13, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers