[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 60 (Friday, March 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 14892]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-7906]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement to
Evaluate a Permit Application by Empire, Ltd.
AGENCY: Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Empire, Ltd., of Wood-Ridge, New Jersey, has submitted an
application for a Department of the Army permit to discharge 2.5
million cubic yards of dredged and/or fill material into 206 acres of
waters of the United States, including wetlands, to facilitate the
construction of a commercial mall with retail and office space, hotel,
light industrial facilities, roads, and infrastructure. The discharge
of dredged and/or fill materials into waters of the United States
requires a Department of the Army Permit pursuant to Section 10 of the
Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 403) and Section 404 of the
Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344). The Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) process will assist the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in
determining whether to issue or deny a permit for the project under
these authorities. This action is taking place in accordance with the
USACE procedures for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act
(33 CFR Parts 230 and 325).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Joseph J. Seebode, Chief, Regulatory Branch, New York District
Corps of Engineers, 26 Federal Plaza, Room 1937, New York, New York
10278-0090, Telephone (212) 264-3996.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Project Description
Empire, Ltd. submitted an application for a Department of the Army
permit to discharge approximately 2.5 million cubic yards of dredged
and/or fill material into 206 acres of waters and wetlands, to create
dry land to facilitate the construction of a major commercial
development project. The project, known as Meadowlands Mills, would
include a shopping mall, entertainment center, office complex, hotel,
mass transit center, light industrial facilities, and associated
parking structures and roadways. The project is proposed to be
developed by Empire, Ltd., and the Mills Corporation of Arlington,
Virginia. The work is proposed on a 592 acre site containing wetlands
and open waters adjacent to the Hackensack River within the Hackensack
Meadowlands District in the Townships of Carlstadt, Moonachie, and
South Hackensack, Bergen County, New Jersey. The applicant has
submitted a wetlands mitigation plan with the application proposing
enhancement, creation, and preservation activities, to establish
approximately 380 acres of higher value wetlands onsite.
On February 6, 1997, USACE completed an Environmental Assessment
(EA) under the Corps of Engineers and Council on Environmental Quality
regulations for implementing NEPA. The EA was prepared utilizing
information made available through the public interest process until
that date, including the issuance of a public notice and the conduct of
two public hearings in the vicinity of the project. The EA concluded
that USACE will require the preparation of an Environmental Impact
Statement to process the application.
2. Reasonable Alternatives
In addition to the no action alternative, reasonable alternatives
to be considered include the following:
a. Off-site alternatives to construction as proposed
b. On-Site alternatives to construction as proposed
c. Construction Techniques
3. EIS Scoping
As part of the EIS scoping process, comments on the proposed scope
of the EIS will be accepted until 45 days after the publication of this
Notice of Intent in the Federal Register; all comments should be
addressed to the contact person indicated above. In addition to
receiving written comments, the USACE will receive oral comments during
a public scoping meeting scheduled for the latter part of the scoping
period. Notice of the public scoping meeting will be made through
mailings and/or legal notices in local newspapers.
4. Public Participation in the EIS Process
The EIS process will provide opportunities for full participation
by interested federal, state, and local agencies, as well as other
interested organizations and the general public. All interested parties
are encouraged to submit their names and addresses to the contact
person indicated above for inclusion on the distribution list for the
draft and final EIS and any related public notices.
5. Federal Agency Participation in the EIS Process
Federal agencies with an interest in this EIS effort are requested
to participate as cooperating agencies pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1501.6.
All interested federal agencies are requested to submit a letter of
intent to Colonel Gary Thomas, Corps of Engineers, District Engineer.
John R. Hartmann,
Chief, Operations Division.
[FR Doc. 97-7906 Filed 3-27-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-06-M