[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]


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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.

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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