[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 177 (Friday, September 12, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48064-48065]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-24199]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army
Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
for a Proposed Environmental Restoration and Storm Damage Reduction 
Project for Lower Cape May Meadows, Cape May County, NJ

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The action being taken is an evaluation of the alternatives 
for storm damage reduction and environmental restoration for the Lower 
Cape May Meadows, Cape May, New Jersey. The purpose of any consequent 
work would be to provide protection and stabilization to the shoreline 
protecting the important ecological habitat at The Meadows and to 
restore sensitive habitat behind the dune.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions regarding the DEIS should be addressed to Ms. Beth Brandreth, 
(215) 656-6558, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, CENAP-PL-E, Wanamaker 
Building, 100 Penn Square East, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107-3390.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Proposed Action

    a. The draft document evaluates a study area which includes the 
Lower Cape May Meadows and Cape May Point, extending from Alexander 
Avenue east to the terminal groin located at Third Avenue in Cape May 
City. The study area encompasses approximately 350 acres of critical 
migratory bird habitat, composed mostly of fresh water and brackish 
water wetlands. A portion of this site is owned by the Nature 
Conservancy while the remainder is managed by the State of New Jersey 
in the form of Cape May Point State Park. The beach which protects this 
habitat has been subject to extensive erosion by storms, tidal 
inundation, and wave action, resulting in the loss of approximately 115 
acres of habitat since 1955. In addition, the continuous erosion, dune 
breaching and salt water intrusion has degraded the remaining habitat. 
Two potential offshore sand borrow sources, located in the vicinity of 
The Meadows, have been investigated during this study.
    b. The authorities for the proposed project are the resolutions 
adopted by the Committee on Public Works and Transportation of the U.S. 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Environmental and Public 
Works of the U.S. Senate in December 1987.

2. Alternatives

    In addition to the no action alternative, the alternatives 
considered for environmental restoration, storm damage reduction, and 
erosion control will fall into structural and environmental management 
categories. The structural measures to correct the beach erosion 
include offshore breakwaters, groins, beach nourishment, perched beach, 
submerged reef with beachfill, and offshore submerged feeder berms. 
Environmental management measures include the elimination/

[[Page 48065]]

 control of nuisance plant species (Phragmites australis), increasing 
the availability of fresh water, improving internal water quality, and 
protecting and restoring beach and freshwater wetlands habitat.

3. Scoping

    a. Numerous studies and reports addressing beach erosion along the 
New Jersey Coast were conducted by the Corps of Engineers. The most 
recent study for this area is a Reconnaissance Report; Lower Cape May 
Meadows--Cape May Point Reconnaissance Study (August 1994), which 
identified a number of problem areas where erosion and tidal inundation 
were negatively impacting the shoreline and adjacent wildlife habitat. 
This study identified Lower Cape May Meadows and Cape May Point as 
areas to be recommended for further study in the feasibility phase.
    b. The scoping process is on-going and has involved preliminary 
coordination with Federal, State, and local agencies. Participation of 
the general public and other interested parties and organizations will 
be invited by means of a public notice.
    c. The significant issues and concerns that have been identified 
include the impacts of the project on aquatic biota, water quality, 
intertidal habitat, shallow water habitat, migratory bird species, and 
cultural resources.

4. Availability

    It is estimated that the DEIS will be made available to the public 
in November 1997.
Gregory D. Showalter,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 97-24199 Filed 9-11-97; 8:45 am]
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