[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 83 (Friday, April 28, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24945-24946]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-10633]


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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 the New Jersey Turnpike Authority

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers--New York District, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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[[Page 24946]]

SUMMARY: The New Jersey Turnpike Authority of New Brunswick, New Jersey 
has submitted an application for a Department of the Army permit to 
discharge fill material permanently impacting approximately 12 acres of 
waters of the United States including wetlands, and to temporarily fill 
other waters, to facilitate the construction of a limited-access toll 
roadway known as New Jersey Route 92. The discharge of fill material 
into waters of the United States requires a Department of the Army 
Permit pursuant to 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 that authority. This action is taking 
place in accordance with the USACE procedures for implementing the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 33 CFR Parts 230 and 325.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James W. Haggerty, Chief, Eastern 
Permits Section, New York District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 26 
Federal Plaza, Room 1937, New York, New York 10278-0090, e-mail 
[email protected] Telephone (212) 264-3912

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Project Description

    The New Jersey Turnpike Authority has submitted an application for 
a Department of the Army permit to discharge fill material permanently 
impacting approximately 12 acres of waters of the United States 
including wetlands, and to temporarily fill other waters, to facilitate 
the construction of a limited-access toll roadway known as New Jersey 
Route 92. The proposed roadway corridor is within the Devils Brook and 
Shallow Brook watersheds in the Townships of South Brunswick, Monroe 
and Plainsboro, Middlesex County, New Jersey. The applicant has 
submitted a wetlands mitigation plan with the application, proposing 
creation of approximately 57 acres of wetlands from existing uplands 
and proposing preservation activities. In total, approximately 260 
acres of mostly forested wetlands, owned by the applicant adjacent to 
the proposed roadway corridor, would be created and/or preserved.
    On February 7, 2000, USACE completed an analysis of the Need to 
Prepare an EIS. This analysis was prepared under the Corps of Engineers 
and Council on Environmental Quality regulations for implementing NEPA. 
The analysis 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 a public hearing in Plainsboro, New 
Jersey on March 29, 1999. The analysis concluded that USACE will 
require the preparation of an EIS to process the application.

2. Reasonable Alernatives

    In addition to the no action alternative, reasonable alternatives 
to be considered include the following:
    a. Preferred Alternative of New Jersey Turnpike Authority
    b. Alternatives to construction as proposed
    c. Alternate 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 to be scheduled for the latter part of the 
scoping period. Notice of the public scoping meeting will be made 
through mailings and/or the New York District's website. (http://www.nan.usace.army.mil)

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 list for distribution of 
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 Joseph J. Seebode, Chief, Regulatory Branch, New York 
District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Joseph J. Seebode,
Chief, Regulatory Branch.
[FR Doc. 00-10633 Filed 4-27-00; 8:45 am]
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