[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 16, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2199-2200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-1147]


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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 Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction Project at the 
Village of Asharoken, Suffolk County, NY

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

NOTICE: Notice of intent.
SUMMARY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), New York District, 
announces its intent to prepare a DEIS pursuant to the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), in accordance with the Council on 
Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations for Implementing the Procedural 
Provisions of NEPA and the Department of the Army, USACE Procedures for 
Implementing NEPA, to assess the environmental impacts of a proposed 
hurricane and storm damage reduction project for the north shore of 
Long Island in the Village of Asharoken, NY. In accordance with USACE 
policies, the USACE will conduct a feasibility study to evaluate a 
range of structural and non-structural project alternatives. The 
following improvement measures would be considered: beach fill only, 
beach fill in combination with structures such as floodwalls, buried 
rubble-mound seawalls, dunes, stone revetments, interior drainage 
features, modifications to existing shore structures, sand by-passing; 
and non-structural measures

[[Page 2200]]

such as relocations, buyouts, and flood proofing of threatened 
properties. Offshore sand borrow areas, as well as upland areas, will 
be investigated as potential sources of beach fill material.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and the DEIS can be answered by: Ms. Megan B. Grubb, (212) 264-5759, 
U.S. Army Engineer District, New York Planning Division, ATTN: CENA-PL-
EA, 26 Federal Plaza, New York, NY 10278-0090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Project Location: This notice announces the initiation of the 
feasibility phase study for beach erosion control, storm damage 
reduction and related purposes along the north shore of Long Island at 
Asharoken, NY. The study area extends from Long Island Sound on the 
north, Duck Island Harbor and Northport Bay on the south, the North 
Power Station on the East and Eatons Neck on the west.
    Project Authorization and History: The North Shore of Long Island, 
village of Asharoken, New York, Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction 
Study was authorized by a resolution of the U.S. House of 
Representatives Committee on Public Works and Transportation, adopted 
May 13, 1993. In response to the study resolution and a State request, 
following the devastating coastal storm of December 1992, the USACE 
performed a Reconnaissance Study and issued a Reconnaissance Report in 
September 1995 that demonstrated a potential Federal interest and the 
need for a more detailed feasibility study.
    Project Need; The Long Island northern shoreline has historically 
experienced coastal erosion and related storm damage, most recently 
from the two storms of September 1996 and October 1996, and from 
previous storms including the Christmas Eve 1994 storm, and March 1993 
Blizzard of the Century, the December 1992 northeaster, Hurricane 
Danielle of September 1992 and Halloween Storm of 1991. These Storms 
caused evacuations in several north shore communities as well as damage 
from flooding and loss of structures from erosion. The December 1992 
storm alone inundated hundreds of residential and business properties 
and caused damages estimated at $12,000,000. The loss of beachfront in 
some areas now leaves the site increasingly vulnerable to severe 
damages even from moderate storms. The length of Asharoken Beach is 
approximately 2.5 miles, while the width varies from 100 feet at the 
northwestern end to 1,000 feet at the southeastern end. Asharoken 
Avenue, which generally runs parallel to the Long Island Sound 
shoreline, provides only vehicular access to the Village and the Eatons 
Neck community. While the most critically threatened location of 
Asharoken Avenue is protected by a small temporary shore protection 
project, the feasibility study will consider long-term protection 
throughout the Village.
    DEIS Scope: The intended DEIS will evaluate the potential 
environmental and cultural impacts associated with the proposed 
hurricane and storm damage reduction alternatives for the Village of 
Asharoken, NY.
    Public Involvement: The USACE intends to schedule an interagency 
meeting and public scoping meeting in the spring/summer 2002 to discuss 
the scope of the DEIS and data gaps. The public scoping meeting place, 
date, and time will be advertised in advance in local newspapers, and 
meeting announcement letters will be sent to interested parties. A 
scoping document will be made available at least one month before 
scheduled public scoping meeting date at the following locations:
    (1) Northport Public Library, 151 Laurel Avenue, Northport, NY 
11768.
    (2) East Northport Public Library, 185 Larkfield Road, East 
Northport, NY 11731.
    (3) Huntington Main Library, 338 Main Street, Huntington, NY 11743.
    The public will have an opportunity to provide written and oral 
comments at the public scoping meeting. Written comments may also be 
submitted via mail and should be directed to Ms. Megan B. Grubb at the 
address listed above under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT heading. The 
USACE plans to issue the DEIS in Spring 2003. The USACE will announce 
availability of the draft in the Federal Register and other media, and 
will provide the public, organizations, and agencies with the 
opportunity to submit comments, which will be addressed in the final 
Environmental Impact Statement.

Luz D. Ortiz,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-1147 Filed 1-15-02; 8:45 am]
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