[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 211 (Thursday, October 31, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66385-66386]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-27718]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Availability for the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the 
South River, Raritan River Basin, Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction 
and Ecosystem Restoration Study, Middlesex County, NJ

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), New York District, 
announces the availability of the final Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for the South River, Raritan River Basin, Hurricane and Storm 
Damage Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration Study, pursuant to section 
102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). The 
document was prepared following a public review and comment period on 
the draft EIS, during which a public hearing was held in South River, 
New Jersey to provide stakeholders with an opportunity to provide oral 
and written comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Josephine R. Axt, Project 
Restoration Biologist and Team Leader, Planning Division, U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers, New York District, 26 Federal Plaza, 21st floor, 
New York, NY, 10278-0090 at (212) 264-5119 or e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The South River, Raritan River Basin 
Multipurpose Final Integrated Feasibility Study/Environmental Impact 
Statement (IFS/EIS) presents the results of an investigation to 
determine the feasibility of hurricane and storm damage reduction 
(HSDR) and ecosystem restoration along the South River in Middlesex 
County, NJ. The IFS/EIS has been conducted by the Corps in conjunction 
with the non-Federal project partner, the New Jersey Department of 
Environmental Protection (NJDEP).
    The study area includes flood-prone areas within the Boroughs of 
South River and Sayreville, the Township of Old Bridge, and the 
Historic Village of Old Bridge (located within the

[[Page 66386]]

Township of East Brunswick) in New Jersey. The downstream river reaches 
encompass virtually all the flood-prone structures in the watershed and 
the areas of greatest ecological degradation (and greatest potential 
for ecosystem restoration).
    The costs of project implementation for the HSDR features and 
ecosystem restoration features will be shared by the Federal government 
and the non-Federal project partner (NJDEP) on a 65 percent/35 percent 
basis. All operations and maintenance costs will be borne by the non-
Federal project partner. For the HSDR features, the project 
implementation costs ($61,066,800) will be shared as follows: 
$39,693,400 Federal and $21,373,400 non-Federal with annual O&M costs 
of $221,500 (non-Federal). This includes mitigation costs associated 
with the implementation of these features ($2,865,300 total with 
$1,862,400 Federal and $1,002,900 non-Federal). For the ecosystem 
restoration features, the project implementation costs ($53,097,700) 
will be shared as follows: $34,513,500 Federal and $12,811,400 non-
Federal with O&M costs of $80,000 (non-Federal).
    The construction and maintenance of both the HDSR features and the 
ecosystem restoration features will not adversely affect any Federally 
or state listed endangered or threatened species, areas of designated 
critical habitat, or essential fish habitat. By providing increased 
cover and opportunities for foraging and nesting, the selected plans 
will also improve habitat for the Federally listed threatened bald 
eagle thought to utilize habitats in the general vicinity, and for many 
of the State of New Jersey endangered and threatened species observed 
in the restoration area (e.g., black skimmer, northern harrier, 
peregrine falcon, yellow-crowned night heron, osprey, black-crowned 
night heron, and American bittern).
    At this time, there are no known major areas of controversy 
regarding the study and selected plan among agencies or the public 
interest. One unresolved issue is an air conformity determination. The 
General Conformity provisions relating to the Clean Air Act require a 
conformity demonstration for each pollutant where the total direct and 
indirect emissions from the Federal action exceed the corresponding de 
minimis level.
    Based on preliminary estimates, using emissions estimates generated 
from similar activities for other projects, total direct and indirect 
NOX emissions appear to exceed the de minimis threshold of 
25 tons per year. The preliminary projected total direct and indirect 
VOC and CO emissions from the proposed project are estimated to be 
below the de minimis threshold levels. In close consultation with the 
United States Environmental Protection Agency and the New Jersey 
Department of Environmental Protection, the Corps will conduct a 
detailed, comprehensive quantitative analysis in the next project phase 
(Preconstruction, Engineering and Design, in Fall 2002) to more 
precisely quantify all emissions from the South River Project and to 
determine conformity accordingly. Upon completion of the revised 
emission estimates, a Draft General Conformity Determination will be 
prepared and undergo formal agency and public review. Results and 
conclusions of this process will be part of the South River Project's 
Record of Decision, including, as necessary, detailed analyses of 
mitigation alternatives, such as emission offsets, emission credits, 
emission reduction technologies, and operational modifications to 
reduce emissions.
    In sum, the recommended plan will efficiently reduce hurricane and 
storm damages along the South River and improve the structure and 
function of degraded ecosystems in the study area. The non-Federal 
project partner, NJDEP, has indicated its support for the recommended 
plan and is willing to enter into a Project Cooperation Agreement with 
the Federal Government for the implementation of the plan.
    The public review period for the final IFS/EIS is from November 1, 
2002 to December 2, 2002 or 30 days after the Notice of Availability is 
published in the Federal Register. Comments should be directed to Dr. 
Axt at the address above.
    The Final IFS/EIS is available for review at the following 
locations:
    (1) Sayerville Free Public Library, 1050 Washington Road, Parlin, 
NJ 08859.
    (2) Old Bridge Township Library, 1 Old Bridge Plaza 1, Old 
Bridge, NJ 08857.
    (3) South River Library, 55 Appleby Avenue, South River, NJ 08882.
    (4) East Brunswick Library, 2 Civic Center Driver, East Brunswick, 
NJ 08816.

Luz D. Ortiz,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-27718 Filed 10-30-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-06-M