[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 114 (Friday, June 13, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35392-35393]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-15021]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Woodbridge River Basin, Middlesex County, NJ, Flood Control and Aquatic 
Ecosystem Restoration Study

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

[[Page 35393]]


ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the President's Council of Environmental 
Quality (CEQ) Rules and Regulations, as defined and amended in 40 Code 
of Federal Regulations (CFR), Parts 1500-1508, the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers (USACE), New York District (District), is preparing a Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to determine the feasibility of 
implementing flood damage protection and aquatic ecosystem restoration 
measures along the Woodbridge River Basin in Middlesex, NJ. The 
Woodbridge River Basin (Basin) is approximately 5 miles in length with 
a drainage area of approximately 10 miles. Tidal surges and inadequate 
channel capacities to contain increased stormwater runoff account for 
flooding problems within the Basin. The Basin has experienced numerous 
flood events that have incurred damages to homes, businesses and pubic 
infrastructure; the latest occurring in October of 1996 during which 
the Township of Woodbridge sustained damages in excess of $1 million. 
Direct impacts to the Basin's aquatic ecosystem as a result of 
urbanization include the loss of wetland acreage, floodplain 
encroachment, stream bank erosion, increased sedimentation and nutrient 
and pollutant loading. The District will develop and evaluate various 
structural and non-structural flood damage reduction measures and will 
investigate opportunities to restore aquatic ecosystem structure and 
functions.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Kimberly Rightler, Project 
Biologist, Planning Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York 
District, NY 10278-0090, (212) 264-9846 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. This study is authorized by U.S. House of Representatives 
Resolution Docket 2552 dated May 1998.
    2. Scoping: Public scoping meeting(s) are anticipated to occur in 
September 2003. Results from the public scoping meeting(s) with the 
District and Federal, state, and local agencies will be addressed in 
the DEIS. A separate notice, in local area newspapers, indicating the 
location, date and time of the scoping meeting(s) will be released at a 
later date and a scoping document will be prepared and made available 
prior to the scoping meeting(s). Parties interested in receiving 
notices of public scoping meeting(s) or copies of the scoping document 
should contact Ms. Rightler at the above address.
    3. Date of DEIS Release: The DEIS is scheduled to be available 
April 2005.

Frank Santomauro,
Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 03-15021 Filed 6-12-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-06-M