[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 153 (Tuesday, August 10, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 48514]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-18205]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[CDG01-04-108]


Draft Environmental Impact Statement; Goethals Bridge 
Modernization Program

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Coast Guard, as the Federal lead agency, and in 
cooperation with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey 
(PANY&NJ), intends to prepare and circulate a Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (DEIS) for a proposed new bridge to replace the 
existing Goethals Bridge which crosses the Arthur Kill between Staten 
Island, New York and Elizabeth, New Jersey and is part of the Goethals 
Bridge Modernization Program. This Notice of Intent is a necessary part 
of the Environmental Impact Statement process as required by the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Coast Guard issues this 
Notice of Intent to provide notice of the prospective project and to 
seek comments to ensure that all significant issues are identified and 
the full range of alternatives and impacts of the proposed project are 
addressed.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 9, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to Commander (obr), First Coast Guard 
District, Battery Park Building, One South Street, New York, New York, 
10004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Gary Kassof, Bridge Program 
Manager, at the address above or by telephone at (212) 668-7165.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice of intent is published as 
required by regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality at 40 
CFR 1501.7.
    The proposed project constitutes the PANY&NJ's Goethals Bridge 
Modernization Program (the ``Program''). The Program proposes to 
replace the existing Goethals Bridge, which has substandard geometrics 
and is experiencing escalating deterioration, thereby causing safety 
and reliability concerns.
    The design of a proposed new facility would reflect current traffic 
design standards, modern structural and seismic codes, national-
security safeguards and technology enhancements. It would also add the 
operational flexibility to facilitate future transit-service 
opportunities.
    A Coast Guard bridge permit authorizing the location and plans for 
the bridge project, which crosses navigable waters of the United 
States, is required before construction may begin. Based on available 
information, the Coast Guard has determined that an EIS would be the 
appropriate level of environmental documentation for assessing the 
potential impacts of the proposed project under Section 102(2)(C) of 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended.
    In addition to the no-build alternative (no-action), the selection 
of alternatives to be evaluated in the DEIS may include: alternative 
alignments within the existing bridge corridor; alternative bridge 
designs; provision of high-occupancy vehicle or express bus lanes; 
intelligent vehicular highway system options; congestion pricing 
options; consideration of transit alternatives such as potential light 
rail, commuter rail, bus and/or ferry routes and services; as well as 
all other reasonable alternatives identified by the public.
    Potentially significant issues to be evaluated include: 
displacement of residential, commercial and industrial properties; 
disruption of contaminated properties located within the proposed 
project right-of-way; existing and future land use and traffic 
patterns; threatened and endangered species, and critical habitat; 
historic and archeological resources, including the existing historic 
Goethals Bridge; wetlands; water quality; noise; air quality; 
navigation; construction impacts; and cumulative impacts.
    A formal interagency scoping meeting with federal, state, and local 
agencies with environmental expertise is planned for early September 
2004. In addition, public scoping meetings in both Staten Island and 
Elizabeth are planned for October 2004. The dates for the public 
scoping meetings will be announced locally as well as in the Federal 
Register.
    All interested parties are invited to submit written comments to 
ensure that all significant issues are identified and the full range of 
alternatives and impacts of the proposed projects are addressed.

    Dated: July 30, 2004.
John L. Greiner,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Commander, First Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 04-18205 Filed 8-9-04; 8:45 am]
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