[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 227 (Friday, November 26, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68886-68887]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-26140]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Athens Navigation Project, Village of Athens, Greene County, NY

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

ACTION: Notice of availability

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SUMMARY: This announces the availability of the Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (DEIS) which assesses the potential environmental 
impacts of the construction of deepening the navigation channel at 
Athens, NY. This DEIS has been prepared in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
(USACE) regulations for implementing NEPA.

DATES: The comment period for the DEIS will end 45 days after 
publication of the NOA in the Federal Register by the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency. The end date falls within the second 
week of January 2005.

ADDRESSES: To obtain copies of the DEIS or submit comments, contact 
Bonnie Hulkower, Environmental Coordinator, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, New

[[Page 68887]]

York District, 26 Federal Plaza, Room 2146, New York, NY 10278-0090

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bonnie Hulkower, Planning Division--
Environmental Branch, at (212) 264-5798 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The previous Notice of Intent, (69 FR 67711) 
published in the Federal Register on Friday, November 19, 2004, was 
sent out in error. This Notice of Availability officially begins a 45-
day comment period. Please disregard the previous notice.
    The purpose of this DEIS is to analyze significant issues and 
information relevant to environmental concerns regarding the proposed 
deepening and alternative actions at Athens, NY. The project is a 
modification to the Hudson River to Waterford project, authorized and 
directed by Section 110 of the Energy and Water Development 
Appropriations Act of 1997 (Pub. L. 104-206).
    Deepening the Athens Navigation Channel to -24 ft MLW would allow 
safe and efficient passage of barges to commercial terminals along the 
waterfront at Athens. The plan entails deepening of the Athens 
Navigation Channel from its confluence with the Hudson Federal Channel 
north to the north dock at Union Street, Athens, NY. Currently, the 
barges entering the western portion of the Hudson River from the 
Federal Channel into the terminals at Athens cannot be fully loaded due 
to insufficient channel depth. The project also supports the Village of 
Athens Waterfront Revitalization Program.
    Based upon information presently available, the USACE-New York 
District estimates that construction of the project to -24 ft MLW plus 
a 2-ft allowance for dredging tolerance would excavate approximately 
935,000 cubic yards of clean unconsolidated sediments from the channel. 
The recommended plan is to beneficially use suitable dredge material to 
enhance or restore fisheries habitat and place the remaining excavated 
dredge material approximately 15 miles up river from Athens, on the 
southern portion of Houghtaling Island, the USACE maintenance dredge 
material placement site for projects in the Albany area.
    The purpose of this DEIS is to analyze significant issues and 
information relevant to environmental concerns bearing on the proposed 
action or its anticipated impacts. The analysis indicates that short-
term adverse environmental impacts, such as removal of benthic 
invertebrates in the dredged area, would be balanced by long-term 
beneficial impacts, such as contributions to the revitalization of the 
Athens waterfront.
    Biological monitoring will be coordinated with the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife, the National Marine Fisheries Service, and the New York State 
Department of Environmental Conservation. All activity associated with 
the project would be undertaken in a way to minimize adverse impacts to 
sensitive habitats and threatened and endangered species, and adjacent 
shorelines, as well as to minimize cumulative impacts.
    A 404(b)(1) evaluation has been prepared for the project and is 
included in the DEIS. The proposed action and alternatives do not 
represent a significant threat of degradation to the aquatic 
environment, and are in compliance with the 404(b)(1) Guidelines.
    A Public Scoping Meeting was held in May 2002 and the results were 
collected in a Public Scoping Document. Results from public and agency 
scoping coordination are addressed in the DEIS. Copies of the DEIS are 
also available at the Hudson Area Associated Library, 400 State Street, 
Hudson, NY 12534.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-26140 Filed 11-24-04; 8:45 am]
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