[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 28, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77744-77745]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-28332]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Proposed Lower Passaic River Ecosystem Restoration Project, Essex, 
Hudson, Passaic, and Bergen Counties, NJ: Feasibility Phase

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), the New York District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
(Corps) is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in 
accordance with Council on Environmental Quality regulations as defined 
and amended in 40 CFR parts 1500-1508 (promulgated pursuant to NEPA); 
Corps' principles and guidelines as defined in Engineering Regulations 
(ER) 1105-2-100, Planning Guidance Notebook, and ER 200-2-2, Procedures 
for Implementing NEPA; and other applicable Federal and State 
environmental laws for the proposed ecosystem restoration project in 
the Lower Passaic River Basin located in the counties of Essex, Hudson, 
Passaic, and Bergen in New Jersey.
    The study area is identified as the Lower Passaic River and its 
basin, which comprises the tidally influenced portion of the river from 
the Dundee

[[Page 77745]]

Dam to Newark Bay and the watershed of this portion of the river; the 
study area does not include the watershed and river upstream of the 
dam. Extensive habitat loss and degradation have greatly reduced the 
functional and structural integrity of ecosystems within the Lower 
Passaic River Basin. Both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and 
the Corps will develop a comprehensive watershed-based plan for both 
the remediation and restoration of the Lower Passaic River Watershed. 
This will include the identification of remediation actions and 
ecosystem restoration opportunities in the study area to support 
broader estuary-wide restoration efforts. Remediation actions may 
include sediment removal, cap placement, in-situ or ex-situ sediment 
decontamination, and shoreline stabilization, while complimentary 
restoration goals may include the restoration, creation, and 
enhancement of benthic habitat, aquatic habitat, tidal and non-tidal 
wetlands, riparian habitat, flood plains and other terrestrial habitats 
as well as shoreline stabilization. The Corps intends to prepare an EIS 
for the ecosystem restoration portion of this joint study.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, 26 Federal 
Plaza, New York, NY 10278-0090.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Bill Shadel, Project Biologist and 
NEPA Coordinator, Planning Division, Environmental Analysis Branch; 
(212) 264-0570; or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. The Lower Passaic River Ecosystem 
Restoration Study, the Water Resources Development Act component of 
this joint study, is being carried out under the Corps' General 
Investigations Program. The study was authorized under the Hudson-
Raritan study authorization, in a resolution of the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the U.S. House of Representatives, 
dated 15 April 1999, which reads:

    Resolved by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the United States House of Representatives, That, the Secretary 
of the Army is requested to review the reports of the Chief of 
Engineers on the New York and New Jersey channels, published as 
House Document 133, 74th Congress, 1st Session; the New York and New 
Jersey Habor Entrance Channels and Anchorage Areas, published as 
Senate Document 45, 84th Congress, 1st Session; and the New York 
Harbor, NY Anchorage channel, published as House Document 18, 71st 
Congress, 2nd Session, as well as other related reports with a view 
to determining the feasibility of environmental restoration and 
protection relating to water resources and sediment quality within 
the New York and New Jersey Port District, including but not limited 
to creation, enhancement, and restoration of aquatic, wetland, and 
adjacent upland habitats.

    A public scoping meeting is scheduled for spring 2005. Results from 
the public scoping meeting with Federal, State, and local agencies, as 
well as the public, will be addressed in the EIS.
    3. Federal agencies interested in participating as a Cooperating 
Agency are requested to submit a letter of intent to Colonel Richard J. 
Polo, Jr., District Engineer (see ADDRESSES).
    4. It is estimated that a draft EIS will be completed by March 
2007, subject to availability of funds.

Leonard Houston,
Chief, Environmental Analysis Branch, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 04-28332 Filed 12-27-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-06-M