[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 127 (Thursday, July 2, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38181-38182]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-16364]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Rahway River Basin Flood Risk Management Study

AGENCY: 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 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District (Corps) in 
partnership with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection 
(NJDEP) as the non-federal sponsor, is preparing an integrated 
Feasibility Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance 
with Council on Environmental Quality's NEPA regulations; 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 Rahway River Basin Flood Risk Management 
Feasibility Study. The study is assessing the feasibility of flood risk 
management alternatives to be implemented within the congressionally 
authorized study area with a specific emphasis on the Township of 
Cranford and the City of Rahway in Union County, New Jersey.
    The District was authorized under U.S. House of Representatives 
Resolution Docket 2548, dated March 24, 1998 to identify 
recommendations in the interest of water resources development.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments and suggestions concerning the scope 
of issues to be evaluated within the EIS to Kimberly Rightler, Project 
Biologist/NEPA Coordinator, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York 
District, Planning Division, Environmental, 26 Federal Plaza, New York, 
NY 10279-0090; Phone: (917) 790-8722; email: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the overall Rahway 
River Basin Flood Risk Management Feasibility Study should be directed 
to Rifat Salim, Project Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York 
District, Programs and Project Management Division, Civil Works 
Programs Branch, 26 Federal Plaza, Room 2127, New York, NY 10279-0090; 
Phone: (917) 790-8215; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

1. Background

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), in partnership with the 
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), is 
undertaking this study. Flooding within the Rahway River Basin is 
caused principally by the rapid development of the area, which has 
resulted in a large increase of stormwater runoff into the Rahway River 
and its tributaries. The increased runoff coupled with inadequate 
channel capacities and bridge openings account for most of the flooding 
problems.
    Storm events in the Rahway River Basin which caused significant 
damage are the storms of July 1938, May 1968, August 1971, August 1973, 
November 1977, July 1979, June 1992, October 1996, July 1997, Tropical 
Storm Floyd in September 1999, April 2007 and Tropical Storm Irene in 
August 2011.
    In response to locals concerns regarding flooding, Congress funded 
the Corps to conduct a reconnaissance study of the Rahway River Basin. 
In July 1999, the Corps issued a favorable reconnaissance report 
recommending that a feasibility study be conducted to develop flood 
risk management alternatives in the Rahway River Basin. The NJDEP 
concurred with the Corps' reconnaissance study recommendations and 
signed a Feasibility Cost Sharing Agreement (FCSA) on March 14, 2002 to 
cost share the feasibility study. While an entire basin study was 
authorized, an initial screening conducted in 2006 determined that 
Cranford and the City of Rahway had the greatest potential for Federal 
Interest.
    Subsequent of Hurricane Irene in August 2011, local stakeholders 
requested the Corps, through NJDEP, to investigate potential flood 
storage opportunities outside/upstream of the Township of Cranford that 
would benefit not only Cranford but other municipalities as well. As 
part of their request, the local stakeholders presented several 
alternatives. As a result, the Corps conducted a preliminary 
alternative analysis to determine those alternatives that should be 
considered for further evaluation.
    In total, eight alternatives were developed and are listed below:

1. Cranford Alternative 1: Channel Improvements and Modification to the 
Lenape Park Levees
2. Cranford Alternative 2: Channel Improvements and modification to the 
Nomahegan Park Levees and Lenape Park Levees
3. Cranford Alternative 3: Channel Improvements and dredging Orange 
Reservoir
4. Cranford Alternative 4: Channel Improvements and new outlet at 
Orange Reservoir
5. Cranford Alternative 5: Channel Improvements and South Mountain 
Regional Detention Basin
6. Cranford Alternative 5a: Channel Improvements and South Mountain 
Regional Detention Basin with relocation of Brookside Drive
7. Cranford Alternative 6: South Mountain Regional Detention Basin
8. Cranford Alternative 6a: South Mountain Regional Detention Basin 
with relocation of Brookside Drive
9. Cranford Alternative 7: Nonstructural 10 year flood plain in 
Cranford
10. Cranford Alternative 7a: Nonstructural-100-yr floodplain in 
Cranford

[[Page 38182]]

11. Cranford Alternative 8: Lenape Park Detention Basin and Orange 
Reservoir Outlet Modification
    Two public information sessions were held in Cranford and Millburn 
Townships in May 2014 to provide public with status of the study 
including description of plans, cost estimate, and benefit to cost 
analysis of the preliminary alternatives for Cranford study area 
alternatives. Based on the benefit cost analysis and public feedback, 
Cranford Alternatives 4, 7a and 8 will be carried forward for 
additional analysis and evaluation.

2. Project Area

    The project area encompasses the portion of the Rahway River 
located in the Townships of West Orange, Maplewood, Millburn, Union, 
Westfield in Essex County, and the Township of Cranford and the City of 
Rahway, and the Robinson's Branch, a tributary to the Rahway River, in 
the City of Rahway in Union County.

3. Alternatives

    Although the preliminary Cranford alternatives (see Background) 
will be discussed in the EIS, the following alternatives will be the 
primary focus of the evaluation in the EIS. A full description of each 
alternative can be found at www.nan.usace.army.mil/Rahway.

3.1 No Action
3.2 Non-Structural
3.3 Cranford Alternative 4. Channel Improvements and Modification of 
Orange Reservoir Outlet
3.4 Cranford Alternative 8: Modification of Lenape Park Detention 
Levees and Modification of Orange Reservoir Outlet
3.5 Cranford Alternative 9. Modification of Lenape Park Detention 
Levees, Modification of Orange Reservoir Outlet and Channel 
Improvements
3.6 Robinson's Branch Alternative 1: Levees/floodwalls and Channel 
Improvements
3.7 Robinson's Branch Alternative 2: Modification of Middlesex 
Reservoir

4. Public Participation

    The Corps and the NJDEP hosted a NEPA Scoping Meeting on 15 June 
2015. Public notices announcing the meeting date, time, location and 
agenda were published in the appropriate local newspapers, and on the 
Corps' New York District Web page and will be distributed to the local 
stakeholders and known interested parties.
    A scoping comment period of 30 days to conclude on 15 July has been 
established to allow agencies, organizations and individuals to submit 
comments, questions and/or concerns regarding the Feasibility Study. 
Comments, concerns and information submitted to the Corps will be 
evaluated and considered during the development of the Draft EIS.
    The Corps will utilize feedback received from the NEPA Scoping 
Period to identify additional public information meeting needs prior to 
the selection of a preferred alternative. Meeting notifications will 
follow the same process used for the NEPA Scoping Meeting.

5. Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the lead federal agency for the 
preparation of the environmental impact statement (EIS) and meeting the 
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and the NEPA 
Implementing Regulations of the President's Council on Environmental 
Quality (40 CFR 1500-1508). Federal agencies interested in 
participating as a Cooperating Agency are requested to submit a letter 
of intent to Colonel David A. Caldwell, District Engineer (see 
ADDRESSES). The preparation of the EIS will be coordinated with New 
Jersey State and local municipalities with discretionary authority 
relative to the proposed actions. The Draft integrated Feasibility 
Report/EIS is currently scheduled for distribution to the public June 
2016.

    Dated: June 24, 2015.
Peter M. Weppler,
Chief, Environmental Analysis Branch, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 2015-16364 Filed 7-1-15; 8:45 am]
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