[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 27, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 95122-95123]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31210]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the New 
Haven Harbor (New Haven, Connecticut) Navigation Improvement Project

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), New England District 
is conducting a feasibility study and Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) to examine navigation-improvements to the existing New Haven 
Harbor Federal Navigation project. The non-Federal sponsor for the 
study is the New Haven Port Authority in partnership with the 
Connecticut State Port Authority. Inadequate channel depths result in 
navigation inefficiencies in transporting goods into and out of the 
harbor. To reach the terminals, larger ships must lighter outside the 
breakwaters and/or experience delays while waiting for favorable tide 
conditions, or both. Deeper and wider navigation features (main 
channel, maneuvering area, and turning basin) are needed to increase 
the navigation efficiency and safety of New Haven Harbor.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and EIS can be answered by: Mr. Todd Randall, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, New England District, 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-
2751, (978) 318-8518, email: [email protected].

DATES: A public scoping meeting will be held on January 24, 2017 from 
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (registration starts at 6:00 p.m.) at the Hall 
of Records, Hearing Room, 200 Orange Street, New Haven, Connecticut.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Corps participation in this study is 
authorized by a resolution of the Senate Committee on the Environment 
and Public Works dated July 31, 2007. This study was initiated at the 
request of the New Haven Port Authority and the Connecticut State Port 
Authority. The study is being cost-shared 50-percent Federal and 50-
percent non-Federal with the New Haven Port Authority.
    Proposed Action: The study will consider navigation improvements 
including deepening and widening the federal navigation project. The 
New Haven Harbor navigation project's main ship channel, maneuvering 
area, and

[[Page 95123]]

turning basin are authorized to a depth of -35 feet mean lower low 
water (MLLW). The main ship channel is about 5 miles long extending 
from deep water in Long Island Sound to the terminals at the head of 
the harbor. The channel varies in width from 500 feet (outer-harbor) to 
400 feet (inner-harbor), and widens to 800 feet along the terminals. 
Deeper and wider channels, maneuvering area, and turning basin are 
needed to increase the navigation efficiency and safety of New Haven 
Harbor.
    Alternatives: The feasibility study will identify, evaluate, and 
recommend to decision makers an appropriate, coordinated and workable 
solution to the navigation inefficiencies at New Haven Harbor. 
Alternatives will include analyzing various incremental channel depths 
and widths based upon need, as well as alternative dredging 
methodologies. In addition, the study will evaluate various dredged 
material disposal alternatives such as beneficial use (e.g., marsh 
creation, beach nourishment, historic disposal mound capping), 
nearshore placement, open water placement, and upland placement.
    Public Involvement and Scoping: Full public participation of 
affected Federal, state and local agencies, affected Indian tribes, and 
other interested private organizations and parties is invited. All 
interested parties are encouraged to submit their names and email 
addresses to the address noted above, to be placed on the project 
mailing list to receive fact sheets, newsletters and related public 
notices. The Corps and the New Haven Port Authority will host a public 
meeting on the study on January 24, 2017 (see DATES section). The 
public is invited to attend and further identify issues that should be 
addressed in the EIS. In addition to this notice, the date, place, and 
time of the public meeting will be announced in the local newspaper and 
on the USACE New England District Web page. Following the scoping 
process, a public informational meeting will be held in 2017 to present 
and discuss potential project alternatives. The Draft Integrated 
Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement (IFR/EIS) is 
scheduled to be complete in April of 2018 and will be available for 
public review and comment.
    Significant Issues: Significant issues to be discussed in the DEIS 
include the effects of dredging and disposal on the physical, 
biological, cultural, and socioeconomic environment of the project 
area.
    Environmental Review and Consultation Requirements: The proposed 
project is subject to review pursuant (but not limited to) to the 
Coastal Zone Management Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Endangered 
Species Act, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, Marine Protection, Research, 
and Sanctuaries Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act.
    Estimated Date: It is estimated that the Draft IFR/EIS will be made 
available to the public in April of 2018.

    Dated: December 20, 2016.
Colonel Christopher J. Barron,
District Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England.
[FR Doc. 2016-31210 Filed 12-23-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3720-58-P