[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 197 (Friday, October 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47728-47729]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-21933]


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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 Peckman River Basin Flood Risk Management Study

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

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the requirements of section 102(2)(C) of the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, New York District (Corps) is preparing an integrated 
Feasibility Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) laws for the 
proposed Peckman 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 Little Falls and 
the Borough of Woodland Park in Passaic County, New Jersey.

ADDRESSES: Pertinent information about the study can be found at: 
http://www.nan.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Projects-in-New-Jersey/Peckman-River-Basin-Flood-Risk-Management-Feasibility-Study/.
    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

[[Page 47729]]

Plaza, Room 2151, New York, NY 10279-0090; Phone: (917) 790-8722; 
email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the overall Peckman 
River Basin Flood Risk Management Feasibility Study should be directed 
to Robert Greco, 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) 790-8394; 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) as the non-
Federal sponsor is undertaking this study. Extensive development in the 
Peckman River Basin has resulted in flood damages with flooding 
occurring from intense thunderstorms and heavy rainfall. The District 
was authorized under U.S. House of Representatives Resolution Docket 
2644, dated June 21, 2000 to identify recommendations in the interest 
of water resources development.
    A Feasibility Cost Sharing Agreement (FCSA) was executed in 2002 
with the NJDEP in 2002. A Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was published in the May 14, 2004 
issue of the Federal Register (69 FR 26811). A NEPA scoping meeting 
held on February 11, 2004 in Little Falls, New Jersey at the initiation 
of the study. The alternative analysis was completed in 2014, and non-
structural improvements located within the 10 year floodplain within 
Little Falls, N.J. with a bypass culvert designed to mitigate the flood 
risk from the Peckman River and floodwalls along Great Notch Brook in 
Woodland Park was identified as the Tentatively Selected National 
Economic Development Plan. The NJDEP requested a Locally Preferred Plan 
that consists of a levee/floodwall system in Little Falls along with 
the bypass culvert for the Peckman River and floodwalls along Great 
Notch Brook in Woodland Park. The LPP plan will be designed to protect 
Little Falls and Woodland Park from the 1% annual chance exceedance 
(100-yr) event from the Peckman River.

2. Project Area

    The project area encompasses the portion of the Peckman River, 
Great Notch Brook and a portion of the Passaic River located in the 
Township of Little Falls and the Borough of Woodland Park in Passaic 
County, New Jersey.

3. Public Participation

    The Corps and the NJDEP are currently anticipating hosting a NEPA 
Scoping Meeting in late November/early December 2017. Public notices 
announcing the meeting date, time, location and agenda will be 
published in the appropriate local newspapers, Little Falls Township 
Web page, Borough of Woodland Park Web page and on the Corps' New York 
District Web page (see STUDY WEBPAGE AND ADDRESSES) and will be 
distributed to the local stakeholders and known interested parties.
    A scoping comment period of 30 days will be established from the 
scheduled date of the meeting 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.

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 Thomas D. Asbery, 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 March 
2018.

    Dated: October 3, 2017.
Peter M. Weppler,
Chief, Environmental Analysis Branch, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 2017-21933 Filed 10-12-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3720-58-P