[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 27, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 61276]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27952]



[[Page 61276]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Integrated Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for the New Jersey Back Bays (NJBB) Coastal Storm Risk 
Management (CSRM) Feasibility Study

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The action being taken by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
(USACE) is an evaluation of CSRM problems, and an evaluation of 
alternative structural, non-structural, and natural and nature-based 
feature (NNBF) measures to address the CSRM problems in the coastal 
communities of the New Jersey Back Bays and Coastal Lakes in Monmouth, 
Ocean, Burlington, Atlantic, and Cape May Counties, New Jersey. The 
purpose of any consequent work would be to implement any one or a 
number of recommended plans and/or strategies that address CSRM 
problems evaluated in the feasibility study and integrated 
environmental impact statement.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia District, CENAP-
PL-E, 100 Penn Square East, Wanamaker Building, Philadelphia, PA 19107-
3390.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions, comments, and suggestions 
regarding the Draft Integrated EIS should be addressed to Mr. Steven D. 
Allen at the above address; Phone: (215) 656-6559; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

1. Proposed Action

    a. The NJBB CSRM Feasibility Study area is one of 9 focus areas 
with vulnerable coastal populations identified in the North Atlantic 
Coast Comprehensive Study (NACCS). The NACCS was conducted in response 
to Public Law 113-2 and the Water Resource and Reform Development Act 
(WRRDA) of 2014 following the devastation in the wake of Hurricane 
Sandy, which greatly affected the study area in October of 2012. The 
purpose of the NJBB CSRM Feasibility Study is to identify comprehensive 
CSRM strategies to increase coastal resilience, and to reduce flooding 
risk from future storms and impacts of sea level change. The objective 
of the Study is to investigate CSRM problems and solutions to reduce 
damages from coastal flooding that affect population, critical 
infrastructure, critical facilities, property, and ecosystems.
    b. The authority for the proposed project is the resolution adopted 
by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Public Works and 
Transportation and the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public 
Works dated December 1987.

2. Alternatives

    In addition to the no action alternative, the alternatives 
considered for CSRM will fall into structural, non-structural, and NNBF 
categories. The structural measures being evaluated for CSRM include 
measures that would provide barrier protection and/or protection to the 
bays perimeters, which include: inlet storm surge barriers, interior 
flood gates, road/rail elevation, levees, floodwalls, bulkheads, 
seawalls, revetments, beach restoration, breakwaters, storm system 
drainage improvements or combinations thereof. Non-structural elements 
under consideration include building retrofit (elevation and flood 
proofing), managed coastal retreat, emergency evacuation plans, early 
warning systems, public education education/risk communication, working 
with other Federal, state and local government agencies to incorporate 
National Flood Insurance Program improvements into the study 
recommendations, and combinations thereof. NNBF considerations include 
wetland restoration, living shorelines, green stormwater management, 
reefs, and submerged aquatic vegetation. NNBF features may be combined 
with other proposed CSRM elements.

3. Scoping

    a. Scoping is conducted in accordance with Section 1501.7 of the 
National Environmental Policy Act, and is defined as an early and open 
process for determining the scope of issues to be addressed and for 
identifying the significant issues related to a proposed action. For 
the NJBB CSRM Feasibility Study, the scoping process is on-going and 
has involved preliminary coordination with 2 stakeholder meetings in 
June 2016, and the distribution of scoping letters to Federal, state, 
and local agencies, tribes and other non-government organizations. The 
general public and other interested parties and organizations were 
invited to participate by means of a public notice and a public 
workshop meeting held on December 1, 2016. Additional scoping meetings 
may be announced at major study milestone decision points. Agency and 
public input are being solicited throughout the study, and will help 
inform the identification of a Tentatively Selected Plan (TSP). The TSP 
milestone is expected to be reached in December 2018.
    b. Significant issues and concerns that have been identified in 
addition to the premise of the CSRM study (flood risks associated with 
storms and sea level rise) include, but are not limited to the 
potential for impacts on aquatic biota, fisheries, intertidal habitat, 
shallow water habitat, endangered species, water quality, 
hydrodynamics, flood plain management, air quality, cultural resources, 
sustainability, and socio-economics.
    c. The USACE is the lead Federal agency, and the New Jersey 
Department of Environmental Protection is the non-Federal sponsor. The 
USACE will be inviting key resource agencies with jurisdiction by law 
as a cooperating and/or participating agency in accordance with Section 
1501.6 of Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations and Section 1005 of the 
Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014. Federal agencies 
interested in participating as a Cooperating Agency are requested to 
submit a letter of intent to Lieutenant Colonel Kristen Dahle, District 
Engineer, at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia District, 100 
Penn Square East, Wanamaker Building, Philadelphia, PA 19107-3390.

4. Availability

    It is estimated that the Draft Integrated EIS and Feasibility Study 
will be made available to the public in January 2019.

Peter R. Blum,
Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 2017-27952 Filed 12-26-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3720-58-P