[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 13, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 6169]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02874]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Tiered Environmental Impact 
Statement for the New York New Jersey Harbor and Tributaries Coastal 
Storm Risk Management Feasibility 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/Tiered Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 
proposed New York New Jersey Harbor and Tributaries Coastal Storm Risk 
Management Feasibility Study (NYNJHAT). The study is assessing the 
feasibility of coastal storm risk management alternatives to be 
implemented within the authorized study area with a specific emphasis 
on the New York New Jersey Harbor, including Raritan Bay, the tidally-
affected stretches of the Passaic and Hackensack Rivers, and the Hudson 
River to Troy, New York.

ADDRESSES: Pertinent information about the study can be found at: 
http://www.nan.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Projects-in-New-York/New-York-New-Jersey-Harbor-Tributaries-Focus-Area-Feasibility-Study/.
    Interested parties are welcome to send written comments and 
suggestions concerning the scope of issues to be evaluated within the 
Tiered EIS to Nancy J. Brighton, Chief, Watershed Section, 
Environmental Analysis Branch, Planning Division, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, New York District, 26 Federal Plaza, New York, Room 2151, NY 
10279-0090; Phone: (917) 790-8703; email: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the overall NYNJHAT 
study should be directed to Bryce Wisemiller, 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) 790-8307; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Background

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), in partnership with the 
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and 
the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) as the 
non-federal sponsors, are undertaking this study. In addition, the City 
of New York is a non-federal partner. The NYNJHAT study area, which 
encompasses the New York metropolitan area, is highly vulnerable to 
damage from coastal storm surge, wave attack, erosion, and intense 
rainfall-storm water runoff events that cause riverine or inland 
flooding, which can exacerbate coastal flooding. The NYNJHAT study is 
authorized under Public Law 84-71, June 15, 1955 (69 Stat. 132) to 
conduct an investigation into potential coastal storm risk management 
solutions. A Feasibility Cost Sharing Agreement (FCSA) was executed in 
2016 with the NYSDEC and NJDEP.

2. Study Area

    The study area encompasses approximately 2,150 square miles and 
includes parts of Bergen, Passaic, Morris, Essex, Hudson, Union, 
Somerset, Middlesex, and Monmouth Counties in New Jersey and 
Rensselaer, Albany, Columbia, Greene, Duchess, Ulster, Putnam, Orange, 
Westchester, Rockland, Bronx, New York, Queens, Kings, Richmond, and 
Nassau Counties in New York. The study area extends upstream of the 
Hudson River to the federal lock and dam at Troy, New York, the Passaic 
River to the Dundee Dam, and the Hackensack River to the Oradell 
Reservoir.

3. Public Participation

    The Corps, the NYSDEC and the NJDEP hosted three agency workshop 
meetings in January and February 2017, with representatives from 
federal and state agencies, as well as representatives from local 
agencies and towns. The Corps, NYSDEC and NJDEP are anticipating 
hosting a NEPA Scoping Meetings in March and April 2018. Public notices 
announcing the meeting date, time, location and agenda will be 
published in the appropriate local newspapers, municipality web pages, 
and the Corps' New York District web page (see STUDY WEB PAGE and 
ADDRESSES above) 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.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the lead federal agency for the 
preparation of a Tiered Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in order 
to meet the requirements of the NEPA and the NEPA Implementing 
Regulations of the President's Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR 
1500-1508). The Corps has invited the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
the National Marine Fisheries Service, the National Park Service, and 
the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be Cooperating or 
Participating Agencies on this study. The preparation of a Tiered EIS 
will be coordinated with New York State, New Jersey State and local 
municipalities with discretionary authority relative to the proposed 
actions. The Draft integrated Feasibility Report/Tiered EIS is 
currently scheduled for distribution to the public Summer 2018.

    Dated: February 6, 2018.
Peter M. Weppler,
Chief, Environmental Analysis Branch, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 2018-02874 Filed 2-12-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3720-58-P