[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 39 (Tuesday, February 27, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8501-8504]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04042]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-6082-N-01]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for the Resilient Bridgeport: National Disaster Resilience and 
Rebuild by Design Projects in the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and 
Development, HUD.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The State of Connecticut, through the Department of Housing 
(DOH), is providing notice of its intent to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) for the Resilient Bridgeport: National Disaster 
Resilience and Rebuild By Design (RBD) Projects located in Bridgeport, 
CT. The proposed project was developed as part of Connecticut's 
application for assistance through the U.S. Department of Housing and 
Urban Development (HUD) under the RBD and National Disaster Resilience 
Competition (NDRC). RBD and NDRC's objectives through the competition 
are to support innovative resilience projects at a local level. This 
Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS represents the beginning of the 
public scoping process. Following the scoping meeting referenced below, 
a Draft EIS will be prepared and ultimately circulated for public 
comment.

DATES: Comments on the Draft Scope of Work to prepare a Draft EIS are 
requested by this notice and will be accepted until March 28, 2018. The 
scoping meeting will be held on March 14, 2018, from 6 until 9 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The scoping meeting will be held at the Arnold Bernhard Arts 
& Humanities Center (first floor), located at 84 Iranistan Avenue, 
Bridgeport, CT 06601. The Draft Scope of Work is available on https://resilientbridgeport.com or http://www.ct.gov/doh/cwp/view.asp?a=4513&q=588726.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Further information may be obtained by 
contacting David Kooris, Director of Resilience, Department of Housing, 
505 Hudson Street, Hartford, Connecticut, 06106-7106, or via email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments on the Draft Scope of Work to 
prepare a Draft EIS are requested by this notice and will be accepted 
by the individual named in this notice under the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT. Comments will also be accepted at the scoping 
meeting to be held on March 14, 2018, from 6 until 9 p.m. at the Arnold 
Bernhard Arts & Humanities Center (first floor), located at 84 
Iranistan Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06601. All comments received by March 
28, 2018 will be considered prior to the acceptance, certification, and 
distribution of the Draft EIS by the Lead Agency (DOH). Commenters are 
also asked to submit any information related to reports or other 
environmental studies planned or completed in the project area, major 
issues that the Draft EIS should consider, and recommend mitigation 
measures and alternatives associated with the Proposed Action. Federal, 
State, or local agencies having jurisdiction by law, special expertise, 
or other special interest should report their interest and indicate 
their readiness to aid in the EIS effort as Cooperating, Participating, 
and Interested Agencies. Written requests of individuals and 
organizations to participate as Section 106 Consulting Parties under 
the National Historic Preservation Act may also be made to the 
individual named in this notice under the heading FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.
    The public and agencies will also be offered an opportunity to 
comment on the purpose and need, range of alternatives, level of 
detail, methodologies, and all elements of the Draft Scope of Work 
through public and agency outreach that will consist of: A public 
scoping meeting (described below), scheduled Community Advisory 
Committee and Technical Advisory Committee meetings, a public hearing 
on the Draft EIS; meetings with the applicable Cooperating, 
Participating, and Interested Agencies, and meetings with Section 106 
Consulting Parties, including federally recognized Indian tribes. Once 
completed and released, the Draft EIS will be available for public and 
agency review and comment.
    Following the public scoping process, a Draft EIS will be prepared 
that analyzes the Proposed Action. Once the Draft EIS is certified as 
complete, a notice will then be sent to appropriate government 
agencies, groups, and individuals known to have an involvement or 
interest in the Draft EIS and particularly in the environmental impact 
issues identified therein. A Notice of Availability of the Draft EIS 
will be published in local media outlets at that time in accordance 
with HUD and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations. 
Any person or agency interested in receiving notice and commenting on 
the Draft Scope of

[[Page 8502]]

Work should contact the individual named in this notice under the 
heading FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT no later than March 28, 2018.

Background

    HUD gives notice that the State of Connecticut (the State), through 
the DOH, as the ``Responsible Entity,'' as that term is defined by 24 
CFR 58.2(a)(7)(i), has assumed environmental responsibilities for the 
Resilient Bridgeport: National Disaster Resilience and Rebuild By 
Design Projects in accordance with 24 CFR 58.1(b)(1). DOH, as the Lead 
Agency in accordance with the requirements of NEPA, intends to prepare 
an EIS that will evaluate the environmental and social impacts of 
alternatives for the construction of flood risk reduction measures 
within the South End of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Such measures will be 
designed to reduce the impacts of flooding on the quality of the 
natural and built environment in the project area due to both sea level 
rise and storm hazards, including heavy rainfall events and intense 
coastal storm events. Bridgeport's South End suffers from flood damage 
from major tidal events and repetitive loss from flooding from rain 
events and power outages, resulting in a depressed economy, increasing 
vacancies and continued significant risk from future storm events.
    The State is the Grantee of Community Development Block Grant 
National Disaster Resilience (CDBG-NDR) and RBD funds that have been 
appropriated under the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 (Pub. 
L. 113-2, approved January 29, 2013) related to disaster relief, long-
term recovery, restoration of infrastructure and housing, and economic 
revitalization in the most impacted and distressed areas resulting from 
a major disaster that was declared pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1974 (Stafford Act) in 
calendar years 2011, 2012, and 2013. Receipt of CDBG-NDR and RBD 
funding requires compliance with NEPA.
    The proposed EIS will address the environmental review requirements 
of NEPA and the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA) (CT Gen 
Stat Sec.  22a, Chapter 439). This Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS 
is, therefore, being published in accordance with the CEQ regulations 
found at 40 CFR parts 1500-1508 and HUD regulations found at 24 CFR 
part 58 and is announcing that a public scoping process on the EIS is 
commencing.
    The CT DOH, under the authority of HUD's regulations at 24 CFR part 
58, and in cooperation with other Cooperating, Participating, and 
Interested Agencies, is proposing to prepare an EIS that will analyze 
the potential environmental and social effects of alternatives that are 
being proposed to improve coastal and social resiliency and reduce 
flood risk to the South End of Bridgeport.
    Following the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, HUD launched Rebuild 
by Design, an innovative design competition that brought together 
interdisciplinary teams of researchers, designers, engineers, 
businesses, policy-makers and local groups to craft solutions that 
communities can implement to help minimize against future climate 
risks. The State of Connecticut was awarded $10 million in HUD CDBG-DR 
funding to continue planning for Resilient Bridgeport and construct a 
first pilot project. Building on the success of Rebuild by Design, in 
September 2014, HUD launched the $1 billion National Disaster 
Resilience Competition. The Connecticut application was the highest 
scoring in the competition and garnered $54 million in HUD CDBG-NDR 
funding to construct the Resilient Bridgeport pilot project as part of 
the State's broader Connecticut Connections Coastal Resilience Plan.
    The proposed Resilient Bridgeport: NDR & RBD Projects represent the 
culmination of an integrated and thoughtful process coordinated by the 
State during Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the National Disaster Resilience 
Competition application and subsequent community participatory events. 
DOH consulted in depth with government agencies at municipal and state 
levels as well as resident stakeholders, small and large business 
owners, and professional experts. An outgrowth of the Phase 1 and 2 
applications and consultations, the Connecticut State Agencies 
Fostering Resilience (SAFR) Council, is creating a roadmap for long-
term resilience planning in coastal and riverine communities damaged 
during Hurricane Sandy, and working with State agencies to craft 
policies that equitably promote resilience across the entire State. The 
$52.5 million Resilient Bridgeport component provides a long-term, 
holistic approach to resilience, incorporating green and grey 
stormwater infrastructure improvements, a street raising and street 
improvements strategy to lift the surrounding development datum, and an 
integrated flood protection system consisting of an earthen berm and 
sea walls. This layered approach will protect a vulnerable and 
disenfranchised community while providing new economic development 
opportunities, improving mobility, and enhancing quality of life. The 
EIS will examine several alternatives aimed at achieving these 
objectives.

Purpose and Need of the Proposed Action

    Located on a peninsula, surrounded by the Pequonnock River to the 
east and Long Island Sound to the south, the South End is one of the 
most vulnerable communities in Bridgeport, at risk of flooding from 
both coastal storm surge and regular rainfall events. The area includes 
Seaside Park, the University of Bridgeport, residences, some industrial 
buildings, and several energy providers (including both electricity 
generators and utilities). The area has a population of over 8,000 
people including public housing residents and other vulnerable 
populations.
    The peninsula is exposed to storm surge from coastal storms and the 
risk of such events is increasing due to Sea Level Rise. During 
Superstorm Sandy, the area experienced a storm surge of nearly 7 feet 
above normal high tide, inundating over 200 buildings (including 
affordable and public housing). With an additional 100 buildings 
located within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 
designated 100-year floodplain, these and other infrastructure assets 
remain vulnerable to future events. In addition to flooded streets and 
damaged residential properties, residents experienced a loss of 
electric power after Superstorm Sandy lasting for a period that ranged 
from a few hours to more than a week. Disruptions to regional supply 
chains and power interruptions caused serious complications for local 
industries. Ensuring the continuity of operations at the power district 
scale is critical to maintaining industrial and commercial functions in 
the city.
    Over the next 50 years, sea levels are expected to rise 
significantly, which will further compound existing flooding risks in 
Bridgeport's South End. Much of the critical infrastructure in the area 
lies within the coastal floodplain, including electricity generation, 
transmission, and distribution facilities and low lying stormwater and 
wastewater pipes, and will face increasing risk as sea levels rise.
    The low-lying geography of the area, in addition to the old age of 
the combined sewer and stormwater system, results in flooding from 
rainfall or tidal inundation on a regular basis. Improving the existing 
drainage system is important to minimize internal flooding and to 
manage stormwater in

[[Page 8503]]

both high and low-frequency storm events.
    While proximate to its urban center, the South End area is isolated 
from the downtown by Interstate 95 and the Northeast Corridor and has 
been physically cut-off from help by emergency responders (fire, 
police, medical) and others due to flooding of streets (particularly 
low-lying underpasses under the highway and railroad) that has 
prevented vehicles from accessing the area during and after storm 
events. Repetitive flooding of local streets occurs in the valleys and 
low-lying areas due to both rainfall runoff and storm surge, making the 
streets impassable. Portions of the South End lack dry egress for 
residents, businesses and emergency vehicles when flooding occurs. 
Minimizing the flooding at roadways leading into and out of the South 
End is vital to resident egress and emergency evacuation.
    The purpose of the Proposed Action is to create a more resilient 
South End community, support its long-term viability, and improve 
health and safety for the community's vulnerable populations. The 
principal targeted outcomes of the Proposed Action are:
     Lower the risk of acute and chronic flooding,
     Provide dry egress during emergencies, and
     Educate the public about flood risks and sea level rise.
    The Proposed Action could deliver co-benefits to the community, 
potentially unlocking development or public realm opportunities, 
enhancing connectivity between the South End and Downtown Bridgeport, 
improving existing open space amenities, building up the resilience of 
local energy systems, and leveraging public investment in ongoing 
resiliency efforts through coordination with local stakeholders.

Project Alternatives

    The EIS will discuss the alternatives that were considered for 
analysis, identify those that were eliminated from further 
consideration because they do not meet the stated purpose and need, and 
identify those that will be analyzed further. It is expected that 
project alternatives will continue to be developed and refined during 
the public scoping process, with input from the public, agencies, and 
other stakeholders. The EIS alternatives analysis will consist of a 
comparison of the impacts under each alternative pursuant to 24 CFR 
part 58, in addition to how well each alternative achieves the 
project's purpose and need. This process, which will be described in 
detail in the EIS, will lead to the designation of a Preferred 
Alternative. At this time, it is anticipated that the following 
alternatives will be analyzed.

1. No Action Alternative

    The No Action Alternative represents the status quo or baseline 
conditions without implementation of any improvements associated with 
the Proposed Project. The No Action Alternative assumes that the 
redevelopment of the Marina Village site would progress as planned, 
Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) and United Illuminating 
Company would continue any planned resiliency projects along the edge 
of Bridgeport Harbor, the mixed-use development at 60 Main Street would 
move forward, and a number of other projects would be implemented both 
within and near the proposed project areas through the 2022 analysis 
year.

2. Build Alternatives

    In addition to the No Action Alternative, the EIS will examine 
multiple build alternatives. The Build Alternatives will have three 
parts--Flood Risk Reduction, a Resilience Hub, and Stormwater 
Improvements and Dry Egress (elements common to all build 
alternatives).
    Flood Risk Reduction. The proposed project would include a 
combination of measures within eastern South End that would reduce the 
flood risk within the project area from future coastal surge and 
chronic rainfall events. The measures may include raised streets, 
floodwalls, landscaped berms, and both green and grey stormwater and 
internal drainage management strategies (e.g., detention/retention 
features, drainage structures, and pump systems). This alternative, to 
the extent practical, would provide a FEMA Certifiable level of flood 
protection to a portion of the project area. Different routing 
alignments and different levels of flood protection are being 
considered, although all alignments would include elevating a section 
of University Avenue.
    (1) Integrated Alignment. This alignment would be constructed in 
coordination with key area stakeholders and include raised streets, 
walls and berms that take into account plans for growth, development 
and risk reduction taking place within the eastern South End community.
    (2) Interior Alignment. The interior alignment would identify a 
street or streets that could be raised to provide dry egress for future 
development, provide some reduction in risk from storm events and 
generate opportunities for storm water management that produce co-
benefits for the community.
    (3) Edge Alignment. This alignment would be constructed either in-
water or along the outer edge of the community along the waterfront.
    Resilience Hub. This project would fund a Resilience Hub to serve 
the South End community in its ongoing commitment to build a resilient 
Bridgeport. The site would serve as a hub for resilience activities, 
providing a central location for dissemination of information to the 
community and assisting the community in future recovery efforts. The 
Resilience Hub may serve a design center function or operate as a 
community center.
    (1) Resilience Hub Alternative 1 would be a building dedicated to 
resilience and education. The building would be a space in all or a 
portion of an existing building or a new building.
    (2) Resilience Hub Alternative 2 would be one or more open air 
sites integrated within the community that are dedicated to resilience 
and education. The sites would be located within the South End area, 
adjacent to existing community amenities.

Elements Common To Build Alternatives

    All Flood Risk Reduction alignments would include elevating a 
section of University Avenue. In addition, all build alternatives would 
include the stormwater management project and extension of Johnson 
Street at the Marina Village site (identified as a pilot project during 
the RBD project). Prior to redevelopment of the western parcel (bound 
by Park Avenue, Iranistan Avenue, Ridge Avenue and South Avenue) an 
approximately 2.5-acre stormwater park would be constructed to accept 
water from upland streets and adjacent parcels and to retain, delay and 
improve the quality of the stormwater runoff. An extension of Johnson 
Street (between Columbia Street and Iranistan Avenue) would provide a 
raised egress corridor on the southern edge of the future mixed-income 
redevelopment to facilitate emergency access during an acute flooding 
event and improve east-west neighborhood connectivity. The 
redevelopment of the site is independent of the stormwater and raised 
egress improvements.

Need for the EIS

    The Proposed Action described above has the potential to 
significantly affect the quality of the environment and an EIS will 
therefore be prepared in accordance with the requirements of NEPA and 
CEPA. Responses to this notice will be used to (1) determine

[[Page 8504]]

significant environmental issues; (2) assist in developing a range of 
alternatives to be considered; (3) identify issues that the EIS should 
address; and (4) identify agencies and other parties that will 
participate in the EIS process and the basis for their involvement.

Scoping

    A joint NEPA/CEPA public scoping meeting on the Draft Scope of Work 
to prepare the Draft EIS will be held on March 14, 2018 at 6:00 until 
9:00 p.m. at the Arnold Bernhard Arts & Humanities Center (first 
floor), located at 84 Iranistan Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06601. As noted 
above, the Draft Scope of Work is available online at: https://resilientbridgeport.com or http://www.ct.gov/doh/cwp/view.asp?a=4513&q=588726. The public scoping meeting location will be 
accessible to the mobility-impaired. Interpreter services will be 
available for the hearing or visually impaired upon advance request. 
The EIS public scoping meeting will provide an opportunity for the 
public to learn more about the Proposed Action and provide input to the 
environmental review process. At the meeting, an overview of the 
Proposed Action and its alternatives will be presented, and members of 
the public will be invited to comment on the Draft Scope of Work, 
including the methodologies to be used in developing the environmental 
analyses in the EIS. Written comments and testimony concerning the 
Draft Scope of Work will be accepted at this meeting. In accordance 
with 40 CFR 1501.7, affected Federal, State, and local agencies, any 
affected Indian tribes, and other interested parties will be sent a 
scoping notice. In accordance with 24 CFR 58.59, the scoping meeting 
will be preceded by a notice of public meeting published in the local 
news media at least 15 days before the hearing date.

Probable Environmental Effects

    The EIS will evaluate potential effects from the Proposed Action 
on: Land Use, Zoning, and Public Policy; Socioeconomic Conditions; 
Environmental Justice; Open Space; Historic and Cultural Resources; 
Urban Design and Visual Resources; Natural Resources; Hazardous 
Materials; Water and Sewer Infrastructure; Transportation; 
Construction; and Cumulative Effects.

    Dated: February 22, 2018.
Neal Rackleff,
Assistant Secretary for Community, Planning and Development.
[FR Doc. 2018-04042 Filed 2-23-18; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 4210-67-P