[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 192 (Wednesday, October 3, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49915-49916]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-21537]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Availability of the Final Integrated City of Norfolk Coastal 
Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study Report/Environmental Impact 
Statement, Norfolk, VA

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Norfolk District, in 
cooperation with our non-federal sponsor, the City of Norfolk, announce 
the availability of a Final Integrated Feasibility Report and 
Environmental Impact Statement (Final IFR/EIS) and Draft Record of 
Decision (ROD) for the

[[Page 49916]]

City of Norfolk Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study, for 
review and comment. The study evaluates identified flood risks and 
develops and evaluates coastal storm risk management measures for the 
City of Norfolk. These measures were formulated to reduce flood risk to 
residents, industries and businesses which are critical to the Nation's 
economy in ways that support the long-term resilience due to sea level 
rise, local subsidence and storms, within the City of Norfolk. Pursuant 
to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, 
the USACE determined that the project has the potential to have 
significant environmental impacts, and developed the Final EIS and 
Draft ROD to examine and assess the impacts of all proposed action.

DATES: The Final IFR/EIS and Draft ROD are available for a 30-day 
review period, pursuant to the NEPA. Written comments pursuant will be 
accepted until the close of public review on the close of business on 
November 2, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Questions or comments concerning the Final IFR/EIS and Draft 
ROD may be directed to: Ms. Kathy Perdue; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
Norfolk District; 803 Front Street, Norfolk, VA 23510 or 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Kathy Perdue, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Norfolk District, phone number (757) 201-7218, or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The document is available for review at the 
Norfolk Coastal Storm Risk Management Study website: http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/NCSRM.
    Proposed Action. The Study Area is the City of Norfolk. The 
Proposed Action will include construction of the following measures 
within the City: Storm surge barriers with gate openings near the 
mouths of four waterways: The Lafayette River, Pretty Lake, The Hague, 
and Broad Creek; floodwalls flanking the barriers and near waterways at 
locations from Lamberts Point to Broad Creek; berms; tide gates at 
various points to prevent storm surge; generator buildings and pumps; 
nonstructural measures to protect existing structures; and Natural and 
Nature-Based features. Implementation of the Proposed Action would 
impact floodplains, wetlands, mudflats, federally listed threatened and 
endangered species, and marine mammals, and other resources. The 
Proposed Action must be located in a floodplain in order to reduce 
flood risk behind the flood protection system. The Proposed Action will 
adhere to the 8-step process as outlined under Executive Order 11988, 
Floodplain Management, including consideration of sea level rise.
    Alternatives. The Final IFR/EIS considered a full range of 
nonstructural and structural flood risk management alternatives that 
meet the Proposed Action's purpose and need and incorporate measures to 
avoid and minimize impacts to the maximum extent practicable. 
Alternatives included: (1) The No Build/Future Without Project 
Alternative, (2) a Structural Only Project Alternative, (3) a 
Nonstructural Only Project Alternative, and (4) a dual Structural and 
Nonstructural Project Alternative, which is the Proposed Action.
    Public Involvement. A Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS was 
published on April 29, 2016, in the Federal Register (81 FR 25656). A 
public scoping meeting was held on May 25, 2016, and a follow-up public 
meeting was held on June 8, 2017, both in the City of Norfolk. A Notice 
of Availability of the Draft EIS was published on November 3, 2017, in 
the Federal Register (82 FR 51225), for a 45-day public comment period. 
A third public meeting was held on November 16, 2017, in the City of 
Norfolk. All comments received have been considered and addressed. The 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency serves as a cooperating agency for 
this project.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-21537 Filed 10-2-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3720-58-P