[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 212 (Thursday, November 1, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54919-54920]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-23879]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


New York and New Jersey Harbor Anchorages General Reevaluation 
Study NEPA Scoping Meeting and Public Comment Period

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

ACTION: Notice of Intent/NEPA Scoping meeting and public comment 
period.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with all applicable laws and regulations, the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) plans to prepare a General 
Reevaluation Study (GRR) with an integrated Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) to evaluate environmental impacts from reasonable 
project alternatives and to determine the potential for significant 
impacts related to the improvement of the anchorages included in the 
Federal navigation project to take into account

[[Page 54920]]

changed conditions and/or assumptions since the original feasibility 
study was completed in 2000. The GRR will address the need for 
anchorage areas capable of safely accommodating the vessels navigating 
the anchorages at present and reasonably projected to be navigating 
them in the future; or find that no plan is currently justified.

DATES: Scoping comments may be submitted until December 10, 2018.

ADDRESSES: The public is invited to submit NEPA scoping comments at the 
meeting and/or submit comments to Mr. David Schulte, Department of the 
Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, Fort Norfolk, 803 
Front St., Norfolk, VA 23510 or via email: 
[email protected]. The project title and the commenter's 
contact information should be included with submitted comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Schulte, (757) 201-7007.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Applicable laws and regulations are section 
102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as 
amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321-4370, as implemented by the Council on 
Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508). The primary 
problem is that existing Federal anchorages in the harbor are 
insufficient in meeting the variety of functions (ex. security and U.S. 
Coast Guard inspections, lightering, bunkering/refueling, waiting 
areas, and emergency ``bailout'' areas) they are used for as part of 
normal harbor operations, which reduces vessel safety and cargo 
transportation efficiency. Multiple issues have been identified by key 
harbor users and stakeholders. There is not enough anchorage area to 
accommodate all of the vessels that need to anchor for various reasons. 
The dimensions of existing anchorages cannot accommodate vessels larger 
than 1100 foot LOA (length overall) which is a significant portion of 
the vessels that regularly call on the harbor and anchored vessels 
regularly swing out into the navigation channel. Vessels are currently 
forced to wait outside the harbor in the ocean due to a lack of 
anchorage availability and/or anchorage areas designed for larger 
vessels.
    USACE is the lead federal agency and the Port Authority of New York 
and New Jersey will be the non-federal sponsor for the study. The GRR 
will address the primary problem of the New York and New Jersey Harbor 
Anchorages by studying all reasonable alternatives and determine the 
Federal interest in cost-sharing for those alternatives.
    As required by Council on Environmental Quality's Principles, 
Requirements and Guidelines for Water and Land Related Resources 
Implementation Studies all reasonable alternatives to the proposed 
Federal action that meet the purpose and need will be considered in the 
EIS. These alternatives will include no action and a range of 
reasonable alternatives for improving navigation in the New York & New 
Jersey Harbor Anchorages.
    Scoping/Public Involvement. The public NEPA scoping meeting will be 
held on November 8, 2018, from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. It will be held at the GSA 
Building, conference rooms 1-3 on the 30th floor, at 290 Broadway, New 
York, NY 10007. Federal, state, and local agencies, Indian tribes, and 
the public are invited to provide scoping comments to identify issues 
and potentially significant effects to be considered in the analysis.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-23879 Filed 10-31-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3720-58-P