[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 98 (Tuesday, May 21, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23039-23040]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-10571]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Environmental Impact Statement Withdrawal and Notice of Intent of 
an Environmental Assessment for the New York and New Jersey Harbor 
Anchorages General Reevaluation Report

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

ACTION: Notice of withdrawal of an environmental impact statement; 
notice of intent of an environmental assessment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), on November 1, 2018, the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers (Corps) initiated the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
process to identify and analyze potential impacts associated with risk 
management measures as a part of the Federal feasibility study for the 
New York and New Jersey Harbor Anchorages. Currently, the Corps has 
identified a Tentatively Selected Plan (TSP) that includes a 
modification of a single anchorage within Gravesend Bay, expanding it 
to 3,600 feet and 50 feet in depth, to improve the safety and 
efficiency of port operations. Preliminary analysis of the TSP 
indicates no significant impacts are expected, therefore the Corps is 
terminating the EIS process and is withdrawing the Notice of Intent 
published in the Thursday, November 1, 2018 issue of the Federal 
Register. Instead, an Environmental Assessment (EA) will be prepared. 
It is anticipated that a draft of the integrated General Reevaluation 
Report and Environmental Assessment (GRR/EA) will be available for a 
30-day public comment period beginning later in 2019.

ADDRESSES: 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].

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 1,100 foot LOA (length overall) which is a significant portion of 
the vessels that regularly call on the harbor and

[[Page 23040]]

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.
    The Corps 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. A TSP has 
been identified which involves the modification of a single anchorage 
at Gravesend Bay, increasing its size to 3,600 feet and 50 feet in 
depth from its present dimensions.
    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 
EA. 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. A public NEPA scoping meeting was held 
on November 8, 2018, from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. It was 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 were invited to provide scoping comments to identify issues 
and potentially significant effects to be considered in the analysis. 
Comments on the proposed project can still be accepted until the end of 
the 30-day public coordination period, which is expected to occur later 
in 2020. The draft GRR/EA will be made available for a 30-day public 
comment period that will be scheduled for later in 2019.

    Dated: May 14, 2019.
David Schulte,
Regional Technical Specialist, USACE, Norfolk District.
[FR Doc. 2019-10571 Filed 5-20-19; 8:45 am]
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