[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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