[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 154 (Friday, August 9, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65488-65490]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-17677]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number MARAD-2024-0102]


Updated Notice of Availability for the Camden County Programmatic 
Agreement Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Maritime Administration (MARAD) is funding the Camden 
County Port of Camden Access and Infrastructure Resiliency Project 
(Project) which will reconstruct and improve several roadways within 
the City of Camden Port District to increase access between the Port of 
Camden and nearby interstates, while also improving infrastructure 
resiliency within a historically disadvantaged community. In accordance 
with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and its implementing 
regulations, MARAD has determined that a Programmatic Agreement 
(Agreement) must be prepared in accordance with the requirements of the 
NHPA in conjunction with the Project and invites public comments on the 
Agreement.

DATES: All comments on the Agreement are due on or before September 23, 
2024. MARAD will consider comments filed after this date to the extent 
practicable.

ADDRESSES: To ensure that you do not duplicate your docket submissions, 
please submit all comments by only one of the following ways:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov, insert the docket number (MARAD-2024-0102) in the 
keyword box and click ``Search.'' Select the ``Docket'' tab, locate the 
Notice, and click on ``comment'' to begin the comment submission 
process. Follow the online instructions.
     Mail: Dockets Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building Ground Floor, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery: W12-l40 of the Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590 between 
9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. E.T., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
Holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329.
     Instructions: To properly identify your comments, please 
include the agency name and the docket number at the beginning of your 
comments. All comments received will be posted without change to 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wendy Coble, (202) 366-5088 or via 
email at [email protected]. Persons who use a telecommunications 
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay 
Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above individual during 
business hours. The FIRS is available twenty-four hours a day, seven 
days a week, to leave a message or question. You will receive a reply 
during normal business hours. You may send mail to the Department of 
Transportation, Maritime Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 65489]]

Background

    The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded funds to Camden 
County under the Fiscal Year 2022 Port Infrastructure Development 
Program for roadway improvements and reconstruction. The project is 
located in the City of Camden, Camden County, New Jersey.
    The project proposes to reconstruct and improve several roadways 
within the City of Camden Port District including Atlantic Avenue 
between 1-676 and Ferry Avenue (0.7 miles), Broadway (County Route 551) 
from Atlantic Avenue to the railroad overpass (between Chelton Avenue 
and Morgan St) (0.9 miles), Ferry Avenue (County Route 603) from 
Broadway to Atlantic Avenue (0.6 miles), and South 2nd Street from 
Clinton Avenue to Atlantic Avenue (0.8 miles). These improvements will 
consist of the following:
     New pavement, milling, and resurfacing which will improve 
roadway conditions and reduce the need for additional maintenance;
     New sidewalks, ADA-compliant curb ramps, curb extensions, 
pedestrian countdown timers and push buttons which will improve 
pedestrian safety and accessibility;
     Adjusted curb radii and intersection markings which will 
discourage trucks from accessing residential streets and encourage them 
to more safely access truck routes; reduced turn radii will improve 
safety;
     Additional wayfinding signage and dynamic messaging signs 
which will improve traffic flow and better direct motorists, 
pedestrians, and cyclists to their destinations;
     New and upgraded street lighting which will improve safety 
and comfort;
     New drainage lines utilizing existing outfalls, and 
repairing existing damaged sewer which will capitalize on existing 
infrastructure to improve sewage; and
     Green infrastructure which will improve drainage and 
create a more appealing pedestrian environment.
    MARAD has defined the Undertaking's area of potential effects (APE) 
as the boundary of the property of South 2nd Steet, Atlantic Avenue, 
Ferry Avenue and Broadway, which encompasses approximately three 
roadway miles.

Identification of Historic Properties

    The analysis conducted for this project included revisiting 
previously collected archaeological data, additional research, and site 
investigations. This work included the completion of a Phase1A Cultural 
Resource Reconnaissance Survey Report specifically done for this 
project. The report, and consultations with the New Jersey State 
Historic Preservation Office (NJSHPO), concluded that the project will 
likely have adverse impacts on one historic resource that is listed on 
the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), the South Camden 
Historic District, and historic resources, the 1907 Line Ditch timber 
sewer system and nineteenth century brick sewers, that will be 
evaluated for eligibility on the NRHP during the course of the project. 
It was also determined that the project's APE overlaps with the New 
York Shipbuilding Historic District, Bergen Square Historic District, 
and West Jersey & Seashore Lines Historic District, but these resources 
will not be adversely impacted by the project. The New York 
Shipbuilding Historic District has previously been determined eligible 
for the NRHP, while the Bergen Square Historic District and West Jersey 
& Seashore Lines Historic District have not yet been reviewed for 
eligibility on the NRHP.

Affected Historic Properties

    The South Camden Historic District's period of significance is 
1815-1930 and consist of numerous contributing elements, such as 
standing historic buildings. Cobblestone pavers within the Historic 
District are most directly linked to this project and currently lie 
beneath asphalt roadways within the district's boundaries.
    The 1907 Line Ditch timber sewer system and nineteenth century 
brick sewers contributed to the early development of the City of 
Camden. The method of construction associated with these resources is 
common in other nearby cities, thus making the entire City of Camden 
sewer system likely ineligible for the NRHP as a historic district. 
However, this does not preclude portions of the sewer system from being 
contributing elements to historic districts. Additionally, some 
elements may be individually eligible. This includes the 1907 Line 
Ditch timber sewer system due to its ties to locally significant 
persons such as Aaron Ward and unique construction during a period in 
which sewer construction methodologies were becoming standardized.

Project Impacts on Historic Properties

    The South Camden Historic District may be affected due to the 
proposed removal of cobblestone pavers, which currently lie underneath 
asphalt paving on the roadways within the district. The 1907 Line Ditch 
timber sewer system and nineteenth century brick sewers may be 
adversely impacted by the project because the project proposes to 
repair and/or replace some of the sewers for improved drainage and 
stormwater management.

Adverse Effects, Avoidance, Minimization, and Mitigation

    MARAD, in coordination with NJSHPO, determined that this project 
would require the development of a Programmatic Agreement to address 
the potential for adverse effects. As of this public notice, MARAD, 
SHPO, and Camden County have all agreed to be signatories to the 
Agreement; The Delaware Tribe of Indians and Camden City Historic 
Preservation Commission will be concurring parties. The draft Agreement 
is available for review by going to www.regulations.gov, and search 
using docket number ``MARAD-2024-0102.''
    To mitigate the potential for the project to cause adverse effects, 
the Agreement will require Camden County to complete the following 
mitigation measures:
     Prepare and install signage detailing the history and 
significance of the New York Shipbuilding and South Camden Historic 
Districts;
     Document any unearthed cobblestone to Level III equivalent 
standards of the Historic American Engineering Record (HAER);
     Recover and securely store cobblestones for later use 
within the historic district;
     Conduct a documentation-and-video-based survey (Phase 1B/
II) of any affected below ground sewer systems; and
     Based on the Phase 1B/II survey, recommend and implement a 
work plan for the evaluation, monitoring, documentation, protection, 
and/or treatment of any historic properties within the project's APE 
that may be adversely impacted by the project.

Public Participation

    MARAD may provide additional information and documents concerning 
the project. This information, along with any comments received, can be 
found at the above docket number. Please check the notice specific 
docket for this information. It is requested that all public comments 
be submitted for consideration within 45 calendar days from the posting 
of this notice.
    If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
notice, indicate the specific section of this document to which each 
comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion or 
recommendation. You

[[Page 65490]]

may submit your comments and material online as described in the 
ADDRESSES section above. MARAD recommends that you include your name 
and a mailing address, an email address, or a phone number in the body 
of your document so that MARAD can contact you if there are questions 
regarding your submission.
    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315(b)(6), DOT solicits comments 
from the public on the exemption requests. DOT posts these comments, 
without edit, including any personal information the commenter 
provides, to www.regulations.gov. As described in the system of records 
notice DOT/ALL 14 (Federal Docket Management System), which can be 
reviewed at https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/privacy/privacy-act-system-records-notices, the comments are searchable by the name of 
the submitter. Anyone can search the electronic form of all comments 
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). For information on 
DOT's compliance with the Privacy Act, please visit https://www.transportation.gov/privacy.

(Authority: 49 CFR 1.81 and 1.93; 36 CFR part 800; 5 U.S.C. 552b.)

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024-17677 Filed 8-8-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P