[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 60096]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-30124]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Corps of Engineers
Dredged Material Management Plan for the Port of New York/New
Jersey
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
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SUMMARY: The action being taken is the evaluation of the dredged
material management alternatives for the Port of New York/New Jersey.
The purpose of the CEIS is to produce a series of alternatives and
preferred plan(s) for the disposal of dredged material. The
selection(s) will be based on extensive scientific data including
information currently being collected.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Robert J. Kurtz, or for the Interim Report Mr. Jeffery Fry at (212)
264-1275, Corps of Engineers, New York District, 26 Federal Plaza, New
York, NY 10278-0090.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action is the promulgation of a
draft CEIS that will evaluate the proposed course(s) of action to
dispose of sediment removed from Federal channels within the Port of
New York/New Jersey. The authority for this draft CEIS is under
existing Operations and Maintenance authority of the New York Harbor
Navigation Project in accordance with EC 1165-2-200 (National Harbor
Program: Dredged Material Management Plans).
Alternatives including the no-action alternative, will be
considered in addition to the following: containment disposal
facilities (contiguous to land, and as islands in the ocean and the
Atlantic Bight Apex); sub-aqueous borrow pits (both existing and new),
upland disposal, beneficial uses (e.g. wetlands creation); and
management options such as sediment decontamination, and sediment
reduction.
The scoping process for the Dredged Material Management Plan for
the Port of New York/New Jersey has been on-going and has included
public involvement in the form of meetings, forums, and workshops to
address the needs and concerns of the public. This process will
continue through the current phase of planning and will also include
close coordination for the draft CEIS. A public notice will be issued
to inform all interested parties of any upcoming meetings.
Significant issues have been identified and include: contaminated
sediment concerns and its adverse effects to the marine biota including
fisheries, the food chain, endangered and threatened species, and
marine mammals, as well as potential adverse effects on human health,
such as the relationship of bioaccumulation and food supply, and loss
of commercial and recreational fishing areas. Concern has also been
expressed regarding the potential effects on tidal ranges, salinity
currents, shoreline erosion, flooding, sediment transport, and other
physical/chemical features of the system, as well as, groundwater,
wetlands, aesthetic values and cultural resources. Further analysis
will include adverse affects associated with a failure to act causing
the Port of New York/New Jersey to be lost as a viable place to import
and export cargo, and for contaminated sediments that accumulate in
these areas.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is the lead agency and
has conducted a substantial number of studies performed in conjunction
with previous EIS' on the management of dredged material for the Port
of New York/New Jersey, and more are presently being conducted in
concert with this draft CEIS. These studies include; sediment profile
imagery, fishery data collection, hydrodynamic modeling, bathymetric,
and side-scan sonar surveys, core sampling, cultural resources, and
sediment contaminant investigations. Agencies including the United
States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS), and the U.S. Geological Service (USGS) are
cooperating to provide data and input to the draft CEIS.
The Dredged Material Management Integrated Working Group (DMMIWG)
which is composed of Federal, New York and New Jersey State agencies,
the interested public, and environmental groups, have been reviewing
the studies and alternatives during the formulation process and will
continue to advise during the draft CEIS promulgation. Section 7
consultation will be conducted with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
and NMFS. Further, both the New York and New Jersey Natural Heritage
Program offices will be consulted. Additionally, environmental review
of Cultural Resources will be conducted by the State Historic
Preservation Offices of New York and New Jersey.
A more detailed identification and preliminary assessment of
impacts is contained in the Interim Report of the DMMP. Copies of the
report are available from the point of contact identified at the
beginning of this notice.
The time(s), date(s), and location(s) of scoping sessions are to be
determined. The draft CEIS is currently estimated to be available for
public review during July 1998.
Gregory D. Showalter,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 96-30124 Filed 11-25-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-06-M
