97-6155. Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Limited Reevaluation Study for the Deeping of the Arthur Kill/Howland Hook Navigation Channel

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 48 (Wednesday, March 12, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11418-11419]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-6155]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army
Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Limited Reevaluation Study for the Deeping of the 
Arthur Kill/Howland Hook Navigation Channel

AGENCY: Corps of Engineers, DOD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: In response to a House of Representatives, Committee on Public 
Works and Transportation Resolution dated May 9, 1979 to alleviate 
current and future navigation restrictions associated with the Arthur 
Kill/Howland Hook navigation channel, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
New York District, prepared a feasibility report and a final 
environmental impact statement in October 1995 that recommended a six 
foot deepening (from -35 to -41 feet) for a distance of approximately 
2.1 miles and a five foot deepening (-35 to -40 feet) along another 1.0 
mile section of the channel
    The New York District suspended work on the project in 1991. The 
Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) however was completed. The 
New York District has now initiated a Limited Re-evaluation study to 
reaffirm the recommended plan. Upon re-evaluation of the status of a 
FEIS which was filed on July 11, 1986, the New York District has 
determined that it is appropriate to prepare a supplemental 
environmental impact statement. This notice of intent supersedes the 
earlier notice to prepare a new environmental impact statement 
published in the Federal Register on September 30, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information regarding this 
notice, please contact Mr. Mark Burlas, ATTN: CENAN-PL-EA, U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers, New York District, 26 Federal Plaza, New York, NY 
10278-0090, or phone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Arthur Kill navigation channel is a 
component of the New York Harbor Estuarine System connecting Raritan 
Bay and Newark Bay. The channel is situated between New Jersey and 
Staten Island, New York. The Arthur Kill/Howland Hook navigation 
channel's northern limit is the confluence of the Kill van Kull and 
Newark Bay channels. The project area extends south for approximately 
3.1 miles.
    Currently, navigation in the project area is severely constrained. 
The existing depth of the Arthur Kill/Howland Hook channel section is 
not sufficient to allow the safe and efficient passage of fully loaded 
container and liquid bulk (tankers) vessels calling on terminals in the 
channel. The current mode of operation calls for tankers to lighter-off 
in anchorages and enter the Arthur Kill/Howland Hook section of channel 
during high tides. Containerships calling on terminals must be loaded 
to less than their design

[[Page 11419]]

capacities at their home ports and sail without a full load.
Gregory D. Showalter,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 97-6155 Filed 3-11-97; 8:45 am]
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