[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 91 (Thursday, May 11, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25258-25259]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-11663]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[CGD 95-044]
Public Hearings on Impacts of the Proposed Goethals Bridge
Project, Staten Island, NY
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of public hearings.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Commandant has authorized two
public hearings to be held by the Commander, First Coast Guard District
at Staten Island, New York and Elizabeth, New Jersey, jointly with the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The purpose of these hearings is to
consider an application by the Port Authority of New York and New
Jersey for Coast Guard approval of location and plans of a proposed
three-lane, fixed, vehicular, bridge project across Arthur Kill, mile
11.5 between Staten Island, New York and Elizabeth, New Jersey,
adjacent to the existing Goethals Bridge. The Corps of Engineers
approval is needed for placement of fill associated with this project.
All interested persons may present data, views and comments, orally or
in writing, concerning the impact of the proposed bridge project on
navigation and the human environment. Of particular concern at this
time is the impact the proposed action will have on the environment.
DATES: The hearings will be held on June 13, 1995 commencing at 3:30
p.m. and June 15, 1995 commencing at 2 p.m. Final comments for the
record must be received by July 14, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed or delivered to Commander (obr),
First Coast Guard District, Governors Island, New York, New York 10004-
5073. The June 13 hearing will be held at the New Dorp High School, 465
New Dorp Lane, Staten Island, NY. The June 15 hearing will be held at
the Elizabeth City Hall, 50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Elizabeth, NJ.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Miss Evelyn Smart, Environmental Protection Specialist, First Coast
Guard District, Governors Island, New York, New York 10004-5073, (212)
668-7165.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed new fixed bridge will be 2171
meters (7123 feet) in length crossing Arthur Kill and Old Place Creek
on the Staten Island approach. The proposed structure will provide
navigation a minimum vertical clearance of 41.2 meters (135 feet) above
Mean High Water and minimum horizontal clearance of 152.4 meters (500
feet) measured normal to the axis of the channel. Two bridge design
options, tied-arch and cable-stayed, are being considered for the main
bridge span.
The purpose of this project is to improve crossing capacity of the
Staten island bridges system to meet present and anticipated future
traffic demands. The project is also designed to eliminate the
functional obsolescence of current design features on the existing
bridge and to improve traffic service. The proposed additional bridge
is also intended to improve truck traffic flow and related shipments of
goods moved within the metropolitan region.
Consideration of approval of the location and plans for the
proposed vehicular bridge is the regulatory action precipitating the
Coast Guard's involvement in this project. The Corps of Engineers is
involved because of the project need for the placement of fill in the
waterway.
The Coast Guard, as Federal lead agency, has determined that this
project will have a significant impact on the environment and is
preparing a Draft Environmental Impact/4(f) Statement (DEIS). The Corps
of Engineers is a cooperating agency.
Alternatives were selected through a screening evaluation process
which addressed transportation facility and systems options including:
new highway or tunnel crossings; continued use of existing but modified
crossing facilities; transit alternatives; freight movement
alternatives; HOV alternatives; travel demand management schemes;
transportation systems management and intelligent vehicle highway
systems. The DEIS evaluates the No Action alternative and three
transportation improvement alternatives: Goethals South crossing;
Goethals North crossing; expanded Goethals HOV lane.
Significant environmental impact issues which will be addressed in
the DEIS are land use, socioeconomic impacts, archaeological resources,
water quality, wetlands, fish and wildlife, coastal zone, navigation,
construction, traffic, air and noise, aesthetics, and hazardous
materials. Information concerning availability of the DEIS may be
obtained from Ms. Evelyn Smart at the phone number listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
The hearings will be informal. Representatives of the Coast Guard
and Corps of Engineers will preside, make brief opening statements and
announce the procedures to be followed at the hearings. Each person who
wishes to make an oral statement should contact Ms. Evelyn Smart at the
phone number under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT before the hearing
dates. Such notification should include the approximate time needed to
make the presentation and the hearing location at which the
presentation will be made. Comments previously submitted are a matter
of record and need not be resubmitted at the hearings. Speakers are
encouraged to provide written copies of their oral statement to the
hearing officers at the time and place of the hearings.
Interested persons who are unable to attend either hearing may also
participate in the consideration of the proposed project by submitting
their written comments by mail to the Commander (obr), First Coast
Guard District at the address under ADDRESSES by July 14, 1995. Copies
of all written communications will be available for review by
interested persons after the hearings at the office of the Commander
(obr), First Coast Guard District, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Monday through Friday, except holidays. Each written comment should
identify the proposed project, clearly state the reason for any
objections, comments or proposed changes to the plans, and include the
name and address of the person or organization submitting the comment.
All comments received, whether in writing or presented orally at the
public hearings, will be fully considered before final agency action is
taken on the proposed bridge permit application.
A transcript of the hearings will be available for public review
approximately 30 days after the [[Page 25259]] hearings. All comments
will be made a part of the official case record.
Dated: May 5, 1995.
M.F. McCormack,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Chief, Office of Navigation Safety
and Waterway Services.
[FR Doc. 95-11663 Filed 5-10-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M
