96-24945. Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Limited Reevaluation Study for the Deepening of the Arthur Kill/Howland Hook Navigation Channel; New York District, NY

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 190 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 51084]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24945]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Limited Reevaluation Study for the Deepening of the Arthur Kill/Howland 
Hook Navigation Channel; New York District, NY

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 1985 that recommended a six 
foot deepening (from -35 to -41 feet) for a distance of approximately 
2.1 miles and 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 and the 
final environmental impact statement was no completed. The New York 
District has initiated a Limited Reevaluation study to reaffirm the 
recommended plan. A new environmental impact statement is being 
prepared. Public information meetings are being scheduled for the 
beginning of October 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact Mr. Mark Burlas, ATTN: 
CENAN-PL-EA, Corps of Engineers, New York District, 26 Federal Plaza, 
New York, NY 10278-0090, Phone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Arthur Kill navigation channel 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 and 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 still willing to call 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. Container ships calling on 
terminals must be loaded to less than their design capacities at their 
home ports and sail without a full load. This is inefficient, costly, 
and results in unnecessary navigational and environmental risks.
Gregory D. Showalter,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 96-24945 Filed 9-27-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-06-M