[Federal Register: December 28, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 248)]
[Notices]
[Page 77744-77745]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28de04-80]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the
Proposed Lower Passaic River Ecosystem Restoration Project, Essex,
Hudson, Passaic, and Bergen Counties, NJ: Feasibility Phase
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA), the New York District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(Corps) is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in
accordance with Council on Environmental Quality regulations as defined
and amended in 40 CFR parts 1500-1508 (promulgated pursuant to NEPA);
Corps' principles and guidelines as defined in Engineering Regulations
(ER) 1105-2-100, Planning Guidance Notebook, and ER 200-2-2, Procedures
for Implementing NEPA; and other applicable Federal and State
environmental laws for the proposed ecosystem restoration project in
the Lower Passaic River Basin located in the counties of Essex, Hudson,
Passaic, and Bergen in New Jersey.
The study area is identified as the Lower Passaic River and its
basin, which comprises the tidally influenced portion of the river from
the Dundee
[[Page 77745]]
Dam to Newark Bay and the watershed of this portion of the river; the
study area does not include the watershed and river upstream of the
dam. Extensive habitat loss and degradation have greatly reduced the
functional and structural integrity of ecosystems within the Lower
Passaic River Basin. Both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and
the Corps will develop a comprehensive watershed-based plan for both
the remediation and restoration of the Lower Passaic River Watershed.
This will include the identification of remediation actions and
ecosystem restoration opportunities in the study area to support
broader estuary-wide restoration efforts. Remediation actions may
include sediment removal, cap placement, in-situ or ex-situ sediment
decontamination, and shoreline stabilization, while complimentary
restoration goals may include the restoration, creation, and
enhancement of benthic habitat, aquatic habitat, tidal and non-tidal
wetlands, riparian habitat, flood plains and other terrestrial habitats
as well as shoreline stabilization. The Corps intends to prepare an EIS
for the ecosystem restoration portion of this joint study.
ADDRESSES: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, 26 Federal
Plaza, New York, NY 10278-0090.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Bill Shadel, Project Biologist and
NEPA Coordinator, Planning Division, Environmental Analysis Branch;
(212) 264-0570; or William.P.Shadel@usace.army.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. The Lower Passaic River Ecosystem
Restoration Study, the Water Resources Development Act component of
this joint study, is being carried out under the Corps' General
Investigations Program. The study was authorized under the Hudson-
Raritan study authorization, in a resolution of the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the U.S. House of Representatives,
dated 15 April 1999, which reads:
Resolved by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
of the United States House of Representatives, That, the Secretary
of the Army is requested to review the reports of the Chief of
Engineers on the New York and New Jersey channels, published as
House Document 133, 74th Congress, 1st Session; the New York and New
Jersey Habor Entrance Channels and Anchorage Areas, published as
Senate Document 45, 84th Congress, 1st Session; and the New York
Harbor, NY Anchorage channel, published as House Document 18, 71st
Congress, 2nd Session, as well as other related reports with a view
to determining the feasibility of environmental restoration and
protection relating to water resources and sediment quality within
the New York and New Jersey Port District, including but not limited
to creation, enhancement, and restoration of aquatic, wetland, and
adjacent upland habitats.
A public scoping meeting is scheduled for spring 2005. Results from
the public scoping meeting with Federal, State, and local agencies, as
well as the public, will be addressed in the EIS.
3. Federal agencies interested in participating as a Cooperating
Agency are requested to submit a letter of intent to Colonel Richard J.
Polo, Jr., District Engineer (see ADDRESSES).
4. It is estimated that a draft EIS will be completed by March
2007, subject to availability of funds.
Leonard Houston,
Chief, Environmental Analysis Branch, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 04-28332 Filed 12-27-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-06-M