[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 27, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 95122-95123]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31210]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the New
Haven Harbor (New Haven, Connecticut) Navigation Improvement Project
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), New England District
is conducting a feasibility study and Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) to examine navigation-improvements to the existing New Haven
Harbor Federal Navigation project. The non-Federal sponsor for the
study is the New Haven Port Authority in partnership with the
Connecticut State Port Authority. Inadequate channel depths result in
navigation inefficiencies in transporting goods into and out of the
harbor. To reach the terminals, larger ships must lighter outside the
breakwaters and/or experience delays while waiting for favorable tide
conditions, or both. Deeper and wider navigation features (main
channel, maneuvering area, and turning basin) are needed to increase
the navigation efficiency and safety of New Haven Harbor.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action
and EIS can be answered by: Mr. Todd Randall, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, New England District, 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-
2751, (978) 318-8518, email: [email protected].
DATES: A public scoping meeting will be held on January 24, 2017 from
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (registration starts at 6:00 p.m.) at the Hall
of Records, Hearing Room, 200 Orange Street, New Haven, Connecticut.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Corps participation in this study is
authorized by a resolution of the Senate Committee on the Environment
and Public Works dated July 31, 2007. This study was initiated at the
request of the New Haven Port Authority and the Connecticut State Port
Authority. The study is being cost-shared 50-percent Federal and 50-
percent non-Federal with the New Haven Port Authority.
Proposed Action: The study will consider navigation improvements
including deepening and widening the federal navigation project. The
New Haven Harbor navigation project's main ship channel, maneuvering
area, and
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turning basin are authorized to a depth of -35 feet mean lower low
water (MLLW). The main ship channel is about 5 miles long extending
from deep water in Long Island Sound to the terminals at the head of
the harbor. The channel varies in width from 500 feet (outer-harbor) to
400 feet (inner-harbor), and widens to 800 feet along the terminals.
Deeper and wider channels, maneuvering area, and turning basin are
needed to increase the navigation efficiency and safety of New Haven
Harbor.
Alternatives: The feasibility study will identify, evaluate, and
recommend to decision makers an appropriate, coordinated and workable
solution to the navigation inefficiencies at New Haven Harbor.
Alternatives will include analyzing various incremental channel depths
and widths based upon need, as well as alternative dredging
methodologies. In addition, the study will evaluate various dredged
material disposal alternatives such as beneficial use (e.g., marsh
creation, beach nourishment, historic disposal mound capping),
nearshore placement, open water placement, and upland placement.
Public Involvement and Scoping: Full public participation of
affected Federal, state and local agencies, affected Indian tribes, and
other interested private organizations and parties is invited. All
interested parties are encouraged to submit their names and email
addresses to the address noted above, to be placed on the project
mailing list to receive fact sheets, newsletters and related public
notices. The Corps and the New Haven Port Authority will host a public
meeting on the study on January 24, 2017 (see DATES section). The
public is invited to attend and further identify issues that should be
addressed in the EIS. In addition to this notice, the date, place, and
time of the public meeting will be announced in the local newspaper and
on the USACE New England District Web page. Following the scoping
process, a public informational meeting will be held in 2017 to present
and discuss potential project alternatives. The Draft Integrated
Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement (IFR/EIS) is
scheduled to be complete in April of 2018 and will be available for
public review and comment.
Significant Issues: Significant issues to be discussed in the DEIS
include the effects of dredging and disposal on the physical,
biological, cultural, and socioeconomic environment of the project
area.
Environmental Review and Consultation Requirements: The proposed
project is subject to review pursuant (but not limited to) to the
Coastal Zone Management Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Endangered
Species Act, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, Marine Protection, Research,
and Sanctuaries Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act.
Estimated Date: It is estimated that the Draft IFR/EIS will be made
available to the public in April of 2018.
Dated: December 20, 2016.
Colonel Christopher J. Barron,
District Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England.
[FR Doc. 2016-31210 Filed 12-23-16; 8:45 am]
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