[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 197 (Friday, October 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47728-47729]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-21933]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Peckman River Basin Flood Risk Management Study
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the requirements of section 102(2)(C) of the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, New York District (Corps) is preparing an integrated
Feasibility Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) laws for the
proposed Peckman River Basin Flood Risk Management Feasibility Study.
The study is assessing the feasibility of flood risk management
alternatives to be implemented within the congressionally authorized
study area with a specific emphasis on the Township of Little Falls and
the Borough of Woodland Park in Passaic County, New Jersey.
ADDRESSES: Pertinent information about the study can be found at:
http://www.nan.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Projects-in-New-Jersey/Peckman-River-Basin-Flood-Risk-Management-Feasibility-Study/.
Send written comments and suggestions concerning the scope of
issues to be evaluated within the EIS to Kimberly Rightler, Project
Biologist/NEPA Coordinator, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York
District, Planning Division, Environmental, 26 Federal
[[Page 47729]]
Plaza, Room 2151, New York, NY 10279-0090; Phone: (917) 790-8722;
email: [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the overall Peckman
River Basin Flood Risk Management Feasibility Study should be directed
to Robert Greco, Project Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New
York District, Programs and Project Management Division, Civil Works
Programs Branch, 26 Federal Plaza, Room 2127, New York, NY 10279-0090;
Phone: (917) 790-8394; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Background
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), in partnership with the
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) as the non-
Federal sponsor is undertaking this study. Extensive development in the
Peckman River Basin has resulted in flood damages with flooding
occurring from intense thunderstorms and heavy rainfall. The District
was authorized under U.S. House of Representatives Resolution Docket
2644, dated June 21, 2000 to identify recommendations in the interest
of water resources development.
A Feasibility Cost Sharing Agreement (FCSA) was executed in 2002
with the NJDEP in 2002. A Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was published in the May 14, 2004
issue of the Federal Register (69 FR 26811). A NEPA scoping meeting
held on February 11, 2004 in Little Falls, New Jersey at the initiation
of the study. The alternative analysis was completed in 2014, and non-
structural improvements located within the 10 year floodplain within
Little Falls, N.J. with a bypass culvert designed to mitigate the flood
risk from the Peckman River and floodwalls along Great Notch Brook in
Woodland Park was identified as the Tentatively Selected National
Economic Development Plan. The NJDEP requested a Locally Preferred Plan
that consists of a levee/floodwall system in Little Falls along with
the bypass culvert for the Peckman River and floodwalls along Great
Notch Brook in Woodland Park. The LPP plan will be designed to protect
Little Falls and Woodland Park from the 1% annual chance exceedance
(100-yr) event from the Peckman River.
2. Project Area
The project area encompasses the portion of the Peckman River,
Great Notch Brook and a portion of the Passaic River located in the
Township of Little Falls and the Borough of Woodland Park in Passaic
County, New Jersey.
3. Public Participation
The Corps and the NJDEP are currently anticipating hosting a NEPA
Scoping Meeting in late November/early December 2017. Public notices
announcing the meeting date, time, location and agenda will be
published in the appropriate local newspapers, Little Falls Township
Web page, Borough of Woodland Park Web page and on the Corps' New York
District Web page (see STUDY WEBPAGE AND ADDRESSES) and will be
distributed to the local stakeholders and known interested parties.
A scoping comment period of 30 days will be established from the
scheduled date of the meeting to allow agencies, organizations and
individuals to submit comments, questions and/or concerns regarding the
Feasibility Study. Comments, concerns and information submitted to the
Corps will be evaluated and considered during the development of the
Draft EIS.
5. Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the lead federal agency for the
preparation of the environmental impact statement (EIS) and meeting the
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and the NEPA
Implementing Regulations of the President's Council on Environmental
Quality (40 CFR 1500-1508). Federal agencies interested in
participating as a Cooperating Agency are requested to submit a letter
of intent to Colonel Thomas D. Asbery, District Engineer (see
ADDRESSES). The preparation of the EIS will be coordinated with New
Jersey State and local municipalities with discretionary authority
relative to the proposed actions. The Draft integrated Feasibility
Report/EIS is currently scheduled for distribution to the public March
2018.
Dated: October 3, 2017.
Peter M. Weppler,
Chief, Environmental Analysis Branch, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 2017-21933 Filed 10-12-17; 8:45 am]
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