USACE Extends Public Comment Period for NY&NJHAT Study

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District in cooperation with non-federal sponsors, the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation and the NJ Department of Environmental Protection announced recently the extension of the public comment period and additional public meetings for the New York/New Jersey Harbors and Tributaries Focus Area Feasibility Study.

This coastal storm risk management study (CSRM) covers the New York & New Jersey Harbor and tidally affected tributaries encompassing all of New York City, the Hudson River to Troy, NY; the lower Passaic, Hackensack, Rahway, and Raritan Rivers; and the Upper and Lower Bays of New York Harbor, Newark, Jamaica, Raritan and Sandy Hook Bays; the Kill Van Kull, Arthur Kill and East River tidal straits; and western Long Island Sound.

This focus area is one of nine that the USACE North Atlantic Coast Comprehensive Study (NACCS) Report, issued January 2015, identified for further study.

The study is authorized by Public Law 84-71, June 15, 1955 (69 Stat. 132) which directs the examination of damages in coastal and tidal areas due to coastal storms such as hurricanes “and of possible means of preventing loss of human lives and damages to property, with due consideration of the economics of proposed breakwaters, seawalls, dikes, dams, and other structures, warning services, or other measures which might be required,” reported the Corps.

“After receiving multiple requests from the public, elected and appointed officials as well as our non-federal sponsors we’ve decided to extend the scoping period 45 additional days to November 5th in order to ensure we have a common understanding of the way forward to complete a plan collaboratively. This extension will allow for a greater amount of time to consider additional analyses on ecological and social impacts,” said Col. Thomas Asbery, commander of the Army Corps’ New York District.

The extension of the scoping period assures the Corps’ stakeholders and the public have sufficient time to accommodate wider public input. The first of two additional meetings will be hosted by Westchester County Executive George Latimer in White Plains, New York. A second meeting in Nassau County, New York will be scheduled at a later date.

The following public meeting has been scheduled to discuss issues and receive comments from stakeholders:

• Session 1:
  Welcome & Poster Session: 3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
  Presentation:  3:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  Comment Card Questions:  4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Session 2:
  Welcome & Poster Session: 6:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.
  Presentation: 6:15 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
  Comment Card Questions:  7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

After further analyses and incorporating scoping comments received, a draft document will be made available in January of next year.