Availability of Draft Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Modification of the Bayonne Bridge Across the Kill Van Kull Between Bayonne, Hudson County, NJ and Staten Island, Richmond County, NY, 740-743 [2012-31650]

Download as PDF 740 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 3 / Friday, January 4, 2013 / Notices mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with Place: InterContinental Mark Hopkins Hotel, 999 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94108. Contact Person: Julius Cinque, MS, Scientific Review Officer, Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 5186, MSC 7846, Bethesda, MD 20892, (301) 435– 1252, cinquej@csr.nih.gov. Name of Committee: Biobehavioral and Behavioral Processes Integrated Review Group; Biobehavioral Regulation, Learning and Ethology Study Section. Date: February 7–8, 2013. Time: 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Agenda: To review and evaluate grant applications. Place: Lorien Hotel & Spa, 1600 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. Contact Person: Melissa Gerald, Ph.D., Scientific Review Officer, Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 3172, MSC 7848, Bethesda, MD 20892, (301) 408– 9107, geraldmel@csr.nih.gov. Name of Committee: Center for Scientific Review Special Emphasis Panel; PAR–11– 216: Early Phase Clinical Trials in Imaging and Image-Guided Interventions. Date: February 7, 2013. Time: 2:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Agenda: To review and evaluate grant applications. Place: Serrano Hotel, 405 Taylor Street, San Francisco, CA 94102. Contact Person: David L Williams, Ph.D., Scientific Review Officer, Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 5110, MSC 7854, Bethesda, MD 20892, (301)435– 1174, williamsdl2@csr.nih.gov. Name of Committee: Surgical Sciences, Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering Integrated Review Group; Medical Imaging Study Section. Date: February 7–8, 2013. Time: 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Agenda: To review and evaluate grant applications. Place: Serrano Hotel, 405 Taylor Street, San Francisco, CA 94102. Contact Person: Xiang-Ning Li, MD, Ph.D., Scientific Review Officer, Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 5112, MSC 7854, Bethesda, MD 20892, 301–435– 1744, lixiang@csr.nih.gov. (Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Nos. 93.306, Comparative Medicine; 93.333, Clinical Research, 93.306, 93.333, 93.337, 93.393–93.396, 93.837–93.844, 93.846–93.878, 93.892, 93.893, National Institutes of Health, HHS) Dated: December 31, 2012. Melanie J. Gray, Program Analyst, Office of Federal Advisory Committee Policy. [FR Doc. 2012–31739 Filed 1–3–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4140–01–P VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:34 Jan 03, 2013 Jkt 229001 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES National Institutes of Health Prospective Grant of Exclusive License: The Development of Gene Expression Signatures of Neoplasm Responsiveness to mTOR and HDAC Inhibitor Combination Therapy National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service, HHS. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: This is notice, in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209(c)(1) and 37 CFR 404.7(a)(1)(i), that the National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, is contemplating the grant to Empire Genomics LLC of an exclusive patent license to practice the inventions embodied in US Provisional Patent Application 61/558,402 entitled, ‘‘Gene Expression Signatures of Neoplasm Responsiveness to Therapy’’ [HHS Ref. E–013–2012/0–US–01], and all continuing applications and foreign counterparts. The patent rights in this invention have been assigned to the Government of the United States of America. The prospective exclusive license territory may be worldwide, and the field of use may be limited to: SUMMARY: the use of the licensed patent rights limited to an FDA-cleared or an FDA-approved in vitro diagnostic test kit for human use and predictive of the therapeutic benefit of combination therapy comprising an HDAC inhibitor and an mTOR inhibitor in the treatment of multiple myeloma, breast cancer, melanoma, lymphoma, and prostate cancer. Only written comments or applications for a license, or both, which are received by the NIH Office of Technology Transfer on or before January 22, 2013 will be considered. ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the patent application, inquiries, comments, and other materials relating to the contemplated exclusive license should be directed to: Patrick P. McCue, Ph.D., Licensing and Patenting Manager, Office of Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health, 6011 Executive Boulevard, Suite 325, Rockville, MD 20852–3804; Telephone: (301) 435– 5560; Facsimile: (301) 402–0220; Email: mccuepat@mail.nih.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This invention concerns the discovery of gene expression signatures indicative of tumors that are sensitive to combination therapy comprising mTOR and HDAC inhibitors. Broadly applicable to several cancer subtypes, the detection of such DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 signatures in a tumor could be used to identify a patient as a potential candidate for mTOR and HDAC inhibitor combination therapy. The prospective exclusive license will be royalty bearing and will comply with the terms and conditions of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.7. The prospective exclusive license may be granted unless the NIH receives, within fifteen (15) days from the date of this published notice, written evidence and argument that establishes that the grant of the license would not be consistent with the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.7. Applications for a license in the field of use filed in response to this notice will be treated as objections to the grant of the contemplated exclusive license. Comments and objections submitted to this notice will not be made available for public inspection and, to the extent permitted by law, will not be released under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552. Dated: December 31, 2012. Richard U. Rodriguez, Director, Division of Technology Development & Transfer, Office of Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health. [FR Doc. 2012–31743 Filed 1–3–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4140–01–P DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Coast Guard [Docket No. USCG–USCG–2012–1091] Availability of Draft Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Modification of the Bayonne Bridge Across the Kill Van Kull Between Bayonne, Hudson County, NJ and Staten Island, Richmond County, NY Coast Guard, DHS. Notice of availability and request for comments; notice of public meetings. AGENCY: ACTION: The Coast Guard announces the availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment (Draft EA) and the dates and locations of two public meetings on the Draft EA, which considered the reasonably foreseeable environmental impacts and socio-economic impacts of the proposed modification of the historic Bayonne Bridge across the Kill Van Kull between Bayonne, New Jersey and Staten Island, New York. As a structure over navigable waters of the United States, the proposed bridge modification would require a Coast Guard Bridge Permit Amendment. We SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\04JAN1.SGM 04JAN1 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 3 / Friday, January 4, 2013 / Notices request your comments on the Draft EA. Our publication of this notice begins a 45-day comment period and provides information on how to participate in the public comment process for the Draft EA, which includes an opportunity to submit oral or written comments at two public meetings to consider an application by the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ) for Coast Guard approval of the modification to the Bayonne Bridge across the Kill Van Kull. DATES: Written comments and related material may be submitted to our online docket via https://www.regulations.gov on or before February 18, 2013, or must reach the Docket Management Facility by that date. The public meetings will be held on February 5, 2013, in Bayonne, NJ, and February 7, 2013 in Staten Island, NY (see the Background and Purpose section below for more details). If you wish to request an oral or sign language interpreter, we must receive your request for one by January 25, 2013. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG– 2012–1091 using any one of the following methods: (1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. (2) Fax: 202–493–2251. (3) Mail: Docket Management Facility (M–30), U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590– 0001. (4) Hand delivery: Same as mail address above, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is 202–366–9329. To avoid duplication, please use only one of these four methods. See the ‘‘Public Participation and Request for Comments’’ portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for instructions on submitting comments. We have provided a copy of the Draft EA in our online docket at https:// www.regulations.gov. Also, the Coast Guard First District Bridge Office at 1 South Street Bldg 1, New York, NY 10004–1466 will maintain a printed copy of the Draft EA for public review. The document will be available for inspection at this location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The document will also be available for inspection in the locations shown in the section below titled ‘‘Viewing the comments and the Draft EA.’’ VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:34 Jan 03, 2013 Jkt 229001 If you have questions on this notice or the public meetings, call or email Christopher Bisignano, Bridge Management Specialist, First Coast Guard District, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 212–668–7165, email Christopher.J.Bisignano@uscg.mil. If you have questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202–366– 9826. Authority: The Draft Environmental Assessment has been prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 United States Code (U.S.C.) 4321 et. seq.); Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations for Implementing NEPA (40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts 1500–1508) and associated CEQ guidelines; Department of Homeland Security Management Directive 5100.1, Environmental Planning Program; and United States Coast Guard (USCG) Commandant Instruction (COMDTINST) M16475.1D, National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures and Policy for Considering Environmental Impacts. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Public Participation and Request for Comments We encourage you to submit comments and related material on the Draft EA. All comments received, including comments received at the public meeting, will be posted, without change, to https://www.regulations.gov and will include any personal information you have provided. Submitting comments: If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this notice (USCG–2012– 1091) and provide a reason for each suggestion or recommendation. You may submit your comments and material online, or by fax, mail or hand delivery, but please use only one of these means. We recommend that you include your name and a mailing address, an email address, or a telephone number in the body of your document so that we can contact you if we have questions regarding your submission. To submit your comment online, go to https://www.regulations.gov, insert (USCG–2012–1091) in the Search box, look for this notice in the docket and click the Comment button next to it. If you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no larger than 81⁄2 by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing. If you submit them by mail and would like to know that they PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 741 reached the Facility, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and material received during the comment period. Viewing the comments and the Draft EA: To view the comments and Draft EA go to https://www.regulations.gov, insert (USCG–2012–1091) in the Search box, then click on the ‘‘Open Docket Folder’’ option. If you do not have access to the Internet, you may view the docket online by visiting the Docket Management Facility in Room W12–140 on the ground floor of the Department of Transportation West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. We have an agreement with the Department of Transportation to use the Docket Management Facility. The Draft EA is also available online at https://www.uscg.mil/d1/prevention/ Bridges.asp, www.dhs.gov/nepa, and https://www.panynj.gov/bayonnebridge/, and is available 10 a.m.–3 p.m., Monday through Friday (except federal holidays and as noted below), for inspection at the following locations: 1. U.S. Coast Guard Battery Bldg, 1 South Street, Building 1, New York, NY 10004 2. U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York, 212 Coast Guard Drive, Staten Island, NY 10305 3. Bayonne City Hall, 630 Avenue C, Bayonne, NJ 07002 4. Staten Island Borough Hall, 10 Richmond Terrace, Room 100, Staten Island, NY 10301 5. Bayonne Public Library, 630 Avenue C, Bayonne, NJ 07002 (Also available from 12 p.m.–5 p.m. on Saturdays) 6. Port Richmond—NY Public Library, 75 Bennett Street, Staten Island, NY 10302 (Also available 12 p.m.–5 p.m. on Thursdays and Saturdays) 7. Ironbound Community Corp, 317 Elm Street, Newark, NJ 07105 8. New York Assembly District 61, 853 Forest Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10301 9. New Jersey Legislative District 31, 447 Broadway, Bayonne, NJ 07002 10. New York City Council District 49, 130 Stuyvesant Place, Staten Island, NY 10301 11. Staten Island Community Board 1, 1 Edgewater Plaza, Room 217, Staten Island, NY 10305 Copies of all written communications from the public meetings will be available for review by interested persons on the online docket, USCG– 2012–1091 via https:// www.regulations.gov. E:\FR\FM\04JAN1.SGM 04JAN1 742 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 3 / Friday, January 4, 2013 / Notices mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with Transcripts of the meetings will be available for public review approximately 30 days after the meetings. All comments will be made part of the official case record. Privacy Act: Anyone can search the electronic form of comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review a Privacy Act, system of records notice regarding our public dockets in the January 17, 2008, issue of the Federal Register (73 FR 3316). Background and Purpose Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) has proposed to modify the Bayonne Bridge across navigable waters of the United States by raising the roadway thereby increasing the vertical navigational clearance from approximately 151 feet to 215 feet at Mean High Water. A thorough description of the project and how it would be completed can be found at the project’s Web site: https:// www.panynj.gov/bayonnebridge/. The proposed bridge modification project has been identified as a significant project under ‘‘Implementing Executive Order 13604 on Improving Performance of Federal Permitting and Review of Infrastructure Projects: A Federal Plan for Modernizing the Federal Permitting and Review Process for Better Projects, Improved Environmental and Community Outcomes, and Quicker Decisions,’’ dated June 2012, which requires agencies to identify and expedite the permitting and environmental review process for regionally or nationally significant infrastructure projects. The existing Bayonne Bridge has a vertical navigational clearance of approximately 151 feet above the Kill Van Kull at Mean High Water. The applicant proposes to increase the vertical navigational clearance to approximately 215 feet above the waterway at Mean High Water to provide greater clearances to accommodate larger, Post-Panamax vessels and thereby ensure the longterm viability of the Port of New York and New Jersey. Post-Panamax vessels are wider and taller ships with deeper drafts that will be able to traverse through the Panama Canal once improvements on the canal are completed in 2014. The expanded purpose of the project is to improve the substandard features and seismic stability of the existing bridge and ensure it conforms to modern highway and structural design standards. In addition, the existing bridge is eligible VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:34 Jan 03, 2013 Jkt 229001 for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Therefore, the Coast Guard has initiated consultation under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation has accepted the Coast Guard invitation to participate in the Section 106 process. The Coast Guard issued the NEPA Workplan, dated September 2011, which provided a discussion of the project’s Purpose and Need, project alternatives and the framework of the environmental analysis. On October 31, 2011, the Coast Guard held a coordination meeting with city, state and federal agencies to discuss the project’s scope and the NEPA Workplan. On November 14, 2011, the Coast Guard issued a solicitation requesting comments from the general public for the scope of the project and the NEPA Workplan. Comments received following the meeting and during the solicitation comment period included concerns from the U.S. Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, various private organizations and individuals, and others regarding additional cargo volumes due to larger ships entering the Port of New York and New Jersey, the expansion of the port and port facilities, and the related impacts to air quality and traffic. In response to these comments, an Induced Demand Analysis was conducted by an independent source to study the impact of the proposed action to those communities surrounding the Port of New York and New Jersey. Further information regarding this analysis can be found in Chapter 18 of the Draft EA and in Appendix I. In addition, the Coast Guard met with representatives from minority and low income communities in Staten Island, NY and Newark, NJ to explain the Coast Guard bridge permit process and to ensure those communities have a voice in the public comment process. Based on the information received to date, the Coast Guard has determined that a Draft Environmental Assessment is the most appropriate level of environmental documentation for this project. Should the Coast Guard determine that there are no significant impacts following the comment period; a Finding of No Significant Impact would be issued. Per NEPA procedures, should significant impacts be discovered during the review process, the level of environmental documentation may be elevated to an Environmental Impact Statement. The Draft EA and appendices, Coast Guard NEPA Workplan dated September 2011, ‘‘Bayonne Bridge Navigational PO 00000 Frm 00054 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Clearance Program Responses to Scoping Comments NEPA Workplan,’’ dated February 2012, are available online at https://www.uscg.mil/d1/ prevention/Bridges.asp. Alternatives for the proposed project considered include: (1) Taking no action; (2) various build alternatives that satisfy the purpose and need; (3) a tunnel; (4) new cargo terminals constructed downstream of the Bayonne Bridge; and (5) a ferry service in lieu of the bridge. Build alternatives included raising the roadway within the existing superstructure (preferred), jacking the arch superstructure, converting to a lift bridge, or constructing a new bridge. As a structure over navigable waters of the United States, it requires a Coast Guard Bridge Permit Amendment pursuant to the Bridge Act of March 23, 1906, as amended, Title 33 U.S.C. 491. Additionally, the bridge permit amendment would be the major federal action in this undertaking since federal funds will not be used, and therefore the Department of Homeland Security, through the Coast Guard is the federal lead agency for review of potential effects on the human environment, including historic properties, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), as amended (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.). The Coast Guard, with assistance from PANYNJ, has prepared a Draft EA in accordance with NEPA. See ‘‘Viewing the comments and Draft EA’’ above. The Draft EA identifies and examines the reasonable alternatives (including ‘‘No Build’’) and assesses the potential for impact to the human environment, including historic properties, of the alternative proposals. We are seeking public input on the Draft EA, including comments on completeness and adequacy of the document, and on other environmental and historic preservation concerns that may be related to the proposed bridge modification project. This includes suggesting analyses and methodologies for use in the Draft EA or possible sources of data or information not included in the Draft EA. Your comments will be considered while making the decision to prepare a final Environmental Assessment, or elevate the document to an Environmental Impact Statement. The Coast Guard will hold two public meetings on the Draft EA, one in Bayonne, NJ and one in Staten Island, NY, to provide an opportunity for oral comments. The specific times and locations are as follows: E:\FR\FM\04JAN1.SGM 04JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 3 / Friday, January 4, 2013 / Notices mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with 1. The first public meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 5, 2013, from 4 p.m.–9 p.m. at Bayonne High School Auditorium, 669 Avenue A (30th Street and Avenue A Entrance), Bayonne, NJ 07002. 2. The second public meeting will be held on Thursday, February 7, 2013, from 4 p.m.–9 p.m. at Snug Harbor Cultural Center Great Hall, 1000 Richmond Terrace, Building P, 2nd Floor, Staten Island, NY 10301. The Coast Guard and PANYNJ will make brief presentations at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. at each meeting to accommodate the differing schedules of those wishing to attend. The purpose of these meetings is to consider an application by the PANYNJ for Coast Guard approval of the modification to the historic Bayonne Bridge across the Kill Van Kull, mile 1.5, between Bayonne, NJ and Staten Island, NY. All interested parties may present data, views, and comments, orally or in writing, concerning the impact of the proposed bridge project on navigation and the human environment. The public meetings will be informal. A representative of the Coast Guard will preside, make a brief opening statement and announce the procedure to be followed at the meetings. Attendees who request an opportunity to present oral comments at a public meeting must sign up to speak at the meeting site at the designated time of the meeting. Speakers will be called in the order of receipt of the request. Attendees at the meetings, who wish to present testimony, and have not previously made a request to do so, will follow those having submitted a request, as time permits. All oral presentations will be limited to three minutes. The public meetings may end early if all present wishing to speak have done so. Any oral comments provided at the meetings will be transcribed and placed into the docket by the Coast Guard. Written comments and related material may also be submitted to Coast Guard personnel specified at that meeting for placement into the docket by the Coast Guard. Information on Service for Individuals With Disabilities For information on facilities or services for individuals with disabilities or to request special assistance at the public meeting, contact Christopher Bisignano, Bridge Management Specialist, First Coast Guard District, U.S. Coast Guard; at the telephone number or email address indicated under the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice. Any requests for an oral or sign language interpreter must be received by January 25, 2013. VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:34 Jan 03, 2013 Jkt 229001 This notice is issued under the authority of 5 U.S.C.552(a). Additionally, the draft EA has been prepared in accordance with the Bridge Act of March 23, 1906, as amended, Title 33 U.S.C. 491 and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations for Implementing NEPA (40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts 1500–1508) and associated CEQ guidelines; Department of Homeland Security Management Directive 5100.1, Environmental Planning Program; and United States Coast Guard (USCG) Commandant Instruction (COMDTINST) M16475.1D, National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures and Policy for Considering Environmental Impacts. Dated: December 27, 2012. Brian L. Dunn, Administrator, Office of Bridge Programs, U.S. Coast Guard. [FR Doc. 2012–31650 Filed 1–3–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9110–04–P DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Federal Emergency Management Agency [Docket ID FEMA–2012–0003; Internal Agency Docket No. FEMA–B–1280] Changes in Flood Hazard Determinations Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: This notice lists communities where the addition or modification of Base Flood Elevations (BFEs), base flood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundaries or zone designations, or the regulatory floodway (hereinafter referred to as flood hazard determinations), as shown on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and where applicable, in the supporting Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports, prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for each community, is appropriate because of new scientific or technical data. The FIRM, and where applicable, portions of the FIS report, have been revised to reflect these flood hazard determinations through issuance of a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR), in accordance with Title 44, Part 65 of the Code of Federal Regulations (44 CFR part 65). The LOMR will be used by insurance agents and others to calculate appropriate flood insurance premium SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00055 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 743 rates for new buildings and the contents of those buildings. For rating purposes, the currently effective community number is shown in the table below and must be used for all new policies and renewals. These flood hazard determinations will become effective on the dates listed in the table below and revise the FIRM panels and FIS report in effect prior to this determination for the listed communities. From the date of the second publication of notification of these changes in a newspaper of local circulation, any person has ninety (90) days in which to request through the community that the Deputy Associate Administrator for Mitigation reconsider the changes. The flood hazard determination information may be changed during the 90-day period. ADDRESSES: The affected communities are listed in the table below. Revised flood hazard information for each community is available for inspection at both the online location and the respective community map repository address listed in the table below. Additionally, the current effective FIRM and FIS report for each community are accessible online through the FEMA Map Service Center at www.msc.fema.gov for comparison. Submit comments and/or appeals to the Chief Executive Officer of the community as listed in the table below. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Luis Rodriguez, Chief, Engineering Management Branch, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, FEMA, 500 C Street SW., Washington, DC 20472, (202) 646–4064, or (email) Luis.Rodriguez3@fema.dhs.gov; or visit the FEMA Map Information eXchange (FMIX) online at www.floodmaps.fema.gov/fhm/ fmx_main.html. DATES: The specific flood hazard determinations are not described for each community in this notice. However, the online location and local community map repository address where the flood hazard determination information is available for inspection is provided. Any request for reconsideration of flood hazard determinations must be submitted to the Chief Executive Officer of the community as listed in the table below. The modifications are made pursuant to section 201 of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, 42 U.S.C. 4105, and are in accordance with the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, 42 U.S.C. 4001 et seq., and with 44 CFR part 65. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: E:\FR\FM\04JAN1.SGM 04JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 3 (Friday, January 4, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 740-743]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-31650]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-USCG-2012-1091]


Availability of Draft Environmental Assessment for the Proposed 
Modification of the Bayonne Bridge Across the Kill Van Kull Between 
Bayonne, Hudson County, NJ and Staten Island, Richmond County, NY

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments; notice of 
public meetings.

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

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of a Draft 
Environmental Assessment (Draft EA) and the dates and locations of two 
public meetings on the Draft EA, which considered the reasonably 
foreseeable environmental impacts and socio-economic impacts of the 
proposed modification of the historic Bayonne Bridge across the Kill 
Van Kull between Bayonne, New Jersey and Staten Island, New York. As a 
structure over navigable waters of the United States, the proposed 
bridge modification would require a Coast Guard Bridge Permit 
Amendment. We

[[Page 741]]

request your comments on the Draft EA. Our publication of this notice 
begins a 45-day comment period and provides information on how to 
participate in the public comment process for the Draft EA, which 
includes an opportunity to submit oral or written comments at two 
public meetings to consider an application by the Port Authority of New 
York & New Jersey (PANYNJ) for Coast Guard approval of the modification 
to the Bayonne Bridge across the Kill Van Kull.

DATES: Written comments and related material may be submitted to our 
online docket via https://www.regulations.gov on or before February 18, 
2013, or must reach the Docket Management Facility by that date. The 
public meetings will be held on February 5, 2013, in Bayonne, NJ, and 
February 7, 2013 in Staten Island, NY (see the Background and Purpose 
section below for more details). If you wish to request an oral or sign 
language interpreter, we must receive your request for one by January 
25, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2012-1091 using any one of the following methods:
    (1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
    (2) Fax: 202-493-2251.
    (3) Mail: Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. Department of 
Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    (4) Hand delivery: Same as mail address above, between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone 
number is 202-366-9329.
    To avoid duplication, please use only one of these four methods. 
See the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion of 
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for instructions on 
submitting comments.
    We have provided a copy of the Draft EA in our online docket at 
https://www.regulations.gov. Also, the Coast Guard First District Bridge 
Office at 1 South Street Bldg 1, New York, NY 10004-1466 will maintain 
a printed copy of the Draft EA for public review. The document will be 
available for inspection at this location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The document will also 
be available for inspection in the locations shown in the section below 
titled ``Viewing the comments and the Draft EA.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice 
or the public meetings, call or email Christopher Bisignano, Bridge 
Management Specialist, First Coast Guard District, U.S. Coast Guard; 
telephone 212-668-7165, email Christopher.J.Bisignano@uscg.mil. If you 
have questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, call 
Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-
9826.
    Authority: The Draft Environmental Assessment has been prepared in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 United 
States Code (U.S.C.) 4321 et. seq.); Council on Environmental Quality 
(CEQ) Regulations for Implementing NEPA (40 Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR) parts 1500-1508) and associated CEQ guidelines; Department of 
Homeland Security Management Directive 5100.1, Environmental Planning 
Program; and United States Coast Guard (USCG) Commandant Instruction 
(COMDTINST) M16475.1D, National Environmental Policy Act Implementing 
Procedures and Policy for Considering Environmental Impacts.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We encourage you to submit comments and related material on the 
Draft EA. All comments received, including comments received at the 
public meeting, will be posted, without change, to https://www.regulations.gov and will include any personal information you have 
provided.
    Submitting comments: If you submit a comment, please include the 
docket number for this notice (USCG-2012-1091) and provide a reason for 
each suggestion or recommendation. You may submit your comments and 
material online, or by fax, mail or hand delivery, but please use only 
one of these means. We recommend that you include your name and a 
mailing address, an email address, or a telephone number in the body of 
your document so that we can contact you if we have questions regarding 
your submission.
    To submit your comment online, go to https://www.regulations.gov, 
insert (USCG-2012-1091) in the Search box, look for this notice in the 
docket and click the Comment button next to it. If you submit your 
comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no 
larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic 
filing. If you submit them by mail and would like to know that they 
reached the Facility, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard 
or envelope. We will consider all comments and material received during 
the comment period.
    Viewing the comments and the Draft EA: To view the comments and 
Draft EA go to https://www.regulations.gov, insert (USCG-2012-1091) in 
the Search box, then click on the ``Open Docket Folder'' option. If you 
do not have access to the Internet, you may view the docket online by 
visiting the Docket Management Facility in Room W12-140 on the ground 
floor of the Department of Transportation West Building, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. We have an agreement 
with the Department of Transportation to use the Docket Management 
Facility. The Draft EA is also available online at https://www.uscg.mil/d1/prevention/Bridges.asp, www.dhs.gov/nepa, and https://www.panynj.gov/bayonnebridge/, and is available 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday through Friday 
(except federal holidays and as noted below), for inspection at the 
following locations:

1. U.S. Coast Guard Battery Bldg, 1 South Street, Building 1, New York, 
NY 10004
2. U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York, 212 Coast Guard Drive, Staten 
Island, NY 10305
3. Bayonne City Hall, 630 Avenue C, Bayonne, NJ 07002
4. Staten Island Borough Hall, 10 Richmond Terrace, Room 100, Staten 
Island, NY 10301
5. Bayonne Public Library, 630 Avenue C, Bayonne, NJ 07002 (Also 
available from 12 p.m.-5 p.m. on Saturdays)
6. Port Richmond--NY Public Library, 75 Bennett Street, Staten Island, 
NY 10302 (Also available 12 p.m.-5 p.m. on Thursdays and Saturdays)
7. Ironbound Community Corp, 317 Elm Street, Newark, NJ 07105
8. New York Assembly District 61, 853 Forest Avenue, Staten Island, NY 
10301
9. New Jersey Legislative District 31, 447 Broadway, Bayonne, NJ 07002
10. New York City Council District 49, 130 Stuyvesant Place, Staten 
Island, NY 10301
11. Staten Island Community Board 1, 1 Edgewater Plaza, Room 217, 
Staten Island, NY 10305

    Copies of all written communications from the public meetings will 
be available for review by interested persons on the online docket, 
USCG-2012-1091 via https://www.regulations.gov.

[[Page 742]]

    Transcripts of the meetings will be available for public review 
approximately 30 days after the meetings. All comments will be made 
part of the official case record.
    Privacy Act: Anyone can search the electronic form of comments 
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review a 
Privacy Act, system of records notice regarding our public dockets in 
the January 17, 2008, issue of the Federal Register (73 FR 3316).

Background and Purpose

    Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) has proposed to 
modify the Bayonne Bridge across navigable waters of the United States 
by raising the roadway thereby increasing the vertical navigational 
clearance from approximately 151 feet to 215 feet at Mean High Water. A 
thorough description of the project and how it would be completed can 
be found at the project's Web site: https://www.panynj.gov/bayonnebridge/.
    The proposed bridge modification project has been identified as a 
significant project under ``Implementing Executive Order 13604 on 
Improving Performance of Federal Permitting and Review of 
Infrastructure Projects: A Federal Plan for Modernizing the Federal 
Permitting and Review Process for Better Projects, Improved 
Environmental and Community Outcomes, and Quicker Decisions,'' dated 
June 2012, which requires agencies to identify and expedite the 
permitting and environmental review process for regionally or 
nationally significant infrastructure projects. The existing Bayonne 
Bridge has a vertical navigational clearance of approximately 151 feet 
above the Kill Van Kull at Mean High Water. The applicant proposes to 
increase the vertical navigational clearance to approximately 215 feet 
above the waterway at Mean High Water to provide greater clearances to 
accommodate larger, Post-Panamax vessels and thereby ensure the long-
term viability of the Port of New York and New Jersey. Post-Panamax 
vessels are wider and taller ships with deeper drafts that will be able 
to traverse through the Panama Canal once improvements on the canal are 
completed in 2014. The expanded purpose of the project is to improve 
the substandard features and seismic stability of the existing bridge 
and ensure it conforms to modern highway and structural design 
standards. In addition, the existing bridge is eligible for listing on 
the National Register of Historic Places. Therefore, the Coast Guard 
has initiated consultation under Section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act. The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation has 
accepted the Coast Guard invitation to participate in the Section 106 
process.
    The Coast Guard issued the NEPA Workplan, dated September 2011, 
which provided a discussion of the project's Purpose and Need, project 
alternatives and the framework of the environmental analysis. On 
October 31, 2011, the Coast Guard held a coordination meeting with 
city, state and federal agencies to discuss the project's scope and the 
NEPA Workplan. On November 14, 2011, the Coast Guard issued a 
solicitation requesting comments from the general public for the scope 
of the project and the NEPA Workplan. Comments received following the 
meeting and during the solicitation comment period included concerns 
from the U.S. Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, various private organizations and individuals, and 
others regarding additional cargo volumes due to larger ships entering 
the Port of New York and New Jersey, the expansion of the port and port 
facilities, and the related impacts to air quality and traffic. In 
response to these comments, an Induced Demand Analysis was conducted by 
an independent source to study the impact of the proposed action to 
those communities surrounding the Port of New York and New Jersey. 
Further information regarding this analysis can be found in Chapter 18 
of the Draft EA and in Appendix I. In addition, the Coast Guard met 
with representatives from minority and low income communities in Staten 
Island, NY and Newark, NJ to explain the Coast Guard bridge permit 
process and to ensure those communities have a voice in the public 
comment process. Based on the information received to date, the Coast 
Guard has determined that a Draft Environmental Assessment is the most 
appropriate level of environmental documentation for this project. 
Should the Coast Guard determine that there are no significant impacts 
following the comment period; a Finding of No Significant Impact would 
be issued. Per NEPA procedures, should significant impacts be 
discovered during the review process, the level of environmental 
documentation may be elevated to an Environmental Impact Statement. The 
Draft EA and appendices, Coast Guard NEPA Workplan dated September 
2011, ``Bayonne Bridge Navigational Clearance Program Responses to 
Scoping Comments NEPA Workplan,'' dated February 2012, are available 
online at https://www.uscg.mil/d1/prevention/Bridges.asp.
    Alternatives for the proposed project considered include: (1) 
Taking no action; (2) various build alternatives that satisfy the 
purpose and need; (3) a tunnel; (4) new cargo terminals constructed 
downstream of the Bayonne Bridge; and (5) a ferry service in lieu of 
the bridge. Build alternatives included raising the roadway within the 
existing superstructure (preferred), jacking the arch superstructure, 
converting to a lift bridge, or constructing a new bridge.
    As a structure over navigable waters of the United States, it 
requires a Coast Guard Bridge Permit Amendment pursuant to the Bridge 
Act of March 23, 1906, as amended, Title 33 U.S.C. 491. Additionally, 
the bridge permit amendment would be the major federal action in this 
undertaking since federal funds will not be used, and therefore the 
Department of Homeland Security, through the Coast Guard is the federal 
lead agency for review of potential effects on the human environment, 
including historic properties, pursuant to the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the 
National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), as amended (16 U.S.C. 470 et 
seq.).
    The Coast Guard, with assistance from PANYNJ, has prepared a Draft 
EA in accordance with NEPA. See ``Viewing the comments and Draft EA'' 
above. The Draft EA identifies and examines the reasonable alternatives 
(including ``No Build'') and assesses the potential for impact to the 
human environment, including historic properties, of the alternative 
proposals.
    We are seeking public input on the Draft EA, including comments on 
completeness and adequacy of the document, and on other environmental 
and historic preservation concerns that may be related to the proposed 
bridge modification project. This includes suggesting analyses and 
methodologies for use in the Draft EA or possible sources of data or 
information not included in the Draft EA. Your comments will be 
considered while making the decision to prepare a final Environmental 
Assessment, or elevate the document to an Environmental Impact 
Statement.
    The Coast Guard will hold two public meetings on the Draft EA, one 
in Bayonne, NJ and one in Staten Island, NY, to provide an opportunity 
for oral comments. The specific times and locations are as follows:

[[Page 743]]

    1. The first public meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 5, 
2013, from 4 p.m.-9 p.m. at Bayonne High School Auditorium, 669 Avenue 
A (30th Street and Avenue A Entrance), Bayonne, NJ 07002.
    2. The second public meeting will be held on Thursday, February 7, 
2013, from 4 p.m.-9 p.m. at Snug Harbor Cultural Center Great Hall, 
1000 Richmond Terrace, Building P, 2nd Floor, Staten Island, NY 10301.

The Coast Guard and PANYNJ will make brief presentations at 4 p.m. and 
7 p.m. at each meeting to accommodate the differing schedules of those 
wishing to attend. The purpose of these meetings is to consider an 
application by the PANYNJ for Coast Guard approval of the modification 
to the historic Bayonne Bridge across the Kill Van Kull, mile 1.5, 
between Bayonne, NJ and Staten Island, NY. All interested parties may 
present data, views, and comments, orally or in writing, concerning the 
impact of the proposed bridge project on navigation and the human 
environment.
    The public meetings will be informal. A representative of the Coast 
Guard will preside, make a brief opening statement and announce the 
procedure to be followed at the meetings. Attendees who request an 
opportunity to present oral comments at a public meeting must sign up 
to speak at the meeting site at the designated time of the meeting. 
Speakers will be called in the order of receipt of the request. 
Attendees at the meetings, who wish to present testimony, and have not 
previously made a request to do so, will follow those having submitted 
a request, as time permits. All oral presentations will be limited to 
three minutes. The public meetings may end early if all present wishing 
to speak have done so. Any oral comments provided at the meetings will 
be transcribed and placed into the docket by the Coast Guard. Written 
comments and related material may also be submitted to Coast Guard 
personnel specified at that meeting for placement into the docket by 
the Coast Guard.

Information on Service for Individuals With Disabilities

    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities or to request special assistance at the public meeting, 
contact Christopher Bisignano, Bridge Management Specialist, First 
Coast Guard District, U.S. Coast Guard; at the telephone number or 
email address indicated under the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section of this notice. Any requests for an oral or sign language 
interpreter must be received by January 25, 2013.
    This notice is issued under the authority of 5 U.S.C.552(a). 
Additionally, the draft EA has been prepared in accordance with the 
Bridge Act of March 23, 1906, as amended, Title 33 U.S.C. 491 and the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); 
Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations for Implementing 
NEPA (40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts 1500-1508) and 
associated CEQ guidelines; Department of Homeland Security Management 
Directive 5100.1, Environmental Planning Program; and United States 
Coast Guard (USCG) Commandant Instruction (COMDTINST) M16475.1D, 
National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures and Policy 
for Considering Environmental Impacts.

    Dated: December 27, 2012.
Brian L. Dunn,
Administrator, Office of Bridge Programs, U.S. Coast Guard.
[FR Doc. 2012-31650 Filed 1-3-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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