Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the NDRC Ohio Creek Watershed Project in Norfolk, Virginia, 60032-60034 [2017-27194]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 241 / Monday, December 18, 2017 / Notices
If your request is seeking records
pertaining to another living individual,
you must include a statement from that
individual certifying their agreement for
you to access their records. Without the
above information, the HUD FOIA
Office may not conduct an effective
search, and your request may be denied
due to lack of specificity or lack of
compliance with regulations.
CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
The Department’s rules for contesting
contents of records and appealing initial
denials appear in 24 CFR part 16,
Procedures for Inquiries. Additional
assistance may be obtained by
contacting Helen Goff Foster, Senior
Agency Official for Privacy, at 451 7th
Street SW, Room 10139; U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban
Development; Washington, DC 20410–
0001, or the HUD Departmental Privacy
Appeals Officers; Office of General
Counsel; U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development; 451 7th Street
SW; Washington DC 20410–0001.
NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES:
Individual wishing to determine to
whether this system of records contains
information about them may do so by
contacting their lending institutions or
contacting HUD’s Privacy Officer or
Freedom of Information Act Office at
the addresses above.
EXEMPTIONS PROMULGATED FOR THE SYSTEM:
HISTORY:
Dated: December 8, 2017.
Helen Goff Foster,
Senior Agency Official for Privacy.
[FR Doc. 2017–27125 Filed 12–15–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
[Docket No. FR–5997–N–78]
30-Day Notice of Proposed Information
Collection: Performing Loan Servicing
for the Home Equity Conversion
Mortgage (HECM)
Office of the Chief Information
Officer, HUD.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Comments Due Date: January 17,
2018.
Interested persons are
invited to submit comments regarding
this proposal. Comments should refer to
the proposal by name and/or OMB
Control Number and should be sent to:
HUD Desk Officer, Office of
Management and Budget, New
Executive Office Building, Washington,
DC 20503; fax:202–395–5806, Email:
OIRA Submission@omb.eop.gov
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Colette Pollard, Reports Management
Officer, QMAC, Department of Housing
and Urban Development, 451 7th Street
SW, Washington, DC 20410; email
Colette.Pollard@hud.gov, or telephone
202–402–3400. This is not a toll-free
number. Person with hearing or speech
impairments may access this number
through TTY by calling the toll-free
Federal Relay Service at (800) 877–8339.
Copies of available documents
submitted to OMB may be obtained
from Ms. Pollard.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
notice informs the public that HUD is
seeking approval from OMB for the
information collection described in
Section A.
The Federal Register notice that
solicited public comment on the
information collection for a period of 60
days was published on September 13,
2017 at 82 FR 43037.
ADDRESSES:
A. Overview of Information Collection
None.
HUD submitted the proposed
information collection requirement
described below to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
review, in accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act. The purpose
of this notice is to allow for 30 days of
public comment.
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
DATES:
17:53 Dec 15, 2017
Jkt 244001
Title of Information Collection:
Performing Loan Servicing for the Home
Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM).
OMB Approval Number: 2502–0611.
Type of Request: Revision of a
currently approved collection.
Form Number: HUD–27011, HUD–
50002, HUD–50012, HUD–9519–A.
Description of the need for the
information and proposed use: This
information request is a comprehensive
collection of requirements for
mortgagees that service Home Equity
Conversion Mortgage (HECM) mortgages
and the HECM mortgagors, who are
involved with servicing-related
activities that includes collection and
payment of mortgage insurance
premiums, escrow account
administration, providing loan
information and customer service.
Respondents (i.e., affected public):
Individuals or Household.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
10.
Estimated Number of Responses:
21,345,282.
Frequency of Response: On occasion.
Average Hours per Response: 0.07 (4
minutes).
PO 00000
Frm 00033
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Total Estimated Burdens:
14,941,697.40.
B. Solicitation of Public Comment
This notice is soliciting comments
from members of the public and affected
parties concerning the collection of
information described in Section A on
the following:
(1) Whether the proposed collection
of information is necessary for the
proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(2) The accuracy of the agency’s
estimate of the burden of the proposed
collection of information;
(3) Ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and
(4) Ways to minimize the burden of
the collection of information on those
who are to respond: including through
the use of appropriate automated
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology, e.g., permitting
electronic submission of responses.
HUD encourages interested parties to
submit comment in response to these
questions.
Authority: Section 3507 of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35.
Dated: November 22, 2017.
Colette Pollard,
Department Reports Management Officer,
Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017–27195 Filed 12–15–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
[Docket No. FR–6072–N–01]
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for the NDRC Ohio Creek Watershed
Project in Norfolk, Virginia
Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Community Planning and
Development, HUD.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an
EIS.
AGENCY:
The Commonwealth of
Virginia, through the Virginia
Department of Housing and Community
Development (DHCD), is providing
notice of its intent to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for the Ohio Creek Watershed Project
located in the City of Norfolk, Virginia.
The proposed project was developed as
part of Virginia’s application for
assistance through the U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD) under the National Disaster
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\18DEN1.SGM
18DEN1
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 241 / Monday, December 18, 2017 / Notices
Resilience Competition (NDRC). NDRC’s
objectives through the competition are
to support innovative resilience projects
at a local level. This Notice of Intent to
prepare an EIS represents the beginning
of the public scoping process. Following
the scoping meeting referenced below, a
Draft EIS will be prepared and
ultimately circulated for public
comment.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
further information please contact Traci
Munyan, Virginia Department of
Housing and Community Development,
Resiliency Program Manager, 600 East
Main Street, Suite 300 Richmond,
Virginia 23219; telephone number 804–
371–7059, fax number 804–371–7093 or
by email at: ResiliencyVA@
dhcd.virginia.gov. A public scoping
meeting will be held for this EIS on
February 21, 2018 from 5:30 until 7:30
p.m. at the Grandy Village Learning
Center, located at 2971 Kimball Loop
Norfolk, VA 23504. The meeting will be
proceeded by a notice of public meeting
published in local news media at least
15 days prior to the meeting date. The
scoping meeting will provide an
opportunity for the public to learn more
about the project and to provide input
on the environmental process. During
the meeting, an overview of the project
will be provided as well as details on
concept development.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Ohio
Creek Watershed Project, located in the
City of Norfolk, was selected by HUD
through the NDRC process and awarded
Community Development Block Grant
Disaster Recovery (CDBG–DR) funding.
The proposed action is subject to
compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA) because federal CDBG–DR funds
would be used for design and
construction. The Commonwealth of
Virginia, acting through the Virginia
Department of Housing and Community
Development (DHCD), is the responsible
entity assuming environmental
responsibility for the Ohio Creek
Watershed Project in accordance with
HUD regulations at 24 CFR 58.1(b)(1)
and 58.2(a)(7)(i).
This Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS
is given in accordance with the Council
on Environmental Quality (CEQ)
regulations at 40 CFR parts 1500–1508,
and represents the beginning of the
public scoping process outlined in 40
CFR 1501.7. Following the scoping
meeting referenced above, a Draft EIS
will be prepared and circulated for
public comment. The Draft EIS will be
circulated to the general public, as well
as groups and government agencies that
have been identified as having
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:53 Dec 15, 2017
Jkt 244001
particular interest in the Proposed
Project. A Notice of Availability will be
published in local media outlets at that
time in accordance with HUD and CEQ
regulations.
The Ohio Creek Watershed project is
located in Norfolk, Virginia. It is
bounded by the Eastern Branch of the
Elizabeth River to the south, the
Interstate 264 area to the north, the
Norfolk Southern railway to the east and
a shipyard along with South Brambleton
to the west. Due to its geographic
position, Norfolk is faced with the threat
of sea level rise. Nuisance flooding from
high tides and rain events is becoming
more frequent and the risk of
inundation from storm surges is
increasing. Compounding this threat is
a high rate of subsidence. The Ohio
Creek NDR project will pursue a multifaceted, long-term approach to increase
safety and resiliency by building coastal
defense structures, improving
stormwater management, raising critical
access roads and infrastructure.
The proposed project consists of an
innovative holistic regional resiliency
approach that extends beyond
infrastructure to encompass community
and economic development. This
approach is called ‘‘thRIVe: Resilience
In Virginia’’ whose core goals are to
Build Water Management Solutions,
Strengthen Vulnerable Neighborhoods
and Improve Economic Vitality. When
combined, these goals are intended to
Create Coastal Resilience and Unite the
Region. Design components of the
proposed project consist of: (1) Coastal
protection to include a living shoreline
and berm, (2) Stormwater management
to include raised roads and tide gates,
pump stations, bioswales, permeable
pavers, rain barrels, and subsurface
cisterns, (3) Landscape and Community
Amenities to include corridor
improvements for multi-modal transit,
public pier for river access, stormwater
parks to include amenities such as
sports fields, playgrounds and fitness
stations.
Several project elements have been
selected to move to the next level of
design. Design elevations of integrated
coastal flood protection elements have
been established to reduce inundation
risk from 100-year events, including
nor’easters, hurricanes and extreme
tides with a projected sea level rise of
+2.5 feet. These elements (berms, living
shorelines, etc.) will be aligned to
reduce risk for the maximum number of
buildings and infrastructure that are
most susceptible to coastal inundation.
Stormwater and tides are impounded
by existing land bridges within the
project site that result in flooding in the
surrounding neighborhoods. Integration
PO 00000
Frm 00034
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
60033
of tide gate structures into the coastal
flood protection and raised roadways
will maintain ecological function to
wetlands while protecting the
neighborhood from tidal flooding
events. Ballentine Boulevard and
Kimball Terrace are the only two
vehicular access routes into the project
area and they are both subject to storm
surge flooding and nuisance flooding.
Additionally, several roads within the
community are impassable during heavy
rain or high tides due to their low
elevation or poor drainage. Raising these
critical roads is a key component of the
proposed project. Many of the roads will
need to be raised to various elevations
to work in conjunction with the coastal
protection elements. Upgrades to the
subsurface drainage systems as well as
construction of coastal flood protection
will necessitate the need for pump
stations to discharge stormwater into the
Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River.
Drainage system upgrades and
additional water storage areas aim to
reduce the number of pump stations
needed.
Reducing flooding during 10-year rain
events is also a principal project goal.
Installation of a coastal protection and
closing the drainage system to the tides
necessitates finding opportunities to
slow, store, and infiltrate stormwater.
Street interventions are designed to
reduce flooding risk, minimize pumping
requirements, demonstrate green
infrastructure techniques, increase
pedestrian access and safety, and
beautify neighborhoods. Ballentine
Boulevard connects the neighborhood
from the river northward to the larger
city. A TIDE light rail station is located
north of the I–264 underpass and
provides connection to the city’s light
rail system. The Ballentine Boulevard
corridor functions as a connector at both
a neighborhood and a city scale making
it a prime location for the expansion of
multi-modal transportation
opportunities. The corridor also allows
for opportunities to demonstrate
innovative stormwater strategies
through the use of bioswales along
sidewalks, permeable pavers at the edge
of streets, in parking lanes and at
intersections. Improvements to the
corridor would create continuous and
improved sidewalk conditions, allowing
for both pedestrian and cyclist access
from the I–264 underpass to the Eastern
Branch of the Elizabeth River,
terminating in a public pier. Corridor
improvements tie into proposed
stormwater parks to provide increased
recreational and educational
opportunities. Stormwater parks
incorporate bioswale plantings with
E:\FR\FM\18DEN1.SGM
18DEN1
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
60034
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 241 / Monday, December 18, 2017 / Notices
native water plants located in areas
where the swale can be expanded to
help slow and filter stormwater runoff
before it reaches the Eastern Branch of
the Elizabeth River. Though stormwater
parks will be designed to maximize
storage, they can also be educational
and created in a way that serves as a
destination for Norfolk residents by
providing premier opportunities for
outdoor sports, play, and fitness for
citizens of all ages.
Alternatives to the Proposed Action:
Consistent with the Council on
Environmental Quality regulations (40
CFR 1502.14) implementing NEPA, the
EIS will examine a range of reasonable
alternatives to the proposed project that
are potentially feasible. As required by
NEPA, the alternatives will be evaluated
at the same level of detail as the
proposed project. As a result of the
scoping efforts to date, the alternatives
currently proposed for evaluation in the
EIS include:
(1) No Project/Action Alternative.
This required alternative would
evaluate the environmental impacts if
the proposed project were not
constructed and existing conditions
remain unchanged.
(2) Preferred Alternative. The
alternative attaining the most objectives
of the project that can be accomplished
while also substantially lessening
significant environmental effects.
(3) Two other alternatives (to be
identified) based on input received
during the scoping process and feasible
project alternatives that avoid or
minimize significant environmental
effects.
Probable Environmental Effects: The
following topics have been identified for
analysis in the EIS for probable
environmental effects: coastal zone
management, contamination and toxic
substances, floodplain management,
historic preservation, noise abatement
and control, wetlands protection,
environmental justice, hazards and
nuisances (site safety and noise),
vibration, and transportation and
accessibility.
Lead Agency: For purposes of
complying with NEPA and in
accordance with HUD regulations at 24
CFR part 58, the Commonwealth of
Virginia, acting through the Virginia
Department of Housing and Community
Development, is the Lead Agency and
Responsible Entity assuming
environmental responsibility for the
Ohio Creek Watershed Project.
Questions may be directed to the
individual named in this notice under
the heading FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:53 Dec 15, 2017
Jkt 244001
Dated: December 12, 2017.
Neal J. Rackleff,
Assistant Secretary.
Reduction Act of 1995, we provide the
general public and other Federal
agencies with an opportunity to
comment on new, proposed, revised,
[FR Doc. 2017–27194 Filed 12–15–17; 8:45 am]
and continuing collections of
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
information. This helps us assess the
impact of our information collection
requirements and minimize the public’s
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
reporting burden. It also helps the
public understand our information
Office of Natural Resources Revenue
collection requirements and provide the
[Docket No. ONRR–2011–0008; DS63644000 requested data in the desired format.
DR2000000.CH7000 189D0102R2; OMB
We published a notice, with a 60-day
Control Number 1012–0006]
public comment period soliciting
comments on this collection of
Agency Information Collection
information, in the Federal Register on
Activities: Submission to the Office of
June 19, 2017 (82 FR 27868). We
Management and Budget for Review
received the following comments in
and Approval; Suspensions Pending
response to the notice: ‘‘We respectfully
Appeal and Bonding
offer the following scenario on this
AGENCY: Office of Natural Resources
process from start to finish: (1) Upon
Revenue, Interior.
demand letter from the ONRR,
ACTION: Notice of extension.
Fieldwood Energy responds with
correspondence requesting the ONRR
SUMMARY: To comply with the
accept Area-Wide Bonds currently filed
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
with the BOEM for our various entities,
(PRA), we, the Office of Natural
which incidentally total excess of $23
Resources Revenue (ONRR), are
million, to secure the nominal
proposing to renew an information
Administrative Appeals in lieu of
collection.
separate specific Appeal bonds. It
should be noted that none of the
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
monetary demands from ONRR have
submit comments on or before January
come close to exceeding $1 million; (2)
17, 2018 for the assurance of
In the event, the use of and Area-Wide
consideration.
bond is rejected by ONRR, Fieldwood
ADDRESSES: You may submit your
then must approach the commercial
written comments on this ICR to the
surety market to negotiate terms with
Office of Management and Budget’s
prospective sureties for the amount
Desk Officer for the Department of the
Interior by email to OIRA_Submission@ required by ONRR—this may entail the
production of recent financial
omb.eop.gov: or via facsimile to (202)
information as well as operational plans
395–5806. Please also mail a copy of
on Fieldwood leading up to several calls
your comments to Mr. Luis Aguilar,
and discussions with the surety. This
Regulatory Specialist, P.O. Box 25165,
may also require the establishment of
MS 64400, Denver, Colorado 80225–
new relationships with sureties who do
0165, or by email to luis.aguilar@
not know our company—all of which is
onrr.gov. Please reference ‘‘OMB Control
time consuming and not done overnight;
Number 1012–0006’’ in your comments.
and (3) Ultimately, Fieldwood obtains a
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
surety bond and files it with your office.
questions on technical issues, contact
So, it is quite customary for this process
Ms. Kimberly Werner, Office of
to take days and not several hours of our
Enforcement and Appeals (OEA),
staff’s time.
ONRR, at (303) 231–3801 or email to
‘‘The two burden hours for the
kimberly.werner@onrr.gov. For other
majority of the typical requests received
questions, contact Mr. Luis Aguilar, at
are adequate. On some occasions, we
(303) 231–3418, or email to
might have to have a little more internal
luis.aguilar@onrr.gov. You may also
dialogue or research if we do not have
contact Mr. Aguilar, at no cost, of (1) the all the information for the appeal
ICR, (2) any associated forms, and (3)
upfront. Generally, those requests fall in
the regulations that require us to collect the 2–4 hour burden. For the most part,
the information. You may view the ICR
however, 2 hours is generally the
at https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/
amount of burden hours needed. There
PRAMain and select ‘‘Information
again, for clarification, this is the
Collection Review,’’ then select
internal burden time for our staff. It
‘‘Department of the Interior’’ in the
would take generally 48–72 hours for
drop-down box under ‘‘Currently Under our surety to turn around the request.
Review.’’
‘‘For WPX who has an existing surety
bond line, 2 hours are probably
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In
sufficient labor hours. However, for
accordance with the Paperwork
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E:\FR\FM\18DEN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 241 (Monday, December 18, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60032-60034]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27194]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
[Docket No. FR-6072-N-01]
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) for the NDRC Ohio Creek Watershed Project in Norfolk,
Virginia
AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and
Development, HUD.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Commonwealth of Virginia, through the Virginia Department
of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), is providing notice of its
intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Ohio
Creek Watershed Project located in the City of Norfolk, Virginia. The
proposed project was developed as part of Virginia's application for
assistance through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD) under the National Disaster
[[Page 60033]]
Resilience Competition (NDRC). NDRC's objectives through the
competition are to support innovative resilience projects at a local
level. This Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS represents the beginning
of the public scoping process. Following the scoping meeting referenced
below, a Draft EIS will be prepared and ultimately circulated for
public comment.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information please contact
Traci Munyan, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development,
Resiliency Program Manager, 600 East Main Street, Suite 300 Richmond,
Virginia 23219; telephone number 804-371-7059, fax number 804-371-7093
or by email at: [email protected]. A public scoping
meeting will be held for this EIS on February 21, 2018 from 5:30 until
7:30 p.m. at the Grandy Village Learning Center, located at 2971
Kimball Loop Norfolk, VA 23504. The meeting will be proceeded by a
notice of public meeting published in local news media at least 15 days
prior to the meeting date. The scoping meeting will provide an
opportunity for the public to learn more about the project and to
provide input on the environmental process. During the meeting, an
overview of the project will be provided as well as details on concept
development.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Ohio Creek Watershed Project, located in
the City of Norfolk, was selected by HUD through the NDRC process and
awarded Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR)
funding. The proposed action is subject to compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) because federal CDBG-DR funds
would be used for design and construction. The Commonwealth of
Virginia, acting through the Virginia Department of Housing and
Community Development (DHCD), is the responsible entity assuming
environmental responsibility for the Ohio Creek Watershed Project in
accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 58.1(b)(1) and 58.2(a)(7)(i).
This Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS is given in accordance with
the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations at 40 CFR parts
1500-1508, and represents the beginning of the public scoping process
outlined in 40 CFR 1501.7. Following the scoping meeting referenced
above, a Draft EIS will be prepared and circulated for public comment.
The Draft EIS will be circulated to the general public, as well as
groups and government agencies that have been identified as having
particular interest in the Proposed Project. A Notice of Availability
will be published in local media outlets at that time in accordance
with HUD and CEQ regulations.
The Ohio Creek Watershed project is located in Norfolk, Virginia.
It is bounded by the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River to the
south, the Interstate 264 area to the north, the Norfolk Southern
railway to the east and a shipyard along with South Brambleton to the
west. Due to its geographic position, Norfolk is faced with the threat
of sea level rise. Nuisance flooding from high tides and rain events is
becoming more frequent and the risk of inundation from storm surges is
increasing. Compounding this threat is a high rate of subsidence. The
Ohio Creek NDR project will pursue a multi-faceted, long-term approach
to increase safety and resiliency by building coastal defense
structures, improving stormwater management, raising critical access
roads and infrastructure.
The proposed project consists of an innovative holistic regional
resiliency approach that extends beyond infrastructure to encompass
community and economic development. This approach is called ``thRIVe:
Resilience In Virginia'' whose core goals are to Build Water Management
Solutions, Strengthen Vulnerable Neighborhoods and Improve Economic
Vitality. When combined, these goals are intended to Create Coastal
Resilience and Unite the Region. Design components of the proposed
project consist of: (1) Coastal protection to include a living
shoreline and berm, (2) Stormwater management to include raised roads
and tide gates, pump stations, bioswales, permeable pavers, rain
barrels, and subsurface cisterns, (3) Landscape and Community Amenities
to include corridor improvements for multi-modal transit, public pier
for river access, stormwater parks to include amenities such as sports
fields, playgrounds and fitness stations.
Several project elements have been selected to move to the next
level of design. Design elevations of integrated coastal flood
protection elements have been established to reduce inundation risk
from 100-year events, including nor'easters, hurricanes and extreme
tides with a projected sea level rise of +2.5 feet. These elements
(berms, living shorelines, etc.) will be aligned to reduce risk for the
maximum number of buildings and infrastructure that are most
susceptible to coastal inundation.
Stormwater and tides are impounded by existing land bridges within
the project site that result in flooding in the surrounding
neighborhoods. Integration of tide gate structures into the coastal
flood protection and raised roadways will maintain ecological function
to wetlands while protecting the neighborhood from tidal flooding
events. Ballentine Boulevard and Kimball Terrace are the only two
vehicular access routes into the project area and they are both subject
to storm surge flooding and nuisance flooding. Additionally, several
roads within the community are impassable during heavy rain or high
tides due to their low elevation or poor drainage. Raising these
critical roads is a key component of the proposed project. Many of the
roads will need to be raised to various elevations to work in
conjunction with the coastal protection elements. Upgrades to the
subsurface drainage systems as well as construction of coastal flood
protection will necessitate the need for pump stations to discharge
stormwater into the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River. Drainage
system upgrades and additional water storage areas aim to reduce the
number of pump stations needed.
Reducing flooding during 10-year rain events is also a principal
project goal. Installation of a coastal protection and closing the
drainage system to the tides necessitates finding opportunities to
slow, store, and infiltrate stormwater. Street interventions are
designed to reduce flooding risk, minimize pumping requirements,
demonstrate green infrastructure techniques, increase pedestrian access
and safety, and beautify neighborhoods. Ballentine Boulevard connects
the neighborhood from the river northward to the larger city. A TIDE
light rail station is located north of the I-264 underpass and provides
connection to the city's light rail system. The Ballentine Boulevard
corridor functions as a connector at both a neighborhood and a city
scale making it a prime location for the expansion of multi-modal
transportation opportunities. The corridor also allows for
opportunities to demonstrate innovative stormwater strategies through
the use of bioswales along sidewalks, permeable pavers at the edge of
streets, in parking lanes and at intersections. Improvements to the
corridor would create continuous and improved sidewalk conditions,
allowing for both pedestrian and cyclist access from the I-264
underpass to the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River, terminating in
a public pier. Corridor improvements tie into proposed stormwater parks
to provide increased recreational and educational opportunities.
Stormwater parks incorporate bioswale plantings with
[[Page 60034]]
native water plants located in areas where the swale can be expanded to
help slow and filter stormwater runoff before it reaches the Eastern
Branch of the Elizabeth River. Though stormwater parks will be designed
to maximize storage, they can also be educational and created in a way
that serves as a destination for Norfolk residents by providing premier
opportunities for outdoor sports, play, and fitness for citizens of all
ages.
Alternatives to the Proposed Action: Consistent with the Council on
Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR 1502.14) implementing NEPA,
the EIS will examine a range of reasonable alternatives to the proposed
project that are potentially feasible. As required by NEPA, the
alternatives will be evaluated at the same level of detail as the
proposed project. As a result of the scoping efforts to date, the
alternatives currently proposed for evaluation in the EIS include:
(1) No Project/Action Alternative. This required alternative would
evaluate the environmental impacts if the proposed project were not
constructed and existing conditions remain unchanged.
(2) Preferred Alternative. The alternative attaining the most
objectives of the project that can be accomplished while also
substantially lessening significant environmental effects.
(3) Two other alternatives (to be identified) based on input
received during the scoping process and feasible project alternatives
that avoid or minimize significant environmental effects.
Probable Environmental Effects: The following topics have been
identified for analysis in the EIS for probable environmental effects:
coastal zone management, contamination and toxic substances, floodplain
management, historic preservation, noise abatement and control,
wetlands protection, environmental justice, hazards and nuisances (site
safety and noise), vibration, and transportation and accessibility.
Lead Agency: For purposes of complying with NEPA and in accordance
with HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 58, the Commonwealth of Virginia,
acting through the Virginia Department of Housing and Community
Development, is the Lead Agency and Responsible Entity assuming
environmental responsibility for the Ohio Creek Watershed Project.
Questions may be directed to the individual named in this notice under
the heading FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Dated: December 12, 2017.
Neal J. Rackleff,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-27194 Filed 12-15-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P
