Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Resilient Bridgeport: National Disaster Resilience and Rebuild by Design Projects in the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut, 8501-8504 [2018-04042]
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 39 / Tuesday, February 27, 2018 / Notices
(2) Evaluate the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information,
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used;
(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and
(4) Minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who
are to respond, including through the
use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology,
e.g., permitting electronic submission of
responses.
Overview of This Information
Collection
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(1) Type of Information Collection
Request: Extension, Without Change, of
a Currently Approved Collection.
(2) Title of the Form/Collection:
Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers.
(3) Agency form number, if any, and
the applicable component of the DHS
sponsoring the collection: I–140; USCIS.
(4) Affected public who will be asked
or required to respond, as well as a brief
abstract: Primary: Business or other for
Profit. USCIS uses the information
provided on Form I–140 to classify
aliens under section 203(b)(1), 203(b)(2)
or 203(b)(3) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act.
(5) An estimate of the total number of
respondents and the amount of time
estimated for an average respondent to
respond: The estimated total number of
respondents for the information
collection I–140 is 225,637 and the
estimated hour burden per response is
1.08 hours.
(6) An estimate of the total public
burden (in hours) associated with the
collection: The total estimated annual
hour burden associated with this
collection is 243,688 hours.
(7) An estimate of the total public
burden (in cost) associated with the
collection: The estimated total annual
cost burden associated with this
collection of information is $93,977,810.
Dated: February 15, 2018.
Samantha Deshommes,
Chief, Regulatory Coordination Division,
Office of Policy and Strategy, U.S. Citizenship
and Immigration Services, Department of
Homeland Security.
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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
[Docket No. FR–6082–N–01]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for the Resilient Bridgeport: National
Disaster Resilience and Rebuild by
Design Projects in the City of
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Community Planning and
Development, HUD.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
AGENCY:
The State of Connecticut,
through the Department of Housing
(DOH), is providing notice of its intent
to prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) in accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) for the Resilient Bridgeport:
National Disaster Resilience and
Rebuild By Design (RBD) Projects
located in Bridgeport, CT. The proposed
project was developed as part of
Connecticut’s application for assistance
through the U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development (HUD) under
the RBD and National Disaster
Resilience Competition (NDRC). RBD
and 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.
DATES: Comments on the Draft Scope of
Work to prepare a Draft EIS are
requested by this notice and will be
accepted until March 28, 2018. The
scoping meeting will be held on March
14, 2018, from 6 until 9 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The scoping meeting will be
held at the Arnold Bernhard Arts &
Humanities Center (first floor), located
at 84 Iranistan Avenue, Bridgeport, CT
06601. The Draft Scope of Work is
available on https://
resilientbridgeport.com or https://
www.ct.gov/doh/cwp/view.asp?a=4513&
q=588726.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Further information may be obtained by
contacting David Kooris, Director of
Resilience, Department of Housing, 505
Hudson Street, Hartford, Connecticut,
06106–7106, or via email at
David.Kooris@ct.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments
on the Draft Scope of Work to prepare
a Draft EIS are requested by this notice
and will be accepted by the individual
SUMMARY:
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named in this notice under the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Comments will also be accepted at the
scoping meeting to be held on March 14,
2018, from 6 until 9 p.m. at the Arnold
Bernhard Arts & Humanities Center
(first floor), located at 84 Iranistan
Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06601. All
comments received by March 28, 2018
will be considered prior to the
acceptance, certification, and
distribution of the Draft EIS by the Lead
Agency (DOH). Commenters are also
asked to submit any information related
to reports or other environmental
studies planned or completed in the
project area, major issues that the Draft
EIS should consider, and recommend
mitigation measures and alternatives
associated with the Proposed Action.
Federal, State, or local agencies having
jurisdiction by law, special expertise, or
other special interest should report their
interest and indicate their readiness to
aid in the EIS effort as Cooperating,
Participating, and Interested Agencies.
Written requests of individuals and
organizations to participate as Section
106 Consulting Parties under the
National Historic Preservation Act may
also be made to the individual named in
this notice under the heading FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
The public and agencies will also be
offered an opportunity to comment on
the purpose and need, range of
alternatives, level of detail,
methodologies, and all elements of the
Draft Scope of Work through public and
agency outreach that will consist of: A
public scoping meeting (described
below), scheduled Community Advisory
Committee and Technical Advisory
Committee meetings, a public hearing
on the Draft EIS; meetings with the
applicable Cooperating, Participating,
and Interested Agencies, and meetings
with Section 106 Consulting Parties,
including federally recognized Indian
tribes. Once completed and released, the
Draft EIS will be available for public
and agency review and comment.
Following the public scoping process,
a Draft EIS will be prepared that
analyzes the Proposed Action. Once the
Draft EIS is certified as complete, a
notice will then be sent to appropriate
government agencies, groups, and
individuals known to have an
involvement or interest in the Draft EIS
and particularly in the environmental
impact issues identified therein. A
Notice of Availability of the Draft EIS
will be published in local media outlets
at that time in accordance with HUD
and the Council on Environmental
Quality (CEQ) regulations. Any person
or agency interested in receiving notice
and commenting on the Draft Scope of
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Work should contact the individual
named in this notice under the heading
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT no
later than March 28, 2018.
Background
HUD gives notice that the State of
Connecticut (the State), through the
DOH, as the ‘‘Responsible Entity,’’ as
that term is defined by 24 CFR
58.2(a)(7)(i), has assumed
environmental responsibilities for the
Resilient Bridgeport: National Disaster
Resilience and Rebuild By Design
Projects in accordance with 24 CFR
58.1(b)(1). DOH, as the Lead Agency in
accordance with the requirements of
NEPA, intends to prepare an EIS that
will evaluate the environmental and
social impacts of alternatives for the
construction of flood risk reduction
measures within the South End of
Bridgeport, Connecticut. Such measures
will be designed to reduce the impacts
of flooding on the quality of the natural
and built environment in the project
area due to both sea level rise and storm
hazards, including heavy rainfall events
and intense coastal storm events.
Bridgeport’s South End suffers from
flood damage from major tidal events
and repetitive loss from flooding from
rain events and power outages, resulting
in a depressed economy, increasing
vacancies and continued significant risk
from future storm events.
The State is the Grantee of
Community Development Block Grant
National Disaster Resilience (CDBG–
NDR) and RBD funds that have been
appropriated under the Disaster Relief
Appropriations Act, 2013 (Pub. L. 113–
2, approved January 29, 2013) related to
disaster relief, long-term recovery,
restoration of infrastructure and
housing, and economic revitalization in
the most impacted and distressed areas
resulting from a major disaster that was
declared pursuant to the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act of 1974 (Stafford Act) in
calendar years 2011, 2012, and 2013.
Receipt of CDBG–NDR and RBD funding
requires compliance with NEPA.
The proposed EIS will address the
environmental review requirements of
NEPA and the Connecticut
Environmental Policy Act (CEPA) (CT
Gen Stat § 22a, Chapter 439). This
Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS is,
therefore, being published in
accordance with the CEQ regulations
found at 40 CFR parts 1500–1508 and
HUD regulations found at 24 CFR part
58 and is announcing that a public
scoping process on the EIS is
commencing.
The CT DOH, under the authority of
HUD’s regulations at 24 CFR part 58,
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and in cooperation with other
Cooperating, Participating, and
Interested Agencies, is proposing to
prepare an EIS that will analyze the
potential environmental and social
effects of alternatives that are being
proposed to improve coastal and social
resiliency and reduce flood risk to the
South End of Bridgeport.
Following the devastation of
Hurricane Sandy, HUD launched
Rebuild by Design, an innovative design
competition that brought together
interdisciplinary teams of researchers,
designers, engineers, businesses, policymakers and local groups to craft
solutions that communities can
implement to help minimize against
future climate risks. The State of
Connecticut was awarded $10 million in
HUD CDBG–DR funding to continue
planning for Resilient Bridgeport and
construct a first pilot project. Building
on the success of Rebuild by Design, in
September 2014, HUD launched the $1
billion National Disaster Resilience
Competition. The Connecticut
application was the highest scoring in
the competition and garnered $54
million in HUD CDBG–NDR funding to
construct the Resilient Bridgeport pilot
project as part of the State’s broader
Connecticut Connections Coastal
Resilience Plan.
The proposed Resilient Bridgeport:
NDR & RBD Projects represent the
culmination of an integrated and
thoughtful process coordinated by the
State during Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the
National Disaster Resilience
Competition application and subsequent
community participatory events. DOH
consulted in depth with government
agencies at municipal and state levels as
well as resident stakeholders, small and
large business owners, and professional
experts. An outgrowth of the Phase 1
and 2 applications and consultations,
the Connecticut State Agencies
Fostering Resilience (SAFR) Council, is
creating a roadmap for long-term
resilience planning in coastal and
riverine communities damaged during
Hurricane Sandy, and working with
State agencies to craft policies that
equitably promote resilience across the
entire State. The $52.5 million Resilient
Bridgeport component provides a longterm, holistic approach to resilience,
incorporating green and grey stormwater
infrastructure improvements, a street
raising and street improvements strategy
to lift the surrounding development
datum, and an integrated flood
protection system consisting of an
earthen berm and sea walls. This
layered approach will protect a
vulnerable and disenfranchised
community while providing new
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economic development opportunities,
improving mobility, and enhancing
quality of life. The EIS will examine
several alternatives aimed at achieving
these objectives.
Purpose and Need of the Proposed
Action
Located on a peninsula, surrounded
by the Pequonnock River to the east and
Long Island Sound to the south, the
South End is one of the most vulnerable
communities in Bridgeport, at risk of
flooding from both coastal storm surge
and regular rainfall events. The area
includes Seaside Park, the University of
Bridgeport, residences, some industrial
buildings, and several energy providers
(including both electricity generators
and utilities). The area has a population
of over 8,000 people including public
housing residents and other vulnerable
populations.
The peninsula is exposed to storm
surge from coastal storms and the risk
of such events is increasing due to Sea
Level Rise. During Superstorm Sandy,
the area experienced a storm surge of
nearly 7 feet above normal high tide,
inundating over 200 buildings
(including affordable and public
housing). With an additional 100
buildings located within the Federal
Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) designated 100-year floodplain,
these and other infrastructure assets
remain vulnerable to future events. In
addition to flooded streets and damaged
residential properties, residents
experienced a loss of electric power
after Superstorm Sandy lasting for a
period that ranged from a few hours to
more than a week. Disruptions to
regional supply chains and power
interruptions caused serious
complications for local industries.
Ensuring the continuity of operations at
the power district scale is critical to
maintaining industrial and commercial
functions in the city.
Over the next 50 years, sea levels are
expected to rise significantly, which
will further compound existing flooding
risks in Bridgeport’s South End. Much
of the critical infrastructure in the area
lies within the coastal floodplain,
including electricity generation,
transmission, and distribution facilities
and low lying stormwater and
wastewater pipes, and will face
increasing risk as sea levels rise.
The low-lying geography of the area,
in addition to the old age of the
combined sewer and stormwater system,
results in flooding from rainfall or tidal
inundation on a regular basis.
Improving the existing drainage system
is important to minimize internal
flooding and to manage stormwater in
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both high and low-frequency storm
events.
While proximate to its urban center,
the South End area is isolated from the
downtown by Interstate 95 and the
Northeast Corridor and has been
physically cut-off from help by
emergency responders (fire, police,
medical) and others due to flooding of
streets (particularly low-lying
underpasses under the highway and
railroad) that has prevented vehicles
from accessing the area during and after
storm events. Repetitive flooding of
local streets occurs in the valleys and
low-lying areas due to both rainfall
runoff and storm surge, making the
streets impassable. Portions of the South
End lack dry egress for residents,
businesses and emergency vehicles
when flooding occurs. Minimizing the
flooding at roadways leading into and
out of the South End is vital to resident
egress and emergency evacuation.
The purpose of the Proposed Action
is to create a more resilient South End
community, support its long-term
viability, and improve health and safety
for the community’s vulnerable
populations. The principal targeted
outcomes of the Proposed Action are:
• Lower the risk of acute and chronic
flooding,
• Provide dry egress during
emergencies, and
• Educate the public about flood risks
and sea level rise.
The Proposed Action could deliver
co-benefits to the community,
potentially unlocking development or
public realm opportunities, enhancing
connectivity between the South End and
Downtown Bridgeport, improving
existing open space amenities, building
up the resilience of local energy
systems, and leveraging public
investment in ongoing resiliency efforts
through coordination with local
stakeholders.
Project Alternatives
The EIS will discuss the alternatives
that were considered for analysis,
identify those that were eliminated from
further consideration because they do
not meet the stated purpose and need,
and identify those that will be analyzed
further. It is expected that project
alternatives will continue to be
developed and refined during the public
scoping process, with input from the
public, agencies, and other stakeholders.
The EIS alternatives analysis will
consist of a comparison of the impacts
under each alternative pursuant to 24
CFR part 58, in addition to how well
each alternative achieves the project’s
purpose and need. This process, which
will be described in detail in the EIS,
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will lead to the designation of a
Preferred Alternative. At this time, it is
anticipated that the following
alternatives will be analyzed.
1. No Action Alternative
The No Action Alternative represents
the status quo or baseline conditions
without implementation of any
improvements associated with the
Proposed Project. The No Action
Alternative assumes that the
redevelopment of the Marina Village
site would progress as planned, Public
Service Electric and Gas Company
(PSE&G) and United Illuminating
Company would continue any planned
resiliency projects along the edge of
Bridgeport Harbor, the mixed-use
development at 60 Main Street would
move forward, and a number of other
projects would be implemented both
within and near the proposed project
areas through the 2022 analysis year.
2. Build Alternatives
In addition to the No Action
Alternative, the EIS will examine
multiple build alternatives. The Build
Alternatives will have three parts—
Flood Risk Reduction, a Resilience Hub,
and Stormwater Improvements and Dry
Egress (elements common to all build
alternatives).
Flood Risk Reduction. The proposed
project would include a combination of
measures within eastern South End that
would reduce the flood risk within the
project area from future coastal surge
and chronic rainfall events. The
measures may include raised streets,
floodwalls, landscaped berms, and both
green and grey stormwater and internal
drainage management strategies (e.g.,
detention/retention features, drainage
structures, and pump systems). This
alternative, to the extent practical,
would provide a FEMA Certifiable level
of flood protection to a portion of the
project area. Different routing
alignments and different levels of flood
protection are being considered,
although all alignments would include
elevating a section of University
Avenue.
(1) Integrated Alignment. This
alignment would be constructed in
coordination with key area stakeholders
and include raised streets, walls and
berms that take into account plans for
growth, development and risk reduction
taking place within the eastern South
End community.
(2) Interior Alignment. The interior
alignment would identify a street or
streets that could be raised to provide
dry egress for future development,
provide some reduction in risk from
storm events and generate opportunities
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for storm water management that
produce co-benefits for the community.
(3) Edge Alignment. This alignment
would be constructed either in-water or
along the outer edge of the community
along the waterfront.
Resilience Hub. This project would
fund a Resilience Hub to serve the
South End community in its ongoing
commitment to build a resilient
Bridgeport. The site would serve as a
hub for resilience activities, providing a
central location for dissemination of
information to the community and
assisting the community in future
recovery efforts. The Resilience Hub
may serve a design center function or
operate as a community center.
(1) Resilience Hub Alternative 1
would be a building dedicated to
resilience and education. The building
would be a space in all or a portion of
an existing building or a new building.
(2) Resilience Hub Alternative 2
would be one or more open air sites
integrated within the community that
are dedicated to resilience and
education. The sites would be located
within the South End area, adjacent to
existing community amenities.
Elements Common To Build
Alternatives
All Flood Risk Reduction alignments
would include elevating a section of
University Avenue. In addition, all
build alternatives would include the
stormwater management project and
extension of Johnson Street at the
Marina Village site (identified as a pilot
project during the RBD project). Prior to
redevelopment of the western parcel
(bound by Park Avenue, Iranistan
Avenue, Ridge Avenue and South
Avenue) an approximately 2.5-acre
stormwater park would be constructed
to accept water from upland streets and
adjacent parcels and to retain, delay and
improve the quality of the stormwater
runoff. An extension of Johnson Street
(between Columbia Street and Iranistan
Avenue) would provide a raised egress
corridor on the southern edge of the
future mixed-income redevelopment to
facilitate emergency access during an
acute flooding event and improve eastwest neighborhood connectivity. The
redevelopment of the site is
independent of the stormwater and
raised egress improvements.
Need for the EIS
The Proposed Action described above
has the potential to significantly affect
the quality of the environment and an
EIS will therefore be prepared in
accordance with the requirements of
NEPA and CEPA. Responses to this
notice will be used to (1) determine
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significant environmental issues; (2)
assist in developing a range of
alternatives to be considered; (3)
identify issues that the EIS should
address; and (4) identify agencies and
other parties that will participate in the
EIS process and the basis for their
involvement.
A joint NEPA/CEPA public scoping
meeting on the Draft Scope of Work to
prepare the Draft EIS will be held on
March 14, 2018 at 6:00 until 9:00 p.m.
at the Arnold Bernhard Arts &
Humanities Center (first floor), located
at 84 Iranistan Avenue, Bridgeport, CT
06601. As noted above, the Draft Scope
of Work is available online at: https://
resilientbridgeport.com or https://
www.ct.gov/doh/cwp/view.asp?a=4513&
q=588726. The public scoping meeting
location will be accessible to the
mobility-impaired. Interpreter services
will be available for the hearing or
visually impaired upon advance
request. The EIS public scoping meeting
will provide an opportunity for the
public to learn more about the Proposed
Action and provide input to the
environmental review process. At the
meeting, an overview of the Proposed
Action and its alternatives will be
presented, and members of the public
will be invited to comment on the Draft
Scope of Work, including the
methodologies to be used in developing
the environmental analyses in the EIS.
Written comments and testimony
concerning the Draft Scope of Work will
be accepted at this meeting. In
accordance with 40 CFR 1501.7, affected
Federal, State, and local agencies, any
affected Indian tribes, and other
interested parties will be sent a scoping
notice. In accordance with 24 CFR
58.59, the scoping meeting will be
preceded by a notice of public meeting
published in the local news media at
least 15 days before the hearing date.
Probable Environmental Effects
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[FR Doc. 2018–04042 Filed 2–23–18; 4:15 pm]
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INTERNATIONAL TRADE
COMMISSION
Scoping
The EIS will evaluate potential effects
from the Proposed Action on: Land Use,
Zoning, and Public Policy;
Socioeconomic Conditions;
Environmental Justice; Open Space;
Historic and Cultural Resources; Urban
Design and Visual Resources; Natural
Resources; Hazardous Materials; Water
and Sewer Infrastructure;
Transportation; Construction; and
Cumulative Effects.
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Dated: February 22, 2018.
Neal Rackleff,
Assistant Secretary for Community, Planning
and Development.
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[Investigation No. 731–TA–1380 (Final)]
Tapered Roller Bearings From Korea;
Scheduling of the Final Phase of an
Antidumping Duty Investigation
United States International
Trade Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Commission hereby gives
notice of the scheduling of the final
phase of antidumping investigation No.
731–TA–1380 (Final) pursuant to the
Tariff Act of 1930 (‘‘the Act’’) to
determine whether an industry in the
United States is materially injured or
threatened with material injury, or the
establishment of an industry in the
United States is materially retarded, by
reason of imports of certain tapered
roller bearings from Korea, provided for
in subheadings 8482.20, 8482.91, and
8482.99 of the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States,
preliminarily determined by the
Department of Commerce (‘‘Commerce’’)
to be sold at less-than-fair-value.
DATES: February 2, 2018.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Keysha Martinez (202–205–2136), Office
of Investigations, U.S. International
Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW,
Washington, DC 20436. Hearingimpaired persons can obtain
information on this matter by contacting
the Commission’s TDD terminal on 202–
205–1810. Persons with mobility
impairments who will need special
assistance in gaining access to the
Commission should contact the Office
of the Secretary at 202–205–2000.
General information concerning the
Commission may also be obtained by
accessing its internet server (https://
www.usitc.gov). The public record for
this investigation may be viewed on the
Commission’s electronic docket (EDIS)
at https://edis.usitc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Scope.— For purposes of this
investigation, Commerce has defined
the subject merchandise as certain
tapered roller bearings. The scope
covers all tapered roller bearings with a
nominal outside cup diameter of eight
inches and under, regardless of type of
steel used to produce the bearing,
SUMMARY:
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whether of inch or metric size, and
whether the tapered roller bearing is a
thrust bearing or not. Certain tapered
roller bearings include: Finished cup
and cone assemblies entering as a set,
finished cone assemblies entering
separately, and finished parts (cups,
cones, and tapered rollers). Certain
tapered roller bearings are sold
individually as a set (cup and cone
assembly), as a cone assembly, as a
finished cup, or packaged as a kit with
one or several tapered roller bearings, a
seal, and grease. The scope of the
investigation includes finished rollers
and finished cones that have not been
assembled with rollers and a cage.
Certain tapered roller bearings can be a
single row or multiple rows (e.g., twoor four-row), and a cup can handle a
single cone assembly or multiple cone
assemblies.1
Background.—The final phase of this
investigation is being scheduled,
pursuant to section 735(b) of the Tariff
Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1673d(b)), as a
result of an affirmative preliminary
determination by Commerce that
imports of tapered roller bearings from
Korea are being sold in the United
States at less than fair value within the
meaning of section 733 of the Act (19
U.S.C. 1673b). The investigation was
requested in a petition filed on June 28,
2017 by The Timken Company, North
Canton, Ohio.
For further information concerning
the conduct of this phase of the
investigation, hearing procedures, and
rules of general application, consult the
Commission’s Rules of Practice and
Procedure, part 201, subparts A and B
(19 CFR part 201), and part 207,
subparts A and C (19 CFR part 207).
Participation in the investigation and
public service list.—Persons, including
industrial users of the subject
merchandise and, if the merchandise is
sold at the retail level, representative
consumer organizations, wishing to
participate in the final phase of this
investigation as parties must file an
entry of appearance with the Secretary
to the Commission, as provided in
section 201.11 of the Commission’s
rules, no later than 21 days prior to the
hearing date specified in this notice. A
party that filed a notice of appearance
during the preliminary phase of the
investigation need not file an additional
notice of appearance during this final
phase. The Secretary will maintain a
public service list containing the names
and addresses of all persons, or their
representatives, who are parties to the
investigation.
1 For a complete description of Commerce’s
scope, see 83 FR 4901, February 2, 2018.
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[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 39 (Tuesday, February 27, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8501-8504]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04042]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
[Docket No. FR-6082-N-01]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) for the Resilient Bridgeport: National Disaster Resilience and
Rebuild by Design Projects in the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut
AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and
Development, HUD.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS).
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SUMMARY: The State of Connecticut, through the Department of Housing
(DOH), is providing notice of its intent to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) for the Resilient Bridgeport: National Disaster
Resilience and Rebuild By Design (RBD) Projects located in Bridgeport,
CT. The proposed project was developed as part of Connecticut's
application for assistance through the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) under the RBD and National Disaster Resilience
Competition (NDRC). RBD and 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.
DATES: Comments on the Draft Scope of Work to prepare a Draft EIS are
requested by this notice and will be accepted until March 28, 2018. The
scoping meeting will be held on March 14, 2018, from 6 until 9 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The scoping meeting will be held at the Arnold Bernhard Arts
& Humanities Center (first floor), located at 84 Iranistan Avenue,
Bridgeport, CT 06601. The Draft Scope of Work is available on https://resilientbridgeport.com or https://www.ct.gov/doh/cwp/view.asp?a=4513&q=588726.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Further information may be obtained by
contacting David Kooris, Director of Resilience, Department of Housing,
505 Hudson Street, Hartford, Connecticut, 06106-7106, or via email at
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments on the Draft Scope of Work to
prepare a Draft EIS are requested by this notice and will be accepted
by the individual named in this notice under the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT. Comments will also be accepted at the scoping
meeting to be held on March 14, 2018, from 6 until 9 p.m. at the Arnold
Bernhard Arts & Humanities Center (first floor), located at 84
Iranistan Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06601. All comments received by March
28, 2018 will be considered prior to the acceptance, certification, and
distribution of the Draft EIS by the Lead Agency (DOH). Commenters are
also asked to submit any information related to reports or other
environmental studies planned or completed in the project area, major
issues that the Draft EIS should consider, and recommend mitigation
measures and alternatives associated with the Proposed Action. Federal,
State, or local agencies having jurisdiction by law, special expertise,
or other special interest should report their interest and indicate
their readiness to aid in the EIS effort as Cooperating, Participating,
and Interested Agencies. Written requests of individuals and
organizations to participate as Section 106 Consulting Parties under
the National Historic Preservation Act may also be made to the
individual named in this notice under the heading FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
The public and agencies will also be offered an opportunity to
comment on the purpose and need, range of alternatives, level of
detail, methodologies, and all elements of the Draft Scope of Work
through public and agency outreach that will consist of: A public
scoping meeting (described below), scheduled Community Advisory
Committee and Technical Advisory Committee meetings, a public hearing
on the Draft EIS; meetings with the applicable Cooperating,
Participating, and Interested Agencies, and meetings with Section 106
Consulting Parties, including federally recognized Indian tribes. Once
completed and released, the Draft EIS will be available for public and
agency review and comment.
Following the public scoping process, a Draft EIS will be prepared
that analyzes the Proposed Action. Once the Draft EIS is certified as
complete, a notice will then be sent to appropriate government
agencies, groups, and individuals known to have an involvement or
interest in the Draft EIS and particularly in the environmental impact
issues identified therein. A Notice of Availability of the Draft EIS
will be published in local media outlets at that time in accordance
with HUD and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations.
Any person or agency interested in receiving notice and commenting on
the Draft Scope of
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Work should contact the individual named in this notice under the
heading FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT no later than March 28, 2018.
Background
HUD gives notice that the State of Connecticut (the State), through
the DOH, as the ``Responsible Entity,'' as that term is defined by 24
CFR 58.2(a)(7)(i), has assumed environmental responsibilities for the
Resilient Bridgeport: National Disaster Resilience and Rebuild By
Design Projects in accordance with 24 CFR 58.1(b)(1). DOH, as the Lead
Agency in accordance with the requirements of NEPA, intends to prepare
an EIS that will evaluate the environmental and social impacts of
alternatives for the construction of flood risk reduction measures
within the South End of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Such measures will be
designed to reduce the impacts of flooding on the quality of the
natural and built environment in the project area due to both sea level
rise and storm hazards, including heavy rainfall events and intense
coastal storm events. Bridgeport's South End suffers from flood damage
from major tidal events and repetitive loss from flooding from rain
events and power outages, resulting in a depressed economy, increasing
vacancies and continued significant risk from future storm events.
The State is the Grantee of Community Development Block Grant
National Disaster Resilience (CDBG-NDR) and RBD funds that have been
appropriated under the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 (Pub.
L. 113-2, approved January 29, 2013) related to disaster relief, long-
term recovery, restoration of infrastructure and housing, and economic
revitalization in the most impacted and distressed areas resulting from
a major disaster that was declared pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1974 (Stafford Act) in
calendar years 2011, 2012, and 2013. Receipt of CDBG-NDR and RBD
funding requires compliance with NEPA.
The proposed EIS will address the environmental review requirements
of NEPA and the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA) (CT Gen
Stat Sec. 22a, Chapter 439). This Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS
is, therefore, being published in accordance with the CEQ regulations
found at 40 CFR parts 1500-1508 and HUD regulations found at 24 CFR
part 58 and is announcing that a public scoping process on the EIS is
commencing.
The CT DOH, under the authority of HUD's regulations at 24 CFR part
58, and in cooperation with other Cooperating, Participating, and
Interested Agencies, is proposing to prepare an EIS that will analyze
the potential environmental and social effects of alternatives that are
being proposed to improve coastal and social resiliency and reduce
flood risk to the South End of Bridgeport.
Following the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, HUD launched Rebuild
by Design, an innovative design competition that brought together
interdisciplinary teams of researchers, designers, engineers,
businesses, policy-makers and local groups to craft solutions that
communities can implement to help minimize against future climate
risks. The State of Connecticut was awarded $10 million in HUD CDBG-DR
funding to continue planning for Resilient Bridgeport and construct a
first pilot project. Building on the success of Rebuild by Design, in
September 2014, HUD launched the $1 billion National Disaster
Resilience Competition. The Connecticut application was the highest
scoring in the competition and garnered $54 million in HUD CDBG-NDR
funding to construct the Resilient Bridgeport pilot project as part of
the State's broader Connecticut Connections Coastal Resilience Plan.
The proposed Resilient Bridgeport: NDR & RBD Projects represent the
culmination of an integrated and thoughtful process coordinated by the
State during Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the National Disaster Resilience
Competition application and subsequent community participatory events.
DOH consulted in depth with government agencies at municipal and state
levels as well as resident stakeholders, small and large business
owners, and professional experts. An outgrowth of the Phase 1 and 2
applications and consultations, the Connecticut State Agencies
Fostering Resilience (SAFR) Council, is creating a roadmap for long-
term resilience planning in coastal and riverine communities damaged
during Hurricane Sandy, and working with State agencies to craft
policies that equitably promote resilience across the entire State. The
$52.5 million Resilient Bridgeport component provides a long-term,
holistic approach to resilience, incorporating green and grey
stormwater infrastructure improvements, a street raising and street
improvements strategy to lift the surrounding development datum, and an
integrated flood protection system consisting of an earthen berm and
sea walls. This layered approach will protect a vulnerable and
disenfranchised community while providing new economic development
opportunities, improving mobility, and enhancing quality of life. The
EIS will examine several alternatives aimed at achieving these
objectives.
Purpose and Need of the Proposed Action
Located on a peninsula, surrounded by the Pequonnock River to the
east and Long Island Sound to the south, the South End is one of the
most vulnerable communities in Bridgeport, at risk of flooding from
both coastal storm surge and regular rainfall events. The area includes
Seaside Park, the University of Bridgeport, residences, some industrial
buildings, and several energy providers (including both electricity
generators and utilities). The area has a population of over 8,000
people including public housing residents and other vulnerable
populations.
The peninsula is exposed to storm surge from coastal storms and the
risk of such events is increasing due to Sea Level Rise. During
Superstorm Sandy, the area experienced a storm surge of nearly 7 feet
above normal high tide, inundating over 200 buildings (including
affordable and public housing). With an additional 100 buildings
located within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
designated 100-year floodplain, these and other infrastructure assets
remain vulnerable to future events. In addition to flooded streets and
damaged residential properties, residents experienced a loss of
electric power after Superstorm Sandy lasting for a period that ranged
from a few hours to more than a week. Disruptions to regional supply
chains and power interruptions caused serious complications for local
industries. Ensuring the continuity of operations at the power district
scale is critical to maintaining industrial and commercial functions in
the city.
Over the next 50 years, sea levels are expected to rise
significantly, which will further compound existing flooding risks in
Bridgeport's South End. Much of the critical infrastructure in the area
lies within the coastal floodplain, including electricity generation,
transmission, and distribution facilities and low lying stormwater and
wastewater pipes, and will face increasing risk as sea levels rise.
The low-lying geography of the area, in addition to the old age of
the combined sewer and stormwater system, results in flooding from
rainfall or tidal inundation on a regular basis. Improving the existing
drainage system is important to minimize internal flooding and to
manage stormwater in
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both high and low-frequency storm events.
While proximate to its urban center, the South End area is isolated
from the downtown by Interstate 95 and the Northeast Corridor and has
been physically cut-off from help by emergency responders (fire,
police, medical) and others due to flooding of streets (particularly
low-lying underpasses under the highway and railroad) that has
prevented vehicles from accessing the area during and after storm
events. Repetitive flooding of local streets occurs in the valleys and
low-lying areas due to both rainfall runoff and storm surge, making the
streets impassable. Portions of the South End lack dry egress for
residents, businesses and emergency vehicles when flooding occurs.
Minimizing the flooding at roadways leading into and out of the South
End is vital to resident egress and emergency evacuation.
The purpose of the Proposed Action is to create a more resilient
South End community, support its long-term viability, and improve
health and safety for the community's vulnerable populations. The
principal targeted outcomes of the Proposed Action are:
Lower the risk of acute and chronic flooding,
Provide dry egress during emergencies, and
Educate the public about flood risks and sea level rise.
The Proposed Action could deliver co-benefits to the community,
potentially unlocking development or public realm opportunities,
enhancing connectivity between the South End and Downtown Bridgeport,
improving existing open space amenities, building up the resilience of
local energy systems, and leveraging public investment in ongoing
resiliency efforts through coordination with local stakeholders.
Project Alternatives
The EIS will discuss the alternatives that were considered for
analysis, identify those that were eliminated from further
consideration because they do not meet the stated purpose and need, and
identify those that will be analyzed further. It is expected that
project alternatives will continue to be developed and refined during
the public scoping process, with input from the public, agencies, and
other stakeholders. The EIS alternatives analysis will consist of a
comparison of the impacts under each alternative pursuant to 24 CFR
part 58, in addition to how well each alternative achieves the
project's purpose and need. This process, which will be described in
detail in the EIS, will lead to the designation of a Preferred
Alternative. At this time, it is anticipated that the following
alternatives will be analyzed.
1. No Action Alternative
The No Action Alternative represents the status quo or baseline
conditions without implementation of any improvements associated with
the Proposed Project. The No Action Alternative assumes that the
redevelopment of the Marina Village site would progress as planned,
Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) and United Illuminating
Company would continue any planned resiliency projects along the edge
of Bridgeport Harbor, the mixed-use development at 60 Main Street would
move forward, and a number of other projects would be implemented both
within and near the proposed project areas through the 2022 analysis
year.
2. Build Alternatives
In addition to the No Action Alternative, the EIS will examine
multiple build alternatives. The Build Alternatives will have three
parts--Flood Risk Reduction, a Resilience Hub, and Stormwater
Improvements and Dry Egress (elements common to all build
alternatives).
Flood Risk Reduction. The proposed project would include a
combination of measures within eastern South End that would reduce the
flood risk within the project area from future coastal surge and
chronic rainfall events. The measures may include raised streets,
floodwalls, landscaped berms, and both green and grey stormwater and
internal drainage management strategies (e.g., detention/retention
features, drainage structures, and pump systems). This alternative, to
the extent practical, would provide a FEMA Certifiable level of flood
protection to a portion of the project area. Different routing
alignments and different levels of flood protection are being
considered, although all alignments would include elevating a section
of University Avenue.
(1) Integrated Alignment. This alignment would be constructed in
coordination with key area stakeholders and include raised streets,
walls and berms that take into account plans for growth, development
and risk reduction taking place within the eastern South End community.
(2) Interior Alignment. The interior alignment would identify a
street or streets that could be raised to provide dry egress for future
development, provide some reduction in risk from storm events and
generate opportunities for storm water management that produce co-
benefits for the community.
(3) Edge Alignment. This alignment would be constructed either in-
water or along the outer edge of the community along the waterfront.
Resilience Hub. This project would fund a Resilience Hub to serve
the South End community in its ongoing commitment to build a resilient
Bridgeport. The site would serve as a hub for resilience activities,
providing a central location for dissemination of information to the
community and assisting the community in future recovery efforts. The
Resilience Hub may serve a design center function or operate as a
community center.
(1) Resilience Hub Alternative 1 would be a building dedicated to
resilience and education. The building would be a space in all or a
portion of an existing building or a new building.
(2) Resilience Hub Alternative 2 would be one or more open air
sites integrated within the community that are dedicated to resilience
and education. The sites would be located within the South End area,
adjacent to existing community amenities.
Elements Common To Build Alternatives
All Flood Risk Reduction alignments would include elevating a
section of University Avenue. In addition, all build alternatives would
include the stormwater management project and extension of Johnson
Street at the Marina Village site (identified as a pilot project during
the RBD project). Prior to redevelopment of the western parcel (bound
by Park Avenue, Iranistan Avenue, Ridge Avenue and South Avenue) an
approximately 2.5-acre stormwater park would be constructed to accept
water from upland streets and adjacent parcels and to retain, delay and
improve the quality of the stormwater runoff. An extension of Johnson
Street (between Columbia Street and Iranistan Avenue) would provide a
raised egress corridor on the southern edge of the future mixed-income
redevelopment to facilitate emergency access during an acute flooding
event and improve east-west neighborhood connectivity. The
redevelopment of the site is independent of the stormwater and raised
egress improvements.
Need for the EIS
The Proposed Action described above has the potential to
significantly affect the quality of the environment and an EIS will
therefore be prepared in accordance with the requirements of NEPA and
CEPA. Responses to this notice will be used to (1) determine
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significant environmental issues; (2) assist in developing a range of
alternatives to be considered; (3) identify issues that the EIS should
address; and (4) identify agencies and other parties that will
participate in the EIS process and the basis for their involvement.
Scoping
A joint NEPA/CEPA public scoping meeting on the Draft Scope of Work
to prepare the Draft EIS will be held on March 14, 2018 at 6:00 until
9:00 p.m. at the Arnold Bernhard Arts & Humanities Center (first
floor), located at 84 Iranistan Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06601. As noted
above, the Draft Scope of Work is available online at: https://resilientbridgeport.com or https://www.ct.gov/doh/cwp/view.asp?a=4513&q=588726. The public scoping meeting location will be
accessible to the mobility-impaired. Interpreter services will be
available for the hearing or visually impaired upon advance request.
The EIS public scoping meeting will provide an opportunity for the
public to learn more about the Proposed Action and provide input to the
environmental review process. At the meeting, an overview of the
Proposed Action and its alternatives will be presented, and members of
the public will be invited to comment on the Draft Scope of Work,
including the methodologies to be used in developing the environmental
analyses in the EIS. Written comments and testimony concerning the
Draft Scope of Work will be accepted at this meeting. In accordance
with 40 CFR 1501.7, affected Federal, State, and local agencies, any
affected Indian tribes, and other interested parties will be sent a
scoping notice. In accordance with 24 CFR 58.59, the scoping meeting
will be preceded by a notice of public meeting published in the local
news media at least 15 days before the hearing date.
Probable Environmental Effects
The EIS will evaluate potential effects from the Proposed Action
on: Land Use, Zoning, and Public Policy; Socioeconomic Conditions;
Environmental Justice; Open Space; Historic and Cultural Resources;
Urban Design and Visual Resources; Natural Resources; Hazardous
Materials; Water and Sewer Infrastructure; Transportation;
Construction; and Cumulative Effects.
Dated: February 22, 2018.
Neal Rackleff,
Assistant Secretary for Community, Planning and Development.
[FR Doc. 2018-04042 Filed 2-23-18; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P
