Notice2025-10540
Dredged Material Management Options in the New York Bight
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
June 12, 2025
Issuing agencies
Environmental Protection Agency
Abstract
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is preparing an environmental document consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to inform its consideration of dredged material management options in the New York Bight. The EPA designates ocean sites for activities permitted or authorized under the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (MPRSA) and is responsible for continuing site management, including monitoring. The environmental review document will provide the information necessary to evaluate the potential for adverse impacts to the environment and other ocean uses, and to identify a preferred alternative that meets the EPA's site selection criteria.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 112 (Thursday, June 12, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 112 (Thursday, June 12, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24796-24797]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-10540]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL 12819-01-R2]
Dredged Material Management Options in the New York Bight
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of intent to scope environmental review document.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is preparing an
environmental document consistent with the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) to inform its consideration of dredged material
management options in the New York Bight. The EPA designates ocean
sites for activities permitted or authorized under the Marine
Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (MPRSA) and is
responsible for continuing site management, including monitoring. The
environmental review document will provide the information necessary to
evaluate the potential for adverse impacts to the environment and other
ocean uses, and to identify a preferred alternative that meets the
EPA's site selection criteria.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 14, 2025. The EPA
will hold virtual meetings on June 24 and June 26, 2025 to share
information and solicit public input on alternatives being considered
for continued ocean management of Historic Area Remediation Site
(HARS)-suitable dredged material. To register for these meetings or to
obtain additional information, please visit the EPA Region 2 Ocean
Management website at <a href="https://www.epa.gov/marine-protection-permitting/region-2-ocean-dredged-material-management-new-york-bight-atlantic">https://www.epa.gov/marine-protection-permitting/region-2-ocean-dredged-material-management-new-york-bight-atlantic</a>.
[[Page 24797]]
Please refer to the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for
additional information on the public meetings.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#96c4f3f1fff9f8a4c9dbc6c4c5d7d6f3e6f7b8f1f9e0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fba99e9c929495c9a4b6aba9a8babb9e8b9ad59c948d">[email protected]</span></a>. Include ``NEPA'' in the
subject line of the message.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Reiss, EPA Region 2 Water
Division, Dredging, Sediments & Oceans Section, 290 Broadway, New York,
NY 10007, phone: 212-637-3799, email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fdaf989a949293cfa2b0adafaebcbd988d9cd39a928b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d280b7b5bbbdbce08d9f8280819392b7a2b3fcb5bda4">[email protected]</span></a>. Additional
information is available on the EPA website at <a href="https://www.epa.gov/marine-protection-permitting/region-2-ocean-dredged-material-management-new-york-bight-atlantic">https://www.epa.gov/marine-protection-permitting/region-2-ocean-dredged-material-management-new-york-bight-atlantic</a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EPA intends to prepare an environmental
assessment document consistent with NEPA to inform its options for
dredged material management in the New York Bight. The environmental
review document will provide the information necessary to evaluate
potential adverse impacts on the environment and other ocean uses and
to identify a preferred alternative that meets the EPA's site selection
criteria at 40 CFR 228.5 and 228.6.
Need for Action: Dredging is essential for maintaining safe
navigation in ports and harbors in and around New York and New Jersey.
Since 1997, 88 million cubic yards of dredged material from the New
York/New Jersey Harbor region that meets MPRSA sediment quality
standards has been placed as ``remediation material'' to improve
ecological conditions on the seabed at the Historic Area Remediation
Site (HARS), located 3.3 miles east of Highlands, New Jersey, and 7.7
miles south of Rockaway, New York. Prior to that time, the HARS bottom
was adversely affected by legacy pollutants accumulated over an
extended period of American history. The HARS is nearing its
remediation goal of placement of one meter of remediation dredged
material over the site.
Considering the HARS's status, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(Army Corps) New York District compared the volume of dredged material
estimated to be generated over the next 20 years to the capacity of all
the nearby existing sites used to manage NY/NJ Harbor dredged material.
As a result of the comparison, the Army Corps identified a shortfall in
dredged material management capacity. Accordingly, the Army Corps has
requested that the EPA evaluate alternatives for meeting future needs
for managing HARS-suitable dredged material in the New York Bight and
to initiate any site designation or modification actions necessary.
Alternatives: Alternatives that the EPA may consider include: the
continued placement of dredged material meeting current remediation
standards in portions of the HARS; designation of one or more
additional sites for beneficial use of HARS-suitable dredged material
to remediate other areas of New York Bight seafloor adversely affected
by historical contamination on the seafloor; and options for use of
certain types of HARS-suitable materials to create or enhance seafloor
habitat.
Scoping: This NOI commences the public scoping process for the
project. The EPA is soliciting input from federal, state, and local
governments, industry, non-governmental organizations, and the public
on the range of alternatives considered, specific environmental issues
to be evaluated in the NEPA document, and the potential impacts of
alternatives for managing HARS-suitable dredged material in the New
York Bight. Registration information for virtual scoping meetings
regarding this project is available at the EPA website listed above.
Comments received at the virtual scoping meetings will be considered as
part of the record. Comments can be submitted via email to:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#633106040a0c0d513c2e33313022230613024d040c15"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b1e3d4d6d8dedf83eefce1e3e2f0f1d4c1d09fd6dec7">[email protected]</span></a>. Comments will be accepted for a period of 30
days following the date of this notice.
Estimated Date of Draft NEPA Document: September 2025.
Dated: May 29, 2025.
Michael Martucci,
Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2.
[FR Doc. 2025-10540 Filed 6-11-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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