Building on the waterfront.

Whenever a project involves water meeting land, it becomes more complicated. As the waterfront development boom continues, engineers are facing these complications with increasing frequency. Waterfront site designs must incorporate structures that will protect new developments from erosion and flooding, while also protecting water quality and biological resources. These designs must respond to developers' need to be cost-effective and in time with the market, as well as government's mission to protect natural resources and public health. The permitting process ensures that both of these agendas are met. Site engineers are well-advised to be aware of permitting issues and procedures as they develop their site designs.

Bulkheads and revetment structures are the most common site design elements to stabilize shorelines for new development. A revetment structure typically consists of a layer of rock or tip-rap that follows the existing grade, sunk two to four feet underground with rocks visible on the surface and extended upland along the shoreline embankment. This prevents erosion and protects upland structures from wave action. A vertical bulkhead, which may not maintain the existing grade and generally involves earthwork, is more disruptive to the shoreline.

Structures that extend farther into the water raise more environmental issues. Generally, the extent of the in-water activities will dictate the complexity of the permitting process. Will dredging for the construction of a pier or marina disturb habitats or degrade water quality? Will an in-water structure have a permanent effect on shoreline or underwater habitats? Marinas and piers can cast shadows over fish habitat and have a negative effect on the species. Plants can also be affected by shoreline developments. Because engineers are trained to think in terms of the best structure to achieve its stated purpose, we might not consider these environmental questions while we're developing site designs. However, the government agencies that issue permits do consider them, in great detail. We can obtain permits more quickly if we anticipate their concerns.

The permitting agencies we deal with most frequently for waterfront projects in New York City are the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. These agencies have overlapping, but not identical, jurisdiction over waterbodies in and around New York City. All but the simplest waterfront projects require that a joint permit application be filed with NYSDEC and AOCE. The application streamlines the process by combining the two permit applications into one; however each agency processes the permit application separately, and each has different concerns.

Preparation of some aspects of the joint permit application is fairly straightforward, including submission of engineering drawings, surveys and photos of the study area. Other parts, however, such as information on essential fish habitat and threatened or endangered species, may require outside expertise. If impacts to habitats or water quality are expected, detailed environmental assessments and recommendations for mitigation may be required. In these cases, an environmental expert is needed to complete permit applications and keep projects on track.

Waterfront permitting can also be dizzyingly complex on purely procedural grounds. In addition to NYSDEC and ACOE, permits are often reviewed by federal agencies such as the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service. Waterfront projects may also require compliance with NYSDEC Phase II Stormwater Regulations and Federal Emergency Management Bureau Food Hazard guidelines. If a project is adjacent to a park, a separate application to the Parks Department may be required; a project that discharges to the City's sewer system requires an application to the City Department of Environmental Protection; a project in the state's coastal zone requires an application to the New York State Department of State--the list goes on. Depending on its location and complexity, a single waterfront project can require half a dozen permits. All these permits have their own requirements and they must all be coordinated with one another and the design process.

While these issues may seem to be of secondary importance to engineers, obtaining permits is an essential step in moving a project from the design phase and into construction. For complex waterfront developments, a strong team with expertise in engineering, environmental and regulatory issues can keep projects on budget and on time.