Corps to Tackle Environmental Restoration of Hudson-Raritan Estuary.

Business & Environmental Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 23, 2000

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New York District has launched a federally funded reconnaissance study to examine environmental restoration needs in the Hudson-Raritan Estuary in New York and New Jersey.

The study area is the Port District of New York and New Jersey, including the Hudson River to Croton Bay, the Upper Bay, the East River, the western end of Long Island Sound to Hempstead Bay, Newark Bay, the tidal Passaic and Hackensack Rivers, the Kill van Kull, Arthur Kill, Lower Bay to Rockaway-Sandy Hook transect and the tidal Raritan River.

The study will focus on large undeveloped, but environmentally degraded areas of Jamaica Bay, the Hackensack Meadowlands, the Raritan-South River complex, the Raritan Bay and adjacent shorelines, Newark Bay, New York and New Jersey sides of the Arthur Kill area and the East River and Hempstead Bays.

Examples of restoration opportunities could include careful removal of undesirable fill and phragmites on former high-value tidal wetlands and the restoration of tidal flow to enhance fish and wildlife habitat value. Opportunities also exist for shellfish bed restoration, the recontouring of selected areas of the harbor bottom for the restoration of benthic habitat and water quality initiatives. Also to be examined would be the careful removal of impairments to fish migration on tributaries, creation of shore bird resting and feeding areas and the covering of contaminated sediment with clean sediments. Beneficial use of dredged material from large-scale port channel deepening projects for habitat enhancement and restoration is another consideration. This project will complement, not duplicate, existing Corps of Engineers, state or local environmental restoration programs.

The Corps seeks any pertinent information about the project area from any Federal, state or local agency as well as the private sector. The Corps is particularly interested in information or suggestions on the types and locations of potential habitat restoration sites, including aquatic, wetland and near-shore upland sites. Any other suggestions or assistance regarding the scope of this study is encouraged.

Interested parties should send comments and information no later than April 14, 2000 to Mr. Thomas J. Shea, III, Project Planner, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New York District, ATTN: Planning Division, 26 Federal Plaza, New York, NY 10278-0090 or e-mail him at [e-mail] Telephone [phone] or fax [phone].

The Army Corps of Engineers, in its civil works role, conducts studies of water resource problems in two phases. The first phase is the reconnaissance study, accomplished entirely at Federal expense. The study defines the problem and identifies opportunities and potential solutions; determines if the study should proceed into the feasibility phase; estimates the scope, duration and cost for the feasibility phase; and assesses the level of interest and support of the non-Federal partner in continued studies.

The second phase is the feasibility study, which is cost-shared equally between the Federal government and a non-Federal partner(s). The feasibility phases studies in greater detail the engineering, economic and environmental aspects of developing a solution to restore degraded ecosystems in the various watersheds in the estuary. The end product of the study is a "Feasibility Report" containing a recommendation for implementation of specific restoration projects, if consistent with Federal criteria and supported by the non-Federal partner. The Corps will submit the report, including the necessary environmental documentation to Congress for project authorization.