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Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Design Modifications and Recreational Enhancements to the Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Project at the Wilkes-Barre, PA Historic River Commons

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 [Federal Register: October 24, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 206)]
[Notices]
[Page 65343-65344]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24oc02-37]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of Army; Corps of Engineers
 
Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Design Modifications and Recreational Enhancements to 
the Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Project at the Wilkes-Barre, PA 
Historic River Commons

AGENCY: Department of the Army, Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Baltimore District, will prepare 
a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS). The DSEIS 
will evaluate the potential impacts to the natural, physical, and human 
environment resulting from the proposed Design Modifications and 
Recreational Enhancements to the Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Project 
at the Wilkes-Barre, PA Historic River Commons. The project goal is to 
reconnect Wilkes-Barre's urban district to the Susquehanna River 
reclaiming the river as a civic resource for the daily life of the 
inhabitants and visitors and making the river an identifying 
topographic symbol of the city.
    The DSEIS will include documentation of baseline conditions, an 
evaluation of the no action alternative, and an evaluation of the 
proposed project features and associated impacts. The features to be 
evaluated for the proposed project include two portals (i.e., 
pedestrian gates) through the levee, a river landing, a boat dock/pier, 
and an amphitheater. Details concerning these features are provided in 
Section 4 below.

DATES: A public scoping meeting is scheduled for November 6, 2002, at 7 
p.m., Kings College Burke Auditorium in the McGowan Building, on the 
corner of River and Union Streets in Wilke-Barre.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments and suggestions concerning the scope 
of the DSEIS, requests to speak at the public scoping meeting, or 
special requests to enable participation at the scoping meeting (e.g., 
interpreter for the hearing-impaired) to: Amy M. Guise, CENAB-PL, U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, 10 South Howard Street, 
P.O. Box 1715, Baltimore, MD, 21203-1715. Telephone (410) 962-2941 or 
Electronic Mail: amy.m.guise@usace.army.mil. Requests to be placed on 
the mailing list or receive a copy of the DSEIS should also be sent to 
this address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To obtain additional information about 
the proposed project, contact Patricia Coury, CENAB-PL, U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers, Baltimore District, 10 South Howard Street, P.O. Box 
1715, Baltimore, MD, 21203-1715. Telephone (410) 962-2668 or Electronic 
Mail: patricia.coury@usace.army.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Public Participation

    a. The Corps will conduct a public scoping meeting (see DATES) to 
gain input from interested agencies, organizations, and the general 
public concerning the content of the DSEIS, issues and impacts to be 
addressed in the DSEIS, and alternatives that should be analyzed.
    b. The Corps invites full public participation to promote open 
communication and better decision-making. All persons and organizations 
that have an interest in the Design Modifications and Recreational 
Enhancements to the Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Project as they affect 
the community of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and the affected 
environment are urged to participate in this NEPA environmental 
analysis process. Assistance will be provided upon request to anyone 
having difficulty with learning how to participate.
    c. Public comments are welcomed anytime throughout the NEPA 
process. Formal opportunities for public participation include: (1) The 
public scoping meeting to be held near the project site; (2) anytime 
during the NEPA process via mail, telephone or e-mail; (3) during the 
45-day comment period on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement--
approximately April to May, 2003; and, (4) review of the Final SEIS--
August/September, 2003. Schedules and locations will be announced in 
local news media. Interested parties may also request to be included on 
the mailing list for public distribution of meeting announcements and 
documents. (See ADDRESSES).
    d. To ensure that all issues related to the proposed project are 
addressed, the Corps will conduct an open process to define the scope 
of the DSEIS. Recommendations from interested agencies, local and 
regional stakeholders and the general public are encouraged to provide 
input in identifying areas of concern, issues and impacts to be 
addressed in the DSEIS, and the alternatives that should be analyzed. 
Scoping for the DSEIS will continue to build upon the knowledge and 
information developed by the Corps' investigations of flooding in the 
Wyoming Valley and the Susquehanna River basin.
    e. Environmental issues will focus on, but are not limited to, 
effects on air quality, wetlands, water quality; fish and wildlife 
resources (including threatened and endangered species); hazardous, 
toxic, and radioactive waste; traffic; aesthetic resources; and 
cultural resources (including archaeological sites and historic 
architecture). The team will evaluate the environmental impacts (both 
adverse and beneficial) of the proposed actions.

2. Background

    a. In 1999, the Luzerne County Flood Control Authority sponsored a 
citizens' participatory planning workshop to develop a community-based 
concept plan for the downtown Wilkes-Barre Susquehanna riverfront. This 
workshop culminated in a recommendation to the Authority that addressed 
how to develop the Wilkes-Barre Historic River Commons waterfront near 
the Market Street Bridge. The River Commons is part of the River Street 
Historic District and was listed on the National Register of Historic 
Places in 1980. Established in the 18th Century as the Central locale 
for the town, the River Commons is the area where both Fort Wyoming and 
Wilkes-Barre Fort were most likely located.
    b. Based on the input, the Authority retained the services of a 
consultant to take the community's recommendations and develop them 
into a conceptual plan with preliminary drawings and a preliminary cost 
estimate. The project covers approximately 25 acres and runs over 4,200 
feet from South Street at the west end at the Wilkes University campus 
to the Veterans Memorial Bridge and Luzerne County Courthouse near 
Kings College at its east end.
    c. The Luzerne County Flood County Authority requested the Wilkes-
Barre Riverfront Plan be added to the Wilkes-Barre section of the 
ongoing Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Project. Congressman Kanjorski 
also contacted the Corps requesting an evaluation of whether the 
features identified in the Riverfront Plan could be incorporated into 
the ongoing project. The Corps confirmed that they had the authority to 
undertake several of the proposed provisions, provided that they were 
technically feasible, environmentally acceptable, and economically 
justified.

3. Purpose and Need

    a. The ongoing Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Project will project 
protection

[[Page 65344]]

against flood flows that would be caused by a reoccurrence of Tropical 
Storm Agnes (June 1972). The project consists of raising existing 
levees and floodwalls between three and five feet; modifying closure 
structures, drainage structures, and pump stations; relocating 
utilities; adding minor recreation facilities; and providing some new 
levees, closure structures, and floodwalls to maintain the integrity of 
the existing flood control system.
    b. The Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Project's 1996 Phase II General 
Design Memorandum/Environmental Impact Statement recognized that there 
would be detrimental impacts to communities where flood protection 
passed through residential and commercial areas. Where possible, the 
levee raising design was to be sensitive to aesthetic, recreation, and 
environmental consideration. Contemporary Corps' projects incorporate a 
number of design features within urban areas to minimize the effects of 
large flood control projects on urban waterfronts. The purpose of 
modifying the Levee Raising Project through the Historic River Commons 
is to reconnect Wilkes-Barr's downtown to the Susquehanna River. These 
modifications will help reclaim the river as a civic resource for the 
daily life of residents and visitors and to make the river a unique 
amenity for the city.

4. Proposed Action and Alternatives

    a. The proposed action is to modify flood damage reduction 
structures (e.g., floodwall, levee, etc.) along the downtown Wilkes-
Barre waterfront featuring more current urban flood protection design 
practices, methods, and materials. The features being considered for 
the proposed action include:
    (1) Upstream Portal--An approximately 60-foot wide and 12-foot high 
upstream portal through the levee and a bridge above would provide 
pedestrian and emergency access to the Susquehanna River just upstream 
of the Market Street Bridge at the same grade as the Historic River 
Commons. During a flood event the portal would be closed with flood 
gates.
    (2) Downstream Portal--An approximately 60-foot wide and 12-foot 
high downstream portal across from the Northampton Street and River 
Street intersection that would provide similar pedestrian and emergency 
access to the Susquehanna River. During a flood event the portal would 
also be closed with flood gates.
    (3) River Landing--Upstream of the Market Street Bridge, a River 
Landing would be constructed upon the existing stability berm 
(approximately 900 feet long x 70 feet wide) that was previously 
constructed in 1999. When completed, this River Landing would create a 
concrete-surfaced, 1.2-acre riverfront plaza for people to congregate 
for waterfront events (e.g., concerts, 4th of July fireworks, art 
shows, ethnic food festivals, etc.). A series of bollards, or similar 
structures, at the edge of the River Landing would provide for 
pedestrian safety. The River Landing would require limited re-grading, 
reconfiguring, and a riverside expansion of the rock stability berm to 
accommodate the necessary features.
    (4) Pier/Dock--Connected to the River Landing would be a 340-foot 
long and 12-foot wide boating/fishing pier. Access to the pier would be 
via a fixed ramp directly from the River Landing. The dock itself would 
not have permanent boat slips, but would have adequate fendering to 
provide a location where boats could temporarily tie-up for a few hours 
at a time (public landing). The feature would compliment the existing 
boat launch in Nesbitt Park, across the river in Kingston, by providing 
additional areas for public access for fishing and recreational 
boating.
    (5) Amphitheater and Stage--The amphitheater and stage would be 
constructed just downstream of the Market Street Bridge but upstream of 
the Downstream Portal. The amphitheater would consist of large stones 
or reinforced concrete blocks placed into the slope to provide bench 
seating for approximately 750 people. One row of seats would be above 
the existing riverside access road and the majority of the rows would 
be below the riverside access road grade. The performance stage would 
be built of sheetpile and concrete slightly above the existing grade 
near the river's edge.
    (6) Paving Riverside Access Road--At the completion of the levee 
raising and the Riverfront Plan, the riverside access road at the base 
of the riverside of the levee would be paved as an element to the 
riverfront development plan. The paving of this road would be an 
improvement for recreational purposes and provide a biking/jogging/
walking trail along the riverside toe of the levee.
    (7) Miscellaneous Recreational Accoutrements--The flood control 
project--as designed and constructed throughout the Wyoming Valley--
includes recreational features in the basic design. This reach of the 
Wilkes-Barre levee would include similar recreational features such as 
lights, seating areas with benches, trees/vegetation, educational 
kiosks, and trash receptables.
    b. Alternatives for Evaluation. (1) The DSEIS will describe and 
assess the following 5 alternatives: No Action; Portals Only; Portals 
and River Landing; Portals, River Landing, and Boat Dock/Pier; Portals, 
River Landing, Boat Dock/Pier, and Amphitheater; and Stage.
    (2) These alternatives, along with no action, will be the 
alternatives the Corps initially proposes to evaluate in the DSEIS. As 
necessary, reasonable alternatives that may become apparent as the 
evaluation proceeds will be addressed.
    (3) The Miscellaneous Recreational Accoutrements and Paving of the 
Riverside Access Road will be evaluated in the DSEIS, but would be 
evaluated separately as actions to be conducted regardless of the 
alternative selected.

Luz D. Ortiz,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-27156 Filed 10-23-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-41-M

 
 

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