E.1 Volume II: Appendices to E.1

439 Pages·2009·10.78 MB·English

by  Zachary J. Davis

GOETHALS BRIDGE REPLACEMENT

RICHMOND COUNTY, NEW YORK
AND
THE CITY OF ELIZABETH, UNION COUNTY, NEW JERSEY

HISTORIC ARCHITECTURAL RESOURCE STUDY
NEW JERSEY
REVISED REPORT
VOLUME II
APPENDICES

Prepared For:
The United States Coast Guard

Project Applicant:
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

Prepared By:
The Louis Berger Group, Inc./Parsons Brinkerhoff JV

July 2008
GOETHALS BRIDGE REPLACEMENT
RICHMOND COUNTY,NEWYORK
AND
THECITY OF ELIZABETH,UNION COUNTY,NEW JERSEY
NYSOPRHP#04PR03162
NJHPO#I2007-225
Volume II
Appendices
HISTORIC ARCHITECTURAL RESOURCE STUDY
NEWJERSEY
REVISEDREPORT

Prepared For:
The United States Coast Guard

Project Applicant:
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

Prepared By:
The Louis Berger Group, Inc./Parsons Brinkerhoff JV

Deborah Baldwin Van Steen
Susan D. Grzybowski

July 2008
APPENDIX BA
SECTION 106 CONSULTATION
DOCUMENTS/CORRESPONDENCES

1. 07/28/04 - SHPO Archaeology Meeting Briefing Package mailed to both NJHPO and NYSOPRHP.
2. 08/11/04 - Minutes of Archaeology Coordination Meeting with NYSOPRHP.
3. 08/17/04 - Email from Doug Mackey (NYSOPHRP) approving final minutes of the Archaeology
Coordination Meeting of August 11th, 2004.
4. 08/18/04 - Email Mike Gregg (NJHPO) endorsing decisions made at the Archaeology Coordination
Meeting of August 11th, 2004.
5. 03/14/05 - NYCLPC Archeology/Historic Environmental Review Form.
6. 03/21/05 - NYCLPC Archeology/Historic Environmental Review Form.
7. 04/14/05 - National Park Service-NHRP Letter.
8. 05/05/05 - Minutes of Coordination Meeting with NJHPO for Historical/Architectural Resources.
9. 06/17/05 - USCG’s Project Initiation Letters for Section 106 Consultation with both NJHPO and
NYSOPRHP.
10. 07/14/05 - NYSOPRHP Response Letter to USCG for the Initiation of Section 106 Consultation.
11. 07/25/05 - USCG Follow-Up Letter to NYSOPRHP’s Letter of July 14th, 2005.
12. 10/31/05 - USCG Letter to NJHPO re: Proposed APE for Historical/Architectural Resources and Minutes of
the Field Visit with NJHPO on October 17th, 2005.
13. 12/07/05 - NJHPO E-mail to USCG with NJHPO’s Expanded APE for Historical/Architectural Resources.
14. 03/09/06 - USCG Response Letter to NJHPO with Revised/Final APE and Technical Memorandum on the
Consideration of the APE for Historical/Architectural Resources.
15. 07/20/07 - NJHPO Concurrence on Revised/Final APE provided by USCG on March 9th, 2006.
16. 09/28/07 - NJHPO Review Comments Regarding August 2007 Submission of Archaeological and Historic
Architectural Reports
17. 11/16/07 - NYSOPRHP Review Comments Regarding August 2007 Submission of Archaeological and
Historic Architectural Reports
18. 05/21/08 - NJHPO Review Comments Regarding December 2007 submission of the revised Historic
Architecture Report (NJ), April Submission of the Effects Assessment, and Historic Bridge
Alternatives Analysis Report
19. 06/04/08 - NYSOPRHP Review Comments Regarding Staten Island Railway Lift Truss Bridge
20. 07/11/08 - NYSOPRHP Review Comments Regarding April 2008 Submission of the Effects Assessment
The Louis Berger Group, Inc. / Parsons Brinckerhoff Joint Venture

July 28, 2004

NYSOPRHP
FSB
Delaware Avenue
Cohoes, N.Y. 12047

Att: Doug Mackey, [phone]

Department of Environmental Protection
Historic Preservation Office
4th Floor
501 East State Street
Trenton, N.J. 08625-0578

Att: Mike Gregg, [phone]

Re: Goethals Bridge Modernization Program Environmental Impact Statement
SHPO Coordination Meeting Briefing Package

Dear Sir:

On behalf of the U.S. Coast Guard, and in cooperation with the Port Authority of New York and New
Jersey (PANYNJ), The Louis Berger Group, Inc. / Parsons Brinckerhoff joint venture looks forward to
meeting with you at the August 11, 2004 SHPO Coordination Meeting (10:00 AM, 115 Broadway, New
York City, 5th Floor) to discuss the above-mentioned program. As requested, a briefing package, which
details aspects of the program as well as proposed topics for discussion at the meeting, has been enclosed
for review in advance of the meeting.

The U.S. Coast Guard has federal regulatory oversight of the Goethals Bridge Modernization Program
(GBMP) due to its authority under the General Bridge Act of 1946 as amended. The PANYNJ, the bridge
owner and program proponent, has proposed replacement of the Goethals Bridge, which links Elizabeth,
NJ with northwestern Staten Island, NY to address the functional limitations of the 76-year old bridge
structure.

The Coast Guard is the federal lead agency for the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). In the near
future, a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a Draft EIS will be published in the Federal Register. In order
to set study parameters and begin collecting baseline data, the consultant team is beginning a preliminary
data collection effort. In this regard, we are requesting the cooperation and availability of the SHPO to
consult with the Coast Guard and members of the consultant team in order to move the NEPA process
forward as expeditiously as possible.

At the August 11 meeting, we would like to discuss cultural resource issues aimed to: 1) provide the
agencies with information about the project and the proposed schedule for development of the EIS; 2)
provide a list of cultural resource data sources to be used in developing the EIS for review and evaluation;
100 Halsted Street (cid:143) East Orange, New Jersey 07018 (cid:143) Tel: [phone] (cid:143) Fax: [phone]
The Louis Berger Group, Inc. / Parsons Brinckerhoff Joint Venture

3) determine agency concerns and issues to be addressed under NEPA; 4) solicit relevant data that the
agencies may possess; and 5) obtain guidance as to the likely permits or approvals that would be required.

If you have any questions, please contact either Mark Renna at [phone], ext. 485 or Gerry
Scharfenberger at ext. 770.

Very truly yours,

The Louis Berger Group, Inc. / Parsons Brinckerhoff Joint Venture

Kenneth J. Hess, P.P., AICP
Project Manager
Berger/PB JV

Distribution:

100 Halsted Street (cid:143) East Orange, New Jersey 07018 (cid:143) Tel: [phone] (cid:143) Fax: [phone]
STATE HISTORIC
PRESERVATION OFFICER
MEETING
BRIEFING PACKAGE

GOETHALS BRIDGE MODERNIZATION PROGRAM (GBMP)
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS)

The Louis Berger Group, Inc./Parsons Brinckerhoff JV

August 11, 2004
Goethals Bridge Modernization Program EIS SHPO Coordination Meeting Briefing Package – Version 1.0

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
FOR THE GOETHALS BRIDGE MODERNIZATION PROGRAM

SHPO COORDINATION MEETING
AUGUST 11, 2004
AGENDA TOPICS

1.0 Introductions

1.1 Purpose of the Meeting

2.0 Project Overview

2.1 Project Description
2.2 NEPA Process and Schedule
2.3 Seasonal Field Investigation Schedule

3.0 Cultural Resource Data Sources

3.1 Data Compiled
3.2 Additional Data Agencies May Possess

4.0 Data Collection Plan of Study

5.0 SHPO Agency NEPA Issues

6.0 Permit Guidance

7.0 Next Steps

7.1 Agency Scoping – September
7.2 Environmental Task Force – October

7/28/2004 Agenda-1
Version 1.0
Goethals Bridge Modernization Program EIS SHPO Coordination Meeting Briefing Package – Version 1.0

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
FOR THE GOETHALS BRIDGE MODERNIZATION PROGRAM

FEDERAL INTERAGENCY COORDINATION MEETING
JULY 29, 2004
BRIEFING PACKAGE

1.0 Introduction

The U.S. Coast Guard, as the Federal lead agency, and in cooperation with the Port Authority of New
York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), intends to prepare and circulate a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS) for a proposed new bridge to replace the existing Goethals Bridge crossing the Arthur
Kill and connecting Staten Island, New York and Elizabeth, New Jersey. This proposed action is
designated as the PANYNJ’s Goethals Bridge Modernization Program (GBMP). A Coast Guard bridge
permit authorizing the location and plans for the project, which crosses navigable waters of the United
States, is required before construction can begin.

The Goethals Bridge provides a direct connection between Staten Island, New York and Elizabeth, New
Jersey (see Figure 1). It facilitates mobility between the two States as part of the Port Authority’s
Interstate Network, comprised of the George Washington Bridge, the Holland and Lincoln Tunnels and
the three Staten Island Bridges (i.e., Goethals Bridge, Outerbridge Crossing and Bayonne Bridge). In
addition, the Goethals Bridge serves as a primary route for traffic traveling along the Interstate 95 corridor
between north and central New Jersey into Staten Island. The bridge is considered a primary path of travel
within the Southern Corridor connecting Interstate 278 (the Staten Island Expressway) near Staten Island's
north shore, with the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) and U.S. Routes 1 and 9 in New Jersey.

The project proposes to replace the existing Goethals Bridge, which has substandard geometrics and is
experiencing escalating deterioration that has resulted in safety and reliability concerns. The design of a
proposed new facility would reflect current traffic design standards, modern structural and seismic codes,
national-security safeguards and technology enhancements. It would also add the operational flexibility to
facilitate future transit-service opportunities.

Based on the information currently available, the Coast Guard has determined that an EIS would be the
appropriate level of environmental documentation for assessing the potential impacts of the proposed
project under Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended.

7/28/2004
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Goethals Bridge Modernization Program EIS SHPO Coordination Meeting Briefing Package – Version 1.0

In addition to the no-build alternative (no-action), the selection of alternatives may include alternative
alignments within the existing bridge corridor; alternative bridge designs; provision of high-occupancy
vehicle or express bus lanes; intelligent vehicular highway system options; congestion pricing options;
consideration of transit alternatives such as potential light rail, commuter rail, bus and/or ferry routes and
services; as well as all other reasonable alternatives identified by the public.

Potentially significant issues to be evaluated include: impact on existing/future land use within the
proposed project right-of-way; traffic patterns; threatened and endangered species, and critical habitat;
historic and archeological resources; wetlands; water quality; noise; air quality; navigation; construction
impacts; and cumulative impacts.

A formal interagency scoping meeting with federal, state and local agencies is proposed in September
2004. In addition, public scoping meetings in both Staten Island and Elizabeth are proposed in October
2004. The dates for the scoping meetings will be announced locally.

2.0 Bibliography of Data Sources

Data have been cataloged and assessed for use in developing the EIS environmental baseline conditions
reflective of existing conditions within the GBMP study area. These data, along with proposed technical
studies associated with the GBMP EIS data collection efforts, will be used to establish study area
environmental conditions and serve as the basis for assessment of potential project impacts. The initial
bibliography of data collected for this study is presented below.
(cid:131) DOCUMENTS
Borough of Carteret, New Jersey. Archaeological and Historical Cultural Resources Survey of the Proposed Police
and Fire Headquarters Site. November 28, 1977.
_______. Cultural Resource Reconnaissance: Borough of Carteret Sewer Facility. March 7, 1977.
Borough of Carteret and Woodbridge Township, New Jersey. Stage 1B Cultural Resource Survey of the Proposed
Route for Sanitary Sewer Connection to the Middlesex County Sewerage Authority. October 1980.
Chesler, Olga. Historic Preservation Planning in New Jersey: Selected Papers on the Identification, Evaluation, and
Protection of Cultural Resources. Office of New Jersey Heritage, NJDEP. 1984.
City of Bayonne, New Jersey. Stage 1A Cultural Resource Survey for the Hudson County Sewerage Authority 210
Wastewater Facility Plan -- District II, Bayonne, New Jersey. June 1978.
City of Elizabeth, New Jersey. Archaeological and Historical Cultural Resources Survey of the Proposed Elizabeth
Flood Control Project. November 28, 1977.
_______. Archaeological/Historical Cultural Resources Survey of the Proposed New Point Road Industrial
Park, Elizabeth, NJ. August 24, 1978.
_______. Cultural Resources Survey. Charles Wyatt Associates. January 1983.
_______. Historic Site Survey of Elizabeth, New Jersey. Heritage Studies. October 1984; revised September
1985.
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