PUBLIC NOTICE D01-209a-2024

PROPOSED REPLACEMENT OF THE NEWARK BAY-HUDSON COUNTY
EXTENSION BETWEEN INTERCHANGES 14 AND 14A (EXTENSION) INCLUDING
THE VINCENT R. CASCIANO MEMORIAL, NEWARK BAY BRIDGE (NBB) ACROSS
NEWARK BAY, MILE 3.8, BETWEEN NEWARK, ESSEX COUNTY AND BAYONNE,
HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

All interested parties are notified that a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) bridge permit application, and a draft National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Environmental Assessment from the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) have been received by the Commander, First Coast Guard District, for approval of the enclosed plans to replace a bridge over a navigable waterway of the United States.

Further, the Department of the Army (USACE) has received an application from the NJTA for a Section 408 permission for certain work at or near the Newark Bay Channel Federal Navigation Project, as described in this public notice and shown on attached plans. The purpose of this public notice is to elicit comments from the public, government, and marine community regarding the proposed action.

WATERWAY AND LOCATION: The proposed replacement of the bridge would be constructed over the Newark Bay, mile 3.8, between Newark, Essex County and Bayonne, Hudson County, New Jersey. More specifically, the western terminus of the proposed action is Interchange 14 in Newark where the Extension intersects with the NJ Turnpike (I-95) mainline roadway, Interstate Route 78 and U.S. Routes 1 and 9. The eastern terminus of the proposed action is Interchange 14A in Jersey City and Bayonne where the Extension intersects with NJ Routes 440 and 185 and local streets.

CHARACTER OF THE WORK: The NJTA proposes to replace all roadway bridges and viaducts, including the NBB, while widening the roadway between Interchanges 14 and 14A from the existing twoway traffic lanes in each direction to carry four travel lanes in each direction. Specifically, the existing NBB will be replaced with two compliant bridges with one bridge carrying four travel lanes in the
eastbound direction and the other bridge carrying four travel lanes in the westbound direction. One of the replacement bridges will be constructed off-line immediately to the north and carry westbound roadway traffic. The other replacement bridge will be replaced on approximately the same alignment as the existing NBB and will carry eastbound roadway traffic.

The proposed project will improve the navigational clearances of the Newark Bay Bridge, improve sea level resiliency, improve the long-term integrity of the Extension’s structures, and improve the safety of commuter and marine traffic. The horizontal navigational clearance of 550feet and vertical clearance of 135feet Mean High Water (MHW) remain unchanged.

The NJTA has agreed to remove the existing piers 2-feet below the mudline, except that existing piers W1 & E1 will remain for integration with the fender design. The northwest corner of pier E1 will be dredged to the limit of the USACE maintained Newark Bay North Reach navigational channel to a depth of 2-feet below the authorized channel depth of 35-feet MLLW. The approximate volume of concrete to be
removed is 20-cubic yards and 1.75-linear feet of 7 steel piers. All proposed foundations would be drilled shafts. A temporary bridge will not be required for this project.

MINIMUM NAVIGATIONAL CLEARANCES:

The proposed replacement bridge will have clearances as described in the table below. These clearances are no change from current clearances over this section of the waterway at or near this mile. Vertical clearance is from low member elevation to mean high water (MHW).

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS: The USCG is the lead federal agency for satisfying the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) as amended. The USCG has tentatively determined that the proposed action will not have a significant impact for purposes of NEPA under the criteria given in the Coast Guard’s NEPA implementation instruction. As a result, the USCG plans to issue a “Finding of No Significant Impact” (FONSI) for the proposed project, unless significant impacts are revealed by this public notification and public information events.

A Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) was issued in February 2024. Environmental documents are posted on-line at
https://www.njta.com/capitalprojects/newark_bay_hudson_county. Copies of the Draft EA for comment are additionally available for viewing at the following locations:

Newark Public Library/ 5 Washington Street Newark, New Jersey, 07102
Bayonne Public Library/ 697 Avenue C, Bayonne, New Jersey 07002
Jersey City Public Library/ Earl A. Morgan Branch , 1841 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Jersey City
New Jersey, 07305

Please visit the program website for more information and upcoming public informational events.

The proposed replacement bridge is located in a floodplain. The 100-year flood elevation varies between 14-feet and 15-feet within the limits of the NBB. A Water Quality Certificate (WQC) The WQC and Coastal Zone Consistency Determination were issued April 3, 2024. NJDEP also determined that the proposed bridge replacement meets the requirements of the State’s Flood Hazard Area Control Act Rules.

The USACE’s authority for this project falls under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, authorized with a Nationwide Permit 15. A Section 408 permit application is pending USACE review.

The NJTA performed a Phase I Archaeological Survey and Intensive Historic Architectural Survey for the proposed bridge project during the environmental review process. The NJTA determined that the proposed project will have adverse impacts to historic architecture and property listed or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) or otherwise of archaeological, historical, or architectural significance. Per Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the NJTA, as the Coast Guard’s designated Federal representative, coordinated with the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office (NJHPO). Mitigation measures identified in consultation with the NJHPO and other consulting parties through the development of a Programmatic Agreement will resolve adverse effects and conclude the Section 106 process. Specific information regarding the Area of Potential Effects (APE) and properties and locations listed in the NRHP in Newark Bay, Morris Canal, City of Bayonne, City of Newark and City of Jersey City are described in the EA.

Informal consultations initiated with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Fish and Wildlife Administration and the National Marine Fisheries Service are pending. Detailed information regarding environmental compliance with NEPA is described in the EA regarding applicable Federal laws, including and not limited to: Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, Migratory
Bird Treaty Act, Bald and Golden Eagle Act.

SOLICITATION OF COMMENTS: Mariners are requested to comment on the placement of a bridge protective system and other navigational safety issues, including the need for clearance systems and extent of nighttime navigation to determine the need for bridge lighting. Boat owners are requested to provide information about their vessels including type of vessel, length overall, draft, beam, and height from the waterline to the highest fixed point and to appurtenances (e.g., tuna towers, flying bridges, fixed antennas and radar units) and other navigational safety issues.

Interested parties are requested to express their views, in writing, on the proposed bridge project including its possible environmental impacts to include those impacts on minority and/or low-income populations, if any, giving sufficient detail to establish a clear understanding of the reasons for support of, or opposition to, the proposed work. Comments regarding this Public Notice will be received for the record at the address above or by e-mail to SMB-D1Boston-Bridges-PublicNotices@uscg.mil through July 13. All comments of
an environmental nature such as those regarding wildlife refuges, waterfowl refuges, public parks, historic sites, wetlands, floodplain issues, air, water quality, etc. will be appropriately considered. Comments regarding matters under the jurisdiction of the USACE will be forwarded to the USACE. It is requested that this information be brought to the attention of any person having an interest who may not have received a copy of this public notice.

Plans of the proposed project, a location map and USACE figures are included in this public notice.

Translated copies of this public notice into Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Hindi, Tagalog, and Arabic have additionally been posted on the USCG Navigational Center’s website.
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=pnBridges&Active=1®ion=1.

Donna. A. Fisher
Bridge Program Manager
U.S. Coast Guard
By direction

View Official Notice Here

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The Comment Period for the May 9th, 2024 PUBLIC NOTICE-D01-209-2024-Newark Bay-Newark Bay Bridge has been extended to receive comments for an additional 30 days.

A U.S. Coast Guard bridge permit application and a draft National Environmental Policy Act Environmental Assessment from the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) has been received by the Commander, First Coast Guard District for approval of the location and plans for the replacement of the Newark Bay-Hudson County Extension between interchanges 14 and 14A, including the Vincent R. Casciano Memorial. The proposed replacement of the Newark Bay Bridge across Newark Bay, Mile 3.8, is between Newark, Essex County and Bayonne, Hudson County, New Jersey.

Further, the Department of the Army (USACE) has received an application from the NJTA for section 408 permission for certain work at or near the Newark Bay Federal Channel. The bridge’s clearances will remain unchanged. The vertical clearance remains 135 feet at Mean High Water (MHW) (Datum NAV88) and the navigational channel’s horizontal clearance will remain 500 feet and 611.65 feet between fenders.

PUBLIC NOTICE-D01-209a-2024-Newark Bay-Newark Bay Bridge dated, June 12, 2024 has been published on the USCG Navigation Center website at http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=pnBridges&Active=1®ion=1.

Interested parties are requested to express their views, in writing, on the proposed bridge project including its possible impacts to the environment and navigation.  Comments will be received for the record at the email address noted above or to Donna.D.Leoce@uscg.mil through July 13, 2024.

Translated copies of this public notice into Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Hindi, Tagalog, and Arabic have additionally been posted on the USCG Navigational Center’s website. http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=pnBridges&Active=1®ion=1