`[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 217 (Monday, November 10, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60634-60635]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29831]



[[Page 60633]]

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Part V





Department of Transportation





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Federal Transit Administration



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Environmental Impact Statement; Crossroads Arena Project/Buffalo Inner 
Harbor Development Project; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 217 / Monday, November 10, 1997 / 
Notices  

[[Page 60634]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; Crossroads Arena Project/Buffalo 
Inner Harbor Development Project Buffalo, New York

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Crossroads Arena Project/Buffalo Inner Harbor Development 
Project.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, as implemented by the Council on 
Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508) and 
Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations under 23 CFR part 771, 
the FTA and the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) 
intends to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to study the 
reconfiguration and redevelopment of a portion of the Buffalo Inner 
Harbor located in the City of Buffalo, New York. The proposed project 
would be financed through funding from the Intermodal Surface 
Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA), the New York State Thruway 
Authority, the City of Buffalo and Erie County. The project is being 
administered by the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) in 
cooperation with NFTA.

I. Project Description

    The proposed action (Inner Harbor Development Project) consists of 
reconfiguration and redeveloping approximately 6 acres of land in 
downtown Buffalo, located along the Buffalo River near the southern 
terminus of the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority's (NFTA's) 
light rail rapid transit (LRRT) system at the foot of Main Street. A 
conceptual plan for redevelopment of the project site was prepared by 
the City of Buffalo in 1996 and sets the basis for the project. The 
principal elements of this plan included the construction of a new 
Naval and Military Museum, which currently occupies a portion of the 
project site; the reconfiguration of the Buffalo River shoreline to 
create two new inlets with direct access to Main Street to accommodate 
existing naval vessels that are part of the museum's collection, 
transient boats, water taxis, and tour boats; a visitor's center; a 
waterfront promenade to provide continuous pedestrian/bicycle access; a 
new or enhanced intermodal LRRT station to serve the project area; and 
the creation of Greenway Plaza, a new public space serving as a hub for 
all bicycle and pedestrian trail systems, with areas for new 
development of commercial/entertainment facilities.
    The Inner Harbor Development Project is intended to enhance public 
access to the water's edge; enhance ridership on the LRRT system; and 
encourage intermodal opportunities between waterborne, transit, 
automobile, pedestrian and bicycle route systems. Additionally, the 
project is also expected to facilitate and promote private investment 
by further capitalizing on intermodal opportunities offered in the 
project area.
    The EIS will analyze reasonable alternatives that will assist in 
achieving the objectives of the Inner Harbor Development Project. Three 
alternatives will be formulated through a series of workshops with 
major stakeholders, agencies, and the general public. Although still 
being formulated, the alternatives will include consideration of a new/
enhanced intermodal LRRT station; reconfiguration of the Buffalo River 
shoreline to increase access; identification of new private development 
sites in the project area; and establishment of new pedestrian/bicycle/
automobile circulation routes through the project area. In addition, 
the EIS will assess the No-Action alternative to serve as a basis for 
comparison with the other alternatives and proposed action.
    The EIS will evaluate all potential significant social, economic, 
and environmental effects of the alternatives. These would include 
issues involving land use/zoning/development policies; coastal zone 
management policies and navigable waterways; coordination with other 
projects planned in the study area and cumulative impacts from these 
projects; traffic, bicycle, and pedestrian circulation; transit 
ridership; parking; historic/archaeological resources and parklands; 
aesthetics; water quality; air quality; hazardous materials; and 
effects to minority and low income populations in accordance with 
federal guidelines concerning environmental justice. Both positive and 
negative impacts will be evaluated for the construction period and for 
the long-term period of operation. Significant potential adverse 
impacts resulting from analysis of the proposed action and alternatives 
will be discussed in terms of avoidance measures or minimized through 
the implementation of mitigation measures, where reasonable and 
appropriate.

II. Scoping Process/Public Scoping Meeting

    The FTA is initiating a scoping process for the purpose of 
determining the scope of issues to be addressed in the EIS. All 
interested individuals and organizations as well as Federal, state, and 
local agencies, are invited to participate in identifying any 
significant social, economic, and environmental concerns related to the 
Inner Harbor Development Project. A draft Scoping Document describing 
the purpose of the project and impact issues is being mailed to 
affected Federal, State and local agencies as well as interested 
parties. Copies of the draft Scoping Document may be obtained by 
contacting Ms. Ruta Dzenis, Project Director, Empire State Development 
Corporation at (716) 856-8111. A Public Scoping Meeting concerning the 
Inner Harbor Development Project will be held on: November 24, 1997, 
6:30 p.m., Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, Lafayette Square, 
Main Auditorium (Clinton Street Entrance), Buffalo, New York 14203.
    Following a presentation on the project, comments on the scope of 
the EIS will be received and transcribed at this meeting.
    Scoping comments may be submitted at the public scoping meeting 
and/ or submitted in writing at the address listed below. It is 
important that interested parties and Federal, State, and local 
agencies take this opportunity to identify environmental concerns that 
should be addressed in the EIS. Further, because the preliminary design 
components of the Inner Harbor Development Project are currently being 
formulated and refined, the scoping process offers an opportunity to 
incorporate public environmental concerns into the urban design and 
engineering processes of the project.
    Written comments on the scope of alternatives and impacts to be 
considered must be received by 5:00 pm January 16, 1998. Written 
comments should clearly describe the specific social, economic, and 
environmental issues and concerns that the commentor believes that the 
EIS should address. Written comments should be sent to: Ms. Ruta 
Dzenis, Project Director, Empire State Development Corporation, Western 
New York Region, 420 Main Street, Suite 717 Liberty Building, Buffalo, 
New York 14202.

III. FTA and State Procedures

    The EIS process will be conducted in accordance with NEPA, CEQ, and 
FTA regulations under 23 CFR part 771. Following the completion of the 
scoping

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process, a draft EIS will be prepared and made available for public 
review. Following a 45-day public comment period and public hearing on 
the draft EIS, a final EIS will be prepared with appropriate revisions 
and additions responding to all substantive comments received. The 
final EIS will serve as the basis for a Record of Decision issued on 
the proposed action.
    Because the proposed action also includes actions/funding by New 
York State, county and local agencies, it is required to be assessed in 
accordance with the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act 
(SEQRA). ESDC will serve as the lead agency for SEQRA documentation. 
The content and format of the EIS will be designed to also serve as the 
SEQRA documentation for the action. All time frames, public notices, 
public hearings, and comment periods will be coordinated in accordance 
with both NEPA and SEQRA requirements.

IV. Contacts

    For further information on this project, please contact: Anthony G. 
Carr, Director, Office of Planning and Program Development, Federal 
Transit Administration at (212) 264-8162.

    Issued on November 7, 1997.
Thomas J. Ryan,
Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 97-29831 Filed 11-7-97; 10:53 a.m.]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P`