See below. This is an announcement by US Army Corps on their formal step called National Environmental Policy Act Scoping Meeting to discuss the alternatives for Rahway River Flood Mitigation. The study is proceeding and your continued interest to ensure optimal flood control would be very helpful. Either attend to send your mention of support to US Army Corps or comments about the plans. MEETING ADVISORY U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS For Immediate Release: June 1, 2015 BUILDING STRONG® U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Contact: Chris Gardner, 917-790-8007 Christopher.P.Gardner@usace.army.mil Army Corps hosting NEPA Scoping Meeting with NJDEP regarding Rahway River Basin Flood Risk Management Feasibility Study The scoping meeting will be an opportunity for the public to learn about the ongoing study and to provide feedback regarding alternatives being evaluated, particularly feedback about any potential environmental impacts of alternatives NEW YORK – The U.S Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) New York District (District), in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) will be preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality’s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) implementing regulations for the Rahway River Basin Flood Risk Management Feasibility Study. As part of the EIS development, the District and NJDEP will be holding a NEPA Scoping Meeting to solicit input on issues and impacts to be addressed in an EIS. The purpose of the NEPA Scoping Meeting is to provide an opportunity for the public and agencies to comment on the scope of the environmental analysis in the EIS and to raise issues, concerns and ideas regarding potential impacts. In addition, the District requests any information on natural resources including plants, animals and particularly wetland habitats. The NEPA Scoping Meeting will be held on 15 June 2015 at the Roy E. Smith Theatre at Union County College, Union County College, 1033 Springfield Avenue, Cranford, NJ 07016. The meeting agenda is as follows: 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. – Informational Poster Board Session and Information Exchange 7:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. – Formal Informational Presentation 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. – Informational Poster Board Session and Information Exchange Alternatives that will be discussed at the NEPA Scoping Meeting and will be analyzed in the EIS are as follows: 1. No Action Plan 2. Non-Structural Flood Risk Management Measures 3. Cranford Alternative 4: Channel Improvements within the Rahway River and Modification of Orange Reservoir Outlet 4. Cranford Alternative 8: Modification of Lenape Park Levees and Channel Improvements 5. Cranford Alternative 9: Modification of Orange Reservoir Outlet, Channel Improvements and Modification of Lenape Park Levees 6. Robinson’s Branch Alternative 1: Floodwalls/ Levees and Channel Modifications in Robinson’s Branch 7. Robinson’s Branch Alternative 2: Modification of Middlesex Reservoir -- more -- U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS – NEW YORK DISTRICT 26 FEDERAL PLAZA NEW YORK, NY 10278 WWW.NAN.USACE.ARMY.MIL A NEPA Scoping Document that outlines the Civil Works Planning Process, study history, alternatives to be evaluated and identification of key environmental resources will be posted to the project webpage located at www.usace.army.mil/Rahway prior to the 15 June 2015 NEPA Scoping Meeting. The District will be accepting comments, concerns and information related to scoping from date of publication of this notice until 15 July 2015. Questions regarding the Rahway River Basin Flood Risk Management Feasibility Study can be directed to Ms. Rifat Salim, Project Manager, Rifat.Salim@usace.army.mil, 917 790 8215. Comments and/or suggestions concerning the scope of issues to be evaluated in the EIS can be sent to Ms. Kimberly Rightler, Project Biologist, Kimberly.A.Rightler@usace.army.mil. Following the closure of the scoping comment period, a Response to Comments report that summarizes comments, questions and information received will be prepared and posted to www.nan.usace.army.mil/Rahway. Comments, concerns and information submitted to the Corps will be evaluated and considered during the development of the Draft EIS.