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

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.]

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