Public Comment: NYNJHATS

NEW YORK-NEW JERSEY HARBOR AND TRIBUTARIES STUDY DRAFT INTEGRATED FEASIBILITY AND TIER 1 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT

The Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy has submitted a public comment on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' New York-New Jersey Harbor and Estuary Tributaries Study (NYNJHATS) Draft Integrated Feasibility and Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement.

We believe more data, modeling and alternatives analysis is needed to gain confidence that the tentatively selected plan will work as outlined. We have raised concerns in the following areas:

  1. More analysis is needed on the effectiveness of the proposed Jamaica Bay storm surge barrier, and associate shore-based features.

  2. More nature-based solutions are needed as a way to manage storm surge and provide co-benefits - from fighting climate change to enhancing communities.

  3. New alternatives are needed that address frequent storms and flooding, beyond the 1% annual chance of 100-year events.

  4. The benefit-cost analysis needs to be expanded to include ecosystem services and community benefits.

  5. New alternatives are needed that reduce the impact to public parklands in Jamaica Bay and Rockaway.

  6. More information is needed on the assumed operation of the Jamaica Bay storm surge barrier.

Click here to view JBRPC’s full comment.