[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 146 (Tuesday, July 30, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61233-61235]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-16767]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Maritime Administration
[Docket Number MARAD-2024-0102]
Notice of Availability for the Camden County Programmatic
Agreement the National Historic Preservation Act
AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation
ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Maritime Administration (MARAD) is funding the Camden
County Port of Camden Access and Infrastructure Resiliency Project
(Project) which will reconstruct and improve several roadways within
the City of Camden Port District to increase access between the Port of
Camden and nearby interstates, while also improving infrastructure
resiliency within a historically disadvantaged community. In accordance
with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and its implementing
regulations, MARAD has determined that a Programmatic Agreement
(Agreement) must be prepared in accordance with the requirements of the
NHPA in conjunction with the Project and invites public comments on the
Agreement.
DATES: All comments on the Agreement are due on or before September 13,
2024. MARAD will consider comments filed after this date to the extent
practicable.
ADDRESSES: To ensure that you do not duplicate your docket submissions,
please submit all comments by only one of the following ways:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov, insert the docket number (MARAD-2024-0102) in the
keyword box and click ``Search.'' Select the ``Docket'' tab, locate the
Notice, and click on ``comment'' to begin the comment submission
process. Follow the online instructions.
Mail: Dockets Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building Ground Floor,
Washington, DC 20590- 0001.
Hand Delivery: W12-l40 of the Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590 between
9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. E.T., Monday through Friday, except Federal
Holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329.
Instructions: To properly identify your comments, please
include the agency name and the docket number at the beginning of your
comments. All comments received will be posted without change to
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information
provided.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wendy Coble, (202) 366-5088 or via
email at [email protected]. Persons who use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay
Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above individual during
business hours. The FIRS is available twenty-four hours a day, seven
days a week, to leave a message or question. You will receive a reply
during normal business hours. You may send mail to the Department of
Transportation, Maritime Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded funds to Camden
County under the Fiscal Year 2022 Port Infrastructure Development
Program for roadway improvements and reconstruction. The project is
located in the City of Camden, Camden County, New Jersey.
The project proposes to reconstruct and improve several roadways
within the City of Camden Port District including Atlantic Avenue
between 1-676 and Ferry Avenue (0.7 miles), Broadway (County Route 551)
from Atlantic Avenue to the railroad overpass (between Chelton Avenue
and Morgan St) (0.9 miles), Ferry Avenue (County Route 603) from
Broadway to Atlantic Avenue (0.6 miles), and South 2nd Street from
Clinton Avenue to Atlantic Avenue (0.8 miles). These improvements will
consist of the following:
New pavement, milling, and resurfacing which will improve
roadway conditions and reduce the need for additional maintenance;
New sidewalks, ADA-compliant curb ramps, curb extensions,
pedestrian countdown timers and push buttons which will improve
pedestrian safety and accessibility;
Adjusted curb radii and intersection markings which will
discourage trucks from accessing residential streets and
[[Page 61234]]
encourage them to more safely access truck routes; reduced turn radii
will improve safety;
Additional wayfinding signage and dynamic messaging signs
which will improve traffic flow and better direct motorists,
pedestrians, and cyclists to their destinations;
New and upgraded street lighting which will improve safety
and comfort;
New drainage lines utilizing existing outfalls, and
repairing existing damaged sewer which will capitalize on existing
infrastructure to improve sewage; and
Green infrastructure which will improve drainage and
create a more appealing pedestrian environment.
MARAD has defined the Undertaking's area of potential effects (APE)
as the boundary of the property of South 2nd Steet, Atlantic Avenue,
Ferry Avenue and Broadway, which encompasses approximately three
roadway miles.
Identification of Historic Properties
The analysis conducted for this project included revisiting
previously collected archaeological data, additional research, and site
investigations. This work included the completion of a Phase1A Cultural
Resource Reconnaissance Survey Report specifically done for this
project. The report, and consultations with the New Jersey State
Historic Preservation Office (NJSHPO), concluded that the project will
likely have adverse impacts on one historic resource that is listed on
the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), the South Camden
Historic District, and historic resources, the 1907 Line Ditch timber
sewer system and nineteenth century brick sewers, that will be
evaluated for eligibility on the NRHP during the course of the project.
It was also determined that the project's APE overlaps with the New
York Shipbuilding Historic District, Bergen Square Historic District,
and West Jersey & Seashore Lines Historic District, but these resources
will not be adversely impacted by the project. The New York
Shipbuilding Historic District has previously been determined eligible
for the NRHP, while the Bergen Square Historic District and West Jersey
& Seashore Lines Historic District have not yet been reviewed for
eligibility on the NRHP.
Affected Historic Properties
The South Camden Historic District's period of significance is
1815-1930 and consist of numerous contributing elements, such as
standing historic buildings. Cobblestone pavers within the Historic
District are most directly linked to this project and currently lie
beneath asphalt roadways within the district's boundaries.
The 1907 Line Ditch timber sewer system and nineteenth century
brick sewers contributed to the early development of the City of
Camden. The method of construction associated with these resources is
common in other nearby cities, thus making the entire City of Camden
sewer system likely ineligible for the NRHP as a historic district.
However, this does not preclude portions of the sewer system from being
contributing elements to historic districts. Additionally, some
elements may be individually eligible. This includes the 1907 Line
Ditch timber sewer system due to its ties to locally significant
persons such as Aaron Ward and unique construction during a period in
which sewer construction methodologies were becoming standardized.
Project Impacts on Historic Properties
The South Camden Historic District may be affected due to the
proposed removal of cobblestone pavers, which currently lie underneath
asphalt paving on the roadways within the district. The 1907 Line Ditch
timber sewer system and nineteenth century brick sewers may be
adversely impacted by the project because the project proposes to
repair and/or replace some of the sewers for improved drainage and
stormwater management.
Adverse Effects, Avoidance, Minimization and Mitigation
MARAD, in coordination with NJSHPO, determined that this project
would require the development of a Programmatic Agreement to address
the potential for adverse effects. As of this public notice, MARAD,
SHPO, and Camden County have all agreed to be signatories to the
Agreement; The Delaware Tribe of Indians and Camden City Historic
Preservation Commission will be concurring parties. The Agreement is
available for review at (insert docket posting here).
To mitigate the potential for the project to cause adverse effects,
the Agreement will require Camden County to complete the following
mitigation measures:
Prepare and install signage detailing the history and
significance of the New York Shipbuilding and South Camden Historic
Districts;
Document any unearthed cobblestone to Level III equivalent
standards of the Historic American Engineering Record (HAER);
Recover and securely store cobblestones for later use
within the historic district;
Conduct a documentation-and-video-based survey (Phase 1B/
II) of any affected below ground sewer systems; and
Based on the Phase 1B/II survey, recommend and implement a
work plan for the evaluation, monitoring, documentation, protection,
and/or treatment of any historic properties within the project's APE
that may be adversely impacted by the project.
Public Participation
MARAD may provide additional information and documents concerning
the project. This information, along with any comments received, can be
found at the above docket number. Please check the notice specific
docket for this information. It is requested that all public comments
be submitted for consideration within 45 calendar days from the posting
of this notice.
If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this
notice, indicate the specific section of this document to which each
comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion or
recommendation. You may submit your comments and material online as
described in the ADDRESSES section above. MARAD recommends that you
include your name and a mailing address, an email address, or a phone
number in the body of your document so that MARAD can contact you if
there are questions regarding your submission.
In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315(b)(6), DOT solicits comments
from the public on the exemption requests. DOT posts these comments,
without edit, including any personal information the commenter
provides, to www.regulations.gov. As described in the system of records
notice DOT/ALL 14 (Federal Docket Management System), which can be
reviewed at https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/privacy/privacy-
act-system-records-notices, the comments are searchable by the name of
the submitter. Anyone can search the electronic form of all comments
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). For information on
DOT's compliance with the Privacy Act, please visit https://www.transportation.gov/privacy.
(Authority: 49 CFR 1.81 and 1.93; 36 CFR part 800; 5 U.S.C. 552b.)
[[Page 61235]]
By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024-16767 Filed 7-29-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P