The DEIS

This Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) examines the potential environmental effects of proposed alternatives for the Tappan Zee Hudson River Crossing Project, and where adverse impacts are identified, it discusses measures to mitigate them. The purpose of the project is to maintain a vital link in the regional and national transportation network by providing a new Hudson River crossing between Rockland and Westchester Counties, New York, that addresses the limitations and shortcomings of the existing Tappan Zee Bridge and meets the structural, operational, safety, security, and mobility needs of the Tappan Zee Hudson River Crossing.

Public hearings will be conducted shortly, to provide an opportunity to reach the public and solicit input in response to the DEIS.  We encourage your participation in these hearings.  The dates, times and locations for the public hearings are indicated below:

Based on the findings of the DEIS and the written and oral comments received during the public hearings, as well as during the DEIS document public comment period (ending on March 30, 2012), FHWA, NYSDOT and NYSTA will prepare a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS).  Comments received during the public comment period, including those received at the public hearings, will be addressed in the FEIS.

FHWA, NYSDOT and NYSTA invite interested individuals, organizations, and Federal, State and local agencies to comment on the DEIS.  During the public comment period, the DEIS document will be available for public inspection during normal business hours at the locations on the enclosed list.  In addition, the document can be downloaded from the project website at www.tzbsite.com.  Comments can be submitted at any time during the public comment period.  Remember, the period for submitting comments ends on March 30, 2012.  There are many ways to provide comments:

• Verbally or in writing at the public hearings listed above.
• Via email: tzbsite@dot.state.ny.us
• Via fax:  845-454-7443
• Via mail:

Michael P. Anderson
Project Director
New York State Dept. of Transportation
4 Burnett Boulevard
Poughkeepsie, New York 12603
Telephone: 877-892-3685

TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT AND SECTION 4(f) EVALUATION

CONTENTS:

Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Chapter 1: Purpose and Need
Chapter 2: Project Alternatives
Chapter 3: Process, Agency Coordination, and Public Participation
Chapter 4: Transportation
Chapter 5: Community Character
Chapter 6: Land Acquisition, Displacement, and Relocation
Chapter 7: Parklands and Recreational Resources
Chapter 8: Socioeconomic Conditions
Chapter 9: Visual and Aesthetic Resources
Chapter 10: Historic and Cultural Resources
Chapter 11: Air Quality
Chapter 12: Noise and Vibration
Chapter 13: Energy and Climate Change
Chapter 14: Topography, Geology, and Soils
Chapter 15: Water Resources
Chapter 16: Ecology
Chapter 17: Hazardous Waste and Contaminated Materials
Chapter 18: Construction Impacts
Chapter 19: Environmental Justice
Chapter 20: Coastal Area Management
Chapter 21: Indirect and Cumulative Effects
Chapter 22: Other NEPA and SEQRA Considerations
Chapter 23: Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation
List of Preparers
List of Recipients

APPENDICES:

Appendix A: Project Planning and Development      
A-1      White Paper on Transit and the Tappan Zee Hudson River Crossing Project
A-2      Project Plans-Short Span Option
A-3      Project Plans-Long Span Option
A-4      Replacement Bridge Alternative Design Criteria
A-5      Non-Standard Feature Justification

Appendix B: Transportation   
B-1      Traffic Volumes
B-2      Accident Summary
B-3      Accident History
B-4      AECOM Traffic Analysis Memorandum
B-5      AECOM Future Capacity Memorandum
B-6      NYSTA TZB Barrier Traffic by Class by Time Weekday Nov-2011

Appendix C: Historic and Cultural Resources           
C-1      Finding of Effects
C-2      Draft Memorandum of Agreement

Appendix D: Noise and Vibration       
D-1      24 Hour Existing Noise Measurements
D-2      Short Term Noise Measurements
D-3      TNM Sample File Printouts

Appendix E: Water Quality
E-1      Water Quality Modeling Appendix

Appendix F: Ecology 
F-1       Aquatic Sampling Program
F-2       Terrestrial Resources Tables
F-3       Essential Fish Habitat
F-4       Biological Assessment
F-5A    Underwater Ambient Sound Level in the Hudson River near the Tappan Zee Bridge: Short and Long Span Ambient Noise Modeling (Jasco, July 2011)
F-5B    Appendix to Underwater Ambient Sound Level in the Hudson River near the Tappan Zee Bridge: Short and Long Span Ambient Noise Modeling (Jasco, July 2011)
F-6       Methodology for Estimating Potential Hydroacoustic Impacts to Abundant Hudson River Fish Species and Shortnose Sturgeon from Pile-driving Activities during Construction of the Tappan Zee Bridge Replacement Project and a Summary of Analysis Results

Appendix G: Hazardous Wastes and Contaminated Materials
G-1      Hazardous Wastes and Contaminated Materials

Appendix H: Construction Impacts    
H-1      Construction of the Feasible Options for the Replacement Tappan Zee Bridge (TP6/7)—Final Draft
H-2      Transportation
H-3      Air Quality
H-4      Noise
H-5      Dredged Materials Management Alternatives