FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (FEIS)

Transparency of Bridge Process

Continuing New York States commitment to an open, participatory process, this project has solicited early and continued feedback from the public and from agencies; encouraged open discussion of project details and issues; and has provided opportunities for comments and questions. These efforts will continue throughout the environmental review of the Tappan Zee Hudson River Crossing Project. Tools that have been and will continue to be used in the public involvement and information program include:

• Public meetings and open houses;
• Project hot line;
• Project website;
• Mailing list;
• Informational materials at key points during the project development process;
• Media outreach; and
• Repositories

This Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) 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 FEIS incorporates comments received on the Draft EIS. 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.

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 prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). 

FHWA, NYSDOT and NYSTA invite interested individuals, organizations, and Federal, State and local agencies to review the FEIS.  The FEIS document will be available for public inspection during normal business hours at these locations.  In addition, the document can be downloaded below. 

This document is available for public review until September 4, 2012 after which time a Record of Decision will be issued. The Record of Decision will address any new or substantive comments made during the public review period.  Questions or comments regarding this FEIS should be sent:

By Mail to:

Michael Anderson
New York State Department of Transportation
4 Burnett Boulevard
Poughkeepsie, New York 12603

By Email to:

tzbsite@dot.state.ny.us

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Volume I - FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT:

Volume I: Cover and Table of Contents
Forward: Introduction
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
Chapter 24: Response to Comments on the DEIS
List of Preparers
List of Recipients
Literature Cited

Volume II - 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
A-6      Tappan Zee Bridge Capital Costs through 2025
A-7      Re-evaluation Statement


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
B-7      Diversion Analysis for Potential Toll Adjustments on the Tappan Zee Bridge  
B-8      Traffic Report 1 - Traffic
B-9      Technical Report 2 - Transit
B-10    Toll Plaza Analysis


Appendix C: Historic and Cultural Resources           
C-1      Finding of Documentation
C-2      Letters of Effects and Supplemental Finding Documentation
C-3      Executed Memorandum of Agreement


Appendix D:
D-1      Noise and Vibration


Appendix E: Water Quality
E-1      Water Quality


Appendix F: Ecology 
F-1       Aquatic Sampling Program
F-2       Wildlife and Vegetation Summary Tables
F-3       Wetland Delineation Report
F-4A     Tappan Zee Bridge Construction Hydroacoustic Noise Modeling
F-4B     Tappan Zee Bridge Construction Hydroacoustic Noise Modeling - Appendices
F-5A     Pile Installation Demonstration Project - Final Report
F-5B     Pile Installation Demonstration Project - Fish Monitoring Report
F-5C     Pile Installation Demonstration Project - Analysis of Tissues of FIsh Exposed to Pile Driving
F-6       NMFS Biological Opinion
F-7       NMFS Essential Fish Habitat Determination and FHWA Response
F-8       USFWS Section 7 Endangered Species Act Consultation
F-9       Essential FIsh Habitat Assessment
F-10     Biological Assessment
F-11     Hydroacoustic Impacts Methodology
F-12     NYSDEC Compensatory Mitigation Letter
F-13     Peregrine Falcon Monitoring Report
F-14     NMFS Biological Opinion on Pile Installation Demonstration Project


Appendix G: Hazardous Wastes and Contaminated Materials
G-1      Phase 1 Documentation
G-2      HSubsurface (Phase II) Investigation Report


Appendix H: Construction Impacts    
H-1      Construction of the Feasible Alternatives for the Replacement Tappan Zee Bridge & Landings (TP6/7)
H-1      Tappan Zee Bridge Replacement 2012 Construction Staging Long Span Bridge
H-1      Tappan Zee Bridge Replacement 2012 Construction Staging Short Span Bridge
H-2      Transportation
H-3      Air Quality
H-4      Noise
H-5      Dredged Materials Management Alternatives Analysis
H-6      Construction Emissions General Conformity Analysis
H-7      HARS Suitability


Appendix I:  Smart Growth Documentation
I-1      NYSDOT and NYSTA Smart Growth Policies
I-2      Smart Growth Impact Statement and Attestation Form

Volume III - PUBLIC AND AGENCY COMMENTS ON THE DEIS

Public and Agency Comments on the DEIS