How credible are the Corps’ environmental studies and conclusions?
In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the Corps first prepared an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as part of the February 1992 Interim Feasibility Report. The document was coordinated with the appropriate federal and state agencies— EPA, Fish & Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service and the environmental agencies of Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania—as well as the general public. The Record of Decision for the Final Environmental Impact Statement was filed with EPA in December 1992, documenting supplemental environmental analyses to be conducted during the Preconstruction Engineering and Design phase of the project. The need for the additional analyses was based on comments received during public coordination of the FEIS. The studies would address potential environmental impacts related to sediment transport, salinity changes, benthic organisms (shellfish), groundwater, wetlands, oil spills, endangered species and historic artifacts. In close c
