WTC site damage assessment map, Sept 21, 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

• Restoration of damaged and destroyed utilities, including sanitary and storm sewers, electrical power and natural gas distribution systems, and telephone lines

The existence of a delineated floodplain at the WTC site does not impact emergency measures or debris removal operations and will not prevent reimbursement of funds expended under these operations. Future development and construction within the delineated flood hazard area will require compliance with Federal, State and local regulations, which includes Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management, Executive Order 11990, Protection of Wetlands, as well as other related environmental issues.

Environmental Impacts

New buildings and facilities would be constructed in compliance with the Building Code of the City ofNew York, Local Law No. 76, dated December 6,1968 (amended June 1 1993). Portions of the Code address flood damage protection. The restoration and redevelopment of the WTC area would not be a significant new encroachment and would not result in increases of flood levels in the surrounding areas. The design of all proposed facilities would meet the applicable floodplain management criteria for state projects in flood hazard areas in accordance with 6 NYCRR Part 502. Since this is the case, no significant direct impacts to floodplains are anticipated.

3.1.3.2 WETLANDS AND WETLAND PROTECTION EO 11990

In general terms, wetlands are lands that are at least periodically saturated with or covered by water. They are transitional lands between terrestrial and aquatic systems where the water table is usually at or near the surface or the land is covered by shallow water. There are two fundamental wetland types: tidal and freshwatdr. Freshwater wetlands have no saline inputs, whereas tidal wetlands are regularly sClbmerged by a salt­ water body.

Wetlands in New York State are regulated both by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The USACE regulates wetlands pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act of 1977 (33 CFR Part 230) and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 {Figure 3-6). The New York State DEC regulates freshwater wetlands that are 12.4 acres or larger, or, if freshwater wetlands have unusual local importance, under their permit authority described by the Freshwater Wetlands Act of 1975 (6 New York Codes, Rules, and Regulations [NYCRR] Part 663). NYSDEC also regulates a protective buffer zone around the freshwater wetland, called the adjacent area. The regulated adjacent area is 100 feet from the wetland boundary. State freshwater wetlands are depicted on U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) quadrangle base maps. Tidal wetlands are regulated in New York under the state’s Tidal Wetlands Act of 1977 (6 NYCRR Part 661). In addition to tidal wetland resources, within the NYC limits, NYSDEC regulates a protective adjacent area, which extends 150 feet from the regulated wetland boundary. As defined by 6 NYCRR Part 661.4(b)(l)(ii), if there is functional and substantial fabricated structure that

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