World Trade Center Memorial and Redevelopment Plan
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LOWER MANHATTAN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION World Trade Center Memorial and Redevelopment Plan Record of Decision and Lead Agency Findings Statement June 2004 RECORD OF DECISION AND LEAD AGENCY FINDINGS STATEMENT FOR THE WORLD TRADE CENTER MEMORIAL AND REDEVELOPMENT PLAN IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, NEW YORK COUNTY, NEW YORK Table of Contents 1.0 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT...................................................................................1 1.1 Overview..................................................................................................................1 1.2 Project Purpose and Need ........................................................................................2 1.3 Description of the Selected Project..........................................................................3 1.3.1 Project Site...................................................................................................3 1.3.2 Project Description.......................................................................................3 1.3.3 Site Plan .......................................................................................................3 1.3.4 Below Grade ................................................................................................4 1.3.5 Vehicular Circulation and Northern Service Option ...................................5 1.3.6 Memorial Mission Statement, Program, and Design...................................6 1.3.7 Site Design/Design Guidelines ....................................................................7 1.3.8 Other Lower Manhattan Recovery Projects.................................................7 1.3.9 Environmental Performance Commitments.................................................7 1.3.10 Sustainable Design Guidelines ....................................................................8 1.4 Project History and Public Participation..................................................................9 1.4.1 Planning for Development ...........................................................................9 1.4.2 Public Participation for Environmental Plan Review ................................13 1.5 Review under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act..........................................................................................................................15 1.6 Other Statutory Reviews........................................................................................17 1.6.1 Review under the New York State Urban Development Corporation Act .........................................................................................17 1.6.2 Condemnation Proceedings Pursuant to the New York State Eminent Domain Procedure Law...............................................................17 1.6.3 Conformity Review under the Clean Air Act ............................................17 1.6.4 Determinations on Floodplain Management..............................................18 1.6.5 Coastal Zone Consistency Determination..................................................19 1.6.6 Environmental Justice................................................................................19 1.7 Permits and Required Approvals ...........................................................................19 1.8 Completion Dates...................................................................................................20 2.0 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED ...................................................................................21 2.1 No Action Alternative............................................................................................21 2.2 Restoration Alternative ..........................................................................................21 2.3 THINK World Cultural Center ..............................................................................22 2.4 Memorial Only Alternative....................................................................................22 2.5 WTC Site Only Alternative ...................................................................................23 2.6 Cogeneration Alternative.......................................................................................24 2.7 Enhanced Green Construction Alternative ............................................................24 2.7.1 Movement of Goods and Waste via PATH ...............................................25 2.7.2 Waterborne Goods and Waste Handling....................................................25 i 2.7.3 Bio-Fuel and Composting..........................................................................25 2.7.4 Enhanced Cogeneration .............................................................................25 2.8 Reduced Impact Alternative ..................................................................................26 2.9 At-Grade Loading Alternative ...............................................................................27 2.10 Cooling Towers Alternative...................................................................................27 3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS.......................................................................................28 3.1 Methodology..........................................................................................................28 3.1.1 Current Conditions Scenario......................................................................28 3.1.2 Pre-September 11 Scenario........................................................................28 3.1.3 Two Analysis Years...................................................................................28 3.1.4 Construction Analysis Period ....................................................................29 3.2 Environmental Impacts of the Selected Project.....................................................29 3.2.1 Land Use and Public Policy.......................................................................29 3.2.2 Urban Design and Visual Resources..........................................................30 3.2.3 Historic Resources .....................................................................................31 3.2.4 Open Space ................................................................................................33 3.2.5 Shadows .....................................................................................................35 3.2.6 Community Facilities.................................................................................37 3.2.7 Socioeconomic Conditions ........................................................................38 3.2.8 Neighborhood Character............................................................................40 3.2.9 Hazardous Materials ..................................................................................42 3.2.10 Infrastructure..............................................................................................42 3.2.11 Traffic and Parking ....................................................................................45 3.2.12 Transit and Pedestrians ..............................................................................51 3.2.13 Air Quality .................................................................................................53 3.2.14 Noise ........................................................................................................55 3.2.15 Coastal Zone ..............................................................................................57 3.2.16 Floodplain ..................................................................................................57 3.2.17 Natural Resources ......................................................................................59 3.2.18 Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields....................................................60 3.2.19 Environmental Justice................................................................................60 3.2.20 Construction...............................................................................................61 4.0 Safety and Security ............................................................................................................73 4.1 Construction Safety and Security...........................................................................73 4.2 Emergency Safety ..................................................................................................74 4.3 Operational Safety and Security ............................................................................76 5.0 MONITORING AND ENFORCEMENT..........................................................................78 5.1 Commercial Design Guidelines and Sustainable Design Guidelines ....................78 5.2 Construction...........................................................................................................78 5.3 Historic Resources .................................................................................................78 5.4 Traffic ....................................................................................................................78 5.5 Natural Resources ..................................................................................................78 6.0 FGEIS COMMENTS AND RESPONSES........................................................................79 7.0 FINDINGS AND DECISION............................................................................................79 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Record of Decision