33 U.S.C. § 59y: Declaration of nonnavigability…

Summary

Certain parts of Coney Island Creek and Gravesend Bay are declared non-navigable unless the Secretary, after talking with local and regional public officials and planning groups, decides that a proposed project there would not be in the public interest. The area is the specific, mapped portion described by coordinates used by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey for Brooklyn. The Secretary must decide about each proposed project within 150 days after the project’s plans are submitted. The non-navigable status only covers parts that are or will be bulkheaded, filled, or covered by permanent structures (including marinas). Any work there must follow all federal laws and rules, including sections 401 and 403, section 1344, and the National Environmental Policy Act. If, 20 years from November 17, 1988, an area is still not bulkheaded, filled, or occupied as required, or if permitted work does not start within 5 years after permits are issued, the non-navigable declaration for that area ends.

Title 33, §59y

Navigation and Navigable Waters, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Area to be declared non-navigable; public interest

Unless the Secretary finds, after consultation with local and regional public officials (including local and regional public planning organizations), that the proposed projects to be undertaken within the boundaries in the portions of Coney Island Creek and Gravesend Bay, New York, described below, are not in the public interest then, subject to subsections (b) and (c) of this section, those portions of such Creek and Bay, bounded and described as follows, are declared to be non-navigable waters of the United States: Beginning at the corner formed by the intersection of the Westerly Line of Cropsey Avenue, and the Northernmost United States Pierhead Line of Coney Island Creek. Running thence south 12 degrees 41 minutes 03 seconds E and along the westerly line of Cropsey Avenue, 98.72 feet to the northerly channel line as shown on Corps of Engineers Map Numbered F. 150 and on Survey by Rogers and Giollorenzo Numbered 13959 dated October 31, 1986. Running thence in a westerly direction and along the said northerly channel line the following bearings and distances: South 48 degrees 59 minutes 27 seconds west, 118.77 feet; south 37 degrees 07 minutes 01 seconds west, 232.00 feet; south 23 degrees 17 minutes 10 seconds west, 430.03 feet; south 31 degrees 25 minutes 46 seconds west, 210.95 feet; south 79 degrees 22 minutes 49 seconds west, 244.18 feet; north 55 degrees 00 minutes 29 seconds west, 183.10 feet; north 41 degrees 47 minutes 04 seconds west, 315.16 feet; North 41 degrees 17 minutes 43 seconds west, 492.47 feet to the said Pierhead Line; thence north 73 degrees 58 minutes 40 seconds west and along said pierhead line, 2,665.25 feet to the intersection of the United States bulkhead line; Thence north 0 degree 19 minutes 35 seconds west and along the United States Bulkhead line 1,138.50 feet to the intersection of the westerly prolongation of the center line of 26th Avenue, Thence north 58 degrees 25 minutes 06 seconds east and along the center line of said 26th Avenue, 2,320.85 feet to the westerly line of Cropsey Avenue, then southeasterly and along the southerly line of Cropsey Avenue the following bearings and distances: South 31 degrees 34 minutes 54 seconds east, 4,124.59 feet; and South 12 degrees 41 minutes 03 seconds east, 710.74 feet to the point or place of beginning. Coordinates and bearings are in the system as established by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey for the Borough of Brooklyn. The Secretary shall make the public interest determination separately for each proposed project, using reasonable discretion, within 150 days after submission of appropriate plans for each proposed project.

(b)Limits on applicability; regulatory requirements

The declaration under subsection (a) shall apply only to those parts of the areas described in subsection (a) of this section which are or will be bulkheaded and filled or otherwise occupied by permanent structures, including marina facilities. All such work is subject to all applicable Federal statutes and regulations, including, but not necessarily limited to, section 401 and 403 of this title, section 1344 of this title, and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 [42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.].

(c)Expiration date

If, 20 years from November 17, 1988, any area or part thereof described in subsection (a) of this section is not bulkheaded or filled or occupied by permanent structures, including marina facilities, in accordance with the requirements set out in subsection (b) of this section, or if work in connection with any activity permitted in subsection (b) is not commenced within 5 years after issuance of such permits, then the declaration of non-navigability for such area or part thereof shall expire.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, referred to in subsec. (b), is Pub. L. 91–190, Jan. 1, 1970, 83 Stat. 852, which is classified generally to chapter 55 (§ 4321 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 4321 of Title 42 and Tables.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

“Secretary” Defined Secretary means the Secretary of the Army, see section 2 of Pub. L. 100–676, set out as a note under section 2201 of this title.

§59y Declaration of Nonnavigability for Portions of Coney Island Creek and Gravesend Bay, New York