Environmental Review and Feasibility Study | FiDi & Seaport Climate Resilience Plan

As the next step in advancing the Fortifying Our Resilient Growth and Economy (FiDi FORGE, also known as FiDi-Seaport Climate Resilience Plan), NYCEDC and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New York District intend to prepare an Integrated Interim Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a Coastal Storm Risk Management Section 203 Study for the FiDi FORGE study area. The Draft and Final Integrated Interim Report will be prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), concurrent with a Section 203 feasibility study of coastal storm risk management for the study area illustrated in the above map.

Section 203 Feasibility Study

Pursuing a Section 203 feasibility study under the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1986, FiDi FORGE could unlock federal funding covering up to 65 percent of eligible project design and construction costs. This legislation allows non-federal entities, such as NYCEDC, to conduct their own feasibility studies with technical guidance and review from USACE. This study will evaluate the feasibility of various coastal storm risk management measures within the study area. The findings will be documented in both a Draft and Final Integrated Interim Feasibility Report. It is anticipated that this report will ultimately be submitted to the US Congress for potential authorization and appropriation of funding.

The NEPA Process

The project is subject to review in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), a federal process that requires federal agencies to consider the effects of their policies, projects, and funding of projects on the built and natural environments. This process ensures that environmental considerations are integrated into federal decision-making in a transparent, informed, and publicly accountable manner.

The USACE will serve as the federal lead agency for the study and environmental review. NEPA statute requires an Environmental Impact Statement when proposed actions have a reasonably foreseeable significant effect on the environment. In all proposed alternatives for FiDi FORGE, multiple elements trigger federal actions, such as in-water work, including fill and new structures over water. Given the scale and scope of effects, NYCEDC will be preparing an Environmental Impact Statement level of NEPA analysis for the project in coordination with the USACE, which will be incorporated into the Section 203 Feasibility Report (Integrated Interim Report).

Local environmental review, including New York City and State Environmental Quality Review (CEQR and SEQR), will be pursued at a later date when design is further advanced.

Scoping Period

The scoping period for FiDi FORGE began with a public notice on May 27, 2026, initiating the scoping period. The scoping period closed on July 23, 2026. During the scoping period, NYCEDC hosted three public meetings on June 23, June 25, and July 16. Meeting slides, poster boards, and recordings are provided at the bottom of this page.

There will be another opportunity for agencies and members of the public to participate and provide feedback on FiDi FORGE when the Draft Integrated Interim Report is published in spring 2027.