Notice of Rescission for GreenThumb Gardens Water Supply Project Watershed Plan

The Office of the Federal Register has issued a notice announcing the rescission of the Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the GreenThumb Gardens Water Supply Project Watershed Plan. The NOI, published on April 24, 2024, was issued by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in cooperation with the New York City (NYC) Parks and Recreation Department GreenThumb Network. After conducting an Environmental Evaluation (EE), NRCS determined that the project has no reasonably foreseeable significant effect and is within the scope of a Categorical Exclusion (CE). As a result, an EIS is no longer necessary, and the NOI is rescinded as of August 13, 2025.

Key Takeaways:

• The NOI to prepare an EIS for the GreenThumb Gardens Water Supply Project Watershed Plan, published in the Federal Register on April 24, 2024, is rescinded due to the project's determination as a Categorical Exclusion (CE).
• The project's proposed action is to implement water conservation activities on existing agricultural lands, including minor irrigation land leveling, irrigation water conveyance, and various management practices, which fall within the scope of the CE.
• The project's primary purpose is to supply dependable and accessible water to the existing GreenThumb Community Gardens, which produce food for the local community.
• The NYC Parks and Recreation Department GreenThumb Network is the sponsoring local organization, and the project is essential for addressing deficiencies in the existing water delivery systems to the community gardens.
• The project will improve on-site water infrastructure, conserve natural resources, and lower barriers to food production.

Statistics:

• The NOI to prepare an EIS was published in the Federal Register on April 24, 2024 (FR Doc. 2024-08725).
• The rescission of the NOI takes effect on August 13, 2025.
• The proposed project will implement water conservation activities on existing agricultural lands, including minor irrigation land leveling, irrigation water conveyance, and various management practices.
• The project is authorized under the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act of 1954 (Pub. L. 83-566), as amended, and the Flood Control Act of 1944 (Pub. L. 78-534).

Sources:

• NRCS, in cooperation with the NYC Parks and Recreation Department GreenThumb Network, "GreenThumb Gardens Water Supply Project Watershed Plan," Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement, Federal Register, April 24, 2024 (FR Doc. 2024-08725).
• Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act of 1954 (Pub. L. 83-566), as amended.
• Flood Control Act of 1944 (Pub. L. 78-534).