Gulf Port Harbor Construction and ODMDS Designation - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
1 / 28
Title:
Gulf Port Harbor Construction and ODMDS Designation
Description:
Discuss new Gulfport Offshore Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site designation ... Two projects are planned in support of the Gulf Port Harbor Construction ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation
Number of Views:70
Avg rating:3.0/5.0
Title: Gulf Port Harbor Construction and ODMDS Designation
1
Gulf Port Harbor Construction and ODMDS
Designation
- Public Workshop/Hearing
- March 8, 2007
US Army Corps of Engineers Mobile District
2
Agenda
- Discuss Gulfport Harbor Federal Navigation
studies and environmental impacts - Discuss new Gulfport Offshore Ocean Dredged
Material Disposal Site designation - Receive comments on the Gulfport Harbor Federal
Navigation project
3
Gulf Port Harbor Construction and ODMDS
Designation
- Two projects are planned in support of the Gulf
Port Harbor Construction - Gulfport Harbor Federal Navigation Channel
widening - USACE lead
- Designation of a new Gulfport Offshore Ocean
Dredged Material Disposal Site (ODMDS) - USEPA lead
4
(No Transcript)
5
Gulfport Harbor Navigation Channel
- USACE completed a Feasibility Study Report in
1976 - Recommendations ( 36deep x 300 wide in
Mississippi Sound and 38 deep x 400 wide at
Ship Island Pass) - Channel improvements were authorized by Congress
through the following legislation - Supplemental Appropriations Act of 1985 (Public
Law 99-88) - Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (Public
Law 99-662)
6
Gulfport Harbor Navigation Channel
- USACE prepared a General Reevaluation Report in
February 2003 - Fifteen options were considered
- Five channel depth alternatives (ranging from 36
feet to 46 feet) - Three channel width alternatives (ranging from
300 feet to 600 feet) - Construction of channel improvements could
generate up to 89 million cubic yards of new
dredged material
7
(No Transcript)
8
Gulfport Harbor Navigation ChannelProposed
Improvements
9
Gulfport Harbor Navigation ChannelProposed
Improvements
- Changes in Mississippi Sound
- Increase width by 80 for approximately 11 miles
- Dredge 107 acres of undisturbed bottom
- Changes in Ship Island Pass
- Increase width by 100 for approximately 10 miles
- Dredge 97 acres of undisturbed bottom
- Dredged material disposal requirements
- Generate slightly more than 3.8 million cubic
yards
10
Gulfport Federal Navigation Channel Dredging and
Disposal
- Dredging methodologies
- Hopper, hydraulic, and mechanical
- Disposal areas
- Littoral zone southeast of Cat Island
- Open disposal areas for maintenance material
- Proposed New Gulfport Offshore ODMDS for new
material
11
Regulatory Requirements
- Compliance with 40 CFR 230
- Section 404(b)(1) guidelines for specification of
Disposal Sites for dredged or fill material - Special issues include conditions that
- Cause or contribute (after dilution) to a
violation of state water quality standards - Violate toxic effluent standards
- Jeopardize continued existence of species listed
as endangered or threatened under the ESA - Violate requirements of the Secretary of Commerce
for protection of marine sanctuaries
12
Pre-dredging Characterization Studies
- Characterization studies were performed 2005
- Guidance documents and standard procedures for
performing the studies are defined in - Inland testing manual
- Ocean testing manual
- QA/QC guidance for dredged material evaluations
- Methods for Collection, Storage, and Manipulation
of Sediment for Chemical and Toxicological
Analyses
13
Characterization Studies
- Collected sediment core samples at 15 locations
from the harbor area out to Ship Island Pass - Collected sediment from 5 to 28 below the
sediment/water interface - Characterized water column conditions during
survey - Performed chemical analyses on water and sediment
samples - Conducted chemical analyses on elutriate samples
- Conducted toxicity tests on sediment and water
samples - Performed bioaccumulation studies on sediments
14
Characterization Findings
- Bulk sediment chemistry
- All results were acceptable based on sediment
quality criteria and compared closely with
reference station results - Elutriate testing
- All chemicals detected in elutriate samples were
at acceptable levels - Toxicity testing
- All water column and sediment testing achieved
acceptable results based upon EPA acceptance
criteria - Bioaccumulation study
- All uptake ratios for inorganic and organic
chemicals were consistent with reference station
results with the exception of selenium at one
location near the harbor
15
Environmental Impacts
- Based on the results of the characterization
study, the removal and discharge of dredged
material would not - Cause or contribute (after dilution) to a
violation of state water quality standards - Violate toxic effluent standards
- Jeopardize continued existence of endangered or
threatened species - Violate requirements to protect marine
sanctuaries
16
Environmental Impacts
- Other key resource issues reviewed in the EIS
- Cultural resources
- Ship Island
- Ship wrecks
- Submerged aquatic vegetation
- Salinity changes
- Essential fish habitat
- Commercial and recreational fishing
17
Conclusions in the EIS
- All impacts would be minor and short term
- Approximately 204 acres of previously undisturbed
bottom would be dredged - Dredged area overlaps with essential fish habitat
and habitat of the Gulf sturgeon - Gulf sturgeon is a federally listed threatened
species - USACE and the NOAA Fisheries are addressing
Gulf sturgeon issue
18
Designating an ODMDS
- The process involves both the USACE and the USEPA
and is defined in 40 CFR 220-229 - USACE identifies prospective areas, evaluates
environmental conditions, and makes
recommendations - USEPA reviews the findings and recommendations
and designates the site - USACE initiated the Gulfport ODMDS site
identification process in 2003
19
New Gulfport Offshore Ocean Dredged Material
Disposal Site Designation
- Selection and designation requires
- Environmental studies of each site, regions
adjacent to the site, and on historical knowledge
of the impact of dredged material disposal on
areas similar to such sites in physical, chemical
, and biological characteristics - USACE developed procedures for completion of
designation surveys
20
New Gulfport Offshore ODMDS
- Dredged material disposal site requirements
- Within 10 miles of the channel entrance
- Capable of handling up to 89 million cubic yards
of new dredged material - Maintain adequate water column over disposal site
21
USACE Identified Prospective ODMDS Areas
- Conducted a zone of siting feasibility
- Based on five general and eleven specific
screening criteria - Navigational restrictions
- Political boundaries
- Local of fishing, recreation, shipping, mineral
extraction - Distance to continental shelf
- Feasibility of surveillance and monitoring
- Operational and transport costs
- Other factors (dredging requirements, water
depth, biological resources)
22
Zone of Siting Feasibility
23
Site Investigation
- Area B considered best option
- Two data collection cruises were conducted (March
and October 2004) - Physical, chemical, and biological parameters
were evaluated - Water quality
- Bathymetry
- Sediment quality
- Biota (infauna and epifauna)
24
Simulation Of Disposal Activities
- Computer modeling was conducted using MPFATE and
LTFATE - Assessment of short-term outcome of multiple
placements in ODMDS on an annual basis - Assessment of long-term trends in dredged
material mound
25
Findings of Investigation
- Results of field investigations indicate there
are no unique physical, chemical, biological
features in the area - No perceived threatened or endangered species or
cultural resource impacts - No indication of water or sediment quality
issues associated with disposal
26
Findings of Computer Modeling Simulations
- All dredged material can be accommodated within
proposed site - Sediment movement tends towards the southeast as
a result of currents and seasonal weather
patterns
27
New Gulfport Offshore ODMDS
- USACE prepared a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) - EPA is performing a detailed review of the Draft
EIS prior to release for public comment - Report will be updated as necessary and released
for public comment
28
Gulfport Harbor Federal Navigation Channel
Comment Process
- Comment period ends April 2, 2007
- Provide comments tonight that will be captured by
the court reporter - Fill out comment sheets provided at the meeting
and leave them with us - Fill out comment sheet at home and then mail to
the address on the sheet, fax to the number on
the sheet, scan and email to the email address - Provide written comments via the project web site
- www.usacegulfportnavigationeis.net
- Contact Linda Brown, USACE 251-694-3786
Recommended
CrystalGraphics Presentations
