Gulf Port Harbor Construction and ODMDS Designation

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Gulf Port Harbor Construction and ODMDS
Designation

• Public Workshop/Hearing
• March 8, 2007

US Army Corps of Engineers Mobile District
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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

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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

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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)

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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

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Gulfport Harbor Navigation ChannelProposed
Improvements
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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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
  

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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)

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Zone of Siting Feasibility
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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)

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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