Corps Seeks Comments on Port Everglades Navigation Project
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced a draft environmental assessment and proposed finding of no significant impact for the operation and maintenance dredging and dredged material placement for the Port Everglades Navigation Project in Broward County, Florida.
The draft information is available for review and comment until September 9. The Corps will include the comments received, as well as a summary matrix of the comments and Corps responses, in the final assessment.
The Preferred Alternative consists of the routine maintenance dredging of the federal project and adjacent slips and berthing areas as well as two placement options for the associated dredged material. Dredged material will be placed in the Port Everglades Harbor Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site (ODMDS); however, beach quality sand may be placed in the ODMDS or along the beach at the Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park.
The Corps said maintenance dredging occurs on an as needed basis for the removal of shoals or on a three-year cycle. Average shoaling rates may require the removal of approximately 100,000 cubic yards during the routine dredge cycle of the project’s federal components. However, shoaling caused by storm activity and/or the inclusion of maintenance dredging of the slips and berths could increase the quantity proposed for dredging above and beyond the predicted average. Details on the Preferred Alternative can be found in the draft environmental assessment (EA). The draft EA, associated appendices and proposed finding of no significant impact are available for review at http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/About/Divisions-Offices/Planning/Environmental-Branch/Environmental-Documents/. (Click on the “+” next to “Broward” and scroll down to the project name.)
Questions or comments can be sent via email to CESAJ-PortEvergladesOM@usace.army.mil or by letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Attn: Coastal Environmental Branch, P.O. Box 4970, Jacksonville, Florida 32232-0019.
