HomeMy WebLinkAbout20080806 Ver 5_Windows EA Scoping Presentation_23APR_202005056 PROPOSED LMAINTENANCE DREDGING: r
AGENCY SLOPING MEETING 93K"69'
WILMINGTON AND MOREHEAD CITY HARBORS
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Presenter Emily Hughes -
Title Environmental Resources Biol'ogis
Wilmington Distric -
Date: 23 April 2020
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Photo courtesy of NMFS website: https:/Photo courtesy of NMFS website: https://www.fisheries.noaagov/species/atlantic-sturgeon-sturgeon
TOPICS
1. Dredging Windows
2. Contractual Effects of Windows
3. Limited Availability of Dredges
4. Factors Beyond Our Control
5. SAW Efforts to Comply with Windows
6. 1997 SARBO 4 2020 SARBO
7. Take Limits Under 2020 SARBO
8. Risk -Based Management
9. Adaptive Management
10. Contract Challenges
11. Benefits to Year -Round Dredging
12. Sea Turtle Protections and Minimization Measures
13. Wilmington Harbor
14. Morehead City Harbor
15. NEPA Process
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31
SAW DREDGING WINDOWS
• Go back to the 80s
• Long and complex list
• NEPA/science is outdated
• More research needed
4 Continuous requests for one-
time window extensions
NIM Wt 1 Corohr, Department I en of Ndtu J I """Y r"'
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aambi B. Huni, Jr, GN,9.00r r4ov,aejN Srrerary Ta6oft"*is .
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Major A. A. Kopcsak
Corpm of Engineers
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W11dingto VC 2.84132
Dear major Kapeask.
Thn offier.of Guaotal XanageTwnt has reviewed GorpP Natioe...,.,
003. date 11 January. 7979 far federal eonsiatency. this notice
demcribed the iaCrpa of Sngineers proposal for she muintenenca dredg!
Gi the Wilmin;,tan 11YTk4T knebarnpa Resin,
The !1Ffice of Coast Al M-magcoent finds thr prnjOCt tp bC
coaaiatent with Rorz:h Caroline's Coeacai Harxarp ment Program
eantingent on the fallowing condition; that na dredging be con—
dvctad prior to May 15th of thig YeaT in order to protect ansdrmous
fish run or the Cape Fear River_
% u1rl any ad'djt;pn#7 !Mfargetion be Ik�.giiirad, do nGx hr Ui[iltc
to contact that office.
Sincerely,
6. YPB�Can J
Dtputy Secretur}r
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cc: Jahn Phrker
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4
7
CONTRACTUAL EFFECTS OF WINDOWS
• No bids
• Eliminates competition
• No awardable bids (bids too high)
• Prices increase when there are
limitations (i.e. dredge type, order of
work, windows)
• Draft restrictions 4 decrease in
marine traffic
Working Today to Bu►ld a 1
5
7
LIMITED AVAILABILITY OF HOPPER DREDGES
• Small U.S. fleet (15 total commercial
hopper dredges)
• Can't work within tight schedules
• Dredge demand continues to increase 4
situation will worsen
Photo courtesy of: https://www.mansonconstruction.com/what-we-do/fleet/newport
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0
7
FACTORS BEYOND OUR CONTROL
• Southwest Pass, MS takes priority
• More Harbor deepening projects (i.e.
Charleston Post 45, SHEP, Miami
Harbor, Norfolk Harbor)
• More private beach nourishment jobs
using hopper pump -out methods
• Timing of funding/budget process
• Storms/excessive shoaling
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7
7
SAW EFFORTS TO COMPLY WITH WINDOWS
• Limit dredge box to only what is "necessary" (i.e. do not dredge entire width of channel or
to full channel depth)
• Cut out/reduce portions of contract so Contractor can complete within window
• If receive additional $$, never add more quantity than would take beyond window to dredge
• Rarely ever ask for more than a 2 week extension (after contract has been awarded)
• Windows only requested if unforeseen events (i.e. weather, mechanical, Contractor delays)
• Make Contractor stop work and return when next window opens
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0
7
1997 SARBO 4 2020 SARBO
• Issued to South Atlantic Division (regional)
• Covers Regulatory and Civil Works projects
• Covers only maintenance, not new work
• NMFS ONLY (one opinion)
• New species and critical habitat; all types of dredges; additional activities (trawling, bed leveling,
G&G surveys)
• Sea turtle centric to multi -species centric (SAW supports the recovery of these species and their
habitat)
• Project Design Criteria (PDCs); increased reporting requirements
• Puts other Districts in same/similar position (windows to no windows)
Working Today to Build a Better Tomorrow
SPECIES TAKE LIMITS UNDER 2020 SARBO
Anticipated Future Nonlethal Take- Lethal Take- Lethal Take- Total Lethal Observed Sea Turtle Lost Egg
Take Per Over 3 Observed I Observed Unobserved + Unobserved Take Clutch
Consecutive Years
Green NA DPS
742
59
59
118 3
Kemp's Ridley
58
58
116
1,340
1
Leatherback
369
0
4
4
6
Loggerhead NWA 5,270 107 107 214 65
_DPS
Atlantic Sturgeon 499 73 0 73 N/A
_South Atlantic DPS
Atlantic Sturgeon 319 47 0 47 N/A
Carolina DPS
• Protective measures and monitoring
• Reporting requirements are more intense
• Conformance with the 2020 SARBO PDCs must be confirmed!
Working Today to Build a Better Tomorrow
•
RISK -BASED MANAGEMENT
From a Regional perspective (SAD)
NO WINDOWS IN 2020 SARBO
• Protect the NARW; dredging NOT
recommended Nov 1-April 30 to the
"maximum extent practical" =�
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• SARBO team to meet annually to -
discuss upcoming projects and
associated minimization measures w'"m'npon.".
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• Post -project review and reporting; rannl, f"
documentation of lessons learned to
reduce future risk Wry*
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Working Today to Build a Better Tomorrow
11 49
ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT
Under 2020 SARBO:
Adaptive Changes to PDCs
Corrective actions
Resolving inconsistencies
Wilmington District Adaptations:
Elimination v. expansion of windows
Additional project monitoring
Corps involvement with turbidity monitoring at Beaufort Inlet this summer and plans to
participate in future studies.
Will look at impacts to resources 4 adjust project specs to increase protections
Working Today to Build a Better Tomorrow
CONTRACT CHALLENGES
Date
Project
Extension Time
Reason
Granted?
2016
WH OOB (hopper)
Sept 1 start (3 mo)
To get bids
Yes, but not impl
2017
WH OOB (hopper)
10 days
Complete BH1
Yes
2017
RHDC (hopper)
Dec 1— Apr 15
Standardize
Yes
2017
MHC Range A/B
24 days
Yes (mon req)
2017
WH AB
28 days
Hurricane
Matthew
Yes
2018
WH 1OB
Summer beach
placement
Yes (mon/
relocation req)
2019
WH AB
15 days
Over -run;
breakdown
Yes, not needed
2019
RHDC
Jan 1— July 31
To get bids
Yes, with
limitations
2020
WH AB
15 days
Over -run;
breakdown
Yes
RHDC: SAW ports are smallest and ranked lower than others 4 last to get done on the RHDC.
Working Today to Bu►ld a Better Tomorrow
13
7
BENEFITS TO YEAR-ROUND DREDGING
• More reliable contracts (don't have to
resolicit)
• More competition 4 lower prices
• Not confined; can dig more (to full
project dimensions)
• Less need for emergency dredging
Work►ng Today to Bu►ld a Better Tomorrow
SEA TURTLE PROTECTIONS &
MINIMIZATION MEASURES
• TEDs
• Pumps off when above sea bottom
• 24 hour PSOs
• DQM/ODESS
• Screening (inflow/ouflow)
• Trawling
• Bed Leveling
• Daily reporting
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14
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WILMINGTON HARBOR PROJECT
Wilmington Harbor b
' Wilmington
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Eagle Island
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State Ports
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Anchorage Basin Contract (Annually)
Mid River Contract (Every 2 Years / Even Years)
Inner Ocean Bar (Every 2 Years! Odd Years)
Outer Ocean Bar (Annually)
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-P nary nIt 2015
Typical O&M Maintenance Dredging Contracts & Windows:
Anchorage Basin Contract: Dredged annually; non -beach
compatible material placed in an upland disposal facility.
WINDOW = Aug 1 — Jan 31 (pipeline)
Mid -River Contract: Normally dredged every two years, opposite
the Inner Ocean Bar contract.
WINDOW = Dec 1 - (varies for hopper)
WINDOW = Aug 1 — Jan 31 (pipeline)
• Inner Ocean Bar Contract: Normally dredged every two years;
beach compatible material is placed on adjacent beaches.
WINDOW = Nov 16 —Apr 30 (pipeline)
Outer Ocean Bar Contract: Dredged annually; non -beach
compatible material placed in the ODMDS.
WINDOW = Dec 1 —Apr 30 (hopper)
15
Working Today to Build a Better Tomorrow
MOREHEAD CITY HARBOR PROJECT
Morehead City Harbor
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Typical O&M Maintenance Dredging Contracts & Windows:
• Inner Harbor Contract: Dredged every 2-3 years; non -beach
compatible material placed in an upland disposal facility.
NO WINDOW (pipeline/b&b)
• Cut-Off/Ocean Bar Contract: Normally dredged every two
years; beach compatible material.
WINDOW Nov U — Apr 30 (pipelir,
• Outer Ocean Bar Contract: Dredged annually; non -beach
compatible material placed in the ODMDS; beach compatible
placed in the Nearshore.
WINDOW Dec 1 —Apr 30 (hopper)
Working Today to Build a Better Tomorrow
17
7
NEPA PROCESS
Environmental Assessment Draft Schedule:
Scoping (April 7 — May 8)
Draft EA Release (June 12)
Public Review (June 15 — July 10)
Resolution of Comments (July 13 — 29)*
Final EA/FONSI Release (August 22)
*Aggressive schedule; we'll work with you to resolve comments even if it takes longer
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ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE & NEPA
(NEPA UMBRELLA)
Endangered
National Historic Species Act
Preservation Act
Fish and Wildlife
Coordination Act
Essential Fish Habitat
(MSFMCA)
V
Coastal Zone
Management Act
Clean Water Act
Clean Air Act
Marine Protection Research
and Sanctuaries Act
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19 MN
QUESTIONS?
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Photo courtesy of NMFS https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/north-atlantic-right-whale
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