20080806 Ver 5_NEPA_Public_Scoping_ EA_7April2020_20200505

' DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
\\WILMINGTON DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS
I�'�
� 69 DARLINGTON AVENUE
WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA 28403-1343
-- 7 April 2020
Environmental Resources Section
Dear Sir or Madam:
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Wilmington District is drafting an
Environmental Assessment (EA) for the purpose of eliminating all environmental
windows associated with maintenance dredging and placement operations of our two
deep draft federal navigation projects: Wilmington Harbor and Morehead City Harbor.
Challenges associated with limited dredge availability are evident in the number of
contracts that have not received awardable bids and the amount of environmental
window extension requests submitted by the Wilmington District over the past ten years.
It clearly remains a hardship for the District to adequately maintain the harbors within
the existing environmental windows. The extent of the Wilmington Harbor and
Morehead City Harbor projects is shown in Figures 1 and 2, of which the scope and
dimensions of the authorized projects have not changed.
Coastal navigation is a key element of State and local government economic
development and job -creation efforts and is essential in maintaining economic
competitiveness and national security. The Wilmington District is proposing a
year-round maintenance dredging schedule for the purposes of improving flexibility and
reducing costs of maintaining Wilmington and Morehead City Harbors. This would allow
any type of dredge (hopper, hydraulic suction cutterhead, mechanical or government
plant) to perform work any time of year, as needed, to maintain the safety of these deep
draft federal navigation channels.
The USACE is now requesting comments from the public and agencies to identify
significant resources and issues of concern with regard to the proposed elimination of
environmental windows for all deep draft maintenance dredging. The areas of potential
effect associated with this study are shown in Figures 1 and 2, and specifically include
hopper dredging in both entrance channels, pipeline dredging in the Mid and Upper
Reaches of the Cape Fear River and activities associated with sand placement on
adjacent beaches. Comments received as a result of this scoping letter will be
considered during preparation of the Draft EA.
The Draft EA is being prepared in accordance with the requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and will address the proposal's
relationship to all applicable Federal and State laws and Executive Orders. Resources
known to occur in the study area include fisheries and benthic resources; threatened
and endangered species, human resources (including socioeconomic, recreational and

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aesthetic resources); and cultural resources. Potential impacts to these resources, as
well as water quality, air quality, potential hazardous and toxic wastes, and cumulative
effects will be fully addressed in the Draft EA. Should there be other issues that you
believe should be discussed, please take this opportunity to bring them to our attention.
In order to effectively address any concerns that are raised, we need to have your
input no later than 30 days from the date of this letter. A scoping meeting (conference
call, date/time to be determined) will be held at least one week prior to the scoping
comment deadline. Details regarding the scoping meeting are forthcoming. All input
may be directed to Ms. Emily Hughes, Environmental Resources Section, by email to
[e-mail].
Sincerely,
OWENS.JENNIFE Digitally signed by
OWENS.JENNIFER.L.1229795151
R.L.1229795151 Date: 2020.04.07 16:10:16 -04'00'
Jennifer L. Owens
Chief, Environmental Resources Section

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