20131279 Ver 4_More Info Received_20240408

Baker, Caroline D
From:
Policarpo, John N CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>
Sent:
Monday, April 8, 2024 1:54 PM
To:
Govoni, Daniel; [e-mail]; Dunn, Maria T.; Pace Wilber - NOAA
Federal; Deaton, Anne; [e-mail]; Harrison, James A;
[e-mail]; Tankard, Robert; Goss, Stephanie
Cc:
Owens, Jennifer L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA); Horton, James Todd CIV USARMY
CESAW (USA); Keistler, Robert W CIV USARMY CESAW (USA); Weller, Erin C CIV
USARMY CESAW (USA); Walters, Bret L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA); Currylow, Andrea
F CIV USARMY CESAW (USA); Pruitt, Carl E Jr CIV USARMY CESAW (USA); McCorcle,
Justin P CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)
Subject:
[External] RE: Rollinson Channel (Hatteras Inlet to Hatteras Inlet Gorge) Federal
Navigation Project, Sloop Channel North, Emergency Dredging Declaration
CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless verified. Report suspicious emails with the Report Message
button located on your
Outlook menu bar on the Home tab.
Good Afternoon Everyone,
The emergency dredge work at Sloop Channel North is complete. The work was finished on April 2, with a total dredge
quantity of 41,330 cubic yards. I have included the post -dredge hydrographic survey for your awareness.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks
John
John N. Policarpo
Physical Scientist
Wilmington District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
69 Darlington Avenue
Wilmington, NC 28402
Work: 910-251-4700
Cell: 910-380-5147
From: Policarpo, John N CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)
Sent: Thursday, February 29, 2024 12:58 PM
To: 'Govoni, Daniel' <[e-mail]>; 'Matthews, Kathryn' <[e-mail]>; 'Dunn, Maria T.'
<[e-mail]>;'Pace Wilber- NOAA Federal' <pace.wil ber@ noaa.gov>; 'Deaton, Anne'
<[e-mail]>; '[e-mail]' <[e-mail]>; 'Harrison, James A'
<[e-mail]>; [e-mail];'Tankard, Robert' <[e-mail]>;'Goss,
Stephanie' <[e-mail]>
Cc: Owens, Jennifer L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>; Horton, James Todd CIV USARMY
CESAW (USA)<[e-mail]>; Keistler, Robert W CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)
<[e-mail]>; Weller, Erin C CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>;
Walters, Bret L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>; Currylow, Andrea F CIV USARMY CESAW
(USA) <[e-mail]>; Pruitt, Carl E Jr CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>;

McCorcle, Justin P CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: Rollinson Channel (Hatteras Inlet to Hatteras Inlet Gorge) Federal Navigation Project, Sloop Channel North,
Emergency Dredging Declaration
Good Afternoon Everyone,
I wanted to provide you with an update on the Corps' Rollinson Channel (Hatteras Inlet to Hatteras Inlet Gorge) Federal
Navigation Project, Sloop Channel North, Emergency Dredging request. The Corps has received clearance from SHPO for
the proposed emergency dredge channel in Sloop Channel North. The SHPO concurred with the Corps' determination
that there is a low probability of encountering any potentially significant submerged cultural resources within the area of
potential effect. The Corps will follow the standard unanticipated discovery protocols during all dredging
activities. Therefore, the Corps will be moving forward with the emergency dredging operations as outlined in ourJanuary
19 and 22, 2024, emails.
The MERRITT has begun its transit to the area as of yesterday, February 28, 2024, with dredging expected to begin
Saturday, March 2, 2024. The Corps will follow all federally listed species protection requirements for the West Indian
manatee and the 2020 SARBO. I will provide an update when the work is complete.
The Corps thanks you all for your attention, comments, and concerns in this matter.
Thanks
John
John N. Policarpo
Physical Scientist
Wilmington District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
69 Darlington Avenue
Wilmington, NC 28402
Work: 910-251-4700
Cell: 910-380-5147
From: Policarpo, John N CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)
Sent: Friday, February 9, 2024 8:13 AM
To: 'Govoni, Daniel' <[e-mail]>; 'Matthews, Kathryn' <kathryn [e-mail]>; 'Dunn, Maria T.'
<[e-mail]>; 'Pace Wilber - NOAA Federal' <[e-mail]>; 'Deaton, Anne'
<[e-mail]>; '[e-mail]' <[e-mail]>; 'Harrison, James A'
<[e-mail]>; [e-mail];'Tankard, Robert' <[e-mail]>;'Goss,
Stephanie' <[e-mail]>
Cc: Owens, Jennifer L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>; Horton, James Todd CIV USARMY
CESAW (USA)<[e-mail]>; Keistler, Robert W CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)
<[e-mail]>; Weller, Erin C CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>;
Walters, Bret L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)<[e-mail]>; Currylow, Andrea F CIV USARMY CESAW
(USA) <[e-mail]>; Pruitt, Carl E Jr CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>;
McCorcle, Justin P CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: Rollinson Channel (Hatteras Inlet to Hatteras Inlet Gorge) Federal Navigation Project, Sloop Channel North,
Emergency Dredging Declaration
Good Morning Everyone,
I wanted to provide you with an update on the Corps' Rollinson Channel (Hatteras Inlet to Hatteras Inlet Gorge) Federal
Navigation Project, Sloop Channel North, Emergency Dredging request. The Corps received comments from the State
Fil

Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) stating their concerns with the proposed emergency dredge area, because the area
had not been previously surveyed for cultural/archaeological resources. Therefore, at this time, the Corps will not be
moving forward with the emergency dredge request timeline as laid out to the agencies (start date of February 7). The
Corps will conduct a survey of the dredge area and submit a report to the SHPO to obtain proper clearances prior to any
dredge work being done. The timeline for survey and submittal of a report is approximately 2 to 4 months (this includes
contract award).
I thank you all for your efforts in reviewing the Corps' request knowing that you all have busy schedules — your
assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please feel free to reach
out to me.
Thanks
John
John N. Policarpo
Physical Scientist
Wilmington District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
69 Darlington Avenue
Wilmington, NC 28402
Work: 910-251-4700
Cell: 910-380-5147
From: Policarpo, John N CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)
Sent: Friday, January 19, 2024 3:42 PM
To: Govoni, Daniel <[e-mail]>; Matthews, Kathryn <kathryn [e-mail]>; Dunn, Maria T.
<[e-mail]>; Pace Wilber - NOAA Federal <[e-mail]>; Deaton, Anne
<[e-mail]>; [e-mail]; Harrison, James A <[e-mail]>;
[e-mail]; Tankard, Robert <[e-mail]>; Goss, Stephanie
<[e-mail]>
Cc: Owens, Jennifer L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>; Horton, James Todd CIV USARMY
CESAW (USA)<[e-mail]>; Keistler, Robert W CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)
<[e-mail]>; Weller, Erin C CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>;
Walters, Bret L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)<[e-mail]>; Currylow, Andrea F CIV USARMY CESAW
(USA) <[e-mail]>; Pruitt, Carl E Jr CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>;
McCorcle, Justin P CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>
Subject: Rollinson Channel (Hatteras Inlet to Hatteras Inlet Gorge) Federal Navigation Project, Sloop Channel North,
Emergency Dredging Declaration
Good Afternoon Everyone,
The purpose of this email is to provide preliminary notification of an upcoming emergency dredging
declaration. Currently, there is an emergency situation within the Rollinson Channel (Hatteras Inlet to
Hatteras Inlet Gorge) Federal Navigation Project, at Sloop Channel North, within Hatteras Inlet (Location Map
— attached). Sloop Channel North has significant shoaling that poses a threat to the North Carolina
Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Ferry Division, Hatteras offshore fishing fleet, the boating public, and
impacts the U.S. Coast Guard's (USCG) ability to conduct search and rescue operations. Attached are survey
maps showing the progression of the shoaling at Sloop Channel North from 2020 to 2024 (Bathymetry
Surveys). The existing conditions survey indicates that the portion of the marked Federal navigation channel
between Hatteras Inlet Buoys 3A and 6 has significantly shoaled in, exacerbating narrowing and curving of the
channel.

The District has received letters (attached — Agency Letters) from the USCG, NCDOT, Passenger Vessel
Association (PVA), and Dare County, stating their concerns with the existing situation. Dare County reports,
"over the past several months multiple private vessels and ferries have grounded, causing significant damage
and endangering passengers. Current conditions do not allow for the width of two boats, which requires
mariners to pause outside the channel until oncoming vessels transit through the full extent of the
waterway. This has led to increased travel time and fuel usage for all vessels utilizing the Hatteras Ferry
Channel." The NCDOT Ferry Division reports damages from ferry groundings in the channel costing over $1M
in 2023. Emergency dredging would improve the reliability of safe navigation for ferries utilizing the route
between Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Island.
The District identified a suitable area that would require minimal dredging to establish a manageable width
and depth sufficient for navigation and to resolve the emergency. The District is proposing to dredge a
straightened route east of the previously approved Sloop Channel North navigation corridor (Proposed Project
— attached). An area adjacent to the channel appears to be opening and dredging in this vicinity would result
in a straighter connection to existing deep water in other portions of the channel reach. Therefore, the
District proposes to remove the identified shoals to a depth of 8 feet, with 2-feet of overdepth, at a width of
100 feet, to relocate the Federal navigation channel in the alternate location. Dredging will be completed
using the sidecast dredge MERRITT, as it is the only dredge capable of immediately responding to this
situation, given the current depths, and tidal conditions. Sloop Channel North is typically maintenance
dredged using a hydraulic pipeline contract every 3 to 5 years or Government plant 4 to 6 times per year
depending on shoaling rates. The proposed alternate route has not been previously dredged.
The NEPA process will be initiated shortly after the emergency declaration is approved by USACE, South
Atlantic Division, and the District anticipates an Environmental Assessment (EA) will be prepared to evaluate
the establishment of a larger navigation corridor throughout the Rollinson Channel (Hatteras Inlet to Hatteras
Inlet Gorge) Federal Navigation project to take advantage of naturally deep water, and include the proposed
alternate emergency route. This emergency request will seek to maintain the Sloop Channel North alternative
route on an as needed basis pending the completion of all necessary environmental coordination, including
the EA. Local government(s) may elect to fund and use the dredge MISS KATIE for subsequent dredging
events. This emergency action will be undertaken in compliance with emergency dredging and NEPA
procedures outlined in 33 CFR §§ 230.8 and 337.7.
Please feel free to reach out to me should you have any questions or concerns. Additional information will be
forthcoming once the District receives approval for the Emergency Dredging Declaration from USACE, SAD.
Thanks
John
John N. Policarpo
Physical Scientist
Wilmington District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
69 Darlington Avenue
Wilmington, NC 28402
Work: 910-251-4700
Cell: 910-380-5147