19910032 Ver 1_COMPLETE FILE_19910202

0 411
DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Date: January 28, 1991
TO: h,, r\l
Planning Branch n y?i a' ?z
1 ?p 5
From: James H. Gregson` a-
', `. x
Wilmington Regional office Through: Dave Adkins
Wilmington e io *aloffice
Subject: Regional Office Review and Recommendations
Application for Permit for Excavation and/or Fill
Project # 9101-E
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
CESAW-ND-91-10-0018
Maintenance Dredging in Wilmington Harbor (Ocean Bar)
Brunswick County
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Wilmington District Corps of Engineers
proposes to perform maintenance dredging in Wilmington Harbor in
the Baldhead Shoal Channel and the Smith Island Channel at the
ocean bar.
ADJACENT WATER BODY: Cape Fear River
CLASSIFICATION: SA
The project has been reviewed to determine impacts to water
quality. The following comments have been provided.
1. The project will not require a 401 Water Quality
Certification.
2. The proposed project should be done in such a way as to not
cause the turbidity outside the immediate construction area
to exceed 25 NTU.
This office has no objection to the project as proposed.
JHG:9101-E.Jan
cc: Wilmington Regional Office Files
Central Files
DCM-Steve Benton
Jim Gregson

0??4
State of North Carolina
Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources
Division of Coastal Management
225 North McDowell Street • Raleigh, North Carolina 27602
James G. Martin, Governor
William W. Cobey, Jr., Secretary
01/03/91
Mr. Jim Gregson
NC DEH&NR
Div. Environmental Management
7225 Wrightsville Avenue
Wilmington, NC 28403
9101 --e-
Roger N. Schecter
Director

JAN 7 1991.M-Al.N
REFERENCE: CESAW-91-0018
Applicant/Sponsor: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Maintenance Dredging Wilmington Harbor (ocean Bar)
Dear Mr. Gregson:
The attached U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Notice, dated
12/27/90 concerning a federal project or permit is being circulated
to interested State agencies for comments.
This project has previously been reviewed and found consistent
with the North Carolina Coastal Management Program. However, please
feel free to comment directly to the Corps (with a copy to me)
or through me before 01/11/91.
4esinerely
n B. rB to
Consistency Coordinator
REPLY This office objects to the project as proposed.
ci Comments on this project are attached.
moos
L/ This office &A 'thee project proposal.
No Comment.
Signed
Date 2-1 Q
Agency 1J
P.O. Box 27687, Raleigh, North Carolina 27611-7687 Telephone [phone]
Y
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
Wilmington District, Corps of Engineers
Post Office Bog 1890
Wilmington, North Carolina 28402-1890
CESAW-ND-91-10-0018
PUBLIC NOTICE
MAINTENANCE DREDGING IN
Wilmington Harbor, North Carolina
(Ocean Bar)
(Brunswick County)
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
OEC S 1990
COASTAL RESOURC* COMM.
December 27, 1990
The Wilmington District, Corps of Engineers, Wilmington, North Carolina,
proposes to perform maintenance dredging in Wilmington Harbor, North Carolina
between Baldhead Shoal Channel and Smith Island Channel.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Wilmington Harbor project consists of a series of channels or "reaches"
extending from the ocean bar at the mouth of the Cape Fear River to a point
1.67 miles above the Hilton Bridge at Wilmington. The work addressed by this
public notice involves the maintenance (removal of shoals) in the Baldhead
Shoal Channel and the Smith Island Channel at the ocean bar. A drawing
showing the location of the proposed work is enclosed with this notice
(figure 1). The work is required to maintain an orderly, efficient, and safe
flow of traffic from the ocean to the North Carolina State Ports, public and
private facilities, and other navigation projects.
Dredged Material. Approximately 600,000 cubic yards of dredged material will
be removed during the 1991 maintenance of Baldhead Shoal and Smith Island
Channels. This material consists of approximately 60% mud and 40% sand and
shell. Chemical and biological testing of representative sediment samples
from the proposed dredging areas and upstream of proposed dredging area
(figure 2) have been conducted. Those tests indicate that the sediments are
acceptable for ocean disposal.
Dredging Methods. The Government hopper dredge, McFARLAND will be used for
the existing project maintenance as described above. All shoal material lying
above the plane of 40 feet below mean low water within the designated limits
of the channels as shown on the enclosed drawing (figure 1) will be removed.
All necessary actions will be taken to ensure that the materials dredged
are appropriately placed within the disposal area described below. Those
actions will include designation of the transportation route to the disposal
site, designation of a specific area within the disposal site to be used for
disposal, and the requirement that the dredge have a navigation recorder on
board to document the disposal locations.
-2-
Disposal Areas. Material dredged-by hopper dredge will be disposed of in the
EPA designated Wilmington (52 FR 25008 et seq., August 3, 1987) ocean dredged
material disposal site (ODMDS) (Figure 2). The Wilmington ODMDS boundary
coordinates are: 33 49130"N, 078 03 0611W; 4811811N, 01'39"W; 47119"N,
0214811W; 48'3011N, 0411611W. The Wilmington ODMDS is located in ocean waters
(contiguous zone) beyond the 3 nautical mile limit of the territorial sea.
The average depth of the disposal area is 42 feet. The capacity of the
existing disposal areas is large enough to accommodate the dredged material.
Dredged material from the 1990 Wilmington Harbor ocean bar maintenance
dredging will be placed in an area which is in the southernmost corner of the
Wilmington ODMDS.
Disposal of dredged material in the vicinity of the ODMDS has occurred for
several decades from the maintenance of the lower portion of Wilmington Harbor
(approximately 800,000 cubic yards per year). Since its designation in 1987,
disposal of dredged material has occurred at the ODMDS from the maintenance of
the Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point (MOTSU, approximately 1 million cubic
yards in 1987 and 600,000 cubic yards in 1988) and from continued annual
maintenance of Wilmington Harbor. Future disposal at the ODMDS of dredged
material from existing channel maintenance will continue indefinitely in
quantities comparable to those reported from 1987 to-present. No significant
mounding or other adverse impacts have been observed in the ODMDS.
Dredging Schedule. Dredging by hopper dredge in the ocean bar channels
(including Baldhead Shoal and Smith Island Channels) is performed any time of
the year. The work is performed annually and will begin this year in or about
mid May 1991. The work for 1991 will require approximately 30 days to
complete.
PROJECT IMPACTS
The effects of the proposed dredging and transportation of dredged
material to the ocean disposal site and the need for ocean disposal were
assessed in the Final Environmental Impact Statements (FEIS), Maintenance of
Wilmington Harbor, North Carolina, April 1977 and Long-Term Maintenance of
Wilmington Harbor, North Carolina, October 1989 which were prepared by the
Corps of Engineers.
The effects of disposal of dredged material at the Wilmington ODMDS
were assessed in the FEIS Savannah, GA, Charleston, SC, and Wilmington,
NC, Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites Designation, October 1983 which was
prepared by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

-3-
The dredging has been evaluated for adherence to the requirements of
Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management. The proposed maintenance
dredging will not induce development in the floodplain. The proposed
maintenance dredging will improve harbor navigability.
The proposed action has been evaluated under Executive Order 11990,
Protection of Wetlands. The work will not require dredging or filling of any
wetlands.
No impacts to known archaeological/historical resources will occur as a
result of the proposed action.
As the proposed discharge of dredged material will take place outside the
three mile limit of the territorial sea, the discharge is regulated under the
Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972, as amended. A
Section 1401 Water Quality Certificate under the Clean Water Act of 1972, as
amended, is not required.
The proposed action is consistent with the approved Coastal Management
Program of the State of North Carolina and local land use plans. Concurrence
was received from the North Carolina Department of Environment Health and
Natural Resources on September 23, 1981, for Baldhead Shoal and Smith Island
Channels.
The proposed maintenance dredging may effect Threatened and Endangered
species. Kemp's ridley, loggerhead, and green sea turtles are potentially at
risk due to accidental take by hopper dredges. It has also been determined
that migrating right whales are at potential risk from collision with hopper
dredges in transit to and from the ODMDS. Measures will be implemented to
minimize potential impacts on these species. The US Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) have concluded that
the continued operation and maintenance of Wilmington Harbor would not
jeopardize the continued existence of endangered or threatened species in the
project area.
COORDINATION
There is enclosed a list of Federal, State, and local agencies with whom
this activity is being coordinated.
The proposed transportation of this dredged material for the purpose of
disposal in ocean waters was evaluated and determined not to unreasonably
degrade or endanger human health, welfare, or amenities or the marine
environment, ecological systems, or economic potentialities. In making this
determination, the criteria established by the Administrator, Environmental
Protection Agency, pursuant to section 102(a) of the Marine Protection,
Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972, as amended, was applied. In addition,
based upon an evaluation of the potential effect which the failure to utilize
-4-
this ocean disposal site would have on navigation, economic and industrial
development, and foreign and domestic commerce of the United States, an
independent determination was made of the need to dispose of the dredged
material in ocean waters, other possible methods of disposal, and appropriate
locations for the disposal.
The decision whether to perform this work will be based on an evaluation
of the probable impact, including cumulative impacts, of the proposed activity
on the public interest. That decision will reflect the national concern for
both protection and utilization of important resources. The benefits which
reasonably may be expected to accrue from the proposal have been balanced
against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors which may be
relevant to the proposal have been considered, including the cumulative
effects thereof; among those are conservation, economics, aesthetics, general
environmental concerns, wetlands, historic properties, fish and wildlife
values, flood hazards, floodplain values, land use, navigation, shoreline
erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, water
quality, energy needs, safety, food and fiber production, mineral needs,
considerations of property ownership and, in general, the needs and welfare
of the people.
This public notice is being distributed to all known interested persons in
order to assist in developing facts on which a decision may be made by the
Corps of Engineers with respect to the disposal of dredged material in
ocean waters. For accuracy and completeness of record, all data in support
of, or in opposition to, the proposed work should be submitted in writing
setting forth sufficient detail to support convictions. Any person who has an
interest which may be affected by the discharge of this dredged material may
request a public hearing. The request must be submitted in writing to the
District Engineer within 15 days of the date of this notice and must clearly
set forth the interest which may be affected and the manner in which the
interest may be affected by this activity. In order for such request to be
given appropriate consideration, it should be mailed or delivered to the U.S.
Army Engineer District, Wilmington, Post Office Box 1890, Wilmington, North
Carolina 28402-1890, in time to be received on or before January 7, 1991. All
correspondence should refer to the number and date of this notice.
T ls C. uermann
Lieutenant Colonel,
Corps of Engineers
District Engineer
GEORGE T. BURCH
Attachments EXECUTIVE ASSISTA14T

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LIST OF FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES
Carolina
US Department of Health, Education and Welfare
Regional Director, Environmental Protection Agency
Heritage Conservation and Recreational Service
NC State Clearinghouse and Information Center
Regional Shellfish Consultant
Office of Chief Engineers
South Atlantic Division
All United States Senators and Representatives for State of North
Chairman Board of County Commissioners
Postmasters
Mayors
Marine Science Council
Water Resources Research Institute
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Assistant US Attorney
US Geological Survey
National Marine Fisheries Service
US Coast Guard
Regional Director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service
Regional Director of the National Park Service