FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR
SAVANNAH HARBOR EXPANSION PROJECT
CHATHAM COUNTY, GEORGIA AND JASPER COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA
Table of Contents |
| Items |
Page No. |
|
CHANGES TO FINAL REPORTS (JULY 2012)
ABSTRACT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(as it appears in the printed version of the EIS)
|
| 1.00 |
Summary |
1-1 |
| |
1.01
1.02
1.03
1.04
1.05
1.06
1.07 |
Background and Purpose
Areas of Concern and Issues
Major Conclusions and Findings
Relationship of the Proposed Action of Environmental, Legal, Regulatory and Policy Requirements
Previous Corps of Engineers Reports Related to Savannah Harbor
Tiering
Comparison of Draft and Final Reports |
1-3
1-4
1-4
1-8
1-8
1-13
1-14 |
| 2.00 |
Purpose and need for action |
2-1 |
| |
2.01
2.02
2.03
2.04
2.05
2.06 |
Project Area
Purpose and Need
Public Concerns
Study Authority
Planning Process
Planning Objectives |
2-1
2-1
2-3
2-4
2-5
2-5 |
| 3.00 |
Alternatives |
3-1 |
| |
3.01 |
Alternative Plans |
3-5 |
| |
|
3.01.1
3.01.2
3.01.3
3.01.4
3.01.5
3.01.6 |
No Action Alternative (without Project Condition)
44 Foot Alternative (2 Feet Deeper)
45 Foot Alternative (3 Feet Deeper)
46 Foot Alternative (4 Feet Deeper)
47 Foot Alternative (5 Feet Deeper)
48 Foot Alternative (6 Feet Deeper) |
3-5
3-15
3-16
3-16
3-17
3-17 |
| |
3.02
3.03
3.04
3.05
3.06
3.07
3.08
3.09
3.10
3.11
3.12 |
Plans Considered in Detail
Comparative Impacts of Alternatives
Rationale for Plan Selection
Selected Plan
Initial Dredging and Sediment Placement Methods
Alternative Disposal Methods or Beneficial Use of Dredge Sediments
Dredging Quantities for Construction fo Selected Plan
Maintenance Dredging Requirements
50-Year Maintenance Plan and Periodic Review
Future Conditions Without the Project
Relationship of Proposed Action to Other Federal Projects |
3-18
3-18
3-19
3-22
3-23
3-23
3-29
3-30
3-31
3-31
3-32 |
| 4.00 |
Affected Environment |
4-1 |
| |
4.01 |
Geology and Sediments |
4-3 |
| |
|
4.01.1
4.01.2
|
Geology
Sediments
|
4-3
4-3
|
| |
4.02 |
Water Resources |
4-10 |
| |
|
4.02.1
4.02.2
|
Groundwater
Surface Water
|
4-10
4-12
|
| |
4.03 |
Air Quality
|
4-19 |
| |
4.04 |
Marine and Estuarine Resources |
4-20 |
| |
|
4.04.1
4.04.2
4.04.3
4.04.4
4.10.5
|
Fish and Shellfish Resources
Project Studies on Estuarine Dependent Fish
Representative Fish Species in the Savannah River Estuary
Plankton Community Characterization
IBenthic Community Characterization |
4-20
4-26
4-28
4-38
4-38
|
| |
4.05 |
Essential Fish Habitat |
4-38 |
| |
4.06 |
Invasive Species |
4-43 |
| |
|
4.06.1
4.06.2
4.06.3
|
Locally Ocurring Invasive Species
National Invasive Species Act (NISA)
International Regulation of Invasive Species
|
4-44
4-44
4-47
|
| |
4.07 |
Terrestrial Resources |
4-48 |
| |
|
4.07.1
4.07.2
4.07.3
4.07.4
4.07.5
|
Savannah National Wildlife Refuge
Tybee National Wildlife Refuge
Turtle Island Wildlife Management Area (WMA)
Confined Sediment Placement/Disposal Facilities (CDFs)
Shoreline Erosion
|
4-48
4-50
4-50
4-50
4-62
|
| |
4.08 |
Wetlands and Floodplains |
4-63 |
| |
|
4.08.1
4.08.2
|
Wetlands
Floodplains
|
4-63
4-63
|
| |
4.09 |
Threatened and Endangered Species |
4-67 |
| |
4.10 |
Cultural Resources |
4-73 |
| |
|
4.10.1
4.10.2
4.10.3
4.10.4
|
Area of Potential Effects
Previously Disturbed Areas within the Area of Potential Effect
Management of Cultural Resources
Status of Cultural Resources Investigations |
4-73
4-74
4-75
4-75
|
| |
4.11
4.12
|
Aesthetics and Recreational
Recreational and Commercial Fishing
|
4-80
4-81 |
| |
4.13 |
Socioeconomic Resources |
4-83 |
| |
|
4.10.1
4.10.2
4.10.3
|
Land Use
Population
Income and Employment
|
4-83
4-83
4-85
|
| 5.00 |
Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Action |
5-1 |
| |
5.01 |
Wetlands |
5-1 |
| |
|
5.01.1
5.01.2 |
Impacts from Excavation of Wetlands
Indirect Impacts to Wetlands |
5-1
5-9 |
| |
5.02 |
Water Quality |
5-42 |
| |
|
5.02.1
5.02.2
5.02.3
5.02.4
5.02.5
5.02.6
5.02.7
5.02.8
5.02.9
5.02.10
5.02.11
5.02.12
5.02.13
5.02.14
5.02.15 |
Dissolved Oxygen
Mitigation Impacts to Dissolved Oxygen
Chloride Concentrations - Abercorn Creek
Recent Data Collection
Updated Modeling Methodology
Technical Review
Analysis of Daily Average and Maximum Chloride Concentrations
Analysis of Daily Chloride Durations
Analysis of Hourly Chloride Concentrations and Durations
Drinking Water Concerns-Chloride Levels
Corrosion Concerns
Lead Corrosion
Disinfection Byproduct Formation
Industrical Water Supply Concerns
Mitigation Techniques of Chloride Concentrations |
5-42
5-53
5-58
5-60
5-63
5-63
5-63
5-64
5-66
5-67
5-68
5-68
5-69
5-70
5-71
|
| |
5.03 |
Fisheries |
5-82 |
| |
|
5.03.1
5.03.2 |
Impacts to Fishery Resources
Mitigation for Impacts to Fisheries |
5-82
5-114 |
| |
5.04 |
Sediment Quality |
5-112 |
| |
|
5.04.1
5.04.2 |
Overview
Sediment Quality Evaluation |
5-112
5-123 |
| |
5.05 |
Groundwater |
5-128 |
| |
|
5.05.1
5.05.2 |
Paleochannels
Fractures within Miocene Confining Unit |
5-130
5-131 |
| |
50.6 |
Air Quality |
5-132 |
| |
|
5.06.1
|
Air Quality Standards
|
5-136
|
| |
5.07 |
Marine and Estuarine Resources |
5-138 |
| |
|
5.07.1
5.07.2 |
Direct Dredging Impacts
Sediment Placement Impacts |
5-138
5-143 |
| |
5.08 |
Terrestrial Resources |
5-146 |
| |
|
5.08.1
5.08.2
5.08.3
5.08.4 |
Savannah National Wildlife Refuge
Tybee National Wildlife Refuge
Turtle Island Wildlife Management Area
Confined Disposal Facilities
|
5-146
5-146
5-147
5-147 |
| |
5.09
5.10
|
Existing Shorelines Adjacent to Federal Navigation Areas
Floodplains
|
5-149
5-151
|
| |
5.11 |
Threatened and Endangered Species |
5-153 |
| |
|
5.11.1
5.11.2 |
Paleochannels
Fractures within Miocene Confining Unit |
5-153
5-153 |
| |
5.12 |
Cultural Resources |
5-159 |
| |
|
5.12.1
5.12.2
5.12.3
5.12.4
5.12.5
5.12.6
5.12.7
5.12.8
5.12.9 |
Alternative Considered During Project Design in order to Reduce the Area of Potential Effect
Cultural Resources Investigations for Specific Sites
Surveys to be Performed
Consultation with Native American Tribes
Consultation with Georgia and South Carolina Historic Preservation Offices
Consultation with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
Other Consulting Parties
Public Involvement
Summary
|
5-160
5-160
5-169
5-171
5-171
5-171
5-171
5-172
5-172 |
| |
5.13
5.14
5.15
5.16
5.17
5.18
|
Coastal Zone Management Consistency
Essential Fish Habitat
Cumulative Impacts of the Proposed Action
Aesthetics and Recreational
Recreational and Commercial Fishing
Socioeconomic Resources
|
5-172
5-175
5-175
5-184
5-184
5-184
|
| |
5.19 |
Protection of Children and Environmental Justice |
5-185 |
| |
|
5.19.1
5.19.2
5.19.3
5.19.4
5.19.5
5.19.6
5.19.7
5.19.8
|
Overview
Demographics of Chatham County and Jasper County
Demographics Analysis in the Project Area
Landside Transportation of Cargo
Terminal Infrastructure
Terminal Operations
Consideration of Other Terminal Locations
Summary of Project Effects on Environmental Justice Populations and Children
|
5-185
5-186
5-191
5-194
5-194
5-196
5-197
5-198
|
| |
5.20 |
Other Items/Factors of Concern |
5-199 |
| |
|
5.20.1
5.20.2
5.20.3
5.20.4
5.20.5
5.20.6
5.20.7
|
Noise
Man-made and Natural Resources, Community Cohesion, and the Availability of Public Facilities and Services
Climate Change
Displacement of People, Businesses, and Farms
Community and Regional Growth
Public Safety
Invasive Species
|
5-199
5-203
5-203
5-204
5-204
5-204
5-205
|
| |
5.21
5.22
5.23
5.24
|
Mitigation Planning
Utility Crossings, Structures, and Aids to Navigation
Coastal Barrier Resources Act
Hazardous and Toxic Wastes
|
5-205
5-206
5-206
5-207 |
| |
5.25 |
Summary of Envirnomental Consequences |
5-208 |
| |
|
5.25.1
5.25.2
5.25.3
5.25.4
5.25.5
5.25.6
5.25.7
5.25.8
5.25.9 |
Direct Adverse Impacts
Indirect Adverse Impacts
The Relationship Between Short-Term Uses of Man's Environment and the Maintenance and Enhancement of Long-Term Productivity
Possible Conflicts Between the Proposed Action and the Objectives of Federal, Regional, State and Local Land Use Plans, Policies and Controls for the Area Concerned
Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitment of Resources
Energy Requirements and Conservation Potential of Various Alternatives and Mitigation Measures
Natural or Depletable Resource Requirements and Conservaton Potential
Urban Quality, Historic and Cultural Resources, and the Design of the Built Environment
Selected Means to Mitigate Adverse Environmental Impacts
|
5-208
5-208
5-209
5-210
5-211
5-211
5-212
5-212
5-213 |
| |
5.26 |
Construction Sequencing |
5-213 |
| 6.00 |
Compliance with Environmental Requirements |
6-1 |
| |
6.01 |
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) |
6-1 |
| |
6.02 |
Clean Water Act (CWA) |
6-1 |
| |
|
6.02.1
6.02.2
6.02.3 |
Water Quality Certification
Wetlands
Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines
|
6-1
6-4
6-4 |
| |
6.03
6.04
6.05
6.06
6.07
6.08
6.09
6.10
6.11
6.12
6.13
6.14
6.15
6.16
6.17
6.18
|
Section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
Anadromous Fish Conservation Act
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act
Endangered Species Act (ESA)
Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)
Clean Air Act (CAA)
Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)
Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management
Executive Order 11990, Protection of Wetlands
Executive Order 113112, Invasive Species
Executive Order 11593, Protection and Enhancement of the Cultural Environment
Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low Income Populations
Executive Order 13045, Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks
Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Executive Order 13186, Responsibilities of Federal Agencies to Protect Migratory Birds |
6-4
6-5
6-5
6-6
6-6
6-6
6-6
6-6
6-6
6-7
6-7
6-7
6-7
6-8
6-8
6-8
|
| |
6.19 |
Federal Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) |
6-9 |
| |
|
6.19.1
6.19.2
|
State of Georgia Coastal Zone Management Program
State of South Carolina Coastal Zone Management Program
|
6-9
6-10
|
| |
6.20
6-21 |
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund) |
6-11
6-11
|
| 7.00 |
Public Involvement, Review and Coordination |
7-1 |
| |
7.01
|
Public Involvement and Review |
7-1 |
| |
|
7.01.1
|
Summary of Comments Received on Draft EIS and GRR
|
7-3 |
| |
7.02 |
Required Coordination |
7-7
|
| 8.0 |
Risk and Uncertainty Analysis |
8-1 |
| 9.0 |
References |
9-1 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| LIST OF APPENDICES |
| Appendix A: Comments Received from Review of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement |
|
Appendix B:
Biological Assessments for Threatened and Endangered Species
Addendum |
|
| Appendix C: Mitigation Planning |
|
| Appendix D: Monitoring Plan and Adaptive Management Program |
|
Appendix E:
US Fish and Wildlife Draft Coordination Act Report
USACE Response |
|
| Appendix F: Cultural Resources |
|
| Appendix G: Programmatic Agreement for Cultural Resources |
|
| Appendix H: Section 404(b)(1) Evaluation |
|
| Appendix I: Federal Consistency Determination - Georgia Coastal Management Program |
|
| Appendix J: Federal Consistency Determination - South Carolina Coastal Management Program |
|
| Appendix K: Air Emission Inventory |
|
| Appendix L: Cumulative Impact Analysis |
|
| Appendix M: Sediment Quality Evaluation |
|
Appendix N:
Record of Interagency Coordination
Compiled SCDHEC Correspondence
|
|
| Appendix O: Formulation of Alternatives |
|
| Appendix P: Fishery Habitat Maps |
|
| Appendix Q: Risk and Uncertainty in Environmental Evaluation and Approach |
|
| Appendix R: Section 103 Evaluation |
|
Appendix S:
Essential Fish Habitat Evaluation
Conservation Recommendations
Responses to Conservation Recommendations |
|
| Appendix T: Savannah National Wildlife Refuge Compatibility Determination |
|
| Appendix U: Independent Technical Review of Use of Regulatory Standard Operating Procedures |
|
| Appendix V: List of Preparers |
|
| Appendix W: Index |
|
| Appendix X: 1999 Report of the Chief of Engineers and Record of Decision |
|
| Appendix Y: Stakeholders Evaluation Group Summary Report |
|
| Appendix Z: Environmental Clearances |