The USACE Savannah District has prepared an Integrated Feasibility Report (IFR)/Environmental Assessment (EA) and a draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Brunswick Harbor Modification Study (BHMS).
Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Corps had provided a 30-day public comment period on the draft IFR/EA beginning on June 9, 2020.
Since the conclusion of June 2020 public comment period, the Corps has updated the analysis in the IFR/EA to provide clarity and additional analysis related to the operations and maintenance (O&M) of the federal navigation channel and selected Alternative 8 as the recommended plan.
The IFR-EA presents the results of the study, an analysis of the impacts of the proposed measures on the environment, and an evaluation of the effects of continued O&M.
This study incorporates the 2020 South Atlantic Regional Biological Opinion (SARBO), replacing seasonal windows with a risk-based management approach, which considers risk to multiple species in any given area.
The initial widening will consist of about 500,000 cubic yards of dredging and will result in a negligible increase in annual operations and maintenance (O&M) dredging (about 1 percent). This study will also bring all dredging in line with the 2020 SARBO, balancing the needs of multiple species across the region.
The modification will widen the navigation channel in key locations to improve the maneuverability and efficiency of larger Roll-on/Roll-off vessels that are calling on the growing port of Brunswick.
The entire Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment and draft FONSI can be read here.