Project Overview
Overview:
What is WRDA:
The Water Resources Development Act or WRDA, is a federal legislative program that authorizes the Secretary of the Army, through the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works [ASA(CW)], to conduct studies, construct projects and research activities that can lead to the improvement of rivers and harbors of the United States.
What is section 203:
Section 203 of WRDA authorizes non-Federal interests to undertake feasibility studies of proposed water resource development projects for submission directly to the Secretary of the Army for Federal participation. The ASA(CW) evaluates and reports whether the project is feasible, providing any recommendations concerning project design or conditions for construction to congressional committees. Assuming a positive evaluation, the Section 203 Feasibility study can then serve as the basis for Congressional authorization of new water resources projects.
What is a feasibility study:
A feasibility study investigates the federal interest, engineering feasibility, economic justification, and environmental acceptability of a proposed water resources project. The selected alternative must reasonably maximize the net economic benefits consistent with protecting the Nation's environment.
What is NEPA?
The National Environmental Policy Act or “NEPA”, requires federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of their proposed actions prior to making decisions. In 2020, Section 161 of WRDA 2020 amended the Section 203 process by requiring that the NFS complete all federal analyses, including compliance with the NEPA, prior to submitting a feasibility study to Congress for authorization.
What is an NOI?
NEPA provides several opportunities for public review and input. Notice of Intent or “NOI” is the first step in developing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and provides an opportunity for citizens to provide input on the range of issues to be addressed and alternatives to be considered in the EIS. The NOI provides a description of the proposed action, a description of the scoping process, and information on how the public can get involved.
What is an Environmental Impact Statement?
An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is a document that details the potential environmental impacts of a proposed project and the identified alternatives. EISs are required by NEPA when a proposed action could significantly impact the environment. An EIS is made up of two major pieces:
A draft EIS presents the impact analysis that is made available to the public for a minimum of 45 days for review and comment The purpose of the review is to ensure the technical accuracy of all aspects of the document. The availability of the draft EIS is announced in a Federal Register notice and in press releases.
Following public review, a final EIS will be prepared to address public comments. The final EIS will include a summary of all comments and responses. The document will also be revised to correct technical errors and add any relevant new information that became available since the draft EIS was published.
Cedar Port Navigation District
Channel Deepening Project
Non-Federal Sponsor. CPNID is authorized as a non-Federal Sponsor under Section 203 of WRDA 2022. The feasibility study and EIS phase is 100% funded by the non-Federal Sponsor.
Project Location: The project area includes Cedar Bayou Navigation Channel, and portions of Tabbs Bay, Trinity Bay and Galveston Bay (Galveston Bay System) adjacent to the Houton Ship Channel in Chambers and Harris Counties, Texas. The project area also includes the existing Cedar Port terminal at Cedar Port Industrial Park in Baytown, Texas. The Cedar Bayou Navigation Channel is a federally authorized barge channel that supports more than 1.5 million tons of cargo per year.
Issue Addressing: The Houton Ship Channel is the busiest waterway in the U.S. with larger vessels and increasing cargo tonnage projected to lead to navigational congestion and inefficiencies.
Project Purpose: The purpose of the draft Integrated FS/EIS is to evaluates the feasibility of constructing a navigable connection between the Houston Ship Channel and a planned deep-draft terminal in the study area to enhance efficient, safe, and reliable transportation of goods and products into the Houston region. The alternatives considered in this FS/EIS would accommodate current problems and future cargo growth projections for the region.
Project Alternatives
The feasibility study will evaluate alternatives that would provide alternative water routes to the deepwater terminal facility. Four routes are currently being evaluated as shown. Please note, routes are subject to refinement during development of the Draft FS/EIS
A “No Action” Alternative, or what would likely happen in the future without the proposed project, is also being considered consistent with the requirements of NEPA.