Resolution 2879 - Laserfiche WebLink

Biological characteristics and values are reviewed in the Corps Record of Decision (pp. 26-30) Inventories indicate that demersal fish (English sole, slender sole, rat fish and Pacific hake) and shellfish (crabs and shrimp) are not present in great numbers on the dredge site and "the RADCAD site appears to be an area of low impact as compared to both the local Port Gardner area and Puget Sound/Hood Canal in general." Physical characteristics are described in the NEPA FEISS (pages III - 50 to 57) . It is also described in part one of this conclusion. P. Finding: DREDGING - APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS New dredging activity shall provide the following information with their application: 1 . Total initial spoils volume. 2. Frequency and quantity of project maintenance dredging. 3. Area selected for initial spoils disposal. 4. Plan for disposal of maintenance spoils for at least a ten-year program. Conclusion: These problems are addressed in the FEIS and NEPA FEISS. Initial dredged disposal spoils volume will be approximately 3,305,000 cubic yards of material. The material will consist of approximately 928,000 cubic yards of contaminated material, approximately 500,000 cubic yards of relatively uncontaminated material and 1 ,877,000 cubic yards of "clean" material. It will be deposited about 9,000 feet southwest of the Homeport site, in Port Gardner Bay. The Navy does not anticipate maintenance dredging within the first ten years. Consultants have projected that sediment build-up will be at a rate of several centimeters per year and maintenance dredging will occur about every ten years. The application to the Corps of Engineers has been submitted and contains all information requested in this finding. The Corps has recommended approval of the Corps Permit, as documented in its Record of Decision. (See Exhibit 7. ) Q. Finding: DREDGING - WHEN ALLOWED Dredging shall only be permitted for the following purposes and only when other alternatives are impractical: 1. To improve water quality or aquatic habitat. 2. To maintain and improve navigability and water flow and to provide for port/water dependent industrial development. Conclusion: Removal of the dredge material should improve the water quality and aquatic habitat in the East Waterway because it will remove contaminated bottom materials now present and exposed to the aquatic environment. The material will be isolated from the surrounding environment through use of a clean capping material at the disposal site. The purpose of the dredging is to improve the navigability of the East Waterway and adjacent berthing areas. The Homeport is a water dependent industry. -14-