PCCA's Application to dredge to >75 feet
Dumping tons of dredge spoil on our beaches is a "beneficial use"
On January 3, 2019 the Port of Corpus Christi Authority (PCCA) filed an application with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to be allowed to dredge the Corpus Christi Ship Channel (CCSC) “from the currently authorized project depth of -56 feet MLLW…to a maximum depth of -80 feet MLLW” without a new Environmental Impact Statement.
- “The PCCA also proposes to dredge a 29,000 foot entrance channel extension… to a maximum depth of -80 feet” into the Gulf of Mexico."
- “The existing Inner Basin at Harbor Island would be expanded as necessary to allow VLCC turning there.”
Dredged materials includes 56.7 million cubic yards of dredge spoil. In addition 1,764.3 acres open waters would be dredged for a proposed channel and turning basin. Maintenance dredging of 1,083,000 cubic yards per year will be required to maintain that depth. In addition dredging will be required out 10.6 miles to hit the 75 foot line (per NOAA Chart 11307). Frequent dredging would be necessary and a traffic hazard, causing MAJOR shipping congestion!
- “The effects of short-term physical disruptions such as dredging and longer-term changes such as significant deepening of the Aransas ship channel on fish spawning aggregations have not been studied in this region. It is likely that…alterations in depth might cause it to no longer be suitable.” -- “Recruitment of estuarine dependent species, etc.”, Dr. Edward Busky, UTMSI, December 2018
take action now!
While the Army Corps is yet to take action on PCCA’s application it’s still time to object. You can call the Corp’s Corpus Christi Resident Area Office at 361-884-3385; tell them you’re calling about PCCA’s application SWG-2019-00067. Or you can write to their Permitting Department in Galveston:
USACE Galveston District
P.O. Box 1229
Galveston, TX 77553-1229
Or email them at swgpao@usace.army.mil
Tell them you insist on an entirely new environmental impact statement (EIS) as part of any approval of this project, to which you object for environmental reasons. The more people who raise objections the more likely we’ll see a good outcome—such as this application not being approved.
Thank you.
