Need for Project Modification.......... FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVES Development and Evaluation of Alternatives................................................... Benefit/Cost Ratio and Net NED Benefit Comparisons.... Report of the District Engineer-Continued Environmental Impacts-Continued Unresolved Environmental Issues Coastal Zone Management Act Consistency. Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act Compliance. Construction Constraints due to Environmental Requirements. The Secretary of the Army recommends authorization for a deep draft navigation project for Savannah Harbor, Georgia. The proposal is described in the report dated June 1, 1992, from the Chief of Engineers which includes other pertinent reports and comments. These reports are in partial response to a resolution by the Committee on Public Works of the United States House of Representatives, adopted October 12, 1972. The views of the States of Georgia and South Carolina, the Departments of the Interior and Transportation, and the Environmental Protection Agency are set forth in the enclosed communications. The recommended plan provides for deepening the entrance channel from 40 to 44 feet and the interior channels from 38 to 42 feet. Channel widths would remain the same as currently authorized. The recommended plan is a deviation from the national economic development plan which would provide a 42-foot-deep entrance channel and 40-foot-deep interior channels. Non-Federal interests request the deeper channels to meet local shipping objectives. All costs in excess of the cost of the national economic development plan are to be paid by non-Federal interests. The total first cost of the project is $38,540,000, with an estimated Federal cost of $11,834,000 and an estimated non-Federal cost of $26,710,000. The Office of Management and Budget advises that there is no objection to the submission of the report to the Congress. A copy of its letter is enclosed in the report. Sincerely, Enclosure G. Edward Dickey Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) |