USA: Corps Extends Savannah Deepening Comment Period

Officials from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers yesterday extended the deadline for submitting comments on the proposed deepening of the Savannah Harbor to Jun. 5, 2012.

The Corps of Engineers released the Final General Re-Evaluation Report (GRR) and Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) on Apr. 11 with an initial 30-day comment period which began Apr. 20. Yesterday’s announcement extends the comment period 15 days. The extension follows requests from the public and state resource agencies. These reports detail the proposal to deepen the Savannah Harbor from its current 42-foot depth to 47 feet deep.

The GRR-EIS study, authorized by Congress, reflects an extensive analysis of the engineering alternatives, environmental impacts, and economic costs and benefits of deepening the Savannah Harbor and shipping channel. Funded by the federal government and the state of Georgia, the study examined the characteristics of future international shipping fleets, current and future trade routes, and the capacity of the Garden City terminal on the Savannah River.

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Dredging Today Staff, May 9, 2012