2023 Civil Works Public Notices & Reports

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Philadelphia District, has completed a five-year review of the Chemours Chambers Works FUSRAP Site in Deepwater, New Jersey. In the 1940s, manufacturing operations for the federal government resulted in radiological contamination in limited areas of soil and groundwater. USACE is addressing site cleanup under the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP). The remedial action as defined in the Record of Decision (ROD) includes soil excavation and monitored natural attenuation for groundwater to address radioactive contamination. The purpose of a five-year review is to determine if the remedy is and will continue to protect human health and the environment. The results of the five-year review indicate that the site remedy will be protective of human health and the environment upon completion. In the interim, remedial activities completed to date have adequately addressed all exposure pathways that could result in unacceptable risks in these areas.

Land Transfer of Wilmington Harbor North Disposal Area to State of Delaware (March 2023) 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District has posted a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Land Transfer of Wilmington Harbor North Disposal Area to State of Delaware. This EA evaluates the impacts associated with the Proposed Action of transferring a confined disposal facility (CDF) from the USACE to the Diamond State Port Corporation (DSPC), on behalf of the State of Delaware. The Proposed Action includes the conveyance of approximately 172 acres of property from the USACE to the DSPC. This Property was identified as excess property due to economic infeasibility for USACE and therefore slated for conveyance to the State of Delaware in WRDA 2020, Section 356(d). Under this Proposed Action, no in-water work would take place. The Property would continue to be used as a CDF under DSPC ownership, and activities consistent with use of the Property as a dredge material disposal site would continue to occur. Public and agency comments are requested by April 21, 2023.

Final Environmental Assessment Maurice River Federal Navigation Channel and Beneficial Use of Dredged Material, Cumberland County, NJ

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District has posted a Final Environmental Assessment (EA) titled: Maurice River Federal Navigation Channel and Beneficial Use of Dredged Material, Cumberland County, New Jersey and Finding of No Significant Impact. The Final Environmental
Assessment (EA) addresses maintenance dredging and a beneficial use of dredged material placement opportunity in the lower Maurice River, Cumberland County, New Jersey.

The recommended plan is to dredge 75,000-100,000 cubic yards within a portion of the lower Maurice River federally-authorized navigation channel between stations 1+500 to 13+000 in 2023 and beneficially use the material by hydraulically pumping it into two eroded (flooded) marsh areas approximately 9 acres in size within the Heislerville Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The initial sediment placement operation will be monitored to observe sediment properties and will inform future placement operations. In a second maintenance cycle, anticipated to occur 1-3 years after the initial placement, an additional 25,000-50,000 cy will be dredged between these stations where needed, to the authorized depth of 7 ft MLLW with 2 ft allowable over-depth. The objective of the beneficial use placement of the dredged material within the flooded marsh system is to raise the substrate elevation within intertidal mudflats and vegetated low marsh that has been continually subjected to inundation and erosion. Dredging will remove critical shoaling to maintain a safe and reliable navigation channel for commercial and recreational vessels.

In February 2023, USACE Philadelphia finalized the Master Plan and Integrated Environmental Assessment Revision for Prompton Dam and Reservoir in Wayne County, Pennsylvania. 

Manasquan Inlet to Barnegat Inlet Coastal Storm Risk Management Project DRAFT General Conformity Determination Notice

  • The Manasquan Inlet to Barnegat Inlet Coastal Storm Risk Management Project is located within Ocean County, New Jersey. Initial construction of the project was completed in July 2019. The project is now scheduled to undergo its first periodic nourishment, which is anticipated to start construction during or after April 2023. This document represents the General Conformity Determination required under 40CFR§93.154 by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). USACE is the lead Federal agency that will contract, oversee, approve, and fund the project’s work, and thus is responsible for making the General Conformity determination for this project. USACE will achieve conformity using the options outlined in the Public Notice, as coordinated with the NJDEP, NYSDEC, and EPA, and coordinated through the Regional Air Team. More details are available in the Public Notice document (January 2023).

The USACE Philadelphia District has issued a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) titled: Salem River Federal Navigation Channel Maintenance Dredging and Beneficial Use of Dredged Material Salem County, New Jersey and New Castle County, Delaware. The EA evaluates several alternative dredged material placement locations for maintenance dredging of the Salem River Federal Navigation Channel. The EA identified a preferred alternative that combines three of these locations. The preferred alternative includes two Beneficial Use of Dredged Material options. One option is for ecosystem restoration at the Goose Pond area of Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge and the other option is the placement of sandy material into the nearshore subtidal area of Oakwood Beach (a location of an existing Coastal Storm Risk Management – beach nourishment project) . The preferred plan also includes the continued use of the federal Killcohook Confined Disposal Facility  as a disposal option. These three options provide greater flexibility in addressing sediment management needs for the Salem River Federal Navigation Channel in support of Regional Sediment Management and Engineering with Nature objectives. More details are available in the draft EA document and the Public Notice document. Public comments are requested by March 18, 2023. 

2022 Civil Works Public Notices & Reports

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, notice is hereby given that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District has completed a draft revision of the Prompton Dam and Reservoir Master Plan, which was last updated in 1971. The master plan update is considered a federal action and must comply with the National Environmental Policy Act. The draft document is available for review and public comment through January 6, 2023 (45 days). Comments can be submitted to PDPA-NAP@usace.army.mil

PHILADELPHIA (November 4, 2022) – The U.S. Army Corps Engineers’ (USACE) Philadelphia District has posted a Public Notice in accordance with Section 217(a) of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1996 and Section 145 of WRDA of 2020. The Public Notice is regarding the following request: 

1.  Diamond State Port Corporation (DSPC) is seeking to expand the Port of Wilmington at a site on the Delaware River at Edgemoor, DE and intends to request the Federal government, pursuant to Section 204(f) of WRDA 1986, as amended, to assume operation and maintenance of the proposed access channel connecting the Port expansion to the Delaware River Federal Navigation Channel.

2.  In order to provide the required placement capacity for the initial 20 years of maintenance dredging of the access channel, DSPC proposes to pay for the development of replacement capacity at Site 15G (shown in the below figure). The capacity proposed to be developed at Site 15G will serve as a replacement for the capacity used at the Pedricktown North, Pedricktown South, and Oldmans dredged material placement facilities for maintenance of the access channel.  This is permitted by Section 217(a) of WRDA of 1996, as amended by Section 145 of WRDA 2020, which authorizes the Secretary to permit the use of dredged material placement facility capacity required for project purposes if the Secretary determines that replacement capacity can be constructed at the facility of another facility before such capacity is needed for project purposes. 

3.  USACE has determined, as required by Section 217(a) of WRDA 1996, as amended by Section 145 of WRDA 2020, that the replacement capacity can be constructed at Site 15G before it is needed for project purposes, i.e., before the commencement of maintenance dredging of the proposed access channel anticipated to begin Summer 2025.

4. The intent of this public notice is to afford the public an opportunity to comment on the determination as required by the Water Resources Development Act 2020 Section 145.

5. All comments shall be submitted to stephen.rochette@usace.army.mil. Comments are requested by December 4, 2022.

Draft Environmental Assessment Maurice River Federal Navigation Channel and Beneficial Use of Dredged Material, Cumberland County, NJ

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia District (USACE), is issuing a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) titled: Maurice River Federal Navigation Channel and Beneficial Use of Dredged Material, Cumberland County, New Jersey. The purpose of this document is to evaluate the dredging operation of fine-grained sediments obtained from the lower reach of the Maurice River Federal Navigation Channel and beneficial placement of the dredged material for saltmarsh habitat restoration within the northwest reach of the Heislerville Wildlife Management Area. The USACE is proposing to conduct maintenance dredging of the lower Maurice River Federal Navigation Channel in Maurice River Cove, Cumberland County, New Jersey to the authorized depth of 7 feet MLLW with 2 feet allowable overdepth in the winter of 2022/2023. Dredging will remove critical shoaling in priority areas identified by channel users to maintain a safe and reliable navigation channel for commercial and recreational vessels. The dredged material will be beneficially placed within the northwest reach of the Heislerville Wildlife Management Area (WMA), a saltmarsh that has become excessively inundated. Approximately 75,000 cubic yards (cy) of sediment will be placed this year over approximately 20 acres of marsh to create a natural infrastructure to provide added protection and resilience in an area adjacent to the Heislerville dike (Figure 2). Subsequent placements following consolidation will serve to restore approximately 35 acres of saltmarsh and intertidal mudflat habitat that is rapidly degrading due to excessive flooding. During the placement operation, stabilization measures will be implemented to minimize adverse effects to the environment, such as turbidity curtains, earthen berms, and/or coir logs. The initial sediment placement will be monitored to observe sediment properties and will inform the second placement operation, currently scheduled to occur approximately 1 year after initial placement. Building elevation with mixed sediments will create varied landscape that will augment the mudflats, intertidal shallows, and may lead to the re-establishment of saltmarsh vegetation. More details are available in the Draft Report and Appendices. Comments are requested by Oct. 17, 2022. 

The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Philadelphia District has evaluated the impacts of the construction of the Abington Environmental Infrastructure Improvement Project (project). The project is a stream and habitat improvement project adjacent to and along Sandy Run Creek at Roychester Park and Grove Park in the community of Abington Township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The project also includes the relocation of a sanitary sewer line out of the eroding banks of Sandy Run Creek at Roychester Park.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has completed a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) to address ecosystem restoration at Mordecai Island in Ocean County, New Jersey. The environmental assessment evaluates alternatives for ecosystem restoration to address habitat loss due to erosion at Mordecai Island. The recommended plan identified in the EA will help to protect the island from further erosion and restore approximately 11.5 acres of intertidal habitat previously lost. The non-Federal sponsor for this study is the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. USACE is proposing to construct a rubble mound breakwater off the western edge of Mordecai Island that will extend for 3,000 linear ft. and have an average height of 7.6 ft. from the bay bottom. Following construction of the breakwater, approximately 30,000 cy of sand will be obtained from normal maintenance dredging of the New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway and placed behind the structure to restore approximately 11.5 acres of lost intertidal marsh habitat and beach nesting bird. Public and agencies are invited to comment on this proposal. Comments are requested by March 24, 2022. 

2021 Civil Works Public Notices & Reports

Cape May Seawall, Coastal Storm Risk Management, Continuing Authorities Program Section 103, Draft Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment

AUGUST 2021 - the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has announced the release of a draft report for the New Jersey Back Bays Coastal Storm Risk Management Study. The report outlines a ‘Tentatively Selected Plan’ framework, which includes three storm surge barriers, two cross-bay barriers, and the elevation of more than 18,000 structures to reduce the risk of flood damages associated with storm surge. It’s important to note that the plan is subject to change. It has not yet been approved by higher authorities, including Congress, and has not been funded for implementation at the federal or state level. 

On September 20 and 21st, USACE hosted virtual meetings focusing on the draft report release and Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement.

  • Submit comments by emailPDPA-NAP@usace.army.mil
  • Submit comments by mail: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Planning Division, Wanamaker Building, 100 Penn Square E. Philadelphia PA 19107

USACE has released a Draft Environmental Assessment titled: “Abington Environmental Infrastructure Improvement Project, Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Section 566, Water Resource Development Act." The plan detailed in the draft Environmental Assessment addresses the need for erosion reduction and habitat function improvements along the upper reaches of Sandy Run Creek within Roychester Park and Grove Park in Abington Township. The USACE is proposing stream and habitat improvements to Sandy Run Creek in Roychester Park and Grove Park. In Roychester Park, the USACE proposes to grade and stabilize the banks of Sandy Run Creek, replace and re-locate a sanitary sewer line, replace two in-stream culverts, and plant native plants in riparian and upland portions of the park. In Grove Run Park the USACE proposes to remove an existing concrete lining, disassemble existing gabion baskets, grade bench cuts into the stream banks, install a new steel footbridge, grade a new tributary stream which will receive hydrology from a re-directed a stormwater outfall, and plant native riparian and wetland plants. Public Comments are due by May 9, 2021. 

District Reservoir Water Quality Reports

2020 Civil Works Public Notices & Reports

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia District, is issuing a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) titled: New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway - Beneficial Use of Dredged Material at East Pool- Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. The purpose of this document is to evaluate the placement of approximately 10,000 cubic yards of sandy and fine-grained sediment obtained from maintenance dredging of the New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway (NJIWW) to be utilized for saltmarsh habitat restoration within the East Pool of Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge (EBFNWR). All comments on the work described in this public notice and Draft EA may be submitted in writing (instructions listed in Public Notice) or via email. Comments are requested by Dec. 6, 2020. 

2019 Civil Works Public Notices & Reports

The purpose of this Special Public Notice is to solicit comments and recommendations from the public concerning areas along the Delaware River in the City of Philadelphia to be declared as non navigable pursuant to Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act of 2016. The portions of the Delaware River in this notice are:

(1) Piers 70 South through 38 South, encompassing an area bounded by the southern line of Moore Street extended to the northern line of Catherine Street extended, including the following piers: Piers 70, 68, 67, 64, 61–63, 60, 57, 55, 53, 48, 46, 40, and 38.

(2) Piers 24 North through 72 North, encompassing an area bounded by the southern line of Callowhill Street extended to the northern line of East Fletcher Street extended, including the following piers: Piers 24, 25, 27–35, 35.5, 36, 37, 38, 39, 49, 51–52, 53–57, 58–65, 66, 67, 69, 70–72, and Rivercenter.

An application for a Department of the Army Nationwide permit (CENAP-OP-R-2019-00907-86) has been submitted by Beach Street Developer, LLC for work in the Delaware River in conjunction with the installation of a storm water outfall pipe, headwall and rip rap apron riverward of the intersection of Cumberland Street and Beach Street, directly across from Pier 20 N. in the City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.  The project site is located within the areas described above. At this time the permit application is under review and the decision is currently pending. Comments should be submitted by Nov. 27, 2019. 

The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments and recommendations from the public concerning areas along the Delaware River in the City of Philadelphia to be declared as non-navigable pursuant to the above referenced legislation.

  • Public Notice, April 2019
  • NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the Philadelphia District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers intends to conduct maintenance dredging in the Schuylkill River above Fairmount Dam at locations that have degraded rowing/boating facilities within Fairmount Park, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. The plan is to remove accumulated sediment shoals at a maximum of four locations on the Schuylkill River in the vicinity of the Strawberry Mansion Bridge downstream to the Fairmount Dam. 
  • Material will be transferred over the dam into barges and then taken downstream, where it will be hydraulically unloaded into the Fort Mifflin Confined Disposal Facility (CDF). Decant water will be drained from the Fort Mifflin CDF back to the Schuylkill River. The proposed dredging schedule has an early start of August and will continue during the fall, with potential to extend into winter months pending weather, and is anticipated to take three to four months.
  • In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact have been prepared and are available upon request. A 15-day comment period is provided. If you have any further questions regarding this project, please contact Mr. Jerry Pasquale at Jerry.J.Pasquale@usace.army.mil
  • Trenton Marine Terminal Stream Bank and Shoreline Erosion Protection Draft Environmental Assessment
  • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia District (USACE) has released a draft Environmental Assessment titled Trenton Marine Terminal, City of Trenton, Mercer County New Jersey Streambank and Shoreline Erosion Protection. USACE is proposing to repair a collapsed section of pier located on the Delaware River near the junction of State Highway 29 and State Highway 129 on the south side of the City of Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey. The purpose of the project is to protect the public infrastructure at the Trenton Marine Terminal from imminent damage and the possibility of eventual collapse. The infrastructure is located in a public park that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The collapsed pier should be rebuilt in the same dimensions and appearance as the formerly existing one, except for the use of steel piles rather than timber piles to significantly increase the stability of the structure; with the objective to rebuild the pier in a manner that would preserve the historic character of the park while minimizing impacts to the river bottom substrate.
  • More details are available in the draft Environmental Assessment document. Public comments are due by June 4, 2019. Comments may be submitted by email or in writing to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Resources Branch, 100 Penn Square E. Philadelphia PA, 19107. 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection announced the release of an Interim Report for the New Jersey Back Bays Coastal Storm Risk Management Study, and a virtual meeting on March 14, 2019 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. The Interim Report presents a focused array of alternative plans that manage risk and reduce damages from coastal storms as well as the engineering, economic, social, and environmental analyses that have been conducted to develop the focused array of alternatives outlined in the report. The Army Corps and NJDEP invite the public to comment on the report by April 1, 2019. Comments can be submitted by email or in writing to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineer Planning Division, 100 Penn Square E. Philadelphia PA 19107. 

2018 Civil Works Public Notices & Reports

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today published in the Federal Register its request for proposals for beneficial use of dredged material pilot projects pursuant to Section 1122 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016, Beneficial Use of Dredged Material. Proposals must be submitted to USACE on or before March 12, 2018.More information on the program and solicitation can be found in the Federal Register notice, 83 Fed. Reg. 5763 (Feb. 9, 2018).  It is available on line here.

Section 1122 requires USACE to establish a pilot program to carry out 10 projects for the beneficial use of dredged material.  The pilot program can include projects for the purposes of:

  • (1)   reducing storm damage to property and infrastructure;
  • (2)   promoting public safety;
  • (3)   protecting, restoring and creating aquatic ecosystem habitats;
  • (4)   stabilizing stream systems and enhancing shorelines;
  • (5)   promoting recreation;
  • (6)   supporting risk management adaptation strategies; and
  • (7)   reducing the costs of dredging and dredged material placement or disposal, such as projects that use dredged material for: A) construction or fill material; (B)  civic improvement objectives; and, (C)  other innovative uses and placement alternatives that produce public economic or environmental benefits.

Projects identified under Section 1122 must maximize the beneficial placement of dredged material from federal and non-federal navigation channels and ensure that the use of dredged material is consistent with all applicable environmental laws. USACE is required to carry out the pilot program in consultation with relevant state agencies and to establish regional teams to assist in the evaluation of the proposals.

2017 Civil Works Public Notices & Reports

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Philadelphia District announces the availability of the document: "Delaware Bay Coastline-Delaware and New Jersey-Roosevelt Inlet-Lewes Beach Coastal Storm Risk Management Project, Sussex County, DE - Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact." This document evaluates a modification to the existing Coastal Storm Risk Management Project (CSRM) at Lewes Beach. 

2016 Civil Works Public Notices & Reports

The USACE Philadelphia District, in partnership with NJDEP, is conducting a feasibility level investigation for coastal storm risk management problems within the New Jersey Back Bay (NJBB) area, defined as the network of interconnected tidal water bodies located landward of the New Jersey ocean coastline in Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic, Burlington, and Cape May Counties. The NJBB study area includes approximately 950 square miles and nearly 3,400 miles of shoreline.

The objective of the NJBB CSRM Study is to investigate CSRM problems and solutions to reduce damages from coastal flooding that affects population, critical infrastructure, critical facilities, property, and ecosystems. Participation of the general public and other interested parties and stakeholders in identifying significant issues and alternatives is being solicited by means of this public notice.

A public meeting will be held on Thursday, December 01, 2016 between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM at the Stockton University Campus Center located at 101 Vera King Farris Drive, Galloway, NJ 08205. The event will commence in the theater, which is on the main level of the Campus Center. Free parking is available directly in front of the Campus Center, Lots 2 and 3.

2014 Civil Works Public Notices & Reports

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Philadelphia District is collaborating with the Delaware Department of Environmental Control (DNREC) and the University of Delaware (UD) Center for Applied Coastal Research in a program to improve understanding of sediment transport pathways and rates, both of which affect the stability of the Indian River Inlet channel and the adjacent ocean shorelines. In 2014, the Survey Vessels Shuman and Little Giant conducted hydrographic surveys to document changes in depth and sediment distribution on the submerged portions of the project area.

2013 Civil Works Public Notices & Reports

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