[House Document 105-142]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
105th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - House Document 105-142
ST. PAUL ISLAND HARBOR, ALASKA
__________
COMMUNICATION
from
THE ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE ARMY (CIVIL WORKS), THE
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
transmitting
A REPORT ON THE AUTHORIZATION OF HARBOR AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION
IMPROVEMENTS AT ST. PAUL ISLAND HARBOR, ALASKA, PURSUANT TO PUBLIC LAW
104-303 SEC. 101(b)(3)
September 22, 1997.--Referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure and ordered to be printed
C O N T E N T S
__________
Page
Letter of Transmittal............................................ vii
Comments of the Office of Management and Budget.................. ix
Comments of the State of Alaska.................................. x
Comments of the Department of the Interior....................... xi
Comments of the Department of Transportation..................... xiii
Report of the Chief of Engineers, Department of the Army......... 1
Report of the District Engineer.................................. 9
Addendum..................................................... 9
Summary...................................................... 11
Pertinent Data............................................... 12
Glossary..................................................... 13
Conversion Table for SI (Metric) Units....................... 14
1. Introduction.............................................. 16
1.1 Study Authority...................................... 16
1.2 Scope of Study....................................... 16
1.3 Study Participants................................... 17
1.4 Previous Studies..................................... 17
1.4.1 Investigations by the Corps of Engineers....... 17
1.4.2 Studies by Others.............................. 18
2. Regional Description...................................... 19
2.1 Socioeconomic Setting................................ 19
2.2 Hydrology and Hydraulics............................. 22
2.2.1 Climate........................................ 22
2.2.2 Tides and Water Levels......................... 22
2.2.3 Currents....................................... 22
2.2.4 Ice Conditions................................. 23
2.2.5 Winds.......................................... 23
2.2.6 Waves.......................................... 23
2.3 Environmental Setting................................ 24
2.3.1 General........................................ 24
2.3.2 Endangered and Threatened Species.............. 24
2.3.3 Resources of Concern........................... 25
2.4 Geology.............................................. 26
2.5 Economic Base........................................ 26
2.6 Problems, Needs, and Opportunities................... 27
3. Plan Formulation.......................................... 30
3.1 Planning Objectives.................................. 30
3.2 Planning Criteria.................................... 30
3.2.1 National Economic Development Objective........ 30
3.2.2 Engineering Criteria........................... 30
3.2.3 Economic Criteria.............................. 31
3.2.4 Environmental Criteria......................... 31
3.2.5 Social Criteria................................ 31
3.3 Alternatives Considered.............................. 31
3.3.1 No Action...................................... 31
3.3.2 Tolstoi Point Breakwater....................... 32
3.3.3 Relocation of Detached Breakwater.............. 32
3.3.4 Dredging Salt Lagoon........................... 32
3.3.5 Harbor Modifications........................... 33
3.4 Modification Elements Considered in Detail........... 33
3.4.1 Entrance Channel Deepening..................... 33
3.4.2 Maneuvering Basin.............................. 33
3.4.3 Spending Beach................................. 34
3.4.4 Measures to Reduce Waves....................... 35
3.4.5 Wave Energy Channel for Salt Lagoon............ 35
4. Optimization of Harbor Features........................... 36
4.1 Harbor Design Criteria............................... 36
4.1.1 Authorized Project Design Criteria............. 36
4.1.2 Revised Design Criteria........................ 36
4.1.3 Design Wave.................................... 38
4.1.4 Channel Depth Optimization..................... 38
4.1.5 Maneuvering Basin.............................. 40
4.2 Model Studies........................................ 40
4.2.1 Two-Dimensional (2-D) Study.................... 41
4.2.2 Three-Dimensional (3-D) Study.................. 43
4.2.3 Model Study Results............................ 43
5. Description of Recommended Plan (Harbor Improvements)..... 45
5.1 Plan Components...................................... 45
5.1.1 Entrance Channel Deepening..................... 45
5.1.2 Maneuvering Basin.............................. 46
5.1.3 Spending Beach................................. 46
5.1.4 Offshore Reefs................................. 48
5.2 Plan Benefits........................................ 48
5.3 Plan Costs........................................... 49
5.4 Risk and Uncertainty................................. 49
5.5 Construction Considerations.......................... 49
5.6 Plan Accomplishments................................. 52
5.6.1 Economic Efficiency............................ 52
5.6.2 Reduced Wave Overtopping....................... 53
5.6.3 Environmental.................................. 53
5.7 Plan Implementation.................................. 54
5.7.1 Construction................................... 54
5.7.2 Operation, Maintenance, and Replacement (OM&R). 54
5.7.3 Real Property Interests........................ 55
5.7.4 Cost Apportionment............................. 56
5.7.5 Financial Analysis............................. 57
6. Salt Lagoon Mitigation.................................... 59
6.1 Plan Description..................................... 59
6.1.1 Proposal....................................... 59
6.1.2 Feature Being Modified......................... 59
6.1.3 Rationale for Modification..................... 61
6.1.4 Expected Results from Modification............. 62
6.1.5 Importance of Outputs from Modification........ 62
6.1.6 Land Use and Acquisition....................... 63
6.1.7 Engineering Techniques......................... 63
6.2 Consistency With Project Purpose..................... 63
6.3 Views of Sponsor..................................... 63
6.4 Views of Federal, State and Regional Agencies........ 63
6.5 Benefits............................................. 64
6.6 Implementation....................................... 65
6.6.1 Construction................................... 66
6.6.2 Operation, Maintenance, and Replacement (OM&R). 66
6.6.3 Real Property Interests........................ 66
6.6.4 Cost Apportionment............................. 67
7. Public Involvement and Agency Views....................... 70
7.1 Public Involvement................................... 70
7.2 Consultation Requirements............................ 71
7.3 Alaska Coastal Management Program Consistency
Determination.......................................... 71
7.4 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recommendations....... 71
8. Conclusions and Recommendations........................... 73
8.1 Conclusions.......................................... 73
8.2 Recommendations...................................... 73
Recommendations of the Division Engineer......................... 73
Environmental Documents:
Finding of No Significant Impact............................. 79
Environmental Assessment (EA)................................ 80
EA Appendix 1: Evaluation Under Section 404(b)(1), Clean
Water Act.............................................. 120
EA Appendix 2: Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act Report. 125
EA Appendix 3: Harbor Circulation Study.................. 142
APPENDICES ACCOMPANYING THE REPORT OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEER (ONLY
APPENDICES B AND D PRINTED)
Appendices:
A. Hydraulic Design
B. Economics Analysis........................................ 154
C. Geotechnical Analysis
D. Correspondence............................................ 284
E. Cost Estimate
F. Assessment of Sponsor's Real Estate Acquisition Capability
References....................................................... 146
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure No. Title Page
EA-1 Location and vicinity map........ 84
EA-2 Project layout................... 86
EA-3 Spending beach cross section..... 89
EA-4 Typical current patterns in 95
Village Cove.
EA-5 Areas of highest water velocities 96
in Village Cove.
LIST OF TABLES
Table No. Title Page
EA-1 Model results.................... 91
EA-2 St. Paul tide levels............. 93
EA-3 Relationship of quarry operations 108
to selected natural resources.
EA-4 Major sources of dust pollution 112
in pits and quarry workings, and
possible remedial measures.
EA-5 Major sources noise and vibration 113
in pits and quarry workings, and
possible remedial measures.
EA-6 Main causes of visual intrusion 115
of quarry workings, and possible
remedial measures.
EA-7 Status of project with applicable 116
laws and statutes.