[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.                     





                                
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