[House Document 105-150]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



105th Congress, 1st Session  - - - - - - - - - - House Document 105-150


 
         NAVIGATION IMPROVEMENTS FOR BOSTON HARBOR, MASSACHUSETTS

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

  THE ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY (CIVIL WORKS), THE DEPARTMENT OF THE 
                                  ARMY

                              transmitting

  A REPORT ON THE AUTHORIZATION OF NAVIGATION IMPROVEMENTS FOR BOSTON 
  HARBOR, MASSACHUSETTS, PURSUANT TO PUB. L. 104-303, SEC. 101(a)(13)





  October 21, 1997.--Referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
                Infrastructure and ordered to be printed


                       NAVIGATION IMPROVEMENTS FOR

                      BOSTON HARBOR, MASSACHUSETTS
                                     

105th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 105-
150


                      NAVIGATION IMPROVEMENTS FOR

                     BOSTON HARBOR, MASSACHUSETTS

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

  THE ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY (CIVIL WORKS), THE DEPARTMENT OF THE 
                                  ARMY

                              transmitting

  A REPORT ON THE AUTHORIZATION OF NAVIGATION IMPROVEMENTS FOR BOSTON 
  HARBOR, MASSACHUSETTS, PURSUANT TO PUB. L. 104-303, SEC. 101(a)(13)





  October 21, 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..................    xi
Comments of the state of Massachusetts...........................   xii
Comments of the Department of the Interior.......................   xiv
Comments of the Environmental Protection Agency..................   xvi
Comments of the Department of Transportation.....................  xvii
Report of the Chief of Engineers, Department of the Army.........     1
Report of the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors..........     3
Reports of the District Engineer
    Limited Reevaluation Report..................................
        Attachments 1 and 2--Federal and State Agency 
          Coordination Comments and District's Responses.........20, 46
    Feasibility Report...........................................    72
            Syllabus.............................................    72
            Pertinent Data.......................................    73
            Addendum.............................................    74
            Vicinity Map.........................................    76
        Introduction.............................................    77
            Study Authority......................................    79
            Scope of Study.......................................    80
            Study Participants and Coordination..................    81
            Prior Studies and Reports............................    82
        Problem Identification...................................    86
            Existing Conditions..................................    86
                Environmental Setting and Natural Resources......    86
                    Geological Setting...........................    86
                    Geographic and Institutional Setting.........    87
                    Climate and Meteorological Conditions........    87
                    Air Quality..................................    88
                    Noise Conditions.............................    88
                    Ecological Setting...........................    89
                    Water Quality................................    91
                    Harbor Use...................................    93
                Human Resources..................................    97
                Development and Economy..........................   103
                Existing Federal Project.........................   121
                Status of Existing Local Plans and Improvements..   128
            Future Conditions (Without Project)..................   129
                Environmental Improvements Projected.............   132
                Changes in Fleet Characteristics.................   133
                Proposed Local Development.......................   133
                Chelsea Street Bridge Improvements...............   133
            Problems and Opportunities...........................   134
                Problems with Navigation.........................   134
                Opportunities for Improvement....................   142
            Planning Constraints.................................   143
                Physical Constraints.............................   144
                    Tunnels (Existing and Proposed)..............   144
                    Bridges......................................   145
                    Utilities....................................   149
                Landmasses.......................................   152
                Institutional Constraints........................   155
                Economic Constraints.............................   155
            Planning Objectives..................................   156
        Plan Formulation.........................................   157
            Plan Formulation Rationale...........................   157
            Management Measures Evaluated........................   159
                Tidal Navigation.................................   159
                Navigation Aids..................................   166
                One-Way Traffic and Traffic Control..............   166
                Lightering.......................................   166
                Alternative Port Utilization.....................   167
                Pipelines........................................   168
                Offshore Terminals...............................   169
                Inner Harbor Pipelines and Terminals.............   170
                Channel Improvements.............................   171
            Management Measures Recommended......................   171
            Formulation of Alternative Improvements..............   172
                Incremental Alternatives.........................   172
                    Board Sound North Entrance Channel...........   172
                    President Roads Anchorage....................   173
                    Main Ship channel............................   173
                    Reserved Channel and Confluence Area.........   174
                    Inner Confluence Area........................   175
                    Mystic River.................................   175
                    Chelsea River................................   176
                    Dorchester Bay Channel.......................   176
                    Outer Confluence Area........................   187
                Initial Screening of Alternatives................   187
                    Entrance Channel Modifications...............   187
                    Anchorage Area Modifications.................   188
                    Main Ship Channel Modifications..............   188
                    Reserved Channel and Confluence Area.........   190
                    Mystic River.................................   194
                    Chelsea River................................   194
            Inner Confluence Area................................   195
            Outer Confluence and Channel through President Roads.   195
    Alternatives Selected for Detailed Analysis..................   196
    Dredged Material Disposal Options............................   197
Presentation and Evaluation of Detailed Plans....................   200
    General Assessment of Plans and Impacts......................   200
        Dredging Impacts.........................................   201
        Disposal Impacts.........................................   203
        Impacts on Navigation....................................   205
        Social and Community Impacts.............................   205
        Economic Impacts.........................................   205
    Comparison of Detailed Plans.................................   206
        Cost Comparison..........................................   207
        Benefit Comparison.......................................   207
        Comparison Summary.......................................   211
Selection of a Plan..............................................   218
    Rationale for the Selected Plan..............................   218
    The Selected Plan............................................   218
    The NED Plan.................................................   219
    Conclusions..................................................   219
    Implementation Responsibilities..............................   227
        Cost Allocation..........................................   227
        Cost Apportionment.......................................   227
Recommendation...................................................   229
Acknowledgment and Identification of Personnel...................   231

                             LIST OF TABLES

No.
 1. Authorization Legislation of Existing Projects...............    83
 2. Water Quality in Boston Harbor...............................    92
 3. Population Trends--Boston Metropolitan Area..................    98
 4. Per Capita Income--Boston Metropolitan Area..................    98
 5. Personal Earnings and Employment.............................   102
 6. Port and Harbor Facilities--By Municipality..................   104
 7. Comparative Statement of Traffic.............................   105
 8. Boston Harbor--Waterborne Traffic Movement...................   106
 9. Boston Harbor--Foreign Trade Tonnage.........................   107
10. Boston Harbor--Leading Imported and Exported Commodities.....   108
11. Vessel Activity in the Port of Boston........................   110
12. Trips and Drafts of Vessels Using Boston Harbor..............   112
13. Port Facilities--By Type.....................................   117
14. Tide Level Variations at Boston Inner Harbor.................   161
15. Existing Tidal Navigation Practices..........................   163
16. With Project Tidal Navigation................................   165
17. Dredging Volumes--Detailed Plans.............................   204
18. Cost of Detailed Plans.......................................   208
19. Annual Benefits of Detailed Plans............................   210
20. Comparative Summary Detailed Plans...........................   212
21. Cost Apportionment...........................................   228

                           LIST OF APPENDICES

                   (Only Appendices 3 and 4 printed)

Appendix 1--Plan Formulation and Project Design.
Appendix 2--Engineering Investigations and Cost Estimates.
Appendix 3--Economic and Social Assessment.......................   444
Appendix 4--Pertinent Correspondence.............................   492

                            LIST OF ANNEXES

                        (Only Volume 1 printed)

Final Environmental Impact Report and Final Environmental Impact 
  Statement--
    Volume 1.....................................................   232
    Volume 2.
    Volume 3.






                                
