[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
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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.