JACKSONVILLE,
Fla. — Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy signed
the Record of Decision for the Port Everglades Harbor Navigation Study Jan. 29,
2016, signifying the completion of the final administrative review for the
project’s report.
The
report passed the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) review and was
transmitted to Congress Jan. 29, 2016. The project will compete with other
investments for funding in future budgets.
The
submission marks a significant milestone for the Port Everglades navigation
improvement plan, which includes deepening and widening the harbor. Major
national benefits of the project include transportation cost savings and
increased economic efficiency. The Corps estimates over the lifecycle of the
project about $2.90 is earned for each dollar spent in improvement, equating to
an estimated average annual net benefit of more than $31 million.
"Achieving
this milestone validates our Jacksonville District team's extraordinary work to
improve critical navigation infrastructure and provide economic benefits to
Florida and our Nation," said Col. Jason Kirk, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers Jacksonville District Commander.
The
state of Florida has contributed over $850 million in grants to Florida’s
seaports since 2011. According to a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)
letter to the Chief of Engineers, Lt. Gen. Thomas Bostick, the state’s
contributions are combined with matching funds to expand and improve Florida’s
seaport infrastructure to maintain and grow a diversified, capable, resilient,
and geographically dispersed port system for the benefit of the entire nation.
“FDOT
is committed to continue to partner in port investments that create jobs, boost
local economies and ensure Florida seaports remain a viable and competitive
component of the nation’s maritime assets,” FDOT Secretary Jim Boxold stated in
the letter.
“This
is a major milestone that now allows us to seek federal funding for
construction and move this critical project forward to accommodate the
Post-Panamax ships that are already coming to Port Everglades today. As vessels
continue getting larger, deeper and wider channels are needed for safe passage
and to reduce ship traffic congestion,” said Port Everglades Chief Executive
& Port Director Steven Cernak.
“I
commend Assistant Secretary Darcy and her staff at the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers for recognizing this need and taking the initiative to advance this
project. Our port stakeholders have the business need to support this project
and consider it a matter of great importance,” he said.
The
configuration of the current Federal project dates back to the 1970s, making it
difficult to accommodate the larger Post-Panamax container vessels and the
tanker vessels of today. Navigation is further challenged by strong and
unpredictable cross currents at the outer entrance channel. These currents can
exceed 5 knots and unpredictably change directions, resulting in vessel delays
of hours to days while vessels wait at anchor for better conditions.
“We
now have an opportunity to reduce transportation costs and help bring in the
forecasted volume of goods into the harbor on fewer, larger and more efficient
ships,” said Corps Project Manager Lacy Pfaff.
The
harbor improvement plan includes deepening the inner entrance channel, main
turning basin, Southport Access Channel and turning notch from 42 to 48 feet;
deepening the outer entrance channel from 45 to 55 feet; and, widening select
areas. The estimated project cost is $381 million cost-shared between the
federal government and Broward County.
Since
2013, the Corps has continued consultation with state and federal agencies
regarding endangered species listings and refining the mitigation and
monitoring plans. The Department of Commerce National Marine Fisheries Service
issued a biological opinion March 7, 2014, determining that the project will
not jeopardize the continued existence of federal listed species. The estimated
cost of the project’s mitigation and monitoring is approximately $54 million.
Jacksonville District received investigation funds to start
the pre-construction, engineering and design phase, which will take
approximately two years with steady funding. The construction phase could take an
additional five years, or more, Pfaff said, depending on the funding stream and
phasing of the work.