On January 10, 1997, the State of Texas received federal approval of the Coastal Management Program (CMP) (62 Federal Register pp. 1439 - 1440). Under federal law, federal agency activities and actions affecting the Texas coastal zone must be consistent with the CMP goals and policies identified in 31 TAC Chapter 26. Requests for federal consistency review were deemed administratively complete for the following project(s) during the period of March 17, 2025 to April 4, 2025. As required by federal law, the public is given an opportunity to comment on the consistency of proposed activities in the coastal zone undertaken or authorized by federal agencies. Pursuant to 31 TAC §§30.20(f), 30.30(h), and 30.40(e), the public comment period extends 30 days from the date published on the Texas General Land Office web site. The notice was published on the web site on Friday, April 11, 2025. The public comment period for this project will close at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 11, 2025.
Federal Agency Activities:
Applicant: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Location: The Project’s study area includes segments of the Cedar Bayou Navigation Channel and the Houston Ship Channel (HSC) within portions of the Tabbs Bay, Trinity Bay, and Galveston Bay (i.e., the Galveston Bay System) in Chambers and Harris Counties, Texas. The Study area also includes the Cedar Port terminal at Cedar Port Industrial Park in Baytown, Texas, and several dredged material management islands adjacent to the HSC.
Project Description: The Cedar Port Navigation Improvement District (CPNID), in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), is evaluating the feasibility and Federal Interest of the Cedar Port Navigation and Improvement District Channel Deepening Project, Baytown, Texas (Project) under the authority found in Section 216 of the Flood Control Act of 1970, as amended. The Project would provide a deep-water connection between the HSC and a planned future deepwater terminal facility at Cedar Port Industrial Park while enhancing efficient, safe, and reliable navigation in the Cedar Bayou Navigation Channel and HSC. The CPNID is serving as the Non-Federal Interest (NFI) under the authority granted in Section 203 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986, as amended, which authorizes NFIs to complete feasibility studies, and associated environmental compliance, on their own and to submit the completed study to the Secretary of the Army for recommendation to Congress.
After considering the available options, a new approximately 3.84 mile deep-draft channel connecting the HSC to the Cedar Port Industrial Park through Atkinson Island was determined to be the tentatively selected plan (TSP). In addition to constructing a deep-draft channel, the TSP would include using dredged material to build two beneficial use islands and shoreline protection. The two beneficial use islands would be built in stages with the first site built using dredged material and designed to support oyster and wetland habitat, and the second site built over time with maintenance dredged material. As part of this alternative, a new Dredge Material Placement Area would be constructed to support future USACE HSC projects, compensating for the 50-year Dredged Material Management Plan capacity lost due to dredging the TSP channel route.
Type of Application: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Cedar Port Navigation District Channel Deepening Project section 203 Draft Integrated Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact Statement (Draft FS/EIS).
CMP Project No: 25-1163-F2
Further information on the applications listed above, including a copy of the consistency certifications or consistency determinations for inspection, may be obtained from the Texas General Land Office Public Information Officer at 1700 N. Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78701, or via email at pialegal@glo.texas.gov. Comments should be sent to the Texas General Land Office Coastal Management Program Coordinator at the above address or via email at federal.consistency@glo.texas.gov.