1991-05-28 Special Called Meeting and Executive Session

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BENEFICIAL USES Interagency Coordination Team Port of Houston Authority P.O. Box 2562 Houston, Texas 77252-2562 RECEIVED] 25 1991 March APR 9 k CI,fY iliANAGEP --John Joerns OFFICE Asst-City Mgr. City of LaPorte P.-O. Box 1115 La Porte TX 77571 Dear Mr. Joerns: We need your help. Galveston Bay needs your input. A Beneficial Uses Work Group, composed of representatives from - _state and federal resource agencies and the Port of Houston, has been formed to develop a disposal plan that utilizes dredged materials.taken from the Houston Ship Channel widening and deepening in a manner that will protect and enhance Galveston Bay. -In November 1989, Harris County -voters approved local funding for widening and deepening the Houston -Ship Channel with 63 `percent of the electorate voting'for,the bond issue. With federal approval, Phase one of. -the project will widen the channel" from 400 feet to 530 feet and deepen it from 40 feet to 45-feet; +.producing approximately.72 million cubic yards of dredged material . .Phase Two, which would require another bond election to approve.. local funding, would widen the channel to 600 feet and deepen it <<to,50 feet, producing` some.64.million cubic yards of dredged material. Tfie Beneficial Uses: Work Group hopes to determine a variety of -be used to.enhance Galveston. Bay. ways the dredged material can `This material -- mostly virgin clay -- will not be disposed of in.unconfined, open -bay sites except as an environmentally beneficial use. Possible beneficial uses.of channel material include: o wetland restoration, creation or enhancement. o marine and wildlife habitat restoration or enhancement _ o creation of recreational amenities o restoration of areas lost to subsidence or storms o stabilization and renovation of disposal areas o erosion protection