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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMiscellaneousCHARLIE JENKINS Project Manager PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY P.O. Box 2562 Tel: 713-670-259: Houston, Texas 77252-2562 Cell: 713-410-484f United States of America E-Mail: cjenkins~poha.con ^ Complete items 1, 2, and 3. Also complete item 4 if Restricted Delivery is desired. ^ Print your name and address on the reverse so that we can return the card to you. ^ Attach this card to the back of the mailpiece, or on the front if space permits. 1. Article Addressed to: Mr. Kerry Stanley U.S. Army Corns of Engineers Galveston District Regulatory Branch P.O. BOX 1229 Galveston, Texas 77553-1229 A. Received by (Please ~nt Cle oy) BL p~~ of Delivery C. ignature X~ ~ `~~C~ Addr 'see D. Is delivery address different trom item 1? ^ Yes If YES, enter delivery address below: ^ No 3. Service Type Certified Mail ^ Express Mail ^ Registered ^ Return Receipt for Merchandise ^ Insured Mail ^ C.O.D. 4. Restricted Delivery? (Extra Fee) ^ Yes 2. Article Number (Copy from service label) 7000-1670-002-2104-0259 PS Form 3811, Duly 1999 Domestic Return Receipt 102595-00-M-0952 UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE First-Class Mail Postage & Fees Paid USPS Permit No. G-10 • Sender: Please print your name, address, and ZIP+4 in this box • Robert T. Herrera City of La Porte 604 West Fairmont Parkway La Porte, Texas 77571 .. ~~!33f 113?~I~t!ltt3!li!!Ilf~~l Fil~Ilt!!~!!~!~?~!!flifli~t!?~!~ , www.rwustoncnronlae.co~~n~ rnlsweorr Corps delays release of final impact study for Bayport terminal By ROBERT CROWE Houston Chronicle The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers delayed release of the final environmental im- pact study for the proposed Bayport Container Terminal untIl Jan. 3, 2003, and also de- layed the fmal permitting de- cision until March 17, 2003. "This is an adjustment that was anticipated from the be- ginning of this three-phase project," said Thomas Korne- gay, port executive director, in a press release. "We are committed to cooperating in every way possible to aid the Corps in completing its FEIS." Corps officials said the de- lay was necessary to review more than 2,000 letters from citizens, but Bayport termi- nal opponents speculate the Corps has delayed the proj- ect because it still must per- form new studies in response to concerns from federal and state regulatory agencies. The port on Monday autho- rized $1.5 million for URS Corp. to continue work on the Bayport project. The change brings to $5.5 million the total amount the port has paid URS Corp. for Bayport-related studies. The port and Corps said the $1.5 million would pay for URS Corp. to compile the public comments to address portions of the final study, but opponents doubt that contention. "Reviewing the 2,000 let- ters is what takes time. We need to put those in a data- base to see what's going on," said Marilyn Uhrich, Corps spokeswoman. "We also plan to go into deeper depths on noise and traffic studies." While the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has asked for a comprehensive environ- mental habitat study, Uhrich said there are no plans for such a study yet. "They're saying it will cost $1.5 million to put comments in a database? I'm not saying they won't review the com- ments, but they should be honest and say the primary motivation is to conduct stud- ies they didn't get right the first time," said Jim Black- burn of the Galveston Bay Conservation and Preserva- tion Association, which op- poses the Bayport project. Richard Raycraft, the Har- ris County director of man- agement services, also told the port it would have to de- lay selling Bayport-related bonds until 2003. "In light of the Corps' re- cent decision to delay the FEIS, this makes sound fi- nancial sense for Harris County taxpayers," said James T. Edmonds, port chairman. Opponents have asked the Corps to provide a supple- mental draft enviromnental impact study in response to changes this spring to esti- mates of total wetlands af- fected and proposed berths for container terminals for the Bayport project. The Corps has not responded to those requests. "This project has been fouled up so many times, but they continue to attempt to piecemeal what is fundamen- tally aflawed project," Black- burn said. Port OKs addition of funds over delay in impact statement By BILL HENSEL JR. Houston Chronicle The Port of Houston reacted to a delay in the completion of the Bayport environmental impact statement Monday by approving $1.5 million more to a consultant helping on the project. The change order allows URS Corp. to continue to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the final product, port officials said. The corps plans to publish the final impact statement on Jan. 3, 2003, and solicit additional public comment. The agency is scheduled to have its completed record of decision and permit de- cision out on March 17. The final statement originally was expected to be completed late this year. URS was awarded more than $4 •«illion for work on the draft tatement; including $550,000 for ~~~,e.-essing comments and evalu- :.~«g requirements for the final ai.E-i3erit, port Off1C1alS said. The delay means URS will .~~eiid more time processing pub- lic comments and working on technical sections of the final document. The additional time will allow the corps to work through re- maining issues, said Jim Ed- monds, chairman of the port com- mission. The delay also will help ensure that all comments of pub- ' lic concern about the praposed project are addressed and consid- ered, he said. Subsequently, the sale of a por- tion of bonds related to the Bay- port project will be delayed by Harris County until 2003, port offi- cials said. That decision was made by the county budget office. Edmonds said that given the delay, the deci- sion makes solid financial sense. Also Monday, port officials and elected representatives held a news conference announcing that the port has become the first port in the United States to achieve compliance with ISO 14001 stan- dards. This is the international standard. that is used for assis- tance in implementing or improv-~ ing an organization's environ- mental management system.