UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECnON AGENCY 

REGION4 

ATLANTA FEDERAL CENTER 

61 FORSYTH STREET 

ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303·8960 

Eric Summa, Chief 

Environmental Branch 

Jacksonville District Corps of Engineers 

P.O. Box 4970 

Jacksonville, Florida 32232-0019 

Wilbert V. Paynes 

Chief, Planning and Policy Division 

Programs Directorate, South Atlantic Division 

60 Forsyth Street SW 

Room IOMIO 

Atlanta, Georgia 30303 

Dear Mr. Summa and Mr. Paynes: 

HAll 2 7 201 ~ 

The purpose of this letter is to confirm the selection of a modified Alternative I (Alternative Ia) as the 

preferred alternative for expansion of the existing or designation of a new, Jacksonville Ocean Dredged 

Material Disposal Site (ODMDS). Alternative Ia includes removal of the 0.26 nmi2 area east of the 

existing Jacksonville ODMDS from Alternative I. Removal of this area reduces the area of impacts to 

rubble hard bottom habitat by approximately 50%. In their comments on the Draft Environmental 

Impact Statement (EIS), both the National Marine Fisheries Service and the State of Florida stated a 

preference for Alternative 2 over Alternative I due to the potential for impacts to these habitats. 

However, there were objections to Alternative 2 from the City of Jacksonville due to its proximity to 

beach quality sand borrow areas. Additionally, Alternative 2 is further from the Jacksonville harbor 

entrance channel resulting in greater cost in dredging, greater consumption of non-renewable resources 

(fuel) and greater emissions. Furthermore, the shrimp fishing industry preferred Alternative 1 over 

Alternative 2. Based on studies conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 4 (2007 

Current and Wave Study; 2013 Sediment Profile Imaging Study) and modeling conducted by the 

Jacksonville District Corps of Engineers {2010 Long-Term Fate Analysis), we believe that selection of 

Alternative I a will not have any adverse effects on the sand borrow areas. Additionally, Alternative la 

will be managed such that any rock from the Jacksonville Harbor Deepening Project will be placed in a 

zone in the eastern portion of the site to enhance existing rubble hard bottom habitats. 

Now that a preferred alternative has been agreed upon, the EPA Region 4 office can move forward with 

the publication of the Final EIS and rulemaking packages. Enclosed is a schedule for site designation 

that the EPA Region 4 believes is achievable. It reduces the time line from the original negotiated 

schedule of eleven months to six months from the time of Final EIS publication to site designation. This 

schedule is dependent on the Jacksonville District fulfilling commitments (described below), State and 

Federal resource agencies providing prompt review of the FEIS, and EPA Region 4 staff being able to 

efficiently navigate the rulemaking process. This process has changed significantly since staff has last 

prepared rulemaking documents and the internal time lines are not known at this time. The EPA Region 

4 office will make every effort to accelerate the timeline where possible. 

Internet Address (UAL) • hltp:/lwww.epa.gov 

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In order to meet the timeline, the District will need to commit to the following: 

I. Prepare a draft FEIS for the EPA's review no later than April21, 2014. This draft FEIS should 

include the following: 

a. Updated maps showing Alternative 1 and Alternative 1 a; 

b. Updated characteristics of the modified Alternative 1 (size, depth ranges, habitat types); 

c. A discussion of the rationale behind selection of the Alternative 1a over Alternative I and 

Alternative 2; 

d. Revised analysis of the five general and eleven specific criteria for Alternative 1 a; 

e. Update rubble habitat acreage calculations; 

f. Revised Essential Fish Habitat Assessment incorporating Alternative 1 a; 

g. Add a section responding to comments on the Draft EIS; 

h. Updates to the section on the need for the ODMDS incorporating the recommended plan 

from the Final Jacksonville Harbor General Reevaluation Report II (GRR) and Final 

Supplemental EIS and the associated Dredged Material Management Plan. This should 

include volumes from the deepening project and subsequent maintenance that are 

expected to be disposed of at the ODMDS; and 

1. Updates on the volume of clay, sand and rock generated from the GRR's recommended 

plan. 

2. Prepare a draft Site Management and Monitoring Plan (SMMP) for the modified Alternative A 

no later than April21, 2014. This SMMP will include: 

a. Updated maps of the ODMDS and release zones; 

b. Coordinates of the expanded ODMDS and a 1,000 foot buffer within the ODMDS; 

c. Updated disposal volume estimates based on the Jacksonville Harbor GRR; 

d. Proposed Water Quality modeling input parameters; and 

e. Proposed generic permit and contract conditions implementing the requirements of the 

SMMP. 

3. Prepare draft proposed rulemaking language following EPA guidance by June 7, 2014. 

The EPA Region 4 is glad to assist the District in this cooperative effort of protecting the environment 

while maintaining our nation's waterborne transportation system and supporting our local, State and 

national economies. If you have any questions regarding this letter or the site designation process, please 

contact Mr. Chris McArthur at (404) 562-9391 or mcarthur.christopher@epa.gov. 

Enclosure 

Sincerely, 

es D. Giattina, Director 

Water Protection Division 
Jacksonville ODMDS Designation -Schedule 20 March 2014 

Task Description Responsible Expected Notes 

Party Completion 

1 Finalize site configuration SAJ/EPA 24 March 2014 Letter from EPA confirming preferred alternative. 

2 Contractor drafts final EIS Contractor 21 April2014 EPA staff will not have availability to review the EIS until 21 April. 

and SAJ drafts SMMP /SAJ 

3 EPA provides comments EPA 2 May2014 

on draft FEIS ' 

4 Final EIS delivered to EPA Contractor/ 10 May 2014 

for routing SAJ 

5 EPA Releases Final EIS EPA 30 May 2014 

6 Write draft Proposed SAJ 7 June 2014 Rule making serves as ROD 

Rule 

7 Final Agency/Public Agencies 31 July 2014 30 day minimum by NEPA with 15 day extension 

Review of FEIS State requires minimum of 45 days. 

8 Review and finalize draft EPA 2 Sept 2014 Rulemaking package will require review from legal counsel and EPA HQ. 

rule I Internal review and processing time uncertain. 

Draft Rule Published 

9 End of Draft Rule EPA 15 October 2014 45 day review period. 

Comment Period 

10 Write draft Final Rule SAJ 1 Nov 2014 

11 Finalize SMMP EPA/SAJ 1 Nov 2014 

12 Publish Final Rule EPA 30 Nov 2014 

13 Site Designation Finalized EPA 30 Dec 2014 Effective 30 days after publication of Final Rule