Summary construction program (PB-1), fiscal years 1964 and 1965 PORTSMOUTH HARBOR AND PISCATAQUA RIVER, N.H. AND MAINE, 35-FOOT PROJECT (Continuing) Location.-Portsmouth Harbor and Piscataqua River, N. H., and Maine, are located 45 miles northeast of Boston Harbor, Mass., and 37 miles southwest of Portland Harbor, Maine. The Piscataqua River forms a portion of the boundary between Maine and New Hampshire. Authorization.-1962 River and Harbor Act. Channels: Widen bends in 35-foot channel by ledge removal at Henderson's Point, Gangway Rock, Badger's Island, and Boiling Rock, including removal of 26-foot shoal above Maine-New Hampshire Interstate Bridge; extend 35-foot channel to Newington. Turning basins: 950-foot basin immediately upstream of the bend at Boiling JUSTIFICATION Improvement of Portsmouth Harbor is needed to accommodate the larger vessels now using the harbor. There has been a major increase in the size of the petroleum tankers in common use since the previous improvement of the harbor. The present channel was designed for T-2 tankers, 524 feet long, and is now being used by tankers up to 624 feet long. The improvement will permit the use of tankers up to 715 feet long which will result in substantial savings in the cost of oil receipts. Two of the terminals have already been expanded to allow for the use of deeper draft tankers. The planned expansion, the increasing demand for petroleum products and the growing use of deep-draft vessels will continue to increase. Additional widening is needed to ease the bends, improve passage through the bridge and provide turning space below the bridge in the event that the bridge opening is abnormally delayed. The narrow width of the river in the Boiling Rock area, the mooring of the vessels at the wharves of the adjacent powerplant and fuel terminals, and the stronger currents due to the constriction of the river constitute serious hazards to navigation. Extension of the existing channel with a turning basin at the upstream end of the Federal project will permit larger tankers used in current and prospective petroleum trade to transit the waterway at high water slack. Total commerce on the river in 1962 amounted to almost 1,500,000 tons of which about 1,200,000 tons was in petroleum and petroleum products. Such commerce is expected to increase to 7,300,000 tons over the 100-year economic life of the project, and to 4,250,000 tons over the initial 50 years of the project life. Fiscal year 1965.-Continue construction under continuing contract for dredging and rock removal initiated in fiscal year 1964. To provide for an orderly and economical rate of construction with completion in fiscal year 1967 as scheduled, $1,500,000 will be required in fiscal year 1965 for application to this work. COMPLETED MODIFICATIONS, PORTSMOUTH HARBOR Work completed in 1892 under the original project at a cost to the Federal Government of $130,393, consisted of construction of a stone breakwater extending from Goat Island to Newcastle Island, and the removal of a portion of ledge rock on the southeast side of Badger's Island to a depth of 12 feet below mean low water. Work completed in 1956 under the existing project at a cost of $1,175,000 to the Federal Government consisted of the removal of ledge rock in the vicinity of Gangway Rock, the southwest point of Badger's Island and Boiling Rock to 35 feet below mean low water. None. REMAINING AUTHORIZED MODIFICATIONS, PORTSMOUTH HARBOR Non-Federal costs.-No costs are expected to be incurred for the 35-foot project and extension thereto. Project authorization required that no construction work shall be accomplished until local interests agree to hold and save the United States free from damages due to the construction and maintenance of the project; obtain all lands, easements, and rights-of-way necessary for the construction and subsequent maintenance of the project and of aids to navigation upon the request of the Chief of Engineers; and provide and maintain without cost to the United States depths in the berthing areas and local access channels serving the terminals commensurate with the depths in the related project areas. Local cooperation was not required on any previous project modification. In August 1960, a portion of the shoal in the upper reach of the river was dredged by the New England Tank Industries to allow T-2 tankers access to their new terminal, then being constructed to handle petroleum for Pease Air Force Base. In addition, local interests have provided port handling facilities, and local access channels. Records of the cost of this work are not available. Status of local cooperation.-Assurances have been requested from the New Hampshire Port Authority, authorized representative of the State of New Hampshire, and from the Governor and council of the State of Maine. No problems are anticipated. Comparison of Federal cost estimates.-The current Federal (Corps of Engineers) cost estimate of $8,500,000 represents an increase of $980,000 over the ($7,520,000) submitted to Congress. This change includes increases of $745,000 for construction based on higher price levels and $250,000 for engineering and design and supervision and administration based on reanalysis of requirements. These increases were partially offset by a net decrease of $15,000 based on internal adjustments. Summary construction program (PB-1), fiscal years 1964 and 1965 Location. The project is located on Hancock Brook in the town of Plymouth, Conn., 3.25 miles upstream from its confluence with the Naugatuck River, in the town of Waterbury, Conn. Construction of the Hancock Brook Dam and Reservoir is required as part of the plan of flood protection for the Naugatuck River Valley. This valley comprises the largest nonferrous metal manufacturing area in the Nation; over one-third of the Nation's brass and bronze is produced in this area. A recurrence of the 1955 flood at current price levels would cause damages of $227 million in the area downstream from Thomaston Dam. The operation of the authorized Thomaston, Hall Meadow, and East Branch Reservoirs together with the small local protection project at Waterbury would reduce the losses in this area by $171,500,000. The Hancock Brook Reservoir together with the remaining reservoirs making up the plan for flood protection; namely, Northfield Brook, Hop Brook, and Black Rock Reservoirs would prevent an additional $31,200,000 in damages. The reduction applicable to Hancock Brook is $7,500,000. Fiscal year 1965.-The requested amount of $1,279,000 will be applied to: Initiate and complete recreation facilities____ Initiate and complete permanent operating equipment.. Complete land acquisition.. Complete railroad and highway relocations. Complete dam construction__. Engineering and design_. Supervision and administration__. Total $20,000 10, 000 196, 000 355, 000 605, 000 10, 000 83,000 1,279, 000 Expenditure of these funds will provide for completion of the project during the fiscal year. Non-Federal costs.-None required. Status of local cooperation.-Local interests are required to establish encroachment lines downstream from the dam to permit reasonable, efficient reservoir operation. The State of Connecticut has established such encroachment lines on the main stem of the Naugatuck River. The director, the State of Connecticut Water Resources Commission, has provided asssurances that additional encroachment lines will be established along Hancock Brook between damsite and Naugatuck River. Comparison of Federal cost estimates.-The current Federal cost estimate of $3,560,000 is a net increase of $560,000 over the latest estimate ($3 million) submitted to Congress. This change includes increases of $389,000 for the multicomponent contract for relocations and dam construction based on receipt of bids, $190,000 in engineering and design and supervision and administration based on actual costs and anticipated future requirements, and $20,000 for inclusion of recreation facilities. These increases were partially offset by a total net decrease of $39,000 due to refinement of the costs of other items. |