350,000

2,190,000

1,950,000

4,055,000

9

4 FEB 1985

APPROPRIATION TITLE:

Study

3.

SURVEYS

a.

CONTINUATION OF PLANNING AND ENGINEERING.

The amount of $3,400,000 is requested in Fiscal Year 1986 for the completion of 1 navigation Planning and Engineering study and the continuation of 1 Planning and Engineering study. Navigation Studies:

NEW YORK

Kill Van Kull and

Newark Bay Channel (Deepening), NY & NJ

3,000,000
o

600,000

735,000

600,000

1,065,000

The Kill Van Kull channel The study area is located 5 to 8 miles southwesterly of the Battery, New York City. The Newark Bay channel in turn forms a waterway boundary between Staten Island, New York and Bayonne, New Jersey. The 35 foot deep Newark Bay main channel continues north about 3 miles, serving Port Newark and Port Elizabeth, New Jersey which together comprise the world's largest The modern deep draft vessels calling in Newark stems off Kill Van Kull in a northerly direction. Bay have drafts exceeds the existing channels depths and must lightload, at a loss of economic efficiency. The containerport. The complex handles over 13 million tons a year. plan of improvement to be studied was recommended in the Survey Report for navigation study on improvements to existing federal navigation channels, which was completed in July 1980. The original study was authorized by The Chief of Engineers House Resolution on Public Works adopted May 1972, sponsored by Peter W. Rodino (NJ). published his report 14 December 1981 and recommended deepening the existing 35 foot navigation channel to 45 feet There would also be selected below mean low water to allow full loading and increased vessel efficiencies. The October 1984 estimated project cost is Cost sharing between the Federal Government and non-Federal sponsors remains to be determined and widenings for safety and a turning basin at Port Elizabeth. must be satifactory to the Administration and the Congress. The Port Authority intends to fullfill whatever local The annual transportation savings benefits of the recommended plan of improvements total $173,300,000. The benefit cost ratio is 6.6 to 1 at 8 3/8 percent. Fiscal Year 1985 $245,100,000. funds will be used to continue economic effort, initiate environmental studies and complete hydraulic modeling and requirements exist at the time of authorization. The funds in Fiscal Year 1986 will be used to complete economic effort and commence The planning and engineering studies coordination of the supplemental environmental data design work on channels. disposal studies. are scheduled for completion in January 1988.

4 FEB 1985

The study area for Norfolk Harbor and Channels (Deepening), is located in Hampton Roads, Virginia, a 25-square
mile natural harbor serving the ports of Norfolk, Newport News, Portsmouth, Chesapeake and Hampton, Virginia.
Domestic and foreign commerce in the harbor amounted to over 76 million tons in 1982. The movement of this volume
of waterborne commerce, together with the presence of major naval facilities, has made Hampton Roads one of the
nation's leading ports. Lack of adequate channel depth in the harbor will prevent the accommodation of larger
"super" vessels which is the trend today. Export of coal from Norfolk and Newport News is a major harbor activity
and would benefit from improved channel depths. Foreign markets seeking long term coal supplies have encouraged
the Commonwealth of Virginia to improve storage and loading facilities and the Federal government to deepen the
channels and anchorages. The plan of improvement in the report approved by the Board of Engineers for Rivers and
Harbors on 21 January 1981, and the Chief of Engineers on 20 November 1981 recommends deepening the main channels
from 45 to 55 feet and other channels to lesser depths, along with construction of fixed mooring anchorage
areas. The October 1984 estimated project cost is $525,600,000. Cost sharing between the Federal government and
the non-Federal sponsor remains to be determined and must be satisfactory to the Administration and the
Congress. The average annual benefits of $190,100,000 are based on savings in waterborne transportation costs
associated with the use of larger bulk carriers. The benefit-cost ratio is 3.6 to 1 at 8-3/8 percent. In Fiscal
Year 1985, funds are being used to continue economic studies to update the overall feasibility of the 55-foot
deepening, agency coordination and public involvement, and engineering and design of the 55-foot channels and
fixed mooring anchorages, initiate preparation of the General Design Memorandum, and complete preparation of
environmental documents including Supplement to the Final Environmental Impact Statement, site designation
document for the Dam Neck Disposal Area, and Supplemental Information Report for public dissemination of
information gained during conduct of the deepening environmental studies. In Fiscal Year 1986, funds will be used
to complete continuation of planning and engineering. Planning and Engineering Studies needed to initiate
deepening the upper reaches of the Elizabeth River and provision for long-term disposal of dredged material will
be accomplished concurrently with the 55-foot deepening when authorized and constructed.
planning and engineering study is scheduled for completion in September 1986.

This continuation of

1,065,000 11

b. Flood Damage Prevention Studies: The amount of $1,555,000 is requested in Fiscal Year 1986 for the
initiation of 1 Flood Damage Prevention Planning and Engineering study and the continuation of 3 Flood Damage
Prevention Planning and Engineering studies.

The study area is located in the City of Rahway in northeastern New Jersey in Union County along the Rahway River
and lower Robinson's Branch in the Rahway River Basin. Major flooding in recent years has adversely affected many
residential and commercial establishments. The plan of improvement being studied is one of two recommendations
for flood control included in an interim report for Robinson's Branch of the Rahway River Basin at Clark, Scotch
Plains and Rahway, New Jersey. This report was submitted to Congress on 12 December 1978 and provides for channel
modification along approximately 6,300 feet of Lower Robinson's Branch, one bridge replacement, and levee and
floodwall construction along sections of both the lower Robinson's Branch and the Rahway River. These improve-
ments will substantially reduce flood damages for approximately 20 commercial and industrial establishments, 150
residences, and associated development. Damages of about $4,238,000 (October 1984 price level) from the 100 year
frequency flood would be completely eliminated under the recommended plan. The October 1984 estimated project
cost is $11,900,000. Cost-sharing between the Federal Government and non-Federal sponsors remains to be
determined and must be satisfactory to the Administration and the Congress. The average annual benefits are
estimated at $1,042,500 of which $1,000,600 is for urban flood damage prevention and $41,900 is for elimination of
traffic delays and for advanced replacement of bridges. The benefit cost ratio is 1.02 and 1 at 8-3/8 percent.
With the funds provided in Fiscal Year 1985 the reevaluation report, which selects a plan for final design, will
be completed, and detailed planning and engineering studies will continue, public involvement will continue,
hydraulic design and detailed structural and foundation design will be initiated, and data for an environmental
Supplemental Information Report will be developed. With funds requested for Fiscal Year 1986, public involvement

4 FEB 1985

12

Rahway River Basin,
Robinson's Branch
at Rahway

(Cont'd)

will continue, detailed structural and foundation design will continue, development of data for an environmental
Supplemental Information Report will continue, and determination of real estate requirements will be initiated.
The study cost estimate has increased by $200,000 and the study schedule has been extended one year. These
changes are due to additional work required for reformulating the recommended plan and, incorporating recent
This continuation of planning and engineering effort is scheduled for
guidance on interior flood control design.

completion in March 1987 in lieu of March 1986.

13

4 FEB 1985