Gulfport, Miss. – On Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017 the Army Corps of Engineers released the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Port of Gulfport Expansion Project. The ROD details the Corps of Engineers’ decision on all of the issues discussed in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), including the environmental impacts associated with the Port of Gulfport Expansion Project (PGEP). This ROD paves the way for the next significant expansion at the Port of Gulfport.
“As we near completion of our Restoration Project, the Port is limited on how we can acquire waterfront land, making this a good time to receive the approved EIS permit,” said Port CEO and Executive Director Jonathan Daniels. “As our business portfolio continues to grow, it is necessary to evaluate future expansion options at the deepwater terminal that will allow for even greater throughput potential.”
In 2013, the Port set out on a rigorous process to secure a permit to be able to dredge and fill the proposed PGEP. The project is expected to include a 282-acre dredge and fill program for further expansion of the west pier, north harbor, east pier, and the construction of a 4,000-linear foot breakwater system.
“The Port of Gulfport is a major economic driver for Harrison County and the entire Mississippi Gulf Coast. The approval of the Environmental Impact Statement marks a significant step toward the port’s goal of becoming the Port of the Future by opening more doors for continued growth, investment and job creation, all of which will benefit the economy for generations to come,” Gov. Phil Bryant said.
The rigorous environmental process involved several federal and state agencies including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Marine Fishers Service, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, Mississippi Development Authority, Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources.
The ROD now provides the Port of Gulfport with the opportunity to further diversify their business development activities, while also establishing the Port as catalyst for economic development on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
An online version of the ROD is available for download at the following link:
http://www.sam.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Environmental-Impact- Statements/Port-of-Gulfport-Expansion-Project/