Posted on March 10, 2025
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, seeks public review and comment regarding the preparation of an updated National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document for the maintenance dredging of Fernandina Harbor, Florida.
The purpose of the project is to continue to provide safe navigation within the federal channel. The project is located where the Floria and Georgia state lines meet near the City of Fernandina Beach in the vicinity of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW). The authorized navigation project starts at the entrance of the Amelia River and turns south, past the port facilities, and continues until the split of the Amelia River south of Little Tiger Island. The portion of the authorized project considered for evaluation in this SEA includes Cuts 1-6 of the channel and the turning basin.
Project channel depths range from 46 feet at the ocean to 28 feet. Periodic removal of accumulated sediments from the entrance channel, inner channel, and turning basin allows commercial vessels and recreational boats access to the Port of Fernandina.
The original Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was completed in accordance with the NEPA in 2000. The updated NEPA analysis will supplement the 2000 EA, by taking into consideration any environmental changes that may have occurred within the project footprint since the previous evaluation and by incorporating the 2020 South Atlantic Regional Biological Opinion for Dredging and Material Placement Activities in the Southeast United States (SARBO) as determined by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).
The proposed NEPA as well as related historical documents are available for review at https://www.saj.usace.army.mil/About/Divisions-Offices/Planning/Environmental-Branch/Environmental-Documents/
On that page, scroll down to click on the “+” next to “Nassau” to find and open the Fernandina Harbor project documents dated May 2000 and March 7, 2025.
Comments must be received by April 6, 2025, for consideration.
Comments may be submitted via email to FernandinaHarbor@usace.army.mil or via U.S. Postal Service mail to:
Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District
Planning and Policy Division, Environmental Branch
Attn: Ms. Dominique Edelenbos
701 San Marco Boulevard
Jacksonville, Florida 32207-8175
Figure 1. Fernandina Harbor Project Location Overview
Figure 2. Fernandina Harbor Project Area Outline
Contact
publicmail.cesaj-cc@usace.army.mil
701 San Marco Blvd
