Sediment Management Framework Draft Environmental Impact Statement

The National Park Service (NPS) prepared this draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for a sediment management framework at Cape Hatteras National Seashore (the Seashore). The purpose of taking action is to develop a framework for issuing special use permits for sediment management at the Seashore to mitigate impacts of altered shoreline processes, consistent with applicable NPS management policies. This framework includes the method, locations, and frequency for sediment management actions that may be permitted over the next 20 years. In this context, the DEIS will address certain sediment management activities that may be requested by local jurisdictions, utility companies, state agencies, other federal agencies, and in some cases, the Seashore.

This DEIS presents three alternatives: A, B, and C with B being the NPS preferred alternative. The Seashore has received requests and anticipates future requests for sediment management activities to protect critical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, electrical transmission facilities, and other public transportation facilities; to repair island damages, including breaches that also affect transportation; and to restore habitat through the placement of dredged materials along eroded sections of barrier islands.

A sediment management framework is needed to assist the Seashore in addressing these requests in a timely manner, while avoiding and minimizing impacts that may be associated with such actions. Permitted sediment management activities would require consistent mitigation measures to reduce the impacts on park resources and values. The DEIS analyzes the beneficial and adverse impacts that could result from implementing any of the alternatives considered on littoral processes and barrier island morphology; benthic organisms and essential fish habitat; sea turtles; listed shorebird species; and structures and infrastructure. Upon conclusion of the DEIS and decision-making process, one of the alternatives (or a combination of alternatives) will be selected for implementation and will update the approach for permitting sediment management activities at the Seashore.

The review period for this document will end November 2, 2020 after the publication of the US Environmental Protection Agency Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. Comments will be accepted during the comment period through this website by clicking on the Comment Now link on the left side of this page or in hard copy delivered by the US Postal Service or other mail delivery service or hand-delivered to the address below. Comments will not be accepted by fax, email, or in any other way than those specified above. Bulk comments in any format (hard copy or electronic) submitted on behalf of others will not be accepted. Before including your address, telephone number, electronic mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comments, you should be aware that your entire comment (including your personal identifying information) may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comments to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Cape Hatteras Sediment Management DEIS
Superintendent, Cape Hatteras National Seashore
1401 National Park Drive
Manteo, NC 27954

Document Content:

CAHA_SedMgmtDEIS_CameraReady_Final_Volume1_508compliant.pdf   (2.3 MB, PDF file) CAHA_SedMgmtDEIS_CameraReady_Final_Volume2Appendices_508compliant.pdf   (12.3 MB, PDF file) 2003 BOEM_Collection of Env Data within Sand Resource Areas Offshore NC_Enc Implications for Sand Removal_reduced.pdf   (11.6 MB, PDF file) Disclaimer: Links within the above document(s) were valid as of the date published. Note: Some of the files may be in PDF format and can be viewed using the Adobe Acrobat Reader software. You may download a free copy of Acrobat Reader from Adobe Systems.