Final Feasiblity Report & Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Study Released

Galveston District
Published Sept. 10, 2021
The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Texas General Land Office (GLO) announce the release of the final version of the Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Study. The Coastal Texas Study is a six-year, $20.63 million comprehensive study led by USACE in partnership with our non-federal cost-share sponsor, the TXGLO. The purpose of the study is to identify feasible projects that reduce risks to public health and the economy, restore critical ecosystems, and advance coastal resiliency.

The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Texas General Land Office (GLO) announce the release of the final version of the Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Study. The Coastal Texas Study is a six-year, $20.63 million comprehensive study led by USACE in partnership with our non-federal cost-share sponsor, the TXGLO. The purpose of the study is to identify feasible projects that reduce risks to public health and the economy, restore critical ecosystems, and advance coastal resiliency.

The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Texas General Land Office (GLO) announce the release of the final version of the Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Study.

The Coastal Texas Study is a six-year, $20.63 million comprehensive study led by USACE in partnership with our non-federal cost-share sponsor, the TXGLO. The purpose of the study is to identify feasible projects that reduce risks to public health and the economy, restore critical ecosystems, and advance coastal resiliency.

The results of the engineering, economic and environmental examinations have resulted in a final recommended plan that consists of multiple coastal storm risk management and ecosystem restoration features that together form a resilient Texas coast. The final feasibility report and final environmental impact statement are available for public review on our website at https://www.swg.usace.army.mil/Business-With-Us/Planning-Environmental-Branch/Documents-for-Public-Review/. The report will remain available through Oct. 12, 2021.

“This study really began back in 2008 in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, when leaders at the local, state and federal level all said, ‘enough,’” said USACE Galveston District Commander Col. Tim Vail. “There were—and are today—so many people who believe we could make the Texas Coast a representative model of not waiting for a disaster to build infrastructure that would be resilient, robust and include redundancies. What we have today is a generational opportunity to build a generational project that is going to have generational impacts.” 

The Coastal Texas Study Team is not requesting additional public comments on the study during this 30-day review period, which starts Sept. 10, 2021 and ends Oct. 12, 2021. The public has been given numerous opportunities to provide inputs on the Coastal Texas Study throughout the 6-year study period. As always, USACE and GLO remain committed to hearing feedback from those within the Study Area and will continue to keep Texans apprised of the progress of the Texas Coastal Study. Should Congress authorize and appropriate funding for the Coastal Texas Project, the public will be given additional opportunities to comment as tiered NEPA continues for portions of the project authorized and funded for construction.

This final version of the Coastal Texas Study is now ready for submittal to the Chief of Engineers. Upon approval by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Army, the Study will be forwarded to the Congressional Office of Management and Budget.

“The release of the Final Report is not the end of this process,” Vail said. “USACE, with the support and participation of the GLO, and the newly formed Gulf Coast Protection District, will continue to investigate alternatives for reducing storm surge and flooding vulnerabilities along the Texas coast to help increase the resiliency of communities to natural disasters.

FOR MORE INFO:

For more information about the Coastal Texas Study, visit the study website at: https://coastalstudy.texas.gov/

CONTACT US:
Public comments are not being accepted at this time for the Coastal Texas Study; however, you may mail at the address below or send an email to us at: CoastalTexas@usace.army.mil.

 


Contact
Attn: Coastal Texas Study
CoastalTexas@usace.army.mil
P.O. Box 1229, Galveston, TX 77553-1229

Release no. 21-016