Public Input Sought On Coast Guard Project

PHILADELPHIA – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in a March 24 notice, seeks public comment within 15 days regarding the issuance of a permit for work at the Coast Guard Training Center, Cape May. The project would include dredging within 9.92 acres of berthing and boatlift area near Piers 2, 3, and 4 to a depth of between 10 and 16 feet below mean low water.
The dredge material would be placed in a confined disposal facility on base, with water being returned to Cold Spring Inlet.
Modifications would include demolition of waterward 280 feet of the 500-foot long existing timber F-shaped Pier 4, replaced by a 270-feet long by 24 feet wide shore perpendicular pier to create a single “I: shaped 495-feet long concrete decked pier supported by 30 new steel piles.
In addition, an existing 130-foot long timber floating dock and ramp with three finger piers would be relocated from Pier 4 to Pier 3.
Demolition would be done by a crane barge with clamshell bucket.
At present, a 210-foot cutter and three 87-foot patrol boats are moored at piers 3 and 4.
Three additional 154-foot Fast Response Cutters are slated to be homeported at Cape May when the cutter is reassigned from its homeport in Cape May.
The new vessels are 26 feet wide and draw 9.5 feet of water.
Those vessels will require water depth and more space to maneuver on the west side of Pier 4, therefore, the proposed dredge depth of 15 feet with a one-foot over-dredge allowance satisfied the Navy criteria for clearance for the FRCs in extreme low water tidal conditions.
Although various repairs have been done in recent years, the piers have continued to deteriorate. A portion of Pier 4 has been condemned and the current configuration requires some modification to optimize the next generation of Coast Guard vessels.
“The project ensures the Coast Guard’s continued service to the region serving a primary role in safe navigation, training, marine safety and homeland security,” according to the announcement.
Comments, if any, should be directed by April 9 to: District Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia District, Wanamaker Building, 100 Penn Square East, Philadelphia, Pa., 19107-3390.