Federal and State agencies have already spent millions to study
the problem, this feasibility study that now is being required by the
586
same Corps of Engineers could take upwards of five years, meaning
construction would not be available until after the year 2000.
That now seems to be a tremendous delay in a project that every-
body has identified, knows about, understands, and now is being
held up and put on the back burner, waiting for yet another Fed-
eral study.
I understand there are official procedures and policies that must
be followed, but I hope that there is some way that the Corps can
expedite this process to prevent the further degradation of the St.
Lucie. I ask the subcommittee's recognition of the need for a solu-
tion. I ask those interested to come to our office and see if we can
short-circuit an additional five-year study.
Next, I would like to discuss the Ft. Pierce Beach Shore Protec-
tion Project. Again, I have written testimony.
The county is requesting $3.3 million for the Ft. Pierce Beach
Shore Protection Project, which encompasses 1.3 miles of
beachfront south of the federally maintained navigational inlet in
Ft. Pierce Harbor. The county is also requesting $200,000 in con-
struction funds for a general reevaluation report to expand the
project length from 1.3 miles to 2.3 miles and $100,000 for a recon-
naissance study of the southernmost county shoreline impacted by
the Federal inlet.
Last year the subcommittee found it appropriate to include re-
port language in the appropriations bill urging the Corps to expe-
dite the final approval of the 934 study. However, the Senate re-
moved this language during conference.
St. Lucie County has worked in partnership with the State of
Florida and the Army Corps of Engineers since the 1960s to restore
and maintain this beach. As a direct result of the Ft. Pierce Harbor
Project, beach erosion has severely diminished the shoreline at
least 2.3 miles south of the inlet.
A 934 study was initiated to extend the timeframe of Federal re-
sponsibility to 50 years. The 934 study was initiated nearly four
years ago and is still awaiting the official approval from the Corps,
which has been delayed by the administration's proposed policy
concerning Federal participation in new beach renourishment
projects.
The county decided to expend $250,000 of nonreimbursable funds
years before the administration's proposed policy, on behalf of the
Corps, to expedite the beach's renourishment project. I want to re-
iterate, the county has voluntarily spent $250,000 of its own, which
will not be reimbursed.
While the administration has initiated a proposed policy with re-
gard to the government's role in new beach renourishment projects,
I must again emphasize this has been an ongoing project. I hope
that the Corps will approve the 934 study and move forward.
I would now like to discuss the port of Ft. Pierce. By way of back-
ground, the Army Corps of Engineers recently completed dredging
in Ft. Pierce in September 1995. The port's current dimensions are
28 feet deep with a 250-foot-wide channel. The port was deepened
to 28 feet as a result of the 1984 feasibility study conducted by the
Corps. Today a minimum depth of 32 feet is necessary to accommo-
date the increasing demand for Florida citrus products internation-
ally.
587
The counties in the area, which include St. Lucie, Indian River
and Martin Counties, have 228,000 acres of citrus, one-third of the
Florida crop, with a $2 billion direct and indirect economic impact.
St. Lucie County is the top citrus-producing county in Florida.
Therefore, exporters are faced with significant costs of shipping
products from ports not readily accessible to the region.
Deepening the channel would greatly enhance the exporting ca-
pability in the region and have an enormous positive impact on the
local and State economy. It could expand shipment to an estimated
1 million tons annually. According to the 1991 economic develop-
ment report, this could bring an additional 386 jobs, $8.3 million
in wages, and $27 million in output to the area. In would clearly
strengthen St. Lucie County's economy, which has had the third
highest unemployment in Florida, at 16 percent, since 1995.
In the next couple of weeks, the House Transportation and Infra-
structure Committee will be considering a survey resolution to au-
thorize this project. Pending action by the authorizing committee,
I would request $150,000 for a reconnedssance study, the general
amount needed by the Corps of Engineers to begin the first phase
of this project. As I have illustrated, deepening the port would en-
hance the city's ability to export products to foreign markets.
Finally, I am also submitting written testimony from County
Commission Chairman Ken Foster on behalf of Palm Beach County
for the Jupiter/Carlin Shore Protection Project and a request by the
State of Florida for $750,000 to continue the second phase of the
coast of Florida erosion and storm effects study. Each of these
projects is critical to District 16's continued economic development
and preservation of our pristine environment.
I thank the subcommittee and its Chairman for their attention.
[The statement of Mr. Foley follows:]
Testimony of
The Honorable Mark Foley
before the
Subconunittee on Energy and Water
House Committee on Appropriations
February 28, 1996
Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the invitation to appear before your
Subcommittee today to address several of the important water and beach
renourishment projects in the Sixteenth Congressional District of Florida.
To be concise, I have limited my testimony to 3 projects which are vital to
the economic health of our state and local communities.
ST. LUCIE RIVER INITIATIVE
The St. Lucie River is one of the Treasure Coast's most valuable natural
resources. This river is the largest tributary to the Indian River Lagoon,
which the Environmental Protection Agency designated to the National
Estuary Program a few years ago. This estuary system is supported by a
natural drainage system of creeks and wetlands in Central Martin and
Southern St. Lucie Counties.
Once a beautifully vibrant body of water and habitat for a diverse species
of plant and wildlife, the St. Lucie River today has succumbed to severe
physical damage and habitat degradation. The gradual decline is attributed
to federally built canals which drain into the St. Lucie River and the Indian
River Lagoon. During the early part of this century, the C-44 Canal was
built from Lake Okeechobee to the St. Lucie River.
589
Page 2
This canal drained western Martin County and allowed excess drainage
through Lake Okeechobee to be diverted through the St. Lucie Estuary to
the Atlantic Ocean. Later, the C-23 and C-24 canals were built to drain
more lands in western Martin and St. Lucie counties. I have attached maps
of the St. Lucie River and these canals for the Subcommittee's review.
These federally built canals disrupted the natural flow of water into the
River, in some instances dumping up to 10 times the harmful levels of
fresh water and sediments into the fragile estuary. The rapid changes in
salinity levels has produced an accumulation of sediments and flocculent
ooze on the bottom of the River that has essentially destroyed the marine
ecosystem. Over the years, the community has thus witnessed the harmful
affects this has had on the seagrass, oysters, manatees and many species
of fish which were once abundant throughout the River.
In 1991, Congress ordered the Army Corps of Engineers to reevaluate the
Central and South Florida Flood Control Project, as part of the restoration
of the Florida Everglades. In its Reconnaissance Report to Congress, the
Corps reported potential solutions for the recovery of the St. Lucie Estuary
and the Indian River Lagoon. One of the proposals calls for acquiring land
and building regional attenuation facilities designed to retain the stormwater
which is polluting the River. Researchers at the University of Florida
estimate this proposal will bring a net gain of more than $350 million a
year to South Florida's economy.
I am very impressed by the dedication and local support this project has
received from the community. Many of you may recall, representatives
from the St. Lucie River Initiative, a group of public and private entities
committed to saving the River, came to Washington last fall documenting
the River's critical condition and supporting this proposal as the most viable
solution for its recovery.
The Corps must now conduct a feasibility study to determine the best way
to restore and protect the St. Lucie River. It disturbs me that while the
Army Corps of Engineers, the Environmental Protection Agency, the South
Florida Water Management District and various other federal and state
agencies have already spent millions of taxpayer dollars to study this
problem, the Feasibility Study to determine the solution is still expected to
take years. This means actual construction would not begin until well
beyond the year 2000.
590
Page 3
It doesn't surprise me that we have to undertake another bureaucratic maze
before we can actually begin the restoration process, because that's the
way Washington works. But the citizens of St. Lucie and Martin counties
who have devoted countless hours to this project are tired of waiting. The
River's decline will only worsen as we wait for yet another study to be
completed. In the meantime, the local community will continue to suffer a
financial and environmental loss.
I understand there are official procedures and policies that must be
followed, but I hope there is some way the Corps can expedite this process
to prevent the further degradation of the St. Lucie River. I ask the
Subcommittee's consideration in recognizing the need for a solution today,
not years of more studies.
FT. PIERCE BEACH SHORE PROTECTION PROJECT
Next, I would like to discuss the Fort Pierce Beach located in St. Lucie
County and submit a written statement for this project on behalf of the St.
Lucie County Commission. The County has requested $3.3 million for the
Ft. Pierce Shore Protection Project which encompasses 1 .3 miles of
beachfront south of the federally maintained navigation inlet in the Fort
Pierce Harbor. The County is also requesting $200,000 in construction
funds for a General Reevaluation Report to expand the project length from
1 .3 miles to 2.3 miles and $100,000 for a Reconnaissance study of the
southern most County shoreline which is also impacted by the inlet.
Last year, this Subcommittee found it appropriate to include report
language in the Appropriations bill urging the Corps to expedite the final
approval of the 934 Study. However, the Senate removed this language
during Conference. As you may recall, St. Lucie County has worked in
partnership with the State of Florida and the Army Corps of Engineers since
the 1960's to restore and maintain this beach. As a direct result of the
Fort Pierce Harbor federal project, beach erosion has severely diminished
the shoreline at least 2.3 miles south of the Inlet. Therefore, a 934 Study
was initiated to extend the time frame of federal responsibility to 50 years.
The 934 Study was initiated nearly 4 years ago and is still waiting for the
official approval from the Corps, which has been delayed because of the
Administration's proposed policy concerning federal participation in new
beach renourishment projects. The County decided to expend $250,000 of
nonreimbursable funds, years before the Administration's proposed policy,
on behalf of the Corps to expedite the beach renourishment project.
591
Page 4
I want to reiterate that the County has voluntarily spent a quarter of a
million dollars of its own funds on this project which will not be
reimbursed. While the Administration has initiated a proposed policy with
regards to the federal government's role in new beach renourishment
projects, I must again emphasize that this has been an ongoing project and
I am hopeful the Corps will approve the 934 Study and move forward on
this project.
PORT OF FT. PIERCE
I would now like to discuss the Port of Fort Pierce. By way of background,
the Army Corps of Engineers recently completed dredging in the Port of Ft.
Pierce in September, 1995. The Port's current dimensions are 28 feet
deep with a 250 foot wide channel. The Port was deepened to 28 feet as
the result of a 1984 Feasibility Report conducted by the Corps.
Today, however, a minimum depth of 32 feet for the Port of Ft. Pierce is
necessary to accommodate the increasing demand for Florida citrus
products internationally. The counties in the area, which include St. Lucie,
Indian River and Martin Counties, have 228,000 acres of citrus, one third
of the Florida crop, with a $2 billion direct and indirect economic impact.
St. Lucie County is now the top citrus producing county in Florida.
Therefore, exporters are faced with significant costs of shipping products
from ports not readily accessible to the region. Deepening the channel at
the Port of Ft. Pierce would greatly enhance the exporting capability in the
region and have an enormous positive impact on the local and state
economy. In fact, it could expand shipment to an estimated one million
tons annually. According to a 1991 Economic Development Analysis for
the Port of Ft. Pierce, this could bring an additional 386 jobs, $8.3 million
in wages and $27 million in output to the area. This would clearly
strengthen St. Lucie County's economy, which had the third highest
unemployment rate in Florida at 16 percent for September, 1995 - three
times the state average.
In the next couple of weeks, the House Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee will be considering a survey resolution to authorize this project.
Pending action by the authorizing Committee, I would like to request
$150,000 for a Reconnaissance Study, the general amount needed by the
Army Corps to begin the first phase of this project.
Page 5
As I have illustrated, deepening the Port of Ft. Pierce would greatly
enhance the city's ability to export products to expanding foreign markets.
I have enclosed letters of support and relevant information on this project
with my testimony.
Finally, I am also submitting written testimony from County Commissioner
Ken Foster on behalf of Palm Beach County for the Jupiter/Carlin Shore
Protection project and a request by the State of Florida for $750,000 to
continue the second phase of the Coast of Florida Erosion and Storm
Effects Study.
Mr. Chairman, it is my hope the Subcommittee will find favor with the
projects I have discussed. Each of these projects are critical to District
Sixteen's continued economic development and the preservation of our
pristine environment. I want to thank the Subcommittee for your previous
consideration last year and respectfully request your continued support for
full funding for these projects. Thank you very much.
Mark Foley
Sixteenth Congressional District of Florida
FY97 Energy and Water Subcommittee Appropriations Requests
Funding Request
1. Fort Fierce Beach Shore
Protection
$3,304,800 (Construction)
$200,000 (6RK)
$100,000 (Reconnalssjince Study)
2. Fort o£ Ft. Pierce
$150,000 (Reconnaissance Study)
3. Coast of Florida Erosion
and Storm Effects Study
$750,000
GRR: General Reevaluatlon Report
St. Lucie River Initiative
The St. Lucie River, the largest tributary to the Indian River Lagoon,
has experienced severe deterioration and habitat degradation due to
federally built canals which drain into the River. These canals
disrupt the natural flow of water into the River, in some instances
dunging up to 10 times the harmful level of fresh %rater and sediments
into the estuary. The rapid changes in salinity levels has produced
an accumulation of sediments and flocculent ooze on the bottom of the
River that has destroyed the marine ecosystem. The Corps is beginning
a Feasibility Study to determine the best way to restore and protect
the St. Lucie River. It is critical that the Corps expedite this
process to prevent further financial and environmental loss to the
community.
Fort Pierce Beach Shore Protection Pro j ect
Funding Request: $3,304,8000 (Construction)
$200,000 (General Reevaluation Report)
$100,000 (Reconnaissance Study)
It is also critical that the Corps pra(iq>tly approves the 934 Study for
Fort Pierce Beach. This study, which was initiated nearly 4 years
ago, would extend the time frame of federal responsibility for the
beach erosion ijnpact South of the Fort Pierce Inlet to 50 years.
Under the Corps recommendation, the County voluntarily esqpended
$250,000 of its o%m money to expedite construction of this project.
Without timely approval from the Corps, construction of the project
will be further delayed. Once the 934 Study is officially approved,
construction funds will be used to continue the Beach Protection
Project} to begin a 6RR to expand the project length from 1.3 to 2.3
miles; and to begin a Reconnaissance Study of the southern most County
shoreline which has been i]q>acted by the inlet.
P ort of Fort Pierce
Funding Request: $150,000 (Reconnaissance Study)
The Army Corps of Engineers coavleted dredging in the port of Ft.
Pierce in September, 1995. The Port's current dimensions are 28 feet
deep with a 250 foot wide channel. The Port was deepened to 28 feet
as a result of a 1984 Feasibility Report. Today, a minimum depth of
32 feet is necessary to accommodate the increasing demand for Florida
citrus products internationally. Pending action by the authorizing
Committee on a survey resolution to authorize this project, funds will
be used to conduct a Reconnaissance Study to deepen the Port.
595
Page 2
Coast of Florida Erosion and Storm Effects Study
Funding Request: $750,000
The Coast of Florida Erosion and Storm Effects Study is a statewide
study of the status suid dynamics of coastal process affecting
Florida's beaches. The Coast of Florida, which includes 800 miles of
high-quality beaches, is an extremely valuable natural resource. The
damage caused by hurricanes on Florida's central and northern coast in
1985 and 1996 and the lower east coast in 1992 validates the need for
the study which provides information for coastal resource managements
on a regional basis. The first phase of the study covered 92 miles of
shoreline in Palm Beach, Broward and Dade counties. The second phase
of the study is covering Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River ajid Brevard
counties. There will be five phases in all.
REGIONAL ATTENUATION FACILITY TASK FORCE
STUDY AREA
MAP 1
597
Congrc£(£( of ttje ^niteb States;
Ma£t)ington. 1B€ 20515
December 18, 1995
The Honorable Bud Shuster
Chairman
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
2165 Rayburn HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Chairman Shuster:
We are writing to request your Committee's consideration and adoption
of a survey resolution to authorize a study for the deepening of the
Port of Fort Pierce, Florida.
By way of background, the Army Corps of Engineers recently completed
dredging in the Port of Ft. Pierce in September, 1995. The Port's
current dimensions are 28 feet deep with a 250 foot wide channel. The
Port was deepened to 28 feet as the result of a 1984 Feasibility
Report conducted by the Corps.
Today, however, a minimum depth of 32 feet for the Port of Ft. Pierce
is necessary to accommodate the increasing demand for Florida citrus
products internationally. The counties in the area, which include St.
Lucie, Indian River and Martin Counties, have 228,000 acres of citrus,
one third of the Florida crop, with a $2 billion direct and indirect
economic impact. St. Lucie County, where the Port of Ft. Pierce is
located, is now the top citrus producing county in Florida. Over
500,000 tons, 80 percent of fresh citrus produced in this region, is
exported to Europe and Japan. Most of this is within 20 miles of the
Port of Ft. Pierce, however, only about 50,000 tons can be shipped
from Ft. Pierce.
Therefore, exporters are faced with significant costs of shipping
products from ports not readily accessible to the region. This
requires trucking long distances which adds significant transportation
costs, increases burdens on roads, increases fuel consumption and
emissions, and reduces shelf life of perishable products. Deepening
the channel at the Port of Ft. Pierce would greatly enhance the
exporting capability in the region and have an enormous positive
impact on the local and state economy.
Page 2
Deepening the Port to 32 feet could expand shipment to an estimated
one million tons annually. According to a 1991 Economic Development
Analysis for the Port of Ft. Pierce, this could bring an additional
386 jobs, $8.3 million in wages and $27 million in output to the area.
This would clearly strengthen St. Lucie County's economy, whidh had
the third highest unemployment rate in Florida at 16 percent fo^r
September, 1995 - three times the state average.
We respectfully urge your favorable consideration of a survey
resolution for the Port of Ft. Pierce. As we have illustrated,
deepening the Port of Ft . Pierce would greatly enhance the city ' s
ability to export products to expanding foreign markets.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. Attached you
will find a proposed survey resolution and correspondence from city
officials cind local businesses in support of this proposed project.
If you need any additional information, do not hesitate to contact us
directly.
L^tt^^>6/
sincerely.
Connie Mack
U.S. Senator
^^^^O C^f^.^Zr^'^^-^j-
Bob Grciham
U.S. Senator
Xlcee Hastings f
Member of Congress
599
Congre£(£( of tfie Winitth Matti
maOtinqton. S£ 20515
RESOLUTION
Resolved by the Committee on Treinsportation and Infrastructure of the
United States House of Representatives, That the Secretary of the Army
is requested to review the report of the Chief of Engineers dated 14
December 1984, as authorized in PLlOO-676, cind other pertinent reports
to determine whether modifications of the recommendations contained
therein are adviscible at the present time, with particular reference
to providing channel dimensions in Fort Pierce Harbor, Florida in
order to meet present and anticipated recjuirements of
deep-draft commercial navigation.
600
6S. XXreZB COUHTZ
PORT XtrO AIRPORX ADTHORXXY
KESOLtTlOn HO. 95-12
A. RE80I.IITX012 RBQOESTIHG
SO EHABZ£ XHS U.S. ASXI
PORT or FORT PIKRCE TO
AUTHORISED 28 FEET
SEE COHOBESS OF TEE OHITED STATES
CORPS OF EHGIHEERS TO DEEPEtf THE
i. DEPTH OHEATER THAU THE CURRStfTLT
«h«reaB, the St. Laeie
5. In 1969 the Senate
County Port and Airport Authority hat
made the following deteminftions
1. The Port of Fort Pierce is one of fourteen deep-wate^
Btate ports so designated br Florida Statute 403
2. The Port of Fort ^Lerce hae been a federally aalntainec.
port sinoe 1935.
3. The last increases In channel width and depth were made ii>
1938, resulting in an inteprior channel width of 200 feet and i.
depth of 25 feet
4. Local interests detitioned the Congress o£ the United
States in 1968 requesting iEprovements to the port
Poblic Works Committee authorised th^
U.S. Amy Corps of Engineers to study the feasibility of makinj
improvements to the Fort oi Fort Pierce and make rcconmnndationp
based on the study
6. The 1984 Corps of Engineers Feasibility Report concludeji
that deepening the port to 26 feet, 28 feet, 30 feet, 32 feet, 34
feet, or 36 feet are all economically feasible.
7. The 1984 Feasibilily Report recommended a depth of 28 feejt
based on the highest oo^t-benefit ratio of the altemative|fi
considered.
601
6. The 100th Congress
cltms and acagoaite In
laported connnodity into a
In the 1988 Wate£ Resources Development.
Act, Publia Law 100-676, ai^horlzed the project reoommaaded in tlje
Feaailillity Report.
9. The 1984 cost-benefit ratio was based on the BOTremcnta <if
:he port. Cement is now a regularly
lew waterfront facility.
10. The cost estimate: by the Corps of Engineers in their 19 U
Final Navigation Study to <[eepen the Port of Fort Pierce to 28 feit
is $9,201,100.00, vith a i oaitive cost-benefit ratio of 1.8 to 1.
11. The majority of \ ho contract for the Port of Fort Pierce
Project has been awarded Ui Great Lakes Dredge and Docic Con^taiy.
After the last contract i ;«ffl has been negotiated and ^vnrded, the
Coxrps of Engineers believes the total project cost will be well