On January 10, 1997, the State of Texas received federal approval of the Coastal Management Program (CMP) (62 Federal Register pp. 1439 - 1440). Under federal law, federal agency activities and actions affecting the Texas coastal zone must be consistent with the CMP goals and policies identified in 31 TAC Chapter 26. Requests for federal consistency review were deemed administratively complete for the following project(s) during the period of May 22, 2023 to May 25, 2023.  As required by federal law, the public is given an opportunity to comment on the consistency of proposed activities in the coastal zone undertaken or authorized by federal agencies.  Pursuant to 31 TAC §§30.25, 30.32, and 30.41, the public comment period extends 30 days from the date published on the Texas General Land Office web site. The notice was published on the web site on Friday, June 2, 2023.  The public comment period for this project will close at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 2, 2023.

FEDERAL AGENCY ACTIONS:

Applicant: Seahawk Shorelines System, LLC

Location: The project site is located in the Gulf of Mexico, at the Matagorda Ship Entrance, approximately 2.5 miles offshore from the Matagorda Peninsula jetties, in Matagorda County, Texas.

Latitude and Longitude:

Beginning of Pipeline: 23.388411, -096.289683

End Of Pipeline: 23.3909, -96.286783

Project Description: The applicant proposes to remove an approximately 1,300-foot section of an existing, out-of-service 24-inch pipeline from the eastern side of the Matagorda Ship Channel to the western side of the channel. The pipeline will be exposed, cut into 40- to 80-foot lengths, and manually removed from the channel and placed on a construction barge and removed. If dredging is required for pipeline removal, up to 12,000 cubic yards of material will be excavated by a barge mounted clamshell dredge, placed in a barge, and transported for placement in open water Placement Area (PA) 7. The ends of the remaining pipeline outside of the channel setback will be capped by a diver.

To avoid and minimize environmental impacts, a designated placement area will be utilized for project spoils. The contractor will closely monitor all excavation activities to ensure only the minimum amount of excavation is utilized to permit access to the pipeline using sonar survey equipment. Dredge spoils will be placed in an established PA-7, which has been used for dredge spoil discharge. This project will not disturb any known environmentally sensitive areas or cultural resources, per the Sampling, Chemical Analysis, and Bioassessment Report of Matagorda Ship Channel Improvement Project.  No mitigation is required because all impacts are temporary, and waters would be restored to pre-construction contours and elevations following completion of the activity.

Type of Application: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit application # SWG-2022-00397. This application will be reviewed pursuant to Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.  Note: The consistency review for this project may be conducted by The Railroad Commission of Texas as part of its certification under §401 of the Clean Water Act.    

CMP Project No: 23-1277-F1

Further information on the applications listed above, including a copy of the consistency certifications or consistency determinations for inspection, may be obtained from the Texas General Land Office Public Information Officer at 1700 N. Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78701, or via email at pialegal@glo.texas.gov. Comments should be sent to the Texas General Land Office Coastal Management Program Coordinator at the above address or via email at federal.consistency@glo.texas.gov.