Availability of Final Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment (IFR/EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Ofu Section 14 Emergency Shoreline Protection Study, Ofu, American Samoa

PUBLIC NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY

INTEGRATED FEASIBILITY REPORT AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (IFR/EA) AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT (FONSI) FOR THE OFU SECTION 14 EMERGENCY SHORELINE PROTECTION STUDY, OFU, AMERICAN SAMOA.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Honolulu District, has finalized an Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment (IFR/EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Ofu Section 14 Emergency Shoreline Protection Study, Ofu, American Samoa. The IFR/EA and FONSI were prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 USC Section 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)(regulations published in 40 CFR Part 1500 et seq.), and USACE procedures for implementing NEPA published in 33 CFR Part 230. The non-Federal sponsor for the study is the American Samoa Government (ASG), represented by the Department of Port Administration.

USACE, in partnership with ASG, prepared an IFR/EA to evaluate the environmental impacts of emergency shoreline protection at the west end of the Ofu Airport runway. In accordance with NEPA, USACE published a Draft IFR/EA with a 30-day public comment period beginning 22 May 2023. Following public and agency review, the report was finalized and submitted to the Major Subordinate Command for review and approval. The Final IFR/EA was approved on 8 July 2024 and the FONSI signed by the Honolulu District Commander on 15 July 2024, thus concluding the feasibility phase.

The Recommended Plan presented in the IFR/EA is a 450 ft-long Tribar Revetment. The structure consists of a concrete toe, geotextile base, double layer of underlayer stone, and a single layer of 1-ton concrete tribar (interlocking) units. At a horizontal to vertical slope of 1.5 to 1, the revetment is expected to be 29 feet wide with a crest elevation of +13 feet above mean sea level. This design meets the USACE coastal engineering criteria for expected design life and adaptability to relative sea level change. At federal fiscal year (FY) 2024 price levels, the total project cost (fully funded) of the Recommended Plan is approximately $10.1 million.

The final IFR/EA and FONSI can be found on the study website.