ClientU.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District

Completion date2009

Services provided • Data management and

spatial data analysis

• Economic and social analysis

• Environmental and ecosystem restoration

• Environmental impact analysis

• Evaluation of water distribution and wastewater facilities

• Flood control and hurricane protection

• Navigation/recreation

• Planning

• Public outreach and coordination

IDIQ Contract for General Environmental ServicesGalveston, Texas

Atkins has been supporting civil works projects for the USACE Galveston District (SWG) for 24 years. The current contract is the ninth consecutive indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract for general environmental services awarded to Atkins by SWG since 1984. For these contracts, Atkins acts as an extension of Galveston District staff, conducting all environmental services needed to assist SWG projects. Task orders assigned to Atkins have included:

• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental assessments (EA).

• NEPA environmental impact statements (EIS).

• Hazardous, toxic, and radioactive waste (HTRW) site evaluations.

• Terrestrial and aquatic cultural and archeo-logical site assessments.

• Hydrographic site assessments.

• Biological site assessments and toxicity evaluations.

• Wetlands delineation and support for wet-lands value assessments (WVA).

• Water and sediment quality analysis and evaluations.

• Socioeconomic evaluations (including recreation and aesthetics).

• Air emissions estimates and general con-formity compliance documentation.

• Coordinated preparation of NEPA com-pliance documents and SWG feasibility reports.

As required, Atkins has assisted with devel-opment of physical, socioeconomic, and biological background information for project reconnaissance through feasibility, includ-ing preparation of full NEPA documentation and assistance with findings of no significant impact (FONSI) and records of decision

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(ROD). On projects for which Atkins has not been intimately involved with preparation, our staff has provided indepen-dent technical reviews of the NEPA documents. As a result of Atkins’ efforts on this and preceding contracts, Atkins was recognized in 2003 with a Galveston District Commander’s Award for Public Service. Under the current contract, now in its fifth year, we have been awarded 58 task orders (TO) for a total fee of $3.4 million. Highlights of our work are pro-vided in the following paragraphs.

NEPA Documentation Under the current SWG Environmental Services IDIQ con-tract, Atkins has prepared multiple NEPA compliance docu-ments for the Galveston District. To support these efforts, Atkins created a geographic information system (GIS) data-base to store the required environmental, cultural resources, and socioeconomic data in a georeferenced format for the Galveston District. The following descriptions detail the EISs Atkins has prepared under the current IDIQ contract:

Sabine-Neches Waterway Channel Improvements EIS SWG has undertaken a navigation study within the existing Sabine-Neches Waterway (SNWW) system to determine the feasibility of modifying the shipping channels to better serve commercial navigation in the ports of Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Orange, Texas. The SNWW is an approximately 64-mile federally authorized and maintained waterway located in Jefferson and Orange Counties in southeast Texas, and in the Cameron and Calcasieu Parishes of southwest Louisi-ana. The waterway is a system of navigation channels that have been superimposed upon the Sabine-Neches estuary in Texas and Louisiana. The estuary includes Sabine Lake, tidal portions of the Sabine and Neches Rivers, and a num-

ber of tidally influenced bayous and shallow coastal lakes. The existing SNWW is made up of seven reaches, from offshore in the Gulf of Mexico to upstream at the Neches River. The study area includes the water bodies of Sabine Lake and adjacent coastal wetlands and marshes in Texas and Louisiana, the Neches River channel up to the new Neches River saltwater barrier, the Sabine River channel to the Sabine Island Wildlife Management Area (WMA), the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) west to Star Bayou, the GIWW east to Gum Cove Ridge, and the Gulf shoreline (ex-tending 10 miles on either side of Sabine Pass and 35 miles offshore into the Gulf of Mexico).

As part of this General Investigations effort, Atkins prepared the EIS and assisted with applying the WVA ecological model for the feasibility study. This work entailed establish-ing the baseline ecological, physical, cultural, and socioeco-nomic conditions and performing impacts analyses of the various channel improvement alternatives. Atkins worked closely with an interagency (and interstate) coordination team (ICT), chaired by SWG, to assist in formulating and identifying mitigation measures through an incremental cost analysis for each alternative plan. Atkins’ EIS role included the following tasks:

• Preparing the biological assessment

• Performing the air emissions impacts analysis

• Assisting with preparation of the WVA Ecological Modeling Report

• Conducting nautical and terrestrial archaeological and cultural resources surveys

• Evaluating compliance with the Texas and Louisiana coastal management programs to ensure consistency with state policies

• Sampling and analyzing proposed dredged material for ocean disposal (including chemistry, bioassays, and bio-accumulation studies) in accordance with the SWG/Envi-ronmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 Regional Implementation Agreement

• Coordinating with the ICT to identify and evaluate cumula-tive impacts

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• Assisting SWG with agency, tribal, and public coordination

• Assisting SWG in responding to independent technical review and HQUSACE policy compliance comments

In support of the recommended plan, Atkins also performed the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA) Section 102 evaluation to designate four addi-tional ocean-dredged material disposal sites to receive both new work and future maintenance of dredged material.

Both the draft feasibility report and EIS are awaiting HQUSACE approval for public and agency review release. Atkins’ fee for this EIS effort was $427,000 (under multiple TOs).

Clear Creek Flood Damage Reduction General Reevaluation Study EIS Atkins is preparing the EIS to support the Clear Creek Flood Damage Reduction Study for SWG. The work entails provid-ing technical and research assistance to identify and assess impacts to the project area’s resources for use in the no-action and general reevaluation plan (GRP) alternative plans, and in the draft and final EISs. The GRP alternative includes both flood conveyance and detention features on Clear Creek and several of its tributaries. Evaluation of impacts included the follow-ing resources: air, noise, water and sediment, HTRW, aquatic and marine resources, essential fish habitat, terrestrial resources, threatened and endangered (T&E) species, wetlands and submerged vegetation, prime and unique farmlands, cultural resources, socioeco-nomics, and recreational resources. In addition, Atkins prepared the biological assessment, general conformity determination, 404(b)(1) evaluation, and coastal consis-tency determination to assess cumulative impacts and update the HTRW assessment.

Prior to this task order, Atkins supported the Clear Creek study through our previous SWG General Envi-ronmental Services IDIQ contract (1999–2004). Under that contract, Atkins provided technical support and completed a supplemental EIS for the Clear Creek Flood Damage Reduction/Ecosystem Restoration project in Brazo-ria, Galveston, and Harris Counties, Texas. Atkins gathered necessary data and prepared the original “Affected Environ-ment” section of the NEPA document, and completed other portions of the document: “Purpose and Need,” “Alterna-

tives,” “Environmental Impacts,” and “Compliance with all State and Federal Regulations.” All sections and appendices were assessed for consistency with the Texas Coastal Man-agement Plan, Section 404(b)(1), and for compliance with the Endangered Species Act. Atkins also provided techni-cal support to assist USACE with the project’s complicated alternatives analysis and ICT process.

Atkins and another firm gathered GIS and field data to conduct habitat assessments in accordance with National Ecosystem Restoration analysis requirements. The process involved closely working with the ICT to identify habitats of concern and potential restoration alternatives, and to develop Habitat Evaluation Procedures (HEP) variables. This information was used to quantify and qualify degrees of impact to habitats and benefits of restoration alternatives.

The preliminary draft EIS is complete and currently undergo-ing independent technical review. Atkins’ fee in support of the EIS was $635,000 (under multiple TOs).

Freeport Harbor Channel Improvement Project EIS Atkins prepared the EIS for proposed improvements to the Freeport Harbor navigation channels. Each alternative plan entails deepening and extending 14 miles of deep-draft navigation channels, starting at the Gulf of Mexico and ending upstream within the port of Freeport at the Stauffer

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Channel turning basin. Both a locally preferred plan (LPP) and national economic development (NED) plan were identi-fied during the formulation process, and their impacts were evaluated against the no-action plan and a future-without-project alternative, which included channel improvements proposed by a private party. Atkins provided technical and research assistance in identifying the affected environment and impacts to the project area’s resources for each alter-native channel plan. Atkins’ NEPA subject matter experts analyzed project-induced impacts to water and sediment quality; HTRW; terrestrial resources; T&E species; aquatic and marine resources and essential fish habitat (EFH); air and noise quality; socioeconomic structures (including recreation, aesthetics, and other quality of life indicators); and aquatic and terrestrial cultural resources. Atkins evalu-ated cumulative and environmental justice (EJ) impacts associated with the proposed plan and prepared the coastal consistency determination analysis and document and draft biological assessment. Atkins will also prepare the general conformity determination for the project.

The preliminary draft EIS is complete and currently undergo-ing independent technical review. Atkins’ fee for this EIS was $244,000 (under multiple TOs).

Sabine Pass to Galveston Island Shoreline NEPA Com-pliance USACE is partnering with Jefferson and Galveston Counties to conduct a multipurpose shoreline erosion feasibility study along the Texas Gulf Coast from Sabine Pass in Jefferson

County to San Luis Pass in Galveston County. This flood and storm damage reduction project is collectively referred to as the Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay, Texas, Shoreline Erosion project. The study area encompasses roughly 90 miles of Gulf of Mexico shoreline in Jefferson, Chambers, and Galveston Counties along the upper Texas coast from Sabine Pass to San Luis Pass at the western end of Galves-ton Island. The purpose of the project is to address the severe erosion occurring along this shoreline.

Along with supporting development of a comprehensive feasibility report (FR)/NEPA document for the project, Atkins provided technical assistance during ICT WVA model-ing workgroups. These meetings, hosted by the USACE Galveston District, included evaluating physical models to predict future-with and future-without project conditions conducted by U.S. Army Engineer Research and Develop-ment Center (ERDC) staff specialists to examine beach ero-sion rates, determine existing land-loss rates, and identify variables and target years for the WVA model. Atkins also provided a GIS database of baseline information for five resources likely to be included in the FR/NEPA assessment.

The affected environment NEPA compliance document was submitted, and additional FR/NEPA support efforts are under way. Atkins’ fee to date on this project is $78,000.

GIWW East Matagorda Bay Oyster Surveys Under a task order to determine the extent and percentage of living oyster resources within and beyond the open-water portions of three dredged material placement areas of the GIWW within East Matagorda Bay, Atkins surveyed approxi-mately 740 acres of open water for oyster habitat. The sur-veys were used to evaluate the impacts to oyster resources resulting from the discharge of dredged material. Atkins’ reported findings included the extent of oyster resources (both living and dead), and other suitable habitat conducive to the establishment of oyster populations. Atkins’ fee on this project was $53,000.

Section 227 Beach Profile Surveys Atkins provided technical and professional assistance to design and deliver beach profile and sediment grain size analyses data for USACE’s Section 227 Innovative Shore-line Stabilization Demonstration project in Jefferson County, Texas. The work performed under this TO consisted of recovery of existing survey control points, establishing new control points, and generating beach profiles, cross sec-tions, and offshore profiles. Atkins’ fee on this project was $35,000.

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Sediment/Water Quality Evaluations and Bioassess-ments Atkins has collected water and sediment samples for elutri-ate preparation and chemical and bioassay analysis prior to routine maintenance dredging in essentially all of the ship channels and other navigable waterways throughout the Galveston District and Gulf of Mexico. Under our current IDIQ contract, we have been issued a total of 25 task orders to collect and analyze dredged material for compatibility with placement at ocean-dredged material disposal sites and other sites. Atkins’ fee to date for this these evaluations is $1,015,000.

Atkins’ aquatic toxicity laboratory in Houston, Texas, is National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Confer-ence (NELAC)-accredited for the specific organisms and methods required by USACE for dredged material testing. The bioassessments, conducted for the Galveston District since 1979, and for the New Orleans District since 1996, include freshwater and saltwater bioassays and bioaccumu-lation studies. These tests have involved suspended particu-late and solid phase bioassays and bioaccumulation studies

on marine and freshwater species, including adult and juve-nile opossum shrimp (Mysidopsis bahia), Inland silverside minnow (Menidia beryllina), sheepshead minnow (Cyprin-odon variegatus), grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio), amphipods (Ampelisca abdita, Hyalella azteca), polychaete worm (Nereis virens), oligochaete worm (Lumbriculus var-iegatus), clams (Mercenaria mercenaria, Macoma nasuta), and midge (Chironomus tentans). Bioassays and bioaccu-mulation studies have been conducted on dredged material from all major ship channels in Texas and most of Louisiana, plus Ashtabula River and Harbor and Lake Erie, to satisfy conditions of the MPRSA and the Clean Water Act, accord-ing to protocols in the “Ocean Dumping Manual” and “Inland Testing Manual.” Two task orders under this contract were for bioassays, both for the Galveston District.

Cost/Schedule All projects under this IDIQ contract have been completed within budget and on schedule. Our award of nine consecu-tive contracts in support of SWG flood protection, naviga-tion, and environmental missions is testament to our ability to meet and exceed the project requirements and client expectations of this contract.

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