ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
FOR INTRODUCING NON-NATIVE OYSTERE SPECIES
INTO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY
Contact: Mark T. Mansfield (757) 201-7764

AUTHORIZATION:  Section 510 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1996, as amended.

LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION:

·        The study area is the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland and Virginia.  The United States Congress, pursuant to the conference report to the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-137), has authorized the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, to develop an environmental impact statement for introducing non-native oyster species into the Chesapeake Bay and has indicated that during preparation of the environmental impact statement, the Secretary may establish a scientific advisory body consisting of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, the University of Maryland, and other appropriate research institutions to review the sufficiency of the environmental impact statement.  In addition, The United States Congress has indicated that the Secretary shall give consideration to the findings and recommendations of the National Academy of Sciences report on the introduction of non-native oyster species into the Chesapeake Bay in the preparation of the environmental impact statement.  The preparation of the environmental impact statement shall be cost shared 50 percent Federal and 50 percent non-Federal, for an estimated cost of $4,000,000. The draft of the Programmatic EIS was released to the public on October 17, 2008.

In addition, the United States Congress, pursuant to Conference Report 108-792 in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2005 (Public Law 108-447), expects the Corps, in conducting the Environmental Impact Statement [EIS] for introducing non-native oyster species into the Chesapeake Bay, to consider all alternatives, including restoration of native oyster species.  The conferees also expect that the EIS will address the research gaps identified in the National Research Council report entitled “Non-native Oysters in the Chesapeake Bay” and the Chesapeake Bay Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee report on the same subject”. The Commonwealth of Virginia and the State of Maryland signed a cost-sharing agreement with the Corps of Engineers in September 2005. Additional information can be obtained via: Link to Information.