CHARLESTON DISTRICT

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District to evaluate the effect of proposed projects on both the environment and human health and welfare.

An Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) are used when there is not a significant effect to the environment or human health and welfare. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is used when the effect is significant. A Draft EA and Draft FONSI are issued to state and federal natural resource agencies, stakeholder groups, and other interested parties for a 30–day comment period.

We evaluate all comments received prior to deciding to continue with the proposed project and finalizing the EA and FONSI. Below is a list of significant projects in South Carolina and their NEPA documents. If you are looking for documents for projects not listed below, please contact CESAC-PM@sac.usace.army.mil.

This project involves the construction of a regional wastewater treatment plant in Orangeburg County, South Carolina. The proposed project consists of approximately 31 miles of wastewater transmission lines and a wastewater treatment plant constructed adjacent to Goodbys Creek near the intersection of U.S. Highway 301 and U.S. Highway 176. The wastewater treatment facility will serve the wastewater needs of the adjacent Matthews Industrial Park, the proposed Jafza International logistics/distribution center near Santee, expected residential development in unincorporated areas of southern Calhoun County, expected commercial development at the intersections of Hwy 176/I-95 and Hwy 15/I-95, and some of the wastewater needs for the Towns of Elloree and Santee. The treatment plant facility will use a membrane bioreactor treatment system to achieve tertiary treatment standards. The treated effluent will be discharged onto upland drip disposal fields in the vicinity of the treatment plant. The Corps is working on this project in cooperation with USDA Rural Development, Lake Marion Regional Water Agency, and Orangeburg County

• Environmental Assessment Part 1 
• Environmental Assessment Part 2
• Environmental Assessment Part 3
• Environmental Assessment Part 4
• Environmental Assessment Part 5
• FONSI
• USDA's FONSI

The Charleston District has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) to cover maintenance dredging depths not addressed in the 1996 Feasibility Study and 1996 EA for deepening and widening Charleston Harbor. The 1996 Report/EA discussed dredging depths of 45 feet plus 2 feet of advanced maintenance and 2 feet of allowable overdepth (45+2+2). However, because of high shoaling rates, some sections of the harbor were dredged to depths of either 45 feet plus 4 feet of advanced maintenance and 2 feet of allowable overdepth (45+4+2) or 45 feet plus 6 feet of advance maintenance and 2 feet of allowable overdepth (45+6+2). The additional advance maintenance dredging allows the harbor to be maintained on a 12 to 18-month frequency instead of a 6-month frequency.

• Environmental Assessment
• FONSI

Environmental Assessment for the Grand Strand Storm Damage Reduction Project in North Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach & Surfside Beach, South Carolina in Horry & Georgetown Counties – Myrtle Beach and vicinity, known as the Grand Strand, is a major recreational and economic resource for the state of South Carolina. The main attraction to the Grand Strand is the coastal beaches. Despite state and local efforts to protect and preserve the beach resources, the problems of protecting existing coastal development from erosion and winter storm tides remain an extreme concern. The recommended plan involved the construction of 25.4 miles of protective beach on three independent reaches. All nourishment came from offshore borrow areas. These borrow areas are from 1.5 to 5 miles offshore from the beaches to be nourished.

• Environmental Assessment Part 1
• Environmental Assessment Part 2
• Environmental Assessment Part 3

This project involved the construction of a one million gallon elevated potable water storage tank and a wastewater treatment plant for servicing the proposed Matthews Industrial Park in Orangeburg County, South Carolina. The wastewater treatment plant meets tertiary treatment standards, and the effluent will be discharged onto nearby upland sprayfields. The Corps worked on this project in cooperation with the Lake Marion Regional Water Agency, Santee-Cooper, and Orangeburg County.

• Environmental Assessment
• FONSI

This project was the first periodic renourishment of the Folly Beach Storm Damage Reduction Project that was originally constructed in 1993. The purpose of the project was to reduce storm damage to structures and infrastructure on Folly Beach.

• Environmental and Biological Assessments

In 1996, Charleston District prepared a Feasibility Study and an Environmental Assessment to support deepening Charleston Harbor to 45 feet. These documents are available for download.

• Environmental Assessment
• Feasibility Study