Gulf Coast Deep Water Port Facilities Study. Environmental Assessment.

The Corps of Engineers asked Arthur D. Little, Inc. ADL to study the marine environment in all its pertinent dimensions, define dissimilar hydrobiological regions of the Gulf Coast, and rank the regions as to their vulnerability to deep-water port development. The scope of the study is broad and regional in nature, and not directed toward specific site selection. Geographically, the study encompassed the Gulf of Mexico from Brownsville, Texas, to Tampa, Florida the estuaries, shoreline, and open ocean and considered both local and Gulf-wide effects of deep-water port development. Technically, the study was limited to investigation and assessment of existing information on the biotic and non-biological resources and human activities within the area of concern. Under the terms of the contract, no new research or field studies were undertaken. To accomplish this task in a meaningful time frame, ADL sought local expertise from three groups of the Gulf area. The combined team researched the literature and current investigations and drew correlations to define dissimilar zones based on current environmental characteristics. Based on this existing environmental information, 27 dissimilar hydrobiological zones throughout the Gulf were defined, and are shown. Nine locations, currently under consideration, were ranked according to relative response to the environmental perturbations expected to result from deep-water port development. Author