SMART Planning and Deep Draft Navigation: Houston Ship Channel Expansion Channel Improvement Project

The Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact Statement for Houston Ship Channel (HSC) Expansion Channel Improvement Project (ECIP) was a four-year, $10 million effort which investigated improving deep draft navigation efficiency to accommodate larger vessels, reduce vessel traffic, and increase channel safety; planned dredged material placement; and established environmentally suitable dredged material placement areas. In partnership, the Port of Houston Authority (PHA), the non-federal sponsor, and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) followed the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Risk Informed, Timely) Planning process for development of the Final Integrated Feasibility Report (FIFR) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), including project scoping, alternative analysis, preliminary engineering, ship simulation, NEPA evaluation, and economic assessment. The paper provides an overview of the study process with respect to the HSC. One of the busiest seaports in the world, the HSC is a vital waterway connecting Houston’s industrial center to the world. As energy and manufacturing exports increase and vessel sizes grow, improving the channel is critical to sustaining national energy security, supporting domestic manufacturing growth, and expanding job opportunities.