Background/Purpose of Request:
There is a combined federal permit authorizing navigation channel dredging and sand placement from the shallow draft inlets between Bogue Inlet and the NC / SC line. The Town of Holden Beach is currently a party to that permit, commonly referred to as the SDI5 permit, allowing it to remove material from the Lockwood Folly Inlet channel, with placement on portions of Holden Beach. The Town of Oak Island has applied to become a party to the same permit, which would effectively give the Town authority to dredge material and place it on portions of Oak Island. The USACE has requested that the Town of Oak Island submit letters of support from other interested parties, which would include Brunswick County and the Town of Holden Beach. If both Towns are party to the permit, it would mean that the sand from future dredging projects would need to be allocated between the two beaches in a rational and equitable basis. The likely most cost effective way to allocate material placement would be by placement alternating between the islands on subsequent projects rather than placing sand on both islands in the same project, though there could be exceptions to the general rule. Any sand placement would be subject to applicable state and federal rules, which would include rigorous engineering analysis of the likely impacts of the dredge operations and sand placement. At this time we do not envision that the County would become a party to the permit, though it would continue to be at the Board's discretion as to whether or not it financially participates in any projects that are conducted under the permit authority. |