 Kentucky Waterways Alliance (KWA)opposes the proposed construction of a shipyard and barge repair facility at the foot of Six Mile Island, on the Indiana side of the Ohio River. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is accepting comments, including emails, on this permit until the close of business on Thursday, March 28. The subject line of the email must be the Public Notice Number, which is LRL-1992-00532. The email must provide your physical mailing address and telephone number. To facilitate commenting Kentucky Waterways Alliance is providing a template email (below) that you may use as a resource to craft your own message.
About the project: An application has been filed with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to permit the project. This project would include construction of a 160x70 foot dry dock and the permanent mooring of four barges along the Ohio River. The applicant has also requested authorization to conduct regular maintenance dredging which will result in the discharge of 400 cubic yards of material annually for the next ten years into the river. The email template: Email Address: [email protected] Subject Line: LRL-1992-00532 I am submitting this email to formally oppose the proposed shipyard and barge repair facility planned at the foot of Six Mile Island, on the Indiana side of the Ohio River. This location is inappropriate based on risk to the preservation of Six Mile Island, the Ohio River, our recreational economy, and the physical health of Kentucky and Indiana citizens. Six Mile Island is a protected State Nature Preserve and habitat to many species of wildlife. The 85-acre island is noted for its variety of waterbirds, including Bald Eagles. This island was protected as a preserve so that it would be allowed to return to its original natural state. Additional barge and tugboat activity will create wakes that will further erode the sensitive banks of the island. Six Mile Island and the surrounding section of river serve as a beloved area for regional recreational boaters, including weekly sailboat races, families on motorboats, kayak and canoe paddlers, and even the Mary M. Miller Riverboat. There will be a negative impact to this important public recreation area used by thousands of Indiana and Kentucky citizens. The new facility is to be located approximately 50 feet upstream from a marine diesel fuel suppler. Adding more barge traffic near fuel barges carrying 600,000 gallons of diesel and hundreds of gallons of lubricating oils only 2.2 miles upstream from Louisville's drinking water supply intake on the Ohio River poses risks to the health of our community. I formally oppose this proposed project and believe that public hearings are in order with input from such organizations at the Kentucky Waterways Alliance, Ohio River Way, UofL’s Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, KY Fish and Wildlife, and the City of Louisville Metro Government. Sincerely, NAME ADDRESS |
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