DIKE 14 NATURE PRESERVE COMMITTEE

MEETING

 

TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

6:00 to 7:30 PM 

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS MAIN LIBRARY, Boardroom

2345 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights

 

The Boardroom is located on the west side of Lee Road on the second floor.

 

AGENDA

 

1.       Introductions, agenda review & approval

      

2.   Updates: Dike 14 & Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve (CLNP)        

 

Issues upcoming or unresolved

 

a.      Is the Port Authority quietly moving ahead with its plan for massive dredge material disposal at CLNP/Dike 14? Will the public be given an opportunity to review and comment on Port Authority plans calling for dredge disposal at CLNP/Dike 14?                   

 

b.      Is the Port moving ahead with its proposed CLNP natural resource & management planning committee without including stakeholders such as the Dike 14 NPC, despite our request for inclusion? Or has the plan for such a committee, which Dike 14 NPC has recommended for years, been abandoned?

 

c.      When will the Port apply to ODNR for a new submerged lands lease for CLNP/Dike 14?  We have corresponded regularly with ODNR to ask if the application has been submitted so that we may participate in the submerged lands lease process.

 

d.       What is the City of Cleveland ’s zoning designation for the CLNP/Dike 14?

 

e.       Is the Port moving ahead with the controversial remediation project at CLNP for which the Port submitted a questionable application to obtain federal grant money, and also failed to provide the public with adequate information about the project? 

 

3.  Cleveland Dredge Task Force meeting - January 8 

 

      For a report of the Task Force meeting held on Jan 8th SEE ATTACHED

      The date of the next Task Force meeting has not been announced.       

   Written comments on the Corps’ 2013 dredge plan for Cleveland can be sent to Ohio EPA by the end of business on Thursday, January 17.  

 

 The 2013 Cleveland Maintenance Dredging Project is described in Army Corps’ current Application for CWA Section 401 Water Quality Certification, which is

 available online at http://epa.ohio.gov/dsw/401/index/tabid/4734/LiveTabId/116428/Default.aspx

 

 

            Basically, the Corps’ preferred alternative dredge plan for 2013 is to remove 675,000 cubic yards from 23,300 linear feet of the Cuyahoga Ship Channel; but there is no money or disposal space for that amount of dredging.  The Corps’ minimum degradation alternative dredge plan for 2013 is to remove 225,000 cubic yards from 10,000 linear feet of the Cuyahoga Ship Channel. This plan would accomplish the basic objective of providing channel access to ArcelorMittal, which is located at the head of navigation, i.e. the furthest channel distance from Lake Erie . For this minimum degradation alternative plan, there is money and disposal space available. Disposal sites for 2013 are identified as Dikes 10B, 9 and 12, all located in the vicinity of Burke Airport . 

 

                  

 

The Ohio EPA provided an informational handout titled Recent Dredging History containing stats of the Corps’ dredging amounts in Cleveland during the past 15 years. SEE ATTACHED

 

                  

 Mail to: Ohio EPA, Division of Surface Water, attn: Permits Processing Unit, P.O. Box 1049 , Columbus , OH 43216-1049 .

 E-mail to: Chris [dot] Bowman [at] epa [dot] ohio [dot] gov" href="mailto:Chris [dot] Bowman [at] epa [dot] ohio [dot] gov">Chris [dot] Bowman [at] epa [dot] ohio [dot] gov or Ed [dot] swindall [at] epa [dot] ohio [dot] gov" href="mailto:Ed [dot] swindall [at] epa [dot] ohio [dot] gov">Ed [dot] swindall [at] epa [dot] ohio [dot] gov 

 Fax to: (614) 644-2745.

 

5.   Dike 14 Nature Preserve Committee          

 

  a.  Communications

 

1)     E-mail to Dike 14 NPC & Friends, Mark Your Calendars - Dec 1

   2)  E-mail to ODNR, Request for Records re Dike 14 & CLNP - Nov 15, Dec 29

                  3)  E-mails from ODNR, Response to records requests - Nov 23, Jan 7   

    4)  E-mail from Port, Notice of January 8th Cleveland Harbor Dredge Task Force meeting - Dec 5

   5) E-mail from Ohio EPA, Notice of January 10th Public Hearing on 2013 Dredge Plan - Dec 27

   6)  E-mail to Dike 14 NPC & Friends, Mark Your Calendars - Jan 1

                                  

                   b.  Meetings & events

 

1)      Port Authority Committee meetings - Dec 4

2)      Port Authority Board meeting - Dec 18

3)      Full Moon Hike at Dike 14 - Dec 28

4)      Task Force meeting - Jan 8

5)      Ohio EPA public hearing - Jan 10                                           

                                                                                             

6.  Discussion, Action, Next Steps

             

7.  Upcoming meetings

 

8.   Financial report  

 

9.   Schedule next meeting 

 

 

DIKE 14 NATURE PRESERVE COMMITTEE

MEETING

 

TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

6:00 to 7:30 PM 

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS MAIN LIBRARY, Boardroom

2345 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights

 

The Boardroom is located on the west side of Lee Road on the second floor.

 

AGENDA

 

1.       Introductions, agenda review & approval

      

2.   Updates: Dike 14 & Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve (CLNP)        

 

Issues upcoming or unresolved

 

a.      Is the Port Authority quietly moving ahead with its plan for massive dredge material disposal at CLNP/Dike 14? Will the public be given an opportunity to review and comment on Port Authority plans calling for dredge disposal at CLNP/Dike 14?                   

 

b.      Is the Port moving ahead with its proposed CLNP natural resource & management planning committee without including stakeholders such as the Dike 14 NPC, despite our request for inclusion? Or has the plan for such a committee, which Dike 14 NPC has recommended for years, been abandoned?

 

c.      When will the Port apply to ODNR for a new submerged lands lease for CLNP/Dike 14?  We have corresponded regularly with ODNR to ask if the application has been submitted so that we may participate in the submerged lands lease process.

 

d.       What is the City of Cleveland ’s zoning designation for the CLNP/Dike 14?

 

e.       Is the Port moving ahead with the controversial remediation project at CLNP for which the Port submitted a questionable application to obtain federal grant money, and also failed to provide the public with adequate information about the project? 

 

3.  Cleveland Dredge Task Force meeting - January 8 

 

      For a report of the Task Force meeting held on Jan 8th SEE ATTACHED

      The date of the next Task Force meeting has not been announced.       

   Written comments on the Corps’ 2013 dredge plan for Cleveland can be sent to Ohio EPA by the end of business on Thursday, January 17.  

 

 The 2013 Cleveland Maintenance Dredging Project is described in Army Corps’ current Application for CWA Section 401 Water Quality Certification, which is

 available online at http://epa.ohio.gov/dsw/401/index/tabid/4734/LiveTabId/116428/Default.aspx

 

 

            Basically, the Corps’ preferred alternative dredge plan for 2013 is to remove 675,000 cubic yards from 23,300 linear feet of the Cuyahoga Ship Channel; but there is no money or disposal space for that amount of dredging.  The Corps’ minimum degradation alternative dredge plan for 2013 is to remove 225,000 cubic yards from 10,000 linear feet of the Cuyahoga Ship Channel. This plan would accomplish the basic objective of providing channel access to ArcelorMittal, which is located at the head of navigation, i.e. the furthest channel distance from Lake Erie . For this minimum degradation alternative plan, there is money and disposal space available. Disposal sites for 2013 are identified as Dikes 10B, 9 and 12, all located in the vicinity of Burke Airport . 

 

                  

 

The Ohio EPA provided an informational handout titled Recent Dredging History containing stats of the Corps’ dredging amounts in Cleveland during the past 15 years. SEE ATTACHED

 

                  

 Mail to: Ohio EPA, Division of Surface Water, attn: Permits Processing Unit, P.O. Box 1049 , Columbus , OH 43216-1049 .

 E-mail to: Chris [dot] Bowman [at] epa [dot] ohio [dot] gov" href="mailto:Chris [dot] Bowman [at] epa [dot] ohio [dot] gov">Chris [dot] Bowman [at] epa [dot] ohio [dot] gov or Ed [dot] swindall [at] epa [dot] ohio [dot] gov" href="mailto:Ed [dot] swindall [at] epa [dot] ohio [dot] gov">Ed [dot] swindall [at] epa [dot] ohio [dot] gov 

 Fax to: (614) 644-2745.

 

5.   Dike 14 Nature Preserve Committee          

 

  a.  Communications

 

1)     E-mail to Dike 14 NPC & Friends, Mark Your Calendars - Dec 1

   2)  E-mail to ODNR, Request for Records re Dike 14 & CLNP - Nov 15, Dec 29

                  3)  E-mails from ODNR, Response to records requests - Nov 23, Jan 7   

    4)  E-mail from Port, Notice of January 8th Cleveland Harbor Dredge Task Force meeting - Dec 5

   5) E-mail from Ohio EPA, Notice of January 10th Public Hearing on 2013 Dredge Plan - Dec 27

   6)  E-mail to Dike 14 NPC & Friends, Mark Your Calendars - Jan 1

                                  

                   b.  Meetings & events

 

1)      Port Authority Committee meetings - Dec 4

2)      Port Authority Board meeting - Dec 18

3)      Full Moon Hike at Dike 14 - Dec 28

4)      Task Force meeting - Jan 8

5)      Ohio EPA public hearing - Jan 10                                           

                                                                                             

6.  Discussion, Action, Next Steps

             

7.  Upcoming meetings

 

8.   Financial report  

 

9.   Schedule next meeting 

 

 

  

__________________________________________________________________________________

The DIKE 14 NATURE PRESERVE COMMITTEE welcomes and is open to all persons and organizations interested in the conservation of the existing 88-acre Lake Erie coastal wildlife area at Dike 14, for the benefit of wildlife and people.  Diverse habitats at Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve (at Dike 14) provide essential sanctuary for significant numbers and diversity of migratory birds as well as refuge for nesting and resident birds and other wildlife.  Unique to Cleveland 's shoreline, this wildlife area provides the only quality habitat for migratory birds along 100-miles of urbanized Lake Erie coast between Huron and Mentor .  The Dike 14 Nature Preserve Committee advocates the preservation of Dike 14 as a nature preserve with judicious public access.  Since January 2001, the Dike 14 Nature Preserve Committee has functioned as a clearinghouse, an information source and a point of contact for Dike 14 issues.    

Barbara A. Martin, Chair, Dike 14 Nature Preserve Committee, 440-243-9070  barbaramartin2001 [at] juno [dot] com 

Bill Gruber, Vice Chair, Dike 14 Nature Preserve Committee, 216-371-3570  gruberwl [at] aol [dot] com   

Victoria Peterlin, Treasurer, Dike 14 Nature Preserve Committee, 440-221-2902