On Oct. 30, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Texas General Land Office released the Coastal Texas Study, a $20.2 million study that has been ongoing since 2015 with the intent of identifying projects to protect the Bay Area from major storms.
The study calls for a $26.2 billion set of projects, which includes building gates between Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula; creating a ring barrier system of various defenses around Galveston Island; creating gate systems and pumps at Clear Lake and Dickinson Bay; creating miles of beaches and sand dunes along Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula; and conducting "nonstructural improvements," such as home elevations along the west side of the bay.
Originally, officials offered residents 45 days—or until Dec. 14—to submit feedback on the plan. Many environmentalists spoke out about this deadline and said it should be extended to allow more time for residents to read and understand the study and comment.
The new public comment deadline is Jan. 13, which means residents will have had a full 75 days since the study was released to comment on it, according to a GLO news release.
"Throughout the study process, public feedback is critical to understanding the needs and opportunities along the Texas coast," the release reads. "The intent of the public comment period is to receive ideas and concerns from the citizens of Texas. Constituent feedback is a vital part of this process. The Texas GLO and USACE remain committed to ensuring the voices of the people of Texas are heard."
To submit comments on the study, which can be found at www.coastalstudy.texas.gov, email [email protected]; call 409-766-3004; or mail a letter to Attn: Mr. Jeff Pinsky, Environmental Compliance Branch, Regional Planning and Environmental Center P.O. Box 1229, Galveston, TX 77553-1229.
