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6/24/2005 - ASPA SIGNS $10.8M CONTRACT -
CHOCTAW POINT CONSTRUCTION ON SCHEDULE
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The
Alabama State Port Authority (Port
Authority) continues its progress on
constructing a new container and
intermodal terminal at the Port of
Mobile. James K. Lyons, Director and
CEO of the Port Authority, signed a
$10.8 million contract this week to
provide site work for Stage 1
construction of the Choctaw Point
container terminal. Phillips & Jordan,
Inc., a Knoxville, Tenn., based
specialty services contractor, received
the nod to begin site stabilization and
land reclamation work on July 1. The
Phillips and Jordan division office, in
Robbinsville, N.C., is responsible for
work delivery.
With this $10.8 million contract in
place, the value of Choctaw Point
development and construction contracts
now totals $45 million. The Authority
plans a series of engineering and
construction contracts in 2005 and 2006
to further Stage 1 completion of the
container terminal by mid-2007.
Alabama State Port
Authority (http://www.asdd.com)
operates the State of Alabama’s
deepwater port facilities in Mobile,
Ala. The Authority directly employs 548
workers and its facilities handle more
than 24 million tons of cargo each
year. Alabama’s full service seaport
handles containers, breakbulk, bulk and
oversized and heavy lift cargoes. The
Authority’s proposed Choctaw Point
Terminal and its general cargo and bulk
facilities are located at the Port of
Mobile with immediate access to two
interstate systems, five Class 1
railroads, and nearly 15,000 miles of
inland waterway connections.
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3/17/2005 - ALABAMA SENATE APPROVES PORT
FUNDING - ALABAMA STATE PORT
AUTHORITY POISED TO LET NEW CONTAINER
TERMINAL CONTRACTS
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The
Alabama State Port Authority (Authority)
continues its progress towards
construction of a new container and
intermodal terminal at the Port of
Mobile. The Alabama State Senate late
Monday night approved an Alabama House
of Representatives measure (H.R. 134,
Rep. Yvonne Kennedy - 97th District
Mobile), to provide $80 Million to
assist in funding construction of the
Choctaw Point Terminal. The measure now
moves to Governor Bob Riley’s desk for
signature.
Delivery of the State of Alabama’s $80
Million commitment will partially fund a
total construction cost of approximately
$300 Million for the new container and
intermodal terminal, which is on
schedule to be completed by mid-year
2007. Funding for the project to date
has been derived from Port Authority
revenues. The balance of the project
costs will come from the Authority and a
private sector partner that will be
selected this summer. “The private
sector partner bids are scheduled to be
open in early July, and should position
the Authority to complete the project in
the first half of 2007,” said James K.
Lyons, Director and CEO.
In April, the Authority awarded a $22.3
Million contract to American Bridge for
construction of the terminal's wharf and
bulkhead. Bids are scheduled to be
opened on May 26th for the land
reclamation and site stabilization
contract. Other construction related
contracts will be placed out for bid
later in 2005.
The Alabama State Port Authority
received its environmental permits from
the US Army Corps of Engineers in March
of this year. The permits provide for
construction of a 2,000 foot deepwater
wharf, a container yard, an intermodal
container transfer facility, with
adjoining acreage designated for value
added distribution facilities. The
Choctaw Point Terminal, when fully
constructed, will provide container
capacity in excess of 600,000 TEUs with
expansion capability.
Alabama State Port Authority (http://www.asdd.com)
operates the State of Alabama’s
deepwater port facilities in Mobile,
Ala. The Authority directly employs 548
workers and its facilities handle more
than 24 million tons of cargo each
year. Alabama’s full service seaport
handles containers, general cargoes,
such as forest products, frozen meats,
and metals, oversized and heavy lift
cargoes, and bulk commodities such as
coal and cement. The Authority’s
proposed Choctaw Point Terminal and its
general cargo and bulk facilities are
located at the Port of Mobile with
immediate access to two interstate
systems, five Class 1 railroads, and
nearly 15,000 miles of inland waterway
connections.
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3/7/2005 - CHOCTAW POINT TERMINAL RECEIVES
FEDERAL PERMIT -
ASPA MOVES FORWARD ON CONSTRUCTION
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The Alabama State Port
Authority (Authority) moved one step
closer to providing Alabama industries
and economic development officials with
a much needed transportation system to
move containerized cargoes through the
Port of Mobile. The U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE) issued on Friday a
permit to construct a wharf, container
terminal and intermodal rail yard for
the proposed Choctaw Point Terminal in
Mobile, Ala. The permit also authorizes
project related dredge
and fill activities to
serve the deepwater container terminal
on Mobile River. In noting the
importance of Choctaw Point, Governor
Bob Riley said,
"A growing and vibrant
port is crucial to keeping Alabama's
economy on track. The expansion of the
container terminal will give Alabama
industries a better system to transport
their products and raw materials and
help them compete in today's global
economy. It will also help us recruit
new industries to the state that will
generate new jobs."
"This
announcement marks another positive step
in the creation of the intermodal
terminal and enlargement of the port
facilities," according to Alabama
Congressman Jo Bonner. "Numerous
officials at the local, state, and
federal levels, as well as many
individuals associated with the Alabama
State Port Authority, have worked
tirelessly to reach this point, and I
commend the Corps of Engineers for their
work in ensuring this permit application
was done in a thorough and timely manner
and with an eye towards minimizing as
much as possible the impact to the
surrounding wetlands area. The
intermodal facility will undoubtedly
yield immediate and positive economic
results once it goes into operation, and
it will be a key component of the
ongoing push to make the Port of Mobile
one of the most competitive
import-export sites anywhere in the
world."
The
USACE issuance of Permit #AL101-04269-L
closed out a three year, three month
environmental study process which began
with the Authority’s application to the
Corps and to the Alabama Department of
Environmental Management (ADEM) in
December 2001. A team led by Volkert &
Associates, Inc., of Mobile, managed the
environmental studies and public
outreach component for the proposed
project. Both the container terminal
and the intermodal rail yard propose to
unavoidably impact 24.5 acres of
wetlands.
Under the permit, the
Authority will create and enhance 56.6
acres of wetlands and tidal creeks in
the immediate area of the proposed
terminal to compensate for wetland and
water bottom impacts. N. D. “Skeeter”
McClure, IV, P.E.,
the Authority’s Project Manager for the
Environmental Impact Study (EIS),
expressed his appreciation for, “the
support and hard work of the cooperating
agencies for their efforts in evaluating
project related impacts and crafting the
mitigation plan outlined in the
Permit.” The Proposed mitigation plan
was developed under the leadership of
the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service with
contributions from ADEM, the
Environmental Protection Agency, U.S.
Department of Commerce National Marine
Fisheries Service, and the Alabama
Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources. “The Authority’s board and
management worked diligently with the
environmental resource agencies to
minimize impacts to the aquatic
environment. The resulting mitigation
plan will replace impacted wetlands for
the project with higher quality wetlands
rather than seek credits in some distant
wetland bank more commonly associated
with development projects,” advised
James K. Lyons, Director and CEO for the
Authority.
Also in
response to public inquiries and
comments obtained during the Draft EIS
public hearings and open written comment
period, the Authority committed to
providing neighboring communities and
the Mobile area with attractive bay
front access on Mobile Bay’s western
shore. In December 2004, the Authority
hired Spectrum and Associates to develop
the park’s master plan and to coordinate
public involvement in the development of
the recreational area, including a
public campaign to name the new bay
front park. The first public meeting on
the proposed park was held on February
22nd with nearly 100 citizens
and stakeholders in attendance.
The USACE permit defines the project as
consisting of a 2,000 foot deepwater
wharf, a container yard, an intermodal
rail yard, and acreage designated for
value added distribution facilities.
The Permit also provides for storm water
management, including the relocation of
the Tennessee Drain. The permit allows
for the Authority to move forward on
construction of the $250 Million
terminal and will facilitate ongoing
negotiations with private investors
interested in terminal operations.
Jimmy Lyons added, “The permit validates
the project and prospective investment
in the project. The Authority has long
sought a private investment partner to
supplement the State’s financial
commitment in 2000 and to attract a
world class player in containerized
cargo transportation and operations to
Alabama.” The $80 Million supplemental
appropriation bill to fulfill the
State’s commitment for the Choctaw Point
Terminal project cleared the Alabama
House of Representatives in a 96-0 vote
and is pending in the Senate.
Alabama State Port
Authority (http://www.asdd.com)
operates the State of Alabama’s
deepwater port facilities in Mobile,
Ala. Its varied facilities handle more
than 20 million tons of cargo each year,
including such general cargo as forest
products, metals, project cargo and
containers, and bulk commodities such as
coal and cement. The Authority is
currently in the initial phase of its
$300 Million development program port
wide which includes the proposed
container/intermodal transportation and
distribution center at Choctaw Point, a
$30 Million expansion at the coal
terminal, a $9 Million expansion at the
Pier E general cargo terminal and
ongoing investments associated with
security upgrades in conjunction U.S.
Homeland Security measures. The
Authority’s proposed Choctaw Point
Terminal and its general cargo and bulk
facilities are located at the Port of
Mobile with immediate access to two
interstate systems, five Class 1
railroads, and nearly 15,000 miles of
inland waterway connections.
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3/7/2004
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MILESTONES IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
STATEMENT FOR
ASPA'S CHOCTAW POINT TERMINAL PROJECT
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2/4/2003 -
CHOCTAW POINT TERMINAL PROJECT IMPACTS
MOBILE ECONOMY -
ASPA RELEASES STUDY
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Alabama
State Port Authority Board has voted to
approve $1.8 million in engineering and
consulting contracts as preparatory work
begins on its $240 million Choctaw Point
Container/Intermodal Distribution
Terminal. The Terminal is to be located
two miles south of the main docks on a
45-foot ship channel.
James K. Lyons, director and CEO of the
Authority, said, “These two contracts
are important steps in the development
of the Choctaw Point Terminal project.
The two companies are well qualified and
will help us in meeting our goal of
having the terminal operational by
2005.”
The Board accepted the recommendation of
the United States Corps of Engineers in
its selection of Volkert & Associates of
Mobile to prepare the environmental
impact statement (EIS) for the
Authority’s proposed Choctaw Point
Terminal. This contract is “not to
exceed $943,260.50”.
The second contract is to Moffatt &
Nichol Engineers of Long Beach, CA., for
$850,000, as part of that company’s
agreement to be program manager of the
entire project. Moffatt & Nichol has
just completed a strategic study of the
project that will be used as a guideline
for the development.
In the environmental impact study, the
Port Authority received 13 proposals in
response to its request, evaluated these
and interviewed nine firms. Three firms
were selected for submission to the
Corps, which picked Volkert. A team of
seven sub-contractors will perform work
and report to Volkert, which is
responsible for the permit application.
The time frame for completion is about
one year.
The scope of services document states
that Volkert will be in charge of
coordinating public involvement and
public outreach program; gathering
existing data on environmental resources
covering such subjects as wetlands, air,
ground and water quality; design
alternatives; environmental assessment
and consequences; construction
methodology, and environmental
mitigation and remediation. The firm is
responsible for preparing the document
and for program and project management
activities for the duration of the
contract.
Moffatt & Nichol was named program
manager of the entire project in June
2001.
Moffatt & Nichol’s work under this
recent authorization will include
primary design, continued marketing
assistance, assistance in selection of a
private sector partner, participation in
the selection of final design
consultants, and assistance in the
preparation of the environmental impact
statement.
“We’re excited about the Choctaw Point
project and our continuing progress,”
said Lyons. “The fact that the site
already has in place adjacent water,
rail and road infrastructure without
further investment is certainly to our
advantage. Our strategic study shows
that this location is ideally marked for
an early success. We look forward to
continuing to work with Volkert and
Moffatt & Nichol as we pursue this
goal.”
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5/30/2002 -
ASPA APPROVES PRELIMINARY CONTRACTS ON
NEW TERMINAL
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Alabama
State Port Authority Board has voted to
approve $1.8 million in engineering and
consulting contracts as preparatory work
begins on its $240 million Choctaw Point
Container/Intermodal Distribution
Terminal. The Terminal is to be located
two miles south of the main docks on a
45-foot ship channel.
James K. Lyons, director and CEO of the
Authority, said, “These two contracts
are important steps in the development
of the Choctaw Point Terminal project.
The two companies are well qualified and
will help us in meeting our goal of
having the terminal operational by
2005.”
The Board accepted the recommendation of
the United States Corps of Engineers in
its selection of Volkert & Associates of
Mobile to prepare the environmental
impact statement (EIS) for the
Authority’s proposed Choctaw Point
Terminal. This contract is “not to
exceed $943,260.50”.
The second contract is to Moffatt &
Nichol Engineers of Long Beach, CA., for
$850,000, as part of that company’s
agreement to be program manager of the
entire project. Moffatt & Nichol has
just completed a strategic study of the
project that will be used as a guideline
for the development.
In the environmental impact study, the
Port Authority received 13 proposals in
response to its request, evaluated these
and interviewed nine firms. Three firms
were selected for submission to the
Corps, which picked Volkert. A team of
seven sub-contractors will perform work
and report to Volkert, which is
responsible for the permit application.
The time frame for completion is about
one year.
The scope of services document states
that Volkert will be in charge of
coordinating public involvement and
public outreach program; gathering
existing data on environmental resources
covering such subjects as wetlands, air,
ground and water quality; design
alternatives; environmental assessment
and consequences; construction
methodology, and environmental
mitigation and remediation. The firm is
responsible for preparing the document
and for program and project management
activities for the duration of the
contract.
Moffatt & Nichol was named program
manager of the entire project in June
2001.
Moffatt & Nichol’s work under this
recent authorization will include
primary design, continued marketing
assistance, assistance in selection of a
private sector partner, participation in
the selection of final design
consultants, and assistance in the
preparation of the environmental impact
statement.
“We’re excited about the Choctaw Point
project and our continuing progress,”
said Lyons. “The fact that the site
already has in place adjacent water,
rail and road infrastructure without
further investment is certainly to our
advantage. Our strategic study shows
that this location is ideally marked for
an early success. We look forward to
continuing to work with Volkert and
Moffatt & Nichol as we pursue this
goal.”
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