A dry dock is a narrow basin constructed near the shoreline that can be flooded to allow a vessel to navigate in, then drained to allow a vessel to come to rest on a dry platform. The proposed dry dock would be large enough to fit current and future classes of ships, submarines, and aircraft carriers, and would be designed and built to serve multiple missions, and therefore would be classified as a Multi-Mission Dry Dock
The Navy expects construction of all the components under either Alternative 2 or Alternative 3 to take 15 years.
The Navy is considering a No Action alternative, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act, and two action alternatives. Under Alternative 2, which is the Navy’s preferred alternative, the Navy is proposing to build the Multi-Mission Dry Dock at Dry Dock 3. Under Alternative 3, the Navy is proposing to build the Multi-Mission Dry Dock at Mooring A.
The Navy is still developing cost estimates for both action alternatives as plans continue to develop.
A multi-mission dry dock constructed at Dry Dock 3 would be a pressure-relieved dry dock built out of concrete. This type of dry dock includes a system of drains and dewatering pumps that would reduce water pressure on the structure’s exterior surfaces. Construction of a multi-mission dry dock at Dry Dock 3 would occur in a dry environment.
A multi-mission dry dock built at Mooring A would be a hydrostatic dry dock. The walls and floor of this dry dock would be significantly thicker and heavier than a dry dock built at the Dry Dock 3 location. The heavy weight of this dry dock structure would resist external water pressure forces without a separate groundwater pressure relief system. Additionally, construction of a multi-mission dry dock at Mooring A would require in-water construction.
The Navy identified Alternative 2 (building the Multi-Mission Dry Dock at Dry Dock 3) as the preferred alternative because it would have fewer impacts than Alternative 3 (building the Multi-Mission Dry Dock at Mooring A), based on comparison of dredge areas, in-water fill, and net increase in overwater cover. Additionally, Dry Dock 3 is currently too small to allow reliable docking for any of the Navy’s currently commissioned nuclear-powered vessels.
Constructing the Multi-Mission Dry Dock at Mooring A would require more dredging to create a turning basin and add more fill to Sinclair Inlet than building it at Dry Dock 3. Additionally, as construction of the Multi-Mission Dry Dock at Mooring A would require more extensive in-water construction than building it at Dry Dock 3, there would be a higher potential for impacts from hazardous materials and waste during construction.
As part of the Draft EIS process, the Navy evaluated potential impacts of construction and operation on traffic, including parking. During construction, increased traffic traveling to and from Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton and Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor is anticipated, in addition to an increased demand for parking within the City of Bremerton. However, traffic impacts could be mitigated by adjusting construction shift times to off-peak hours and using traffic control flaggers. Following completion of the proposed action, traffic would return to pre-construction levels.
Yes, the Draft EIS evaluates potential environmental impacts of construction and operation of the proposed action alternatives.
The EIS analyzes measures that would avoid, minimize, or mitigate environmental effects. Environmental issues and resource areas examined in the EIS include Air Quality, Water Quality, Geological Resources, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, American Indian Traditional Resources, Land Use and Recreation, Visual Resources, Noise, Infrastructure and Utilities, Transportation and Traffic, Marine Navigation, Public Health and Safety, Hazardous Materials and Waste, and Socioeconomics.
Additionally, the Navy is conducting all coordination, consultation, and permitting activities required by the Clean Water Act, Rivers and Harbors Act, Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, National Historic Preservation Act, Coastal Zone Management Act, and other applicable laws and regulations.