Project Information

Project Title

Barbours Cut Northside Expansion (BCNE)

Sector

Ports and Waterways

Port expansion or improvement undertakings or projects

Project Location

Location Type: Coordinates

• Latitude *: 29.688866
  Longitude *: -95.008086

Project Sponsor Contact Information

• Company Name/Agency: Port of Houston Authority of Harris County, Texas
  Project Sponsor: N/A
  Street Address 1 : 2960 Riverby Rd
  Street Address 2 (Optional): N/A
  City: Houston
  State: Texas
  Zip Code: 77020
  POC Name: Amy Gavin
  POC Title: Director, Channel Infrastructure Marine Regulatory Development
  POC Phone: 7136701017
  POC Email Address: agavin@porthouston.com

Alternative Point Of Contact (Optional)

Yes 

• Company Name/Agency: Port of Houston Authority of Harris County, Texas
  Project Sponsor: N/A
  Street Address 1: 2960 Riverby Rd
  Street Address 2: N/A
  City: Houston
  State: Texas
  Zip Code: 77020
  POC Name: Seth Danso
  POC Title: Project Manager
  POC Phone: 7136702647
  POC Email Address: sdanso@porthouston.com

Project Purpose

Through expansion of our existing terminal and channel infrastructure, the objective of the Barbours Cut Northside Expansion project is to deliver the infrastructure improvements necessary to handle projected container growth by constructing and upgrading terminal facilities, optimizing cargo‑handling operations, and ensuring the port can efficiently accommodate larger vessels and increased throughput within the national freight network. The new cargo terminal will include construction of (2) two new Neo-Panamax container vessel berths associated with on-terminal support facilities, an improved channel to allow these ship vessels to safely transit, and an improved turning basin and sufficient available area capable of supporting future expansion to meet future industry demands.

The project is inherently water‑dependent because its functions—container vessel berthing, loading, unloading, and associated maritime operations—require direct access to navigable waters. There is no practicable alternative that would meet the project’s objectives without a waterfront location with access to the navigation channel.

Project Description

The proposed project is located on Spilman Island in La Porte, Harris County, Texas. Two Federal navigation channels – Houston Ship Channel and Barbours Cut Channel — abuts the project location directly to the east, north, and south. Texas State Highway 146 lies to the immediate north and Lower San Jacinto Bay to the west. The project is co-located within an existing heavy industrial land use area with direct access to the federal navigation channel and linear transportation corridors needed to safely access and transport freight cargo. The proposed project would be located on a Port of Houston Authority owned parcel at the existing Spilman Island Dredged Material Placement Area under easement to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers along Barbours Cut Channel, Houston Ship Channel, and Lower San Jacinto Bay in Harris County, Texas. 

Major project activities include:
• Dredging and/or excavation of up to 66.81 acres in Barbours Cut including expansion of the existing Barbours Cut turning basin (34 acres), creation of 2 vessel berthing slips (15 acres) capable of supporting two (2) Neo-Panamax vessels, and creation of a 1.5-acre non-berthing vessel maneuvering area.
• Installation of a 3,200-linear-foot pile and concrete wharf landward edge of the new berth slips.
• Development of an approximately 318-acre terminal on the southwestern end of Spilman Island Placement Area.
• Construction of a new 135-acre Dredged Material Placement Area in Lower San Jacinto Bay.
• Modification of the existing Spilman Island Placement Area to a new, smaller Dredged Material Placement Area facility on North Spilman Island. Includes installation of a new 7300-linear-foot east-west containment berm within existing Spilman Island Dredged Material Placement Area.
• Disposal of land and construction of Dredged Material Placement Area replacement capacity.
• Construction of two terminal access roads (North and South) across Lower San Jacinto Bay; including upgrades to multiple off-terminal TxDOT roads within the SH 225 and SH146 interchange, and the creation of two property access driveways.
• Construction work associated with drainage channels, outfall structures, and movement of existing pipelines.

Geospatial resource information:
1. Geospatial Information: See attached figures and tables for geospatial information.

2. Marine Historic and Cultural Resources: The marine archaeological field survey did not identify any marine historical or archaeological resources based on field and dive observations and data analysis; no additional marine archaeological cultural resources investigations were recommended. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District approved the statement of work on September 25, 2025, and concurred with the no historic properties finding and no further work recommended on March 20, 2026. Texas Historic Commission concurred with the same findings on April 20, 2026.

3. Terrestrial Historic and Cultural Resources: Both the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Texas Historical Commission agreed that a terrestrial Phase I Survey is not necessary. By letter dated March 23, 2026, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers advised the Texas Historic Commission that no further investigations are justified. By response dated April 20, 2026, the Texas Historic Commission concurred with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers findings. 

4. Waters of the United States Aquatic Resources: See attached Table 1 for Aquatic Resources Delineated and Table 2 for Proposed Aquatic Resource Impacts. A wetland delineation report, supporting map figures and tables, and ORM Upload Form with associated shapefiles was submitted to the Army Corps Galveston District Regulatory Request System (RRS) on April 4, 2026, along with a delineation concurrence request.

5. Biological Assessment: A draft Biological Assessment has been developed and identified as proposed critical habitat. Waters of the Upper Galveston Bay area, including Barbours Cut Channel and turning basin and Lower San Jacinto Bay, are listed as proposed critical habitat green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) by National Marine Fisheries Services. 

6. Section 408: Approximately 950-acres of Spilman Island are currently under a 50-year easement (expiring in 2050) held by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a Dredged Material Placement Area. The Port of Houston Authority owns Spilman Island and is requesting the disposal of the remaining easement on approximately 594-acres to construct the proposed project. The Port of Houston Authority will improve the northern Dredged Material Placement Area section of the existing Spilman Island and will be providing additional Dredged Material Placement Area capacity at an off-site location.

Technical and Financial Ability

1. Technical Ability: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the lead federal agency for NEPA review, compliance, Section 408 actions, and Section 10/404 permit evaluation. As the lead federal agency, the Army Corps has determined that the project NEPA review will include an Environmental Impact Statement. The Port of Houston Authority will contract with a qualified consultant to fulfill the necessary obligations for the NEPA analysis and permit materials. The Port of Houston Authority has extensive experience successfully constructing container terminal expansion projects.

2. Financial Ability: The Port of Houston Authority will certify awareness of financial obligations and financial capability to satisfy the project obligations.

Summary of Financing, Reviews and Authorizations

1. Federal Financing: There is no federal funding for any portion of this project. The Port of Houston Authority will fund the environmental consulting, necessary studies, design, and construction of the project. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the lead federal agency for NEPA review of an Environmental Impact Statement prepared by a 3rd party contractor funded by the Port of Houston Authority.

2. Environmental Reviews: 
a. On March 20, 2026, the Port of Houston Authority submitted a Phase I Marine Archaeological Survey to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Staff Archaeologist and Texas Historic Commission. 
b. On April 10, 2026, the Port of Houston Authority submitted a Draft Public Notice, Aquatic Resource Delineation Report and ORM Upload Form, Permit Drawings and Figures, Engineer Form 4345, Agent Authorization Forms, and Right of Entry Forms through the Army Corps Galveston District RRS. 

3. Authorizations: As the lead federal agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has determined that authorizations and/or reviews are required from Army Corps Operations and Real Estate, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, and U.S. Coast Guard to complete the proposed project.

Project Assessment

The project qualifies as a covered project under FAST‑41 because it involves an infrastructure activity in the United States within the ports and waterways sector, requires a federal environmental review or authorization, and has a clear federal nexus. In addition, the project satisfies at least two qualifying Coverage Pathways, meeting the statutory criteria for FAST‑41 coverage, as described below: 

1. The project is in (42 U.S.C. §4370m(6)(A)) Ports and waterways industry sector.
2. Project Pathway Criteria
a. Standard Pathway (42 U.S.C. §4370m(6)(A)(i)):
i. Project is subject to NEPA 
ii. Project will require a total investment of more than $200,000,000
iii. Project does not qualify for "abbreviated authorization or environmental review processes" under any applicable law
b. Discretionary Pathway (42 U.S.C. §4370m(6)(A)(iv)):
i. Project is subject to NEPA
ii. Project size and complexity are likely to benefit from enhanced oversight and coordination, including (but not limited to) a project likely to require:
1. Project will require authorization or environmental review involving more than two Federal agencies (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Coast Guard); and
2. The project will require the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement under NEPA.

Project Resources

The following are attached to this email. If the list is blank the user did not upload any files.

• fig-1.overall-project-figure.pdf
• fig-2.green-st-pch.pdf
• table-1.delineated-aquatic-resource-types.pdf
• table-2.proposed-impacts-on-aquatic-resources.pdf

Form Submitter Contact Information

• Name: Amy Gavin
  Title: Director, Channel Infrastructure Marine Regulatory Development
  Work Phone: 7136701017
  Email Address: agavin@porthouston.com

Accept Agreement

Yes