May 25, 2023 — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Honolulu District, in partnership with the American Samoa Department of Port Administration (DPA) is announcing the release of a Draft Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment (IFR/EA) which identifies a proposed plan for shoreline protection at the Ofu Airport in American Samoa.

The Draft Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment (IFR/EA) will be available here for review and comment from May 22 through June 21, 2023.
The public is invited to attend a meeting either in-person or virtually, Wed. May 31, 3 p.m. SST (or 4 p.m. HST) to discuss findings, ask questions and provide comments on the Draft IFR/EA.

The tentative plan will address coastline erosion at the west bank of the Ofu Airport located in the Manuʻa Islands, which is a part of American Samoa. Coastal erosion impacting the runway safety area has accelerated in recent years, because of tropical storms and king tides. Without emergency shoreline protection the damage could potentially impact air access to Ofu and Olosega Islands.

The Ofu Coastal Storm Damage Reduction Section 14 study is administered under the Flood Control Act of 1946, which authorizes USACE to study, design, and construct emergency streambank and shoreline works used to protect public facilities.

Concurrent with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review of this project, USACE is conducting a review under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and invites the public to comment on identification and impact to any historic properties.

A 30-day public comment period runs from May 22 through June 21, 2023.
Written comments may be submitted as follows:

E-Mail: CEPOH-Planning@usace.army.mil
Postal Mail: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Honolulu District
ATTN: CEPOH-PPC (Ofu)
230 Otake St.
Fort Shafter, Hawaii 96858-5440

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for delivering vital engineering solutions, in collaboration with our partners, to secure the nation, energize our economy, and reduce disaster risk. As the nation’s lead engineering and public works agency, we deliver quality projects, on time and within budget, – safely – for the American people.