SAVANNAH, Ga. - Officials from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today extended the deadline for submitting comments on the proposed deepening of the Savannah Harbor to June 5, 2012.

The Corps of Engineers released the Final General Re-Evaluation Report and Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS), April 11, with an initial 30-day comment period, which began April 20. Today’s announcement extends the comment period 15 days. The extension follows requests from the public and state resource agencies. These reports detail the proposal to deepen the Savannah Harbor from its current 42-foot depth to 47 feet deep.

The GRR-EIS study, authorized by Congress, reflects an extensive analysis of the engineering alternatives, environmental impacts, and economic costs and benefits of deepening the Savannah Harbor and shipping channel. Funded by the federal government and the state of Georgia, the study examined the characteristics of future international shipping fleets, current and future trade routes, and the capacity of the Garden City terminal on the Savannah River.

The final report recommends the 47-foot plan, which is also the "National Economic Development" Pl an. Signing of the Record of Decision—the final step in the process before construction can begin—is anticipated in late 2012.

The public can view the report online at http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/shexpan/Home.html

Comments can be submitted in writing to: Headquarters, US Army Corps of Engineers, CECW-P (SA), 7701 Telegraph Road, Alexandria, VA 22315-3860. The official closing date for the receipt of comments is June 5, 2012.