The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, revises schedule following public scoping for Enbridge Line 5 Tunnel permit application review.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in conjunction with the City of Sault Ste. Marie, the Sault Ste. Marie Convention & Visitors Bureau, the United States Coast Guard, the Lake Superior State University Center for Freshwater Research and Education and the Craft Show are planning the 2023 Soo Locks Engineers Day for June 30.

Regulatory Public Notices

LRE-1991-410101-L23

5/31/2023
Proposed Seasonal Recreational Structures in Lake Charlevoix at Horton Bay, Michigan

LRE-2014-00744-56-S23

5/26/2023
Proposed Structure Removal, Shoreline Protection Construction and Beach Restoration in Lake Michigan at Frankfort, Michigan

LRE-2023-00206-38-S23

5/1/2023
Proposed Mechanical Dredging and Dredged Material Placement in Lake Superior at Marquette, Michigan

Other Public Notices

Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact, Environmental Assessment, and 404(b)(1) Evaluation for Rehabilitation of Shore Protection, Duluth Project Office, St. Louis County, Duluth, MN

4/26/2023
The Detroit District is proposing to rehabilitate the riprap shoreline protection along the Duluth Ship Canal property immediately north of the ship canal and extending along the shore for approximately 200 feet. Part of the reconstruction work is below the Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) of Lake Superior (elevation of 603.1 feet IGLD 1985). Associated upland work includes installation of a steel sheet pile T-wall along the length of the revetment that connects to the City of Duluth’s T-wall, replacement of the existing sidewalk and reconstructing two existing storm drains.

Dredged Material Open Water Placement, Charlevoix Harbor, Charlevoix County, Michigan

4/14/2023
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Detroit District, proposed action involves maintenance dredging of the Charlevoix Harbor federal navigation channel with placement of the dredged material into ½ mile by ½ mile (160 acres) open water placement site located offshore of Charlevoix County, Michigan. See Public Notice linked below for details, including a Preliminary Statement of Findings (SOF) and a Clean Water Act, Section 404(b)(1) Evaluation Of the Effects of Placing Fill Material into the Waters of the United States. Other documents referenced in the Preliminary SOF are also liked below.

Fall Protection Around The MacArthur and Poe Locks, Bridge Anchor Points for Temporary Bridges Across MacArthur and Poe Locks and Handrails Around the MacArthur Lock Gates, St Marys Falls Canal (Soo Locks), Sault Ste Marie, MI

4/5/2023
TO: All INTERESTED AGENCIES, PUBLIC GROUPS, AND CITIZENS The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Detroit District, is proposing work at St. Marys Falls Canal (Soo Locks, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan). The work includes the following: adding additional fall protection at the MacArthur and Poe Lock chambers, installing bridge anchoring points at the MacArthur and Poe Lock chambers, and MacArthur Lock handrails replacement (Enclosure 1). This project constitutes an “undertaking” under Section 106 of the NHPA. This notice is provided pursuant to Section 800.6 of 36 C.F.R Part 800, Protection of Historic Properties, and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), 54 U.S.C. § 300101 et seq. A copy of this public notice can be provided upon request or can be reviewed online at http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/ by clicking on the link to “Other Public Notice” in the bottom left corner. Fall Protection for Soo and MacArthur Locks Chambers: During the navigation season, for any maintenance or inspection activities that require approaching lock chamber walls, the USACE personnel are required to wear safety harnesses, secured to mooring points to reduce the fall risk, per an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirement (OHSA 1917.112(b)(1) which requires a guard rail at least 43 inches in height near an opening. Line handlers cannot use safety harnesses during mooring activities, as it poses a risk of entanglement with the mooring lines. During the winter maintenance season, the USACE utilizes temporary plastic barriers around dewatered locks to reduce the fall risk. The USACE has determined that additional safety measures, such as guard rails or concrete walls, are needed along the MacArthur and Poe Locks to meet current OSHA standards. Additional safety measures would help reduce the risk of a person falling into an empty or filled lock chamber, or a person being crushed between a vessel and a lock wall (the railing/wall will also reduce or eliminate the risk of drowning).

Latest News Releases

Corps of Engineers revises Enbridge Line 5 EIS schedule to ensure thorough analysis
3/23/2023
DETROIT – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, revises schedule following public scoping for Enbridge Line 5 Tunnel permit application review. Enbridge Energy seeks authorization to...
Soo Locks to open March 25 for 2023 shipping season
3/16/2023
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, Soo Project Office will open the Poe Lock, 12:01 a.m., March 25, marking the 2023 Great Lakes shipping season start.The...
President’s Budget supplies $159 million for Corps of Engineers Detroit District
3/13/2023
DETROIT — The President’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) includes more than $7.4 billion in discretionary funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works program, with just over $159...

News Stories

New Lock at the Soo: Unlocking the Great Lakes
10/20/2022
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich., – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District works on unlocking the Great Lakes by providing a much-needed resiliency at the Soo Locks with the construction of the New...
ERDC, Buffalo District release dredged material guidance manual for Great Lakes region
9/2/2022
Researchers from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) Environmental Laboratory and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Great Lakes Districts — Buffalo, Detroit and...
Commitment to high-quality USACE bridge inspections
3/4/2022
Structural cracks, buckled or bent steel, visual fretting corrosion – these are the kinds of things at the forefront of a bridge inspector’s mind. Oh, and don’t forget to quantify the severity and...

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