The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has extended the public comment period for a draft report on deepening the St. Johns River to Sept. 30.
The Jacksonville District of the Corps is conducting the Jacksonville Harbor Deepening Study.
The St. Johns Riverkeeper has requested more time so the public could review the model and study.
In a statement Thursday, Riverkeeper Lisa Rinaman praised the district for the action, but said the "piece-meal approach puts us all at a disadvantage."
"However, the Corps is still working within an unrealistic timeframe, making it difficult to conduct an exhaustive and thorough analysis of this critical issue. I am also afraid that we, the public, will not have enough time to adequately review the numerous studies (that) have yet to be completed," she said.
The Corps said Thursday that should any new information become available after Sept. 30, it would be provided to the public and comments would be accepted.
The Jacksonville Port Authority has sought the river to be dredged to a depth of 47 feet, deeper than its current 40 feet, to accommodate larger post-Panamax ships. The expansion of the Panama Canal, which will allow those larger ships to pass through, is expected to be completed in 2015.
A May draft report by the Corps said the cost to dredge to 47 feet is $733 million, but its cost-to-benefit ratio analysis recommends dredging to 45 feet.
The Jacksonville Port Authority is required to fund the remaining two feet for about $384 million.
Brian Taylor, new JaxPort CEO, issued a response to the Corps extending the public comment period stating the "thorough, thoughtful community conversation" allows for "expediency yet flexibility."
"This extension illustrates that our partners at the U.S. Corps of Engineers appreciate, as we do, the critical role public input plays in the creation of a successful effort," he said in a statement.