Beneficial Use of Dredge Materials: Introduction to Dredging and Policy J. Bailey Smith US Army Corps of Engineers April 4, 2011

Outline National Dredging Program/Statistics National Dredging Program/Statistics Beneficial Use Overview Beneficial Use Overview Categories Categories Authorities Authorities Federal standard Federal standard Ongoing Efforts Ongoing Efforts RSM RSM BU Policy action items BU Policy action items US Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District

National Dredging Statistics About 25,000 miles of navigable channels About 25,000 miles of navigable channels ~12,000 miles are commercially important ~12,000 miles are commercially important ~900 federal channel projects ~900 federal channel projects ~200 to 300 million cubic yards of material are dredged annually by Corps and Industry ~200 to 300 million cubic yards of material are dredged annually by Corps and Industry 20 to 30 percent is used beneficially 20 to 30 percent is used beneficially

Beneficial Use The use of dredged material as a resource in productive ways such as environmental habitat creation, land development, and for construction and soil material products. The use of dredged material as a resource in productive ways such as environmental habitat creation, land development, and for construction and soil material products. Keeping a productive resource in the watershed system

Beach Nourishment (direct, indirect) Beach Nourishment (direct, indirect) Habitat (aquatic, wetlands, islands, upland) Habitat (aquatic, wetlands, islands, upland) Shoreline Stabilization & Erosion Control Shoreline Stabilization & Erosion Control Beneficial Use: Categories by Function

Construction & Industrial Construction & Industrial Fill (dikes, levees, parking lots, roads) Fill (dikes, levees, parking lots, roads) Parks and Recreation Parks and Recreation Agriculture Agriculture Cleveland

Brownfields and Mine Reclamation Brownfields and Mine Reclamation Landfill Cover and Solid Waste Mgmt. Landfill Cover and Solid Waste Mgmt. Beneficial Use: Categories by Function NY Harbor Dredged Material, Bark Camp

Long Distance Conveyance of Dredged Sediments

Federal Standard/Base Plan Defined in USACE regulations as the least costly dredged material placement alternative that is consistent with sound engineering practices and meets all federal environmental requirements (i.e. Clean Water Act and the MPRSA). Defined in USACE regulations as the least costly dredged material placement alternative that is consistent with sound engineering practices and meets all federal environmental requirements (i.e. Clean Water Act and the MPRSA). Base plan is the operational dredged material placement costs of the project associated with the the Federal Standard. Base plan is the operational dredged material placement costs of the project associated with the the Federal Standard.

10 Authorities to cover BU incremental cost above the federal standard Operations and Maintenance Program Operations and Maintenance Program Continuing Authorities Program (CAP) Continuing Authorities Program (CAP) Section 204 of WRDA 92, Beneficial use of dredged material Section 204 of WRDA 92, Beneficial use of dredged material Section 2037 of WRDA 07, Regional Sediment Management Section 2037 of WRDA 07, Regional Sediment Management Section 207 of WRDA 96, Beneficial use of dredged material (environmental benefits) Section 207 of WRDA 96, Beneficial use of dredged material (environmental benefits) Section 145 of WRDA 76, Placement of Dredged Material on Beaches Section 145 of WRDA 76, Placement of Dredged Material on Beaches Section 206 of WRDA 96, Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Section 206 of WRDA 96, Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Section 312 of WRDA 1990, Environmental Dredging Section 312 of WRDA 1990, Environmental Dredging Section 1135 of WRDA 86, Restoration of Env. Quality Section 1135 of WRDA 86, Restoration of Env. Quality Civil Works General Investigation Program Civil Works General Investigation Program HUD/Corps Brownfields National MOA (1997), and EPA/Corps Restoration of Degraded Urban Rivers MOU (2002) HUD/Corps Brownfields National MOA (1997), and EPA/Corps Restoration of Degraded Urban Rivers MOU (2002)

Issues Lack of clear regulatory guidance Lack of clear regulatory guidance Economics Economics Available technologies application Available technologies application Dredged material perceptions Dredged material perceptions Existing sediment management is unsustainable Existing sediment management is unsustainable Several authorities/jurisdictions Several authorities/jurisdictions RSM/BU framework lacking RSM/BU framework lacking

National USACE RSM Program California Coastal Sediment Management Plan California Coastal Sediment Management Plan Northern Gulf of Mexico Northern Gulf of Mexico SE Oahu SE Oahu Lower Columbia river Lower Columbia river Chesapeake Bay Chesapeake Bay North Carolina North Carolina South Coast, Rhode Island South Coast, Rhode Island Delaware Estuary Delaware Estuary

DELAWARE ESTUARY RSM WORKGROUP Delaware Estuary RSM RSM Workgroup RSM Workgroup Conceptualize sustainable regional sediment system Conceptualize sustainable regional sediment system Identify RSM/BU strategies/demonstration projects Identify RSM/BU strategies/demonstration projects Economics Economics Policy considerations/recommendations Policy considerations/recommendations Regional Dredging Team Regional Dredging Team Discuss ongoing dredged material management solutions Discuss ongoing dredged material management solutions Implement RSM/BU projects conceptualized by the RSMW Implement RSM/BU projects conceptualized by the RSMW

Steps to Facilitate BU Develop and implement a national guidance document that presents a framework for identifying, planning and financing beneficial use projects Develop and implement a national guidance document that presents a framework for identifying, planning and financing beneficial use projects Beneficial use of dredged material must become a priority Beneficial use of dredged material must become a priority Planning at the local level Planning at the local level Recognition that dredged material is a valuable resource Recognition that dredged material is a valuable resource Demonstrate/achieve improved beneficial use environmental, social and economic benefits Demonstrate/achieve improved beneficial use environmental, social and economic benefits Increase funding from all sources for individual projects and R&D Increase funding from all sources for individual projects and R&D

Steps to Facilitate BU “…selection of the least-cost disposal option for dredging projects should reflect a more accurate accounting of the full range of economic, environmental, and other relevant costs and benefits for options that reuse dredged material, as well as for other disposal methods.” “…selection of the least-cost disposal option for dredging projects should reflect a more accurate accounting of the full range of economic, environmental, and other relevant costs and benefits for options that reuse dredged material, as well as for other disposal methods.”

Summary Dredged material quantities Dredged material quantities 20%-30% beneficial use 20%-30% beneficial use BU Authorities do exist BU Authorities do exist Develop a National guidance document Develop a National guidance document Create partnerships Create partnerships Regional regulations (Vanessa Steigerwald, Ohio EPA) Regional regulations (Vanessa Steigerwald, Ohio EPA) Technology improvements (Scott Douglas, NJDOT) Technology improvements (Scott Douglas, NJDOT) Economics (Ken Elliott) Economics (Ken Elliott) Wrap-up (Amy Alduino, Ohio Dept. of Development) Wrap-up (Amy Alduino, Ohio Dept. of Development)

Web Resources Dredging Operations Technical Support Dredging Operations Technical Support Beneficial Uses of Dredged Material Beneficial Uses of Dredged Material Dredging Operations and Environmental Research Program Dredging Operations and Environmental Research Program Delaware Estuary RSM Delaware Estuary RSMhttp://

Beneficial Use of Dredged Materials: Introduction to Dredging and Policy J. Bailey Smith US Army Corps of Engineers – Philadelphia District April 4, 2011