USA: Army Corps Issues Guidance for Sediment Evaluation

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has issued supplemental guidance to the 2009 Sediment Evaluation Framework for the Pacific Northwest, for the preparation of sediment sampling and analysis plans. This guidance will ensure that Corps and industry dredging projects in Oregon meet environmental laws and regulations.

The Corps uses the SEF guidance to ensure that dredging projects for navigation and aquatic habitat restoration, which involve placing dredged or fill material into navigable waters, comply with Clean Water Act and the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act requirements. Additionally, if contaminated sediment is identified as a public concern, the SEF can supplement environmental documentation under the National Environmental Policy Act.

The SEF is a dynamic document that will be updated as new sediment evaluation methods and new information becomes available, or as field conditions warrant. Parts of the supplemental guidance are being considered for inclusion in the SEF; the public will have an opportunity to comment and provide input on proposed revisions.

The Corps regulates the discharge of dredged material in waters of the United States under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, and the transport and disposal of dredged material in ocean waters under Section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act. The Corps regulates work in navigable waterways under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act.

By Michelle Helms (dvidshub)

[mappress]

Source: dvidshub, September 27, 2011; Image: epa.gov