US Army Corps of EngineersBUILDING STRONG®

Department of Army Permitting Process: Dredging

Felicity DodsonRegulatory Project ManagerRegulatory BranchUSACE Galveston District

Dredging Your Docks Seminar - 2013Beaumont, TexasNovember 6, 2013

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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District

• 50,000+ square miles• 700 miles of coastline• 48 counties, portions of

4 Louisiana parishes• 16 Congressional Districts• 26 Regulatory Project

Managers• 8 Branch Leaders• 10 Support Staff Members

Custodians of the Coast

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Section 10 Rivers and Harbors Actof 1899 (33 U.S.C. 401)

Structures and/or work in, or affecting, navigable waters of the United States.

Structures and/or work outside the limits of navigable waters, IF these structures or work could affect the course, location, or condition of the waterbody so as to impact its navigable capacity.

Artificial islands, installations, or other devices on the outer continental shelf.

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Section 404 Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C 1344)

Discharge of dredged or fill material.

Activities Regulated as a Discharge:

► Addition of dredged material to a specified discharge site located in waters

► Runoff or overflow from a contained land or water disposal area

► Any addition, including more than incidental redeposit of dredged material, mechanized land clearing, ditching, channelization, or other excavation

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Section 103 Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act

(Ocean Dumping Act - 33 U.S.C. 1413) Transportation of dredged

material by vessel or vehicle for purpose of dumping in ocean waters at sites designated by EPA under 40 CFR 228.

Dredged material, for purposes of Section 103, means any material excavated or dredged from “navigable” waters of the United States.

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Department of the Army (DA) Permits

Nationwide Permits► Authorizes Section 10 and Section 404 actions► Minimal impact to aquatic environment► Streamlined permit review process

Letters of Permission► Authorizes Section 10 Actions ONLY► Non-Controversial Actions► 15-day Interagency Coordination

Standard Permit► Authorizes Section 10 and Section 404 Actions► Controversial Actions► 30 Day Public Notice

http://www.swg.usace.army.mil/BusinessWitUs/RegulatoryBranch/Permits.aspx

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Nationwide Permits (NWPs) forDocks and Dredging

NWP 3 – Maintenance (not including dredging) NWP 13 – Bank Stabilization NWP 19 – Minor Dredging NWP 35 – Maintenance Dredging of Existing Basins NWP 16 – Water Quality Certification for return water

from upland disposal

BE SURE TO CHECK: Pre-Construction Notification (PCN) requirement General Conditions (All NWPS) Regional Conditions (by state or geographic region)

http://www.swg.usace.army.mil/BusinessWitUs/RegulatoryBranch/Permits.aspx

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Applying for a DA Permit

Engineer Form 4345, with original signatures

Signed Agent Authorization Complete description of the

proposed activity including supporting documentation, and plans sufficient for Public Notice [Per 33 CFR 325.1(d)(1)]

Call the Corps if you have questions!

http://www.swg.usace.army.mil/BusinessWithUs/RegulatoryBranch/Permits/PermitApplication.aspx

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Why does the permit process take so long?

Primary cause of delay for applications is incomplete, inaccurate, or contradictory information.

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Project Plans (Drawings)• 8.5” by 11” paper, color is ok if legible.• Include all jurisdictional work, adjacent

structures, access roads, staging AND Dredge Material Placement Areas (DMPAs).

• Good vicinity map(s), including DMPAs.• Scale or stated dimensions• Complete Legend• All Drawings must be consistent - Tables and

written descriptions MUST MATCH drawings!

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Vicinity Maps:As if you’ve never been there before

• Compass or North Arrow• Show location in relation to some known point.• Lat/Lon or UTM coordinates are extremely helpful.• Old plans and maps may need to be updated for

permit amendments, if they are no longer legible.

Insufficient Good

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TMI(Too Much Information)!

Limit information to only what is necessary for permit evaluation purposes.

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Example Plans: Dredge site

http://www.swg.usace.army.mil/BusinessWithUs/RegulatoryBranch/Permits/PermitApplication.aspx

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Example Plans: Confined Placement Area with Levees

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Submitting the Application Attach all supporting information - maps, drawings,

photos, etc. Sign and date the Application (Engineer Form 4345) Review for 3 “C”s:

► Correctness ► Consistency► Completeness

Keep copies of all submitted pages. Mail application with original signatures.

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Specific Issues Related to Dredge Material Placement

• Confined Upland Placement• Beneficial Use (BU) Options• Material testing

requirements• If DMPA/BU site is located

in Louisiana, coordination with LA State Agencies is required

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Confined Placement Areas

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Lake Huron

Sabine Neches Water Way

Craney Island (Portsmouth, VA)

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Beneficial Uses of Dredged Material

Wetland Habitat Shoreline Protection Beach Renourishment Recreation Agriculture Island Habitat Construction Fill Construction Materials

http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/dots/budm/budm.cfm

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Sediment Testing Requirements

May be required by multiple agencies

Navigation District State Water Quality Certifying

agency (TCEQ, LADEQ) EPA (in certain cases) Early consultation can save

your schedule and budget!

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How We Can Help

Pre-application meetings are available to get feedback in your project while in the planning stages.

Regulatory project managers and staff are here to help. If you have a question, ASK!

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Questions!Contact us:Mailing Address:U. S. Army Corps of EngineersGalveston District  CESWG-PE-R  P.O. Box 1229 Galveston, TX 77553-1229

Telephone:  409-766-3930 Fax:  409-766-6301(call ahead to schedule a meeting)

District Office Location: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers  Jadwin Building 2000 Fort Point Road Galveston, TX 77550

On the web at: http://www.swg.usace.army.mil/BusinessWithUs/RegulatoryBranch.aspx