Department of Army
Permitting Process: Dredging
Felicity Dodson
Regulatory Project Manager
Regulatory Division
USACE Galveston District
Dredging Your Docks Seminar - 2014
Houston, Texas
November 5, 2014
US Army Corps of Engineers
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Section 10 Rivers and Harbors Act
of 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:
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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.
 Third Party Use process
currently evaluated on a caseby-case basis, while evaluation
process is being updated.
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Department of the Army (DA) Permits
http://www.swg.usace.army.mil/BusinessWitUs/RegulatoryBranch/Permits.aspx
Nationwide Permits
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Authorizes Section 10 and Section 404 actions
Minimal impact to aquatic environment
Streamlined permit review process
Letters of Permission
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Authorizes Section 10 Actions ONLY
Non-Controversial Actions
15-Day Interagency Coordination
Standard Permit
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Authorizes Section 10 and Section 404 Actions
Controversial Actions
30-Day Public Notice
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Nationwide Permits (NWPs) for
Docks and Dredging
http://www.swg.usace.army.mil/BusinessWitUs/RegulatoryBranch/Permits.aspx
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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)
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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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Beneficial Uses of Dredged Material
http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/dots/budm/budm.cfm
 Evaluated on case-by-case basis for:
► Wetland
Habitat
► Shoreline Protection
► Beach Renourishment
► Many other options
 Capacity and repeat usage depends on
site characteristics
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Sediment Testing
Requirements
 Requirements vary by site
 May be required by multiple
agencies
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DMPA or BU Sponsor/Owner
Navigation District
State Water Quality Certifying agency
(TCEQ, LADEQ)
EPA (in certain cases)
Oversite rests with the requiring agency.
Early consultation can save your schedule and budget!
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San Jacinto Waste Pits (SJWP)
Area of Concern (AOC)
2009 Public Announcement
http://www.swg.usace.army.mil/Portals/26/docs/regulatory/SanJacinto.pdf
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SJWP AOC Review Process
 All projects in AOC reviewed by TCEQ Superfund
Section for potential impacts
 All Nationwide Permits in AOC require PCN
(No non-reporting NWPs in AOC)
 For dredge material placement: Test results determine
possible placement options
 See handout for link to Public Announcement and
agency contact information
 Existing Permits in AOC, that still require work or
maintenance, must complete AOC process
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Questions!
Contact us:
Permit Mailing Address:
U. S. Army Corps of Engineers
Galveston District
CESWG-RD-E
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
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