Dredging and Sediment Management

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National Information

Dredging is necessary to create and maintain navigation channels to our nation’s ports, harbors, marinas, and naval facilities. Several million cubic yards of sediment are dredged each year at such facilities throughout Region 9. Managing and regulating all this dredged sediment is a shared responsibility of EPA and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), under both the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA, or Ocean Dumping Act). Consistent with the National Dredging Policy, EPA encourages the “beneficial reuse” of dredged material.

Dredged material being loaded onto a barge, and then towed to the disposal site.

Barge being towed to an ocean disposal site

Key activities in Region 9 include:

Establishing and managing offshore ocean dredged material disposal sites under MPRSA.
Jointly, with USACE, managing inshore dredged material disposal sites under the Clean Water Act.
Directing sediment chemical and toxicity testing to ensure that only suitable (non toxic) dredged sediments are discharged at disposal sites
Enforcing Ocean Dumping (40 CFR 220-229) and Clean Water Act (40CFR 230) regulations
Co-chairing interagency Regional Dredging Teams, and working in other partnerships, to increase beneficial reuse, maintain environmental quality, and streamline the permitting process for dredging

Ocean Disposal Sites in Region 9

Maps, Site Management and Monitoring Plans (SMMPs), and other descriptive information.

Regional Dredging Teams and Other Partnerships

Information and links to regional dredging teams and other partnership efforts.

Contact Information

Tim Vendlinski (vendlinski.tim@epa.gov)
(415) 972-3464