Agencies Reach Accord on Managing Long Island Sound Dredged Materials

Six government agencies tasked with regulating dredging activities in Long Island Sound have reached accord on a process to support the goal of reducing or eliminating open water disposal of dredged materials into the Sound while maintaining the economic viability of New York and Connecticut's working ports. The agreement ratifies the intent of three federal and three state agencies to formally administer a Regional Dredging Team to comply with the June 3, 2005, rulemaking by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency(USEPA) that designated open-water dredged material disposal sites in Central Long Island Sound (CLIS) and Western Long Island Sound (WLIS). The establishment of the Regional Dredging Team will assist dredging proponents in considering and evaluating various management options for their dredged] material while a larger effort to develop a Dredged Material Management Plan (DMMP) for Long Island Sound is being conducted.

The agreement covers dredging projects in both New York State and Connecticut waters. The agencies establishing the agreement are the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and New York State Department of State. The Long Island Sound Regional Dredging Team (LISRDT) will review all federal dredging projects, and those non-federal dredging projects proposing more than 25,000 cubic yards of open water disposal at WLIS or CLIS. The team will evaluate all available information to ensure that a thorough effort has been conducted to identify practicable alternatives, and work to ensure that beneficial use alternatives are used whenever practical for some or all of the material. The team's efforts will enhance communication and discussion among the participating agencies, and facilitate timely review and presentation of recommendations for the management and beneficial use of dredged material from the Sound. The team will also voluntarily provide advice on dredged material management for other dredging projects located on or in tributaries to the Sound.