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.