The United States' National Dredging Team's Dredged Material Management Action Agenda for the Next Decade
Type:
Presented during:
WODCON XVII: "Dredging in a Sensitive Environment" - 2004, Hamburg, Germany
Authors:
C. Vogt, B. Holiday, E. Kim, M. Madden
Abstract: The annual dredging of several hundred million cubic yards of sediment is essential for the maintenance of the United States' navigation system. Appropriate re-use and disposal of this dredged material plays a vital role in the protection of the nation's coastal and ocean resources. The National Dredging Team (NDT) was established to address these issues. Comprised of Federal agencies with an interest in dredging and dredged material management, its purpose is to promote national and regional consistency on dredging issues and to provide a mechanism for conflict resolution and information exchange among Federal, State, and local agencies and stakeholders. To better meet these goals, the NDT Steering Committee endorsed a new action plan in July 2003: "Dredged Material Management: Action Agenda for the Next Decade" (Action Agenda). The new Action Agenda makes 22 recommendations addressing four categories of issues and recommendations: beneficial use of dredged material, sediment management, emerging issues, and strengthening Regional Dredging Teams (RDTs). The Action Agenda's beneficial use recommendations focus on prioritization of beneficial use at all levels of management, increased funding for beneficial use projects and research, proactive planning, and recognition of dredged material as a valuable resource. For sediment management, recommendations include encouraging local planning groups to incorporate sediment management into their dredged material management plans. Recommendations on emerging issues include actions to address essential fish habitat consultation, environmental window considerations, the potential implications of Total Maximum Daily Load designations to dredging projects, and consistency determinations under the Coastal Zone Management Act. Further recommendations of the Action Agenda are to strengthen RDTs and to increase coordination between RDTs and their stakeholders. In addition to the recommendations presented in the Action Agenda, the NDT remains current on emerging policy issues, such as the draft report of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy.
Keywords: Dredging, dredged material management, sediment, beneficial use