It is important to understand how US EPA water quality criteria were developed and how they are conventionally used in water pollution control programs in order to understand problems with applying state water quality standards based on these criteria to evaluate the potential water quality impacts of dredging and dredged sediment disposal.ĭevelopment of US EPA Criteria and Their Use in Further, federal water quality criteria and state water quality standards are not to be violated as part of dredged sediment disposal operations. While Congress indicated that some adverse impacts associated with dredging and dredged sediment disposal are to be expected, these impacts are to be minimized. Congress, in the 1972 amendments to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (PL 92-500), specified in Section 404 that the disposal of dredged sediments in US waters may take place, provided that there is an avoidance of "unacceptable effects." It further stated that the disposal of dredged sediments should not result in violation of applicable water quality standards after considering dispersion and dilution, toxic effluent standards, and marine sanctuary requirements and should not jeopardize the existence of endangered species.
It is further recognized that dredging and dredged sediment disposal practices as part of waterway and harbor navigation depth maintenance will have some impact on beneficial uses and water quality of the waters at the dredging and dredged sediment disposal sites. The dredging of US waterways and harbors is recognized by the Congress to be beneficial to the country as a whole. Water Quality Aspects of Dredging and Dredged Sediment Disposal
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