U.S. E.P.A. to finalize designation of ocean disposal location off Guam, looks for public review

(04/14/10) HONOLULU - The E.P.A. is seeking comments on the suggested designation of an ocean location for placing clean dredged material offshore of Guam.

Guam currently has no ocean disposal site, and all sediments from Port, Navy, or other dredging plans must be disposed on land where capacity is limited. Designation of the Guam Deep Ocean Disposal Location provides an additional option for managing dredged sediments.

"Guam will have a complete toolbox for managing sediment from dredging projects," said Nancy Woo, Associate Director of water programs for EPA's Pacific Southwest region. "We expect dredgers to find beneficial ways to reuse sediment whenever they can, but that isn't always possible. A properly designed ocean disposal Location is a good option when rigorous environmental criteria are met."

EPA's final Environmental Impact Statement presents a detailed evaluation of impacts and alternatives for designation of an ocean disposal site. The environmentally preferred location is approximately eleven nautical miles northwest of outer Apra Harbor, and in water depths ranging from 8,200 and 9,055 feet. There would be a maximum yearly disposal limit of 1,000,000 cubic yards of dredged material for the site.

The final EIS was revised after public comments were received on the outline EIS last October. With release of the suggested rule for Location designation, E.P.A. is now asking for additional public comments. The ocean disposal Location would not be accessible until the rulemaking process is complete.

"It is important for people to understand that having an ocean disposal Location accessible does not allow people to just start using it," said Allan Ota, an oceanographer in EPA's Dredging Team. "Sediments from each plan must 1st pass strict testing standards, and even then they must show that there are no better uses for the sediment at that time."

Copies of Suggested Rule and supporting documents may be viewed at EPA's website http://www.epa.gov/region9/water/dredging/index.html or Guam's public libraries.

For further information and to submit comments, please contact: Mr. Allan Ota, E.P.A., Region 9, Dredging and Sediment Management Team (WTR-8), 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, California 94105-3901, Telephone: (415) 972-3476 or FAX: (415) 947-3537 or E-mail: [email protected].

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