The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) yesterday issued a proposal to designate a dredged material disposal site to serve the eastern Long Island Sound region.
The Eastern Long Island Sound Disposal Site (ELDS) would be located offshore from New London, Connecticut, and would be available for the disposal of dredged material from harbors and navigation channels in eastern Long Island Sound in the states of Connecticut and New York.
EPA is proposing the same restrictions on the use of this site as it proposed for the central and western Long Island Sound disposal sites, to support the goal of reducing or eliminating open-water disposal of dredged material in the Sound.
These restrictions are intended to promote the beneficial use of dredged material, such as beach nourishment, or other alternatives to open-water disposal whenever practicable.
The proposed action is described in a draft rule and Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) that has been also released for public comment. These documents are available for public review and comment until June 27, 2016.
EPA determined that a site was necessary because there are currently no disposal sites designated for long-term use in the eastern Long Island Sound region, the dredging needs exceed the available capacity at existing sites, and the regulations require EPA designation for any long-term dredged material disposal site.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) estimates the dredging needs in eastern Long Island Sound to be approximately 22.6 million cubic yards over the next 30 years.
EPA will hold four public hearings to receive comments on the proposed rule and DSEIS.