Ocean Dumping; Sabine-Neches Waterway (SNWW) Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site Designation

The EPA today designates four new Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites (ODMDS) located offshore of Texas for the disposal of dredged material from the Sabine-Neches Waterway (SNWW) Channel Improvement Project (CIP), which includes an extension of the Entrance Channel into the Gulf of Mexico, pursuant to the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act, as amended (MPRSA). The designation of these four disposal sites does not by itself authorize the disposal of dredged material, but makes these sites available for use for dredged material from the CIP if no environmentally preferable, practicable alternative for managing that dredged material exists, and if analysis of the dredged material indicates that it is suitable for open-water disposal. This action is to designate adequate, environmentally- acceptable ocean disposal site capacity for suitable dredged material generated from new work (construction) and future maintenance dredging from the SNWW CIP.