Public Notice: Draft Site Management and Monitoring Plan for Yaquina Bay North and South Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites
Summary
EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Portland District are jointly soliciting public comments regarding the 2026 Draft Site Management and Monitoring Plan for Yaquina Bay North and South Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites.
The 2026 Draft SMMP replaces the August 2012 Yaquina Bay North and South Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites Site Management/Monitoring Plan.
Purpose and background
EPA Region 10 designated the Yaquina Bay North and South Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites (offshore of Newport, Lincoln County, Oregon) pursuant to the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act on September 7, 2012 (77 FR 55144). The official Yaquina Bay North and South Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites designation is published at 40 CFR 228.15(n)(15).
The 2026 Draft SMMP was jointly prepared by EPA and Corps to document the management and monitoring requirements for the Yaquina North and South Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites. The Draft SMMP was developed in accordance with Section 102(c)(3) of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (33 U.S.C. Section 1401, et seq.) as amended by Section 506 of the Water Resources Development Act Amendments of 1992 (Public Law 102-580).
EPA and Corps work together to implement the site management and monitoring program for the Yaquina Bay North and South Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites per the SMMP.
EPA:
- Regulates site use.
- Develops and implements site monitoring programs (including compliance monitoring).
- Evaluates environmental effects of disposal of dredged material at the sites.
- Provides concurrence on dredged material suitability determinations.
- Reviews dredging permit applications for compliance with the Ocean Dumping Criteria under section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA).
The Corps:
- Evaluates dredged material suitability and dredging project compliance with the MPRSA criteria.
- Develops conditions and restrictions for MPRSA section 103 permits.
- Issues MPRSA section 103 permits.
Both EPA and Corps regulate site use and develop and implement site monitoring programs (including compliance monitoring) at the Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites.
Changes to the SMMP
Changes from the August 2012 SMMP made in the 2026 Draft SMMP include:
- Improved descriptions of site management and site use, including planned new uses of the Yaquina Bay North and South Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites by the Corps and Port of Newport.
- Summary of past monitoring activities at the sites.
- Improved description of physical, chemical, and biological characteristics at the sites.
- Detailed reporting requirements for site use.
- Recommended generic special conditions to be included in MPRSA section 103 permits for the transport of dredged material to the Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites (issued by the Corps’ Regulatory Division).
- Recommended contract specifications to be included in Corps federal dredging contracts involving the transport of dredged material to the Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites.