According to the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), The United States is the world’s leading maritime and trading nation for major bulk commodities such as grain, coal, and petroleum and this trade is essential for maintaining economic competitiveness and national security.
The inland waterway system carries one-sixth of the Nation’s volume of intercity cargo. On the coasts, Great Lakes, and inland waterways, the importance of maintaining channel depths and shallow draft harbor projects is underscored by the estimate that nearly 25 percent of the nation’s economic activity depends on foreign trade handled by these ports. Maritime transportation additionally provides critical national defense value by supporting the mobilization and sustainability of America’s military. Whether for public defense, infrastructure, or transport, import and export dollars spent at Americans ports multiply exponentially when considering GDP.
为了保持这一地位,联邦和私人实体必须不断维护可通航的内陆水道,并开发海岸线设施。在这里,疏浚发挥作用,挖掘沉积物并将其处理在不同的位置。这可不是租一台设备挖出来那么简单。还必须考虑许可、疏浚材料放置、环境取样、生态和文化影响、监管报告以及所需的时间和精力。
下面是一些基本的主题,以确保适当的项目范围和设置。
Define the Area to Be Dredged
Perhaps you are looking to develop a new dock for product receipt and transfer. Is it all current waterway, or does it contain portions of upland? You’ll need to define the final depth and obtain a current bathometric survey of the area and ensure no major submerged obstacles are in the way.
Current Status of the Land or Waterway
This includes ownership and jurisdiction, current and past uses of the area. A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA), cultural study, ecological assessment, wetlands delineation, and pedestrian survey may be required during the permitting process. If recognized environmental concerns (RECs), wetlands, or cultural sites are present, this would impact project feasibility, timeline, and cost.
Permits to Remove and Place Materials: USACE Clean Water Act Section 404 and the Rivers and Harbors Act Section 10
根据您将进行的疏浚类型,存在不同的许可证。如果有预先颁发的疏浚许可证,您需要确保该许可证的时间与您的项目需要一致。
Dredge Material Placement
Dredge material placement, which is usually done in Dredge Material Placement Areas (DMPAs) in Upland Confined Facilities (UCFs) or Offshore areas. Typically, there is very little space to place dredge materials. The federal government maintains several placement areas, but those may be full or may not be located close to your project site. Additionally, federal and private entities will likely require some form of planning, sampling, and reporting of the material you plan to place in their facility. Fees, timing, and permitting must also be considered.
疏浚物的化学成分与不同的生态和人类健康标准有关,对沉积物和水的排放能力也起着很大的作用。到目前为止,“开水排放”泥沙的潜力是最具吸引力和效率的排放选择。毫不奇怪,它有最严格的分析比较标准。在大多数地方和大多数项目中,开放式排水不是可行的选择。从分析和标准的角度来看,DMPA或UCFs的放置通常限制较少,但通常需要更多的沉积控制。最后,在化学成分含量可能超过人类健康标准的情况下,可能需要某种形式的受控处置进入受监管的填埋场。根据岩土工程勘察的结果和使用者的风险承受能力,也可以将材料用于其他项目。manbet万博app
If you keep some of these considerations in mind before you commence your dredging project, there will be nothing to dread!
Contact Our Environmental Consultants
如果您对疏浚和许可有任何疑问,请致电或点击下面的链接填写我们的联系表格。