Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for 

the Designation of Dredged Material Disposal 

Site(s) in Eastern Long Island Sound, Connecticut 

and New York 

APPENDIX I

Draft Site Management and Monitoring 

Plan for Eastern Long Island Sound 

Disposal Site
The following document is a draft Site Management and Monitoring Plan (SMMP) for the 

Eastern Long Island Sound Dredged material disposal site (ELDS).

This document has been developed and agreed to pursuant to the Water Resources 

Development Act Amendments of 1992 (WRDA 92) to the Marine Protection, Research, and 

Sanctuaries Act of 1972 for the management and monitoring of ocean disposal activities, as 

resources allow, by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency New England Office and the 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New England District.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

New England District New England, Office of Ecosystem Protection

696 Virginia Road 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100

Concord, MA 01742 Boston, MA 02109
TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................1

2.0 REGULATORY FRAMEWORK AND AUTHORITIES .........................................3

2.1 Management.............................................................................................................4

2.2 Monitoring................................................................................................................5

2.3 Dredged Material Disposal Authorities....................................................................6

3.0 MANAGEMENT PLAN.................................................................................................7

3.1 Specific Management Practices................................................................................9

3.2 Modification to Management Plan.........................................................................10 

4.0 BASELINE ASSESSMENT .........................................................................................11

4.1 Site Characteristics.................................................................................................11

4.2 Physical Characteristics..........................................................................................12

4.3 Sediment and Water Quality ..................................................................................14

4.4 Bioaccumulation ....................................................................................................16

4.5 Living Resources....................................................................................................17

4.6 Site Capacity ..........................................................................................................25

5.0 DISPOSAL HISTORY..................................................................................................26

6.0 MONITORING PROGRAM.........................................................................................27

6.1 Monitoring Methods ..............................................................................................27

6.2 Material Movement................................................................................................28

6.3 Biological Characteristics......................................................................................31

6.4 Water and Sediment Quality..................................................................................32

6.5 Quality Assurance..................................................................................................34

7.0 ANTICIPATED SITE USE...........................................................................................34

8.0 REVIEW AND REVISION OF THIS PLAN ...............................................................35

9.0 COORDINATION AND OUTREACH. .......................................................................36

10.0 FUNDING.....................................................................................................................36

11.0 REFERENCES..............................................................................................................37

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Mean Grain Size and Total Organic Carbon .............................................................15

Table 2. Ecological Parameters of Benthic Infauna ................................................................18

Table 3. Average Catch per Unit Effort ..................................................................................20

Table 4. Endangered Marine Mammals and Reptiles..............................................................22

Table 5. Endangered or Threatened Birds ..............................................................................23

Table 6. Disposal Events at NLDS .........................................................................................26

Table 7. DAMOS Survey Activities.......................................................................................30
ELDS SMMP April 2016

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Location of the Eastern Long Island Sound Dredged Material Disposal Site............1

Figure 2. Station Locations of Meteorological and Ocean Buoys..........................................13

Figure 3. Mean Finfish Abundance .........................................................................................19

Figure 4. NOAA Fisheries 10 x 10 minute EFH squares ........................................................25

ATTACHMENTS

Attachment A: Monitoring Plan

Attachment B: Scow Log Sample- Dredging Quality Management System
ELDS SMMP April 2016

ACRONYMS AND KEYWORDS

aRPD Apparent Redox Potential Discontinuity

CFR Code of Federal Regulations

CPUE Catch per Unit Effort

CSDS Cornfield Shoals Dredged Material Disposal Site

CT Connecticut

CTDEEP Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

(formerly CT DEP)

CWA Clean Water Act

CZM Coastal Zone Management

DAMOS Disposal Area Monitoring System

DEIS Draft Environmental Impact Statement

DMMP Dredged Material Management Plan

EIS Environmental Impact Statement

EFH Essential Fish Habitat

ELDS Eastern Long Island Sound Dredge Material Disposal Site 

EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

ESA Endangered Species Act

ITM Inland Testing Manual

LIS Long Island Sound

LISS Long Island Sound Study

MPRSA Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972

NAD83 North American Datum 1983

NBDS Niantic Bay Dredged Material Disposal Site

NEPA National Environmental Policy Act

NLDS New London Dredged Material Disposal Site (formerly NLDN)

NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NY New York

NYDOS New York State Department of State

NYSDEC New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

OSI Organism Sediment Index

QA Quality Assurance

RHA Rivers and Harbors Act

RIM Regional Implementation Manual

SMMP Site Management and Monitoring Plan

TOC Total Organic Carbon

USACE-NAE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District

USCG U.S. Coast Guard

USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

WLIS Western Long Island Sound Dredged Material Disposal Site

WRDA Water Resources Development Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-580)

QA Quality Assurance

QAPP Quality Assurance Project Plan
ELDS SMMP April 2016

1

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Long Island stretches eastward from New York City to Montauk over a distance of 110 miles 

and has a maximum width of 23 miles. It has a population of approximately 8 million (2014 

census). The Long Island Sound region is adjacent to one of the most densely populated and 

industrialized regions in North America. Connecticut has a population of approximately 3.6 

million (2014 census) with the highest population density being found in communities along 

western and central Long Island Sound, and in the greater Hartford area. 

Cargo and petroleum products are shipped through Long Island Sound to and from the New 

York City area and several ferries traffic people and goods between Long Island and 

Connecticut. Maintenance of adequate navigation depth in marine terminals, port facilities, and 

private marinas is vital to the economics of the Long Island Sound (LIS) region. Both commercial 

and recreational industries rely on the utility of such areas. To ensure continued use, economic 

viability and safety of the region’s navigational channels and navigation-dependent facilities, 

periodic dredging must be performed to remove accumulated sediment. The US Army Corps of 

Engineers New England District (USACE-NAE) estimates that 52.9 million cubic yards 

(mcy) of material will be needed to be dredged over the next 30 years in Long Island Sound 

(2015-2045). The eastern region needs are 22.6 mcy. Dredging needs exceed the capacity of 

40,000 mcy available for open water disposal sites and alternatives in Long Island Sound. 

Pursuant with the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA), 33 U.S.C. §§ 1401 

et seq.), the EPA has selected the Eastern Long Island Sound dredged material disposal site 

(ELDS) as the preferred alternative to provide for the long-term needs of dredged material 

disposal for the states of Connecticut and New York. ELDS includes a portion of the previously 

used New London site (NLDS).

Prior to use of the site, each project must receive a permit issued by USACE under Section 103 of 

the MPRSA, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1413 (hereafter cited as "MPRSA §103") with concurrence by the 

EPA. As discussed further in this document, the USACE-NAE will coordinate with resource 

agencies on an individual project basis, as needed, for ESA, EFH, and other consultations.

Management plans for designated ocean dredged material disposal sites are required pursuant to 

§102(c) of the MPRSA, as amended by §506(a) of the Water Resources Development Act 

(WRDA) of 1992. In accordance with MPRSA (section 103(a)) disposal activities at the site "will 

not unreasonably degrade or endanger human health, welfare, or amenities, or the marine 

environment, ecological systems, or economic potentialities." The purpose of this Site 

Management and Monitoring Plan (SMMP) is to synthesize prior site monitoring results and 

outline a management plan and monitoring program for the proposed site that complies with the 

requirements of MPRSA. 

The SMMP serves as a framework to guide the development of future project-specific 

sampling and survey plans created under the monitoring program. The data gathered from the 
ELDS SMMP April 2016

2

monitoring program will be routinely evaluated by EPA, USACE-NAE, and other agencies 

such as the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

(USFWS), and state regulatory agencies (see Section 9.0), to determine whether modifications 

in site usage, management, testing protocols, or additional monitoring are warranted. The 

SMMP will be reviewed on an annual basis by EPA and USACE-NAE and will be revised as 

necessary.

To ensure that ocean dredged material disposal sites are managed to minimize adverse effects 

of disposal on the marine environment, the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act 

(MPRSA) §102(c) as amended by §506(a) of the Water Resources Development Act 

(WRDA) of 1992, requires the completion of a Site Management and Monitoring Plan 

(SMMP) upon designation of a site [MPRSA Section 102(c) (3)]. 

MPRSA further requires that an SMMP established for sites like the ELDS include a schedule 

for review and revision of the plan to occur not less than 10 years after adoption of the plan, 

and every 10 years thereafter. Prior to the revision for the ELDS SMMP, EPA and USACE –

NAE will review the plan annually and to ensure that the intent of the original procedures and 

protocols continue to meet the management objectives of the ELDS, and will continue to be 

used. EPA and USACE-NAE are requesting comment on this document.

The ELDS site encompasses 50% of the western portion of the existing New London Disposal 

Site (NLDS), along with an adjacent area immediately west of the NLDS (i.e., Sites NL-Wa and 

NL-Wb). The ELDS (western portion) is located to the south of the mouth of Thames River 

estuary. It has a total area of 2.0 nmi2(8.6 km2). The closest upland points to the alternative 

site are Goshen Point, Connecticut, approximately 1.2 nautical miles (nmi), or 2.2 kilometers 

(km), to the north, and Fishers Island, New York, 1.4 nmi (2.6 km) to the southeast.

The NLDS portion of the ELDS has been an active open-water dredged material disposal site 

with an area of 1.0 nmi2(3.4 km2). Water depths range from approximately 46 to 79 feet (14 

to 24 m). Most of the site is located within Connecticut waters, with the remainder of the site 

located in New York State waters. The dredged material mounds can rise up to 14 to 20 feet 

(5 to 6 m) above the surrounding seafloor. The sediments at the site are heterogeneous, but 

consist predominantly of fine sand and silt/clay. The NLDS is bisected by a 1,000-foot (300-

m) wide submarine transit corridor that was established to minimize conflicts between 

disposal buoy positions and submarine traffic to and from the Submarine Base in Groton, 

Connecticut; disposal operations are monitored by the USACE to maintain a minimum water 

depth of 46 feet (14 m) within the corridor.
ELDS SMMP April 2016

3

Figure 1. Location of the Eastern Long Island Sound Dredged Material Disposal Site 

 (EPA, 2016). 

The 1.5 nmi2 western portion of the ELDS site was referred to as (site NL-Wa) and (Site NLWb) in the site designation. Site NL-Wa has an area of 1 nmi2

(3.4 km2). Water depths range 

from approximately 45 feet (14 m) in the north to 100 feet (30 m) in the south. Site NL-Wa 

consists of mostly sandy areas, but also contains an area of boulders and rocks in the northern 

part of the site. The water depth of parts of the boulder area is shallower than 59 feet (18 m). 

Site NL-Wb has an area of 0.5 nmi2(1.7 km2). It consists of an extension of the sandy areas 

of Site NL-Wa. The southwestern corner of the site contains an area of bedrock and boulders. 

Water depths at Site NL-Wb range from approximately 59 feet (18 m) in the north to 95 feet 

(28 m) in the south (EPA, 2016).

2.0 REGULATORY FRAMEWORK AND AUTHORITIES 

The intent of this SMMP is to provide a management framework and monitoring program that

strives to minimize the potential for adverse impacts to the marine environment from dredged

material disposal at ELDS. To this end, the SMMP identifies actions, provisions, and

practices necessary to manage the operational aspects of dredged material disposal at ELDS.

Section 40 CFR § 228.10(a) of the Ocean Dumping Regulations requires that the impact of
ELDS SMMP April 2016

4

disposal at a designated site be evaluated periodically.

2.1 Management

Management of the disposal site involves: regulating the times, quantity, and physical/

chemical characteristics of dredged material that disposed at the site; establishing disposal

controls, conditions, and requirements; and monitoring the site environment to verify that

potential unacceptable conditions which may result in significant adverse impacts are not

occurring from past or continued use of the disposal site and that permit terms are met.

In addition, the plan also incorporates the six requirements for ocean disposal site management

plans discussed in MPRSA § 102(c)(3), as amended. These are:

1. Consideration of the quantity of the material to be disposed of at the site, and the

presence, nature and bioavailability of the contaminants in the material [§102(c)(3)

Section II C];

2. A baseline assessment of conditions at the site [§102(c)(3) Section III];

3. A program for monitoring the site [§102(c)(3) Section IV];

4. Special management conditions or practices to be implemented at each site that are

necessary for protection of the environment [§102(c)(3) Section V.A);

5. Consideration of the anticipated use of the site over the long term, including the

anticipated closure date for the site, if applicable, and any need for management of the

site after closure [§102(c)(3) Section VI);

6. A schedule for review and revision of the plan (which shall not be reviewed and

revised less frequently than 10 years after adoption of the plan, and every 10 years

thereafter) [§102(c)(3) Section VII).

40 CFR Section 228.10(c) requires that a disposal site be periodically assessed based on the

available body of pertinent data. Recognizing and correcting any potential unacceptable

condition before it causes an adverse impact to the marine environment or presents a

navigational hazard to commercial and recreational water-borne vessel traffic is central to this

SMMP.

The practices that will be applied to address these management goals at ELDS include

coordination among Federal and state agencies, testing of material for acceptability for

disposal at the site, review of general and specific permit conditions, review of allowable

disposal technologies and methods, implementation of inspection, surveillance and

enforcement procedures, periodic environmental monitoring at the site and at relevant

reference sites for comparative evaluation, and information management and record keeping.

2.2 Monitoring
ELDS SMMP April 2016

5

Section 40 CFR § 228.10(b) specifically requires consideration of the following types of

potential effects when evaluating impact at a disposal site:

 Movement of materials into sanctuaries or onto beaches or shorelines [228.10(b)(1)];

 Movement of materials towards productive fishery or shellfishery areas [228.10(b)(2)];

 Absence from the disposal site of pollutant-sensitive biota characteristic of the general

area [228.10(b)(3)];

 Progressive, non-seasonal, changes in water quality or sediment composition at the

disposal site when these changes are attributable to materials disposed of at the site

[228.10(b)(4)];

 Progressive, non-seasonal, changes in composition or numbers of pelagic, demersal, or

benthic biota at or near the disposal site when these changes can be attributed to the

effects of materials disposed at the site [228.10(b)(5)];

 Accumulation of material constituents (including without limitation, human pathogens)

in marine biota at or near the site (i.e., bioaccumulation [228.10(b)(6)]).

 Evaluating compliance with CWA or MPRSA permit conditions and conduct

enforcement actions where warranted and as appropriate;

The monitoring approach defined in this SMMP focuses on those factors that provide an early

indication of potential unacceptable effects. The plan also incorporates ongoing regional

monitoring programs in Long Island Sound that can provide additional information. The

identification of unacceptable impacts from dredged material disposal at ELDS will be

accomplished in part through comparisons of the monitoring results to historical (i.e.,

baseline) conditions, and in part through comparison to nearby reference locations. 

If site monitoring demonstrates that the disposal activities are causing unacceptable impacts to

the marine environment as defined under 40 CFR § Section 228.10(b), the site managers may

place appropriate limitations on site usage to reduce the impacts to acceptable levels. Such

responses may range from withdrawal of the site’s designation to limitations on the amounts

and types of dredged material permitted to be disposed or limitations on the specific disposal

methods, locations, or schedule.

Any proposal for the open-water placement of dredged material from a particular project must 

begin with an examination of the nature of the material. Federal and non-Federal projects 

evaluated under MPRSA are subjected to the same qualitative analysis. In order to be 

approved for open-water placement, or most other placement options, dredged material must 

be found suitable by applying the tiered testing protocols and evaluating the results.

Material that includes silts, material with high organic content, and other shoal material from 

harbors and areas with a history of contamination and industrial use are subjected to additional 
ELDS SMMP April 2016

6

chemical testing to determine the relative likelihood of suitability. For materials exhibiting 

higher concentrations of contaminants in comparison to reference site values, project 

proponents may elect not to incur the cost of further testing and investigate non-open-water 

alternatives such as containment and treatment. For materials with chemical test results that do 

not exhibit high concentrations of contaminants, or where the project proponents wish to 

maintain the option of open-water placement and other uses, the sediment is subjected to 

further tests aimed at predicting the biological response to exposure to the material during 

different phases of the placement process. These tests are generally described as bioassay 

(toxicity) testing and bioaccumulation (tissue uptake of contaminants) testing.

The next tier of testing, the toxicity test, consists of exposing test organisms to the dredged 

material and comparing survivability rates to those of organisms exposed to reference and 

control materials. Where the dredged material exhibits greater toxicity to benthic test species 

than the reference sediments (using statistical tests and nationally developed interpretation 

guidance), project proponents may elect to forgo any further cost of testing for suitability for 

open-water placement and seek alternate disposal options. Otherwise, material that exhibits 

toxicity comparable to the reference sediments shall undergo bioaccumulation testing before 

any determination on suitability for open-water placement can be made. In general terms, 

bioaccumulation involves a long exposure of test organisms to the sediment followed by 

analysis of their tissues to determine the potential for uptake of contaminants form the dredged 

material. The test results are evaluated to determine the risk of exposure to ecological and 

human health. 

Dredged material that is determined through these testing protocols to pose no unacceptable 

risk to the human or ecological health is deemed suitable for open-water disposal. These 

findings may be accompanied by specific management requirements, such as limitation on

disposal rates to minimize water column concentrations.

2.3 Dredged Material Disposal Authorities

The primary authorities that apply to the disposal of dredged material in the U.S. are the

Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (RHA), WRDA, CWA and MPRSA. The RHA regulates

dredging and discharge of material in navigable waters and WRDA addresses research and

funding in support of specific water resource projects for various needs (i.e., transportation,

recreation). It also modifies other Acts, as necessary (e.g., MPRSA).

All dredging, dredged material transport, and disposal must be conducted in compliance with 

permits issued for these activities. Surveillance and enforcement responsibilities at the 

disposal site are shared between the USACE-NAE and EPA with assistance from the U.S. 

Coast Guard [33 USC Sec 1417(c)]. The permittee is responsible for ensuring compliance 

with all project conditions including placement of material at the correct location and within 
ELDS SMMP April 2016

7

applicable site use restrictions. EPA has enforcement responsibility under MPRSA. The EPA

and the USACE-NAE will cooperate to ensure effective enforcement of permit violations.

Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. §1344) authorizes the USACE to issue

permits for the disposal of dredged materials in the territorial sea, the contiguous zone, and

ocean as long as the material meets guidelines developed by EPA pursuant to CWA

§404(b)(1). EPA's guidelines are promulgated at 40 CFR Part 230. These guidelines set forth

environmental standards and analytical requirements for use in determining when the USACE

should authorize disposal of particular dredged material at a particular location. The USACE

regulations governing the issuance of §404 permits are codified at 33 CFR Parts 320-338.

Because Long Island Sound is an estuary, it falls within the geographical jurisdiction of

Section 404 of the Clean Water Act as described above. However, in 1980, Congress enacted

the “Ambro Amendment,” an amendment to the MPRSA requiring that the disposal of

dredged material in Long Island Sound from all Federal projects and non-federal projects that

exceed 25,000 cubic yards (19,114 cubic meters) of dredged material comply with the

MPRSA provisions, also known as the Ocean Dumping Act.

Under Section 103 of MPRSA, the USACE-NAE is assigned permitting responsibility for

dredged material, subject to EPA review and concurrence that the material meets applicable

ocean disposal criteria. The USACE-NAE is required to use EPA-designated open-water

disposal sites for dredged material disposal to the maximum extent feasible. If EPA

designated sites are not available, the USACE-NAE may select ocean disposal sites. The

USACE-NAE may select a site if a designated site is unavailable and the selected site may be

used for two, 5-year periods.

All projects authorized for dredged material disposal at ELDS are required to obtain a cut

State Water Quality Certificate from the CTDEEP pursuant to Section 401 of the CWA [33

U.S.C., § 1341]. A state water quality certificate is also required for Federal disposal

projects that receive authorization from the USACE-NAE. To receive certification, the

dredged material discharge must be consistent with the provisions of the CWA and the

Connecticut Water Quality Standards (Sections 22a-426 through 22a-363f of the

Connecticut General Statues - Structures, Dredging, and Fill) and water quality certification

is made in conjunction with issuance of a state permit under this statute. In some cases

applicants may qualify for authorization under a state Programmatic General Permit, which

is a more expedited process (CTDEP, 2001).

3.0 MANAGEMENT PLAN

All dredged material projects using ELDS are subject to CWA Section 404, although private 

projects larger than 25,000 cubic yards and all Federal projects will also be authorized under 
ELDS SMMP April 2016

8

MPRSA Section 103. The site will be managed in a manner that ensures the following site 

management goals are met:

 Ensure and enforce compliance with permit conditions;

 Minimize loss of sediment from the disposal site;

 Minimize conflicts with other uses of the area;

 Maximize site capacity;

 Minimize environmental impact from sediments placed at the site; and

 Recognize and correct conditions that could lead to unacceptable impacts.

EPA and the USACE-NAE will jointly manage ELDS and will also coordinate with the states 

of Connecticut and New York. The effectiveness of the management approach depends on 

having efficient planning processes, consistent compliance and enforcement, a robust yet 

flexible monitoring plan, and an effective communication structure that includes timely 

receipt and review of information relevant to the site management goals. To this end, the 

New England Regional Dredge Team meets quarterly and includes participation by the 

relevant Federal and state agencies and standard agenda items of monitoring and compliance 

at open water sites including ELDS. In addition, EPA and USACE-NAE have an annual 

meeting dedicated to the review of monitoring data, setting of monitoring objectives, and 

scoping of investigations for each open water site.

Management of ELDS has historically included and will continue to include the following

practices for the disposal site:

 Evaluation of the suitability of material for disposal in accordance with the applicable

requirements for the specific type of project (i.e., MPRSA and CWA);

 Specification of disposal conditions, location, and timing in permits as appropriate

(e.g., disposal will not occur between June 1 and September 30 to ensure that dredging

windows for fisheries are met or disposal may be restricted during spring tides to

ensure that water quality criteria are not exceeded outside the boundaries of the site);

 Enforcement of all permit conditions;

 Disposal specified to occur at the specified target coordinates (to be determined on an 

annual basis); 

 To ensure compliance, all scows placing material at ELDS are required to utilize tracking 

instrumentation in accordance with the USACE-NAE Dredging Quality Management 

(DQM) system to allow determination of actual placement locations;

 Positioning of disposal coordinates are set each year with the intent of minimizing 

environmental impacts and maximizing long-term site capacity;

 Limiting the buildup of material in height above the bottom such that it is not a hazard 

to navigation or more likely to be mobilized by storm events;

 Conducting disposal site monitoring in a consistent, systematic manner; and
ELDS SMMP April 2016

9

 Specification of de-designation (i.e., closure) conditions and dates as appropriate

[§102(c)(3) Section VII).

3.1 Specific Management Practices

In addition, special management practices may exist at ELDS for individual projects based on 

site monitoring data and long-term management goals:

 Specification of the dredged material volume that can be placed at specific locations 

within the site or the total dredged material volume placed at the site;

 Modifications to the site designation or to disposal methods, locations, or time of 

placement; and 

 Requirement for additional monitoring focused on a specific aspect of a project.

40 CFR Section 228.10(c) requires that a disposal site be periodically assessed based on the

available body of pertinent data. Recognizing and correcting any potential unacceptable

condition before it causes an adverse impact to the marine environment or presents a

navigational hazard to commercial and recreational water-borne vessel traffic is central to this

SMMP. Both agencies will cooperate to ensure effective enforcement of all disposal

requirements. The MPRSA gives authority to EPA to enforce permit conditions.

The USACE-NAE will provide EPA with summary information on each project at two stages

of the dredging and disposal process. A Summary Information Sheet will be provided when

dredging operations begin, and a Summary Report will be submitted when dredging operations

have been completed.

The following list represents special conditions that are to be applied to projects using ELDS.

These conditions may be modified on a project-by-project basis, based on factual changes

(e.g., administrative changes in phone numbers, points of contact) or when deemed necessary

as part of the individual permit review process:

 At least ten working days in advance of the start date, the First Coast Guard District,

Aids to Navigation Office shall be notified of the location and estimated duration of the

dredging and placement operations.

 At least ten working days in advance of the start date, the Coast Guard Captain of the

Port Long Island Sound shall be notified of the location and estimated duration of the

dredging and placement operations.

 The Captain of the Port, Long Island Sound shall be notified at least two hours prior to

each departure from the dredging site.

 The DQM system must be operational on each disposal scow and record each 

placement event. This information is automatically uploaded to a USACE-NAE

database. 
ELDS SMMP April 2016

10

 For the initiation of placement activity and any time placement operations resume after

having ceased for one month or more, the permittee or the permittee's representative

must notify the USACE-NAE.

 The permittee must notify the USACE-NAE upon completion of dredging for the

season by completing and submitting the form that the USACE-NAE will supply for

this purpose. 

 Except when directed otherwise by the USACE-NAE, all placement of dredged

material shall adhere to the following: The permittee shall release the dredged material

at a specified set of coordinates within the site. All placement is to occur at the

specified coordinates with the scow at a complete halt. The USACE-NAE will provide

the coordinates. This requirement must be followed except when doing so will create

unsafe conditions because of weather or sea state, in which case placement within a 

specified distance (generally less than 350 ft.) of the specified coordinates with the

scow moving only fast enough to maintain safe control (generally less than two knots)

is permitted. Placement is not permitted if these requirements cannot be met due to 

weather or sea conditions. In that regard, special attention needs to be given to

predicted conditions prior to departing for the placementsite.

 EPA and the USACE-NAE (and/or their designated representatives) reserve all rights

under applicable law to free and unlimited access to and/or inspection of (through

permit conditions): 1) the dredging project site including the dredge plant, the towing

vessel and scow at any time during the course of the project; 2) any and all records,

including logs, reports, memoranda, notes, etc., pertaining to a specific dredging

project (Federal or non-Federal); 3) towing, survey monitoring, and navigation

equipment.

 If dredged material regulated by a specific permit issued by the USACE or Federal

authorization is released (due to an emergency situation to safeguard life or property at

sea) in locations or in a manner not in accordance with the terms or conditions of the

permit or authorization, the master/operator of the towing vessel and/or the Disposal

Inspector shall immediately notify the USACE-NAE of the incident, as required by

permit. The USACE-NAE shall copy EPA on such notification no later than the next

business day. In addition, both the towing contractor and the USACE-certified

disposal inspector shall make a full report of the incident to the USACE-NAE and EPA

within ten (10) days.

3.2 Modifications to the Management Plan

Based on the findings of the monitoring program, modifications to the site use may be

required. Corrective measures such as those listed below, but not limited to, will be developed

by EPA and the USACE-NAE.

 Stricter definition and enforcement of disposal permit conditions;
ELDS SMMP April 2016

11

 Implementation of more conservative evaluation procedures on whether sediments

proposed for dredging are suitable for open-water disposal;

 Implementation of special management practices to prevent any additional loss of

contaminants to the surrounding area;

 Excavation and removal of any unacceptable sediments from the placement site (an

unlikely, worst case scenario given that the permitting program should exclude such

material from the site to begin with, and since excavation could make matters worse by

releasing contaminants during the process);

 Closure of the site as an available dredged material placement area (i.e., to prevent any

additional placement at the site).

 Use of marine mammal observers during disposal operations;

 Establishment of dredging windows;

 Compliance with Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) under the Magnuson Stevens Act and

Endangered Species Act (ESA) concerns

In addition to management practices for the placement site and for individual projects, each 

SMMP must also include a monitoring plan as described in Section 6.0. Coordination and 

outreach should occur on both a regular and as needed basis and include state and Federal 

agencies, scientific experts, and the public. To ensure communications are appropriate and 

timely, site management activities and monitoring findings will be communicated through a 

combination of scientific reports and peer-reviewed publications, participation in symposia, 

and public meetings and fact sheets.

4.0 BASELINE ASSESSMENT

MPRSA 102(c) (3)(A) as amended by WRDA 92 requires that the SMMP include a summary

of baseline conditions at the site. Baseline conditions are reported in the Environmental 

Impact Statement for the site designation (EPA, 2016). This section provides a brief site 

description and overview of disposal at ELDS, more detailed information is found in the

SEIS, DAMOS reports, and monitoring data from EPA, CTDEEP, and the Long Island 

Sound Study. 

4.1 Site Characteristics

Much of the seafloor in eastern Long Island Sound consists of an east-west trending 

depression with depths ranging from 100 to 200 feet (30 to 60 meters). The bottom 

topography is irregular due to submerged reefs and shoals, exposed bedrock, and scoured 

areas. Depressions in Long Island Sound formed as a result of erosion of sediment by tidal 

currents. Shoals are either areas of sediment deposition (such as the Mattituck Sill), or glacial 

deposits of rocks and boulders. 
ELDS SMMP April 2016

12

The ELDS site is a 2 x 1 nm area that encompasses the previously used NLDS site and 

previously studied areas (NL-Wa and NL-Wb). The following are the corner coordinates 

(NAD83): 41°16.81’ N, 72° 04.57' W; 41°15.81’ N, 72° 04.57' W; 41°16.81’ N, 72° 04.57' 

W; 41°15.81’ N, 72° 07.22' W. This location is approximately 10.4 km south of South End 

Point, East Haven, Connecticut. The boundary excludes a bedrock area to the north from 

disposal.

The NLDS site is a 1 x 1 nm area that has been used for disposal. The seafloor at the active 

NLDS slopes down toward the south; depths range from 46 feet (14 m) in the center of the 

site to 79 feet (24 m) at its southern boundary. The site has well-defined dredged material 

mounds, shown in regular bathymetric surveys by the DAMOS program (e.g., AECOM 2009; 

2012). In areas without mounds (i.e., near the westernmost and southeastern parts of the site), 

the seafloor is comparatively flat. The seafloor of most of Site NL-Wa is also flat, with water 

depths predominantly between 60 and 80 feet (18 and 30 m) except the southern boundary 

which has a depth of 137 feet (42m). NL-Wb is similar with depths increasing to 95 feet 

(30M) at its southern end. However, the seafloor is shallower and more irregular in the 

boulder area in the north-central part of the site (also excluded from the boundaries of the 

ELDS, where water depths range from approximately 45 to 66 feet (14 to 20 m). 

4.2 Physical Characteristics

The physical parameters that are important in the transport and dispersion of sediment include 

currents, waves, and the density structure of the water column and were studied in the SEIS. 

Currents directly affect the transport and dispersion of sediment by imparting shear stress to 

the surface sediments and transporting suspended sediments.

Long Island Sound has outlets at both ends: at The Race in the east and through the East River 

at the west. The mean range of the tide in the study increases from east to west, from 1.9 feet 

at Lake Montauk Harbor on the eastern tip of Long Island, to 7.4 feet at Greenwich Harbor 

and the New York Harbors in western LIS. Spring tides are generally less than a foot higher 

and lower than the mean. Extreme tides can be up to 2 feet lower, or 7 feet higher than the 

mean (EPA,2016). 

The magnitude of the tides also varies vertically throughout the water column with stronger 

currents occurring near the surface. Peak near-surface tidal currents through The Race are 

typically 3.9 ft/s (1.2 m/s) and can exceed 5.3 ft/s (1.6 m/s) during spring tides (EPA, 2016). 

Westward from The Race, tidal current velocities decrease rapidly as Long Island Sound 

widens. Tidal currents in the western and central basins are typically 0.7 to 1.0 ft/s (0.2 to 0.3 

m/s). 

Near-bottom currents are strongest in eastern Long Island Sound, with peak near-bottom 

velocities of 2.0 to 2.3 ft/s (0.6 to 0.7 m/s) during spring tides. Near-bottom currents weaken 

toward western Long Island Sound to only 0.7 ft/s (0.2 m/s).
ELDS SMMP April 2016

13

As part of the physical oceanography study for the SEIS, significant wave heights were 

recorded at seven mooring stations during three seasons. Four mooring stations (see Figure 2)

were located in eastern Long Island Sound (Stations 1, 2, 3, and 7) together with wave 

measurements at the CLIS buoy. Wave height in the deeper waters of eastern Long Island 

Sound were homogenous compared to Block Island sound waves which were larger and for 

longer periods. Mean significant wave heights in eastern Long Island Sound are largest in the 

winter and maximum wave heights reached 8 feet (2.5 m).

Figure 2: Station locations of meteorological/ocean buoys, as well as mooring and ship 

 survey stations (EPA, 2016)

In recent years, the largest wave heights in Long Island Sound occurred on August 28-30, 

2011 (Tropical Storm Irene) and October 28-31, 2012 (Superstorm Sandy). The significant 

wave heights during these storms peaked at 13 feet (4 m) at the CLIS buoy. The wave periods 

during these unusual storms are important to sediment transport because the depth to which 

wave motions extend increases with the wave period. During winter storms the dominant 

wave periods reach up to 5 or 6 seconds (s) in Long Island Sound; during Tropical Storm 

Irene and Superstorm Sandy, longer wave periods were observed with values reaching 8 s at 

the CLIS buoy.
ELDS SMMP April 2016

14

Over time, as currents move over this mound, hydraulic forces act on the sediment particles in 

the form of shear and lift. The response of the particles to these forces is determined by 

current speed, particle size, shape, density, and any friction or cohesion exerted by adjacent 

sediment grains. 

As part of the PO study, the bottom stress was simulated for conditions during Superstorm 

Sandy (October 28-31, 2012). This storm produced the largest significant wave height ever 

observed in Long Island Sound (13 feet [4 m]). The extreme value analysis for significant 

wave heights for summer-fall conditions suggests that this wave height would occur once 

every 30 years. The maximum sustained (15-minute average) wind speed of 46 knots (23.6 

m/s) occurred on October 29, 2012 during the Superstorm Sandy.

Stability of dredged material at the sites was assessed using the models to assess the shear 

stress on bottom of ELDS. The maximum bottom stress values during 2013 were below .75 

Pa for ELDS with the exception of the southwestern corner of the site, located in an area of 

bedrock and boulders, where the maximum bottom stress is 0.76 Pa. The relatively low 

maximum bottom stresses at the ELDS are consistent with the observations made by the 

DAMOS program at the NLDS site which compared pre-storm and post-storm bathymetric 

surveys and concluded that there was little movement of the dredged sediments due to a major 

storm (SAIC, 2003). Low bottom stress is also consistent with the topography of the NLDS, 

which indicates that surface sediments are not reworked by storms and tidal currents (e.g., 

SAIC, 2004; AECOM, 2009). 

Climate change may result in changes to physical conditions of Long Island sound due to an 

increase in storm frequency and intensity. Increase in storms may result in unexpected 

shoaling of sediments and coastal erosion. These storms will result in additional dredging 

needs but may also present additional opportunities for beneficial use of dredged material. 

4.3 Sediment and Water Quality

Total Organic Concentration (TOC) in eastern Long Island Sound sediments in the area 

between Bartlett Reef and Mattituck Sill is less than 0.5% in most areas. The mean TOC 

concentration measured at the ELDS (NLDS portion) was 2.4% representing disposal of 

material. 

The predominant grain size within the ELDS was sand, although sediments were on average 

finer-grained within the NLDS portion (due to the disposed dredged material) than at areas 

outside of the NLDS. Specifically, at the NLDS, the mean sand content was 53%, while the 

mean sand content at areas outside the NLDS ranged from 72% to 85% (Table 1). The mean 

silt and clay content at the NLDS was 39%, which was approximately 2.5 times higher than 

the mean silt and clay content at all other areas outside the NLDS (mean of 18%). The 

highest silt and clay content was 78%, which was located in the area of the NLDS that 

received most of the dredged material in the previous decade (AECOM, 2009). 
ELDS SMMP April 2016

15

The predominant sediment grain size observed during the 2014 SPI/PV survey throughout 

most of the ELDS was a fine sand layer overlying silt and clay. These grain sizes were 

consistent with findings by a more extensive SPI/PV survey conducted in 2007 at the NLDS 

and at off-site reference stations (AECOM, 2009); they were also consistent with the findings 

of the 2015 sediment chemistry survey.

 Table 1. Mean Grain Size and TOC Content in Sediments at ELDS

Site

2015 Sediment 

Chemistry Survey

2013 Benthic

Survey

2014 SPI/PV 

Survey

GravelSandSilt and ClayTotal Organic CarbonGravelSandSilt and ClayTotal Organic Carbon

Predominant 

Grain Size

Percent Percent

New London Alternative

NLDS 9.4 54.7 35.9 1.7 7.3 50.6 42.1 3.0 Fine sand, 

NL-Wa 2.2 85.2 12.6 0.5 6.3 79.7 14.0 1.3 overlying silt+clay

NL-Wb 2.2 82.9 15.0 1.0 n/a Fine sand

Off-site – east of NLDS 0.4 71.8 27.8 0.4 n/a Very fine sand

Source: EPA, 2016

Metal, PAH, Pesticides, and PCBs concentrations were tested in 2015 (EPA, 2016). Most 

were below the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA] Effects RangeLow [ER-L] and Effects Range-Median [ER-M] values. The 2010 assessment of PAHs at the 

Seawolf Mound at the NLDS was conducted by the DAMOS program through the collection 

of 16 vibracores in 2010 (AECOM, 2012). The 2010 survey results indicated that PAH 

concentrations in the surface sediment (upper 1.7 feet [0.5 m]) were similar across the 

Seawolf Mound stations and were consistent with pre-dredge characterization of the capping 

material. Only one sample had a HMW PAH concentration slightly above the ERL value, but 

the total PAH concentrations of all individual stations was below the ERL value.

In order to be determined as suitable for placement at ELDS, sediment must meet chemical 

and biological criterion that are defined as protective of water quality. In addition, screening 

level modeling is performed to further evaluate the potential for water column effects as part 

of the suitability determination. Given this level of testing, the SMMP does not require 

specific water column monitoring at ELDS. Rather, it relies on the National Estuary 

Program’s Long Island Sound Study’s (LISS) routine measurements; if issues are identified 

by this monitoring that indicate a potential relationship to ELDS, then a monitoring plan will 

be developed consistent with LISS methodologies.
ELDS SMMP April 2016

16

ELDS is expected to exhibit similar water quality conditions to the central basin of Long

Island Sound. The average annual salinity (30 psu) is expected to be higher than those sites

farther to the west and water temperatures in the summer and fall are expected to be slightly

lower.

Minor spatial variations of bottom temperatures in the eastern region of LIS were observed as 

part of the site designation. Water entering from Block Island Sound was slightly cooler than 

in Long Island Sound throughout the summer (June-August). The southern side of the Long 

Island Sound had the warmest bottom temperatures in the summer.

During the PO study, the highest near-bottom salinity in Long Island Sound occurred 

consistently at near The Race, where the inflow from Block Island Sound is most influential. 

The lowest salinity values were measured consistently on the southern side of Long Island 

Sound furthest from the mouth of the Connecticut River.

The water column in the Sound is well-mixed from fall through late spring, but increased 

freshwater runoff and increasing water temperatures cause buoyant, warmer water to become 

layered over more dense, colder water during the summer and early fall. Hypoxic events, 

prevalent in the summer in the western and central Long Island Sound, do not extend to 

eastern Long Island Sound. Water column concentrations of contaminants measured at the 

Cornfield Shoals and at the Central Long Island Sound were low or not detected. 

The bottom sediments in the area of Long Island Sound where ELDS is located are composed 

primarily of fine silts and clays, characteristic of a low-energy environment. Although some 

of the sediment placed at the site has contained a higher fraction of coarse material than the 

ambient sediment, the consistent, rapid return of areas within NLDS that have been the target 

of dredged material placement to a healthy benthic community similar to set reference areas 

confirms the success of the suitability testing procedures.

The vigorous circulation in the eastern basin of Long Island Sound ensures that the water 

properties are rapidly mixed in both the horizontal and vertical dimensions. Consequently, 

measurements of water quality parameters (salinity, temperature, turbidity, dissolved oxygen 

etc.) show only subtle variations. The temporal variability associated with seasonal cycles in 

runoff and biological productivity are a much more substantial factor that affect the water 

quality in eastern Long Island Sound. 

4. 4 Bioaccumulation

Previous studies reviewed clam, worm, and lobster tissue at the NLDS site (EPA, 2004). 

Most recently, four dredging projects with bioaccumulation data were examined as part of the 

site designation. Data included worm (Nereis virens) and clam (Macoma nasuta)

bioaccumulation testing and comparisons to risk-based tissue concentrations. The projects 

evaluated included the Americas Styrenics project (2014), US Coast Guard Academy (2013), 

Patchogue River Federal Navigation Project (2011), and the North Cove Federal Navigation 
ELDS SMMP April 2016

17

Project (2003). For all projects no bioaccumulation tissue exceeded FDA Action/Tolerance 

Levels for protection of human health. In addition, risk model results did not exceed risk 

values for carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks from exposure through the food chain

(EPA, 2016). 

4.5 Living Resources

Zooplankton include metazooplankton (organisms larger than 200 μm) and microzooplankton 

(organisms between 35 and 200 μm in size). Overall, the seasonal patterns in 

metazooplankton abundances and species composition over the last 60 years seem to be 

relatively unchanged in Long Island. Specifically, peak abundances during the periods 1952-

1953, 2002-2004, and 2008-2009 occurred between April and June of each year; minimum 

abundances occurred between December and February. 

Routinely reported taxa have included the following: Arthropoda (copepods, mysids, crab 

larvae, amphipods, barnacle nauplii, and cladocerans); Annelida (polychaete larvae); 

Mollusca (gastropod and bivalve larvae); Echinodermata (sea star larvae); Chordata 

(Oikopleura sp.); Bryozoa; and Chaetognatha (e.g., the arrow worm, Sagitta elegans). 

Copepods accounted for 80 to 90% of the abundances. The seasonal metazooplankton cycles 

are dominated by the copepods Acartia hudsonica, Temora longicornis, and Pseudocalanus 

sp. in winter and spring, and by the copepods Acartia tonsa, Paracalanus crassirostris, and 

Oithona similis in the summer and fall.

As for phytoplankton, there is a distinct decreasing gradient in mesozooplankton biomass and 

abundances from west to east in Long Island Sound. Based on 2002 to 2009 data from the 

CTDEEP zooplankton monitoring program, the mean annual total mesozooplankton 

abundance is 4 and 3 times higher in western and central Long Island Sound, respectively, 

compared to eastern Long Island Sound. 

The benthic community within the ELDS (NLDS, Site NL-Wa, and Site NL-Wb) is primarily 

made up of the three major taxonomic groups: Annelida, Arthropoda, and Mollusca (EPA, 

2016). 

All of the stations assessed during the 2014 SPI survey (EPA, 2016) at the ELDS were 

classified as Stage III succession except for the two westernmost stations at Site NL-Wa. 

Sediments at the NLDS were heavily bioturbated with numerous burrows and evidence of 

subsurface feeding. The stations were classified as either Stage I on III, Stage II on III, or 

Stage III. Stations at NL-Wb exhibited Stage II sucession with a fairly dense shell layer. The 

shell lag and pebbles on the substrate had encrusting and attached epifauna on them 

suggesting a fairly stable substrate. The aRPDs at the NLDS ranged from 1.9 to 4.7 cm with a 

mean of 3.1 cm, indicating good habitat quality. At Site NL-Wa, the aRPDs was at least 2.8 

cm at the various stations, also indicating good habitat quality. Conditions were similar at 

Site WL-Wb; sediments from all four stations were bioturbated with some evidence of 
ELDS SMMP April 2016

18

subsurface feeding, and the shell lag and pebbles also had encrusting and attached epifauna, 

suggesting a fairly stable substrate. Reference stations located 1.5 nmi (2.8 km) to the east 

from the NLDS (i.e., Stations NLON-REF) had evidence of two polychaetes typical of Stage 

III succession. These organisms were Saccoglossus kowaleswski as evidenced by its 

distinctive fecal coil on the surface, and Chaetopterus variopedatus as evidenced by its thick 

parchment tube in the sediment through which it pumps water. The aRPD at Stations NEREF ranged from 2.5 to 6.8 cm with a mean of 4.6 cm. At Stations NLON-REF, the aRPD 

ranged from 2.2 to 4.6 cm with a mean of 3.6 cm. These depths are indications of good 

habitat quality (EPA, 2016). 

Additional surveys of mounds at the NLDS have shown that the benthic community readily 

recolonizes, with Stage I/II communities well established as soon as eight months after a 

disposal event and with historic mounds showing Stage III communities. In addition, 

surveys show that all benthic communities are similar to those found at off-site reference 

stations (EPA, 2016). 

Table 2. Ecological Parameters of Benthic Infauna for the ELDS

 (2013 Benthic Survey)

Site

No. of 

Samples Statistics Total 

Individuals

Species 

Richness (R)

Diversity 

Index (H’)

Pielou’s 

Evenness (J’)

New London Alternative

NLDS

8

1 Minimum 259 60 2.84 0.68

Maximum 875 100 3.80 0.83

Mean 615 3.30 0.75

Total Species Richness 208

NL-Wa 11 Minimum 187 33 1.32 0.38

Maximum 703 91 3.46 0.85

Mean 399 2.76 0.69

Total Species Richness 172

Off-site 6 Minimum 59 21 2.33 0.53

Maximum 1,874 78 3.23 0.88

Mean 762 2.83 0.71

Total Species Richness 154

 Source: EPA, 2016 

Commercial/Recreational Fish and Shellfish Resources

Long Island Sound, a semi-enclosed estuary, is an important economic resource for both

commercial and recreational/sport fisherman. The region is occupied by more than 105 fish

species; however, only a few of them are considered year-round residents (Gottschall et al.,

2000). Most finfish species such as scup, bluefish, and striped bass migrate through the area 

in response to seasonal variations in water temperature, salinity, and access to spawning and 
ELDS SMMP April 2016

19

nursery grounds in Long Island Sound.

Finfish abundance and distribution show several patterns. The overall abundance of finfishes 

and the species diversity has remained fairly stable since 1984 (EPA, 2016). However, 

western and central Long Island Sound have shown significantly higher abundances compared 

to eastern Long Island Sound, based on CTDEEP data from 1984 to 2012 (Figure 3). This is 

likely a result of more extensive mud habitat in western and central Long Island Sound that

supports greater fish densities (USEPA and USACE, 2004). Particularly, the shallow mud 

and transitional substrates adjacent to the western and central basins in Long Island Sound 

have the highest average catch per unit effort (CPUE). 

Figure 3. Mean finfish abundance per tow by location during the CTDEEP Long 

 Island Sound Trawl Surveys, 1984-2012

 (Source: CTDEEP, unpublished data, August 2013). 

In 2013, trawl data was collected in eastern LIS. At the NLDS, the most abundant finfish 

species present was scup (1,137 individuals); it also had the greatest biomass. There was no 

significant difference between the abundance or CPUE near and off of the three alternative 

sites evaluated in the site designation for species of interest identified during the survey, 

namely scup, winter flounder, striped bass, bluefish, windowpane flounder, and striped sea 

robin (Table 4).
ELDS SMMP April 2016

20

Table 3. Average Catch per Unit Effort for Finfish Species of Interest for the eastern 

 region of LIS

Species of Interest

Average Catch per Unit Effort 

(CPUE) P-value

Near-site Off-site

Primary

Scup 8.19 7.40 0.919

Winter flounder 0.18 0.29 0.530

Striped bass 0.02 0.01 0.519

Bluefish 0.01 0.00 0.374

Secondary Windowpane flounder 0.12 0.86 0.309

Striped sea robin 0.02 0.07 0.329

 Source: EPA, 2016

Important commercial or recreational bivalve mollusk resources within Long Island Sound 

include the bay scallop (Argopecten irradians), eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica), 

northern quahog/hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria), softshell clam (Mya arenaria), and surf 

clam (Spisula solidissima). Lobster (Homarus americanus), longfin squid (Loligo pealeii), 

horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus), channeled whelk (Busycon canaliculatum), and 

knobbed whelk (Busycon carica). With the exception of lobster and longfin squid, 

commercially and recreationally important shellfish resources of Long Island Sound occur in 

shallow nearshore waters.

Based on the CTDEEP data, lobsters, which were most abundant on muddy substrate, occurred

Sound-wide in all seasons during the study period (i.e., 1984 to 2000). Prior to 1999, lobsters 

were most abundant in western and central Long Island Sound. Since then, much of the 

remnant lobster population has been concentrated in deeper waters of central Long Island 

Sound and the Race (EPA, 2016).

Endangered/ThreatenedSpecies

This section provides a summary of known endangered, threatened, and “special concern”

species within the Long Island Sound region. An endangered species is one whose overall

survival in a particular region or locality is in jeopardy as a result of loss or change in habitat,

overall exploitation by man, predation, adverse interspecies competition, or disease. Unless an

endangered species receives protective assistance, extinction may occur. Threatened or rare

species are those with populations that have become notably decreased because of the

development of any number of limiting factors leading to a deterioration of the environment. A

species may also be considered as a species of “special concern.” These may be any native

species for which a welfare concern or risk of endangerment has been documented within a

state (NYSDEC 2003). Endangered and threatened species are protected under the Federal

Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. §§ 1531 et seq. and under state law while species listed as

“special concern” are protected only by state law.
ELDS SMMP April 2016

21

In 2015 and 2012, the Rufa Red Knot (Calidris canutus rufa) and the Atlantic sturgeon 

(Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) were added to the federal endangered species list. The 

bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) was removed from the endangered species list in 2007. 

No other changes to federally listed endangered species with potential habitat in the study 

area were noted (Table 1). Two additional species are not expected to be offshore at the 

disposal site but may be found nearshore are the Piping plover (Charadrius melodus) and 

Upland sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda). The Piping plover remains a threatened species for 

the states of CT and RI (USFWS, 2016), but is listed as an endangered species under the NY 

state endangered species list. The Upland sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) is not listed as a 

federal species but listed as a state endangered species for RI and threatened species for NY.

The red knot, piping plover, upland sandpiper are not expected to be present at ELDS with 

any regularity because the forage or migrate to intertidal areas and under USFWS purview. 

As part of the DSEIS, EPA coordinated with USFWS and NMFS.

Endangered and Threatened Mammals 

Eight endangered marine mammals and reptiles were originally identified for the EIS study 

area. In general, whales and other marine mammals are not frequently observed in LIS, 

however, incidental sightings have resulted in the inclusion of several species on the endangered 

species list for Connecticut and New York (EPA, 2004). Coordination with NMFS for ELDS 

is ongoing. Marine mammals are not expected to spend significant portions of time within the 

ELDS and adverse impacts to mammals are not likely to occur.

Endangered and Threatened Reptiles

Sea turtles are the only endangered reptile species noted in the Long Island Sound area. Sea

turtles are highly migratory and are often found throughout the world’s oceans (NOAA, 1995).

Pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, EPA requested input from resource and 

state agencies (NOAA, USFWS, CTDEEP and NYSDEC) on the identification of Threatened

and Endangered Species in Long Island Sound. Their assessment noted the five species of sea

turtles as possibly being found in the waters of Long Island Sound.

Use of Long Island Sound by turtles appears related to the availability of prey, annual

migration patterns, and age. The coastal waters of New York provide an important habitat for

juvenile Kemp’s ridley, green, and loggerhead turtles and adult-sized leatherbacks.

Hawksbill turtles are only an incidental visitor to Long Island Sound, therefore Long Island

Sound is not considered important habitat to the Hawksbill turtle.
ELDS SMMP April 2016

22

Table 4 – Endangered Marine Mammals and Reptiles for Connecticut and New York

Species Federal 

Status CT Status NY Status

Humpback whale 

(Megaptera novaeangliae)

Endangered NA* Endangered

Fin whale (Balaenoptera 

physalus)

Endangered NA* Endangered

Right whale (Eubalaena 

glacialis)

Endangered NA* Endangered

Kemp's ridley sea turtle 

(Lepidochelys kempii)

Endangered Endangered Endangered

Loggerhead sea turtle

(Caretta caretta)

Threatened Threatened Threatened

Leatherback sea turtle 

(Dermochelys coriacea)

Endangered Endangered Endangered

Green sea turtle (Chelonia 

mydas)

Threatened Threatened Threatened

Hawksbill sea turtle

(Eretmochelys imbricata)

Endangered NA* Endangered

Notes: NA – not listed *.

CT list accessed 12/29/15, effective 8/5/15.

http://www.ct.gov/dEep/cwp/view.asp?a=2702&q=323488&deepNav_GID=1628

NY list accessed 12/23/15 http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7494.html - last updated 8/8/2007

Endangered and Threatened Fish

Two endangered fish may be located in the vicinity of ELDS, the shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser 

brevirostrum) and the Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus). The original 

SMMP identified the shortnose sturgeon as federally endangered as well as endangered in both 

CT and NY. The Atlantic sturgeon was listed as “threatened in inland waters” for the state of 

Connecticut in the prior SMMP and is now a federally protected endangered species. The state 

of CT now lists it as endangered. Sturgeon are not expected to be impacted by disposal 

activities at ELDS as they are highly mobile species.

Shortnose sturgeon occur in the lower Connecticut River from the Holyoke Pool to Long.

Unlike other anadromous species such as salmon and shad, shortnose sturgeon do not appear

to make long-distance offshore migrations. It can be inferred that shortnose sturgeon utilizes

portions of Long Island Sound since it is known to spawn in the Connecticut River. Shortnose
ELDS SMMP April 2016

23

sturgeon have not been observed in Long Island Sound during CTDEEP trawls since 1984.

The Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) is listed as “threatened in inland

waters” for the state of Connecticut (CTDEP, 2003). This designation means that the Atlantic

sturgeon is not protected within the waters of Long Island Sound under the Connecticut’s

endangered species legislation, but a moratorium on harvesting the species in Long Island

Sound has been enacted. In February 2003, a proposal was made to change the status of the

Atlantic sturgeon to “endangered in all state waters” (personal communication Tom Savoy,

Connecticut Marine Fisheries Division), and is still under consideration at this time.

Atlantic sturgeon is an anadromous species that lives up to 60 years, reaching lengths up to 14

feet (4 meters) and weighing over 800 pounds (363 kilograms). Long Island Sound may be an

important feeding or resting area on-the-way to and from spawning areas in the Hudson River

because all sizes of Atlantic sturgeon have been seen or captured in the Sound. Atlantic

sturgeon were caught in all three basins of Long Island Sound but were mainly located in the

vicinity of Falkner Island (Savoy and Pacileo, 2003).

Endangered and Threatened Birds

Long Island Sound is utilized by a wide diversity of marine and coastal birds including both 

migratory and resident species. Open-water bird species found in Long Island Sound include 

waterfowl, colonial water birds, and pelagic species. Shorebirds and raptors may occasionally 

use open-water habitats for foraging or as fly-over during migrations, but are not likely to be 

present in offshore waters.

19 birds were identified as endangered or threatened in the study area and 13 were identified 

as species of concern (EPA, 2016). Of these species, only four are known to use offshore 

open water areas (Table 3). Of these, only the Roseate tern is on the federal endangered 

species list, the Least tern is listed as a threatened species in all states. The Piping Plover, 

sand piper, and red knot, sand piper are species are not likely to be present in offshore waters.

Table 5 - Endangered or Threatened Birds

Name ClassificationSeason 

Uses

LIS

Federal 

Status

CT

State

Status

NY 

State

Status

RI

State

Status

Offshore/

Open 

Water Use

Common 

tern (Sterna

hirundo)

Colonial 

Waterbird

SpringEarly Fall- Special 

concern*

Threatened Occasional

Least tern 

(Sterna

antillum)

Colonial 

Waterbird

SpringSummer- Threatened Threatened Threatened Occasional
ELDS SMMP April 2016

24

Roseate tern 

(Sterna 

dougallii)

Colonial 

Waterbird

SpringEarly FallEndangered Endangered Endangered Endangered Occasional

Common 

loon (Gavia 

immer)

Pelagic Winter - Special 

Concern*

Special 

Concern

Occasional

Notes: CT list accessed 12/29/15, effective 8/5/15. 

http://www.ct.gov/dEep/cwp/view.asp?a=2702&q=323488&deepNav_GID=1628 NY list accessed 

12/23/15 http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7494.html - last updated 8/8/2007

Essential Fish Habitat

In eastern Long Island Sound, EFH has been designated for 38 managed species (species with 

active FMPs). Fifteen of these species have designated EFH within the vicinity of eastern LIS. 

The data were compiled from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Guide 

to Essential Fish Habitat Designations in the Northeastern United States (NOAA, 2014a). 

This guide summarizes EFH designated by species and life stage for that species (i.e., eggs, 

larvae, juveniles, and adults) in 10-minute by 10-minute squares1 of latitude and longitude 

(hereafter referred to as just “squares”). Therefore, the ELDS site is represented by NOAA as 

square #41107200 (Figure 5).

The five species that may be found near ELDS are: bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix), little skate 

(Leucoraja erinacea), windowpane flounder (Scophthalmus aquosus), winter flounder 

(Pseudopleuonectes americanus), and winter skate (Leucoraja ocellata). Eight endangered 

marine mammals and reptiles were originally identified for the EIS study area. 

EPA has requested EFH consultation. Coordination with NMFS is ongoing. Although 

temporary impacts to prey, adverse impacts to Essential Fish habitat is not likely to occur.

Additionally, monitoring under the DAMOS program has consistently demonstrated that the 

benthic communities readily recover after disposal events (e.g., AECOM, 2009). Increased 

turbidity immediately following dredged material disposal events could also temporarily 

reduce foraging ability due to decreased visibility in the water column.
ELDS SMMP April 2016

25

Figure 4. NOAA Fisheries 10 x 10 minute EFH squares (NMFS, 2016)

There are no cultural resources in the ELDS. EPA has consulted with the tribes and CT State 

Historic Preservation office. There is one documented submerged wreck within the ELDS 

area .1 nm west of the previously used NLDS site at 41°15.936’N, 72°05.292’W. A 200 foot 

buffer will be maintained to avoid disposal near the wreck. This wreck is recorded in all 

databases.

This wreck is an unknown vessel in 57 feet (18 m) of water and has been classified by NOAA 

as “submerged/dangerous.” No other information regarding this wreck (e.g., age, vessel type) 

is available.

There are three “obstructions” within the boulder area of Site NL-Wa (south portion of ELDS). 

The AWOIS database lists these obstructions as rocks in water depths of 45 to 48 feet (14 to 15 

m). A fourth obstruction is located on the southern boundary of Site NL-Wa. It is located at a 

water depth of 59 feet (18 m), and was confirmed by a private diver to be a buoy with lighting 

hardware removed according to the AWOIS database.

4.6 Site Capacity

The estimated site capacity of ELDS is 27 million cubic yards (EPA, 2016). Disposal has 

occurred at the NLDS portion of the ELDS site (see Disposal History). Capacity will be 

modified by USACE in final SMMP.
ELDS SMMP April 2016

26

5.0 DISPOSAL HISTORY

The ELDS encompasses 50% of the previously used New London Site. At the New London 

site, there is a known continuous record of use of any disposal site in Long Island Sound (EPA, 

2004). According to USACE records, the beginning of detailed record keeping at NLDS, a 

total of nearly 3.5 million cubic yards of dredged material has been placed at the site (see Table 

4), but placement of dredged material in the vicinity of NLDS likely dates back to at least 1955. 

The largest volume of material placed at NLDS has originated from maintenance and 

improvement of the U.S. Navy facility in New London, but usage also includes a number of 

smaller private projects.

In 2016, a total of nearly 3.5 million cubic yards had been recorded as placed at the site since 

1985 (see Table 4). The ELDS will receive volumes from Federal navigation projects in New 

Haven, Stamford, Norwalk and Bridgeport harbors, with numerous smaller harbors in 

Connecticut and New York contributing to the total disposal volumes (EPA, 2004). 

Beginning as early as 1984, dredged material at ELDS has been placed at distinct mounds and 

managed to maximize site capacity and containment of material (EPA, 2004). These mounds 

have been monitored individually to assess stability, thickness of dredged material and benthic 

recolonization status relative to previous survey results and in comparison to nearby reference 

areas (Valente et al., 2012). 

Table 6 - Disposal Events at NLDS (50% of NLDS is part of the ELDS site)

Year Reported Placement 

Volume (cubic yards)

1984 Total 223,689 

1985 Total 374,154 

1986 Total 193,500 

1987 Total 171,245 

1988 Total 91,850 

1989 Total 41,800 

1990 Total 126,222 

1991 Total 65,262 

1992 Total 79,320 

1993 Total 21,930 

1994 Total 7,650 

1995 Total 847,325 

1996 Total 504,400 

1997 Total 12,325 

1998 Total 7,300 

1999 Total 23,250 

2000 Total 5,300 
ELDS SMMP April 2016

27

2001 Total 1,995 

2002 Total 11,425 

2003 Total 4,450 

2004 Total 8,000 

2005 Total 8,700 

2006 Total 382,135 

2007 Total No disposal 

2008 Total No disposal 

2009 Total No disposal 

2009-10 3,318 

2010-11 No disposal 

2011-12 No disposal 

2012-13 19,142 

2013-14 No disposal 

2014-15 180,676 

Total Record 3,416,363 

Source: USACE, DAMOS program

6.0 MONITORING

The USACE-NAE and EPA share responsibility for monitoring of the ELDS site. In 

addition, monitoring data may be generated by the agencies or through coordination or use of

data gathered under other programs. Monitoring data from other agencies (e.g., CTDEEP

Trawl Surveys and Long Island Sound Study programs) will be utilized as appropriate to

maximize the availability of information at ELDS.

EPA has the responsibility for determining that an unacceptable impact has occurred as a

result of dredged material disposal at ELDS. However, such determinations will be made in

consultation with other agencies and be based on available monitoring data. The data gathered 

from the monitoring program will be routinely evaluated by EPA, the USACE-NAE, and other 

agencies such as the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

(USFWS), and state regulatory agencies. EPA is responsible for determining any modification

to site use or de-designation.

6.1 Monitoring Methods

Monitoring surveys at ELDS fall into two general categories: confirmatory studies and 

focused studies. Confirmatory studies are designed to test hypotheses related to expected 

physical and ecological response patterns following placement of dredged material on the 

seafloor at the active or recently active target locations within ELDS. The data collected and 

evaluated during these studies provide answers to strategic management questions in 
ELDS SMMP April 2016

28

determining the next step in the site management process. Focused studies are periodically 

undertaken within the monitoring program to follow up on any unexpected results from a 

confirmatory survey (such as slower than expected recolonization following cessation of 

placement at a given target location) or to evaluate inactive or historical placement areas 

within the site (such as following the passage of a large storm).

The primary monitoring tools for confirmatory surveys are collection of acoustic and imaging 

data. Acoustic surveys include the collection of bathymetric, backscatter, and side-scan data. 

The bathymetric data provide measurements of water depth that, when processed, can be used 

to map the seafloor topography. The mapped data is used to track changes in the size and 

location of seafloor features. Backscatter and side-scan sonar data provide images that 

support characterization of surficial topography, sediment texture, and roughness. 

Backscatter data can be processed into a seamless image with corrections for topography 

while side-scan sonar data retains a higher resolution image without correction for 

topography. The comparison of synoptic acoustic data types has the greatest utility for 

assessment of dredged material placement. 

Sediment-profile imaging (SPI) is a monitoring technique used to provide data on the physical 

characteristics of the seafloor as well as the status of the benthic biological community. The 

technique involves deploying an underwater camera system to photograph a cross section of 

the sediment-water interface. SPI is coupled with a plan-view camera system to provide 

imaging of a larger area of the seafloor to aid characterization of the benthic biological 

community.

In addition to the above techniques, focused surveys may include any of the following:

 Collection of sediment or water samples for laboratory analysis

 Remotely operated vehicle surveys with camera and sampling capabilities

 Additional remote sensing techniques such as sub-bottom profiling

Specifics on monitoring techniques and data processing and analysis can be found in the most 

recent DAMOS contribution for NLDS (Carey, 2015). 

6.2 Material Movement

The following potential effects (as defined in 40 CFR 228.10) will be discussed in this 

section: 

1. Movement of materials into estuaries or marine sanctuaries or onto oceanfront 

beaches or shorelines. 

2. Movement of materials toward productive fishery or shellfishery areas. 
ELDS SMMP April 2016

29

The site designation specifies that ELDS is a containment (non-dispersive site); therefore 

significant movement of materials out of the site is not expected. Loss of mound material 

could mean that the material is being lost inappropriately and may potentially impact areas 

outside of the site. 

If material is transported beyond the site’s boundary, bathymetric surveys will be conducted 

to ensure the changes in elevation for any mound is not greater than 1.0 feet (0.3 meter) over 

an area greater than 50 by 50 meters. Bathymetric baseline data for new or modified mounds 

will be collected after one year of consolidation. Bathymetric surveys of mounds (historic and 

recently completed) and the entire site will also be performed periodically. Information on 

mound size and height will be compared with previous data to determine if loss of material 

has occurred and reported in DAMOS reports and available on the USACE website.

Data from the sediment erosion modeling conducted during the site designation process 

suggest the location of the ELDS is optimal for mound stability.

Bathymetry will be used to define substantive changes in bathymetry and topography (greater 

than 0.5 foot [15 centimeters]). Sediment profile imagery may also be used to evaluate 

changes in sediment characteristics. The sediment profile imagery can be used to observe 

layers of material too thin to detect by precision bathymetric methods and can also be used to 

evaluate if the benthic community in the sediments has been disturbed or is under stress 

relative to the reference sites. Comparison of sediment profile imagery data from areas of 

concern to reference areas will be used to determine whether the transported material has a 

potential significant adverse biological effect (since it will be assessing benthic community 

health). 

Changes in bathymetry across the mound of more than 1.0 feet (0.3 meters) or development of 

large areas of predominately muddy sediments not previously documented may be an 

indication of substantial transport of material from the site. If such changes are documented, 

Tier 3 characterization of sediment quality or further characterization of benthic communities 

may be required.

For the portion of the ELDS site that has received dredged material disposal (NLDS),

monitoring results from four bathymetry surveys completed from 2000 through 2015, show

no evidence of substantial movement of materials from NLDS to adjacent areas. This 

determination was made based on the following information:

Periodic bathymetric surveys of NLDS provide a means of comparison of depth changes in 

the disposal site. Four bathymetric surveys were completed at NLDS since 2000, including a 

focused survey in 2002 following the passage of a large coastal storm. Although Fishers 

Island shelters NLDS from long-fetch easterly and southeasterly winds, it is exposed to the 

west and southwest. As the October 2002 storm center tracked to the west of NLDS, a 

significant southwesterly wind pattern developed. The bathymetric survey performed soon
ELDS SMMP April 2016

30

after this storm identified no large-scale changes in the topography of the seafloor at NLDS. 

The imaging survey did identify the presence of a shell lag deposit at some locations, 

indicative of small-scale winnowing of the surface sediments. However, the occurrence of 

advanced successional species, well-developed apparent redox potential discontinuity depths, 

and the presence of numerous biogenic surface features (e.g. worm tubes, burrows) over the 

shallower portions of the site provided evidence that there was minimal disturbance of 

surficial sediment

Periodic bathymetric surveys of ELDS provide a means of comparison of depth changes in 

the disposal site. Several bathymetric surveys were completed at ELDS as part of the DSEIS 

(Table 5). 

The frequency of monitoring at a given site is driven by the amount of material placed at the 

site as well as previous findings and other relevant factors such as the passage of a large storm 

or reported issues in the area.

Table 7 – DAMOS Survey Activities at NLDS 

Survey Date Purpose of Survey Reference

October 2015 Characterize the bathymetry and surficial sediment 

properties of the entire site using multibeam bathymetry 

Battelle, data analysis is 

process

September 2014 Characterize the physical and biological conditions over NLDS 

and associated reference areas using sediment profile and 

plan view imaging 

Carey and Fucile, 2015 

(DAMOS Data Report 

2015-01)

September 2010 Collection of cores to characterize the vertical distribution of 

material at a capped mound of dredged material at the site, 

including a comparison of laboratory analytical 

methodologies

AECOM, 2012 (DAMOS 

Contribution No. 189)

June-July 2006 Performance of multibeam bathymetry, imaging, benthic 

sampling, and coring to assess the recovery and stability of a 

capped mound at the site 

AECOM, 2010 (DAMOS 

Contribution No. 182)

October 2002 Performance of single beam bathymetry, imaging, and sidescan sonar to evaluate the stability of deposits at NLDS 

following passage of a large coastal storm

SAIC, 2003 (DAMOS 

Contribution No. 149) 

June 2001 Collections of cores and sediment grabs and performance of 

imaging to assess the recovery and stability of a capped 

mound at the site

SAIC, 2004 (DAMOS 

Contribution No. 152)

August 2000 Performance of single beam bathymetry and imaging survey 

over the entire site to assess stability and biological recovery 

of placement mounds at the site

SAIC, 2001 (DAMOS 

Contribution No. 133)
ELDS SMMP April 2016

31

 

6.3 Biological Characteristics 

The following potential effects (as defined in 40 CFR 228.10) will be discussed in this section: 

1. Absence from the disposal site of pollution-sensitive biota characteristic of the general 

area.

2. Progressive, non-seasonal, changes in composition or numbers of pelagic, demersal, or 

benthic biota at or near the disposal site when these changes can be attributed to the 

effects of materials disposed at the site.

3. Accumulation of material constituents (including without limitation, human pathogens) 

in marine biota at or near the site.

Overall, based on results from 2001, 2006, and 2014 surveys, the benthic community within 

NLDS has recovered to the level of the reference sites. The recovery of a healthy benthic habitat 

coupled with the testing requirements for material placed at the site indicate that bioaccumulation 

potential is not considered significant. This determination was made based on the following 

information:

Current theory holds that organism-sediment interactions in fine-grained sediments follow a 

predictable sequence of development after a major disturbance such as dredged material disposal 

(Carey et al., 2015). This sequence has been subjectively divided into three successional stages 

(Rhoads and Germano, 1986). Successional stage is assigned by assessing which types of species 

or organisms-related activities are apparent in a SPI image. Stage 3 organisms, the most 

developed, are deposit-feeding infauna. 

Sediment Profile Imaging (SPI) is a monitoring technique used to provide data on the physical 

characteristics of the seafloor as well as the status of the benthic biological community. The 

technique involves an underwater frame/camera system that can photograph a cross section of 

the sediment-water interface. Analysis of the resulting images for a standard set of 

characteristics allows comparison between different locations and different surveys. The 

DAMOS Program has successfully used SPI for over 25 years. One of the main characteristics 

described in SPI data is apparent Redox Potential Discontinuity (aRPD) depth. This parameter 

provides a measure of the integrated time history of the balance between near-surface oxygen 

conditions and biological reworking of sediments (Carey et al., 2015). As biological activity 

increases, the aRPD depth increases as organisms move sediment particles from the sediment 

surface down deeper into the sediments. 

The 2001, 2006, and 2014 surveys all assessed the benthic recolonization over mounds where 

placement of dredged material has not occurred for multiple years. Recolonization was complete 

over these mounds, consistent with expectations based on the standard theory of infaunal 

succession. There was limited placement at the site between 2007 and early 2014, but with the 
ELDS SMMP April 2016

32

increase in placement for the 2014-15 season and anticipated continued placement in 2015-16, 

future surveys will be scheduled to track).

6.4 Water and Sediment Quality

Inclusive of 40 CFR 228.10 the following types of potential effects when evaluating impact at the 

disposal site discussed in this section include: 

1. Progressive, non-seasonal, changes in water quality or sediment composition at the 

disposal site when these changes are attributable to materials disposed of at the site.

The water quality in Long Island Sound is strongly affected by runoff and discharges from its 

urban surroundings. The watershed of Long Island Sound has an area of approximately 16,250 

square miles. The three largest rivers draining into Long Island Sound are, from east to west, the 

Thames River, Connecticut River, and Housatonic River. The Connecticut River enters the 

eastern Long Island Sound between Old Saybrook and Old Lyme, Connecticut. Covering 

approximately 75% of the total drainage area and the Thames River enters the eastern Long Island 

Sound between New London and Groton, Connecticut. Covering 9% of the drainage area. Except 

for selected coastal areas, waters in Long Island Sound are classified as SA waters. The best uses 

of Class SA waters are shellfishing for market purposes, primary and secondary contact recreation, 

and fishing. 

Turbidity measurements are made in the spring and summer, the most productive seasons in Long 

Island Sound. CTDEEP has been monitoring turbidity indirectly by measuring water clarity 

(using a Secchi disk) since June 2000. The average Secchi depth in Long Island Sound is 7.5 feet 

(2.3 m).

The predominant grain size within the ELDS was sand, although sediments were on average finergrained within the NLDS (due to the disposed dredged material) than at areas outside of the NLDS. 

Specifically, at the NLDS, the mean sand content was 53%, while the mean sand content at areas 

outside the NLDS ranged from 72% to 85%. The mean silt and clay content at the NLDS was 

39%, which was approximately 2.5 times higher than the mean silt and clay content at all other 

areas outside the NLDS (mean of 18%). The highest silt and clay content was 78%, which was 

located in the area of the NLDS that received most of the dredged material in the previous decade 

(AECOM, 2009). 

The TOC concentrations at stations within and around the ELDS were similar. The mean TOC 

concentration measured at the NLDS was 2.4%, which was about 2.5 times higher than the mean 

concentrations at all the other areas (mean of 0.9%). The highest TOC concentration measured 

was 3.5%. The most recent assessments of physical and chemical characteristics at the NLDS by 

the DAMOS program were conducted at the Seawolf Mound in 2006 and 2010 (AECOM, 2010; 

2012). In the 2010 survey, sediments in the upper 1.7 feet (50 cm) contained 55 to 90% silt and 

clay, and 1.2 to 2.1% TOC, which was consistent with previous surveys at the mound.
ELDS SMMP April 2016

33

Metal concentrations were sampled at individual station within the ELDS site. Mean metals 

concentrations were approximately twice as high at the NLDS as at Sites NL-Wa and NL-Wb, 

although none of the mean metal concentrations for those sites exceeded the ERL values. Metal 

concentrations at the three stations from the eastern part of Site NL-Wa located just to the west 

of the NLDS, had lower concentrations than Stations located within the NLDS, suggesting that 

dredged material is contained within the NLDS. Stability of the sediment at the disposal 

mounds is also evidenced by the DAMOS program surveys; the 2006 assessment of surface 

sediments at the Seawolf Mound found metals concentrations that were similar across the 

mound and that were consistent with pre-dredge characterization of the disposed material 

(AECOM, 2010). 

Concentrations of Pesticides, PCBs and PAHs at ELDS are low and do not exceed the ER-L 

values. Additionally, surveys at the Seawolf Mound at the NLDS were conducted by the 

DAMOS program through the collection of 16 vibracores in 2010 (AECOM, 2012). The 2010 

survey results indicated that PAH concentrations in the surface sediment (upper 1.7 feet [0.5 m]) 

were similar across the Seawolf Mound stations and were consistent with pre-dredge 

characterization of the capping material. Only one sample had a concentration slightly above 

the ERL value, but the total PAH concentrations of all individual stations was below the ERL 

value. 

Available data for the Long Island Sound region indicate that sediments in the open waters of 

Long Island Sound are generally not toxic to benthic organisms. The toxicity tests during the 

2013 benthic survey demonstrated that contaminants and physical conditions at the ELDS do not 

elicit a toxic response to exposed organisms.

In addition, the DSEIS evaluated the rate of dilution of the dissolved materials and very fine 

suspended sediments that may remain in the water after disposal operations and the direction of 

transport using, the circulation model FVCOM. The highest concentration occur after release. 

The material was diluted by tidal circulation and moved rapidly. After 12 hours, the diluted 

concentration was the range of 10-7. 

The STFATE predictions of the distribution of the disposed sediment on the seabed show that it 

is contained within the site and the mound is elongated along the axis of the current. Under 

mean flow conditions the maximum mound height after disposal from a 3,000 cy scow would be

0.21 feet (6.4 cm); under high flow conditions the maximum height would be 0.18 feet (5.5 cm). 

STFATE predictions for the amount of material reaching the seafloor show that under both mean 

and high flow conditions, 99-100% of the sand, silt, and clumps in the scow would reach the 

seafloor. Most of the clay also reaches the seafloor. Specifically, 83% of the clay is predicted to 

reach the seafloor during operations under high flow conditions, and 96% of it would reach the 

seafloor under mean flow conditions. 

The STFATE simulations further show that the maximum relative concentration in the water 

column within the ELDS falls below 0.25% within 120 minutes of release of dredged material 

from the scow. 
ELDS SMMP April 2016

34

The longer-term (greater than 100 hours from release) transport and dilution of material in the 

water column after disposal operations show maximum concentrations in the range of 10-7 at 

locations on the coast of Connecticut, and Fishers Island and the North Fork of Long Island. 

These values reflect further dilution by a factor of approximately 100 from initial dilution at the 

site. An exception exists at the west coast of Fishers Island where releases from the ELDS

would result in the maximum concentrations of 10-6.

6.5 Quality Assurance

An important part of any monitoring program is a quality assurance (QA) regime to ensure that

the monitoring data are reliable.

Relevant laboratories are required to submit Quality Assurance (QA) sheets with all analyses on

a project-specific basis (see RIM, ITM and Green Book for further details).

Monitoring activities will be accomplished through a combination of EPA and USACE-NAE

resources (e.g. employees, vessels, laboratories) and contractors. Documentation of QA/QC is 

required by both agencies for all monitoring activities (i.e., physical, chemical, and biological 

sampling and testing). QA is documented in the form of Quality Assurance Project Plans 

(QAPP) and/or Monitoring Work Plan. QAPPs are required for all EPA and USACE-NAE

monitoring activities. Analytical methods, detection limits, and QA procedures are contained in 

the EPA and USACE-NAE Regional Testing Manual (EPA/USACE, 2004).

7.0 ANTICIPATED SITE USE

MPRSA 102(c)(3)(D) and (E) requires that the SMMP include consideration of the quantity of

the material to be placed in the site, and the presence, nature, and bioavailability of the

contaminants in the material as well as the anticipated use of the site over the long term.

ELDS is designated to receive dredged material only. No other material may be placed in the

site.

Projected dredging volumes for all regions of Long Island Sound include a mix of large and

small Federal navigation projects and many small private dredging projects (marinas, boatyards,

and harbors, and a few large private projects), which is consistent with the pattern of dredging in

Long Island Sound over the past 20 years.

A total of 52.9 million cubic yards is expected to be dredged in Long Island Sound over the 

next 30 years. Of that, approximately 22.6 million cubic yards of material are anticipated to 

be dredged in eastern Long Island Sound. Federal navigation projects with the rest of the

volume coming from other facilities in Long Island Sound Sediments projected for disposal are

expected to come primarily from maintenance dredging projects, although expansion dredging

may be required for deeper draft vessels or from increased commerce in Long Island Sound.
ELDS SMMP April 2016

35

Dredging and disposal in Long Island Sound has historically been accomplished using a bucket

dredge to fill split hull or pocket scows for transport to the disposal site or by using hopper

dredges. These types of equipment are expected to be the primary mode of any open-water 

placement in Long Island Sound in the future, although placement is not specifically limited to 

this equipment.

Historically one third of the dredged material volume comes from large projects (>500,000 cubic

yards; 382,277 cubic meters), one third from medium sized projects

(200,000 to 500,000 cubic yards; 152,911 to 382,277 cubic meters), and one third from small

projects (<200,000 cubic yards; 152,911 cubic meters). The sediment properties are expected to

be variable although the predominant sediment type is likely be silty material (silts, sandy silts,

etc.). About 70 percent of the maintenance material volume can be characterized as silty material.

Approximately 10 percent the expansion material can be characterized as sands and clays.

All projects using ELDS for disposal must be either permitted or authorized under MPRSA and

the CWA (see Section 3.0). The quality of the material will be determined on a project specific

basis under the testing requirements necessary to meet open-water disposal requirements of either

CWA 404 or MPRSA 103. The quality of MPRSA material will be consistent with EPA’s

Ocean Dumping Regulations (40 CFR Part 227).

National guidance for determining whether dredged material is acceptable for open-water

disposal is provided in the Ocean Testing Manual (Green Book; EPA and USACE, 1991) and in

the Inland Testing Manual (ITM; EPA and USACE, 1998). The Regional Implementation

Manual (RIM; Guidance for Performing Tests on Dredged Material to be Disposed in Open

Waters, EPA New England Region/USACE-NAE, 2004), consistent with the Green Book a nd

the Inland Testing Manual, provides specific testing and evaluation methods for dredged material

projects at specific sites or groups of sites.

Site Capacity will be evaluated and reported by USACE-NAE every three years. 

8.0 REVIEW AND REVISION OF THIS PLAN

MPRSA 102 (c)(3)(F) requires that the SMMP include a schedule for review and revision of the

SMMP, which shall not be reviewed and revised less frequently than 10 years after adoption of

the plan, and every 10 years thereafter. The EPA, the USACE-NAE, have agreed to review this

plan annually as part of the annual agency planning meeting and coordinate with other state and 

federal agencies periodically. 
ELDS SMMP April 2016

36

9.0 COORDINATION AND OUTREACH

Section 307 of the Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Act of 1972 requires that Federal agencies 

proposing activities within or outside the coastal zone, that affect any land or water use, or 

natural resource of the coastal zone, ensure that those activities are conducted in a manner which 

is consistent to the maximum extent practicable, with the enforceable policies of approved State 

coastal management programs. As part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 

process, EPA prepared a Federal determination of consistency with the Connecticut, New York, 

and Rhode Island approved Coastal Zone Management Programs in April 2016. 

Concurrence regarding the Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, and the Essential Fish 

Habitat is being obtained during the NEPA process for the DSEIS from the National Marine 

Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) (EPA, 2016). The 

NMFS and USFWS concurrence will confirm that the selection and use of ELDS will not 

adversely affect threatened or endangered species or adversely modify critical habitat. EPA 

anticipates that no further consultation will be required and no conservation recommendations 

will be needed due to the use of ongoing and mutually agreed upon seasonal constraints on 

disposal operations (June 1 through October 1) as well as the ongoing disposal site monitoring 

program. The NMFS concurrence will confirm that the selection and use of ELDS will not 

adversely affect habitat. 

Additionally, the New England Regional Dredging Team, comprised of representatives from 

EPA, USACE-NAE, NMFS, USFWS, and representatives from Connecticut, Massachusetts, 

New York, and Rhode Island. The team meets approximately every six months to discuss 

management and monitoring of New England dredged material disposal sites. Monitoring 

activities may be discussed at these meetings or additional meetings may be coordinated to 

discuss the SMMP.

The EPA and the USACE will continue to inform and involve the public regarding the

monitoring program and USACE-NAE monitoring reports are available at the USACE-NAE website 

(http://www.nae.USACE.army.mil/Missions/DisposalAreaMonitoringSystem(DAMOS)/DisposalSites/

CentralLongIslandSound.aspx) or information for the ELDS Site designation, SMMPs at the EPA New 

England Regional Dredged Material Program website (http://www.epa.gov/ocean-dumping/dredgedmaterial-management-long-island-sound).

10.0 FUNDING

The costs involved in site management and monitoring will be shared between EPA the USACENAE. This SMMP will be in place until modified or the site is de-designated and closed.

Those monitoring programs conducted under other Federal (i.e., Long Island Sound Study) and

state agencies (i.e., CTDEEP Trawl Survey) will depend solely on funds allocated to the

programs by those agencies or other supporting agencies.
ELDS SMMP April 2016

37

The timing of monitoring surveys and other activities will be governed by funding resources, the

frequency of disposal at the site, and the results of previous monitoring data.

11.0 REFERENCES

AECOM. 2010. Monitoring Survey at the New London Disposal Site, June/July 2006. DAMOS 

Contribution No. 182. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Concord, MA. 

AECOM. 2012. Monitoring Survey at the Seawolf Disposal Mound, September 2010. DAMOS 

Contribution No. 189. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Concord, MA, 

136p.

Battelle. 2016, in preparation. Monitoring Survey at the New London Disposal Site, October 

2015. 

Bokuniewicz, H.J. and R.B. Gordon. 1980. Sediment transport and deposition in Long Island

Sound. Advances in Geophysics 22: 69-106.

Carey, D.A. and E. Bellagamba Fucile. 2015, in preparation. Data Summary Report of the New 

London Disposal Site and Vicinity Sediment Profile and Plan-View Imaging Survey, September 

2014. DAMOS Data Report 2015-01.

CTDEEP. http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2702&q=323474&deepNav_GID=1628 

Endangered, threatened and special concern species listed by county accessed 12/23/15

CTDEP. 2001. Coastal Permits Webpage http://www.dep.state.ct.us/LISfact/coastal.htm

CTDEP. 2003. Endangered and Threatened Species Fact Sheets. Connecticut Department of

Environmental Protection, Wildlife Division.

http://dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/wildlife/learn/esfact.htm.

EPA, 2004. Environmental Impact Statement for the Designation of Dredged Material Disposal 

Sites in Central and Western Long Island Sound Connecticut and New York, inclusive of 

Appendices, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

EPA and USACE, 1998. Evaluation of Dredged Material Proposed for Discharge in Waters of 

the U.S. – Testing Manual (Inland Testing Manual). USEPA Office of Water, EPA-823-B-98-

004.

EPA and USACE, 2004. Regional Implementation Manual for the Evaluation of Dredged 

Material Proposed for Disposal in New England Waters.
ELDS SMMP April 2016

38

EPA, 2016. Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Designation of 

Dredged Material Disposal Site(s) in Eastern Long Island Sound, Connecticut and New York. 

Prepared by EPA, Louis Berger & Associates, and UCONN. 444 pp.

NMFS.2016 http://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/hcd/webintro.html NMFS EFH 10 x 

10 squares. accessed 4/4/16

NOAA. 1995. Our Living Oceans – Report on the Status of U.S. Living Marine Resources,

1995. U.S. Dept. of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National

Marine Fisheries Service. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-19. 160 pp.

NY DEC. http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7494.html NYS DEC Endangered species list 

accessed 12/23/15

Rhoads, D.C. and J.D. Germano, 1986. Characterization of Organism-Sediment Relations Using 

Sediment Profile Imaging: An Efficient Method of Remote Ecological Monitoring of the 

Seafloor (Remots System). Marine Ecology-Progress Series. 8:115-128.
ELDS SMMP April 2016

39

ATTACHMENT A: Monitoring Plan

1: Movement of the 

Dredged Material

2: Absence of 

PollutantSensitive Biota

3: Changes in 

Water Quality

4: Changes in 

Benthic Health 

and Diversity

5: Accumulation of 

Material 

Constituents in 

Biota

Baseline taken within 1 

year after disposal; 

entire site bathymetry at 

3-4 year intervals

SPI within 1-3 

years of disposal 

and survey of 

historic mounds 

once every 5 

years.

Annual water 

quality 

measured in site 

vicinity (LISS 

Monitoring 

program data)

Annual CTDEEP 

trawl survey data

Sediment 

bioaccumulation 

potential estimated 

for sediments 

collected within site 

and reference areas

at least every 5 

years.

Mound changes by > 

1.0 feet w/in 5 year 

interval

Significant 

differences 

between site and 

reference areas

Consistent 

gradients in 

measures of 

long-term water 

quality changes 

in vicinity

Significant 

differences in 

community 

composition or 

abundance from 

baseline or 

contiguous areas 

is found

Significant increase 

in bioaccumulation 

potential relative to 

baseline conditions 

or reference areas

Bathymetry taken ≤ 2 

months after 10-year 

storm

SPI w/in 1-3 

years of disposal 

and survey of 

historic mounds 

once every 5 yrs.

No additional 

studies*

No additional 

studies*

No additional 

studies*

Mound changes by > 

1.5 feet from last 

survey

Significant 

differences 

between site and 

reference areas

No additional 

studies*

No additional 

studies*

No additional 

studies*

Bathymetry and 

sediment survey w/in 1 

km. of site boundary

SPI at site and 

reference areas; 

grain size 

analysis

Water quality 

measured at site 

and reference 

areas

Studies may 

include 

measurement of 

species 

distribution at site 

and reference 

areas

Studies may include 

the collection of 

biota from site and 

reference areas
ELDS SMMP April 2016

40

ATTACHMENT B: Example Scow Log