Document ID: EPA_FRDOC_0001-20086
Agency: epa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Ocean Disposals: Designation of a Dredged Material Disposal Site in Eastern Region of Long Island Sound; CT
Posted Date: 2016-12-06T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 234 (Tuesday, December 6, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 87820-87843]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-27546]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 228

[FRL-9955-13-Region 1]

Ocean Disposal; Designation of a Dredged Material Disposal Site 
in Eastern Region of Long Island Sound; Connecticut

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: With the publication of this Final Rule, the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) is designating the Eastern Long Island Sound 
Disposal Site (ELDS), located offshore from New London, Connecticut, 
for the disposal of dredged material from harbors and navigation 
channels in eastern Long Island Sound and Little Narragansett Bay in 
the states of Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island. This action is 
necessary to provide a long-term, open-water dredged material disposal 
site as an alternative for the possible future disposal of such 
material. This disposal site designation is subject to restrictions 
designed to support the goal of reducing or eliminating the disposal of 
dredged material in Long Island Sound.
    The basis for this action is described herein and in the Final 
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement

[[Page 87821]]

(FSEIS) released by EPA on November 4, 2016 in conjunction with this 
Final Rule. The FSEIS identifies designation of the ELDS as the 
preferred alternative from the range of options considered.

DATES: This final rule is effective on January 5, 2017.

ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket 
Identification No. EPA-R01-OW-2016-0239. All documents in the docket 
are listed on the http://www.regulations.gov Web site. Publically 
available docket materials are also available from EPA's Web site 
https://www.epa.gov/ocean-dumping/dredged-material-management-long-island-sound.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean Brochi, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, New England Regional Office, 5 Post Office Square, 
Suite 100, Mail Code: OEP06-1, Boston, MA 02109-3912, telephone (617) 
918-1536, electronic mail: brochi.jean@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Organization of this document. The following 
outline is provided to aid in locating information in this preamble.

I. Final Action
II. Background
III. Purpose
IV. Potentially Affected Entities
V. Disposal Site Description
VI. Summary of Public Comments and EPA's Responses
VII. Changes From the Proposed Rule
VIII. Compliance With Statutory and Regulatory Requirements
    A. Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act and Clean 
Water Act
    B. National Environmental Policy Act
    C. Coastal Zone Management Act
    D. Endangered Species Act
    E. Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
IX. Restrictions
X. Supporting Documents
XI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

I. Final Action

    EPA is publishing this Final Rule to designate the ELDS to provide 
an environmentally sound, open-water disposal option for possible use 
in managing dredged material from harbors and navigation channels in 
eastern Long Island Sound and its vicinity in the states of 
Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island. The site designation is 
effective for an indefinite period of time. The use of the site is 
subject to restrictions designed to reduce or eliminate open-water 
disposal of dredged material in Long Island Sound, and to ensure 
protection of the environment if and when the site is used.
    The site designation process has been conducted consistent with the 
requirements of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act 
(MPRSA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Coastal Zone 
Management Act (CZMA), and other applicable federal and state statutes 
and regulations. Compliance with these requirements is described in 
detail in Section VIII (``Compliance with Statutory and Regulatory 
Requirements''). The basis for this federal action is further described 
in an FSEIS that identifies EPA designation of the ELDS as the 
preferred alternative. The FSEIS was released on November 4, 2016 on 
the EPA Region 1 Web site: https://www.epa.gov/ocean-dumping/final-supplemental-environmental-impact-statement-eastern-long-island-sound 
and is provided as a supporting document in the docket for this Final 
Rule. See 40 CFR 1506.10. This Final Rule also serves as EPA's Record 
of Decision (ROD) for the NEPA review supporting the designation of 
this site.
    Dredged material disposal sites designated by EPA under the MPRSA 
are subject to detailed management and monitoring protocols to track 
site conditions and prevent the occurrence of unacceptable adverse 
effects. The management and monitoring protocols for the ELDS are 
described in the Site Management and Monitoring Plan (SMMP) that is 
incorporated into the FSEIS as Appendix I. See 33 U.S.C. 1412(c)(3). 
EPA is authorized to close or limit the use of these sites to further 
disposal activity if their use causes unacceptable adverse impacts to 
the marine environment or human health.
    The designation of this disposal site does not constitute or imply 
EPA's approval of open-water disposal of dredged material at the site 
from any specific project. Disposal of dredged material from federal 
projects, or non-federal projects involving more than 25,000 cubic 
yards (cy) of material, will not be allowed at the ELDS until the 
proposed disposal operation first receives, among other things, proper 
authorization from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) under MPRSA 
section 103. (Proposals to dispose of material from non-federal 
projects involving less than 25,000 cy yards of material are subject to 
regulation under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.) In addition, any 
authorization by the USACE under MPRSA section 103 is subject to EPA 
review under MPRSA section 103(c), and EPA may concur, concur with 
conditions, or decline to concur with the authorization as a result of 
such review. In order to properly obtain authorization to dispose of 
dredged material at the ELDS under the MPRSA, the dredged material 
proposed for disposal must first satisfy the applicable criteria for 
testing and evaluating dredged material specified in EPA regulations at 
40 CFR part 227, and it must be determined in accordance with EPA 
regulations at 40 CFR part 227, subpart C, that there is a need for 
open-water disposal (i.e., that there is no practicable dredged 
material management alternative to open-water disposal with less 
adverse environmental impact). In addition, any proposal to dispose of 
dredged material under the MPRSA at the designated site will need to 
satisfy all the site restrictions included in the Final Rule as part of 
the site designation. See 40 CFR 228.8 and 228.15(b)(6).

II. Background

    On April 27, 2016, EPA published in the Federal Register (81 FR 
24748) a proposed rule (the Proposed Rule) to designate an Eastern Long 
Island Sound Dredged Material Disposal Site (ELDS), located offshore 
from New London, Connecticut. EPA's Proposed Rule also stated that two 
other alternative sites, the Niantic Bay and Cornfield Shoals disposal 
sites and CSDS), met the site selection criteria in the Ocean Dumping 
Regulations and could be designated for long-term use. EPA indicated 
that it was not proposing to designate those two alternative sites but 
requested public comment on the advisability of using those sites.
    On July 7, 2016, EPA published in the Federal Register (81 FR 
44220) a final rule to amend the 2005 rule that designated the Central 
and Western Long Island Sound dredged material disposal sites (CLDS and 
WLDS, respectively). The rule amendments established new restrictions 
on the use of those sites to support the goal of reducing or 
eliminating open-water disposal in Long Island Sound. The restrictions 
include standards and procedures to promote the development and use of 
practicable alternatives to open-water disposal, including 
establishment of an interagency ``Steering Committee'' and ``Regional 
Dredging Team'' that will oversee implementation of the rule. As 
explained in the Proposed Rule for the ELDS, the restrictions 
applicable to the CLDS and WLDS also will be applied to use of the 
ELDS.

III. Purpose

    The purpose of EPA's action is to provide a long-term, 
environmentally acceptable dredged material disposal option for 
potential use by the USACE and other federal, state, county, municipal, 
and private entities that must dredge channels, harbors, marinas,

[[Page 87822]]

and other aquatic areas in eastern Long Island Sound in order to 
maintain conditions for safe navigation for marine commerce and 
recreation, and for military and public safety operations. This action 
is necessary because: (1) Periodic dredging is needed to maintain safe 
navigation and occasionally improve ports and harbors to maintain 
competitiveness and support a changing economy, and open-water dredged 
material disposal is necessary when practicable alternative means of 
managing the material are not available; (2) EPA determined that 
dredged material disposal/handling needs in the eastern region of Long 
Island Sound exceed the available disposal/handling capacity in that 
region; (3) the two currently used disposal sites in this region, the 
New London Disposal Site (NLDS) and CSDS, are only authorized for use 
until December 23, 2016; (4) there are currently no disposal sites 
designated for long-term use in the eastern Long Island Sound region; 
and (5) under the MPRSA, an EPA designation is required for any long-
term open-water dredged material disposal site in Long Island Sound.
    In addition, the closest designated sites outside the eastern Long 
Island Sound region are the Central Long Island Sound Disposal Site 
(CLDS) and the Rhode Island Sound Disposal Site (RISDS), and both are 
too far from dredging centers in the eastern region of the Sound to be 
reasonable alternatives to the proposed site designation. For example, 
the distance from New London Harbor to the CLDS is 34.7 nautical miles 
(nmi) and to the RISDS is 44.5 nmi. The Western Long Island Sound 
Disposal Site (WLDS) is approximately 59 nmi west of New London Harbor, 
making it an even less feasible alternative.
    While the CLDS, WLDS, and RISDS have all been determined to be 
environmentally sound sites for receiving suitable dredged material, 
proposing to use any of them for suitable dredged material from the 
eastern region of Long Island Sound would be problematic, and EPA would 
consider them to be options of last resort. Using the CLDS or RISDS 
would greatly increase the transport distance for, and duration of, 
open-water disposal for dredging projects from the eastern Long Island 
Sound region. This, in turn, would greatly increase the cost of such 
projects and would likely render many dredging projects too expensive 
to conduct. For example, maintenance dredging of the U.S. Navy 
Submarine Base berths planned for 2016-2020 is expected to generate 
about 75,000 cy of suitable material; the estimated cost of disposal at 
the ELDS is $31/cy for a total cost of $2,325,000, while disposal at 
the CLDS is estimated at $64/cy for a total of $4,800,000. An 
improvement (deepening) project to accommodate a larger class of 
submarine planned for 2016-2025 is expected to generate about 350,000 
cy; the estimated cost of disposal at the ELDS is $26/cy for a total 
cost of $9,100,000, while disposal at the CLDS is estimated at $57/cy 
for a total of $19,950,000 (USACE, 2016b). Thus, the longer haul 
distance more than doubles the cost to the public for the federal 
government to dredge the same project.
    Furthermore, the greater transport distances would be 
environmentally detrimental, in that they would entail greater energy 
use, increased air emissions, and increased risk of spills and short 
dumps (FSEIS, Section 2.1). Regarding air emissions, increased hauling 
distances might require using larger scows with more powerful towing 
vessels, which would use more fuel and cause more air pollution. Longer 
haul distances also may increase the amount of time necessary to 
complete a dredging project, resulting in an extended period of 
disruption to the areas being dredged.
    In its Long Island Sound Dredged Material Management Plan (DMMP), 
the USACE projected that dredging in eastern Long Island Sound would 
generate approximately 22.6 million cubic yards (mcy) of dredged 
material over the next 30 years. Of the total amount of 22.6 mcy, 
approximately 13.5 mcy was projected to be fine-grained sediment that 
meets MPRSA and Clean Water Act (CWA) standards for aquatic disposal 
(i.e., ``suitable'' material), and 9.1 mcy was projected to be coarse-
grained sand that also meets MPRSA and CWA standards for aquatic 
disposal (i.e., also ``suitable'' material). In addition, the DMMP 
projected that approximately 80,900 cy of material from eastern Long 
Island Sound would be fine-grained sediment that does not meet MPRSA 
and CWA standards for aquatic disposal (i.e., ``unsuitable'' material).
    In response to comments asserting that no disposal site is needed 
in the eastern region of Long Island Sound, and comments urging that 
the size of any site be reduced or minimized, EPA asked the USACE to 
revisit once more its estimate of disposal capacity needs and to revise 
the figures, if appropriate. Although the values from the DMMP 
reflected substantial analysis and public input, the USACE agreed to 
reassess the capacity needs in coordination with EPA. This reassessment 
has resulted in a projected disposal capacity need of approximately 20 
mcy, which still supports the conclusion that a disposal site is needed 
in the eastern region of the Sound. The reassessment of capacity needs 
is discussed further in Sections V (``Disposal Site Description'') and 
VI (``Summary of Public Comments and EPA's Responses'') of this 
document and in Section 5.8 of the FSEIS.
    The detailed assessment of alternatives to open-water disposal in 
the USACE's DMMP determined that, while the sand generated in this 
region may be able to be used beneficially to nourish beaches, there 
are not practicable alternatives to open-water disposal with sufficient 
capacity to handle the projected volume of fine-grained sediment. As 
described in the Proposed Rule and in Section IX of the Final Rule 
itself, EPA has placed restrictions on the use of all Long Island Sound 
dredged material disposal sites that are designed to facilitate and 
promote the use of practicable alternatives to open-water disposal 
whenever available, but EPA has determined that one designated open-
water disposal site is needed in eastern Long Island Sound.
    Given the need to provide an open-water disposal site as an option 
for dredged material management, EPA designation of a long-term dredged 
material disposal site(s) provides environmental benefits. First, when 
a site being used under the USACE's short-term site selection authority 
is due to expire, designation by EPA is the only way to authorize 
continued use of that site, even if the site is environmentally 
suitable or even environmentally preferable to all other sites. With 
the NLDS and CSDS closing in December 2016, EPA's site designation 
studies were designed to determine whether these or any other sites 
should be designated for continued long-term use. Congress has directed 
that the disposal of dredged material should take place at EPA-
designated sites, rather than USACE-selected sites, when EPA-designated 
sites are available (see MPRSA 103(b)). Consistent with that 
Congressional intent, EPA's policy is that it is generally 
environmentally preferable to concentrate any open-water disposal at 
sites that have been used historically and at fewer sites, rather than 
relying on the selection by the USACE of multiple sites to be used for 
a limited time, see 40 CFR 228.5(e).
    Second, MPRSA criteria for selecting and designating sites require 
EPA to consider previously used disposal sites, with active or 
historically used sites given preference in the evaluation (40 CFR 
228.5(e)). This preference will concentrate the effects, if any, of 
open-

[[Page 87823]]

water disposal of dredged material to discrete areas that have already 
received dredged material, and avoid distributing any effects over a 
larger geographic area. Finally, unlike USACE-selected sites, EPA-
designated sites require a SMMP that will help ensure environmentally 
sound monitoring and management of the sites.
    Designating an environmentally sound open-water disposal site to 
allow for and facilitate necessary dredging in the eastern region of 
Long Island Sound also will yield a number of public benefits. First, 
designating an environmentally sound disposal site will yield economic 
benefits. There are a large number of important navigation-dependent 
businesses and industries in the eastern Long Island Sound region, 
ranging from shipping (especially the movement of petroleum fuels and 
the shipping of bulk materials), to recreational boating-related 
businesses, marine transportation, commercial and recreational fishing, 
interstate ferry operations, ship building, and military and public 
safety operations, such as those associated with the U.S. Naval 
Submarine Base in Groton and the U.S. Coast Guard facilities in New 
London. These businesses and industries contribute substantially to the 
region's economic output, the gross state product (GSP) of the 
bordering states, and tax revenue. Continued access to navigation 
channels, harbors, berths, and mooring areas is vital to ensuring the 
continued economic health of these industries, and to preserving the 
ability of the region to import fuels, bulk supplies, and other 
commodities at competitive prices. Second, preserving navigation 
channels, marinas, harbors, berthing areas, and other marine resources, 
improves the quality of life for residents and visitors to the eastern 
Long Island Sound region by facilitating recreational boating and 
associated activities, such as fishing and sightseeing. Finally, by 
facilitating dredging needed to support U.S. Navy and Coast Guard 
operations, designation of an open-water dredged material disposal site 
also supports national defense planning and operations as well as 
public safety.

IV. Potentially Affected Entities

    Entities potentially affected by this action are persons, 
organizations, or government bodies seeking to dispose of dredged 
material in waters of eastern Long Island Sound, subject to the 
requirements of the MPRSA and/or the CWA and their implementing 
regulations. This rule is expected to be primarily of relevance to: (a) 
Private parties seeking permits from the USACE to transport more than 
25,000 cubic yards of dredged material for the purpose of disposal into 
the waters of eastern Long Island Sound; (b) the USACE for its own 
dredged material disposal projects; and (c) other federal agencies 
seeking to dispose of dredged material in eastern Long Island Sound. 
Potentially affected entities and categories of entities that may seek 
to use the designated dredged material disposal site and would be 
subject to the proposed rule include:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Examples of
                     Category                       potentially affected
                                                          entities
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Federal government................................  USACE (Civil Works
                                                     Projects), and
                                                     other federal
                                                     agencies.
State, local, and tribal governments..............  Governments owning
                                                     and/or responsible
                                                     for ports, harbors,
                                                     and/or berths,
                                                     government agencies
                                                     requiring disposal
                                                     of dredged material
                                                     associated with
                                                     public works
                                                     projects.
Industry and general public.......................  Port authorities,
                                                     shipyards and
                                                     marine repair
                                                     facilities, marinas
                                                     and boatyards, and
                                                     berth owners.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This table is not intended to be comprehensive, but rather provides 
a guide for readers regarding the types of entities that could 
potentially be affected by this Final Rule. EPA notes that nothing in 
this rule alters the jurisdiction or authority of EPA, the USACE, or 
the types of entities regulated under the MPRSA and/or CWA. Questions 
regarding the applicability of this Final Rule to a particular entity 
should be directed to the contact person listed in the preceding FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.

V. Disposal Site Description

    This rule designates the ELDS, but with site boundaries modified 
from those in the Proposed Rule, for open-water disposal of dredged 
material for several reasons. First, the entire ELDS is a containment 
site, which will protect the environment by retaining the dredged 
material within the site and, accordingly, will also support effective 
site management and monitoring. Second, the NLDS, which is immediately 
to the east of the ELDS, has been used for dredged material disposal 
for over 60 years, and monitoring of the NLDS over the past 35 years 
has determined that past and present management practices have been 
successful in minimizing short-term, long-term, and cumulative impacts 
to water quality and benthic habitat in this vicinity. EPA has 
determined that the ELDS also can be successfully managed. Third, 
designating the ELDS, which is immediately adjacent to the NLDS, would 
be consistent with USEPA's ocean disposal regulations, which indicate a 
preference for designating disposal sites in areas that have been used 
in the past, rather than new, relatively undisturbed areas (40 CFR 
228.5(e)).
    Finally, in response to public comments, which are described 
further in Section VI (``Summary of Public Comments and EPA's 
Responses''), EPA is designating an ELDS that has been relocated 
farther to the west and is smaller in size than the preferred 
alternative described in the Proposed Rule. Thus, the boundaries of the 
ELDS have been redrawn for this Final Rule. For the Proposed Rule, EPA 
proposed an ELDS with an estimated capacity of 27 mcy based on an 
estimated need for disposal capacity of approximately 22.6 mcy for 
material from the eastern region of the Sound, which in turn was based 
on the dredging needs assessment from the DMMP. See 81 FR 24750. EPA 
received comments stating that there was no need for a disposal site to 
be designated in the eastern region of Long Island Sound. As part of 
its consideration of, and response to, these comments, EPA requested 
the USACE prepare a more refined estimate of the dredged material 
disposal capacity needed for sediments projected to be dredged from the 
eastern region of the Sound. The USACE undertook this analysis and 
projected that a disposal capacity of approximately 20 mcy (based on 
water volume below a depth of 59 feet [18 meters] and slope 
calculations, with a buffer zone) would likely be sufficient. This 
estimate reflects a variety of factors, some of which involve an 
unavoidable degree of uncertainty. These factors include the following: 
Specific dredging projects currently projected within the region 
(including possible ``improvement projects'' to further deepen channels 
or berthing areas); how much of each type of material (e.g., sand, 
suitable and unsuitable fine-grained material) is estimated to be 
generated by each project; how much of this material is estimated to 
require open-water disposal; the possibility of increased

[[Page 87824]]

dredging needs caused by larger-than-normal storms; and a ``bulking 
factor'' of approximately 10 percent. More specifically, the revised 
projected disposal capacity need of approximately 20 mcy is based on 
the need to accommodate approximately 12.5 mcy of suitable fine-grained 
sediment; 2.8 mcy from potential improvement (deepening) dredging 
projects; 1.8 mcy of shoal material resulting from extreme storm 
events; 1.1 mcy of sand (recognizing that beach nourishment may not be 
a practicable alternative for all 9.1 mcy of the projected sand); and 
160,000 cy for the excavation of Confined Aquatic Disposal cells (for 
material unsuitable for open-water disposal); for a total of 18,364,500 
cy; and a bulking factor of approximately 10 percent of the total, 
which brings the total to about 20 mcy. The ``bulking factor'' assumes 
that dredged material placed at a disposal site is relatively 
unconsolidated and, thus, will require more capacity when it is placed 
at a disposal site than it occupied when in it was in a consolidated 
state on the seafloor prior to dredging. EPA discussed this disposal 
capacity needs analysis with the USACE before, during, and after its 
development, and EPA has also independently assessed it. Based on all 
of this, EPA regards the disposal capacity needs analysis to be 
reasonable, especially in light of the unavoidable uncertainty 
associated with some of its elements.
    EPA also received comments opposing designation of the ELDS but 
expressing a willingness to accept the NBDS site, lying farther in 
Connecticut waters. EPA regards these comments to be at least 
suggestive of a desire to move the site farther from New York waters, 
while recognizing that such comments do not necessarily indicate an 
acceptance of an ELDS relocated to lie exclusively in Connecticut 
waters. In addition, EPA received comments supporting the ELDS but 
urging that its eastern boundary be pushed westward farther away from 
the submarine transit corridor in that area of the Sound. Finally, EPA 
received several comments opposing designation of the NBDS due to its 
proximity to the Millstone Power Plant.
    Taking all of these comments and the above dredged material 
disposal capacity needs analysis into account, EPA has redrawn the 
boundaries of the ELDS. The site has been moved to the west so that it 
avoids the submarine transit corridor. The entire site now also lies in 
Connecticut waters approximately 0.2 nm from New York waters. In 
addition, the northern and southern site boundaries were modified to 
avoid two areas of rocky outcroppings that might provide habitat for 
fish and other marine life that are attracted to ``structure'' on the 
seafloor. EPA has determined that the reconfigured ELDS would provide 
approximately 20 mcy of disposal capacity, which will meet the disposal 
capacity need estimated by the USACE.
    The following site description is based on information in section 
3.4.3 of the FSEIS and other support documents. Specifically, Figure 
5.6 in the FSEIS show the location of the site and Table 5-11 provides 
coordinates for the site boundaries.
    The ELDS, as described in the Proposed Rule, comprised 
approximately the western half of the existing NLDS, along with Sites 
NL-Wa and NL-Wb, which are adjacent areas immediately to the west of 
the NLDS. The ELDS now being designated excludes the NLDS entirely and 
encompasses most of former Site NL-Wa (excluding the northern bedrock 
area) and former Site NL-Wb (excluding the southern bedrock area) (see 
FSEIS, Figure 5.6). The ELDS combines these two areas, forming an 
irregularly-shaped polygon that is 1 x 1.5 nmi, but that excludes the 
two previously described bedrock areas for a total area of 
approximately 1.3 square nautical miles (nmi\2\).
    Water depths in the ELDS range from approximately 59 feet (18 m) in 
the north to 100 feet (30 m) in the south. The seafloor at the site 
consists of mostly flat, sandy areas, sloping gradually from north to 
south. However, there is an area of boulders and bedrock in the 
northern part of former Site NL-Wa that has been excluded from the 
reconfigured site boundaries due to its potential value as fisheries 
habitat. This boulder area may be a lag deposit of a glacial moraine. 
The water depth in parts of the boulder area is shallower than 59 feet 
(18 m). The southwestern corner of former Site NL-Wb also contains an 
area of bedrock and boulders, which is an extension of a larger area 
with a similar substrate further to the south. The reconfigured site 
boundaries also exclude this area of potentially high value fisheries 
habitat.
    The distance from the ELDS to the closest points of land and the 
state border are as follows: From the northern boundary to the 
Connecticut shoreline (specifically, Harkness Memorial State Park in 
Waterford, Connecticut, is 1.1 nmi; from the southeastern corner to 
Fishers Island, New York, is 2.3 nmi; and from the southeastern corner 
to the Connecticut/New York state border is .19 nmi).

VI. Summary of Public Comments and EPA's Responses

    EPA received numerous comments on its proposed site designation as 
described in the DSEIS and Proposed Rule from federal and state elected 
officials in Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island; the USACE; the 
U.S. Navy; the states of Connecticut and New York; a number of 
municipalities; environmental groups; harbor and marine trade groups; 
and many private citizens. EPA received comments both in support of and 
in opposition to its proposed action, with some offering suggested 
improvements. Documents containing copies of all of the public comments 
received by EPA and EPA's response to each of the comments have been 
placed in the public docket and on the Web site identified in the 
ADDRESSES section of this document. There was significant overlap among 
the comments received. Below, EPA summarizes the main points of the 
commenters and the Agency's responses.
    Comment #1. EPA received many comments in support of the 
designation of ELDS from members of the Connecticut and Rhode Island 
Congressional delegations (including a separate submission from 
Congressman Joseph Courtney), the U.S. Navy, the Connecticut Department 
of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Connecticut Port Authority, 
the Connecticut Harbor Management Association, marina and boatyard 
operators, several local government officials, and private citizens. 
While many of these comments were of a general nature, some of the 
commenters also provided additional, specific comments related to the 
proposed action which are addressed in more detail farther below in 
this section.
    Response #1. EPA acknowledges the support provided for the Proposed 
Rule to designate the ELDS.
    Comment #2. EPA also received a number of nearly identical comments 
stating opposition to the DSEIS and the Proposed Rule to designate the 
ELDS, and dredged material disposal in Long Island Sound in general. 
These included comments from Congressman Lee Zeldin, Suffolk County 
Legislators Sarah Anker and Al Krupski, the Citizens Campaign for the 
Environment, the Fishers Island Conservancy, the Group for the East 
End, the East End Sailing Association, several local government 
officials, and private citizens.
    Some of these commenters found the DMMP to be inadequate, 
criticized the DMMP's use of the Federal Standard in evaluating 
alternatives, criticized what they see as a lack of progress toward

[[Page 87825]]

reducing or eliminating dredged material disposal in Long Island Sound 
(and, conversely, a lack of progress in increasing beneficial use), and 
opposed the preferred alternative of designating the ELDS as a dredged 
material disposal site. Some of the commenters also provided 
additional, specific comments, which are addressed in more detail 
elsewhere in this section.
    Response #2. EPA acknowledges, but disagrees with, the opposition 
to the designation of the ELDS, and to the open-water disposal of 
dredged material in Long Island Sound in general, expressed by these 
commenters. At the same time, as discussed further in response to other 
comments in this section, EPA concludes that some amount of open-water 
disposal of dredged material into Long Island Sound will be necessary 
in the future because: (1) Dredging is essential to allow for safe 
navigation for recreational, commercial and military and public safety 
vessels in Long Island Sound, and (2) practicable alternatives to open-
water disposal are unlikely to be sufficient to accommodate the amount 
of material projected to be dredged from the eastern region of Long 
Island Sound over the 30-year planning horizon. Furthermore, the ELDS 
is an environmentally appropriate disposal site and restrictions on the 
type of material that can be placed at the ELDS, coupled with 
regulatory requirements to use available practicable alternatives to 
open-water disposal, should ensure that any use of the disposal site is 
minimized and does not harm the environment. The Final Rule includes 
the same site use restrictions that were promulgated for the CLDS and 
WLDS and are designed to reduce or eliminate the disposal of dredged 
material into the waters of Long Island Sound.
    In response to concerns regarding the adequacy of the DMMP, EPA 
believes the DMMP provides useful information to help the agencies 
achieve the goal of reducing or eliminating the open-water disposal of 
dredged material in the Sound. To help realize this goal, the DMMP 
recommends standards and procedures for the agencies to use in the 
review of dredged material management proposals. In addition, the DMMP 
identifies and discusses a range of specific alternatives to open-water 
disposal for each of the 52 Federal Navigation Projects (FNPs) in Long 
Island Sound. The choice of which alternative (or alternatives) should 
be implemented for a specific dredging project will be made in the 
future based on the facts, law and policy that exist at the time of the 
decision. EPA has provided a more detailed discussion regarding the 
Federal Standard in the preamble to the final rule for the Central and 
Western Disposal Sites (81 FR 44220) and in the complete Response to 
Comments document placed in the public docket and on the Web site 
identified in the ADDRESSES section of this document.
    Comment #3. Commenters provided a range of opinions on the need for 
a disposal site in Eastern Long Island Sound. Some commenters noted 
that dredging is necessary to ensure recreational boating and 
commercial shipping access to the waters of Long Island Sound. They 
point out that marinas, boatyards, and boat clubs provide the main 
access for the public to get out onto the Sound and these facilities 
must dredge periodically to maintain sufficient depth for safe berthing 
and navigation. In addition, they comment that dredging is vital to 
ensure the continued existence of commercial and recreational 
industries that generate billions of dollars of economic activity and 
support thousands of jobs around the Sound. They also note that 
dredging is important to support the function of national interest 
facilities, such as the Naval Submarine Base New London and U.S. Coast 
Guard facilities. These commenters conclude that the ELDS site, as 
proposed, will meet the dredging needs for the region over the next 30 
years and, therefore, there is no need to designate additional sites 
(such as the CSDS or NBDS).
    Other commenters conclude that the dredging needs in the DMMP are 
vastly overstated, and that there is no need for a disposal site in 
eastern Long Island Sound. In comments provided by the New York State 
Department of State (NYSDOS) and New York State Department of 
Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), the departments noted that they 
did not think it was necessary to designate a site in the eastern 
region of Long Island Sound, but they also recognized the importance of 
providing stakeholders with a range of options for management of 
dredged material and recommended EPA designate the NBDS alternative and 
the NLDS as a ``remediation site.'' EPA received a letter from New York 
Governor Andrew Cuomo after the end of the comment period expressing 
opposition to any disposal site designation in eastern Long Island 
Sound. The Governor's comments further state that the EPA and USACE are 
incorrectly seeking to justify an eastern site based on the assertion 
that there is inadequate capacity at the CLDS, WLDS, and Rhode Island 
Sound Disposal Site (RISDS). (Additional points in the Governor's 
letter are addressed at Comment and Response #4 below.)
    Response #3. EPA agrees that dredging is necessary to provide for 
safe navigation in and around Long Island Sound and acknowledges that 
the marine trade industry is an important contributor to the economies 
of both Connecticut and New York. EPA also agrees that dredging is 
necessary to provide recreational boating access to Long Island Sound. 
Recreational boating, and associated activities such as fishing and 
sightseeing, are important public uses of the Sound that improve the 
quality of life for residents and visitors alike, while also 
contributing to the local economy. EPA also notes that by helping to 
provide for safe navigation, not only does environmentally-sound 
dredging and dredged material management benefit commercial and 
recreational uses of Long Island Sound, but it also contributes to 
national security and public safety by facilitating navigation for U.S. 
Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and other types of military and public safety 
vessels.
    EPA disagrees with the suggestion in the letter from NYSDOS and 
NYSDEC and the Governor's letter that an eastern Long Island Sound 
disposal site is not needed because there is sufficient capacity at 
other already designated sites outside of the eastern Sound, such as 
the CLDS, WLDS, and RISDS. The USACE projected in the DMMP that 
dredging in Long Island Sound would generate approximately 52.9 mcy of 
material over the 30-year planning horizon, with approximately 30.3 mcy 
coming from the western and central regions, and 22.6 mcy from the 
eastern region. Of the 52.9 mcy, approximately 3.3 mcy of material are 
projected to be unsuitable for open-water disposal, see 81 FR 24750, 
leaving approximately 49.6 mcy of material that could potentially be 
placed at an open-water disposal site, if necessary. Of this 49.6 mcy, 
15.2 mcy are projected to be sand that could potentially be used for 
beneficial uses, such as beach nourishment, while 34.4 is projected to 
be fine-grained material suitable for open-water disposal. Obviously, 
it is likely that beneficial uses, or some other upland management 
option, will be found for some amount of the sand, and even some amount 
of the fine-grained materials, but there is no guarantee of this and it 
is impossible to be sure in advance what these amounts will be.
    As noted in the DSEIS, the CLDS and WLDS are each estimated to have 
a disposal capacity of about 20 mcy. This 40 mcy of capacity is not 
enough to take

[[Page 87826]]

the full 49.6 mcy of material that could require open-water disposal. 
The RISDS was designated in 2005 to serve the dredging needs of the 
Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts region.
    Furthermore, the predicted amounts of material to be managed are 
unavoidably imperfect estimates. The actual amounts of material to be 
managed could be higher (or lower) over the 30-year planning horizon, 
especially when unpredictable events such as large storms and possible 
improvement dredging needs are considered. Therefore, EPA deems it 
reasonable to take a conservative approach and designate sites to 
ensure adequate disposal capacity is available for all the projected 
material, recognizing that all the capacity might not end up being 
needed. Indeed, as per the site use restrictions, EPA will be working 
with others to try to find beneficial use options for dredged material 
to minimize how much disposal capacity is needed.
    Beyond the issue of having enough disposal capacity, EPA also 
determined that the CLDS, WLDS, and RISDS would not reasonably serve 
the needs of the eastern Long Island Sound region once the 
environmental effects, cost, environmental and safety risks, and 
logistical difficulties of using such distant sites were taken into 
account. Thus, part of the basis of EPA's determination that a 
designated site is needed in eastern Long Island Sound is the longer 
transit distances from dredging centers in the region to the CLDS, 
WLDS, and RISDS. These longer trips would result in greater energy use, 
increased air emissions, increased risk of spills, more difficult 
project logistics, and greater cost.
    As part of its consideration of, and response to, comments 
asserting that no disposal site is needed in the eastern region of Long 
Island Sound, and comments urging that the size of any site be reduced 
or minimized, EPA asked the USACE to revisit once more its estimate of 
disposal capacity needs and prepare a more refined estimate of the 
dredged material disposal capacity needed for sediments projected to be 
dredged from the eastern region of the Sound. Although the values from 
the DMMP reflected substantial analysis and public input, the USACE 
agreed to reassess the capacity needs in coordination with EPA. The 
USACE undertook this analysis and projected that a disposal capacity of 
approximately 20 mcy would likely be sufficient to meet disposal needs 
over the next 30 years.
    Comment #4. EPA received a letter from New York Governor Andrew 
Cuomo (and undersigned by 32 federal and state elected officials) after 
the end of the comment period (dated August 4, 2016). The Governor's 
letter expresses opposition to any disposal site being designated in 
the eastern region of Long Island Sound and indicates his intent to 
legally challenge any EPA rule designating a disposal site in eastern 
Long Island Sound and seek to prevent any disposal pursuant to any such 
rule. The Governor states that this stance is consistent with the State 
of New York's decades-long opposition to ``the unabated dumping of 
dredged materials in Long Island Sound.'' The letter also states that 
the designation of a site in eastern Long Island Sound is not necessary 
and may further impede progress toward reducing or eliminating open 
water disposal, a fundamental component of the rule. In addition, the 
letter indicates that the State of New York opposes the site 
designation based on comments provided by NYSDOS and NYSDEC in a joint 
letter. The letter further states that the EPA and USACE are 
incorrectly seeking to justify an eastern site based on the assertion 
that there is inadequate capacity at the WLDS, WLDS, and RISDS.
    Response #4. EPA is not legally obligated to consider and respond 
to the Governor's comment letter in this rulemaking process and 
environmental review under NEPA because the letter was submitted after 
the close of the comment period. Nevertheless, EPA has reviewed and 
given careful consideration to the views presented by Governor Cuomo 
and provides a response here.
    EPA disagrees with the stance presented by the Governor's letter. 
Without waiting to read EPA's final analysis of whether an appropriate 
site can be identified, and whether there is a need for such a site to 
provide a dredged material disposal option to ensure that dredging 
needed to ensure safe navigation and suitable berthing areas for 
recreational, commercial, public safety and military vessels, the 
Governor expresses a plan to sue over any rule designating a site in 
the eastern region of Long Island Sound.
    While the Governor's letter suggests that New York ``has for 
decades opposed'' dredged material disposal in Long Island Sound, the 
reality is more nuanced. Over the years, as with the Connecticut shore 
of the Sound, harbors and marinas on the New York shore of Long Island 
Sound have been dredged and in some cases the sediments have been 
placed at disposal sites in Long Island Sound, without objection from 
New York (e.g., Mamaroneck Harbor). At other times, NY has not objected 
as long as materials were not placed at the NLDS near to Fisher's 
Island, NY, and were instead placed at the CLDS, just south of New 
Haven, Connecticut. At other times, when practicable alternatives were 
available, material dredged from New York waters has been managed at 
upland sites. The same is true for material dredged from Connecticut 
waters (i.e., that some material has been placed at open-water disposal 
sites, while other material has been managed at upland sites). 
Furthermore, in still other cases, the dredged material from particular 
projects has been analyzed and found to be unsuitable for open-water 
disposal and such material has been managed using methods other than 
open-water disposal (e.g., placement in a confined aquatic disposal 
[CAD] cell or confined disposal facility [CDF]). Thus, some suitable 
material from New York has been placed at open-water disposal sites, 
while some has been managed at upland locations (e.g., for beach 
nourishment) and unsuitable material has been managed without open-
water disposal. EPA supports this type of overall approach (i.e., 
choosing a management method appropriate to the facts of each 
individual case from a menu of environmentally sound methods).
    Consistent with this more nuanced history, EPA believes these 
issues should be addressed based on their technical, factual, legal, 
and policy merits, rather than taking an across-the-board position for 
or against dredged material disposal in the waters of the Sound. EPA 
has found that the DMMP and the USACE's more recent updated dredged 
material disposal capacity needs analysis clearly establish a need for 
a dredged material disposal site to be designated in the eastern region 
of the Sound. EPA's analysis, in turn, establishes that the ELDS is an 
appropriate site for designation. This designation will provide an 
option for potential use for suitable material when practicable 
alternatives to open-water disposal are not available. Going forward, 
application of EPA's sediment quality criteria will ensure that only 
environmentally suitable dredged material can be approved for open-
water disposal. Moreover, EPA's existing ocean dumping criteria 
concerning whether there is a need for open-water disposal, see 40 CFR 
227.15 and 227.16, coupled with the new site use restrictions 
applicable to the WLDS, CLDS, and ELDS, see 40 CFR 228.15(b)(4)-(6), 
will ensure that the open-water disposal option is used only when the 
material is found to be

[[Page 87827]]

suitable and no practicable alternatives to open-water disposal are 
available.
    EPA cannot and should not base a decision not to designate an 
environmentally appropriate disposal site on as of yet unidentified 
upland management options that might or might not materialize in the 
future for all the dredged material that needs to be managed. Such an 
approach would pose an irresponsible threat to safe navigation and the 
related recreational, commercial, public safety, and national defense 
activities that depend on it. If, upon EPA designation of the ELDS, 
there is no actual need for the site (i.e., practicable alternatives 
are available for every dredging project), then dredged material will 
not be placed there, as the practicable alternatives will be used 
instead.
    Contrary to the views in Governor Cuomo's letter, the joint comment 
letter from the NYSDOS and NYSDEC expressed recognition of both the 
need for dredging to support water-dependent activities and navigation 
infrastructure and ``the importance of providing stakeholders with a 
range of options for management of dredged material in LIS . . . .'' 
Also contrary to the views expressed in the Governor's letter, the 
NYSDOS/NYSDEC letter emphasizes the State of New York's commitment to 
``working with all partners to secure a path forward for achievable, 
measurable reductions in open water disposal over time . . . ,'' and 
noted that the state had demonstrated this commitment by NYSDOS's 
recent concurrence with EPA's amended Final Rule designating the CLDS 
and WLDS, ``which includes updated policies and procedures intended to 
meet this goal, and is subject to the additional restrictions agreed to 
by all Agencies involved.'' The state agencies' letter further pointed 
out that the ``[t]he proposed rule for eastern LIS contains the same 
restrictions as those contained within the Final Rule for CLDS and 
WLDS, with the same ultimate goal of the reduction in open water 
disposal over time.'' EPA agrees with NYSDOS and NYSDEC that the site 
use restrictions for the CLDS, WLDS, and ELDS are well designed to 
pursue and achieve the shared long-term goal of reducing or eliminating 
the open-water disposal of dredged material in Long Island Sound. At 
the same time, these restrictions do not obviate the need to designate 
an appropriate open-water disposal site in the eastern region of the 
Sound to provide an environmentally sound disposal option for material 
that cannot be managed in some other way. While the Governor states 
opposition and an intent to sue over any site being designated in the 
eastern region of the Sound, the NYSDOS/NYSDEC letter instead supports 
designating both the NBDS and the NLDS (as a ``remediation site'') to 
provide disposal options in the eastern Sound. EPA agrees that a 
disposal site should be designated in the eastern Sound, but concludes 
that designating the reconstituted ELDS is preferable to designating 
the NBDS and NLDS.
    With regard to the Governor's concerns about the capacity at the 
CLDS, WLDS, and RISDS, see Response #3 above.
    Comment #5. Among those supporting the designation of ELDS, a 
number of commenters suggested revisions to the boundaries of the site 
for a variety of reasons. Some suggested modifying the northern 
boundary to avoid burial of rocky, hard-bottom areas that may provide 
relatively higher quality fish habitat, while others suggested moving 
the eastern boundary of the proposed ELDS to remove any portion of the 
site from the submarine transit corridor into the Thames River. 
Comments from NYSDOS and NYSDEC recommend buffer zones be established 
around bedrock and archeological areas and included in the Site 
Management and Monitoring Plan (SMMP) for the ELDS.
    Response #5. EPA agrees with the comments to modify the disposal 
site boundaries to avoid the bedrock and boulder areas and the 
submarine transit corridor. As discussed in detail above in Section V, 
EPA is designating the ELDS site with modifications to the boundaries. 
EPA has redrawn the boundaries of the ELDS to exclude both the rocky, 
hard-bottom area in the north central portion of the site, and another 
smaller rocky area in the southwestern corner of the site. Disposal in 
the ELDS near those areas will be carefully managed, including 
establishing a 100-meter buffer, to avoid any adverse impacts to these 
important habitat features. EPA also has shifted the eastern boundary 
of the ELDS to the west to remove it entirely from the submarine 
transit corridor. The eastern boundary of the ELDS site is now .367 nmi 
west of the corridor. This shift of the site also has moved it entirely 
out of New York waters.
    Comment #6. USACE provided comments supporting designation of the 
Cornfield Shoals Disposal Site (CSDS). The USACE would like a cost-
effective open-water alternative for the Connecticut River dredging 
center, and it states that the availability of the CSDS would help 
extend the useful life of the CLDS and ELDS by reducing reliance on 
those sites for placement of materials suitable for CSDS. Another 
commenter recommends designation of the CSDS to continue its role as a 
dispersal site for clean, sandy material in order to ``take some 
pressure off'' while supporting the designation of NBDS, both in lieu 
of ELDS. NYSDOS and NYSDEC opposed designation of CSDS because of the 
dispersive nature of the site.
    EPA received a joint letter from NYSDOS and NYSDEC that commented 
that there isn't really a need for a site in eastern Long Island Sound 
based on historic disposal amounts and capacity at other existing sites 
like the CLDS, but recognized that some stakeholders in the region need 
one, so they recommend designation of the NBDS. They further 
recommended designation of the NLDS as a ``remediation site.'' EPA 
received comments from others expressing concern that designation of 
the NBDS would contribute to cumulative impacts to Niantic Bay, which 
is already stressed by the thermal discharge from the Millstone Nuclear 
Power Station. CTDEEP, while expressing support for ELDS, also 
indicated that NBDS, in combination with ELDS, is a viable option if 
adequate management practices are in place at the site to ensure 
containment of dredged materials. Another commenter reluctantly 
supported designating NBDS as the lesser of evils, while still other 
commenters opposed designation of the NLDS and wanted that site closed. 
EPA also received comments stating it should have given more 
consideration to designating a site outside Long Island Sound, 
including in deep open-ocean waters off Rhode Island and off the 
continental shelf.
    Response #6. While EPA did determine for the Proposed Rule that the 
CSDS meets the site selection criteria and could be designated in 
combination with one of the other alternatives, and did seek comments 
on that position, EPA ultimately decided not to designate the CSDS. EPA 
agrees that the site is dispersive and lies within a high energy area, 
which makes the site difficult to manage and monitor. Further, use of 
this site would need to be limited to receiving material such as sand, 
which EPA feels can and should typically be used for beneficial uses, 
instead, such as beach nourishment. Finally, EPA has concluded that 
designating a single site is preferable to designating multiple sites 
because dredged material placement would be concentrated in one area 
and site management and monitoring demands would be reduced. EPA also 
has concluded that the ELDS will provide an adequate open-water 
disposal option by itself, while the CSDS would be insufficient by 
itself

[[Page 87828]]

because of the restrictions for site use that EPA would place on it.
    Regarding the request to designate the NBDS, based on the dredging 
needs assessment conducted by the USACE for the DMMP, and the 
subsequent, more refined dredged material disposal capacity needs 
analysis by the USACE, EPA is confident that the ELDS is sufficient by 
itself to meet all the open-water disposal needs of the eastern Long 
Island Sound region and EPA prefers to designate a single site to serve 
the region. Therefore, there is no need to designate the NBDS, too. 
Moreover, designating a second site would entail additional monitoring 
and management work and expense that can be avoided. Finally, had EPA 
decided to designate the NBDS, it would only have designated the 
containment portion of the site to ensure containment of the dredged 
material, which does not provide enough capacity to meet the projected 
need. The question of whether designating the NBDS would cause adverse 
cumulative impacts on the ecology of Niantic Bay when viewed together 
with effects of the Millstone Nuclear Power Station thermal discharge 
is now moot because EPA is not designating the NBDS. With regard to 
consideration of sites outside of Long Island Sound, as discussed in 
Chapters 3, 4, and 5 in the DSEIS and in the Proposed Rule, EPA 
considered a wide range of alternatives, including sites in Block 
Island Sound and on the continental shelf, before deciding to propose 
designation of the ELDS. The sites in Block Island Sound had a 
combination of significant marine habitats and strong tidal currents, 
and were relatively small or were located at a comparatively long 
distance from the dredging centers in the region. EPA's evaluation also 
determined that the long distances and travel times between the 
dredging locations in eastern Long Island Sound and the continental 
shelf posed significant environmental, operational, safety, and 
financial concerns, rendering such options unreasonable.
    Finally, with regard to the suggestion that the NLDS be designated 
as a ``remediation site,'' EPA disagrees. Long-term monitoring of the 
disposal mounds at the NLDS, and surveys conducted in 2013 at all the 
alternative sites, indicate a healthy and diverse benthic community and 
no evidence of levels of contamination that would require some sort of 
``remediation,'' even if it could be determined what type of 
remediation would be appropriate for a site in relatively deep water. 
The ecological parameters and phyla data indicate that, overall, the 
NLDS has relatively good species diversity and is not dominated by just 
a few species. These data were consistent with observations at off-site 
locations outside of the NLDS, although the species richness was 
slightly lower at the off-site stations (FSEIS Section 4.9.3 and Table 
4-11). Toxicity testing conducted in 2013 indicated no potential 
toxicity at the NLDS or other alternative sites (FSEIS Section 4.6.3 
and (Table 4-9). Finally, the majority of the NLDS is already near 
capacity, with much of the site already at depths that would prevent 
further placement of dredged material. EPA is not designating the NLDS 
and that site will close by operation of law on December 23, 2016.
    Comment #7. NYSDOS and NYDDEC opined that there were deficiencies 
in the DSEIS, such as an inadequate alternatives analysis, the absence 
of comprehensive biological monitoring, and an inadequate cumulative 
impact assessment. They also suggested that comments they had provided 
earlier on draft sections of the DSEIS regarding physical oceanography 
and biological studies were not reflected in the final reports. They 
also expressed concern about the lack of information about the 
effectiveness of capping plans at the NLDS.
    Response #7. EPA finds the alternatives analysis, biological 
monitoring, and cumulative impact assessment were all more than 
adequate. The alternatives analysis included active and historic sites, 
as well as some other potential sites that had never been used before 
in eastern Long Island Sound, Block Island Sound, and off the 
continental shelf south of Long Island. EPA also considered use of the 
CLDS, WLDS, and/or the RISDS to serve the eastern region of the Sound. 
In addition, and as informed by the USACE's DMMP, EPA considered 
beneficial use options and other non-open-water options such as 
confined disposal cells (CDFs) or facilities (CDFs).
    EPA's cumulative impact assessment is based on over 40 years of 
monitoring data on chemistry, toxicity, bioaccumulation, benthic 
health, and bathymetry to assess physical and biological changes at the 
NLDS and CSDS sites. It also was based on an evaluation of the 
potential effects of designating the ELDS, NBDS, CSDS, or other site 
alternatives. Given that EPA has not found significant adverse effects 
from past disposal at the NLDS or CSDS, and does not anticipate 
significant adverse effects from the future placement of suitable 
material at the ELDS, it is not surprising that EPA did not find 
significant adverse cumulative impacts from the proposed action. EPA 
also considered issues such as the cumulative effect on bottom depths 
that would result from future disposal at the proposed disposal sites.
    EPA and the USACE will continue to manage and monitor all Long 
Island Sound disposal sites and will request input from the state 
agencies if there is evidence of any adverse impacts. If necessary, EPA 
and the USACE will modify the SMMPs for any site at which impacts have 
been identified, and would do so in consultation the states of New York 
and Connecticut and other interested parties, as appropriate.
    With respect to addressing comments received on various draft 
reports and documents during the development of the DSEIS, EPA did take 
all comments into consideration and in some cases modified those 
documents accordingly. In other cases, EPA may have decided that 
modifications were not warranted based on the comments submitted. EPA 
solicited input throughout the development of the DSEIS through a 
``cooperating agency workgroup,'' of which NYSDOS and NYSDEC were 
regular participants, and from the public through an extensive public 
involvement program. Agency and public input received during the three-
and-a-half-year process was reflected in the DSEIS text or in the 
appendices or both. Regarding the idea of ``capping'' disposal mounds 
at the NLDS with new, clean dredged material, as discussed in Response 
#7 above, EPA does not see any reason to pursue this approach. 
Extensive long-term monitoring of the NLDS and surveys conducted in 
2013 for the DSEIS have documented a healthy benthic community at the 
site, with no toxicity in the sediment.
    Comment #8. Some of the commenters who support the Proposed Rule 
believe that the site use restrictions accompanying the site 
designation that establish, among other things, standards and 
procedures for identifying and utilizing alternatives to open-water 
disposal, will help achieve the goal of reducing or eliminating open-
water disposal of dredged material wherever practicable. These 
commenters support the goal of reducing open-water placement of dredged 
material in the waters of Long Island Sound, but believe that it is not 
feasible or practicable at this time to handle all dredged material at 
upland locations or at already designated dredged material disposal 
sites. Some of those opposing the designation recommended upland 
placement and beneficial use of dredged material, rather than disposing 
of it at open-water sites. One commenter suggested ``warehousing'' 
material for future use in response to sea level rise,

[[Page 87829]]

another suggested consideration of on-barge dewatering as a tool to 
facilitate upland placement of dredged materials, and another commenter 
suggested the alternative of the creation of islands near their 
sources.
    Joint comments from NYSDOS and NYSDEC expressed commitment to 
``working with all partners to secure a path forward for achievable, 
measurable reductions in open water disposal over time . . . ,'' and 
noted that the state had demonstrated this commitment by NYSDOS's 
recent concurrence with EPA's amended Final Rule designating the 
Central and Western Long Island Sound Disposal Sites, ``which includes 
updated policies and procedures intended to help meet this goal, and is 
subject to the additional restrictions agreed to by all Agencies 
involved.'' The state departments' letter further pointed out that the 
``[t]he proposed rule for eastern LIS contains the same restrictions as 
those contained within the Final Rule for CLDS and WLDS, with the same 
ultimate goal of the reduction in open water disposal over time.''
    Response #8. EPA agrees with the comment that the standards and 
procedures in the Final Rule will support the goal of eliminating or 
reducing open-water disposal. EPA also agrees that relying solely on 
upland management alternatives for all dredged material from the 
eastern region of the Sound is not feasible at this time. Such 
alternatives will, however, likely be feasible for some of that 
material. For example, sandy material is commonly used for beach and 
nearshore bar nourishment at the present time and the standards in the 
Final Rule expect that sandy material will continue to be used 
beneficially. In addition, it would be impracticable to rely on distant 
open-water sites outside the eastern region of the Sound, or on 
contained in-water disposal, for all dredged material from the eastern 
Sound. See 40 CFR 227.15 and 227.16(b).
    Ultimately, decisions about how particular dredged material will be 
managed will be made in individual project-specific reviews under the 
MPRSA and/or the CWA, with additional overview and coordination 
provided by the Long Island Sound Steering Committee and Regional 
Dredging Team (RDT), as described in the site use restrictions. The 
Steering Committee and RDT have a number of important roles specified 
in the site use for the ELDS, including the identification and piloting 
of beneficial use alternatives, identifying possible resources to 
support those alternatives, and eliminating regulatory barriers, as 
appropriate. EPA expects that the Steering Committee and RDT will, 
generally and on a project specific basis, facilitate the process of 
matching projects, beneficial use alternatives and the resources 
necessary to implement them. The process of continually seeking new 
alternative uses for dredged material will provide the opportunity to 
evaluate approaches not yet fully developed, such as the 
``warehousing'' suggestion. EPA views on-barge dewatering as a 
technique that, while expensive, has promise and should be explored and 
further evaluated by the Steering Committee and RDT. Ultimately, it 
could be become a useful technique for dewatering dredged material to 
prepare it for management using methods other than open-water disposal. 
Managing dredged material by using it to create islands was evaluated 
in the DMMP. The concept of creating islands in waters of the United 
States raises numerous issues (e.g., environmental, water quality, 
regulatory) and any proposal of this type would need to go through a 
very involved regulatory process and would have to meet all legal 
requirements. This is something the Steering Committee and the RDT can 
consider in the future if a proposal is developed.
    EPA agrees with the NY departments that the new site use 
restrictions, agreed upon by the interested state and federal agencies 
and inserted into the CLDS/WLDS regulations, include standards and 
procedures to secure a path forward for achievable, measurable 
reductions in open-water disposal over time. EPA also agrees that these 
same restrictions are now also being applied to the ELDS. In EPA's 
view, it makes sense to treat all regions of Long Island Sound the same 
in this regard.
    Comment #9. EPA received a number of comments concerning potential 
impacts on aquatic species including fish, lobsters and oysters. Some 
expressed concern that the DSEIS: (1) Incorrectly portrays eastern Long 
Island Sound as ``a barren desert with barely any fish or shellfish 
species,'' based in part on what they characterized as an inadequate 
data collection effort; (2) ``glosses over'' the fact that parts of the 
area are federally-designated Essential Fish Habitat (EFH); and (3) 
minimizes the potential impacts of dredged material disposal on 
``struggling lobster populations.'' Another commenter noted that the 
NLDS is adjacent to Fisher's Island, NY, where oyster harvesting has 
been a way of life for centuries, and the threat to water quality posed 
by an expansion of open-water dumping at this site translates directly 
to a loss of important seafood jobs.
    Response #9. With respect to comments about EPA's 
mischaracterization of eastern Long Island Sound in terms of biological 
productivity, there was extensive documentation in the DSEIS and its 
supporting technical reports supporting the conclusion that, while this 
region is generally a highly productive and diverse ecosystem, the area 
in which the ELDS is sited is less so. Compared with some of the hard-
bottom, bedrock and boulder areas in other parts of the region, the 
seafloor in the ELDS is relatively flat and sandy, without the sort of 
structure that typically supports a large diversity of fish or 
shellfish. At the same time, EPA has excluded two areas from the ELDS 
that do include the type of hard-bottom, bedrock and boulder conditions 
that tend to provide relatively better marine habitat. As for concerns 
about the data on fishing activity, EPA made an extensive effort to 
encourage as many fisherman as possible to respond to the survey in 
order to provide information that was as accurate as possible for 
analysis. The survey was made available for 37 days and, as noted in 
the DSEIS, it was distributed via multiple media avenues. Of 440 
respondents, only 229 surveys provided sufficient information (at least 
five questions answered), and very few provided location-specific 
information as to where they fished. Of the 229 respondents, only six 
percent indicated they fished near dredged material disposal sites (one 
percent regularly and five percent occasionally). There is no 
shellfishing in this area, and the closest shellfish aquaculture 
operation is several miles west of the ELDS and closer to shore.
    EPA did not gloss over the existence of EFH in the vicinity of the 
ELDS. As required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and 
Management Act, EPA coordinated with the NOAA National Marine Fisheries 
Service (NMFS) to determine whether its proposal to designate the ELDS 
would cause adverse impacts to EFH. NMFS concurred with EPA's 
determination that the designation of the ELDS would not adversely 
affect EFH. The coordination process is fully documented in the DSEIS.
    EPA assessed lobster abundance in the DSEIS and found that 
alternative sites do not contain preferred habitat for lobsters. Prior 
to 1999, lobsters were very abundant throughout Long Island Sound, and 
particularly in the western and central regions. However since the 
major lobster die-off in 1999, lobsters are far less abundant through 
the Sound, and found primarily in the deeper waters of the central 
basin and The

[[Page 87830]]

Race. The 1999 lobster die-off prompted millions of dollars in research 
over the past 16 years, the results of which have led scientists and 
resource managers to believe that the phenomenon was caused by a 
combination of factors, including increased water temperatures, low 
dissolved oxygen levels (hypoxia), a parasitic disease (paramoeba), and 
possibly pesticide runoff. Researchers have not cited dredged material 
disposal as a possible factor in the die-off.
    EPA does not agree that designating the ELDS will threaten 
oystering and the way-of-life of residents of Fisher's Island, NY, or 
cause the loss of jobs in the seafood industry. The boundaries of the 
ELDS have been revised so that it is farther from Fisher's Island, 
entirely outside of the NLDS, and entirely outside of New York State 
waters. EPA's evaluation of the ELDS indicates that designation of the 
site will not cause significant adverse effects to water quality or 
aquatic organisms or their habitat. As a result, the site designation 
will not cause lost jobs in the seafood industry. To the contrary, 
designation of the ELDS may assist the local seafood industry. Fishing 
vessels require adequate navigation channels and berthing areas, which 
are maintained as a result of dredging. Designation of the ELDS should 
facilitate needed dredging by providing an open-water disposal option 
for use when practicable alternative management methods are not 
available.
    Comment #10. Some of those opposing the Proposed Rule stated that 
the dredged material is toxic and should not be placed in the waters of 
Long Island Sound, and requested remediation of such dredged material. 
Commenters questioned the use of older data to support the evaluation 
of dredged material for its suitability for open-water disposal. Some 
commenters noted concern with the introduction of nitrogen from dredged 
material into the system and requested that EPA estimate the quantity 
of nitrogen that would be added to the system from dredged material 
over the next 30 years. EPA also received comments regarding concern 
due to metal or organic contaminant concentrations in sediment and 
benthic organism tissues, elevated breast cancer rates in East Lyme, 
and closed shellfish harvesting areas following rainfall. Some 
commenters suggested that the CTDEEP Remediation Standard Regulations 
should be followed for disposal of dredged material in Long Island 
Sound.
    Response #10. EPA strongly disagrees with the suggestion that toxic 
sediments will be disposed of at the ELDS. Neither the existing laws 
and regulations nor the Final Rule would allow the disposal of toxic 
material at the sites. Rigorous physical, chemical, and biological 
testing and analysis of sediments is conducted prior to any 
authorization to dredge. The MPRSA and EPA's ocean dumping regulations 
provide that sediments that do not pass these tests are considered 
``unsuitable'' and shall not be disposed of at the site.
    EPA believes concerns about the disposal of toxic sediments at the 
NLDS and other Long Island Sound disposal sites also have been 
addressed by the USACE's DAMOS program, which has collected data at 
these sites since the late 1970s. The program has generated over 200 
detailed reports addressing questions and concerns related to placement 
of dredged material in the Sound. These reports indicate that toxic 
sediments are not being placed at open-water disposal sites. Moreover, 
sequential surveys of biological conditions at sites following the 
placement of dredged material consistently show a rapid recovery of the 
benthic community to that of the surrounding habitat outside the 
disposal sites. Monitoring at the NLDS has verified that past 
management practices have been successful in adequately controlling any 
potential adverse impacts to water quality and benthic habitat.
    Furthermore, water and sediment quality have improved in Long 
Island Sound as a result of improvements in the control of point source 
and non-point source pollutant discharges to the Sound and its 
tributaries. At the same time, dredging and dredged material management 
are carefully controlled by federal and state agencies to optimize 
environmental results using tools such as ``environmental windows'' 
that preclude dredging when sensitive aquatic organisms in the vicinity 
of dredging operations would be at an increased risk of being harmed, 
CAD cells or CDFs that sequester unsuitable dredged material, and 
beneficial use projects that avoid open-water disposal of dredged 
material that can be better put to an alternative use (e.g., using sand 
for beach nourishment). This management approach is reflected in the 
site use restrictions for ELDS that are intended to reduce or eliminate 
the open-water disposal of dredged material into Long Island Sound by 
promoting and facilitating the use of available practicable 
alternatives to such open-water disposal.
    Potential risks associated with the bioaccumulation of chemicals 
from sediments at the alternative sites were evaluated by comparing 
contaminant concentrations in tissues of test organisms to Federal Drug 
Administration (FDA) Action/Tolerance Levels for an assessment of 
potential human health impacts and to Ecological Effect Values for an 
assessment of ecological impacts. Ecological Effects Values represent 
tissue contaminant concentrations believed to be safe for aquatic 
organisms, generally derived from the final chronic value of USEPA 
water quality criteria. The FDA Action/Tolerance Levels and Ecological 
Effect Values are commonly used by USEPA and USACE in the dredging 
program to assess risk. This evaluation considers that tissue 
contaminant concentrations that do not exceed FDA Action/Tolerance 
Levels or Ecological Effect Values do not result in a potential human 
health or ecological risk. There is no evidence in the current 
literature or other data evaluated by EPA to support a causative link 
between any elevated cancer rates that may exist in East Lyme and 
dredged material disposal in Long Island Sound.
    Shellfish bed closures are typically a result of bacterial 
contamination from untreated or poorly treated sanitary wastewater, 
stormwater runoff, marine biotoxins, or elevated water temperatures. 
There is no evidence that shellfish harvesting in Long Island Sound, 
most of which is from aquaculture operations conducted in open waters 
off the coast, is, or will be, affected by dredged material disposal at 
the ELDS.
    Regarding comments about older studies referenced in the DSEIS, 
such as those conducted in support of the 2004 EIS that supported the 
designation of the CLDS and WLDS, EPA used the best available 
literature during the development of the DSEIS. Some of this material 
was older and some was more recent. EPA also has included as part of 
the FSEIS relevant data from more recent studies (such as fisheries 
data) that were not available at the time the DSEIS was published. In 
all cases, EPA evaluated whether the data was relevant and appropriate 
for addressing whatever issue was at hand. While some parameters may 
change constantly, others remain consistent for long periods of time. 
Typically, older data were supplemented with newer data, or juxtaposed 
to newer data, to help depict trends and patterns in the study area.
    As to the concern about dredged material disposal in Long Island 
Sound contributing to nitrogen loading in these waters, EPA notes that 
nitrogen loading is a concern due to its potential to help fuel 
excessive algae levels, which could be one potential driver of hypoxia 
in western Long Island Sound. In Chapter 5.2.1 of the DSEIS, however, 
EPA

[[Page 87831]]

discussed the relative insignificance of nitrogen loading from dredged 
material disposal. The USACE also addressed the issue in Section 3.5.2 
of the DMMP. The annual placement of dredged material at the open-water 
sites is estimated to add less than one tenth of one percent of the 
overall annual nitrogen loading to Long Island Sound.
    Finally, EPA disagrees with the request to follow the CTDEEP 
Remediation Standard Regulations (RSRs). The RSRs are not applicable to 
dredged material from marine waters placed at open-water disposal 
sites. Rather, they ``identify the technical standards for the 
remediation of environmental pollution at hazardous waste sites and 
other properties that have been subject to a spill, release or 
discharge of hazardous wastes or hazardous substances.'' The MPRSA and 
Ocean Dumping Regulations limit the potential for adverse environmental 
impacts associated with dredged material disposal by requiring that the 
dredged material from each proposed dredging project be subject to 
sediment testing requirements. Suitability is determined by analyzing 
the sediments proposed for dredging for their physical characteristics 
as well as for toxicity and bioaccumulation. If it is determined that 
the sediment is unsuitable for open-water disposal--that is, that it 
may unreasonably degrade or endanger human health or the marine 
environment--it cannot be placed at disposal sites designated under the 
MPRSA.
    Comment #11. EPA received comments from the Shinnecock Tribal 
Nation noting the tribe's longstanding reliance on the waters of Long 
Island Sound for ``food, travel and spiritual renewal.'' The Shinnecock 
have high regard for these waters and, as a steward for this resource, 
feel a shared responsibility to protect it and to speak for other life 
forms that rely on it but cannot speak for themselves. The Shinnecock's 
comments note that work is beginning to investigate whether ``submerged 
paleo cultural landscapes'' exist that would indicate that the tribe's 
ancestors lived farther offshore than currently understood. The tribe 
expresses concern that dredged material placement at an open-water site 
could further bury any evidence of such sites. The tribe also expresses 
concern over how long it takes aquatic organisms to recover from open-
water placement of dredged material and whether such placement at a 
designated site will adversely affect whales. Finally, the Shinnecock 
note that their concern over water pollution is related to their 
historic use of Long Island Sound as a travel route, which they still 
use for canoe journeys.
    Response #11. EPA acknowledges and respects the Shinnecock Tribal 
Nation's stewardship, concern, and reliance upon the waters of Long 
Island Sound. As tasked by Congress under the CWA and MPRSA, EPA also 
is a steward of Long Island Sound with a mission of protecting its 
physical, chemical, and biological integrity, and protecting human and 
ecological health from harm that could result from the disposal of 
material into these waters. As a result, EPA believes that its goals 
align well with the environmental interests of the Shinnecock Tribal 
Nation.
    With regard to the possibility that dredged material disposal might 
further bury submerged evidence of settlements of the Shinnecock's 
ancestors, EPA notes that it is currently unaware of any specific 
reason to believe that such submerged evidence may exist at the ELDS or 
the other site alternatives. In evaluating site alternatives, EPA 
considered the site selection criteria in EPA's regulations, which 
include whether ``any significant natural or cultural features of 
historical importance'' may exist ``at or in close proximity to'' the 
disposal sites. See 40 CFR 228.6(a)(11). EPA's consideration of this 
criterion dovetailed with its consultation with the State Historic 
Preservation Officers of both Connecticut and New York, as well as its 
consultation with the Shinnecock Indian Nation. In addition, EPA 
conducted side-scan sonar survey work to look for possible historic 
resources in the area of the disposal sites and none of this work 
identified any archaeological or historical artifacts of cultural 
significance. If later investigations identify the presence of 
submerged artifacts of cultural importance to the Shinnecock Indian 
Nation, EPA will consult with the tribe regarding how to respond 
appropriately in terms of the future use and management of the site.
    As discussed in detail elsewhere in the preamble, no significant 
adverse effects will occur to water quality, habitat value, or marine 
organisms, as a result of using the ELDS as a dredged material disposal 
site. With regard to the concern expressed about possible impacts to 
whales, EPA evaluated the potential for the site designation to affect 
endangered species, including whales, and concluded that adverse 
effects to whales or their critical habitat were unlikely to result 
from the site designation. The National Marine Fisheries Service 
concurred with EPA's conclusion.
    Finally, regarding the Shinnecock using the waters of Long Island 
Sound for canoe journeys, nothing about the designation of the ELDS 
should interfere with or preclude such journeys. First, the dredging 
(and therefore dredged material disposal) season is restricted to avoid 
the warmer weather months for ecological reasons, but this also ensures 
that dredging traffic and disposal is less likely to interfere with 
other boating activities that tend to be occur during warmer weather. 
Second, any dredged material disposal would be concentrated in one 
offshore area as a result of designating the ELDS. This would tend to 
minimize any conflicts with non-dredging-related navigation. Finally, 
multiple types of navigational activities (e.g., recreational, 
commercial, military) have coexisted with dredged material disposal-
related navigation for years in Long Island Sound and EPA expects that 
this will continue after designation of the ELDS.
    Comment #12. EPA received a number of very specific and detailed 
comments on aspects of the studies and findings in the DSEIS and its 
appendices. Subjects included the physical oceanography study in 
Appendix C, physical energy and hydrodynamics, sediments, and tidal 
energy projects, among others.
    Response #12. EPA's detailed responses to these comments are 
contained in the Response to Comments document that is included in the 
FSEIS as Appendix J and placed in the public docket and on the Web site 
identified in the ADDRESSES section of this document.

VII. Changes From Proposed Rule

    In response to public comment, as previously described, EPA has 
made certain adjustments to the boundaries of the ELDS as it was 
proposed. These adjustments have reduced the size of the ELDS from 
approximately 1 x 2 nm to approximately 1 x 1.5 nm (and an area of 1.3 
nmi\2\), and the capacity of the site from 27 mcy to approximately 20 
mcy. The specific boundary adjustments and the reasons for them have 
been discussed above and are further discussed below.
    EPA also has decided not to designate the NBDS or CSDS. In the 
Proposed Rule, EPA did not propose to designate either of these two 
sites, but did request public comment on whether either or both ought 
to be designated in addition to, or instead of, the ELDS. EPA received 
some public comments favoring designation of the NBDS or CSDS, and 
other comments opposing the designation of either site. Some commenters 
favored designation of the ELDS, while others commented that no

[[Page 87832]]

designated disposal site was needed in the eastern portion of the 
Sound. After considering all these comments, EPA decided to designate 
only the ELDS. This decision was based primarily on the Agency's 
determination that one site is sufficient to meet the dredging needs of 
the eastern Long Island Sound region, and that the ELDS is the best 
site when evaluated in light of the site selection criteria in the 
Ocean Dumping Regulations. EPA also received public comments that 
support this decision.
    The Final Rule for the ELDS, as with the Proposed Rule, 
incorporates by reference the site use restrictions, including the 
standards and procedures, contained in the final amended site 
designation rule for the Central and Western Long Island Sound dredged 
material disposal sites. These restrictions are further described in 
Section IX (``Restrictions'').

VIII. Compliance With Statutory and Regulatory Authorities

    EPA has conducted the dredged material disposal site designation 
process consistent with the requirements of the MPRSA, NEPA, CZMA, the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (MSFCMA), and any other applicable legal 
requirements.

A. Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act

    Section 102(c) of the MPRSA, as amended, 33 U.S.C. 1412(c), et 
seq., gives the Administrator of EPA authority to designate sites where 
ocean disposal of dredged material may be permitted. See also 33 U.S.C. 
1413(b) and 40 CFR 228.4(e). Neither statute nor regulation 
specifically limits how long an EPA-designated disposal site may be 
used. Thus, EPA site designations can be for an indefinite term and are 
generally thought of as long-term designations. EPA may, however, place 
various restrictions or limits on the use of a site based on the site's 
capacity to accommodate dredged material or other environmental 
concerns. See 33 U.S.C. 1412(c).
    Section 103(b) of the MPRSA, 33 U.S.C. 1413(b), provides that any 
ocean disposal of dredged material should occur at EPA-designated sites 
to the maximum extent feasible. In the absence of an available EPA-
designated site, however, the USACE is authorized to ``select'' 
appropriate disposal sites. There are currently no EPA-designated 
dredged material disposal sites in the eastern portion of Long Island 
Sound. There are two active USACE-selected sites in that region, the 
NLDS and CSDS, but neither will be available after December 23, 2016, 
when their Congressionally-authorized term of use expires.
    The Ocean Dumping Regulations, see generally 40 CFR subchapter H, 
prescribe general and specific criteria at 40 CFR 228.5 and 228.6, 
respectively, to guide EPA's choice of disposal sites for final 
designation. Ocean dumping sites designated on a final basis are 
promulgated by EPA at 40 CFR 228.15. See 40 CFR 228.4(e)(1). Section 
102(c) of the MPRSA, 33 U.S.C. 1412(c), and 40 CFR 228.3 also establish 
requirements for EPA's ongoing management and monitoring, in 
conjunction with the USACE, of disposal sites designated by EPA. This 
enables EPA to ensure that unacceptable, adverse environmental impacts 
do not occur from the placement of dredged material at designated 
sites. Examples of site management and monitoring measures employed by 
EPA and the USACE include the following: Regulating the times, rates, 
and methods of disposal, as well as the quantities and types of 
material that may be disposed; conducting pre- and post-disposal 
monitoring of sites; conducting disposal site evaluation studies; and, 
if warranted, recommending modification of site use and/or designation 
conditions and restrictions. See also 40 CFR 228.7, 228.8, 228.9.
    A disposal site designation by EPA does not actually authorize the 
disposal of particular dredged material at that site. It only makes the 
site available as a possible management option if various other 
conditions are met first. Disposal of dredged material at a designated 
site must first be authorized by the USACE under MPRSA section 103(b), 
subject to EPA review under MPRSA 103(c). USACE authorization can only 
be granted if: (1) It is determined that there is a need for open-water 
disposal for that project (i.e., that there are no practicable 
alternatives to such disposal that would cause less harm to the 
environment); and (2) the dredged material is found suitable for open-
water disposal by satisfying the applicable environmental criteria 
specified in EPA's regulations at 40 CFR part 227. See 40 CFR 227.1(b), 
227.2, 227.3, 227.5, 227.6 and 227.16. An authorization for disposal 
also must satisfy other applicable legal requirements, such as those 
under the ESA, the MSFCMA, the CWA (including any applicable state 
water quality standards), NEPA, and the CZMA. The text below discusses 
EPA's evaluation of the ELDS for this Final Rule using the applicable 
site selection criteria from EPA's MPRSA regulations. It also discusses 
the Agency's compliance with site management and monitoring 
requirements.
    EPA's evaluation considered whether there was a need to designate 
one or more disposal sites for long-term dredged material disposal, 
including an assessment of whether other dredged material management 
methods could reasonably be judged to obviate the need for such 
designations. From this evaluation, EPA concluded that one or more 
open-water disposal sites were needed. EPA then assessed whether sites 
were available that would satisfy the applicable environmental criteria 
to support a site designation under MPRSA section 102(c). In deciding 
to designate the ELDS, as specified in this Final Rule, EPA complied 
with all applicable procedural requirements and substantive criteria 
under the MPRSA and EPA regulations.
1. Procedural Requirements
    MPRSA sections 102(c) and 103(b) indicate that EPA may designate 
ocean disposal sites for dredged material. EPA regulations at 40 CFR 
228.4(e) specify that dredged material disposal sites will be 
``designated by EPA promulgation in this [40 CFR] part 228 . . . .'' 
EPA regulations at 40 CFR 228.6(b) direct that if an EIS is prepared by 
EPA to assess the proposed designation of one or more disposal sites, 
it should include the results of an environmental evaluation of the 
proposed disposal site(s). In addition, the Draft SEIS (DSEIS) should 
be presented to the public along with a proposed rule for the proposed 
disposal site designation(s), and a Final SEIS (FSEIS) should be 
provided at the time of final rulemaking for the site designation.
    EPA has complied with all procedural requirements. The Agency 
prepared a thorough environmental evaluation of the site proposed for 
designation and other alternative sites and courses of action 
(including the option of not designating an open-water disposal site). 
This evaluation was first presented in a DSEIS (and related documents) 
and a Proposed Rule for promulgation of the disposal sites. EPA 
published the Proposed Rule and a notice of availability of the DSEIS 
(81 FR 24748) for a 60-day public comment period on April 27, 2016, and 
subsequently extended the comment period by 21 days (to July 18, 2016) 
to give the public additional time to comment on the proposed site 
designation. By this Final Rule, EPA is now completing the designation 
of the ELDS by promulgation in 40 CFR part 228.
    Finally, MPRSA sections 102(c)(3) and (4) dictate that EPA must, in

[[Page 87833]]

conjunction with the USACE, develop a site management plan for each 
dredged material disposal site it proposes to designate. MPRSA section 
102(c)(3) also states that in the course of developing such management 
plans, EPA and the USACE must provide an opportunity for public 
comment. EPA and the USACE have met this obligation by publishing for 
public review and comment a Draft SMMP for the ELDS. The Draft SMMP was 
published with the DSEIS (as Appendix I) and the proposed rule on April 
27, 2016. After considering public comments regarding the SMMP, EPA and 
the USACE are publishing the Final SMMP for the ELDS as Appendix I of 
the FSEIS.
2. Disposal Site Selection Criteria
    EPA regulations under the MPRSA identify four general criteria and 
11 specific criteria for evaluating locations for the potential 
designation of dredged material disposal sites. See 40 CFR 228.4(e), 
228.5 and 228.6. EPA's evaluation of the ELDS with respect to the four 
general and 11 specific criteria was discussed in the DSEIS and the 
Proposed Rule and is further discussed in detail in the FSEIS and 
supporting documents and is summarized below.
a. General Criteria (40 CFR 228.5)
    EPA has determined that the ELDS satisfies the four general 
criteria specified in 40 CFR 228.5. This is discussed in Chapter 5 and 
summarized in Table 5-9, ``Summary of Impacts for Action and No Action 
Alternatives of the FSEIS.''
    i. Sites must be selected to minimize interference with other 
activities in the marine environment, particularly avoiding areas of 
existing fisheries or shellfisheries, and regions of heavy commercial 
or recreational navigation (40 CFR 228.5(a)).
    EPA's evaluation determined that use of the ELDS--as modified in 
this Final Rule in response to public comments and further evaluation--
would cause minimal interference with the aquatic activities identified 
in this criterion. The site is not located in shipping lanes or any 
other region of heavy commercial or recreational navigation. In 
addition, the site is not located in an area that is important for 
commercial or recreational fishing or shellfish harvesting. Analysis of 
this data indicated that use of the site would have minimal potential 
for interfering with other existing or ongoing uses of the marine 
environment in and around the ELDS, including lobster harvesting or 
fishing activities. In addition, the nearby NLDS has been used for 
dredged material disposal for many years; not only has this activity 
not significantly interfered with the uses identified in this 
criterion, but mariners in the area are accustomed to dealing with the 
presence of a dredged material disposal site. With the adjustment to 
the eastern boundary of the ELDS, EPA is even more confident that the 
site will not pose a hazard to navigation. Finally, time-of-year 
restrictions (also known as ``environmental windows'') imposed to 
protect fishery resources will typically limit dredged material 
disposal activities to the months of October through April, thus 
further minimizing any possibility of interference with the various 
activities specified in this criterion.
    ii. Sites must be situated such that temporary perturbations to 
water quality or other environmental conditions during initial mixing 
caused by disposal operations would be reduced to normal ambient levels 
or to undetectable contaminant concentrations or effects before 
reaching any beach, shoreline, marine sanctuary, or known 
geographically limited fishery or shellfishery (40 CFR 228.5(b)).
    EPA's analysis concludes that the ELDS, as adjusted for this Final 
Rule, satisfies this criterion. First, the site is a significant 
distance from any beach, shoreline, marine sanctuary (in fact, there 
are no federally-designated marine sanctuaries in Long Island Sound), 
or known geographically limited fishery or shellfishery. Second, the 
site will be used only for the disposal of dredged material determined 
to be suitable for open-water disposal by application of the MPRSA's 
ocean dumping criteria. See 40 CFR part 227. These criteria include 
provisions related to water quality and account for initial mixing. See 
40 CFR 227.4, 227.5(d), 227.6(b) and (c), 227.13(c), 227.27, and 
227.29. Data evaluated during development of the FSEIS, including data 
from monitoring conducted during and after past disposal activities, 
indicates that any temporary perturbations in water quality or other 
environmental conditions at the site during initial mixing from 
disposal operations will be limited to the immediate area of the site 
and will neither cause any significant environmental degradation at the 
site nor reach any beach, shoreline, marine sanctuary, or other 
important natural resource area.
    iii. The sizes of disposal sites will be limited in order to 
localize for identification and control any immediate adverse impacts, 
and to permit the implementation of effective monitoring and 
surveillance to prevent adverse long-range impacts. Size, 
configuration, and location are to be determined as part of the 
disposal site evaluation (40 CFR 228.5(d)).
    EPA has determined, based on the information presented in the 
FSEIS, that the ELDS, in its final configuration, is sufficiently 
limited in size to allow for the identification and control of any 
immediate adverse impacts, and to permit the implementation of 
effective monitoring and surveillance to prevent adverse long-term or 
cumulative impacts. To put things in perspective, the size of the ELDS 
is approximately 1.3 nmi\2\, which is just 0.003 (0.03 percent) of the 
approximately 370 nmi\2\ surface area of the eastern Long Island Sound 
region, and just 0.001 (less than one-tenth of one-percent) of the 
approximately 1300 nmi\2\ surface area of the entire Long Island Sound. 
The designation of just this one site reduces the overall number of 
active disposal sites in Long Island Sound from four to three. The long 
history of dredged material disposal site monitoring in New England 
through the USACE's Disposal Area Monitoring System (DAMOS), and 
specifically at active and historic dredged material disposal sites in 
Long Island Sound, provides ample evidence that these surveillance and 
monitoring programs are effective at determining physical, chemical, 
and biological impacts at dredged material disposal sites such as the 
ELDS.
    The boundaries of the ELDS are identified by specific coordinates 
provided in Table 5-11 of the FSEIS, and the use of precision 
navigation equipment in both dredged material disposal operations and 
monitoring efforts will enable accurate disposal operations to be 
conducted, and also will contribute to effective management and 
monitoring of the sites. Detailed plans for the management and 
monitoring of the ELDS are described in the SMMP (Appendix I of the 
FSEIS). Finally, as discussed herein and in the FSEIS, EPA has tailored 
the boundaries of the ELDS, and site management protocols, in light of 
site characteristics such as local currents and bottom features, so 
that the area and boundaries of the sites are optimized for 
environmentally sound dredged material disposal operations.
    iv. EPA will, wherever feasible, designate ocean dumping sites 
beyond the edge of the continental shelf and other such sites that have 
been historically used (40 CFR 228.5(e)).
    EPA evaluated sites beyond the edge of the continental shelf and 
historical disposal sites in Long Island Sound as part of the 
alternatives analysis conducted for the FSEIS. The continental shelf 
extends about 60 nmi seaward from Montauk Point, New

[[Page 87834]]

York, and a site located on the continental slope would result in a 
transit of approximately 80 nmi from New London. This evaluation 
determined that the long distances and travel times between the 
dredging locations in eastern Long Island Sound and the continental 
shelf posed significant environmental, operational, safety, and 
financial concerns, rendering such options unreasonable and not 
practicable. Environmental concerns include increased risk of 
encountering endangered species during transit, increased fuel 
consumption and air emissions, and greater potential for accidents in 
transit that could lead to dredged material being dumped in unintended 
areas.
    As described in Section V (``Disposal Site Description''), while 
the ELDS, as modified, does not include any areas that have been used 
historically for dredged material disposal, its eastern boundary is the 
western boundary of the historically used NLDS. Thus, the modified site 
is in the general vicinity of the historically used NLDS. To the extent 
that the ELDS boundaries have been adjusted from those described in the 
Proposed Rule to include only adjacent areas outside of the existing 
site, EPA has concluded that these adjustments will be environmentally 
beneficial, as discussed in the FSEIS. For example, rather than propose 
designation of part of the existing NLDS, the eastern half of which is 
at capacity and nearing depths that could lead to scouring of the 
sediment by surface currents and storms, EPA's final designation of 
ELDS encompasses two areas (formerly NL-Wb and NL-Wa) immediately to 
the west of the NLDS. Moving the site to the west is consistent with 
public comments urging that the originally proposed ELDS be moved to 
the west, farther from the New London Harbor approach lane and 
submarine transit corridor in that area of the Sound. It is also 
consistent with public comments that favored sites that were further 
from New York state waters. These two adjacent areas have been 
determined to be suitable for use as containment areas by physical 
oceanographic modeling. Long-term monitoring of the adjacent NLDS has 
shown minimal adverse impacts to the marine environment and rapid 
recovery of the benthic community in the disposal mounds. Similarly, 
adverse impacts are not expected to result from use of the new ELDS. 
While there are other historically used disposal sites in eastern Long 
Island Sound, the analysis in the FSEIS and summarized herein concludes 
that the ELDS is the preferable location. Thus, designation of the ELDS 
would be consistent with this criterion.
b. Specific Criteria (40 CFR 228.6)
    In addition to the four general criteria discussed above, 40 CFR 
228.6(a) lists eleven specific factors to be used in evaluating the 
impact of using a site for dredged material disposal under the MPRSA. 
Compliance with the eleven specific criteria is discussed below. It is 
also discussed in detail in Chapter 5 and summarized in Table 5-13, 
``Summary of Impacts at the Alternative Sites,'' of the FSEIS.
    i. Geographical Position, Depth of Water, Bottom Topography and 
Distance From Coast (40 CFR 228.6(a)(1)).
    Water depths at the ELDS range from approximately 59 feet (18 m) in 
the north to 100 feet (30 m) in the south. As described above, the 
closest points of land to the site are Harkness Memorial State Park in 
Waterford, Connecticut, approximately 1.1 nmi to the north, and Fishers 
Island, New York, approximately 2.3 nmi to the east. Based on analyses 
in the FSEIS, EPA has concluded that the ELDS's geographical position 
(i.e., location), water depth, and bottom topography (i.e., 
bathymetry), along with the absence of strong bottom currents at the 
site, will result in containment of dredged material within site 
boundaries. As described in Section V (``Disposal Site Description''), 
and in the above discussion of compliance with general criteria iii and 
iv (40 CFR 228.5(c) and (d)), the ELDS also is located far enough from 
shore and lies in deep enough water to avoid adverse impacts to the 
coastline.
    Because the ELDS is a containment area, dredged material placed 
there is expected to remain within the site and not affect adjacent 
seafloor areas. Long-term monitoring of the NLDS and other disposal 
sites in Long Island Sound supports that determination. Any short-term 
impacts during dredged material placement, such as burial of benthic 
organisms or temporarily increasing the turbidity in the water column 
within the disposal site, will be localized at the site. As explained 
farther below in this analysis and in the FSEIS, although dredged 
material disposal will cause these localized, short-term effects, these 
effects are not expected to result in significant short-term or long-
term adverse impacts to the environment.
    ii. Location in Relation To Breeding, Spawning, Nursery, Feeding, 
or Passage Areas of Living Resources in Adult or Juvenile Phases (40 
CFR 228.6(a)(2)).
    EPA considered the ELDS, as modified for this Final Rule, in 
relation to breeding, spawning, nursery, feeding, and passage areas for 
adult and juvenile phases (i.e., life stages) of living resources in 
Long Island Sound. From this analysis, EPA concluded that, while 
disposal of suitable dredged material at the ELDS would cause some 
short-term, localized effects, overall it would not cause adverse 
effects to the habitat functions and living resources specified in the 
above criterion.
    The ELDS does not encompass or infringe upon any breeding, 
spawning, nursery, feeding or passage area of particular or heightened 
importance for juvenile or adult living resources. That said, EPA has 
noted that in the north-central area of the ELDS as delineated in the 
Proposed Rule, there is a hard-bottom area with rocky outcroppings that 
appears likely to constitute high quality habitat for fish and other 
aquatic organisms, and there is a similar hard bottom area in the 
extreme southwestern corner of the ELDS. As a result, EPA has redrawn 
the northern and southern boundaries of the ELDS to avoid these 
particular areas.
    Generally, there are three primary ways that dredged material 
disposal could potentially adversely affect marine resources. First, 
disposal can cause physical impacts by injuring or burying less mobile 
fish, shellfish, and benthic organisms, as well as their eggs and 
larvae. Second, tug and barge traffic transporting the dredged material 
to a disposal site could possibly collide or otherwise interfere with 
marine mammals and reptiles. Third, if contaminants in the dredged 
material are taken in by aquatic organisms, these contaminants could 
potentially bioaccumulate through the food chain. However, EPA and the 
other federal and state agencies that regulate dredging and dredged 
material disposal impose requirements that prevent or greatly limit the 
potential for these types of impacts to occur.
    For example, the agencies impose ``environmental windows,'' or 
time-of-year restrictions, for both dredging and dredged material 
disposal. This type of restriction has been a standard practice for 
more than a decade in Long Island Sound, and New England generally, and 
is incorporated in USACE permits and authorizations in response to 
consultation with federal and state natural resource agencies (e.g., 
the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)). Dredging, and 
corresponding dredged material disposal in Long Island Sound, is 
generally limited to the period between October 1 and April 30 to avoid 
time periods of possibly

[[Page 87835]]

heightened threat to aquatic organisms. Indeed, environmental windows 
are often set depending on the location of specific dredging projects 
in relation to certain fish and shellfish species. For example, 
dredging in nearshore areas where winter flounder spawning occurs is 
generally prohibited between February 1 and April 1; dredging that may 
interfere with anadromous fish runs is generally prohibited between 
April 1 and May 15; and dredging that may adversely affect shellfish is 
prohibited between June 1 and September 30. These environmental windows 
limiting when dredging can occur also, in effect, restrict periods when 
dredged material disposal could occur.
    Another benefit of using environmental windows is that they reduce 
the likelihood of dredged material disposal activities interfering with 
marine mammals and reptiles. There are several species of marine mammal 
or reptile, such as harbor porpoises, long-finned pilot whales, seals, 
and sea turtles that either inhabit or migrate through Long Island 
Sound. During the winter months, however, most of these species either 
leave the Sound for warmer waters to the south or are less active and 
remain near the shore. There also are many species of fish (e.g., 
striped bass, bluefish, and scup) and invertebrates (e.g., squid) that 
leave the Sound during the winter for either deeper water or warmer 
waters to the south, thus avoiding the time of year when most dredging 
and dredged material disposal occurs. The use of environmental windows 
has been refined over time and is considered an effective management 
tool to minimize impacts to marine resources.
    Dredged material disposal will, however, have some short-term, 
localized impacts to fish, shellfish, and benthic organisms, such as 
clams and worms, that are present at a disposal site (or in the water 
column directly above the site) during a disposal event. The sediment 
plume may entrain and smother some fish in the water column, and may 
bury some fish, shellfish, and other marine organisms on the sea floor. 
It also may result in a short-term loss of forage habitat in the 
immediate disposal area, but the DAMOS program has documented the 
recolonization of disposal mounds by benthic infauna within 1-3 years 
after disposal, and this pattern would be expected at the sites 
evaluated in the FSEIS. As discussed in the FSEIS (section 5.2.2), over 
time, disposal mounds recover and develop abundant and diverse 
biological communities that are healthy and able to support species 
typically found in the ambient surroundings. Some organisms may burrow 
deeply into sediments, often up to 20 inches, and are more likely to 
survive a burial event.
    The MPRSA regulations further limit the potential for adverse 
environmental impacts associated with dredged material disposal by 
requiring that the dredged material from each proposed dredging project 
be subject to the MPRSA sediment testing requirements, set forth at 40 
CFR 227.6, to determine the material's suitability for open-water 
disposal. Such suitability is determined by analyzing the sediments 
proposed for dredging for their physical characteristics as well as for 
toxicity and bioaccumulation. In addition, the regulatory agencies 
quantify the risk to human health that would result from consuming 
marine organisms exposed to the dredged material and its associated 
contaminants using a risk assessment model. If it is determined that 
the sediment is unsuitable for open-water disposal--that is, that it 
may unreasonably degrade or endanger human health or the marine 
environment--it cannot be placed at disposal sites designated under the 
MPRSA. See 40 CFR 227.6. In light of these strict controls, EPA does 
not anticipate significant effects on marine organisms from dredged 
material disposal at the sites under evaluation.
    EPA recognizes that dredged material disposal causes some short-
term, localized adverse effects to marine organisms in the immediate 
vicinity of each disposal event. Dredged material disposal would be 
limited, however, to suitable material at the one site (see above 
regarding compliance with general criteria (40 CFR 228.5(e)), and only 
during the several colder-weather months of the year. As a result, EPA 
concludes that designating the ELDS would not cause significant, 
unacceptable or unreasonable adverse impacts to breeding, spawning, 
nursery, feeding, or passage areas of living resources in adult or 
juvenile phases. Moreover, there is no evidence that designating the 
ELDS would have significant long-term effects on benthic processes or 
habitat conditions.
    iii. Location in Relation to Beaches and Other Amenity Areas (40 
CFR 228.6(a)(3)).
    EPA's analysis concludes that the ELDS satisfies this criterion. 
The ELDS is far enough away from beaches, parks, wildlife refuges, and 
other areas of special concern to prevent adverse impacts to these 
amenities. Also, as previously noted, there are no marine sanctuaries 
in Long Island Sound. The ELDS is approximately 2.3 nmi from the 
closest public beach in New York, on the western shore of Fishers 
Island, and approximately 1.1 nmi from the beach at Harkness Memorial 
State Park in Waterford, Connecticut. Given that the ELDS is a 
containment site, no material placed at the site would be expected to 
move from the site to these amenity areas. As noted above, any 
temporary perturbations in water quality or other environmental 
conditions at the site during initial mixing from disposal operations 
will be limited to the immediate area of the site and will not reach 
any beach, parks, wildlife refuges, or other areas of special concern.
    iv. Types and Quantities of Wastes Proposed To Be Disposed of, and 
Proposed Methods of Release, Including Methods of Packing the Waste, if 
Any (40 CFR 228.6(a)(4)).
    The ELDS is being designated to receive only suitable dredged 
material; disposal of other types of material will not be allowed. The 
MPRSA and EPA regulations expressly prohibit open water disposal of 
certain other types of material (e.g., industrial waste, sewage sludge, 
chemical warfare agents, and insufficiently characterized materials) 
(33 U.S.C. 1414b; 40 CFR 227.5).
    The typical composition of dredged material to be disposed at the 
sites is expected to range from predominantly ``clay-silt'' to ``mostly 
sand.'' This expectation is based on historical data from dredging 
projects in the eastern region of Long Island Sound. For federal 
dredging projects and private projects generating more 25,000 cubic 
yards of dredged material, EPA and the USACE will conduct sediment 
suitability determinations applying the criteria for testing and 
evaluating dredged material under 40 CFR part 227, and further guidance 
in the ``Regional Implementation Manual for the Evaluation of Dredged 
Material Proposed for Disposal in New England Waters'' (EPA, 2004). 
Dredged material must satisfy these suitability criteria before it can 
be authorized for disposal under the MPRSA. In accordance with MPRSA 
Sec.  106(f), private dredging projects generating up to 25,000 cubic 
yards will continue to be regulated under CWA section 404.
    Dredged material to be placed at the ELDS would be transported by 
either government or private contractor hopper dredges or oceangoing 
bottom-dump barges (``scows'') towed by a towing vessel (e.g., 
tugboat). Both types of equipment release the material at or very near 
the surface, which is the standard operating procedure for this 
activity. The disposal of this material will occur at specific 
coordinates marked by buoys, and will be placed so as to concentrate 
material from each

[[Page 87836]]

disposal project. This concentrated placement is expected to help 
minimize bottom impacts to benthic organisms. In addition, there are no 
plans to pack or package dredged material prior to disposal.
    As previously discussed, the USACE's DMMP projected that dredging 
in eastern Long Island Sound will generate approximately 22.6 million 
cubic yards (mcy) of dredged material over the next 30 years, including 
17.9 mcy from Connecticut ports and harbors and 4.7 mcy from ports and 
harbors in New York. Of the total amount of 22.6 mcy, approximately 
13.5 mcy are projected to be fine-grained sediment that meets MPRSA and 
CWA standards for aquatic disposal (i.e., ``suitable'' material), and 
9.1 mcy are projected to be course-grained sand that also meets MPRSA 
and CWA standards for aquatic disposal (i.e., also ``suitable'' 
material).
    As discussed above in Section VI (``Summary of Public Comments and 
EPA's Responses''), EPA asked the USACE to conduct another analysis to 
further refine the actual disposal capacity needed as compared with the 
original dredging needs estimate, taking into consideration EPA's 
designation of only one site, past dredging experience, and other 
factors, such as the potential for future improvement dredging projects 
and extreme storm events, and accounting for consolidation of dredged 
material in the disposal site. The USACE's disposal capacity analysis 
determined that the necessary capacity was approximately 20 mcy, which 
will be just met by the capacity of the ELDS. For all of these reasons, 
no significant adverse impacts are expected to be associated with the 
types and quantities of dredged material that may be disposed at the 
sites.
    v. Feasibility of Surveillance and Monitoring (40 CFR 228.6(a)(5)).
    Monitoring and surveillance will be feasible at the ELDS. The site 
is conducive to monitoring because it is a containment site and 
material placed at the site is expected to stay there. The ELDS is 
readily accessible for sediment grab, bathymetric, and side-scan sonar 
surveys. The nearby NLDS has been successfully monitored by the USACE 
over the past 35 years under the DAMOS program. Monitoring of the ELDS 
would be carried out under the DAMOS program in accordance with the 
current approved Site Management and Monitoring Plan (SMMP) for the 
site. In conjunction with the Proposed Rule, EPA and the USACE 
developed a draft SMMP and published it for public review and comment. 
The agencies have now developed a final SMMP in connection with this 
Final Rule. The final SMMP for the ELDS is included as Appendix I of 
the FSEIS.
    The SMMP is subject to review and updating at least once every ten 
years, if necessary, and may be subject to additional revisions based 
on the results of site monitoring and other new information. Any such 
revisions will be closely coordinated with other federal and state 
resource management agencies and stakeholders during the review and 
approval process and will become final only when approved by EPA, in 
conjunction with the USACE. See 33 U.S.C. 1413 (c)(3).
    vi. Dispersal, Horizontal Transport and Vertical Mixing 
Characteristics of the Area, Including Prevailing Current Direction and 
Velocity, if Any (40 CFR 228.6(a)(6)).
    Although the interactions of bathymetry, wind-generated waves, and 
river and ocean currents in Long Island Sound are complex, EPA has 
conducted a rigorous assessment of bottom stress, hydrodynamic 
processes, and storm-driven wave action at the ELDS. The assessment 
included data collection and modeling of disposal of dredged material 
under a variety of conditions. The assessment concluded that the area 
that encompasses both the ELDS and NLDS has the least amount of bottom 
stress compared with the other sites in the eastern Long Island Sound 
region that were assessed. This supports EPA's conclusion that the ELDS 
provides for the greatest stability of disposal mounds and is the 
optimal location for a containment site. See e.g., 40 CFR 
228.15(b)(4)(vi)(L)). Consistent with this, past monitoring during 
disposal operations at the NLDS (in the vicinity of the ELDS) revealed 
minimal drift of sediment out of the disposal site area as it passed 
through the water column. EPA expects the same result at the ELDS.
    Disposal site monitoring has confirmed that peak wave-induced 
bottom current velocities are not sufficient to cause significant 
erosion of dredged material placed at the ELDS. As noted above, 
physical oceanographic monitoring and modeling has indicated that the 
ELDS is a depositional location that collects, rather than disperses, 
sediment. As a result, EPA has determined that the dispersal, 
horizontal transport, and vertical mixing characteristics, as well as 
the current velocities and directions at the ELDS, all support 
designating it as a long-term dredged material disposal site.
    vii. Existence and Effects of Current and Previous Discharges and 
Dumping in the Area (Including Cumulative Effects) (40 CFR 
228.6(a)(7)).
    As previously described in Section V (``Disposal Site 
Description''), the ELDS is west of, and adjacent to, the NLDS, which 
has received approximately 8.9 mcy (6.7 million m\3\) of dredged 
material since 1955. The NLDS was used regularly until the early 2000s 
and is still an active site, but it has not been used frequently in 
recent years and it will no longer be available for use after December 
23, 2016.
    Until the passage of the CWA in 1972, dredged material disposal was 
not a heavily regulated activity. Since 1972, open-water disposal in 
Long Island Sound has been subject to the sediment testing and 
alternatives analysis provisions of section 404 of the CWA. With 
passage of the Ambro Amendment in 1980 (which was further amended in 
1990), 33 U.S.C. 1416(f), dredged material disposal from all federal 
projects and non-federal projects generating more than 25,000 cubic 
yards of material became subject to the requirements of the MPRSA in 
addition to CWA section 404. These increasingly stringent regulatory 
requirements for dredged material disposal, combined with other CWA 
requirements that have reduced the level of pollutants being discharged 
into the Nation's waterways, have contributed to a steady, measurable 
improvement in the quality of material that has been allowed to be 
placed at the NLDS over the past 40 years.
    The NLDS has been used since the early 1980s pursuant to the 
USACE's short-term site selection authority under section 103(b) of the 
MPRSA (33 U.S.C. 1413(b)). In EPA's view, the close proximity of the 
NLDS to the ELDS, coupled with past use of the NLDS, generally makes 
the ELDS preferable for designation, as compared to more pristine sites 
that have either not been used or were used in the more distant past. 
See 40 CFR 228.5(e). Using a site in the vicinity of an existing site, 
rather than using sites in areas completely unaffected by dredged 
material in the past, will help to concentrate, rather than spread, the 
footprint of dredged material disposal on the seafloor of Long Island 
Sound.
    While the effects of placing suitable dredged material at a 
disposal site are primarily limited to short-term physical effects, 
such as burying benthic organisms in the location where the material is 
placed, EPA regards it to be preferable to concentrate such effects in 
particular areas and leave other areas untouched as much as possible.
    That said, EPA's evaluation of data and modeling results indicates 
that past disposal operations at the NLDS have not resulted in 
unacceptable or

[[Page 87837]]

unreasonable environmental degradation, and that there should be no 
such adverse effects in the future from the projected use of the ELDS. 
As part of this conclusion, discussed in detail in Section 5.7 of the 
FSEIS, EPA found that there should be no significant adverse cumulative 
environmental effects from using the ELDS on a long-term basis for 
dredged material disposal in compliance with all applicable regulatory 
requirements regarding sediment quality and site usage.
    viii. Interference With Shipping, Fishing, Recreation, Mineral 
Extraction, Desalination, Fish and Shellfish Culture, Areas of Special 
Scientific Importance and Other Legitimate Uses of the Ocean (40 CFR 
228.6(a)(8)).
    In evaluating whether disposal activity at the site could interfere 
with any of the uses described above, EPA considered both the effects 
of placing dredged material on the bottom of the Sound at the ELDS and 
any effects from vessel traffic associated with transporting the 
dredged material to the disposal site. From this evaluation, EPA 
concluded there would be no unacceptable or unreasonable adverse 
effects on the considerations noted in this criterion. Some of the 
factors listed in this criterion have already been discussed above due 
to the overlap of this criterion with aspects of certain other 
criteria. Nevertheless, EPA will address each point below.
    As previously discussed, and in response to public comment, the 
eastern boundary of the ELDS has been shifted westward to move it 
further from the submarine transit corridor into the Thames River. The 
eastern boundary of the ELDS is 0.467 nmi west of the western boundary 
of the New London Harbor approach lane and submarine transit corridor, 
which will further reduce any potential for conflicts between use of 
the disposal site and submarine and deep draft commercial marine 
traffic. Vessel traffic generated by disposal activity is expected to 
be similar to that which has occurred over the past 20-30 years, which 
has not interfered with other shipping activity. Moreover, research by 
EPA and the USACE concluded that after disposal at the ELDS, resulting 
water depths will be sufficient to permit navigation in the area 
without interference. By providing an open-water alternative for 
dredged material disposal in the absence of environmentally preferable, 
practicable alternatives, the sites are likely to improve and 
facilitate navigation in many of the harbors, bays, rivers and channels 
around eastern Long Island Sound.
    EPA also carefully evaluated the potential effects on commercial 
and recreational fishing for both finfish and shellfish (including 
lobster) of designating the ELDS for dredged material disposal, and 
concluded that there would be no unreasonable or unacceptable adverse 
effects. As discussed above in relation to other site evaluation 
criteria, dredged material disposal will have only short-term, 
incidental, and insignificant effects on organisms in the disposal 
sites and no appreciable effects beyond the sites. Indeed, since past 
dredged material disposal, including at the nearby NLDS, has been 
determined to have no significant adverse effects on fishing, the 
similar projected levels of future disposal activities at the 
designated site also are not expected to have any significant adverse 
effects.
    There are four main reasons that EPA concluded that no unacceptable 
adverse effects would occur from placing dredged material at the ELDS. 
First, as discussed above, any contaminants in material permitted for 
disposal--having satisfied the dredged material criteria in the 
regulations that restrict any toxicity and bioaccumulation--will not 
have any significant adverse effects on fish, shellfish, or other 
aquatic organisms. Moreover, because the ELDS is a containment area, 
dredged material disposed at the site is expected to remain there.
    Second, as also discussed above, the disposal site does not 
encompass any especially important, sensitive, or limited habitat for 
the Sound's fish and shellfish, such as key spawning or nursery habitat 
for species of finfish. That said, as explained farther above, EPA has 
redrawn the boundary of the ELDS to avoid a rocky area that could 
provide particularly good habitat for fish, even though it is not an 
area that has received any special designation for such purposes.
    Third, while EPA found that a small number of demersal fish (e.g., 
winter flounder), shellfish (e.g., clams and lobsters), benthic 
organisms (e.g., worms), and zooplankton and phytoplankton could be 
lost due to the physical effects of disposal (e.g., burial of organisms 
on the seafloor by dredged material and entrainment of plankton in the 
water column by dredged material upon its release from a disposal 
barge), EPA also determined that these minor, temporary adverse effects 
would be neither unreasonable nor unacceptable. This determination was 
based on EPA's conclusion that the numbers of organisms potentially 
affected represent only a minuscule percentage of those in eastern Long 
Island Sound, and on DAMOS monitoring that consistently documents the 
rapid recovery of the benthic community in an area that has received 
dredged material. In addition, any physical effects will be further 
limited by the relatively few months in which disposal activities could 
be permitted by the environmental window (or time-of-year) 
restrictions.
    Fourth, EPA has determined that vessel traffic associated with 
dredged material disposal will not have any unreasonable or 
unacceptable adverse effects on fishing. As explained above, 
environmental window restrictions will limit any disposal to the period 
between October 1 and April 30, and often to fewer months depending on 
species-specific restrictions for each dredging project, each year. 
Moreover, due to the seasonal nature of recreational boating and 
commercial shipping, there is generally far less vessel traffic in the 
colder-weather months when disposal would occur.
    There currently are no mineral extraction activities or 
desalinization facilities in the eastern Long Island Sound region with 
which disposal activity could potentially interfere. Energy 
transmission pipelines and cables are located near the site, but none 
are within the boundaries of the ELDS.
    No finfish aquaculture currently takes place in Long Island Sound, 
and the only form of shellfish culture in the area, oyster production, 
occurs in nearshore locations far enough away from the ELDS that it 
should not be impacted in any manner by this proposed action.
    Finally, the ELDS is not in an area of special scientific 
importance; in fact, areas with such characteristics were screened out 
very early in the alternatives screening process. Accordingly, 
depositing dredged material at the ELDS will not interfere with any of 
the activities described in this criterion or other legitimate uses of 
Long Island Sound.
    ix. The Existing Water Quality and Ecology of the Sites as 
Determined by Available Data or by Trend Assessment or Baseline Surveys 
(40 CFR 228.6(a)(9)).
    EPA's analysis of existing water quality and ecological conditions 
at the ELDS in light of available data, trend assessments and baseline 
surveys indicates that disposal at the site will not cause unacceptable 
or unreasonable adverse environmental effects. Considerations related 
to water quality and various ecological factors (e.g., sediment 
quality, benthic organisms, fish and shellfish) have already been 
discussed above in relation to other site selection criteria, and are 
discussed in

[[Page 87838]]

detail in the FSEIS and supporting documents. In considering this 
criterion, EPA took into account existing water quality and sediment 
quality data collected at the disposal sites, including from the 
USACE's DAMOS site monitoring program, as well as water quality data 
from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental 
Protection's (CTDEEP) Long Island Sound Water Quality Monitoring 
Program. As discussed herein, EPA has determined that placement of 
suitable dredged material at the ELDS should not cause any significant 
adverse environmental effects to water quality or to ecological 
conditions at the disposal sites. EPA and the USACE have prepared a 
SMMP for the ELDS to guide future monitoring of site conditions (FSEIS 
Appendix I).
    x. Potentiality for the Development or Recruitment of Nuisance 
Species in the Disposal Sites (40 CFR 228.6(a)(10)).
    Monitoring at disposal sites in Long Island Sound over the past 35 
years has shown no recruitment of nuisance (invasive, non-native) 
species that are attributable to dredged material disposal. There is no 
reason to expect this to change, but monitoring will continue to look 
for any such impacts. EPA and the USACE will continue to monitor the 
ELDS and other EPA-designated sites under their respective SMMPs, which 
include a ``management focus'' on ``changes in composition and numbers 
of pelagic, demersal, or benthic biota at or near the disposal sites'' 
(Section 6.1.5 of the SMMP, Appendix I of the FSEIS).
    xi. Existence at or in Close Proximity to the Sites of Any 
Significant Natural or Cultural Feature of Historical Importance (40 
CFR 228.6(a)(11)).
    There are no natural or cultural features of historical importance 
located within or in close proximity to the ELDS. There is, however, 
one shipwreck located within the ELDS near the southeastern corner the 
site, just inside its eastern boundary. As discussed in the FSEIS, a 
review of submerged vessel reports in the NOAA and Connecticut State 
Historic Preservation Office (CT SHPO) shipwreck databases indicates 
that there is one charted shipwreck located within the ELDS, near its 
eastern boundary. This wreck also was identified by EPA's side-scan 
sonar survey. This shipwreck is not, however, considered to be of 
historical importance.
    EPA coordinated with Indian tribes in Connecticut, Rhode Island, 
and New York throughout the development of the FSEIS, and the tribes 
did not identify any important natural, cultural, spiritual, or 
historical features or areas within the ELDS. At the same time, the 
Shinnecock Indian Nation commented to EPA that investigations are 
underway to determine whether ``submerged paleo cultural landscapes'' 
might exist that would indicate that the tribe's ancestors lived 
farther offshore than currently understood. In this regard, the tribe 
expresses concern that dredged material placement at an open-water site 
could further bury any evidence of such sites. As discussed above and 
in the FSEIS, EPA is currently not aware of any evidence suggesting 
that such submerged artifacts may exist at the ELDS. If such evidence 
emerges in the future, EPA will further consult with the Shinnecock 
Indian Nation about whether any adjustments to the site boundaries, 
site management requirements, or site use restrictions would be 
appropriate.
    In summary, one shipwreck is located just inside the eastern 
boundary of the ELDS, but the wreck is not considered to be of 
historical significance. Nevertheless, any impacts to that wreck from 
dredged material disposal will be minimized by establishing a 164-foot 
(50 m) avoidance buffer surrounding the shipwreck as well as 
appropriate site management, which accommodates both the minimum buffer 
of 30 m recommended by the CT SHPO, and the 40-50 m minimum buffer 
applied by the NY OPRHP.
3. Disposal Site Management (40 CFR 228.3, 228.7, 228.8 and 228.9)
    The ELDS will be subject to specific management requirements to 
ensure that unacceptable adverse environmental impacts do not occur. 
Examples of these requirements include: (1) Restricting the use of the 
sites to the disposal of dredged material that has been determined to 
be suitable for ocean disposal following MPRSA and/or CWA requirements 
in accordance with the provisions of MPRSA section 106(f), as well as 
to material from waters in the vicinity of the disposal sites; (2) 
monitoring the disposal sites and their associated reference sites, 
which are not used for dredged material disposal, to assess potential 
impacts to the marine environment by providing a point of comparison to 
an area unaffected by dredged material disposal; and (3) retaining the 
right to limit or close these sites to further disposal activity if 
monitoring or other information reveals evidence of unacceptable 
adverse impacts to the marine environment. As mentioned above, dredged 
material disposal will not be allowed when weather and sea conditions 
could interfere with safe, effective placement of any dredged material 
at a designated site. In addition, although not technically a site 
management requirement, disposal activity at the sites will generally 
be limited to the period between October 1 and April 30, but often 
less, depending on environmental windows, to protect certain species, 
as described above.
    EPA and the USACE have managed and monitored dredged material 
disposal activities at disposal sites in Long Island Sound since the 
early 1980s. Site monitoring has been conducted under the USACE's DAMOS 
disposal site monitoring program. In accordance with the requirements 
of MPRSA section 102(c) and 40 CFR 228.3, EPA and the USACE have 
developed a SMMP for the ELDS, which is incorporated as Appendix I of 
the FSEIS. The SMMP describes in detail the specific management and 
monitoring requirements for the ELDS.

B. National Environmental Policy Act

    As EPA explained in the preamble to the Proposed Rule, 81 FR 24760 
(April 27, 2016), EPA disposal site designation evaluations conducted 
under the MPRSA have been determined to be ``functionally equivalent'' 
to NEPA reviews and, as a result, are not subject to NEPA analysis 
requirements as a matter of law. Nevertheless, as a matter of policy, 
EPA voluntarily uses NEPA procedures when evaluating the potential 
designation of ocean dumping sites. See 63 FR 58045 (Notice of Policy 
and Procedures for Voluntary Preparation of National Environmental 
Policy Act Documents, October 29, 1998).
    EPA is the agency authorized by the MPRSA to designate dredged 
material disposal sites and is responsible for the site designation 
decision and the NEPA analysis supporting it. As discussed in detail in 
the preamble to the Proposed Rule, 81 FR 24761, EPA used a third-party 
contracting approach so that funding from the state of Connecticut 
could be applied to the support the site designation studies and the 
development of the FSEIS. See 40 CFR 1506.5. Because EPA is ultimately 
responsible for the FSEIS, the Agency worked closely with the state of 
Connecticut to select the contractors and then maintained close 
involvement with production of the SEIS and control over its analyses 
and conclusions. The U.S. Navy also contributed to the site designation 
process by funding

[[Page 87839]]

biological and other environmental studies in support of the FSEIS. The 
Navy, with extensive input from EPA and CTDEEP, used its contractor 
Tetra Tech based on its expertise in biological resources studies and 
risk assessment.
    The USACE was a ``cooperating agency'' in the development of the 
FSEIS because of its knowledge concerning the region's dredging needs, 
its technical expertise in monitoring dredged material disposal sites 
and assessing the environmental effects of dredging and dredged 
material disposal, its history in the regulation of dredged material 
disposal in Long Island Sound and elsewhere, and its ongoing legal role 
in regulating dredging, dredged material disposal, and the management 
and monitoring of disposal sites. Other cooperating agencies were NMFS, 
CTDEEP, CT DOT, New York Department of State (NYSDOS), New York 
Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), and Rhode Island 
Coastal Resources Management Council (RICRMC). To take advantage of 
expertise of other entities, and to promote strong inter-agency 
communications, EPA also coordinated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service; the Mashantucket (Western) Pequot Tribal Nation, Mohegan 
Tribe, Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation, and Paucatuck Eastern Pequot 
Indians (in Connecticut); the Narragansett Indian Tribe (in Rhode 
Island); the Shinnecock Indian Nation (in New York); and, as previously 
discussed, the CT SHPO and NY OPRHP. Throughout the SEIS development 
process, EPA communicated with the cooperating federal and state 
agencies and tribes to keep them apprised of progress on the project 
and to solicit input.
    Consistent with its voluntary NEPA policy, EPA has undertaken NEPA 
analyses as part of its decision-making process for the designation of 
the ELDS. EPA published a Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS on October 
16, 2012, invited other federal and state agencies to participate as 
cooperating or coordinating agencies, defined a ``Zone of Siting 
Feasibility'' in cooperation with the cooperating agencies, held public 
meetings regarding the scope of issues to be addressed by the SEIS, and 
published a DSEIS for public review and comment. The DSEIS, entitled, 
``Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Designation 
of Dredged Material Disposal Site(s) in Eastern Long Island Sound, 
Connecticut and New York,'' assesses and compares the effects of 
designating alternative dredged material disposal sites in eastern Long 
Island Sound. EPA's SEIS also evaluated various alternative approaches 
to managing dredging needs, including the ``no action'' alternative 
(i.e., the alternative of not designating any open-water disposal 
sites). See 40 CFR 1502.14. The DSEIS was considered supplemental 
because it updated and built upon the analyses that were conducted for 
the 2005 Long Island Sound Environmental Impact Statement that 
supported the designation of the Central and Western Long Island Sound 
disposal sites.
    EPA released the DSEIS for a 60-day public comment period on April 
27, 2016, and subsequently extended the comment period for 21 days, 
until July 18, 2016. EPA held four public hearings during the comment 
period: Two (afternoon and evening) on May 24 in Riverhead and 
Mattituck, NY, and two on May 25 in Groton, CT. As previously noted, 
EPA received extensive public comment, both in support of, and in 
opposition to, EPA's proposed action as described in the DSEIS and 
proposed rule.
    After considering the public comments received, EPA conducted 
additional analysis and has now published an FSEIS in conjunction with, 
and as part of the support for, publication of this Final Rule 
designating the ELDS. EPA's FSEIS includes additional discussion and 
analysis pertaining to EPA's final site designation, including 
discussion and analysis supporting EPA's decision to adjust the 
boundaries of the ELDS as they were delineated in the Proposed Rule. 
Appendix J of the FSEIS includes all the public comments EPA received 
on the DSEIS and Proposed Rule, and provides a summary of those 
comments and EPA responses to those comments. EPA also has summarized 
the more significant comments and EPA's responses to them in Section VI 
of the preamble to this Final Rule.

C. Coastal Zone Management Act

    Based on the evaluations presented in the FSEIS and supporting 
documents, and a review of the federally approved coastal zone programs 
and policies of Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island, EPA determined 
that designation of the ELDS for open-water dredged material disposal 
under the MPRSA will be fully consistent with, or consistent to the 
maximum extent practicable with, the enforceable policies of the 
approved coastal zone management programs of the three states. EPA 
provided a written determination to that effect to the NYSDOS (on July 
20, 2016), to CTDEEP (on July 29, 2016), and to the RICRMC (on July 28, 
2016), respectively.
    The specific policies of each state's coastal zone management 
program are discussed in detail in the determinations noted above, but 
in a general sense, there are several broad reasons why designation of 
the ELDS is consistent with the applicable, enforceable policies of the 
three states' coastal zone programs. First, the designation is not 
expected to cause any significant adverse impacts to the marine 
environment, coastal resources, or uses of the coastal zone. Indeed, 
EPA expects the designation to benefit coastal uses involving 
navigation and berthing of vessels by facilitating needed dredging, and 
to benefit the environment by limiting any open-water dredged material 
disposal to a small number of environmentally appropriate sites 
designated by EPA, rather than at a potential proliferation of USACE-
selected sites. Second, designation of the site does not actually 
authorize the disposal of any dredged material at the sites. Any 
proposal to dispose dredged material from a particular project at a 
designated site will be subject to case-specific evaluation and be 
allowed only if: (a) The material satisfies the sediment quality 
requirements of the MPRSA and the CWA; (b) no practicable alternative 
method of management with less adverse environmental impact is 
available; and (c) the disposal complies with the site restrictions for 
the site. These restrictions are described and discussed in the next 
section of the preamble and are designed to reduce or eliminate dredged 
material disposal in Long Island Sound. Third, the designated disposal 
site will be managed and monitored pursuant to a SMMP and if adverse 
impacts are identified, use of the sites will be modified to reduce or 
eliminate those impacts. Such modification could further restrict, or 
even terminate, use of the sites, if appropriate. See 40 CFR 228.3, 
228.11.
    On August 9, 2016, the RICRMC sent EPA a letter concurring with 
EPA's CZMA determination for Rhode Island. Similarly, on September 26, 
2016, CTDEEP, which administers Connecticut's coastal zone management 
program, sent EPA a letter concurring with EPA's CZMA determination for 
Connecticut.
    On October 3, 2016, EPA received a letter from the NYSDOS objecting 
to EPA's designation of the ELDS on the basis of its view that either 
EPA had provided insufficient information to support a CZMA consistency 
determination or, based on the information provided, the action was 
inconsistent with the enforceable policies of New York's Coastal 
Management Program (CMP).

[[Page 87840]]

    After giving careful consideration to the issues raised by NYSDOS, 
EPA continues to hold the view that designation of the ELDS, as 
specified herein, is consistent to the maximum extent practicable with 
the enforceable policies of New York's CMP. EPA also believes that the 
site use restrictions that have been made applicable to the ELDS 
provide enhanced assurance of such consistency.

D. Endangered Species Act

    The ESA requires consultation with NMFS and/or USFWS to adequately 
address potential impacts to threatened and endangered species that may 
occur at the proposed dredged material disposal site from any proposal 
to dispose dredged material. EPA initiated consultations regarding the 
proposed ELDS with both the NMFS and USFWS, concurrent with the public 
comment period for the DSEIS. This consultation process is fully 
documented in the FSEIS. EPA provided the NMFS and USFWS with its 
conclusion that the proposed designation of the ELDS was not likely to 
adversely affect any federally listed endangered or threatened species, 
or designated critical habitat of any such species.
    On August 11, 2016, USFWS sent an email message concurring with 
EPA's proposed action, stating that the designation of the ELDS, ``will 
have no effect on federally listed species under the jurisdiction of 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and that any effects from activities 
associated with the disposal of dredged material at this location will 
be consulted individually under section 7 of the ESA,'' and that, 
``(f)urther consultation . . . is not necessary unless there is new 
information relative to listed species presence or there are changes to 
the project.''
    On August 12, 2016, NMFS also concurred with EPA's ``conclusion 
that the proposed action is not likely to adversely affect the ESA-
listed species under our jurisdiction and will have no effect on 
critical habitat since the action does not overlap with any proposed/
designation (sic) critical habitat under our jurisdiction,'' and that, 
``. . . no further consultation . . . is required.'' Copies of all 
consultation and coordination correspondence are provided in Appendices 
A-11 of the FSEIS.

E. Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act

    The MSFCMA requires federal agencies to coordinate with NMFS 
regarding any action they authorize, fund, or undertake that may 
adversely affect essential fish habitat (EFH). EPA initiated 
coordination with NMFS on June 30, 2016, by submitting an EFH 
assessment in compliance with the Act. This coordination addressed the 
potential for the designation of any of the alternative disposal sites 
being evaluated to adversely affect EFH. In a letter dated August 12, 
2016, NMFS concurred with EPA's determination that the designation of 
the ELDS would not adversely affect EFH. The letter stated, in part, 
``We concur with your determination that by excluding the boulder areas 
located in the south and northwest corners of the proposed disposal 
site, and with the incorporation of your specific management practices 
that include a 200-foot buffer zone from the boulder areas, the 
proposed designation will result in no more than minimal adverse 
impacts to designated EFH.'' The coordination process is fully 
documented in the FSEIS.

IX. Restrictions

    As described in the Proposed Rule, EPA is restricting the use of 
the ELDS in the same manner that it has restricted use of the CLDS and 
WLDS. On July 7, 2016, EPA published in the Federal Register (81 FR 
44220) a final rule to amend the 2005 rule that designated the CLDS and 
WLDS, to establish new restrictions on the use of those sites to 
support the goal of reducing or eliminating open-water disposal in Long 
Island Sound. The restrictions include standards and procedures to 
promote the development and use of practicable alternatives to open-
water disposal, including establishment of an interagency ``Steering 
Committee'' and ``Regional Dredging Team'' that will play important 
roles in implementation of the rule. The site use restrictions for the 
CLDS are detailed in 40 CFR 228.15(b)(4)(vi) and are incorporated for 
the WLDS by the cross-references in 40 CFR 228.15(b)(4)(vi) and 
(b)(5)(vi). Similarly, EPA is applying to the ELDS the same 
restrictions as are applied to the CLDS and WLDS by including simple 
cross-references to those restrictions in the new ELDS regulations at 
40 CFR 228.15(b)(4) and (b)(6)(vi).
    The restrictions incorporate standards and procedures for the use 
of the Eastern, Central and Western disposal sites consistent with the 
recommendations of the Long Island Sound DMMP. The DMMP identifies a 
wide range of alternatives to open-water disposal and recommends 
standards and procedures to help determine whether and which of these 
alternatives should be pursued for particular dredging projects. The 
DMMP addresses dredging and dredged material management issues for the 
entire Long Island Sound region, including the eastern portion of the 
Sound. Therefore, EPA concludes that it makes sense to apply site use 
restrictions based on the DMMP to the ELDS as well as to the CLDS and 
WLDS. EPA also received public comments in support of applying the site 
use restrictions to all Long Island Sound disposal sites.
    The standards included in the restrictions are described in the 
Proposed Rule and address the disposition of sandy material, suitable 
fine-grained material and unsuitable fine-grained materials. See 81 FR 
24764. See also 81 FR 44229 (40 CFR 228.15(b)(4)(vi)(C)(3)(i)-(iii)). 
Also included are expectations of continued federal, state and local 
efforts at source reduction (i.e., reducing sediment entering 
waterways). EPA did not receive any comments on the standards and has 
not modified them in the Final Rule.
    The restrictions augment the recommended procedures in the DMMP, 
and in the Proposed Rule, by establishing a Long Island Sound Dredging 
Steering Committee (Steering Committee), consisting of high-level 
representatives from the states of Connecticut and New York, EPA, 
USACE, and, as appropriate other federal and state agencies. Such other 
parties could include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration's (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), which 
had a seat on the previous Steering Committee, and the state of Rhode 
Island, which had a seat on the previous Long Island Sound Regional 
Dredging Team (LIS RDT), and may have more interest now that the LIS 
RDT's geographic scope includes eastern Long Island Sound. The Steering 
Committee will provide policy-level direction to the Long Island Sound 
Regional Dredging Team (RDT). The Steering Committee is charged with: 
Establishing a baseline for the volume and percentage of dredged 
material being beneficially used and placed at the open-water sites; 
establishing a reasonable and practicable series of stepped objectives, 
including timeframes, to increase the percentage of beneficially used 
material while reducing the percentage and amount being disposed in 
open water, and while recognizing that the amounts of dredged material 
generated by the dredging program will naturally fluctuate from year to 
year; and develop accurate methods to track the placement of dredged 
material, with due consideration for annual fluctuations. The stepped 
objectives should

[[Page 87841]]

incorporate an adaptive management approach while striving for 
continuous improvement.
    The restrictions provide that when tracking progress, the Steering 
Committee should recognize that exceptional circumstances may result in 
delays meeting an objective. Exceptional circumstances should be 
infrequent, irregular and unpredictable. It is expected that each of 
the member agencies will commit the necessary resources to support the 
Long Island Sound RDT and Steering Committee's work, including the 
collection of data necessary to support establishing the baseline and 
tracking and reporting on the future disposition of dredged material.
    The restrictions also provide that the Steering Committee may 
utilize the RDT, as appropriate, to carry out the tasks assigned to it. 
The Steering Committee, with the support of the RDT, will guide a 
concerted effort to encourage greater use of beneficial use 
alternatives, including piloting alternatives, identifying possible 
resources and eliminating regulatory barriers as appropriate.
    As described in the Proposed Rule, see 81 FR 24765, the 
restrictions establish the Long Island Sound RDT. See also 81 FR 44229-
44230 (40 CFR 228.15(b)(4)(vi)(E) and (F)). The purpose of the RDT 
reflects its role and relationship to the Steering Committee. The 
purpose of the RDT is to: (1) Review dredging projects and report to 
USACE on its review within 30 days of receipt of project information; 
(2) assist the Steering Committee in the tasks described above; (3) 
serve as a forum for continuing exploration of new beneficial use 
alternatives, matching available beneficial use alternatives with 
dredging projects; (4) exploring cost-sharing opportunities and 
promoting opportunities for beneficial use of clean, parent marine 
sediments (that underlie surficial sediments and are not exposed to 
pollution) often generated in the development of Confined Aquatic 
Disposal cells; and (5) assist the USACE and EPA in continuing long-
term efforts to monitor dredging impacts in Long Island Sound. The 
membership of the RDT will comprise representatives from the states of 
Connecticut and New York, EPA, USACE, and, as appropriate, other 
federal and state agencies. State participation on the RDT is 
voluntary. The geographic scope of the RDT, as well as details for the 
structure and process of the RDT, are unchanged from the Proposed Rule.
    Finally, the restrictions provide that if the volume of open-water 
disposal of dredged material, as measured in 2026, has not declined or 
been maintained over the prior ten years, then any party may petition 
EPA to conduct a rulemaking to amend the restrictions of the use of the 
sites.

X. Supporting Documents

    1. EPA Region 1/USACE NAE. 2005. Response to Comments on the 
Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Designation of Dredged 
Material Disposal Sites in Central and Western Long Island Sound, 
Connecticut and New York. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
Region 1, Boston, MA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England 
District, Concord, MA. April 2005.
    2. EPA Region 1. 2005. Memorandum to the File Responding to the 
Letter from the New York Department of State Objecting to EPA's 
Federal Consistency Determination for the Dredged Material Disposal 
Site Designations. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 1, 
Boston, MA. May 2005.
    3. EPA Region 1/USACE NAE. 2004. Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Designation of Dredged Material Disposal Sites in 
Central and Western Long Island Sound, Connecticut and New York. 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 1, Boston, MA and U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Concord, MA. March 
2004.
    4. EPA Region 1/USACE NAE. 2004. Regional Implementation Manual 
for the Evaluation of Dredged Material Proposed for Disposal in New 
England Waters. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 1, 
Boston, MA, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, 
Concord, MA. April 2004.
    5. EPA Region 2/USACE NAN. 1992. Guidance for Performing Tests 
on Dredged Material Proposed for Ocean Disposal. U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Region 2, New York, NY and U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, New York District, New York, NY. Draft Release. December 
1992.
    6. EPA/USACE. 1991. Evaluation of Dredged Material Proposed for 
Ocean Disposal Testing Manual. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
Washington, DC, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC. 
EPA-503/8-91/001. February 1991.
    7. Long Island Sound Study. 2015. Comprehensive Conservation and 
Management Plan for Long Island Sound. Long Island Sound Management 
Conference. September 2015.
    8. NYSDEC and CTDEP. 2000. A total maximum daily load analysis 
to achieve water quality standards for dissolved oxygen in Long 
Island Sound. Prepared in conformance with section 303(d) of the 
Clean Water Act and the Long Island Sound Study. New York State 
Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY and Connecticut 
Department of Environmental Protection, Hartford, CT. December 2000.
    9. USACE NAE. 2016. Final Long Island Sound Dredged Material 
Management Plan and Final Programmatic Environmental Impact 
Statement--Connecticut, Rhode Island and New York. U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers, New England District. December 2015.
    10. EPA Region 1. 2016. Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Designation of Dredged Material Disposal Site(s) 
in Eastern Long Island Sound, Connecticut and New York. U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 1, Boston, MA. April 2016.
    11. USACE NAE. 2016a. Memorandum from USACE New England District 
to EPA Region 1 with updated dredging and disposal capacity needs 
for Eastern Long Island Sound. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New 
England District. September 2016.
    12. USACE NAE. 2016b. Memorandum from USACE New England District 
to EPA Region 1 with detailed cost estimates for dredged material 
disposal at different disposal sites in Long Island Sound. U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers, New England District. September 2016.

XI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

1. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review and Executive 
Order 13563: Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review

    This action is not a significant regulatory action, as defined in 
the Executive Order, and therefore was not submitted to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review.

2. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)

    This action does not impose an information collection burden under 
the PRA because it would not require persons to obtain, maintain, 
retain, report or publicly disclose information to or for a federal 
agency.

3. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)

    This action will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act (RFA). The amended restrictions in this rule are only relevant for 
dredged material disposal projects subject to the MPRSA. Non-federal 
projects involving 25,000 cubic yards or less of material are not 
subject to the MPRSA and, instead, are regulated under CWA section 404. 
This action will, therefore, have no effect on such projects. ``Small 
entities'' under the RFA are most likely to be involved with smaller 
projects not covered by the MPRSA. Therefore, EPA does not believe a 
substantial number of small entities will be affected by today's rule. 
Furthermore, the amendments to the restrictions also will not have 
significant economic impacts on a substantial number of small entities 
because they will primarily create requirements to be followed by 
regulatory agencies rather than small entities, and will create 
requirements

[[Page 87842]]

(i.e., the standards and procedures) intended to help ensure 
satisfaction of the existing regulatory requirement (see 40 CFR 227.16) 
that practicable alternatives to the ocean dumping of dredged material 
be utilized.

4. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)

    This action does not contain any unfunded mandate as described in 
UMRA, 2 U.S.C. 1531-1538, and does not significantly or uniquely affect 
small governments. The action imposes no enforceable duty on any state, 
local or tribal governments or the private sector.

5. Executive Order 13132: Federalism

    This action does not have federalism implications. It will not have 
substantial direct effects on the states, on the relationship between 
the national government and the states, or on the distribution of power 
and responsibilities among the various levels of government. Through 
the Steering Committee and RDT process, however, this action will 
provide a vehicle for facilitating the interaction and communication of 
interested federal and state agencies concerned with regulating dredged 
material disposal in Long Island Sound.

6. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian 
Tribal Governments

    This action does not have tribal implications as specified in 
Executive Order 13175 because the proposed restrictions will not have 
substantial direct effects on Indian tribes, on the relationship 
between the federal government and Indian tribes, or the distribution 
of power and responsibilities between the federal government and Indian 
tribes. EPA coordinated with all Indian Tribal Governments in the 
vicinity of the proposed action and consulted with the Shinnecock 
Tribal Nation in making this determination.

7. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental 
Health Risks and Safety Risks

    This action is not subject to Executive Order 13045 because it is 
not economically significant as defined in Executive Order 12866, and 
because the EPA does not believe the environmental health or safety 
risks addressed by this action present a disproportionate risk to 
children.

8. Executive Order 13211: Actions Concerning Regulations That 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution or Use

    This action is not subject to Executive Order 13211, because it is 
not a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866.

9. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA)

    This rulemaking does not involve technical standards.

10. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address Environmental 
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations

    The EPA concludes that this action will not have a disproportionate 
adverse human health or environmental effect on minority, low-income, 
or indigenous populations.

11. Executive Order 13158: Marine Protected Areas

    Executive Order 13158 (65 FR 34909, May 31, 2000) requires EPA to 
``expeditiously propose new science-based regulations, as necessary, to 
ensure appropriate levels of protection for the marine environment.'' 
EPA may take action to enhance or expand protection of existing marine 
protected areas and to establish or recommend, as appropriate, new 
marine protected areas. The purpose of the Executive Order is to 
protect the significant natural and cultural resources within the 
marine environment, which means, ``those areas of coastal and ocean 
waters, the Great Lakes and their connecting waters, and submerged 
lands thereunder, over which the United States exercises jurisdiction, 
consistent with international law.''
    The EPA expects that this Final Rule will afford additional 
protection to the waters of Long Island Sound and organisms that 
inhabit them. Building on the existing protections of the MPRSA and the 
ocean dumping regulations, the rule is designed to promote the 
reduction or elimination of open-water disposal of dredged material in 
Long Island Sound, and, at the same time, to ensure that any such 
disposal that occurs will be conducted in an environmentally sound 
manner.

12. Executive Order 13547: Stewardship of the Ocean, Our Coasts, and 
the Great Lakes

    Section 6(a)(i) of Executive Order 13547, (75 FR 43023, July 19, 
2010) requires, among other things, EPA and certain other agencies ``. 
. . to the fullest extent consistent with applicable law [to] . . . 
take such action as necessary to implement the policy set forth in 
section 2 of this order and the stewardship principles and national 
priority objectives as set forth in the Final Recommendations and 
subsequent guidance from the Council.'' The policies in section 2 of 
Executive Order 13547 include, among other things, the following: ``. . 
. it is the policy of the United States to: (i) Protect, maintain, and 
restore the health and biological diversity of ocean, coastal, and 
Great Lakes ecosystems and resources; [and] (ii) improve the resiliency 
of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems, communities, and 
economies . . . .'' As with Executive Order 13158 (Marine Protected 
Areas), the overall purpose of the Executive Order is to promote 
protection of ocean and coastal environmental resources.
    The EPA expects that this Final Rule will afford additional 
protection to the waters of Long Island Sound and the organisms that 
inhabit them. Building on the existing protections of the MPRSA and the 
ocean dumping regulations, the rule is designed to promote the 
reduction or elimination of open-water disposal of dredged material in 
Long Island Sound even as it facilitates necessary dredging.

13. Congressional Review Act

    The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally 
provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating 
the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, 
to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the 
United States. EPA will submit a report containing this rule and other 
required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of 
Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior 
to publication of the rule in the Federal Register. A ``major rule'' 
cannot take effect until 60 days after it is published in the Federal 
Register. This action is not a major rule as defined by 5 U.S.C. 
804(2). This rule will be effective 30 days after date of publication.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 228

    Environmental protection, Water pollution control.

    Dated: November 4, 2016.
H. Curtis Spalding,
Regional Administrator, EPA Region 1--New England.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, title 40, chapter I, of the 
Code of Federal Regulations is amended as set forth below.

[[Page 87843]]

PART 228--CRITERIA FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF DISPOSAL SITES FOR OCEAN 
DUMPING

0
1. The authority citation for part 228 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  33 U.S.C. 1412 and 1418.

0
2. Section 228.15 is amended by revising paragraph (b)(4)(vi) 
introductory text and adding paragraph (b)(6) to read as follows:

Sec.  228.15   Dumping sites designated on a final basis.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (4) * * *
    (vi) Restrictions: The designation in this paragraph (b)(4) sets 
forth conditions for the use of the Central Long Island Sound (CLDS), 
Western Long Island Sound (WLDS) and Eastern Long Island Sound (ELDS) 
Dredged Material Disposal Sites. These conditions apply to all disposal 
subject to the MPRSA, namely, all federal projects and nonfederal 
projects greater than 25,000 cubic yards. All references to 
``permittees'' shall be deemed to include the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers (USACE) when it is authorizing its own dredged material 
disposal from a USACE dredging project. The conditions for this 
designation are as follows:
* * * * *
    (6) Eastern Long Island Sound Dredged Material Disposal Site 
(ELDS).
    (i) Location: Corner Coordinates (NAD83) 41[deg]15.81' N., 
72[deg]05.23' W.; 41[deg]16.81' N., 72[deg]05.23' W.; 41[deg]16.81' N., 
72[deg]07.22' W.; 41[deg]15.97' N., 72[deg]07.22' W.; 41[deg]15.81' N., 
72[deg]06.58' W.
    (ii) Size: A 1 x 1.5 nautical mile irregularly-shaped polygon, with 
an area of 1.3 square nautical miles (nmi\2\) due to the exclusion of 
bedrock areas. North-central bedrock area corner coordinates (NAD83) 
are: 41[deg]16.34' N., 72[deg]05.89' W.; 41[deg]16.81' N., 
72[deg]05.89' W.; 41[deg]16.81' N., 72[deg]06.44' W.; 41[deg]16.22' N., 
72[deg]06.11' W.
    (iii) Depth: Ranges from 59 to 100 feet (18 m to 30 m).
    (iv) Primary use: Dredged material disposal.
    (v) Period of use: Continuing use.
    (vi) Restrictions: See paragraphs (b)(4)(vi)(A) through (N) of this 
section.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2016-27546 Filed 12-5-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P