Opinion ID: 1901409
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Whether the Project would violate the Water Quality Criteria

Text: ¶ 49. The rivers and tributaries subject to the Project are listed as impaired waters due to pesticides, turbidity, suspended solids, and low dissolved oxygen. The Commission specifically addressed water quality in its order. The certification itself incorporated a provision that requires turbidity outside the limits of a 750 foot mixing zone shall not exceed the ambient turbidity by more than 50 Nephelometric Turbidity Units. The Commission found no reason to doubt that the condition would not be met. ¶ 50. MDEQ also reviewed the effects of resuspension of organic material by dredging on the water quality criteria of dissolved oxygen and temperature and found that such effects would be temporary and not unreasonably adverse in nature. The Commission found no indication that the Project would cause an increase in the number of violations of these standards. ¶ 51. Furthermore, the Commission reviewed MDEQ's investigation into the effect of dredging on the resuspension of bottom material containing metals and pesticides, in particular, DDT. Therefore, as a condition of certification, the Commission required the Corps to analyze elutriate samples and submit the results to MDEQ prior to beginning work on the Project. Elutriate samples are taken to determine if pollutants remain inert or are resolublized back into the water once disturbed. ¶ 52. The Corps is also required to submit a monitoring plan to MDEQ, including the taking of sediment core samples, which must be approved prior to dredging. The Corps must also submit monitoring results for each item of work that involves dredging before work on that particular part of the Project may begin. In the event that results from any of the sampling/monitoring indicate that the proposed dredging will significantly degrade water quality, the Commission may require additional sampling/monitoring and/or may modify, suspend, or revoke the certification of the Project. The Commission then found that these water quality criteria would not be degraded beyond current water quality conditions. ¶ 53. The order of the Commission could have been more detailed in setting explicit standards for the results of the tests, and in the action to be taken in the event of non-compliance. However, we cannot say that its decision as to this issue is not based on substantial evidence or arbitrary or capricious.