Arthur J. Newell, Division of Fish, Wildlife & Marine Resources, NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4751, Tel: 518-402-8995, Fax: 518-402-9027
Alex Lechich, Division of Fish, Wildlife & Marine Resources, NYSDEC, Region 2, 1 Hunters Point Plaza, 4740 21st Street, Tel: 718-482-4608, Fax: 718-482-4502

The proposed guidance was developed jointly by the Divisions of Water and Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources to provide Department staff with guidance on the statutory and regulatory requirements for dredging activities and to promote uniformity in the management of dredge material throughout the state.  The guidance applies only to dredging operations and in-water or riparian management of dredged material.  To clarify the sampling, testing and permitting process, the guidance provides an explanation of state law requirements for dredging projects with a general overview of relevant federal requirements.  The guidance is offered as a clear approach to environmental review of navigational dredging projects, dredging of channels and berths, dredging of ponds, and other incidental dredging in both marine and fresh waters of the state.  The guidance includes environmental objectives for dredging; best management practices for dredging and disposal; sediment quality parameters to measure and sampling requirements; effects based sediment quality threshold values; dredged material management options for three classes of sediment quality; guidance on evaluation of toxicity and bioaccumulation test results; mixing zone analysis; and monitoring requirements.  While this guidance contains numerical assessment criteria, it is not law or regulation.  Discretion in applying the sediment quality parameters and the associated best management practices is expected and is defensible as long as human health and the environment are effectively protected.

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