General Considerations for Site Selection

Sediment deposition versus erosion to include seasonal and long-

term trends.

Salinity and temperature distributions.

Normal level and fluctuations in background turbidity.

Chemical and biological characterization of the site and environs

(for example, relative abundance of various habitat types in the vicin-

ity, relative adaptability of the benthos to sediment deposition, pres-

ence of submersed aquatic vegetation, presence of unique, rare, or

isolated benthic populations, contaminant concentrations in sedi-

ments, background water quality).

Potential for site recolonization

Previous disposal operations.

Availability of suitable equipment for disposal at the site.

Ability to monitor the disposal site adequately and economically for

management decisions.

Technical capability to implement management options should they

appear desirable.

Ability to control placement of the material.

Volumetric capacity of the site.

Other site uses and potential conflicts with other activities (i.e., sport

or recreational fisheries).

Established site management or monitoring requirements.

Public and regulatory acceptability to use of the site.

The intent of the MPRSA criteria for site designation is to avoid unac-

ceptable adverse impacts on biota and other amenities. The Section

404(b)(1) guidelines generally address the same concerns as the MPRSA

criteria, but the primary emphasis is directed toward the potential effects

of the disposal activity.

The USACE has prepared an ocean site designation manual (Pequegnat,

Gallaway, and Wright 1990), which provides useful guidance and proce-

dures for conducting the appropriate investigations and studies. In addi-

tion, overview manuals for site designation are available (USACE/EPA

1984; EPA 1986).

The selection of a potential site for capping is subject to the same con-

straints and tradeoffs as any other nondispersive open-water disposal site.

However, beyond the normal considerations, the capping site should be in

a relatively low-energy environment with little potential for erosion of the

cap. While capping at a low-energy site is desirable, such sites are not al-

ways available. Higher energy sites can be considered for dredged material

Chapter 4 Site Selection Considerations for Capping