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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" citation="COMAR 26.24.03.05" title_num="26" subtitle_num="24" chapter_num="03" heading="Placement of Dredged Material in Open Water.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Applicants proposing marsh creation or beach nourishment projects are exempt from the requirements of §B of this regulation.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Overboard Disposal.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>In addition to the requirements of Regulation .02 of this chapter and COMAR 26.24.02.02, an applicant proposing overboard disposal of dredged material into open water is required to submit the information in §B(2)—(8) of this regulation at the time of application.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>An environmental study shall be submitted that includes measures to preserve or enhance the aesthetic, scenic, environmental, and natural resource values of the disposal site.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Test results of the physical and chemical parameters of the material to be dredged shall be submitted. Testing shall include physical characteristics of the material to be dredged, including material identification in accordance with the unified soil classification system and grain-size distribution.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Chemical characteristics, including the concentration of metals, organic compounds, oil and greases, nutrients, bacteria, and toxic compounds and their potential short-term and long-term release into the water column shall be submitted.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>A current bathymetric survey of the site where the proposed dredged material is to be placed, in accordance with the criteria of Regulation .02B(3) of this chapter, shall be submitted. In addition, the survey shall meet the following criteria:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Soundings shall be taken in sufficient quantity to clearly identify low point elevations within 500 feet beyond the limits of the proposed project; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Survey data shall be plotted at a scale not less than 1 inch equals 200 feet.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>A plan shall be submitted which depicts the following:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Adjacent land features;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Existing navigation channels;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Archaeological sites; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Permanent structures that extend into State waters.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>A hydrodynamic study of the impacts of the potential long-term movement of all material placed in tidal waters shall be submitted.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>A monitoring program shall be submitted that includes the collection and analysis of data before, during, and after the disposal operation, including:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Aquatic biota, including benthos, shellfish, and finfish;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Water quality parameters, including temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and pH;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Turbidity within the disposal site and specified adjacent areas;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Nutrients, including ammonia and phosphate;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>An assessment of volume reductions in the dredged material following placement, including sediment resuspension and transport through tidal and wave current interactions, fluid mud movement, and material consolidation; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>An assessment of the post-depositional benthos community recolonization.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Beneficial Uses of Dredged Material. Dredged material may be allowed for use in establishing substrate for marsh creation projects and beach nourishment projects, if the following parameters are met:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The dredged material is equal to or larger in size than sediments at the placement location, unless measures are taken to control its movement, including:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Breakwaters;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Groins; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Other similar structures;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The dredged material is relatively free of organic material; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>It can be documented that the site is properly suited to maintain the sediments placed at the site.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Design Guideline Requirements for Overboard Disposal and Beneficial Use of Dredged Material.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Proposed material placement may not cause adverse impacts to existing navigation channels, longshore current patterns, or adjacent properties.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Dredged material may not contain more than 10 percent silts and clays unless measures are taken to control the dredged material's movement as described in §C(1) of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Floating debris or other objects shall be prevented from entering tidal waters.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Turbidity shall be minimized during the disposal operation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Adverse impacts on fish spawning, nursery, and migration patterns shall be prevented.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Adverse impacts on commercial and sport fishing shall be minimized.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Adverse impacts on vegetated tidal wetlands, submerged aquatic vegetation, charted natural oyster bars, and anadromous fish spawning and nursery grounds shall be minimized.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>