FLOOD08883

• County: Statewide
• Basin: Statewide
• Title: Federal Register EPA Guidelines for Specification of Disposal Sites for Dredged or Fill Material
• Date: 12/24/1980
• Prepared By: EPA
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Educational/Technical/Reference Information

85350 Federal Register 1 Vol. 45. No. 249 / Wednesday. Docembcr 24. 198,1 1 Rules and Regulations

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from residential or commercial
developmt!nts on fill. and leachate and
runoff from a sani tary Iandflllloca ted in
waters of the U.S. Activities to be
conducted on fast land created by the
discharge 'Jf dredged or fill material in
'.vaters of the United States may have
secondary impacts within those waters
which should be considered in
evaluating the impact of creating those
fast lunda.
~ 23Q.12 Findings of compliance or non*
compliallc') with the restrictions on
disc;t,arge.
(oj On the basis of these Guidelines
rSubpurt5 C through G) the proposed
disposul ,.jles for the dischalge of
dredged or fiII material must be:
(1) Specified as complying with the
requirements of these Gui~elines; or
(2, Specified as complying with the
requiremer.ts of these Guidelines \....ith
the inclusion of appropriate and
practicable discharge conditio:1s (see
Subpart H) to minimize pollution or
adverse effects to the affected aquatic
ecosystems: or
(3} Specified as failing to comply with
the requirements of these Guidelines
where:
(i] There is a practicable alternative to
the proposed discharge that would have
ll-:sS adverse effect on the aquatic
ecosystem. so long as such alternative
does not have other significant adverse
envIronmental consequences; or
Oil The proposed discharge will result
in significant degradation of the aquatic
ecosystem under I 230.10(b] or (c); or
(iii) The proposed discharge does not
include all appropriate and practicable
measures to minimize potential harm to
the aquatic ecosystem: or
(ivJ There does not exist sufficient
information to make a reasonable
judgment as to whether the proposed
discharge will comply with these
Guidelines.
(b) Findings under this section shall
be set forth in writing by the permittirlg
authcritv for each proposed discharge
and made available to the permit
applicant. These L:,dings shall include
the factual determL~ations required by
~ 230.11. and a briei explanation of any
adaptation of these Guidl'!lines to the
activitv under consideration. In the case
of a G~neral permit. such findings shall
be pr:..pared at the time of issuance of
that permit rather than for each
subsf'quent discharge under the
authority of that permit.

Subpart C-Potentlallmpacts on
Physical and Chemical Characteristics
of the Aquatic Ecosystem
Note.- The effects described in thiS
5ublJarl should be considl"!red in makin,l:! the

factual determinations and the findings of
cvmphance or non-compliance in Subpart B.

i 230.20 Substrate.
(a) The substrate of the aquatic
ecosystem underlies open waters of the
United States and constitutes the
surface of wetlands. It consists of
organic and inorganic solid materials
and includes water and other liquids or
gases that fill the spaces between solid
particles.
(b) Possible loss of environmental
characteristics and values: The
discharge of dredged or flU material can
result in varying degrees of change in
the complex physical. chemical. and
biological characteristics uf the
substrate. Discl'.arges which alier
substrate elevation or contours can
result in changes in water circulation.
depth. current pattern. water fluctuation
and water temperature. Discharges may
adversely affect battom~dwelling
orgcmisms at the site by smothering
immobile forms or forcing mobile farms
to migrate. Benthic forms present pri~r
to a discharge are unlikely to recolomze
on the discharged material if it is very
dissimilar from that of the discharge
site. Erosion. slumping. or lateral
displacement of surrounding bottom of .
such deposits can adversely affect areas
of the substrate outside the perimeters
of the disposal site by changing or
destroving habitat. The bulk and
compo~sili~m of the discharged material
and the location. method. and timing of
discharges may all influence the degree
of impact on the slJ.bstrate.

~ 230.21 Suspended particulates/turbidity.
(a} Suspended particulates in the
aquatic ecosystem consist of fine~
grained mineral particles. usua.lly
smaller than silt. and organic particles.
Suspended particulates may enter water
bodies as a result of land runoff.
flooding, vegetative and planktonic
breakdown. resuspension of bottom
sediments. and mnn.s activities
including dredging and filling.
Particulates may remain suspended in
the water column for variable periods of
time as a result of such factors as
agitation of the water mass. particulate
specific grvvity. particle shape. and
physical and chemical properties of
particle surfaces.
(b) Possible loss of environmental
characteristics and values: The
discharge of dredqed or fill material can
result in greatly elevated levels of
suspended particulates in the water
column for varying lengths of time.
These new levels may reduce light
penetr2tion and lower the rate of
photosynthesis and the primary
productivity of an aquatic area if they

lasl long enough. Sight-dependent
species may suffer reduced feeding
abi lity leading to limited growth and
lowered resistance to disease if high
levl~ls of suspended particulates persist.
ThE~ biological and the chemical content
of the suspended material may react
with the dissolved oxygen in the water.
which can result in oxygen depletion.
Toxic metals and organics. pathogens.
and viruses absorbed or adsorbed to
fine~grained particulates in the material
may tecome biologically available to
organisms either in the water column or
on the substrate. Significant increases in
sU!pended particulate levels create
turbid plumes which are highly Visible
and aesthetically dIspleasing. The
exlent an.d persistence of these adverse
impacts caused by discharges depend
uplJn the relative increase in suspenJed
pa:-ticulates above the amount occurring
r.a turally. the duration of the higher
Ie.. els. the current patterns. water level.
and fluctuations present when such
di~;charges Occur. the volume. rate. and
duration of the discharge. particulate
deposition, and the seasonal timing of
lhH disclt -"ge.

I 230.22 Wale..
~aJ Water is the part of the aqualic
ecosystem in which organic and
inurganic constituents are dissolved and
suspended. It constitutes part of the
li~ uid phase and is contained by the
substrate. Water forms part of a
dynamic aquatic life-supporting system.
Water clarity. nutrients and chemical
content. physical and biological content.
dissolved gas levels. pH. and
temperature contribute to its life-
sustaining capabilities.
(b) Possible loss of environmental
d.aracteristics and values: The
discharge of dredged or fill material can
change the chemistry and the physical
characteristics of the receiving water at
a disposal site through the introduction
of chemical constituents in suspended or
dissolved form. Changes in the clarity.
color. odor. and taste of water and the
addition of contaminants can reduce or
eliminate the suitability of water bodies
fN populations of aquatic organisms.
and for human consumption. recreation.
a::1d aesthetics. The introduction of
nlltrients or organic material to the
water column as a result of the
discharge can lead to a high biochemical
oxygen demand (BOD). which in turn
ca.n lead to reduced dissolved oxygen.
thereby potentially affecting the survival
of many aquatic organisms_ Increases in
nutrients can favor one group of
organisms such as algae to the detriment
of other more desirable types such as
submerged aquatic vegetation.
potentially causing adverse health