Regulations, Guidance, and Additional Ocean Dumping Information
On this page:
- Ocean Dumping Law, Regulations, and Treaties
- EPA National Guidance, Policies, and Reports to Congress
- EPA Regional Guidance, Policies, and Site Management and Monitoring Plans
- National Dredging Team Guidance
- Additional Ocean Dumping-Related Links
Ocean Dumping Law, Regulations, and Treaties
National
- The Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972Exit(23 pp, 232 K, About PDF)
- Code of Federal Regulations for the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries ActExit(154 pp, 679 K)
International
- 1972 Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (London Convention)
- 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972 (London Protocol)
EPA National Guidance, Policies, and Reports to Congress
National Guidance and Policies
- Testing Guidance Manual for the Evaluation of Dredged Material Proposed for Ocean Disposal (Ocean Testing Manual, or Green Book)
- Guidance for the Development of Site Management Plans for Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites
- Evaluation of Dredged Material Management Alternatives
- The National Guidance: Best Management Practices for Preparing Vessels Intended to Create Artificial Reefs
- Methods for Collection, Storage and Manipulation of Sediments for Chemical and Toxicological Analyses
- Guidance for Quality Assurance Project Plans
- Quality Assurance/Quality Control Guidance for Sampling and Analysis of Sediments, Water, and Tissues for Dredged Material Evaluations
Ocean Dumping Reports to Congress
Between 1973 and 1990, EPA prepared reports to Congress on the administration of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act:
- Report to Congress - 1973
- Report to Congress - 1974
- Report to Congress - 1975
- Report to Congress - 1976
- Report to Congress - 1977
- Report to Congress - 1978
- Report to Congress - 1979
- Report to Congress - 1980
- Report to Congress - 1981-1983
- Report to Congress - 1984-1986
- Report to Congress - 1987-1990
EPA Regional Guidance, Policies, and Site Management and Monitoring Plans
In this section:
Guidance and Policies
Region 1
Region 2
Guidance for Performing Tests on Dredged Material Proposed for Ocean Disposal
Region 3
Region 4
Region 6
Region 9
Local regional guidance is provided by San Francisco Bay’s Long Term Management Strategy (LTMS) and its Dredged Material Management Office (DMMO) for USACE San Francisco District projects and by the Southern California Dredged Material Management Team (SC-DMMT) for USACE Los Angeles District projects. For all other dredging projects involving ocean dumping, local sediment testing guidance is provided on a case-by-case basis, using the Ocean Testing Manual (Green Book).
Region 10
Puget Sound Dredge Material Evaluation and Disposal Procedures (Users Manual)
Sediment Evaluation Framework for the Pacific Northwest
Site Management and Monitoring Plans (SMMPs) for Ocean Disposal Sites Designated by EPA under Section 102 of the MPRSA
Region 1
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Central Long Island Sound Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, NY
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Massachusetts Bay Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, MA
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Portland Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, ME
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Rhode Island Sound Disposal Site, RI
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Western Long Island Sound Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, NY
Region 2
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Arecibo Harbor Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, Puerto Rico
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Historic Area Remediation Site, NJ
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Ponce Harbor Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, Puerto Rico
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the San Juan Harbor Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, Puerto Rico
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Yabucoa Harbor Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, Puerto Rico
Region 3
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Dam Neck Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, VA
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Norfolk Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, VA
Region 4
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Brunswick Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, GA
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Canaveral Harbor Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, FL
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Charleston Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, SC
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Fernandina Beach Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, FL
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Georgetown Harbor, SC; Pensacola Nearshore, FL; and Wilmington, NC Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Gulfport East and West Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites, MS
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Jacksonville Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, FL
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Miami Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, FL
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Mobile Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, AL
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Morehead City Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, NC
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the New Wilmington Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, NC
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Palm Beach Harbor Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, FL
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Pascagoula Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, MS
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Pensacola Offshore Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, FL
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Port Everglades Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, FL
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Port Royal Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, SC
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Savannah Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, GA
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Tampa Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, FL
Region 6
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Atchafalaya River and Bayous Chene, Boeuf, and Black Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites, LA
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Barataria Bay Waterway Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, LA
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Brazos Island Harbor Maintenance Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, TX
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Calcasieu Dredged Material Disposal Sites 1-3, LA
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Corpus Christi Ship Channel Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, TX
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Freeport Harbor Maintenance and New Work Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, TX
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Galveston Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, TX
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Matagorda Ship Channel Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, TX
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Port Mansfield Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, TX
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Sabine-Neches Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites, TX
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Southwest Pass Mississippi River Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, LA
Region 9
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Guam Deep Ocean Disposal Site
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Hilo, Kahului, Nawiliwili, Port Allen and South Oahu Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites, HI
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Humboldt Bay (HOODS) Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, CA
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Los Angeles/Long Beach, Newport Beach and San Diego Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites, CA
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the San Francisco Channel Bar Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, CA
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the San Francisco Deepwater Ocean Site, CA
Region 10
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Chetco River Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, OR
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Coos Bay Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites, OR
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Coquille River Entrance Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, OR
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Grays Harbor Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites, WA
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Mouth of the Columbia River- Deep and Shallow Water Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites, OR/WA
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Siuslaw River Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites, OR
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Rogue River Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, OR
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Umpqua River Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites, OR
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan for the Yaquina River Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites, OR
National Dredging Team Guidance
- Beneficial Uses of Dredged Material Case Study: Jetty Island, Puget Sound
- Beneficial Uses of Dredged Material Case Study: Poplar Island, Chesapeake Bay
- Beneficial Uses of Dredged Material Case Study: San Francisco Bay Region
- Beneficial Uses of Dredged Material Fact Sheet: Public Involvement and Outreach
- Beneficial Uses of Dredged Material Fact Sheet: Project Partners and Decision Makers
- Federal Standard: Beneficial Use of Dredged Material
- Guidance for Local Planning Groups and Development of Dredged Material Management Plans
Additional Ocean Dumping-Related Links
- International Maritime Organization London Convention/London Protocol
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Ocean Disposal Database
- U.S. Coast Guard
- Section 404 of Clean Water Act