(b) Dredged material which meets the criteria set forth in the following paragraphs (b)(1), (2), or (3) of this section is environmentally acceptable for ocean dumping without further testing under this section: Dredged material consists primarily of natural sediments or materials which may be contaminated by municipal or industrial wastes or by runoff from terrestrial sources such as agricultural lands. Army Corps of Engineers using the criteria of applicable sections of parts 227 and 228. Once the options are evaluated, the tool can be used to communicate the evaluation process and results to decision makers and the community via spreadsheets and bar graphs.(a) Dredged materials are bottom sediments or materials that have been dredged or excavated from the navigable waters of the United States, and their disposal into ocean waters is regulated by the U.S. The DMDT can be used to quantify and weigh the environmental, social and economic aspects of dredged material management options the user is considering. Habitat restoration using dredged materials on the DWP Roundhouse site in Duluth, Minnesota.ĭredged material can be used sustainably and beneficially in many ways including as fill or construction material, for habitat restoration, and for brownfield remediation projects. To support and promote these beneficial uses, EPA Region 5 developed a Dredged Materials Management Tool (DMDT) to help communities characterize and quantify the environmental and social benefits of using dredged material so that these benefits can be considered alongside economic costs and benefits when making dredged material management decisions.ĮPA Region 5 worked with EPA researchers to help refine the DMDT and enhance its usability based on insights from stakeholders involved in dredging decisions. Based on these insights, a user-friendly interface was created for the tool along with an instruction manual that describes how to use it.

What is dredged materials