Public Notices

Joint Public Notice: Sediment Evaluation Framework for the Pacific Northwest (SEF)

Published July 16, 2018
Notice: Interested parties are hereby notified that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Northwestern Division (Corps) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Region 10 (EPA) have implemented the May 2018 Sediment Evaluation Framework for the Pacific Northwest (SEF). The Corps and EPA solicited public comments regarding updates to Chapters 3 and 10 of the July 2016 SEF from December 22, 2017 through February 20, 2018. No public comments were received. Updates to the SEF chapters were also presented at the Regional Sediment Evaluation Team’s (RSET’s) annual public web-meeting held on November 30, 2017.

Purpose and Background: The SEF provides regional guidance for the characterization and assessment of dredged sediment and potential water quality impacts that may occur during dredging. The SEF describes procedures for the evaluation of potential contaminant-related environmental impacts of dredging and the aquatic disposal of dredged material in inland waters (regulated under the Clean Water Act [CWA]) and the transport and disposal of dredged material in ocean waters (regulated under the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act [MPRSA]). The RSET Agencies  prepared the SEF for use in the Pacific Northwest, defined here as the States of Washington, Oregon and Idaho. The SEF is periodically revised and updated to account for advances in regulatory practice and technical understanding.

The updated May 2018 SEF simplifies and promotes consistent use of the SEF. The RSET Agencies updated Chapter 3 (SEF Level 1 Evaluation) and Chapter 10 (Dredged Material Disposal and Post-Dredge Surface Management) of the 2016 SEF. The May 2018 SEF can be downloaded at the following website: www.nwd.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Navigation/RSET.

Questions: Questions and comments regarding the May 2018 SEF should be sent to:

Army Corps
PSET Lead
PSET.Lead@usace.army.mil

US Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District
CENWP-ODN-W
P.O. Box 2870
Portland, Oregon 97208-2870
  EPA
Linda Anderson-Carnahan
Anderson-Carnahan.Linda@epa.gov

US EPA Region 10 
OERA-140, Suite 155
1200 Sixth Ave.
Seattle, Washington 98101


[1] The RSET Agencies include: Corps Northwestern Division (chair) and Portland, Seattle, and Walla Walla Districts; EPA Region 10 (chair); National Marine Fisheries Service; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Washington Department of Ecology; Washington Department of Natural Resources; Oregon Department of Environmental Quality; and Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.