EPA Region 10 designated the Yaquina Bay North and South ODMDSs (offshore of Newport, Lincoln County, Oregon) pursuant to the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA) on September 7, 2012 (77 FR 55144). The official Yaquina Bay North and South ODMDSs designation is published at 40 CFR 228.15(n)(15).
The 2026 Draft SMMP was jointly prepared by the EPA and USACE to document the management and monitoring requirements for the Yaquina North and South ODMDSs. The Draft SMMP was developed in accordance with Section 102(c)(3) of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA) of 1972 (33 U.S.C. Section 1401, et seq.) as amended by Section 506 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) Amendments of 1992 (Public Law 102-580).
The EPA and USACE work together to implement the site management and monitoring program for the Yaquina Bay North and South Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites per the SMMP.
EPA:
- Regulates site use
- Develops and implements site monitoring programs (including compliance monitoring)
- Evaluates environmental effects of disposal of dredged material at the sites
- Provides concurrence on dredged material suitability determinations
- Reviews dredging permit applications for compliance with the Ocean Dumping Criteria under section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act
USACE:
- Evaluates dredged material suitability and dredging project compliance with the MPRSA criteria
- Develops conditions and restrictions for MPRSA section 103 permits
- Issues MPRSA section 103 permits
Both EPA and USACE regulate site use and develop and implement site monitoring programs (including compliance monitoring) at the Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites.
Changes to the SMMP
Changes from the August 2012 SMMP made in the 2026 Draft SMMP include:
- Improved descriptions of site management and site use, including planned new uses of the Yaquina Bay North and South ODMDSs by USACE and Port of Newport
- Summary of past monitoring activities at the sites
- Improved description of physical, chemical, and biological characteristics at the sites
- Detailed reporting requirements for site use
- Recommended generic special conditions to be included in MPRSA section 103 permits for the transport of dredged material to the ODMDSs (issued by USACE’s Regulatory Division)
- Recommended contract specifications to be included in USACE federal dredging contracts involving the transport of dredged material to the ODMDSs
How to Comment
All comments regarding the 2026 Draft SMMP must be received by June 20,2026. Comments may be submitted by email (preferred) or ground mail. Ground mail comments must be postmarked by the public notice closing date. In your response, please refer to the above public notice title and date.
Comments and questions may be sent to:
Bridgette Lohrman
lohrman.bridgette@epa.gov
US EPA Region 10
Oregon Operations Office
805 SW Broadway, Suite 500
Portland, OR 97205
James McMillan
james.m.mcmillan@usace.army.mil
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District
Attn: CENWP-NVW-W (McMillan)
P.O. Box 2946
Portland, OR 97208-2946