Region 2 Ocean Dredged Material Management - New York Bight, Atlantic Ocean

On June 12, 2025, EPA Region 2 published a Federal Register Notice of Intent to prepare a NEPA document evaluating alternatives for continued ocean management of dredged material in the New York Bight. 

A Supplemental Factsheet (pdf) (363.31 KB) has been prepared to provide additional information about this effort. 

This webpage contains links to federal register notices, supporting documentation and information regarding public meetings, and will be updated with new information throughout this process.

On this page:

• Public Meetings
• Determination of Need for Continued Ocean Management of Dredged Material
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Alternatives Under Consideration
• Contacts
• Additional Information

Public Meetings

EPA Region 2 has scheduled two public scoping meetings (to be held virtually), to discuss alternatives for continued management of dredged material in the New York Bight. The recent Notice of Intent publication and the supporting factsheet have been linked above. EPA will accept public comment on the scope of the alternatives and the evaluation process until 11:59 pm on Monday, July 14, 2025. Please use the registration links below to attend the meetings. 

Public Scoping Meetings (virtual)

Public Scoping Meeting 1

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Online Event via Microsoft Teams

Register Here

Public Scoping Meeting 2

Thursday, June 26, 2025

4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Online Event via Microsoft Teams

Register Here

Comments can be submitted to Region2_MPRSA@epa.gov. Comments must be received on or before 11:59 pm on Monday, July 14, 2025.

Determination of Need for Continued Ocean Management of Dredged Material

The Army Corps-NYD projects that maintenance and deepening dredging over the next 20 years will generate approximately 40 MCY of dredged material suitable for disposition at the HARS. On January 25, 2023, the Army Corps’ Chief of Engineers issued a Command Notice adopting a goal to beneficially use 70% of dredged material by 2030. Subsequently, the Army Corps-New York District (NYD) conducted a preliminary analysis of existing and potential beneficial use opportunities and other alternatives (e.g., upland disposal) for managing New York/New Jersey Harbor dredged materials. The District’s analysis concluded that the Port of New York and New Jersey will continue to require an ocean alternative for managing dredged material suitable for disposition in the Historic Area Remediation Site (HARS) to ensure the Port’s viability until other alternatives can be developed. The analysis is further detailed in the Army Corps - 2025 Dredged Material Management Plan Update for the Port of NY/NJ - Preliminary Draft Integrated Report and Supplemental Environmental Assessment.    

In June 2023, the Army Corps-NYD formally requested that the EPA evaluate a range of alternatives to provide environmentally sound, economically feasible options for continued ocean management of HARS-suitable dredged material after the HARS is anticipated to reach capacity and that the EPA complete the designation of any additional site or sites that may be necessary -  2023 USACE-NYD Request Letter (pdf) (11.61 MB) .  As part of their request, the Army Corps-NYD also identified a 40-mile radius, measured from the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, as the limit of economic and operational feasibility for dredged material placement in the ocean.    

Alternatives Under Consideration

The alternatives evaluation will be consistent with NEPA and consider options for future ocean management of HARS-suitable dredged material within the 40-mile radius of economic and operational feasibility.  The evaluation of each alternative will include the consideration of possible impacts that could result from the implementation of the alternatives. The EPA will prioritize options that maximize the potential for beneficial use outcomes. Alternatives evaluated in the environmental documentation are likely to include:  

• Continued management of HARS-suitable material within the current HARS boundaries   
• Designating additional impacted area(s) within the economically and operationally feasible radius that could be remediated by placement of HARS-suitable material  
• Designating a site within potential beneficial use siting areas where native dredged material is used to construct fishery habitat enhancements, including areas within and adjacent to the HARS.  

To support the evaluation, the EPA has conducted an initial spatial analysis of planned and current uses within the 40-mile radius to identify study areas for potentially siting a beneficial use site (specifically, the construction of a fishery enhancement feature using native dredged material). The analysis identified three areas outside the HARS for further consideration that would minimize conflicts with navigation, fisheries, habitats of special emphasis, cable and pipeline routes and other uses. The EPA has prepared a document to communicate this evaluation  Identifying Areas of Interest in the NY Bight (pdf) (2.41 MB) .  

Stakeholder Engagement

Since receiving the Army Corps-NYD’s request, the EPA has made a series of presentations and discussed potential alternatives with various federal, state, port and ocean stakeholders.

Stakeholder Engagement -- June 2023 - March 2025 (pdf) (242 KB)

Contacts

Comments or questions can be submitted to Region2_MPRSA@epa.gov

Additional Information

• About the Marine Protection Research and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA)
• Details on MPRSA Ocean Site Designations
• More Information on the Historic Area Remediation Site (HARS)
• Historic Area Remediation Site (HARS) Site Monitoring and Management Plan