Marine Protection Permitting in EPA’s Pacific Southwest (Region 9)
- About Marine Protection Permitting in Region 9
- MPRSA Permits (for material other than dredged)
- Fish Waste Disposal
- Ocean Disposal of Dredged Material
- Interactive Map of Ocean Sites
- Ocean Site Details
Descriptions of the ocean sites, Site Management and Monitoring Plans (SMMPs), and monitoring results in EPA's Region 9. - Regional Dredging Teams and Other Partnerships
- Beneficial Use
About Marine Protection Permitting in Region 9
EPA Pacific Southwest's (Region 9) Marine Protection Permitting Program plays an essential role in keeping our oceans safe and clean, while supporting the marine transportation system and the economy. Region 9 serves Arizona, California, Hawai'i, Nevada, 148 tribal nations, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and Guam. Region 9 encompasses ocean waters offshore of California, the Hawaiian Islands, and U.S. territories in the Pacific Ocean.
MPRSA Permits
Under the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA), EPA is the permitting agency for the ocean disposal of all materials except dredged material. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is the permitting agency for ocean disposal of dredged material. See below for additional information about ocean disposal of dredged material. EPA has issued MPRSA general permits for the ocean dumping of certain materials that may have a minimal adverse environmental impact and are generally disposed of in small quantities. In rare instances, EPA Regional Offices may issue an emergency, research or special MPRSA permit to an individual or entity.
EPA Region 9 provides localized support and implements the following MPRSA general permits to ensure responsible disposal of wastes and other materials in their ocean waters:
- Burial at Sea of cremated or non-cremated human remains. Reports must be submitted to EPA Region 9.
- Disposal of Vessels at Sea requires consultation with EPA Region 9.
- Ocean Disposal of Marine Mammal Carcasses requires consultation with EPA Region 9.
Please visit Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuary Act Permits for additional information.
Fish Waste Disposal
For information about the disposal of fish wastes in ocean waters, please see Ocean Dumping of Fish Wastes.
Ocean Disposal of Dredged Material
The regulation of the disposal of dredged material in ocean waters is a shared responsibility of Region 9 and USACE San Francisco, Los Angeles and Honolulu Districts. Five major (deep draft) ports and numerous military and Homeland Security facilities are located within Region 9.
Millions of cubic yards of sediments are dredged from these ports and facilities each year, much of which is disposed at EPA-designated ocean sites located off the coast of California, the Hawaiian Islands, and Pacific Trust Territorial islands.
Under the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA), USACE is the federal agency that decides whether to issue a permit authorizing the ocean disposal of dredged materials or authorize federal navigation projects involving ocean disposal of dredged materials.
USACE relies on EPA’s marine protection criteria when evaluating permit requests for (and implementing federal projects involving) the transportation of dredged material for the purpose of dumping it into ocean waters. EPA’s marine protection criteria consider, among other things:
- the need for dumping;
- the environmental impact of the dumping, including the effect of dumping on marine ecosystems, shorelines and beaches;
- the effect of the dumping on esthetic, recreational or economic values;
- the adverse effect of dumping on other uses of the ocean including navigation, scientific study, fishing and resource exploitation activities; and
- appropriate locations and methods of disposal or recycling, including land-based alternatives.
All MPRSA permits for dredged material disposal in ocean waters, and federal projects involving dredged material disposal in ocean waters, are subject to EPA review and written concurrence. EPA may concur, concur with conditions, or decline to concur (i.e., non-concur) on the proposed permit. If EPA concurs with conditions, the final permit issued by USACE must include those conditions (for example, ocean site use conditions). If EPA declines to concur on the proposed permit, the permit cannot be issued. The USACE-led review and permitting process is facilitated by early coordination, including review and approval of the sampling and analysis plan, ensuring full characterization of the project sediments proposed to be dredged.
For additional information about MPRSA permits and federal projects involving dredged material, please see Ocean Disposal of Dredged Material.
Dredged Material Testing for Ocean Disposal
Evaluation of dredged material for ocean disposal under the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA) relies largely on biological tests, using standardized procedures and test organisms, also referred to as bioassays. The ocean testing manual, also known as the “Green Book,” provides national technical guidance for determining the suitability of dredged material for ocean disposal through chemical, physical and biological evaluations. The technical guidance is intended for use by dredging applicants, laboratory scientists, and regulators.
Regional Guidance
Local regional guidance is provided by the San Francisco Bay 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.
San Francisco Dredged Material Management Office (DMMO) agencies will apply these guidelines when determining the dredged material testing that will be required for dredging projects proposing disposal at designated sites in waters of the United States within San Francisco Bay.
On July 1, 2021, EPA Region 9 and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, released new DMMT SAP/SAR Guidelines for developing Sampling and Analysis Plans and Sampling and Analysis Results for review by the DMMT.
For more information regarding dredged material testing, including additional guidance documents, please see Testing and Evaluation.
Interactive Map of Ocean Sites
EPA Region 9 is responsible for designating and managing ocean sites for all types of materials in the Region. Appropriate management of ocean sites is aimed at assuring that disposal activities will not unreasonably degrade or endanger human health, welfare, the marine environment or economic potentialities.
All but one of the currently designated ocean sites in Region 9 are for the disposal of dredged material permitted or authorized under the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA). Region 9 has-designated one ocean site for the disposal of fish processing wastes off American Samoa.
Each ocean site must have a site management and monitoring plan (SMMP). Region 9, with USACE San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Honolulu Districts, is responsible for developing SMMPs for ocean dredged material disposal sites. Region 9 specific SMMPs can be found on this page under Ocean Site Details.
Region 9, often in coordination with the corresponding USACE District Office, monitors ocean dredged material sites. Monitoring surveys may include, but are not limited to:
- sediment analysis for physical properties;
- sediment analysis for chemical contamination;
- benthic infaunal community analysis;
- remote-sensing surveys such as multi-beam echo sounder, side-scan sonar, and sub-bottom profiling surveys;
- sediment profile imagery; and
- plan view photography.
Please visit our Ocean Site Map and Ocean Sites pages to view a national map of ocean sites and to learn more about site management and monitoring under the MPRSA.
The orange points in the map below show Region 9's ocean sites offshore of California, the Hawaiian Islands, and U.S. territories in the Pacific Ocean. Please zoom out to view the ocean sites of the Hawaiian Islands and U.S. territories in the Pacific Ocean.
Ocean Site Details
Descriptions of the ocean sites, Site Management and Monitoring Plans (SMMPs), and monitoring results in Region 9 are provided below.
California Ocean Sites
Channel Bar Site, San Francisco, CA (SF-8)
Location: 37⁰44.9124’ N, 122⁰37.3654’ W; 37⁰45.9124’ N, 122⁰34.4652’ W; 37⁰44.3958’ N, 122⁰37.1654’ W; 37⁰45.2458’ N, 122⁰34.2652’ W (NAD83)
Size: 1.22 square nautical miles
Depth: 36.09- 46.92 feet
Use: Dredged material disposal
Management Plan
Humboldt Open Ocean Disposal Site (HOODS) Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site
Location: 40° 50' 18" N, 40° 50' 18"; 40° 50' 18"; 40°47.633’ N, 124°17.366’ W; 40° 47' 33" N 124° 17' 05" W; 40° 48' 34" N 124° 19' 18" W (NAD83)
Size: 4.00 square nautical miles
Depth: 150-210 feet
Use: Dredged material disposal
- Final Rule
- Environmental Assessment
- Site Management and Monitoring Plan (SMMP)
- Monitoring Reports, and Related Documents
Los Angeles/ Long Beach, CA (LA-2)
Location: 33°37.10′ N, 118°17.40′ W (NAD83)
Size: 0.77 square nautical miles
Depth: 380- 1060 feet
Use: Dredged material disposal
Management Plan
Monitoring Reports: N/A
Newport Beach, CA (LA-3) Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site
Location: 33°31.00’ N, 117°53.50’ W (NAD83)
Size: 0.77 square nautical miles
Depth: 1,500- 1,675 feet
Use: Dredged material disposal
Management Plan
Monitoring Reports: N/A
San Diego, CA (LA-5)
Location: 32⁰36.8365’ N, 117⁰20.6689’ W (NAD83)
Size: 0.77 square nautical miles
Depth: 460- 660 feet
Use: Dredged material disposal
Management Plan
Monitoring Reports: N/A
San Francisco Deepwater Ocean Disposal Site (SF-DODS) ODMDS
Location: 37°39.00′ N, 123°29.00′ W (NAD83)
Size: 7.85 square nautical miles
Depth: 8,200- 9,840 feet
Use: Dredged material disposal
Management Plan
Monitoring Reports
- SF-DODS Final Synthesis Report: 15 Years of Monitoring San Francisco Deep Ocean Disposal Site - June 2010 (pdf)
- Sediment Testing Reference Area Database for the San Francisco Deep Ocean Disposal Site (SF-DODS)
Guam Ocean Sites
Guam Deep Ocean Disposal Site (G-DODS)
Location: 13°35.500′ N, 144°28.733′ E (NAD83)
Size: 7.10 square nautical miles
Depth: Average 8790.00 feet
Use: Dredged material disposal
Management Plan
Monitoring Reports
- Guam Deep Ocean Disposal Site Monitoring Reports
- Sediment Testing Reference Area Database for the Guam Deep Ocean Disposal Site (G-DODS)
Hawai'i Ocean Sites
Hilo, HI
Location: 19°48.50’ N, 154°58.50’ W (NAD83)
Size: 0.78 square nautical miles
Depth: 1,082.68- 1,115.49 feet
Use: Dredged material disposal
Management Plan
Monitoring Reports
- 2013 Hawaii Ocean Disposal Site Monitoring Synthesis Report (pdf)
- Hawaii Ocean Disposal Sites Final ESA EFH Consultation Package (pdf)
- 1980 Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)
Kahului, HI
Location: 21°04.700’ N, 156°29.000’ W (NAD83)
Size: 0.78 square nautical miles
Depth: 1,131.89- 1,197.51 feet
Use: Dredged material disposal
Management Plan
Monitoring Reports
- 2013 Hawaii Ocean Disposal Site Monitoring Synthesis Report (pdf)
- Hawaii Ocean Disposal Sites Final ESA EFH Consultation Package (pdf)
- 1980 Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)
Nawiliwili, HI
Location: 21°55.00’ N, 159°17.00’ W (NAD83)
Size: 0.78 square nautical miles
Depth: 2,755.91- 3,674.54 feet
Use: Dredged material disposal
Management Plan
Monitoring Reports
- 2013 Hawaii Ocean Disposal Site Monitoring Synthesis Report (pdf)
- Hawaii Ocean Disposal Sites Final ESA EFH Consultation Package (pdf)
- 1980 Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)
Port Allen, HI
Location: 21°50.00’ N, 159°35.00’ W (NAD83)
Size: 0.78 square nautical miles
Depth: 4,790.03- 5,282.15 feet
Use: Dredged material disposal
Management Plan
Monitoring Reports
- 2013 Hawaii Ocean Disposal Site Monitoring Synthesis Report (pdf)
- Hawaii Ocean Disposal Sites Final ESA EFH Consultation Package (pdf)
- 1980 Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Hawaii Dredged Material Disposal Sites Designation
South Oʻahu, HI
Location: 21°15.166’ N, 157°56.833’ W (NAD83)
Size: 1.52 square nautical miles
Depth: 1,312.34- 1,558.40 feet
Use: Dredged material disposal
Management Plan
Monitoring Reports
- 2013 Hawaii Ocean Disposal Site Monitoring Synthesis Report (pdf)
- Hawaii Ocean Disposal Sites Final ESA EFH Consultation Package (pdf)
- 1980 Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Hawaii Dredged Material Disposal Sites Designation
American Samoa Ocean Sites
Fish Processing Waste Disposal Site, American Samoa
Location: 14⁰23.800' S, 170⁰38.30' W (NAD83)
Size: 7.07 square nautical miles
Depth: Average 9012.00 feet
Use: Fish waste disposal
Monitoring Reports: N/A
Regional Dredging Teams and Other Partnerships
EPA Region 9 established two Regional Dredging Teams (RDTs):
- The San Francisco Bay Long Term Management Strategy (LTMS) and its San Francisco Dredged Material Management Office (DMMO)
- The Los Angeles Region Contaminated Sediments Task Force (CSTF) and its Southern California Dredged Material Management Team (DMMT)
Members of the two RDTs cooperate in developing comprehensive regional dredged material management plans that identify short-term and long-term disposal alternatives, consider methods to reduce dredging, and maximize beneficial use of dredged materials. They also provide an interagency forum to coordinate permit processing including the review of sediment testing plans and results.
In addition to these RDTs, other interagency/stakeholder partnership efforts are under way in Region 9 to improve sediment management and increase beneficial reuse of dredged material. One of these is the interagency California Coastal Sediment Management Workgroup, which is striving to coordinate Regional Sediment Management (RSM) issues and policies in order to maximize opportunities for beach nourishment throughout California.
EPA Region 9 is also supporting efforts to coordinate policies and improve sediment management in the Sacramento/San Joaquin River Delta, and in Hawaii and the Pacific Islands.
Beneficial Use
Most dredged material represents a valuable resource and should be considered for beneficial uses. Beneficial use is the placement or use of dredged material for some productive purpose from which economic, social or other benefits may be derived. Compared to disposal of dredged material in confined sites, beneficial use reduces the need for disposal. Examples of beneficial use include wetlands restoration, beach nourishment, shoreline construction, and habitat creation. The Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404 governs discharge of dredged or fill material into “waters of the United States”, including the placement of dredged material in the territorial sea for a purpose other than disposal.
For information on dredged material permitting under CWA 404, please see our Section 404 of the Clean Water Act Web page.
Additional beneficial use documents are available on our web page for Regulations, Guidance, and Additional Ocean Dumping Information.