The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has expanded two offshore sites for dredged-material disposal near Corpus Christi, Texas, under a final rule issued September 28 that takes effect October 28.
The rule expands the Corpus Christi Ship Channel site from 0.61 to 1.05 square nautical miles, while the Corpus Christi New Work site grows from 1.39 to 5.57 square nautical miles. The former’s expansion is southwestward; the latter’s extends in four directions.
Both sites lie 1.7–2.7 nautical miles offshore in water depths of 35–55 feet. EPA said the changes will provide long-term disposal capacity for suitable material dredged from the Corpus Christi Bay area.
EPA said the expansion does not approve disposal from individual projects. The agency said it and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) must evaluate proposed material against marine-protection criteria, with USACE required to authorise disposal under Section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act, subject to EPA review and concurrence.