Environmental Impact Statement - Sonoma Land Trust

California Department of Fish and Game
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Section 3.9. Hazardous Substances and Waste
Reuse (1992) Guidelines. The document identifies two general classes of dredged
material suitable for reuse:
Wetland surface material—Dredged material with contaminant
concentrations that fall within the range of ambient conditions in San
Francisco Bay and is therefore not considered a threat to water
quality or the aquatic environment, even assuming direct contact
and/or erosion. Suitable material for various beneficial uses.
Wetland foundation material—Dredged material with contaminant
concentrations that fall within the range of ambient conditions in San
Francisco Bay and is therefore not considered a threat to water
quality or the aquatic environment, but is unsuitable for unconfined
open water disposal. Wetland foundation material is suitable for
beneficial use when adequately covered to prevent direct contact
with the aquatic environment or erosion into surface waters (such as
when used for wetland foundation, construction fill, levee
maintenance, or landfill cover). (San Francisco Bay Regional Water
Quality Control Board 19922000)
Management and monitoring of beneficial reuse projects is handled through the
permitting process. Projects proposing to use wetland foundation material must
obtain a WDR permit from the San Francisco Bay RWQCB to minimize the risk
of adverse impacts. San Francisco Bay RWQCB permits may include design
constraints, monitoring requirements, discharge prohibitions, effluent limits, and
receiving water limits. (RWQCBFinal LTMS Management Plan, July 2001, pp.
4-5).
Wetland foundation material must be tested using California Waste Extraction
Test 12 to determine its suitability for beneficial reuse. However, final
determination of sediment suitability for any specific project or permit action is
site-specific based on location, design, and proposed construction methodologies
involved.
A goal of the LTMS and San Francisco Bay RWQCB is “to provide guidelines
on testing (including recommendations for reference sites) and sediment quality
screening for various beneficial uses” (San Francisco Bay Regional Water
Quality Control Board 2001). The LTMS agencies plan to re-evaluate the
appropriateness of existing sediment testing protocols, particularly bioassays, to
ensure that they address the environments and potential biological receptors
likely to be of concern for beneficial reuse projects.
In addition, the LTMS agencies plan to develop a Regional Implementation
Manual (RIM) describing testing and analysis requirements for Bay Area
disposal of dredged material. The RIM will include regional test protocols,
contaminants of concern, appropriate species for bioassays, and quality assurance
guidance.
Sears Point Wetland and Watershed Restoration
Project Final Environmental Impact
Report/Environmental Impact Statement
3.9-5
April 2012