EPA Expands Texas Ocean Dump Sites for Dredged Gunk
Published Date: 9/28/2026
Rule
Summary
The EPA is expanding ocean spots off Corpus Christi, Texas, where dredged material can be safely dumped. This change helps local dredging groups, like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, keep waterways clear while protecting marine life. The new rules kick in on October 28, 2026, with ongoing monitoring to keep the ocean healthy.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Expanded ocean disposal areas offshore
The EPA expanded two ocean dredged material disposal sites offshore of Corpus Christi. The Corpus Christi Ship Channel (CCSC) site increases from 0.61 to 1.05 square nautical miles and the Corpus Christi New Work (CCNW) site increases from 1.39 to 5.57 square nautical miles; the sites lie about 1.7 to 2.7 nautical miles offshore in water depths of about 35 to 55 feet. The sites are expected to provide ongoing disposal capacity for projects including the Port of Corpus Christi Channel Deepening Project (CCSCIP) and the Channel Deepening Project (CDP), which the document notes involve tens to hundreds of millions of cubic yards of dredged material (e.g., CCSCIP: ~41 million cubic yards new work and ~208 million cubic yards maintenance; CDP: ~46 million cubic yards new work and ~7.8 million cubic yards maintenance).
Disposal still requires EPA/USACE testing and permits
The expansion does not itself authorize ocean dumping. Before any person may dump dredged material at the CCSC or CCNW sites, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and EPA must evaluate the dredged material under the marine protection criteria at 40 CFR part 227, and USACE must authorize the disposal under section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act (33 U.S.C. 1413(b)); EPA may concur with conditions or decline to concur. Only material determined suitable under those procedures may be disposed at the sites.
Sites subject to SMMP and periodic monitoring
The modified disposal sites will be managed under an updated Site Management and Monitoring Plan (SMMP) and will be monitored periodically (the EPA and USACE will continue periodic environmental monitoring approximately every 10 years). Monitoring includes water, sediment and elutriate chemistry, bioassays, bioaccumulation studies, benthic infauna analyses, and geophysical surveys, and all parties using the sites must follow project-specific conditions and SMMP provisions.
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