Md. Code Regs. 26.24.03.04

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 21, October 18, 2024

Section 26.24.03.04 - Guidelines for Upland Disposal of Dredged Material

A. Disposal sites shall be designed to have the least impact on:

(1) Public safety;

(2) Adjacent properties; and

(3) The environment.

B. Dredged Material Placement Facilities.

(1) Dredged material placement facilities shall be designed with the specifications set forth in §B(2)-(12) of this regulation unless otherwise determined by the Department.

(2) All plans, reports, and supporting documentation shall be dated, sealed, and signed by a professional engineer licensed to practice in Maryland. All revisions shall be noted on the plans.

(3) Soils shall be classified using the unified soil classification system.

(4) The minimum top width of an embankment is as follows:

(a) Less than 5 feet high embankment, top width = 4 feet;

(b) 6-10 feet high, top width = 6 feet; and

(c) Greater than 10 feet, top width shall be determined by the engineer approving the design.

(5) A weir box and antiflotation devices shall have a minimum safety factor of 1.2.

(6) There shall be a minimum 2-foot freeboard to the settled top of an embankment.

(7) Embankment cross-section side slopes dimensions shall be a minimum of 2 horizontal:1 vertical inside and 3 horizontal:1 vertical outside.

(8) The placement facility shall have a controlled overflow structure design that removes excess ponded water from the facility and that is capable of completely stopping the flow of any effluent. The weir overflow shall have an adjustable crest elevation to remove surface water while assuring that the effluent is in compliance with water quality requirements under COMAR 26.08.02-.04, as established by the Department.

(9) The placement shall have a pipe outlet design that:

(a) Specifies that the minimum size is 8 inches in diameter;

(b) Includes measures to control scour and erosion;

(c) Provides an outlet channel that withstands the maximum outlet velocity anticipated; and

(d) Provides watertight joints.

(10) Size of Disposal Facility.

(a) The design of the disposal facility shall address effluent water quality based on surface area, embankment height, settling time, and sediment consolidation. When sizing the facility, allowances shall be incorporated in the design for ponding depth and freeboard requirements.

(b) A stage-storage curve or table is required.

(c) The size of the disposal facility shall be calculated using one of the procedures in §B(10)(d), (e), or (f) of this regulation.

(d) Formula:

(i) V = (Qd)(B), where V equals total disposal volume required in cubic yards, Qd is the quantity of material to be dredged in cubic yards, and B is the bulking (expansion) factor.

(ii) Figure 1 in §B(10)(d)(iii) of this regulation shall be used when selecting a bulking factor for hydraulic dredgings. A bulking factor of 1.4 shall be used for mechanical dredging.

(iii) Figure 1 (Hydraulic Dredged Material Bulking Factors/Percent Passing #200 Sieve).

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(e) Size calculations may be made according to the "Confined Disposal of Dredged Material, EM 1110-2-5207, U. S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS (1987)", which is incorporated by reference.

(f) Size calculations may be made according to the "Environmental Effects of Dredging Technical Notes, Confined Disposal Guidance for Small Hydraulic Maintenance Dredging Projects-Design Procedures, EEDP-02-8, U. S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS (December, 1988)", which is incorporated by reference.

(11) Soils containing organic matter shall be rejected for use in the embankment of disposal facilities.

(12) The design of the disposal facility shall include regulating provisions for the flow of dredge material into the basin or increasing the depth of ponded water at the overflow weir if the concentration of suspended solids in the effluent increases above acceptable limits.

C. Construction Requirements.

(1) The Department may require that construction of a disposal facility:

(a) Is under the supervision of a professional engineer licensed to practice in Maryland under Business Occupations and Professions Article, Title 14, Subtitle 3, Annotated Code of Maryland; and

(b) Meets all provisions of this subtitle.

(2) Materials failing to meet specifications in this subtitle shall be removed.

(3) Design changes shall be reported to the Department for approval in accordance with COMAR 26.24.02.07 o before proceeding with construction.

(4) When construction of a disposal facility is complete, the Department may require submittal of a report that includes:

(a) Date, location, and results of all material tests made;

(b) Narrative of construction, including any problems and design changes; and

(c) "As built" plans sealed and signed by a professional engineer licensed to practice in Maryland.

D. Conditions. Disposal facilities are prohibited in the critical area buffer unless approved in accordance with COMAR 27.01.03.04 o B, COMAR 27.02.05.04 o B, and a State-approved critical area program of a local jurisdiction.

Md. Code Regs. 26.24.03.04

Regulations .04 were recodified from Regulations .06_.11, respectively, under COMAR 08.05.05 Tidal Wetlands, June 1996