Disposal at sea permit application guide: disposal site selection, appendix C.3

Appendix C.3: Disposal site monitoring and management plan

A disposal site monitoring and management plan is developed by the applicant and included as part of the permit application.

Description of the project providing context for need of the site
Description and location of site (map and location coordinates, boundary of disposal area, boundary of release zone, bathymetry, etc.)

Site capacity
Suitable materials to be disposed at the site
Summation of information utilized in determining the overall size of the site and its life span
History of waste material disposal at the site
Consideration of anticipated closure date for site, if applicable
Consideration of future uses of the site

Where applicable, specific management activities designed to address concerns identified during the site selection process should be clearly stated.

Goals, for example:
- ensure sensitive resources are not affected
- ensure dredged material remains within the site boundaries
Objectives, for example:
- define site boundaries recognizing potentially dynamic nature of sediment transport regime at a given site
- define capacity of site recognizing sediment transport regime dynamics
- provide economically and technically feasible site use conditions necessary for protection of marine environment
- establish monitoring objectives
- establish schedule for review and revision of the plan

Identify the statutory and regulatory authorities: international, federal, and provincial, etc.

Identify the roles and responsibilities of site monitoring and management actions
Identify responsible parties for conducting project implementation monitoring and any required management measures
Identify government agencies with approval authority

Summarize the characteristics of the dredging, if applicable, and disposal sites and adjacent areas, including the water column, sediments, biota, resources and other uses (existing and potential) of the area

Provide a summary of sediment types, and their status relevant to the values in these guidelines

Summarize both the potential short-term and long-term impacts and any uncertainties regarding the predicted impacts.

Activities at the site should be documented, for example:
- known historical uses of disposal site
- transportation and disposal methods used

Monitoring requirements should be designed to provide the following:
- information documenting that disposal activities are occurring in compliance with permit and site restrictions
- information indicating the short-term fate of materials disposed of in the marine environment are consistent with predictions
Should identify a tiered approach which links specific measured effects with predetermined management actions
Should be based upon development of realistic questions (null hypotheses) regarding potential impacts at the site

Identification of disposal controls, conditions or requirements
Identification of critical amenities and site conditions warranting further consideration or continuing evaluation (for example, unusual currents that could affect dispersal)
They may include:
- disposal methods
- quantity restrictions
- weather restrictions
- sediment grain size restrictions
- seasonal restrictions
- equipment restrictions
- discharge point and allowable tolerances in position
- provisions to address spillage and leakage of waste material