HomeMy WebLinkAboutSS2 - RGP-54 - PowerPointReview of the City's Proposed 2014
RGP -54 Dredging Permit
Pam
The City's Draft "Newport Specific"
Eelgrass Plan
City Council
Study Session
January 22, 2013
IFI
Photo Talon
January Sr 2013
Tide: - .7 MLLW
-4L
2012-13 Harbor Commission
Objective #t
"Investigate potential solutions to two long- standinE
obstacles to maintenance dredging of private docks anc
areas of the harbor that are outside the scope of USACE
projects. The primary obstacles are: (i) The difficult
permitting process and (2) A lack of small scale
dredging operators. New environmental permitting
strategies and effective deployment of smaller scab
dredging equipment (public or private) will be studiec
and benchmarked with other California harbo
communities."
Current Situation
-Year RGP -54 expired in November 2011
Interim" permit in place until March 2014
Information posted here:
http:// www .newportbeachca.gov /indpx.aspx ?page =45-7
✓orking now to have new RGP in place by April
What is an RGP?
(Regional General Permit)
Permit allows waterfront residents /marinas to
dredge under their slips
Easier process for residents /commercial properties
Streamlined compared to "Individual Permit" process
City performs sediment testing and agency negotiations
Permit held in the City's name
RGP is actually 3 different permits from Corps, Coastal
Commission and Water Board, each requiring separate
negotiating, and time lines for each
History of the RGP
!rmit originated in 1974 when it was known as tl
'ilanket Dredging Permit."
olved into "RGP -18" in 1989, then "RGP -54" as
ow today, M2000.
!newed every 5 years.
Key Provisions of the Current RGF
1. Most of the harbor is included in the permit.
2. Maximum of 1,000 cy per address.
Maximum of 20,000 cy for the entire harbor.
No dredging within 15' of eelgrass.
Dredging permitted to -7 MLLW + l' overdredge.
Permit typically valid for 5 years (sediment testing).
Permit does not include dock construction.
RGP in City's name. Residents apply to City who submits to
agencies for final review (6o day process).
Moving RGP From
"Good to Great"
Dredge depth should increase from -7' +l' to -10' +1
Per address volume should increase from 1,000 c)
to 101000 cy
Annual harbor limit should increase from 20,000
to 150,000 cy
New RGP must incorporate "Newport Specific"
eelgrass plan
Plan for 2014
ontinue work with Harbor Commission.
dC Dredging Subcommittee met twice with:
Key members of public
Anchor QEA
Staff
Key Comments:
Current permit is too restrictive: Depth and Eelgrass
rwo options for the next permit were discussed:
City sediment test (preferred option)
Resident sediment test (too cumbersome)
.-ommissioner West and staff met with Corps to review
potential plan — well received.
Harbor Commission Recommended Approach
Existing RGP -54 2014 Proposed RGP -54
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Shading Not applicable Develop bay -wide program to track shading changes similar
to proposed eelgrass management program
Existing RGP -54
2014 Proposed RGP -54
Water Quality
Basic monitoring required by Regional Water Quality
Tiered approach to monitoring in which monitoring is not
Monitoring
Control Board during the first individual dredging
required for small projects and basic monitoring frameworks
episodes of a given type of dredging. If the
are developed for medium and large projects
monitoring results are within the receiving water
limitations specified in the WQC, then subsequent
monitoring during individual projects will not be
required if the total dredging duration of a project
will be less than two days.
Applicable Users
Anyone within the permit area
Anyone within the permit area
Disposal
Beach nourishment, ocean disposal, upland disposal
Beach nourishment, ocean disposal, upland disposal or
or confined disposal facility
confined disposal facility
State Lands Commission
Valid through 2015
A new lease will be required for work within submerged
Dredging Lease
tidelands granted to the County of Oran e
Fee Structure
Single ` °e or 1640 W the C:y and $77 -o the LVacer
:erd 'City fee s;ruc:ure based o al cx. dt size category
card
Nhat
ut Eel
alanced
How Is the City Protecting Eelgrass?
Commitment to agencies to address eelgrass with
an "ecosystem based" plan
Consistent with Harbor Area Management Plan
Survey eelgrass every z+ years
Conduct public education / outreach
"Newport Specific" plan will supersede Southern
California Eelgrass Mitigation Plan
Goals of "Newport Specific" Plan
Manage eelgrass on a harbor -wide basis
Thresholds for total eelgrass population
Reduces burden for individual mitigation
Buoy Deployed Seed Bags
Transplant Eelgrass
Restoration Frames (TERF's)
R-7 ;
Eelgrass Management Thresholds
..
Tier 1
Tier z
Tier
*Total Eelgrass: >19.6 acres
*Allows 1.5 ac /yr impact
*Total Eelgrass: >15.45 acres
*Allows 0.75 ac /yr impact
•Total Eelgrass: <15.45 acres
*Allows 0.5 ac /yr impact
Historical Use of RGP
2007 16
2oo8 16
2009 9
2010 7
2011 5
Low use largely due to eelgrass & economy.
What if eelgrass issue was resolved?
Timeline
=ebruary to June 30, 2013 (current FY)
HC Chair West and staff to meet with National Marine
Fisheries Service (eelgrass)
2 Coordinate agency -only meeting (eelgrass)
3 "RFQ" for consultant (RGP)
0
5
"RFQ" for government relations support (eelgrass & RGP)
Develop and approve Sampling and Analysis Plan with DMMT
(RGP)
6 Resolve agency concerns and adopt Plan (eelgrass)
7 Submit permit applications and begin negotiations (RGP)
my 2013 to April 2014 (next FY)
Begin sediment sampling early July (RGP)
Return to DMMT with sampling results (RGP)
Continue negotiating terms of permit — 6 -8 months (RGP)
Final permit issued April 2014 (RGP)
Estimated Costs
$500,000
50,000 - $400,000 Sediment sampling
Do,000 Permit application process
Fund entire project now?
or
Fund some now ($1oo,000),
and the rest in FY'14 ($400,000)?
Next Steps
y 12: Return for Council for action,
Questions" '
For More InformatiI*
on
Harbor Resources Manager
cmiller
644 -3043