Non-Federal Dredge Workgroup

Portland Harbor Non-Federal Dredge Work Group 7th Meeting: September 23, 2014, 10:00am Portland City Hall, Room 209 Agenda – draft 1. Welcome and Introductions 2. CAD Cell cost estimate updates 3. Potential CAD cell locations 4. Sediment testing data search update 5. Public/Stakeholder outreach 4. Next Steps and Set date for next meeting Notes/results of the August 26, 2014 meeting. 1. Exploration of CAD cell Cost Estimates: Thank you to Bill Taylor, Peirce Atwood, for volunteering to work with dredge industry representatives to fine tune cost estimates anticipated for a Portland Harbor CAD cell. 2. Formation of Location Sub-group: The Workgroup agreed with the suggestion of Glen Daukas, Campbell Environmental, to form a Location Subgroup to explore and recommend alternative potential locations for a Portland Harbor CAD cell. Any and all NFD participants are welcome to join this subgroup and all interested parties should reply to me by Wednesday, September 3, with your interest. The first meeting of the Location Subgroup will likely take place prior to the September 23 meeting where updates on the first Subgroup meeting will be reported to the full NFD. The Subgroup will first establish criteria for location selection that will be used in an evaluation matrix to prioritize potential sites and document the process. 3. Sediment testing data search: In response to Maine DEP requests to provide existing sediment testing data, all NFD participants are asked to provide any available relevant data on harbor bottom sediments. Location, grain size, grain composition, and contaminant levels are all relevant - with contaminant chemistry being the most important. The date of sampling will be less relevant than whether the tested material was "original" sediment - sediment reflecting a pre-dredged condition that may better correlate to the condition currently found at piers and anchorages that have not been dredged within the last several decades. Maine DEP and US Army Corps will search existing permit application data. Friends of Casco Bay and Casco Bay Estuary Partnership will provide results of their research. Tom Dobbins, Portland Harbor Commission, will poll petroleum terminal owners. Jon Jennings will poll South Portland marina owners. Working with Charlie Poole, Union Wharf, Bill Needelman will poll Portland pier owners. Mission Statement and Goals - Working Draft as of 3-10-14 The Portland Harbor Non-Federal Dredge Workgroup (NFD) seeks to facilitate the dredging of private and municipal piers and wharfs of Portland Harbor, conducted in an economically feasible, environmentally sound, and politically/socially acceptable manner. Goals: 1. The NFD will explore alternatives to achieve the mission by evaluating disposal options including:  CAD Cell development (new 404 site in Portland Harbor)  Upland disposal  At-Sea disposal (federal site)  No-build (dredge) options 2. The NFD will engage with impacted communities with a participatory process including:  Documentation and dissemination of past efforts and materials  Accessible meetings open to all interested parties  Active outreach to impacted communities (Zone F Lobster Council outreach began on 2-26-14) 3. The NFD will identify appropriate entities to apply for needed permits at appropriate project stages. 4. The NFD will seek funding, for use by the NFD or others, to achieve its mission. Information required to advance funding requests includes:  Testing of dredge sediments (Brownfield assessment grant applied for by Harbor Commission.)  Cost Estimates  Fund Sources, including State Transportation Bond Funding, and pathways to access funds.