WATERWAY AND LOCATION: The project would affect the Carquinez Strait associated with San Pablo Bay and San Francisco Bay. The proposed project footprint is located on the eastern shore of San Pablo Bay, at Davis Point, in Rodeo, California at latitude 38.057623, longitude -122.261913.
EXISTING CONDITIONS: The dredge site is a 50.5-acre area surrounding an industrial wharf. On the shore adjacent to the wharf is the renewable energy complex. The complex is bounded on the east, west and south with industrial areas and open spaces.
PROJECT PURPOSE:
Basic: To establish safe navigational depths at the Phillips 66 Rodeo Renewable Energy Complex Terminal.
Overall: The overall project purpose is the disposal of dredged material from maintenance dredge projects that support navigation in the San Francisco Bay Region consistent with the adopted LTMS (Long Term Management Strategy for the Placement
PROPOSED WORK: As shown in the attached drawings, the applicant plans to remove approximately 900,000 cubic yards (cys) of sediment from the 50.5-acre (approximately) Phillips 66 Renewable Energy Terminal over the life of the 10-year permit. Additionally, the proposed project includes performing knock-down dredging or grading of underwater shoals to supplement maintenance dredging. Existing depths range from -20 to -50 feet mean lower low water (MLLW) at the Terminal. The design depth for the Terminal varies between -22 feet to -44 feet MLLW plus an additional 2- foot overdredge allowance. The material would be removed using a mechanical dredge and removed by barge to a designated dredged material placement site, permitted beneficial reuse site, or he SF Deep Ocean Disposal Site (SF-DODS). Prior to each dredging episode, the Dredge Material Management Office (DMMO) will evaluate the sediments to be dredged for disposal or reuse suitability. The DMMO includes representatives from the Corps, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), and the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB). The DMMO is tasked with approving sampling and analysis plans in conformity with testing manuals, reviewing the test results and reaching consensus regarding a suitable disposition for the material.
AVOIDANCE AND MINIMIZATION: The applicant has provided the following information in support of efforts to avoid and/or minimize impacts to the aquatic environment: The proposed maintenance dredging would not result in a permanent loss of waters of the United States. Temporary impacts to aquatic resources would be mitigated by proposed minimization and avoidance measures, including the use of silt curtains and conducting work only within the permitted environmental work windows. Therefore, no compensatory mitigation is proposed or required.