Large vessels coming into and leaving the berth areas displace bottom sediments, resulting in scour holes and shoaling. The high spots generated by propeller-wash and other berthing activities can result in navigation hazards, which may not allow for full vessel loading (economic and environmental impact) and lead to grounding of vessels (safety issue and benthic disturbance). When this occurs, targeted maintenance dredging is necessary to remove the high spots to restore and maintain berth elevations, which allows terminal operators and vessels to operate safely and efficiently at full capacity.

Targeted maintenance dredging is proposed, as needed, over the next ten years, for Port-owned and managed facilities, in the Blair and Sitcum Waterways. The Port proposes to dispose of suitable sediments at the Commencement Bay open water disposal site or an available beneficial use location if the DMMP agencies determine that sediment characterization results meet open-water disposal criteria; otherwise, they will be transferred for disposal at an upland location licensed/permitted to receive the sediments, if sediment quality or schedule dictates. For dredged materials deemed unsuitable for open water disposal, a transload facility will be required to get unsuitable materials from barge to shore, prior to trucking the material to the final disposal location. The transload facility may be an existing facility run and maintained by others (licensed and permitted) or may be set up by the Port of Tacoma or selected contractor, with all applicable permits issued and in effect prior to use of the facility.

Locations:

• Blair (47.266039, -122.393065) Waterway
• Sitcum (47.268009, -122.415470) Waterway

Comment Dates:

• Comment Start Date: May 2, 2025
• Comment End Date: May 16, 2015

More Information:

• Determination of non-significance
• Plans