Comment submitted by Bob Bailey, Manager, Oregon Coastal Management Program, Ocean and Coastal Management Program, Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development

The Oregon Coastal Management Program comments on the National Dredging Policy (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-2007-0357) are attached. We generally support the national dredging policy, but recommend revisions to "Encourage regional sediment management planning that retains sediment resources within riverine, estuarine and littoral systems in order to foster sustainable environmental, resource management and economic objectives." We suggest improved connections between the recognition that dredged sediment has value and the effect of that value on ecosystem enhancement and restoration as first priorities for beneficial use. There is also a need for the federal budgeting process to support sustainable environmental and ecosystem management objectives. Finally, the policy should address the importance of state of the art equipment and highly trained crews that are necessary to successful implementation of regional sediment management objectives. We cite to our experiences with regional sediment management for the Mouth of the Columbia River navigation project as the primary basis for our comments.