(1) Open water disposal sites are established primarily for the disposal of dredged material obtained from marine or fresh waters. These sites are generally not available for disposal of material derived from upland or dryland excavation except when such materials would enhance the aquatic habitat.

(2) Material may be disposed of on state-owned aquatic land only at approved open water disposal sites and only after authorized in writing from the department. Applications for use of any area other than an established site shall be rejected. However, the applicant may appeal to the Dredged Material Management Program (DMMP) for establishment of a new site. DMMP consists of the following agencies: The Washington state department of natural resources; the Washington state department of ecology; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 10; and U.S. Seattle District Army Corps of Engineers.

(3) Application for use of an established site must be for dredged material that meets the approval of federal and state agencies and for which there is no practical alternative upland disposal site or beneficial use such as beach enhancement.

(4) The department will only authorize the site for disposal after:

(a) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Washington department of ecology notify the department that, in accordance with Sections 404 and 401, respectively, of the Federal Clean Water Act, the dredged materials are suitable for in-water disposal and do not appear to create a threat to human health, welfare, or the environment; and

(b) All necessary federal, state, and local permits are acquired.

(5) Any use authorization granted by the department shall be subject to the terms and conditions of any required federal, state, or local permits.

(6) The department shall suspend or terminate any authorization to use a site upon the expiration of any required permit.

(7) All authorizations for use of a designated site must require notification to DNR in Olympia 24 hours prior to each use.

(8) Pipeline disposal of material to an established disposal site will require special consideration.

(9) The department will charge fees at rates sufficient to cover all departmental costs associated with management of the sites. Fees will be reviewed and adjusted annually or more often as needed. A damage fee may be charged for unauthorized disposal or disposal beyond the authorized site. Army Corps of Engineers navigation channel maintenance projects where there is no local sponsor are exempt from this fee schedule.

(a) Puget Sound and Strait of Juan De Fuca: The cost of disposal at all disposal sites in the Puget Sound and Strait of Juan De Fuca is $0.45 per cubic yard (c.y.) until and including June 30, 2022. On July 1, 2022, the cost for disposal is $0.75 (c.y.) until and including June 30, 2025. Beginning on July 1, 2025, the cost of disposal shall be $0.95 (c.y.) and thereafter. All disposal site users shall pay a minimum fee of $2,000.

(b) Grays Harbor/Willapa Bay: The cost of disposal at all disposal sites in Grays Harbor/Willapa Bay is $0.10 per cubic yard (c.y.) until and including June 30, 2022. On July 1, 2022, the cost for disposal is $0.15 (c.y.) until and including June 30, 2025. Beginning July 1, 2025, the cost of disposal shall be $0.20 (c.y.) and thereafter. All disposal site users shall pay a minimum fee of $300.00.

(c) Damage fee - $5.00/cubic yard.

(10) Open water disposal site selection. Sites are selected and managed by the department with the advice of the DMMP. The DMMP has developed a series of guidelines for use in selecting disposal sites. The objectives of the site selection guidelines are to reduce damage to living resources known to utilize the area, and to minimize the disruption of normal human activity that is known to occur in the area. The guidelines are as follows:

(a) Select areas of common or usual natural characteristics. Avoid areas with uncommon or unusual characteristics.

(b) Select areas, where possible, of minimal dispersal of material rather than maximum widespread dispersal.

(c) Sites subject to high velocity currents will be limited to sandy or coarse material whenever feasible.

(d) When possible, use disposal sites that have substrate similar to the material being disposed of.

(e) Select areas close to dredge sources to insure use of the sites.

(f) Protect known fish nursery, fishery harvest areas, fish migration routes, and aquaculture installations.

(g) Areas proposed for dredged material disposal may require an investigation of the biological and physical systems that exist in the area.

(h) Current velocity, particle size, bottom slope and method of disposal must be considered.

(i) Projects transporting dredged material by pipeline will require individual review.

(j) Placement of temporary site marking buoys may be required.

(k) The department will assure disposal occurs in accordance with permit conditions. Compliance measures may include, but are not limited to, visual or electronic surveillance, marking of sites with buoys, requiring submittal of operator reports and bottom sampling or inspection.

(l) Special consideration should be given to placing material at a site where disposal will enhance the habitat for living resources.

(m) Locate sites where surveillance is effective and can easily be found by tugboat operators.

(11) The department shall conduct such subtidal surveys as are necessary for siting and managing the disposal sites.