Beneficial and Mitigating Use of Dredged Materials
See also main Consents Page & Dredging Controls
MCEU maintains a register of both proposed dredging projects likely to yield materials for which a beneficial use may be available and of potential schemes where dredged material of the right specification might be used. Users of the site are invited to provide details of such proposals to MCEU to post on the site to facilitate the exchange of information. Click here to access the register
The licensing authority has a statutory duty to consider what practical alternative disposal options are available before granting a disposal licence. The policy of the Authority is to encourage licensees to make maximum use of dredged material, for example, in the recharge of beaches, enhancement of mudflats and salt marsh, or the creation of habitat. A separate licence category is provided for licences in respect of operations involving the beneficial use of material, more than 50% of which has been derived from dredging activity and which would otherwise have been disposed of at sea. (See Mitigating Use of Dredgings below and chart of potential beneficial uses)
Where dredging operations are undertaken in or adjacent to a European site designated under the Conservation Regulations, it may be necessary to redeposit dredged material in such a way as mitigate the adverse impact of the dredging operation to the satisfaction of the relevant competent authorities with the support of English Nature/Countryside Council for Wales. Where such deposits are subject to licence control, a beneficial use charge will normally apply.
In addition to a FEPA licence to use dredged materials as described above, an applicant will normally require either a Coast Protection Act consent or authorisation under local Harbour powers.
