Permitting
SedCon® Turbo Systems require the usual environmental permits prior to installation. Typically, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or a state Department of Natural Resources (or equivalent) is the lead agency for the permit application process.
SedCon® Turbo Systems function by boosting the speed of passing water currents, thereby preventing sediments from settling in a berthing area. This technology replicates the near-bottom flow conditions that existed prior to the berthing area’s initial dredging and eliminates the need for dredging.
Monitoring of existing installations show that SedCon® Turbo Systems are much less impacting to the environment than maintenance dredging. As the details and benefits of our technology have become understood by regulatory agencies, there has been growing acceptance for this approach and the permitting process has become more routine.
Environmental Issues
When regulatory agencies consider a permit application for a SedCon® Turbo System, their principal environmental concerns tend to be:
- Water quality impacts
- Adjacent shoaling impacts
- Ingested organism impacts
Water quality concerns tend to focus on the potential release of sediment or turbidity into the water column. Shoaling concerns focus on the potential increase in shoaling in nearby berths and channels. Ingested organism concerns focus on the potential injury to small fish, larvae and eggs should they be drawn into a Turbo Unit.
Extensive monitoring of existing installations has shown that SedCon® Turbo Systems produce no significant adverse impacts to the environment. Since the systems function by preventing sediment from settling in a berthing area, no new sediment is added to the water column and the overall turbidity remains unchanged. In addition, there has never been any indication of increased shoaling in adjacent areas. The Turbo Units use a slow moving, axial flow impeller that minimizes the probability of injury to small ingested organisms. Larger organisms can either avoid ingestion or are prevented from entry by an intake grating.
Regulatory Acceptance
SedCon® Turbo Systems function by boosting the speed of passing water currents thereby preventing sediment from settling in a berthing area. This replicates the natural, near-bottom condition that existed in the berth prior to its initial dredging. This is a dramatic difference from maintenance dredging which releases sediment and turbidity into the water column, destroys benthic organisms and contributes to wetland infilling. Our approach has been shown to be far less impacting and is an excellent example of “green technology”.
SedCon® Turbo Systems have been in operation for more than ten years. With seven different systems approved in five different states, there is a growing realization among regulatory agency staff that our technology is a superior way to deal with shoaling problems in berthing areas.
Ready to reduce dredging?
Talk with SedCon about your berth.
Share your site conditions and project goals. SedCon can help determine whether a Turbo System is a fit for your facility.