Dredging & Environmental Plan

SPCT Container Terminal Dredging Plan & Environmental Safeguards

Background

SPCT Background Sparrows Point Container Terminal (SPCT) is a proposed 330-acre redevelopment project consisting of 165 acres for a new container terminal and intermodal yard, with an additional 165 acres for support facilities to enhance operations of the terminal. This joint venture between Tradepoint Atlantic and Terminal Investment Limited (TiL) represents a major growth opportunity for the State of Maryland that will solidify Baltimore as one of the most competitive ports on the east coast. The planned state of the art container terminal will expand the Baltimore service for MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company, create thousands of jobs, and dramatically enhance and support the long-term growth of the Port of Baltimore and the State of Maryland.

Blended Approach

To accommodate modern container vessels, the existing Sparrows Point Channel that serves Tradepoint Atlantic’s terminals will need to be widened and deepened to -52ft. In doing so, 4.2 million cubic yards of channel material will need to be dredged and placed. A blended approach of several placement options has been identified.

Ocean Placement
Coal Pier Channel
Upland Placement at Sparrows Point – High Head Industrial Impoundment
Capacity at Existing Maryland Port Administration Dredge Material Containment Facility (DMCF)

USEPA Ocean Placement

An image showing a dredging barge with a crane lifting material from the water using a bucket, with an adjacent cargo barge for collecting the dredged material. — Example dredge barge

1.57M CY of material meet the MPRSA criteria for ocean placement If selected as a preferred option, the USEPA must issue a formal concurrence that the material meets the Section 103 MPRSA requirements, and the USACE must issue a Section 103 permit prior to the transport and placement of material at the Norfolk Ocean Disposal Site (NODS), a USEPA designated facility.

Coal Pier Channel

An image showing an industrial waterfront area with a large canal or channel leading into a wider body of water. The land surrounding the channel appears to be a former industrial or construction site, with scattered debris and vegetation. In the background, distant smokestacks and structures are visible, likely indicating industrial activity across the water. The image portrays a mix of natural and industrial landscapes. — Photo by Tradepoint Atlantic

Potential capacity – 750,000 CY
Naturally occurring containment area – uses existing native terrain and infrastructure
Existing distressed waterway
Very constructable

High Head Industrial Impoundment

An image showing an industrial impoundment with a large water body, surrounded by paved areas, trucks, buildings, and vegetation. Industrial warehouses are visible in the distance. — Photo by Tradepoint Atlantic

Industrial facility – used by Baltimore City for Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant to discharge industrial water
Non-jurisdictional onsite placement within Sparrows Point and TPA property
1.25M CY of potential capacity in an upland facility to be built
Will require construction of a berm wall and dikes

Use Of Existing Capacity At An Existing Maryland Port Administration Dredged Material Containment Facility

An image showing a large industrial containment area, with a partially filled sediment pond surrounded by earthen embankments. Construction vehicles are visible along the perimeter, suggesting ongoing work. The site is located near a large body of water, with distant industrial structures and landscapes visible in the background. — Image of Cox Creek DMCF. Photo by the Maryland Port Administration

1.25M CY at either Cox Creek or Masonville DMCF Placement would occur over four years FY26 – FY29

Dredging Plan & Environmental Safeguards

A map of the SPCT dredging project, displaying 28 dredge units (DUs) marked in yellow and green. The map highlights 97 discrete sample borings collected for testing, with North Channel sampling areas shown on the right in green. The area is divided along the waterway for the removal of 4.2 million cubic yards of material. The image also contains the legend for the SPCT dredging map. It includes symbols for the following: Proposed Channel Footprint (white), Dredging Unit (yellow), Deepening (gray), Widening (orange diagonal lines), Terminal Revetment Area (purple crosshatch), Brewerton Channel (red outline), Sample Location (black square with pink outline), and Water Sample Location (blue circle).

SPCT developed a comprehensive Sampling and Analysis Plan, approved by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), for the material to be dredged from SPCT – 4.2 million cubic yards of material associated with the project. The area is divided into 28 dredge units (DUs), with 97 discrete sample borings collected for testing (North Channel sampling shown in green to the right). Tradepoint Atlantic performed a first-ever risk assessment to ensure there are no unacceptable risks. SPCT will publicly share sediment testing data once the state and federal agencies complete their evaluations.

Infographic highlighting statistics for the SPCT dredging project: 97 borings collected for testing, 28 dredge units sampled, 4.2 million cubic yards of material being analyzed, 8,176 discrete analyses performed across the channel, and public data sharing with the community.

North Channel Plan & Analysis

13 dredging units (DUs) — 2.55 million cubic yards of material
52 locations were tested for upland material placement
Bulk sediment testing was approved by the Maryland Department of Environment Vibracoring and sonic drilling to -52 ft. channel depth
292 different chemicals and compounds tested

A map of the SPCT dredging project focusing on the west widener and revetment dredge units (DUs). The area is divided into multiple DUs, with each section labeled (e.g., DU28-D, DU27-C). Yellow outlines denote dredging units, with green sample locations indicated throughout the map.

A map of the SPCT dredging project focusing on the main channel deepening dredge units (DUs). The area is divided into labeled DUs (e.g., DU19-D, DU18-C), with yellow outlines indicating dredging units and green squares marking sample locations. Purple areas highlight terminal revetment, and the striped sections represent channel deepening areas.

South Channel Plan & Analysis

15 dredging units (DUs) — 1.65 million cubic yards of material
45 locations were tested for ocean/upland material placement
Ocean sampling analysis plan approved by the Environmental Protection Agency / upland dredging sampling analysis plan approved by the Maryland Department of Environment
Ocean Placement Evaluation Report available online at spctmd.com
Vibracoring and sonic drilling to -52 ft. channel depth
292 different chemicals & compounds tested

A map of the SPCT dredging project focusing on the main channel deepening dredge units (DUs) in the southern section. The area is divided into DUs (e.g., DU3-C, DU2-A), with yellow outlines marking dredging units and purple squares indicating sample locations. A blue circle marks a water sample location labeled SPCT23-WAT, while striped areas represent deepening zones.

A map of the SPCT dredging project focusing on the top dredge units (DUs) for the wideners. The area includes DUs (e.g., DU11-C, DU10-B), with yellow outlines marking dredging units and purple squares indicating sample locations. A water sample location, SPCT23-WAT, is marked with a blue circle. Striped sections represent widening zones.

A map of the SPCT dredging project focusing on the bottom dredge units (DUs) for the wideners. The map includes DUs (e.g., DU16-C, DU12-B, DU8-C), with yellow outlines marking dredging units and purple squares indicating sample locations. A water sample location, SPCT23-WAT, is marked with a blue circle. Striped areas represent widening zones.

Localized Impacts of Dredging

Today’s dredging methods are designed to minimize disturbance to the water column during dredging events. Presence of sediment material in the water column during dredging events is measured in what scientists call “Turbidity” (sediment material found within the water column during dredge). TPA studied the impact of dredging within the Sparrows Point Channel from prior dredge events and found that turbidity is fairly localized within TPA’s shoreline and the Sparrows Point Channel.

A map showing turbidity monitoring during dredging events at Sparrows Point Channel. It highlights three sampling locations (S-1, S-2, S-3) marked with red Xs and provides turbidity readings for each: S-1 (average 8.1 NTU, max 13.9 NTU), S-2 (average 8.0 NTU, max 12.2 NTU), and S-3 (average 6.8 NTU, max 10.8 NTU). The proposed dredging area in the Brewerton Channel is outlined. Surrounding areas like the Patapsco River, Sparrows Point Terminal, and Old Road Bay are shown.

A chart titled 'Maintenance Dredging Turbidity Plume Tracking Averages,' showing turbidity levels at various depths and distances from a dredging barge. The x-axis represents the distance from the barge (0 to 700 feet), and the y-axis represents the depth (0 to -35 feet). The color scale on the left indicates turbidity in NTU, ranging from 30 (blue) to 520 (red). The chart shows higher turbidity levels near the barge, which decrease as distance from the barge increases. — The graphics illustrate data captured during a recent dredge event and the turbidity models of expected area impacts. Data shows that turbidity impacts are highly localized and contained within the general area of Sparrows Point. Turbidity studies during last dredge event show localized impacts are within TPA's shoreline and within MD's Water Quality Criteria Limits of 150 NTU Daily Max / 50 NTU Monthly Average.

Environmental Compliance & Public Involvement

If the material is determined eligible for placement, a thorough public permitting process will be required and conducted. Required permits are listed below:

Tidal Wetlands License

Required to dredge container terminal access channel for any dredge placement alternative
Process includes application period, public notice, and public hearing – overseen and issued by MDE and Board of Public Works (BPW)
Will require material analysis approval by MDE
Will specify placement location (material must meet standards)
Will specify seasonal prohibitions, as applicable
Will require watertight barges and best management practices (e.g., environmental buckets)

Federal Permits

Clean Water Section 404 Permit for activities performed in waters or wetlands of the US
Mitigation is required to offset unavoidable impacts

Water Quality Certification

Section 401 State Water Quality Certification from MDE for dredging activities

State Discharge Permit

State Discharge Permit required for upland impoundment and coal pier placement
Public hearing is likely required
Tidal Wetlands License will be required

Water Appropriation and Use Permit

Water Appropriation and Use Permit is required for dredging operations, specifically for creating a slurry to off-load dredge material, for dust control or to maintain water levels in ponds and wetlands
Public hearing is likely required

SPCT Container Terminal Dredging Plan & Environmental Safeguards (pdf)