Types of activities
Dredging - Longer-term disposal licences
Most dredging campaigns are only undertaken periodically and licence extensions are only granted in extenuating circumstances. However, in the case of on-going dredging operations, such as large-scale capital projects or where a broadly similar quantity of maintenance material arising from the same licensed area is to be disposed of on a regular annual basis, the Department / Assembly will consider licensing the operation on a longer term basis.
However, the licensing authority will need to be satisfied that:
- the material to be disposed is of a consistently uncontaminated nature;
- no practicable alternative disposal option or use of the material is likely to be available during validity of the licence such that some or all of the material could have been diverted from deposit in the sea; and
- continued monitoring and inspection of the operation does not give cause for concern about its potential impact upon the marine environment or other uses of the sea.
Longer-term licences are available for a period not normally exceeding three years (in multiples of one year) provided that consideration is given at annual intervals during the licence to alternatives to depositing the material at sea with a view to reducing the quantity of material licensed and:
For disposal associated with capital dredging:
- the operation is scheduled to continue for longer than 12 months, or
In the case of disposal of maintenance dredgings:
- the current and two previous licences were all issued in respect of the same dredged area with any variation in tonnage licensed for deposit not normally exceeding +/- twenty-five per cent;
- the results of sample analysis and those obtained for the previous three licence applications showed contaminant levels all to be within values considered by the Department / Assembly to be acceptable and that the nature of the material and sensitivity of the disposal area does not give cause for special consideration; and
- there has been full compliance with the terms of the current licence and its conditions.
Licensees are advised upon issue of their licence whether they qualify under these arrangements for a longer-term licence. If not, a standard licence will be issued except where an application is refused.