The Evaluation of Dredged Material Proposed for Discharge in Waters of the U.S. – Testing Manual or Inland Testing Manual (ITM) was issued in 1998. The technical guidance provided in the manual is intended for use by the USACE, USEPA, state regulatory personnel, permit applicants, and testing laboratories involved in dredged material evaluations and management for the implementation of the testing requirements of CWA Section 404 (b)(1) guidelines. It was intended that USACE Districts and EPA Regions develop local agreements and regional implementation manuals necessary to supplement the ITM to reflect regional circumstances. ANAMAR was contracted by USACE to assist with the development of a regional implementation manual for 404 dredging projects and incorporate revisions to the existing Southeastern Regional Implementation Manual (SERIM).
SE 404 RIM Development: ANAMAR was contracted to adapt existing chapters and appendices of the SERIM to implement procedures and guidelines of the CWA Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines and procedures of the ITM. ANAMAR coordinated with EPA Region 4 to develop and provide sections of chapters, as required, to be included in the new manual.
SERIM Updates: ANAMAR collected from EPA Region 4 and the South Atlantic USACE Districts technical corrections for the SERIM and incorporated those corrections/additions. Website addresses were updated as well as contacts and updates to EPA Water Quality Criteria. ANAMAR also reviewed the existing Sampling and Analysis Plan/Quality Assurance Project Plan (SAP/QAPP) in Appendix I and analyzed for redundancies. ANAMAR implemented approved changes to the SAP/QAPP template. The SAP/QAPP contained all the required elements in EPA’s Guidance for Quality Assurance Project Plan (G-5).