Coastal Commission refuses to renew blanket dredging permit, city

officials must now conduct soil tests

-- Alex Coolman

Newport Beach’s efforts to have its blanket dredging permit reinstated

were met with mixed results Tuesday at the California Coastal Commission

meeting in Santa Rosa, said Deputy City Manager Dave Kiff.

Although some of the city’s requests were granted at the meeting, Kiff

said the commission refused to relax its standards on the sand content

permitted in dredge spoils that could be dumped on city beaches.

The commission’s position means Newport Beach will be forced to engage in

extensive chemical and bioassay testing of the soil in the bay, Kiff

said. The process could take two to three months and cost between $40,000

and $60,000.

If the tests show that the soil is sufficiently clean, Kiff said the

commission may be willing to relax its standards on acceptable silt

levels on beach dumping of dredge spoils.