The Port of Hueneme received final approval from the California Coastal Commission for its plans to dredge the harbor floor and clean up contaminated sediment that has accumulated over 50 years.

Harbor Commission President Jess Herrera said the plan to bury the sediment made the most sense both financially and environmentally. The plan will give ships in the port the navigation depths they require.

"The Oxnard Harbor District (Port of Hueneme) is one of the three agencies participating in a Harbor Dredging Project that will really pay off for local residents," said President Herrera.

The critical environmental challenge in the plan was determining what to do with the contaminated sediments. The harbor floor is contaminated with pesticides that have run off from local fields and the tributylin from the anti-fouling paints used in building ships. These chemicals have been accumulating on the harbor floor for decades and were polluting the ocean.

The unique clean-up plan was developed by the Oxnard Harbor District in conjunction with their partners, the U.S. Navy, and the Army Corps of Engineers. They developed a plan to dredge the harbor and bury the contaminated sediments 15 to 40 feet below the floor of the harbor in a Confined Aquatic Disposal cell. The cell will be excavated in the center of the harbor, and then the sand will be cleaned and placed on Hueneme Beach.

After excavating the cell, all the contaminated sediments in the harbor will be placed at the bottom of the pit and then covered with a 10-foot layer of clean sand, which will keep the sediment secure for more than 8,000 years.

By combining efforts, the three agencies will achieve a 50 percent savings in the final cost as compared to completing the work individually.

In addition to the clean up benefits of this project, it will also result in vital sand replenishment at Hueneme Beach. The replenishment of sand has the combined benefit of providing the shoreline with protection from the waves, as well as providing sand for beaches between the Harbor and Point Mugu. More than 500,000 cubic yards of clean sand will be used to replenish Hueneme Beach. Because of the manmade structures along our coastal beaches, the placement of clean sand is a crucial part of maintaining beach longevity.

The project will consist of more than a year of around-the-clock, seven-days-a-week worth of work. Not only does this plan come with no significant flaws, it alleviates all major issues associated with ocean floor pollution.