The regional office of the EPA on Wednesday announced it opposes a plan to dredge 11.6 million tons of sand and gravel each year from the Missouri River.

“The proposal could contribute to significant riverbed loss in three segments of the river and result in damage to levees and bridges, increased flood risk and environmental damage,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Karl Brooks. Region 7, headquartered in Kansas City, Kan., includes Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, and Nebraska.

The EPA’s position came in the form of an agency determination that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Draft Environmental Impact Statement presented insufficient scientific information to support 11 dredging permits from eight companies.

The Corps of Engineers will consider EPA’s comments in preparation of a final Environmental Impact Statement, which will be reviewed by the EPA.

Commercial sand and gravel dredging in the lower Missouri River started in the 1930s to support construction and road building.

EPA officials said dredging is one of several factors contributing to riverbed degradation, which can threaten bank stability, levee foundations and wetlands.