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dumping activity for consistency with the State coastal zone 

 management plan was unclear, as well as the application of State 

 permitting requirements and environmental review. 



WRDA repealed the earlier limitation and greatly strengthened 

 States' review of ocean disposal activities. First, explicit 

 language preserving State rights to "adopt or enforce any 

 requirements regarding dumping of material" in State waters was 

 added, as long as States do not discriminate against out-of-state 

 generated material. This will mean that ocean dumping of dredge 

 material in State waters will be subject to both State and 

 Federal requirements. For ocean dumping activities taking place 

 in Federal waters, presumably the elimination of the earlier 

 restriction would allow States to exercise their CZMA consistency 

 review authority. 



Additional WRDA Requirements: Task Force and Sediment Survey 



WRDA established a National Contaminated Sediment Task Force 

 to review, discuss, and report on the nature and extent of 

 sediment contamination, the development of contaminated sediment 

 remediation measures, the selection and promulgation of criteria 

 for pollutants contained in contaminated sediments, prevention of 

 contaminated sediments and control of sources of contamination. 



The Task Force consists of representatives of EPA, the COE, 

 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. 

 Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the 

 Department of Agriculture, and additionally, representatives of 

 State governments, the port community, and the public. 



The Task Force is to produce a report and recommendations by 

 October 31, 1994. However, to date, no meetings have occurred. 



WRDA also directed EPA to conduct a comprehensive national 

 survey of the quality of aquatic sediments. The survey is to 

 include information on the amounts, composition, and location of 

 pollutants in sediments; the sources of sediment pollution; and 

 the locations of contaminated sediments. The survey, along with 

 recommendations for prevention and control of contaminated 

 sediments, is also due October 31, 1994. EPA regions IV 

 (Southeastern U.S.) and V (Midwestern U.S.) have completed 

 inventories of sediment contaminant sources and now are working 

 to create an inventory of contaminated sediment sites. 



4 This would include the issuance of an ocean dumping permit to a 

 private party, as well as instances where the COE conducts the 

 dredging and disposal for Federal navigation channels. 



5 This authority is circumscribed for Federal projects, such as 

 those involving COE disposal of dredge materials excavating from 

 Federal navigational channels. WRDA also granted the President 

 the right to exempt Federal projects from any State requirement 

 if "it is in the paramount interest of the United States to do 

 so" . 



