61 



Some issues that the Members of the Subcommittee might be 

 interested in exploring are: 



1) How big is the problem of disposal of contaminated 

 sediments? What are the primary contaminants? Are the volumes 

 of contaminant sediment increasing? 



2) Will the changes in the Ocean Dumping Act improve the 

 permitting process for the dredge material permits process (It 

 took over three years to have a permit issued for the New 

 York/New Jersey Port Authority dredging project for Newark Bay)? 

 If not, what changes should be made to improve the process? 



3) What alternatives are being developed to ocean dumping of 

 contaminated dredge materials? Should additional Federal 

 resources be spent in this area? 



4) What role should States play in regulating ocean dumping? 



5) What is the status of EPA sediment criteria? How will 

 these affect ocean disposal as an option for contaminated dredge 

 material? 



6) How feasible is the idea of source control of point and 

 non-point pollution to prevent the creation of contaminated 

 sediments in the first place? 



7) How often are contaminated dredge material disposal sites 

 monitored? What is examined as part of the monitoring process? 

 Have we learned any lessons from older contaminated dredge 

 material disposal sites regarding improved isolation or treatment 

 techniques? 



8) Does the Federal Government have adequate resources to 

 implement its ocean dumping responsibilities as they relate to 

 the disposal of dredge material? 



9) Is the process surrounding the Newark Bay ocean dumping 

 permit typical for contaminated dredge material disposal? How 

 can the process be improved, both on a Federal and State level? 



10) How clean is clean, with regards to dredge material? 



11) Are sediments for ocean disposal required to meet a 

 higher standard than land-based counterparts? Are the testing 

 and standards for land-based disposal comparable to that required 

 for ocean disposal? 



12) Is there universal application of EPA criteria and 

 standards for the disposal of dredged material in coastal and 

 ocean waters in all regions of the U.S.? 



Attachment 



69-996 0-93-3 



