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INTRODUCTION 



Mr. Chairman and members of the Subcommittee, I am pleased 

 to be here today on behalf of the Department of the Army to 

 discuss the ocean disposal of contaminated dredged material and 

 the Department of the Army regulatory process as it relates to 

 dredging activities! Accompanying me today is Mr. Michael Davis, 

 the Assistant for Regulatory Affairs in our office. In a later 

 panel, Dr. Robert Engler, Senior Scientist and Director of the 

 Center for Contaminated Sediments, at the Army Corps of Engineers 

 Waterways Experiment Station in Vicksburg, Mississippi, will 

 discuss our research activities and some specific technologies 

 related to the management of contaminated sediments. 



We particularly appreciate the detail and clarity of your 

 letter of invitation. It has helped us greatly in preparing 

 testimony which we trust will be directly relevant to your 

 concerns. As requested, I will discuss the Department of the 

 Army regulatory processes, particularly actions related to the 

 Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act, commonly known 

 as the Ocean Dumping Act. I will also address Department of the 

 Army programs related to the overall management and regulation of 

 dredged materials within our Nation's navigable waterways. Dr. 

 Engler will discuss our contaminated sediment research activities 

 and a number of specific processes and technologies related to 

 the management of contaminated sediments. 



ARMY RESPONSIBILITIES RELATED TO DREDGED MATERIALS 



The Army administers a wide range of activities under its 

 civil works program which play a critical role in the protection, 

 management, and development of our Nation's water resources. Two 

 major activities directly involved in the management of dredged 

 materials are the national regulatory program and our national 

 dredging program for constructing and maintaining the federal 

 portion of the Nation's extensive navigation system of commercial 

 channels, harbors and ports. Although we discuss the regulatory 

 program and the federal navigation program as two distinct 

 activities, it is important to understand that the environmental 

 quality criteria apply equally to each program. It is just the 

 internal agency process which differs slightly between the two. 

 The two processes cover essentially all federal and non-federal 

 actions related to dredging material from, or the discharge of 

 dredged material into, the aquatic environment. Because the 

 Nation's navigation system is essential to the economic well- 

 being and defense capability of the United States, a major 

 portion is federally constructed and maintained. The federal 

 portion of the system includes over 25,000 miles of 

 congressionally authorized navigation channels and related 

 harbors. 



