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disposal options for all dredged sediments. This document serves 

 as the overall umbrella guidance in managing contaminated 

 sediments. Our approach is to develop and apply a consistent 

 evaluation framework, not only for sediment contamination 

 testing, but also to provide effective controls of contaminated 

 sediments for the full array of management options. We believe 

 that this document, in conjunction with the testing guidance 

 noted, will be particularly helpful in any future federal 

 initiatives involving management of contaminated sediments. 



PORT OF ELIZABETH /PORT OF NEWARK PERMIT 



The Port of Elizabeth/Port of Newark permit request was 

 processed through the established procedures for ocean disposal 

 of dredged materials. However, due to the complex and 

 controversial issues involved, the process required significant 

 effort and an extended time for accomplishment. It took about 18 

 months from the pre-application coordination to development of a 

 complete application. This effort included testing in accordance 

 with the Green Book guidelines. 



The extensive comments on the Port of Elizabeth/Port of 

 Newark application required an extension of the public comment 

 period and a public hearing. The controversy surrounding the 

 dioxin issue was the primary basis for the Corps granting the 

 extension to the comment period of the original public notice and 

 holding the public hearing. A result of this public input was 

 extended discussions in establishing criteria for the disposal of 

 the dioxin contaminated sediments dredged from the port. We also 

 participated in other public forums in conjunction with the 

 general dioxin issue and with the Port of Elizabeth/Port of 

 Newark project, in particular. 



During the evaluation of the Port of Elizabeth/Port of 

 Newark permit, extensive discussions occurred between the Corps 

 and EPA concerning the appropriate criteria for the dioxin 

 contaminated sediments to be disposed of in the EPA designated 

 site, commonly known as the Mud Dump Site. We were working with 

 EPA since the summer of 1992 to establish dioxin concentration 

 criteria, as well as the site management plans to apply to the 

 Port of Elizabeth/Port of Newark project and other dredged 

 material discharge situations in the area. The criteria 

 initially established were subsequently revised to be consistent 

 with State of New York criteria. Subsequent to issuance of the 

 permit, EPA properly questioned whether the ultimately 

 established criteria for the site would be met in light of the 

 increase in volume of material for disposal (i.e., from about 

 200,000 cyd in the permit request to about 500,000 cyd in the 

 issued permit) . Due to the time since sampling had been done and 

 the change in volume, additional sampling was needed to ensure 

 permit requirements could be met. 



