84 



On March 18, 1993, representatives from EPA, Occidental Chemical 

 Corporation, and the State of New Jersey met to discuss response actions to address 

 contamination of the Passaic Estuary, including the Port Elizabeth/Port Newark site, 

 caused by the release of dioxin and other hazardous substances from the Diamond 

 Alkali Site. That meeting was convened at the request of the State of New Jersey 

 which had been the lead agency charged with responsibility for negotiating with 

 Occidental Chemical on this matter. The State of New Jersey and Occidental 

 Chemical have been unable to reach an agreement to address the Passaic Estuary 

 contamination, and EPA thus has assumed the lead. On March 22, 1993, EPA 

 informed Occidental Chemical of the company's potential liability for response costs 

 which the federal government incurs relating to the release of hazardous substances 

 from the Diamond Alkali Site into the estuary. 



In addition to its ocean dumping program under Title I of the MPRSA, the 

 Agency has several other activities underway which bear on our management of 

 contaminated sediment and dredged material. These activities include EPA efforts 

 to develop sediment quality criteria under §304(a)(1) of the CWA. In addition, I will 

 address implementation of Title V of the Water Resources Development Act of 1 992 

 provisions regarding the National Contaminated Sediment Task Force and sediment 

 monitoring, and research on sediment decontamination and alternative disposal 

 methods. 



