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 MANAGEMENT OF CONTAMINATED SEDIMENT AND DREDGED MATERIAL 

 Sediment Criteria 



Our efforts to develop sediment criteria have focused on gaining a better 

 understanding of the extent of sediment contamination, and then selecting the best 

 methodology for determining site specific sediment quality criteria (SQC). There are 

 different criteria development methodologies for different classes of compounds (non- 

 ionic organic, ionic organic, and metals). 



EPA's initial efforts have focused on non-ionic organic contaminants, including 

 review by the EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB). That review supported the 

 methodology and recommended that implementation guidance be developed, that the 

 criteria be periodically updated to keep pace with advancing science, and that 

 uncertainty analyses be clearly documented and incorporated when applying the 

 criteria in a regulatory context. EPA also has conducted extensive laboratory and 

 field studies of a methodology for metal contaminants. An SAB review of that 

 methodology is planned for 1993. 



We plan to publish a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register in the Spring 

 of this year for the first five criteria for non-ionic organics, with a 60 day public 

 comment period. The first five criteria will address: Endrin, Dieldrin, Acenapthene, 

 Fluoranthene, and Phenanthrene. After incorporating public comments into the criteria 

 documents, they would then be issued. As a result, we anticipate that the 5 criteria 

 would be final by December 1993, with two to three new criteria for other non-ionic 

 organics being issued each year. 



