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determination of the distribution of contaminants should be part of 

 our long-term efforts to reduce the volume of sediments which have 

 to be treated prior to disposal. Without a fine-scale 

 characterization of sediment content and distribution, we cannot 

 accurately locate "hot spot" areas for remediation. 



Remediation technology requires years of further development, 

 demonstration and pilot-scale testing to become practical and 

 successful. This means we must begin now to support those 

 techniques with the most promise. Last year, the Environmental 

 Protection Agency received $2.7 million to support a sediment 

 remediation program based on innovative approaches to 

 decontaminating dredged material. At this moment, we are prepared 

 to submit a proposal to test one of the most promising approaches 

 to remediation which resulted from the conferences- -immobilization 

 of heavy metals (and possibly organics) by colonies of bacteria 

 which occur in anaerobic muds coupled with the use of a High 

 Gradient Magnetic Separation technique. 



Now is the time to commence a long-term effort to remediate 

 sediments and to begin efforts to reduce contaminants at their 

 source. Only with a long-term commitment to remediation and source 

 reduction can we attain what should be cur long-term goal: to 

 dispose only Class I material in the ocean. 



Summary 



Given the urgency of the situation at Port Newark/Port Elizabeth, 

 we should continue to manage contaminated sediments with known 

 techniques even if they are not ideal. Intermediate range steps 

 must be pursued to isolate and contain .contaminated sediments until 

 such time when remediation becomes possible. Finally, public 

 participation must be a vital part of the decision-making process 

 as we seek intermediate and long-term solutions. 



Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, thank you for your time. 

 I will be happy to answer any questions you may have. 



