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INTRODUCTION 



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

 to be here on behalf of the Department of the Army to discuss our 

 research activities and processes related to management of 

 contaminated sediments. I am Senior Scientist in the 

 Environmental Laboratory and Director of the Center for 

 Contaminated Sediments at the Waterways Experiment Station. My 

 discussion will address the issue of contaminated sediments 

 research activities and I will include a discussion of specific 

 technologies related to managing contaminated sediments. 



BACKGROUND 



The Army Corps of Engineers has considerable scientific, 

 engineering, and management expertise and experience that is 

 being applied to solving problems associated with dredged 

 material, including contaminated sediments. Our research efforts 

 have focused on needs generated by our projects and programs as 

 well as in support of others, such as the Environmental 

 Protection Agency (EPA) , the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

 Administration (NOAA) (a Natural Resources Trustee), the U.S. 

 Coast Guard and Department of Defense agencies. We have 

 developed a research base over the last two decades that 

 emphasizes the identification, assessment, and management of 

 contaminated sediments. Because of this research and our active 

 participation in the London Convention and other international 

 efforts, we are recognized experts in dealing with contaminated 

 sediments. Due to the widespread distribution of contaminated 

 sediments and the need to ensure focused efforts in managing 

 contaminated sediments, the Waterways Experiment Station recently 

 established the Center for Contaminated Sediments, which I 

 direct. The Center focuses existing Corps R&D expertise on 

 identification, evaluation, endangerment assessments, risk 

 analysis, restoration, remediation and management activities for 

 contaminated sediments. Functions of the Center include; 

 research and development activities, technical assistance, 

 training, technology transfer, workshops, seminars, and response 

 to general information requests. 



RESEARCH 



Environmental research on dredged materials in the 1970' s 

 was broad in scope, including the basic understanding of 

 ecological impacts associated with management of clean and 

 contaminated dredged material. The applied research emphasized 

 beneficial uses, field monitoring, first generation testing 

 procedures for contaminated material, input to development of the 

 Clean Water Act and Ocean Dumping Act regulations, guidelines and 

 criteria, and documentation of knowledge gained for management 

 and disposal of dredged material on land and in open water. 

 Research in the 1980' s focused on contaminated sediments and 



