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Questions and Answers for the Record 



Hearing Before House MM&F-OGM&OCS on 30 March 1993 



Ocean Disposal of Contaminated Dredge Material 



Question from Chairman Ortiz - It is my understanding that new 

 tests on the sediment show dioxin levels below the 10 parts per 

 trillion standard EPA imposed. If the sediment ends up exceeding 

 that threshold level, what options would have remained for the 

 Port to dredge its facilities? 



ANSWER Mr. Rees: We are not aware of an acceptable option that 

 is economically feasible for disposal of large amounts of such 

 contaminated dredged material. In the case of the Port 

 Elizabeth/Port Newark facility, this would mean that no dredging 

 would occur in the areas where the sediment exceeded the ocean 

 disposal criteria. Port facilities would have to be 

 reconfigured, as appropriate, to shift deep draft berths to areas 

 where the sediment to be dredged meets the ocean disposal 

 criteria. Use of the berths where sediment exceeded the criteria 

 would be limited to ships with shallow drafts that could use the 

 facility without dredging until such time as an acceptable 

 disposal alternative were found. 



