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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 Mr. Weldon - Furthermore, it is my understanding 

 that the objective of the federal navigation program is to 

 provide for the construction and maintenance of a safe, reliable 

 and economically efficient navigation system. However, how 

 strongly were these elements factored into the New York/New 

 Jersey permit process? 



ANSWER Mr. Rees: During the review of the Port Authority permit 

 application, the New York District was clearly aware of the fact 

 that the proposed dredging project was being performed to provide 

 the deep water berthing facilities that would be adjacent to the 

 deepened channels that are part of the Kill Van Kull project. 

 This situation was a factor of major consideration in the permit 

 review process. The District's decision memoranda on the project 

 address both the navigational issues surrounding the proposed 

 project, and the interrelationship of the Port Newark/Port 

 Elizabeth project with the deepening of the Kill Van Kull Federal 

 Navigation Project. However, if a proposal fails the threshold 

 ocean disposal or section 404(b)(1) criteria, it can be disposed 

 of in open water only after a full analysis of the economic 

 effect on navigation is done. While this provision may sound 

 reasonable, we have never pursued it and do not plan to use it. 

 To make such an analysis is extremely costly and time consuming, 

 and in our judgment would not serve to resolve the issue because 

 there are no standards against which to measure the severity of 

 the economic impacts. 



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