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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 - A coordinated relationship 

 between the EPA and the Corps could be considered an asset for 

 the management of contaminated sediments. Would you consider 

 their present relationship as smooth or is there static involved 

 when it comes time for a decision to be made? 



ANSWER Dr. Engler: Given our respective statutory 

 responsibilities with regard to the dredging and ocean disposal, 

 as well as the potential for controversy from any number of 

 factors, including contaminated sediments, we believe the Corps 

 and EPA, by and large, have a professional and productive 

 relationship. Over a number of years the Corps and EPA have been 

 working very closely at the headguarters level on a number of 

 technical issues, including the ocean dredged material testing 

 manual published in February 1991 and the soon to be published 

 manual for inland and near-coastal waters. We jointly sponsor 

 dredged material training exercises and freguently consult on 

 policy and administrative matters. Our joint responsibilities, 

 under the statutes, have placed each agency in a role of greater 

 understanding for the respective roles and responsibilities of 

 the other agency. However, our agencies are charged with 

 different responsibilities which lead to inconsistent priorities 

 between the agencies and occasional disagreements, especially 

 where science is inconclusive and judgment is required to reach a 

 decision. We continue to work with EPA to minimize such 

 situations. 



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