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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 



Questions from Mr. Weldon - How much of your research is 

 currently focusing on alternatives to ocean disposal of 

 contaminated material? Are there technologies being developed to 

 address both the most contaminated and least contaminated 

 sediments? 



ANSWER Dr. Engler: Significant research has been conducted over 

 the past 20 years on alternatives to ocean disposal for clean and 

 contaminated dredged material. Specific research on contaminated 

 material has dealt with design and management of confined 

 disposal facilities on land, nearshore, and in water, subaqueous 

 capping, and procedures to identify and assess contaminated 

 sediments for selection of the proper controls for confined 

 disposal. These techniques are now standard practices. Current 

 Corps research focuses on improved predictive techniques for 

 leachate, run-off, and volatiles associated with confined 

 disposal of contaminated sediments. Other work conducted by the 

 Corps and funded by the Corps and others (e.g., EPA, DOD, NOAA) 

 includes endangerment assessments, risk assessment/management, 

 and clean-up techniques for aquatic and wetland sites. Current 

 identification and assessment research emphasizes 

 chronic/sublethal effects, genotoxic consideration, and risk 

 assessment techniques. Significant research is being conducted 

 by the Corps on sediment treatment technologies through EPA's 

 Great Lakes Assessment and Remediation of Contaminated Sediments 

 (ARCS) programs. These programs were outlined in my complete 



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