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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. Green - Has there been a contaminant 

 subcommittee in the Inter-agency Coordination Team declare dredge 

 material in Galveston Bay suitable for beneficial use? 



ANSWER Mr. Davis: The Galveston District is conducting studies 

 to determine whether deepening the existing navigation channels 

 in Galveston Bay will have any adverse environmental impacts. 

 The Interagency Coordination Team is participating in these 

 studies and includes a subcommittee to evaluate the contaminant 

 potential of dredged materials. Based on results of testing done 

 on materials dredged as part of past maintenance of the existing 

 channels, the subcommittee found the material to be acceptable 

 for ocean disposal or beneficial use in at least one location. 

 Though testing of previously dredged material was positive and 

 indicated that beneficial use of future dredged material was 

 possible, the subcommittee recommended that material to be 

 dredged in the future, either for construction or maintenance, be 

 tested and evaluated to determine its suitability for a 

 particular beneficial use or method of disposal. 



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