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QUESTION: 



Does the federal government have adequate resources to implement its 

 ocean dumping responsibilities as they relate to the disposal of dredged 

 material? 



ANSWER: 



Proper management of dredged material disposal in the ocean is important 

 for the protection of the environment and the continued viability of the 

 ocean as a disposal alternative. The present focus of ocean disposal 

 management is on site designation and dredged material evaluation. The 

 Water Resources Development Act of 1992 amendments to the Marine 

 Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act established site management and 

 monitoring as priorities. All of these elements are essential to proper ocean 

 disposal management. 



The ocean disposal of dredged material is regulated at the national level 

 principally by the EPA and the US Army Corps of Engineers. As stated 

 above, EPA has focused its resources on designating suitable sites and 

 development of state-of-the-art dredged material evaluation procedures, with 

 limited resources devoted to comprehensive site management reserved for 

 high priority areas (e.g., ecologically sensitive areas, dredged material from 

 urban, industrialized harbors). To realize the benefits of comprehensive 

 ocean disposal management, as envisioned under WRDA '92, would require 

 EPA to reprogram additional resources. However, ultimate Federal 

 investment should be made with full consideration of other demands and the 

 relative risk reduction achieved. 



