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QUESTION: 



It is my understanding that EPA is developing ocean disposal criteria for 

 dioxin? What is its status? 



ANSWER: 



EPA and Corps of Engineers have established a task group to develop policy 

 and technical guidance for use by field offices in making permit decisions. 

 This effort is not to develop a criterion for dioxin, but rather to provide 

 guidance to field offices on conducting dioxin evaluations and interpreting 

 the risk associated with dioxin-containing dredged material disposal projects. 

 This task group, which first met on April 28 and 29, 1993, is comprised of 

 both agencies' headquarters, research and field office personnel. The task 

 group is planning to develop early operational guidance by August 1993. 

 Concurrently, issues which are not readily resolvable will be worked on, with 

 the assistance of senior agency management, through the late summer and 

 early fall of 1993. 



