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QUESTION: 



As you know, many have stated informally that the New York/New Jersey 

 permit process will be a test case for other ports around the country. Does 

 EPA feel that the NY/NJ case is an indication of potential permitting 

 problems in the future? 



How wide spread do you feel the problem of contaminated sediments is and 

 what problems are associated with the disposal of these sediment? 



What efforts can be undertaken to improve the permitting process so that 

 ports like NY/NJ do not have to wait three years to obtain a permit? 



ANSWER: 



EPA does not believe that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey 

 permit will be a test case in terms of setting a national precedent. However, 

 we do believe that many of the types of problems encountered are likely to 

 recur. These problems include: 



The use of more sensitive tests for evaluating potential impacts of 

 dumping raises concern over more subtle, chronic effects of dumping. 



Increasing focus on dredged material as other materials are prohibited 

 from ocean dumping (i.e., sewage sludge and industrial waste). 



As many dredged material ocean dumping projects are located in 

 coastal metropolitan areas and as the population continues to migrate 

 towards these locations, the availability of alternatives (e.g., confined 

 land disposal) will be reduced. This will likely create increased 

 pressure for ocean disposal. 



In surveys conducted in 1985 and 1987, EPA's Office of Water began to 

 document the extent and severity of sediment contamination. The 1987 

 EPA report indicated that wherever urban-industrial concentrations exist, 

 sediments in rivers, estuaries and harbors serving these areas could be 

 expected to contain elevated concentrations of metals, organic chemicals, 

 and other toxics. Similarly, rivers draining agricultural land use areas are 

 likely to contain elevated levels of pesticides in sediment. In 1992, three 

 EPA Regions initiated inventories of contaminated sediment sites. The 

 inventory of the Gulf of Mexico coastline indicated that approximately 7 

 percent of the estuarine drainage systems contain very high concentrations 

 of contaminants in sediments; 42 percent contain moderate levels of in- 



