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QUESTION: 



Do you feel that 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 focus of ocean disposal management 

 has been 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 

 state-of-the-art dredged material evaluation procedures, with limited resource 

 devoted to comprehensive site management reserved for high priority (e.g., 

 ecologically sensitive areas, chemically-challenged dredged material). 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. 



