478 
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 
CONCLUSIONS 
1) 
2) 
3) 
4) 
5) 
6) 
7) 
The need for dredging of ports and harbors both for enlargement and 
maintenance of existing channels is expected to increase in the 1980s 
and beyond. 
A certain percentage of this dredged material, particularly that deriv- 
ed from maintenance dredging, may be polluted with Annex I substances. 
This material must be disposed in such manner as to cause the receiving 
environment as little degradation as is reasonably possible. 
By the same token, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find and 
use disposal sites on the land that can be considered safe and within 
reasonable distances from ports and harbors. 
Examination of the marine environment reveals that it has a high poten- 
tial for assimilating dredged material without creating undue environ- 
mental risk. 
Therefore, after thoughtful study of the problem and the delineation of 
possible solutions, it is concluded that if "special care" measures are 
used in disposal and in dumpsite selection, the disposal into the 
marine environment of dredged material containing Annex I substances 
would in many cases present no greater risk of environmental harm than 
the disposal of Annex II substances. 
Accepting this, it is reasonable to consider that under these circum- 
stances, the rationale of the Convention should allow the disposal of 
such dredged material at sea under a “special permit," as in the case 
of substances listed in Annex II. 
RECOMMENDATION 
Finally, and most importantly, the IAPH invites the Scientific Group to 
take note of the matters set forth in this submission and to recommend to 
_ Contracting Parties at the Sixth Consultative Meeting a Resolution or 
Guideline (e.g., a new paragraph 3.2 in the classification criteria LDC 
IV/12/3, Annex 2) to provide, viz.: 
“Wastes which contain substances listed in 
Annex I but which, in appropriate cases, may 
be safely disposed in the marine environment 
if special care is used in the disposal, may 
be dumped under a special permit, in the same 
manner as substances classified to Annex II.” 
