Dredging Operations Technical Support Program. General decision-making framework for management of dredged material: Example application to Commencement Bay, Washington. Final report
Navigable waterways of the United States have a vital role in the Nation's economic growth. The US Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for the dredging and disposal of large volumes of sediment each year. Dredging is a process by which sediments are removed from the bottom of streams, rivers, lakes, and coastal waters, transported via ship, barge, or pipeline, and discharged to land or water. The presence of contamination in some locations has generated concern that dredged material disposal may adversely affect water quality and aquatic organisms or terrestrial organisms. Since many of the waterways are located in industrial and urban areas, some sediments may be highly contaminated with hazardous materials. A general decision-making framework based on the results of technically sound tests protocols is described. The decision-making framework includes consideration of sediment chemistry, physical chemistry of disposal site environments, and biological effects of sediment contaminants, as well as comparison of test results from sediments to be dredged with test results from reference sediments and with established criteria. The framework provides the basis for selection of the environmentally preferable disposal alternative and for identification of potentially appropriate control measures to minimize problems associated with the presence of contaminants.
- Research Organization:
- Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS (United States). Environmental Lab.
- OSTI ID:
- 6164595
- Report Number(s):
- AD-A-240493/7/XAB; WES/MP/D-91-1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
SEDIMENTS
CONTAMINATION
WASTE MANAGEMENT
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
COASTAL REGIONS
DECISION MAKING
DREDGING
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
INLAND WATERWAYS
LAKES
RIVERS
STREAMS
TOXICITY
URBAN AREAS
WASHINGTON
WASTE DISPOSAL
WATER CHEMISTRY
WATER POLLUTION
CHEMISTRY
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
FEDERAL REGION X
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
NORTH AMERICA
POLLUTION
SURFACE WATERS
USA
WASTES
540320* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology