Application of toxicity identification and evaluation procedures for dredged material management

Abstract

Abstract : PURPOSE: Federal regulatory statutes and guidance require the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to evaluate direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts associated with management of dredged material including the potential for release of contaminants at disposal sites [1]. As limitations to the placement of dredge material in confined disposal facilities (CDF) increase, the development of sustainable alternatives for dredged material management are being pursued. However, the evaluation of potential environmental impacts that may result from alternative management strategies, such as the beneficial use of dredged material for shoreline habitat restoration, urban brownfield site redevelopment, and the restoration of agricultural and forest lands, is often complex. The evaluation of environmental impacts from these alternative management strategies typically requires more data than the assessment of risks associated with placement of dredged material in a CDF.