Corps of Engineers Research Programs on Contaminated Sediments

摘要

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), along with other federal agencies, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), has developed over the last twenty-five years, a research base that emphasizes the identification, assessment, and management of contaminated sediments. In this paper, the authors present a brief overview of the research programs being conducted by the USACE on contaminated dredged material and contaminated sediments. In the basic research program, a risk-based approach to assessment and evaluation, along with a preponderance of evidence is the foundation for determining whether a sediment to be dredged is suitable for placement in the ocean, estuary, waterway, or upland environment in unrestricted disposal or must be managed. In the applied research programs, the emphasis is on moving technologies from the laboratory to the field for the treatment and management of contaminated sediments in the USACE Civil Works Programs. The authors conclude by emphasizing the need to continue to conduct basic and applied research on contaminated sediments to find solutions to the contaminated sediment problem. The research should include risk assessment, management techniques, and full-scale demonstration projects to verify and refine the basic research products.