Case Studies: Characterization Tests to Determine Dredged Material Suitability for Beneficial Uses

摘要

This technical note describes the application of appropriate physical, engineering, chemical, and biological tests described in Technical Note DOER-C2 (Winfield and Lee 1999) for characterizing and determining the potential for beneficial uses of dredged material in aquatic, wetland, and/or upland environments. The characterization and testing of a dredged material must be matched to a particular beneficial use. A number of physical, engineering, chemical, and biological tests have been described in Technical Note DOER C2 (Winfield and Lee 1999) to characterize and aid in making decisions about the potential beneficial reuse of the dredged material. Appropriate characterization tests are listed in Tables 1 through 3. Normally, a sediment is tested and evaluated according to the USACEfU.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) (1992) prior to dredging and disposal. Those data can be used in the initial evaluation of potential beneficial uses of the dredged material, indicating, for example, the presence of contaminants. However, the placement of dredged material in a CPF and the physicochemical changes occurring in the dredged material can result in changes in relation to the nature and location of contaminants within the CPF. Normally, contaminants when present in the dredged material tend to be associated with the finer grain sized particles. Even though most of the tests identified in Tables 1 and 2 were initially designed for soils, they can be applied to dredged material because of its soil-like nature.