ABSTRACT
EPA has prepared a comprehensive contaminated sediment management strategy to coordinate and focus EPA's resources on contaminated sediment problems. In the 1980s EPA documented the extent and severity of contaminated sediment problems at sites throughout the US Concerned with the mounting evidence of ecological and human health effects, EPA's Office of Water organized a Sediment Steering Committee to manage contaminated sediments. The strategy is based upon three major principles: In-place sediment should be protected from contamination to ensure that the beneficial uses of the nation's surface waters are maintained for future generations; Protection of inplace sediment should be achieved through pollution prevention and source controls; and Natural recovery is the preferred remedial technique. EPA is developing standard sediment toxicity test methods to provide high quality data in support of regulatory and enforcement actions for pollution prevention, contaminated sediment remediation, and the management of dredged material disposal.
