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https://hdl.handle.net/11681/4630| Title: | Environmental Risk Assessment and Dredged Material Management Issues and Application : proceedings-workshop 18-20 February 1998, San Diego Mission Valley Hilton, San Diego, California |
| Authors: | Menzie-Cura and Associates, Inc. Environmental Risk Assessment and Dredged Material Management Issues and Application (1998 : San Diego, California) Dick Peddicord & Co., Inc. Dredging Operations and Environmental Research Program (U.S.) Moore, David W. Bridges, Todd S. Ruiz, Carlos E. Cura, Jerome J., 1949- Driscoll, Susan Kane. Vorhees, Donna J. Peddicord, Richard K. |
| Keywords: | Contaminants Risk assessment Dredged material Sediment management Dredging spoil Proceedings Workshops Symposiums |
| Publisher: | Environmental Laboratory (U.S.) Engineer Research and Development Center (U.S.) |
| Series/Report no.: | Technical report ; DOER-2 |
| Description: | Technical Report Abstract: Evaluating the potential environmental consequences associated with dredging and dredged material disposal is a difficult task. Scientific advancements have made possible the collection of large amounts of complex technical information. The dredged material manager must often rely on “best professional judgement” to weigh and balance among multiple and sometimes conflicting lines of evidence to reach a decision, and each decision involves a finite level of uncertainty. How best to utilize this complex technical information and what tools are available for developing risk-based estimates and evaluating uncertainty for the dredging program were the focus of the workshop discussions reported herein. The workshop was attended by 78 invitees representing Corps field elements, other Federal agencies, industry, and academia. Participants represented a broad range of stakeholders and included permit applicants, dredged material managers, and risk assessors. It was the general consensus of workshop participants that risk assessment should should be used to augment and improve the dredged material management decision-making process. The importance of using risk-based approaches early on in the current tiered assessment scheme was emphasized. However, it was also noted that the current dredged material evaluation scheme as outlined in the Ocean and Inland Testing Manuals was adequate for the vast majority of dredged material management decisions (estimated by some participants to be 95 percent). Participants suggested that the greatest benefit of risk-based decision-making would be found by applying risk assessment in the smaller percentage of projects where there is high uncertainty (e.g., no evidence of acute toxicity but some elevated bioaccumulation of contaminants). Recommendations generally fell into two categories: (A.) procedural recommendations (ways to improve the dredged material decision-making process via incorporation of risk-based approaches) and (B.) recommendations for improving existing assessment tools (models, tests, etc.) so that they can be used more effectively to make risk-based decisions. Specific recommendations are included in the final chapter. |
| Rights: | Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/11681/4630 |
| Appears in Collections: | Technical Report |
