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Executive Summary
Pages 1-3

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From page 1...
... In addition, management and remediation of contaminated marine sediments requires grappling with dynamic aquatic environments in which contaminant mobilization can occur in response to remediation itself, or as a result of natural resuspension, transport, and deposition of the bottom sediments. This report, prepared by the Committee on Contaminated Marine Sediments of the Marine Board of the National Research Council, examines the extent and significance of marine sediment contamination in the United States; reviews the state of the art of contaminated sediment clean-up and remediation technology; identifies and appraises alternative sediment management strategies; and identifies research and development needs and issues for subsequent technical assessment.
From page 2...
... Despite the widespread extent of the contaminated sediment problem, remedial actions directed at excavating, treating, or otherwise manipulating contaminated marine sediments have been extremely rare. Under the Superfund law, only sites designated on the National Priorities List can be funded for remediation.
From page 3...
... The committee recommended that future research and development be focused on establishing better better biological and chemical techniques for rapidly and reliably assessing the presence and severity of bottom sediment contamination, delineating the practical limits of capping as an efficacious remediation technology, identifying interim measures to limit the spread of contaminated sediments while long-term remedies are assessed, and formulating procedures and guidelines that adequately evaluate and prioritize health and environmental risks associated with sediment contamination, and against which effectiveness and clean-up needs can be measured. The committee also believed that in view of the high cost of most remedial actions, greater use should be made of benefit-cost comparisons.


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