Contaminated Sediment Management Strategy-Fact Sheet http:/Awww.epa.gov/OST/cs/stratefs.htm]

SEPA insrcrmestal Protecton Agency Fact Suef Qe
(Jffice of Yafater a AD ye

United States, Office of Water EPA-823-F-98-004

Environmental Protection 4305 April 1998
Agency

EPA's Contaminated Sediment Management Strategy

Introduction

To address the ecological and human health risks that contaminated sediment poses in many
U.S. watersheds, EPA announces publication of its Contaminated Sediment Management
Strategy. Also available, through the Office of Water Docket. is the Response to Public
Comments Document. The Strategy is an EPA workplan describing actions the Agency
believes are needed to bring about consideration and reduction of risks posed by
contaminated sediments. In the Strategy. EPA summarizes its understanding of the extent
and severity of sediment contamination, including uncertainties about the dimension of the
problem and describes the cross-program policy framework in which the Agency intends to
promote consideration and reduction of ecological and human health risks posed by
sediment contamination.

OFFICE OF 5CIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

The Strategy establishes four goals to manage the problem of contaminated sediment, and
describes actions the Agency intends to take to accomplish these goals, The goals are: 1) to
control sources of sediment contamination and prevent the volume of contaminated sediment
from increasing: 2) to reduce the volume of existing (in-place) contaminated sediment: 3) to
ensure that sediment dredging and dredged material disposal ¢ aged in an
environmentally sound manner: and 4) to develop a range of s ound sediment
management tools for use in pollution prevention, source control, remediation and dredged
material management.

Concerns About Sediment Contamination

Recent studies of the quality of the nation's lake ers, and bays, and concerns about the
economic impacts associated with contaminated fish and disposal of contaminated dredged
material make sediment contamination an important issue.

o EPA estimates that 10 percent of the nation's lakes. rivers, and bays have sediment
contaminated with toxic chemicals that can kill fish living in those waters or impair
the health of people and wildlife who eat contaminated fish (Listing of Fish and
Wildlife Consumption Advisories. EPA 823-C-97-004. 1997: The Incidence and
Severity of Sediment Contamination in Surface Water of the United States, EPA
823-R-97-006, 007, 008, 1998).

o Fifteen percent of the nation’s lake acreage and 5 percent of the nation's river miles are
under state-issued fish consumption advisori ies. All of the Great Lakes and a large
portion of the nation's coastal waters are also under advisory (Listing of Fish and
Wildlife Consumption Advisories. PA 823-C-97-004, 1997).

o Billions of dollars of economic activity are potentially affected by contaminated
sediment because of the loss of recreational and commercial fishing and the increased
cost of disposing of contaminated material dredged to aid navigation.

Why EPA Needs a Contaminated Sediment Management Strategy
EPA needs an Agency-wide Contaminated Sediment Management Strategy because
cooperation among many EPA offices is necessary to address the problem of contaminated

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Contaminated Sediment Management Strategy-Fact Sheet http://www.epa.gov/OST/cs/stratefs. htm!

sediment.

o Contaminated sediment is an environmental problem in the nation’s water bodies that
is not handled by a single EPA office or authority.

eo The multimedia sources of ongoing contamination and the need to remediate historical
contamination require coordinated Agency-wide actions.

What the Strategy Will Accomplish
The Contaminated Sediment Management Strategy sets forth an
number of key actions.

‘A plan to accomplish a

o Agency programs will use consistent and scientifically sound sediment assessment
methods in their prevention or remediation processes.

o Agency programs will use the first National Sediment Quality Survey Report to
Congress (EPA 823-R-97-006) and future biennial updates to target chemicals and
watersheds for further assessment, pollution prevention, and remediation.

o Where watersheds are clean. EPA will prevent sediment contamination through point
and nonpoint source controls. promoting best management practices. and by testing
new pesticides and other chemicals to ensure that they will not cause sediment
contamination.

o Where watersheds are being contaminated. EPA will take appropriate action through
its point and nonpoint source control programs to reduce or eliminate contaminant
inputs.

o Where watersheds are already contaminated. UPA will develop risk management
strategies and implement source controls.

To Obtain Copies of the Strategy

Copies of EPA's Contaminated Sediment Management Strategy are available from the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency. National Center for Environmental Publications and
Information. P.O. Box 42419, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45242. They may be ordered by phone at
800 490-9198: by fax at 513 489-8695: or on-line. Questions concerning the Strategy may
be directed to EPA's Office of Science and ‘Technology at 202 260-8897

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