POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS

ERDC TN-DOER-T2

December 2000

Public prejudice against technologies/processes used to treat and manage sediments.

Lack of consist or total absence of applicable state regulations.

Intermittent, variable sediment characteristics associated with typical dredging projects.

Required development of market and acceptance of products produced from dredged

sediments.

Resistance from labor groups to displacement of traditional products and associated jobs.

Long-term liability and legal responsibilities associated with produced products.

POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS: A number of potential methods, activities, and procedural changes

may aid in overcoming or minimizing such barriers:

Long-term forecasting of dredging requirements and funding availability.

Public funding of centralized dredged sediment storage and management facilities.

Use of other waste streams to ensure a continuous feed stream to process.

Processing of other waste streams to augment income.

Partnering between TDFs to increase overall product markets.

Decouple the end product from the treatment process.

Mandate use of recycled dredged sediment products in public projects.

Educate the public about the benefits associated with using recycled dredged sediment

products.

Some of these changes will probably be required to foster and stimulate the implementation of these

innovative decontamination and treatment technologies. Regardless of the type of decontamination

or treatment technology chosen for a navigation project, one thing is for certain: the economic and

environmental benefits will have to be clearly identified and articulated to project sponsors, the

public, and other stakeholders before such a technology is selected for use.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Technical Panel

Co-Chairman, Tom Wakeman, Eastern Commissioner of the U.S. Section of PIANC

Co-Chairman, Dr. Danny Reible, Chevron Professor of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana

State University

Member, Steve Garbaciak, Blasland, Bouck, and Lee, Inc.

Member, Bob Hopman, Foster Wheeler Environmental Corp.

Member, Frank Hamons, American Association of Ports Authorities

Member, Mr. Craig Wardlaw, Headwater Environmental Services Corp., Ontario