Number: 1986-14
WHEREAS, the dredging and disposal of sediments contaminated with toxic substances can adversely affect water quality, aquatic environments, and human use of aquatic environments; and
WHEREAS, regular dredging of contaminated sediments from harbors and river mouths is routinely approved by the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other federal and state agencies and these contaminated sediments are sometimes disposed of by building a sedimentation basin in near-shore waters out of sheetpiling or deposited fill and pumping the contaminated sediments into it; rather than building the basin on land where the contaminated sediments would be less susceptible to dispersion by waves and weather; and
WHEREAS, the potential environmental impacts of such dredging and disposal techniques and alternatives to such dredging and disposal are often inadequately assessed;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation in annual meeting assembled March 20-23, 1986, in Seattle, Washington, urges government agencies involved in approving dredging and disposal projects, including the United States Congress, to ensure that the continuing sources of sediments are identified and that programs to control these sources are evaluated as an alternative to future, regular dredging activities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that NWF urges involved governmental agencies to identify, evaluate and require reasonable alternative dredging techniques and disposal options, including land disposal, to minimize the adverse environmental impacts of dredging and disposal activities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that NWF urges involved government agencies stringently to apply all relevant environmental statutes and requirements to dredging and disposal activities, including antidegradation requirements under the federal Clean Water Act and state law.