Sediment Remediation

There exists no simple, single solution to contaminated sediment problems. In addition to the complexities of multiple contaminants, sediment remediation/restoration projects often involve historic source pathways, multiple PRPs, orphan shares, complex fate and transport patterns and on-going human and ecological activities. Entities involved in sediment remediation/restoration projects must also concern themselves with the lack of coordination across regulatory programs and jurisdictions.
		The potential jurisdictional matrix includes the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, Federal Water Pollution Control Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Rivers and Harbors Act, Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) the Coastal Zone Management Act and the Endangered Species Act.
Sediment remediation/ restoration projects are also invariably subject to natural resource damage (NRD) claims from a variety of resource trustees.
The National Research Council has concluded that contaminated sediments are widespread in U.S. coastal waters and have potentially far-reaching consequences to both public health and the environment. EPA estimates that over 10 percent of the sites currently identified on the National Priorities List (NPL) involve contaminated sediments and an increasingly greater number of
		sites with contaminated sediments and an increasingly greater number of sites with contaminated sediments are being added to the NPL. However, sediment issues are not limited to a handful of "mega" sites. Regulatory and enforcement initiatives are focusing on sediment impact and ecological risk at some of the "smaller" sites. Multiple
regulatory programs are beginning to make a coordinated effort to increase attention to sediment impact at all sites - coastal and upland - across the country. The number of sediment sites and the volume of sediment needing to be addressed will continue to escalate.

As a direct result of managing and coordinating well over 150 environmental projects, de maximis has developed the broad sophistication and expertise necessary to manage and coordinate the complexities associated with the remediation/restoration of a sediment site, whether it be a stream, a river, a canal, a lake or a pond. We have worked closely with our clients, their counsel, regulators, industry-based work groups, congressional representatives and civic groups to help bridge the regulatory frameworks and advance cost-effective and scientifically sound approaches for making sediment management decisions. Significant sediment projects of note include:

• Ashtabula River, OH - de maximis was retained by the Ashtabula River Cooperation Group (ARCG) in 1999 to serve as its Project Manager. The cleanup is the first combined navigational and environmental projects under WRDA in the United States. de maximis works closely with the US Army Corps of Engineers, EPA, OEPA, local officials, congressional leaders and other stakeholders in coordinating remedial and restorative activities under a federal and non-federal cost sharing mechanism.
• Lower Fox River, WI - de maximis was retained by the Fox River Group (FRG) in 1997 as its Project Manager with the initial task of negotiating the scope and implementation of various projects, including dredging demonstration projects, a Type B Natural Resource Damage Assessment, human-use restoration projects and an extensive sediment/contaminate fate and transport modeling program. The complexities of the project were made more severe because the activities generated major local, regional and national news stories, thus demanding an active public and government affairs initiative, also managed by de maximis.

• Eagle Harbor Superfund Site, WA - de maximis was retained by the PRP Group as the Supervising Contractor to manage the dredging and in-situ capping of impacted harbor sediments, construction of a confined disposal facility, tidal barrier construction, stabilization and capping of upland landfill areas, facilities demolition and site restoration, all done while the harbor remained active. The Eagle Harbor remedial project was awarded The Best Cleanup Project of the Year by the Washington State Business Association in 1998.
• Pine Street Barge Canal Superfund Site, VT - de maximis was retained by the PRP Group to manage and coordinate the in-situ capping of contaminated sediments in the barge canal next to Lake Champlain. Remedial activities were complicated due to the harsh winter environment.
• Patrick Bayou, TX - the site is a tidal-influenced tributary about 3 miles long to the Houston ship channel. TMDL monitoring is being performed by the State of Texas. Sampling of sediments in the tributary indicates impact from metals, PCBs and PAHs. The site was added to the NPL in 2003.

  de maximis has been retained by the PRP Group to coordinate and interface with the regulatory agencies as remedial activities and contaminant sources are evaluated.

Through its involvement in major projects - such as those described above, de maximis remains involved in the on-going local, state and national challenges of addressing contaminated sediment issues.