[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 242 (Monday, December 19, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-30947]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: December 19, 1994]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5123-7]

 

Notice of Availability of Great Lakes Dredged Material Testing 
and Evaluation Manual and Request for Comment

SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of and requests public 
comment on the draft testing manual entitled ``Great Lakes Dredged 
Material Testing and Evaluation Manual (Draft)'' (draft Great Lakes 
Manual). The manual was prepared by an Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA)/Army Corps of Engineers (CE) workgroup comprised of staff with 
scientific and/or programmatic expertise related to Great Lakes dredged 
material discharge activities. This manual supplements the manual 
entitled ``Evaluation of Dredged Material Proposed for Discharge in 
Waters of the U.S.--Testing Manual (Draft)'' (draft National Manual) 
which was noticed for comment in the Federal Register on July 21, 1994 
(59 FR 37234). The draft Great Lakes manual contains more specific 
information for the Great Lakes system, including detailed bioassay 
test protocols. Both manuals were issued pursuant to the provisions of 
section 404(b)(1) of the Clean Water Act and 40 CFR part 230.

DATES: Written comments on the draft Great Lakes Manual must be 
postmarked or submitted by hand on or before March 21, 1995 to Marc 
Tuchman at the address listed below under ADDRESSES.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the draft Great Lakes Manual can be obtained by 
calling or writing to Jan Miller, USACE North Central Division, CENCD-
ED-WL, 111 North Canal Street, Chicago, Ill., 60606-7205; telephone: 
312-353-6354.
    Comments on the draft Great Lakes Manual may be mailed or delivered 
to: Marc Tuchman, USEPA Great Lakes National Program Office--G-9J, 
Attention: Great Lakes Manual Comments, 77 West Jackson Street, 
Chicago, Ill. 60604; telephone: 312-353-1369. Commentors are requested 
to submit an original and 3 copies of their written comments and 
enclosures. Commentors who want receipt of their comments acknowledged 
should include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. No facsimiles 
(faxes) will be accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jan Miller, USACE North Central 
Division, CENCD-ED-WL, 111 North Canal Street, Chicago, Ill., 60606-
7205; telephone: 312-353-6354; Marc Tuchman, USEPA Great Lakes National 
Program Office--G-9J, 77 West Jackson Street, Chicago, Ill. 60604; 
telephone: 312-353-1369; or John Dorkin, USEPA Region 5--WS-16J, 77 
West Jackson Street, Chicago, Ill. 60604; telephone: 312-886-1980.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Proposed discharges of dredged or fill 
material in Great Lakes Waters must be evaluated to determine the 
potential environmental impacts of such activities. Specifically, 
Section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, Public 
Law 92-500, as amended by the CWA, Public Law 95-217, requires that the 
discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the U.S. be 
permitted by the CE. EPA has the primary role in developing the 
environmental guidelines--the Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines 
(Guidelines)--in conjunction with the CE, by which permit applications 
must be evaluated. The Guidelines are published at 40 CFR Part 230. 
Fundamental to the Guidelines is the precept that dredged or fill 
material should not be discharged into the aquatic ecosystem, unless it 
can be demonstrated that such a discharge will not have an unacceptable 
adverse impact either individually or in combination with known and/or 
probable impacts of other activities affecting the ecosystems of 
concern.
    Dredged material testing is part of the larger evaluation of a 
proposed discharge activity to determine its compliance with the 
Guidelines. Sections 230.60 and 230.61 of the Guidelines provide the 
basis for certain contaminant-related factual determinations regarding 
the potential environmental effects of a proposed discharge. The draft 
Great Lakes Manual provides regional guidance on the testing provision 
of the Guidelines, supplementing the draft National Manual which was 
noticed for comment in the Federal Register on July 21, 1994 (59 FR 
37234). The manuals detail the physical, chemical, and biological 
evaluation procedures outlined in Secs. 230.60 and 230.61, including 
technical guidance on sampling and handling, quality assurance, 
chemical and physical analysis, and biological effects testing. The 
draft Great Lakes Manual contains more specific information for the 
Great Lakes system, including detailed bioassay test protocols. 
Conclusions reached utilizing the manuals will be used to make factual 
determinations of the potential environmental effects of a proposed 
discharge of dredged material.
    The final Great Lakes Manual will be published in approximately 6 
months after review and consideration of the comments received on this 
draft and in coordination with the development of the final National 
Manual.

    Dated: December 7, 1994.
Valdas Adamkus,
Regional Administrator, Region 5.
[FR Doc. 94-30947 Filed 12-16-94; 8:45 am]
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