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After completing the first phase of dredging PCB-contaminated sediment in the upper Hudson River, EPA released a detailed technical assessment of the work to a panel of independent scientific experts for their review. The EPA report details the effectiveness of the first phase of dredging, as well as the challenges encountered during the first dredging season. It also lays out the Agency's modifications to the engineering performance standards for dredging resuspension, residuals, and productivity proposed for the second phase of the project, set to begin in 2011.

Description:

In February 2002, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA, or EPA) issued a Record of Decision (ROD) (USEPA, 2002) for the Hudson River PCBs Superfund Site (Site). The ROD called for environmental dredging targeting approximately 2.65 million cubic yards (CY) of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-contaminated sediment from the Upper Hudson River (approximately 40 river miles between the former Fort Edward Dam and the Federal Dam at Troy, NY), and monitored natural attenuation of the contamination that may remain in the river after dredging. The ROD stipulated that remedial dredging will be conducted in two phases. Phase 1 dredging was to be implemented at less than full-scale operation, and was to include an extensive monitoring program of all operations. In selecting its cleanup remedy, EPA required establishment of performance standards for resuspension, production rates, and PCB residuals. together called “Engineering Performance Standards for Dredging.” EPA said that these standards would promote accountability and ensure that the cleanup meets the human health and environmental protection objectives set forth in the ROD. The peer-reviewed standards were published in final form in April 2004. The ROD states that dredging equipment and methods of operation were to be selected based on their expected ability to meet the performance standards. The information and experience gained during the first phase of dredging are to be used to evaluate and determine compliance with the performance standards. Further, the data gathered were expected to enable EPA to determine if adjustments are needed to Phase 2 dredging operations or the performance standards. The ROD also states that EPA will continue to monitor, evaluate performance data and make necessary adjustments during the full-scale remedial dredging in Phase 2. General Electric Company (GE) implemented the Phase 1 dredging based on the requirements of the ROD and the 2006 Consent Decree. The purpose of this report is to evaluate the Phase 1 dredging operations with respect to the Engineering Performance Standards, to set forth proposed changes to the Engineering Performance Standards, and to evaluate the experience gained from Phase 1 dredging operations relevant to the issues in the charge to the independent peer review panel that will evaluate this report, and the similar report to be prepared separately by GE. Some of the matters and issues discussed in this report and its appendices are beyond the scope of the peer review. EPA has included such material in the report to inform the public and provide background and contextual information for the Peer Review Panel.

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