Effects of Dredging on Adjacent Waters

Abstract

The results of the data collection program conducted by the New Orleans District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in response to implementation of Section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendment of 1972 and Section 103 of the Ocean Dumping Act are summarized. The results of data collection during maintenance dredging are presented. Dispersion studies conducted during cutterhead pipeline dredging, an ocean dumping operation, and agitation dredging are described, and the results are summarized. Specific conclusions reached as a result of each phase of the data collection program are presented, and it is generally concluded that the material dredged during these investigations did not present a hazardous waste disposal problem, as dilution was rapid and increased concentrations of pollutants were confined to the disposal area or mixing zone.