News Updates
What's Hot
The water levels of the Great Lakes have dropped about two feet from their levels of a
year ago, in response to lower than normal precipitation in the watersheds of the upper
lakes. Although the current levels are just below their long-term averages, they seem
lower because the Lakes have experienced higher than normal levels for the past 30 years,
including record highs in 1987. The impacts of these low lake levels is expected to be
especially felt by marinas and small boat harbors. The Corps of Engineers is expecting
that the number of permits for dredging are going to double this year. For more
information about the lake levels, go to the
Corps' Great Lakes Region homepage.
The USEPA and Corps of Engineers periodically host seminars to provide training on
dredged material testing and management. The most recent was held in Buffalo, NY in
September 1998. The next Dredged Material Testing & Management is scheduled for
January 11-13, 2000 in San Diego, California. For more information on the seminar, contact
Ms. Billie Skinner at 601-634-3701; e-mail: skinneb@mail.wes.army.mil
The Great Lakes Dredging Team in a
partnership of Federal and State agencies established to be an advocate for timely,
cost-efficient and environmentally responsible dredging on the Great Lakes. Their web site
contains a white paper on the dredged material management decision making process, fact
sheets on confined disposal facilities, and public outreach tools. The Team has developed
a white paper describing the decision making process for dredged material management in
the Great Lakes.
What's Coming
Look for updates on the following at this web site:
- Impacts of recent rulemaking in TSCA and RCRA on dredged material management decisions
- State of Wisconsin efforts to develop criteria for upland beneficial use of dredged
material
- A report to Congress on the status of Great Lakes confined disposal facilities (CDFs)
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