Terms of Reference for the Management and Disposal of Dredged Material

While recognising the need for dredging activities for the proper operation of local ports and harbours, there is an equally important need to ensure that activities arising from related actions are sustainable and not detrimental to the environment. Dredging and dredged material treatment and disposal thus requires adequate planning, design and management to avoid the negative impacts, which may arise through inadequate handling of contaminated dredged material.

The aim of the Terms of Reference for the Management and Disposal of Dredged Material is to provide clear and consistent standards and criteria for the assessment of dredged material in order to facilitate and improve decision making for its management and disposal as part of the relevant permitting regimes. Application of these standards and criteria would contribute to the achievement of regional and EU policy objectives, particularly with respect to the prevention of contamination of the marine environment.

This document addresses the disposal of dredged material, with a focus on the management of contaminated sediments. It does not address the assessment processes required to inform decision-making processes related to the dredging activity itself nor the processes or practices to be employed to address environmental impacts associated with such activity.