A Process for Setting, Managing, and Monitoring Environmental Windows for Dredging Projects Special Report 262 (2002) / Chapter Skim
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Executive Summary
Executive Summary
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For example, windows can prolong completion of dredging projects, delay project deadlines, and increase risk to dredging personnel by shifting dredging to periods of potentially inclement weather and sea states. Because both recommendations to impose environmental windows and the cumulative economic impact of their application are increasing, USACE requested that the National Research Council's Transportation Research BoardMarine Board form a committee of experts to conduct a workshop to explore the decision-making process
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Participants represented ports, federal and state environmental regulatory agencies, environmental interest groups, dredg ing operations, and relevant academic fields. Breakout sessions were devoted to such topics as how to evaluate trade-offs between environmental benefits and operational costs, the strengths and weaknesses of current decision-making processes, the scientific and technical justifications used in establishing win dows, and dredging technologies designed to minimize environmental impact.
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Step 2D. Conduct a systematic evaluation of proposed dredging projects, as well as existing and proposed window applications, and rank the projects in terms of such factors as economic importance and sensi tivity to timing.
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Step 3A. The Science Team identifies biological resources predicted to be adversely affected by each dredging project and provides this infor mation to the Engineering Team.
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Step 6 The Stakeholder Group reviews the season's dredging activities to eval uate monitoring data and to identify changes that can be incorporated to refine future dredging and disposal activities. demonstrating how the proposed methodology could be integrated into existing processes.
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The decision-making process for managing dredging and disposal operations to achieve sustainable water ways and to protect natural resources, both living and nonliving, should be broadly based. Management Tools Environmental windows are one of a number of management and technologi cal tools that can -- when properly selected and applied -- not only reduce the en vironmental impacts of dredging and disposal operations but also increase the efficiency and effectiveness of those operations.
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Scientific Data and Information A series of technical syntheses encompassing field and laboratory studies of environmental stressors, biological resources, and specific life-history stages affected by dredging and disposal operations needs to be undertaken and regularly updated. These syntheses should focus on integrating and interpreting local and regional data and information and placing them in a larger context.
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A special effort should be made to identify existing tools for structured decision making in complex socio political situations and to evaluate their applicability to the process of setting, managing, and monitoring environmental windows for dredging. One or two of the most promising tools should be selected for additional testing, research, and refinement aimed at enhancing their acceptability and use in the windows-setting process.
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