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Context and regulatory framework for the management of dredged sediments

Summary

Every year in France, dredging operations are carried out to maintain navigable waterways, restore waterways and/or improve the quality of the aquatic environment. Between 40 and 50 million m3 of dredged material are extracted each year, 90% of which is used to dredge ports. Currently, 90% of dredged material is submerged. The remainder, around seven million m3 of sediment per year, is channelled into land-based management processes. The knowledge and experience acquired in recent years have enabled considerable progress to be made in the management and recovery of dredged sediments. Nevertheless, questions remain, particularly concerning the impact on the ecosystem of sediments deposited on land. In order to provide a context for these initiatives, a review of the regulations governing sediments, and in particular onshore sediment management, has been carried out, with the aim of being as exhaustive as possible. It is presented in a concise and didactic manner, using a number of flowcharts, to make it easier to understand a regulatory context that is often perceived as highly complex by the various players in the sector.

NB1: This document is the first chapter of the RECORD project entitled "Ecological impacts of polluted sediments extracted and deposited in terrestrial environments. Inventory and risk assessment for ecosystems". All the results of this project are included in a final report under reference 14-1023/1A.

NB2: Regulations in this fast-growing field are evolving rapidly. It is therefore important to emphasise that this report reflects the current state of the regulations as at 1 July 2016. Thus, at the time of publication of this document, standards, legislation and their implementation may have changed.

Keywords: Sédiments contaminés, dragage, évaluation des risques pour les écosystèmes (éRé), écosystèmes terrestres, gestion à terre, évolution, comportement, reglementation, polluted sediment, dredging, Ecosystem Risk assessment (ERA), terrestrial ecosystem, onshore management, evolution, behavior, regulation

Publication date: May 2017

Achievement: ILIS - Université de Lille 2

Reference: 14-1023/1B


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