Detroit District Perspective on CDF Performance

The Detroit District, Corps of Engineers is responsible for 95 navigation projects on the Great Lakes in the States of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. The District has been using Confined Disposal Facilities (CDFs) for placement of contaminated dredged material since the 1970s. Several harbors are contaminated with heavy metals and PCBs and most of this material has been placed in the CDFs during that time. Continued dredging and lower contaminant loading into the waterway system has resulted in cleaner dredging material being placed in the upper layers of many CDFs more recently. In addition, the Detroit District is reviewing alternatives to enhance biodegradation, to optimize capping requirements and to reduce exposure pathways at several CDF sites.