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<p>Defra is reviewing information provided from the Port of Tyne and other stakeholders
in response to proposals for changes to Action Levels for sea disposal of dredged
sediment, as well as evidence from work carried out by Cefas, and no decision has
yet been made. Officials will continue to engage with stakeholders including those
from the River Tyne to ensure we fully understand the impacts of the proposals for
the region. Before implementing any proposed changes, an impact assessment will be
completed. We will communicate the next steps in the review of Action Levels shortly.</p><p>
</p><p>The sediment transport pathways in the Tyne means that there is both a legacy
contamination issue and transport of pollutants down the catchment where they are
contributing to the issues. Action is therefore being taken via the Water and Abandoned
Metal Mines Programme to control inputs of metals which pollute more than 150kms of
rivers in the Tyne catchment and to alleviate problems in the estuary. This is supported
by our proposed target tackling metal pollution under the Environment Act to reduce
the length of rivers and estuaries polluted by target substances from abandoned metal
mines, which we are currently consulting on.</p>
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