Recent studies have indicated that sediment contamination may be linked to adverse impacts in marine biota, and that consumption of marine organisms exposed to contaminated sediments may pose risks to human health. The goals of the sediment quality values study were to evaluate options for sediment management and to identify numerical values for concentrations of chemicals in sediments that appear to be associated with adverse biological effects in Puget Sound. It should also be noted that the sediment quality values presented in the report have been developed using Puget Sound data only. The attached report contains an evaluation of approaches and ranges of chemical values that can be applied in sediment management, but does not identify the specific values that the agencies should adopt for regulation or how these numerical values should be modified for application in specific regulatory programs. It is anticipated that the agencies involved in PSDDA will adopt sediment quality values for use in regulating the disposal of dredged material. PSEP anticipates using quality values as a tool in classifying and prioritizing areas for source control and remedial action, and in establishing discharge limits that can more effectively protect the quality of marine sediment.