In November 2005, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York approved a Consent Decree between EPA and General Electric Company (GE) under which GE will, inter alia, perform the first phase (Phase 1) of remedial dredging and construct the sediment processing facility needed for the remedial action selected in EPA's February 1, 2002 Record of Decision (ROD) for the Hudson River PCBs Site. The Consent Decree requires GE to perform Phase 1 according to an EPA-approved design, and in accordance with work plans and other documents to be submitted by GE, and approved by EPA, under the Consent Decree. Following GEÂs completion of the Phase 1 dredging, the dredging-to-date will be evaluated by an independent peer review panel, which will consider possible changes to the engineering performance standards that were established by EPA. EPA will consider the conclusions of the peer review panel and determine whether changes to the performance standards should be made and will inform GE of any modifications that would be required during Phase 2 of the dredging program. GE is then to notify EPA as to whether it will implement Phase 2 of the dredging pursuant to the Consent Decree. If the company agrees to perform Phase 2, the work will be carried out under the terms of the Consent Decree. EPA has reserved all of its enforcement authorities to compel GE to perform Phase 2 if the company does not agree to do Phase 2 under the Consent Decree. The Phase 2 dredging is