The marine transportation system (MTS) presents negative risks to the environment and positive economic benefits for the American standard of living. Those risks and benefits need to be balanced. Today's risk assessment and risk management models/procedures attempt to quantify available information providing a systematic framework for decision making, and their use in MTS planning should bring long-term health to the economy and to the environment. The risk assessment/management framework as it is applied to the MTS is explained using seven Exhibits: (1) MTS National Conference Recommendations on Environment; (2) Components of Risk Assessment; (3) Sample Regulatory Programs in EPA That Use Risk Assessment; (4) Typical Environmental Considerations for Port Development Projects; (5) Port Operations with Related Environmental Concerns; (6) Potential Impacts from Dredging and Placement of Dredged Material; and (7) Major Factors That Affect Decision Making Risk Management.