Ocean Dumping Of Sludge In New York Bight

Dumping of sewage sludge, dredge spoils, and toxic wastes in the coastal waters of New York and New Jersey is an old practice. In the 1970s ocean dumping became an important environmental issue, the subject of legislation and litigation, and of scientific inquiry. After a decade of study and debate, the basic issues of the environmental effects of ocean dumping and its impact on the ocean and surrounding coastal region remain unresolved. This nontechnical review of ocean dumping issues looks at the development of the metropolitan coastal region from a societal view, particularly in how we have used the waters of the New York Bight. What is being dumped and the current state of our knowledge on the environmental effects of ocean dumping are closely examined, as well as legislative and legal issues surrounding contemporary court actions.

The report summarizes short-term studies on effects of ocean dumping in the New York Bight. The studies included hydrographic, geological, chemical, biological investigations, and a feasibility study for a remote-controlled electronic sensing system to detect the location and dump status of waste disposal vessels. Circulation patterns were estimated by current meters and by seabed and surface drifters. Chemical analyses were made of the concentration of phosphorus, nitrate, total iron, dissolved oxygen, and chlorophyll-a. Temperature, salinity, turbidity and pH were measured. Sediment samples were analyzed for organic content and the heavy metals; and biological samples for heavy metals and mercury. Included are studies of benthic meiofauna and macrofauna, zooplankton, finfish and bacteria and disposal of sewage sludge, dredge spoils and acid-iron wastes. Findings are presented and analyzed for impact on ecology, water quality, and total environmental effects. (Author).