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still a threat to humans and the environment. Scientists have reported non- 

 carcinogenic effects from dioxin at low doses and an ability to cause cancer in 

 humans at high doses' 4 . 

 6. Problems to come 



The management of contaminated dredged materials are by no means 

 limited to the New York-New Jersey area. Similar situations are developing or 

 have developed in other parts of the country, particularly around urban harbors. 

 These are a few examples. 



i. Boston and New Bedford Harbors 



These two harbors contain sediments contaminated with a variety of 

 pollutants, but most highly contaminated with heavy metals and PCB's 

 respectively. The massachusetts Bay Disposal Site off the coast in 300 feet of 

 water near Stellwagen Bank has been designated for the disposal of clean 

 sediments only. EPA Region I has been admirably consistent in opposing the 

 disposal of any contaminated sediments at that site. Therefore, there will have to 

 be special areas for disposing of contaminated materials dredged from these two 

 harbors, it will also be essential to minimize the dredging at least until 

 decontamination technologies are available. 



ii. Oakland harbor and other San Francisco Bay Dredging 



The disposal of polluted dredged materials from projects in San Francisco 

 Bay presents serious problems that have been recognized since the 1980's. Deep 

 ocean disposal is being viewed as the solution to the problem, and the EPA is 

 moving to designate a deep ocean disposal site, which it appears is intended to 

 receive contaminated sediments. We do not believe that the disposal of 

 contaminated sediments would be appropriate within the context of the ocean 

 Dumping Act. Such a designation should follow the model of the Massachusetts 

 Bay Disposal Site which excludes contaminated materials. 



The disposal of dredged materials from Oakland Harbor has been a 

 contentious issue since 1988 and has still not been resolved. The opening project 

 for Oakland harbor contains contaminated sediments, some of which have been 

 proposed for ocean disposal. Part of the dredging project has been delayed 



interview of William Farland. Director of EPA's Office of Health and 

 Environmental Assessment in Daily Environment Reporter. October 1. 1992. 

 Bureau of National Affairs. 



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