54 
THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA STUDIES OF MUNICIPAL EFFLUENTS FROM OCEAN 
OUTFALLS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED TO SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS OF EPA’‘s 
301(H) WAIVER PROGRAM. THE AGENCY HAS TENTATIVELY DETERMINED THAT 
IMPACTS OF LESS THAN SECONDARY TREATED DISCHARGES IN THAT AREA WILL NOT 
ADVERSELY AFFECT THE MARINE ECOSYSTEM. MUCH OF THE OCEANOGRAPHIC AND 
GEOLOGICAL DATA WE ARE OBTAINING IN THE 301(H) PROCESS WILL ALSO BE 
USEFUL IN ASSESSING THE IMPACTS OF THE OCEAN DISPOSAL OF SEWAGE SLUDGE- 
DrepGep MATERIAL 
THE OCEAN DISPOSAL OF MOST DREDGED MATERIAL HAS BEEN A GENERALLY 
ACCEPTED PRACTICE- Over 400 MILLION CUBIC YARDS MUST BE DISPOSED OF 
ANNUALLY AND APPROXIMATELY 15 PERCENT GOES INTO THE OCEAN- 
EPA AND THE Corps oF ENGINEERS HAVE CONDUCTED EXTENSIVE STUDIES ON 
DREDGED MATERIAL DISPOSAL SITES- OUR STUDIES OF THESE SITES HAVE 
CONCLUDED THAT THE DISPOSAL OF UNCONTAMINATED DREDGED MATERIAL AND 
MATERIAL THAT IS SIMILAR TO THE NATURAL SEDIMENTS AT A SITE HAVE 
MINIMAL IMPACT ON THE OCEAN: SOME OF THE OBSERVED EFFECTS HAVE 
INCLUDED PERIODIC SMOTHERING OF BENTHIC FAUNA, TEMPORARY INCREASES IN 
CONCENTRATIONS OF SUSPENDED SOLIDS, AND SHORT-TERM DISPLACEMENT OF FISH 
DURING DISPOSAL OPERATIONS- SUCH IMPACTS ARE UNAVOIDABLE BUT, WITH 
PROPER SITING, POSE NO THREAT OF SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL 
DEGRADATION. 
