139 
A combination of inflation and the Criteria implementation have resulted in a de- 
cline in dredging and disposal operations since 1978. The most dramatic decline as a 
result of Criteria implementation is evidenced in non-Corps projects. Potential 
permit applicants have hesitated from submitting ocean disposal requests for a vari- 
ety of reasons which relate to the implementation and application of the Ocean 
Dumping Criteria. A significant decline in permit applications was evidenced in 
1979 and 1980. It is believed that the following concerns with the Criteria have 
chiefly been responsbile for the noted decline: 
(1) The applicants’ uncertainty of knowing what information is required for deci- 
sion making; (2) How decisions are reached based upon testing information; (3) What 
the time frames are for decision making; and (4) The high cost of bioassay and bioac- 
cumulation testing. 
Mr. Carney. What do you do with the 5 or 10 percent that is not 
the type of spoils that are acceptable? 
Colonel SmiTH. Some is clean sand, like inlet dredging, where we 
nourish beaches directly with it. We place it back onto the beach 
directly or put it back into the littoral drift which will indirectly 
place it on the beach. In other areas, where we or the applicant 
can find an upland site—Liberty State Park in New York Harbor 
is a good example where dredging was done by the State of New 
Jersey—the material was, in fact, deposited directly on Liberty 
State Park. 
Mr. Carney. I have been handed my notice, I will yield back to 
the Chair and take the second round. 
Thank you. 
Mr. D’Amours. Mr. Hughes? 
Mr. HuGues. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Dr. Byrne 
and General Gay. 
First, General Gay, in the New York Harbor I know that we 
have a tremendous problem and I know that you have some studies 
underway trying to identify land-based alternatives to the dumping 
of what is certainly a less than desirable content of sludge, the 
sediment that comes out of the New York Harbor. How much of 
that content will be reduced as we reduce the dumping of raw 
sewage into the Hudson? Has anybody ever looked at that figure to 
see if it is going to be significantly reduced as we bring on line 
more waste-water treatment plants? 
General Gay. I would like to ask Dr. Engler to answer that ques- 
tion. 
Dr. ENGLER. Mr. Hughes, we have no experience, in that regard, 
in the New York area. An area where we do have experience is 
San Francisco Bay where we have had complete control of waste- 
water discharges. We have seen heavy metal—toxic heavy metal— 
content decreasing, in some cases, in orders of magnitude, because 
the sedimentation process in rivers and estuaries continues to 
occur. In San Francisco Bay, the sediment is clean material. It in- 
termixes, dilutes, and covers the older contaminated material, and, 
in fact, you have a much cleaner environment. Theoretically, this 
would happen in New York eventually. How long it would take it 
would be impossible to say. 
Mr. Hucues. And you do not know what percentage. Obviously, a 
lot of the hard metals are due from run off into the Harbor. 
Dr. ENGLER. Yes sir, from industrial input, sanitary outfall and 
so on. 
Mr. Huaues. So, you do not have any breakdowns on the New 
York Harbor area. 
