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port. This does not take into account a potential increase in number of permit appli- 
cations. 
Question. When a site is designated for ocean dumping, do we know its capacity 
and what types of wastes it can receive? 
Answer. Before an ocean dumping site is designated, extensive studies are con- 
ducted to determine the potential impacts of dumping a particular type or types of 
material at that site. Whether or not a given site should be designated for disposal 
of a particular waste is determined by the environmental characteristics of the site 
and the demand in that area. Appropriate limits on the types, quantities, and con- 
centrations of wastes which can be dumped at a site are included in the formal site 
designation. More specific limits, based on the capacity of the site, are incorporated 
into the permits issued for that site. 
Question. Pursuant to the recent New York case, will you be able to prove there 
will be unreasonable degradation in a particular area if you think a site should not 
be designated? 
Answer. To the extent that data are available on a particular site, we will be able 
to assess actual impacts of dumping and determine whether or not additional dump- 
ing may be done at the particular site without causing degradation beyond the 
levels specified as acceptable in the regulations. In selecting new sites we will care- 
fully examine the relevant characteristics of proposed sites and of several alterna- 
tives, and will designate for use only those sites with acceptable characteristics. It is 
not necessary to show that unreasonable degradation would result from dumping at 
a site in order to not designate that site, but a site would not be designated for ma- 
terials if such dumping would cause unreasonable degradation. 
Question. Do you need more funds appropriated to complete a study on a more 
comprehensive approach to waste management? What funding is available to con- 
duct the comprehensive study of sludge disposal options? 
Answer. It does not appear that additional appropriations will be necessary to 
prepare regulations and guidance under section 405 of the Clean Water Act, which 
will provide a framework for comparing the risks of ocean disposal of industrial and 
municipal treatment sludges to disposal options involving the land and air. 
The EPA Comptroller has recently reprogrammed up to a total of $480,000 for the 
current effort. This sum will be added to other funding associated with the Agency’s 
previously planned sludge management work under its research, solid waste, water 
and ocean programs. 
Question. Should the oceans be considered as a disposal medium for all types of 
wastes? 
Answer. The oceans should be considered as a potential disposal medium for some 
types of wastes. The assimilative capacity of the oceans regarding man-made organ- 
ics is not well understood, and so wastes containing significant quantities of persist- 
ent man-made organics should not be considered for ocean dumping. Of course, the 
ocean is not a viable disposal medium for materials the disposal of which is prohibit- 
ed by the Ocean Dumping Act. 
Question. Are there any major environmental problems currently associated with 
at-sea incineration? 
Is this activity expected to increase and, if so, for what types of materials? 
Answer. Incineration at sea was first used in Europe in the late 1960’s as a tech- 
nique for destruction of certain types of liquid organic wastes. The technique pro- 
vides virtually complete destruction of the wastes and results in emission products 
that are compatible with the marine environment and have no adverse impacts. The 
first incineration at sea activities in the United States took place in 1974 and 1975. 
These were conducted on a research basis with extensive monitoring of the stack 
emissions and the ocean near the incinerator vessel. Destruction efficiencies were in 
excess of 99.99 percent, and no effects on the marine environment were found. In 
1977, Herbicide Orange was incinerated in the Pacific Ocean, also on a research 
basis, with equally high destruction efficiencies. 
Incineration is an environmentally sound method of disposing of organochlorine 
wastes and other organic wastes which can be completely destroyed at high tem- 
peratures. This includes organic materials which have a heat content in excess of 
6000 Btu/lb. We anticipate that there will be an increase in this type of disposal 
activity in the future. 
Question. Section 205 of the Ocean Dumping Act authorizes EPA to do a study to 
evaluate technological options for removal of heavy metals and other materials 
from the New York City sludge and to examine options available to reduce the pol- 
lutants entering the system. Have you completed this study which was due July 1, 
1981, and of not, why? 
