693 
regularly, with the increases becoming larger in recent years as new 
advanced treatment plants became operational. The annual dumping rate 
in 1980 was about twice that of the 1960s. Even larger quantities of 
sewage sludge are projected for the 1980s. These recent and projected 
increases are related primarily te upgrading the degree of sewage treatment, 
including treatment of some previously untreated discharges. It should 
be noted that due to delays in the construction and budgeting, it is 
quite possible that the EPA projected 1987 value may not be reached 
until the turn of the century. As the improved and new treatment plants 
become operational, the amounts of raw sewage released daily through 
outfalls into the Hudson-Raritan estuary (New York Harbor area) should 
decrease. This point is important when considering overall sewage- 
related inputs to the Bight in relation to other waste inputs. As the 
amount of sewage sludge dumped in the Bight increases, the input of 
sewage-related materials from the estuary to the Bight decreases, if all 
other factors remain constant. 
The character of dumped sewage sludge varies with the myriad of 
inputs to individual treatment plants. Sewage sludge reflects the 
makeup of the area served by a plant, and includes urban runoff and 
industrial waste. The quantity and quality of sewage sludge are 
dependent on the cyclical and periodic nature of human and manufacturing 
activities, the processes used by the plant, and the efficiency of plant 
operation (Stanford et al., 1981). 
In addition, sewage sludge may be further treated, such as by 
dewatering, with an associated change in physical characteristics. As 
the quality of inputs to a sewage treatment plant improves, through 
pretreatment or elimination of some materials, the quality of the 
resulting sludge improves. 
2.4. Impacts Attributable to Ocean Dumping of Sewage Sludge at 
12-Mile Site 
Delineating those effects directly attributable to ocean 
dumped sewage sludge are quite difficult because: 1) the small 
