699 
g. Strong, vocal opposition from fishermen and some hoaters 
is probable. The public is likely to perceive the situation 
as a despoiling of yet another area of the coastal ocean. 
h. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will probably 
close an extensive area to shellfishing. FDA closures are 
based on environmental factors as well as on the type of waste 
inputs to an area. Higher average current velocities at the 
65-mile site, compared to the 12-mile site, would suggest that 
a larger area of closure would be required. 
2.7. The 106-Mile Site (196 km) 
The 106-Mile site, beyond the edge of the continental shelf, 
overlies 1,700-2,800 m of water. It is 196 Km (106 n mi) southeast 
of Ambrose Light Tower and is the closest deepwater location to New 
York Harbor. The flux of seawater available for dilution in the 
upper mixed layer is about one million times the projected sludge 
input fluxes, allowing for sludge dilution to near background 
levels. Unlike the presently used 12-Mile site, there are no 
navigational hazards at the 106-Mile site that might interfere with 
the dumping process. Barges could discharge waste slowly and thus 
achieve greater initial dilution and subsequent dispersion. 
The disadvantage to the 106-Mile site is its distance from 
shore. Use of this site would have greater economical feasibility 
if the sludge were dewatered so that the volume requiring transport 
is considerably reduced. Ninety-five percent or more of the present 
annual sludge volume (of six million cubic meters) is water. This 
would require four barge dumps per day if each barge could carry 
4,000 m> of sludge. The total volume could be decreased by a 
factor of four and daily treks to the dumpsite could be decreased 
to one, if sludge were dewatered to a level of 80% water. 
Sewage sludge dumping at the 106-Mile site would probably not 
cause persistent biological effects in the water column. Dewatering 
