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four active dump sites are sumtnarized in Table 2. The quantities of dredged 

 materials, acid wastes, and cellar dirt ocean dumped have gradually 

 declined, for the most part due to a general decline in the economy of the 

 region. The major acid waste generator, NL Industries, shut down its 

 titanium-dioxide facility in Sayreville, New Jersey, in October 1982 and, 

 therefore, is not expected to resume dumping in the foreseeable future, if 

 ever. 



As indicated in Table 1, a large contaminant input to the Bight Apex is 

 associated with the dumping of dredged material. A significant fraction of 

 this contaminant load is sequestered in the mound built up at the dump site 

 over the years and, therefore, is not readily available to marine organisms. 

 Also, since the toxic metal load in dredged materials is generally 

 associated with inorganic materials, it is often inert and not readily 

 available to the biota. _ EPA's present policy with regard to dredged 

 material dumping -in the fright Apex is tc assure no further degradation. We 

 are working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to develop a comprehensive 

 plan to manage the disposal of materials (including contaminated) dredged 

 from channels and berths in the Port of New York and New Jersey. The Corps' 

 $5 million effort, initiated in 1980, will address the technical feasibility 

 of alternative disposal options and is scheduled to be completed in 1985. A 

 draft Environmental Impact Statement addressing these issues was released 

 last month by the Corps' New York District. The implementation of alternate 

 disposal or mitigation (e.g., capping) technology is expected to improve the 

 quality at and near the dump site. 



