149 



PP:ee 



10-9^92 



amended). As such, Dr. Swanson is a noted authority in ocean 

 pollution assessment, in particular with respect to the New York 

 Bight area. His testim ony clearly and concisely summarizes 

 available knowledge regarding the adverse environmental impact 

 of the City's sludge dumping activities. A copy of Dr. 

 Swanson 's testimony is annexed. heretcas ZxhibLt A. 



5. Dr. Swanson accurately articulated the variety of 

 adverse impacts caused by the City's sludge dumping. (Ex. A, 

 pp. 4-17.) Among the items he discussed, the following are, in 

 my view , extremely important : 



a) Bacterial contamination in the New York 

 Bight Apex, caused in part by sewage sludge dumping, has resulted 

 in the closure of all shellfish beds within 6 miles of the 

 sewage sludge dump site since 1970. The Food and Drug Administrat: 

 (FDA) extended this ban in 1974 to areas to the north and west 

 of the original closure site, so that the closed area extends 

 all the way to the New Jersey and New York City beaches.* One 

 protozoan genus, Acanthamoeba , has been identified in the 

 vicinity of the dump site and at monitoring stations to the 

 north of it. A pathogenic species, A. culbertsoni , has been 

 isolated from sewage-associated sediments off New York. As 

 noted by Dr. Swanson, "Although it has not been demonstrated 

 whether sewage-related materials are the source of the 

 Acanthamoeba that infect the dumps ite and adjacent sewage 

 -impacted areas, it is apparent that such amoebae are potential 

 residents of ocean sediments where bacteria, including those of 

 the coliform group, are available as food." (Ex. A, p. 13.) 

 Additionally sewage sludge represents an important source of 

 pathogens to the Apex, including bacteria, viral particles, 

 fungi, and various parasites. (Ex. A, p. 7). For example EFA, 

 in studies conducted in 1S75, isolated several viruses in waters 

 at the dump site, including Coxsackie (32, B3 , B4, B5 ) , 



" Data provided by the City indicate that fecal coliform 

 levels in its sludges ranged from 20 to 790 MPM/100 2I during 



