220 



fere with these mgrations due to the expected dilution and dispersion 

 and the very srnall spatial extent of the Site relative to the migratory 

 pathways. The commercial harvest of black bass, flounder, lobster, and 

 tilefish is small within the area that could be influenced by sewage 

 sludge dumping at the 50-Mile Site. 



Analysis of NOAA's most comprehensive metal and organic contaminant data- 

 bases generally indicates that tissue concentrations of metals (other 

 than mercury) and organics in biota from the Mew York Sight area, includ- 

 ing the 60-Mile Site, are not significantly higher than those found in 

 other areas of the western Atlantic Ocean (Section 15.2). Also, sewage 

 sludge contributes only 3 percent of the land-derived mercury inputs to 

 the New York Sight. Therefore, given the dilution and dispersion capa- 

 city of the site and the area's relatively low inherent biological 

 productivity, it is unlikely that sewage sludge dumping at the 60-Mile 

 Site would significantly increase the concentration of contaminants in 

 biota in and near the Site. 



Fish Diseases 



It is unlikely that sewage sludge dumping at the 60-Mile Site would 

 affect the incidence of any fish or shellfish diseases. Similarly, 

 because of the number of contaminant inputs into the Clew York Sight apex 

 and the inability to establish sewage sludge as a factor in fish disease 

 etiology, transfer of dumping activities to the 60-Mile Site would not be 

 expected to decrease the incidence of disease within the apex. Contrary 

 to earlier reports, the most comprehensive surveys of fish and shellfish 

 resources from the northeast Atlantic indicated the good health of most 

 of the fish examined (Section 13.11). Fin rot, lymphocystis, and ulcers 

 appeared in only 3.7 percent, 0.16 percent, and 0.20 percent, respec- 

 tively, of the Mew York Bight fish examined (Chapter 13). 



Human Health Risk 



No significant human health risk is likely to be caused by sewage sludge 

 dumping at the 60-Mile Site. As addressed in the 1978 FEIS, risk of 

 accident to vessel crew members would increase if the vessels have to 

 travel to the 60-Mile Site instead of the 12-Mile Site. Contamination 

 of fish and shellfish by metals and organics to levels that are cause for 

 concern for human health would be unlikely to occur. Further, since 

 sewage sludge dumping at the 12-Mile Site has been demonstrated to be a 

 minor source of Sight contaminants (<10 percent), no significant reduc- 

 tions in human health risk are likely to be realized by transferring 

 sewage sludge dumping to the 50-Mile Site. 



Beach pollution by floatables became a public issue following the Long 

 Island beach pollution incident in 1976. Although it is hypothetical ly 

 possible that a small quantity of oils, greases, and/or floatable 

 artifacts discharged at the 60-Mile Site could ultimately reach bathing 

 beaches, it is highly unlikely (Chapter 10). Conversely, since it was 

 concluded following extensive study that sludge dumping at the 12-Mile 

 Site was not the cause of the 1975 incident, removal of sludge dumping 

 f'-om the Sight apex would reduce neither the probability nor the severity 

 of future beach pollution incidents (Chapter 10). 



B-6 



