222 



Surveillance at the 60-Mile Site would be costly, since adequate surveil- 

 lance would necessitate the use of shipboard observers, perhaps on every 

 dumping vessel . 



The 1978 FEIS concluded that: 



"There is an increased probability that short dumping, including 

 emergency dumping, will occur. The USCG [United States Coast 

 Guard] will require increased manpower and equipment to provide 

 adequate surveillance and enforcement of dumping regulations" 

 (EPA 1978, p, 205). 



Since 1978, USCG manpower and funding restrictions have substantially 

 reduced the USCG ability to respond to the increased surveillance and 

 enforcement needs anticipated by the 1978 FEIS. 



Based on this update of the 1978 FEIS, it is apparent that dumping of 

 municipal sewage sludges at the 60-Mile Site would not be expected to 

 result in irreversible or unreasonable degradation of the marine envi- 

 ronment. The studies to date continue to support the Agency's 1978 FEIS 

 final conclusions, that, although use of the site for sewage sludge dis- 

 posal is feasible, disposal of sludges currently dumped at the 12-Mile 

 Site should not be permitted at the 60-Mile Site until, and unless, it 

 is shown that the 12-Mile Site cannot safely accommodate more sludge 

 disposal without endangering public health, severely degrading the marine 

 environment, or degrading coastal water quality. 



In the absence of detailed studies of sewage sludge dumping at the 

 50-Mile Site, any dumping of sewage sludge at the 60-Mile Site should be 

 phased in gradually and concomitantly with adequate monitoring. Periodic 

 evalutions of disposal impact, such as required by the existing regula- 

 tions (40 CFR 228.10 228.11), should be performed on a continuing basis 

 throughout the phase-in of any sewage sludge dumping. 



In conclusion, it is recommended that the 60-Mile Site be formally desig- 

 nated for the ocean disposal of municipal sewage sludges which qualify 

 for a special permit. However, this designation should be accompanied by 

 restrictions equivalent to those established in the previous designation 

 of the site: 



"Disposal of sewage sludge at this site shall take place only 



upon a finding by EPA that the existing [12-Mile] site cannot 



safely accomodate any more sewage sludge without endangering 



public health or degrading coastal water quality" (40 CFR 

 228.12). 



B-8 



