229 



in the 3ight apex, since extensive research has indicated that sewage 

 sludge dumping is not a causative factor in these events. 



Fisheries and Contamination of 3iota 



It is expected that the dumping of sewage sludges at the 106-Mile Site 

 will have little impact on the recreational and commercial fisheries of 

 the Middle Atlantic Bight, especially since recreational fishing is vir- 

 tually non-existent and commercial fishing is minimal at and near the 

 site (Section 12.3). 



Analysis of NOAA's most comprehensive metal and organic contaminant 

 databases generally indicates that tissue concentrations of metals (other 

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

 ing the 106-iMile Site, are not significantly higher than those found in 

 other areas of the western Atlantic Ocean (Section 15.3). Also, sewage 

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

 the Mew York Bight. Given the dilution and dispersion capacity of the 

 site, it is unlikely that sewage sludge dumping at the 106-Mile Site 

 would significantly increase the concentrations of contaminants in fish 

 and shellfish in and near the site. Furthermore, since concentrations of 

 metals in fish and shellfish tissues within the Bight apex do not differ 

 from the New York Bight as a whole (Section 15.3), it is unlikely that 

 the elimination of sewage sludge dumping at the 12-Mile Site would reduce 

 Bight apex tissue levels. 



Fish Diseases 



It is unlikely that sewage sludge dumping at the 105-Mile Site would 

 affect the incidence of any fish or shellfish diseases within the vicin- 

 ity of the 106-Mila Site. Similarly, because of the number of contami- 

 nant Inputs into the New York Bight apex and because sewage sludge has 

 not been established as a factor In fish disease etiology, transfer of 

 dumping activities to the 106-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, lymphocysti s, and ulcers appeared In only 3.7 

 percent, 0.15 percent, and 0.20 percent, respectively, of the New York 

 Bight fish examined (Chapter 13). 



Human Health Risk 



Mo significant human health risk is likely to be caused by sewage sludge 

 dumping at the 106-M1le Site. As noted in the 1980 FEIS, risk of acci- 

 dent to vessel crew members would Increase if the vessels have to travel 

 to the 106-Mile Site instead of the 12-Mile Site. Contamination of fish 

 and shellfish to levels that are cause for concern for human health are 

 unlikely to occur especially since few commercial species are found In or 

 near the site. Further, since sewage sludge dumping at the 12-Mile Site 

 has been demonstrated to be a minor source of Bight contaminants (<10 

 percent), no i^eductions in human health risk are likely to be realized by 

 transferring sewage sludge dumping to the 106-Mile Site. 



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