306 

 Mr. D' Amours. Mr. Arbesman. 



STATEMENT OF PAUL ARBESMAN 



Mr. Arbesman. Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, thank 

 you very much. I am Paul Arbesman, deputy commissioner for the 

 New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. I am pleased 

 to be here today in behalf of the State of New Jersey to discuss the 

 set of recommendations that we have developed addressing the on- 

 going controversy associated with disposal of sewage sludge at the 

 12-mile site within the New York Bight Apex. 



The congressionally mandated 1981 ocean dumping phaseout has 

 not been implemented. Litigation occurred and the results have 

 compounded the issues and confused the decisionmaking process. 

 Congress, EPA, the States, the current ocean dumpers, and envi- 

 ronmental groups all share the frustration that the current predic- 

 ament has brought. The solution requires the cooperation and nec- 

 essary action of all affected parties. 



The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection offers 

 a set of recommendations which we believe may form the basis for 

 decisionmaking on disposal of sewage sludge into the New York 

 Bight Apex. The aims of the DEP's proposed strategy are to: 



Resolve temporarily the issues currently in litigation. We believe 

 the litigation has created a decisionmaking void as dumping contin- 

 ues at the 12-mile site. 



Provide a mechanism to make long-term decisions on the use of 

 the ocean, the land, and the air as disposal media for sewage 

 sludge generated by the current ocean dumpers. 



Move immediately to improve the quality of sewage sludge. 



Expand the long-term disposal options by improving the quality 

 of the sludge. 



Provide a funding source to assist in the implementation of long- 

 term sludge disposal options by the affected sewerage authorities 

 and municipalities. 



The approach outlined is meant to support Congress in taking 

 action during the reauthorization process of the Marine Protection, 

 Research, and Sanctuaries Act. We specifically recommend the fol- 

 lowing programs: 



(a) The designation by Congress of the 12-mile sewage sludge dis- 

 posal site as the ocean disposal site for current ocean dumpers of 

 sludge for a period of up to 5 years from the date of reauthoriza- 

 tion of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act 

 [MPRSA]. 



(b) A requirement by Congress that continued use of the 12-mile 

 site be subject to preparation of a comprehensive multimedia as- 

 sessment by EPA in cooperation with the States of New Jersey and 

 New York. The multimedia assessment under the NEPA format 

 should analyze the various land-based alternatives and ocean dis- 

 posal at the 12- 60- and 106-mile sites to determine the most envi- 

 ronmentally acceptable disposal method and the technological, eco- 

 nomic, and legal requirements necessary to produce acceptability. 

 Congress should mandate that the assessment be completed no 

 later than 3 years from the date of reauthorization of the MPRSA. 

 Final decisionmaking on the most acceptable disposal method or 



