307 



methods should then take place by EPA, Congress, and the affected 

 States and implementation begin within the recommended 5-year 

 interim ocean dumping authorization. 



(c) The enactment by Congress of user fees for ocean disposal at 

 the 12-mile site. The fees should be tied to the 5-year interim ocean 

 disposal authorization and designed to provide a framework for 

 final resolution of the disputed issues. A fee structure should be es- 

 tablished to accomplish the following purposes: 



One. Provide for a multimedia assessment under the NEPA 

 format, 



Two. Continue monitoring and surveillance by EPA, the Coast 

 Guard and NOAA, 



Three. Conduct research on the impact of ocean disposal of 

 sewage sludge, 



Four. Conduct research on land-based sludge management and 

 disposal technologies applicable to the New York/northern New 

 Jersey metropolitan area, and 



Five. Help finance facilities necessary for implementation of the 

 adopted long-term sludge disposal method. 



At the fee levels we recommend, a fixed percentage of the fees, 

 between 10 and 15 percent, should be collected by EPA and be ade- 

 quate for the purposes above. The remainder of the fees should be 

 levied but not collected by the Federal Government. Rather, we be- 

 lieve the fees should be placed in special trust accounts established 

 by each of the sewerage agencies and dedicated for the financing of 

 long-term sludge disposal methods. The funds could be drawn upon 

 by the sewerage agency to finance the selected long-term sludge 

 disposal option. 



The user fees should be graduated over the 5-year period to 

 lessen the economic impact on the industrial users and communi- 

 ties within the service area. The fee structure should be sufficient 

 in size to accomplish the Federal purposes and make a meaningful 

 contribution to a facilities financing program. A fee tied to a por- 

 tion of the estimated short-term cost differential from dumping at 

 the 12-mile site versus the 106-mile site may be an equitable start- 

 ing point. 



(d) Within one year of reauthorization of the MPRSA, the pro- 

 mulgation of interim sewage sludge quality standards. The stand- 

 ards could be developed through a regional rulemaking process in 

 which EPA would invite technical participation by New Jersey and 

 New York. The interim sludge quality standards should speed up 

 implementation of industrial pretreatment programs consistent 

 with section 307 of the Clean Water Act by giving the sewer au- 

 thorities a target to shoot at. The standards may also vary for 

 ocean disposal versus on-land disposal. The interim standards 

 should be tied to a 4-year compliance schedule designed to improve 

 the quality of the sludges to the point of expanding treatment and 

 disposal options. 



(e) Continued direction by Congress for EPA to develop and pro- 

 mulgate national categorical pretreatment standards for industries 

 to implement. 



(f) Direction by Congress that EPA develop and promulgate na- 

 tional ambient air quality standards for heavy metals and toxic or- 



