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Prepared Statement of Paul Arbesman, Deputy Commissioner 



Chairman D 'Amours, Chairman Breaux, and members of the Subcommittees, 

 I am Paul Arbesman, Deputy Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of 

 Environmental Protection. I am pleased to be here today on behalf of the 

 State of New Jersey to discuss a set of recommendations developed by the State 

 Department of Environmental Protection addressing the ongoing controversy 

 associated with the disposal of sewage sludge at the 12 mile site within the 

 New York Bight Apex. 



Dealing with the disposal of sewage sludge from the New York- 

 Northern New Jersey metropolitan area is a real challenge in ocean waste 

 management. There are currently nine municipalities and sewerage authorities 

 in New York and New Jersey that dispose of sewage sludge in the ocean. Those 

 nine current ocean dumpers create over 300,000 dry tons of sludge each year. 



The Congressional ly mandated 1981 ocean dumping phase-out has not 

 been implemented. Litigation occurred and the results have compounded the 

 issues and confused the decision-making process. Congress, EPA, the States, 

 the current ocean dumpers, and environmental groups all share the frustration 

 that the current predicament has brought. The solution requires the coopera- 

 tion and necessary 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 decision making 

 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 decision-making void 



as dumping continues 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 following program: 



a) The designation by Congress of the 12 Mile Sewage Sludge 

 Disposal Site as the ocean disposal site for current ocean 

 dumpers of sludge for a period of up to five years from the 

 date of reauthorization of the Marine Protection, Research, 

 and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA). 



