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Despite the significant increase in funds and programs to reduce 
pollution in the New York Bight, no significant improvement in water 
quality can be expected until the mid-70's. Complete secondary 
treatment for New York City and the Passaic Valley Sanitation Com- 
mission is not likely to be fully operable until 1976. Additional 
pollution treatment facilities in other communities tributary to 
the Bight also will not be ready until the mid-70's. Further, even 
with completion of currently proposed pollution abatement programs, 
conditions in the inner Bight are not likely to be satisfactory 
from a water quality standard viewpoint and are not likely to satisfy 
the general public. Clearly, the problem needs substantially more 
study. 
Proposed Gateway National Recreation Area: An objective of 
the Ad Hoc Committee was to evaluate any potential threat to the 
proposed Gateway National Recreation Area and other beaches in 
the inner Bight from the sludge disposal sites. The proposed 
Gateway National Recreation Area is a first step in a major new 
national conservation effort to bring parks to the people. 
Gateway would consist of five units totaling nearly 20,000 
acres of land and water. These include Sandy Hook in New Jersey 
and Jamaica Bay, Great Kills, Hoffman-Swinburne Islands, and 
Breezy Point in New York. When completely developed, Gateway 
would be capable of serving nearly 50 million visitors annually. 
Only by visiting these waterfront expanses can one catch their 
true appeal and appreciate their great recreation potential. 
The chief characteristics of the five units are 
Breezy Point - a sea-washed peninsula with 4% miles of 
ocean beach. Its 1,350 land acres are presently shared 
by two city parks, Fort Tilden and a privately owned 
residential community. When completed, this site would 
provide swimming, fishing, picnicking, and play space 
as well as cultural and educational complexes for up to 
280,000 people a day. 
Sandy Hook - an historic peninsula with six miles of 
ocean beach. Almost all of its 1,700 land. acres is 
Department of Defense property, 745 of which are leased 
to New Jersey for Sandy Hook State Park. A NIKE site 
and Fort Hancock comprise most of the Hook north of the 
park. Excellent surf fishing and rolling waters for 
surfing and swimming characterize the area. The unit 
ultimately could accomodate 180,000 visitors a day in 
facilities similar to, but less intensive than, those 
proposed for Breezy Point. 
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