76 



It is with respect to ocean dumping that the New York Bight has 

 received its greatest notoriety. Although there are well over 100 active 

 dump sites in the United States, the bulk of this practice of barging 

 municipal and industrial wastes to sea takes place here. 



In the New York Bight this has resulted in substantial environ- 

 mental impact and considerable public concern. 



Dumping is now being regulated under the provisions of the Marine 

 Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972. But regulatory 

 authority will not in itself answer the problems associated with ocean 

 dumping. The alternatives available to the present practices must be 

 considered. 



For example, should incineration of wastes be recommended as an 

 alternative to ocean dumping? If so, air pollution must be taken into 

 account. That seems particularly significant in this metropolitan area, 

 where very stringent measures will be required to meet existing air 

 quality standards. If land disposal is to be adopted as an alternative to 

 ocean dumping, how, where, and at what cost can this be done ? 



Under the best of circumstances, development of alternatives to 

 ocean dumping will take some time. Therefore, at least for the imme- 

 diate future, ocean dumping practices will continue. The question is, 

 how can those practices be conducted to assure minimum impact on 

 the marine environment ? 



Regulatory agencies will have to ask themselves whether to continue 

 to dump the wastes at the present locations for at least some interim 

 period, since present locations are already degraded. Or should these 

 wastes be moved farther out and discharged off the Outer Continental 

 Shelf into deeper, but as yet unimpacted waters? Or should some other 

 alternative sites be utilized? 



These will be difficult choices. But the fact is, the residual wastes 

 requiring ultimate disposal will increase as our waste treatment im- 

 proves in accordance with the requirements of the Federal "Water Pol- 

 lution Control Act and State and local control programs. 



Greater quantities of sludge w^ill develop and in coastal areas the 

 question of ocean dumping or alternatives to ocean dumping will con- 

 tinue to be a pressing one. 



Ocean dumping, however, is just one issue facing decisionmakers in 

 the New York Bight. What about the development of offshore struc- 

 tures — deepwater ports, airport extensions, and nuclear generating 

 facilities? 



What about the development of sand and gravel resources to meet 

 the burgeoning needs of megalopolis for construction materials? "What 

 impact will these uses have on both marine environment and associated 

 land use patterns? 



These decisions will have to be made with respect to an area which 

 has enormous recreatonal use and potential — perhaps best symbolized 

 by the recent establishment of the Gateway National Recreation Area. 

 It is an area of great value for sport and couimercial fishery resources. 

 And it is an ai-ea of great overall ecological importance — both as a 

 natural system and as an environment for man. 



Despite its importance, however, and despite many studies, the New 

 York Bight is also one of our least understood environments. We really 

 know relatively little about its behavior or how it would respond to 

 various man-made alterations. 



