2 that the New York Bigjit dumping grounds, in 1968, received roughly 40% 

 of the waste materials disposed in the Atlantic or roughly 27% of the to- 

 tal for the U. S. In 1968, however, the quantity disposed of by ocean 

 dumping in the Bight was in excess of the yearly average. 



b . History and Description of Ocean Dumping Sites in the Bight . The 

 disposal areas in the Atlantic Ocean off the entrance to New York Harbor 

 were established by the Supervisor of New York Harbor under authority of 

 Section 1 of the Act of Congress approved 29 June 1888 (33 U.S.C. 411). 

 (Figure 1). The disposal areas for mud, cellar dirt, stone, and wrecks 

 were established many years ago in locations where it was considered that 

 they would not be hazardous to navigation. 



The disposal area for sewer sludge was selected in 1924 to avoid 

 interference with navigation and to avoid offensive discoloration and 

 solids washing up on the beaches. 



The waste acid disposal area was established in April 1948 after de- 

 tailed discussions with the Interstate Sanitation Commission, the New 

 Jersey State Departments of Health and Fish 5 Game, the New York State 

 Departments of Conservation and Health, the Commercial and Sport Fish- 

 eries Bureaus of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Food and Drug 

 Administration of the U. S. Department of Health, and the Atlantic States 

 Marine Fisheries Commission. 



A brief description of the disposal grounds and their use, condensed 

 from Wuesterfeld (1968), is as follows: 



(1) Mud Dumping Ground : is located at a point not less than 7 

 nautical miles bearing 120 True from Sandy Hook Light at Latitude 40° 

 23' 48" North and Longitude 73° 51' 21" West. Material dredged from the 

 channels, anchorages and vessel berths in the port areas of the Bight, 

 is disposed of in this area. The material is transported in dump scows 

 owned and operated by dredging and marine construction contractors and 

 in Corps of Engineers seagoing hopper dredges. 



(2) Cellar Dirt Dumping Ground : is located at a point not less 

 than 9 nautical miles bearing 118 30' True from Sandy Hook Light at 

 Latitude 40° 22' 53" North and Longitude 73° 48' 40" West. The material 

 disposed of in this area consists primarily of earth and rock from cel- 

 lar excavations and broken concrete, rubble and other non-floatable 

 debris from building demolition and highway construction work originat- 

 ing in the Borough of Manhattan. The material is transported to this 

 area in dump scows owned by marine contractors and towing companies. 



(3) Sewer Sludge Dumping Ground : is located offshore of a 

 point not less than 11 nautical miles, 103° True from Sandy Hook Light 



at Latitude 40° 25' 04" North and Longitude 73° 44' 53" West. The sewage 

 wastes are either in raw or treated state or are in a digested form. 

 Sewage wastes are disposed of at this dumping ground by the City of New 



