the volume of the dumped waste, certain chemicals exist naturally in such 

 minute amounts in the receiving waters, that their concentrations are greatly 

 affected by the concentrations in the wastes. Additionally, sediment and 

 water quality characteristics of the area may be affected, over the long 

 term, by chemical reactions at the sediment-water interface. Such reactions 

 could lead to temporal and spatial changes in the aqueous concentrations 

 of various chemicals. Resulting changes would be difficult to assess with- 

 out continuous and far more extensive studies than those completed in the 

 New York Bight. 



The work by SUNY-SB and SHL on the chemical characteristics of the 

 wastes following deposition should be regarded as preliminary and largely 

 inconclusive (SAC, 1972). A large part of the water chemistry conducted 

 by the SHL on phosphorus, nitrate, total iron, dissolved oxygen, chorophyll- 

 a, and heavy metals, is presented in relatively undigestive form. Both 

 the SUNY-SB and SHL studies show differences in the size and shape of the 

 waste disposal areas, suggesting that the uses of total carbon distribution 

 or percent organic content are inadequate to define the lateral extent of 

 the waste deposits (SAC, 1972). The boundaries of the disposal areas are 

 diffuse and are difficult to determine. A better method might have been 

 used. Sediment particle size distribution, for example, would have been 

 more helpful in mapping the disposal areas. An adequate coring program, 

 and a study of the vertical distribution of heavy metals might have been 

 more appropriate in defining the depth of the waste deposits. 



Regardless of the indicated limitations of the chemical studies in the 

 Bight, it can be safely concluded, in qualitative terms, that ocean dumping 

 has changed the water and sediment characteristics of the dumping grounds 

 and adjacent areas, and that measured concentrations of certain variables, 

 especially heavy metals, bacteria and organics, exceed EPA permissible 

 limits. The adverse effect is more pronounced near the bottom-sea inter- 

 face. 



In the following sections, individual water and sediment quality char- 

 acteristics in the Bight are discussed in relation to the effects of ocean 

 diomping in the area. 



a. Temperature . Temperature standards have been set to control man- 

 made temperature changes in closed bodies of water. No maximum water 

 temperature standards have been set for the open coastal environments, 

 but the National Technical Advisory Committee of EPA (NTAC) in its report 

 (EPA, 1972) recommends that monthly maximum daily temperatures, not be 

 raised by more than 4°F from September through May and by no more than 

 1.5°F from June thorugh August. Waste disposal in the Bight has not 

 created any known water-temperature problems. The relatively small volume 

 of the wastes and rapid dispersion and dilution preclude any lasting tem- 

 perature effects on sediment and water quality. 



b. gH. Water quality standards for acidity or alkalinity are expressed 

 by an index of the hydrogen ion activity (pH) which is an indicator of 

 these properties and not a measure of either. 



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