6. Alternate Ocean Dumping Sites 



In the absence of acceptable alternate methods of waste disposal, 

 alternate disposal sites should be selected in areas where dumping can 

 be controlled and potential environmental hazards can be reduced. 

 Stopping dumping at the present grounds and starting dumping at another 

 location in the Bight, cannot be presently justified. Before selecting 

 an alternate dumping site; a comprehensive research program should be 

 undertaken which should include, physical, chemical, biological, and 

 geological studies of alternate dumping grounds. These preliminary in- 

 vestigations should establish basic reference figures of biomass distri- 

 bution before dumping, should furnish a detailed environmental description 

 of the proposed grounds, and should provide guidelines for assessing the 

 impact of dumping on the area. 



Disposal of wastes at alternate sites should only begin after careful 

 consideration of the type of waste, the rates of disposal, and the 

 capacity of the area to absorb the waste and restore itself. A strict 

 monitoring program should be required to ensure that wastes are dumped 

 at the prescribed location and in the prescribed manner. 



Selection of alternate dumping grounds in the New York Bight should 

 be decided only after consultation with other Federal and State agencies 

 and after thorough evaluation of many ecological, economic, political, 

 geographic, and international considerations. 



7. Alternatives to Ocean Dumping 



The Council on Environmental Quality, in its 1970 report to the 

 President, recommended that ocean dumping of materials harmful to the 

 marine environment or man should be stopped, that disposal of sewage 

 sludge and polluted dredge spoils should be phased out as soon as 

 possible, and that consideration should be given to alternate procedures 

 of waste disposal. (Council for Environmental Quality, 1970). 



Alternative methods of waste disposal should be developed and 

 evaluated. Research should be conducted on the recycling of wastes, 

 and the technological development of processing facilities for the 

 separation of toxic materials from municipal wastes. Analysis of the 

 complex social, institutional, and economic aspects of waste management, 

 will be necessary. 



To phase out the practice of ocean dumping and replace it with an 

 untried alternate of questionable benefit and of increased expenditure 

 does not appear logical. The ecological burden of alternate methods of 

 waste disposal to other resources should be examined carefully. Air 

 pollution and ground water contamination should be considered as an 

 integral part of the effects of alternate methods on a larger environ- 

 mental ecosystem. 



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