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Report to the Congress on
Ocean Dumping Research

January through December 1976
Public Law 92-532, Title II, Section 201

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

JULY 1977

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Report to the Congress on
Ocean Dumping Research

January through December 1976

Submitted in compliance with Section 201,
Title II of the Marine Protection, Research,
and Sanctuaries Act of 1972
(Public Law 92-532)

July 1977

UNITED STATES NATIONAL OCEANIC AND

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

Juanita M. Kreps, Secretary Richard A. Frank, Administrator

Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2013

http://archive.org/details/reporttocOOunit

THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE

Washington, D.C. 20230

OCT 1 2 1977

Dear Sirs:

It is my privilege to submit to the Congress this fourth annual report on
ocean dumping research.

Under Title II of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of
1972, the Congress assigned to the Department of Commerce a responsibility
to initiate a program of monitoring and research in order to improve our
understanding of the effects of dumping wastes into the ocean. This
report is in response to Section 201 of the Act, which specifies that the
Secretary shall report on the findings of such research to the Congress
at least once a year. The report that follows describes investigations
carried out by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration during
calendar year 1976.

The NOAA ocean dumping research effort in that year continued the emphasis
on the stressed environment of the New York Bight. Our studies of that
coastal region are now yielding very practical results that we have used
to make timely recommendations to the Environmental Protection Agency to
assist that agency in carrying out its regulatory program under the Act.
The research that NOAA has conducted in the New York Bight since 1973 has
helped us place the problem of ocean disposal in that region in better
perspective. For example, it is clear that ocean disposal of wastes can
and does have adverse effects on the ecosystem in the vicinity of a
dumpsite. However, due to the larger volumes of pollutants entering the
region from other sources, ocean dumping contributes a relatively small
fraction of the total pollution in the Bight. Enhancement of water
quality of that coastal region will require action on a broad front.

The Department of Commerce will continue to fulfill its responsibilities
under the law for carrying out research on the effects of ocean disposal
wastes to support the regulatory agencies and to improve our understanding
of the environmental implications of that practice.

Sincerely,

-U*. A_. A^-a—^<-y

uanita M. Kreps

President of the Senate

Speaker of the House of Representatives

CONTENTS

Letter of Transmittal iii

Chapter:

I INTRODUCTION 1

Background 1

Agency Roles and Responsibilities 2

Scope of the 1976 Ocean Dumping Research Report 2

Status of Ocean Dumping 2

II NOAA OCEAN DUMPING RESEARCH - 1976 4

Operations in the New York Bight 4

A. Assessment of Contaminant Inputs 4

B. Sewage Sludge Dumping Investigations 9

C. Dredged Material Dumping 9

D. Investigations of Effects of Ocean Dumping .... 10

E. Long Island Beach Pollution 11

F« Anoxia Event Off the New Jersey Coast • • 12

G. Remote Surveillance and Monitoring 13

Operations at Deepwater Dumpsite 106 13

Appendix A. List of References 19

Appendix B. Title II of "Marine Protection, Research, and
Sanctuaries Act of 1972" (P.L. 92-532)-- -and

Amendments 20

Appendix C. Agency Funding Levels for Ocean Dumping Research .... 21

IV

CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND

The Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA) was enacted
October 23, 1972. The legislation was the result of concern on the part
of Congress, the Executive Branch, and the public over the potential harmful
effects of continued unregulated ocean waste disposal. The problem of ocean
dumping was reviewed by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) in its
1970 report to the President on ocean dumping .i/ The CEQ report recommended
a comprehensive national policy on ocean dumping of wastes to end unregu-
lated ocean dumping and prohibit ocean disposal of any materials harmful
to the marine environment. Specific recommendations on the three major
categories of dumped waste materials were as follows:

o Dredged material: "Ocean dumping of polluted dredge spoils
should be phased out as soon as alternatives can be employed.
In the interim, dumping should minimize ecological damage.
The current policy of the Corps of Engineers on dredging
highly polluted areas only when absolutely necessary should
be continued, and even then, navigational benefits should
be weighed carefully against damages."

o Sewage sludge: "Ocean dumping of undigested sewage sludge
should be stopped as soon as possible and no new sources
allowed. Ocean dumping of digested or other stabilized
sludge should be phased out and no new sources allowed. In
cases in which substantial facilities and/or significant
commitments exist, continued ocean dumping may be necessary
until alternatives can be developed and implemented. But
continued dumping should be considered an interim measure."

o Industrial waste: "Ocean dumping of industrial wastes should
be stopped as soon as possible. Ocean dumping of toxic wastes
should be terminated immediately, except in those cases in
which no alternative offers less harm to man or the environment."

Passage of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972
committed the United States on a national basis for the first time to:

"... regulate the dumping of all types of materials into ocean
waters and to prevent or strictly limit the dumping into ocean
waters of any material which would adversely affect human health,
welfare or amenities, or marine environment, ecological systems,
or economic potentialities."

AGENCY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 is organ-
ized into three titles. Title I deals with regulatory aspects of ocean
dumping. The Act assigns regulatory authority and involvement to the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) , the Corps of Engineers (COE) , and
the Coast Guard (USCG) . Title II of the Act deals principally with research
aspects of ocean dumping that are needed to support the intent of the Act to
limit ocean dumping of harmful materials. The research responsibilities
described in Title II are to be coordinated by the Department of Commerce,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) , in consultation and
coordination with other Federal agencies. Title III of the Act provides for
the designation of marine sanctuaries. This Title is administered through
the Department of Commerce (NOAA) in consultation with other Federal
departments and agencies.

Section 201 of Title II assigns responsibility to the Department of
Commerce for a comprehensive and continuing program of monitoring and
research regarding the effects of dumping material into ocean waters,
coastal waters, and the Great Lakes. The legislation also directs that
the Secretary of Commerce will provide to the Congress at least once a
year the findings from the monitoring and research program.

SCOPE OF THE 1976 OCEAN DUMPING RESEARCH REPORT

This is the fourth annual report to the Congress prepared by the
Department of Commerce pursuant to Section 201 of the legislation. In
addition to the Title II research of NOAA, the three previous Department
of Commerce reports described the research activities of EPA, COE, and
USCG carried out in support of their respective regulatory responsibilities
under Title I of MPRSA. Amending legislation in 1976 (P.L. 94-326)
directed that those agencies submit to the Congress separate annual reports
on their administration of Title I. Therefore, this fourth annual report
will describe NOAA research on ocean dumping during calendar year 1976.
The EPA report for the same period will include information on interagency
coordination, as well as a summary of EPA studies in 1976 on alternatives
to ocean dumping.

STATUS OF OCEAN DUMPING

Since April 23, 1973, the effective date of MPRSA, waste dumping in
U.S. coastal waters has been regulated by Federal permit. Table 1 lists
the amounts of materials dumped during calendar years 1973 through 1976
as reported by EPA and COE.

Table 1. — Comparative levels of ocean dumping
activity, 1973-76 (in tons x 10°)

1973

1974

1975

1976

Dredged material*

79.8

118.4

105.4

78.6

Municipal waste

4.9

5.0

5.0

5.3

Industrial waste

!S

in

5.1
millions of

4.6
cubic yards

3.4
are: 1973 -

2.7

* Corresponding figure

- 66.5;

1974 - 98.7; 1975 -

87

• 8;

and 1976

65.

,6.

The amount of dredged material dumped in coastal waters in 1976 was
less than in 1975. This should not be taken as a trend, because the need
to dredge is heavily influenced by natural events such as floods and
siltation. A certain proportion of the total dredged material dumped
is polluted, particularly spoil excavated from harbors in heavily indus-
trialized areas. It is expected that implementation of the Federal Water
Pollution Control Act amendments of 1972 (P.L. 92-500) will eventually
lead to a reduction in the levels of untreated wastes entering harbors
and other waterways, resulting in a corresponding improvement in the
quality of materials dredged from those waters.

The amount of sewage sludge being dumped into the ocean off the
Atlantic coast increased slightly in 1976, primarily because of the
increase in population in the region and the required secondary treatment
of sewage, which yields greater amounts of sludge. The amount of sludge
being dumped into the ocean is expected to increase gradually until such
dumping is replaced by environmentally acceptable alternative methods of
waste disposal. EPA has established December 31, 1981 as a deadline for
discontinuing disposal of sewage sludge in the ocean.

The level of industrial waste dumping continues to decline. This
trend is the result of several companies adopting other methods of
disposal and changes in manufacturing process.

A significant reduction in ocean dumping cannot be achieved until
other environmentally suitable methods of disposal are developed and
adopted. These methods include, but are not limited to, incineration,
pyrolysis, disposal on land, waste recycling, and industrial process
changes. For dredged material, some of the options being investigated
are: development of habitat through creation of artificial marshes and
islands , improved means to confine dredged materials , and various
productive uses of dredged material. The EPA and COE reports to the
Congress for 1976 describe recent work on alternatives to ocean waste
disposal.

CHAPTER II
NOAA OCEAN DUMPING RESEARCH - 1976

During 1976, NOAA research on ocean dumping was focused on sludge
dumping in the New York Bight and industrial waste disposal at Deepwater
Dumpsite 106 (fig. 1).

OPERATIONS IN THE NEW YORK BIGHT

Waterborne and airborne wastes from the Nation's largest metropolitan
complex contaminate waters of the New York Bight. Water quality, par-
ticularly in the Bight Apex, has declined over the years. Sites have
been designated in the Apex for the disposal of dredged material, cellar
dirt, acid wastes, wrecks, and sewage sludge (fig. 2).

The need for information on how pollution affects the New York Bight
ecosystem led to the initiation of a major NOAA investigation in 1973 —
the Marine Ecosystems Analysis (MESA) New York Bight Project. The project
is designed primarily to determine the sources and distribution of
pollutants in the New York Bight and their effects on the ecosystem. A
second and broader objective of the project is to understand the major
ecological and physical processes in the Bight.

A. Assessment of Contaminant Inputs

During calendar year 1976, studies continued on the relative contri-
butions of natural and man-related inputs to the Bight. Emphasis has
been placed on the chemical and mineralogical composition of dredged
materials and sewage sludge, especially their transformations as they
mix and react with seawater and are dispersed in Bight waters. Many
pertinent technical and nontechnical reports have been completed .

Decomposition of Sewage Sludge in Seawater

Decomposition rates of sewage sludge were investigated in 1976.
Sediments collected in the area of the sewage sludge dumpsite in the
New York Bight Apex contain relatively low concentrations of total organic
carbon (0.4 to 5.0 percent dry wt.), despite the continuous dumping of
sewage sludge at that location since 1924. Laboratory experiments
followed the decomposition processes of the sludge under conditions
similar to those found in the dumpsite area. Results showed that the
organic fraction of sewage sludge decomposes rapidly under aerobic
conditions. Anaerobic conditions, however, are unfavorable for rapid
decomposition. Within the temperature range encountered in the Apex,
temperature was found to have little effect on the rate of decomposition.
Calculations show that aerobic conditions could very well prevail in the

75°

41'

New York

40°

39

NEW
YORK
BIGHT

EPA-SUGGESTED AREA

FOR ALTERNATIVE

SEWAGE SLUDGE

DUMPSITE

Cape May

1

ACID WASTE

PHILADELPHIA
SEWAGE SLUDGE
DUMPSITE

DEEP WATER
DUMPSITE 106

75°

74c

73c

72c

Figure 1. -Middle Atlantic dumpsites.

74c

73° 50'

73 40'

73 30'

10

Nautical Miles

15

Figure 2. -Existing dumpsites in New York Bight Apex.

dumpsite area, thus promoting rapid decomposition of the sewage sludge,
assuming a fairly even distribution of sludge throughout the dumpsite
area. 2/

Water Column Perturbations Due to Sewage Sludge Dumping

Water column properties (temperature, salinity, pH, and the concen-
trations of dissolved oxygen, suspended solids, chlorophyll-a, ammonia,
nitrite, nitrate, silicic acid, and phosphate) in the New York Bight Apex
were monitored before and for about 2 hours and 40 minutes after a
controlled spot dump of 3,000 nr* of sewage sludge from New York City's
Newtown Creek wastewater treatment plant. Ammonia, phosphate, and
suspended solids in the discharged sewage sludge dispersion plume caused
the greatest perturbations in the water column. The dumping did not
significantly affect temperature, salinity, pH, and the concentrations
of dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll-a_ in the water column. Some sewage
sludge components reached the bottom (21 m) within 40 minutes after
dumping, thus suggesting a relatively rapid descent rate for the particular
sewage sludge. Two hours after dumping, the water column above the
thermocline (located approximately 17 m below the surface) had nearly
returned to its background condition with respect to the variables
measured. Below the thermocline, however, concentrations of ammonia,
phosphate, and suspended solids remained high for more than 2-1/2 hours.
The final report of this study was issued May 1976. .5/

Tracing Contaminants in the Marine Environment

Studies were made to identify any chemical or mineralogical char-
acteristics of sewage sludge that would allow this material to be
differentiated from other natural and man-related materials in the Bight.
These attempts proved unsuccessful. However, in the case of acid waste
material, it was found that the compositional characteristics do provide
a means of separating it from either Hudson-Raritan estuarine-derived
material or diatom-dominated suspended matter. One of the most profitable
results from these studies is that it now appears possible to determine
whether most of the material in the nepheloid layer* has settled out of
the water column or has been resuspended from the bottom. The chemical-
mineralogic differences observed provide an excellent opportunity to
examine the resuspension and movement of bottom sediment and suspended
materials in the New York Bight. The report on these studies was issued
November 1976.1/

Review of Waste Disposal in the New York Bight

In July 1976 the Project Office published a MESA monograph entitled
"Waste Disposal. "2/ This monograph reviews the current state of knowledge

* A bottom layer of water, just above the solid sediment, having dense
concentrations of particulate material.

of the volumes, sources, and environmental impact of wastes entering the
Bight. The report points out that wastes from the New York metropolitan
region have been dumped into New York Harbor and the New York Bight for
centuries, and as a result, shorelines have been built out, hills on the
ocean bottom up to 10 m high have formed, and the head of Hudson Channel
has been filled. The waste solids come primarily from rivers (1 million
metric tons/yr) and littoral drift of beach sands (1.1 million metric
tons/yr) , which mix with waste solids discharged by sewers (0.3 million
metric tons/yr) and industrial wastes. This material settles in navigation
channels where it must be removed by dredging; the material is then dumped
into the Bight. Other sources of wastes deposited into the Bight include
demolition and construction rubble (0.6 million metric tons/yr), industrial
sludges (0.4 million metric tons/yr), and sewage sludge solids from waste
treatment plans (0.2 million metric tons/yr). Because of the mixing of
riverborne sediments or beach sands with other wastes, the entire sediment
load entering the New York Bight from the land must be dredged and handled
as a waste.

Contaminant Inputs to the New York Bight

A comprehensive review of the sources and magnitudes of contaminant
inputs to the New York Bight was completed in 1976.

Four sources of contaminant inputs were evaluated: barge dumps and
atmospheric fallout as direct Bight inputs, and wastewater and runoff as
coastal inputs to waters ultimately draining into the Bight. The sources
were further subdivided into their various constituents: dredge spoils,
sewage sludge, acid wastes, chemical wastes, and rubble from barge dumping;
gaged stream flow, urban runoff, and groundwater outflow; and shoreline
municipal and industrial wastewater discharges. The wastewater inputs were
evaluated only downstream of the gaged stream stations because all inputs
above these points are reflected in the gaged runoff values . In addition
to flow or volume for each source, 23 separate contaminants were investi-
gated to estimate the inputs of solids, organic matter, nutrients, heavy
metals, and microbes.

A large quantity of recent (1970-74) data was obtained from numerous
sources, including Federal, State, county, and municipal agencies, and
academic institutions. These data were analyzed on a flow-weighted
basis to obtain the average mass loads into the New York Bight for each
contaminant. A summary of the contribution by source and location was made,
as well as an estimate of the annual or seasonal variability for selected
sources. To evaluate the significance of the mass loads generated in the
study, they were compared to an estimate of the background mass loads
entering the Bight as a result of a net current across the ocean boundaries.
The study indicates that the quantities of metals, when compared with
background levels, are the most significant man-related inputs to the
Bight. For example, chromium and lead inputs are approximately 200 percent
and 850 percent greater than background levels, respectively. Nutrient
inputs via the Hudson-Raritan estuarine complex were identified as potential
areas of concern, substantiating previous assessments by MESA.".'

B. Sewage Sludge Dumping Investigations

Dispersion of Sewage Sludge in the Marine Environment

During July, a large-scale multidisciplinary investigation of the
physical and chemical processes affecting the fate of dumped sewage sludge
was conducted. Acoustic devices were used to follow the dispersion and
sinking of particulate materials, and to guide the sampling for water and
biological samples. The water samples were analyzed for particulate con-
centration and size distribution, and for chemical transformations between
particulate and dissolved phases.

Preliminary results show that most of the dumped sewage sludge pro-
ceeds horizontally along the thermocline away from the dumpsite. A portion
of the sewage sludge penetrated the thermocline and reached the bottom
within minutes after the dump occurred. A minimum speed of descent of
10 cm/sec was observed. The bulk of the sewage sludge settled out or was
transported away from the dumpsite within 3 or 4 hours. The finer-grained
lighter material, which is predominately organic and contains propor-
tionately much more of the metal and organic contaminants than the more
rapidly settling fraction, continued to be examined. The biological
element of the sewage sludge tracking experiment is oriented toward the
microbiological decomposition of dumped sewage sludge and the associated
rates and amounts of oxygen utilization.

Research continued on the origin, extent, and composition of the low-
density, high-carbon mud patches that occur seasonally offshore from Long
Island. There is some evidence that the positions of these patches vary
seasonally, but none that they are moving toward adjacent beaches. There
is no compelling evidence that these materials are principally derived
from sewage sludge dumped into the Bight. Research on the organic
properties of Bight sediments shows that fecal steroids such as copro-
stanol and 24-3 - ethyl coprostanol can be used as tracers of sewage
contamination. However, due to the numerous sources of raw and treated
sewage to the New York Bight, steroids cannot be used to differentiate
the impact on the sediments or suspended matter of any particular source,
including dumped sewage sludge. The changes in the size and distribution
of the mud patches are being examined by: continuous sidescan sonar
recording, grab sampling and analysis of the physical and chemical
characteristics of the patches, bottom photography, and direct measure-
ment by divers equipped with graduated rods.

C. Dredged Material Dumping

A review of the impact of dredged material disposal in the New York
Bight was undertaken in November 1976. This review assessed the results of
New York Bight studies and of other related research, and concluded that:

a. The oxygen demand of the dredged material dumped into the New
York Bight is not significant compared to other sources of oxygen demand.
It does locally lower the already low oxygen concentrations. The region
of such influence will not exceed a few square kilometers, however.

b. The quantity of nutrients released to the water column during
dredge spoil disposal is, at most, a minor contributor to nutrient
contamination and high summer phytoplankton production in the Bight.

c. The concentrations of some dissolved metals in bottom waters near
the dredge spoil dumpsite are above background levels, appear to be
persistent, and may extend over a large area of sea floor.

d. The dredged material dumped into the New York Bight is, for a
number of elements, the largest input of contaminant trace metals to
the area.

e. The concentrations of a number of trace metals are significantly
higher in the surface sediments at and around the dumpsite than in any
other surface sediments of the Bight. It is not known what proportion of
the contaminant trace metals is mobilized to the biota, physically trans-
ported away from the mound of dumped dredged material, or permanently
buried.

D. Investigations of Effects of Ocean Dumping

Effects on the Bathymetry

A study was done to assess the net bathymetric changes of the Bight
Apex between 1936 and 1973, and their imp li cat ions. U The most signifi-
cant changes occurred in the dredged material dumpsite and the now
abandoned dumpsites near Ambrose and Sandy Hook Channels. Dumping at the
sewage sludge dumpsite and the acid waste dumpsite has caused no signifi-
cant changes in water depths at those locations. Approximately 86 percent
of the dredged material dumped from 1936 to 1973 is still in place on the
bottom. This does not mean, however, that 86 percent of the lighter
fraction can be accounted for. It is probable that larger percentages of
the heavier materials dumped have remained, and that this percentage
decreases as the size fraction decreases. This point is significant
because the finer-grained, lighter material is predominantly organic and
contains proportionately much more of the contaminants than the more
readily accounted for and larger, heavier fraction.

Special Symposium

A Special Symposium on "Middle Atlantic Continental Shelf and the
New York Bight" was held in New York City, November 3-5, 1975. The
symposium was cosponsored by the American Society of Limnology and
Oceanography, Chesapeake Bay Institute of Johns Hopkins University, MESA,
and the New York Sea Grant Institute. The session described that marine
region in its present state, identified problems, and made recommendations
on ways to ameliorate or prevent future environmental damage to that
coastal area. The proceedings of the symposium were published in 1976 — '
Summarized in the proceedings are the results of studies focusing on the
New York Bight, made generally in conjunction with marine waste disposal

10

problems. Results from these and other studies were the basis for NOAA
recommendations against moving the sewage sludge dumpsite. The symposium
summary highlighted several research problems related to ocean dumping
which have not yet been solved:

a. Effects of dumping dredged materials or sewage sludge into the
Bight cannot easily be separated from the effects of wastes discharged
in the estuarine outflows.

b. It is still not possible to distinguish unambiguously the sourcec
of waste products found in the Bight environment.

c. Uncertainty about the possible movements and ultimate fate of
dumped materials, due to the variability of natural and man-related events,
still constitutes a problem for regulatory agencies at all levels of
government in the region.

E. Long Island Beach Pollution

In June 1976, large concentrations of floatable materials washed ashore
leading to unprecedented closings of Long Island south shore ocean beaches
to swimmers. The seaborne litter included garbage, trash, charred wood,
oil, plastics, rubber, and grease (fig. 3). The last three types of float-
able material are usually associated with sewage treatment facilities.
While there was no confirmation of early claims that raw sewage had washed
up on the beaches, analysis of tar and grease balls found among the litter
generally did suggest a sewage origin for at least part of the substances
included in them. The sewage-related origin of some of the materials led
to early reports that the primary source of these floatables was sewage
sludge dumped at the Bight dumpsite. An examination of this problem
showed that only a maximum of 4 percent of the grease and oil, and
12 percent of the observed plastic tampon applicators could have come
from the sewage sludge dumpsite. It can be concluded that sewage sludge
dumping in the ocean south of New York was a minor source (less than
12 percent) of the floatable waste materials on the beaches. The major
source of these pollutants appears to have been the continuous, high-
volume release of floatable wastes to the Hudson-Raritan estuarine system
which discharges into the Bight .

This estuarine floatable input was aggravated in May 1976 because of
unusually high runoff, which probably flushed more materials than usual
from the Hudson-Raritan estuarine system.

Normally the discharge plume from this estuary moves south along the
New Jersey coast. In this instance, however, persistent southerly winds
forced the plume more toward the east. Thus, there was an unusually large
transport of floatables from the Bight toward and onto the Long Island
beaches .

MESA studies showed that the oil and grease components of wastewater
played a significant role in contaminating the inner Bight via the

11

Hudson-Raritan estuarine system. Many primary and secondary wastewater
discharges reach this estuarine system. In addition, New York City now
releases approximately 10.7 nH/sec (250 x 10^ gal/day) of raw sewage,
together with its floatables load, into the Hudson-Raritan estuary.

A MESA Special Report entitled "Long Island Beach Pollution: June
1976" was released in February 1977. 9/ The report concludes that future
floatable problems on beaches cannot be prevented until the sources of
floatables are clearly identified and their release reduced significantly,

Figure 3.— Typical materials that washed up on Long Island south shore beaches during June 1976.

F. Anoxia Event Off the New Jersey Coast

During the period July to October 1976, extreme oxygen depletion in
bottom waters of the western portion of the New York Bight led to mass
deaths of many marine species. Mortalities of fish, lobsters, and
molluscan shellfish were observed. The sedentary forms — surf clams,
ocean quahogs, and sea scallops — suffered the greatest mortalities.
From surveys, it was estimated that more than one half of the surf clam
population off the New Jersey coast — over 100,000 metric tons — had

12

been destroyed by October, witb significant but lesser mortalities of ocean
quahogs and sea scallops. Lobster catcbes were reduced by almost 50 percent
during the period.

The MESA New York Bight Project and the NOAA Northeast Fisheries Cen-
ter took the responsibility of examining the causes and effects of the
1976 fish kill off the New Jersey coast. A definitive technical report
on the episode is scheduled for September 1977. Results now available
indicate that sewage sludge dumping could not have been a significant
cause of the problem. First, the area over which the events occurred was
too large to be significantly affected by the dumping. Second, the inputs
of oxygen-demanding materials from sewage sludge dumping were insufficient
to generate such an episode when compared to other man-related and natural
inputs. It is also clear that unusual meteorological events contributed
to the severity of the oxygen depletion.

G. Remote Surveillance and Monitoring

The MESA New York Bight Project is supporting research and development
programs on remote surveillance and monitoring of the effects of ocean
dumping on the environment of the Bight.

In April 1973 and 1975, two NASA supported remote sensing experiments
were conducted in the New York Bight. In 1976, the MESA New York Bight
Project initiated contracts to perform detailed analyses on selected data
sets from these experiments, augmenting analysis being conducted indepen-
dently by NASA. Emphasis is on surface circulation and the determination
of chlorophyll-a. and suspended particulate distributions. Further, the
various sensing systems and interpretive techniques utilizing comparison
of data obtained with "sea truth" data taken during experiments is being
evaluated. A complete description of the two experiments and an evaluation
of the utility of remote sensing methods and data sets for various areas
will be produced in 1977. Recommendations for application to future
research and monitoring efforts will be included. These reports will:

a. Evaluate ways to correlate computed estimates of surface
chlorophyll-a obtained from ocean color scanner data and total particu-
lates determined from surface measurements .

b. Analyze multispectral scanner data and ground-truth data for
chlorophyll-a and turbidity, including corrections for overcast conditions.

c. Analyze the utility of photographing dye releases in the New York
Bight to determine surface and near-surface circulation.

OPERATIONS AT DEEPWATER DUMPSITE 106

The only active dumpsite located in deep water off the east coast of
the United States is Deepwater Dumpsite 106 (DWD-106) . The dumpsite is
106 nmi southeast of Ambrose Lightship and 90 nmi due east of Cape Henlopen,

13

Delaware (fig. 4) . The water depths at DWD-106 range from 1750 to 2700 m.
In 1976 the dumpsite was utilized by 17 industrial dumpers from the
New York-New Jersey area for disposal of various waste products. Wastes
are dumped just beneath the sea surface by barges moving at a speed
of 3 to 5 kt. Typical waste materials include: hydrochloric acid by-
products, inert ore slurry from production of titanium dioxide pigments,
residual sludge from galvanizing and plating operations, liquid wastes from
production of textile manufacturing and from etching and photographic
processes, water solutions of inorganic salts, and similar materials derived
from diverse manufacturing processes. Since December 1976 the city of
Camden has been dumping primary sewage sludge (65,000 wet tons/yr) at
DWD-106 pursuant to permits issued by EPA. This dumping operation is
scheduled to cease before the end of 1977.

At the request of EPA, NOAA initiated in 1974 a series of three
seasonal investigations of DWD-106 to assess the impact of dumping opera-
tions there and to provide a comparative base for future assessments .
Because of the nature and volume of materials now being dumped at DWD-106,
its potential as an alternative to some of the nearshore dumpsites, and
the complex biology and oceanography of the region's waters, the evaluation
of impacts of dumping here is of high priority to EPA.

Data from the first NOAA seasonal baseline study in May 1974 were
published in 1975. IP./ These data indicate that little if any of the dumped
materials reach the bottom in the vicinity of the site. However, this does
not imply that pollutants and their effects cannot be transferred by
organisms within the ecosystem and through the food chain. A second
seasonal baseline study in July 1975 used a research submersible and a
surface vessel. The first two seasonal studies focused on the physical
oceanographic characteristics of the area of DWD-106. A summary of pre-
liminary results from the 1974-1975 baseline studies is presented here.

Oceanographic conditions in the area of DWD-106 are exceedingly complex,
consisting of interactions between three water masses, varying current
systems, and long-lasting eddies that break off from Gulf Stream meanders
(fig. 4). DWD-106 is located in slope water which lies between fresher
shelf water to the west and more saline Gulf Stream water to the east.
Strong fronts occur at the boundaries of these water masses. Slope water
circulation is generally in a counter-clockwise gyre; near the shelf,
currents flow predominately southward; seaward near the Gulf Stream,
currents flow northeastward. Abrupt changes in temperature and salinity
can occur between shelf and slope water, with shelf water always fresher
than slope water and much colder in the winter months. Physical charac-
teristics of the upper 100 to 150 m of water in the dumpsite area are
highly variable. The shelf /slope front can lie shoreward or seaward,
or pass through the dumpsite. In the winter and spring the shelf /slope
front usually is found anywhere from the shelf break (200 m in depth)
to about 80 mi seaward of the break. During summer it is found near the
shelf break and in the autumn it is usually located shoreward of the break.

14

43°

LEGEND

□ SHF SHELF WATER

|| SLW SLOPE WATER

0 GS GULF STREAM

§£] WE WARM EDDY

Figure 4.— Water masses in the vicinity of DWD-106.

15

Surface shelf water can override slope water as a result of wind-driven
advection or as a result of high runoff from the coastal United States .
During periods of low runoff, slope water may intrude shelf water. Thus
one frequently finds layering of shelf and slope water at DWD-106. Water
of Gulf Stream origin invades DWD-106 in the form of clockwise eddies which
result from large scale meandering of the Gulf Stream. These eddies, which
break off north of the Gulf Stream and entrain warm Sargasso Sea water,
can last for months or longer. They migrate in a southwestward direction
through slope water until they either dissipate or rejoin the Gulf Stream
in the vicinity of Cape Hatteras (fig. 4). In a recent study, Gulf Stream
eddies were found to occupy DWD-106, partially or wholly, approximately
20 percent of the time. Research and monitoring in such a dynamic area
is, therefore, a major undertaking with many difficulties to be overcome.

The third field effort to collect baseline environmental data in the
vicinity of the DWD-106 was accomplished using the NOAA ship OREGON II in
February 1976. This winter survey completed efforts begun in 1974 to
establish baseline conditions, a requisite to follow-on monitoring. In June
1976, an investigation was mounted with the assistance of the U.S. Coast
Guard, using the USCG cutter DALLAS and the Woods Hole Oceanographic
Institution submersible ALVIN. Through the cooperation of EPA, a test
dump was arranged and studies of waste dispersal were conducted. Additional
studies were made on transfer of pollutants to sediments and on effects on
living organisms. In August of the same year, an investigation was under-
taken using the Woods Hole Ship R/V KNORR. Efforts in this period were
devoted to refining dispersal tracking methods (using acoustic equipment)
with further test dump operations arranged by EPA.

The three 1976 field investigations were supplemented by laboratory
research on reactions of pollutants and on genetic impact of these
pollutants. Major sponsored work was with Woods Hole Oceanographic
Institution, University of Rhode Island, and laboratories of the National
Marine Fisheries Service of NOAA.

A report summarizing NOAA's baseline work through 1976 in the DWD-106
is under preparation. A comprehensive report to EPA addressing both
baseline and research results also will be published and will contain
specific recommendations concerning dumping at this site. However, pre-
liminary analyses of data have revealed some significant information.
These are stated below with tentative conclusions, which are still to be
verified by studies continued in 1977.

Characterization of wastes focused on the two major dumpers: duPont
(Grasselli Plant) and American Cyanamid. The duPont waste is of high
density (1.076 gm/cm3 average) and is highly caustic (pH 12.5 average).
It contains significant amounts (0.05 to 1.50 mg/1) of lead, copper, zinc,
chromium, and nickel, along with other metals. Significant organic
complexes are also present in the duPont wastes. These materials, clear
in appearance, sink rapidly in sea water, forming a precipitate consisting
of white floes. In the laboratory the floe settles out, whil^ at the

16

dumpsite it tends to form layers on density discontinuity surfaces in the
thermocline. The American Cyanamid waste disperses more rapidly; it is of
slightly lower density than sea water for this region (1.02 gm/cm^) , and
contains significant quantities of arsenic, copper, zinc, chromium, and
nickel, as well as large quantities of the water-soluble organophosphate
pesticides (Malathion, Cygon, Thimet, Verbex, and Cytroline) . These
pesticides are hydrolysed within a few hours of dumping and are not believed
to be a long-term threat to the environment. The American Cyanamid waste
is greenish in color and slightly turbid. Both at sea and in the laboratory,
a distinct turbid layer at the top of the water column is formed. The
wastes appeared to mix with seawater within a few hours .

Observation of the dumped material shows several possible means of entry
into the ecosystem. The duPont wastes produce large quantities of precip-
itates upon mixing with sea water which might be ingested by filter-feeding
organisms. The accumulation of American Cyanamid wastes at the sea surface
leads to the temporary formation of a slick of organic materials , which may
affect organisms that inhabit or penetrate the sea-air interface.

Attempts to measure actual effects included sampling of biota before
and after dumping and collection and examination of fish eggs for possible
mutagenic effects. Surface collections of vertically migrating fish
revealed more empty nets after the dump, but a not significantly smaller
total catch. Depressed chlorophyll levels were noted but could not be
attributed to pollutant effects with certainty. The most significant
indication of potential dumping effects came from examination of fish eggs.
Analysis of fish eggs collected in plankton and neuston nets at and near
DWD-106 revealed an unexpectedly high incidence of cellular damage and
malfunction of embryos, and absence of embryos in a variety of species
sampled. These aberrations cannot be definitely attributed to dumping,
as eggs in this region are subject to a variety of natural stresses, but
further investigation is clearly required.

Laboratory tests of sensitivity of organisms to small, controlled
amounts of wastes concentrated on the effects of the wastes on microbiota
and phytoplankton. Aquatic microbial populations, including bacteria and
fungi, are among the most highly active components of marine environments,
and changes in their metabolic activities can be useful indicators of both
lethal and sublethal levels of environmental stress. Results indicate
that the principal toxic ingredients in both duPont and American Cyanamid
wastes are organic, rather than metallic, and that for natural bacterial
populations, duPont waste is about eight times more toxic. Exposure of
mixed populations of bacteria to dilutions of both wastes resulted in the
isolation of several pure cultures that demonstrated a waste tolerance
above that of the control populations. Periodically, extremely low
concentrations of either waste had a stimulating effect and initiated
glucose uptake at rates which exceeded those of a control sample with no
added waste.

Certain diatoms are sensitive to a wide range of organic pollutants
and trace metals, as well as to changes in temperature, salinity, and

17

nutrient concentration. Tests on a variety of laboratory-cultured popula-
tions have shown that slope water diatoms are sensitive to duPont wastes
in concentrations of less than 10 ppm. Experiments are continuing with a
variety of populations from oceanic, slope, and shelf waters.

18

APPENDIX A
List of References

1. Council on Environmental Quality. October 1970. Oaean Dumping - A
National Policy^ a Report to the President prepared by the Council on
Environmental Quality, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington,
D.C. , 41 pp.

2. Grundeich, G. S. and I. W. Duedall. 1977. The decomposition of sewage
sludge in seawater. Submitted to Water Research. Marine Sciences
Center, State University of New York, Stony Brook.

3. Duedall, I. W. , H. B. O'Connors, S. A. Oakley, and H. M. Stanford.
1977. Short-term water column perturbation due to sewage sludge
dumping in the New York Bight Apex. Accepted for publication in

J. Water Pollution Control Federation.

4. Betzer, Peter R. 1976. A study of the sources, transport and
reactions of suspended particles in waters of the New York Bight.
Final Progress Report for Grant No. 04-5-022-20. November 1976.

5. Gross, M. Grant. 1976. Waste Disposal. MESA New York Bight Atlas
Monograph 26. Marine Ecosystems Analysis (MESA) New York Bight
Project and New York Sea Grant Institute. 32 pp.

6. Mueller, J. A., J. S. Jeris, A. R. Anderson, and C. F. Hughes. 1976.
Contaminant Inputs to the New York Bight. NOAA TM ERL MESA-6.

U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, Environmental Research Laboratories. 347 pp.

7. Freeland, G. L. and G. F. Merrill. 1976. The 1973 bathymetric
survey in the New York Bight Apex: maps and geological implications.
Submitted for publication as a MESA Technical Report .

8. Gross, M. Grant (Editor). 1976. Middle Atlantic Continental Shelf
and the New York Bight. Proceedings of the Symposium held at the
American Museum of Natural History, New York City, November 3-5, 1975.
American Society of Limnology and Oceanography. 441 pp.

9. U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration. 1977. Long Island Beach Pollution: June 1976.
MESA Special Report. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington,
D.C. 75 pp.

10. U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration. 1975. May 1974 Baseline Investigation of Deepwater
Dumpsite 106. NOAA Dumpsite Evaluation Report 75-1. NOAA, Rockville,
MD 20852. 388 pp.

19

APPENDIX B

Title II of "Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries
Act of 1972" (P.L. 92-532) --and Amendments

TITLE II— COMPREHENSIVE RESEARCH ON OCEAN

DUMPING

Sec. 201. The Secretary of Commerce, in coordination with the Report to
Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating Congress.
and witli the Administrator shall, within six months of the enactment
of this Act, initiate a comprehensive and continuing program of
monitoring and research regarding the effects of the dumping of
material into ocean waters or other coastal waters where the tide ebbs
and flows or into the Great Lakes or their connecting waters and shall
report from time to time, not less frequently than annually, his
findings (including an evaluation of the short-term ecological effects
and the social and economic factors involved) to the Congress.

Sec. 202. (a) The Secretary of Commerce? in consultation with
other appropriate Federal departments, agencies, and instrumentali-
ties shall, within six months of the enactment of this Act, initiate a
comprehensive and continuing program of research with respect to
the possible long-range effects of pollution, overfishing, and man-
induced changes of ocean ecosystems. In carrying out such research,
the Secretary of Commerce shall take into account such factors as
existing and proposed international policies affecting oceanic prob-
lems, economic considerations involved in both the protection and the
use of the oceans, possible alternatives to existing programs, and ways
in which the health of the oceans may best be preserved for the benefit
of succeeding generations of mankind.

(b) In carrying out his responsibilities under this section, the Sec-
retary of Commerce, under the foreign policy guidance of the Presi-
dent and pursuant to international agreements and treaties made by,
the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, may act
alone or in conjunction with any other nation or group of nations,
and shall make known the results of his activities by such channels of
communication as may appear appropriate.

(c) In January of each year, the Secretary of Commerce shall report
to the Congress on the results of activities undertaken by him pursuant
to this section during the previous fiscal year.

(d) Each department, agency, and independent instrumentality of
the Federal Government is authorized and directed to Cooperate with
the Secretary of Commerce in carrying out the purposes of this sec-
tion and, to the extent permitted by law, to furnish such information
as may be requested.

(e) The Secretary of Commerce, in carrying out his responsibilities
under this section, shall, to the _ex tent feasible utilize the personnel,
services, and facilities of other Federal departments, agencies, and
instrumentalities (including those of the Coast Guard for monitoring
purposes), and is authorized to enter into appropriate inter-agency
agreements to accomplish this action.

Sec. 203. The Secretary of Commerce shall conduct and encourage,
cooperate with, and render financial and other assistance to appropri-
ate public (whether Federal. State, interstate, or local) authorities,
agencies, and institutions, private agencies and institutions, and indi-
viduals in the conduct of, and to promote the coordination of. research,
investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and
studies for the purpose of determining means of minimizing or ending
all dumping of materials within five years of the effective date of this
Act.

Skc. 204. There are authorized to l>e appropriated for the first fiscal
year after this Act is enacted and for the next two fiscal years there-
after such sums as may be necessary to carry out this tftle, but the

sums appropriated for any such fiscal year may not exceed $fi,000,000.

■ *

*Sec. 3(a) of the Act reads: "Administrator" means the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency.

**P.L. 94-62, Section 2, amended Section 202(c) of the 1972 Act by striking "January" and
inserting "March". Section 3 of P.L. 94-62 amended Section 204 of the 1972 Act by authorizing
$1,500,000 for the transition period (July 1 through September 30, 1976). P.L. 94-326,
Section 3, amends Section 204 of the 1972 Act by authorizing $5,600,000 for fiscal year 1977.

Annual report
to Congress.

Inter-agency
agreements.

Federal-State
cooperation.

Appropriation.

20

APPENDIX C
Agency Funding Levels for Ocean Dumping Research

Estimated NOAA Expenditures for
Ocean Dumping - Related Research: FY 1975-77

(in millions)

FY 1975

FY 1976^

FY 1977

New York Bight

$3.20

$5.00

$2.40

Deepwater Dumpsite 106

0.30

0.40

0.65

Gulf dumpsites

—

—

0.40

Total

$3.50

$5.40

$3.45

1/ Includes FY 1976 transition quarter funding of $0.8M
for New York Bight and $0.1M for DWD-106.

ft U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1977-h261-238/382

21

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