New York Bight- An Environmental Baseline Study

1.0 Abstract This paper summarizes the field data collection effort associated with the first comprehensive baseline survey of a proposed ocean disposal site under the Marine Protection and Sanctuaries Act of 1972, PL 92–532. This study included data collection of every environmental element associated with the proposed ocean disposal site. It resulted in 45,000 discrete data points relating to over 2,000 species and approximately 45 different types of environmental measurements. Three cruises were conducted within a one-year period, and the data collection effort was as synoptic as logistics would allow. The results of the study are used to characterize conditions prior to sludge disposal as well as to form a data base against which a monitoring program will be developed. Accurate baseline documentation is essential to generation of a statistically-based monitoring program capable of defining environmental changes which result from sewage sludge disposal at the site. 2.0 Background Barged Ocean disposal of waste materials was first regulated under the 1888 Rivers and Harbor Act. Under this act, areas for the disposal of mud, cellar dirt, stone and wrecks were established in areas where they would not be considered hazardous to navigation. A site for the disposal of sewage sludge was selected in 1924, and it has been in continuous use since that time. The acid waste site was established in 1948 and has been used since that time. Figure 1 illustrates the dispersal pattern of acid wastes in the New York Bight Apex. In 1965 a toxic wastes site was established about 120 miles southeast of New York.. The locations of these sites and a use summary are presented in Table 1. Roughly 27% of all wastes discharged in this period from 1960–1974 were sewage sludge solids. In 1974, for example, 3.7 × 10 6m3 of sludge (4.9 × l06yd3) were released at the New York Bight sewage sludge disposal site. Since 1971, considerable concern about sewage sludge movement and impact has encouraged many studies in the New York Bight apex. Most of these studies were conducted under the auspices of the MESA program of NOM. Charnell3 reviews these data; and MESA4 released a recent review. Cox5 presents a summary of ocean disposal in the United States. Public pressure against sewage sludge release 12 miles from area branches caused the Environmental Protection Agency to seek an alternative sewage sludge disposal site. They asked NOAA to designate candidate sites, and the study site, Figure 2, was one of the two NOAA nominations. EPA issued contract 68-01-2770 to Raytheon Oceanographic & Environmental. Services to perform the first comprehensive environmental baseline study conducted under PL 92–532, The Marine Protection and Sanctuaries Act of 1972.