United States
              Environmental Protection
              Agency
                Office of Water
                (WH-556F)
EPA 503/9/90-007
August 1991
&EPA
Report to Congress
On Ocean Dumping
1987 • 1990
              Administration of Title I Of The Marine Protection, Research, And
              Sanctuaries Act of 1972, As Amended (P.L. 92-532) For Years
              1987- 1990

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                                                               Table of Contents
Table off Contents
Executive Summary	 f
    About This Report	1
    Highlights of Progress	1
       Ocean Dumping Ban Act	2
       Dredged Material Disposal	2
       Incineration-at-Sea	3
       Enforcement	3
    For the Future	3

Chapter 1. Introduction	.....................5
    About This Report	5
    Regulatory Background	7
       Permits	7
    General Permits	8
    Special Permits	8
    Emergency Permits	8
    Interim Permits	8
    Research Permits	8
    Site Designation	8
       Surveillance	8
    Other Provisions	8

Chapter 2. London Dumping Convention [[[9
    Background	9
    Consultative Meetings	10
       LDC 11	11
       LDC 12	12

Chapter 3. Ocean Disposal of Dredged Material	13
    Management of Dredged Materials: The Process	13
    New Regulations	13
    Guidance Documents	13
    Site Designation Criteria	15
    Designation Process	15
    Site Lists	16

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Table of Contents
                            Site Monitoring	16
                            Enforcement	16

                         Chapter 4. Ocean Disposal of Municipal Sewage Sludge....	30
                            Overview of Sludge Disposal Activities	30
                               Dedesignation of Ocean Dumping Sites	30
                               Resolution of NY/NJ Dumping Case	31
                               EPA Technical Transfer Efforts	31
                               Reports to Congress	35
                            Site Monitoring and Management	35
                               Ocean Dumping Workshop	35
                               EPA, NOAA, and USCG Joint Strategy	35
                               Discharge Hates	36
                            Surveillance and Enforcement Activities	38
                               Permit Terms	38
                               ODSS	38
                               SMTS Program	38
                               Enforcement Actions	38

                         Chapter 5. Ocean Disposal of Industrial Wastes
                         and Other Materials	40
                            Industrial Wastes	40
                            Burning of Wood and Dumping of Construction Debris	41
                            Incineration-at-Sea	41
                               Site Designation	41
                               Law Suits	42
                            Fish Wastes	42

                         Chapter 6. Monitoring Activities Conducted Aboard
                         The OSV PETER IV. ANDERSON	43
                            About the OSV PETER W. ANDERSON	43
                            Specifications and Equipment	43
                            Mission Highlights	44
                            Management Decisions	48
                            Public Education Activities	49

                         Chapter 7. EPA's Marine Protection Programs and Policy	.50
                            EPA's National Coastal and Marine Policy	50
                            The National Estuary Program	51
                            Marine Debris Activities	51
                            Near Coastal Waters Program	51
                            Gulf of Mexico Program	52
                            Mid-Atlantic Bight Initiative	52
                            New York Bight Restoration Plan	53
                            Radiation Programs	53

                         Appendix A: Sites Dedesignated During the Years 1987 - FY 1990	54

                         Appendix B: References	55

                         Dedication: Thaddeus Allen Wastler, 1928 —  1990	58

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                                                              Executive Summary
Executive Summary
About This Report

This Report to Congress,
covering Calendar Year 1987
through Fiscal Year 1990,
summarizes the Environ-
mental Protection Agency's
(EPA) activities in carrying
out its responsibilities under
Title I of the Marine Protec-
tion, Research, and Sanctuar-
ies Act (MPRSA) and its 1988
amendment, the Ocean
Dumping Ban Act (ODBA).
ODBA makes the ocean
dumping of industrial waste
and municipal sewage
sludge unlawful after
December 31,1991.

EPA's Office of Water (OW)
in conjunction with EPA
Regional Offices have
responsibilities under
MPRSA to regulate and
monitor ocean disposal of
municipal sewage sludge,
industrial waste, and
dredged materials as well as
incineration-at-sea, In
addition to administering
MPRSA and ODBA, OW:
•  Continued its participa-
   tion in the work of the
   London Dumping
   Convention (LDC), the
   international agreement
   that addresses the
   dumping of wastes into
   the marine environ-
   ment;

•  Continued monitoring
   and public education
   activities aboard the
   Ocean Survey Vessel
   PETER W. ANDER-
   SON; and

•  Collaborated  in pro-
   grams with other
   organizations involved
   in marine protection.

Highlights of Progress
Significant activities during
this reporting period include
the following:

ODBA. Congress passed the
Ocean Dumping Ban Act and
the President signed it into
law in November  1988.
During this reporting period,
EPA has made major
progress in administering
ODBA.

Dredged Material Disposal
Sites. EPA has successfully
delegated responsibility for
the designation of disposal

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Executive Summary
                            sites to its Regional Offices.
                            In concert with the Corps of
                            Engineers (COE), EPA is also
                            developing revised regula-
                            tions and national guidance
                            for use by EPA's Regional
                            Offices and the COE's
                            District Offices.

                            Incineration-At-Sea Program.
                            EPA has suspended the
                            incineration-at-sea of indus-
                            trial wastes.

                            More specifically, the
                            following progress was made
                            during this reporting period:

                            Ocean Dumping Ban Act

                            In September 1988, dumping
                            of industrial wastes into the
                            ocean was stopped.

                            EPA and the States of New
                            York and New Jersey
                            successfully negotiated
                            enforcement agreements
                            with the nine sewerage
                            authorities in those two
                            states to end ocean dumping
                            of sewage sludge in August
                            1989. EPA, at the same time,
                            issued permits to control
                            dumping activities during
                            the phase-out period. As
                            required by ODBA, the
                            enforcement agreements
                            include schedules for
                            implementing interim and
                            final land-based alternatives
                            to ocean  dumping, reporting
                            requirements for monitoring
                            implementation progress,
                            and provisions for payment
                            of ocean  dumping fees and
                            penalties.

                            EPA continued to provide
                            technical assistance to the
                            sewerage authorities im-
pacted by ODBA. EPA
organized a roundtable
discussion in November 1989
that brought together
municipal sewerage officials
to discuss implementation of
land-based sludge manage-
ment alternatives. A second
meeting pursuing beneficial
uses of sewage sludge was
conducted in September
1990. Another is being
considered for Fiscal Year
1992.

EPA, the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration (NOAA), and the
United States Coast Guard
(USCG) held a workshop in
March 1989 in Ocean City,
New Jersey, to discuss
updating the existing
monitoring plan for the 106-
Mile Sewage Sludge Site and
to develop a strategy for
future research, monitoring,
and surveillance. In addition
to government officials,
scientists, fishermen, policy
experts, and representatives
of environmental interest
groups were in attendance.
Their findings and recom-
mendations were published
in the Proceedings of the
Ocean Dumping Workshop
106-Mile Site (EPA, 1989h).

EPA, NOAA, and the USCG
developed a joint strategy for
research, monitoring, and
surveillance of the remaining
dumping activities under
ODBA and, to define the role
each will play in this effort,
signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) in
April 1990. Research, moni-
toring, and surveillance
activities have been imple-
mented at the 106-mile site
under this MOU and a joint
research, monitoring and
surveillance plan was
published in December 1990
(EPA 1990d).

USCG installed an Ocean
Dumping Surveillance
System (ODSS), known as
"the black box," aboard all
sludge barges as a deterrent
to illegal dumping.

In response to ODBA's
requirements, EPA submit-
ted the following Reports to
Congress in 1989 and 1990:

•  Progress in Stopping
    Ocean Dumping Report to
    Congress (EPA, 1989d)

•  Surveillance and Enforce-
    ment of Sewage-Sludge
    Dumping Report to
    Congress (EPA, 1989g)

•  Ocean Disposal Monitor-
    ing Programs in Response
    to the Ocean Dumping
    Ban Act Report to
    Congress (EPA, 1990a)

•  Sludge Recycling Alterna-
    tives Report to Congress
    (EPA, 1990c)

Dredged Material Disposal

In December 1986, EPA
delegated responsibility for
designating disposal sites for
dredged material, fish
wastes, and woodbuming to
its Regional offices to
enhance local coordination
and accelerate decision-
making. During the period

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                                                                  Executive Summary
covered by this report, 34
dredged material sites
received final designation
and 10 were dedesignated.

EPA is currently developing
regulations and national
guidance for use by EPA
Regional offices and COE
District offices. These offices
are currently developing
MOUs to cover dredged
material disposal activities in
their areas. Specifically, the
following regulations and
guidance are being devel-
oped:

Regulations. Because scientific
advances have increased
understanding of the marine
environment, EPA is cur-
rently revising the ocean
dumping regulations. The
revisions governing ocean
dumping of dredged mate-
rial will incorporate program
and technical experience and
improve clarity and organi-
zation.

The Testing Manual. A revised
draft of the document
entitled "Evaluation of
Dredged Material Proposed
for Ocean Disposal - Testing
Manual" (formerly entitled
"Ecological Evaluation of
Proposed Discharge of
Dredged Material Into Ocean
Waters") was released for
public comment in April
1990. The criteria for ocean
disposal of dredged material
are established in the ocean
dumping regulations, which,
among other things, utilize
bioassay and
bioaccumulation testing in
determining the acceptability
of material for ocean dis-
posal. The testing manual
provides technical guidance
on the testing procedures to
be utilized and how to
interpret the results of the
tests conducted.

Other Guidance. EPA and
COE are developing three
other documents to provide
state-of-the-art guidance on
technical issues for managing
ocean disposal sites for
dredged materials. These
other documents include:

•  A comprehensive,
    national management
    strategy for all dredged
    material disposal that
    comes under the
    authorities of MPRSA
    and the Clean Water
    Act;

•  A document which
    describes the regulatory
    requirements and
    technical rationale  for
    site designation,
    monitoring, and man-
    agement; and

•  A third document
    which describes permit-
    ting regulations and
    procedures.

Incineration-at-Sea

EPA suspended the incinera-
tion-at-sea program in
February 1988. The last
incineration site was
dedesignated on February 19,
1991. No other sites are
designated for incineration-
at-sea.
Enforcement

In July 1988, EPA issued
administrative complaints
against all nine municipal
sewage sludge dumpers for
violating sludge disposal
conditions. Various other
administrative complaints
were also lodged in 1989 and
1990 against individual
sewage sludge dumpers for
matters involving sludge
spills and permit violations.
In addition to its sewage
sludge enforcement activi-
ties, EPA issued an adminis-
trative complaint in 1988
against a port authority and
its dredging contractor for
improper disposal of
dredged material.

For the Future

In the future, EPA's ocean
dumping program will focus
on three primary areas:

•  Sewage Sludge Dis-
    posal, Site Monitoring,
    and Phase-Out Activi-
    ties;

•  Dredged Material
    Disposal, Site Designa-
    tion and Monitoring;
    and

•  Enforcement of MPRSA
    and ODBA Laws and
    Regulations.

Sewage Sludge Disposal, Site
Monitoring, and Phase-Out
Activities. EPA will continue
close oversight of the sewage
sludge dumpers to ensure
that they meet conditions of
their permits, enforcement

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Executive Summary
                            agreements, and phase-out
                            schedules. Technical assis-
                            tance will be a key element in
                            efforts to help them imple-
                            ment alternative disposal
                            options. Monitoring surveys
                            at the 106-Mile Site will be
                            conducted to determine
                            potential nearfield and
                            farfield effects of sewage
                            sludge to see if modifications
                            to the specified dumping
                            rates or other permit condi-
                            tions are needed.

                            Dredged Material Disposal, Site
                            Designation and Monitoring. In
                            response to increasing public
                            concern about the potential
                            health and ecological risks
                            posed by contaminated
                            sediments, EPA will increase
                            oversight of dredged mate-
                            rial disposal operations. EPA
                            intends to propose revised
                            ocean dumping regulations
                            for dredged material in 1991
                            and will begin implementing
                            the revised testing manual.
                            The revision will contain
                            state-of-the-practice testing
                            procedures and technical
                            guidance for determining the
                            acceptability of dredged
                            material for ocean disposal
                            and is likely to be more
                            stringent than earlier proce-
                            dures.
Enforcement ofMPRSA. EPA
is acting to improve its
MPRSA enforcement capa-
bilities by developing a
comprehensive enforcement
strategy and action plan for
the MPRSA. This strategy
and action plan will be aimed
at improving the enforce-
ment program by:

•   Improving the enforce-
    ability of permit terms
    and conditions;

•   Enhancing interagency
    enforcement coopera-
    tion; developing public
    education tools to
    enhance compliance;

•   Implementing an
    enforcement training
    program for EPA
    Regions and other
    interested agencies; and

•   Improving detection
    and identification of
    violations.

Another area that EPA will
address is development of
long-term management
strategies (LTMS) for entire
estuarine and coastal sys-
tems. EPA and the Corps of
Engineers held a major
conference on LTMS in late
January 1991.

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                                                             Chapter 1. Introduction
Chapter 1.  Introduction
About This Report

This report summarizes the
U.S. Environmental Protec-
tion Agency's (EPA) progress
from 1987 to 1990 in meeting
the requirements of Title I,
Marine Protection, Research,
and Sanctuaries Act
(MPRSA), commonly known
as the Ocean Dumping Act,
and its amendment, the
Ocean Dumping Ban Act
(ODBA). (See Exhibits 1 and
2.)
Data on the status of site
designations, volumes of
municipal sewage sludge
dumped, and numbers of
surveys conducted are also
provided.

The report is organized as
follows:

Chapter 1 - Introduction

Overview of MPRSA's
requirements and EPA's and
other Federal agencies'
responsibilities under
MPRSA.
Clwpter 2 - London Dumping
Convention

The purpose of the London
Dumping Convention and its
relationship to MPRSA;
summary of the results of
Consultative Meetings.

Chapter 3 - Ocean Disposal of
Dredged Material

EPA's managing and
monitoring activities for
ocean disposal of dredged
material; the status of
dredged material site
designations for each EPA
coastal region.

Chapter 4 - Ocean Disposal of
Municipal Sewage Sludge

Current status of sewage
sludge disposal activities,
focusing on EPA's responsi-
bilities for implementing the
Ocean Dumping Ban Act.

Chapter 5 - Ocean Disposal of
Industrial Wastes and Other
Materials

Current status of ocean
disposal of industrial wastes
and materials such as wood
and fish waste; a summary of
EPA's incineration-at-sea
program.

Chapter 6 - Monitoring
Activities Conducted Aboard

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Chapter 1. Introduction
                                                         Exhibit 1
                                           Major Legislative Provisions Under MPRSA
Statute Sect/on
Section 101
Section 102
Section 103
Section 104
Section 107
Purpose
Prohibits, unless authorized by permit, (1) the transportation of material
from the U.S. for the purpose of ocean dumping, (2) the
transportation of material from any location for the purpose of ocean
dumping by U.S. flagged or registered vessels, and (3) the dumping of
material from a location outside the U.S. into the U.S. Territorial Seas
or into the Contiguous Zone if such dumping would affect the territorial
sea.
Authorizes EPA to designate sites for disposal of material, and to issue
permits for dumping of nondredged materials into ocean waters if the
materials will not "unreasonably degrade or endanger" public health
or the marine environment. Directs EPA to establish criteria to assure
that marine waters are protected and to allow for the review of permit
applications.
Authorizes Corps of Engineers to issue permits, subject to EPA review,
for dumping dredged materials into ocean waters, applying EPA's
environmental criteria to ensure action will not unreasonably degrade
or endanger human health or the marine environment. EPA has final
authority to determine whether a permit is in compliance with its
Section 102 criteria. Directs COE to utilize EPA designated sites, to
the extent possible, in selecting dumping locations.
Specifies conditions to be included in permits issued under the Act.
Authorizes EPA and Corps of Engineers to obtain the assistance of
other agencies, and instructs the Coast Guard to conduct
surveillance to prevent unlawful dumping.
                                                          Exhibit 2
                                              MPRSA Changes Pursuant to ODBA

                            The Ocean Dumping Ban Act (ODBA) of 1988 added new requirements to the Marine Protection
                                            Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA) as follows:
Section 104B
(a)(1)(i)
(a)(1)(ii)
(a)(2)
(b)(1)
(d)(1)
Requirement
No person shall dump into ocean waters, or transport for the purpose of dumping
into ocean waters, sewage sludge or industrial waste unless such person enters
into a compliance or enforcement agreement and has obtained a permit under
Section 102 which authorizes such transportation and dumping.
After 12/31/91, it shall be unlawful for any person to dump into ocean waters, or to
transport for the purposes of dumping into ocean waters, sewage sludge or
industrial waste.
No permits shall be issued which authorize a person to dump into ocean waters, or
to transport for the purposes of dumping into ocean waters, sewage sludge or
industrial waste, unless that person was authorized by a permit issued under
Section 102 or by a court order to dump sewage sludge or industrial waste on
9/1/88.
Any person who dumps into ocean waters, or transports for the purpose of
dumping into ocean waters, sewage sludge or industrial waste, shall be liable for a
fee equal to $100/dry ton from the date of enactment and before 1/1/90: $150/dry
ton on or after 1/1/90 and before 1/1/91; $200/dry ton on or after 1/1/91 and
before 1/1/92.
Establishes civil penalties for missing the 12/31/91 dumping termination dates;
penalties shall be $600/dry ton in 1992; penalties paid after 1992 escalate yearly
and are calculated as the sum of the penalty/dry ton from the preceding year, plus
ten percent of such amount, plus an additional one percent of such amount for
each year beyond 12/31/91.
Other ODBA Requirements include environmental monitoring in the vicinity of the 106-Mile Site and
preparation of Reports to Congress on monitoring and progress being made in stopping ocean dumping.

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                                                              Chapter 1. Introduction
The OSV PETER W. ANDER-
SON

Recent monitoring activities
conducted aboard EPA's
ocean survey vessel, the OSV
PETER W. ANDERSON.

Chapter 7 - EPA's Marine
Protection Programs and Policy

EPA's progress in imple-
menting its marine protec-
tion programs.

Regulatory
Background

Between 1972 to 1988,
MPRSA regulated the
transportation to and
dumping of materials into
the ocean. However, in
November 1988, Congress
amended MPRSA by passing
the Ocean Dumping Ban Act
(ODBA) that phases out the
dumping of municipal
sewage sludge and industrial
waste. (See Exhibits 1 and 2.)

Under ODBA, transporting
for the purpose of dumping
municipal sewage sludge or
industrial wastes into the
ocean became illegal as of
August 14,1989, unless the
dumper held an EPA permit.
In addition, ODBA required
the dumpers to enter into a
compliance or enforcement
agreement that includes
schedules to phase out their
dumping activities by
December 31,1991. After that
date, ocean dumping will be
unlawful. Any dumping that
occurs after 1991 will result
in financial penalties which
increase over time. Because
sewage sludge dumpers are
located in EPA's Region II,
the development of permit
terms and schedules for
dumping phase-out have
primarily been the responsi-
bility of the Region with
Headquarters assistance and
support.

When MPRSA was passed in
1972, it was the first law to
regulate dumping into the
ocean of materials that could
adversely affect human
health, the marine environ-
ment, or the economic
potential of the ocean. Its
authority covers the Territo-
rial Sea, which extends from
mean low water on the shore
out to 3 nautical miles (nmi),
the Contiguous Zone (3 to 12
nmi), and the open ocean
(beyond 12 nmi), and
regulates dumping of all
types of material, including
dredged materials, sewage
sludge, industrial wastes,
solid wastes, incinerator
residues, and low-level
radioactive wastes. MPRSA
further prohibits dumping of
high-level radioactive wastes;
biological, chemical, or
radiological warfare materi-
als. In November 1988, the
MPRSA was amended to add
medical wastes to the list of
prohibited materials.

EPA's Office of Marine and
Estuarine Protection (OMEP)
within the Office of Water
implements MPRSA by
carrying out permitting and
site designation activities:
Permits

Dumping at designated sites
requires a permit, and EPA
and COE share the permit-
ring authority. The COE is
responsible, subject to EPA
review, for permitting
disposal of dredged material.
EPA is responsible for
permitting dumping of all
other types of materials.
MPRSA prohibits EPA from
issuing permits for the
dumping of low-level
radioactive waste, unless
authorized by a joint resolu-
tion of Congress. High level
radioactive waste disposal is
absolutely prohibited.

MPRSA specifies that
permits may be issued upon
a determination that"...
dumping will not unreason-
ably degrade or endanger
human health, welfare, or
amenities, or the marine
environment, ecological
systems, or economic
potentialities." [Sections
102(a)andl03(a)].

EPA and COE evaluate
requests for permits to
determine compliance with
the Ocean Dumping Regula-
tions (40 CFR Parts 220-229).
In addition, MPRSA requires
public notice and an oppor-
tunity for a public hearing
prior to issuing a permit.
EPA does not issue permits
for ocean disposal of wastes
if a technically feasible
disposal alternative with less
overall environmental impact
 is available. EPA and the

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Chapter 1. Introduction
                            COE periodically review the
                            permits they have issued and
                            revoke, suspend, or modify
                            them as necessary.

                            EPA issues five types of
                            permits: General, Special,
                            Emergency, Interim, and
                            Research.

                            General Permits

                            General permits issued by
                            EPA cover burial at sea,
                            transportation and sinking of
                            target vessels by the United
                            States Navy, and transporta-
                            tion and disposal of scrap
                            vessels under certain speci-
                            fied conditions.

                            Special Permits
                            Special permits are issued to
                            dump materials that satisfy
                            the criteria stated in the
                            Ocean Dumping Regulations
                            (40 CFR Part 227). These
                            criteria require consideration
                            of the environmental effect of
                            the dumping operation; the
                            need for ocean dumping;
                            alternatives to ocean dump-
                            ing; and the effect of the
                            dumping on esthetic, recre-
                            ational, and economic uses of
                            the ocean. Special permits are
                            effective for a maximum of
                            three years.

                            Emergency Permits

                            Emergency permits are
                            issued to dump materials
                            that pose an imminent risk to
                            human health and for which
                            there is no other feasible
                            alternative. The last emer-
                            gency permit was issued in
                            1984.
Interim Permits

Interim permits are issued
for dumping of materials
when all the requirements for
a special permit are not met,
or for which only an interim
ocean disposal site has been
designated. Ocean Champing
Regulations (40 CFR Part
220) list specific require-
ments. Interim permits
expire after a maximum of
one year. The only current
use of interim permits is to
control burning at the
Woodburning Site of wood
debris collected from the
New York Harbor area. EPA
continues to evaluate this
activity. Woodburning
activities are described
further in Chapter 5, Ocean
Disposal of Industrial Wastes
and Other Materials.

Research Permits

Research permits have been
issued in the past for dump-
ing industrial waste into the
ocean as part of a research
project; however, Section
1003 of the ODBA repeals the
MPRSA provision governing
these permits.

Site Designation

MPRSA authorizes the EPA
to recommend sites where
ocean dumping may be
permitted and, when neces-
sary to protect critical areas,
to designate sites where
certain materials may not be
dumped. This authority
includes designation of sites
for all types of materials. In
issuing permits for dredged
material disposal, the
MPRSA directs the United
States Army Corps of
Engineers (COE) to use the
EPA-designated sites to the
extent feasible.

Surveillance

The United States Coast
Guard (USCG) has responsi-
bility for surveillance to
prevent unlawful ocean
dumping, and EPA has
responsibility for assessing
penalties for violations. The
1988 amendments to
amended Section 105(a) of
MPRSA increased the
maximum allowable penalty
to $125,000 for violations of
the prohibition against
dumping of medical waste.

Other Provisions
Title II of MPRSA requires
that the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration (NOAA) and EPA
conduct a comprehensive
and continuing program of
research and monitoring to
determine the effects of the
dumping of materials into
ocean waters. Title III gives
NOAA the authority to
establish marine sanctuaries.

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                                              Chapter 2. London Dumping Convention
Chapter  2. London Dumping Convention
                           Background

                           MPRSA is the domestic
                           legislation for implementing
                           the provisions of the Con-
                           vention on the Prevention of
                           Marine Pollution by Dump-
                           ing of Wastes and Other
                           Matter, generally known as
                           the London Dumping
                           Convention (LDC). LDC is
                           the only global agreement
                           concerned solely with the
                           dumping of wastes into the
                           marine environment. It
                           requires its member nations,
                           known as the Contracting
                           Parties, to establish national
                           systems to control the
                           dumping at sea of wastes
                           and other matter. The
                           Convention was negotiated
                           in London in November
                           1972, and came into force on
                           August 30,1975, following
                           the required 15 ratifications
                           or accessions. Exhibit 3 lists
                           the LDC's 64 Contracting
                           Parties.

                           The United States is repre-
                           sented at the LDC by a
                           delegation appointed by the
                           Department of State, consist-
                           ing of  a delegation head and
                           advisors on particular topics.
                           U.S. policy positions are
                           developed by an interagency
                           working group under
                           Department of State leader-
ship. MPRSA was amended
in 1974 and 1980 to imple-
ment the requirements of the
LDC.

Three annexes describe the
technical factors to be
considered when the Con-
tracting Parties make deci-
sions about permits.

•   The "Black List". Annex I
    establishes a "black list"
    of substances whose
    dumping is prohibited
    unless they are present
    only as trace contami-
    nants or would be
    rapidly rendered
    harmless in the marine
    environment. These
    substances are mercury,
    cadmium, and their
    compounds;
    organohalogen com-
    pounds such as DDT
    and polychlorinated
    biphenyls (PCB);
    persistent plastics; and
    crude oil and petroleum
    byproducts. Dumping
    of high-level radioactive
    wastes and chemical
    and biological warfare
    agents is prohibited.

 •  The "Grey List". Annex
    II contains a category of
    substances known as
    the "grey list," which

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Chapter 2. London Dumping Convention
                                                   Exhibit 3
                                           Contracting Parties to the
                                          London Dumping Convetion
                              Afghanistan
                              Argentina
                              Australia
                              Belgium
                              Brazil
                              Byelorussia SSR
                              Canada
                              Cape Verde
                              Chile
                              China
                              Costa Rica
                              Cuba
                              Denmark
                              Dominican Republic
                              Federal Republic of Germany
                              Finland
                              France
                              Gabon
                              German Democratic Republic
                              Greece
                              Guatemala
                              Haiti
                              Honduras
                              Hungary
                              Iceland
                              Ireland
                              Italy
                              Ivory Coast
                              Japan
                              Jordan
                              Kenya
                              Kiribati
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
Malta
Mexico
Monaco
Morocco
Nauru
The Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Seychelles
Solomon Islands
South Africa
Spain
St. Lucia
Surinam
Sweden
Switzerland
Tunisia
Ukrainian SSR
United Arab Emirates
USSR
United Kingdom
United States of America
Yugoslavia
Zaire
                                 require special permits
                                 to regulate their dump-
                                 ing. They include
                                 arsenic, lead, copper,
                                 zinc, and their com-
                                 pounds; cyanides;
                                 fluorides; organosilicon
                                 compounds; pesticides
                                 not covered in Annex I;
                                 low-level radioactive
                                 wastes; and containers
                                 and other bulky wastes
                                 that could present
                                 serious obstacles to
                                 fishing or navigation.

                                 Other Substances. The
                                 dumping of substances
                                 not listed in Annexes I
     and II requires a general
     permit. Annex III sets
     forth factors to consider
     regarding material
     characteristics and
     composition, method of
     disposal, and dumping
     site characteristics
     before a permit may be
     issued.

 The LDC requires that each
 Contracting Party take
 appropriate steps to ensure
 that the measures required to
 implement the Convention
 apply to any ships and
 aircraft flying its flag and to
 any vessels or aircraft
loading materials in its
territory for dumping in the
ocean. Periodic meetings and
participation by appropriate
international technical bodies
are designed to keep the
LDC up-to-date and realistic
in meeting the needs for
controlling ocean pollution
resulting from dumping.


Consultative Meetings

Consultative Meetings,
generally held at yearly
intervals, perform the work
of the Convention. Past
activities include the devel-
opment of procedures for
settling disputes; regulations,
and recommended technical
guidelines for control of
incineration-at-sea; the
International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) definition of
high-level radioactive waste
prohibited from sea disposal
and recommendations for
disposal of other radioactive
wastes at sea; and interim
guidelines for implementing
Paragraphs 8 and 9 of Annex
I. These paragraphs refer to
the "rapidly rendered
harmless" and "trace con-
taminants" provisions.

When necessary, the Con-
vention establishes ad hoc
advisory groups to work on
specific subjects. These
include the Working Group
on Incineration-at-sea, the
Group of Legal Experts, the
Working Group on the
Annexes to the Convention,
and the Intergovernmental
Panel of Experts on Radioac-
tive Waste Disposal at Sea
10

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                                                 Chapter 2. London Dumping Convention
(IGPRAD). The Scientific
Group on Dumping (SGD), a
permanent subsidiary body,
provides expert evaluation of
technical and scientific issues.
The SGD typically meets six
months before LDC Consul-
tative Meetings.

Two Consultative Meetings
were held during this
reporting period: the Elev-
enth (LDC 11) and the
Twelfth (LDC 12).

LDC 11

LDC 11 was held October 3-
7,1988. The major subjects
discussed were (1) the
progress of the IGPRAD, (2)
the future status of incinera-
tion-at-sea of noxious liquid
wastes, (3) the progress in
reviewing the structure of the
Annexes to the Convention,
and (4) guidelines for the
removal and disposal of
offshore platforms and
structures.

IGPRAD, which was estab-
lished at LDC 10, met twice
before LDC 11. It evaluated
the results of a questionnaire
circulated to all Contracting
Parties and established two
working groups to consider
legal, political, social, eco-
nomic, technical, and scien-
tific issues related to low-
level radioactive waste
disposal at sea. Reports on
these issues were reviewed at
the second panel meeting,
and a timetable for resolving
the scientific and technical
issues was established.
The IAEA was asked to
examine the parallels
between the regulatory
approaches and environmen-
tal assessments for the
dumping at sea of both
radioactive and nonradioac-
tive wastes. The Agency
submitted a work plan for
this study to the Group of
Experts on the Scientific
Aspects of Marine Pollution
(GESAMP) to be completed
by 1993.

In addition, LDC 11 ad-
dressed the question of
whether incineration-at-sea
of liquid noxious wastes
should be banned globally.
The countries of the Oslo
Convention (which include
the nations of Belgium,
Denmark, Finland, France,
the Federal Republic of
Germany, Iceland, Ireland,
the Netherlands, Norway,
Portugal, Spain, Sweden and
the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland)
plan to prohibit incineration-
at-sea of noxious liquid
wastes in the Northeastern
Atlantic Ocean, including the
North Sea, by the end of
1994, and some Contracting
Parties feel that this prohibi-
tion should be global. The
parties agreed that the
Secretariat should conduct a
study on the availability of
safer, more environmentally
acceptable land-based
alternatives and, based on
the study's findings, would
reconsider the plan at the
1992 Consultative Meeting.
The ad hoc group examining
alternative structures for the
Annexes reported to LDC 11
on the provisions presently
being considered. They
include overall approaches to
waste management and
hazard assessment. The
group will consider addi-
tional alternatives before it
presents a final recommenda-
tion to a future Consultative
Meeting.

The Maritime Safety Com-
mittee (MSC) of the Interna-
tional Convention for the
Prevention of Pollution from
Ships (MARPOL) developed
guidelines in April 1988 to
remove offshore platforms
and structures from the seas.
These had been forwarded to
the Secretariat so that
Contracting Parties could
ensure consistency with LDC
purposes. At LDC 11, the
Contracting Parties agreed
that the MSC guidelines were
acceptable as far as matters of
platform removal from an
existing location were
concerned. However, if there
is the possibility of ocean
disposal of a platform after
its physical removal, both
legal and technical issues
need to be addressed under
the LDC. The SGD was asked
to evaluate the technical
guidelines for ocean disposal
of platforms and structures,
and the Group of Legal
Experts was asked to con-
sider the legal questions and
report back at LDC 12.
                                                                                 11

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 Chapter 2. London Dumping Convention
                            LDC 12

                            LDC 12 was held October 31
                            - November 3,1989. As
                            requested at LDC 11, the
                            guidelines for disposing of
                            offshore platforms and
                            facilities were evaluated by
                            the SGD. The meeting
                            accepted the work group's
                            conclusion that existing
                            Annex III guidelines are
                            sufficient to address the
                            environmental aspects of
                            disposal of platforms and
                            structures; however, they did
                            not resolve the question of
                            whether abandonment of
                            platforms, onsite toppling of
                            platforms, or placement of
                            platforms as artificial reefs
                            should be considered as
                            dumping. The attendees
                            decided to obtain further
                            information from the Con-
                            tracting Parties and have the
                            results referred to the ad hoc
                            Group of Legal Experts for
                            continued evaluation.
Of the proposed two amend-
ments to the Annexes, one
passed and one was de-
feated. The passed amend-
ment to Annex III called for
Contracting Parries, when
issuing permits, to consider
whether adequate scientific
information is available to
assess impacts to human
health and marine life. The
amendment to delete
organosilicon compounds
from the list of substances in
Annex II (the "grey list")
failed, despite conclusions
from a scientific work group
on the annexes that the
compounds will have no
adverse effects on the marine
environment.

The meeting discussed the
transport of hazardous
wastes across national
boundaries in light of results
from the Basel Convention
(officially known as the
Conference of Plenipotentia-
ries on the Global Conven-
tion of the Control of
Transboundary Movements
of Hazardous Wastes, held
March 20-22,1989, in Basel,
Switzerland). Members were
asked to submit comments
on documents about the
issue to the ad hoc Group of
Legal Experts at LDC 13.

Finally, the Contracting
Parties established a strategic
planning work group to
guide future LDC activity.
Some of the major issues
include considering the
expansion of the LDC to
address land-based sources
of marine pollution, defining
the LDC's role in overall
waste management, and
identifying cooperative
enforcement mechanisms. A
preliminary report will be
submitted at LDC 13, and a
revised report and recom-
mendations will be presented
at LDC 14.
12

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                                         Chapter 3. Ocean Disposal of Dredged Material
 Chapter 3.
 Ocean  Disposal of  Dredged  Material
Management off
Dredged Materials:
The Process

Over 90 percent of the total
volume of material the U.S.
dumps in the ocean consists
of sediment dredged from
harbors and channels (EPA,
1989a). Permits for ocean
disposal of dredged material
are issued by the Corps of
Engineers (COE) after an
EPA review for compliance
with the ocean dumping
regulations. Dredged
material is dumped at sites
designated by EPA. EPA and
the COE share responsibility
for monitoring to ensure that
permit conditions are met
and that the marine environ-
ment is protected.

New Regulations

Because scientific advances
have increased understand-
ing of the marine environ-
ment, EPA is currently
revising the ocean dumping
regulations. The revisions
governing ocean dumping of
dredged material will reflect
the verdict in NWF v. Costle,
629F.2d"ll8(D.C.Cir.,1980)/
incorporate program and
technical experience, and
improve clarity and organi-
zation. EPA anticipates
proposing the revised
regulations in late 1991. EPA
will also reorganize and
correct technical and typo-
graphical errors in the list of
ocean dumping sites printed
in the ocean dumping
regulations. This improve-
ment would facilitate easy
identification of designated
sites and eliminate those sites
that are expired or unneeded.
EPA anticipates publishing
this proposal in the Fall of
1991.

Guidance Documents

EPA and COE are develop-
ing four documents jointly to
provide state-of-the-art
guidance on technical issues
for managing ocean disposal
of dredged materials. Their
descriptions follow:

(1) Evaluation of Dredged
Material Proposed for Ocean
Disposal — Testing Manual. A
revised draft of the dredged
material testing manual was
released for public comment
in April 1990 (EPA/COE
                      13

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 Chapter 3. Ocean Disposal of Dredged Material
14
                             1990). The criteria for deter-
                             mining the acceptability of
                             material for ocean disposal of
                             dredged material are estab-
                             lished in the ocean dumping
                             regulations, which, among
                             other things, require bioassay
                             and bioaccumulation testing.
                             The regulations include the
                             use of:

                             •  Water quality criteria;

                             •  Results of acute bioas-
                                 say tests; and

                             •  Bioaccumulation
                                 testing.

                             The testing manual provides
                             technical guidance on the
                             testing procedures to be
                             utilized and how to interpret
                             the results of the tests. EPA
                             and the COE intend to
                             publish the final draft
                             document as an interim
                             manual in 1991. It will
                             undergo further review and
                             revision at the time the ocean
                             dumping regulations are
                             revised.

                             The revised testing manual
                             will utilize a tiered testing
                             approach which is comprised
                             of four levels of increasing
                             investigative intensity. This
                             will generate the technical
                             information necessary to
                             evaluate compliance with the
                             ocean dumping criteria. The
                             four tiers used in the manual
                             are as follows:

                             Tier 1. Use of Existing Informa-
                             tion. Review existing sources
                             of information to (1) identify
                             contaminants of concern, (2)
                             determine if the available
                             data show that the regulatory
 testing criteria are met (i.e.,
 water quality criteria, acute
 toxicity, bioaccumulation),
 and (3) determine if addi-
 tional testing in higher tiers is
 needed.

 Tier 2. Use of Chemistry Data.
 Evaluate chemistry data to
 determine potential for water
 column and deposited
 sediment impacts; determine
 the need for additional water
 column testing by applying a
 mathematical dispersion
 model; and calculate the
 maximum potential
 bioaccumulation of organic
 contaminants in marine
 organisms.

 Tier 3. Use of Acute Toxicity
 and Bioaccumulation Tests.
 Conduct acute toxicity tests
 to determine the toxicity of
 the dissolved and suspended
 contaminants to organisms in
 the water column (after
 initial mixing); and conduct
 bioassays to determine
 toxicity and bioaccumulation
 potential of the dredged
 material to benthic marine
 organisms.

 Tier 4. Use of Long-Term
 Toxicity and Bioaccumulation
 Tests. Conduct case-specific
 water column and benthic
 tests to determine long-term
 effects on marine organism
 survival and reproduction or
bioaccumulation.

The objective of the tiered
approach is to eliminate
unnecessary testing and
thereby make cost-effective
decisions. For example, if a
dredged material has an
obvious detrimental environ-
mental impact, information
collected in Tiers 1 and 2 may
be sufficient to determine
that dredged materials are
not acceptable for ocean
disposal. If there is inad-
equate information about a
dredged material and its
potential for impact is not
clear, then more extensive
testing should be conducted
under Tier 3. Not all dredged
materials may need to be
evaluated through all four
tiers. It is necessary only to
proceed through the tiers
until enough information is
collected to determine
whether disposal of the
material will comply with the
ocean dumping regulations.

The revised manual presents
improvements in chemical
methods and refined labora-
tory procedures for water
column  and sediment
toxicity  tests, including the
use of more sensitive marine
organisms for testing. EPA
and the  COE believe it will
be more effective in assessing
the potential impacts of
ocean disposal of dredged
material than the first
manual  issued in 1977. The
Agency  is also in the process
of developing additional
technical procedures which
may be used to evaluate
proposed ocean disposal of
dredged material. At present,
only acute toxicity tests are
available for use, and the
Agency  is in the process of
developing chronic toxicity
tests to better evaluate the
potential for sub-lethal

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                                           Chapter 3. Ocean Disposal of Dredged Material
effects. In addition, the
Agency is developing
pollutant-specific sediment
quality criteria which may
prove to be useful in evaluat-
ing dredged material. Once
these new procedures are
sufficiently developed to be
available for use in a regula-
tory program, the Agency
wiU update and revise the
dredged material testing
manual to appropriately
utilize the chronic toxicity
tests and the sediment
quality criteria.

(2) Dredged Material Disposal:
National Management Strategy
Document. This document,
currently in preparation, will
present a comprehensive,
national management
strategy for all dredged
material disposal that comes
under the authorities of
MPRSA and the Clean Water
Act. Its objective is to allow
decisions about disposal of a
dredged material to be made
so that one environment (e.g.,
an estuary) is not adversely
affected for the sake of
protecting another (e.g., the
ocean).

(3) Site Designation, Monitor-
ing, and Management Docu-
ment for Ocean Disposal of
Dredged Material. This
document, currently in
preparation and expected to
be completed in 1991, will
describe the regulatory
requirements and technical
rationale for site designation,
monitoring, and manage-
ment. EPA is adopting a
tiered approach for all
monitoring plans for ocean
dumping at designated sites.
The document is intended for
use by personnel at EPA
Regional offices and COE
District offices. It contains
technical guidance about:

•  How to evaluate the
    need for site designa-
    tion;

•  How to select sites;

•  How to develop plans
    for sampling and
    analysis;

•  How to monitor a site;
    and

•  How to use monitoring
    results to evaluate and
    decide site management
    options.

(4) Dredged Material Ocean
Dumping Permit/Project
Review Manual. This docu-
ment, currently being
prepared by EPA and the
COE, describes permitting
regulations and procedures.
It is intended for EPA
Regional and COE District
staff and permit applicants.

Site Designation
Criteria

The goal in designating sites
and issuing permits is to
match the type of material
dumped with the appropri-
ate site, to minimize adverse
environmental impacts, and
ensure that disposing the
material does not interfere
with other uses of the marine
environment. The choice of
sites for ocean disposal is
based on criteria listed in the
ocean dumping regulations.
These include criteria for
locating areas to reduce the
potential for effects of
disposal on marine resources,
commercial or recreational
navigation, and the environ-
ment. Specific criteria to be
applied to a designation
include, but are not limited
to, identifying where the site
is located, the feasibility of
monitoring or surveillance,
possibility of interference
with legitimate uses of the
ocean, and the effects of
current and previous dump-
ing, including cumulative
effects.

Designation Process

The following is a brief
overview of the site designa-
tion process for dredged
material:

•  The COE requests a site
    designation from EPA;

•  EPA conducts a thor-
    ough  environmental
    review, then prepares a
    draft environmental
    impact statement (EIS);

•  EPA issues the draft EIS
    for review by the public
    and appropriate local,
    state, and Federal
    agencies;

•  EPA publishes in the
    Federal Register its
    proposed regulation to
    establish an ocean
    disposal site; and

•  After incorporating all
    applicable comments
                         15

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Chapter 3. Ocean Disposal of Dredged Material
                                into a final EIS, EPA
                                publishes a final
                                regulation in the Federal
                                Register to designate the
                                site.

                            Performing scientific analy-
                            ses and environmental
                            assessments necessary to
                            designate a site can take
                            several years. If sites are not
                            available for disposal of
                            dredged materials, widening,
                            deepening, and maintenance
                            dredging projects can be
                            delayed. EPA and the COE,
                            therefore, set priorities,
                            deciding which sites should
                            be designated before others,
                            in an attempt to minimize
                            adverse impacts on local
                            economies.

                            Site Lists

                            In the regulations for ocean
                            dumping, sites are separated
                            into two categories: interim
                            and approved. The interim
                            category, containing those
                            identified as historically-used
                            sites, may be used pending
                            completion of baseline or
                            trend assessment surveys
                            and designation. The ap-
                            proved category are sites
                            approved for use based on
                            the results of environmental
                            review. Where necessary, the
                            site designation can limit use
                            to material from one project
                            or permit, restrict particle
                            size, or set  specific time
                            limits.

                            Site Designation
                            Status

                            Currently 110 dredged
                            material disposal sites are
16
designated under MPRSA.
As of December 31,1990,52
sites are designated as final
sites, 18 are proposed for
final designation, and 40 still
have interim site status.
Exhibit 4 shows the status of
all sites for ocean dumping of
dredged material.

During 1987-1990,34
dredged material sites
received final designation
and 10 were dedesignated.
Exhibits 5A and B through
11A and B show the dredged
material disposal sites under
the authority of EPA Regions
I, II, III, IV, VI, IX, and X.
Each exhibit contains a table,
indicating the site name and
its current designation and
status, and a map, showing
the location of each site. Site
designation and status are
listed as interim, final, or
currently subject to proposed
final rule-making to desig-
nate or dedesignate the site.

EPA and Corps of
Engineers MOUs

On December 23,1986, EPA
Headquarters delegated
responsibility to its Regional
offices for the designation of
ocean dumping sites for
dredged material, for fish
waste requiring a permit, and
for woodburning hi Region
II. As a result, site designa-
tion has been accelerated,
and local coordination has
been enhanced. To identify
tasks within the process and
thereby avoid duplication of
effort, EPA and COE signed
a National Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) in
July 1987. EPA Regional
offices and local COE District
offices are currently develop-
ing individual MOUs. The
local MOUs provide a
mechanism to complete the
designations for the remain-
ing interim sites and to
establish regional site
management and monitoring
plans. At the end of this
reporting period, five of the
seven EPA coastal Regional
offices and their counterpart
COE District offices have
signed MOUs.

Site Monitoring

During this reporting period,
EPA conducted surveys at 27
of the 110 dump sites.
Monitoring information is
used to verify that permit
conditions are met and to
determine if the conditions
set by the permit are suffi-
cient to prevent adverse
impacts. For specific regional
dredged material disposal
sites, see Exhibits 5A and B
through 11A and B. Monitor-
ing dumpsites used by
multiple permittees is
especially important in
determining whether the
cumulative impacts are
acceptable. (See Exhibit 12).

Enforcement

During this initial dredging
under Phase 1 of the Oakland
project, EPA and the Corps
of Engineers investigated
allegations that the dredger
was excavating sediment
outside  the Federal Channel
in an area that was not

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                                   Chapter 3. Ocean Disposal of Dredged Material
                     authorized for dredging. On
                     June 1,1988, EPA Region IX
                     issued administrative penalty
                     complaints for violation of
                     the MPRSA Section 103
                     permit against the Port of
                     Oakland and Great Lakes
                     Dredge and Dock Company
                     for the amounts of $272,000
                     and $215,000, respectively. A
hearing before an Adminis-
trative Law Judge was held
during March and April of
1989; the post-trial brief was
submitted in September 1989;
and the rebuttal brief was
submitted in December 1989.
The administrative Law
Judge has not yet issued his
ruling in the case.
                            Exhibit 4
Summary of U.S. Dredged Material Sites as of September 30,1990
Number of Sites
Region
I
II
III
IV
VI
IX
X

TOTAL
SITES
Final
Designation
Completed
1
14
1
14
19
6
12

67
Final
Designation
Proposed
0
0
0
3*
0
3"
1

7
Remaining
Interim
Designation
4
0
0
11
8
5
7

35
Dedesignated
0
0
0
0
0
0
1

1
TOTAL
5
14
1
28
27
14
21

110
During the 1987-FY1990 reporting period, Region IV dedesignated 10 sites, all
located off the coast of Florida: two sites at Cedar Keys; one site each in St. Lucie
Inlet, Largo Sound, Anclote, Pithlachascotee, Withlacoochee, and Horseshoe Cove,
St. Augustine, and Ponce de Leon Inlet.
* One site proposed for dedesignation (Key West), Two sites proposed for
designation (Canaveral and Pascagoula)
" One site proposed for designation (LA4 Point Loma), Two sites proposed for
dedesignation (LA2 Long Beach and LAS San Diego (100 fathom))
                                                                       17

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 Chapter 3. Ocean Disposal of Dredged Material
                                                Exhibit SA
                                   Region I Dredged Material Disposal Sites
                                          as of September 30,1990
Site Designation and Status
Portland, ME
Cape Arundel, ME
Massachusetts Bay, MA
Newburyport MA
Boston, MA
Designated on a final basis
Interim site
Interim site
[Formerly the
Marblehead Site]
Interim site
Interim site
                                           Exhibit SB
                                Location of Region I Dredged Material
                                          Disposal Sites
18
                                                     Portland

                                                * Cape Arundel

                                            r& •  Newburyport

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                                                         Chapter 3. Ocean Disposal of Dredged Material
         Exhibit 6B
Location of Region II Dredged
    Material Disposal Sites
                                                               Exhibit 64
                                                 Region II Dredged Material Disposal Sites
                                                        as of September 30,1990
Site Designation and Status
Fire Island Inlet, NY
Jones Island Inlet, NY
East Rockaway Inlet, NY
Rockaway Inlet, NY
Shark River Inlet, NY
Manasquan Inlet, NY
Absecon Inlet, NJ
Cold Spring Inlet, NJ
Mud Dump Site, NY
Yabucoa Harbor, PR
Ponce Harbor, PR
Mayaguez Harbor, PR
Arecibo, PR
San Juan, PR
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
                                        East Rockaway Inlet
                                         Jones Island Inlet
                                          Fire Island Inlet
                                           Mud Dump Site
                                    t Manasquan Inlet

                                    Absecon Inlet
                            Cold Spring Inlet
                                                                 Aredbo.   • San Juan

                                                           Mayaguez •&<;•.• • PR'
                                                                          Ponce
                                                                                  Yabucoa
                                                                                              19

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 Chapter 3. Ocean Disposal of Dredged Material
                                                        Exhibit 7A
                                           Region III Dredged Material Disposal Sites
                                                  as of September 30,1990
                                                Site Designation and Status
                                 Dam Neck, VA
Designated on a final basis
                  Exhibit 7B
       Location of Regon III Dredged Material
                  Disposal Sites
                                          Washington, D.C.';•'•;
                                                                      Oam Neck
20

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                                 Chapter 3. Ocean Disposal of Dredged Material
                         Exhibit 8A
Region IV Dredged Material Disposal Sites as of September 30,1990
Site Designation and Status
Morehead City, NC
Wilmington, NC
Georgetown, SC
Charleston, SC
Charleston Harbor Deepening
Project, SC
Port Royal (North), SC
Port Royal (South), SC
Savannah, GA
Brunswick, GA
Fernandina Beach, FL
Jacksonville, FL
Canaveral Harbor, FL
Fort Pierce Harbor, FL
Palm Beach Harbor (East), FL
Palm Beach Harbor (West), FL
Port Everglades, FL
Miami Beach, FL
Key West, FL
Charlotte Harbor, FL
Tampa Site 4, FL
Port St. Joe (North), FL
Port St. Joe (South), FL
Panama City, FL
Pensacola, FL (Offshore Site)
Pensacola, FL (Nearshore Site)
Mobile, AL
Pascagoula, MS
Gulfport, MS (East)
Gulfport, MS (West)
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Interim site
Interim site
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Subject to proposed rulemaking to
designate on a final basis
Interim site
Interim site
Interim site
Interim site
Interim sites
Subject to proposed rulemaking to
dedesignate
Interim site
Final designation expired;
considered for redesignation in a
pending EIS
Interim site
Interim site
Interim site
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Subject to proposed rulemaking to
designate on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis

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 Chapter 3. Ocean Disposal of Dredged Material
                                               Exhibit 8B
                           Location of Region IV Dredged Material Disposal Sites
                                                                       Wilmington
     Port Royal
   Savannah
• Brunswick
• Fernandina Beech
  Jacksonville
                                                                           Morehead City
                                                                               Charleston
                                                                               Charleston Harbor
                                                                               Deepening
                                                                               Project
          Gulfport, East
        Gulfport, West
               Pascagoula
                     Mobile
                     Pensacola
                       Pensacola!
                       Offshore
                             Panama
                             City
                         Port St. Joe North
                           Port St. Joe South
  'J« Canaveral Harbor

        Fort Pierce Harbor

       •• Palm Beach Harbor

       • Port Everglades
       • Miami Beach
                                                            Key West
22

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                                Chapter 3. Ocean Disposal of Dredged Material
                         Exhibit 9A
Region VI Dredged Material Disposal Sites as of September 30,1990
Site Designation and Status
Mississippi River (Gulf Outlet, LA)
Mississippi River (South Pass, LA)
Mississippi River (Southwest Pass, LA)
Empire, LA
Tiger Pass, LA (Venice)
Barataria Bay, LA
Bayou Lafourche, LA
Houma Navigation Canal, LA
Atchafalaya, LA
Freshwater Bayou, LA
Mermentau River Area A, LA
Mermentau River Area B, LA
Calcasieu River and Pass, Area 1 , LA
Calcasieu River and Pass, Area 2, LA
Calcasieu River and Pass, Area 3, LA
Sabine-Neches Site 1 , TX
Sabine-Neches Site 2, TX
Sabine-Neches Site 3, TX
Sabine-Neches Site 4, TX
Galveston, TX
Freeport Harbor, TX (45-ft Project
New Work)
Freeport Harbor, TX (45-ft Project
Maintenance)
Corpus Christ! Ship Channel, TX
Port Aransas, TX (Homeport)
Matagorda Ship Channel, TX
Port Mansfield Channel, TX
Brazos Island Harbor, TX
Designated on a final basis
Interim site
Designated on a final basis
Interim site
Interim site
Designated on a final basis
Interim site
Designated on a final basis
Interim site
Interim site
Interim site
Interim site
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
                                                                 23

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 Chapter 3. Ocean Disposal of Dredged Material
                                                                          Exhibit 9B
                                                             Location of Region VI Dredged Material
                                                                         Disposal Sites
                             %• Freeport Harbor
                             T 45-ft. Project
                            Freeport Harbor
                       Matagorda
                     A  Ship Channel
                     \ Homeport Project
                     Corpus Christ!
                    •Port Mansfield
                                                                   Mississippi River Gulf Outlet
                       Brazos Island
                       Harbor
                          Empire
                            Mississippi River South Pass
                             *
                       • • Mississippi River Southwest Pass
                        Tiger Pass
                      Barataria Bay
                    Bayou Lafourche
                  Houma
             Atchafalaya
        Freshwater Bayou
     Mermentau River
  Calcasieu River
Sabine-Neches
24

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                                Chapter 3. Ocean Disposal of Dredged Material
                        Exhibit 1OA
Region IX Dredged Material Disposal Sites as of September 30,1990
Site Designation and Status
Crescent City, CA
Humboldt Entrance Channel (SF-3),
CA
Noyo River, CA
San Francisco Channel Bar, CA
Port Hueneme, CA
LA 2, CA (Long Beach)
Newport Beach, CA
LA 4, CA (Point Loma)
LA 5, CA (San Diego 100-Fathom Site)
Nawiliwili, HI
Port Allen, HI
South Oahu, HI
Kahului, HI
Hilo, HI
Guam-Apra Harbor
Interim site
Interim designation expired [EPA
anticipates future rulemaking to
designate a replacement site.]
Interim site
Designated on a final basis
Interim site
Interim designation expired; subject
to proposed rulemaking to designate
on a final basis
Interim site
Interim designation expired; subject
to proposed rulemaking to
dedesignate
Interim designation expired; subject
to proposed rulemaking to designate
on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Interim site
                                                                 25

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 Chapter 3. Ocean Disposal of Dredged Material
                                                                      Exhibit 10B
                                                          Location of Region IX Dredged Material
                                                                      Disposal Sites
                    Crescent City ,
                Humboldt Entrance
                Channel
        /• Nawiliwili
        1 Port Allen
          South Oahu

                  HI
                      Noyo River •$£•.;;
                         San FranciscoiW:.
                         Channel Bar •&L'.''
                                       if.' San Francisco
       Port Hueneme*
          Long Beach
          Newport Beach
, Kahului        San Diego
               Point Loma
                 San Diego'
                 100-Fathom
                                                                             Quam-Apra
                                                                             Harbor
26

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                                Chapter 3. Ocean Disposal of Dredged Material
                        Exhibit 11A
Region X Dredged Material Dispoal Sites as of September 30,1990
Site Designation and Status
Nome, AK (East Site)
Nome, AK (West Site)
Grays Harbor, WA (Southwest
Navigation Site)
Grays Harbor, WA (Eight Mile Site)
Willapa Bay, WA
Mouth of the Columbia River (Site A)
Mouth of the Columbia River (Site B)
Mouth of the Columbia River (Site E)
Mouth of the Columbia River (Site F)
Tillamook Bay, OR
Yaquina Bay, OR
Siuslaw River Entrance, OR
Umpqua River Entrance, OR
Coos Bay (Site E), OR
Coos Bay (Site F), OR
Coos Bay (Site H), OR
Coquille River Entrance, OR
Port Orford, OR
Rogue River Entrance, OR
Chetco River Entrance, OR
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Interim site
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Interim site
Interim site
Interim site
Interim site
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Designated on a final basis
Interim site
Interim site
Subject to proposed
rulemaking to designate on a
final basis
                                                                 27

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Chapter 3. Ocean Disposal of Dredged Material
       Nome
                                                                        Exhibit 11B
                                                            Location of Region X Dredged Material
                                                                        Disposal Sites
                                         Grays Harbor (Southwest) ^ ••
                                         Grays Harbor (8-Mile Site) c *""
                                                    Willapa Bay
                                          Mouth of Columbia River
                                                   Tiliamook Bay • :,*.• • ,

                                                    Yaquina Bay J'.N. '.
                                                   Siuslaw River
                                                  Umpqua River ~'•••-•'-••'
                                                     Coos Bay,
                                                 Coquille River
                                                   Port Orford
                                                   Rogue River
                                                   Chetco  River

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                                   Chapters. Ocean Disposal of Dredged Material
                            Exhibit 12
Summary of EPA's Monitoring Activities at Dredged Material Disposal Sites
Number of Surveys
Region
I
II
III
IV
VI
IX
X
Number ot
Sites
3
14
1
29
28
15
20
Number of
Sites Visited3
1
Ib
2C
14
1
1
7
7987
0
0
3
16
0
0
0
1988
0
0
4
14
1
0
3
1989
1
1
4
6
0
1
4d
7990
3
0
0
5
0
3
4
a Number of sites in Region visited between 1987-FY1990.
b Single Region II site listed was a survey to the candidate sites for the alternate Mud Dump.
c Second Region III site listed was a survey to a candidate site off Norfolk, VA.
" Two sites not included in this tally were interim sites in December 1989 (see Exhibit 4, p. 17).
These sites now have Section 404 status, and thus are no longer regulated under MPRSA.
They are not shown on Exhibit 10B, p.26.
                                                                     29

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   Chapter 4. Ocean Disposal of Municipal Sewage Sludge
                            Chapter 4. Ocean  Disposal
                            of Municipal Sewage Sludge
30
                          Overview of Sludge
                          Disposal Activities
                          In 1987, over 8.4 million wet
                          tons of sludge were dumped
                          in the ocean: 47 percent at the
                          former 12-Mile Sewage
                          Sludge Dump Site (12-Mile
                          Site) and 53 percent at the
                          106-Mile Deepwater Munici-
                          pal Sludge Dump Site
                          (DMSDS or 106-Mile Site).
                          The former 12-Mile Site,
                          located in the New York
                          Bight Apex, 12 nautical miles
                          from Sandy Hook, New
Jersey, was used for disposal
of municipal sewage sludge
from 1924-1987. Exhibit 13
shows the location of the 12-
Mile Site and the 106-Mile
Deepwater Municipal Sludge
Dump Site. Exhibit 14 lists
the nine sewerage authorities
ocean dumping sewage
sludge and the quantities
each dumped from 1987
through 1990. Exhibit 15
shows the volumes of
sewage sludge and other
wastes dumped in U.S.
waters from 1973 to 1989.
  The 106-Mile Site, located
  approximately 120 nautical
  miles southeast of Ambrose
  Light, New York, and 115
  nautical miles from Atlantic
  City, New Jersey, was
  designated in 1984 (see
  Exhibit 13). Subsequently, in
  April 1985, EPA denied
  requests from the dumpers,
  for re-designation of the 12-
  mile site. Thereafter, the
  Agency and the sludge
  dumpers negotiated a phase-
  out of dumping at the 12-
  Mile Site. Sewage sludge
 dumping began at the 106-
 Mile Site in March 1986 and
 use of the 12-Mile Site was
 phased out in December
 1987.

 Although the number of
 municipal sewage sludge
 dumpers has decreased since
 the passage of MPRSA, the
 volume of sludge dumped
 increased annually from 1973
 to 1988, primarily due to the
 upgrading of wastewater
 treatment plants and an
 increase in service area
 population (see Exhibit 14).

 Dedesignation of
 Ocean Dumping Sites

During the reporting period
1987 through 1990, EPA has
taken action to dedesignate

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                                   Chapter 4. Ocean Disposal of Municipal Sewage Sludge
or remove expired, un-
needed, or terminated sites.
This dedesignation activity,
as specified in the Federal
Register 55 FR 3688, resulted
in three former sewage
sludge sites being removed
from the list. Two of the
sewage sludge sites were in
the New York Bight and one
was off the coast of Delaware
and Maryland. Appendix A
lists the sites dedesignated
during this reporting period.

Resolution of NY/NJ
Dumping Case

In August 1989, EPA success-
fully completed negotiations
for judicial consent decrees
and enforcement agreements
with nine New York and
New Jersey municipal
sewerage authorities as
required by ODBA. The
municipal authorities have
developed schedules for
phasing out their ocean
dumping, which EPA and
the two states have accepted.
This concluded nine years of
ocean dumping by these
communities under a court
order, without EPA permits.

The history of the New
York/New Jersey communi-
ties' ocean dumping predates
EPA's existence by almost 50
years. Highlights are as
follows:

In 1924, New York City began
dumping its municipal sewage
sludge 12 ntni outside New
York Harbor, now known as the
12-Mile Site. During the next
five decades, numerous
communities in the New
York/New Jersey area
dumped their sewage sludge
at this site until, at one point,
200 communities were using
the site.

From 1973 until 1981, EPA
issued MPRSA permits for
dumping at the 12-Mile Site,
first under an interim, then a
final site designation. The
permits expired in December
1981. At that time, only nine
municipal sewerage authori-
ties held permits which EPA
declined to renew. The
dumpers sued EPA over its
refusal to renew the permits
and won court orders to
continue dumping. As a
result, from December 31,
1981, through August 14,
1989, the  nine NY/NJ
communities continued to
dump their sewage sludge at
the 12-Mile Site and, after
1987, at the 106-Mile Site,
under court orders.

EPA was negotiating new
permits with the nine municipal
sewerage authorities under
MPRSA, including assess-
ment of land-based sludge
management alternatives,
when ODBA became law,
and negotiations shifted to
meet its requirements. These
were satisfactorily completed
August 14,1989.

According to their enforce-
ment agreements, the New
York/New Jersey sewerage
authorities will adhere to the
following schedules:

•  The six New Jersey
    authorities stopped
    ocean disposal by
    March 17,1991, in
    accordance with state
    law.

•   The Nassau County
    Department of Public
    Works and the
    Westchester County
    Department of Environ-
    mental Facilities plan to
    stop ocean disposal by
    December 31,1991.

•   The New York City
    Department of Environ-
    mental Protection plans
    to phase-out ocean
    disposal by June 30,
    1992, with initial phase-
    out of 20 percent by
    December 31,1991. The
    phase-out date for New
    York City reflects the
    amount of construction
    needed for dewatering
    facilities.

As required by ODBA, the
schedules contain key
milestone dates for imple-
menting alternatives to ocean
dumping. These include
interim disposal measures as
necessary, reporting require-
ments for monitoring
implementation progress,
and provisions for payment
of ocean dumping fees and
penalties. In addition, the
sewerage authorities agreed
to pay stipulated penalties
for violations of their agree-
ments.

EPA Technical
 Transfer Efforts

EPA is providing technical
transfer opportunities to
assist the New York and
                        31

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Chapter 4. Ocean Disposal of Municipal Sewage Sludge
                                          Exhibit 13
          Locations of the 12-Mile Site and the 106-Mile Deepwater Municipal Sludge Dump Site
                                                                   106-Mile Deepwater
                                                                 * Municipal Sludge
                                                                   Dump Site
                                                            ATLANTIC  OCEAN
32

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             Chapter 4. Ocean Disposal of Municipal Sewage Sludge
            Exhibit 14
Sewage Sludge Dumped 1987 - FY 1990
Quantities in Thousand Wet Tons
Sewerage Authorities
Bergen County
Utilities Authority, NJ
Joint Meeting of Essex and
Union Counties, NJ
Linden Roselle
Sewerage Authority, NJ
Middlesex County
Utilities Authority, NJ
Nassau County Department of
Public Works, NY
New York City Department of
Environmental Protection, NY
Passaic Valley Sewerage
Commissioners, NJ
Rahway Valley
Sewerage Authority, NJ
Westchester County Department of
Environmental Facilities, NY
1987a
12-Mile
Site
424
190
70
809
0
1913
503
69
0
1987a
106-Mile
Site
183
76
24
174
811
1947
709
29
494
1988
106-Mile
Site
423
308
74
997
873
4041
1355
129
544
1989
106-Mile
Site
299
226
48
1005
897
3952
1622
130
490
FY1990
106-Mile
Site
294
248
90
1300
917
4600
1840
139
480
TOTALS 3978 4447 8744 8669 9908
a Sludge disposal at the 1 2-Mile Site ended on December 31 , 1 987.
                                                   33

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Chapter 4. Ocean Disposal of Municipal Sewage Sludge
                                             Exhibit 15
            Volumes of Sewage Sludge and Other Wastes Dumped in U.S. Waters 1973 -1989
             f|  Sewage Sludge


             •  Other
                 Wastes
      9 -
            1973  1974  1975 1976 1977 1978 1979  1980  1981  1982- 1983 1984 1985  1986  1987  1988 1989

                                                    Year
         For the purpose of this graphic, "Other Wastes" refers to industrial waste, fish waste, construction debris, and wood.
                                   Dumping of industrial ivaste ceased in 1988.
34

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                                   Chapter 4. Ocean Disposal of Municipal Sewage Sludge
New Jersey sewerage
authorities affected by
ODBA. In November 1989,
EPA hosted a two-day
roundtable meeting on
implementing land-based
alternatives. Officials from
sewerage authorities that had
already made the transition
from ocean to land disposal
shared their experiences with
those from New York and
New Jersey. The proceedings
of this meeting are included
in the EPA Sludge Recycling
Alternatives Report to
Congress (EPA, 1989d).

In September 1990, EPA
hosted a second meeting to
assist the New York and
New Jersey sewage authori-
ties. The two major themes
for the meeting were remov-
 ing barriers to beneficial use
 projects (e.g., understanding
 perceived risks, and improv-
 ing communication with the
 public) and implementing
 beneficial use projects (e.g.,
 selecting a beneficial use
 technology, and developing
 markets for sludge products).
 The conference was designed
 to provide information for
 sewerage authorities,
 environmental groups,
 financial institutions, consult-
 ing engineers, and other
 interested parties. At the
 conclusion of the meeting,
 considerable interest was
 shown in holding a third
 meeting in late 1991 to
 provide a status report on the
 land-based sludge manage-
 ment plans. The meeting,
  "Pursuing Beneficial Users of
  Sludge", was designed to
promote the beneficial use of
municipal sewage sludge.

Reports to Congress

EPA released its first annual
report, Progress in Stopping
Ocean Dumping (EPA,
1989e), in December 1989. It
describes the progress the
sewerage authorities have
made in selecting interim
and long-term land-based
sludge-management alterna-
tives. In 1990, EPA also
published the following
Reports to Congress, as
required by ODBA:

•  Surveillance and
    Enforcement of Sewage
    Sludge Dumping
    (EPA, 19890;

 •  Ocean Disposal Moni-
    toring Programs in
    Response to the Ocean
    Dumping Ban Act
     (EPA, 1990a-c); and

 •  Sludge Recycling
     Alternatives (EPA,
     1989d).

 Site Monitoring
 and Management

 Since dumping began at the
 106-Mile Site, EPA has
 implemented a monitoring
 plan (EPA, 1988g). The plan
 addressed compliance with
 disposal requirements and
 the fate and effects of sludge
 dumped at the 106-Mile Site.
 EPA's monitoring plan
 considers the characteristics
  of both the dump site and the
  sludge to predict possible
  impacts of the sludge.
Ocean Dumping Workshop

In March 1989, EPA, the
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), and the U.S. Coast
Guard (USCG) held a
workshop to address public
concerns about dumping
sewage sludge at the 106-
Mile Site. In addition to
government officials, scien-
tists, fishermen, policy
experts, representatives of
the sludge dumpers, and
representatives of environ-
mental interest groups
discussed changes needed to
the existing monitoring plans
and the development of a
 strategy for future research,
 monitoring, and surveillance.
 EPA published the results of
 that workshop in Proceed-
 ings of the Ocean Dumping
 Workshop, 106-Mile Site
 (EPA, 1989c).

 EPA, NOAA, and USCG Joint
 Strategy

 Using the workshop's
 results, EPA, NOAA, and the
 USCG are currently imple-
 menting a joint strategy for
 monitoring effects of munici-
 pal sludge disposal at the
  106-Mile Site. The three
  agencies signed a Memoran-
  dum of Understanding
  (MOU) in April 1990 defin-
  ing the roles of each and
  completed a joint revised
  monitoring, research, and
  surveillance plan in Decem-
  ber 1990 (EPA 1990b) that
  supersedes all previous
  plans. The new plan uses the
  same set of baseline data
                         35

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Chapter 4. Ocean Disposal of Municipal Sewage Sludge
                             developed by EPA's existing
                             plan and builds upon
                             monitoring data already
                             collected.

                             The areas of potential
                             impacts were based upon the
                             following considerations
                             from the ocean  dumping
                             regulations:

                             •   Impingement of sludge
                                 onto shorelines;

                             •   Movement of sludge
                                 into marine sanctuaries,
                                 shellfishery, or fishery
                                areas;

                             •   Effects of sludge on
                                commercial fisheries;

                             •  Accumulation of sludge
                                constituents in biota;

                             •  Progressive changes in
                                water quality because of
                                sludge;

                             •  Progressive changes in
                                sediment composition
                                because of  sludge;

                            •  Impacts on endangered
                                species as a result of the
                                sludge; and

                            •  Progressive changes in
                                pelagic, demersal, or
                                benthic biological
                                communities as a result
                                of the sludge.

                            The plan contains a four-
                            tiered strategy to monitor
                            sludge disposal  at the 106-
                            Mile Site. Information on the
                            potential impacts in the site
                            and in the vicinity of the site
                            was collected as follows:
 Tier 1. Sludge characteristics
 and disposal operations

 Tier 2. Nearfield fate and
 short-term effects

 TiCT-3.Farfieldfate

 Tier 4. Long-term effects

 Monitoring activities have
 centered on Tiers 1,2, and 3.
 Studies of long-term effects
 (Tier 4) have only recently
 been conducted, and rely
 upon evaluations of the
 results from the other tiers to
 combine sludge fate data
 with effects studies.

 Under Tier 1 activities, EPA
 studied sludge characteristics
 from each of the dumpers to
 determine chemical composi-
 tion and toxicity. This
 information, combined with
 Tier 2 data, was used to
 determine acceptable
 dumping rates.

 In Tier 2, EPA studied the
 short-term behavior of the
 sludge plumes, nearfield
 transport, and short-term
 effects of the sludge in the
 site and its immediate
 vicinity. This information
 was used to determine how
 sludge plumes dispersed and
 moved through the waters of
 and near the site. These data
 were combined with Tier 1
 data to set appropriate limits
 on dumping rates to meet
 ocean dumping criteria.

Tier 3 includes studying the
direction and rate of trans-
port of sludge dumped at the
site, the areal extent of sludge
concentrations outside the
 site, and the physical and
 chemical fate of the sludge.
 This information was and is
 being used to develop
 additional Tier 3 and Tier 4
 studies. Tier 3 activities
 include water sampling, the
 use of current meters,
 satellite-tracked drifters, and
 satellite imagery. The
 satellite-tracked drifters
 deployed at the site have all
 shown trajectories that do not
 move onto the Continental
 Shelf, but eventually enter
 the Gulf Stream and move
 toward the Northeast. (See
 Exhibit 16.)

 A stationary current meter
 and  meteorological station
 buoy, which transmit real-
 time current and meteoro-
 logical data by satellite to
 EPA, have been placed near
 the site. This information is
 used to monitor currents, sea
 states, and weather condi-
 tions.

 In 1990, based on Tier 3 data,
 sediment traps were de-
 ployed near the site to collect
 particles falling to the sea
 floor. This data will provide
 evidence of the potential for
 sludge to reach the sea floor
 in various locations around
 the site.

 Discharge Rates

 When EPA moved sludge
disposal operations from the
 12-Mile Site to the 106-Mile
Site,  the discharge rates of
 15,500 gallons per minute
 (gpm) established for the 12-
Mile Site remained in effect
until the scientific basis for

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                                           Chapter 4. Ocean Disposal of Municipal Sewage Sludge
                              Exhibit 16
Buoy Trajectories of 29 Satellite-Tracked Buoys Released in the 106-Mile Site
                     (October 1989 to August 1990)
         Continental Snalf Brtak
         (200-m isobath)
         74      72      70      68       66      64      62      60       58

                             Degrees West Longitude
56
                                                                                    37

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Chapter 4. Ocean Disposal of Municipal Sewage Sludge
 38
                            new ones could be estab-
                            lished. Since 1986, when
                            sewerage authorities first
                            began using the DMSDS,
                            EPA has conducted semi-
                            annual surveys at the site to
                            determine the fate and effect
                            of the sludge being dumped.
                            In addition to field observa-
                            tions of sludge plume
                            behavior, analyses of the
                            waste have been performed
                            on sludge samples collected
                            both at the site and at the
                            individual treatment plants.
                            EPA has used this data to
                            reduce discharge rates to
                            meet the requirements of the
                            ocean dumping regulations.
                            As a result, discharge rates
                            were reduced from 15,500
                            gpm to rates ranging from
                            145 gpm to 8,719 gpm,
                            depending upon particular
                            characteristics of the sludge
                            being dumped. In addition,
                            as a condition of the permits,
                            the permittees are required to
                            submit sludge characteriza-
                            tion data monthly, quarterly,
                            and semi-annually. Based on
                            EPA's evaluation of this data,
                            EPA then may revise the
                            discharge rates on a quarterly
                            basis.

                            Surveillance and
                            Enforcement Activities

                            Under MPRSA, enforcement
                             of permit conditions is a joint
                             responsibility of EPA and the
                             Coast Guard, with the Coast
                             Guard responsible for
                             surveillance.

                             Permit Terms

                             To ensure that authorized
                             ocean dumping of sewage
sludge is performed prop-
erly, the new special ocean
dumping permits require
that each vessel (1) be
accompanied by an EPA-
approved, independent ship
rider; (2) be equipped with
an Ocean Dumping Surveil-
lance System (ODSS) unit;
and (3) comply with the
conditions of EPA's Sludge
Manifest and Tracking
System program.

ODSS

The ODSS is an electronic
surveillance system that has
been developed, installed,
and operated by the U.S.
Coast Guard. It is designed
to identify the location of
each of the 13 EPA-autho-
rized ocean dumping vessels.
ODSS also relays information
about when and where the
barges are dumping the
sludge to assure that dump-
ing occurs in the designated
106-Mile Site. ODSS com-
prises three main compo-
nents: (1) the electronics
package ("black box") that is
installed on all 13 vessels; (2)
the transducers or pressure
sensors that measure changes
in vessel draft; and (3) the
base station located at
Governors Island, New York,
and the relay station located
at Sandy Hook, New Jersey.

The ODSS can provide real-
 time (near-instantaneous)
 coverage up to 20 nmi from
 the base station and 60 nmi
 from the relay station. When
 the vessels are outside
 communications range, the
 black box stores data on the
vessel's location and dump
status.

SMTS Program

To further enhance tracking
and monitoring of sewage
sludge, EPA developed and
implemented the Sludge
Manifest and Tracking
System (SMTS) program. Its
purpose is to prevent illegal
dumping of sewage sludge
in the harbor, rivers, and
estuarine areas of New York
and New Jersey. The SMTS
program also protects against
the surreptitious loading of
toxic or banned substances
along with the sewage
sludge, and is designed to
prevent or mitigate acciden-
tal sludge spills.

The SMTS program is
described in detail in the
EPA Surveillance and
Enforcement of Sewage
Sludge Dumping Report to
Congress (EPA, 1989f).

 Enforcement Actions

 EPA inspectors and
 shipriders are required to
 notify the agency and/or the
 Coast Guard of permit
 violations so that EPA can
 initiate enforcement activities
 under MPRSA regulations.
 In July 1988, EPA issued
 administrative complaints
 against all nine ocean
 dumping sewerage authori-
 ties and their waste trans-
 porters for violating sludge
 disposal conditions from
 January to April 1988.
 Violations included discharg-
 ing sludge too quickly,

-------
                                   Chapter 4. Ocean Disposal of Municipal Sewage Sludge
failing to comply with
approved vessel tracking
procedures during discharge,
and filing incomplete reports.

New York City Department
of Environmental Protection
(NYCDEP), Nassau County
Department of Public Works
(NCDPW), National Sea-
trade, Inc., and the A&S
Transportation Company
have settled with EPA for a
combined total of $107,000.
The other authorities and
waste transporters have
agreed to settle, but these
actions have yet to be
completed.

Based upon reports from
EPA-approved inspectors,
other administrative com-
plaints have been issued for.
sludge spills and other
permit violations. A com-
plaint against NYCDEP was
issued in September 1989 and
another against Westchester
County  Department of
Environmental Facilities
(WCDEF) in January 1990.
Both authorities have
responded to the complaints,
but final settlements have yet
to be reached. Following the
last complaint against
NYCDEP, the sewerage
authority installed a
videocamera system at its
Wards Island dock to
improve monitoring of
vessels transferring sewage
sludge. NYCDEP has also
improved the efficiency of
the high-level alarm sensors
on its sludge barges.

During monitoring activities
at the 106-Mile Site, members
of the scientific party aboard
EPA's ocean survey vessel,
the OSV PETER W. ANDER-
SON, twice observed
floatables in the sludge
plume behind the barge
Seatrader I, once during
September 1988 and again in
October 1989. During the first
sighting, the barge was
transporting sewage sludge
from the Long Beach Waste-
water Treatment Plant and
NCDPW. Based upon this
sighting and plant inspec-
tions, EPA issued an admin-
istrative complaint in
December 1988. The City of
Long Beach stopped ocean
disposal of sewage sludge in
1989.

During the second floatables
sighting, the Seatrader I was
transporting sewage sludge
from Joint Meeting of Essex
and Union Counties
(JMEUC), Middlesex County
Utilities Authority (MCUA),
and NCDPW. Based on this
sighting, EPA issued an
administrative complaint in
November 1989. EPA also
issued an enforcement letter
in November 1989 requiring
the three authorities to
establish a means for screen-
ing each bargeload (prior to
loading) of sewage sludge for
floatables. The waste trans-
porter and the authorities
have responded to the
complaint, but final settle-
ments have yet to be reached.
                                                                               39

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 Chapter 5. Ocean Disposal of Industrial Wastes and Other Materials
                           Chapter 5.  Ocean  Disposal of  Industrial
                           Wastes and Other Materials
                          Industrial Wastes

                          As a result of the passage of
                          ODBA, dumping of indus-
                          trial wastes into the ocean
                          has stopped. In September
                          1988, the last dumper ceased
                          activities. In February 1990,
                          EPA eliminated 21 expired or
                          unneeded ocean dumping
                          sites. These sites had  origi-
                          nally been designated for
                          industrial waste, sewage
                          sludge, or similar types of
                          material. Also in February
1990, EPA proposed to
dedesignate the Gulf of
Mexico Ocean Incineration
Site and the Region II Acid
Waste Site. A final rule
should be in place in 1991.

As shown in Exhibit 15,
under MPRSA, between 1973
and 1986, the amount of
industrial waste dumped
into the ocean decreased
steadily. In 1987-1988,82,000
wet tons of acid waste were
dumped at the Acid Waste
 Site. In 1987,28,000 wet tons
 were dumped at the Deep-
 water Industrial Waste Site.

 The last dumper of industrial
 waste ceased disposal
 operations in September
 1988. Since ODBA prohibits
 new dumpers from com-
 mencing disposal of indus-
 trial waste, the ocean dump-
 ing of industrial waste has
 effectively ended.

 During the period covered
 by this report, EPA has taken
 action to eliminate expired or
 unneeded ocean dumping
 sites. This action has in-
 cluded removing 15 sites
 originally designated for
 industrial wastes and similar
 types of material, as well as
 the proposed dedesignation
 of a site previously used for
 acid waste disposal. Final
 action on that proposed
 dedesignation took place in
 February 1991. The dedesig-
 nation of these sites is
 consistent with the dumping
 prohibitions established by
ODBA. Appendix A lists the
 location of these sites.

Since ODBA prohibits
issuing new permits and no
permits now exist, EPA has
effectively ended ocean
disposal of industrial waste.
40

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                          Chapter 5. Ocean Disposal of Industrial Wastes and Other Materials
Burning of Wood
and Dumping off
Construction Debris

EPA plans to phase out the
Woodburning Site in the
New York Bight by Decem-
ber 31,1991, because of the
availability of land-based
alternatives.

To date, EPA has issued
permits for the burning of
driftwood, wood pilings, and
other wood debris removed
from New York Harbor at
this site. Quantities burned
annually during this report-
ing period were 1987,35,000
tons; 1988,32,000 tons; 1989,
25,000 tons; and 1990,12,000.

EPA is currently considering
the future status of the Cellar
Dirt Site, also in the New
York Bight, where construc-
tion debris has been
dumped. The last permit to
use this site expired in
November 1989.

Incineration-at-Sea
During the first part of this
reporting period, EPA
worked on research and
operating programs needed
to support development of
the new regulations for ocean
incineration that were
proposed in 1985 [50 FR 8222
(Feb. 28,1985)]. However, in
February 1988, EPA sus-
pended work on the pro-
gram for incineration-at-sea
of liquid hazardous waste.
By banning ocean dumping
of industrial waste, ODBA
effectively eliminated
incineration-at-sea as well.

Many of the methodologies
and processes developed for
the operational and research
programs were never used
during at-sea burns because
of the program suspension.
However, benefits were
derived from the efforts.
Research contributed to the
development of over 50 state-
of-the-art methods for ocean
sampling and chemical
analyses that can be applied
to other marine and estuarine
investigations, such as
detecting oil or chemical
spills and siting of sewage
treatment plant outfalls.

Research conducted under
the incineration-at-sea
program was based on a
strategy that focused on the
development of an updated
environmental risk assess-
ment of ocean incineration of
liquid organohalogen wastes.
The three major study areas
and reports that EPA pre-
pared for each are as follows:

•  Development of meth-
    ods for sampling,
    analyzing, and deter-
    mining toxicity in
    marine organisms from
    incinerator emissions
    (EPA, 1985b; EPA,
    1989a);

•  Development of meth-
    ods for monitoring
    ocean incineration
    operations (EPA, 1987d-
    g); and
•   Determination of
    potential impacts of
    ocean incineration
    activities (EPA, 1985b;
    EPA, 1989a).

Additional work included
development of a compre-
hensive operating program
(EPA, 1987a) that addressed
the site-designation process
(EPA, 1987b), permits for
ocean incineration (EPA,
1987c;EPA,1988a),and
management of specified
areas or sites where incinera-
tion could take place without
endangering human health
or the environment (EPA,
1986).

The report, Ocean Incinera-
tion Research Program:
Background and Status
(EPA, 1989h), gives the status
of the work performed. It
summarizes the develop-
ment of the operating
program and the progress
made in EPA's research
strategy.

Site Designation

EPA conducted several
baseline and site designation
surveys at potential and
existing incineration sites
(EPA, 1987h,i; EPA, 1988b-f)
in this reporting period.

In February 1990, the Agency
proposed to dedesignate the
Gulf Incineration Site in the
Gulf of Mexico. This site,
which is south of Galveston,
Texas, was last used in 1982.
This action was completed in
                                                                                41

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 Chapter 5. Ocean Disposal of Industrial Wastes and Other Materials
                             February 1991. This site was
                             designated in 1976,
                             redesignated in 1982, and last
                             used in 1982. No other sites
                             are designated for incinera-
                             tion-at-sea.

                             Law Suits

                             EPA won verdicts in two law
                             suits during this reporting
                             period involving applicants
                             for permits for incineration-
                             at-sea.

                             The first, filed by Waste
                             Management International
                             (WMI) in 1986, challenged
                             EPA's denial of a research
                             permit to incinerate hazard-
                             ous waste at sea to Chemical
                             Waste Management (CWM),
                             a WMI subsidiary. EPA
                             argued that regulations
                             governing ocean incineration
                             should be in place before
                             permits were issued, a
                             position the court upheld
                             (669F.Supp.536).

                             The second, filed by Seaburn,
                             Inc., followed EPA's 1988
                             suspension of work on the
                             incineration-at-sea program.
                             As a consequence of the
                             suspension, the incineration-
                             at-sea  regulations were not
completed, nor were permit
applications reviewed. The
company challenged such an
indefinite suspension. EPA
argued that ODBA, which
became law during this suit,
prohibited issuing new
permits for the incineration
of industrial waste at sea.
Seaburn argued that ODBA
covered only direct dumping
of industrial wastes, not
residues from incineration;
the court, in April 1989,
upheld EPA's interpretation
(712 F. Supp. 218).

Fish Wastes

MPRSA does not require a
permit for dumping unadul-
terated fish wastes unless it
occurs in harbors, other
protected or enclosed coastal
waters, or any location where
the Administrator finds that
the dumping could endanger
human health, the environ-
ment, or ecological systems.

Region I permits offshore
disposal of seafood wastes at
four sites in Cape Cod Bay.
Region II is also investigating
possible designation of a site
for fish wastes near
Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.
Offshore disposal of fish
wastes also occurs in Regions
III and IV. Region IV has
asked fish waste dumpers in
the Region to perform
environmental monitoring of
their waste sites, and some
baseline work has been
performed at sites at Cape
Canaveral and St. Augustine,
Florida.

Between 1987 and 1990,
Region IX issued permits
under Section 102 of MPRSA
to Star-Kist Samoa, Inc., and
Samoa Packing Company,
Inc., for the disposal of fish
cannery wastes. The volumes
disposed at this site during
this reporting period were as
follows: 26 million gallons in
1987; 10 million gallons in
1988; 11 million gallons in
1989; and 13 million gallons
between January 1,1990, and
September 30,1990. EPA
designated the American
Samoa Fish Cannery Waste
Site in February 1990. The
permits and site designation
went into effect for three
years on July 31,1990.
42

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            Chapters. Monitoring Activities Conducted Aboard The CSV PETER W. ANDERSON
Chapter 6.
Monitoring Activities Conducted Aboard
The OSV  PETER W.  ANDERSON
                          About the OSV
                          PETER W. ANDERSON

                          The Ocean Survey Vessel
                          (OSV) PETER W. ANDER-
                          SON is EPA's primary
                          survey vessel for ocean
                          monitoring and site designa-
                          tion field studies. Surveys
                          aboard the ANDERSON are
                          performed as part of EPA's
                          overall strategy to determine
                          appropriate locations for
                          disposal of ocean-dumped
                          materials and to monitor
                          those materials once dis-
                          posed into the ocean environ-
                          ment. Information collected
                          on surveys is used in Envi-
                          ronmental Impact Statements
                          (EIS), to modify permit
                          conditions, or to support
                          decisions to designate or
                          expand designated disposal
                          locations, such as determin-
                          ing the location of a second
                          disposal site for dredged
                          sediments from Galveston
                          Harbor, Texas.

                          Specifications
                          and Equipment

                          The ANDERSON is
                          equipped with three fully
                          operational laboratories: a
                          wet laboratory for biological
                          sample processing, a chemis-
                          try laboratory, and a microbi-
                          ology laboratory. The ship
also has a computer survey
center where data manage-
ment and survey overview
operations are conducted.
The ANDERSON is staffed
by an operating crew of 15
and a scientific crew of up to
15. The operating crew
(Captain, mates, engineers,
and deck personnel) is
supplied by MAR, Inc., of Ft.
Lauderdale, Florida, under
contract to the Oceans and
Coastal Protection Division
of the Office of Wetlands,
Oceans, and Watersheds. The
ANDERSON'S scientific crew
is comprised of a Chief
Scientist, who is responsible
for the mission, and scientific
staff made up of personnel
from EPA Headquarters or
Regional offices, personnel
from other Federal agencies,
EPA contractors, or univer-
sity personnel.

On-board survey equipment
includes over-the-side
sampling gear with shallow-
and deep-water sampling
capabilities, laboratory
analytical equipment, an
underwater videocamera
system with taping capabili-
ties, and a side-scan sonar
system. The ANDERSON
has on-board equipment to
obtain samples from the
water column; air-sea
                      43

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Chapters. Monitoring Activities Conducted Aboard The OSV PETER W. ANDERSON
44
                             interface; seafloor sediments;
                             or surface, midwater, or
                             bottom-dwelling organisms.
                             Samples of dredged material,
                             sewage sludge, or air can be
                             collected aboard the
                             ANDERSON.

                             Since January 1987, signifi-
                             cant new equipment has
                             been added to the ANDER-
                             SON. Included are a naviga-
                             tion radar and plotter system;
                             a data recorder and chart
                             digitizer; a new salinometer
                             for the chemistry laboratory;
                             a new, automatic conductiv-
                             ity-temperatu re-depth-
                             dissolved oxygen (CTD/
                             DO) system, which electroni-
                             cally obtains conductivity,
                             temperature, depth, and
                             dissolved oxygen readouts
                             and transmits the data to the
                             ship's computers; 1000 ft of
                             side-scan sonar cable; a
                             winch for the underwater
                             videocamera system; a
                             reverse osmosis desalinator;
                             two personal computers for
                             the computer survey center;
                             International Marine Satellite
                             (INMARSAT) capability to
                             substantially improve ship-
                             to-shore communications;
                             and a Rigid Inflatable Boat to
                             assist in diver operations and
                             sample collections.

                             Mission Highlights

                             The ANDERSON is fully
                             utilized, maintaining a full
                             schedule throughout the
                             year. In addition to those
                             scientific surveys which
                             collect data, other surveys are
                             geared toward public
                             outreach, marine environ-
                             mental education, equipment
demonstrations, and contract
missions with the U.S. Navy
and Coast Guard. Destina-
tions for scientific surveys
have included dredged
material disposal sites, the
106-Mile Site, potential sites
for incineration-at-sea,
estuaries and other marine
environments studied under
EPA's Near Coastal Waters
Program and National
Estuary Program, and
various United States harbors
to investigate marine debris.
After each trip, the mission
Chief Scientist prepares and
submits a report to the
appropriate offices within
EPA.

Exhibit 17 shows the loca-
tions of the scientific surveys
and the EPA Regional offices
responsible for them. The
baseline surveys included
studies for new dredged
material disposal sites
(DMDS) at Wilmington,
North Carolina, and Charles-
ton, South Carolina. These
surveys involved collection
of bottom sediments to
accurately describe the
character of the seafloor.
Monitoring data collection
surveys included missions to
an existing DMDS near
Norfolk/Dam Neck, Vir-
ginia, to assess the quality of
sediments removed from the
approaches to Chesapeake
Bay and deposited at the site.
In addition, diver-serviced
sediment traps were em-
ployed at the Norfolk/Dam
Neck DMDS to determine
the character and volume of
the sediments that may have
been resuspended at the site
by underwater currents and
wave action.

In 1987, the ANDERSON
conducted 41 missions
during 221 sea days. Of
these, 33 missions were
scientific surveys, such as
baseline and monitoring data
collection surveys, and
surveys for equipment
deployment, testing, calibra-
tion, and recovery. The
remaining eight missions
were activities such as
demonstration cruises for
student groups, and two
contract missions for the
Navy.

In 1988,42 missions were
conducted during 231 sea
days. Of these, 31 missions
were scientific surveys (see
Exhibit 17) and the remain-
ing 11 missions were other
activities. Highlights of the
year included surveys to the
106-Mile Site to deploy and
recover deepwater current
meter arrays, and efforts to
track the plume of the sludge
as it left the disposal barge;
detailed videocamera
mapping of potential
dredged material disposal
sites at Charlotte Harbor/
Fort Myers, Florida; and
studies in New York and
Boston Harbors of floatable
materials, such as plastic
trash and medical wastes
that often wash ashore on
beaches, causing visual,
esthetic, and public health
concerns.

One particularly interesting
development during 1988

-------
             Chapter 6. Monitoring Activities Conducted Aboard The OSV PETER W. ANDERSON
was the testing and use of a
sediment perturbation device
developed with the Univer-
sity of Georgia. This instru-
mentation, which perturbates
the sediment and provides
real-time analysis of fine
sediments for trace metals,
was used to map sediment
composition at dredged
material disposal sites in Fort
Myers/Charlotte Harbor,
Tampa, Pensacola, and Cape
Canaveral, Florida; Mobile,
Alabama; and Charleston,
South Carolina.

Another accomplishment
during 1988 was the final
monitoring survey at the
Tampa Harbor, Florida,
Dredged Material Disposal
Site. Disposal of dredged
material from this project to
widen and deepen the
existing shipping channel to
accommodate deeper draft
phosphate ore freighters took
place from May 1984 through
October 1985, when the
project was completed.
Approximately 4 million
cubic yards of material were
deposited at the site, creating
a substantial flat-topped
mound. After disposal
operations were finished,
monitoring surveys showed
heavy colonization of the
mound by red and brown
algae, sponges, tunicates, sea
urchins, and arrow crabs. In
addition, a diverse assembly
of fish, including angelfish,
grouper, jacks, snapper, and
wrasses, was found in the
habitat provided by the
boulders of dredged material
on the mound. The dredged
material provided ample
surfaces for colonization by
numerous sessile organisms,
as well as considerable
habitat and protective cover
for teleosts (bony fishes) and
motile invertebrates.

In 1989,40 missions were
conducted during 197 sea
days. Of these, 29 were
scientific surveys (see Exhibit
17) and 11 were other
activities that included an
educational survey for
students of the University of
Rhode Island, a demonstra-
tion survey in support of the
National Estuary Program,
and one contract mission for
the Navy.

The scientific surveys
conducted during 1989
included two trips to the 106-
Mile Site to monitor ocean
dumping of sewage sludge.
With the aid of the ANDER-
SON, new data about the
prevalence of floatable
marine debris were collected
during EPA's Harbor Studies
Program. Harbor study
surveys were conducted with
the ANDERSON in New
York, Boston, Philadelphia,
Baltimore, Norfolk, and
Miami. Additional studies
were conducted in Houston,
Seattle, Tacoma, San Fran-
cisco, and Oakland using
contract vessels, The data are
being used to characterize
and determine the sources of
floatable debris in the U.S.
This data was used in the
development of a Report to
Congress (EPA, 1990d) and is
further described in EPA,
1990e.

Other highlights of 1989
included side scan sonar
surveys of dredged material
disposal sites in Regions I, H,
El, and IV, and support of
the Coast Guard's cleanup
operations after an oil spill in
the Delaware River in June
1989.

In 1990,37 missions were
conducted during 203 sea
days. Of these, 24 missions
were scientific surveys (see
Exhibit 17) and the remain-
ing 13 missions involved
other activities. These
activities included public
outreach programs in
Washington, DC, Annapolis,
Maryland, Boston, Massa-
chusetts, as well as the Earth
Day celebrations cited below.
In addition, the ANDERSON
participated in demonstra-
tion  surveys for three school
and  university groups during
1990. Highlights for the year
for scientific surveys in-
cluded dredged material
disposal site investigations at
Cape Arundel and Casco
Bay, Maine, Pensacola and
Ft. Pierce, Florida, and
Charleston, South Carolina.

The  major highlight for the
year were the ANDERSON'S
activities in support of Earth
Day 1990. The ship partici-
pated in public open houses
in Norfolk, Virginia, Jackson-
ville, Florida, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, and Annapo-
lis, Maryland. Over 4000

                        45

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 Chapter 6. Monitoring Activities Conducted Aboard The OSV PETER W. ANDERSON
                                                    Exhibit 17
                           Surveys Conducted by the OSV PETER W. ANDERSON, 1987 - FY 1990
Site

Number of Surveys
1987
1988
1989
FY1990
Region 1
Cape Arundel Disposal Site, ME
Massachusetts Bay Disposal Site, MA
Narragansett Bay, Rl
Rhode Island Sound, Rl
Providence River, Rl
Boston Harbor, MA
Massachusetts Bay, MA
Buzzards Bay, MA
Georges Bank
Casco Bay, ME


1
1



2


1
1
2
1
1
1a





1
1


1
1

4

1




la
1

2
1
Region II
106-Mile Site
Mud Dump/Alternate Mud Dump Site, NY Bight
106-Mile Deepwater Industrial Waste Disposal Site
Long Island Sound, NY
New York Harbor, NY
Continental Shelf Edge
Cape May, NJ
1
2
1
1
1
1
3
1
2

1
1a

4
2
1

1
2a

4
Region III
Dam Neck Ocean Disposal Site, VA
Ocean City, MD
Bethany Beach, DE
Delaware Inlet, DE
Philadelphia, PA
Baltimore, MD
Norfolk, VA
Chesapeake Bay, MD
NJ/DE/MD/VA Near Coastal Waters
Delaware Bay, DE
1
1
1







1












1
1a
2a




1












1a
1a
1a
4
1
46

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       Chapter 6. Monitoring Activities Conducted Aboard The OSV PETER W. ANDERSON
                  Exhibit 17 •• continued
Surveys Conducted by the OSV PETER W. ANDERSON, 1987 - FY 1990
Site

Number of Surveys
1987
1988
1989
FY 1990
Region IV
Fort Pierce, FL
Wilmington, NC
Charleston, SC
Fernandina Beach, FL
Canaveral, FL
Charlotte Harbor, FL
Tampa, FL
Pensacola, FL
Mobile, AL
Pascagoula, MS
Fort Meyers, FL
Boca Raton. FL
Miami, FL
Straights of Florida
Southeast Atlantic Coast
Savannah, GA

1
1
1

1
4
2

2
1


1a
1a



1

2
2
3
2
1

1
1




Region VI
Galveston, TX
Gulf Incineration Site
Coastal Louisiana
TOTAL SURVEYS
Other Activities
TOTAL MISSIONS

1a

33
8
41
1


31
11
42



2
2
2






1a







29
11
40
1

3

1


1




1a


1a



1
24
13
37
a These surveys were conducted by EPA Headquarters
                                                              47

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 Chapter 6. Monitoring Activities Conducted Aboard The OSV PETER W. ANDERSON
                            persons toured the vessel
                            during those four port calls,
                            and considerable interest was
                            expressed by the visitors on
                            how they could assist in
                            environmental protection
                            efforts. In addition, the Office
                            of Water produced a com-
                            memorative poster for Earth
                            Day that was given to all
                            visitors to the ANDERSON.

                            Management Decisions
                            EPA uses data and informa-
                            tion collected during OSV
                            ANDERSON surveys as a
                            basis for making environ-
                            mental management deci-
                            sions. The following are
                            examples of decisions made
                            during this reporting period,
                            and the role the ANDERSON
                            played in making them.

                            •   EPA studies aboard the
                                ANDERSON led
                                directly to the designa-
                                tion of the Tampa,
                                Florida, dredged
                                material disposal site.  In
                                addition, data collected
                                on the ANDERSON
                                after the dumping
                                operations showed
                                conclusively that the
                                dredged material was
                                contained within the
                                designated site.

                            •   Surveys using the
                                ANDERSON gathered
                                direct evidence of the
                                need for a second
                                dredged material
                                disposal site offshore of
                                Norfolk, Virginia.
 Videocamera data
 gathered on the
 ANDERSON identified
 an appropriate location
 for the Boca Raton,
 Florida, dredged
 material disposal site.
 This site was chosen to
 avoid impacting two
 inshore coral reefs.

 Data collected aboard
 the ANDERSON in
 1988 were used to select
 a second site for dis-
 posal of dredged
 sediments from
 Galveston Harbor,
 Texas.

 Data collected during
 ANDERSON surveys to
 the 106-Mile Site have
 provided considerable
 insight into dispersal
 patterns of dumped
 sludge. This informa-
 tion was used to
 determine appropriate
 disposal rates for the
 sewage sludge and to
 establish permit condi-
 tions for the sewerage
 authorities. Observa-
 tions made during these
 surveys resulted in
 enforcement actions
 against dumpers for
 permit violations.

 Information gathered
 using the ANDERSON
 near sewage effluents in
 Massachusetts Bay
demonstrated where
outfall contaminants
accumulated, how the
Bay currents directed
the effluent depositions,
and an appropriate
location to place a new
sewage outfall pipe.

Data on the prevalence
of marine debris,
collected with the aid of
the ANDERSON as part
of EPA's Harbor Studies
Program, led EPA to
focus on the release of
plastic pellets into the
marine environment,
and to further investi-
gate combined sewer
overflows (CSO) and
sewers as sources of
marine debris; in
addition, substantial
insight into the origin of
much of the marine
debris, medical waste,
and floatables found in
estuarine, coastal, and
offshore waters has
been gathered with the
use of the ANDERSON.

Winter flounder collec-
tion studies conducted
by the ANDERSON at
Georges Bank have
provided a baseline of
data on
uncontaminated fish
tissues for comparison
with tissues of flounder
caught in inshore areas.
These studies provide
significant information
about safe levels for
consumption of winter
flounder.

Data collected using the
ANDERSON, during
Near Coastal Waters
48

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         Chapter 6. Monitoring Activities Conducted Aboard The OSV PETER W. ANDERSON
surveys in the Mid-
Atlantic Bight, have
been used to establish
NPDES permit limita-
tions for nutrients and
bacterial loadings for
Ocean City, Maryland,
and Bethany Beach,
Delaware.

During the June 1989 oil
spill in the Delaware
Bay, the ANDERSON
responded quickly to
the Coast Guard's
request for assistance
and was used to deter-
mine the extent and
location of the spilled
oil.

The location of a
dredged material
dumpsite in Charleston,
SC, was changed to
protect newly-found
live-bottom communi-
ties.
Public Education
Activities

Each year, the ANDERSON
holds a number of public
open houses. During this
reporting period, environ-
mental education events
were held in Boston, Massa-
chusetts, for Region I; New
York City for Region II; in
Annapolis, Maryland, for
Region III; and in Washing-
ton, DC, for Headquarters
operations. The open houses
are popular with both the
ANDERSON'S crew and the
public because they give the
crew a chance to explain the
ship's mission. They also
provide visitors with a rare
view of the complex and
involved equipment and
operations of the vessel.

The ANDERSON partici-
pated in the initiation of a
public-private liaison with
WJLA, Channel 7, in Wash-
ington, DC, to develop the
first of two proposed video-
tapes on the theme of
pollution prevention, and
how the public can assist in
that effort. The  first video-
tape, approximately 8
minutes in length, is ad-
dressed to school children
from 9 to 17 years of age, and
has been completed.

As was mentioned earlier,
the ANDERSON also
participated in  several major
events during the Earth Day
1990 celebrations. During
public open houses for
outreach events in Norfolk,
Virginia, Jacksonville,
Florida, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, and Annapo-
lis, Maryland, many visitors
toured the ship, including the
Mayors of Norfolk and
Jacksonville, and the Gover-
nor of the State of Florida.
                                                                            49

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Chapter 7. EPA's Marine Protection Programs and Policy
                           Chapter 7.  EPA's Marine  Protection
                           Programs and Policy
                           In conjunction with activities
                           under MPRSA, EPA's
                           activities include implemen-
                           tation of a number of pro-
                           grams and policies that focus
                           on protection of the nation's
                           estuaries, coastal waters, and
                           oceans. The following are
                           some of the activities that
                           relate to MPRSA:

                           EPA's National Coastal
                           and  Marine Policy
                           EPA's National Coastal and
                           Marine Policy (NCMP),
which EPA developed and
published in 1989, states that
EPA, with the help of other
Federal agencies, the States,
localities and the general
public, will protect, restore,
and maintain the nation's
coastal and marine waters to
protect human health and
sustain living resources.

EPA's NCMP specifies five
goals:

Goal 1: Recover full recre-
ational use of shores,
beaches, and water by
reducing sources of bacterial
and other contamination,
plastics, floatables, and
debris;

Goal 2: Restore the Nation's
shellfisheries and saltwater
fisheries and protect marine
mammals and living re-
sources by controlling
pollution and causes of
habitat degradation and loss;

Goal 3: Minimize use of
coastal and marine waters for
waste disposal by strictly
limiting ocean dumping,
tightening controls on land-
based sources, and establish-
ing aggressive programs to
reduce the amount of waste
generated by our society;

Goal 4: Increase understand-
ing of the effects of pollution
on complex coastal and
marine ecosystems by
expanding scientific research
and monitoring programs
and developing new technol-
ogy;

Goal 5: Provide leadership by
the United States to protect
the world's oceans by
aggressively promoting
international efforts to stop
pollution and protect critical
marine habitats and living
resources.
50

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                                    Chapter 7. EPA's Marine Protection Programs and Policy
The National
Estuary Program

Congress established the
National Estuary Program
(NEP) precisely to address
the goals of the NCMP.
Under the Clean Water Act,
the program shows how
estuaries (and other ecosys-
tems) can be protected and
their living resources en-
hanced through comprehen-
sive, action-oriented manage-
ment that:

•   Identifies the probable
    causes of major envi-
    ronmental problems in
    estuaries of national
    significance;

•   Promotes and sustains
    long-term state and
    local commitment to
    solving problems;

•   Generates meaningful
    public involvement and
    participation;

•   Focuses existing regula-
    tory, institutional, and
    financial resources to
    act on identified prob-
    lems; and

•   Encourages innovative
    management ap-
    proaches.

Seventeen estuaries are
participating in the National
Estuary Program.

Marino Debris
Activitios

The presence in the marine
environment of floating
debris from anthropogenic
sources has resulted in
considerable public attention
and concern. Marine debris is
harmful to fish and wildlife
through ingestion and
entanglement, poses a risk to
human health, and is eco-
nomically and aesthetically
damaging to beach commu-
nities. Sources contributing to
this problem can include
land-based facilities for
handling solid waste; beach
use; Combined Sewer
Overflows (CSOs); domestic
and industrial wastewater
and stormwater systems;
urban runoff; and commer-
cial, recreational, and
military vessels.

In response to domestic and
international concerns about
floatable debris, EPA con-
ducted a series of studies in
eleven major coastal cities to
characterize this debris and
its sources. EPA is develop-
ing a national marine debris
program strategy which will
focus on source identification
and control, public education
and pollution prevention.
EPA has collected and
quantified debris exiting
several CSO's and storm
sewers, and is working with
the plastics industry and the
public to control the release
of debris to the waters of the
U.S. This national strategy
should be available in late
1991 for public review.

Noar Coastal
Wators Program

In 1986, at the request of the
EPA Administrator, the
Office of Water began a long-
range Strategic Planning
Initiative to address the
problems of increasing
degradation of the nation's
near coastal waters (NCWs).
The pressures exerted on the
nearshore waters from
growing populations,
nonpoint source runoff,
industrial and municipal
discharges, and assorted
waste disposal activities are
increasing and must be
evaluated and addressed.

The Near Coastal Waters
Program is part of a long-
range initiative by the
Agency to restore and protect
the water quality and natural
resources of the nation's
coastal areas. The Office of
Water is working with other
Federal agencies, coastal
states, and EPA Regional
personnel to design and
implement a wide range of
activities to achieve this  goal.
The NCW Program was
initiated as part of EPA's first
strategic planning process in
1986 with the intention of
improving the Agency's
management of near coastal
water environmental quality
and identifying ways to
improve coordination with
other federal, state, and  local
offices with responsibilities
for coastal programs.

The major activities at
present are the Pilot Project
Program, the Near Coastal
Waters Assessment, Technol-
ogy Transfer activities, and
Coordination Strategies.

(1) Pilot Project Program.
NCW pilot projects are joint
EPA-State efforts that
                        51

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 Chapter 7. EPA's Marine Protection Programs and Policy
                             address environmental
                             problems in selected near
                             coastal waters. Their purpose
                             is to demonstrate innovative
                             management actions that can
                             be applied in other areas of
                             the country. Some pilot
                             projects include a Decision
                             Making Information System
                             for Delaware's Inland Bays,
                             Oregon Coastal Resource
                             Action Plan, and Perdido Bay
                             Cooperative Management
                             Project.

                             (2) Near Coastal Waters
                             Assessment. The goal of the
                             Near Coastal Waters Assess-
                             ment Project is to identify
                             near coastal waters needing
                             management attention. To do
                             this, EPA is working with
                             other Federal and state
                             agencies. Current activities
                             include Federal-State infor-
                             mation exchanges, Regional
                             Near Coastal Assessment
                             Reports, Classifications of
                             estuaries accordingly to their
                             relative susceptibility to
                             nutrient and toxic pollutants,
                             and a Federal Data Base
                             Inventory.

                             (3) Technology Transfer
                             Activities. Together with
                             other programs in the Office
                             of Water, the NCW Program
                             has established a network of
                             Federal, regional, and state
                             water quality experts,
                             scientists, public interest
                             representatives, and industry
                             representatives to provide a
                             forum for information
                             exchange. Some of the
                             products that have resulted
                             from these activities are "The
                             National Estuary Program
52
Primer", "Saving Bays and
Estuaries: A Handbook of
Tactics", and "Financing
Marine and Estuarine
Programs: A Guide to
Resources".

(4) Coordination Strategies. The
authority to control pollut-
ants and conduct research in
near coastal waters may be
located within several
different Headquarters and
Regional program offices. In
order to coordinate Agency
activities and to assure
consideration of the special
needs of sensitive near
coastal waters, the NCW
Program is working with
those offices to incorporate
more protective actions in the
Agency's guidance and
policy documents.

Gulf of Mexico Program

In 1988, EPA Regions IV and
VI initiated the Gulf of
Mexico Program. Its major
purpose is to develop a
comprehensive strategy to
protect and enhance the
environmental quality of the
Gulf of Mexico. It was
created as an
intergovernmental response
to signs of increasing envi-
ronmental degradation that
are becoming pervasive
throughout the Gulf system.
Over 16 Federal and 19 State
agencies are currently
working together on the
program.

During its first year, the Gulf
of Mexico Program was able
to identify key issues and
begin building consensus on
the issues that need to be
addressed to protect the
Gulf's long-term health and
productivity. Nine issue-
specific subcommittees have
been created to address these
problems. They include (1)
habitat degradation, (2) toxic
substances and pesticides, (3)
nutrient enrichment, (4)
marine debris, (5) freshwater
inflow, (6) public health, (7)
coastal and shoreline erosion,
(8) information and data
transfer, and (9) public
education and outreach.

Mid-Atlantic  Bight
Initiative

The Mid-Atlantic Bight
Initiative is a joint program of
EPA Regions I, II, III, and IV
to address coastal water
pollution problems in the
Mid-Atlantic Bight. Two
goals of the initiative are to
better define coastal prob-
lems and to reorient existing
EPA and State programs to
more effectively address
common problems. A step in
this process was the Mid-
Atlantic Bight Ocean and
Near Coastal Waters Moni-
toring Workshop. It was held
in October 1988 to (1) open
communication among the
agencies involved in
monitoring; (2) provide a
forum to discuss toxics,
public health, and eutrophi-
cation monitoring; and (3)
promote a systems approach
to monitoring the Bight. EPA
Region III also is conducting
regional workshops in each
State in the region. The first
workshop was held in

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                                    Chapter 7. EPA's Marine Protection Programs and Policy
January 1990 in Ocean City,
Maryland, and the second
workshop in April 1990 in
Dover, Delaware. The
workshop participants, who
represented State, Federal,
and local environmental
agencies and groups, showed
great interest in developing
cooperative plans to address
common coastal problems.

New York Bight
Restoration Plan
The United States-Japan
Fishery Agreement Approval
Act of 1987 directs EPA, in
consultation with NOAA
and other Federal, State, and
interstate agencies, to
prepare a New York Bight
Restoration Plan (NYBRP). In
a related effort, EPA desig-
nated the New York-New
Jersey Harbor as an estuary
of national concern, and
convened a management
conference to prepare a
Comprehensive Conserva-
tion and Management Plan
(under Section 320 of the
Water Quality Act) for the
Harbor. The NYBRP is being
prepared by a work group
established as part of the
management conference. The
first phase of this planning
effort should be completed
and submitted to Congress in
1991. It includes the follow-
ing:

•  A review of the current
    state of knowledge
    concerning use impair-
    ments and adverse
    ecosystem impacts,
    including floatables,
    toxics, pathogens,
    nutrients, and habitat
    loss in the New York
    Bight;

•   An in-depth look at one
    adverse impact, the
    prevalence of shell
    disease in crustaceans
    of the New York Bight;

•   An assessment of the
    input and fate of
    pollutants in the Bight;
    and

•   An extensive public
    outreach effort to
    determine the public's
    view on pollution
    inputs and fates.

The next phase of the NYBRP
should be completed in mid-
1992.

Radiation Programs

Under the MPRSA, the ocean
dumping of high level
radioactive waste is prohib-
ited, and  the dumping of
low-level radioactive waste
(LLRW) requires a joint
resolution of Congress before
a permit can be used. The
U.S. is not currently dispos-
ing radioactive wastes in the
ocean. EPA's Office of
Radiation Programs (ORP)
carried out the following
activities during this report-
ing period:

ORP established and man-
aged an interagency technical
subcommittee to review
criteria and technical support
documents for use in poten-
tial regulations to address
any ocean disposal of LLRW.
ORP participated in a U.S.
Geological Survey (USGS)
high-resolution bathymetric
mapping survey off the
Atlantic Coast in the Exclu-
sive Economic Zone. The
Geological, Long-Ranged
Inclined Asdic (GLORIA)
side scan sonar system
successfully obtained
baseline data applicable to
evaluating ocean sites for any
future disposal of LLRW.
The USGS published the
GLORIA data in atlas format
in 1989.

ORP also continued its
participation in NOAA's
National Status and Trends
monitoring program. NOAA
provided ORP with samples
of sediment, benthic fish, and
bivalves for radionudide
analysis. ORPs Eastern
Environmental Radiation
Facility analyzed samples
collected in 1987. ORP
obtained radioanalytical
support from the Depart-
ment of Energy for analysis
of samples collected in 1988
and prepared a report of the
radioanalytical data in 1989.

ORP initiated a bilateral
United States/Soviet project
to measure concentrations of
radionuclides transported to
the Black Sea from the
Dnieper River as a result of
the Chernobyl reactor
explosion. This data will
assist in assessing generic
impacts caused by any ocean
 disposal of LLRW.
                                                                                53

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 Appendix A. Sites Dedesignated During the Year 1987 - FY 1990
                 Appendix A:
                 Sites Dedesignated During the Years
                 1987-FY 1990
                             Appendix A
                  Sites Dedesignated During the Years 1987 - FY 1990
54
Site

Reg/on

Proposed for DmfMfgrafton
Acid Wastes Sites in the New York Bight
Gulf of Mexico Ocean Incineration Site
Key West Dredged Material Dumpsite (FL)
LA4 Dredged Material Dumpsite (San Diego/Point Loma)
n
VI
IV
IX
Detf«*fgnatod and/or ftomovad From Lifting
Dredged Material Sites
St. Augustine (FL)
St. Lucie Inlet (FL)
Ponce de Leon Inlet (FL)
Largo Sound (FL)
Anclote (FL)
Pithlachascotee (FL)
Withlacoochee (FL)
Cedar Key Site 1 (FL)
Cedar Key Site 2 (FL)
Horseshoe Cove (FL)
IV
IV
IV
IV
IV
IV
IV
IV
IV
IV
Industrial Waste Sites
Industrial Wastes (2 sites)
Wrecks
Acid Wastes
Industrial Wastes Site
Industrial Wastes Site (2 sites)
Industrial Wastes Site (PR)
Sewage Sludge Site (12 Mile)
Alternate Sewage Sludge Site
Sewage Sludge Site
Herbicide Orange Incineration Site (Johnston Island)
Kwajalein Island
San Nicholas Basin
Gulf of Mexico Platform Jacket Site
THUMS, Drilling Muds and Cuttings
106 Mile Industrial Wastes Site
Fish Cannery Wastes Site (American Samoa)
I
II
III
IV
VI
II
II
II
III
HQ
IX
IX
VI
IX
II
IX

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                                                             Appendix B. References
Appendix B:
References
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1985a. Incineration-at-Sea Research Strategy. Report
submitted by Battelle Memorial Institute to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of
Marine and Estuarine Protection, Washington, DC.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1985b. Toxicological and Emissions Sampling Methodology
Development Related to Ocean Incineration of Hazardous Waste: Study Area 1, Level 1 Studies. Report
submitted by Battelle Memorial Institute to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of
Marine and Estuarine Protection, Washington, DC.

U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment. 1986. Ocean Incineration: Its Role in Managing
Hazardous Waste. OTA-O-313. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC. August 1986.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1986. Monitoring Plan for the Incineration-at-Sea Sites.
Draft report submitted by Battelle Memorial Institute to U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Office of Marine and Estuarine Protection, Washington, DC.

U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment. 1987. Wastes in Marine Environments, OTA-O-
334. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC. April 1987.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1987a. Ocean Incineration: Background and Status. EPA
556/1-87/006.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1987b. Guidance Document for Ocean Incineration Site
Designation. Draft report submitted by Battelle Memorial Institute to U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Office of Marine and Estuarine Protection, Washington, DC.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1987c. Guidance Document for the Preparation of a
Contingency Plan for Ocean Incineration. Draft report submitted by Battelle Memorial Institute to
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Marine and Estuarine Protection, Washing-
ton, DC.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1987d. Proceedings of the Workshop on the Sea-Surface
Microlayer in Relation to Ocean Disposal. EPA 560/1-87/005.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1987e. Sampling and Analytical Procedures for the Ocean
Incineration Research Burn Program (RSBA Plan). Draft report submitted by Battelle Memorial
Institute to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Marine and Estuarine Protection,
Washington, DC.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1987f. Technical Guidance Document for Conducting
Ocean Incineration Trial Bums. Draft report submitted by Battelle Memorial Institute to U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Marine and Estuarine Protection, Washington,
DC.
                                                                                55

-------
 Appendix B. References
                              U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1987g. User's Manual for Incineration-at-Sea (INSEA)
                              Model. EPA 556/1-87/001.

                              U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1987h. Analytical Results of Samples Collected During the
                              1985 Southeast Coast Area Survey. Report submitted by Battelle Memorial Institute to U.S.
                              Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Marine and Estuarine Protection, Washington,
                              DC.

                              U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1987i. Analytical Results of Samples Collected During the
                              North Atlantic Incineration Site Survey. Report submitted by Battelle Memorial Institute to U.S.
                              Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Marine and Estuarine Protection, Washington,
                              DC.

                              U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1988a. Guidance Document for Ocean Incineration
                              Permitting. Draft report submitted by Battelle Memorial Institute to U.S. Environmental
                              Protection Agency, Office of Marine and Estuarine Protection, Washington, DC.

                              U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1988b. Analytical Results of Samples and Data Collected
                              During the 1987 Baseline Survey to the Existing and Alternative Gulf of Mexico Incineration Sites.
                              Draft report submitted by Battelle Memorial Institute to U.S. Environmental Protection
                              Agency, Office of Marine and Estuarine Protection, Washington, DC.

                              U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1988c. Analytical Results for Samples and Data Collected
                              During the 1987 Baseline Survey to the Potential Incineration Sites Along the Southeast Coast of the
                              United States. Draft report submitted by Battelle Memorial Institute to U.S. Environmental
                              Protection Agency, Office of Marine and Estuarine Protection, Washington, DC.

                              U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1988d. Environmental Progress and Challenges: EPA's
                              Update. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation,
                              Washington, DC. EPA-230-07-88-033. August 1988.

                              U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1988e. Site Designation Study for Gulf of Mexico Ocean
                              Incineration Site Designation. Draft report submitted by Battelle Memorial Institute to U.S.
                              Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Marine and Estuarine Protection, Washington,
                              DC.

                              U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1988f. Site Designation Study for North Atlantic Ocean
                              Incineration Site Designation. Draft report submitted by Battelle Memorial Institute to U.S.
                              Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Marine and Estuarine Protection, Washington,
                              DC.

                              U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1988g. Monitoring Plan for the 106-Mile Deepwater
                              Municipal Sludge Site. Draft report submitted by Battelle Memorial Institute to U.S. Environ-
                              mental Protection Agency, Office of Marine and Estuarine Protection, Washington, DC.

                              U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1989a. Development, Testing, and Validation of the Marine
                              Incineration Biological Assessment Sampler (MIBAS). Report submitted by Battelle Memorial
                              Institute to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Marine and Estuarine Protection,
                              Washington, DC.
56

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                                                               Appendix B. References
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1989b. Problems in Managing Disposal of Material
Dredged from San Francisco Bay. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/General Accounting
Office, Washington, DC. GAO/RCED-90-18. November 1989.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1989c. Proceedings of the Ocean Dumping Workshop for
the 106-Mile Site. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Marine and Estuarine
Protection, Washington, DC. EPA-503/9-89/009.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1989d. Sludge Recycling Alternatives Report to Congress.
US. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Washington, DC. EPA-503/9-90/006.
April 1990.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1989e. Progress in Stopping Ocean Dumping; Report to
Congress. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Washington, DC. EPA 503/
9-90-003, December 1989.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1989f. Surveillance And Enforcement of Sewage-Sludge;
Dumping Report to Congress. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Washing-
ton, DC. EPA-503/9-90/002. December 1989.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1989g. Marine and Estuarine Protection Programs and
Activities. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Marine and Estuarine Protection,
Washington, DC. EPA-503/9-89-002. February 1989.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1989h. Ocean Incineration Research Program: Background
and Status. Report submitted by BattelJe Memorial Institute to U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Office of Marine and Estuarine Protection, Washington, DC.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1990a. Ocean Disposal Monitoring Programs in Response
to the Ocean Dumping Ban Act; Report to Congress. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office
of Water, Washington, DC. EPA-503/4-90/001.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1990b. 106-Mile Deepwater Municipal Sludge Site
Monitoring, Research, and Surveillance Plan. Draft.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1990c. Sludge Recycling Alternatives; Report to Congress.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Washington, DC. EPA-503/9-90/006.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1990 d. Methods to Manage and Control Plastic Wastes.
EPA/530-SW-89-051.

U S Environmental Protection Agency. 1990e. Harbor Studies Program. November 1988 -
February 1989. EPA/503/4-90-Q03.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/US. Army. COE1990. Draft Ecological Evaluation of
Proposed Dredged Material into Ocean Waters. EPA-503-8-90/002.
                                                                                 57

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 Dedication
                           This issue of EPA's Ocean Dumping Report to Congress
                           is dedicated to the memory of
                           Thaddeus Allen Wastler
                           1928—1990
                          Al Wastler joined the Envi-
                          ronmental Protection Agency
                          in 1970, when it was created.
                          He helped set the Agency's
                          course by drafting the first
                          regulations and criteria for
                          MPRSA upon an effects-
                          based approach. He was the
                          guiding force behind the
                          1976 Easton, Maryland,
                          Workshop that established
                          environmental thresholds by
                          which to estimate dumping's
                          impact on the marine
                          environment. The current
regulations and criteria,
which he also drafted, are
based on the findings of that
Workshop.

He was the Agency's lead
technical liaison with the
London Dumping Conven-
tion from the time that the
United States became a party
to it and played an active role
in its work. He was Chair-
man of the Scientific Group
on Dumping for four terms,
the maximum allowed.
Al Wastler was born in
Pensacola, Florida, earned a
BS in Chemistry at Duke
University and an MS in
Chemical Engineering at the
Georgia Institute of Technol-
ogy. He also did advanced
work in Physical Oceanogra-
phy at The Johns Hopkins
University. When Al moved
to Washington in 1967, he
was an officer in the Public
Health Service.

An authority on tidal
influences and the carbon
cycle as contributors to
eutrophication, Al main-
tained a consistent interest in
cyclical phenomena in ocean
and estuarine processes.
Among his publications is
the book, "Spectral Analysis-
Application in Water Pollu-
tion Control."

Al Wastler was a gentleman
and scholar, and will be
sadly missed by the people
who work on ocean and
coastal zone issues.
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