Ocean dumping:

What are the pros and cons of of disposing of

wastes, by placing them in the ocean.

How is ocean dumping regulated?

CEE 3510

Environmental Quality Engineering

Why use the ocean for waste disposal? Ocean disposal can pose less risk to human health

than does land disposal or incineration.

Disposal in the deep ocean may have minimal effect

on coastal fisheries and communities.

Oceans are HUGE with relatively high assimilative

capability.

If disposal sites are properly chosen and dumping

methods are properly designed, wastes can either be

concentrated and confined to a small area in the

deep ocean, or dispersed throughout a large volume.

Aerobic conditions and extensive flora and fauna will

result in degradation of some wastes.

For coastal communities, like NYC, ocean disposal

appears to be the most economical alternative.

[Not true for the deep ocean.]

Cons While near shore ocean dumping may be economical for

some communities, it takes $$$$$ to transport wastes for

dumping in the deep ocean.

Limited knowledge of effects, particularly long term and

deep ocean. Biomagnification of toxins may significantly

impact coastal communities even if wastes are disposed of

in deep ocean.

If toxins are dumped and the intent is containment, ocean

dumping offers less control than current landfills.

Potential for negative press.

If organic waste is concentrated, O2 may be depleted.

The residence time of ocean water is very high, so if we

damage a particular area, it can take a long time before it

can repair itself.

Ex. Whales have mercury levels one

million times that of ocean water.

Recent news: PCBs in the deep ocean

This year researchers found highly elevated levels of

PCBs (banned in the US in 1979) in the fatty tissue of

amphipods (a type of crustacean) from the Mariana

and Kermadec trenches, which are over 10km deep

and separated from each other by 7,000km.

The highest levels of PCBs were 50 times greater than

in crabs from one of the most polluted rivers in China.

PCBs probably made their

way to Pacific Ocean

trenches through

contaminated plastic debris

and via dead animals sinking

to the sea floor.

History of Ocean Dumping Until only a few decades ago the oceans had been

viewed as limitless and unaffected by human actions. Throughout the world, coastal countries have used the oceans as receptacles for all types of waste, from sewage and sewage sludge, to industrial and radioactive wastes, to munitions and other warfare agents.

The results of shortsighted and poorly planned waste disposal have been severe, particularly in coastal areas. For example, Japan's Inland Sea experiences ≈200 red tides annually, and in 1988 of New York and New Jersey beaches were closed because medical wastes and sewage were washing up.

Fishing industries have been among the most affected by coastal dumping. Toxins accumulate in shellfish and other marine organisms and make them unsuitable for consumption.

Although no complete records exist of the volumes

and types of materials disposed in ocean waters in the

United States prior to 1972, several reports indicate a

vast magnitude of historic ocean dumping:

In 1968, the National Academy of Sciences estimated

annual volumes of ocean dumping by vessel or pipes:

• 100 million tons of petroleum products;

• two to four million tons of acid chemical wastes

from pulp mills;

• more than one million tons of heavy metals in

industrial wastes; and

• more than 100,000 tons of organic chemical

wastes. .

A 1970 Report from the Council on Environmental

Quality on ocean dumping described that in 1968 the

following were dumped in the ocean in the U.S.

• 38 million tons of dredged material (34 percent of

which was polluted),

• 4.5 million tons of industrial wastes,

• 4.5 million tons of sewage sludge (significantly

contaminated with heavy metals), and

• 0.5 million tons of construction and demolition debris.

• EPA records indicate that more than 55,000 containers

of radioactive wastes were dumped at three ocean

sites in the Pacific Ocean between 1946 and 1970.

Almost 34,000 containers of radioactive wastes were

dumped at three ocean sites off the East Coast of the

United States from 1951 to 1962

Regulations

Rivers and Harbors Act (1890) Prohibited deposition of refuse

into U.S. navigable waters.

Ocean Dumping Act (Marine Protection, Research and

Sanctuaries Act) (1972) US Agencies or US flagged vessels can

not dump in any ocean without a permit. No transport into US

waters for dumping. COE permits for dredged material. EPA

permits for others. EPA designates recommended ocean

disposal sites. Permits are not granted if a land based

alternative exists.

London Dumping Convention (1972) Meeting of 92 nations

which declared that all other options should be exhausted before

ocean dumping is considered and agreed to

regulations similar to the U.S. ODA.

Regulations (continued)

Hughes Amendment to ODA (1978) Banned ocean

dumping of sewage sludge as of Dec. 31 1981. New York

City remained in violation until the 1988 Ocean Dumping

Ban Act.

In 1987 the United States ratified an amendment to the

Marine Pollution Treaty of 1973 prohibiting ocean dumping

of plastic materials.

Ocean Dumping Ban Act (1988 amendment to ODA) As of

Dec. 31, 1991, banned all ocean dumping of sewage

sludge, industrial waste, radiological, chemical, and

biological warfare agents, and high

level radioactive waste.

Speaking of plastic in the ocean…

An environmental survey in

2004 found that plastic

debris can erode away and

end up as microscopic

fibers and that these are

steadily accumulating in

the oceans.

The fibers include nylon,

polyester, and polyethylene

and can be ingested by

plankton, barnacles, etc.

The environmental impact

of this consumption is not

yet known.

Lab experiments show that marine

animals consume microscopic bits of

plastic, as seen here in the digestive

tract of an amphipod.© Science 2004

Plastic and other debris accumulates in huge

ocean gyres (circulating fluid)

The Great Pacific Garbage

Patch, also described as the

Pacific Trash Vortex, is a gyre

of marine litter in the central

North Pacific Ocean. The

gyre's rotational pattern draws

in waste material from across

the North Pacific Ocean.

Wind-driven surface currents

gradually move floating debris

toward the center, trapping it

in the region.

Estimates of size range from

270,000 sq mi. to more than

5,800,000 sq mi.

Most debris consists of small

plastic particles suspended at or

just below the surface, making it

impossible to detect by aircraft or

satellite.

The patch is defined as an area in

which the mass of plastic debris in

the upper water column is

significantly higher than average.

Regulations continued More recent status:

– After 3 years of deliberation, in 2003 the Pew

Oceans Commission declared:

“U.S. ocean governance is in disarray [and] . . . the

status quo is unacceptable”.

More than a dozen federal agencies now have a voice on

marine issues (poor coordination).

– Panel recommendations include:

Merging fragmented ocean programs into an independent

agency.

Creating a robust system of marine reserves (protected

areas).

Doubling spending on marine research.

Changing administration focus to prioritize healthy

oceans and not maximizing economic return.

Regulations update continued

The congressionally appointed U.S. Oceans

Commission released a report in May 2004.

– This was the 1st comprehensive federal review of

ocean status & policy in 35 years!

– The commission found US oceans to be in serious

trouble (similar to the Pew Commission report). Management programs were found to be fragmented,

under-funded and uncoordinated.

Ecosystem-based management was recommended.

Doubling of funding on ocean science (over next 5 years) was recommended, including building of ocean observatories and basic research.

Although it is not ocean dumping per se, global warming is changing the oceans.

The ocean has absorbed an estimated 118 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide since the onset of the Industrial Revolution. 20 to 25 tons of CO2 are being added to the atmosphere daily, and increasing levels of dissolved CO2 are changing the pH balance of the oceans. – Shells, and coral dissolve within 48 hours when exposed to the

oceanic acidity expected by 2050.

Measurements indicate circulation of warm ocean into northern Europe slowed by 1/3 between 1957 and 2004 causing fear of a shutdown and cataclysmic climate change.