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Sludge dumping check-out
Volume 1 l / N u m b e r 8/August 1980
Survey, shows that it is not getting worse. CEQ's analysis suggests that there has been little or no change in the pollution levels in the 4-yr period from 1975 to 1978. The Environmental Protection Agency data on Point Sources show that they affect water quality in 91 070of the US basins and that non-point sources affect 87070 of US basins. Overall it remained difficult to analyse the full water quality effects. About 80070 of more than 3700 urban lakes in the US are significantly degraded, and about 68070 of the 800 lakes studied were classified as eutrophic. Major problems in the Great Lakes are persistent toxic chemicals, high phosphorus input, airborne pollutants and waste disposal. Among the major groundwater quality problems in the US is contamination from surface and subsurface waste disposal and storage. A regional summary of groundwater quality showed that every US region studied had had some such contamination problem. A study of wastewater plants showed that only 40070 of major municipal dischargers, and 80070 of major industrial dischargers met the 1977 effluent quality deadlines. Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) remain a major source of water pollution, despite the fact that most of the wastes they carry receive treatment. The EPA has estimated that it will cost $106.2 billion for work on wastewater treatment facilities and sewers between 1978 and 2000, with an additional $762 billion to control stormwater runoff.
Sludge Dumping Check-out Under the 1974 Dumping at Sea Act, the UK Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) is responsible for issuing licences to dump wastes at sea and also to monitor the dumping grounds periodically to find out what is actually happening to them. Since 1971, sewage sludge and industrial wastes have been dumped on the Spurn Head dumping ground off the mouth of the River Humber on the east coast of England. Before the Act this was by voluntary agreement with MAFF but after the Act came into force MAFF surveyed the area to decide the likely impact of the dumping and now has completed a follow-up study to check the actual impact in the area (MAFF Fisheries Research Technical Report No. 55, 1980). Some 200 000 t a-~ of sludge and industrial wastes are now dumped on the Spurn Head grounds, but this is overshadowed, for most constituents, by run-off from the River Humber. Depending on the constituent, the dumped wastes contribute only 1-24070 and copper and mercury are the only two metals for which dumping is estimated to contribute more than 10-20070. The area has strong tidal flows and very active wave conditions during storms and dumped material becomes mixed with suspended particulates from the Humber estuary and from erosion of the sea bed and is widely dispersed. The fauna of the sea bed cannot be accurately sampled because the substratum is generally gravelly (gravel extraction also goes on nearby) but from what can be seen of it, it appears to be unaffected by the sludge-dumping.
Fraser River Estuary Marsh Preserved A marsh area of 74 ha (182 acres) on the south arm of the Fraser estuary will be preserved as a result of an accord signed on 30 May 1980 by the Canadian Federal Environment Minister John Roberts and British Columbia provincial Lands Minister Kim Chabot to purchase the property for $1.2 million. Commonly known as the Ladner Marsh, the area is a major staging and wintering area for large populations of migratory waterfowl and shorebirds. The lower Fraser River, and especially the estuary, provide vital rearing grounds for juvenile salmonids that pause there to feed and adjust to saltwater conditions in the spring and early summer on their migration from the river spawning grounds out to sea. The Fraser River is one of the few remaining significant salmon rivers in the world supporting a large commercial and recreational fishery. Studies conducted in the Fraser River estuary indicate that only 3007o of the estuary's wetlands remain in their original state, much of the area having been dyked and drained for agriculture at the end of the 19th century. Conservation groups have recently urged that the remaining estuarine wetlands be protected and preserved for aquatic wildlife and fish. A development company proposed to fill in the Ladner Marsh for a residential subdivision, and this prompted the two senior governments to step in to negotiate a joint acquisition of the property. Management of the marsh area will be the responsibility of a committee of the Canadian Wildlife Service under the federal Department of the Environment.
Oil Search Moves North Drilling for oil in the deep waters of the North Sea, north of the 62nd parallel, has finally begun after 2 yr of delays. The Norwegians have planned exploitation of the area's oil and gas supplies for several years, and drilling was initially to begin in 1978, but plans were postponed after the Ekofisk blow-out of the previous summer. The go-ahead to start again did not come until May 1979, but the collapse of the Alexander Keillond rig in the following March, with the loss of 123 lives, urged further safety checks on North Sea installations. The oilmen are still being cautious. Drilling will only take place between May and October, when the risks and consequences of an oil spill are at their lowest. The Norwegian company Statoil, who have a 50°70 interest in each group drilling on the three blocks, will operate the Ross rig, with what it believes to be a tried and tested semi-submerisble which has been used in the Sea since 1975. The other operators are North Hydro, a state company, and Saga, a consortium of Norway's largest private companies. Much of the area north of 62 ° has been mapped, and seismic surveys have been taking place since 1970. The underlying structure is said to look promising. The blocks were chosen because it is hoped they will yield information about large areas, as well as for their location away from good fishing and environmentally sensitive areas. 213
Survey, shows that it is not getting worse. CEQ's analysis suggests that there has been little or no change in the pollution levels in the 4-yr period from 1975 to 1978. The Environmental Protection Agency data on Point Sources show that they affect water quality in 91 070of the US basins and that non-point sources affect 87070 of US basins. Overall it remained difficult to analyse the full water quality effects. About 80070 of more than 3700 urban lakes in the US are significantly degraded, and about 68070 of the 800 lakes studied were classified as eutrophic. Major problems in the Great Lakes are persistent toxic chemicals, high phosphorus input, airborne pollutants and waste disposal. Among the major groundwater quality problems in the US is contamination from surface and subsurface waste disposal and storage. A regional summary of groundwater quality showed that every US region studied had had some such contamination problem. A study of wastewater plants showed that only 40070 of major municipal dischargers, and 80070 of major industrial dischargers met the 1977 effluent quality deadlines. Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) remain a major source of water pollution, despite the fact that most of the wastes they carry receive treatment. The EPA has estimated that it will cost $106.2 billion for work on wastewater treatment facilities and sewers between 1978 and 2000, with an additional $762 billion to control stormwater runoff.
Sludge Dumping Check-out Under the 1974 Dumping at Sea Act, the UK Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) is responsible for issuing licences to dump wastes at sea and also to monitor the dumping grounds periodically to find out what is actually happening to them. Since 1971, sewage sludge and industrial wastes have been dumped on the Spurn Head dumping ground off the mouth of the River Humber on the east coast of England. Before the Act this was by voluntary agreement with MAFF but after the Act came into force MAFF surveyed the area to decide the likely impact of the dumping and now has completed a follow-up study to check the actual impact in the area (MAFF Fisheries Research Technical Report No. 55, 1980). Some 200 000 t a-~ of sludge and industrial wastes are now dumped on the Spurn Head grounds, but this is overshadowed, for most constituents, by run-off from the River Humber. Depending on the constituent, the dumped wastes contribute only 1-24070 and copper and mercury are the only two metals for which dumping is estimated to contribute more than 10-20070. The area has strong tidal flows and very active wave conditions during storms and dumped material becomes mixed with suspended particulates from the Humber estuary and from erosion of the sea bed and is widely dispersed. The fauna of the sea bed cannot be accurately sampled because the substratum is generally gravelly (gravel extraction also goes on nearby) but from what can be seen of it, it appears to be unaffected by the sludge-dumping.
Fraser River Estuary Marsh Preserved A marsh area of 74 ha (182 acres) on the south arm of the Fraser estuary will be preserved as a result of an accord signed on 30 May 1980 by the Canadian Federal Environment Minister John Roberts and British Columbia provincial Lands Minister Kim Chabot to purchase the property for $1.2 million. Commonly known as the Ladner Marsh, the area is a major staging and wintering area for large populations of migratory waterfowl and shorebirds. The lower Fraser River, and especially the estuary, provide vital rearing grounds for juvenile salmonids that pause there to feed and adjust to saltwater conditions in the spring and early summer on their migration from the river spawning grounds out to sea. The Fraser River is one of the few remaining significant salmon rivers in the world supporting a large commercial and recreational fishery. Studies conducted in the Fraser River estuary indicate that only 3007o of the estuary's wetlands remain in their original state, much of the area having been dyked and drained for agriculture at the end of the 19th century. Conservation groups have recently urged that the remaining estuarine wetlands be protected and preserved for aquatic wildlife and fish. A development company proposed to fill in the Ladner Marsh for a residential subdivision, and this prompted the two senior governments to step in to negotiate a joint acquisition of the property. Management of the marsh area will be the responsibility of a committee of the Canadian Wildlife Service under the federal Department of the Environment.
Oil Search Moves North Drilling for oil in the deep waters of the North Sea, north of the 62nd parallel, has finally begun after 2 yr of delays. The Norwegians have planned exploitation of the area's oil and gas supplies for several years, and drilling was initially to begin in 1978, but plans were postponed after the Ekofisk blow-out of the previous summer. The go-ahead to start again did not come until May 1979, but the collapse of the Alexander Keillond rig in the following March, with the loss of 123 lives, urged further safety checks on North Sea installations. The oilmen are still being cautious. Drilling will only take place between May and October, when the risks and consequences of an oil spill are at their lowest. The Norwegian company Statoil, who have a 50°70 interest in each group drilling on the three blocks, will operate the Ross rig, with what it believes to be a tried and tested semi-submerisble which has been used in the Sea since 1975. The other operators are North Hydro, a state company, and Saga, a consortium of Norway's largest private companies. Much of the area north of 62 ° has been mapped, and seismic surveys have been taking place since 1970. The underlying structure is said to look promising. The blocks were chosen because it is hoped they will yield information about large areas, as well as for their location away from good fishing and environmentally sensitive areas. 213