Conference wahoo::fishing

     The address for the CCOD is :
    
            Coalition to Cease Ocean Dumping
            P.O. Box 541
            Narrangansett, RI 02882
    
            (401) 789-5650
    
      Also- could someone tell me which note contains the form letters
    to send to our various congressmen re: ocean dumping. I think
    Capt. Codfish originated the note.
    
     The Doctah (who's_sending_his_check_NOW!)

    711.0 (I did a dir/key=concerns)

    re: .1
    Just one point of clarification.  PLEASE do not lump our New Jersey
    Congressional delegation with that from New York. Our people,
    especially Senators Lautenberg and Bradley are in the forefront
    of the battle against ocean dumping. YES...many NJ communities are
    dumping at 106. However, a tour of our coast also reveals that we
    are actively building secondary/tertiary sewerage plants to end
    this practice in the very near future. NEW YORK on the other hand
    intends to continue dumping at 106. In fact, if they could, NY would
    resume/increase dumping RAW sewerage into the Hudson R., NY HArbor,
    12 mile dump (Sandy Hook). 
    Please don't forget that an equally severe problem is the industrial
    dumping at 106 and other sites. DuPont is the big "offender" here.
    Also, CIBA-GIEGY wants to add an additional out-fall pipe just above
    Island Beach State Park.
    
    I agree with the aims of CCOD, but I believe we should be fair when
    pointing our fingers. Yes, NJ is 'guilty', but is working hard to
    correct this!.
    
    Bagel

    Bagel-
                             
     Bagel-
    
     I don't mean to imply that NJ is as bad as NY, but the fact remains
    that they are continuing to use the 106 mile site as a repository
    for their wastes. Kudos to those who are seeking alternatives to
    the problem, be they from NJ, NY, or anywhere. I don't wish to lump
    your congressional delegation together with that of NY. I'm glad
    that you have senators active in the fight against this stupidity.
    Please do not take offense- I am only reacting emotionally to an
    extremely grave situation. The key fact is that the dumping exists.
    It must be stopped- NOW, whoever the perpetrators of this deadly
    legacy happen to be. Join the fight to save our ocean. We only have
    one chance.
    
     Let us not allow the 200+ species affected by the 106 mile site
    to suffer the harm experienced by the striped bass. How long has
    it been since the stripers have been really numerous in its entire
    range? The same poisons that depleted the Hudson bay stock are now
    being moved to the 106 mile site. We need a favorable court decision
    soon.
    
     The doctah 

    I just received a responce from my state senator with regard to
    the lettr that I wrote in 711.00. While his intentions were a little
    hazy as to what he will be doing about this problem It did make
    him research the issue and he is aware of the situation.
    
    

    re 778.1
    
    I believe that it was Rick Egan, aka Capt Squid, Capt baitfish,
    Capt flounder, Capt "rock, what rock?" that originated the note.
    I believe that he put a form letter in which could and should be
    copied to all of our congressmen. 
    
    joe a.

    Re:778.*, 711.*
    
    Well, I'm very pleased to see some responses/discussion/ACTION re:
    an issue of this sort. It has become all to typical of the
    sport-fishing community to gripe and complain about something this
    serious, and then 'sit on their hands' when the oppurtunity to do
    something arises.
    
    I think all the participants in this Notes-file should "talk up"
    this and other issues whenever they can, and not just here. Bring
    these topics up at dockside, on the VHF, at the bar, on the beach,
    etc. Write those letters, make copies for distribution (but not
    at work) so others only have to sign and mail them. 
    
    Also, don't limit your actions just to environmental concerns. As
    evidenced in other topics, ACCESS is a growing concern, whether
    it be on beaches, lakes, streams, launch points....
    
    Unless a given elected/appointed official is an angler, typically
    they have no idea as to how many VOTERS go fishing. Ours is possibly
    the fastest growing sport, in both fresh and saltwater. I think
    it is about time we make our numbers known in someplace other than
    the outdoors column in the back of the sports section.
    
    Bagel _who_feels_the_'60's_activist_fever_again_

    YO,
          What's the scoop on all the AIDS tainted syringes and crap
    that some hospitals? dumped into the Jersey shoreline closing all
    the beaches. Thenews was sick. Needles sticking out of rocks and
    floating everywhere. I am convinced the human race will exterminate
    its self and roaches will inherit the earth. I hope they find the
    responsible party and inject him with a good dose. I also noticed
    that the stuff (all aids contaminated) was SUPPOSED to be dumped
    farther out. GIVE ME A BREAK!!
                                     NIGHTCRAWLER~~~~~~~~~~
                                             

    re: .8
    
    Ah, evidently you gather your news from the T&V.
    
    Only medical waste to wash up in NJ (this week) was on the "beach"
    in Bayonne. I used to live near there, and I figure the reporter
    had a gun held to his/her head when calling that spot a beach :-).
    This shoreline is along Newark Bay, a body of water that allows
    miracles without the use of cork sandals. In fact, medical waste
    was discovered after one tide in a stretch about 100 yds. long,
    was cleaned up, and so far, has not re-occurred.
    
    It does not surprise me that THIS YEAR, when NEW YORK beaches are
    being closed for medical waste pollution, that there is mass media
    coverage beyond the metro area. Last year when the same stuff washed
    up in NJ, complete with labels identifying NYC hospitals, no-one
    outside the area heard about it (I guess everyone believed Mayor
    Koch's denial that the NYC Health and Hospitals Corp existed :-)
     )
    Again, last weeks pollution was insignificant in comparison to the
    general codition of Newark Bay.
    
    The major problem with this stuff washing up seems to be the violation
    of several anti-dumping rules by the few contractors licensed to
    dispose of "red-bag" (medical/contagious) refuse. Of course, with
    only a handful of said contractors, the culprits will never be found
    out.
    
    Strange, but for a while the surf fishing crowd in NJ was complaing
    about the southerly winds that have hampered fishing for most of
    the season, but now it turns out that said winds have kept this
    horrible trash in its home state! (something about an ill wind...?)
    
    Bagel 

    Yesterday, due to power failure (resulting from the heat/humidity),
    on of New York's [few] sewrage treatment plant's pumps shut down.
    It turns out that the back-up position for such a situation is to
    open the valve directly into NY Harbor. Given the weather forecast
    of southerly breezes, there is a monitoring effort of NYC and Long
    Island beaches.
    

    YO BAGLE,
              You be right man. I ment N.Y., not Jersey in my previous
    note. As far as the icing, no doubts it was BROWN.
                                                       NIGHTCRAWLER~~~~

    First, the bad news. 
    
    	Another sewerage spill(?). Beaches in the NJ towns of Asbury
    Park, Ocean Grove, Bradley Beach, and Avon have been closed due
    to high coliform counts in the surf. The problem has been traced
    to Sylvan Lake, which outlets to the ocean on the border of Bradley
    Beach and Avon. (Naturally this is also the location of the "Coast
    Guard" jetty, the most productive in town.) The problem appears
    to be either a 'back-up' or break in a sewer line under the lake.
    Divers are going in today to assess the problem.
    
    NOW, THE G*O*O*D NEWS
    
    	DuPont announced yesterday that they are dropping their application
    to extend the permit for dumping at 106!!!!!!!!! Seems that all
    of a sudden they found out that the iron chlorides (I think) they
    were dumping could be sold for use in, of all things, water treatment
    plants.
    	According to this morning's _Star_Ledger_, only Allied Signal
    remains as a chemical dumper at 106.
    
    Immediately below this article was another detailing the signing
    of several water 'protection' bills by Gov.Kean. Included was one
    which would allow for fines of up to $7500 and/or 3yrs. if trash
    dumped beyond 3 miles(state limit) washes in. Another bill provides
    for a BOUNTY of up to 10% of the fines assessed for those who provide
    information leading to the arrest and conviction of ocean dumpers.
    [sounds like it's time to dust off the telephoto lens ;-) ]
    
    Bagel

     Bagel, seems like some of the pressure put on the chemical dumpers
    by fishermen and ecology groups is starting to pay off. Now all
    we need to do is persuade the government that the dumping of sludge
    etc. is equally harmful. What I can't get over about this whole
    thing is that the local governments were able to override the EPA
    with a court injunction in the first place. I'd love to dump a load
    of sludge on that judge's front yard :-) Sometimes that seems like
    the only way to get some of the people's attention!
    
     Well, thank God that some good things are beginning to happen.
     
     I talked to Capt. Tony the other day. The bad news is that evidently
    they're having problems with bluefish this year. I guess that they
    spotted some bluefish acting really disoriented and beaching
    themselves. They weren't chasing bait or anything; they just swam
    around as if in a daze and sort of beached themselves. It reminds
    me of the problem with the dolphins and pilot whales that exhibited
    identical behavior last year on the cape. The theory with the bluefish
    is that they are becoming contaminated by the dumped toxins as they
    spawn in the area of the 106 mile site. This development could spell
    doom in the coming few years if the bluefish stocks become depleted.
    
     The Doctah
     

    re: -1
    
    With regard to the strange behavior of the blues, we noticed this
    back around May. I think I mentioned this in another topic (616.?
    maybe)
    
    With regard to the 'injunction' , I don't really re-call an injunction
    over-riding the EPA (which acts in mysterious ways on its own).
    I do know, however, that Ed (Mayor-for-Life) Koch has the attitudes:
    	"EPA???? We don' neeed no steenkin EPA!"
    		and
    	"What the hell, it only ends up in Jersey" (Eddy always forgets
    he is a native of Newark, NJ)
    
    Gee....
    	Maybe if we trolled Mr. Mayor through the 106, the "Dead Sea"
    off Sandy Hook, Acid Waters, and the East River, maybe (but I doubt
    it) he would see things in a different light :-}  (Aw, I'd probably
    get popped for dumping ca-ca in the ocean)
    
    Bagel 

    re: -.1
    
     The source (one of several) that I used for my comments regarding
    the injunction over the EPA's order was Saltwater Sportsman's July
    1988 issue; the article was called appropriately enough:
    
            "Out of Sight, Out of Control"
    
     " In 1977, an amendment to the Ocean Dumping Act prohibited the
    EPA from granting any more permits for sludge dumping in the ocean
    after December 31,1981. Most municipalities turned to other methods
    of disposal, but nine (New York City, Westchester and Nassau counties
    in NY and 6 municipalities in norhtern NJ) did not. When the EPA
    refused to renew dumping permits for those nine municipalities in
    1981, the refusal was challenged in court. The judge ruled that
    the EPA could not stop the municipalities from dumping in the ocean
    and dumping was allowed to continue at the 12-mile site. In 1985,
    the EPA denied petitions to continue dumping at the 12-mile site.
    The nine municipalities were required by court order to stop dumping
    at the 12-mile site by Dec. 31, 1987 and instead start dumping at
    the 106 mile site, which the EPA had designated as a dump site back
    in 1984...
    
     According to testimony before the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries
    Committee by Sally Ann Lentz of the Oceanic Society, the sewage
    sludge currently ocean dumped by by NYC and other NY & NJ Sewage
    Authorities is contaminated with LOW, BUT ENVIRONMENTALLY SIGNIFICANT
    LEVELS OF PERSISTENT TOXIC POLLUTANTS INCLUDING PCB'S, CARCINOGENIC
    PETROLEUM FRACTIONS AND TOXIC HEAVY METALS INCLUDING CADMIUM, MERCURY
    AND LEAD." (Bold mine)
    
     "...lobsters and crabs that they are bringing up are showing
    disturbing signs of disease... The shellfish were taken in traps
    about 80 miles North/Northeast of the 106 mile dump site. 'All of
    the samples exhibited signs of chitinoclasia, commonly referred
    to as the shell disease... The severest signs symptoms of shell
    erosion, ulceration, blistering and gill tissue necrosis were
    observed..." reprinted without permission
    
    Translation: we're in biggus troublus. This problem is real, and
    needs immediate attention. It's obvious that these idiots who continue
    this crime need a slap in head (with a flying gaff).
    
     It is worthwile to read the whole article to get a glimpse of the
    magnitude and scope of the problem. I fear for the future if the
    lunacy is allowed to continue. 
    
    The Doctah

    re: last few
    
    I guess I better start reading the 'heavy' articles/editorials when
    I get my copy of SWS instead of saving them for January and February.
    
    Bagel

    It only takes a few minutes to fire off a letter to your congress
    person. If anything maybe they'll get so tired of people sending
    them letters that they'll do something about it just to stop the
    harrassing.
    
    Rick

    On page 19 of the globe this morning (as well as page 1 & 44) is
    an article about how the hospital waste is reaching Rhode Island
    beaches and on its way to Nantucket.  I lived in Mass for 22 years
    and Cape Cod/The Islands is my favorite place, now too I am outraged
    at the disregard for ocean life.  What politician(s) would a letter
    be most effective to?  I'd like to dump Ed Kotch out at 106 and
    let him swim around for a while.  1992 (NJ) is TOO long to wait,
    if we can already see this much damage, how much will we see by
    1992?
    

    I've learned from experience that congressmen and local politicians
    will only respond if there is a clear and constant push from their
    grassroots constituency, in the form of letter writing, mailgrams,
    and, best of all, personal visits. Perhaps this has been answered
    before, but does this ocean dumping/medical waste problem fall under
    Federal or State jurisdiction? Have specific bills been filed in
    the US Senate or House and what are their numbers (important to
    use in letters for reference)? If there are Environmental or Ocean
    Dumping subcommittees at the federal level, who are  the key
    congressman sitting on these commitees and what are their addresses?
    
    If this info is sitting somewhere else, let me know. Otherwise,
    someone may be able to post it. I will definitely write the appropriate
    congresspeople and call their offices upon receipt of the info.
    I suggest anyone else feeling strongly about the issue do the same!
    
    P.S. If you're writing a congressman, just state firmly what you
    think the problem is and propose a solution (bill filing, etc.)
    Character assassination is emotionally satisfying but otherwise
    doesn't win many allies!

     I know this is a little late, but did anybody watch George Bush's
    acceptance speech? I was reading a book while it was on, but it
    seemed like a very good speech. One part which really got my attention
    was where George promised to HALT OCEAN DUMPING! I was thrilled.
    It really doesn't surprise me that Mike is against the halting of
    ocean dumping. Heck, he's got an entire harbor that has been the
    recipient of ocean dumping for years, and we all know how pristine
    those waters are :-}...
    
    The Doctah

    re-1
    I'm sure, after all the press this year, that sooner or later ALL
    the candidates will be against ocean dumping. Unfortunately, the
    City of New York has deemed ocean dumping to be perfectly safe for
    the environment. Ed Koch has gotten away with "just saying no" to
    the EPA, Congress and the Federal Court....you think he'll obey
    a Republican President???
    
    Bagel   _How_am_I_doing?_

    re: .21
    
    I absolutely agree. In an election year, political promises must
    be met with a certain amount of skepticism. It's up to us to put
    pressure on the candidates and the congress and hold them to what
    they've agreed to after the inauguration.

    It's my understanding that a group of radicals are planning on dumping
    a huge pile of sludge on the grounds of Gracie[sp] Mansion. I hope
    they do it. It would serve the ostrich right.
    
    Dukakis (at least so far) has been against the banning of ocean
    dumping. I imagine that it would create a problem here in Massachusetts
    since they do it here also. What he'll probably do is wait until
    the political winds are have blown this issue up a little bit, and
    give a typically vague "we'll ban future ocean dumping by the year
    2xxx" as a means of dropping this political hot potatoe. Hopefully
    the American people will see through this typical tactic.
    
    I am not so naive as to think that Bush will do everything right,
    or even live up to all his political promises; I just would rather
    deal with an unknown quantity that has similar ideology than a known
    quantity that I abhor.
    
    The Doctah

       Why hasn't George pushed for this during the last 7 years? 
    Sounds 'fishy' to me!
                                                              Denny

    I'm not sure you guys are being fair to Massachusetts. I recall
    reading several news articles during the height of the media blitz
    which repeatedly stated that only New York and (much to my chagrin)
    New Jersey were the only states that were still dumping at sea.
    (At least NJ is building/planning treatment facilities...anyone
    in Pennsylvania wat to sell us an old coal mine?  ;-)  )
    
    I may be wrong (not a first), but wasn't the dumping in Boston Harbor
    an accident? (Plant malfunction, operator error, etc?)
    
    Bagel

    The major problem with dumping in Mass is the fact that any time
    there is heavy rain the sewage treatment facilities and dump the
    raw stuff in the harbor.   

    The dumping in Boston harbor is a result of overflow from the treatment
    plants at dear and nut islands. When the volume is too great the
    untreated raw sewage goes directly into the harbor. I am not aware
    of any ocean dumping by barges in mass bay at all at this time nor
    for the last sereral years. I do know the dirty water is expanding
    fast and they better get going on the new plants and enough of
    this not in my back yard baloney. What good is water front property
    if you can't enjoy it??
    
    Bruce

    Due to an utter lack planning for population growth, coupled with
    steadfast NIMBY resistance, eastern Massachusetts does not have
    sewage treatment plants capable of handling all of the waste water
    generated by the populace. This shortcoming is most readily
    demonstrated during rainstorms when a higher than usual volume of
    waste water needs to be processed. The overcapacity treatment stations
    simply cannot deal with the volume of waste water; therefore millions
    of gallons of untreated human waste are dumped into the harbor.
    
    This act has really damaged the habitat aroung Boston Harbor. Clam
    flats are closed every year due to the arrival of red tide, a problem
    which is exacerbated by the pollution. Fecal choloform [sp] counts
    become astronomical causing the closing of beaches to in water
    recreation. Quincy Bay flounder fishing, while still reasonably
    active, is strictly for sport now that waters are too polluted to
    allow consumption of these tasty creatures.
    
    All of these problems are directly traceable to the lack of treatment
    centers and hence to the government (they're supposed to spend our
    tax $$$ wisely). All we ever pay for is studies; they get the same
    results time after time, but never act upon them.
    
    A cause that can be indirectly traced to the government and directly
    traced to business, is the dumping of hazardous chemicals into the
    harbor. Toxic wastes are dumped into the harbor at night via barge
    and also through river carried means. It's much cheaper to
    pour these chemicals into the river behind the plant than to spend
    big $$$ to have them properly disposed of. The governments hand
    in this is the poor enforcement of dumping measures. The government
    doesn't attempt to punish the perpetrators of these thoughtless
    acts, and it doesn't attempt to find them in the first place.
    
    I guess the difference between Massachusetts and NY/NJ dumping is
    that Massachusetts simply pours the stuff into the harbor, while
    NY/NJ carts the stuff out the the Gulf Stream.
    
    The Doctah            
        

    re:.28
    
    Make that last paragraph read:"....is supposed to carry it to the
    Gulf Stream". 
    Just recently the Coast Guard has gotten suspicious of the barge
    operators, thinking that they don't all go all the way to the 106
    (WE could have told them that...even I know that it takes a scow
    more than 1.5 hours from Sandy Hook to 106 and back!)
    Now the CG is installing 'black boxes' on the dump vessels. For
    the first 50 miles of the trip,these boxes will tranmit the location
    and condition of dump doors (open/shut). Thereafter, the box will
    record location/operation of doors, and be inspected [periodically?].
    
    Why do I have the feeling that some (electronic) whiz-kids are gonna
    make a few bucks on the slimy side, about 55 miles off-shore?
    
    Bagel
    
    P.S. re: Quincy flounder...are they really (by testing) unsafe to
             eat???? We did fairly good with them in May, and haven't
    	     noticed any effects (after eating almost 17 lbs of fillets.
    		Or is this a case of: NOW you tell me!  ;-)
    	

    They tested the flounder in June and they came up with an
    astronomically high PCB count. There is now a ban on all seafood
    taking from Quincy Bay. On the flip side, I think that the safe
    level is extremely low, like you'd have to eat 17 lbs of fillets
    every day for 5 years or something to react to the fish. I guess
    as long as you're spacing the fish out a little bit you should be
    allright. I mean, you do live in New Jersey... :-) :-)
    
    The Doctah

    Massachusetts has been under court order for a while now to clean
    up the harbor. Plans have been drawn up and preliminary construction
    is commencing as we speak. They will be dismantling the Nut Island
    plant completely and constructing a much larger facility alongside
    the existing plant at Deer Island. Effluent which is currently spewing
    into the harbor will be rerouted through a six mile long pipe  to
    Deer Island. They will also be addressing the rain/drain backup
    problem through another series of recirculating pipes channeling
    into the main six mile pipe. This is the largest public works project
    in Boston (and possibly Mass. history).
    
    As far as what they do with the waste once it's treated, they are
    still going to have to dump it offshore either by boat or pipe.
    
    Average annual water bills for Boston residents can be expected to rise
    steadily to between 1000-1500 bucks per year.
    
    The project completion date is supposedly 1999, but it will take
    longer for the harbor to flush itself out to any stage of normalcy.
    
    So, folks, be prepared for a long wait!

    Read in the Globe that people have been finding unusual amounts
    of trash in Sebago Lake this summer. Apparently, either the state
    or camps charge boat owners a fee to haul their boat refuse away
    and some of the people are simply dumping it into the lake in order
    to avoid paying the fee.
    
    This dumping is contagious!

    NBC had a segment on ocean dumping last night. Interviewed an offshore
    lobsterman who has been leading the fight against ocean dumping.
    A good segment, showed what a stupid ass ed koch is. 
    
    The fisherman has been running a series of article on ocean dumping
    also and been promoting CCOD. There will be a large protest in
    New York harbor (i think on sept 10th) against ocean dumping. If
    my boat was closer I would definitly be there.
    
    Bruce

    Anybody see the ABC special last night? I missed the first part
    (which I think had something on ocean dumping). If anybody taped
    the program on VHS, let me know I'd like to borrow it. The reast
    of the show was scary!!! I'm afraid to buy a house, cause it might
    be on a toxic waste dump. What a drag. And to think, people like
    Ed Koch think it's ok to keep poisoning our environment. You can
    tell he's almost dead. Not one thought about the future.
    
    Signing off before the flame goes on...
    
    
    The Doctah