Book Description

Past underwater sand mining has left many large depressions, called subaqueous borrow pits, on the floor of the Lower Bay of New York Harbor. Research has shown that borrow pits are natural sinks for contaminant-laden sediment and that they contain stressed benthic communities different from those found in nonpit areas. The disposal and capping of contaminated dredged material into borrow pits would obviate possible impacts at the ocean disposal site while reclaiming lost portions of the sandy bottom of New York Harbor. A demonstration project to prove the feasibility of borrow pit disposal was begun by the New York District (NYD). The project was not completed because of litigation, although research in other parts of the country showed that borrow pit disposal was technically feasible. Based on this information, the NYD is implementing an operational program for dredged material disposal into existing or new borrow pits. A Federal EIS is being prepared.