ABSTRACT

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration defines coastal ocean as beginning at the head of tidal waters and extending to the edge of the continental shelf. The Hudson River, for example, as far upstream as Albany is considered part of the coastal ocean. The primary types of waste in descending volumes include dredged materials, sewage sludge, industrial waste, construction debris, and incineration residue. This approach allows the sludge to be reclassified as nonhazardous. Most importantly, preliminary tests have shown that the structural integrity of the blocks following submersion into seawater is maintained. As an additional benefit, these blocks may serve as artificial reef construction materials. Industrial wastes disposed in the Mid-Atlantic Bight have included byproducts of the manufacturing of titanium dioxide, caustic, and white-water oil emulsions.