Deep Sea Life Last week I posted on Going True Green's Blog that I was going to share the answer Dr. Sylvia Earle gave me about a troubling situation developing at a Wastewater Treatment plant on the East Coast. What I heard from an inside source had me concerned as an Environmentalist, but perhaps I didn't know all the facts about Deep Sea Dumping and I was over reacting. Therefore, I asked Dr. Earle about her thoughts on the topic because she is a marine biologist, explorer, author, lecturer, National Geographic explorer-in-residence, first female chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, named first Hero for the Planet in 1998, and provided wise consultation to America’s Presidents. Below is the situation:
I have recently been told that New York's Nassau County Department of Public Works, Water and Wastewater Engineering Unit operating with the 730 million FEMA money at Bay Park Wastewater Treatment Plant has resigned to some choices that concern me greatly.
The Plant was damaged and shut down for 50 hours by the storm Sandy. The result of 50 hours of down time was 200 million gallons of raw sewage flowing into the Atlantic and surrounding properties. The solution: Harden all equipment and build more resilient Flood walls around the entire perimeter. However, instead of raising equipment and building surrounding walls to a height that offers maximum protection, they are going to the minimum height just so they don’t - and I quote, “Waste Taxpayer’s money.” Unquote.
More importantly I was told that this Wastewater Treatment Plant, when dealing with advanced Nitrogen Reduction and Lower Phosphorus levels, will NOT meet the new lower levels that were established. The Wastewater Plant’s solution is to obtain permission and / or wavier from New York State to build a pipe line for conducting Deep Sea Dumping. A pipe line large enough to drive cars through will dump treated wastewater high in Nitrogen into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Long Island.
So with years of data proving the damage done by Algae Over Growth, large swings in pH, and Dissolved Oxygen, from high levels of Nitrogen, are my concerns with Deep Sea Dumping justified?
I have recently been told that New York's Nassau County Department of Public Works, Water and Wastewater Engineering Unit operating with the 730 million FEMA money at Bay Park Wastewater Treatment Plant has resigned to some choices that concern me greatly.
The Plant was damaged and shut down for 50 hours by the storm Sandy. The result of 50 hours of down time was 200 million gallons of raw sewage flowing into the Atlantic and surrounding properties. The solution: Harden all equipment and build more resilient Flood walls around the entire perimeter. However, instead of raising equipment and building surrounding walls to a height that offers maximum protection, they are going to the minimum height just so they don’t - and I quote, “Waste Taxpayer’s money.” Unquote.
More importantly I was told that this Wastewater Treatment Plant, when dealing with advanced Nitrogen Reduction and Lower Phosphorus levels, will NOT meet the new lower levels that were established. The Wastewater Plant’s solution is to obtain permission and / or wavier from New York State to build a pipe line for conducting Deep Sea Dumping. A pipe line large enough to drive cars through will dump treated wastewater high in Nitrogen into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Long Island.
So with years of data proving the damage done by Algae Over Growth, large swings in pH, and Dissolved Oxygen, from high levels of Nitrogen, are my concerns with Deep Sea Dumping justified?
Deep Sea Dumping: "Don't do it."
Dr. Sylvia Earle According to Sylvia Earle's response, my concerns are well justified. After hearing the words, Deep Sea Dumping, Dr. Earle's reaction was a short gasp and then a sharp "to-the-point" answer, "Don't do it." At 81 years of age, unequaled credentials, and speaking at Cold Spring Harbor's National Laboratory, that is all she had to say.
Nitrogen has become a tremendous problem in our groundwater, bays, harbors, and coastlines. The source of Nitrogen is diversified and comes from fertilizers on non-organic farms or grass lawns to outdated septic systems. Also we now have volatile organic chemicals or VOCs, increasing in concentrations. VOCs can be found in most hair shampoos and other cosmetics. They are all labeled by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as likely carcinogenics.
I tried to obtain additional help from news reporters since I learned about this possible Deep Sea Dumping, so that we can ascertain the spoken information to me is viable with a second confirming source. I have yet to heard back from any news media. If this comes to fruition and we could have prevented another Deep Sea Dumping abuse, I will never be able to get Dr. Earle's words "Don't do it," out of my head.
Bill Lauto, GTG
Environmental Scientist at
GoingTrueGreen.com
Contribute your comments!
Nitrogen has become a tremendous problem in our groundwater, bays, harbors, and coastlines. The source of Nitrogen is diversified and comes from fertilizers on non-organic farms or grass lawns to outdated septic systems. Also we now have volatile organic chemicals or VOCs, increasing in concentrations. VOCs can be found in most hair shampoos and other cosmetics. They are all labeled by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as likely carcinogenics.
I tried to obtain additional help from news reporters since I learned about this possible Deep Sea Dumping, so that we can ascertain the spoken information to me is viable with a second confirming source. I have yet to heard back from any news media. If this comes to fruition and we could have prevented another Deep Sea Dumping abuse, I will never be able to get Dr. Earle's words "Don't do it," out of my head.
Bill Lauto, GTG
Environmental Scientist at
GoingTrueGreen.com
Contribute your comments!
