20th Anniversary of a Dumpsite Free Jersey Shore!

20th Anniversary of a Dumpsite Free Jersey Shore!

COA led the COAlition charge to end ocean
dumping and works to keep it free from harm!

Did you know there used to be eight ocean dumpsites just miles off the New Jersey coast?  In fact, back in the 1980’s, NJ was known as the Ocean Dumping Capitol of the World! In 1988, almost a century after people began dumping waste off the coast of New Jersey, Clean Ocean Action’s coalition of more than 100 groups against ocean dumping began to see movement from the government to close the dump sites. This fall marks the 20 Year Anniversary to the End of Ocean Dumping!

Clean Ocean Action led the coalition that took on these dumpsites. In fact, that is why COA was formed.   Using a model of research (what is the source, what is the impact and if it is harmful what are the environmental solutions), education (sharing the information far and wide), and most importantly, citizen action (coordinating countless battles to oppose ocean dumping by the small and the tall) COA was successful.  Finally, in 2000, the ocean was dumpsite free.

The gruesome details about each dumpsite can give you nightmares.  Here are just a few examples:

The 12 mile Sewage Sludge Dumpsite located off Sea Bright received about 8 million tons per year of the thick hairy sludge from northern Jersey and all of New York City.  It created a vast mat on the seafloor destroying fishing grounds and suffocating sea life resulting in 
a dead zone. 

The area of the Acid Waste Site off Long Branch was known to fishermen as the Acid Waters. About 82,000 tons of acid was dumped annually by several companies including NL Industries, a DuPont Chemical company and Allied Chemical.  Though the waste killed marine-life on contact, as it washed into the sea it turned the ocean bright yellow and created a flocculent that attracted many fish. The Deepwater Industrial Dumpsite, told a similar tale but the dumpsite was located over 106 miles offshore and was used by over 100 companies.  Studies showed that over 200 species of fish eggs and larvae died on contact with acid waste. 

Most obvious and famous was the Wood burning Site 17 miles off Manasquan.  Massive piles of creosote and chemically treated harbor wood was stacked 40 feet high on barges and taken offshore, doused with ignitable fluid, and set ablaze.  It often took up to 3 days to burn down.  By day the smoke could be seen as far away as Long Island. By night the giant fire’s glow led to its nickname, "The Gigantic Barbaric Backyard BBQ." Huge old logs and chunks from peirs and bulkheads often fell off the pile becoming navigational hazards shattering boats and washing into shore harming fishermen and swimmers.  The closure put out the fire on one of the most visible and incendiary activities in NY/NJ. 

Finally, the most challenging of the ocean dumpsite to close was the last one; the so called, Toxic Mud Dumpsite.  The material came from channels needed to be dredged for the safe navigation of  larger and large ships coming into the New York and New Jersey Harbor.  About  6 million tons of toxin laden muck was dumped each year, just 6 miles off Sea Bright.  By the mid-1990’s the site was 19 square mile area with a mound rising some 45 feet high.  The area was also found to be toxic to marine and the toxins were getting into the food-chain.  It was dubbed, the Muck Monster.  

Each Dumpsite tells a story:

While these appalling details are shocking to reflect on, in the 1980s’ the ocean was the dumping ground of choice.  It was open 24/7, it was free of charge and it was no-one’s backyard, until it became everyone’s back yard.   Each dumpsite has heroic a heroic stories of citizens who stood up against the dumping and the hundreds who stepped up at public hearings, made signs, signed petitions, and did whatever it took. 

Clean Ocean Action lead the coalition that took on these dumpsites, in fact that is why it was formed.   With a successful model—research- what is the source, what is the impact and if it harmful what are the environmentally solutions? Education-- sharing the information far and wide, and, most important, citizen action-- coordinating countless battles to oppose ocean dumping by the small and the tall.  Finally, in 2000, the ocean was dumpsite free. 

Today, the Jersey Shore is a premier destination and COA remains ever vigilant to keep it that way.

Despite recent serious threats of ocean industrialization, the Jersey Shore remains free from harm, but that can change.

To read more about each dumpsite, the heroes, and the campaigns, COA has written a book, True Blue, 30 Years of Making Waves.  To purchase, contact COA.