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Battle Won to Prevent Dredge Dumping in Buzzards Bay May 2, 2006 CONTACT: Ben Bryant, Marine Policy Specialist The Coalition for Buzzards Bay; (508) 404-4807 NEW BEDFORD, MA— A proposal by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management to allow the dumping of dredge spoils in Buzzards Bay has been withdrawn based on objections raised by The Coalition for Buzzards Bay, the Town of Falmouth and other concerned citizens. In a letter dated April 27, 2006, Susan Snow-Cotter, Director of CZM, states “At this point, it does not appear that the balance of factors warrants additional effort toward reopening a disposal site in Buzzards Bay”. The charge to stop the State from reopening Buzzards Bay to dredge dumping was lead by The Coalition for Buzzards Bay and the Town of Falmouth. The Coalition submitted an in depth critical review of the State’s proposal highlighting the negative impacts the activity would have on the Bay, deficiencies in the estimates of demand, and the lack of alternatives studied. The town of Falmouth coordinated the input of several local scientist and town agencies that were also critical of the proposal. Among the Coalition’s primary concerns with this proposal were the immediate and long-term impacts on the living resources of the Bay. “Had this proposal been allowed, the animals that make up the bay bottom community like lobster, flounder, and conch would have been smothered and productive habitat, necessary to sustain the health of the Bay’s diverse plant and animal species, would have been lost,” said Ben Bryant, Marine Policy Specialist for the Coalition. “The State’s decision to pull this proposal is great news for all who are working to preserve and protect Buzzards Bay.” The Town of Falmouth raised the concern that dredge material can be contaminated with heavy metals, PCBs and hydrocarbons. Mark Patton, Director of the Falmouth Department of Natural Resources stated, “The best way to be sure that contaminates are not deposited in the waters off of Falmouth by the dumping of dredge spoils is not to allow the activity to take place.” Dredging activity is generally conducted to maintain access to our harbors, marinas and moorings. Both the Coalition and the Town of Falmouth urged the state to consider beneficial reuse options for the proper disposal of dredge material rather than to simply dump it in the Bay. Examples of beneficial reuse are beach nourishment, land fill capping and construction. In announcing the withdrawal of the proposal, Susan Snow Cotter affirmed that the state would pursue these other non-environmentally harmful solutions. Ben Bryant summarized the situation by saying “We have won this battle, but we still need legislation to prohibit dumping in Buzzards Bay to be sure that a new proposal won’t be generated in the future.”
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