Abstract |
Studies were conducted to determine the technical, economic, and ecological feasibility of collecting and delivering waterborne waste concentrates from the Philadelphia Region to a point in the ocean beyond the edge of the continental shelf. Preliminary study indicated that a pipeline would be the best method of transporting these wastes for economic reasons. Presently such wastes are being buried, burned, or dumped directly into the Delaware River, its estuary or shallow near-shore waters of the continental shelf where important ground and surface water supplies and highly valuable river, estuarine, and near-shore eco-systems exist. The study has concentrated on defining the waste types and volumes and studying the basic concept of disposal on the upper continental slope region. The engineering, legal, and economic feasibility of the program were investigated and a baseline study was made on the hydrography, biology, and physical chemistry of the slope region. |