CRITERIA FOR SUBAQUEOUS BORROW-PIT DISPOSAL SITES.

In 1977, the New York District of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers began a comprehensive study of alternative methods of dredged sediment disposal. The burial of dredged sediment in subaqueous borrow pits was one of three alternatives that were deemed possible in special cases and feasible for large volumes of dredged materials (the other two options were shallow ocean disposal and confined upland disposal). A variety of studies have been completed not only to examine the particulars of such an operation in New York Harbor but also to investigate generic processes that would be involved in the implementation of this disposal alternative. Some general technical criteria are discussed in this article for the selection or construction of borrow-pit disposal sites with emphasis on the New York metropolitan area.