Opinion ID: 438818
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Discussion of Ocean Dumping Alternatives

Text: 31 Kilroy claims that both the EIS and the district court dealt too superficially with the ocean dumping alternatives. The district court's analysis, however, properly rests on whether ocean dumping is a reasonable alternative and whether, in the context of this case, it was accorded a reasonable discussion in the EIS. See Sierra Club v. Adams, 578 F.2d at 396. The district court concluded that the extent to which the EIS should have addressed ocean disposal alternatives depended on the extent of the restrictions imposed by the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. Secs. 1251 et seq., the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act, 33 U.S.C. Secs. 1412 et seq., (1976 & Supp. V 1981), the NPDES permit, and the consent decree. 32 After analyzing the legal restrictions, the district court stated that while it may be reasonable to require the EIS to mention ocean disposal, it would be unreasonable and wasteful to require extensive development and discussion of such a remote alternative. We agree. See State of California v. Block, 690 F.2d at 767. In addition, the district court found that, contrary to Kilroy's claim, the EIS did discuss ocean disposal in considerable detail. 33 The district court's conclusion relied in part on prior opinions issued in earlier stages of this litigation which harmonized the Marine Protection Act and the Clean Water Act with NEPA. Although the Marine Protection Act does not completely ban deep ocean dumping, the district court's prior opinion stated: 34 [I]t would mock Congress' long-range comprehensive goal of water quality improvement to require the EPA to order the cessation of sludge disposal from deep ocean outfalls while requiring the EPA to consider, as an alternative disposal method, the dumping of this same sludge by vessel into the deep ocean at the pipe's end or at any other place on the face of the water. 35