European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 22, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 the stars and stripes monday August 22,1988 nyc pushed to end Ocean dumping Washington a Congress is pressuring new York City to Stop dumping its millions of tons of sewage sludge in the Atlantic but the City says there s no Way it can meet the deadlines and fines won t do anyone any Good. Congress is wrangling Over a deadline for ending Ocean sludge dumping and is prepared to assess heavy fines to make it stick. The Senate unanimously passed legislation aug. 9 outlawing the dumping by january 1992, and a similar House Bill would end it a year later. The Senate Bill also would require the City to Signa compliance agreement within six months but you can t sign an agreement that you can t comply with said Judy Chesser director of new York City s Washington office. In addition she said of the Senate Bill if Youdon t enter a compliance agreement within six months after enactment you have to Start paying for new York City $76 million to $152 million per year. That s just the Fine she said not the Cost of actually ending disposal in the Ocean. The City would need to construct at least one de watering Plant and several incinerators and would have to find Landfill space in order to halt the dump ing she said. The City produces 3.8 million wet tons of sludge every year. New York is one of nine communities that still dump sewage sludge at sea despite a 1977 Amend ment to the Marine Protection research and sanctuaries act stating that such dumping was to end by dec. 31, 1981. The other sludge dumpers Are All in new York state and new Jersey and together pro Duce a total of 8 million tons of sludge a year. The environmental Protection Agency had planned to quit renewing sludge dumping permits for these communities by 1982 until new York Cit went to court arguing that the Cost and environmental Impact of land based disposal made these alternatives worse than Ocean dumping. A Federal judge , Epa could still designate where the dumping could occur so it moved the Ocean waste dump site from 12 Miles offshore to 106 Miles out at sea beyond the Continental shelf. All dumping at the 12-mile site ended by dec. 31, 1987. After the court Victory new York City quit looking at land based alternatives said Jeffrey som Mer first Deputy commissioner of the new Yor City department of environmental conservation. We believed the move to the 106-mile site from the 12 mile site would have eliminated the pres sure Sommer said. We still believe the Ocean is an environmentally sound method to discharge  Sommer also said he believes the Public is confusing the sludge Issue with the medical waste and untreated sewage that have closed Many beaches in the Northeast this summer. Sommer said that while politicians know the Dif Ference they Are not making distinctions Between the two issues. We believe this is an emotional Issue raised by some new Jersey congressmen trying to piggyback it onto the problems at the beaches Sommer said. Sludge has absolutely nothing to do with  is 97 percent water there Are no floating syringes nothing to Wash up on the beaches but we believe that is creating a political  the political pressures were apparently great enough to cause both new York senators to alter their positions and become sponsors of the anti dumping Bill introduced by senators from Rhode Island and new Jersey. It passed 97-0. With its Back up against the legislative Wall new York City reached an agreement with the Epa on aug. 2 to phase out sludge dumping by 1998. Chesser said she hoped that agreement will work to the City s advantage when the House and Senate Bills Are reconciled. All we want is realistic dates. We have agreed to get out of the Ocean but the alternatives have a Many if not More environmental concerns As using the Ocean she said. Stateside saudi Prince s asking Price for House $35 million Houston Texas a in a City which has experienced a slump in the real estate Market one Home owner is asking $35 million for his House and the Royal Price is in keeping with the resident. The sales agent boasts that the House owned by Prince Abdul Faisal of saudi Arabia May be the world s most expensive listed  Faisal had the Home built Only four years ago in the fashionable River Oaks neighbourhood. I think the reason he s Selling it is because he does t Ever use it said realtor Marilyn Hoffman. Tax records show the House has 22,400 Square feet of space divided into 20 rooms 10 of them  Are 10 Baths five half Baths three recreation rooms and three Wood burning fireplaces. Amenities include Gold plated bathroom fixtures carved Marble switch plates and a computerized air conditioning system. 5 children die 7 injured in Jersey City High Rise fire Jersey City . A five children die saturday in a Smoky Blaze at their grandmother s apartment in a High Rise housing project officials  grandmother four other children including a 9 month old and two firefighters were injured. The fire at the City operated Curry Woods project apparently began in the Kitchen of the Small apartment about 4 20 a.m., said police it. Donald Loehwing. It did not spread to other apartments. This is the worst fire i can remember especially Over in the projects Loehwing said. The fire was not believed to be arson related said George Mccomb a fire department battalion com Mander but authorities were investigating. Cousins and two of the children were in critical condition authorities said. 6-month-old baby bitten 100 times by pet ferret West Palm Beach Fla. A a pet ferret with razor Sharp Teeth bit a 6-month-old baby at least 100 times before a neighbor killed the animal by pitch ing it against a  Myers was in stable condition Friday at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Palm Beach. Her Mother Lisa Myers said the foot Long ferret Princess attacked thursday night after mrs. Myers went to  must have been going on 10 minutes when i heard her crying Myers said. I came out and she was covered with blood. He hit every part of her body and was t letting  to wrestle the ferret away she brought in next door neighbor Rick Desjardins who killed the animal. Indians March to Reagan s ranch to seek ongoing talks on rights Santa Barbara Calif. A Twenty two members and supporters of american Indian tribes walked single file up a seven mile Mountain Road to president Reagan s ranch saturday seeking an on going dialogue on Indian rights. The walk was triggered by Reagan s remarks at the Moscow Summit in May when he spoke of indians living a primitive lifestyle and said maybe we should not have Humoured  before the March White House officials met wit representatives of the american Indian action group and arranged for Reagan to meet in Washington with Indian leaders probably in september. I would like to thank president Reagan for publicly inviting us to open up a dialogue won no Rubio chumash Indian from Goleta Calif., told the group outside the Gate of the ranch. I Hope that he keeps the door open and keeps a dialogue As Long As he is president Rubio  meeting is not going to solve our problems and i Hope that he keeps it in mind this is going to be an ongoing  the walkers marched from Refugio state Beach on the Pacific Ocean chanting beating Drums and playing musical instruments As they walked up the Steep Road. When they reached the ranch they lined up across the Road from the Gate while the elders of various tribes led them in prayer and songs. The walk took about three hours. This is going to be a spiritual walk said Michael Zarate a Leader of the organization. I emphasize this because it is not a protest  bullish on buffaloes Bison rancher Glen Bayger stands near part of his 300-head Herd of buffaloes in Salamanca . Bayger who ramrod the by Buffalo ranch is the second larges Bison rancher East of the Mississippi River