  The Massachusetts Bay Disposal Site (MBDS), a 2.0
nmi (3.7 km) diameter circular area centered at 42° 25.106' N, 70° 34.969'
W (NAD 83), is located 12 nmi (22 km) southeast of Gales Point, MA.
Water depths range from 269 to 302 ft (82 to 92 m). The MBDS was officially
designated a dredged material disposal site by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency in 1993. It was relocated from a partially overlapping
interim disposal site, used for disposal from 1977 to 1993, known as
the Foul Area Disposal Site or Boston Foul Ground. Of the three regional
dredged material disposal sites off the coast of Massachusetts, MBDS
is by far the most active, receiving material from such ports as Boston,
Hingham, Salem, and Gloucester. Since 1982, approximately 8,374,000
yd3 of dredged material have been disposed at MBDS or the
interim site. The possibility of disposing of relatively contaminated
sediments at MBDS and isolating these sediments with a layer of clean
cap material is currently being explored. A pilot project (Cohasset
Harbor Capping Project) was conducted in 1998 to 2000 with clean sediment
to determine whether capping is feasible at this deep water site. Extensive
monitoring has indicated that the capping project was successful in
isolating underlying sediment. Check out site data! Annual
Disposal Volumes
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