Councilor Sullivan described plans for construction of island containment sites for toxic dredged materials being considered as part of the Dredged Material Management Plan for NY/NJ Harbor. He stated that the environmental impact statement on the proposed plan will be available shortly. The plan is assessing other options besides building containment islands, such as decontaminating the material and/or using it for landfill cover. However, these options are typically much more expensive. He stated that the proposed enormous containment islands would be made of sheet piling, not encased in concrete, and would be vulnerable to rust and hurricanes. Heavy metals and toxic substances such as agent orange would be stored below sea level. Mr. Sullivan expressed concern that striped bass, clams, shellfish, and essentially all marine life passing through the Hudson would be endangered if these island containment areas are built and used. A substantive discussion of this issue will be held at the 04 March 1999 Council meeting.