Say No To Dumping Tens of Thousands of Gallons of Sodium Hydroxide into Cape Cod Waters
Say No To Dumping Tens of Thousands of Gallons of Sodium Hydroxide into Cape Cod Waters
The Issue
Jul 20, 2025 UPDATE
Hi Everyone,
I know it has been awhile since I updated this petition, but I was made aware of the official PDF document from EPA which approved this sodium hydroxide dump which is off the coast of Cape Cod . Since the time is approaching when they will soon release this poison, and people will still be swimming in the water and eating seafood, I though it important to ramp up efforts towards bringing awareness to this unsafe geo-engineering project. At this point, especially after all we went through during the Pandemic, is there still anyone who believes the government when they tell you something is 'safe and effective'? I think those days are over now. Geo-engineering and unnatural interference with our waters/ environment is not welcome -- and we will not listen to climate change marketing, which is brought to you by bought and paid for scientists here to push an agenda that chemical manipulation of our environment is for our own good.
Please continue to spread the word to stop this experiment on us and our environment.
Here is the link for the petition to share:
___________
As a resident and landscape photographer of Cape Cod, I am deeply concerned about the planned dumping of tens of thousands of gallons of sodium hydroxide into our waters by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Falmouth. Such an action risks causing irreversible harm to our local wildlife, fellow citizens, and the fragile ecosystem that makes our home so unique.
The news has been broadcasting on radio stations, such as WXTK and others, that the project has officially been approved and will begin after the Summer of 2025. I have posted articles below for your research and reference. I will continue to post more.
This chemical discharge, classified as a part of a 'geo-engineering/climate change experiment', poses multiple threats. Sodium hydroxide -- also an active ingredient in drain cleaner -- is highly corrosive, is considered a hazard to marine life, and will threaten the ecosystem/biodiversity. Considering that Cape Cod's economy heavily relies on fishing and tourism - sectors fostered by our rich marine life and being about to safely swim in the water, as well as eat from it - the potential negative impacts hold implications for our livelihoods and health.
We cannot let this experiment go ahead without consulting the people whom it would affect the most – us, the residents of Cape Cod. Together, let's protect our home. Geo-engineering of our weather and waters is not welcome here and dumping chemicals into the ocean solves ZERO problems. We are not experimental lab rats for scientists to test things on either; we did not give our consent.
Sign this petition and join the call to prevent the dumping of sodium hydroxide which will affect Cape Cod.
Thank you -- Stephanie
CapeCodGirl4Life on Instagram
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Please share this petition! Here is a link you can copy
You can also directly contact the Woods Hole Oceanographic Insitute on their Facebook Page, and at the very bottom of this petition, I have provided emails and names to those who work there.
In the Summer of 2024, a plethora of comments made in protest on their Facebook page and other social media outlets, pressured them to delay this project. We can do it again.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/WoodsHoleOcean?mibextid=ZbWKwL
You can also contact Friends of the Earth, an organization who was also vocally against this project last year, and let them know it is ramping up again. I have emailed them this petition.
Their website is:
Their phone number is: 1-866-217-8499
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING:
Benjamin Day, a senior campaigner with Friends of the Earth’s Climate and Energy Justice program has said: “We unequivocally oppose the proposed LOC-NESS geoengineering experiment. It’s astonishing that the EPA is even considering allowing dangerous, caustic chemicals to be dumped in ocean waters that are frequented by at least eight endangered species, including right whales and leatherback turtles....Sodium hydroxide is an incredibly dangerous substance. It causes chemical burns if it touches your skin or marine animals. We think dumping tens of thousands gallons of that into the ocean is a bad idea."
“Marine geoengineering does nothing to solve the root causes of the climate crisis and instead puts at risk the oceans’ natural capacity to absorb carbon and their role in sustaining life on Earth. Impossible to test for their intended climate impact without large-scale deployment, these speculative technologies are a dangerous distraction from the real solutions to the climate crisis. Outdoor experiments could not only cause immediate harm to marine life, but are also a slippery slope to potentially catastrophic impacts of large-scale deployment.” said Mary Church, Geoengineering Campaign Manager at the Center for International Environmental Law.
Local Marine Artist and Catch and Release Charter Captain, David Riina, says: 'The PH of the ocean is 8.1. The sodium hydroxide (aka LYE) has a PH of 14. It will kill everything in the area they dump it. From microscopic plankton to fish to mammals. WHOI has ZERO way to measure if their experiment does anything. They claim by raising the oceans PH it can sequester more co2 from the atmosphere. Our atmosphere is 0.04% co2. The lye will dilute into nonexistence before it has any impact on co2. All it will do is kill everything in the immediate area before it dilutes. It’s illegal to dump caustic chemicals into the ocean. If I did that, the coast guard would take away my merchant mariner license and fine me thousands of dollars."
“Altering the chemical composition of the ocean under the guise of increasing its capacity to absorb carbon dioxide is misleading and dangerous,” said Tom Goldtooth, co-founder and member of the board of directors of the national Climate Justice Alliance, where he represents the Indigenous Environmental Network. “Sodium Hydroxide is essentially Lye -– a substance known to cause chemical burns and one that must be handled with great care. An experiment centered on introducing this caustic substance into the sea should not be permitted. Furthermore, the EPA’s public comment period of barely a month is too short for experts, the public, or our Tribes to give this the attention it deserves. The geoengineering approach puts Earth’s systems at risk in a faulty and false bid toward solving the climate crisis. It is what we call a false solution.”
See the following articles:
Woods Hole Climate Change Experiment Gets Go Ahead
The article below attempts to paint a positive view of this project, but don't be fooled by it. They are literally putting poison directly into the water that you will be swimming in and eating food from. There is no positive way to spin this: geo-engineering and modifying the weather, especially with dangerous chemicals, should be stopped at every chance. The EPA is not looking out for you.
WHOI LOC-NESS Carbon Dioxide Removal Project Receives EPA Permit | Ocean News & Technology
Articles first bringing awareness in Summer of 2024:
Cape Cod Wants To Dump 60,000 Gallons of Sodium Hydroxide in Climate Change Experiment
FOE Opposes LOC-NESS Experiment That Threatens Marine Life
The following article is older but contains important information. The project has been approved for 2025, post Summer.
Controversial US marine geoengineering test delayed until next year
-----
Information on people you can contact at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute:
Leadership and Administration
Dr. John J. Stegeman
Program Director/Principal Investigator
Senior Scientist and former Department Chair, Biology Department
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
(508) 289-2320
jstegeman@whoi.edu
Dr. Dennis McGillicuddy
Program Co-Director/Co-Principal Investigator
Senior Scientist and former Department Chair, Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering Department
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
(508) 289-2683
mcgillic@whoi.edu
Ms. Kate McMullen
Center Administrator
Administrative Associate I, Biology Department
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
(508) 289-2632
kmcmullen@whoi.edu
Project Leaders
Dr. Donald M. Anderson
Senior Scientist, Biology Department
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
(508) 289-2351
danderson@whoi.edu
Dr. Dennis McGillicuddy
Senior Scientist and Department Chair, Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering Department
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
(508) 289-2683
mcgillic@whoi.edu
Project 3: Cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying long-term effects of early life exposure to HAB toxins
Dr. Mark E. Hahn
Senior Scientist and former Department Chair, Biology Department
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
(508) 289-3242
mhahn@whoi.edu
Community Engagement Core
Dr. Mindy Richlen
Research Specialist, Biology Department
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
(508) 289-2552
mrichlen@whoi.edu
External Advisory Committee
Dr. Alan Place, University of Maryland, Center for Environmental Science
Dr. Phil Landrigan, Boston College, Global Public Health Program
Dr. Kathi Lefebvre, NOAA Fisheries, Seattle
Dr. Bradley Moore, UC San Diego, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Scripps Inst. of Oceanography
Dr. Madeleine Scammel, Boston University, School of Public Health
Internal Advisory Committee
Dr. W. Rockwell Geyer
Senior Scientist, Applied Ocean Physics & Engineering
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Dr. Judy McDowell
Scientist Emeritus, Biology Department
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
1,181
The Issue
Jul 20, 2025 UPDATE
Hi Everyone,
I know it has been awhile since I updated this petition, but I was made aware of the official PDF document from EPA which approved this sodium hydroxide dump which is off the coast of Cape Cod . Since the time is approaching when they will soon release this poison, and people will still be swimming in the water and eating seafood, I though it important to ramp up efforts towards bringing awareness to this unsafe geo-engineering project. At this point, especially after all we went through during the Pandemic, is there still anyone who believes the government when they tell you something is 'safe and effective'? I think those days are over now. Geo-engineering and unnatural interference with our waters/ environment is not welcome -- and we will not listen to climate change marketing, which is brought to you by bought and paid for scientists here to push an agenda that chemical manipulation of our environment is for our own good.
Please continue to spread the word to stop this experiment on us and our environment.
Here is the link for the petition to share:
___________
As a resident and landscape photographer of Cape Cod, I am deeply concerned about the planned dumping of tens of thousands of gallons of sodium hydroxide into our waters by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Falmouth. Such an action risks causing irreversible harm to our local wildlife, fellow citizens, and the fragile ecosystem that makes our home so unique.
The news has been broadcasting on radio stations, such as WXTK and others, that the project has officially been approved and will begin after the Summer of 2025. I have posted articles below for your research and reference. I will continue to post more.
This chemical discharge, classified as a part of a 'geo-engineering/climate change experiment', poses multiple threats. Sodium hydroxide -- also an active ingredient in drain cleaner -- is highly corrosive, is considered a hazard to marine life, and will threaten the ecosystem/biodiversity. Considering that Cape Cod's economy heavily relies on fishing and tourism - sectors fostered by our rich marine life and being about to safely swim in the water, as well as eat from it - the potential negative impacts hold implications for our livelihoods and health.
We cannot let this experiment go ahead without consulting the people whom it would affect the most – us, the residents of Cape Cod. Together, let's protect our home. Geo-engineering of our weather and waters is not welcome here and dumping chemicals into the ocean solves ZERO problems. We are not experimental lab rats for scientists to test things on either; we did not give our consent.
Sign this petition and join the call to prevent the dumping of sodium hydroxide which will affect Cape Cod.
Thank you -- Stephanie
CapeCodGirl4Life on Instagram
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Please share this petition! Here is a link you can copy
You can also directly contact the Woods Hole Oceanographic Insitute on their Facebook Page, and at the very bottom of this petition, I have provided emails and names to those who work there.
In the Summer of 2024, a plethora of comments made in protest on their Facebook page and other social media outlets, pressured them to delay this project. We can do it again.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/WoodsHoleOcean?mibextid=ZbWKwL
You can also contact Friends of the Earth, an organization who was also vocally against this project last year, and let them know it is ramping up again. I have emailed them this petition.
Their website is:
Their phone number is: 1-866-217-8499
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING:
Benjamin Day, a senior campaigner with Friends of the Earth’s Climate and Energy Justice program has said: “We unequivocally oppose the proposed LOC-NESS geoengineering experiment. It’s astonishing that the EPA is even considering allowing dangerous, caustic chemicals to be dumped in ocean waters that are frequented by at least eight endangered species, including right whales and leatherback turtles....Sodium hydroxide is an incredibly dangerous substance. It causes chemical burns if it touches your skin or marine animals. We think dumping tens of thousands gallons of that into the ocean is a bad idea."
“Marine geoengineering does nothing to solve the root causes of the climate crisis and instead puts at risk the oceans’ natural capacity to absorb carbon and their role in sustaining life on Earth. Impossible to test for their intended climate impact without large-scale deployment, these speculative technologies are a dangerous distraction from the real solutions to the climate crisis. Outdoor experiments could not only cause immediate harm to marine life, but are also a slippery slope to potentially catastrophic impacts of large-scale deployment.” said Mary Church, Geoengineering Campaign Manager at the Center for International Environmental Law.
Local Marine Artist and Catch and Release Charter Captain, David Riina, says: 'The PH of the ocean is 8.1. The sodium hydroxide (aka LYE) has a PH of 14. It will kill everything in the area they dump it. From microscopic plankton to fish to mammals. WHOI has ZERO way to measure if their experiment does anything. They claim by raising the oceans PH it can sequester more co2 from the atmosphere. Our atmosphere is 0.04% co2. The lye will dilute into nonexistence before it has any impact on co2. All it will do is kill everything in the immediate area before it dilutes. It’s illegal to dump caustic chemicals into the ocean. If I did that, the coast guard would take away my merchant mariner license and fine me thousands of dollars."
“Altering the chemical composition of the ocean under the guise of increasing its capacity to absorb carbon dioxide is misleading and dangerous,” said Tom Goldtooth, co-founder and member of the board of directors of the national Climate Justice Alliance, where he represents the Indigenous Environmental Network. “Sodium Hydroxide is essentially Lye -– a substance known to cause chemical burns and one that must be handled with great care. An experiment centered on introducing this caustic substance into the sea should not be permitted. Furthermore, the EPA’s public comment period of barely a month is too short for experts, the public, or our Tribes to give this the attention it deserves. The geoengineering approach puts Earth’s systems at risk in a faulty and false bid toward solving the climate crisis. It is what we call a false solution.”
See the following articles:
Woods Hole Climate Change Experiment Gets Go Ahead
The article below attempts to paint a positive view of this project, but don't be fooled by it. They are literally putting poison directly into the water that you will be swimming in and eating food from. There is no positive way to spin this: geo-engineering and modifying the weather, especially with dangerous chemicals, should be stopped at every chance. The EPA is not looking out for you.
WHOI LOC-NESS Carbon Dioxide Removal Project Receives EPA Permit | Ocean News & Technology
Articles first bringing awareness in Summer of 2024:
Cape Cod Wants To Dump 60,000 Gallons of Sodium Hydroxide in Climate Change Experiment
FOE Opposes LOC-NESS Experiment That Threatens Marine Life
The following article is older but contains important information. The project has been approved for 2025, post Summer.
Controversial US marine geoengineering test delayed until next year
-----
Information on people you can contact at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute:
Leadership and Administration
Dr. John J. Stegeman
Program Director/Principal Investigator
Senior Scientist and former Department Chair, Biology Department
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
(508) 289-2320
jstegeman@whoi.edu
Dr. Dennis McGillicuddy
Program Co-Director/Co-Principal Investigator
Senior Scientist and former Department Chair, Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering Department
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
(508) 289-2683
mcgillic@whoi.edu
Ms. Kate McMullen
Center Administrator
Administrative Associate I, Biology Department
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
(508) 289-2632
kmcmullen@whoi.edu
Project Leaders
Dr. Donald M. Anderson
Senior Scientist, Biology Department
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
(508) 289-2351
danderson@whoi.edu
Dr. Dennis McGillicuddy
Senior Scientist and Department Chair, Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering Department
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
(508) 289-2683
mcgillic@whoi.edu
Project 3: Cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying long-term effects of early life exposure to HAB toxins
Dr. Mark E. Hahn
Senior Scientist and former Department Chair, Biology Department
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
(508) 289-3242
mhahn@whoi.edu
Community Engagement Core
Dr. Mindy Richlen
Research Specialist, Biology Department
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
(508) 289-2552
mrichlen@whoi.edu
External Advisory Committee
Dr. Alan Place, University of Maryland, Center for Environmental Science
Dr. Phil Landrigan, Boston College, Global Public Health Program
Dr. Kathi Lefebvre, NOAA Fisheries, Seattle
Dr. Bradley Moore, UC San Diego, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Scripps Inst. of Oceanography
Dr. Madeleine Scammel, Boston University, School of Public Health
Internal Advisory Committee
Dr. W. Rockwell Geyer
Senior Scientist, Applied Ocean Physics & Engineering
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Dr. Judy McDowell
Scientist Emeritus, Biology Department
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
1,181
Supporter Voices
Petition created on April 26, 2025