GROSSE ILE LABORATORY
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
:RLY REPORT
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GROSSE ILE LABORATORY
Quarterly Research-Report
(July-December, 1972)
March 30, 1973
Grosse lie Laboratory
9311 Groh Road
Grosse lie, Michigan
An Associate Laboratory of the National Environmental Center
Corvallis, Oregon
Office of Research and Monitoring
Environmental Protection Agency
This report does not constitute publication but is for information only. All
data must be considered provisional.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS,
Page
I. GENERAL
II. RESEARCH
Large Lakes Program - s_i'?
Industrial Pollution Control Program .......
III. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Algal Assay » ,..,„>
Impact Statement Review ..... ,....,]
Lake Affected River Model i
Steel Plant Enforcement Support 17
Review of Section 15(108A) Grants 17-18
Department of Agriculture ..18
Upper Lakes Reference Study . . . . . • . . . . . . . . 18
NSF Facility and Ship Review 18
IFYGL Coordination 18
Technology Transfer 18
IV. PUBLICATIONS
Papers Cleared and Submitted
Papers Published
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GROSSE 1LE LABORATORY
9311 Groh Road
Grosse lie, Michigan
QUARTERLY REPORT
I. GENERAL.
The first quarterly report from the Grosse He Laboratory appears at
the end of a period of rapid change in the very short history of this labora-
tory. Norbert Jaworski, the first Director, and the man who breathed life
into this organization, is now the Director of the Pacific Northwest Water
Laboratory of NERC-Corvallis. Nelson A. Thomas was Acting Director for a
period and finally Tudor T. Davies was appointed Director in late November.
The main concern of the laboratory continues to be the International
Field Year for the Great Lakes. The heart-stopping phases of initial opera-
tion in Lake Ontario gave way in the summer of 1972 to a relatively straight-
forward smoothly running operation. However, the initial months were plagued
with shakedown problems in instrumentation, a late winter, U.S. ships unused
to the lakes and, to cap everything, Hurricane Agnes. It was decided at a
meeting of the U.S.-Canada Chemistry-Biology Panel in November that, because
of problems at the beginning of the Field Year, an extension of the Field
Year for two months into 1973 was required to compile the necessary data tor
the spring of the year.
This extension of the Field Year is only possible with the cooperation
of our Canadian colleagues at CCIW, who have taken over complete ship support
for the main lake programs since the U.S. ships left in late November.
Nelson Thomas succeeded Norbert Jaworski as U.S. Co-Chairman of the
Chemistry-Biology Panel and Tudor Davies continued as the EPA member of the
Joint Management Team of IFYGL and represents Dr. Leland Attaway on the
Steering Committee.
The complex organization of the whole IFYGL program continues to surprise
outside observers, and sometimes even people inside the system become confused
by the organizational charts and the multiplicity of cooperating Federal,
State, Provincial and University organizations. EPA is the U.S. lead agency
for the chemistry-biology program of the IFYGL, which has been developed and
funded cooperatively with the Bureau of Sports Fisheries and Wildlife, The
National Science Foundation, and the New York Department of the Environment.
The scientific program has been developed in three areas:
1. Material Balance Studies. This involves the evaluation of the
relative importance of pollution sources and the identification of sites
where control measures could be effective.
2. Research on the theory of large lake processes including an
assessment of current pollution stresses. This involves
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establishing the current ecological status and conducting
scientific studies of processes, rates, and mechanisms of
the lake as required to'determine abatement: and management
needs and to monitor the effectiveness of such efforts, and
3. Mathematical modeling and data synthesis. This aspect
includes the development of predictive tools (mathematical
models) for making management decisions.
There are two major parts to the EPA effort. Most of the analyses for
the materials balance study are conducted as an inhouse effort through the
Region II Rochester, New York, Laboratory. There has been very close
coordination and cooperation between the Grosse lie Laboratory and the
Rochester Laboratory which has managed through the efforts of Don Casey,
Mike Polito and Ken Walker to accomplish the field management of the program
and establish and maintain a major effort in water chemistry. Most of the
biologic parts of the program, sponsored by EPA, are conducted extramurally
under a grant and contract program. The staff at Grosse lie will take a
progressively larger role in the research effort in the analysis phase of
the Field Year.
The individual tasks and their relationship to the math modelling
and management guidelines development, which will be the final product,
are illustrated in Figure II. The Canadian Biology-Chemistry Program
and the data products of the other scientific pfifo1s will be selectively
used by the various investigators and in the modelling eftorts.
Most of the effort of the small Great Lakes staff has been spent coordina-
ting the efforts of the various investigators and keeping the program in phase
with the Canadian and other U.S. agency efforts. Intercomparisons of chemical
and biological analysis methods have been made by evaluating field analysis
systems, splitting samples, circulating standard samples and then spending a
great deal of time rationalizing results. The chemical analyses have been
intercompared with the EPA Lake Survey Program and various other within agency
laboratories. There is a very specific need to continue the efforts of the
AQC Laboratory at Cincinnati in producing standard samples at the low concen-
tration levels of slightly eutrophic lake waters.
Following the request of Dr. Stanley M. Greenfield, acting for the
Interagency Committee on Marine Science and Engineering, the Grosse lie
Laboratory organized a conference on the Federal Research and Engineering
Programs on the Great Lakes. The following Federal agencies participated
in an exposition and discussion of their programs and some significant
results in cooperation and coordination of research have already occurred:
1. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
2. Atomic Energy Commission
3. U.S. Department of Agriculture
4. U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA
5. U.S. Department of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Services
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6. U.S. Department of Commerce, Maritime Administration
7. U.S. Department of Commerce, National Weather Service
8. Council on Environmental Quality
9. Environmental Protection Agency
10. Great Lakes Basin Commission
11. Great Lakes Fisheries Commission
12. U.S. Department of Interior, USGS, Bureau of Sport Fisheries
and Wildlife
13. U.S. Department of Interior, Office of Water Resource Research
14. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
15. National Science Foundation
16. Smithsonian Institution
17. U.S. Department of Transportation, USCG
18. General Accounting Office
The Agency has contracted with the Great Lakes Basin Commission to print
the proceedings of the conference which is being edited by Tudor Davies. The
proceedings are scheduled to appear in early June.
The objectives of the meeting were to improve coordination and cooperation
between the various agencies in their Great Lakes programs. This laboratory
has received many direct initial benefits from the conference. A series of
meetings have been held with the Department of Agriculture to coordinate
research activity on soil erosion control and non point sources of pollutants.
Coordination of the environmental studies related to specific efforts of the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife
in the extension of the navigation season on the Great Lakes has been made.
Finally, a number of discussions to coordinate with the NASA research program
have been held.
The U.S.-Canadian Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality has produced a
great deal of activity within the Agency, and personnel at Grosse lie have
been very active particularly in assisting Region V implement some of its
Section 108 and enforcement studies on the Great Lakes.
Dr. Stanley M. Greenfield was appointed U.S. Co-Chairman of the Research
Advisory Board for the Great Lakes to the International Joint Commission and
Tudor Davies has served as Secretary to this board,and also has served as an
alternate to Dr. Greenfield on a number of occasions.
The modeling efforts in the lakes program are supervised by William L.
Richardson and a very significant step to coordinate fresh water ecosystem
modeling efforts has been made within the various programs at the Corvallis-
NERC laboratories. The recent meeting with the IBP group from Rensselaer
Polytechnic and a meeting to be held in the near future with the Hydroscience/
Manhattan College modeling group and others will provide the Agency's programs
with an evaluation of progress in ecosystem modeling.
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The Grosse lie Laboratory has the assigned responsibility for the
implementation of and support activities related to a research, development
and demonstration program for the treatment and/or abatement of waste dis-
charges emanating from the following industries:
(a) Steel Industry
(b) Machinery Industry
(c) Transportation Equipment Industry
(d) Metal Finishing Industry (except Electroplating)
The general goal of the program is to obtain proven methods of treatment or
abatement for all waste discharges from these industries at reasonable costs.
The ultimate goal of the program is to develop alternate economical
treatment techniques and waste treatment or abatement systems directed
toward closed-loop systems having maximum water reuse and product (or by-
product) recovery in accordance with the Federal Water Pollution Control
Act Amendments of 1972.
These goals are to be accomplished primarily through activities such as:
(a) The identification of waste source volumes and
standard raw waste loads for each significant
waste parameter present for each unit process or
operation in these industries.
(b) The identification of current methods of treatment}
treatment effectiveness and cost and the extent to
which treatment methods are being applied.
(c) The development and technical evaluation of grant
applications, preparation of grant award packages,
technical and administrative supervision of grant
projects including final report review and prepara-
tion for publication.
The program is administratively allied through NERC-Corvallis and is
organizationally allied with the Applied Science and Technology Branchs
Technology Division in the Office of Research.
This program also provides technical assistance in the form of consultation
with other program elements in OR&M, Regional Offices, Office of Permit Programs
and the Office of Air and Water Programs.
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II. RESEARCH. Large Lakes Program
Grant 16120 HVR - Annotated Bibliography of Limnological Studies
on Lake Ontario. University State College., Buffalo, New York. Principal
Investigator, Robert A. Sweeney. Project Officer, Nelson A. Thomas.
The purpose of this grant is to provide a reference of aid to
those individuals and/or agencies planning or initiating limnological
research on Lake Ontario and/or its tributaries; particularly those which
are a part of the International Field Year for the Great Lakes. The project
is completed and the three-volume bibliography will be published shortly.
Preliminary copies are available on request from the Grosse lie Laboratory.
ROAP 21AKP 23 - Distribution of Benthic Organisms in Lake Ontario.
Principal Investigator, Nelson A. Thomas. (inhouse Project)
The objective of this project is to delineate seasonal and spacial
distribution of benthic organisms in Lake Ontario.
The June cruise included 30 widely spread stations selected from
the 60 biological and chemistry stations; the October cruise, 58 of the
60 stations. Sediment samples were collected at all the benthic organism
stations. It was found that there were many Pontoporeia in the western end
of Lake Ontario, and in the eastern end more chironomids. All field work
has now been completed.
The taxonomy of the midge group has proven very difficult. Exchange
of samples between various laboratories is being planned to commence in early
February while data on number of organisms/rrr probably will not; be available
until September 1973. Data required on sediment particle size and chemical
composition will be conducted at the Rochester EPA Laboratory in the meantime.
ROAP 21AKP - Sediment Oxygen Demand Studies of Lake Ontario.
Principal Investigator, Nelson A. Thomas. (Inhouse Project)
The project objective is to obtain rates and determine the significance
of the sediment oxygen demand in various sections of Lake Ontario.
A total of 12 stations were sampled during the July and August cruise.
Sediment oxygen demand rates were obtained in all sections of the lake. High
sediment oxygen demand rates were observed in the eastern basin of the lake.
A detailed analysis of the sediment samples collected at the sediment
oxygen demand stations will be conducted by the Rochester Laboratory during the
early part of 1973.
Grant 800605 - Analysis of Phytoplankton Composition/Abundance During
IFYGL. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Principal Investigator,
Eugene F. Stoermer. Project Officer, Nelson A. Thomas.
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The objectives of the project are to determine the qualitative and
quantitative characteristics of the phytoplankton assemblage of Lake Ontario
and to relate the assemblages to key environmental factors. The project is
designed to complement and utilize the unique bank of chemical, physical and
biological data generated during IFYGL.
With the exception of the initially projected April cruise nearly
all planned sampling has been accomplished. To date approximately 2150 of the
initially planned 4000 samples are in hand and have undergone preliminary
processing. In the analyses emphasis was placed on the distribution of
phytoplankton in the surface samples.
No attempt, as yet, has been made at detailed plotting of species
distribution. Particularly early in the season, inspection of the raw count
tally sheets indicates that there are considerable differences in both the
abundance of certain ubiquitous species and the occurrence of certain taxa
which are abundant at some stations and not included in the population estimates
from other stations. Standing crop estimates from stations and depths treated
to date range from extreme lows of less than 100 cells/ml to highs of slightly
less than 10,000 cells/ml.
Grant 800536 - Zooplankton Production in Lake Ontario as Influenced
by Environmental Perturbations. State University of New York, Albany, New York.
Principal Investigator, Donald McNaught. Project Officer, Nelson A. Thomas.
The project objectives are to understand the functioning of natural
and disturbed zooplankton communities, to measure the production in such
communities using both acoustical and traditional collection techniques, and
to model ecological changes using models based upon niche structure.
Samples were to be collected at the 60 biological sampling stations
on each of eight cruises. Five such cruises have now been completed. Biological
samples were collected at standard depth intervals (0-5m, 5-10, 10-15, 15-20,
20-25, 25-30, 30-40, 40-50, 50-100, 100-150). Acoustical profiles were made at
each station at each of four frequencies (80kH , 120, 200, 500). In addition,
each acoustical profile was printed on an X-Y plotter and on teletype in 1%
increments of depth.
Cruise Zooplankton Samples Acoustical Profiles
15-19 May 224 (34 stations) 100 (2 frequencies)
12-16 June 399 (60 stations) 50 (3 frequencies)
10-14 July 380 (60 stations) 200 (3 frequencies)
21-25 August 364 (60 stations) 240 (4 frequencies)
30 Oct.-3 Nov. 355 (60 stations) 240 (4 frequencies)
The chief accomplishment of the program has been the development of
a new acoustical sampling system which permits the real-time display of plankton
concentrations on an X-Y plotter and the storage of data on paper tape. Biologi-
cal highlights will be better appraised when more samples have been processed.
Already a new species record (Diaptomus ashlandi) has been established for Lake
Ontario.
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Grant 800537 - Algal Nutrient Availability and Limitation in Lake
Ontario During IFYGL. University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin. Principal
Investigators, G. F. Lee, W. Cowen and N. Sridharan. Project Officer., Nelson
A. Thomas.
The objectives of this project are to determine the limiting nutrient
or nutrients in tributary and open waters of Lake Ontario with the standard AAP
test, to determine the extent of mineralization of particulate forms of nitrogen
and phosphorus in tributary waters and urban stormwater drainage, and to estimate
the degree of nutrient regeneration from Cladophora after death of the organism.
The studies indicate, thus far, that for urban stormwater about 60-70
percent of the total phosphorus present in the samples is potentially available
for algal growth. For the particulate phosphorus, about 15-30 percent of the
total particulate phosphorus is potentially available for algal growth. For
the river samples 40-60 percent of the total phosphorus is potentially available
in a period of two months. For nitrogen it appears that about 25-30 percent of
the nitrogen is available for algal growth from river samples.
The studies on the mineralization of Cladophora have shown highly
variable results where in some samples of Cladophora up to 80-90 percent of the
phosphorus has been mineralized in a period of two months. For nitrogen the
values are in the order of 20-30 percent. Some samples of Cladophora, however,
appear to be extremely resistant to any mineralization. This apparent Difference
in the rates of mineralization is not understood at this time.
The algae taken from the open waters of Lake Ontario appear to be
both phosphorus and nitrogen limited, with phosphorus often playing the
controlling role. The nearshore waters (near river mouths), however, often
show nitrogen limitation for the Oswego and Genesee Rivers. The Black and
Niagara Rivers show nitrogen and phosphorus limitation.
Grant 800701 - Analysis and Model of Discharges from the Niagara
and Genesee Rivers on Biology and Chemistry of the Near Shore of Lake Ontario*
University State College of Buffalo, Buffalo, New York. Principal Investigator,
Robert A. Sweeney. Project Officer, William L. Richardson.
The objectives of the project are to study the nature of the plankton
and benthos in the nearshore zone (shore to eight (8) km. into the lake) from
the Welland Canal to Rochester, as well as the Niagara and Genesee River mouths
and the response of the biota to chemical and physical changes. From the above,
along with input from other IFYGL projects, a mathematical model will be
developed concerning the impact of the Niagara and Genesee Rivers on productivity
in the nearshore zone.
Forty-five nearshore stations were established which were visited
eleven times from April 1972 - December 1972. These sites will be sampled
once each in May and June, 1973. A total of 36 stations were located in the
mouths and plumes of the Niagara and Genesee Rivers. These will be visited
twelve times.
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Several nearshore stations were sampled for ground truth data in
late July-early August at the same time as a Cladophora remote sensing
overflight from the Environmental Research Institute of Michigan (Willow
Run Laboratories). Preliminary comparison of the ground truth with the
remote sensing data is very encouraging.
Grant 800646 - Near Shore Study of Eastern Lake Ontario. State
University College, Oswego, New York. Principal Investigator, Richard B.
Moore. Project Officer, Michael D. Mullin.
The nearshore program is mainly concerned with gathering basic
information on the changes in chemistry, biology, and to some extent, the
physical environment through the Field Year. All the basic trophic levels
will be studied in cooperation with the main lake phytoplankton, zooplankton
and benthic organism studies programs.
In addition, routine analysis of pesticides and PCB's will be made
for samples from the main and nearshore cruises. Gladophora mapping ground
truths and benthos sampling coordination is a major proposed activity of the
proj ect.
Samples will be collected for routine nutrients and chemistry,
zooplankton and phytoplankton. Seasonal samples will be collected for heavy
metals, pesticides and benthos. Special studies of the role of thermal bar
on nutrient cycling in the nearshore zone and on the problematic Cladophora
growths will be made.
Several nearshore stations were sampled for ground truth data in
late July-early August at the same time as a Cladophora remote sensing over-
flight from Environmental Research Institute of Michigan (Willow Run Labora-
tories). Preliminary comparison of the ground truth with the remote sensing
data is very encouraging.
Grant 800946 - Occurrence and Transport of Nutrients and Hazardous
Polluting Substances in the Genesee River Basin. State of New York. Pr inc ipa1
Investigator, Leo J. Hetling. Project Officer, William L. Richardson.
The primary objective of the project is to determine the rates of
transport, storage and decay of hazardous polluting substances and nutrients
in a selected Lake Ontario watershed.
Sub-watershed areas with specific land use areas were selected.
They included cropland, pasture, brushland, forest, high density residential,
and urban.
Two samples were taken every two weeks and the following routine
analyses were performed: Total organic carbon, ammonia nitrogen, organic
nitrogen, nitrite-nitrate nitrogen, total phosphorus, soluble phosphorus,
orthophosphate, reactive silica, sulfates, chlorides, sodium, potassium,
magnesium, calcium, total iron. In September samples were analyzed for
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mercury, cadmium, zinc, lead, copper, nickel, manganese, chromium, fluorides
and the following pesticides: p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE, gamma BHC, Methoxychlor,
Dieldrin, and Malathion.
The biweekly sampling program will continue through September, 1973.
Grant 800608 - Exploration of Halogenated and Related Hazardous
Chemicals in Lake Ontario During IFYGL. University of Wisconsin, Madison,
Wisconsin. Principal Investigators, G. F. Lee and C» Haile. Project Officer,
Michael D. Mullin.
The objective of this project is to collect samples of various types
of organisms, sediments and water present in Lake Ontario and selected tribu-
taries and examine these samples for the presence of certain chlorinated
hydrocarbons using gas chromatographic and mass spectrometric techniques.
Particular emphasis was to be devoted to examination of the samples for the
chlorodibenzo-p-dioxins and chlorodibenzo-furans because of the potential
significance of these compounds as environmental contaminants.
Approximately several hundred fish and 3-8 samples of water, benthic
organisms, Cladophora, sediments and net plankton have been collected and
processed up to the point of GC/mass spectrometric analysis.
Grant 800609 - Phosphorus Uptake by Lake Ontario Sediments (IFYGL).
University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin. Principal Investigator, D. E.
Armstrong and R. F. Harris. Project Officer, Michael D. Mullin.
Project objectives are to determine the forms, amounts and mobility
of phosphorus in sediment cores from Lake Ontario, to determine the rate and
extent of phosphorus movement in sediment cores as a function of sediment
properties and environmental conditions, and finally to predict the release
and uptake of phosphorus by Lake Ontario sediments as a function of sediment
properties and conditions in the overlying water.
Preliminary research suggests that mixing of the surface layer with
the overlying water is incomplete and that a potential exists due to the
concentration gradient, for release of dissolved inorganic P to the overlying
water. Lake Ontario sediments contain varying amounts of mobile and potentially
mobile inorganic P and a tendency exists for the release of dissolved inorganic
P from the sediments. Major differences exist between the postglacial muds
and the glacioucustrine clays. Subsequent research during the remainder of
1972-1973 and 1973-1974 will emphasize the investigation of the relationships
between the mobility of sediment P and the release of P from intact cores under
controlled conditions. These relationships will be used to estimate the potential
impact of Lake Ontario sediments on the P status of the lake water.
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Grant 800610 - Mathematical Modeling, .of. Eutrophication of Large
Lakes. Manhattan College, Bronx, New York. Principal Investigator, R. V.
Thomann. Project Officer, William L. Richardson.
The objective of the grant is to construct a mathematical modeling
framework of the major features of eutrophication in the large lakes.
The main emphasis of the initial effort has been a documentation
of available Lake Ontario data and analyzing the diffusion and transport
structure of the proposed lake model. A "preliminary" segmentation using
four verticle layers with a total of forty segments was used to represent
the lake. The selection of the number of segments per layer was dictated
by bathymetry. Smaller nearshore segments were utilized in the surface layer
so that some definition of nearshore phenomena such as "coastal jets" could
be established. Material inputs from industrial, municipal and tributary
sources were obtained from International Joint Commission (IJC) data. The
flow regime was determined from IJC velocity estimates of Lake Ontario
circulation at various depth intervals. Chloride concentration is being
used as the conservative tracer.
Grant 800778 - A Remote Sensing Program for the Determination
of Cladophora Distribution in Lake Ontario. University of Michigan, Ann
Arbor, Michigan. Principal Investigator, F. G. Polcyn. Project Officer,
Michael D. Mullin.
The objective of this program is to delineate the distribution
of Cladophora along the entire shore of Lake Ontario using remote sensing
techniques. Remote sensing data coupled with ground truth data are expected
to provide information regarding the area coverage of Cladophora as well as
estimates of biomass.
While this program is developmental in nature, the results coupled
with NASA's, ERT's and LIDAR's effort could provide the necessary data needed
to determine if remote sensing can be used effectively in biomass monitoring
in large lakes.
Examination of preliminary Cladophora distribution mapping and area
calculation was very encouraging. Variations in nearshore Cladophora mass
were readily detectable. Evaluation of the remote sensing results by R.
Moore and R. Sweeney show close approximation.
ROAP 25ADS 04 - Determine Significance of Fish Egg and Zooplankton
Entrainment in Electric Power Plants. Principal Investigators, Nelson A. Thomas
and Katherine W. Hartwell.(inhouse Project)
This project was initiated in 1971 at the request of Region V. A
report on the fish egg portion of the study has been issued. Spawning beds of
significant magnitude have not been found in the vicinity of power plants;
therefore, the fish egg phase of the study has not been continued. The
zooplankton phase of the study has been enlarged to assess the effects of the
passage of zooplankton through the Monroe Power Plant. Results from this study
indicate that the mortality is highly variable, therefore, requiring a large
number of samples over many seasonal conditions.
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Grant 801188 - Mass Transport of Biological Material Through
a Once-Through Cooling System on Western Lake Erie. Michigan State
University, Lansing, Michigan. Principal Investigator, R. Ball. Project
Officer, Nelson A. Thomas.
The purpose of the project is to determine the mass transfer and
transformation of biologically significant material in the once-through
cooling system of a steam-electric station that is operating on the western
shore of Lake Erie.
Specific objectives include measurements of mass transport of
entrained phytoplankton, zooplankton and fish larvae through the cooling
system, and determination of the effects on the periphyton and larger fish
that inhabit the system. The study will be conducted over a three-year
period to account for changes associated with the operation of the steam-
electric station. This project should provide information on the impact
of major changes caused by steam-electric station operation so that scientific
guidelines can be derived for steam-electric plants.
This grant has recently been funded.
Grant 801062 - Future Dredging and Disposal in the Great Lakes.
Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan. Principal Investigator,
C. N. Raphael. Project Officer, Michael D. Mullin.
This proposal is designed to examine past, present and future
dredging and disposal methods in the Great Lakes. The principal objective
is to determine the volume of spoil to be removed from harbors and waterways
in the next decade.
Pertinent data will be obtained from Canadian and American agencies;
it will include sediment quantities dredged from harbors and waterways as well
as the location of polluted sediments. Pilot studies of representative streams
within each lake basin will yield reliable estimates of sedimentary accumulation
in each lake. The investigators will also consider which disposal methods are
suitable as determined by cost and sediment characteristics.
The research will be conducted in close coordination with the
International Joint Commission Great Lakes Panel on Dredging.
Grant 801112 - Water Quality Impacts of Sediment Dredging in Large
Lakes Systems. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Principal
Investigator, C. J. Weber. Project Officer, Michael D. Mullin.
The major objectives of the study are to characterize types and
respective quantities of chemical substances released from sediments during
dredging; to define the chemical, physico-chemical, and/or biochemical control
mechanisms by which these substances are released; to make field verification
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of concepts relative to release and exchange processes; and to set forth
guidelines by which judgements relative to the "pollution potential" of
dredged materials can be made from direct measurements of the composition
of the dredgings.
Samples have been collected from the Black River and the Huron
River. The instrument acquisition and analytical methodology are currently
being finalized.
Grant 801229 - Evaluation of Detergent Phosphate Reductions on
Water Quality - Erie County, New York. State University College, Buffalo,
New York. Principal Investigator, R. A. Sweeney. Project Officer, Nelson
A. Thomas.
The objective of the project is to study the water and sediment
chemistry as well as bioassay investigations in thirty (30) streams through-
out Erie County, New York during the summer of 1972 and contrast these
findings with results from similar surveys conducted prior to limitation and
ban of phosphates in detergents used in the county. This project has been
completed and the report will be final May 30, 1973.
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Industrial Pollution Control Program
Grant 12010 GW - Recovery of Chromic Acid and Nickel from Plating
Wastes. Michigan Plating and Stamping Co., Grand Rapids, Michigan. Project
Officer, Hugh B. Durham.
The objectives of this project are to demonstrate that it is both
technically feasible and economically attractive to recover and reuse nickel
and chromium which are dragged out from electroplating baths.
Michigan Plating and Stamping has installed an integrated (chemical
rinse system) to reduce and/or precipitate chromium and nickel ions dragged
out from their plating baths. Nickel carbonate from the integrated treatment
system and CrO from a save-rinse tank will be routed to the recovery systems.
This will eliminate the need for land fill disposal of nickel sludges and will
reduce chromium sludge disposal by approximately 90 percent.
The project originally scheduled to terminate on November 30, 1972
has been granted a nine-month extension. Personnel and operational difficulties
have caused delays in gathering sufficient data on the systems to allow a
meaningful economic and engineering evaluation.
Grant 12010 DRH - 2nd Yr. - Use of Reverse Osmosis for Treating
Metal Finishing Wastes 2nd Phase. Minnesota_Pollution Control Agency - Sub-
contracted to North Star Research and Development Institute, Minneapolis,
Minnesota. Project Officer, Hugh B. Durham.
In the first year of the program a variety of membranes were evaluated
as to their effectiveness in treating wastewaters containing nickel, iron,
copper, zinc, chromium, cyanide, acids or bases. They included commercially
available asymmetric membranes (approximately 0.002 inches in thickness) and
ultrathin membranes (2 x 10 to 2.4 x 10" inch in thickness). Although no
single membrane was found effective for all effluents, the following membranes
showed considerable promise:
1. Ultrathin cellulose acetate (E360-60)
2. Asymmetric cellulose acetate (RO-97)
3. Ultrathin cellulose acetate-0-propyl sulfonic acid (CAOPSA)
4. Ultrathin B-glucan acetate dimethylamino ethyl ether (B-GADE)
The cellulose acetate-0-propyl sulfonic acid (CAOPSA) membrane exhibited the
most promising overall results of all the membranes developed during Phase I.
Excellent reverse osmosis results were obtained from this membrane when cast
both on flat sheets and 1-3/8 inch ID tubes.
At the beginning of Phase II considerable effort was spent, without
success, trying to fabricate CAOPSA membranes in 1/2 inch ID two-foot Abcor
fiber glass tubes.
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Although commercial tubes containing ultrathin cellulose acetate
were being optimized for pilot testing at the end of the first six months
of Phase II, the EPA felt that membrane of this polymer did not represent
a major improvement in reverse osmosis treatment of metal finishing waste.
It was decided by EPA to have North Star devote all the remaining of Phase
II efforts to casting the (CAOPSA) and (B-GADE) membranes in 1/2 inch ID
tubes.
tion.
This project ended January 31, 1973. Final report is in prepara-
Grant 12070 HEK - Regeneration of Chromated Aluminum Deoxidizers.
The Boeing Co., Commercial Airplane Group. Project Officer, Hugh B. Durham.
Large quantities of chromium compounds are disposed of annually
through discard of spent aluminum deoxidizer solutions. Regeneration of
these concentrated solutions rather than discard is a significant contribu-
tion to pollution control efforts.
The regeneration concept involves oxidation of trivalent (depleted)
chromium to hexavalent (active) chromium at an electrode of a DC rectifier.
This step requires that an electrical circuit be maintained within the solution,
yet movement of dissolved metals must be restricted to specific areas. Infinite
life span of the solution also implies separation and removal of aluminum and
other metals which are dissolved in the deoxidizer process.
Achievements during the quarter are as follows:
1. A proprietary deoxidizer has been evaluated in the 60-gallon
pilot tank for electrolytic regeneration of the chromium.
2. Separation of dissolved metal salts was accomplished in a
600-gallon preproduction tank. Equipment design information
and functional performance characteristics have been determined.
3. Electrolytic regeneration of chromium in a 600-gallon pre-
production tank has been successful over the period of time
that it has been in operation -- 8 weeks.
4. Work in the 600-gallon tank established that carbon brick
is not a suitable tank lining material for electrolytic
regeneration.
Grant 800625 - Water Pollution Control Practices in the Carbon and
Alloy Steel Industries. Attorney General of Illinois - Sub-contractor
Datagraphics, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Project Officer, Hugh B. Durham.
The object of this project is to prepare a comprehensive report on
waste treatment and control methods in the carbon and alloy steel industries
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and to prepare inventories of the carbon and alloy steel industries for
internal use of the EPA.
The project is proceeding approximately three months behind
schedule. The first draft of the comprehensive report is in preparation.
Grant 800772 - Treatment of Coke Plant Waste Liquor. Alan
Wood Steel Co., Consohohocken, Pennsylvania. Project Officer, Hugh B. Durham.
The major object in developing this waste ammonia liquor (WAL)
waste treatment process is to remove suspended and dissolved solids, toxic
organic and inorganic compounds color and odor. In concept, the goal is to
utilize Westinghouse's existing evaporator technology in a total treatment
system that would result in minimal or zero discharge of any wastewaters.
By-products of the treatment process would be recycled, or reused in other
steelmaking operations.
This treatment system combines stripping, evaporation, biological
oxidation and incineration to process 180,000 gpd of WAL. The effluent
is expected to be of high quality and suitable for discharge to any stream.
Alternately, it may be used as make-up in a cooling tower or as boiler feed.
Incineration of the blowdown from the evaporator produces neither
air pollution nor solid waste for disposal. Rather, it produces 12-15
percent strength hydrochloric acid which is useful for pickling steel. Its
value will partially offset the cost of operation and result in a unit cost
for treatment that is equal to or less than that for existing, less effective
processes.
The project is still in the construction period and is proceeding
on schedule.
Grant S802142 - Closed Loop Regeneration of Spent Hydrochloric
Acid Pickle Liquor, Toledo Pickling and Steel Service, Inc., Toledo, Ohio.
Project Officer, George F. Weesner.
The principal objective of this project is to demonstrate in a
continuous operation the commercial feasibility of utilizing the Environmental
Technology Incorporated Process and equipment for the recovery and regeneration
of waste hydrochloric acid pickle liquor in a closed loop system in which no
noxious pollutants escape into the environment.
This project will start March 1, 1973 and run to February 28, 1974.
Grant S801989 - Evaluation of Countercurrent Rinsing for Reducing
Pollution from a High Speed Halogen Tin Line. National Steel Corp., Weirton
Division, Weirton, West Virginia. Project Officer, George F. Weesner.
This project, if fully successful, will result in a completely closed-
loop system using a process which is straightforward in concept and operation
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and which should be consistent in performance. While countercurrent rinsing
is not in itself a new concept, it has never before been applied to a high
speed plating line where the strip moves at speeds as high as 2200 feet per
minute (25 mph).
A potential problem could be sludge buildup in the plating tank,
requiring frequent shutdowns for cleaning. Even if it does turn out that zero
discharge is unrealistic, there still should be a substantial decrease in
pollution discharge.
This project is scheduled to begin March 1, 1973 and run to
February 28, 1975.
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III. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Region V - Lake Michigan Algal Nutrient Assay Studies.
Investigators, Nelson A. Thomas and Katharine W. Hartwell.
Principal
The Phosphorus Committee of the Lake Michigan Enforcement Conference
requested that algal assays be conducted on Lake Michigan samples. Tests were
conducted on samples collected on five different occasions. Algal assays were
conducted with both a test alga Selenastrum capricornutum and natural algal
populations. A report is being prepared on the results obtained in both the
Pacific Northwest Water Quality Laboratory and at the Grosse lie Laboratory.
Region V - Review of Draft Impact Statements. Principal
Investigator, Nelson A. Thomas.
Review of the Atomic Energy Commission Draft Environmental Impact
Statements for the following plants:
Zion Nuclear Power Station
Bailly Generating Station
Kewaunee Nuclear Power Station
Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station
The review of the Impact Statements prepared by the Atomic Energy
Commission indicates a general lack of knowledge on the effects of heated
discharges on the biota of the Great Lakes.
Region V - Lake Affected River Model.
William L. Richardson.
Principal Investigator,
In cooperation with the Ohio District Office of Region V, a plan
was prepared that delineated the required resources for development of a
lake affected math model of the Cuyahoga. This model would express the
effect of the industrial inputs on the water quality of the river while
combining the back water effects from a lake.
Region V - Expert Support of Enforcement Cases Involving Steel
Plants on the Great Lakes. Principal Investigator, Nelson A. Thomas.
In support of the Enforcement Division of Region V, scientific
information has been presented on the effects of the steel plants at Gary,
Indiana, and Cleveland, Ohio, on the biota of the Great Lakes. The informa-
tion has been summarized in reports and is being utilized in the preparation
of the cases against the industries. Criteria to protect fish against tainting
were developed for phenolic compounds.
Region V - Review of Region V Grants Under Section 15 (108A).
Principal Investigator, Tudor T. Davies.
In cooperation with Region V technical guidance has been provided
on Section 108A, particularly in reference to the grant to the consortium at
Cleveland, Ohio. Proposed research for inclusion under the Region V grant
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program has also been provided.
Department of Agriculture - Information Exchange on Algal Nutrient
Runoff. Principal Investigator, Tudor T. Davi_es^.
In cooperation with the Department of Agriculture, discussions
are being held to determine the present state-of-knowledge on the contribution
of nutrients to the Great Lakes from non point sources, especially agricultural
runoff.
Region V - Upper Lakes Reference Study. Principal Investigator,
Nelson A. Thomas.
A study, plan for the contribution of OR&M to the Upper Lakes
Reference Study is being prepared in cooperation with the Great Lakes
Coordinator of Region V. Studies will be focused on Saginaw Bay and the
connecting waters between Lakes Huron and Michigan.
National Science Foundation - Regional Ship and Facilities Study.
Principal Investigators, Nelson A. Thomas and Michael D. Mullin.
A review of the Great Lakes programs was conducted at the University
of Wisconsin and the University of Michigan by a National Science Foundation
site review team. Recommendations were formulated for facility and ship needs.
Ship plans were developed with the Maritime Administration.
Region II - Coordination of the International Field Year for the
Great Lakes. Principal Investigators, Tudor T. Davies and Nelson A. Thomas.
Biological and chemical studies being conducted on Lake Ontario
by EPA Region II, OR&M grant recipients, NOAA personnel and Canadians were
coordinated through the IFYGL Biological and Chemical Panel. All phases of
the studies will, when complete, have the required data to produce a whole
lake model.
TechnologyTransfer - Heavy Industrial Sources
Dr. Hugh B. Durham spoke on the EPA Industrial Grant Program and
served as a panelist during the question and answer period at the Technology
Transfer Seminar on Electroplating which was held at the New York Statler-
Hilton on December 12-13, 1973.
Dr. Durham served as a panelist on the Ecology Session question
and answer period at the Electrocoat 72 Conference, which was sponsored by
the Electrocoating Seminar Committee and the National Paint and Coating
Association, October 2-4, 1972 at the Palmer House, Chicago, Illinois.
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Papers presented and submitted for publication:
Buckley, John L. and Tudor T. Davies, 1973: "The Environmental
Protection Agency's Role in Great Lakes Research," submitted
to Interagency Committee on Marine Science and Engineering
Conference Proceedings.
Davies, Tudor T. and Nelson A. Thomas, 1973: "The Great Lakes
Programs of the Grosse lie Laboratory of the Environmental
Protection Agency," submitted to the Interagency Committee
on Marine Science and Engineering Conference Proceedings.
Davies, Tudor T. and Daniel G. Stephans, 1973: "The Distribution
of Cheilostome Bryzoa in a Tidal Creek System on the South
Carolina Coast," submitted to Marine Biology.
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Papers Published:
Davies, Tudor T., 1972: "The Effect of Temperature on the Chemistry
and Structure of Echinoid Spine Regeneration," Journal of
Paleontology, Vol. 46, pp. 874-884.
Mullin, Michael D. and R. B. Hahn, 1972: "Determination of Scandium
by Precipitation with Benzilic Acid," Analytical Chemistry,
Vol. 44, p. 1878.
Thomas, Nelson A., 1973: "Assessment of Fish Flavor Tainting Substances.
Biological Monitoring of the Environment," American Society of
Testing Materials Proceedings, June 1972.
Thomas, Nelson A., 1972: "A Study of Primary Productivity of Port
Royal Sound," Port Royal Sound Environmental Study, South Carolina
Water Resources Commission, pp. 213-215.
20
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