-------
FAP.ALLON ISLAND SURVEY
OPERATIONS LOG
8/23/74 0800 Start loading of M/V.Gear at NUC dock.
1300 ONS loading and checkout complete.
1730 EPA loading and checkout complete.
1930 IEC loading and checkout complete.
2000 NUC loading and checkout complete.
2100 All equipment secured for transit.
8/24/74 0600 Depart NUC dock, San Diego.
0800 Recover and relocate NUC spar buoy.
0900 Resume transit to San Francisco.
8/25/74
In transit.
8/26/74 0500
0630
0948
1030
1245
1310
1316
Arrive Embarcadero and launch shore boat.
Final loading complete. Depart for disposal
area.
Begin drift determination.
Conclude drift check. Wait for weather
report.
Start CURV launch procedure for Station 4.
Ship on station.
CURV in water.
ORP-75-1
.4-3
-------
FARALLON ISLAND SURVEY
1321 Begin descent. Station 4 depth approximately
640 meters. Site approx. 1000 distant meters
on 145° heading.
1325 Vehicle traversing at 150 meter depth toward
Station 4 site.
1350 Electrical short on 110V line, current
excessive - over 2 amps.
1353 Begin recovery of vehicle.
1410 CURV on surface.
1430 CURV on deck. Troubleshooting the problem.
1700 CURV no-go. Run profile/grab at Station 6.
1755 Shipek sediment grab #1 taken at Station 6A.
Depth 914 meters.
1850 Grab up. Return to Station 4.
1900 Secure operations. Profile recorder failed.
Sediment sample is medium olive-gray clay,
slightly silty, containing empty 1-pint
whiskey bottle, broken glass, small vial,
fish vertebrae, worm tubes, and mollusk
shells.
1930 CURV repairs complete. Replaced bad
connector and honed the pitted 0-ring
surface.
8/27/74 0800 CURV on-deck check complete.
4-4 ORP-75-1
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FARALLCN ISLAND SURVEY
0808 Start drift check.
0840 End check. To launch area Station 4.
0855 On site.-
0900 CURV in water.
0915 Station 4 in depth of approximately 640 m. at
a distance of 900 meters on 190° course.
0920 Start descent.
0940 Vehicle traversing at depth of 275 m. towards
Station 4, which is at a distance of 1200 m.
on course 238°.
1005 On bottom at Station 4A. Targets on heading
000° at 100 yds.
1016 Sonar scanning. No targets of significance.
1032 Two fish photos. Bottom temperature 10° C.
1040 Five-gallon (?) container observed.
1100 At Station 4B. Begin traverse to Station 4C.
1207 Main circuit breaker in control shack popped
- reset.
1215 Stop and scan at Station 4C.
1245 Exploring ravine slope 18-20 degrees. Depth
762 meters.
1315 Continue to Station 6. Course 225 degrees.
1411 At Station 6 and holding. Depth 945 meters.
Explored several targets. None of interest.
ORP-75-1
4-5
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FARALLON ISLAND SURVEY
1625 On to Station 15, bearing 270° for 1400
meters.
1650 Stop and hold. Close on possible target. No
interest.
1725 On to Station 15.
1810 Holding position. Russian trawler sitting
over next Station (15). Weather beginning to
worsen.
1944 At Station 15 and holding. Depth 929 meters.
2015 Ship requires 20 turns to hold station.
Exploring targets.
2123 Took two cores and one grab. No targets of
interest.
2130 Start retrieval from 975 meters. Temperature
6° C.
2303 CURV on surface.
2325 Secure operations.
8/28/74 0600 Start drift check.
0645 CURV on-deck check complete.
0730 End drift check.
0735 To Station 7 launch point.
0845 Launch CURV. Vehicle bumped rail on launch.
Sea state 3-4.
4-6
ORP-75-1
-------
FARALLON ISLAND SURVEY
0950 On bottom and scanning. Depth 840 meters,
15° slope.
1010 To Station 8, at a heading of 000 degrees.
1110 Stop and scan at Station 7A. No targets.
1132 On to Station 8. Bearing 000 degrees for 900
meters.
1327 On Station 8 and scanning.
1350 On to Station 13. No targets at Station 8.
1410 Stop at 8A. Target?
1435 On to Station 13. (8A was false alarm.)
1530 Many 55-aallon drums sighted slightly south
of Station _1_3 ( = 13A) , and grouped ir\ an area
approximately 30 meters by_ 100 meters.
1535 At Station 13A, going to detail mode. Depth
913 meters. (NOTE: CURV has capability to
collect four cores and one grab sample per
dive.)
1540 Collected core sample near concrete-capped
end of drum. Documented sample collection
with videotape and 35-mm colverage.
1606 Fix requested - Station 13A. Coordinates:
37°37'57.2"N, 123°08'00.8"W. Temperature of
water 6° C.
1650 Investigated cluster of drums, 30 m. x 60 m.
containing 28 distinct sonar targets (drums).
ORP-75-1 ' 4-7
-------
FARALLCN ISLAND SURVEY
1705 Took core near center-crushed drum lying on
side.
1720 Approaching another drum cluster containing
approximately 100 drums in an area about 130
m. x 250 m.
1747 Cable caught on anchor. Cannot hold
position. CURV dragged 150 meters south.
1815 Returning to the large cluster of drums at
Station 13A.
1855 At Station 13A.
1905 Core taken near drum imploded in center
1915 Core taken in middle of tight cluster of
drums.
1920 Shipek grab taken at end of badly crushed
drum.
2050 CURV on surface.
2110 CURV on deck.
2115 Secure operations.
2330 Discovered 35-mm camera malfunction (no film
advance), cause probably due to rough
launching.
8/29/74 0650
0715
Start drift check.
CURV pre-dive checkout complete.
4-8
ORP-75-1
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FARALLON ISLAND SURVEY
0740 End drift check.. To Station 13A launch
point.
0925 At launch point. Sea state 4; wind from NW
at 18-20 knots. Marginal launch conditions.
0930 CURV in water.
1050 CURV on bottom. Drums in sight. Picked up
end of one barrel with manipulator. Rolled
several others over to inspect extent of
corrosion.
1130 Water temperature 8° C.
1145 CURV pulled off station by ship.
1220 Back on station. Resumed operation.
1245 Lost holding position. Depth 855 meters.
1350 New group of drums sighted ENE of Station 13A
(=13B) in a 30 m. x 30 m. grouping. Ship
/
unable to retain heading due to interference
with CURV III cable.
1610 Resumed position at Station 13B. Holding.
Depth 860 meters.
1730 Lost holding position.
1815 Start recovery of CURV.
1925 CURV on surface.
1940 CURV on deck.
2054 Start bathymetric survey of area between
Stations 13 and 9.
ORP-75r-1 4-9
-------
FARALLON ISLAND SURVEY
2340
2345
End bathymetric survey.
Secure operations.
8/30/74 0630 Start drift check.
0700 CURV on-deck check complete.
0735 End drift check. To Station 133 launch
point. Sea state 4; wind from north at 15-17
knors; wave height 4-6 ft.
0845 CURV in water.
0910 Surface water temperature 17° C.
1045 CURV on bottom. Depth 839 meters.
1052 Drums sighted.
1055 Fix requested. Station 13B coordinates:
37°38«02.4»N, 1 23<>07 ' 32 . 9"W.
1120 CURV pulled off station due to M/V Gear
station-keeping problems.
1225 Back on station. Investigating individual
drums.
1235 Shipek grab sample taken.
1245 Vertical and starboard motors (CURV) trip
circuit breakers when at full throttle.
Begin recovery.
1350 CURV on surface. Vehicle dead in water.
(Low voltage AC short.)
1405 CURV on deck, begin repair of CURV.
4-10
ORP-75-1
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FARALLON ISLAND SURVEY
1415 Secure operations. Return to San Francisco
as scheduled.
1730 Launch shore boat and offload personnel.
1800 Proceed to Oakland Naval Supply Center.
8/31/74 0800 Start equipment offloading at Oakland.
0900 CURV vehicle repaired.
1000 Complete light equipment offloading. Heavy
equipment offloading to be in San Diego after
completion of follow-on CURV operation for
the Corps of Engineers.
9/9/74
Final offloading at San Diego. End of survey
operations.
4.2 Ship's Positioning
During the hours from 0000 to 0600, M/V Gear maintained steerage
way by slowly cruising up and down wind in an area off the
Farallon Islands, avoiding the major San Francisco shipping
lanes. During these early morning hours, the ship was navigated
using radar ranges and bearings from the nearby islands.
Accuracy of positioning to within 1/2 mile was easily obtainable.
During the usual operating hours of the day, from 0600 until CURV
recovery was started, all positioning was done by precision fixes
ORP-75-1
4-11
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FARALLCN ISLAND SURVEY
using the Motorola RPS system, usually at five-minute intervals.
All precision fixes were logged and plotted in the following
manner:
1. As the sweep-second hand of the ship's chronometer
passed "0", the event marker of the Gifft recorder and
the "Hold" button of the Mini-Ranger were pressed.
2. The time and depth in meters were annotated on the
fathogram and the time and two ranges entered on the
daily position log sheet. The two ranges normally used
were from Point Reyes and from Mount Tamalpais, known
as "Head" and "Ridge". These were being updated every
few seconds, whereas responses from the transponder on
Montara Mountain frequency required 10 to 15 seconds.
The Mini-Ranger "Hold" button was released after
logging the two digital readouts.
3. The fix was then plotted on the base chart by manually
scaling from the nearest range arcs. The scale was
marked in 100-meter graduations that were spaced 4.16
mm apart (1:24,000). Even coarse pencil lines and
points (1 mm) gave a resolution of ±15 meters and
careful work would give a resolution within 10 meters.
4. To avoid cluttering up the base chart, most of the
tracking points were periodically erased except for
those with special significance. All or any portion of
the ship's tracks may be replotted from the log.
4-12 ORP-75-1.
-------
FARALLON ISLAND SURVEY
After CURV recovery had started, the fathometer was shut down and
logging of the fixes stopped. However, the RPS was kept on and
continuously monitored in the event that the CURV lifting line
and cable parted and the vehicle lost its positive buoyancy.
Thus, its precise location would be known for subsequent
recovery.
a.3 Bathymetry
The Gifft recorder was operated, approximately through the same
period as the RPS logging. For the depth range of 700 to 1000
meters over most of the surveyed area, the most convenient
full-scale range was 300 meters (1.5 mm = 1m) with depth
graduations at 20-meter intervals. Thus, depths to within five
meters could be read with a quick glance, to within two meters
with normal "eye balling" and within one meter using multiple
dividers. The best trace, during CURV operations, was obtained
using a gating program of three transmitting pulses followed by
three receive/write pulses at a gain of 10. Gains of 20 to 100
were required when the ship was backing or during the special
bathymetric survey when the ship's speed was five knots. A paper
feed rate of 2 cm per minute was adequate for resolution even
over the rough bottom at the five-knot survey speed. During the
one-to-two knot transit speeds and station keeping periods, this
feed rate was maintained. Trying to save paper by slowing the
ORP-75-1 U-13
-------
FARALLCN ISLAND SURVEY
feed rate caused the wet process paper to dry out under the
moving stylus and wrinkling resulted.
As could be expec-ced, the contouring on the published charts was
highly generalized compared to what may be plotted at a scale of
1:25,000. For example, the 500-fathom survey area is shown on
NOS Chart 5402 as a very broadly rounded nose, gently plunging to
the west between two intermediate-sized sea-valleys. Because it
was shown to be one of the smoothest areas on the upper
continental slope of central California, no problems were
anticipated in making CURV transits or operating the sonar in any
direction desired. This area actually is a series of ridges and
gullies with slopes up to 30° and numerous ledges and mounds with
local relief exceeding 40 meters. A special bathymetric chart,
at a scale of 1:10,417, with a contour interval of 10 meters, was
prepared from the bathymetric and navigational data. This chart
is presented as Figure 4-2.
4.4 Drift Determinations
The first phase of the daily operation was to determine drift
rate and direction of the ship. This was done because during the
launching of CURV, the M/V Gear must not turn its screws for a
period of five to fifteen minutes while CURV is driven around the
stern and up to the bow of the ship. The drift rate and
direction was determined by plotting a series of precision fixes
4-14 ORP-75-1
-------
FARALLON ISLAND SURVEY
U.S. fNVlRONMMtJU PffOnCItOM ACINCV
r ARM i ON i SUNOS
MQIAIXOM
»oio*cnvi WASH
DISPOSM sin
ORP-75-1
M- 15
-------
FARALLCN ISLAND SURVEY
a- five-minute in-ervals for a period of one-half hour or more,
with -he ship lying dead in the water. During the survey period,
the drif- ranged from 0.5 -co 1.0 knots and was generally to the
southeast:. With -his information, a launch point was established
fifteen minutes updrift of the selected bottom -arget site.
In £u-ure launches of the CURV from M/V Gear, this procedure of
obtaining drift rate and direction, and determining a launch
point updrift from the -arget point may be minimized because of
-ne following factors:
1. The CURV vehicle and its cable act as a sea anchor
after launching and the drift rate is approximately
half that of the ship alone.
2. The ship is headed into the wind and sea at the start
of the launch and several minutes elapse before it
falls off and lays broadside to the wind. Thus, the
full effect of the wind is not felt during this
interval.
«-16 ' ORP-75-1
-------
Section
SHIPBOARD RADIOANALYSIS
The EPA Office of Radiation Programs --Las Vegas Facility (ORP-
LVF) and rhe Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory, Las
Vegas (EMSL-LV) provided shipboard radiation monitoring and
measuring services. These included radiation monitoring of the
CURV and associated equipment upon recovery from each dive and
counting of sediment samples for radioactivity.
Personnel radiation dosimeters were provided for all personnel
involved with handling the CURV who could conceivably be exposed
to radiation from recovered samples. Conventional beta-gamma
film dosimeters were provided by NUC for the deck crews and a
thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD), provided by EPA, was worn by
-he Murphy Pacific diver. No personnel radiation exposures above
expected background were recorded for any individual on the
project.
The radiacion monitoring and counting equipment carried on the
M/V Gear for the project are described in Section 3.3 of this
report. Figure 5-1 illustrates the temporary laboratory which
was installed in the ship's carpentry shop.
ORP-75-1 5-1
-------
FARALLCN ISLAND SURVEY
Four-hundred milliliter aliquots were taken from one core sample
and from all four Shipek grab sediment, samples. These were
counted for 100 minutes each in the gamma spectrometer system
described in Section 3. Analysis of the gamma ray spectra did
not reveal the presence of man-made radionuclides in any of the
counted samples within -he detection limits of the counting
system. Naturally occurring potassium-40 and radionuclides of
the uranium and thorium decay series were detected. A complete
inventory of samples collected .during the survey is presented in
table 5-1.
~«ss.f«v;
-V j . ,. ^i=.J-;"OUir.SrH
fi wTN'.*--a:*»-^
j - ^.'-^~^~-;iL
a=i» .£
-v-t-
FIGURE 5-1
TEMPORARY LABORATORY ABOARD THE M/V GEAR
5-2
ORP-75-1
-------
FARALLON ISLAND SURVEY
TABLE 5-1
FARALLON RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL SITE STUDY
AUGUST 26-30, 1974
SAMPLE INVENTORY-SEDIMENT AND BIOTA
NERC-LV Date
Samole Number Collected
Sample Identification
16-1
16-1
16-1
16-1
16-1
16-1
16-1
16-1
16-1
16-1
16-1
16-1
16-1
16-1
16-1
34268
34269
34270
34271
34272
34273
34274
34275
34276
34277
3427S2
34279
34280
34281
34282
8-30-74
8-27-74
8-27-74
8-28-74
8-28-74
8-28-74
8-28-74
8-26-74
8-27-74
8-28-74
8-30-74
8-26-74
8-27-74
8-27-74
8-28-74
Sta.
Sta.
Sta.
Sta.
Sta.
Sta.
Sta.
Sta.
Sta.
Sta.
Sta.
Sta.
Sta.
Sta.
Sta.
13B
15
15
13A
13A
13A
13A
6A
15
13A
13B
6A
15
15
13
Sponge
Core 1
Core 2
Core 1
Core 2
Core 3
Core 4
Shipek
Shipek
Shipek
Shipek
Grab,
Grab,
Core 3
Grab,
(1/2 full) i
(2/3 full)
(2/3 full)
(2/3 full)
(full)
(2/3 full)
Grab
Grab
Grab
Grab
400 ml Aliquot3
400 ml Aliquot3
, 400 ml3 *
400 ml Aliquot3
1 All core tubes were 3.8 cm. diameter x 48 cm. deep.
2-Sample 16-134278 was mostly water; the Shipek grab may have
triggered while only partly in contact with the sediment as the
sample was obtained during station-keeping difficulties CURV
experienced just prior to last dive termination.
3 Counted in gamma spectrometer system (4" x 4" Nal) aboard M/V
Gear.
* This represents the entire volume of Station 15, Core 3.
ORP-75-1
5-3
-------
Section 6
SEDIMENT CONTROL SAMPLES
Control samples were obtained through correspondence with the
following Pacific coast schools and universities: Humboldt State
University, .Oregon State University, Scripps Institution of
Oceanography, U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, University of
Southern California, and the University of Washington. To the
extent practicable, certain criteria were adhered to in the
selection of samples; viz., collected near 1000 m contour, mass
of 500-1000 grains and representing relatively undisturbed surface
sediment where possible.
Difficulties encountered obtaining samples meeting these criteria
warrant some discussion. Standardization of collection depth
from sample to sample was impossible; also, samples at depths as
great as 1000 meters were not generally available. Apparently,
this stems from the large quantity of material requested (most
universities only retain small quantities of each sample they
collect), and the significant academic interest in the
continental shelf and continental slope. Variance in sampling
devices caused differences in sediment quality (e.g., grab
ORP-75-1 6-1
-------
FARALLCN ISLAND SURVEY
samples are more susceptible to sediment wash-out than box
cores).
Although this method of gathering control samples presented many
problems, it was the best system employable under existing time
and financial constraints.
The following is a list of the control samples obtained.
SEDIMENT CONTROL SAMPLES - FARALLON SURVEY
26-30 AUGUST 1974
Core GC-043 University of Washington: Cruise TT-022,
Station 001; collected 11/11/67; 115 cm in
length; one sample (0-12 cm); depth - 902
meters; location - 47°28.9'N, 125°15.7'W;
description - clay.
Core 6708-38 Oregon State University: 472 cm in length;
two samples (0-45 cm and 46-90 cm) ; depth -
988 meters; collected 8/21/67; location -
42°35.2'N, 124°50.4«W; description - silty
clay.
6-2 ORP-75-1
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FARALLON ISLAND SURVEY
Grab U.S. Naval Postgraduate School: Shipek grab
sample specially collected on 9/13/74; depth
- 229 meters; location - 36°40'N, 122°01«W;
description - coarse to medium sand. Came in
two pockets: 1) 946g dry wt, 2} 33g wet wt.
Grab TO-31 Humboldt State University: Smith-Mclntyre
grab sample (2); depth - 366 meters collected
10/1U/72; location - 40°47'N, 124°30'W;
description - sandy clayey silt. Size
analysis 11% sand, 62% silt, 27% clay.
Grab TO-62 Humboldt State University: Smith-Mclntyre
grab sample (2); depth - 366 meters;
collected 11/17/73; location - 40°59.5'N,
124°25.5'W; description - silty clay to
clayey silt.
Box Core 20693 University of Southern California: Two
samples (0-4 cm and 25-30 cm) ; depth - 291
meters, collected 7/26/74 in Hueneme area;
location 34°02« 15"N, 119°04'W (2.4 miles 3
007.5° true to Point Mugu); description
clayey silt.
ORP-75-1 ' 6-3
-------
FARAILON ISLAND SURVEY
Box Core 20233 University of Southern California: One
sample (0-4 cm) ; depth - 73 meters; collected
2/27/74 in northern Channel Island area;
location - 3«°05«54"N, 120°16'W (4.0 miles 5)
235° true to northeast corner of Prince
Island); description - sandy silt containing
small shell fragments.
Core LC-1 Scripps Institute of Oceanography: One
sample (0-110 cm); depth - 899 meters;
collected 9/16/59; location - 32°U8.85'N,
117034.O'W (taken on La Jolla Canyon Fan);
description - silty sand containing small
shell fragments.
6-4 ORP-75-1
-------
Section 7
PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTATION
All of the following photographs were taken at a depth of
approximately 900 meters, and all but the last two photos were
taken with a 35-mm EG&G underwater camera.
Frame 357 Fifty-five gallon radioactive waste barrel showing
a moderate amount of hydrostatic crushing. A wire
lifting eye is protruding from the concrete cap at
the left end of the barrel. A deepsea sole,
Embassichythys bathybius, is occupying the upper
indented area.
Frame 364 This barrel was lifted by the manipulator arm of
CURV III to show the limited extent of barrel
penetration into the sediment. The sediment under
the barrel shows black bands that may indicate
anoxic corrosion of that part of the barrel in
direct contact with the sediment.
Frame 367 Another example of hydrostatic crushing at the
center of a barrel, a common phenomenon in this
dumpsire. A long lifting eye of wire rope is
visible protruding from the concrete cap at the
ORP-75-1
7-1
-------
FARALLCN ISLAND SURVEY
right end of the tarrel. The CURV III manipulator
and its hydraulic hose system are in the left
foreground.
Frame 372 Closeup view of the concrete cap in a typical
radwaste barrel at this site. These concrete caps
were generally about 20 cm to 30 cm thick at both
ends of the barrel. CURV III manipulator
hydraulic hoses are in the foreground.
Frame 374 Barrel in foreground shows effect of hydrostatic
pressure in warping the length of the barrel. An
anemone is attached to the concrete cap. Another
barrel with a lifting eye is seen in the
background.
Frame 379 View of underside of tarrel that was rolled over.
Good view of lifting eye in the concrete cap.
Black deposits (sulfides) typical of anoxic
corrosion are visible and appear to start a short
distance below the sediment surface.
Frame 388 A barrel with no evidence of hydrostatic crushing.
A coating of fine, minimally disturbed sediments
is prominent on the upper area of the barrel
indicating the relatively small amount of sediment
deposited since disposal 22 to 24 years ago. The
metal cap (bottom) end of the barrel is at the
lower right of the photo.
7-2
ORP-75-1
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FARALLON ISLAND SURVEY
Frame 403 Closeup view of a lifting eye on a barrel. This
barrel's concrete cap is recessed inside the
barrel end as contrasted to Frame 357 where the
concrete bulges above the rim of the barrel.1 Note
barrel immediately adjacent in background/ also
flatfish partly visible beneath sediment cloud.
Frame 404 View of upper surface of barrel shown in Frame
403. This carrel is imploded and may have been
breached as evidenced by the sharp edges of the
crushed area. TV viewing also indicated this. A
photograph of this crushed area, taken from the
poorer quality videotape record, is shown in the
TV 2 photo; the angle of the photograph is
- different from Frame 404.
Frame 409 Upright barrel showing large vase sponge attached
to barrel. This sponge is of the Class
Hexactinellida and probably represents a new
genus.2
On March 12, 1954 the U.S. Navy stated that henceforth all
55-gallon drums containing radioactive waste must have
concrete caps recessed at least 1-1/2 inches to permit
loading and handling by chime hooks.
Toxonomy completed by Dr. Gerald BaXus, University of
Southern California.
ORP-75-1 7-3
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FARALLGN ISLAND SURVEY
Frame 410 This photo shows the type of clustering of barrels
that was typical of the sites. Three barrels are
in the field of the camera (camera range was about
12 feet). This clustering supports the fact that
the barrels were all released at one time from a
hopper-type barge rather than being dumped
individually over the side.
Frame 413 Fifty-five-gallon drum viewed from the bottom end
(metal cap). A thornyhead fish, either
Sebastolobus alascanus (short-spined) or
Sebastolobus altivelis (long-spined), and a tanner
crab, Chionoecetes tanneri, are visible near the
barrel end.
Frame 415 An example of the extensive hydrostatic crushing
some barrels exhibited.. Implosion of most
barrels was in the center third as shown here.
Frame 484 Barrel with atypical crushing at the concrete cap
end. It would appear that the waste, containing
air voids, was packaged without an adequate
concrete plug at this end.
Frame 486 Undecipherable lettering is visible on this
end-crushed barrel. Two Sebastolobus are at the
left front of the barrel. Two anemones on an
unidentified substrate are immediately in front of
the barrel.
7-4
ORP-75-1
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F&RALLCN ISLAND SURVEY
Frame 487 Closeup of the 55-gallon drum shown in Frame 486.
A poor-resolution print from a videotape closeup
of this same drum is shown in TV 1.
Frame 492 Example of the typical implosion pattern 'of the
many barrels sighted. This implosion pattern
corresponds to those from laboratory and field
experiments on test containers at the similar
pressures and depths. (Pneumodynamics Corp.;
1961; Pearce, et al; 1963.) The crushed portion
is a series of regular indentations with a slight
twist in the longitudinal axis. A closed cylinder
under high external hydrostatic pressure would
collapse similarly.
Frame 494 A barrel, pushed over by CURV III, that has
numerous sponges attached. This is a good example
of the many similarly-sighted barrels showing the
potential for biological action on the container,
and the propensity of some invertebrates to seek
this substrate and other hard substrates for
attachment.
Frame 496 Upright barrel with large sponge of the new genus
of Hexactinellida attached. The area near the top
left edge of the barrel, where some hydrozoans are
seen, appears to be breached. Note that this
barrel has a metal lid used infrequently in
ORP-75-1
7-5
-------
FARALLCN ISLAND SURVEY
radioactive waste packaging during this period
except possibly when experimentation with matrices
other than concrete were being conducted.
Frame 522 When the CURV manipulator attempted to remove a
sponge sample from this barrel also shown in Frame
496, the sponge fell away leaving the corroded
inner matrix of the barrel exposed. The detached
sponge still retained a large piece of the barrel
along its base of attachment (not visible here).
The metal of the barrel was corroded and flaky and
the barrel may have had a bitumen liner. Note
shrimp near lower middle right of photo just below
manipulator cable.
TV 1 Closeup of a barrel end - also shown in Frames 436
and 487. (The videotape TV record was all of poor
quality for reproduction.)
TV 2 Closeup, from another angle, of the imploded area
of the drum shown in Frame 404.
7-6 . ORP-75-1
-------
FRAME 357
FRAME 364
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-------
Section 8
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
8.1 OPERATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS
The field survey conclusively demonstrated the ability of the
tethered underwater vehicle, CURV III', to perform
highly-sophisticated investigative tasks at a depth of 500
fathoms (3,000 feet.) Of particular importance was the ability
of CURV III to remain on a survey station for long periods of
time.
As with any complex operation, there were areas that could be
improved. The most important of these was the station-keeping
ability of the CURV III support ship. This is a function of the
type of surface support vessel. Station keeping with the M/V
Gear was satisfactory when the class of vessel was considered.
However, there were significant problems staying on station
throughout the operation since the ship lacked lateral
positioning equipment such as bow or stern thrusters. The launch
and recovery of the CURV III also needed modification. The
periods of highest risk to personnel and CURV III occurred during
launch and recovery. In a July, 1974, operation for the Army
Corps of Engineers, damage during launch was sufficient to abort
ORP-75-1 8-1
-------
FARALLON ISLAND SURVEY
the operation. A similar near-mishap occurred during this
operation when a wave struck the ship, at a critical time during
the launch, and caused CURV III to impact the vessel's side.
Although the vehicle went on to perform its mission, the shock
had been great enough to cause failure of the 35mm underwater
camera spooling mechanism for one complete dive. For future
programs the station keeping problem and launch/recovery risks
could be minimized by the use of a support vessel better designed
for the CURV III, such as the YFNX-30 boat operated by the Naval
Undersea Center, although this would require a longer transit
time to the study si~e and a second ship to tow the YFNX-30 boat.
There were several technical areas that could be improved by
equipment modifications to the CURV III system. Although these
problems were apparent, solutions ' were not implemented due ^o
funding limitations. The following improvements should be
considered for incorporation in future operations:
1. Precise 60 Hz Power Source - The power supply for the
TV videotape recorder is presently a portable diesel
generator. Unfortunately, frequency regulation is not
precise enough to guarantee the ability to playback the
video tape recordings from machines connected to shore
60 Hz mains. In the case of the Farallon operation,
the original video tapes could not be played back on
shore without extensive processing. This processing
3-2 ORP-75-1
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FARALLON ISLAND SURVEY
resulted in the loss of resolution and, consequently,
in the loss of valuable information. A separate,
stable-frequency power supply should be installed for
the videotape equipment.
2. Underwater Positioning - Precise location of the
underwater vehicle with relation to the surface support
ship was impossible. Use of the BALD (Boat Acoustic
Locating Device) equipment provided a bearing but not a
precise position. without precise location
information, the full capabilities of the vehicle
cannot be realized. A sonar-type position plotting
system should be considered.
3. Operational Convenience
a. The video tape recorder should be modified for
remote control to permit the unit to be secured in
the .cabinet. Control of the recorder was
inconvenient. Use of the instrument on the desk
could be hazardous in rough seas. Voice recording
should be used extensively by an expert observer.
b. Interior communications (between deck, control
van, plotting room, etc.) was difficult. The 27
mHz. handytalkies were noisy, and the operation was
not convenient for the crew. Use of combined
headset/FM transceivers should be considered.
ORP-75-1 8-3
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FARALICN ISLAND SURVEY
c. Plotting could be greatly expedited by use of a
digital printer connected to the BCD (Binary Coded
Decimal) output of the Radio Positioning System.
This would provide a digital printout of the
ranges, eliminating the need for manual plotting
and the possibility of human error. The system
could be further automated by incorporating a
standard American Standard Code for Information
Interchange tape punch or mag tape recorder so
that the plot data would be ready for computer
entry without further hand processing.
8.2 CONCLUSIONS WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE OPERATIONS
1. Review of the benthic photographs by members of the
scientific community has resulted in expression of the
need for collecting deepwater biological specimens in
future operations. To do this properly, a biologist
skilled in the identification of deepwater benthic
species should be onboard as part of the scientific
team to perform as much at-sea visual identification as
possible.
2. There is a significant lack of information on ocean
currents in deepwater dumpsite areas. Both short and
long-term current measurements should be taken around
dumpsites. Salinity-Temperature-Depth (STD) profiles
8-4 ORP-75-1
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FARALLCN ISLAND SURVEY
should also be taken to identify any water masses
present which could ultimately act as pollutant
dispersents.
3. Sediments are the most important indicators of
short-term, aperiodic, and/or low-level radionuclide
releases in areas with large dilution capacities. Any
future opera-ions should include extensive sediment
collection for analysis of the presence and
distribution of any released radionuclides.
4. Selected radioactive waste packagesshould be recovered
for corrosion analysis of the metal sheath, and leach
rate determinations of the concrete or other matrix
material.
In summary, feasibility of using the CURV III for radioactive
waste disposal site monitoring has been successfully demonstrated
at the 500-fathom site near the Farallon Islands and has provided
the following information:
1. The radioactive wastes were found in the general
dumpsite area as reported by Joseph, 1957.
2. The containers had the unique packaging configuration
described in the disposal records.
3. None of these radioactive waste packages showed any
evidence of failure of the concrete plugs either by
ORP-7'5-1 8-5
-------
FARALLCN ISLAND SURVEY
being forced inward or popped out due to the high
hydrostatic pressure.
U. The unmanned undersea vehicle performed as required.
5. The photographic documentation {as presented in Section
7) provided useful information on the condition of the
drums.
6. Precisely-located core samples could be obtained next
to radioactive waste containers, in this case at
Station 13 (A and B) (Table 5-1).
7. The biological activity in the area was high with at
least one commercial species of fish, Anoolopoma (sable
fish) being present in the dumpsite area.
It has now been established that varying degrees of container
deformation have occurred to many of the 55-gallon radioactive
waste drums observed at the 500-fathom depth. The question now
arises: what sort of predictions can be made about radioactive
waste container integrity at the 1,000-fathom dumpsite,
considering that 2,000 meters (approximately 1,100 fathoms or
6,600 feet) is the present internationally acceptable minimum
disposal depth for ocean dumping of low-level radioactive wastes?
It is recommended that a subsequent survey be made at the
1,000-fathom radioactive waste dumpsite near the Farallon
Islands.
8-6 ORP-75-1
-------
Section 9
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Avargues, M., and H. ?. Jammet
ETUDE DU SITS MARIN DS LA HAGUE EN RELATION AVSC LS REJET .
D1EFFLUENTS RADIOACTIFS
Proceedings on the conference on disposal of radioactive wastes
into seas, oceans, and surface waters. p, 787-795
International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna
1966
Busby, R.F.; L.M. Hunt; and W.o. Rainnie
HAZARDS OF THE DEEP. PT.2 MILLIONS OF TONS OF EXPLOSIVES
COMPRISE THE GREATEST HAZARD TO SUBMERSIBLE OPERATIONS
Ocean Industry, 3 (9):32-39
August 1968
California Regional Water Quality Control Board San Francisco
Bay Region
RESOLUTION NO. 70-100
San Francisco, California
December 22, 1970
Council on Environmental Quality
OCEAN DUMPING - A NATIONAL POLICY
A Report to the Presiden-
October 1970
Council on Environmental Quality
REPORT OF THE COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ON OCEAN
DUMPING
House Document 91-399
October 7, 1970
Department of water Resources, State of California
HYDROLOGIC DATA: 1969 CENTRAL COASTAL AREA
Bulletin No. 130-69, Volume 3
March 1971
ORP-75-1 9-1
-------
FARALLON ISLAND SURVEY
Faughn, J.L., T.R. Folsom, F.D. Jennings, D.C. Martin,
L.E. Miller, and R.L. Wisner
RADIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE CALIFORNIA DISPOSAL AREAS
University of California, Scripps Institute of Oceanography
La Jolla, California
1957
International Atomic Energy Agency
DISPOSAL OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES VOL. 2 "CONTAINMENT OF RADIOACTIVE
WASTE FOR SEA DISPOSAL AND FISHERIES OFF THE CANADIAN PACIFIC
COAST"
Michael Waldichuk
Fisheries Research Board of Canada
Biological Station, Nanaimo, B.C., Canada
Vienna
1960
Interstate Electronics Corporation
AN ATLAS OF OCEAN WASTE DISPOSAL SITES
Report No. 4460C1545 under U.S. EPA Contract 68-01-0796
Anaheim, California
September 1973
Interstate Electronics Corporation
OCEAN WASTE DISPOSAL PRACTICES IN METROPOLITAN AREAS OF CALIFORNIA
Report No. 446OC1635 under U.S. EPA Contract 68-01-0796
Anaheim, California
February 1974
Interstate Electronics Corporation
OCEAN WASTE DISPOSAL IN SELECTED GEOGRAPHIC AREAS
Report No. 446OC1541 under U.S. EPA Contract 68-01-0796
Anaheim, California
August 1973
Interstate Electronics Corporation
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL ACTIVITIES IN THE VICINITY OF THE
FARALLON ISLANDS
Report No. 455OC067 under U.S. EPA Contract P4-01-03305
Anaheim, California
May 1974
Isaacs, J.E.
MECHANISM AND EXTENT OF THE EARLY DISPERSION OF RADIOACTIVE
PRODUCTS IN WATER
A.E.C. Rep. WT-1014, Operation Wigwam
Scripps Institute of Oceanography, La Jolla, California
1962
9-2 ORP-75-1
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FARALLON ISLAND SURVEY
Joseph, A.B.
A SUMMARY TO DECEMBER 1956 OF THE U.S. SEA DISPOSAL OPERATIONS
WASH 734
U.S. Atomic Eneray Commission, Washington, D.C.
1957
McAdie, Alexander G.
THE CLIMATE OF SAN FRANCISCO
U.S. Weather Bureau
Eulle-in No. UU
1913
Miller, Albert
SMOG AND WEATHER - THE EFFECT OF SAN FRANCISCO BAY ON THE
BAY AREA CLIMATE
San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission
February 1967
Miller, Daniel J. and Robert N. Lea
GUIDE TO THE COASTAL MARINE FISH OF CALIFORNIA
State of California
Department of Fish & Game
Fish Bulletin 157
1972
National Academy of Sciences Committee on Effects of Atomic
Radiation on Oceanography and Fisheries
CONSIDERATIONS OF THE DISPOSAL OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM
NUCLEAR POWERED SHIPS INTO THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT
National Research Council Publication 658
Washington, D.C.
1959
National Academy of Sciences, Committee on Oceanography
RADIOACTIVITY IN THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT
NAS 1865-X
Washington, D.C.
1971
National Academy of'Sciences, Committee on Effects of Atomic
Radiation on Oceanography and Fisheries
THE EFFECTS OF ATOMIC RADIATION ON OCEANOGRAPHY AND FISHERIES
National Research Council Publication 551
Washington, D.C.
1957
ORP-75-1 9-3
-------
FARALLON ISLAND SURVEY
National Academy of Sciences
National Research Council Committee on Oceanography
DISPOSAL OF LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES INTO PACIFIC COASTAL
WATERS
National Research Council Publication 985
1962
Newcombe, C. L.
DISPOSITION 0? RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL IN THE OCEAN
Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory, San Francisco
Reviews and Lectures Mo. 59, 22 p (NP-9351)
June 30, 1958
Pearce, K.W. and J.D. Vincent
INVESTIGATION INTO THE EFFECTS OF DEEP SEA PRESSURES ON WASTE
MATERIALS AND DISPOSAL CONTAINERS
AERE-M-1254
United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, Harwell, England
September, 1963
PneumoDynamics Corporation, Advanced Systems Development
Division
TECHNICAL REPORT - SEA DISPOSAL CONTAINER TEST AND EVALUATION
ASD 4652-F
Atomic Energy Commission Research and Development Report
UC-70-Waste Disposal and Processing TID-13226
June 15, 1961
PneumoDynamics Corporation, Advanced Systems Development
Division
TECHNICAL REPORT - SURVEY OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL SITES
TID-13665
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Washington, D.C.
July 15, 1961
Schaefer, Milner B.
SOME FUNDAMENTAL ASPECTS OF MARINE ECOLOGY IN RELATION TO
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
Scripps Institute of Oceanography, La Jolla, California
Health Physics, 6, 97-102
October 1961
Smith, David D. and Robert P. Brown
OCEAN DISPOSAL OF EARGE-DELIVERED LIQUID AND SOLID WASTES
FROM U.S. COASTAL CITIES
U.S. EPA Contract PH 86-68-203
Dillingham Corporation, La Jolla, California
1971
9-U ORP-75-1
-------
FARALLCN ISLAND SURVEY
Spiess, F.N.
SURVEY OF CHASE DISPOSAL AREA
AD893#832L
(Limited.distribution requiring "need to know" approval)
November 1970
Tamplin, Arthur R.
PROPOSAL FOR A NATIONAL POLICY TO CONTROL RADIOACTIVITY AND
OTHER FORMS OF POLLUTION
TID-25857, pp. 87-91
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
HIGH LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES
WASH-1297
May 197U
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
News Release Berkeley, California
September 30, 1962
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Technical Information Center
BIBLIOGRAPHY-RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING-AND DISPOSAL
TID-3311, Supplement 1 through 5
September 5, 1973
U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey
SEA DISPOSAL OF LOW-LEVEL PACKAGED RADIOACTIVE WASTE
Unpublished Data (Coast and Geodetic Survey Project 10,000-827}
1961
U.S. Dept. of Commerce, United States Coast Pilot #7
PACIFIC COAST: CALIFORNIA', OREGON, WASHINGTON AND HAWAII
Tenth Edition
June 15, 1968
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
OCEAN DUMPING FINAL REGULATIONS AND CRITERIA
Federal Register - Vol. 38, No. 198, Part II
Washington, D.C.
October 15, 1973
U.S. Naval Weather Service Command
SUMMARY OF SYNOPTIC METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS
Volume 8, (Area 25)
May 1970
ORP-75-1 9-5
-------
FARALLON ISLAND SURVEY
U.S. Navy - Oceanographer of the Navy
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION REPORT FOR NUMBERED DEEPWATSR MUNITIONS
DUMP SITES
April 1972
9-6 ORP-75-1
-------
Section 10
PRINCIPAL PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Mr. T. A. Wastler, Chief
Mr. T. William Musser
Marine ProtectionBranch
Office of Water Program Operations
Room 2818D, Waterside Mall
401 M Street S.w.
Washington, D.C. 20460
(202) 245-3051
Mr. Robert S. Dyer, Oceanographer and Chief Scientist,
Farallon Islands Study
Office of Radiation Programs
Room 605, Waterside Mall, East Tower
401 M Street S.w.
Washington, D.C. 20460
(202) 755-4864
Mr. Bruce Mann, Radiation Safety Officer,
Farallon Islands Study
Office of Radiation Programs
Las Vegas Facility
P.O. Box 15027
Las Vegas, Nevada 89114
(702) 736-2969
Mr. Jerre Ott, Electronics Technician
Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory
P.O. Box 15027
Las Vegas, Nevada 89114
(702) 736-2969
ORP-75-1 ' 10-1
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FARALLCN SURVEY REPORT
U.S. Navv
Naval Undersea Center
San Diego, California 92132
(714) 225-6293
Mr. Larry Brady, Code 65403, CURV III Team Leader
Mr. Robert Watts, Code 65403, CURV III Project Manage:
Mr. Art Schlosser, Code 80, Operations Manager
Murphy'Pacifie Marine Salvage Company
Main Office
1900 Powell Street
Emeryville, California
(415) 658-9874
Mr. William Riley, Salvage Master, M/V Gear
Captain Robert McCoy, Master, M/V Gear
Interstate Electronics Corporation
Main Office
707 East Vermont Avenue
Anaheim, California 92803
(714) 772-2811
Mr. Richard Timme, General Manager
Environmental Engineering Division
Mr. Sam Kelly, Ocean Disposal Project Manager
Mr. Miles B. Lewis, Field Operation Manager
Mr. Charles F. McFarlane, oceanographer
Offshore Navigation Services, Inc.
Main Office
P.O. Box 820
Ventura, California 93001
(805) 643-8673
Mr. Robert Tighe, Licensed Marine Surveyor
10-2 OKP-75-1
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