Draft
Environmental Impact Statement -
on
Designation of an Ocean Dumping Site
in the San Pedro Basin for the
Ocean Disposal of Drilling Mads and Cuttings
Prepared by
Criteria and Standards Division
Office of Water Regulations and Standards
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
August 1983
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Summary Sheet
(x) Draft
( ) Final Environmental Impact Statement
Environmental Protection Agency
1. Name of Action
(x) Administrative Action -
() Legislative Action
2. Description of Proposed Action
The proposed action is to designate an ocean disposal site for
the disposal of drilling muds and cuttings from drilling operations
by THUMS Long Beach in Long Beach Harbor. The proposed site is near
the center of San Pedro Basin off Long Beach, California, about 16
nautical miles from Long Beach in a southwesterly direction, a-n'd is
a circle 1-5 nautical miles in radius.
*
It is proposed- to designate the site for three years and to
evaluate further use of the site at the end of that period using
data from a monitoring program to be conducted by THUMS Long Beach.
3. Summary of Environmental Impacts and Adverse Environmental
Effects.
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The information presented on the fate and effects of drilling
muds disposed in the San Pedro Basin shows that the disposal of
drilling muds and cuttings which are environmentally acceptable for
ocean disposal according to the EPA ocean dumping criteria would
have no significant impact on the marine environment either directly
as a primary impact or indirectly as. secondary impacts.
The impacts on recreational, economic, esthethic, and
biological resources of such disposal are summarized below.
(1) No detrimental impacts on the area's recreational uses are
expected. Recreational values within the area include boating and
fishing. Inshore waters and shorelines are well out of the initial
dilution zone and will not be impacted.
The disposal material does not contain pathogenic organisms,
biologically available toxic materials or other material which might
significantly impact either fisheries, shellfisheries or public
health directly or indirectly through food chain interaction.
4. Alternatives Considered
a. No action
(1) Landfill
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(2) Land spreading
(3) Sub-surface injection
b. Near shore ocean disposal site
c. Off shore ocean disposal site
5. Distribution of Draft EIS
Comments are requested from the following:
Federal Agencies and Offices
Council on Environmentrl Quality
Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
National Marine Fisheries Service
Department of Defense
Army Corps of Engineers (CE)
Department of the Navy
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of the Interior
Fish and Wildlife Service
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Bureau of Outdoor Recreation
"B-ur-eau of Land Management
Geological Survey
Department of State
Department of Transporation
Coast Guard
National Science Foundation
Water Resources Council
National Science Foundation
Water Resources Council
States and Municipalities
California .Fish and Game Commission
California Coastal Commission
California State Water Resources Control Board
Regional Water Quality Control Board
Private Organizations
American Littoral Society
Center for Law and Social Policy
Environmental Defense Fund/ Inc.
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League of Women Voters
National Academy of Science
National Wildlife Federation
Resources for the Future
Sierra Club
Water Pollution Control Federation
Academic/Research Institutions
California Academy of Sciencies
Hydraulic Engineering Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla
6. Availability of Draft EIS
_The Draft EIS was made available to CEQ and the public on (date of
DEC t 8 1983
publication). Copies of the Draft EIS may be obtained from:
Director, Criteria and Standards Division
(WH-585)
Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, D.C. 20460
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The Draft EIS may be reviewed at the following locations
Environmental Protection Agency
Public Information Reference Unit, Room 2-104 (rear)
401 M Streets S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460
Environmental Protection Agency
Region IX, Library
215 Fremont St.
San Francisco, California 94105
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1. Introduction;
Thums Long Beach Co. has applied for an ocean dumping permit
for the ocean disposal of drilling muds and cuttings from drilling
operations in Long Beach Harbor. Since no designated ocean dumping
site is available for the disposal of these materials,, a new ocean
dumping site must be designated if the permit is to be granted.
The applicant has submitted an application containing detailed
information on the characteristics of drilling muds similar in
composition to those to be dumped, on the characteristics of the
proposed disposal site, and on the anticipated fate and impacts of
the drilling muds after disposal. This application is attached as
the Appendix to this document.
^
The application has been reviewed by EPA Region IX and
Headquarters staff. EPA Region IX has determined that the
application is complete for purposes of action on the issuance of a
permit. Both Region IX and Headquarters staff agree that the
information presented is adquate to assess the impacts of dumping
drilling muds and cuttings at the disposal site proposed by the
applicant.
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Because of the volume of material to be dumped and the length
of the operation, a formal site designation in accordance with the
EPA Ocean Dumping Regulations must be made. As part of this
procedure EPA had made the commitment to prepare EIS's on ocean
dumpsite designations. The policy and procedures to be followed by
EPA were published in 39 FR 16.186 (May 1, 1974) and 39 FR 37119
(October 23, 1974).
The information relevant to the designation of a site for the
proposed disposal is summarized below.
2. Purpose and Need for Action;
The action needed is to designate an ocean dumping site for the
disposal of drilling muds'a'nd cuttings from exploratory .wells of. the
THUMS Company within Long Beach Harbor. This action is needed
because discharges of drilling muds and cuttings from drilling
platforms inside the harbor area is prohibited and other means of
disposal must be used. Ocean dumping is one alternate means of
disposal, and consideration of this option by the permitting
authority (EPA Region IX) is contingent upon the availability of an
ocean disposal site suitable for the ocean disposal of such
materials.
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The purpose of this action is to recommend for designation as
an approved ocean disposal site a location off Long Beach suitable
for the disposal of drilling muds and cuttings which are
environmentally acceptable for ocean dumping under EPA's Ocean
Dumping Regulations. This document presents the information needed
to assess the suitability of the ocean environment in the vicinity
of Long Beach for the disposal of such materials and, based on an
analysis of this information, recommends a suitable location.
The proposed dumpsite is within a 1.5 nautical mile radius of
latitude 33034'30"N and longitude 118°27'30"W near the center of the
San Pedro Basin. The point is 16 nautical miles on a course of 239
degrees true from the Long Beach whistle buoy at the Long Beach
opening in. the Federal breakwater; 11 nautical miles on a bearing of
194 degrees true from Pont .Vincente and' 11 nautical miles on a
bearing of 334 degrees true from Long Point on Santa Catalina
Island. Water depth at the proposed disposal site is approximately
485 fathoms.
3. Alternatives Including the Proposed Action;
No-Action Alternative
One alternative is not to designate an ocean disposal site for
the ocean dumping of drilling muds and cuttings from the THUMS Long
Beach operation. This would have the effect of requiring THUMS to
-------
use alternate means of disposal for. tnese wastes. This would
severely restrict the THUMS drilling operations at Long beach for
the following reasons.
At the present time, the THUMS Long Beach Unit is experiencing
a period of increased drilling activity with resulting generation of
large volumes of drill cuttings and muds. This activity is expected
to last for the next five to eight years. The cuttings contain such
nacural occurring sediments such as quartz, feldspar, mica and
fossil fragments, clays, shales and silt tones. The bulk of the
muds is primarily composed of fresh water to which bentonite, and
lignite have been added. These are naturally occurring inert
geological materials, and there are no biological, chemical,
physical or incineration processes that would change the material to
something other than what it is. Recycling of these materials is
not feasible because they are reused in the drilling muds until they
have physically deteriorated until they are no longer suitable for
further use.
THUMS is currently using land fill dumpsites for disposal. the
Greater Los Angeles Basin is overwhelmed with demands of disposal
needs for domestic trash and rubbish. Because of these ever
increasing demands of sites for domestic disposal, these sites are
not anticipated to be able to accept the large volume of drilling
wastes to be generated during the length of the projected THUMS
drilling period.
-------
The geological strata and formations located in the Long Beach
Unit are used for two purposes:
1. to extract hydrocarbons; and
2. to inject water into the production formations.
If mud were introduced by well injection, it would ruin the
formation and defeat the process of intrazonal nydrocarbon
production.
The THUMS operation is adjacent to the Greater Los Angeles
megalopolis where all available land is intensively used and open
land for land spreading is not available. Transportation costs and
increase hazards of land transport over great distances preclude
disposal in remote unused areas.
b. Selection of Alternative Sites
The major oceanographic feature off Long Beach is the San Pedro
Basin, which has depths greater than 450 fathoms. The geology,
physical structure, water movement and biology of the Basin are
described in detail in the Appendix (pp. 49-77). Within the San
Pedro Basin many -different disposal sites could be selected, and one
such site is that proposed.
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The specific site chosen within the San Pedro basin was
se-lected from an evaluation of these factors, and is near a site
used by THUMS for disposal of drilling muds and cuttings in 1965.
The EPA Ocean Dumping Regulations also require that the
permittee implement a monitoring plan acceptable to the Regional
Administrator. The applicant has proposed a monitoring plan which
has three phases:
(1) Verification of the initial dilution zone and fate of the
drilling muds and cuttings as indicated by a mathematical
model developed for that purpose;
(2) Establishing baseline water quality data at the proposed
Site, prior to any disposal activities; and
(3) Monitoring of water quality parameters during disposal
activities. " ,
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Details of the monitoring program proposed by the applicant are
presented in the Appendix (pp. 78-80).
Conclusion
The proposed site is acceptable for the ocean disposal of
drilling muds and cuttings based on evaluation of the criteria and
factors listed in Parts 228.6 of the EPA Ocean Dumping Regulations.
Also, the fact that the site has been used hsitorcally for the
disposal of similar types of materials makes it preferable for
additional use in the absence of an environmentally more acceptable
site.
Recommendation
(1) Designate the proposed site for a limited period of time
sufficient to verify the mathematical model of the initial dilution
and fate .of the drilling muds and cuttings. Three years is'
recommended. ... ' - -
The applicant has developed a mathematical model describing the
fate of drilling muds and cuttings dumped at the site; this model is
.acceptable .theoretically in cpmparison to similar models, but it has
not yet been verified at quantities in ranges approximately the
volumes THUMS proposes to dump. Limiting the maximum amount dumped
per year for this period to half that anticipated at peak operation
will permit verification at the same order of magnitude expected at
peak operation.
(2) It is therefore recommended that disposal at the site be
limited to a maximum of 100,000 cubic meters per year for this
period.
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(3) Require the permittee to conduct the monitoring program as
proposed in the Appendix, and to report the results to EPA in a
timely manner so that a decision on extending the site designation
can be made before the initial designation expires.
4. AfJ&cted Environment
The characteristics of the marine environment in the San Pedro
Basin where the proposed site is located are presented in the
Appendix (pp. 47-77). The Basin is of generally open ocean chemical
and biological characteristics with fauna typical of the pacific
marine environment off the Southern coast of California. The
geology, physical oceanography, chemistry, and biology of the Basin
are described in detail in the Appendix.
5. Primary and Secondary Environmental Consequences
The., discussion presented in the Appendix (pp.- 81-91) on. the
fate and effects of drilling muds disposed in the San Pedro Basin
shows that the disposal of drilling muds and cuttings which are
environmentally acceptable for ocean disposal according to the EPA
ocean dumping criteria would have no significant impact on the
r.iarine environment, either directly as a primary impact or
indirectly as secondary impacts.
-------
The impacts on recreational, economic, esthetic, and biological
resources of such disposal are summarized below.
(1) No detrimental impacts on the area's recreational uses are
expected. Recreational values within the area include boating and
fishing. Inshore waters and shorelines are well out of the initial
dilution zone and will not be impacted.
(2) The drilling muds disposal activity will not adversely
impact the recreational and commercial value of living marine
resources,, such as sport and commerical fisheries. Fishes in the
vicinity of the initial dilution zone will move out of the area and
into surrounding areas. :
*
'*
(3) No long-term effects on the proposed water quality of the
dumpsite are expected. Short-term turbidity increases are expected
within the initial.dilution zone. However, the bulk of material
will descend repidly to a depth of 60 m. The esthetic values of the
area, therefore, will be minimally impacted.
The disposal material does not contain pathogenic organisms,
biologically available toxic materials or other material which might
significantly impact either fisheries, shellfisheries or public
health directly or indirectly through food chain interaction.
-------
Ocean disposal of water based muds and cuttings have several
advantages over transporting them from offshore drill sites to land
disposal sites. The advantages are:
a. Decreased truck traffic from dockside and disposal site.
At present, THUMS is dumping at sites loccated in West Cov.ina, a
distance of 38 miles. Trucking of this material requires 575 round
trips a month for a total of 42,940 miles a month.
b. Decrease in energy use associated with trucking to land
dump sites. In excess of 28,000 gallons of fuel are used each
month.
c. Decrease of potential for nearshore air and water pollution
associated with barge'transport of trucks to shore . facilities.
d. Decrease of potential for air and noise pollution due to
offloading operations and trucking.
e. Unnecessary use of the presently limited Clas I disposal
sites within the region.
f. Decreased marine traffic within Long Beach Outer Harbor
with a decrease in probability of accident in transit to and from
shore facilities. The disposal vessel will move directly to sea
from the production islands rather than having barges moving about
within the Harbor itself.
10
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g. Decrease in probability of accidents on California
highways.
(4) Effects on water column and benthic organisms.
Phytoplankton. Initial discharge of the drilling muds will
increase turbidity in the initial dilution zone. Thus/ a small
decrease in primary productivity could be expected. However, the
rapid descent of the drilling muds to a depth of 60 m and subsequent
diluted dispersion in the California Undercurrent at the lower edge
of the euphotic zone substantially diminishes the changes of any
significant reduction in primary productivity.
Zooplankton. Temporary loss of zooplankton biomass may occur
within the initial zone related to the physical effects of
particulates interrupting respiratory and feeding metabolism. No
toxicity-related mortality is expected since the metals present in
the muds are biologically unavailable. Further transport of the
drilling muds to increasing depths at minimal concentrations
preclude any further adverse impacts occurring within the
zooplankton community.
Fishes. No adverse impacts on the pelagic, littoral,
mesopelagic or bathypelagic fish fauna are expected to occur. These
fishes will respond to the increase of particulate concentrations by
11
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moviny out of the immediate area of discharge, which will eliminate
the potential for interruption of any metabolic processes.
The non-toxic nature of the drilling muds and cuttings will
preclude any biomagnification or mortality in the San Pedro Basin
benthic community.
Benthos. The San Pedro Basin benthic environment will be
impacted by the settling of the cuttings particles and the larger
drilling mud particolate fractions. Approximately 1/3 of the
disposal material (20,000 barrels of cuttings and a fraction of the
drilling muds per month) will be added to the sediments of the basin
between 0.3 to 7.5 km northwest of the dumpsite.
The addition of the cuttings will likely cause a shift -in the
grain size distribution of the sediments toward larger particles
primarily evident nearest the point of impact and decreasing in
impact with increasing distance northwest.
Biologically, the shift in grain size characteristics may alter
the benthic community and/or smother sessile benthic organisms
unable to migrate up through the deposited material. Biological
12
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loss is expected to be minimal and localized since basin
productivity is low and the community exhibits low density,
diversity, and random spatial dispersion throughout the basin.
The non-availability of chemical constituents of the drilling
muds and cuttings to animals precludes any adverse toxicity impacts.
Primary impacts would relate to a change of the physical environment
which in turn may alter the biotic components in the area.
Endangered Species
No adverse short-term or long-term impacts on any Federally
endangered or rare species are expected from the discharge of
drilling muds and cuttings in the San Pedro Basin.
6. Conclusions;
(1) The site proposed for designation by the applicant meets
all the EPA criteria for designation as an acceptable ocean dumping
site for drilling muds and cuttings that are environmentally
acceptable for ocean disposal.
(2) Similar waste materials had been discharged for three
years in the vicinity of the proposed site from 1966-1969 under the
congnizance of the appropriate State and Federal agencies without
significant adverse impact.
13
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(3) Drilling muds and cuttings of natural non-toxic materials
and generically similar to those proposed to be dumped by the
applicant are discharged under National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination Sytem (NPDGS) general permits in the Pacific, Gulf of
Mexico, and Atlantic on a regular basis without significant adverse
impact.
(4) Mathematical modelling of the dispersion and fate of tht
drilling muds indicates within reasonable limits of accuracy that
the waste materials wil be dispersed in the marine environment
rapidly without significant impact on marine biota or other uses of
the ocean. . ~ .-..
(5) The baseline data and information on fate and effects of
the drilling muds at the proposed dumpsite is as complete as can be
done without actual data on the environmental effects of dumping the
specific mud formulations used. The site designation should be
restricted .in time and quantities to be disposed of at the site to
levels within the reasonable limits of the predictive model, and the
applicant should be required to conduct monitoring studies during
this time to provide data to assure that increased quantities dumped
over a longer period of time will also have not significant impact.
14
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(6) No authorization for use of the site beyond these limits
should be given until actual field data demonstrate that such
disposal would not result in significant adverse impacts on the
marine environment or other uses of the marine environment.
7. Finding;
Based on the conclusions above derived from an assessment of
the .proposed action it is concluded that:
(1) Use of the proposed site for the ocean disposal of no more
than 100,000 cubic meters per year of drilling muds and cuttings
environmentally acceptable for ocean disposal under EPA Ocean
Dumping Regulations, would result in no significant impact on the
marine environment or on other uses of the ocean. .
(2) Data collected during the three-year period by the
permittee, if a permit is issued, -will be .evaluated to determine
whether larger amounts can be dumped over a longer period of time.
(3) Since dumping the materials in the quantities and times
proposed would result in no significant impact on the environment,
it is not necessary to consider the relative impacts of alternative
types of material, alternative frequencies of dumping, alternative
dumping techniques, or the use of multiple dumping sites, since
these are all considered to be measures to mitigate significant
environmental impact.
15
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THUMS Application for Ocean
Dumping Permit No. OD-82-01
November 1982
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Application Under Chapter I
- Environmental Protection Agency,
Title 40 - Protection of Environment,
Sub-Chapter H, Ocean Dumping, Part 221 -
Application for Ocean Dumping
Permits Under Section 102 of
the Act
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CONTENTS
LIST OF FIGURES
LIST OF TABLES
APPLICATION FOR PERMIT
221. 1( a)
221. Kb)
221. He)
Cuttings
Muds ............................................. .
EVALUATION OF LIMITING PERMISSIBLE CONCENTRATIONS
221. l(d)
221. He) ............. .
221. l(f) ......... .
ENVIRONMENTAL GETTING
Geol ogy
Geohaza rds
SAN PEDRO BASIN AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIGHT WATER
CHARACTERISTICS
Physi cal Oceanography ................................
Hydrogen Ion Content
Turbi di ty . . .
Nutri ents ....... .
Sediments of the San Pedro Basin
WATER QUALITY
Trace Metals
Hydrocarbons ................................... . .
Synthetic Chlorinated Hydrocarbons ............... .._.
Drilling Muds ..................... ..... .............
MARINE BIOLOGY.,
Benthic Biol ogy
Water Column Biology
PI ankton
Phytopl ankton .............................
Primary Productivity and Standing Crop
Zoopl ankton
Depth Distribution of Zooplankton
Fish Eggs and Larvae .............................. .
Fishes
Marine Mammals and Seabirds
PROPOSED SAMPLING PROGRAM
SUMMARIZATION OF DISPOSAL SITE CRITERIAL UNDER SECTIONS
228.5 AND 228.6
General Criteria for Site Selection
228. 5(a) ....................................... .
228. 5(b)
228. 5(c)
228. 5(d) ..............
228. 5(e)
Page
iii
1v
1
1
1
1
1
7
37
45
46
47
47
47
49
49
49
52
52
53
55
56
56
59
60
60
61
61
64
64
67
67
67
71
72
72
74
78
81
81
81
81
82
82
83
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1 1
Page
Specific Criteria for Site Selection 83
228.6(a) 83
221.Kg) 87
221. l(h) 87
221.1(1) 87
221.KJ) 88
Fate of Ocean Disposed Muds and Cuttings 88
221.l(k) 88
IMPACT ASSESSMENT 91
LITERATURE CITED..... 94
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111
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure No. Page
1 Location of THUMS oil production Islands 2
2 THUMS drill cuttings particle size frequency
distribution 5
3 THUMS spud mud particle size frequency
distribution 11
4 THUMS water-base mud particle size
characteristics 13
5 THUMS polymer mud particle size frequency 16
6 Temperature, salinity, sigma-t, and dissolved
oxygen values by depth at CalCOFI Station 9028
(provided by Dr. J. List) 41
7 Dilution in turbulent jets with a linearly
stratified environment (from Fischer et al.
1979) 42
8 Terminal velocity of fall of quartz spheres in
air and water (provided by Dr. J. List 43
9 Location of proposed THUMS San Pedro
Basin disposal site.. 48
10 Annual average surface water circulation off
southern California 50
11 San Pedro Basin and adjacent areas, showing the
50 fm and 425 fm contour lines, the northwest
and southeast sills. The area of impoverished
fauna at the-western end are indicated, and the
glass sponge bottoms are shown (Hartman 1958)... 63
12 The high density sampling .areas, benchmark sites,
and descriptive sites of the benthic study 66
13 Sportfishing catch assessment 75
14 Sportfishing effort assessment 76
15 Commercial fisheries catch assessment 77
16 Idealized jet discharge described by mathematical
mode 90
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SECTION 221.1 APPLICATION FOR PERMIT
,§221.1 .(..a) Name of the firm producing and transporting the material for
dumping is THUMS Long Beach Company located at 840 Van Camp Street, Long
Beach, California. Mailing address Post Office Box 2900, Long Beach,
California 90801.
§221.1 (b) THUMS Long Beach Company's program is to dispose of water
base drilling mud and cuttings- by dumping them in a specific site that
will meet EPA requirements. The muds and cuttings wastes proposed for
ocean disposal will result from THUMS' drilling activities at four
islands within Long Beach Harbor (Figure 1). THUMS 1s planning to use
vessels of American Registry to pick up and dispose of the muds and
cuttings. The tankship presently being considered 1s a 220 foot motor
vessel, a former navy yard oiler. EPA will be notified of the hauling
vessels name, or any change in the hauling vessel's present location,
communication and navigation equipment at least 60 days prior to com-
mencement of any permitted dumping.
§221.1 (c) THUMS proposed.wells *i!1 be directionally (deviated)
drilled into six different production zones. Therefore, 1t is not
possible to give finite numbers of cubic yards of cuttings and muds for
each of the proposed 864 new wells (Table 1).
Cuttings. Three quarters of the drill cuttings are sands
containing: primarily detrital grains made Aip of quartz, feldspar rock
fragments, mica and fossil fragments, with a matrix made up of authigenic
clays. One quarter of the cuttings are shales and siltstones containing
predominately clays of detrital and authigenic origins. The cuttings are
very similar to materials naturally occurring today on the San Pedro
basin floor.
A sample of drill cuttings was obtained from the cuttings
discharge of the shaker screen for THUMS Well A-761, Rig T-5 on 23 March
1982, while drilling at a depth of 2,775 feet.
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L_J^8toSJI|
ttl
LONG'
BEACH
iwrrao »T«TM - wnr COACT
SAN PEDRO BAY
W<
&&
v»-
i.<^_.
«»*rl"
&>rx
^r
\j
o
o
o
o
Jr
/lil_ANC
>>./
-ir
.'»?
"""" ""-""""// '*v"'V^:T7'* - "' v -
., » " / L ~ ""^ « -»-^' N
** - ""// - "^si r*»" "'' /
** A' .1 TV x * "
* - 'A> 1 . / " * -r'-\v^
" - " "I 'f " I -x>»% " . ~ l_
"-;"« _ .
-------
Table 1. Existing proposed THUMS oil wells,
THUMS LONG BEACH COMPANY
NUMBER OF EXISTING WELLS
AS OF OCTOBER 31, 1981
Site
Grlssom
White
Chaffee
Freeman
P1er J
TOTALS
Produce/s
126
116
158
160
100
660
Injectors
46
37
44
31
33
191
Total
172
153
202
191
133
851
NUMBER OF PROPOSED NEW WELLS
NEXT 10 YEARS
221
190
189
154
110
864
Total
393
343
391
345
243
1,715
12/09/81
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Table 2. THUMS drill cuttings particle size characteristics.
'/. GRAVEL = 0.
'/. SAND = 58.
X SILT = 10.
% CLAY = 29.
5865
2478
8156
1274
FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION TABLE
MEAN PHI
INTERVAL
-2.25
-1.75
-1.25
-0.50
-0. 13
0. 13
0.38
0.63
0.88
1. 13
1.38
1.63
1.88
2. 13
2.38
2.63
2.88
3.13
3.38
.3.63
3.88
4.67
5.15
5.65
6.12
6.58
7.07
7.57
8.06
8.51
9.13
10.05
11.05
12.05
13. ")5
14.45
15.05
16.05
INTERVAL
PERCENT
0.2749
0. 1650
0. 1466
0.4221
1.4773
4.4319
14.3509
18.5718
6.7534
2.7436
1 . 6883
1 . 2663
0.6331
0.8442
0.6331
0.8442
0.4221
0.8442
0.8442
0.8442
0.6331
0. 1100
0.7331
0.3666
1 . 8328
3.6657
0.0000
3.4824
1 . 6496
3. 1158
3.4824
6.0297
5.1020
4. 1744
3.2468
2.3191
1.3915
0.4638
CUMULATIVE
PERCENT
0. 2749
0.4399
0.5865
1 . 0086
2.4859
6.9178
21.2687
39.8405
46.5938
49.3374
51.0257
52.2920
52.9251
53.7693
54.4024
55.2466
55.6687
56.5128
- .57.3570
58.2012.
58.8343
58.9443
59.6774
60.0440
61.8768
65.5425
65.5425
69.0249
70.6745
73.7903
77.2727
83.3024
88.4045
92.5789
95.8256
98. 1447
99. 5362
100. 0000
ONE PHI INTERVAL
PERCENT TOTAL SEDIMENT
WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION
-10 =<
-9 =<
-8 =<
-7 =<
-6 =<
s -
J *
-4 =<
-3 =<
-1 =<
0 =<
1 =<
3 -<
4 =<
5 =<
6 =<
7 =<
8 =<
9 =<
10 =<
11 =<
12 =<
13 =<
14 =<
-9
-8
-7
-6
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
1.
44.
6.
^
3.
0.
1.
5.
. 4.
5.
-.
*»
8.
5.
1.
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
2749
3116
8994
1079
3313
7436
1656
2534
3852
0696
1073
3440
2789
34B9
7829
6502
7709
9516
SEDIMENT DISTRIBUTION PARAMETERS ( MOMENT )
MEAN DISPERSION SKEWNESS KURTOSIS
4.5851 4.8438 0.3275 -1.0965
SHARP & FAN SORTING INDEX
BASED ON 18 INTERVALS = 27.4357
BASED ON 25 INTERVALS = 34.8413
-------
0
INTERVAL PERCENT (*)
1 i
...5....0....S....0..
.5.
3
.0.
4 5
0. . . . 5. . . .0
-9.50
-9.00
-8.50
-8.00
-7.30
-7.00
-6.50
-6.00
-5.50
-
*
*
* . .
*
»
*
*
*
00) CT W CT CT CT CT ft fTt
w U
-------
§221.1 (c) cont'd.
The results of grain size analysis of these THUMS drill
cuttings are presented in Table 2 and the grain size distribution is
portrayed graphically in Figure 2. These data demonstrate that the
cuttings are composed primarily (58%) of sand particles (phi range -1 to
4) removed from the rock formation by the drilling activity. The cuttings
also contcin significant silt (phi range 4 to 8) and clay (phi >8)
fractions, comprising repsectively 11% and 29% of the cuttings. The silt
and clay fractions of the cuttings are essentially residual drill muds
which are retained by the cuttings during the process of removing the
larger drill cuttings particles from the recircul ating mud system.
Sand and gravel grain size distributions for THUMS drill
cuttings and muds were determined using a settling tube similar to that
described by Gibbs (1974). The device uses a differential transformer to
sense the load exerted by sediment as it settles and accumulates in a pan
near the base of the settling column. The strip chart output from the
load sensor is converted to a cumulative frequency plot of the sizes of
the particles constituting the samples. The silt-clay distribution is
determined by hydrometer method based on the settling rates of different
sized particles and fluid density (ASTM, D422 1963). Sizes are reported
in phi units (phi = -Iog2 diameter in millimeters). The range of phi
sizes examined is from approximately -5 phi to 15 phi. Grain size data
are then converted to the cumulative frequency of the occurrence of grain
size classes. Statistical parameters (mean grain size, sorting, skewness,
and kurtosis) of each grain size distribution have been extracted using
moment measures (Krumbein and Pettijohn 1938, Sharp and Fan 1973).
Before detennination of sediment grain size analyses could
be performed, the soybean oil was removed because such oils interfere
with the analytical methods utilized in particle size determinations.
The method of extraction utilized for soybean oil removal was based
upon phase separation utilizing freon (1,1,2 trichloro-1,2,2 trifluoro-
ethane). The drilling muds and cuttings samples were extracted in
-------
§221.1 (c) cont'd. 7
separatory funnels utilizing first 500 ml freon/60 g sample daily for 5
days, followed with extractions utilizing 100 ml freon twice daily for 13
days. The remaining sediments from these extractions were digested twice
daily using 15 ml hydrogen peroxide. After the 18 days of extractions,
the sediments were dried at 70"C for 24 hrs and prepared for particle
size analyses.
In a letter from W. H. Pierce (EPA Region IX) to W. F.
Ellison (THUMS) dated 9 February 1982, it was stated that "inert natural
minerals or materials with particle size greater than silt would
be considered acceptable without further testing." In a telephone
conversation with Mr. Eric Yunker, EPA Region IX, this statement was
clarified to mean that requirements for inorganic or organic chemistry
determinations or potentially bioassay testing of the drilling muds
which are the silt/clay fraction of the drill cuttings would be con-
sidered applicable to these fractions of the drill cuttings and that no
such determinations for particles larger than silt would be required.
The characterizations of representative drilling muds are presented
subsequently. " __
Muds. Drilling fluids employed in the drilling and completion
of Long Beach Unit wells are considered to utilize very fundamental
drilling technology. For description purposes, the drilling fluid has
been divided into three systems (Table 3). The first is termed "spud mud"
which is used in drilling the initial shallow section of the well, i.e.
from the surface to 900 ft or 1500 ft. It is primarily composed of
bentonite, lignite and fresh water. These are all naturally occurring
substances.
The second system is termed "water based mud" and is actually
a continuation of the spud mud. However, it receives additives for
fluid loss and viscosity control, lubricity, increase in weight require-
ments and, if required, for controlling cement contamination. The
materials are used in varying amounts depending on the well depth and
-------
Table 3. Typical Drilling and Completion Fluid Program for
Muds Proposed for Ocean Disposal
Type Fluid
Drilli ng Interval
Normal Constituents
Approx. Quantity
(Ibs./bbl.)
Foot Depth
Spud mud
Surface to 1000'
Water based mud
1000 ft +_ to total
depth
Polymer
completion 'interval
Bentonite
Lignite
Sodium hydroxide
Fresh water
Bentonite
Iron lignosulfonate
Lignite
Sodium hydroxide
Polyanionic cellulosic polymer
Barite .
Organic Liquids (soybean oil)
Fresh water
HEC polymer
XC polymer ~,
Potassium chloride-4%=/
Bri ne
Bactericld
,3/
20-25
2
0.25
Remai nder
20-25
2
2
0.5
0.25
90-120
2.0
Remainder
2.0
0.25
14.0
Remai nder
I/
2/
3/
The utilization of soybean oil in Thums drilling muds proposed for
ocean disposal has been determined acceptable by Mr. A. Wasler (EPA,
Marine Protection Branch, Washington, D.C.)
The type brine depends on required fluid weight: sodium chloride
74.0 Ibs./bbl. or calcium chloride 125 to 193 Ibs. bbl.
Thums proposes to utilize an EPA approved drilling mud bactericide.
A defoamer and/or bactercide may be used infrequently and not in
amounts to exceed 10 ppm.
-------
§221.1 (c) cont'd. 9
problems encountered while drilling. This system is used in drilling the
well to total depth and during preliminary completion phases. Small
amounts of soybean oil (approximately 1.5%) are used to provide lubricity
to minimize friction against the drill shaft at bending points where the
direction of drilling is changed.
The thi-d system used in the completion of producing and
water injection wells is a polymer completion fluid. This is used during
the hole opening and the gravel packing phases. The fluid employed is
technologically simple and contains NEC polymer, potassium chloride to
prevent formation damage and a brine of calcium or sodium chloride
solution depending on the weight requirement. Please note that informa-
tion regarding THUMS' polymer muds is contained herein. The polymer muds
will not be ocean disposed, but rather will be "trucked" to appropriate
land disposal sites.
THUMS1 drilling f'uids have less additives than the drilling
fluids being disposed of on-site at outer continental shelf leases that
have EPA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System approval for
exploratory and developmental drilling.
Physical grain size determinations of the three THUMS
muds were performed following the same procedures as performed for
the analysis of the drill cuttings sample. The spud mud sample was
obtained from the return mud flow beneath the shaker screen of THUMS well
A-364, Rit T-l at 1000 hrs, 29 May 1982, while drilling at a depth of 90
feet. The water base drilling mud sample was obtained from the return mud
flow beneath the shaker screen of THUMS well A-364, Rig T-l at 1016 hrs,
4 June 1982, while drilling at a depth of 1,744 feet. The polymer i ril-
ling mud was obtained from the return flow beneath the schaker screen of
THUMS well A-364, Rig T-l at 1530 hrs, 21 June 1982, while drilling at a
depth of 4,707 feet. The results of these determinations are presented on
the following pages and are summarized below.
-------
10
Table 4. THUMS spud mud particle size characteristics,
/. GRAVEL = 0.0000
'/. SAND = 2.8086
V. SILT = 33. 1140
X CLAY = 61.5772
FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION TABLE
MEAN PHI INTERVAL CUMULATIVE
INTERVAL
1.
1.
1.
1.
2
2..
4.'.
2.
3.
3.
3.
4.
5.
5.
6.
6.
7.
7.
8.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
===
13
38
63
88
13
38
63
88
13
38
63
73
21
70
16
63
12
62
10
53
14
06
06
06
06
06
06
06
===========
PERCENT
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
2.
3.
3.
4.
4.
1.
11.
4.
5.
9.
12.
10.
8.
6.
4.
*.
0.
= = =
0351
0351
0526
1052
1052
1753
2630
3858
4384
3507
3332
5768
3036
3036
9554
9554
6518
5626
6250
6161
2501
1829
3086
4343
5600
6857
8114
9371
5ICSSSS
PERCENT
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
1.
1.
1.
A»'
4.
8.
11.
16.
21.
23.
34.
39.
44.
54.
66.
76.
85.
91.
96.
99.
100.
=========
0351
0701
1227
2279
3332
5085
7715
1573
5956
9463
2795
8563
1599 .
4635-
4189
3743
0261
5837
2137
8299
0800
2628
5714
0057
5657
2514
0629
0000
=====
ONE
PERCENT-
WEIGHT
-10
-9
-8
-7
-6
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
===
-.:;
= <
= <
= r
= .(
= <;
= <
= <
= <
= <;
= .:;
= :'.
= :!'
= <
= <
= <
= :;
"""* ''.
'\
= :;'
= <;
= <
= <
= <
= <;
===
PHI INTERVAL
TOTAL SEDIMENT
DIET
-9
-8
-7
-6
-5
-4
-?
2
-1
0
1
+i
3
4
5
6
7
B
9
10
11 .
12
13
14
15
=====
R I BUT I ON
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
0,
i:
«L
7.
9.
14.
11.
6.
16.
5.
11.
3.
5.
===
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
00U0
0000
2279
9293
6513
0477
234V
7202
1112
9302
2272
7602
7312
3471
6472
9341
=====
SEDIMENT DISTRIBUTION PARAMETERS ( MOMENT )
MEAN DISPERSION SKEWNESS KURTOSIS
9.3499 2.8612 0.0463 -0.4890
SHARP & FAN SORTING
BASED ON 14 INTERVALS = 11.9871
BASED ON 25 INTERVALS = 27.8409
-------
11
INTERVAL PERCENT (*)
-9.50
-9.00
-8.50
-8.00
-7.50
-7.00
-6.50
-6.00
-5.50
-5.00
-4.50
-4.00
-3.50
-3.00
-2.50
-2. 00
-1.50
-1.00
-.50
0. 00
.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
3.50
4.00
4.50
5.00
5.50
6.00
6.50
7.00
7.50
8.00
8.50
9.00
9.50
10.00
10.50
11.00
11.50
12.00
12.50
13.00
13.50
14.00
14.50
15.00
12345
f
+
+
+
*.
*.
.*
*. '
« . ....
* . ' '
*
* .
*
*
*
*
*
"
«
#
*
*
10 * lO 10 I0»»t* IO 10 V m
123456
CUMULATIVE PERCENT (.)
!£) tu ₯) u
7890
1
Figure 3. THUMS spud mud particle size frequency distribution.
-------
12
Table 5. THUMS water-base mud particle size characteristics,
7. GRAVEL
7. SAND
7. SILT
7. CLAY
0.0000
1.5100
27.4640
68.3098
FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION TABLE
CUMULATIVE
PERCENT
0.0277
0.0554
0.0970
0.1524
0.2355
0.3463
0.5264
0.8312
1.1914
1.5100
1.6949
3.8521
8.4746
11.5562
17.7196
18.9522
26.656*
35.2851
40.8321
51.0015
75. 0WI3i3
84.0005
91.0003
96.0001
MEAN PHI
INTERVAL
1.63
1.88
2. 13
2.38
2.63
2.88
3. 13
3.38
3.63
3.88
4.76
5.24
5.73
6.20
6. 66
7. 15
7.63
8. 11
8.55
9. 16
10.07
1 1 . 07
12.07
13.07
14.07
15.07
16.07
INTERVAL
PERCENT
0.0277
0.0277
0.0416
0.0554
0.0831
0. 1108
0. 1801
0.3048
0.3602
0.3186
0. 1849
. 2. 1572
4.6225
3.0817
6. 1633
1 . 2327
7.7042
8.6207
5.5470
10. 1695
12.9996
10.9997
8.9997
6.9998
4.9998
2.9999
1 . 0030
ONE PHI INTERVAL
PERCENT TOTAL SEDIMENT
WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION
-10
-9
-8
-7
-6
-5
-4
-3
V
-1
0
"..1
j£
3
4
5 .
o
7
8
7
111
.;
= <
= :;
= <
= '
= .
= <
= '..
= :..
= <
=5 :;'
= <
= <
= :!'
=r. :
.= <
= :;
= ''.
= :.
~ <
z- :..
-9
-8
-/
-6
-5
-4
-3
^
-1
0
1
^
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1 I
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
0.
1.
0.
6.
9.
10.
14.
7.
17.
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
000(4
0554
2909
1 637
2110
^l..'
3155
9963
9358
0S-17
7U<.->4
12 ==:. 13 11.9949
13 =< It 4.0046
14 =< 15 6.2035
100.0000
SEDIMENT DISTRIBUTION PARAMETERS ( MOMEN1 )
MEAN DISPERSION SKEWrESE KURTOSIS
9.665U 2.6941 0.0/39 -13.48^9
SHARP & FAN SORTING INDEX
BASED ON 14 INTERVALS = 14.9564
BASED ON 25 INTERVALS = 30.2754
-------
13
INTERVAL PERCENT (*)
1 2
V *CW**»* V ^B U
34
i 1U ^
-------
§221.1 (c) cont'd. 14
The spud and water-base drilling muds, which are the only
muds to be ocean disposed, are projected to comprise 99.5% of the
total drilling mud wastes to be produced by THUMS, have very similar
grain size characteristics. Mean grain size for the spud and water-base
muds were 9.35 phi and 9.67 phi, respectively (Tables 4 and 5; Figures 3
and 4). Both muds were dominated by the clay fraction (phi >8), with
this clay fraction comprising 61.6% of the spud mud and 68.3% of the
water-base mud. The silt fraction (phi 4 to 8) made up the bulk of the
remaining balance of these muds. Medium and fine sands (phi 1 to 4)
comprised a relatively insignificant 2.8% of the spud mud and 1.5% of the
water-base mud and no particles larger than one phi (0.5 mm diameter)
were detected in either mud.
The polymer mud was dominated by silts (phi 4 to 8), which
constituted 72.6% of the mud and the mean grain size was 7.24 phi,
significantly larger than that of the spud and water-base muds (Table 6;
Figure 5). Clays comprised 22.2% of the polymer mud and as in the spud
and water-base muds, the largest particles were medium and find sands,-
comprising a total of only 4.2% of the polymer mud.
Chemical determinations for arsenic, cadmium, chromium,
copper, nickel, mercury, lead, zinc, cyanides, oil and grease, and
organohalogens in the THUMS drilling muds are presented in Tables 7
through 9.
Heavy metals concentrations in the three drilling muds do not
represent significant toxicity problems based upon present waste disposal
criteria. In general, concentrations of heavy metals are significantly
belov the criteria for these raw muds to be assessed as hazardous wastes,
as would be expected since these muds are composed primarily of modestly
refined naturally occurring materials.
-------
15
Table 6. THUMS polymer mud particle size characteristics,
THUMS 820069 28 MAR 82 PART 2
7. GRAVEL
'/. SAND
'/. SILT
7. CLAY
0.0000
4.1906
72.6348
22.1583
FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION TABLE
MEAN PHI
INTERVAL
1. 38
1.63
1.88
2.13
2.38
2.63
2.88
3. 13
3.38
3.63
3.88
4.35
4.92
5.37
5.83
6.27
6.65
7.06
7.53
8.03
8.48
9. 11
10.03
11.03
12.03
13.03
14.03
15.03
16.03
INTERVAL
PERCENT
0.0301
0.0603
0.0904
0. 1206
0. 1809
0.3316
0.4522
0.8140
0.9346
0.6331
0.5427
7. 1760
7.4170
4.6356
6.4899
8.3442
23. 1782
12.0527
2. 5960
1 . 6688
1 . 2980
1.6688
5. 1162
4.3291
3.5420
2.7549
1.967B
1. 1807
0.3936
CUMULATIVE
PERCENT
0.0301
0.0904
0. 1809
0.3015
0.4824
0.8140
1 . 2662
2.0802
3.0148
3.6479
4. 1906
1 1 . 3666
18.7836
23.4193
29.9091
38.2533
61.4315
73.4842
76.0801
77.7489
79.0469
80.7158
85 . 8320
90. 1611
93.7031
96.4580
98.4258
99.6064
100.0000
CINE PHI INTERVAL
PERCENT TOTAL SEDIMENT
WEIGHT .DISTRIBUTION
-10 = : -9
-9 =< -8
-8 =<. -7
-7 =< -6
-6 =< -5
-5 =< -4
-4 «< -3
-3 =< -2
-2 =< -1
-1 =< 0
0 =< 1
1 =< 2.
2 =< 3
3 = < 4
' 4 =< 5
5 =< 6.
6 =< 7
7 =< B
8 =< 9
9 =< 10
10 =< 11
11 =< 12
12 -< 13
13 =< 14
14 =< 15
0.0000
0.0000
0. 0000
0. 0000
0. 0000
0. 0000
0. 0000
0. 0000
0. 0000
0 . 0000
0.0000
0. 1809
1.0853
2.9244
12.2988
12.5356
36.7059
1 1 . 0946
2.8436
1.0467
7. 1619
2.2834
4.8438
1.4531
2.5257
SEDIMENT DISTRIBUTION PARAMETERS < MOMENT )
MEAN DISPERSION SKEWNESS KURTOSIS
7.2366 2.6330 0.5760 0.9883
SHARP & FAN SORTING INDEX
BASED ON 14 INTERVALS = 23.5029
BASED ON 25 INTERVALS = 37.2824
-------
16
INTERVAL PERCENT '. *
1 2
-9.50
9. 00
-8.50
-S.00
-7.50
-7.00
-6.50
-6. 00
-5.50
-5.00
-4.50
-4.00
-3.50
-3.00
-2.50
-2.00
-1.50
- 1 . 00
-.50
0. 00
.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
3.50
4. 00
4.50
5.00
5.50
6.00
6.50
7.00
7.50
8.00
8.50
9.00
9.50
10.00
10.50
11.00
11.50
12.00
12.50
13.00
13.50
14.00
14.50
15.00
+
+
+
*+
*.
*.
.* .
* .
*
*
. *
w . « .
# .
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
0....0. . . . 0. . . . 0. . . . 0. . . . 0. . . .0. ...0....0....0....0
1234567890
CUMULATIVE PERCENT (.) 1
Figure 5. THUMS polymer mud particle size frequency distribution.
-------
17
Table 7. Chemical determinations of Thums spud mud samples.
Element
Arsenic (As*)
Cadmium (Cd+2)
Chromium (Total, as Cr*3)
Copper (Cu+2)
Lead (Pb+2)
Mercury (Hg+2)
Nickel (N1+2)
Zinc (Zn+2)
Cyanides
01 1 and Grease
Organohalogens (Total)
pH
% Solids
Lot
I
II
I
II
I
II
I
1!
I
II
I
II
I
il
I
II
Sampl e
Concentration
(mg/kg)
<0.002
<0.002
0.05
0.05
1.4
1.4
0.85
0.65
1.6
1.6
<0.0002
<0.0002
0.35
0.35
7.45
7.10
<0.02
7,870
0.0192
6.5
6.27
EPA Mid-Atlantic
Program #5 Spud Mud
(mg/kg)
3
< 1
16
5
4
< 1
6
21
t
t
t
t
21.7
t Data hot available
-------
18
Table 8. Chemical determinations of Thums water-base mud samples.
Element
Arsenic (As+)
Cadmium (Cd+2)
Chromium (Total, as Cr+3)
Copper (Cu+2)
Lead (Pb+2)
Mercury (Hg+2)
Nickel (Ni+2) *
Zinc (Zn+2)
Cyanides
Oil and Grease
Organohalogens (Total)
pH
% Solids
Lot
I
II
I
II
I
II
I
II
I
II
I
II
I
II
I
II
Sampl e
Concentration
(mg/kg)
<0.002
<0.002
0.80
0.80
16.0
15.3
10.3
10.1
7.58
7.52
<0.0002
<0.0002
9.56
9.40
96
96
<0.02
17,970
0.0567
11.5
37.37
EPA Mid-Atlantic
#7 Li gnosulfonate
Mud (mg/kg)
< 1
< 1
265
26
24
< 1
6
82
t
t
t
10.8
24.1
t Data not available
-------
19
Table 9. Chemical determinations of Thums polymer mud samples.
El ement
Arsenic (As*)
Cadmium (Cd+2)
Chromium (Total, as Cr+3)
Copper (Cu+2)
Lead (Pb+2)
Mercury (Hg+2)
-Nickel (Ni+2)
Zinc (Zn+2)-
Cyanides
Oi 1 and Grease
Organohalogens (Total)
pH
% Solids
Lot
I
II
I
II
I
II
I
II
I
II
I
II
I
II
I
II
Sampl e
Concentration
(mg/kg)
<0.002
<0.002
1.0
0.92
2.9
2.8
1.5
1.5
5.32
5.36
<0.0002
<0.0002
2.5
2.5
7.28
6.72
<0.02
2,880
0.0265
11.5
37.37
EPA Mid-Atlantic
#1 K Cl Polymer
mud (mg/kg)
< 1.3
< 1
14
2
2
1
6
20
t
t
t
t Data not available
-------
§221.1 (c) cont'd. 20
Typically, the greatest heavy metals toxicity problems
encountered with drilling muds are due to the utilization of the additive
chrome 1ignosulfonate. THUMS will not be utilizing this additive 1n muds
proposed for ocean disposal. Still, "chrome-free" 1ignosulfonate does
contain some chromium: however, utilization of this substitute mud
additive will not pose a significant toxicity problem as demonstrated by
the low chromium content of these muds.
Another major contributor of heavy metals to drilling muds is
through the use of pipe dope compounds. Pipe dope is utilized at the
joints of both the drill string and In stringing casing to ensure that
the joints do not freeze tight and can be readily freed during removal.
Pipe dopes utilized in oil and gas drilling are generally composed of
lead and zinc compounds. As would be expected, the greatest quantity of
lead and zinc compounds occur in the water-base mud, which is utilized
during the majority of drilling operations. The quantity of pipe dope
utilized varies widely based upon the number of times the drill string is
pulled and replaced and it is also very dependent upon the specific
operator's habits in application of the pipe dope. Because of this,
drilling muds proposed "for ocean dumping would be expected to vary
well to well somewhat for lead and zinc, however, the overall average
concentrations should be no greater than for water- and clay-based muds
presently being ocean dumped based upon EPA NPDES guidelines for the
eastern United States and Gulf of Mexico coasts.
No cyanides were detected (<0.02 mg/kg) in either of the
three THUMS drilling mud samples.
Oil and grease concentrations for the THUMS spud mud, water-
base mud, and polymer mu6 were 7,870 mg/kg, 17,970 mg/kg, and 2,880
mg/kg, respectively. These values correspond with THUMS utilization
of soybean oil as a drilling mud additive to provide lubricity, thus
minimizing destructive friction which results from directional drilling
activities. The utilization of soybean oil as an additive for the
-------
§221.: (c) cont'd. 21
THUMS drilling muds proposed for ocean disposal has been previously
addressed with the EPA and has met approval for ocean disposal based
upon the fact that some form of lubricant is required to perform the
directional drilling, however, soybean oil is a vegetable (not petroleum)
product and as such is essentially non-toxic.
Comparisons were made of heavy metals concentrations and
bioassays from specifically selected muds, which were highly similar to
the three THUMS muds for the purpose of obtaining inferences regarding
the toxicities of these muds. The most valuable prior bioassay evalu-
ations have been those tested under the EPAs Mid-Atlantic Joint Bioassay
Program. From these evaluations of nine "generic" muds, three muds had
formulations and constituents which are highly similar to the THUMS muds
proposed for ocean disposal. These muds are #5 seawater spud mud, #7
lignosulfonate mud, and II KC1 polymer mud, corresponding to THUMS spud
mud, water-base mud, and polymer mud, respectively.
A comparison of the heavy metals concentrations of these raw
(wet) muds is provided adjacent the results of chemical determinations of
their THUMS mud counterparts (Tables 7 through 9). In general, the THUMS
muds demonstrate parallel if not significantly lower concentrations of
those metals of primary concern. In neither of the three muds is the
concentration of metals significantly greater in the THUMS mud than in
their mid-Atlantic program counterpart. Although many of these metals
exist in the drilling muds themselves at concentrations exceeding EPA
water quality criteria, most metals of concern are not in a dissolved
form but rather are associated with the particulate (mineral) additives
and as such are highly insoluble in water and are biologically inert
(Neff et. al. 1980).
The purpose of bioassays utilized in obtaining ocean dumping
or discharge permits has been to assess the relative toxicity of com-
pounds containing a number of potentially toxic constituents with a waste
substance. Bioassays have generally been performed on animals typical of
-------
§221.1 (c) cont'd. 22
a potentially impacted biological community as a screening method for
identifying materials which are sufficiently toxic to warrant more
extensive scrutiny. Because of inherent similarities regarding sensi-
tivity to inorganic toxicants between biological systems, inferences
regarding potential toxic effects from disposal of a waste within a
particular community may be made based upon evaluations of such a waste
against other similar or analogous communities. Therefore, just as
evaluation of drilling mud disposed along the Atlantic coast and in the
Gulf of Mexico can be made utilizing mysid and clam Indigenous to these
areas, these data would also be applicable to disposal of such materials
along the west coast in analogous communities. Certainly, the applic-
ability of the data would be proportional to the similarity of both the
wastes and the biological systems into which they are disposed.
In a review of previous drilling mud bioassays, Neff et. al.
(1980) determined that the majority of drilling muds tested would not be
toxic at concentrations less than 10,000 ppm (Table 10) to any of a wide
variety of organisms tested. In fact, a wide variety of organisms demon-
strated very .similar LCSOs. These comparisons lend credibility to support
applicability between toxicities to closely related ecological analogs,
Table 10. Classification of relative toxicity grades
Toxicant Classification LC50 Value (ppm)
Practically nontoxic >10,000
Slightly toxic 1,000-10,000
Moderately toxic 100-1,000
Toxic 1-100
Very toxic <1
-------
§221.1 (c) cont'd. 23
If not to generalizations between broadly diverse biological systems.
Therefore, the applicability of bioassay investigations upon Atlantic and
Gulf coast mysid shrimp as a substitution for additional testing with a
Pacific coast mysid shrimp does not require, scientifically unsupported
assumptions. Given the broad confidence fntervals around each toxicity
determination, the ability to determine significantly different toxic-
ities becomes less precise. Performance of additional bioassays on THUMS
muds would not provide significantly greater precision regarding their
toxicities than rigorously performed historical evaluations of similar
muds, and applicability would be justified if the similarity of muds were
treated conservatively.
A comparison of metals concentrations from THUMS spud
mud proposed for ocean disposal with Mid-Atlantic #5 spud mud was
presented in Table 7. The THUMS spud mud has significantly lower con-
centrations of all metals evaluated. A" review of previous bioassay
results on similar spud muds demonstrate this category of muds to be
quite non-toxic to mysids as all LCSOs were greater than 100,000 ppm and
neither phase was toxic at 200,000 ppm whole mud basis for mid-Atlantic
#5 spud mud (Table 11). The density and therefore solids content of the
Thums spud mud is significantly less than that of the muds to which it
was compared. Since the primary environmental effect of drilling muds is
due to the suspended particulates and these muds contain similar particle
size distributions, the environmental effects of disposal of the THUMS
mud would be expected to be very similar to those to which it is present-
ly being compared based upon its similar particulate content. Suplicate
solid phase bioassays performed on Mid-Atlantic #5 spud mud demonstrated
no toxic effects to the hard-shelled clam, Mercenaria mercenaria.
-------
Table 11. Comparison of spud mud .formulations and toxlcltles (LC50 whole mud basis).
THUMS SPUD MUD (0-1000 ft)
Constituents
bentonlte
lignite
NaOH
freshwater
density
% solid
Quantity (Ib/bbl)
20-25
2
0.25
remainder
9.34 Ib/gal
21.7%
MID ATLANTIC #5 SPUD MUD
Constituents
barite
bentonlte
drill solids
seawater
% sol ids
mud density
pH
Quantity (Ib/bbl)
i-
2
22
52
remainder
21.7
9.2 Ib/gal
8.7
NEFF ET AL. 1980
"SPUD MUD" MUD AQUEOUS FRACTION
cadmium
chromium
density
0.51 mg/kg dry basis
51.2 mg/kg dry basis
9.2 Ib/gal
Mysidopsis bahia LC50s
Liquid Phase Suspended Particulate
ERCO
Normandeau
>200,000 ppm
>200,000 ppm
>200,000 ppm
>200,000 ppm
Percent Survival Hard Shell Clams
Solid Phase (controls)
ERCO 100 (100)
Normandeau 100 (100)
Mysidopsis almyra LC50s
1 day old post larvae
7 day old post larvae
>100,000 ppm
>100,000 ppm
GERBER AND GILFILLAN (1980)
SEAWATER SPUD MUD (similar to mid-Atlantic #5)
cadmium
chromium
copper
lead
density
3.5 mg/kg dry basis
10.9 mg/kg dry basis
30.2 mg/kg dry basis
34.2 mg/kg dry basis
9.2 Ib/gal
Gammarus locusta (amphipod) LC50s
>250,000 ppm
ro
-P.
-------
§221.1 (c) cont'd. 25
A comparison of metals concentrations from THUMS water-base
mud proposed for ocean disposal with Mid-Atlantic )C7 lignosul fonate mud
was presented in Table 7. The THUMS water-base mud has similar or
significantly lower concentrations of nearly all metals evaluated.
The exceptions were nickel, which averaged 9.48 mg/kg in the THUMS and
6 mg/kg in the Mid-Atlantic #7 mud and zinc which was 96 mg/kg in the
THUMS mud and 82 mg/kg in the Mid-Atlantic #7 mud. These nickel and zinc
concertrations in the THUMS muds represent relatively insignificant
increases in metals concentrations in relation to the toxicities of these
metals and would not be expected to contribute significant toxicity to
the THUMS mud.
A review of water-base (or 1ignosulfonate) drilling mud
toxicities from published literature indicate that chrome-free ligno-
sul fonate muds are generally not toxic to mysids at concentrations below
100,000 ppm whereas chrome 1ignosulfonate muds are generally toxic at
concentrations between 10,000 and 100,000 ppm (Table 12). The greatest
quantity of information regarding testing of a mud of similar formulation
to the THUMS water-base mud is that for~Mi;d-Atl antic #7. LCSOs using
Mysidopsis bahia for both liquid and suspended particulate phases of
Mid-Atlantic #7 were greater than 200,000 ppm (whole mud basis). Because
the THUMS water-base mud contains less solids than Mid-Atlantic #7 and
the other lignosul fonate muds evaluated, the environmental effects due to
particulate content of the THUMS mud would be expected to be signifi-
cantly less than those of the muds to which it has been compared. Dupli-
cate solid phase bioassays performed on Mid-Atlantic #7 lignosul fonate
mud demonstrated no toxic effects to the hard-shelled clam, Mercenaria
mercenaria.
A comparison of metals concentrations fron THUMS polymer mud
not proposed for ocean disposal with Mid-Atlantic #1 K Cl polymer mud was
presented in Table 9. With the single exception of lead, all metals
existed at similar or greater concentrations in the Mid-Atlantic #1
polymer mud than in the THUMS mud. Although the lead concentration of the
-------
Table 12. Comparison of water-base (llgnosulfonate) mud formulations and toxlcitles
(LC50 whole mud basis).
THUMS WATER-BASE MUD (1000 ft to depth)
Constituents
bentonlte
Fe llgnosulfonate
lignite
NaOH
polyanionlc cellulose
polymer
barlte
organic liquids
fresh water
mud density
Quantity (Ib/bbl)
20-25
2
2
0.5
0.25
90-120
2.0
remainder
9.34 Ib/gal
MID ATLANTIC #7 LIGHTLY TREATED LIGNOSULFONATE
FRESH WATER/SEAWATER MUD
Constituents
barlte
bentonite
drill solids
chrome llgnosulfonate
lignite
Quantity (Ib/bbl)
9
25
48
4
5
ERCO
Normandeau
cellulose polymer (Drispac) 0.5
% solids (dry wt)
mud density
PH
24.1
9.6 Ib/gal
10.8
Mysldopsis bahia LC50s
Liquid Phase
>200,000 ppm
>200,000 ppm
Suspended Partlculate
>200,000 ppm
>200,000 ppm
Percent Survival Hard Shell Clams
Solid Phase (controls)
ERCO
Normandeau
100
100
(100)
(100)
-------
Table 12. (Cont)
HOUGHTON-DAMES A MOORE (i960)
HIGH DENSITY LIGNOSULFONATE SYSTEM*
barite 200,000-250,000 ppm
bentonite 85,600- 92,700 ppm
low density solids
sand and cuttings 128,000-285,000 ppm
ferrochrome
lignosul fonate 3,200- 5,700 ppm
caustic soda 2,140- 2,850 ppm
water content 84-87%
GERBER AND GILFILLAN et al (1980)
SIMILAR TO MID ATLANTIC #7 LIGNOSULFONATE MUD
Constituents
cadmium
chromium
density
1.18 ing/kg dry basis
597 mg/kg dry basis
10.0 Ib/gal
ATLANTIC RICHFIELD (Dames A Moore 1980)
FERROCHROME LIGNOSULFONATE FRESHWATER MUD
no constituent information
NEFF ET AL. (1980)
SEAWATER CHROME LIGNOSULFONATE FLUID
density 13.4 Ib/gal
MEDIUM DENSITY LIGNOSULFONATE FLUID
density 12.7 Ib/gal
Mysids LC50s
100,000 to 150,000 ppm
Crangon septemspinosa LC5Qs 142,000 ppm
Macoma balthica Lt$Q >1,000,000 ppm whole mud
Placopecten magellanicus LCso 490,000 ppm whole mud
Neomysis integer
100,000 - 125,000 ppm
Mysidopsis almyra
1 day post larvae
7 day post larvae
1 day post larvae
7 day post larvae
27,000 ppm
not detectable
12,800 ppm
13,000 ppm
*lignosul fonate content similar to that of Thums mud
r\j
-------
Table 12. icont)
CARR ET AL. (1980)
MEDIUM DENSITY LIGNOSULFONATE MUD
density
12.7 Ib/gal
Mysidopsis almyra
Mud Aqueous Fraction
1 day post 1arvae
1 day post larvae
3 day post 1arvae
7 day post larvae
10 day post larvae
32,000 ppm
42,000 ppm
66,300 ppm
72,100 ppm
113,000 ppm
CD
-------
§221.1 (c) cont'd. 29
THUMS mud 1s greater than that of the Mid-Atlantic #1 polymer mud, this
does not represent a significant toxicity problem. The total lead con-
centration of 5.3 mg/kg in the THUMS polymer mud only slightly exceeds
"soluble" lead limitations following EP-Toxicity or California Assessment
Manual for hazardous wastes (CAM) criteria. Yet, based upon previous
investigations, such heavy metals in drilling fluids are quite insoluble
and therefore biologically inert.
Toxicity of the Mid-Atlantic #1 polymer mud to mysids was in
the range of 10,000 ppm (whole mud basis) (Table 13). Although this mud
exhibited significantly higher toxicity than those muds determined
acceptable for ocean disposal by EPA, the THUMS polymer mud would be
expected to be less toxic based upon its formulation. As discussed above,
heavy metals would not be expected to contribute significant toxicity
because of their low concentrations and relative insolubility. The basis
of the polymer muds is a starch-like polymer of cellulose, which itself
is non-toxic. Toxicity of polymer muds is attributed to the bactericides
utilized for the control of bacterial degradation of the cellulose
polymer. (The polymer is a food source for the bacteria.) Duplicate solid
. ' '**"
phase bioassays " performed on Mid-Atlantic #1 polymer mud demonstrated
nominal toxic effects to the hard shelled clam, Mercenaria mercenaria.
THUMS proposes to utilize EPA-approved bactericides for all
polymer muds to be disposed at an appropriate land waste disposal site.
Based upon the comparisons of formulations and properties
of the THUMS drilling muds proposed for ocean disposal (spud mud and
water-base) with muds previously evaluated for toxicity, we have strong
evidence to support the conclusion that THUMS muds will not be signif-
icantly more toxic than muds already determined acceptable by the EPA
for ocean disposal. The comparisons of coxicities of similar muds demon-
strates that the toxicity of THUMS muds (LCSOs) can be estimated based
upon existing (secondary) data within the precision of estimation to be
expected from primary (experimental laboratory bioassay) data.
-------
§221.1 (c) cont'd. 30
A comprehensive discussion of bioaccumulation potential of
heavy metals from drilling muds was presented in Or. Jerry M. Neff's (15
April 1981) testimony for the Lease Sale 48 Evidenciary Hearing. The
following is an excerpt from his Appendix 0:
"Bioavai lability to marine animals of several metals associated
with some drilling muds has been evaluated. Metals of concern include
chromium, barium, lead, zinc, vanadium, nickel, mercury, and cadmium. All
metals in drilling fluids examined to date have a very low bioavailabil-
ity to marine animals because of the form in which they occur. Chromium,
usually associated with chrome or ferrochrome lignosulfonate, is the most
bioavailable. The other metals, when present at all, are usually associa-
ted with the barite and clay fractions of the mud and are in highly
insoluble, nonbioavailable form. Mercury rarely is present in drilling
mud at higher than trace concentrations. When mercury is present, it has
been found to be in the form of a contaminant of barite, highly insoluble
mercury sulfide, which is bialogically immobile and unavailable. Lead and
zinc may be present as particulate solJds in the form of drill pipe
thread lubricant (pipe dope).
II. LABORATORY STUDIES
Recently, Liss et al. (1980) studied the concentrations of
barium, chromium, iron, and lead in used drilling muds, in the liquid
(soluble) phase of drilling muds, in seawater suspensions of mud, and in
the tissues of the sea scallop Placopecten magellam'cus. In scallops
exposed for 27 days to Ig/liter (1,000 ppm) of a used low density chrome
lignosulfonate drilling mud from the Baltimore Canyon, chromium concen-
tration in the kidney nse to nearly 3 ppm compared to about 1.5 ppm
chromium in controls. The slow adductor muscle, the part of the scallop
consumed by humans, did not accumulate any chromium. When scallops were
exposed to 1,000 ppm of a synthetic attapulgite clay mud for 28 days,
they accumulated up to 100 ppm barium in the kidney. Kidneys of unexposed
control animals contained a maximum of about 12 ppm barium. No barium was
accumul ?ted in the adductor muscle.
-------
§'221.1 (c) cont'd. 31
'Page et al (1980) recently studied the accumulation of chromium
from used offshore drilling muds by sand shrimp Crangon septemspinosa.
sand worms Nereis virens, and mussels Mytilus edulis. Sand shrimp accumu-
lated nearly 2 ppm chromium in their tissues during exposure for 96 hours
to a 50 percent mud aqueous fraction (MAP) (50,000 ppm) of used low
weight 1ignosulfonate drilling mud. Nearly all the accumulated chromium
was released during 96 hours in clean seawater. Cadmium was not accumu-
lated from the mud by the shrimp. The sand worms failed to accumulate-
chromium from the MAF or LSP (layered solids phase) preparations of used
high weight 1 ignosulfonate mud. Mussels accumulated approximately 2-4 ppm
chromium in their tissues (not substantially more than background) during
continuous exposure for 30 days to a nominal 50 mg/1 suspended used low
weight 1 ignosulfonate drilling mud containing 0.03 ppm chromium . The
mussels did not accumulate cadmium from the MAF of mid weight lignosul-
fonate mud and seawater chrome 1ignosulfonate mud.
Mussels were also exposed to three forms of chromium for up to
seven days (Table D-l). Chromium in the MAF of the used mid weight
1 ignosul fonate-mud was the form least available for accumulation by the
molluscs, as shown by the observation that they accumulated less chromium
from this preparation, than from the other two forms of chromium studied.
Chromium, as the inorganic trivalent salt (Cr C^)^ was t^e most readily
accumulated followed by chromium associated with ferrochrome 1ignosulfon-
ate (Table D-l). Th.ese results show that complexation of chromium with
1 ignosul fonate decreases its apparent bioavailability to mussels; and
association of chrome 1 ignosulfonate with the clay fraction of the mud,
as occurs in used chrome 1 ignosulfonate muds (McAtee and Smith, 1969;
Knox, 1976; Liss et al., 1980), decreases the bioavailability further.
Carr ev al. (1981) have examined the bioavailability of chrom-
ium from used seawater chrome 1ignosulfonate drilling mud to five species
of marine animals: three marine crustaceans, Portunus spinicarpus,
Penaeus aztecus, and Palaemonetes pugio; a polychaete worm Nereis virens;
-------
§221.1 (c) cont'd. 32
and a bivalve mollusc Rangia cuneata. All five species showed an apparent
accumulation of chromium during exposure to different types of chrome
lignosulfonate mud-seawater mixtures. When the crustaceans were returned
to mud-free seawater, they rapidly released the accumulated chromium.
Clams £. cuneata accumulated significant amounts of chromium when they
were exposed to a sand substrate containing a layer of drilling mud.
However, most of the chromium was released within 24 hours when the clams
were returned to clean natural substrate, indicating that much of the
chromium accumulated was 1n the form of unassimilated mud components in
the digestive tract or on the gills. Clams and worms both accumulated
chromium from the mud aqueous fraction. The worms released the chromium
more slowly than the clams did when both were returned to clean seawater.
I (Neff) have also investigated accumulation of chromium,
lead, and zinc from the four used drilling muds described above by marsh
clams Rangia cuneata and juvenile Pacific oysters Crassostrea gigas
(McCulloch et al., 1980). As expected, chromium concentrations were high
in the three chrome lignosulfonate muds (225-485 ppm) and low in the spud
mud (11 ppm). Concentrations of lead in the muds ranged from 134 to 900
ppm and those of zinc from 250 to 600 ppm.
Clams Rangia c uneata accumulated only small amounts of chro-
mium and lead from the mud aqueous fraction of mid weight lignosulfonate
mud. Less than half the accumulated chromium and lead was released in
four days when the clams were returned to clean seawater. When juve-
nile Pacific oysters Crassostrea gigas were exposed to the mud aqueous
fraction of three drilling muds for two weeks, they showed little or no
net accumulation of chromium, lead, or zinc. Maximum concentration of
chromium accumulated (approximately three times thie concentration in
control anima.s) was In oysters exposed to the 40 percent MAP (40,000
ppm) of mid weight lignosulfonate drilling mud. Oysters exposed to the 40
percent MAP of this mud also accumulated slightly more than 2 ppm lead in
14 days (well within the range expected in oysters). There was no net
accumulation of zinc from the MAP of any mud.
-------
§221.1 (c) cont'd. 33
Rubinstein et al. (1980) reported elevated concentrations of
barium, chromium, and lead in tissues of oysters following exposure for
100 days to nominal concentrations of 10 to 100 ppm of the controversial
drilling muds from Mobile Bay, alluded to earlier. Mean concentrations of
barium, chromium, anu lead in the drilling muds tested were 1,086, 1,372,
and 41 g/g (ppm) respectively. One sample of mud had a chromium concen-
tration of 5,420 ppm, tending to confirm the statement of Mr. Yarborough
quoted above that t,ie Mobile Bay muds were heavily treated with chromate.
Oysters were placed in clean seawater for several hours before analysis
to allow purging of unicorporated mud particulates. Maximum metals
concentrations in oycters exposed to 100 ppm drilling mud were 56.17 ppm
barium, 9.98 ppm chromium, and 3.26 ppm lead compared to levels of 1.90
ppm barium, 0.65 ppm chromium, and 1.08 ppm lead in unexposed control
oysters. It should be recalled that mud particul ates accumulated in the
awuaria during exposure so that actual exposure concentrations were
substantially higher than nominal values. Other metals examined, includ-
ing aluminum, iron, and zinc, were not accumulated by the oysters.
. Tornberg et al. (1980) studied accumulation, of cadmium, chro-
mium, lead, and zinc by amphi pods Onisimus sp and Boeckosimus sp. during
exposure for up to 20 days to several dilutions of XC-polymer drilling
fluids. Fifty animals were pooled "per sample, and coefficients of varia-
tion between replicates were high. Mean metal concentrations in control
amphipods were 0.3 ppm ( g/g dry weight) cadmium, 3.0 ppm chromium, 9.7
ppm lead, and 85.8 ppm zinc. Metals accumulation was neither dose nor
time dependent. Maximum metal accumulation by the crustaceans was approx-
imately 1.7 ppm cadmium, 5.3 ppm chromium, 20 ppm lead, and 140 ppm zinc.
So, in this case the greatest relative accumulation (nearly six-fold) was
of cadmium. The other metals were accumulated two-fold or less in 20
days.
-------
§221.1 (c) cont'd. 34
Gerber et al. (1981) studied accumulation of chromium by the
ocean scallop Placopecten magellanicus during exposure for 40 days to a
suspended solids phase (SSP) preparation or for 7 days to the MAP of a
mid weight lignosulfonate drilling mud. Scallops exposed to the SSP for
40 days contained about twice as much chromium as was present in tissues
of control animals (Table 0-2). Accumulation of chromium by scallops
exposed to the .MAP was dose-dependent. Maximum accumulation was about
three times the concentration 1n control scallops. Scallops accumulated
more chromium more rapidly from a 2 percent MAP trhan from an 8.9 mg/1
SSP preparation, both of which contained the same concentration of
chromium in solution.
These studies show that heavy metals associated with used
drilling muds have a limited bioavailability to marine animals. Chromium
appears to be the most readily accumulated of the mud-associated metals.
Most of the chromium in used drilling mud is associated with the high
molecular weight lignosulfonate fraction and with the clay. Organically
bound and particle-absorbed heavy metals usually are much less bioavail-
able than the metal ion in solution. Much of the lead, zinc, and, pos-
sibly, cadmium is in particulate form associated with pipe dope (usually
high in lead and zinc) and the clay or barite fractions of the mud
(McCulloch et al., 1980; Kramer et al., 1980). Such tightly bound metals
generally cannot be assimilated by marine animals. These particulate
metals may be taken up from the digestive tract by phagocytosis (George
et al., 1976; Conklin et al., 1980). The metals are retained in intracel-
lular vacuoles and remain in particulate form. In this particulate form,
they are unable to cause biochemical damage. They eventualy are transfer-
red to the kidney and excreted. This may explain the observation of Liss
et al. (1980) that chromium and jarium from drilling muds are accumulated
1n the kidney but not the edible muscle of the sea scallop. The available
evidence indicates there is little likelihood heavy metals would be
accumulated from environmentally realistic levels of used drilling muds
in edible portions of shell and finfish to concentrations that would pose
a health hazard to human consumers of such fishery products."
-------
Table 13. Comarlson of polymer mud formulations and toxlcltles (LC50 whole mud basis;
THUMS POLYMER MUD
Constituents
HEC polymer
Xc polymer
K Cl-4%
brine
density
2.0
0.25
14.0
remainder
Note: (1) brine may be NaCl 74.0 Ib/bbl
or CaCl2 125-193 Ib/bbl
(2) defoamer and/or bacterldde <10 ppm
9.85 Ib/gal
MID ATLANTIC MUD #1 KC1/POLYMER MUD
Constituents Quantity (Ib/bbl)
barite
bentonlte/drlll
K Cl
X-C polymer/hyd
cellulose mix
polyanlonlc cellulose
soda ash
Mysld LC50s
Liquid Phase Suspended Partlculate
caustic soda
Al s tea rate
sawdust
lime
surfactant (Defoam-L)
% sol Ids
density
pH
solids
'oxyethyl
ulose
am-L )
9.
18
18
16
12
1
4
2
0.5
0.1
0.1
0.01
18.1
3 Ib/gal
11.5
ERCO 13,200 ppm
NORMANDEAU 11,600 ppm
Percent Survival Hard
Solid Phase
ERCO 90
Normandeau 88
5,000 ppm
14,180 ppm
Shell Clams
(Controls)
(99)
(100)
CJ
in
-------
Table 13. (Cont)
TORNBERG ET. AL. (1980)
Mysls sp. LCBOs
XC polymer
XC polymer
XC polymer
XC polymer
cadmium
chromium
copper
lead
mercury
density
pH
(density 1.174 g/1)
(density 1,210 g/1)
(density 1.198 g/1)
<0.5-1.5 mg/kg
66-176 mg/kg
10-16 mg/kg
5.6-56 mg/kg
O.Ci5-0.07 mg/kg
10,000
20,000
32,200
50,000
1.14-1.23 kg/1 (20 samples)
9.0-12.1
TORNBERG (1980)
CMC-Gel
CMC-Gel-Res1nex
CMC-Gel-Reslnex
20,000
34,000
Mysls sp. LC50s
* K
43,000 ppm
<12,000 ppm
14,600 ppm
CO
-------
§221.1 (c) cont'd. 37
EVALUATION OF LIMITING PERMISSIBLE CONCENTRATIONS
The volume of the Initial dilution zone and short-term fate
of muds and cuttings proposed by THUMS for ocean disposal has been
determined by Dr. E. J. List of the W. M. Keck Laboratory of Hydraulics
and Water Resources at the California Institute of Technology. Discharge
velocity, volume, particle grain size, and density data for the THUMS
drilling muds and cuttings were utilized to determine the rate of
descent, initial dilution zone, and fate of the disposed muds. Environ-
mental data included an average annual density profile for CalCOFI
Station 9028 near the proposed disposal site.
The following mathematical analyses constitute a model of the
proposed THUMS drilling muds and cuttings discharge based upon formulae
provided in Fischer et al. (1979):
SUMMARY OF DISCHARGE FATE CALCULATIONS
FLOW,-BATE: 2 jets at 1000 BBLS/hr each
Each jet: Q = 42,000 GALS/hr.
= 700 GPM
= 700 x 63.08 x 10-6
= 0.0442 nrVSEC
-------
§221.1 (c) cont'd. 38
NOZZLE DISCHARGE VELOCITY: d = 10 in.
= 0.254 m
Area = 0.0507 m2
U = Q = .0442
A" 0.0507
MOMENTUM FLUX: M= Qn = 0.8709 x 0.442
= 0.03846
BUOYANCY FLUX:
Density of Effuent = 9.34 Ibs/gal.
= 2467.4 Ibs/m3
P0 = 1119.17 Kg/m3
Density of Seawater =1024.25 kg/m3
(CalCOFI station 9028, Fig. 6)
94.42 kg/m3
= 0.0848
9.8 x 0.0848
P
= 0.8312 m/SEC2
B = g^p Q = 08312 x 0.0442
P
= 0.0367 m4/SEC3
-------
§221.1 (c) cont'd. 39
ORIFICE LENGTH SCALE:
1Q = Q = 0.225m
MOMENTUM LENGTH SCALE:
0.4523
B
1/?
RICHARDSON MUMBER OF DISCHARGE:
Ri = J^ = 0.4963& Plume immediately
em
DENSITY STRATIFICATION: Surface Density 1024.25 kg/m3
(CALCOFI 9028 profile
Figure 6) Density @ 50 m depth 1025.50 kg/m3
Ap T7I5 kg/m3
9e = -9 AP = 1.25 x 9.8
1024.25 x 50
= 0.00024
STRATIFICATION PARAMETER FOR BUOYANT JETS
N = M2 g
B2
-------
§221.1 (c) cont'd.
40
STRATIFICATION PARAMETER FOR BUOYANT JETS: (continued)
'(0.0385) 2 0.00024
(0.0367)
= 0.000264
400 from Figure 7
Zt =
VOLUME FLUX:
TTt = »t B1/2
.Rp = 0.557
"t = 400 x 0.557 x (0.0385)5/4
= 19.834
DILUTION FACTOR: S = wt 19.834
Q 0.0442
TERMINAL DEPTH: Zt = X0.557 x (0.03850)3/4
0.254 x (0.03670)1/2
Zt = 54.6 meters
add 4 to 5 meters for subsurface discharge
terminal dspth (Zt) = 60 meters
-------
41
IOO -
20O -
3OO-
400
500
TEMPERATURE CO
8 IO 12 14 16 18 2O
33.5
SALINITY (%)
33.7 33.9 34.1
34.3
100 -
20O -
300-
40O -
5001-
DiSSOLVED OXYGEN
24
25
26
100
20O
3OO
40O
500
27
IOO -
2OO -
3OO -
4OO -
5OOI-
Figure 6. Temperature, salinity, sigma-t, and dissolved oxygen values by
depth at CalCOFFI Station 9028 (provided by Dr. J. List).
-------
42
Figure 7. Dilution in turbulent jets with a
linearly stratified environment
(from Fischer et al. 1979).
-------
60/0 20
vuocirr w cu/sec
4p ep oo op ego
ace
aof aai ao4 OK aoao./ a* a/ as at /
4660 X
Figure 8. Terminal velocity of fall of quartz spheres in air
and water (provided by Or. J. List).
-------
§221,1 (c) cont'd. 44
These resulting calculations demonstrate that the discharged
drilling muds and cuttings will rapidly drop to a depth of approximately
60 m. This stage of turbulent mixing and rapid descent prior to encoun-
tering neutral buoyancy is considered convective descent and the volume
through which the mud becomes turbulently diffused is termed the Initial
mixing zone. The initial dilution zone for the THUMS drilling muds wi.ll
comprise 428,300 nr* resulting in an initial dilution factor of 449:1.
Based upon the 449:1 initial dilution factor, the expected
maximum concentrations of trace contaminants beyond the initial dilution
zone from ocean disposed THUMS muds are presented in Table 14. For
comparison, applicable water quality criteria based upon both Federal
Register November 28, 1980, and the California Ocean Plan are provided.
The only metals to potentially exceed California Ocean Plan
discharge criteria are chromium and zinc in the water-base mud. Chromium
concentration in the water-base mud, however, did not exceed the appli-
cable EPA water quality criterion based upon Federal Register"November
28, 1980. As discussed previously, pipe dope compound is the primary
source of this metal in drilling muds, therefore, the quantity of zinc in
drilling mud wastes is highly variable and dependent upon the application
techniques of the drill operators. Previous analyses of water-base mud
from a different THUMS well demonstrated a zinc concentration equivalent
to 102 g/1 after Initial dilution. This indicates that the 214 ug/l
value is likely at the "high end" of a .highly variable concentration. A
similar relationship was encountered for lead.
Comparison ,of metals concentrations of the THUMS muds with
applicable EPA water quality criteria demonstrated the spud mud to be
expected not to exceed any applicable water quality criteria and the
water-base mud to be expected to exceed the Federal Register criteria
-------
§221.1 (c) cont'd.
45
Table 14. Comparison of expected maximum concentrations of trace
contaminants following initial dilution with applicable
water quality criteria.
Trace Contaminant
Arsenic
Cadmium
Chromium
Copper
Lead
Mercury
Nickel
Zinc
Cyanides
Oil and Grease
Organohalogens
Concentrations ug/l
Thums Thums
Spud Mud Water-Base Mud
<0.01
0.11
3.1
1.7
3.5
<0.00004
0.75
16.1
<0.04
17.373
0.04
<0.01
1.76
34.8
22.7
16.8
<0. 00004
21.1
214
<0.04
40.022
.126
Water Quality Criteria ug/l
California Federal
Ocean Plan Register*
80
30
20
50
80
1.4
200
200
50
75,000
6.0
5.08
59.
1260.
23.
6.68
3.7
140.
170
0.30
.
-
* November 28, 1980 (x 0.01)
There appears a vast discrepancy between criteria based upon the Califor-
nia Ocean Plan and that following the Federal Register. The Federal
Register guidelines are clearly more stringent, with the exception of
chromium. Although two trace metals concentrations are likely to exceed
0.01 times the Federal Register "acute toxicity" concentrations, the
concentrations of these .metals are generally between the two sets of
guidelines utilized for comparison. Most important in the evaluation of
expected biological effects is the fact that these concentrations demon-
strate "total" nitric acid recoverable quantities and'based upon previous
research, these metals have been demonstrated not to be biologically
available. Therefore, significant toxicity effects, either acute or
chronic, due to the disposal of THUMS drilling muds are highly unlikely.
§221.1 (d) THUMS's drilling program will peak in some 5 to 7 years and
then taper off. At peak drilling, it is estimated THUMS will dump some
60,000 barrels of drilling muds per month. An estimated 20,000 barrels
a month of cutting will also be generated. THUMS is planning to use a
-------
§221.1 (d) cont'd. 46
tankship of American Rehd dispose our drilling wastes.
The tankship being consot motor vessel, a former navy
yard oiler. Depending orte material and the scheduling,
ft 1s anticipated the 3 w1ll be about 6,000 barrels.
Marine surveyors estima:apability to be 2,000 barrels
per hour. Depending on ,hip traffic in the Long Beach
Harbor, we estimate thed from dockside to dump site
1-1/2 hours +; dump timne return trip to dockside for
the next load to be l-i/tne average round trip for the
disposal vessel will be, dock to dock. The preferred
vessel will need some ltions to handle our cuttings.
Estimates of quantities oad have not been addressed at
this time and because offering and shipyard costs they
shall not be made until )mmittment that we will receive
an ocean dumping permit.f the on-site dumping for both
mUd and Cutt1n9s could smately 6 to 16 times a month.
If the prefeasic design precludes Its use
to transport cuttings, - oslW and/or .adaption costs to
n>ake th* vessel suitabl transporting and dumping are
prohibitive, then we willarine vessels to accomplish our
disposal needs. Alternate!$ will be employed only upon
concurrence of the regiona:t0r.
J21.1 (e| Since the proling fluid wastes and cuttings
vary according to well Cjles, dumping may be required
at any time of the day c,hout the permit period. THUMS
recognizes the desire of dumping to daylight hours for
purposes of monitoring andafety. THUMS will limit dumping
activities to daylight hently as practical within the
limitations of storage and capacities.
However, to re-.se! to shift berths three to
five times and load tanks-ss is, in reality, increasing
navigational risks instead aritime safety.
-------
§221.1 (d) cont'd. 47
Most dumping activity will be performed during daylight and there
will be sufficient daylight dumping to satisfy EPA's monitoring needs,
however, the dumping scheduling will necessarily be controlled by need
and the safety judgement of the master of the vessel.
§221.1 (f) ENVIRONMENTAL SEATING
Geology
The proposed THUMS dumpsite is within a 1.5 nautical mile
radius of latitut'e 33°34'3d"N and longitude 118°27'30"W near the center
of the San Pedro Basin (Figure 9), The point is 16 nautical miles on a
course of 239 degrees true from the Long Beach whistle buoy at the Long
Beach opening in the federal breakwater; 11 nautical miles on a bearing
of 194 degrees true from Point Vincente and 11 nautical miles on a
bearing of 334 uegrees true from Long Point on Santa Catalina Island.
Water depth at the proposed disposal site is approximately 485 fathoms.
i
The physical geology of the San Pedro Basin has been pub-
lished several times and most geologists generally agree that the works
of Emery and Shepard (1945) represent baseline data. The San Pedro
Basin is the shallowest of about a dozen depressions along the southern
California coast. It lies between the mainland of southern California and
Santa Catalina Island, and it continues northeastward through a narrow
channel with the Santa Monica Basin. It is bounded by a submarine valley,
the Redondo Canyon, to the north, by the City of South Laguna Beach to
the south. Its geographic boundaries extend from 33°16' to 33850' north
latitude, and 117°46' to 118°36' west longitude. The area comprises about
520 square miles of sea bottom. Depths range from 4 to 495 fathoms, with
the deepest measured about halfway between Isthmus, Catalina Island, and
Point Yincente on the mainland. There are two poorly marked channels
running approximately parallel to the mainland. There is a northwestern
threshold or sill at a depth of about 489 fm, only slightly above the
deepest part of the Basin, and a southeastern one of about 400 fm, east
-------
FT: VICENTE
-------
§221.1 (f) cont'd. 49
of Avalon, Catalina Island. The oceanward basins, beyond San Pedro Basin,
gradually attain far greater depths, to more than a thousand fathoms
(Hartman 1955).
Geohazards
The geology of the offshore southern California area is one
of block faulting similar to the Basin and Range Province of eastern
California and Nevada (Emery 1958).
Offshore southern California is cut by numerous faults,
many of which have been Identified as active. Four major fault zones
transect the inner basin and ridge area; Palos Verdes, Malibu Coast,
Newport-Inglewood and Rose Canyon fault zones. The Palos Verdes and
Newport-Inglewood are the most significant with long histories of seismic
activity. Several active faults, fault traces, have been identified near
the proposed dump site area and the San Pedro Basin in general (BLM
1981b), designated as the San Pedro Basin fault zone (Junger and Wagner
1977). The fault shows about ;600 ft (180 m) of vertical movement of
Pliocene age strata. Lower Pleistocene deposits are evidently offset
across this fault in the San Pedro Basin (Junger and Wagner 1977).
Slump and slide areas have also been identified for the San
^Pedro Basin (BLM 1979).
SAN PEDRO BASIN AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIGHT WATER CHARACTERISTICS
PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY
The water in the Southern California Bight region of the
California offshore is a mixture of relatively low temperature-low
salinity water transported south in the California Current with higher
temperature-higher salinity water brought north in the California
Undercurrent (Chan 1974). The California Current water dominates in the
upper few hundred meters of the ocean seaward (west) of the borderland.
-------
§221.1 (f) cont'd
50
The undercurrent is predominant below 500 m and the 200 to 500 m depth
range is a zone of mixed water (Emery 1960, Sverdrup and Fleming 1941).
The Southern California Eddy mixes northern with southern surface
water, and modified surface water occurs over much of the borderland
(Figure 10). Local climatic conditions further modify the surface water
characteristics.
Sflnio Monico
port 8«ocn
Figure 10. Annual average surface water circulation
off southern California.
Basin-to-basin differences indicate that the bottom waters of
most basins move in a general northwesterly direction, opposite of the
surface current. Coldest waters occupy each basin from its bottom to near
its sill depth. Current measurements show that the flow at the bottom of
San Pedro Basin is normally very weak, less than 0.05 cm/sec, but strong
surges can occur (LaFond and LaFond 1973).
These water masses directly influence the physical, chemical
makeup of the surface and bottom waters and sediments of the San Pedro
Basin as well as the biotic components of the area.
The ocean surface water temperature ranges from 12.5°C in the
north to 19.5°C in the south (Emery 1960), and the surface is coldest in
the winter, December to February, and warmest in the months of August and
September (Emery 1960, Reid 1965). Above normal sea surface temperatures
occur in the Southern California Eddy as a result of the local climate
(Word and Mearns 1973). Temperature data obtained over a large number of
-------
§221.1 (f) cont'd 51
years from Balboa Pier, Newport and Scn'pps Pier, La Jolla, show that the
sea surface temperature varies no more than 2°C above or below monthly
average temperatures (Jones 1971).
A small, permanent thermocline is developed at depths between
200 and 500 m where the northern and southern waters mix. The temperature
drops from between 8° to 9°C at 200 m to between 5.5° and 6.28C at
500 m. This thermocline is better developed where warm southern water
predominates in the surface layer (Maloney'and Chan 1974).
Below the thermocline the water temperature decreases
slightly with .depth. Emery (1960) found that the borderland basins are
isothermal below the sill depth. The basin temperatures are the same as
the undercurrent temperatures at depths that are slightly less than the
sill. Emery (1960) reported San Pedro Basin bottom temperature at 5.06°C,
and a salinity of 34.29°/oo. Its bottom depth was 912 m, sill depth 737 m,
and effective sill 750 m.
\ : -
The amount of oxygen in the surface waters depends on several
factors, including temperature, salinity, current and wind mixing, and
photosynthetic processes (California Water Quality Control Board [CWQCB]
1965, Chan 1974, Reid et al. 1958).
The water in the marine basins has approximately the same
oxygen content as the water outside the basins at the same depth as the
basin sills. The shallower basins have sills at the depth of the oxygen
minimum layer and so their oxygen concentrations are only about 0.7 mg/1,
while deeper basins have dissolved oxygen content of 2.0 mg/1 (Rittenberg
et al. 1955). Minard (1968) compared the temperature, salinity, and
oxygen content of the Santa Monica and San Pedro basins in 1937 and 1954
with those in 1968 and noted that there were no significant long-term
changes. However, using Santa Barbara Basin as a model, Sholkovitz and
Gieskes (1971) demonstrated that the replacement of basin water with
colder, more saline, and more oxygenated seawater is a dynamic, and
perhaps a seasonal process. Vertical mixing is sufficient to maintain
-------
§221.1 (f) cont'd 52
aerobic condition and the residence time of the basin water is about five
years. The presence of oxygen in. the bottom-most layer of the basin
water suggests replenishment through advection and renewal processes is
sufficient to satisfy the amount used in decomposition (Emery 1960).
Paxton (1967) detailed the seasonal oxygen, salinity, and
temperature relationships to depth within the San Pedro Basin in a study
of the distribution of California lanternfishes between 1959 and 1962. He
observed the basin is relatively stable in the fluctuation of oxygen,
salinity, and temperature below 200 m. Temperature and light appear to be
the most effective determinants of vertical zonation within the San Pedro
Basin. Hartman and Barnard (1958) listed the San Pedro Basin dissolved
oxygen level at 912 m as 0.2 mg/1. Rittenberg et al. (1955) noted the
average oxygen content of San Pedro Basin waters was 0.25 mg/1.
Hydrogen Ion Content
pH. The range of pH for shelf waters varies from 7.5 to 9.6
(Chan 1974). At about 70 to 100 m, pH decreases to a range of 7.6 to 7.8.
Below the euphotic zone, pH decreases with increasing concentration of
carbon dioxide as a result of respiration and decomposition. In the
oxygen minimum layer, pH approaches a limit of 7.5. Below the oxygen
minimum layer, there is a gradual increase in pH with depth. The pH of
the water below the sill depth in the marine basins depends on the sill
depth. Those basins having greater sill depth will have higher pH values.
the Santa Monica Basin has a sill depth of 737 m, and the pH of the basin
below sill depth ranges between 7.68 - 7.77, while the Catalina Basin,
which has a sill depth of 982 m, the corresponding range is 7.70 - 7.89
{Rittenberg et al. 1955).
Turbidity
Turbidity consists of inorganic mineral material and organic
material consisting of plankton and organic detritus. This turbidity
comes from river floods, waves along coasts, plankton blooms, benthic
-------
§221.1 If) cont'd 53
plants and animals, and sewage outfalls. Most of the participate material
is suspended at the top of the pycnocline and just above the sea floor
(Drake and Gorsline 1973). The clarity of ocean water is important in
planktonic productivity and distribution. The poorest transparencies
occurr close to shore and during the spring especially off Santa Monica
Bay and the coast south of San Pedro. North (1962) found the poorest
light penetration over the San Pedro s^lf, near San Clemente and Del
Mar, and south of Point Loma (Maloney and Chan 1974).
Light transmission measurements made by the California Water
Quality Control Board (1965) showed that on most occasions the light
transmission curve below a depth of 1 m (3.28 ft) was linear. The
greatest deviations from this linearity occur where the water is turbid,
generally in the upper 1 to 3 m (3.25 to 9.84 ft). Eighty-three percent
of the light entering the ocean was lost in the upper 1.4 m (4.59 ft)
(BLM 1981b, 1979, Lease Sale 68 and 48).
Nutrients ' ?
Nutrients in seawater are chemical compounds or elements
necessary for the production of organic matter. They include dissolved
and particulate compounds and elements in various chemical forms that are
present in very low concentration in seawater. In the surface layers of
the ocean where there is enough solar radiation for photosynthesis to
take place, the production of the phytoplankton depends on sufficient
concentrations of inorganic nutrients such as nitrates, phosphates, and
silicates. Nitrogen is usually the limiting nutrient in the ocean for
phytoplankton production. Generally, phosphate is not a limiting nutrient
in the ocean. Although silicate can be limiting for diatoms and silico-
flagellates, it is not limiting for other phytoplankton (Strickland
1965).
Sources of nutrients to the coastal waters off southern
California and areas to the north and south, are upwelling, waste
discharge, land runoff, precipitation, and the decomposition of organic
-------
§221.1 (f) cont'd 54
matter. Upwelling is the most significant source of nutrients to the
surface layers of the water column, less than 200 m (656 ft) and
replenishes the nutrient supply depleted by phytoplankton growth (BLM
19815).
Measured diffusion gradients of oxygen, phosphate, nitrate
and silicon are restricted to the- bottom 1 or 2 ft of water above the
sediment surface, evidently because of mixing in this turbulent current.
The concentrations of nutrients in' the marine basins of the
Southern California Boarderland are given in Table 15. The concentrations
of phosphate and nitrate are nearly uniform below about 800 m (2,624
ft). Further, there is relatively little variation from basin to basin.
Silica becomes uniform with depth at about 1,000 m (3,280 ft). The
concentration of silica depends on sill depth (Chan 1974).
. The major source of particulates to ocean waters are river
transported particulates from mainland drainage areas. The Santa Clara
River near Montalvo is the largest discharge having a direct influence on
the basins. The Santa Clara river contributes about 50% of the southern
California discharge at present considering flood control limitations on
the Los Angeles, San Gabriel, and Santa Ana Rivers.
These four rivers normally discharge an average of 4 million
tons a year. This can be compared to 200 million tons that entered the
Borderland coastal waters during the 1969 flood. Thus the drilling
discharges are miniscule in comparison with a major flood of a decade.
The bulk of the drilling and mud cuttings is composed of natural min-
eral and organic materials also found as a part of natural suspension
loads (Gorsline 1981). Additionally, municipal waste dischargers and
storm runoff contribute significantly to particulates in the Southern
California Bight.
-------
_. . 55
§221.1 (f) cont'd
Table 15. Nutrient concentrations near the floor of San Pedro Basin.
Total
Depth Total-P Ortho-P Org-N NOa-N Si02-Si
Location (m) (mg/1) (mg/1) (mg/1) (mg/1) (mg/1) References
33°45.5'N ,,n
118°34.8'W //U
33°38.1'N ...
118°2 'W
33°34.3'N
118°24.8'W 848
33°31.0'N fl,9
118°21.0'W *U
33'29.8'N
118e22.1'W yi:}
0.09 0.11
0.16 0.09
0.22 0.11
0.11 0.12
0.10
0.11
0.10
0.12
0.12
0.34
0.40
0.25
0.33
0.49
2.38 Merz 1959
2.43
2.66
2.62 " '
2.02
Source: taken from Maloney and Chan 1974
Sediments of the San Pedro Basin
Much of the bottom of San Pedro Basin is bedrock overlaid by
silt, ooze, clay, or fine detritus (particle <0.062 mm in diameter)
(Hartman and Barnard 1958).
Sediments in the general region of the dump site sampled by
Hartman and Barnard v(, 1,9,58.);,..Stations 115, 116, ,136, 138: 470 to 484-m)
consisted of primarily greenish mud, varying amounts of "oozy, blue,
green gray muds". Visual observations also included living and dead tubes
of chaetopten'd worms, forams, and shell debris.
Calcium carbonate of basin sediments is mostly in the form of
foraminiferal tests, whereas that of the shelves is mostly of shell
fragments. Emery and Rittenberg (1952) reported San Pedro Basin sediments
contained 7.6% organic matter, noting that in San Nicholas, Catalina, and
San Pedro Basins, food is far more concentrated at the bottom than at any
depth in the water column.
-------
§221.1 (f) cont'd 56
WATER QUALITY
The Southern California Bight receives pollution from both
discrete and diffuse sources. Discrete sources include municipal waste-
water discharges and surface runoff. Diffuse discharges include ocean
dumping, runoff and atmo.spheric addition, vessel waste, and. adyective
transport.
TRACE METALS
Trace metals in low concentrations are physiologically
essential metals (such as Cu, Co, Zn, Fe, Mn, B, Mb, Se); however, they
may also be toxic at higher concentrations, or concentrated, by organisms
low in the food chain and passed up the food web to higher trophic
levels. Most trace metal analyses have been limited to nearshore studies
in the Southern .California Bight (Southern California Coastal Water
Research Project [SCCWRP] 1973) related to municipal discharges. The
California Mussel Watch Progam has monitored water quality, along the
mainland coast and also stations on the offshore islands. These studies
have indicated trace metals in tissues as well as the water and sediments
(higher near urban areas than areas farther away from population centers)
Accordingly, the higher levels of trace metals are associated heavily
with the 25 municipal dischargers into the Southern California Bight (BLM
1981b). Recent studies were conducted for BLM by Bruland and Franks
(1977) who analyzed for water column and benthic sediment concentrations
in outer deep basin and inner basin as well as nearshore areas (BLM
19815).
Difficulties in analyzing seawater concentrations of trace
metals stem from the fact that the: 1) elements are near their limit of
detection by analytical techniques; and 2) natural variation can be quite
high, varying with distance from shore, depth, heavy rains, upwelling,
and alterations in plankton populations (SCCWRP 1973).
-------
§221.1 (f) cont'd
57
Water column levels of trace metals in the California Current
is as low as that in the open ocean (Chan 1974). Because of its large
volume, the tota1 amount of trace metals transported by the Current is
very large in comparison with all other sources.
Suspended particulate trace metal concentrations for inner
basin, outer basin, and outer banks are summarized in Table 16. These
studies indicate the concentration of surface water column particulates
do not contrast markedly, although lead was higher by a factor of 2 or 3
in particulates at the outer basins relative to the inner basin. Bottom
water samples of the outer banks exhibited a substantial increase of
lead, zinc, cadmium, and possibly copper, compared to the inner and outer
basins.
Table 17 list estimated background sediment levels of trace
metals for the Southern California Bight (SCCWRP 1973); 60 m depth
(Word and Mearns 1979); outer and inner shelves and outer and inner
basins of the Southern California Bight (Table-18) (Chow and Earl 1977);
and shelf and San Pedro Basin (Table 19) (Dames and Moore 1978). In
general, outer shelves exhibited the lowest levels, however several
Table 16. Trace metal concentrations in Inner Basin, .Outer B.asin, and
Outer Bank suspended particulates.
Inner Basins - 350,
372,336.402.412.420
Outer Basins
256.579.748.749
Outer Banks (Tanner
and Cortes) - 576,
584,603.636,727.761
Surface
ppm ng/1
Cd
Cr
Cu
Ni
Pb
Zn
Ba
V
6.9
-
< 8
23
8.5
42
65
<33
1.8
-
<2.5
7
2.5
16
19
<10
Deep
ppm ng/1
2.6
.
<18
30
11
43
1100
<48
0.5
-
<3.4
5.7
1.8
8.0
160
< 9
Surface
ppm ng/1
9,6
-
<34
30
25
29
<87
<52
1.1
-
<3.8
3.4
2.8
3.3
<10
< 6
Deep
ppm ng/1
7.9
-
<55
50
37
62
1450
<98
0.6
-
<4.5
4.4
2.6
6.0
123
<8
Surface
ppm ng/1
11
-
<13
16
18
42
<48
<41
1.7
-
<2.5
2.8
24
5.5
<8.6
< 6
Deep
ppm ng/1
17
<53
50
130
150
1010
<94
1.1
-
<3.8
3.4
7.8
10
67
< 7
Source: BLM 1981b
-------
58
§221.1 (f) cont'd
Table 17. Estimated background sediment levels of trace constituents
for the Southern California Bight (mg/kg dry weight).
60 m Control Survey
Estimated Background Levels Offshore Southern California
Southern
As
Cd
Cr
Cu
Fe
Ni
Pb
Zn
Hg
DDT 0.
PCBs 0.
California Bight 1973
1.0
0.37
5.1
16.0
2.5
14.0
8.5
63.0
0.037
01 - 0.06
01 - 0.06
T
0.35
0.42
2.4
9.6
16.0
6.8
4.5
0.04
0.1
6.5
2.3
1.6
2.7
9.8
Range
- 18.0
- 1.4
- 43.0
- 40.0
- 51.0
- 12.0
110.0
Source: SCCWRP 1973, Word and Mearns 1979
Table 18. Arithmetic means of eight trace metals in Southern
California Bight benthic sediments, ppm.
Outer-shelves Inner-shelves Outer Basins Inner Basins
Element (38 Samples (15 Samples) (28 Samples) (65 Samples)
Ba
Cd
Cr
Cu
Ni
Pb
V
Zn
370
0.52
53
12
16
9.1
36
31
835
0.57
56
15
19
17
62
54
714
0.80
118
32
48
13
65
«6
686
0.93
119
39
38
25
97
101
Source: Chow and Earl 1977
-------
59
§221.1 (f) cont'd
Table 19. Trace metal concentrations (ppm) in sediments
for San Pedro Shelf and Basin.
Sample
Number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18 '
19
Depth
(fathoms)
20
< 20
< 20
100
< 20
< 20
75
< 20
< 20
30
150
350
>450
>450
>450
350
425
400
375
Arsenic Cadmium Chromium Copper
6.82
14.10
_
1.12
1.65
1.84
1.26
2.19
1.25
1.26
3.21
6.63
5.04
6.53
6.24
6.84
5.20
4.36
3.14
San Pedro
3.57
2.00
_
2.77
1.83
2.24
1.92
1.57
1.91
2.28
2.41
San Pedro
2.68
3.24
2.52
3.09
3.50
2.90
3.44
3.00
Shelf (
48.16
46.07
_
35.96
42.62
30.51
34.63
31.75
23.72
27.23
58.80
Basin (
62.37
57.55
37.74
70.06
42.55
55.86
50.39
57.81
upper 2
17.08
26.99
_
14.64
21.75
9.63
13.68
10.51
9.18
13.82
14.39
upper 2
28.07
33.81
25.66
34.66
29.04
30.47
29.64
37.54
Iron Mercury
inches
16640
22890
.
17270
19570
15130
24800
15130
14160
18430
35050
inches
34740
39280
35080
33190
28040
31920
29230
35510
Nickel
Iron
Zinc
of sediment)
0.160
0.258
-
0.210
0.128
0.106
0.040
0.043
0.035
0.072
0.106
37.59
37.23
-
41.82
26.09
20.03
25.65
20.22
19.14
33.51
25.37
61
39
52
41
44
48
31
24
56
48
.29
.55
-
.7.0
.32
.00
.31
.98
.37
.56
.68
75.74
-
80.03
41.82
73.06
36.11
51.30
43.22
35.88
55.72
41.54
of sediment) .
0.134
0.117
0.179
0.183
0.18u
0.256
-0.207
0.244
53.02
61.15
55.34
67.10
55.07
50.78
68.18
60.06
46
50
55
51
42
47
47
56
.78
.36
.20
.62
.55
.15
.43
.31
36.48
87.77
110.40
94.40
82.61
92.85
96.67
93.85
Source: Dames and Moore 1978
elements including Cd, Cu, Pb, V, and Zn exhibited higher levels
(although of the same-magnitude) in the inner basin sediments than in the
outer basins.
HYDROCARBONS
Hydrocarbons encountered in the marine environment may
originate from not only human activities (e.g. offshore drilling and
production operations, oil tanker operations, coastal refineries,
atmospheric transport of combustion products, coastal municipal and
nonrefinery Industrial wastes, and urban and river runoff), but also
natural sources (e.g. biological production by organisms as well as
submarine oil seeps). Distinction of environmental hydrocarbons among
these various sources has only recently been attempted (Winzler and Kelly
1977).
-------
§221.1 (f) cont'd 60
Based on 64 benthic samples Kaplan (1977) collected during
the 1975/1976 BLM baseline study, Kaplan was able to make the following
environmental interpretation. The wide range of values found reflects the
variety of depositional environments and complexity of contributing
sources. Hexane + benzene fractions were less than 50 *g/gm in stations
located in the outer banks and ridges and areas, south of Newport Beach,
whereas stations located in basins in the same general location have
slightly higher amounts of total hydrocarbons (50 to 100 *g/gm). Still
higher levels of total hydrocarbons, from 200 *g/gm to as much as 1,354
*g/gm, are found in sediments at stations located in Santa Monica Bay,
San Pedro Bay, and San Pedro Basin. High levels (approximately 600 *g/gm)
of total hydrocarbons are also found in stations located near Coal Oil
Point. Word and Mearns (1979) reported similar levels of hexane extrac-
table materials in the Southern California Bight, averaging 243+44
mg/kg, ranging up to several thousand mg/kg.
SYNTHETIC CHLORINATED HYDROCARBONS ~ :
The major source of chlorinated hydrocarbons in the study
area as surveyed by SCCWRP (1973) is primarily from municipal wastewater
dischargers, however, ocean dumping, surface runoff, and aerial fallout
all contribute to the total chlorinated hydrocarbon levels in the Bight.
The total amount of chlorinated hydrocarbons transported by
the California Current is about five times as great as all other sources
combined, at a concentration of about 0.01 *g/l (SCCWRP 1973). BLM (1979)
reported Southern California Bight levels of dissolved hydrocarbons
range from 0.03 ppb to 20 ppb.
DRILLING MUDS
The majority of most drilling muds are relatively inert clays
or relatively insoluble barium sulfate (barite) (BLM 1981b), which are
sedimentary rock chips similar to the rock type through which the well is
-------
§221.1 (f) cont'd 61
drilled. Table 20 lists the drilling mud types and respective components
of recent studi'es on the Southern California Bight Outer Continental
Shelf (from BLM 1981b).
Table 20. Drilling mud types and respective components of recent
(1976) [late] to 1978) practices on southern California
Outer Continental Shelf - San Pedro.
Depth
(ft)
0- 800
900-1600
Mud Type
Sea water
Gel /Saltwater
/
Components
Seawater
Bentonite
Salt
Lignosulfonate
Caustic Soda
Barite
Pounds/42
Gallon bbl
20 ppb
7
3
0.5
1
1600-4600 Gel/Saltwater
(treated) Bentonite 20
Salt 7
Lignosulfonate 5
Caustic Soda . 1
Barite 80
. Lost Circulation Material 10
Drispac (CMC) 1
Source: BLM 1981b
MARINE BIOLOGY
BENTHIC BIOLOGY
The macrofauna of subtidal benthic communities in general
within the Southern California Bight are influenced by a variety of
factors including bathymetry, substrate type, oceanic and localized
currents, biogeographic location, and oxygen concentrations. The near-
shore deep sea basins located between the mainland and first line of
islands and ridges are quite broad and relatively shallow (900 m) as a
consequence of rapid sedimentation. Offshore basins are deeper with less
plains and greater slope habitat. Outer basins are relatively more highly
oxygenated than inner basins (BLM 1981a).
-------
§221.1 (f) cont'd 62
There have been few mac robe nthic studies conducted in the
San Pedro Basin and deep sea basins off southern California. Early
Investigations conducted in the 1950s Include Hartman (1955) and Hartman
and Barnard (1958 and 1960). Later studies conducted as part of the BLM
Bight-wide investigations between 1975 and 1978 include Fauchald and
Jones (1978a-c). Summaries of these studies have been given in DOI Lease
Sale documents Lease Sale 48 and 68 (BLM 1979, 1981b), POCS Technical
Paper 81-8 (1981a) and DOI POCS Reference Paper III (1979).
The San Pedro Basin benthic macrofauna community is randomly
distributed and numerically dominated by minor phyletic groups (BLM
1981b), Similar to other basin habitats, San Pedro Basin supports few
species and low population densities. The benthic fauna are typically
deposit feeders, since the basin acts as a food trap. In comparison
to other basins, San Pedro Basin exhibits the lowest standing crop
(6 gm/m2, BLM 1981a; 5.5 gm/m2, Hartman and Barnard 1960) and lower
specie; richness and diversity than Santa Cruz and San Nicholas basins.
Hartman (1955) reported more than 400 densities/m2- inverte-
brate metazoan species from within the entire San Pedro Basin. However,
an area within the middle and deeper parts, delineated by a contour
near the 837 m depth and about 100 m below the sill depth supported a
very sparse or impoverished fauna (Figure 11). Seventy samples from
subsill depth yielded a total of 115 species (Hartman and Barnard 1960)
and a density of 31 animals per n>2. in this area, two polychaetes
(Phyl1ochaetopterus sp. and Protis pacifica) and a scallop (Cyclopecten
sp.) were the dominant organisms. This impoverished habitat is a result
of the extremely low oxygen levels. The oxygen levels generally corres-
pond to the sill depth at 500 to 700 m the oceanic minimum layer and
little decomposition of organic material before reaching the basin floors
(Emery 1960).
The greatest occurrence of animals is along a rim bordering
Santa Catalina Island and off of Point Fermin. Siliceous sponge/amphar-
etid polychaete associations dominate the community makeup and occur in
-------
63
37
Figure 11 . San Pedro Basin and adjacent creas, showing the 50 fm and
425 fm contour lines, the northwest and southeast sills. The area
of impoverished fauna at the western end are Indicated, and the
glass sponge bottoms are shown (Hartman 1958).
-------
§221.1 (f) cont'd 64
high density at the base of submarine mountains on either side of the
sills and along the walls of the canyon (Hartman and Barnard 1958).
The dominant benthic Invertebrates of the San Pedro Basin
Identified in studies by Hartman and Barnard (1958, 1960) and POCS
reference paper #3 (1979) are given in Table 21. In both studies,
polychaete worms and mollusks characterized the list of dominants. San
Pedro Basin station locations of the BLM Bight studies are shown in
Figure 12.
The San Pedro benthic macrofauna associations reported in
these studies have shown similar species compositions, but high vari-
ations among dominants (as evidenced in Table 21), which indicate a
lack of species having large enough populations to be sampled frequently
enough to be considered dominant species (BLM 1981b).
Foraminifera fauna of the inshore basin (including San Pedro
Basin) are characterized by assemblages present in water depths below the
basin sill where oxygen levels are normally less than 0.3 mg/1. The
principal species of this assemblage are Bolivina argentea, Suggrunda
eckisi, Buliminella tenuata, Cassidulinoides cornuta, and Loxostomum
pseudobeyrichi (Harman 1964). The dominant form in the San Pedro Basin is
Buliminella tenuata.
WATER COLUMN BIOLOGY
Plankton
The distribution, abundance, and type of planktonic organisms
in the coastal waters between the mainland and Catalina are directly
influenced by both mixing and transport by currents, i.e. the southerly
flowing California Current and the counterclockwise eddy system in the
Southern Califoria Bight, and upwelling. Thus, in the study area we find
species which are typical of coastal waters throughout California,
including central and northern California as well as southern California
-------
§221.1 (f) cont'd
65
Table 21.
(A) San Pedro Basin common and characteristic species
(subsill samples) (Hartman and Barnard 1960)
Phyllochaetopterus limicolus Polychaeta
Protis paciflcaPolychaeta
Cyclopecten zephrus Mollusca
AmphicteiT~schaphobrianchiata Polychaeta
Maldane slrsi Polychaeta
Aricidea nr. suecica Polychaeta
(B)
Dominant benthic invertebrates of San Pedro Basin.
(BLM Bight studies, Fauchald and Jones)
(Z=622-m to 888 m; Y=798 m).
Abundance
Frequency
Eclysippe trilobatus
Polychaeta
Mitrella permodesta
Mollusca snail .
Aricidea complex
Polychaeta
Tomburchus redondoensis
Mollusca bivalve
Cadulus .cal,ifiorn.icus
Mollusca
Liljeborgia cota
Crustacea
Phyllochaetopterus sp.*
Polychaete
Spiophanes sp.
Polychaete
Rank
1
2
3
4
5
5
Value
Y #/Site
4.9
2.7
1.4
0.4
0.3
0.3
(4.9)
(1.9)
Rank
2
1
3
4
4
4
Value
5/12
7/12
4/12
2/12
2/12
2/12
(8/12)
(5/12)
Percent
41.7
58.3
33.3
16.7
16.7
16.7
(66.7)
(41.7)
* Possible polyspecific species with high rankings
Source: POCS Reference Paper No. Ill (1979)
-------
n
AA
AA
AA
AA
SAN MIGUEL IS j. SANTA ROSA
<-^. .s
47
102
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIGHT
SANTA CRUZ IS
LOS ANGELES
I
N
D
45
SANTA
BARBARA IS
HUNTINGTON BEACH
LAGUNA BEACH
SANTA ROSA- A
CORTES RIDGE A
SAN NICOLAS IS
Q tOSA'* - BASELNE SURVEY (1»7S-7«)
BENCHMARK 9TTES (107»-77)
A BASELtC (DEdCROTVE) STTES (1076-77)
i m
1 lo
C'l">M -, BA'.-b
ill*
Figure 12 . The high density sampling areas, benchmark sites, and descriptive
sites of the benthls study.
Cf>
-------
§221.1 (f) cont'd 57
and Baja California. The waters of the Continental California Shelf are
highly productive due to upwelling, diffusion mixing of nutrients from
colder deep waters to shallower surface waters.
Phytoplankton. Approximately 280 species of phytoplankton
from California waters were reported by Riznyk (1977): 160 diatom; 112
dinoflagellate, and 6 silicoflagellate species. Sixty species were
reported in Santa Monica Bay (Resig 1961). The distribution of the
species and their abundances are controlled by several factors including
amount of light, currents, Intensity of grazing, temperature and up-
welling events (BLM 1981b). Phytbplankton variability is evident on a
seasonal basis as well as over long-term periods in which it has been
related to oceanographic and meteorological events (Balech 1960).
Phytoplankton work previously conducted offshore of southern
California includes the works of Allen (summarized in Riznyk 1974),
Balech (1960), Resig (1961), and CWQCB (1965).
Primary Productivity and Standing Crop. CalCOFI data pre-
sented for 1969 (Owen 1974) in BLM (1981b) displays primary productivity
variations for the Southern California Bight region. Values are highest
within the ne.arshore..regions ,and .decrease -with distance offshore.
Standing crop estimates, integrated over the upper 150 m (445 ft) display
differences between sampling periods (highest between July-October 1969
and lowest between October-December) and area along the California coast
(highest in southern California, decreasing offshore beyond a highly
productive band 100 to 200 km [60 to 120 miles] along the coast. Pro-
duction values for San Pedro to San Diego range from 20 g/m2 (October-
December) to 90 g/m2 (July-September).
Zooplankton. Zooplankton are instrumental in thr; transfer of
energy from the phytoplankton to the higher trophic levels including
fishes, birds, and marine mammals. Studies dealing with Southern Cali-
fornia Bight Zooplankton are listed in Seapy (1974).
-------
§221.1 (f) cont'd 68
In the California Current system, at least 546 invertebrate
and 2,000 vertebrate species of fish larvae are estimated to occur
(Kramer and Smith 1972), representing 23 major taxa among 9 animal phyla.
The zooplankton include both temporary nanoplanktonic and permanent
(holoplanktonic) forms which range in depth distribution from the surface
to at least 6,000 m (Hoiton et al. 1977).
The primary source of zooplanktonic information is the
CalCOFI program which originated in 1949. Although no CalCOFI "base"
stations were directly in the San Pedro Basin proposed dump site area,
data are available from numerous other stations within the Southern
California Bight region from surface to depths of 140 m (462 ft).
Bathypelagic coelenterates (cnidarians) in the southern
California basin were investigated by Hartman and Emery (1956). Those
observed in San Pedro Basin are shown in Table 22. Siphonophores
dominated the fauna of the bottom of San Pedro Basin, feeding on
bathypelagic animals living above the surface of the anoxic sediments.
Atstatt and Seapy (1974) studied decapod crustaceans in San
Pedro and Santa Catalina Basins to depths of 650 m using an Isaccs Kidd
midwater trawl. Abundances never exceeded 49/1000 m3. Sergestes similis
was the dominant species in each sample.
Factors influencing zooplankton density and distribution
within the study area include advection or currents and the winds that
cause currents long-term meteorological and oceanographic changes (Berner
and Reid 1961, Radovich 1961) and nutrient/temperature relationships
(Reid 1962).
Several endemic species occur within the California Current
system. Most species, however, vary geographically, seasonally, and yearly
due primarily to changes in current patterns. These include the chaetog-
nath Sagitta bierii, the copepod Eucalanus bungi californicus, the
-------
69
§221.1 (f) cont'd
Table 22. Scyphozoan species list (from Hartman and Emery 1956).
San Pedro Basin
2916 ft 3 abylld siphonophores
2 campanulate scyphozoans
2915 ft 1 bathyphysid siphonophore
2910 ft 1 abylid siphonophore
2890 ft 1 bathyphysid siphonophore
2910 ft 2 abylid siphonophores
2814 ft 1 abylid siphonophore
2806 ft 1 campanulate scyphozoan
1 abylid siphonophore
1 bathyphysid siphonophore
2878 ft 1 abylid siphonophore
2735 ft 1 abylid siphonophore
1125 ft 1 slender object with bulb at either end (not identified)
Station 2097 (March 29, 1952.'Lat. 33°29.6'; Long. 118°29.0')
Bottom is green mud at 1663 ft and its temperature 6.4°C
Slope of San Pedro Basin
1510 ft 2 abylid siphonophores
1528 ft 1 abylid siphonophore
1549 ft 2 abylid
1 bathyphysid siphonophores
. 1568 ft 3 abylid siphonophores
1585 ft 1 abylid siphonophore
1616 ft 1 abylid
1 bathyphysid siphonophore
1648 ft 2 abylid
1 bathyphysid siphonophores
1617 ft .,1. aby.l i d si-phonophore
1660 ft 1 abylid siphonophore
1465 ft 1 bathyphysid siphonophore
1375 ft 1 abylid
1 bathyphysid siphonophore
Station 2099 (March 30, 1952. Lat. 33°24.0'; Long. 118°50.9')
Bottom Ts green mud at 4330 ft and its temperature 4.0°C
-------
§221.1 (f) cont'd
70
Table 23. Major zooplankton taxa In the Southern California Bight.
Major Taxa
Common Species
Distribution Remarks
Coelenteratess Poorly known for the
area
Ctenophores
Pleurobrachia bachei
Beroe sp.~
Chaetognaths
Sagitta euneritica
S. bieriT
"5". minima
T. inflata
Polychaetes Vanadis formosa
Torrea Candida
Tomopterls elegans
Trav i s i op"si s 1 obi fera
Mollusks
- Pteropods Limacina helicina
- Heteropods Atlanta peroni
Atlanta sp.
Carinaria japonica
- Cephalopods Abraliops'is felis
Gonatus o"nyx
Crustaceans
- Copepods
Amphipods
Cladocera
Libinocera trispinosa
Acartia tonsa
A. clausT
"Talanus helgolandicus
Rhlncalanus nasutu?
Oithor.3 similis
Vibilia armata
Penila avirostris
Evadne nprdmanni
Podon polyphemoides
EvadneTp ini fera
E. tergestlna
Common in nearshore plankton.
Reported from south of the area.
Densities of less than 5/10,000
m3 of water in the upper 110 m
(363 ft)
No seasonability pattern or
inshore-offshore difference in
abundance
Ofshore distribution (200 km)
(120 miles).
Can be extremely abundant
Cold water form
Dominant in surface samples in
Santa Barbara Channel. Maximally
abundant in November (McGinnis
1971)
Abundant in summer months
All stages abundant in May-June
Juveniles abundant in July-August
Adults abundant in May-June
Most abundant cyclopoid copepod
from samples off Scripps
Captured 9.t surface at night; at
200 m (660 ft) in the day
Maximally abundant in December,
1969 in Santa Barbara Channel
(McGinnis 1971)
Abundant in July-August, 1968
in nearshore waters off La Jolla
-------
§221.1 (f) cont'd ?1
Table 23. (Cont)
Major Taxa Common Species Distribution Remarks
Crustaceans (cont)
- Euphausids Euphautia pacifica Listed in order of abundance over
Nematoscells ditflcilis Southern California Bight
Nyctiphanes simplex
Stylochei'rb'n longiTorne
Yhysanoessa gregana
T. spunfera
- Decapods Sergetes similis Recorded from 650 m (2145 ft)
trawls
Thaliacea Doliolum denticulatum Abundant in nearshore waters in
summer
D. dgegenbauri
TTyclosalpa bakeii
Pegea confoederata
Sal pa fusiformis
baipa
TRaTTi
ia democratica
Source: Compiled from Seapy 1974
hyperiid amphipod Hyperietta stebbingi, and the squid Abcaliopsis jelis.
Table 23 summarizes the major zooplarikton taxa in the Bight (compiled
from Seapy 1974 in BLM 1981b).
Nearshore waters have been found to support higher popu-
lations of benthic invertebrates and fishes than offshore waters,
including the larval stages of the Dungeness crabs Cancer magister, pink
shrimp Panda!us jordanni, Crangon shrimp, and several species of bottom
dwelling flatfishes (BLM 1981b).
Depth Distribution of Zooplankton. Patterns of vertical
distribution of zooplankton relate to such variables as light, phyto-
plankton density, food, and life history patterns. Individual species
show differing depth maxima (Alvarino 1964). Most species within the
waters of the Continental Slope are neritic forms, with occasional
oceanic and migratory abyssal forms.
-------
§221.1 (f) corc'd 72
Fish Eggs and Larvae (BLM 1981b)
Ahlstrom (1959, 1965, 1969) summarized information on the
extensive Cal CCCI collections of fish eggs and larvae in the California
Current. The distribution of fish larvae is highly dependent upon the
spawning areas of the parents and the hydrographic conditions prevailing
in the area. Because most of the coastal waters are transported in either
a northern or southern direction, larvae spawned in coastal areas tend to
be retained there (Richardson and Pearcy 1977). The distribution and
abundance of fish larvae and eggs vary by season over the Southern
California Bight depending on the species. For some species, for example
the northern anchovy and the several species of rockfish, larvae occur
throughout the Bight area during most of the year.
In the CalCOFI data, 12 larval types (species or genus)
comprised 90 to 93% of all larvae collected. The northern anchovy
(Engraulis mordax) and Pacific hake (Merluccius productus) represented
40 to 60% of the catch. Larvae of deep sea pelagic fishes composed 20
to 40% of all larvae taken in CalCOFI cruises from 1955 to 1960. Three
families represented 90% of the deep sea fishes and were the most
important species in offshore oceanic waters. These were the larvae of
the myctophid lanternfishes, the gonostomatid lightfishes and the deep
sea smelts (Bathylagidae) (Ahlstrom 1969). Ahlstrom (1965) found larvae
of subarctic species in winter and spring and those of subtropical
species in the warmer summer months.
Fishes
The southern California fish fauna consists of at least 485
species (Miller and Lea 1972) and an unknown number of deep sea fishes.
The factors which govern the types and distribution of the fishes are
largely those which govern the zooplankton and phytoplankton discussed-
earlier in this report.
-------
§221.1 (f) cont'd 73
The San Pedro Basin fish fauna consists of vertically
distributed fish communities including forms common to mainland and
island shelf areas, mesopelagic deep sea or midwater forms, and bathy-
pelagic demersal fishes. Various transient and resident species occur
within the Basin (Ebeling et al. 1970).
Epipelagic forms are generally migratory through the study
area between various parts of the Pacific Ocean or at least through the
Bight. Common species in southern California waters include Pacific
bonito (Sardo chiliensis), yellowtail (Seriola dorsal is), jack mackerel,
northern anchovy, Pacific mackerel, Pacific barracuda, and Pacific
sardine. Horn (1974) listed a total of 80 pelagic species of 30 families
which occur in southern California, of which many are rare or uncommon.
Many deep sea fishes undergo periodic vertical migrations
and, therefore, may be found in the upper 100 to 500 m layer of the
ocean. However_, they are members of a rather distinctive group since they
live at least part of their lives in waters several hundred to thousands
of meters deep. These fishes are generally small (<300 mm long), black or
dark with silvery reflective sides and frequently with luminescent
organs. Members of the families Myctophidae (lanternfish), Bathylagidae,
and Gonostomidae are the most abundant deep sea fishes off southern
California, and they occupy central positions in oceanic food webs.
These families, especially the Myctophidae, appear to occupy important
positions in the trophic structure of offshore waters comparable to that
of the anchovy in shallow, more inshore waters (Horn 1974).
Although Pt. Conception is recognized as a faunal boundary,
many of the nearshore fishes, especially bottom fishes, are found
throughout the coast as far north as British Columbia. Many of the deep
water species are essentially cool water temperature fishes with centers
of distribution lying to the north of the Southern California Bight.
Therefore, a distinct southern California fauna does not occur below the
thermocline or in the deeper waters of the coastal shelf (SCCWRP 1973).
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§221.1 (f) cont'd 74
Principal sportfish species taken within the general dumpslte
region include rockfish, kelpbass and Pacific mackerel. Sport fishing
catch data demonstrate that the proposed ocean disposal site is not an
area of significant sportfishing activity (Figures 13 and 14) although
the coastlines adjacent the San Pedro Basin ind the Catalina Channel to
the south do provide important sport fisheries. Commercially important
species taken from the general dumpslte area Include northern anchovy,
jack mackerel, Pacific bonito, and market squid (Figure 15) (BLM 1981b).
Marine Mammals and Seabirds
Marine Mammals. Within the Southern California Bight, 32
species of marine mammals have been recorded. The Bight 1s the richest of
all temperate water areas in terms of abundances and types.
The most common of these are the California grey whale,
common dolphin, pilot whale, Pacific white-sided dolphin, Pacific bottle-
nosed dolphin, California sea lion, and harbor seal. In addition to these
species, 10 others are considered uncommon (or rare) In the region; these
are the Minke whale, Sei whale, blue whale, humpback whale, killer whale,
sperm whale, northern fur seal, Steller sea lion, the northern elephant
seal, and the very rare California sea otter.
Five cetaceans which occur in California waters (California
grey whale, blue whale, Sei whale, humpback whale, and sperm whale) are
designated as endangered species by the federal government. The Guadelupe
fur seal 1s designated rare by the State of California all marine mam-
mals, however, and afforded complete protection under the Marine Mammals
Protection Act of 1972.
Birds. Birds within the offshore areas in the San Pedro
Channel largely consist of pelagic and littoral species which show a high
degree of transiency. These birds feed on epipelaglc fishes and a variety
of marine invertebrate, either at the surface or by shallow diving.
-------
SANTA BARBARA
Principal Species or Group
1. Rockfieh
2. Kelp Baas
3. Pacific Mackerel
4. Pacific Bonlto
5. Barred Sand Bass
6. Sculpin
7. California Barracuda
8. Halfmoon
9. Yellowtall
n
NUMBER OF FISH
> 1OO.000 FISH
1O.OOO - 00.000 FISH
Figure 13 . The most Important sportfIshing areas In Southern California for the
commercial passenger fishing vessel fleet based on the average number of fish caught from
1974-1978. T.e principal species (>10,000 fish) caught in each area are indicated by numbers.
SAN DIE GO
in
Source: The most recent marine sport catch data by origin available from the California Dept.
of Fish and Came (unpublished).
-------
SANTA BARBARA
w..
NUMBER OF ANGLERS
| I > 10.00O ANGLERS
000 TO 9.999 ANGLERS
1.000 TO 4.999 ANGLERS
OIEG
Figure 14 . The most important sportfishing areas in Southern California
for the commercial passenger fishing vessel fleet based on the average number of
anglers per area from 1974-1978.
cr>
Source: The most recent marine sport catch data by origin available from the
California Dept. of Fish and Cnme (unpublished).
-------
SANTA BARBARA
Principal Species
1. Northern anchovy
2. Jack mackerel
3. Pacific bonito
4. Market squid
5. Sea urchin
6. Black abalone
7. Bluefin tuna
8. Albacore
9. Yellowfln tuna
10. Skipjack tuna
11. Rock crab
c
n
AMOUNT(POUNOS) OF FISH
PER COFQ FISH BLOCK
> S.OOO.OOO lb«.
1.000.0OO TO 4.99g.9BO Iba.
BOO.000 TO 999.099 lb«.
Figure 15. The most important commercial fishing areas in Southern
100.000 TO 499.999 Ibt. Cailfornla based on the average amount (pounds) of fish and invertebrates
caught from 1971-1975. The principal species (>250,000 Ibs.) caught in each
area are Indicated by numbers.
0 TO 99.999 Ibs.
Source: The most recent commercial catch by origin data available from the
California Dent, of Fish and Game (unpublished).
8 A N D IE Q O
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§221.1 (f) cont'd 78
Common offshore pelagic species include common loon, Arctic
loon, red-throated loon, western grebe, horneo grebe, eared grebe,
pied-billed grebe, pink-footed shearwater, sooty shearwater, Manx shear-
water, black stormpetrel, brown pelican, double-crested cormorant, black
brant, surf scoter, red-breasted merganser, glaucous-winged gull, western
gull, California gull, ring-billed gill, mew gull, Bonaparte's gull,
Heerman's gull, Forster's gull, elegant tern, and Caspian tern.
PROPOSED SAMPLING PROGRAM
THUMS proposes to utilize three complimentary sampling
programs toward: 1) verification of the initial dilution zone and fate of
drilling muds and cuttings as indicated by Dr. List's mathematical model;
2) establishing baseline water quality data at the proposed disposal
site, prior to any disposal activities; and 3) monitoring of water
quality parameters during disposal activities.
I. Verification of Model
Verification of the initial dilution zone and fate of the
drilling muds and cuttings will be accomplished in a study to be per-
formed upon initiation of disposal activities. Determination of short-
term spatial extent of the discharge plume will be accomplished utilizing
a grid of vertical transmissivity profiles adjacent to the disposal
vessel, during discharge of muds and cuttings. The use of transmissivity
has been previously used to examine the dispersion of discharged bulk
drilling fluids in the waters off Louisiana (Ayers et al. 1980) and at
Tanner Tank, located in the southern California waters (Pctrazzuolo,
1981). Ayers (1980) reported that transmissivity readings were more
sensitive than suspended solid water column measurements (an alternative
to transmissivity readings) due to the ability of the transmissometer to
detect colloidal particle, via light sectoring, at lower levels than
could be measured by sampling suspended solids.
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§221.1 (f) cont'd 79
In order to relate transmissivity readings to suspended solid
'levels within the water column, samples of raw drilling muds, representa-
tive of those being disposed, and disposal site seawater will be returned
to the laboratory for development of a transmissivity-mud dilution curve.
The curve will be used for evaluating the field collected transmissivity
data.
A minimum of two field surveys will be conducted to verify
the initial dilution model and examine the fate of drilling muds and
cuttings disposed. The initial survey will be used to refine sampling
protocol. The survey will be conducted during the first disposal of
material to; 1) determine the area! extent the sampling grid must cover
to examine the fate of material disposed; 2) determine the number of
stations and station spacing, within the grid, necessary to define the
initial dilution zone and provide data on the fate of disposed muds and
cuttings; and 3) determine the number of depths that must be sampled, at
each station, to meet the stated objectives.
Results of the initial field survey and the laboratory
transmissivity-mud dilution standardization curve will be used to devel-
op the sampling protocal necessary to meet the stated objectives. The
refined sampling protocol will be instituted in the second field survey.
If necessary, additional field surveys will be conducted to verify the
model and provide data on the fate of the drilling muds and cuttings.
In the initial and subsequent field survey(s) transmissivity
profiles will be taken with a Martec Mark VII XMS transmissometer fitted
with an "pn-deck" digital readout. The transmissometer has a light path
length of 25.0 cm.
II. Monitoring Program
A. Baseline data. Prior to any disposal activities, baseline
water quality data will be established for the disposal area (latitude
33°34'30"N, Longitude 118°27'30"W). Water quality analysis will be
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§221.1 (f) cont'd 80
conducted at depths of 1 m, 30 m and 60 m. At each depth, water quality
parameters sampled will Include pH, dissolved oxygen, suspended solids,
salinity, temperature and the following trace contaminants: arsenic,
cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, zinc, cyanides, oil and
grease, and organohalogens. Replicate samples for each parameter will be
collected in order to examine natural variability at the dump site. A
Martec Mark VI water quality profiler will be used to determine in situ
values for pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity and temeprature. The remaining
parameters will be analyzed following the procedures outlined by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency/Army Corps of Engineers criteria for
dredge and fill material (Plumb 1981).
These baseline data will subsequently be utilized in compari-
son with data obtained through the proposed monitoring program toward
determination of any significant impacts resulting from disposal opera-
tions.
B. Proposed Monitoring Program. A semi-annual field sampling
program will be initiated to monitor for water quality effects of the
proposed ocean disposal activities. Three stations will be occupied
during each survey. One station will be at the proposed disposal site
(latitude 33°34'30"N, longitude 118°27'30"W). The second station will be
established downcurrent (northwest) of the proposed disposal site, within
the expected path of discharge flow but beyond the zone of initial
dilution. The third station will be established upcurrent (southeast) of
the proposed disposal site as a control. Exact location of the second and
third stations will be determined following the model verification
investigation.
The semi-annual monitoring will be conducted during the two
primary local oceanographic seasons: winter and summer. Sample of ambient
seawater will be obtained from depths of 1 m, 30 m and 50 m at the three
stations during each survey. The water quality parameters to be analyzed
for, and the methods for analysis will be the same as outlined in the
baseline study.
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§221.1 (f) cont'd
81
SUMMARIZATION OF DISPOSAL SITE CRITERIAL UNDER SECTION 228.5 and 228.6
GENERAL CRITERIA FOR SITE SELECTION
§228.5 (a) The dumping of materials into the ocean will be permitted
only at sites or in areas selected to minimize the interference of
disposal activities with other activities in the marine environment,
particularly avoiding areas of existing fisheries of shellfisheries,
and regions of heavy commercial or recreational navigation.
THUMS1 application is a request to resume dumping of drill
Wds 'and cuttings near its historical dump site unopposed by the Federal
and State governments in 1965. The dump site was chosen to minimize
those impacts that are raised in this sub-paragraph. Effects upon
the biological communities of the San Pedro Basin are expected to be
negligible.
There are no major commercial navigational problems since
the nearest traffic separation lane for south bound ships will be 1-1/2
miles north of the proposed dump site. This takes into consideration
the possibility that the U.S. Coast Guard move the north/south traffic
separation system one mile south of its present location.
Recreational navigation 12 years ago did not present any
problems during various kinds of weather and would not be expected to
become a problem in the future. After personal contact with the Captain
of the Port (COTP) Los Angeles (LOSA) 1n November 1981, he indicated that
by adding one more ship every day or two to the channel, traffic would
not cause any navigational or search and rescue problems that did not
already exist or they could not handle on a routine basis.
§228.5 (b) Locations and boundaries of disposal sites will be so chosen
that temporary perturbations in water quality of other environmental
conditions during initial mixing caused by disposal operations
anywhere within the site can be expected to reduce to normal ambient
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§221.1 (f) cont'd 82
seawater levels or to undetectable contcentrations or
effects before reaching any beach, shore* sanctuary or
known geographically limited fishery or shi
The location of the proposed THUM.site has been
established as clearly beyond potential influe Of the above
sensitive areas. The muds will be rapidly northward at
increasing depths within the 'indercurrent and ci fall to the
bottom in a region of extremely low biological pi.
§228.5 (c) If at any time during or after c,te evaluation
studies, it is determined that existing dtes presently
approved on an interim basis for ocean d not meet the
criteria for site selection set forth in §2?28.6, the use
of such sites will be terminated as soon51 e alternate
disposal sites can be designated.
Since this is a determination to.beby EPA, THUMS
has no comment except that we will make every-.o adjust our
operations in such a manner so as to preclude tHty of EPA to
exercise the provisions of this sub-paragraph.
§228.5 (d) The size of ocean disposal sites will >d in order to
localize for identification and control aiiate adverse
impacts and permit the implementation of effonitoring and
surveillance programs to prevent adverse loi impacts. The
size, configuration, and location of any dsite will be
determine' as a part of the disposal site evaV designation
study.
THUMS proposes to utilize its historiiautical mile
radius as approved in 1965 for the current draft apm. We believe
the size of the proposed dump site is within goodg considering
drift and currents for a maximum of 3.5 hrs dumping tsite.
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§221.1 (f) cont'd 83
§228.5 (e) EPA will, whenever feasible, designate ocean dumping sites
beyond the edge of the Continental Shelf and other such sites that
have been historically used.
Utilization of. the significantly greater nearshore depths
located along the Pacific Coast of the United States, and specifically,
the San Pedro Basin, provide for minimization of environmental impacts
through adequate dilution during descent of the disposed wastes. The edge
of the Continental Shelf from Long Beach, California, is 150 miles
offshore. We believe such a time-consuming distance would m,-»ke ocean
dumping of the drilling wastes financially impractical while providing no
appreciable environmental benefit.
SPECIFIC CRITERIA FOR SITE SELECTION
§228.6 (a) In the selection of disposal sites, in addition to other
necessary .or apprpriate factors determined by the Administrator, the
following factors will be considered:
(1) Geographical position, depth of water, bottom topography
and distance from coast.
The proposed dump site 1s within 1.5 nautical mile radius of
latitude 33°34'30"N and longitude 118°27'30"W near the center of the San
Pedro Basin. The point is 16 nautical miles on a course of 239° true from
the Long Beach whistle buoy at the Long Beach opening in the federal
breakwater; 1 nautical mile on a bearing of 194° true from Point Vicente
and 11 nautical miles on a bearing of 334° true from Long Point on Santa
Catalina Island.
(2) Location to breeding, spawning, nursery, feeding, or
passage areas of living resources in adult or juvenile
phases.
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S221.1 (f) cont'd
84
As previously described, the proposed disposal site location
Is not of any unique significance to any life stage of present living
narine resources.
(3) Location in relation to beaches and other amenities.
Coastal beaches are 21 miles north and east of the proposed
dump site. Palo Yerdes Peninsula with its rocky shoreline is 11+ miles
north and Santa Catalina Island's closest rocky shoreline is 7.5 miles
south of the proposed dump site. Since subsurface currents at the
proposed disposal site move northwest, it is quite unlikely that disposal
activities will have any adverse impacts upon these areas of special
Interest.
(4) Types and quantities of wastes proposed to be disposed
of, and proposed methods of release, Including methods of
packing'the waste, if any.
THUMS' program is to dispose of water-base drilling mud and
cuttings that will meet EPA requirements. The dilling program will peak
1n some five to seven years and then taper off. At peak drilling, we
estimate to dump some 60,000 barrels of drilling muds per month. AT the
ptik, we estimate 20,000 barrels a month of cuttings to be produced.
THUMS is planning to use a tankship of American Registry to pick up and
tfspose of the drilling wastes. The tankship we are considering 1s a 220
ft motor vessel, a former navy yard oiler. Depending on the weight of the
uds and scheduling, 1t 1s anticipated the average load will be about
1,000 barrels. Our marine surveyors estimate the unloading capability to
Ifc 2,000 barrels per hour. Depending on the weather, ship traffic at the
long Beach entrance to the Harbor, we estimate the following, loaded from
lockside to dump site 1.5 hrs +_ dump time 3 hrs +_ and the return trip to
de for next loading to be 1.5 hrs ±. In other words, an average
trip for the disposal vessel will be about six hours, dock to dock.
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§221.1 (f) cont'd 85
The preferred vessel will need some through-hull adaptions to handle muds
and cuttings. Estimates of quantities of cuttings per load have not been
addressed at this time and because of the unknown engineering and ship-
yard costs they shall not be made until we have a firm commitment that we
will receive an ocean dumping permit. The frequency of the on-site
dumping for both mud and cuttings could vary from 6 to 26 times a month.
If the preferred vessel's basic design precludes its use
to transport cuttings, or if the conversion and/or adaption costs to
make the vessel suitable for loading, transporting and dumping are
prohibitive, then we will explore other marine vessels to accomplish our
disposal needs. Alternate disposal vessels will be employed only upon
concurrence of-the regional EPA administrator.
(5) Feasibility of surveillance and monitoring.
Based upon published information on the impoverished area of
the San Pedro Basin, it is not expected to be practical to attempt a
surveillance and/or monitoring program of the effects of driling muds on
the benthos of the area. The. proposed monitoring programs address: 1)
collection of baseline water quality data; 2) verification of initial
fixing zone and fate of-drilling muds and cuttings; and 3) semi-annual
nnitoring of water quality parameters.
(6) Dispersal, horizontal transport, and vertical mixing
characteristics of the area including prevailing current
direction, if any.
Published information indicate that prevailing subsurface
current movement is toward the northwest, parallel to the coastline.
Information regarding vertical mixing near tho proposed dumpsite was
inadequate toward forming any conclusions.
(7) Existence and effects of current and previous discharges
and dumping in the area (including cumulative effects).
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§221.1 (f) cont'd 86
There have been no discharges of record adjacent THUMS'
proposed dump site since we ceased dumping in 1969. We know of no cumu-
lative effects or direct effects on the benthic organisms in the historic
1965 dump site.
(8) Interference with shipping, fishing, recreation, mineral
extraction, desalination, fish and shellfish culture,
areas of special scientific importance and other
legitimate uses of the ocean.
As stated in our response to 228.5 (a), the proposed dump
site is 1.5 nautical miles iouth of the nearest shipping lane. We know of
no mineral extractions being proposed. Our drilling waste will not cause
desalination. There is no fish or shellfish culturing in the area. We
know of no special scientific or other uses of ocean that our proposed
activity will interfere with. Fishing, both commercial and sport, as
well as small craft piloting will only be slightly disrupted while our
tankship is on station.
(9) The existing water quality and ecology of the site as
determined by available data or trend assessment or
baseline surveys.
Historical baseline data were presented previously.
(10) Potentiality for the development or recruitment of
nuisance species in the disposal site.
Data presently available do not support the prospect for
introduction or augmentation of populations of nuisance species at the
disposal site as a result of disposal activities.
(11) Existence at or 1n close proximity to the site of any
significant natural or cultural features of historical
importance.
THUMS knows of no such features.
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§221.1 (f) cont'd 87
§221.1 (g) It 1s proposed to release the material at the dump site
through pipes having through-hull fittings adjacent the centerline of
the disposal vessel's hull. Rate of discharge willbe determined by
gravitational forces and/or by pumps furnished with the transporting
vessel. Control valves or variation of pump speed may be used to control
discharge rates as required.
§221.1 (h) The waste products proposed for disposal are produced in the
process of drilling oil wells 1n the Long Beach Unit located in San Pedro
Bay at Long Beach, California. These waste materials are produced without
alternative in the normal drilling of an oil well.
§221.1 (i) These materials are now being disposed of in land fill
dump sites located as follows:
BKK Corporation in West Covina
Operating industries in Monterey Park
Los Angeles County Land Fill #6 in Puente Hills
(NOTE: There are a rfumber of land fills in Los Angeles County that will
not accept liquid wastes).
Frpm 1966 to January of 1969..THUMS disposed of,drilling muds
and cuttings in the San Pedro Basin with the support of the U.S. Bureau
of Commercial Fisheries, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Bureau of Land
Management, California Department of Fish and Game, California Regional
Water Quality Control Board, California State Lands Commission, and the
California State Attorney General's office. The U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers sent a letter on March 4, 1966, "o THUMS which the Corps,
considered as evidence of approval for the disposal operation.
The disposal was pumped from a specially built motorless
barge that carried between 5,000 and 6,000 barrels depending on the
weight of the fluid being hauled. The material was discharged while
the barge was static in the water and the material was pumped through a
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§221.1 (f) cont'd 88
10 Inch hose that extended 20 ft below the ocean surface. During these
discharge operations, no effluent plume was observable from either
aircraft or surface craft. The fine particulates apparently continued
>,
rapid descent in a similar fashion to that presented 1n §221.l(k),
following. During the three years of discharging, no complaint was
received from any of the governmental monitoring agencies.
§221.1 (j) At the present time, the Long Beach Unit is experiencing
a period of increased drilling activity with resulting production of
large volumes of drilling waste materials. This activity is anticipated
to continue for the next five to eight years. Land fill disposal is not
anticipated to continue to be available to meet these disposal require-
ments, nor is sub-surface well injection feasible for disposal of such
materials in the Long Beach Unit. Incineration would impose serious air
quality problems and has not at this time been determined to be feasible.
Land is not available for open ground spreading disposal and biological,
chemical, or physical treatment is not feasible. Drilling fluids are
reconditioned and recycled under present operations until contamination
of these fluids exceeds economical or feasible treatment. Waste fluids
are disposed of in abandoned wells within the area wherever possible,
but these sources provide only minor relief in the overall disposal
requirement.
FATE OF OCEAN DISPOSED MUDS AND CUTTINGS
§221.1 (k) The short-term fate of muds and cuttings proposed by THUMS
for ocean disposal has been determined by Dr. E. J. List of the W. M.
Keck Laboratory of Hydraulics and Water Resources at the California
Institute of Technology. Discharge velocity, volume, particle grain size,
and density data for the THUMS drilling muds and cuttings were utilized
to determine the rate of descent, initial dilution zone and fate of the
disposed muds. Environmental data included an average annual density
profile for CalCOFI Station 9028 near the proposed disposal site.
The resulting calculations demonstrated that the discharged
drilling muds and cuttings will rapidly drop to a depth of approximately
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$221.1 (f) cont'd 39
60 m. This stage of turbulent mixing and rapid descent prior to encoun-
tering neutral buoyancy is considered convective descent (Figure 16) and
the volume through which the mud becomes turbulently diffused is termed
the initial mixing zone. The initial dilution zone for the THUMS drilling
nuds will comprise 324,300 m3 resulting in an initial dilution factor
of 340:1. At this depth, dynamic collapse of the drilling mud plume will
occur. The very largest drill cuttings particles will continue descent at
rates of 5 to 10 cm/sec, however, 90% of the particles will form a
diffuse cloud approximately 10 to 20 m thick descending at an average
rate of approximately 1.2 m/day, during which further dilution will occur
through turbulent ocean mixing and passive diffusion processes.
Once beyond wind-driven predominantly southeastward flowing
surface currents, transport of disposed drilling muds and cuttings will
proceed northwest following the California Countercurrent. Average
undercurrent flow rates at the proposed disposal site range between 4.5
and 5.5 cm/sec (Hendricks 1980). Based, upon this flow rate, the largest
cuttings particles will reach the bottom .in approximately 1.75 hrs after
being discharged and at a location approximately 0.3 km northwest from
the point of discharge. The smaller cuttings particles (0.06 mm) will
arrive at the bottom in approximately 17 days at a location 7.50 km
northwest of the disposal site. Therefore, the majority of cuttings
particles will reach the floor of the San Pedro Basin in bands of
decreasing particle size between 0.3 and 7.5 km from the disposal site.
The average mud particle (0.0015 mm) would take approximately two years
to reach the depth of 900 m and would likely have traveled 300 km had it
remained in a 5 cm/sec current without vertical turbulent mixing.
In summary, most of THUMS drill cuttings would be retained
within the north half of the San Pedro Basin; however, the muds would
continue to be further dispersed and diluted, remaining in the water
column at infinitessimal concentrations for extended periods of time and
distances.
-------
.- . .
COfiyECTJYE DESCENT-
DYNAMIC COLLAPSE
PASSIVE DIFFUSION
ENCOUNTER
NEUTRAL
BUOYANCY
DIFFUSIVE SPREADING
GREATER THAN
DYNAMIC SPREADING
Figure 16. idealized jet discharge described by mathematical
model. Cross-sections are shown at three stages of
the plume. A heavy class of particles Is depicted
settling out of the plume at an early stage. Lighter
particles are shown settling during the collapse
phase. Very fine particles are shown leaving the
plume shortly after discharge and remaining near the
surface to form the visible plume.
10
o
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$221.1 (f) cont'd 91
IMPACT ASSESSMENT
The preceeding discussion on the short term fate of the
drilling muds disposed 1n the San Pedro Basin outlines the bases of the
physical transport of materials through the water column and subsequently
to the ocean floor. The Impacts on recreational, economic, esthetic, and
biological resources of such disposal are summarized below.
(1) No detrimental impacts on the area's recreational uses
are expected. Recreational values within the area include boating and
fishing. Inshore witers and shorelines are well out of the initial
dilution zone and will not be impacted.
(2) The drilling mud disposal activity will not adversely
impact the recreational and commercial value of living marine resources,
such as sport and commercial fisheries. Fishes in the vicinity of the
Initial dilution zone will move out of the area and into surrounding
areas.
(3) No long-term effects on the proposed water quality of the
dumpsite are expected. Short-term turbidity increases are expected within
the Initial dilution zone. However, the bulk of material will descend
rapidly to a depth of 60 m. The esthetic values of the area, therefore,
will be nominally impacted.
The disposal material does not contain pathonogenic organ-
isms, biologically available toxic materials or other material which
might significantly impact either fisheries, shell fisheries or public
health directly or indirectly through food chain interaction.
Ocean disposal of water based muds and cuttings have several
advantages over transporting them from offshore drill sites to land
disposal sites. The advantages are:
\
a. Decreased truck traffic from dockside and disposal
site. At present, we are dumping at sites located in West Covina, a
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S221.1 (f) cont'd 92
distance of 38 miles. Trucking of this material requires 575 round trips
a month for a total of 42,940 miles a month.
b. Decrease 1n energy use associated with trucking
to land dump sites. In excess of 28,000 gallons of fuel are used each
month.
c. Decrease of potential for nearshore air and water
pollution associated with barge transport of trucks to shore facilities.
d. Decrease of potential for air and noise pollution
due to offloading operations and trucking.
e. Unnecessary use of the presently limited Class I
disposal sites within the region.
f. Decreased marine traffic within Long Beach Outer
Harbor with a decrease 1n probability of accident 1n transit to and from
shore facilities.
g. Decrease 1n probability of accidents on California
highways.
(4) Effects on water column and benthlc organisms.
Phytoplankton. Initial discharge of the drilling muds will
Increase turbidity 1n the Initial dilution zone. Thus, a small decrease
1n primary productivity could be expected. However, the rapid descent of
the drilling muds to a depth of 60 m and subsequent diluted dispersion 1n
the California Undercurrent at the lower edge of the euphotic zone
substantially diminishes the chances of any significant reduction in
primary productivity.
Zooplankton. Temporary loss of zooplankton biomass may occur
within the initial dilution zone relaced to the physical effects of
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$221.1 (f) cont'd 93
participates Interrupting respiratory and feeding metabolism. No
toxlcity-related mortality 1s expected since the metals present 1n the
muds are biologically unavailable. Further transport of the drilling muds
to Increasing depths at minimal concentrations preclude any further
adverse Impacts occurring within the zooplankton community.
Fishes. No adverse Impacts on the pelagic, littoral, meso-
pelaglc or bathypelagic fish fauna are expected to occur. These fishes
will respond to the Increase of partlculate concentrations by moving out
of the immediate area of discharge, which will eliminate the potential
for Interruption of any metabolic processes.
The non-toxic nature of the drilling muds and cuttings will
preclude any biomagnification or mortality 1n the San Pedro Basin benthic
community.
Benthos. The San Pedro Basin benthic environment will be
impacted by the settling of the cuttings particles and the larger
drilling mud particulate fractions. Approximately 1/3 of the disposed
material (20,000 barrels of cuttings and a fraction of the drilling muds
per month) will be added to the sediments of the basin between 0.3 to 7.5
km northwest of the dumpsite.
The addition of the cuttings will likely cause a shift in the
grain size distribution toward larger fades, primarily evident nearest
the point of Impact and decreasing in Impact with increasing distance
northwest.
Biologically, t!ie shift In grain size characteristics may
alter benthic community structure and/or smother sessile benthic organ-
isms unable to migrate up through the deposited material. Biological
loss 1s expected to be minimal and localized since basin productivity is
low and the community exhibits low density, diversity, and random spatial
dispersion throughout the basin.
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S221.1 (f) cont'd 94
The non-availability of chemical constituents of the drilling
muds and cuttings to animals precludes any adverse toxicity impacts.
Primary impacts would relate to a change of the physical environment
which in turn may alter the biotic components 1n the area.
Endangered Species
No adverse short-term or long-term impacts on any federally
endangered or rare species are expected from the discharge of drilling
muds and cuttings in the San Pedro Basin.
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