SCIENCE  IN  THE   REGION
 Science
 ^RESULTS

                                                         NEW  ENGLAND
                                                        OSV  Bold Ocean  Disposal  Site  Monitoring
                   EPA    |    SCIENCE  AT  THE  EPA   NEW  ENGLAND  REGIONAL  OFFICE
  SCIENCE lies at the heart of the mission of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Agency must rely on cutting edge research, accurate
  measurements and effective technology to implement its programs to protect the environment and human health. Without sound science and credible data,
  EPA can not wisely set environmental and health standards, clean up contaminated sites, measure ambient air and water qua/it/ conditions, or identify the new
  technologies or practices that will reduce releases to the environment. These fact sheets share with you some of our EPA New England's laboratory capabilities
  and exemplify some of the very best science we do to meet our agency mission.
KEY  CONTACTS:


MELVILLE P. COTE, JR.
Manager, Ocean & Coastal
Protection Unit
cote.mel@epa.gov

MATTHEW LIEBMAN
EPA Region 1 Chief Scientist
liebirian.matt@epa.gov

MARCEL  BELAVAL
EPA Region I Chief Scientist
belaval marcel@epa.gov

JEAN  BROCHI
EPA Region 1 Chief Scientist
brochi.|ean@epa.gov
GENERAL INFO:


EPA NEW ENGLAND
REGIONAL LABORATORY
 11 Technology Dr.
North Chelmsford. MA OI8&3
(617) 918-8300
www.epa.gov/ne/lab
www.epa.gov/bold

TOLL FREE
CUSTOMER  SERVICE
1-800-EPA-7341
GOAL:
One of EPA's mandates is to designate ocean dredged material disposal sites and monitor their use to ensure that
adverse impacts are not occurring to the marine environment. To maintain continued use as well as shipping and
boating safety, the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) and private applicants routinely dredge navigation channels
and marinas. The dredged sediments sometimes contain chemicals associated with urban runoff, historic pollution or
harbor activities. Most dredged material is placed in one of New England's five EPA-designated ocean disposal sites
once it has been tested rigorously under EPA and ACOE guidelines.
PROGRESS:
EPA New England's regional scientists use the 224'-long
converted U.S. Navy ship Ocean Survey Vessel BOLD
to monitor these disposal sites and compare them to
reference areas. The vessel is equipped with digital side
scan sonar, underwater video and water and sediment
sampling devices, including a sediment profile imaging
system, or sediment camera. These instruments help
scientists "see" and map the ocean floor to analyze the
characteristics of bottom sediments, monitor benthic
health and diversity at disposal sites, and determine
whether dredged material is disposed at intended
locations. Side scan sonar can help identify geological
features, shipwrecks and man-made objects. Sediment
grabs are used to collect sediments and measure con-
centrations of contaminants and the sediment camera
provides a cross-sectional view of the condition of the
marine sediment below the surface

In 2006. scientists collected sediments and analyzed
side scan sonar images at the 300'-deep Massachusetts
Bay Disposal Site (MBDS). Sediment contaminant levels
were elevated above the reference areas,  but not at
levels expected to cause adverse impacts.  Side scan
images confirmed the presence of over  1,000 waste
containers at the inactive Industrial Waste Site adjacent
to the MBDS. In 2007 and 2009. sediment chemistry
and side scan  sonar images were collected at two
disposal sites and their corresponding reference areas
in eastern Long Island Sound (LIS). Contaminant levels
at these sites also were elevated above the reference
areas, but not at levels that will cause adverse impacts.
Side scan sonar imaging confirmed that one disposal
site was primarily sandy, with high-energy sediment
features (such as sand waves), and the other exhibited
fine-grained sediments characteristic of a less energetic
environment. In 2010, EPA scientists used the OSV
BOLD to collect additional sediments at reference
areas  in  Long Island Sound and to further evaluate the
extent of historically disposed  waste containers at the
Industrial Waste Site.

BENEFITS:
Both EPA and the Army Corps use the data collected
to ensure dredged material at  ocean disposal sites does
not cause adverse impacts to the marine environment.
Knowledge of sediment properties helps guide scientists
in their effort to determine the types of dredged
material appropriate for disposal at each site Reference
area data are used to evaluate the suitability of dredged
material for disposal. And knowledge of the location of
historically disposed waste containers helps the agency
protect public health. These sampling results help EPA
New England continue its mission to monitor and
manage  dredged material disposal and existing disposal
sites, and designate new disposal sites when necessary.
                                                United STatei
                                                Environmental Protection
                                                                                    EPA-901-F-11-023
                                                                                         August 2011
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