EPA's Ocean Survey Vessel Bold
2009 Annual Report
Monitoring and Assessing the Health
of Our Oceans and Coastal Waters
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Acknowledgements
The Environmental Protection Agency's Oceans and Coastal Protection Division
would like to acknowledge Suzanne Schwartz for her years of dedicated support in
maintaining EPA's ability to monitor our oceans, coasts, and watersheds.
Particularly, OCPD would like to acknowledge Suzanne's efforts in acquiring and
maintaining the Ocean Survey Vessel Bold. Bon Voyage!
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Table of Contents
Executive Summary 1
Introduction 3
The Ocean Survey Vessel Bold 4
Green Activities Onboard the OSV Bold 6
No Discharge Practices 6
Lower Sulfur Dioxide Emissions 6
Better Hull Coating 6
Non-toxic Fire-Fighting Foam 7
Ballast Water Management 7
Best Management Practices 7
2009 Scientific Survey Highlights 8
Assessment and Monitoring of Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites 9
EPA's Coastal Eutrophication and Toxicity Assessments 11
Ocean Outfall Monitoring 12
Fish Waste Disposal Site Assessment and Monitoring 13
Aquatic Invasive Species Impact Assessment 13
Coral Reef Monitoring and Biocriteria Development 14
Marine Debris Monitoring 15
Support to Federal, State, and Academic Partners 16
Public Education on EPA's Oceans and Coastal Programs 17
Scientific Surveys in 2010 18
Appendix 1: OSV Bold Facilities, Equipment, and Capabilities
Appendix 2: Scientific Surveys and Public Education Events in 2008
Cover Photo: The OSV Bold docked in Savannah, GA.
Photo by: Chris McArthur, U.S. EPA
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Executive Summary
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The OSV Bold docked in Baltimore, Maryland.
Photo by Eric Vance, U.S. EPA
The mission of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's
(EPA's) Ocean Survey Vessel Bold (OSV Bold) is to monitor
and assess the health of our oceans and coastal waters. The
information gathered by the OSV Bold supports EPA-regulated
activities and allows EPA to more effectively control pollution
sources, whether from land or the ocean. Acting as a floating
laboratory, the OSV Bold is helping to chart a healthier course
for our oceans.
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Executive Summary
This is the fourth OSV Bold Annual Re-
port. It highlights the ship's 2009 scientific
survey accomplishments, capabilities, and
the unique role that this vessel plays in
supporting EPA's monitoring and assess-
ment programs. In 2009, the OSV Bold
supported scientific surveys in a variety of
geographic areas, including the Atlantic
Coast, the Gulf of Mexico, the Florida Keys,
and the Caribbean Sea. The survey mis-
sions included monitoring ocean dredged
material disposal sites, coastal eutrophica-
tion and toxicity assessments, monitoring
ocean outfalls, and assessments of critical
coral reef habitats. During this period, the
OSV Bold completed 28 oceanographic sur-
veys, involving hundreds of sampling loca-
tions, while spending 238 days at sea.
2009 Survey Highlights:
• Conducted monitoring for nine ocean
dredged material disposal sites.
• Assessed coastal eutrophication and
toxicity in the Mid-Atlantic Bight, New
York Bight, and New England.
• Assessed the impact of an invasive
coral species within the Florida Keys
National Marine Sanctuary.
• Monitored two ocean discharge outfalls
in the Mid-Atlantic Bight and in New
England.
• Surveyed coral reef environments in
the Caribbean Sea and Florida waters.
Supported Federal, State, Territorial,
and academic partners.
Sunset off the
bow of the OSV
Bold in the Bay
of Fundy.
In 2009, various survey partners con-
tributed to the OSV Bold's successful op-
eration, including: U.S. Army Corps of En-
gineers; U.S. Geological Survey; National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
U.S. Navy; Florida Department of Environ-
mental Protection; U.S. Virgin Islands De-
partment of Planning and Natural Re-
sources; Puerto Rico Department of Natural
and Environmental Resources; University of
Puerto Rico; Connecticut Department of
Environmental Protection; New York City
Department of Environmental Protection;
and, the University of Rhode Island.
In addition to supporting a large variety
of scientific surveys, the OSV Bold hosted
nine public education events in 2009. Dur-
ing these events, EPA scientists and OSV
Bold crewmembers gave tours and con-
ducted presentations for thousands of visi-
tors. The OSV Bold hosted these events in
Georgia, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Is-
land, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico,
and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
EPA's Ocean Survey Vessel Bold 2009 Annual Report
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Introduction
The oceans and coasts surrounding us
are unique resources that support a large
diversity of life. We rely on these complex
ecosystems to provide us with places to
live, play, relax, and work. Our national
economy is linked in several ways to the
productivity of our oceans and coasts. For
instance, in 2007, the coastal economy
contributed more than $13.7 trillion to
American prosperity, and supported more
than 135 million jobs, according to market
data from the National Ocean Economics
Program. Of no less value are the marine
resources that are difficult to measure eco-
nomically, such as the beauty of our oceans
and coasts, their cultural significance, and
the vital ecosystem functions they provide.
School of Cae-
sar grunts
(Haemulon car-
bonarium) in
U.S. Virgin Is-
lands coral
habitat.
Human actions can adversely affect our
oceans and coastal waters. Polluted sedi-
ments from industrial and agricultural ac-
tivities and operations can significantly al-
ter aquatic ecosystems. Wastewater im-
properly discharged from shore or from
vessels can be a threat to public health and
to marine life.
Exposure to toxic chemical and patho-
genic contamination negatively affects the
entire food web. If improperly managed,
ocean and coastal resources can be dam-
aged by habitat modification, dredging,
construction, and other human activities.
Harbor seal
swimming at
the mouth of
the Kennebec
River in
Maine.
The future health of our ocean and
coastal resources depends on our actions
today. To restore and protect these re-
sources, EPA undertakes many efforts to
identify and control problems threatening
the health of our oceans and coastal wa-
ters. Collecting information and analyzing
data to support management decisions are
essential parts of marine resource protec-
tion. The OSV Bold supports EPA-regulated
activities by surveying oceans and coasts
to: monitor and sustain the health of our
coastal waters and shores; protect human
health; support economic and recreational
activities; and influence actions that safe-
guard healthy habitats for fish, plants, and
wildlife.
Monitoring and Assessing the Health of Our Oceans and Coastal Waters
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The Ocean Survey Vesse
The OSV Bold was constructed by the
Tacoma Boat Building Company of Tacoma,
Washington, and was first commissioned
on October 16, 1989, as the United States
Naval Ship (USNS) Vigorous, a Tactical
Auxiliary General Ocean Survey class ves-
sel. The vessel was later renamed the
USNS Bold and served on many surveil-
lance missions in the Pacific Ocean for the
U.S. Navy. The Navy decommissioned the
USNS Bold in 2004. EPA acquired the ex-
USNS Bold on March 31, 2004, to replace
the Peter W. Anderson, EPA's previous
ocean survey vessel. EPA began scientific
surveys with the OSV Bold on August 8,
2005.
OSV Bold Quick Facts
Overall Length: 224 feet
Width: 43 feet
Draft: 15 feet
Water Displacement: 2300 tons
Operating Speed: 11 knots
Ship Operating Crew: 19
Scientific Berths: 20
The OSV Bold underwent dramatic
changes in her conversion from a military
surveillance vessel to an ocean and coastal
water monitoring vessel. EPA improved the
deck machinery and added wet and dry
laboratories, including a data acquisition
laboratory where information is transmitted
from the sampling equipment to com-
puters. Sampling equipment includes a side
scan sonar that provides digital acoustic
images of the ocean floor and a Conductiv-
ity, Temperature, Depth (CTD) water pro-
filer that measures physical water charac-
teristics throughout the water column in
real-time. For a detailed list of scientific
facilities and technical equipment on the
The OSV Bold docked in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
EPA's Ocean Survey Vessel Bold 2009 Annual Report
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OSV Bold, see Appendix 1.
The OSV Bold is managed by EPA's
Oceans and Coastal Protection Division, in
the Office of Water. The EPA Vessel Man-
ager, Kennard Potts, provides direction to
Seaward Services, Inc. Seaward Services
provides the sea-going crew; handles the
operation and maintenance of the vessel;
provides logistic support and contract man-
agement; and provides engineers, when
needed, specializing in marine, mechanical,
electrical, electronic, acoustical, or ocean
engineering.
The OSV Bold provides EPA and its part-
ners a platform to gather the scientific data
needed to assess the marine environment
and to make informed decisions to protect
these resources and human health. In
2009, the OSV Bold supported surveys
along the Atlantic Coast, in the Gulf of
Mexico, in the Florida Keys, and in the Car-
ibbean Sea. EPA's partners in 2009 in-
cluded the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers;
U.S. Geological Survey; National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration; U.S.
Navy; Florida Department of Environmental
Protection; U.S. Virgin Islands Department
of Planning and Natural Resources; Puerto
Rico Department of Natural and Environ-
mental Resources; University of Puerto
Rico; and the Connecticut Department of
Environmental Protection.
Scientific surveys conducted onboard
the OSV Bold address requirements of Fed-
eral statutes such as the Clean Water Act,
the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanc-
The OSV Bold Ship's Crew.
tuaries Act, and the Caribbean Basin Eco-
nomic Recovery Act. The surveys provide
scientific information and data to support
EPA's mission to protect and enhance
ocean and coastal waters through a variety
of programs, including partnerships and
regulatory actions, as well as response to
emergencies. Surveys are conducted by
scientists from various EPA offices, includ-
ing Regional offices, the Office of Water,
and the Office of Research and Develop-
ment; states and territories; academic in-
stitutions; and other partners. All surveys
are conducted under the leadership of EPA-
certified Chief Scientists, who must com-
plete a rigorous certification program be-
fore serving in that capacity.
5 Monitoring and Assessing the Health of Our Oceans and Coastal Waters
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reen Activities Onboard the OSV Boh
The OSV Bold supports EPA's mission to
protect ocean and coastal environments.
Staff and crew are dedicated to operating
the vessel in the most environmentally sus-
tainable way possible. Best management
practices coupled with the latest technolo-
gies ensure that the vessel is not degrading
the resources that we seek to protect.
New technologies and best management
practices are utilized to reduce the impact
of sewage, oil, and hull coatings that are
part of the normal operation of the vessel.
The OSV Bold is in compliance with all
domestic and international requirements
for discharges resulting from normal opera-
tions, including the 2008 Vessel General
Permit (VGP), issued under EPA's National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES). The VGP regulates discharges
incidental to the normal operation of ves-
sels operating as a means of transporta-
tion. The VGP includes general effluent lim-
its applicable to all discharges; general ef-
fluent limits applicable to 26 specific dis-
charge streams; narrative water-quality
based effluent limits; inspection, monitor-
ing, recordkeeping, and reporting require-
ments; and additional requirements appli-
cable to certain vessel types. EPA is dedi-
cated to maintaining compliance with all
discharges under the scope of the permit,
and will work with individual states to en-
sure that the OSV Bold meets requirements
established for State waters.
No Discharge Practices
The discharge of untreated or partially-
treated human waste from vessels can con-
tribute to high bacteria counts and subse-
quent increased human health risks. These
problems can be particularly harmful in
lakes, slow-moving rivers, marinas, and
other bodies of water with low flushing
rates. Blackwater (sewage) and graywater
(wastewater from showers, sinks, laun-
dries, and kitchens) are kept in holding
tanks on the OSV Bold. The waste in the
holding tanks is usually pumped to an on-
shore facility at the end of a mission. If a
holding tank fills on a voyage, a marine
sanitation device treats and disinfects the
waste. After treatment, waste (containing
blackwater and graywater) is disposed of
only beyond three nautical miles from the
shoreline.
In addition, all shipboard-generated gar-
bage, cooking oils, and greases are col-
lected and disposed of at onshore facilities.
Any liquid collected in the bilge
(compartment holding water at the bottom
of a ship) is disposed of onshore in special
reception facilities. Strict rules apply to dis-
posal of all chemicals used in ship laborato-
ries.
Lower Sulfur Dioxide Emissions
Sulfur dioxide is an air pollutant that
ships generate from burning fuel and that
can travel over long distances. It contrib-
EPA's Ocean Survey Vessel Bold 2009 Annual Report
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utes to respiratory illness and to the forma-
tion of acid precipitation. Whenever avail-
able, the OSV Bold uses an ultra low-sulfur
fuel that significantly reduces harmful air
emissions.
Better Hull Coating
Hull coatings prevent corrosion and bio-
logical growth. These coatings reduce drag
and increase fuel efficiency of a vessel. The
hull coating on the OSV Bold does not con-
tain organotin (toxic chemical painted on
ship's hull) pesticides, and is certified as
compliant with the International Maritime
Organization's International Convention on
the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems
on Ships. Information collected by EPA and
the Department of Defense (DoD) indicates
that the hull coating used on the OSV Bold
has the lowest copper leach rate of hull
coatings approved for use on DoD vessels.
A lower leach rate means a lower impact to
surrounding waters.
Non-toxic Fire-Fighting Foam
EPA uses fire-fighting foam that can
handle any fires on the ship; the foam is
also environmentally safe. This protein-
based foam ensures efficient fire control.
Ballast Water Management
Ballast water tanks temporarily hold wa-
ter to provide draft (immersion depth of a
vessel) and stability. Ballast water trans-
ported and discharged by vessels may
carry organisms from one waterbody to
another. This is a main pathway for intro-
ducing and spreading aquatic invasive spe-
cies (non-native species that can cause
harm to human health, the environment, or
the economy). As standard operating pro-
cedure, any exchange of ballast water
(emptying and refilling ballast tanks) is re-
corded and done by the OSV Bold at sea,
to limit potential transfer of invasive spe-
cies between different waterbodies.
Best Management Practices
Best management practices are em-
ployed in daily operations of the OSV Bold.
Oil is carefully collected, and fueling of en-
gines on rigid-hull inflatable boats is done
with the utmost care to avoid spills. Special
absorbent products and materials are used
to collect drips of oil, grease, or fuel.
In addition, EPA supports shipyards that
employ creativity and innovation to make
their operations more environmentally sus-
tainable.
EPA scientists deploy a water profile
instrument to measure physical charac-
teristics of water within the Long Island
Sound.
Monitoring and Assessing the Health of Our Oceans and Coastal Waters
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2009 Scientific Survey Highlights
Figure 1: Scope of OSV Bold Monitoring and Assessments in 2009.
Legend
| EPA Region 1
EPA Region 2
| EPA Region 3
| EPA Region 4
I EPA Region 6
Pen ob scot Bay
NH\|^ Massachusetts Bay
ipe Cod Bay
'Rhode Island Sound
Central Long Island Sound
:ern Long Island Sound
Bethany Beach, DE
'Ocean City, MD
Florida Keys
PR
La Parguera
St. Thomas, USVI
Jobos Bay
In 2009 the OSV Bold conducted scientific surveys in the At-
lantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and the
Florida Keys (see Figure 1). While spending 238 days at sea,
the OSV Bold completed a total of 28 oceanographic surveys,
involving hundreds of sampling locations. In addition, the OSV
Bold held educational events in Georgia, Maryland, Pennsyl-
vania, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, U.S. Virgin Is-
lands, and Puerto Rico.
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Assessment and Monitoring of
Ocean Dredged Material Dis-
posal Sites
The nation's ports, harbors, and naviga-
ble waterways are vital to the U.S. econ-
omy and national security. Dredging (the
removal of sediments to maintain access to
those important areas) has become in-
creasingly significant as ships increase in
size. Dredged material disposal must be
conducted in a safe and environmentally
acceptable manner under requirements of
the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanc-
tuaries Act (MPRSA), and the Clean Water
Act. Under the MPRSA, EPA is responsible
for designating ocean dredged material dis-
posal sites, and for evaluating and concur-
ring on dredged material ocean disposal
permits issued by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers. Additionally, the MPRSA re-
quires that a site monitoring and manage-
ment plan be prepared for each site before
it may be used for dredged material dis-
posal. A crucial part of site monitoring and
management plans is the characterization
of baseline conditions prior to any disposal
activity being conducted at the site, so that
changes in benthic (bottom of water) habi-
tat resulting from disposal activities can be
identified during future surveys.
One of the primary missions of the OSV
Bold is to perform the required periodic
monitoring of existing designated ocean
disposal sites, and to collect environmental
data that can be used to designate new
disposal sites. EPA scientists used the OSV
Bold to assess and monitor conditions at
several ocean dredged material disposal
sites (ODMDS). Under the MPRSA, ODMDS
trend assessment surveys are required to
The OSV Bold docked in the Port of Davisville in North Kingston, Rhode Island.
9 Monitoring and Assessing the Health of Our Oceans and Coastal Waters
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assess the extent and trends of environ-
mental impacts of dredged material dis-
posal. Along the coasts of Jacksonville,
Florida, and Dam Neck, Virginia, EPA scien-
tists used the OSV Bold to perform ODMDS
trend assessments. EPA scientists collected
samples of bottom sediment from various
locations in and around the Jacksonville
and Dam Neck sites to determine chemical
and physical sediment characteristics. The
scientists also collected biological speci-
mens to detect any changes in species
composition, presence, and abundance.
The results of these surveys will be used to
evaluate whether dredged material placed
at the site has caused adverse impacts, as
compared to areas left undisturbed.
EPA scientists used the OSV Bold to con-
firm that dredged material is disposed
properly at ocean disposal sites, that the
dumping does not unreasonably degrade or
endanger human health or the marine en-
vironment, and that the sites are function-
ing as expected. Conditions at disposal
sites located offshore of Savannah, Geor-
gia, and Norfolk, Virginia, were assessed by
EPA scientists to determine if the monitor-
ing and management of the sites is effec-
tive, and to ensure that dredged material
disposal is not adversely affecting the sites.
In both locations, the OSV Bold used side
scan sonar to map the seafloor geological
features and sediment types within the
ODMDS. The seafloor mapping results will
serve as a baseline for future monitoring
efforts to determine if disposed material is
migrating from the disposal site.
In 2009, EPA scientists used the OSV
Bold to characterize bottom habitat and
water conditions at the Tampa ODMDS in
the Gulf of Mexico. Viability of Tampa Bay
as a commercial marine transportation hub
depends upon routine maintenance dredg-
ing of all shipping channels. Since options
for beneficial use or upland disposal of
dredged material are limited in this area,
there is a growing need to use more of the
Tampa ODMDS. While the Tampa site is
quite large and deep, its ability to receive
more dredged material is impeded by the
existence of a "Briar Patch" habitat. The
"Briar Patch" is a disposal mound of
dredged material which now serves a habi-
tat for fish populations and sessile (not
free-moving) communities. Throughout the
survey, scientists also identified and char-
acterized the species that occupy the "Briar
Patch" to determine the potential effects of
increased dredged material disposal. This
ongoing effort in Tampa will supply essen-
tial data required for managing disposal
within the ODMDS in the most environmen-
tally-protective manner.
EPA scientists also used the OSV Bold to
collect data from Western Long Island
Sound (WLIS), Central Long Island Sound
(CLIS), and Cape Cod Bay ODMDS. This
data will supplement data collected from
Eastern Long Island Sound (ELIS) ODMDS
in 2007, as well as support dredged mate-
rial management efforts, by providing the
first complete digital side scan sonar data
set for all LIS active disposal sites. This
survey was designed to map spatial distri-
EPA's Ocean Survey Vessel Bold 2009 Annual Report
10
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bution of the dredged material at the dis-
posal sites, provide information to evaluate
the current management of the sites, and
to further characterize the sites. Addition-
ally, as a component of this survey, Sedi-
ment Profile Imaging (SPI) equipment was
used for the first time to characterize
chemical, physical, and biological seafloor
processes.
Selecting appropriate sites to receive
suitable dredged material, as well as sub-
sequent monitoring of designated ODMDS,
protects the marine environment. The OSV
Bold helps to locate and evaluate new ar-
eas to receive dredged material. Prior to
designating a site for dredged material dis-
posal, EPA scientists are required to ensure
that activities at the proposed site do not
affect areas of natural, scientific, historical,
or cultural significance.
The Mobile ODMDS and the Jacksonville
ODMDS both require expansion to support
future disposal of dredged materials. Areas
for expanding the Mobile ODMDS have
been proposed and determined to be suit-
able locations; locations surrounding the
Jacksonville ODMDS are still being exam-
ined for potential expansion, or even desig-
nation of a new site. Future surveys will
continue to identify and characterize suit-
able areas near the existing Jacksonville
ODMDS.
EPA's Coastal Eutrophication
and Toxicity Assessments
In 2009, the OSV Bold supported four
EPA scientist collects sediment samples from
the Jacksonville, Florida ODMDS.
surveys examining eutrophication within
coastal waters. Eutrophication is caused by
an excess of chemical nutrients such as
nitrogen and phosphorus. Significant
coastal eutrophication can lead to hypoxia,
an environmental condition where dis-
solved oxygen (DO) is so low that the sys-
tem no longer supports aquatic organisms.
Coastal eutrophication can also lead to al-
terations in the plankton community, such
as the condition known as "red tide" (an
increase in toxic, naturally occurring micro-
scopic algae).
Along the Mid-Atlantic Bight, the OSV
Bold supported an established coastal trend
monitoring plan assessing eutrophication.
Water quality samples were collected from
North Carolina to New Jersey to determine
if coastal eutrophication is increasing or
declining (long-term nutrient trends), and
11 Monitoring and Assessing the Health of Our Oceans and Coastal Waters
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what management actions should be con-
sidered to improve water quality.
In coastal New England, the OSV Bold
supported the expansion of coastal nutrient
criteria development surveys conducted in
2004 and 2005, by adding additional sam-
pling stations. Over 200 water samples
were collected off Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, and Maine, with special focus
on Penobscot Bay in Maine. There, EPA
sampling will complement a major estua-
rine nutrient criteria study conducted by
the Maine Department of Environmental
Protection
During August 2009, EPA scientists on
the OSV Bold conducted a continuous sur-
vey throughout Western Long Island Sound
(WLIS) to perform DO and nutrient assess-
ments. This survey was the first time con-
tinuous sampling occurred in this area. Per-
forming this repeated sampling will provide
information on the short-term variability in
water column DO and nutrient concentra-
tions, the area and volume of hypoxia over
tidal and diel (a daily 24-hour period) cy-
cles, and the vertical mixing of nutrients. It
will also assist the National Estuary Pro-
gram's Long Island Sound Study (LISS)
assess future monitoring needs, design
programs to estimate hypoxic areas, and
improve the models of nutrient mixing in
water quality studies of the LIS.
In coastal waters of New York and New
Jersey, low levels of DO have been re-
ported as a result of excessive coastal eu-
trophication. These conditions have led to
hypoxic areas, particularly during the sum-
mer months, when high sea surface tem-
peratures create a highly-stratified water
column with oxygen-depleted bottom wa-
ters. As a result, these hypoxic conditions
can result in severe impacts to local ben-
thic populations offish and invertebrates.
In the summer of 2009, the OSV Bold
monitored coastal waters in the New York
Bight from Nantucket, Massachusetts, to
Cape May, New Jersey, to provide data on
nutrient and DO concentrations, and to as-
sess hypoxic or potential hypoxic condi-
tions. EPA scientists used a water profiler
to measure conductivity, temperature,
depth, DO, and additional physical proper-
ties. The data collected will be used to alert
New York-New Jersey Harbor stakeholders
of potential or actual low oxygen condi-
tions; to assist in the development of nutri-
ent Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
(maximum amounts of nutrients that a wa-
ter body can receive and still safely meet
water quality standards); and, to ensure
that nutrient conditions are adequately rep-
resented in the model used by EPA to de-
scribe and predict eutrophication through-
out the NY-NJ Harbor.
Ocean Outfall Monitoring
In 2009, the OSV Bold supported two
surveys on the impacts of ocean outfall dis-
charges on coastal waters.
Along the Mid-Atlantic Bight, EPA scien-
tists collected water samples to investigate
water quality near three ocean outfalls in
Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. Levels of
EPA's Ocean Survey Vessel Bold 2009 Annual Report
12
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bacterial contamination due to Enterococci
(bacteria used as an indicator organism to
assess human pollution within marine and
estuary waters) were assessed. The objec-
tive was to monitor the impact of the dis-
posal of pollutants in accordance with the
requirements of Section 403(c) of the
Clean Water Act.
The second ocean outfall survey was
conducted at sewage outfalls in Massachu-
setts Bay and in southern Maine. The goal
of this survey was to determine the influ-
ence of river and outfall discharges on nu-
trient concentrations.
Fish Waste Disposal Site As-
sessment and Monitoring
The OSV Bold supported the annual sur-
vey of a fish waste disposal site off the Vir-
ginia Capes. The survey evaluated the ef-
fect of this disposal on the marine environ-
ment, and included collecting data to de-
termine if any recreational fish are in the
area, as well as monitoring the presence of
living shellfish species. The survey also ex-
amined the site to determine if it was being
degraded by the placement offish waste.
Aquatic Invasive Species Im-
pact Assessment
Aquatic invasive species have affected
all coastal waters of the U.S., including the
Florida Keys, Caribbean, and the Gulf of
Mexico. The most common sources of
aquatic invasive species include escapes
from aquaculture sources, ballast water
discharges, and accidental or deliberate
introductions. Invasive species can affect
aquatic ecosystems both directly or indi-
rectly; they can reduce native populations
and alter run-off dynamics. Consequently,
many commercial and recreational activi-
ties can be influenced.
In 2009, EPA scientists performed a sur-
vey in the Florida Keys National Marine
Sanctuary to characterize the existing
EPA scientists deploy bongo nets off the coast of New England.
13 Monitoring and Assessing the Health of Our Oceans and Coastal Waters
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populations of Tubastraea coccinea (T. coc-
c/'nea), and to assess the impacts of this
non-native coral species. T. coccinea has
the potential to adversely impact native
coral reef communities by several factors,
including: (1) its ability to kill tissues in na-
tive corals; (2) its high reproduction rates;
(3) its ability to out-compete native coral
species for important resources; and (4)
the lack of a natural predator in Florida wa-
ters.
EPA scientists collected tissue samples
from the non-native coral and also photo-
graphed both invasive and native coral
colonies. These data will aid scientists in
determining the colony/population growth
and recruitment rates (the rate at which
EPA scientists collect aquatic species data off
the coast of Virginia.
free swimming coral larvae settle onto
coral reefs) in the non-native species.
These data will also help to determine if
the presence of T. coccinea results in low
levels of biodiversity and low recruitment
rates in the native coral species.
Coral Reef Monitoring and
Biocriteria Development
Coral reefs are declining worldwide due
to rising sea water temperature, as well as
effects from local stresses, such as exces-
sive nutrient loading, sedimentation, and
direct physical damage to coral popula-
tions. Coral reefs are extremely important
ecosystems because they provide habitat
for numerous fish and invertebrate species.
The structure and presence of a strong and
diverse coral community supports tourism,
fisheries, and research opportunities, as
well as guarding shorelines from erosion by
waves and currents. Corals also provide
important sensitivity measures of water
quality and general ecological health.
In February and March 2009, a coral
condition survey was performed in St. Tho-
mas and St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
(U.S.V.I). The primary objective of this
survey was to characterize coral composi-
tion, size, and health of corals in the wa-
ters surrounding St. John and St. Thomas
using EPA's Office of Research and Devel-
opment's Stony Coral Rapid Bioassessment
Protocol. The data collected during this sur-
vey, combined with data from two previous
surveys of St. Croix, U.S.V.I. corals, will
provide a baseline assessment of coral con-
EPA's Ocean Survey Vessel Bold 2009 Annual Report
14
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EPA scientists collect coral reef data in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
ditions in the Virgin Islands, and will help
the U.S.V.I. Department of Planning and
Natural Resources (DPNR) create an effec-
tive long-term monitoring and assessment
strategy for the coral reefs in the U.S.V.I.
During the survey in the U.S.V.I., EPA
scientists used an innovative protocol de-
signed to capture the complexity of the
three-dimensional structure of coral reefs,
and identify metrics, or indicators, of coral
conditions. Standards based on these met-
rics can be used to create biological criteria
(or biocriteria) with which the DPNR can
monitor and manage coastal water quality.
Biocriteria are powerful management tools,
since biological communities are reliable
indicators of aquatic health. The recorded
measurements will help scientists to calcu-
late sensitive indices to describe the condi-
tions of the reefs. This survey provided
core measurements that can be used to
create the first ever coral biocriteria.
The OSV Bold also conducted a survey
in the DryTortugas National Park (DRTO)
in Florida. The survey assessed the ecologi-
cal status and trends of coral communities
throughout the park, as part of the Coral
Reef Evaluation and Monitoring Project.
The project will also evaluate the effects
and recovery from the 2004 and 2005 hur-
ricane seasons on coral communities.
Marine Debris Monitoring
Marine debris (any persistent solid
waste material that is directly or indirectly
discharged into or abandoned in the
aquatic environment) is a problem in
oceans, coasts, and watersheds throughout
the world. It can result from human activi-
ties anywhere within the watershed, such
as an overturned trash can on land, litter
left on a street or beach, or trash thrown
15 Monitoring and Assessing the Health of Our Oceans and Coastal Waters
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overboard from a vessel.
To initiate the development of a stan-
dardized EPA protocol for marine debris
monitoring, EPA and the University of
Puerto Rico used various types of gear and
sampling methods to survey coastal and
open water around Puerto Rico for debris
items. All debris collected was counted and
categorized, and the various methods of
sampling will be evaluated. Additional sur-
veys were also conducted along the Mid-
Atlantic Bight to collect marine debris data,
which will also be integrated into the devel-
opment of the protocol.
Support to Federal, State, and
Academic Partners
In 2009, the OSV Bold supported Fed-
eral, State, and academic partners in a
number of oceanographic surveys.
Using the OSV Bold, EPA scientists part-
nered with the University of Rhode Island
to classify and map fisheries habitats within
Rhode Island Sound and Block Island
Sound, as well as map areas of historic
dredged material disposal. The survey
helped to support Rhode Island's Special
Area Management Plan studies to deter-
mine the best uses of offshore areas, and
to facilitate proper environmental manage-
ment of these areas. Side scan sonar,
wide-swath bathymetry (seafloor bottom
topography), and sub-bottom seismic
equipment were used to map 25 new areas
to calculate the distribution of the critical
fisheries habitat in both Sounds. The sur-
vey will also determine if there were any
long- term impacts of dredged material dis-
posal to habitats in Rhode Island Sound.
In February and March 2009, the OSV
Bold supported surveys to monitor and as-
sess coastal conditions in EPA's Caribbean
jurisdictions - Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin
Islands (U.S.V.I.). Many partners contrib-
uted to the success of the 2009 Caribbean
Initiative surveys, including the U.S.V.I.
Department of Planning and Natural Re-
sources (DPNR), Puerto Rico Department of
Natural and Environmental Resources
(DNER), University of Puerto Rico (UPR),
and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA). In Puerto Rico and
U.S.V.I., several studies supported various
EPA programs, in addition to cooperative
efforts with Federal, Commonwealth, and
academic partners.
At the beginning of the 2009 Caribbean
Initiative, the Puerto Rico government re-
quested the OSV Bold's assistance in re-
sponse to a plane that crashed off Puerto
Rico's northwest coast. Performing side
scan sonar surveys, the OSV Bold was able
to locate airplane debris, assisting the gov-
ernment in their search.
EPA, NOAA, and DNER conducted a side
scan sonar survey on the OSV Bold to pro-
vide imaging of benthic outer reef areas
south of the Jobos Bay National Estuarine
Research Reserve in Puerto Rico. The Jobos
Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
encompasses a chain of 15 tear-shaped
mangrove islets which create the second
largest estuarine area in Puerto Rico. The
EPA's Ocean Survey Vessel Bold 2009 Annual Report
16
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benthic mapping from the survey will assist
DNER to improve biological monitoring
strategies. This project will also provide the
data to create CIS maps detailing critical
information on the extent and condition of
essential recreational fisheries habitat
types, and will provide for the development
of management strategies to protect and
monitor critical fish habitats.
EPA also supported the Caribbean Time
Series Station program, which is main-
tained by UPR, by collecting sea water tem-
perature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen
levels, which are all indicators of water
quality.
Public Education on EPA's
Oceans and Coastal Programs
When in port between scientific surveys,
the OSV Bold was used for environmental
education on challenging issues facing the
health of marine waters. In 2009, the OSV
Bold hosted open ship visits in Georgia,
New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island,
Maryland, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and
the U.S. Virgin Islands. Many of these open
ship events were held in urban areas such
as New York City, Philadelphia, and Balti-
more, helping to increase the public's
knowledge of significant water pollution
issues which are often greater in urban wa-
ters. During the events, scientists and crew
members described the OSV Bold's scien-
tific facilities, sampling equipment, and
dive-operation capabilities to the public.
In Savannah, Georgia, the OSV Bold
hosted local Girl Scout troops, providing
EPA scientist demonstrates sediment survey equip-
ment to visitors in Savannah, Georgia.
them with hands-on activities about water
quality and the coastal environment. These
activities also helped to support Girl Scout
badge requirements for Water Wonders,
Water Fun, and Science Discovery badges.
Additionally, EPA partnered with the Skid-
way Oceanographic Institute, University of
Georgia, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Georgia Department of Natural Resources,
and NOAA's Grays Reefs National Marine
Sanctuary, giving tours and conducting
presentations for the public.
In Baltimore, Maryland, the OSV Bold
hosted an event in which EPA scientists and
OSV Bold crew demonstrated the state-of-
the-art technology and scientific methods
used for oceanographic surveys aboard the
OSV Bold. Attendees included local middle
school students; the EPA Assistant Admin-
istrator for Water; the EPA Region 3 Acting
Administrator; and over 500 members of
the public.
17 Monitoring and Assessing the Health of Our Oceans and Coastal Waters
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Scientific Surveys in
EPA scientists pull in a trawl net onboard the OSV Bold.
Photo by Ashley Greene, U.S. EPA/ORISE
OSV Bold surveys scheduled for 2010 include:
Assessment and monitoring
of ocean dredged material
disposal sites
Fish waste disposal site
assessment and monitoring
Ocean outfall monitoring
Marine debris monitoring
Coral reef monitoring and
biocriteria development
Gulf of Mexico hypoxia
assessment and monitoring
Coastal eutrophication and
toxicity assessments
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Appendix 1: OSV Bold Facilities,
Equipment, and Capabilities
Scientific Facilities
Wet Laboratory: Equipped with sieve station (i.e.,
sieving table and trays); wash station with hot and
cold freshwater and saltwater; ice machine (for
sample preservation); refrigerator; electronic navi-
gation data ports; and electronic navigation chart
display with ship's location and navigation informa-
tion.
Survey Operations Center: Equipped with refrig-
erators; freezers; sub-zero freezers; distilled wa-
ter; computers; storage space; microscopes; and
85 linear feet of lab benches.
Microbiology Laboratory: Equipped with autoclave
and incubator.
Data Acquisition Center: Equipped with computer
systems to support digital data recorded from side
scan sonar operations; water profiler deployment;
and underwater video filming.
.
Side scan sonar equipment onboard the
OSV Bold.
Sampling Equipment
Side Scan Sonar: Produces digital acoustic images
of ocean floor.
Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth Water Profiler:
Measures physical water characteristics in situ in
real-time throughout the water column.
Rosette Water Sampler: Collects water at specified
depths in the water column.
Sediment Sampling Equipment: A variety of grabs
and corers are used for the collection of sediments.
Dredges: Collect oceanic organisms from the sea-
floor and sediments.
Sampling Nets: Collect oceanic organisms, such as
fish and plankton, from various depths in the water
column.
A-Frame: Assists the deployment and retrieval of
the side scan sonar and sediment sampling equip-
ment.
Diver Operation Capabilities
Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boat (RHIB): At all times,
the OSV Bold carries two RHIBs to support dive
operations.
Dive Locker: Nitrox/Air compressor; 31 SCUBA
tanks; diver communication devices (i.e., diver-to-
diver, diver-to-surface); diver recall system for
emergency situations; dry suits; and full-face
masks available for use by certified diving person-
nel.
EPA scientists onboard a rigid-hulled inflatable
boat in the Caribbean Sea.
Monitoring and Assessing the Health of Our Oceans and Coastal Waters
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Appendix 2: Scientific Surveys and
Public Education Events in 2009
Survey/Event
Assessment and Monitoring of Ocean Dredged
Material Disposal Sites
Coastal Eutrophication and Toxicity Assess-
ments
Fish Waste Disposal Site Assessment and
Monitoring
Aquatic Invasive Species Invasive Coral
Impact Assessment Species
spe
Location
Savannah, Georgia
Tampa, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Dam Neck, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Western Long Island Sound
Central Long Island Sound
Cape Cod Bay
Mobile, Alabama
Mid-Atlantic Bight (North
Carolina to New Jersey)
New England (Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, and Maine)
Month(s)
May, June, and November
July and August
Western Long Island Sound August
Ocean Outfall Monitoring
August and September
July
New York Bight (New Jersey
to Massachusetts)
Mid-Atlantic Bight (North
Carolina to New Jersey)
New England (Massachusetts, July and August
New Hampshire, and Maine)
Southern Virginia June
Florida Keys National Marine
Sanctuary, Florida
December
EPA's Ocean Survey Vessel Bold 2009 Annual Report
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Survey/Event
Location
Month(s)
Coral Reef Monitoring and Biocriteria Develop- St. Thomas and St. John, U.S. February and March
ment
Marine Debris Monitoring
Support to Federal, State, and Academic
Partners
Virgin Islands
Dry Tortugas National Park,
Florida
Puerto Rico
Mid-Atlantic Bight
April and May
February
June and July
Rhode Island Sound and Block August and September
Island Sound, Rhode Island
Quebradillas, Puerto Rico
February
Public Education on EPA's Oceans and
Coastal Programs
Jobos Bay National Estuarine
Research Reserve, Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.
Savannah, Georgia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
New London, Connecticut
Narragansett, Rhode Islan
New York, New York
Baltimore, Maryland
February
February
February
March
September
September
September
Monitoring and Assessing the Health of Our Oceans and Coastal Waters
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EPA's Ocean Survey Vessel Bold
2009 Annual Report
Monitoring and Assessing the Health
of Our Oceans and Coastal Waters
&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Coastal Protection Division
Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds
Office of Water
EPA West (4504T)
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20460
www.epa.gov/owow
EPA 842-R-10-002
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