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
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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
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                                          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.
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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
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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
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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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