842-R-08-001
Ocean Survey Vessel Bold
Annual Report 2007
Monitoring and Assessing
the Health of Our Ocean and
Coastal Waters
inn
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1 Executive Summary
3 Introduction
4 The OSV Bold
6 Green Activities On-Board the OSV Bold
8 2007 Survey Highlights
9 Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Assessment and Monitoring
10 Maintaining Depth of Shipping Channels to U.S. Ports:
Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site Assessment and Monitoring
11 Coral Reef Monitoring and Biocriteria Development
12 Coastal Water, Sediment, and Organism Toxicity Assessments
13 Fish Waste Disposal Site Assessment and Monitoring
13 Coastal Eutrophication Assessment
14 Ocean Outfall Monitoring
14 Disposal Site Surveys
15 Support to Federal, State, Territorial, and Academic Partners
18 Public Education on EPA Oceans and Coastal Programs
18 Surveys in 2008
19 Appendix 1: OSV Bold Facilities and Technical Equipment
21 Appendix 2: OSV Bold Scientific Surveys in 2007
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The mission of 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 al-
lows EPA to more effectively prevent effects from numerous pollution sources, whether
from land or from the ocean. Acting as a floating laboratory, the OSV Bold is helping to chart a
healthier course for our oceans, so they may be enjoyed for years to come.
This is the second OSV Bold Annual Report. It highlights the ship's scientific survey capabili-
ties, accomplishments, and the unique role that this vessel plays in supporting EPA's monitor-
ing and assessment programs. In 2007, the OSV Bold supported scientific surveys over a wide
variety of geographic areas and missions, including an assessment of Gulf of Mexico hypoxia,
monitoring of ocean dredged material disposal sites, monitoring ocean outfalls, and assess-
ment of critical coral reef habitats. During this period, the OSV Bold completed a total of 40
oceanographic surveys, involving hundreds of sampling locations, while spending over 270 days
at sea.
2007 Survey Highlights:
Gathered data on two Gulf of Mexico hypoxia surveys in April and August.
Conducted monitoring for 12 ocean dredged material disposal sites and one fish waste site
managed by EPA.
Surveyed coral reef environments in the Caribbean Sea and in Florida waters.
Assessed coastal development impacts on fisheries in New England.
Monitored shellfish waste disposal impacts to the marine environment off the coast
of Virginia.
Assessed coastal eutrophication in the Mid-Atlantic Bight from New York to North Carolina.
Monitored five ocean discharge outfalls for the effects on the marine environment in the
Caribbean Sea, Mid-Atlantic Bight, and Florida waters.
Supported federal, state, territorial, and academic partners.
EPA's Ocean Survey Vessel Bold 2007 Annual Report
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Various survey partners contributed to the OSV Bold's second year of successful operation,
including U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Navy, U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Planning
and Natural Resources, National Estuary Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration, University of Puerto Rico, University of Connecticut, and Rutgers University.
In addition to supporting a number of diverse scientific surveys, more than 15 public educa-
tion events were held on the OSV Bold in 2007. The OSV Bold hosted these events in New York,
Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maryland, Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. In Puerto
Rico, participants included National Estuary Program Directors, local newspapers and schools,
and international non-governmental organizations.
The OSV Bold at dock in Baltimore, Maryland.
Monitoring and Assessing the Health of Our Oceans and Coastal Waters
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Our oceans and coasts are unique re-
sources that support a wide diversity
of life. We depend on these complex
ecosystems to provide us with places to live,
play, relax, and work. Our national economy
is linked in a number of ways to the produc-
tivity of our oceans and coasts. For instance,
in 2004, the ocean economy contributed more
than $138 billion to American prosperity, and
supported more than two million jobs, accord-
ing to market data from the National Ocean
Economics Program. Of no less value are the
marine resources that are difficult to measure
economically, such as the beauty of our oceans
and coasts, their cultural significance, and the
vital ecosystem functions they provide.
Human actions adversely affect our oceans
and coastal waters. Polluted sediments can sig-
nificantly alter aquatic ecosystems. Wastewa-
ter discharged from shore or from vessels that
violate permit requirements can be a threat to
public health and marine life. Exposure to toxic
chemical and pathogenic contamination nega-
tively affects the entire food web. If not man-
aged properly, ocean and coastal resources can
be damaged by habitat modification, dredging,
construction, and other human activities.
The future health of our ocean and coastal
resources depends on our actions today. To
restore and safeguard these resources, EPA
undertakes many efforts to identify and con-
trol problems that threaten the health of our
oceans and coastal waters. Gathering informa-
tion and analyzing data to support manage-
ment decisions are essential parts of marine
resource protection. The Ocean Survey Vessel
Bold (OSV Bold) surveys oceans and coasts to
protect human health, to support economic and
recreational activities, and to influence actions
that safeguard healthy habitat for fish, plants,
and wildlife.
EPA's Ocean Survey Vessel Bold 2007 Annual Report
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The OSV Bold was constructed by the
Tacoma Boat Building Company of Ta-
coma, Washington, and was first com-
missioned on October 16, 1989, as the United
States Naval Ship (USNS) Vigorous, a Tactical
Auxiliary General Ocean Survey (T-AGOS) class
vessel. The vessel was later renamed the USNS
Bold and served on many surveillance missions
in the Pacific Ocean. 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 sur-
vey vessel. EPA began scientific surveys with
the OSV Bold on August 8, 2005.
The OSV Bold underwent dramatic changes
in her transformation from a military surveil-
lance vessel to an ocean and coastal monitor-
ing vessel. EPA improved the deck machinery
Quick Facts
and added wet and dry laboratories, including
a data acquisition laboratory where information
is transmitted from the sampling equipment to
computers. Sampling equipment includes, but
is not limited to, a side scan sonar that produc-
es digital acoustic images of the ocean floor and
a water profiler that measures physical water
characteristics in real-time throughout the wa-
ter column. For a detailed list of scientific facili-
ties and technical equipment on the 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 Manager, Kennard Potts,
provides direction to Seaward Services, Inc.
(EPA's contractor) which handles the operation
and maintenance of the vessel.
The OSV Bold provides EPA and its partners
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 Bo/d at sea.
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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. EPA's partners in 2007 in-
cluded the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S.
Navy, U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Plan-
ning and Natural Resources, National Estuary
Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries
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
Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, University of Puerto Rico, Uni-
versity of Connecticut, and Rutgers University.
By the end of 2007, the OSV Bold had sup-
ported surveys along the Atlantic Coast, in the
Gulf of Mexico, and in the Caribbean Sea.
Scientific surveys conducted on-board the
OSV Bold address requirements of Federal
statutes such as the Clean Water Act and the
The OSV Bold at sea.
scientists from various EPA offices, including
Regional Offices, Headquarters, and the Of-
fice of Research and Development; States and
Territories; academic institutions; and other
partners. All surveys are conducted under the
leadership of EPA-certified Chief Scientists,
who must complete a rigorous certification
program before serving in that capacity.
EPA's Ocean Survey Vessel Bold 2007 Annual Report
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The OSV Bold supports EPA's mission to
protect the ocean and coastal environ-
ment. Staff and crew are dedicated to
operating the vessel in the most environmental-
ly sustainable way possible. Best management
practices coupled with the latest technologies en-
sure that the ship 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.
No Discharge Practices
The discharge of untreated or partially-treat-
ed human waste from vessels can contribute to
high bacteria counts and subsequent increased
human health risks. These problems can be
particularly harmful in lakes, slow-moving riv-
ers, marinas, and other bodies of water with low
flushing rates. Blackwater (sewage) and graywa-
ter (wastewater from showers, sinks, laundries,
and kitchens) are kept as long as possible in
holding tanks on the OSV Bold. The waste in the
holding tanks is then pumped to an onshore fa-
cility. 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 garbage,
cooking oils, and greases are collected and dis-
posed of at onshore facilities. Any liquid collect-
ed in the bilge is disposed of onshore in special
reception facilities. Strict rules apply to disposal
of all chemicals used in ship laboratories.
Lower Sulfur Dioxide Emissions
Sulfur dioxide is an air pollutant that ships
generate and that can travel over long distanc-
es. It contributes to respiratory illness and the
formation of acid rain. Whenever available, the
OSV Bold uses an ultra low-sulfur fuel that sig-
nificantly cuts down on harmful air emissions.
A Better Hull Coating
Hull coatings prevent corrosion as well as
biological growth, reducing drag and increasing
fuel efficiency of a vessel. The hull coating on
the OSV Bold does not contain organotin pes-
ticides, and is certified as compliant with the
International Maritime Organization's Interna-
tional Convention on the control of harmful anti-
foulants. 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.
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Non-toxic Firefighting Foam Ballast Water Management
EPA uses a fire-fighting foam that can handle Ballast water tanks temporarily hold water
any possible fires on the ship and is also envi- to provide draft (immersion depth of a vessel)
ronmentally safe. This protein-based foam en- and stability. Ballast water discharged and trans-
sures efficient fire control. ported by vessels may carry organisms from one
waterbody to another. This is a main vector for
Best Management Practices introducing and spreading aquatic invasive spe-
The OSV Bold is operated with EPA's mission cies (alien species that can cause harm to the
at the forefront. Best management practices are environment and to human health). Aquatic in-
employed in daily operations of the vessel. Oil is vasive species have affected all coastal waters
carefully collected, and fueling of engines on rig- of the U.S., including Alaska, Hawaii, and the
id-hull inflatable boats is done with the utmost Pacific Islands.
care to avoid spills. Special absorbent products As part of standard operating procedure, bal-
and materials are used to collect drips of oil, last water exchange (emptying and refilling bal-
grease, or fuel. last tanks) is done at sea to limit transfer of in-
In addition, EPA supports shipyards that em- vasive species between ports by the OSV Bold.
ploy creativity and innovation to make their op-
erations more environmentally sustainable.
EPA's Ocean Survey Vessel Bold 2007 Annual Report
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In 2007, the OSV Bold conducted scientific tions, while spending over 270 days at sea. In
surveys in the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of addition, the OSV Bold held educational events
Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea. The OSV in New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Mary-
Bold completed a total of 40 oceanographic land, Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puer-
surveys, involving hundreds of sampling loca- to Rico.
Figure 1: Scope of OSV Bold Monitoring and Assessments in 2007.
CT ".Rhode Island Sound
Eastern Long Island Sound
Historic Area Remediation Site,
New Jersey
Bethany Beach, DE
'Ocean City, MD
ipe Canaveral, FL
Brevard County, FL
,Palm Beach, FL
Boynton/Delray Beach, FL
Port Everglades, FL
Miami, FL
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
Areclbo San Juan
St. Croix, USVI
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Gulf Of Mexico Hypoxia elusion of an Annual Operating Plan and An-
Assessment and Monitoring nual Report. These documents will provide
Since 1985, oxygen-depleted (or hypoxic) mechanisms for maintaining and tracking
waters have been measured in the Gulf of progress between reassessments, state-led
Mexico, off the coast of Louisiana and Texas, nutrient reduction strategies, complementary
The OSV Bold contributes to the assessment federal strategies, and an outreach plan to en-
and monitoring of hypoxia in the Gulf by per- gage stakeholders.
forming surveys of the hypoxic zone. The Action Plan calls for expanded long-
Hypoxia occurs when oxygen concentra- term monitoring programs and enhanced
tions are less than two milligrams per liter, lev- research and modeling efforts. In 2007, the
els that can not sustain most marine life. The OSV Bold supported this key action through
size of the hypoxic zone varies considerably research efforts to characterize the magnitude
each year, depending on natural and human- of, and variability in, physical, chemical, and
influenced factors. In 2007, the measured size biological properties and processes in the wa-
of the hypoxic zone was 20,500 square kilo- ter column. These monitoring activities help to
meters (7,900 square miles), about the size of better define the spatial and temporal extent
the State of Massachusetts. This was the third and dynamics of the hypoxic zone.
largest hypoxic zone since measurements be- Seasonal data and information collected
gan in 1985. Current evidence indicates that include the distribution and variability in dis-
the development, extent, and persistence of solved inorganic nutrient concentrations;
hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico are primarily particulate nutrients; total suspended solids;
caused by human-influenced factors including phytoplankton species biomass and pigments;
nutrient loading from the Mississippi-Atchafa- temperature; salinity; dissolved oxygen; and
laya River Basin. light attenuation (decreased light intensity with
Monitoring and assessment by the OSV increasing water depth). The data will further
Bold supports the Action Plan for Reducing, refine a predictive model for Gulf of Mexico hy-
Mitigating, and Controlling Hypoxia in the Gulf poxia, and should reduce scientific uncertainty
of Mexico. The 2001 Action Plan was released about nitrogen and phosphorus loads, and the
by the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Water- formation, extent, duration, and severity of
shed Nutrient Task Force, a Federal and State the hypoxic zone. This information will support
agency working group. A revised Action Plan and provide adaptive management options to
was released in June 2008, and will increase reduce the five-year average size of the zone
accountability and specificity through the in- to less than 5,000 square kilometers (about
EPA's Ocean Survey Vessel Bold 2007 Annual Report
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1,900 square miles) as outlined in the Action
Plan. The five-year average for 2003 to 2007
is 14,644 square kilometers (5,600 square
miles), more than twice the size of the goal.
Maintaining Depth of Shipping
Channels to U.S. Ports: Ocean
Dredged Material Disposal Site
Assessment and Monitoring
EPA scientists deploy a rocking chair
dredge to collect oceanic organisms and
sediments from the seafloor.
The nation's ports, harbors, and navigable
waterways are vital to the U.S. economy and
national security. Dredging, the removal of sedi-
ments to maintain access to those areas, has
become increasingly important as ships increase
in size. Dredged material disposal must be con-
ducted in a safe and environmentally acceptable
manner under the Marine Protection, Research,
and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA), or the Clean Wa-
ter Act (jurisdiction is determined by the location
of the disposal site). An important mission of the
OSV Bold is to collect environmental data that
can be used to designate new disposal sites and
to perform the required periodic monitoring of
existing designated ocean disposal sites. Under
the MPRSA, EPA is responsible for designating
ocean disposal sites, and for reviewing and con-
curring on dredged material ocean disposal per-
mits issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The MPRSA also requires that a site monitoring
and management plan be prepared for each site
before it may be used for dredged material dis-
posal. An essential component of site monitoring
and management plans is a characterization of
baseline conditions before any disposal activity
is conducted at the site, so that changes in ben-
thic habitat resulting from disposal activities can
be identified during future surveys.
EPA regional scientists used the OSV Bold to
assess and monitor conditions at a number of
ocean dredged material disposal sites (ODMDS).
For example, the OSV Bold, in conjunction with
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers'Antilles Office
and University of Puerto Rico (UPR), was used to
sample sediment at the Arecibo Harbor ODMDS.
Samples of bottom sediment from various lo-
cations within and around the boundaries of
the site were collected to determine the variabil-
ity of baseline chemical and physical sediment
characteristics.
EPA regional scientists also use the OSV
Bold to confirm that dredged material is dis-
posed of properly at ocean disposal sites, that
the dumping does not unreasonably degrade
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Monitoring and Assessing the Health of Our Oceans and Coastal Waters
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or endanger human health or the marine en-
vironment, and that the site is performing as
it was designed. For example, the OSV Bold
was used to measure dissolved organic tin lev-
els in the water and sediment at two ODMDS in
Florida: Cape Canaveral and Miami. The surveys
confirmed that there are elevated levels of or-
ganic tins (tributyl, dibutyl, and monobutyl tin)
at these sites. Future surveys will be designed
to assess the extent of the areas with elevated
organic tin levels and potential environmental
impacts from increased levels of tin.
The OSV Bold also helps in locating and as-
sessing potential new areas to receive dredged
material. For example, sediment mapping sur-
veys conducted offshore of the Chandeleur Is-
lands, Louisiana, determined the baseline condi-
tions for the proposed Gulfport Offshore ODMDS.
Dredging maintains waterways on which the
U.S. commerce and military depend. Selection
of appropriate sites to receive suitable dredged
material and continued monitoring of these sites
helps to protect the marine environment.
The following locations have ocean dredged
material disposal sites that were surveyed in
2007:
Arecibo Harbor, Puerto Rico
Cape Canaveral, Florida
Fort Pierce, Florida
Miami, Florida
Palm Beach Harbor, Florida
Port Everglades, Florida
Dam Neck, Virginia
Eastern Long Island Sound, Connecticut
Coral Reef Monitoring and
Biocriteria Development
Coral reefs are declining in many areas of
the world, partly because of increasing sea wa-
ter temperatures, as well as effects from local
EPA divers survey coral reef habitat.
sources, such as excessive nutrient loading,
sedimentation, and direct physical damage to
coral populations. Coral reefs are important
ecosystems because they provide habitat for
many fish and invertebrate species. The struc-
ture of a well-developed and diverse coral
community supports fisheries, tourism, and
research opportunities, and protects shorelines
from erosion by waves and currents. In addi-
tion, corals are important sensitive sentinels of
water quality and general ecological health.
A coral condition survey was conducted in
St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands (U.S.V.I.). The
primary purpose of this survey was to assist
the U.S.V.I, government in developing new
EPA's Ocean Survey Vessel Bold 2007 Annual Report
11
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strategies and assessment tools to define bio-
criteria for coral reefs. Biocriteria are narra-
tive descriptions or numeric values that repre-
sent the biological condition of the community.
Standards based on biocriteria are powerful
management tools because biological commu-
nities are dependable indicators of the health
of an aquatic ecosystem. Strategic observa-
tion and documentation of the coral conditions
were performed using the Stony Coral Rapid
Bioassessment Protocol developed by EPA's
Office of Research and Development.
Coastal Water, Sediment, and
Organism Toxicity Assessments
The OSV Bold performed numerous surveys
to assess contaminant concentrations in sedi-
ments, water, and organisms.
The OSV Bold supported a survey to assess
the importance of near-shore habitats on winter
flounder fisheries off the coast of Rhode Island.
Winter flounder is a commercially and recreation-
ally important fish species whose population has
declined dramatically in the past 25 years. Near-
shore habitats provide critical nursery areas for
winter flounder that develop offshore into the
adult population. Previous studies conducted by
EPA identified chemical fingerprints (i.e., stable
isotopes and trace metals) of the otoliths (ear
bones) of juvenile flounder residing in nursery
areas within Narragansett Bay, Narrow River,
and coastal salt ponds. After using the OSV Bold
to collect adult offshore winter flounder, scien-
tists removed the juvenile cores (i.e., calcium
carbonate deposits in otoliths) to attempt to
match them to chemical fingerprints previously
EPA scientists collect winter flounder, along with starfish and stingrays, aboard
the OSV Bold.
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Monitoring and Assessing the Health of Our Oceans and Coastal Waters
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identified for nursery areas. Growth patterns in shell, and blue mussel. Hard substrate commu-
otoliths help us to understand life cycles in fish nities found on both small gravel and boulder-
populations, and through chemical fingerprint- size rocks (some of which were adjacent to
ing of these structures, scientists hope to iden- the proposed pipeline route) supported finger
tify what critical habitats support recruitment to sponges, northern star coral, blue mussel, and
the adult offshore winter flounder population. erect bryozoans. The survey team demonstrated
The OSV Bold also supported a survey to that a combined approach, using acoustic (mul-
identify the natural bottom features and sedi- tibeam sonar and side scan sonar) and video
ment characteristics of significant benthic habi- imaging, was useful for characterizing benthic
tats in Long Island Sound. Data from this survey habitats and communities.
will provide information on the influence of gas
pipelines on these sites. Collaborators on this Fish Waste Disposal Site
project included the EPA Long Island Sound Of- Assessment and Monitoring
fice; Connecticut Department of Environmental The OSV Bold supported the annual survey
Protection; and University of Connecticut's Na- at a shellfish waste disposal site off the Virgin-
tional Undersea Research Center (NURC) and ia Capes. The surveys evaluated the effect of
Department of Marine Sciences. They evaluated this disposal on the marine environment. The
approaches to identify critical benthic habitats survey investigated whether the site was being
in Stratford Shoal, which is a topographic rise degraded by the placement of shellfish waste.
in Long Island Sound where a gas pipeline is
proposed for installation. Existing multibeam Coastal Eutrophication
sonar and side scan sonar maps were used to Assessment
select sites for the survey. Using the OSV Bold's A coastal eutrophication survey aboard the
side scan sonar, the survey team took images OSV Bold continued a previously established
of the sediment and determined the spatial dis- coastal trend monitoring plan effort that is ex-
tribution of lobster-attributed "burrow features." amining eutrophication in the Mid-Atlantic Bight.
The side scan sonar data were collected in con- Data from the survey is being used to determine
junction with benthic grab samples, as well as if coastal eutrophication, an increase in chemical
video footage from the NURC underwater video nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, off
camera array. The survey team also observed the coasts of Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware is
general characteristics of benthic habitats and improving or declining, and what management
organisms across the varying sediments. Areas actions should be considered to improve water
with coarser sediments were characterized by quality.
dead mollusk shells such as razor clam, slipper
EPA's Ocean Survey Vessel Bold 2007 Annual Report 13
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Ocean Outfall Monitoring the survey will help scientists monitor condi-
The OSV Bold supported three surveys on tions of the VIRIL discharge to determine the
the impacts of ocean outfall discharges on effectiveness of current mitigation practices.
coastal waters in 2007.
Off the coast of Palm Beach, Florida, the Disposal Site Surveys
OSV Bold conducted a survey to assess the The Historic Area Remediation Site (HARS),
potential effect of discharges from the Delray a site off the coast of New Jersey which was
Outfall on Gulf Stream reef health. The OSV historically used for disposal of contaminated
Bold sampled five coral colonies off Horseshoe dredged material, is being remediated with un-
Reef in Palm Beach. Stress responses of the contaminated dredged material. A survey, sup-
coral to outfall effluent were measured and ported by the OSV Bold, assessed the condition
monitored. The data were used to determine of the remediated surfaces, including changes
the relationship between the outfall and in- to the benthic habitat and movement of mate-
creased harmful cyanobacteria blooms occur- rials at and around the site. The OSV Bold used
ring offshore of Palm Beach. side scan sonar and sediment characterization
Another study using the OSV Bold inves- data to determine conditions at the site. These
tigated waters in the Mid-Atlantic Bight near data will be used to identify specific sediment
three ocean outfalls in Delaware, Maryland, types and to develop a benthic map of sedi-
and Virginia. Levels of bacterial contamination ment types at the HARS.
due to Enterococci were assessed. The pur- In December 2004, the U.S. Coast Guard
pose of these efforts was to monitor the ef- sunk the 60-foot steel-hulled Fishing Vessel
feet of the disposal of pollutants in accordance Miss Dottie (F/V Miss Dottie} because the ship
with the requirements of section 403(c) of the was on fire, and drifting towards the Florida
Clean Water Act. Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The Coast
Another ocean outfall study took place in Guard sunk the vessel to minimize damage
the Caribbean Sea. In a 2003 survey, the Vir- to the Sanctuary. However, after sinking the
gin Islands Rum Industries, Ltd. (VIRIL) ocean vessel, the Coast Guard determined that the
outfall discharge was assessed and the site disposal may have occurred within the Florida
was biologically characterized. The survey re- Keys National Marine Sanctuary's boundaries.
suits showed potential for aquatic toxicity and In October 2007, a survey was conducted on
detrimental light attenuation. In 2007, field the OSV Bold to locate the F/V Miss Dottie,
observations, including video footage of the since the Coast Guard only provided an ap-
outfall discharge and surrounding area, were proximate location. Side scan sonar images in-
obtained from the site. The data obtained from dicated that the vessel was intact and located
14 Monitoring and Assessing the Health of Our Oceans and Coastal Waters
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within the Florida Keys Particularly Sensitive the Loiza River (approximately 0.25 to 1 mile
Sea Area's boundaries. Bottom features in the offshore). This area is composed of cemented
vicinity of the vessel also were observed using sand dunes with coral and other benthic corn-
side scan sonar. Considering the vessel's loca- munities. The offshore habitats support a di-
tion and proximity to the Sanctuary, scientists verse collection of marine and estuarine fish
will assess potential impacts on the marine en- and invertebrates, some of which are impor-
vironment in the future. tant for recreational and commercial fishing. A
side scan sonar survey was performed to pro-
Support to Federal, State, vide comprehensive benthic imaging of the off-
Territorial, and Academic shore habitats. The side scan sonar data were
Partners collected in conjunction with video footage
From late October to early December 2007, shot from a remotely-operated vehicle. The
the OSV Bold supported surveys to monitor data will be used to classify the bottom types
and assess coastal conditions in EPA's Carib- identified by side scan sonar, and to determine
bean jurisdictionsPuerto Rico and U.S. Vir- the percent cover for each bottom type found.
gin Islands (U.S.V.I.). A number of partners In addition, conductivity-temperature-depth
contributed to the success of the Caribbean measurements were taken beyond the seaward
Initiative 2007 surveys, including U.S.V.I. De- entrance of the San Juan Bay Channel to de-
partment of Planning and Natural Resources, scribe river plume behavior (the way in which
University of Puerto Rico, Rutgers University, mixtures of river water, nutrients, sediments,
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Depart- and marine organisms flow into the ocean).
ment of Energy, and National Oceanic and At- Sponsored by EPA and U.S. Department of
mospheric Administration (NOAA). In Puerto Energy, research groups from UPR and Rut-
Rico and U.S.V.I., several surveys were under- gers University Coastal Ocean Observing Lab-
taken to support various EPA programs, as well oratory used the OSV Bold to study waters of
as cooperative efforts with federal, common- the Nona Passage, separating the islands of
wealth, and academic partners. Puerto Rico and Hispaniola. The Nona Pas-
In collaboration with the San Juan Bay Es- sage is influenced by complex hydrodynamic
tuary (SJBE) Program and University of Puerto processes. These processes are believed to in-
Rico (UPR), the OSV Bold conducted a benthic fluence microbial ecology and light attenuation
habitat and water quality assessment of San in the water column. The research groups also
Juan Bay and the offshore environment. The monitored water quality indicators in the Nona
offshore area consists of areas along the SJBE Passage using an autonomous underwater
shoreline, from the mouth of San Juan Bay to vehicle.
EPA's Ocean Survey Vessel Bold 2007 Annual Report 15
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EPA Chief Scientists on the bow of the OSV Bold.
In Rhode Island Sound, EPA scientists study the aquatic organisms collected during the
winter flounder survey.
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Monitoring and Assessing the Health of Our Oceans and Coastal Waters
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While at dock in Newport, Rhode Island, the OSV Bold is open to visitors for a public
education event.
The OSV Bold at dock in Long Island, NY.
EPA's Ocean Survey Vessel Bold 2007 Annual Report
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Using the OSV Bold, EPA and NOAA conduct-
ed a side scan sonar survey to provide compre-
hensive benthic and shelf reef habitat imaging of
Lang Bank in St. Croix, U.S.V.I. The data will be
used to characterize the structure of, and quan-
tify the extent of, near-shore habitats that sup-
port important fish species off Lang Bank. In
addition to the survey, NOAA scientists were in-
vited aboard for collaboration and cross-training
in protocols for coral reef monitoring, such as
EPA's Stony Coral Rapid Bioassessment Protocol,
and NOAA's protocols for fish counting and ben-
thic biological and structural characterization.
Public Education on EPA 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. The OSV Bold hosted open visits for the
public in New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island,
Maryland, Florida, the U.S.V.I., and Puerto Rico.
In Puerto Rico, the OSV Bold held two public
outreach events in November, coordinating with
the San Juan Bay Estuary Program and the Fall
meeting of the Association of National Estuary
Programs. Participants included National Estu-
ary Program Directors, local newspapers and
schools, and international non-governmental
organizations.
Surveys in 2008
In 2008, the OSV Bold is supporting sur-
veys on the West Coast of the United States.
Surveys occurring in 2008 include:
Maintaining Depth of Shipping Channels to
U.S. Ports: Ocean Dredged Material Dis-
posal Site Assessment and Monitoring
Coastal Water, Sediment, and Organism
Toxicity Assessments
Alaska Cruise Ship Survey
Puget Sound Survey
Ocean Outfall Monitoring
Disposal Site Surveys
The OSV Bold at dock in Baltimore,
Maryland.
The OSV Bold in the Panama Canal, heading
for the West Coast.
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Monitoring and Assessing the Health of Our Oceans and Coastal Waters
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OSV Bold Facilities and Technical
Equipment
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), re-
frigerator, electronic navigation data ports,
and electronic navigation chart display with
ship's location and navigation information.
Survey Operations Center: Equipped with
refrigerators, freezers, sub-zero freezers,
distilled water, computers, storage space,
microscopes, and about 85 linear feet of lab
benches.
Microbiology Laboratory: Equipped with au-
toclave 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.
A new A-frame installed on the stern of the OSV Bold.
EPA's Ocean Survey Vessel Bold 2007 Annual Report
19
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In Eastern Long Island Sound, technicians
prepare a Klein 3000 side scan sonar for
surveying an ocean dredged material
disposal site.
Sampling Equipment
Klein 3000 Side Scan Sonar: Produces digi-
tal acoustic images of ocean floor.
Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth Wa-
ter Profiler: Measures physical water char-
acteristics 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 available for the col-
lection of sediments from the ocean floor.
Dredges: Collect oceanic organisms from
the seafloor 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 re-
trieval of the side scan sonar and sedi-
ment sampling equipment.
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 de-
vices (i.e., diver-to-diver, diver-to-sur-
face), diver recall system for emergency
situations, dry suits, and full-face masks
available for use by certified diving per-
sonnel.
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Monitoring and Assessing the Health of Our Oceans and Coastal Waters
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OSV Bold Scientific Surveys in 2007
Survey
Location Month(s)
Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Assessment and
Monitoring
Maintaining Depth of
Ports: Ocean Dredgei
Assessment and Mon
Shipping Channels to U.S.
1 Material Disposal Site
toring
Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Reference Site
Survey
Coral Reef Monitorinc
Development
Coastal Water,
Sediment, and
Organism Toxicity
Assessments
and Reef Biocriteria
Coastal Fish Tissue
Contaminant Assessment
Fish Waste Disposal Site
Monitoring
Coastal Eutrophication Assessment
Ocean Outfall Monitoring
Disposal Site
Surveys
Support to Federal,
State, Territorial,
and Academic
Partners
Vessel Disposal Site
Assessment
Historical Area
Remediation Site Survey
Hydrodynamic Processes
in the Mona Passage
Structural
Characterization of
Lang Bank
San Juan Bay National
Estuary Program
Gulf of Mexico
Cape Canaveral, Florida
Fort Pierce, Florida
Eastern Long Island Sound,
Connecticut
Dam Neck, Virginia
Miami, Florida
Palm Beach Harbor, Florida
Port Everglades, Florida
Arecibo, Puerto Rico
Brevard County, Florida
Broward and Dade Counties, Florida
Palm Beach County, Florida
Rhode Island Sound
Southern Virginia
Mid-Atlantic Bight
Delray Outfall, Florida
Mid-Atlantic Bight
Virgin Islands Rum Industries
Outfall, U.S. Virgin Islands
Florida Keys
Historic Area Remediation Site, New
Jersey
Mona Passage, Puerto Rico
St. Croix, US Virgin Islands
San Juan, Puerto Rico
April and August
March
March
July
August
October
October
October
November
March
October
March and September
July
August
July-August
March and September
August
November- December
October
June
October-November
November
November
EPA's Ocean Survey Vessel Bold 2007 Annual Report
21
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Ocean Survey Vessel Bold
Annual Report 2007
Monitoring and Assessing
the Health of Our Ocean and
Coastal Waters
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