Office of Water
Washington, DC 20004
EPA 841-R-20-003
2020
2015 National Ocean Dumping Site
Monitoring Assessment Report
November 2020
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2015 National Site Monitoring Assessment Report
2015 National
Site Monitoring Assessment Report
EPA Ocean Dumping Management Program
EPA Ocean Dumping Management Program
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2015 National Site Monitoring Assessment Report
Executive Summary
The Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA), also known as the United
States Ocean Dumping Act, regulates the transportation and dumping of any material into
ocean waters. Under the MPRSA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is
responsible for designating and managing all ocean disposal sites used for the permitted
disposal of materials. EPA is also responsible for issuing ocean dumping permits for the
disposal of material apart from dredged materials. For dredged material, the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE) is responsible for issuing ocean dumping permits using EPA's
environmental criteria. These permits are subject to EPA review and written concurrence. EPA,
together with USACE, develops site management and monitoring plans (SMMPs) for each site
designated for the disposal of dredged material. EPA management and monitoring of these
ocean sites ensures that disposal activities will not unreasonably degrade or endanger human
health, welfare, the marine environment, or economic potentialities.
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2015, EPA managed 98 designated ocean disposal sites off the U.S.
Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Pacific Coasts; and near Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Guam, and
American Samoa. EPA monitored nine of the 98 designated ocean disposal sites in FY 2015.
EPA also conducted monitoring surveys along the central coast of Texas to determine if the
2014 Texas City "Y" oil spill adversely impacted designated disposal sites, reference areas, and
an area where, in the future, EPA may consider designating a new ocean disposal site.
Additionally, EPA collected data to support the development of new monitoring methods and
techniques for the Historic Area Remediation Site (HARS) as well as new tools for the
evaluation of dredged material proposed for ocean disposal in the western Gulf of Mexico. This
National Ocean Dumping Site Monitoring Assessment Report provides a comprehensive
overview of EPA's FY 2015 monitoring activities conducted in six of the seven EPA coastal
Regions:
Massachusetts Bay Disposal Site, Massachusetts (Region 1)
HARS, New Jersey (Region 2)
Norfolk Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site (ODMDS), Virginia (Region 3)
Brunswick Harbor, Georgia ODMDS (Region 4)
Fernandina Beach, Florida ODMDS (Region 4)
Corpus Christi Ship Channel ODMDS and Corpus Christi New Work ODMDS, Texas
(Region 6)
Matagorda Ship Channel, Texas ODMDS and nearby area (Region 6)
Newport Beach (LA-3) OMDMS, California (Region 9)
Based on the results of these FY 2015 ocean disposal site surveys:
EPA found that environmentally acceptable conditions have been met and determined
that permitted disposal of dredged material under the MPRSA could continue without
modifications to site usage at eight of the monitored ocean disposal sites: HARS,
Norfolk, Brunswick Harbor, Fernandina Beach, Corpus Christi Ship Channel, Corpus
Christi New Work, Matagorda Ship Channel, and LA-3 ODMDSs.
EPA also used the data collected during these surveys to:
o Inform the proposal to expand the boundaries of the existing Massachusetts Bay
Disposal Site to include a portion of the historical Industrial Waste Site (IWS).
This site expansion is a key step in the Massachusetts Bay IWS Restoration
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Project, whereby suitable dredged material from a federal navigation project
authorized under the MPRSA would be disposed of at an expanded
Massachusetts Bay Disposal Site (MBDS), isolating legacy contaminants on the
seafloor under a protective layer of dredged material;1
o Identify the location of two shipwrecks within the MBDS and establish a 50-meter
disposal buffer around the wrecks to avoid impacts to these potential cultural
resources during future disposal activities;
o Better understand the ecological succession and variability of rock habitat within
the HARS and inform methodologies to be utilized during future studies of the
site;
o Inform future studies of the benthic communities in the Norfolk ODMDS;
o Confirm that the SMMP for the Brunswick Harbor ODMDS is effective in ensuring
that disposal is not unreasonably degrading or endangering human health,
amenities, or the marine environment;
o Confirm that the Fernandina ODMDS is performing as anticipated and inform
future studies of the site and surrounding area;
o Confirm that the Corpus Christi Ship Channel, Corpus Christi New Work, and
Matagorda Ship Channel ODMDSs were not adversely impacted by the 2014
Texas City "Y" oil spill;
o Inform future monitoring surveys to evaluate the fate and transport of dredged
material disposed of at the Corpus Christi Ship Channel ODMDS and identify a
reference area that is more suitable for comparison to the material being
disposed of at the ODMDS;
o Contribute to a compendium of background tissue values for contaminants of
concern that may be used in future disposal permit evaluations in the Western
Gulf of Mexico; and
o Confirm that there were no long-term adverse impacts resulting from dredged
material disposal at the LA-3 ODMDS.
1The Final Rule for the Modification of an Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site in Massachusetts Bay
was published in the Federal Register on May 29, 2018, with an effective date of June 28, 2018 (83 FR
24408).
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Contents
Executive Summary 2
1.0 Introduction 6
1.1 Ocean Disposal Site Monitoring 7
2.0 Report Objectives 8
3.0 Summary of Monitoring Surveys 9
3.1 Region 1 - Massachusetts Bay Dredged Material Disposal Site, Massachusetts 9
3.2 Region 2 - Historic Area Remediation Site, New Jersey 12
3.3 Region 3 - Norfolk Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, Virginia 15
3.4 Region 4 - Brunswick Harbor Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, Georgia 17
3.5 Region 4 - Fernandina Beach Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, Florida 19
3.6 Region 6 - Corpus Christi and Matagorda Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites,
Texas 21
3.7 Region 9 - Newport Beach (LA-3) Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, California..26
4.0 Conclusions 28
5.0 Acknowledgements 30
6.0 References 30
List of Figures
Figure 1. Approximate locations of the nine ocean disposal sites surveyed in FY 2015 9
Figure 2. Tracklines and survey boundary of the acoustic survey conducted at the
MBDS, IWS, Interim Massachusetts Bay disposal site, historical barrel field,
and surrounding area 11
Figure 3. Locations where SPI and PVI were collected from the MBDS and adjacent
area including the historical IWS 11
Figure 4. Sampled locations within and outside the HARS 14
Figure 5. Map of Norfolk ODMDS and reference area sampling locations 16
Figure 6. Brunswick ODMDS sampling locations 18
Figure 7. Fernandina Beach ODMDS sediment and water sampling station locations 20
Figure 8. Sediment sampling locations at the Corpus Christi Maintenance ODMDS,
Corpus Christi New Work ODMDS, and Corpus Christi reference area 23
Figure 9. Sediment sampling locations at the Matagorda Maintenance ODMDS,
reference area, and potential area for a new work disposal site 25
Figure 10. Overview map of the LA-3 ODMDS and interim site 26
Figure 11. SPI/PVI station locations at the LA-3 ODMDS 28
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ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
aRPD
apparent redox potential discontinuity
CFR
Code of Federal Regulations
CTD
conductivity temperature depth (probe)
DDT
dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethanes
DOC
dissolved organic carbon
EPA
United States Environmental Protection Agency
ERL
effects range-low
ERM
effects range-median
FDA
United States Food and Drug Adminsitration
FH
fish haven
ft
feet
FR
Federal Register
FY
fiscal year
HARS
Historic Area Remediation Site
m
meter
IWS
Industrial Waste Site
MBDS
Massachusetts Bay Dredged Material Diposal Site
MBES
multi-beam echo sounder
MDL
method detection limit
MDS
Mud Dump Site
MPRSA
Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act
MRL
method reporting limit
nmi2
square nautical mile
nmi
nautical mile
NOAA
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
N/S
NOAA Ship
NR
natural reef
ODMDS
ocean dredged material disposal site
PAH
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon
PCB
polychlorinated biphenyl
PRA
primary remediation area
PVI
plan view imaging/image
ROV
remotely operated [underwater] vehicle
R/V
research vessel
SMMP
site management and monitoring plan
SPI
sediment profile imaging/image
SQG
sediment quality guideline
SVOC
semi-volatile organic compounds
TBT
tributyl tins
TDL
target detection limit
TOC
total organic carbon
USACE
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
use
U.S. Code
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1.0 Introduction
The Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA), also known as the Ocean
Dumping Act, regulates the disposition of any material into the ocean unless expressly excluded
under the MPRSA. The MPRSA prohibits or restricts (primarily in terms of material type,
amount, and location) ocean dumping that would adversely affect human health, welfare, or
amenities; or the marine environment, ecological systems, or economic potentialities. Section
101 of the MPRSA (33 U.S.C. 1411) generally prohibits the transportation of any material for the
purpose of dumping, except as authorized by a permit.
In the United States today, the primary type of material (in terms of volume) disposed of in the
ocean is uncontaminated dredged material, which is sediment that is excavated or otherwise
removed from our Nation's waterways. The removal of sediment supports a network of coastal
ports and harbors which enable myriad commercial, transportation, national defense, and
recreational uses. In 2015, this marine transportation network, partially facilitated by the
dredging of waterways, contributed more than $65 billion and 454,000 jobs to the U.S. economy
(National Ocean Economics Program). Other materials disposed of in the ocean include fish
wastes, vessels, marine mammal carcasses, and human remains for burial at sea.
Under the MPRSA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes environmental
criteria for the evaluation of all permit applications. EPA is the permitting authority for the ocean
dumping of all materials other than dredged material. In the case of dredged material, the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) issues the ocean dumping permits (or, in the case of federal
projects, authorizes ocean dumping of dredged material) using EPA's environmental criteria. All
MPRSA permits and federal projects involving ocean dumping of dredged material are subject
to EPA's review and written concurrence.
EPA establishes the criteria for the designation of ocean disposal sites and is responsible for
designating ocean disposal sites under the MPRSA. EPA considers specific criteria (published
at 40 CFR 228.5 and 229.6) as part of any site designation evaluation. To minimize the adverse
impacts of ocean dumping on human health and the marine environment, EPA designates sites
based on environmental studies of the proposed site, environmental studies of regions adjacent
to the proposed site, and historical knowledge of the impact of disposal on areas having similar
physical, chemical, and biological characteristics. EPA analyzes these impacts through
environmental assessments or environmental impact statements. In general, EPA designates
sites only in areas where ocean dumping will not have a significant impact on various amenities,
such as fisheries, coral reefs, and endangered species.
EPA is also responsible for managing all ocean disposal sites designated under the MPRSA.
Management of ocean disposal sites involves:
regulating the times, quantity, and characteristics of the material dumped at the site;
establishing disposal controls, conditions, and requirements to minimize potential
impacts to the marine environment; and
monitoring the site and surrounding environment to verify that unanticipated or
significant adverse effects are not occurring from historical or continued use of the ocean
disposal site and that terms of the MPRSA permit are met.
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2015, EPA Regions managed 98 designated ocean disposal sites off the
U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Pacific Coasts; and near Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Guam, and
American Samoa. All but one of the 98 ocean disposal sites are designated for the disposal of
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dredged material permitted under the MPRSA. One EPA-designated site, located offshore of
American Samoa, is designated for the disposal of fish processing wastes.
All designated dredged material disposal sites are required to have a site management and
monitoring plan (SMMP). EPA, in conjunction with USACE, develops an SMMP for each ocean
dredged material disposal site. Each SMMP includes, but is not limited to:
a baseline assessment of site conditions;
a monitoring program for the site;
special management conditions or practices to be implemented at the site that are
necessary for protection of the environment;
consideration of the quantity of disposed material and the presence, nature, and
bioavailability of the contaminants in the material;
consideration of the anticipated long-term use of the site; and
a schedule for review and revision of the SMMP.
1.1 Ocean Disposal Site Monitoring
EPA monitors environmental conditions in and around ocean disposal sites as part of its
implementation of the MPRSA. Under the MPRSA and the ocean dumping regulations, EPA
uses monitoring data to:
Evaluate potential ocean disposal sites and designate ocean disposal sites (MPRSA
102(c)(1); 40 CFR 228.4(b), 40 CFR 228.6(a));
Assess trends in environmental impact (40 CFR 228.9(a)(1));
Evaluate disposal impact (40 CFR 228.10(a) and (b));
Modify disposal site use (40 CFR 228.11(a) and (d));
Prohibit dumping where necessary (MPRSA 102(c)(2)); and
Develop or update an SMMP for each site (SMMPs must be reviewed and revised at
least every ten years (MPRSA 102(c)(3))).
EPA Regional Ocean Dumping Coordinators and Chief Scientists plan and conduct ocean
disposal site monitoring surveys using scientifically proven principles and methods to assess the
physical, biological, and chemical states of ocean disposal sites and the surrounding marine
environment. EPA typically evaluates the environmental impact at a site by comparing current
conditions to those at the time of designation (baseline conditions) along with any other
historical survey data. For example, EPA may use monitoring information to evaluate movement
and deposition of the dumped material to determine whether or how to modify future site use.
Reference areas, which are near the disposal site but are not affected by disposed materials,
are also used for comparisons to assess the impact from disposal. The quantity and distribution
of samples collected in each monitoring survey are determined based on survey- and site-
specific factors.
EPA utilizes many different methods to assess the physical, biological, and chemical states of
ocean disposal sites, reference areas, and the surrounding marine environment. Those
methods include collecting sediment and water samples, sediment plan view images (PVI)
(photographs of the surface of the seafloor), sediment profile images (SPI) (photographs of a
cross-section of the upper 15 to 20 cm of the sediment-water interface) and/or conducting
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benthic trawls. Parameters used to evaluate benthic habitat composition or quality include but
are not limited to: sediment grain size distribution, depths of oxygenated sediment and apparent
redox potential discontinuity (aRPD) (which indicate habitat quality by measuring interactions
between sediment chemistry and biological activity within sediment), and sediment penetrability
(Rhoads and Germano, 1982). Benthic community health can be classified using defined
successional stages and species diversity. Successional stages at an ocean disposal site can
range from stage zero (recently disturbed) to stage three (mature); species diversity is a
measure that combines species richness (the number of different species) and evenness (the
relative abundance of species) to give an overall indication of community structure.
EPA may also analyze sediment samples for total organic carbon (TOC) and contaminants of
concern including metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAHs), pesticides, semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC), volatile solids, organotins, and/or
dioxins and dioxin-like compounds. To evaluate the potential for disposed dredged material to
have an impact on the benthic communities at or near disposal sites, EPA commonly compares
contaminant concentrations in sediments collected from in and around ocean disposal sites to
sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), which are informal benchmarks used to relate chemical
concentrations in sediments to the potential toxicity to benthic or aquatic organisms. EPA
Regions often rely on the Effects Range Low (ERL) and Effects Range Median (ERM) national
SQGs developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA, 1999) to
assess conditions at ocean disposal sites. Chemical concentrations below the NOAA ERL are
not likely to cause adverse effects, while chemical concentrations above the NOAA ERM are
likely to cause adverse effects. Based upon assessments of contaminants of concern in the
sediment, EPA may, among other things, pursue further investigations or management actions.
2.0 Report Objectives
In FY 2015, EPA Chief Scientists conducted surveys at nine designated ocean disposal sites
(Figure 1). This national report serves as a comprehensive summary of the activities, findings,
conclusions, and actions resulting from these EPA site monitoring efforts.
Table 1. Area and depth of ocean disposal sites surveyed in FY 2015.
Region Disposal Site Area (nmi2) Depth (ft)
1
Massachusetts Bay Disposal Site (MBDS)
3.1
295-328
2
Historic Area Remediation Site (HARS)
15.7
40-138
3
Norfolk ODMDS
50.0
43-85
4
Brunswick Harbor ODMDS
2.0
24-36
4
Fernandina Beach ODMDS
4.0
37-69
6
Corpus Christi Ship Channel ODMDS
0.5
35-50
6
Corpus Christi New Work ODMDS
1.1
47-55
6
Matagorda Ship Channel ODMDS
0.4
25-40
9
Newport Beach, CA (LA-3) ODMDS
0.8
1,500-1,675
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8
~ Massachusetts Bay
Newport Beach ~
(LA-3)
^ Historic Area
Remediation Site
~ Norfolk
Brunswick
Fernandina Beach
-A Matagorda (2)
Corpus Christi (2)
Figure 1. Approximate locations of the nine ocean disposal sites surveyed in FY 2015. Numbers
indicate EPA Regions.
3.0 Summary of Monitoring Surveys
A summary of the FY 2015 survey objectives, activities, and results, as well as conclusions and
recommended management actions resulting from these surveys is presented below.
3.1 Region 1 - Massachusetts Bay Dredged Material Disposal Site, Massachusetts
3.1.1 Background
The Boston Harbor Deep Draft Navigation Project, scheduled to begin in 2018, was designed to
allow for the passage of larger cargo vessels and expected to generate approximately 11 million
cubic yards of suitable dredged material. EPA Region 1 and USAGE New England District
worked together for several years to identify options to use the suitable dredged material that
would be generated from this project. One of the options considered was to expand the
boundaries of the Massachusetts Bay Disposal Site2 (MDBS) to encompass an adjacent
historical waste site and allow for disposal of this large volume of material.
The MBDS is centrally located within Massachusetts Bay, approximately 22 nmi east of Boston,
Massachusetts. The MBDS is west of, and adjacent to, the Stellwagen Bank National Marine
Sanctuary. The MBDS was designated as an ocean dredged material disposal site in 1993 and
overlaps in part with two historical disposal sites:
2 The MBDS as depicted and described in this report refers to the site as designated in 1993.
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an interim Massachusetts Bay disposal site (pursuant to the MPRSA3) that was used
between 1977 and 1992; and
the Industrial Waste Site (IWS), which was used for the disposal of various waste
materials (including barrels of low-level radioactive, chemical, and hospital wastes;
construction debris; contaminated dredged material; derelict vessels; ordinance; etc.)
from the early twentieth century until 1977. The MBDS overlaps the southern portion of
the historical IWS but does not include the area with the greatest concentration of waste
containers (known as the "barrel field").
Expanding the boundaries of the MBDS to encompass the historical barrel field portion of the
IWS would allow for suitable dredged material to be disposed of in this area. By disposing of
dredged material from the deepening project in the ocean over the historical barrel field and
other waste in the former IWS, the dredged material would serve as a protective layer on the
seafloor by isolating the historically disposed waste barrels from the surrounding marine
environment and thereby protecting important marine resources in the area. Region 1 and
USACE New England District collected the information to evaluate whether the boundaries of
the MBDS could be expanded to include the former IWS barrel field.
3.1.2 Survey Objectives, Activities, and Findings
To evaluate conditions within and around the MBDS and to investigate the potential for
expanding the MBDS, Region 1, in collaboration with the USACE New England District,
conducted a three-part survey in September and October 2015 (September 9-10, September
23-24, and October 7-8) aboard the research vessel (R/V) Jamie Hanna. The objectives of the
survey were to:
1) complete an acoustic survey to characterize the surficial features of the study area
encompassing the location adjacent to the MBDS being considered for a potential
expansion of the site (Figure 2);
2) collect SPI and PVI to further evaluate the physical characteristics of surficial sediment
and make a baseline characterization of the benthic community over the area being
considered for potential expansion as well as the reference areas for the MBDS. SPI and
PVI would be used to measure apparent redox potential discontinuity (aRPD) depth,
benthic community successional stage, and presence and number of subsurface feeding
voids - all of which are indicators of benthic habitat quality and community health (Figure
3); and
3) use a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) to gather high-resolution video
footage of potential artifacts in the historical IWS to investigate the integrity of the legacy
waste barrels located there, to determine if any areas should be avoided with any
potential expansion of the MBDS, and to identify any area that should not be used for
dredged material disposal in the future.
interim ocean disposal sites are no longer available for use. Amendments enacted in 1992 under the
MPRSA require that no permits for ocean dumping shall be issued for an EPA-established ocean disposal
site after January 1, 1997, unless the site has received a final designation. In 2008, EPA repealed
expired, and therefore obsolete, provisions regarding interim ocean disposal sites.
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Data. 2D03 NOS Regional balhymetry over Polanb.1 RoMoratooArea MMWU> Meters A ;
acoustic fetid model 5ซ vertical e*aggerasion | | MBDS 2015 Survey Aug C Interim Mass Bay national SteiFADS 0 500 1,000
SKillwagen Bank Natflnal Mario# Sanctuary C y Mass Bay Disjwsal S4c
Figure 2. Tracklines and survey boundary of the acoustic survey conducted at the MBDS (green
circle), IWS (yellow circle), Interim Massachusetts Bay disposal site (black circle), historical barrel
field (area enclosed by white line), and surrounding area (Sturdivant and Carey, 2017).
nrwarw
70 32*3Q*W
Mil5 Targirf SPI Ssalion
"ISS? ^""* Polenlial Restoration Area Q Iflduttttl White Sป
and 7003 NOฎ Rpg nnal bathymetry over _ _ ,
acoustic relict model Sx vertical ejiaggeratiom | I MBDS 2015 Smvey Area C Interim Mas* Bay Dispuaal 5ife:FAD5 0 500 1,000
Sleltwagen Bark Naforial Marin* Sanctuary C ^ Maw Bay Disposal SiDe
Figure 3. The green dots represent the locations where SPI and PVI were collected from the MBDS
and adjacent area including the historical IWS (Sturdivant and Carey, 2017).
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The results from the acoustic survey showed that the sediments in the MBDS study area were
mostly spatially homogenous, consisting of uniform silt-clay material.
The SPI and PVI confirmed the presence of historical dredged material disposal at the majority
of the sampling stations in the study area, including in and around the historical IWS. The
benthic characteristics of sampling stations in the historical IWS did not differ from those
observed on the ambient seafloor. SPI and PVI collected from the historical IWS, MBDS, and
reference areas for the MBDS also showed robust benthic community assemblages. Across the
historical IWS, MBDS, and reference areas, Stage 3 fauna were consistently found at every
station, indicating a mature successional community. These data suggest that the area supports
stable benthic and infaunal communities.
Video footage collected during the ROV portion of the survey showed that the legacy barrels
located in the historical IWS had mostly disintegrated or crumbled, leaving the inner concrete
casing of the barrels exposed on the seafloor. Past reports indicated that the containers of low-
level radioactive wastes had been filled with concrete to encase the hazardous contents before
disposal in the ocean. Video footage and side-scan imagery from the acoustic survey of the
study area also identified two shipwrecks inside the MBDS. Results from the acoustic survey
indicated that one wreck was an iron-hulled vessel approximately 89 ft (27 m) long and 20 ft (6
m) wide, and the other wreck was likely a 19th-century vessel approximately 115 ft (35 m) long
and 23 ft (7 m) wide.
3.1.3 Conclusions and Recommended Management Action
Region 1 achieved its survey objectives of characterizing the surficial features within the MBDS
and adjacent portions of the historical IWS, assessing benthic recolonization following disposal
activities, investigating the integrity of the legacy waste barrels, and identifying two shipwrecks
located within the MBDS and along the southwestern border of the barrel field. Given the
presence of robust benthic community assemblages observed across the study area, the
Region predicted that the effects from any future dredged material disposal operations within
the MBDS would be transient and that the infaunal community would quickly reestablish itself
following completion of disposal operations. Given the age of the two shipwrecks investigated
during this survey, Region 1 and USACE New England District recommended avoiding impacts
to these potential cultural resources by establishing a 50-meter buffer around the wrecks until a
more detailed assessment can be completed. Region 1 used the information collected during
this survey to inform a proposal to expand the boundary of the MBDS to include a portion of the
barrel field within the historical IWS.4 This is a key step in the Massachusetts Bay IWS
Restoration Project, whereby suitable dredged material from a federal navigation project
authorized under the MPRSA would be disposed of at an expanded Massachusetts Bay
Disposal Site, isolating legacy contaminants on the seafloor under a protective layer of dredged
material.
3.2 Region 2 - Historic Area Remediation Site, New Jersey
3.2.1 Background
From the 1800s until 1972, a variety of wastes were dumped in the New York Bight, including
municipal and industrial wastes, construction materials, sewage sludge, and dredged material.
After the passage of the MPRSA in 1972, EPA formally designated the Mud Dump Site (MDS)
4The Final Rule for the Modification of an Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site in Massachusetts Bay
was published in the Federal Register on May 29, 2018, with an effective date of June 28, 2018 (83 FR
24408).
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on an interim basis for the disposal of dredged material5. In 1984, EPA designated the MDS
permanently for dredged material disposal to support regional port and harbor maintenance.
However, the MDS was closed in 1996 after surveys revealed toxic levels of dioxin and PCB
accumulation in benthic invertebrates within and around the site.
To remediate the adverse impacts of historical material disposal at the MDS, EPA designated
the Historic Area Remediation Site (HARS) in 1997. The HARS is located 3.5 nmi off the coast
of Sandy Hook, New Jersey, and encompasses the former MDS and the area impacted by
historical disposal. It has an area of 15.7 nmi2 and an average depth of 89 ft (27 m). The
management priority of the HARS is to reduce the impacts of previous disposal to acceptable
levels by covering the surface of the site with uncontaminated dredged sediments. As such,
EPA designated the HARS as an ocean placement site, restricting disposal in the area solely to
remediation material that meets the ocean dumping criteria and HARS-specific bioaccumulation
standards. The placement of such remediation material renders toxic sediments unavailable to
marine organisms and minimizes food chain transfer of sediment-associated contaminants.
The area targeted for remediation within the HARS is comprised of nine individual Priority
Remediation Areas (PRAs), each measuring approximately one nmi2 in size (Figure 4). The
management priority of the HARS, as described in the SMMP, is to reduce the impacts of past
disposals to acceptable levels by covering the surface of each PRA with at least one meter of
suitable remediation material that meets the ocean dumping criteria. The HARS is jointly
managed by the EPA and the USACE, and multiple stakeholders and government agencies
collaborate in this effort, including state and federal agencies, port authorities, non-
governmental organizations, and academics.
Previous surveys conducted at the HARS have focused on analyzing the chemical, physical,
and biological parameters of the soft and sandy sediments placed within the PRAs. These
surveys have identified that remediation of the HARS is progressing and the overall conditions
of the site are acceptable, as defined in the SMMP. While the primary management priority of
the HARS is to reduce the impacts of historic disposal, a secondary management strategy for
remediation is to improve the fish communities and benthic habitats within the area. To achieve
this, rocky and glacial till material, resulting from various deepening and widening projects in
New York and New Jersey Harbors, have been placed at the HARS. To confirm the
effectiveness of this approach, EPA conducted a survey to assess the health and diversity of
epibenthic communities and fish populations associated with the rock placed at the site.
3.2.2 Survey Objectives, Activities, and Findings
Region 2 surveyed the HARS on September 4-10, 2015, aboard the NOAA Ship (N/S) Nancy
Foster. The Region's survey objectives were to:
1) gain a better understanding of the nature and variability of the rock habitat within the
HARS and
2) develop quantitative methods for assessing the quality and ecological status of the hard
dredged material (i.e., rock) habitat which cannot be monitored using standard shipboard
monitoring methods (e.g., benthic grabs, SPI).
interim ocean disposal sites are no longer available for use. Amendments enacted in 1992 under the
MPRSA require that no permits for ocean dumping shall be issued for an EPA-established ocean disposal
site after January 1, 1997, unless the site has received a final designation. In 2008, EPA repealed
expired, and therefore obsolete, provisions regarding interim ocean disposal sites.
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Region 2 collected video and still images at stations within the PRAs using an ROV and divers.
Stations at fish havens (FHs, also known as artificial reefs) which received rock at the same
time as the HARS, and stations at natural reefs (NRs) outside of the HARS (Figure 4) were also
surveyed to compare conditions measured within the PRAs to ambient (reference) conditions.
ROV video was recorded along transects in the HARS and in the reference areas to assess the
type of bottom surfaces present in each area, map high-profile, hard bottom areas, and refine
locations to conduct diver operated surveys. Divers obtained video footage and still images in
the HARS and reference areas. To collect additional information about the fish populations and
water quality in the area, Region 2 also conducted acoustic surveys of fish and used a
thermosalinograph to collect surface water quality data. At each station, Region 2 determined
the size and relief of the rock surface, organisms present, and the level of grazing and other
biological activities.
Results from the video transects did not show distinct patterns and measurable differences in
rock habitat. The distribution of rock sizes in the HARS was not significantly different from each
other nor from those located in the reference areas. Indicators of the status of the benthic
community, such as barnacle grazing rates, appeared to be somewhat higher within the
reference areas, while the incidence of encrusting organisms (i.e., sponges, corals, hydroids,
and barnacles) appeared to be higher in the southern areas of the HARS and at FH sites
outside of the HARS. Surface water data collected during the survey revealed the presence of a
freshwater influence over the HARS. Freshwater was not found in either of the reference areas.
Figure 4. Sampled locations within the HARS (PRA stations) and outside the HARS (FH and NR
stations).
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3.2.3 Conclusions and Recommended Management Action
Data collected during this survey provided Region 2 with a better understanding of the
characteristics and variability of the rock habitat within the HARS and surrounding areas. The
video methodology utilized during this survey proved to be sufficient to investigate the quality
and ecological status of hard dredged material habitat. This methodology must be further
refined to develop quantitative monitoring and quality assurance methods that could be used in
future surveys to evaluate ecological succession on rocky substrate at the HARS.
Differences in hard substrate ecology between the HARS and reference areas could not be
confidently attributed to dredged material management activities at the HARS because of the
influence of the freshwater plume identified over the HARS. This freshwater influence is likely
originating from the Hudson River and it is expected to transport carbon, nutrient, and solid
loads into the HARS. The freshwater plume did not occur in the reference areas. Region 2 will
conduct future monitoring surveys to identify reference areas that are more suitable for
comparison to the HARS (i.e., ones that are influenced by the plume but not HARS activities).
The benthic community variations observed within the HARS was not significantly related to
differences in water depths, water quality, or time elapsed since rock material had been placed.
Qualitative assessment of the images suggests that the epibenthic community associated with
the rock placed in areas with coarser sediments (i.e., sands/gravels) is more diverse and
abundant than those associated with rock placed near finer sediments (i.e., clays). Future
monitoring will be conducted to quantitatively investigate this possibility.
3.3 Region 3 - Norfolk Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, Virginia
3.3.1 Background
The Norfolk Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site (ODMDS) is located approximately 17 nmi
off the Virginia coast, east of Fisherman's Island. The site is circular with a radius of four nmi
and a total area of about 50 nmi2. Water depth at the site ranges from 43 to 85 ft (14 to 26 m)
with a gradual slope from west to east. It has been in use since its designation as a disposal site
by Region 3 in 1993.
The Norfolk ODMDS is designated to accept dredged material without any restrictions
concerning the source of the material. All dredged material disposed of at this site must meet
the ocean dumping criteria. The current planned use of the site includes the disposal of
100,000-500,000 cubic yards of material from the Naval Facilities in Yorktown, Virginia every
three years. USACE Norfolk District and Virginia Port Authority have proposed new dredging
projects to improve the current and future transit of commercial vessels using the federal
navigation channels at the Norfolk Harbor. These projects may increase future dredged material
disposal at the Norfolk ODMDS. The total quantity of dredged material disposed of at this site is
not expected to exceed 1.3 billion cubic yards.
3.3.2 Survey Objectives, Activities, and Findings
EPA Region 3 monitored the Norfolk ODMDS on August 24-30, 2015, aboard the N/S Nancy
Foster. Pursuant to the SMMP, Region 3 collected sediment samples at both the Norfolk
ODMDS and a reference area (Figure 5) to verify that significant adverse effects are not
occurring as a result of past or continued use of the site and that disposal permit conditions
have been met. To evaluate the site, 25 sediment samples from both the Norfolk ODMDS and a
reference area (50 samples total) were collected and analyzed for metal concentrations, TOC,
grain size distribution, and benthic infaunal abundance, diversity, and evenness. Water quality
parameters including salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and pH were also recorded at
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selected stations for both sites. Region 3 compared results from the Norfolk ODMDS to those of
the reference area as well as to the data collected from surveys conducted in previous years.
Region 3 analyzed the sediment samples for seven metals: cadmium, copper, lead, mercury,
nickel, silver, and zinc. Metal concentrations in the sediment samples collected from the
disposal site were similar to those from the reference area. Cadmium and silver were not
detected in the reference area nor the disposal site, and mercury was only detected in one
sample from the disposal site. All of the metal concentrations in samples collected on this
survey were well below the NOAA ERLs and therefore are not anticipated to have adverse
effects on the marine benthic community.
When comparing the sediment samples collected from the ODMDS to those collected from the
reference area, Region 3 found statistically significant differences between the physical
properties of those samples. While all sediment samples were composed predominantly of sand
with a silt/clay mix, the samples collected within the disposal site contained a marginally higher
percentage of clay than those collected within the reference area, indicating the presence of
dredged material within the bounds of the disposal site. Other grain size fractions in samples
from the disposal site were not significantly different from those in the reference area.
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Figure 5. Map of Norfolk ODMDS and reference area sampling locations.
Benthic infaunal diversity, evenness, and richness were all statistically lower in samples from
the disposal site than the reference area. Additionally, a comparison of the results from the 2015
survey to those of the 2014 survey indicated a reduction in all three benthic community
parameters for the disposal site but not for the reference area.
3.3.3 Conclusions and Recommended Management Actions
Based on the data collected during this survey, Region 3 confirmed that environmentally
acceptable conditions are being met at the Norfolk ODMDS and does not recommend any
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changes to the SMMP because the site is operating as anticipated. The biological community
measures observed in the Norfolk ODMDS are typically seen in areas of recent disturbance due
to dredged material disposal. This finding is consistent with an increase in disposal activity at
the Norfolk ODMDS. Region 3 will use the results from this study to inform future studies of the
benthic communities at the Norfolk ODMDS.
3.4 Region 4 - Brunswick Harbor Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, Georgia
3.4.1 Background
The Brunswick Harbor ODMDS was designated by EPA in 1989 for the disposal of dredged
material from the Brunswick, Georgia area. It is located approximately seven nmi offshore of
Jekyll Island, Georgia. It covers approximately two nmi2 with depths that vary from 24 to 36 ft (7
to 11 m). Material disposed of in the Brunswick Harbor ODMDS is dredged from approximately
30 miles of channels that provide access to the Port of Brunswick. Since its designation, the
Brunswick Harbor ODMDS has, on average, received approximately one million cubic yards of
dredged material annually.
3.4.2 Survey Objectives, Activities, and Findings
Region 4 monitored the Brunswick Harbor ODMDS on August 9-16, 2015, aboard the N/S
Nancy Foster. The objectives of this survey were to:
1) assess the status of the benthos and water column within and adjacent to the Brunswick
Harbor ODMDS; and
2) evaluate the performance of the site to determine if any management changes needed
to be incorporated into the SMMP.
To evaluate the status of the site, Region 4 collected sediment and biological samples from
within and outside of the disposal site boundaries (Figure 6). Sediment samples were analyzed
for grain size distribution and chemical analytes including PCBs, pesticides, SVOCs, metal
concentrations, TOC, total solids, organotins, and dioxins. Biological samples were analyzed to
determine macroinvertebrate abundance, diversity, and evenness. Additionally, Region 4
measured water quality parameters and collected water samples from three stations within the
study area. In situ water quality parameters, including salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen
concentration, and turbidity, were measured using a conductivity, temperature, and depth probe
(CTD). Water samples were collected from just below the surface and just above the bottom of
the water column. Water samples were analyzed for pesticides, trace metals, mercury, TOC,
dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and organotins.
Results from the sediment grain size analysis indicated that sediments within, and adjacent to,
the ODMDS were predominantly sand. Chemical analyses of the sediments revealed that most
chemical analytes were undetectable. In the few sediment samples where metals were
detected, none of the metal concentrations exceeded the NOAA ERLs. Concentrations of
pesticides, butylins, and PAHs were measured at values equivalent to or below the method
detection limits (MDLs), indicating levels below the ERL even for estimated values. While
sediments collected from two stations had detectable levels of PCBs, the concentrations of
PCBs were below the NOAA ERLs. Results from the dioxin analyses indicated that some of the
less toxic dioxin compounds, such as octachlorodibenzodioxin (OCDD), were present
throughout the study area.
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Results from the biological analyses showed no significant differences in taxa richness, density,
diversity, or evenness when comparing the benthic communities within and outside of the
disposal site boundaries. Comparison of benthic biological results from this survey to those from
surveys conducted in 1995 and 2006 revealed that taxa richness was significantly greater in
2015 and 2006 than in 1995, while density was lower in 2015 and 1995 than in 2006.
In situ water quality parameters were nearly identical across ail sampling stations. Results from
the water sample analyses showed that all chemical analytes, with the exception of eight
metals, were undetectable above the MDL. All eight metals detected were found at
concentrations below the NOAA ERLs.
3.4.3 Conclusions and Recommended Management Actions
Data collected during this survey enabled Region 4 to confirm that no lasting adverse impacts
are resulting from the continued use of the Brunswick Harbor ODMDS. Based on the low
concentrations of chemical analytes, the similarities in benthic communities, and nearly identical
water quality measurements inside and outside of the ODMDS, the Region confirmed that there
is little difference in the physical, chemical, and biological conditions between the disposal site
and the surrounding area. Further investigation into the results from the dioxin analysis that
indicated the presence of octachlorodibenzodioxin throughout the study area revealed that
similar concentrations were detected in the laboratory method blanks. This suggested the
possibility of cross-contamination during the lab analyses. Given this information, in addition to
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the lower toxic equivalency of the specific measured dioxin congener, Region 4 does not
consider dioxin as a concern for the Brunswick Harbor ODMDS. The variations in the benthic
communities observed when comparing the data collected during this survey to those collected
in previous surveys were attributed to the timing of Region 4's sample collection with respect to
the completion of the most recent disposal event. As little as two to three weeks of additional
recovery time between disposal and sample collection could have substantial effects on benthic
community parameters observed. Considering all of the data collected from the Brunswick
Harbor ODMDS study area, Region 4 concluded that the site is performing as anticipated and
recommended no changes in site management.
3.5 Region 4 - Fernandina Beach Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, Florida
3.5.1 Background
The Fernandina Beach ODMDS was designated by EPA in 1987. The ODMDS comprises an
approximately two nmi by two nmi square area and is located seven nmi offshore. The depth of
the site ranges from 37 to 69 ft (11.4-21.2 m), with an average depth of 53 ft (16.2 m). The
benthos within the site boundaries consists mostly of sands with some areas of gravel and low
relief rock.
Since its designation, a total of approximately 20 million cubic yards of dredged material has
been disposed of at the ODMDS. Most of the material has been generated from maintenance
dredging of the Kings Bay Entrance Channel, Florida. Approximately 626,000 cubic yards of
silty material is dredged from the Entrance Channel annually from a combination of civil works
projects and U.S. Navy-permitted dredging. Additionally, between 2011 and 2012, the
Fernandina Beach ODMDS received a large amount of dredged material, over 1.2 million cubic
yards, generated from the deepening of the Mayport Naval Station in Jacksonville, Florida.
3.5.2 Survey Objectives, Activities, and Findings
On August 9-16, 2015, Region 4 surveyed the Fernandina Beach ODMDS aboard the N/S
Nancy Foster. The objectives of this survey were to:
1) monitor the physical, chemical, and biological conditions within and surrounding the
disposal site following the disposal of material from the Mayport Naval Station deepening
project and
2) collect data for a trend assessment, allowing Region 4 to assess the performance of the
site over time.
To assess the impacts of recent dredged material disposal activity on the Fernandina Beach
ODMDS, Region 4 collected sediment and biological samples from within and outside of the
disposal site boundaries (Figure 7). Sediment samples were analyzed for grain size distribution
and chemical analytes. Biological samples (macroinvertebrates) were analyzed to determine
macroinvertebrate abundance, diversity, and evenness. Region 4 also measured water quality
parameters and collected water samples from just below the surface and just above the bottom
of the water column at three sampling stations. Water quality parameters, including salinity,
temperature, dissolved oxygen concentration, and turbidity, were measured in situ using a CTD.
Water samples were analyzed for pesticides, trace metals, mercury, TOC, DOC, and tributyltins
(TBT). Region 4 compared the results both spatially (inside versus outside the disposal site
boundaries) and temporally (to data collected during a 2005 survey).
Results from the sediment grain size analyses indicated that sediments within and outside of the
disposal site boundaries were primarily sand. The predominant sediment grain size was slightly
less coarse when compared to grain size distributions measured in 2005. All organic and
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inorganic chemical analyte concentrations in the sediment were either below the method
reporting limit (MRL), or below the benchmark concentrations outlined in the SQGs, therefore no
adverse effects were anticipated. Some less toxic dioxins and furans were detected in
sediments inside and outside the Fernandina Beach ODMDS. In comparison to samples from
the 2005 survey, sediments showed significant increases in copper, selenium, and mercury both
inside and outside of the ODMDS boundaries. However, silver concentrations in sediments
outside of the disposal site were significantly lower than those measured in 2005.
Comparison of benthic community assemblages between 2005 and 2015 revealed a transition
from an assemblage dominated by more opportunistic species in 2005 to one more dominated
by late-successional stage organisms in 2015. This transition indicates recovery of the benthic
community and generally low levels of benthic disturbance at the Fernandina Beach ODMDS.
All organic or inorganic chemical analyte concentrations in the water samples were either below
the MRL for the analyte or well below EPA's recommended marine water quality criteria.
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Predominant grain size variations between sediment samples from 2015 to those collected in
2005 were likely due to the differences in the dredged material sediment compositions disposed
of in the site both over time and from various dredging projects. Further investigations into the
low levels of dioxins and furans that were detected in the study area did not identify a source for
these contaminants. Due to the relatively low levels and low toxicity of the detected dioxin and
furan congeners, they are not expected to have any adverse effects on benthic organisms.
Additionally, differences in the minimum quantification limit of analytical methods used in 2005
versus 2015 may be responsible for the apparent increases in concentrations of several
analytes (e.g., copper, selenium, mercury, and silver).
The variations in the benthic communities observed when comparing the data collected during
the 2015 survey to those collected in previous surveys revealed a transition from a biological
assemblage dominated by more opportunistic species in 2005 to one more dominated by late-
successional stage organisms in 2015. This transition indicates the recovery of the benthic
community following dredged material disposal at the Fernandina Beach ODMDS. All organic or
inorganic chemical analyte concentrations in water samples collected were either below the
MRL for the analyte or well below EPA's recommended marine water quality criteria.
Considering all of the data collected from the Fernandina ODMDS study area, Region 4
recommended that dioxin and furan concentrations should continue to be assessed inside and
outside the Fernandina Beach ODMDS, but concluded that the site is performing as anticipated
and no changes to site management are necessary.
3.6 Region 6 - Corpus Christi and Matagorda Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites,
Texas
3.6.1 Background
On March 22, 2014, in Galveston Bay near Texas City, Texas, the bulk carrier Summer Wind
collided with the oil tank barge Kirby 27706. The collision resulted in 168,000 gallons (4,000
barrels) of fuel oil RMG 380 being spilled into the immediate area. The fuel oil from this Texas
City "Y" oil spill dispersed from Galveston Bay and into the Gulf of Mexico, carried along the
Texas coast by waves and currents. While fuel oil RMG 380 is not acutely toxic, it has the
potential to persist in the environment. A review of the NOAA Overflight Observation reports
suggested that the benthic sediments within EPA's designated ODMDSs and reference areas
located off the coasts of Corpus Christi and Matagorda, Texas, could have been contaminated
with oil from this spill.
EPA has designated two dredged material disposal sites off the coast of Corpus Christi, Texas:
the Corpus Christi Ship Channel ODMDS and the Corpus Christi New Work ODMDS. The
Corpus Christi Ship Channel ODMDS is located 1.3 nmi off the coast of Texas. It has an area of
0.5 nmi2 and depths ranging from 35 to 50 ft (11 to 15 m). The Corpus Christi Ship Channel
ODMDS was designated in 1989 and receives approximately 1.3 million cubic yards of
maintenance material dredged from the Corpus Christi Ship Channel every 1 to 2 years. The
Corpus Christi New Work ODMDS was designated in 1988 to provide a disposal area for
dredged material generated from the U.S. Navy's Homeport Project at Ingleside, Texas. This
disposal site is located adjacent to and seaward of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel ODMDS. It
has an area of 1.1 nmi2 and depths ranging from 47 to 55 ft (14 to 17 m). Through 2015, no
dredged material has been disposed of at this ODMDS. However, it is expected to receive
material from the Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project.
Two locations off the coast of Matagorda, Texas, were also monitored during this survey: the
Matagorda Ship Channel ODMDS and an area where, in the future, EPA may consider
designating a new site for disposal of dredged material generated from capital, or "new work,"
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dredging of the Matagorda Ship Channel. The Matagorda Ship Channel ODMDS is located
approximately 1.7 nmi off the coast of the Matagorda Peninsula, just southeast of the centerline
of the Matagorda Ship Channel Entrance. It has an area of 0.6 nmi2 and depths ranging from 25
to 40 ft (7 to 12 m). The Matagorda Ship Channel ODMDS was designated in 1990 and receives
350,000 cubic yards of dredged material generated from maintenance dredging of the
Matagorda Ship Channel every few years. The other area monitored during this survey is
referred to as the potential new work disposal site; this area is located in 38 to 44 ft (11 to 13 m)
of water and approximately 3 nmi offshore of the Matagorda Peninsula, adjacent to and
seaward of the Matagorda Ship Channel ODMDS.
3.6.2 Survey Objectives, Activities, and Findings
In July 2015, Region 6 surveyed the area within, adjacent to, and in proximity to several
designated ODMDSs located off the central and southern coasts of Texas aboard the R/V Point
Sur. The general survey objectives were twofold: to conduct routine monitoring at the Corpus
Christi Ship Channel ODMDS required to inform ongoing ODMDS management and to collect
information that would help Region 6 determine the magnitude of the impact of the Texas City
"Y" Oil Spill on the ODMDSs in the area.
More specifically, Region 6's survey objectives were to:
1) determine the extent of the dredged material footprint relative to the Corpus Christi Ship
Channel ODMDS boundaries and assess chemical and biological characteristics of this
site;
2) confirm that the Texas City "Y" oil spill had no adverse impacts on the Corpus Christi
Ship Channel, Corpus Christi New Work, and Matagorda Ship Channel ODMDSs,
reference areas, and an area off the coast of Matagorda where, in the future, a potential
new work disposal site may be considered for designation; and
3) collect polychaete and bivalve tissues from unaffected areas close to the ODMDSs to
measure background level concentrations of common contaminants of concern. Any
tissue concentration data collected in this survey would contribute to the development of
a compendium of background concentration tissue data for the Western Gulf of Mexico,
which could serve as a potential tool for evaluating the suitability of dredged material for
ocean disposal in the Western Gulf of Mexico.
To accomplish these objectives, Region 6 employed several sampling techniques within the
study area. From the Corpus Christi Ship Channel ODMDS, the Region collected SPI and PVI
to determine the dredged material footprint relative to the site boundaries; sediment samples to
be analyzed for grain size distribution; sediment samples to be analyzed for metals, TOC,
PCBs, PAHs, pesticides, and other SVOCs; and macroinvertebrates samples to determine
diversity and abundance. Region 6 also collected sediment samples throughout the rest of the
study area to be analyzed for PAHs and used a basket dredge and rocking chair dredge to
collect polychaete worms and bivalves.
3.6.2.1 Corpus Christi Ship Channel ODMDS
Region 6 collected images, sediment, and biological samples from a total of 23 stations within
and around the Corpus Christi Ship Channel ODMDS and reference area (Figure 8). Analyses
of SPI and PVI revealed that dredged material was present at all stations within the ODMDS
boundary and all stations adjacent to the ODMDS. No dredged material was present at stations
within the reference area. Measurements of aRPD depths ranged from 3.5 to 7.0 cm across all
stations sampled. Sediments collected within and adjacent to the Corpus Christi Ship Channel
ODMDS were composed of greater than 90% sand, while the reference area was predominantly
clay and silt.
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Results from the sediment chemistry analyses revealed that, while all metal concentrations were
above the target detection limit (TDL), none of the concentrations were above either the ERL or
the ERM. Additionally, concentrations of 11 of the 13 metals measured6 in the sediments
collected from the reference area were significantly higher than those measured in the ODMDS
or adjacent to the ODMDS. TOC measurements were similar across all stations sampled. No
PCBs, PAHs, pesticides, or SVOCs were detected above the TDLs in any of the samples
collected.
New Work ODMDS, and Corpus Christi reference area.
Results from the biological analyses indicated that stations inside the Corpus Christi Ship
Channel ODMDS had significantly lower numbers of taxa, lower diversity (Shannon-Weiner
Index), and lower evenness (Pielou's Evenness Index) than those located outside the ODMDS
boundaries. These results (lower taxa, diversity, and evenness) are indicative of disturbed
benthic communities undergoing successional recovery within the ODMDS.
3.6.2.2 Corpus Christi New Work Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site
Region 6 collected sediments from eight stations within and around the Corpus Christi New
Work ODMDS which were analyzed for 18 PAHs and compared with samples from the Corpus
Christi Ship Channel ODMDS, associated reference area, and to samples from a survey
conducted in 2002, i.e., before the Texas City "Y" oil spill. PAHs were not detected above the
TDL in any of the samples collected from the Corpus Christi New Work ODMDS, Corpus Christi
Ship Channel ODMDS, or the reference area. The TDLs were all below NOAA ERL and ERM
6The remaining two metals (mercury and selenium) did not have enough samples with concentrations
above the TDL, inside or outside the ODMDS, to complete statistical analysis.
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values for each compound, and therefore concentrations of PAHs at this ODMDS are not likely
to cause adverse effects at these locations.
Of the 18 PAH compounds analyzed from sediment samples collected during this 2015 survey,
16 of these were historically investigated during the 2002 survey. In the 2002 survey, sediment
samples were collected from the Corpus Christi Ship Channel ODMDS and reference area.
Results from 2002 showed that all 16 PAH compounds were detected in the sediments from the
Corpus Christi Ship Channel and 11 of the 16 PAHs compounds were detected in sediments
from the reference area. In comparing the PAH concentrations measured in 2015 to those
measured in 2002, the total PAH concentrations in 2015 were significantly lower than those
measured in 2002.
3.6.2.3 Matagorda Ship Channel ODMDS
Region 6 sampled sediments from several stations within and around the Matagorda Ship
Channel ODMDS and from the reference area (Figure 9) to be analyzed for PAHs. The PAH
concentrations measured in these samples were compared to historical data to determine if the
area was contaminated by the Texas City "Y" oil spill. No PAHs were detected in sediments
from the Matagorda Ship Channel ODMDS nor from the reference area. Historically, PAHs were
detected in sediments collected from the ODMDS and reference area in 1995 but were not
detected in either the 2012 or 2015 samples.
3.6.2.4 Potential area for new work disposal site offshore of Matagorda
Region 6 collected sediments for PAH analysis from several stations within and around an area
being considered as a potential new work disposal site. Two of the 18 PAH compounds
analyzed were detected in these samples, 1-ethylnaphthalene and pyrene. The concentrations
of both compounds were below the NOAA ERL and ERM.
3.6.2.5 Compendium of Polychaete and Bivalve Tissue Concentrations
Region 6 collected polychaetes and bivalves from benthic areas outside of the influence of
ODMDSs to assess the background concentration of metals, PCBs, and SVOCs including
PAHs, pesticides, dioxins, and furans accumulated in their tissues. Results from the tissue
analyses detected a limited number of metals, PCBs, pesticides, and other SVOCs. All 13 of the
metals analyzed were detected at least one of the polychaete and bivalve tissue samples;
however, concentrations were below the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
limits (comparisons to FDA limits are described in the Ocean Testing Manual (EPA and USACE,
1991)). Concentrations of total PCBs measured in polychaete tissue were below the analytical
detection limits. PCBs were also not detected in bivalve tissues. The concentrations of total
PAHs ranged from approximately 10 to 42 |jg/kg wet weight in polychaete samples and from 3
to 103 |jg/kg wet weight in bivalve samples. Thirteen of the 16 PAHs analyzed were detected in
one or more of the polychaete tissue samples; however, the majority of the concentrations were
below the TDL.
3.6.3 Conclusions and Recommended Management Actions
Using the data collected from the Corpus Christi Ship Channel ODMDS, Region 6 drew several
conclusions about the status of the disposal site. The Corpus Christi Ship Channel ODMDS is
dispersive in nature. When designating a dispersive dredged material disposal site, EPA
expects to see dredged material transported outside of the site boundaries via ocean currents
present in the area; however, it is expected that the material will not move in distinct mounds,
but instead will disperse with the surrounding environment causing a progressive transition to
the ambient sediment. While SPI and PVI identified dredged material deposits that extended
beyond the boundaries of the ODMDS, no distinct mounds were observed. Furthermore, the
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aRPD depths throughout the study area are indicative of well-oxygenated, healthy benthic
conditions. These data indicate that the site is functioning as anticipated. Region 6 concluded
that future surveys should include additional SRI and sediment sampling to delineate the full
extent to which dredged material has migrated beyond the disposal site boundaries.
* , / T ' *r *
Matagorda ODMDS
Sediment Sampling Locations
Legend
# Sediment Sample
Y//A ODMDS Sites
Dallas. Texas
August 18, 2015
SEW
Figure 9. Sediment sampling locations at the Matagorda Maintenance ODMDS and reference area,
as well as a potential area for a new work disposal site.
Differences observed in the predominant sediment types between the samples within and
adjacent to the ODMDS and those from the reference area were consistent with dredged
material characteristics and disposal operations. Sediments collected within and adjacent to the
ODMDS were composed of greater than 90% sand, while the reference area was predominantly
clay and silt. The differences in the physical characteristics of the sediments likely explain the
variations in sediment chemistry between the ODMDS and the reference area. More
specifically, the higher concentrations of metals measured in the reference area are likely
associated with the higher percentage of fine-grained sediments found in the reference area.
Region 6 will use these data to inform future surveys to identify a reference area that is more
suitable for comparison to the ODMDS (i.e., area with comparable grain size distribution).
To determine potential impacts from the Texas City "Y" oil spill, PAH concentrations were
measured in sediments collected from the Corpus Christi Ship Channel, Corpus Christi New
Work, Matagorda Ship Channel ODMDSs, and an area that may be considered for the
designation of a potential new work disposal site. No evidence of impacts from the Texas City
"Y" oil spill was observed across the entire study area.
The background concentrations of metals, PCBs, and SVOCs measured in polychaete and
bivalve tissues collected from outside the area of influence of the ODMDSs will contribute to the
development of a compendium of background tissue concentrations for contaminants of
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concern for bivalves and polychaetes collected from the Western Gulf of Mexico. Upon
completion, this compendium will be useful in dredged material evaluations under the MPRSA
Section 103.
3.7 Region 9 - Newport Beach (LA-3) Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, California
3.7.1 Background
The Newport Beach (LA-3) ODMDS is located 4.5 nmi from the mouth of Newport Harbor,
California. The site is circular with an area of 0.8 nmi2 and ranges in depth from 1,500 to 1,675 ft
(457 to 511 m). Since its designation in 2005, the site has been used annually to dispose of an
average of 189,068 cubic yards of dredged material generated from maintenance and capital
dredging projects in Newport Bay, California. Before LA-3 was designated, an interim site7,
located northeast of LA-3, was used for ocean disposal of dredged material (Figure 10). The
scale of dredged material disposal at the interim site was variable from 1976 through 2005,
resulting in a total ocean disposal volume of 3,360,275 cubic yards and an annual volume
average of 140,011 cubic yards.
Figure 10, Overview map of the LA-3 ODMDS and interim site (labeled "discontinued").
3.7.2 Survey Objectives, Activities and Findings
EPA Region 9 monitored the LA-3 ODMDS with two separate surveys: a multi-beam echo
sounder (MBES) survey and a geophysical survey. In July 2015, during the MBES survey,
7lnterim ocean disposal sites are no longer available for use. Amendments enacted in 1992 under the
MPRSA require that no permits for ocean dumping shall be issued for an EPA-established ocean disposal
site after January 1, 1997, unless the site has received a final designation. In 2008, EPA repealed expired,
and therefore obsolete, provisions regarding interim ocean disposal sites.
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Region 9 collected bathymetric and backscatter data. These data provided the EPA a better
understanding of the depth, contour, and texture of the benthos within and around the LA-3
ODMDS and the discontinued interim site. These data also informed adjustments to the
locations where sediment imaging and sampling would be conducted during the subsequent
geophysical survey. The geophysical survey was conducted in September 2015 aboard the
Scripps Institution of Oceanography's R/V Robert Gordon Sproul. During this survey, Region 9
collected SPI and PVI and benthic samples to assess the performance of the LA-3 ODMDS and
to document the recovery of the area encompassing the discontinued interim site (Figure 11).
Prior to this survey, the study area had not been monitored since baseline surveys were
conducted before the LA-3 designation (2003-2004).
The MBES survey results showed that the LA-3 site and discontinued interim site contained
coarser-grained sediments than the ambient sediments in the surrounding area. Additionally,
MBES results identified potential short dumping, or the release of dredged material shoreward
of the disposal site, associated with the older discontinued site.
SPI and PVI were taken within the study area to map the dredged material footprint. SPI results
were used to identify dredged material thickness and aRPD depths. PVI results were collected
to evaluate surface sediment features, including epifaunal colonies and burrow openings and to
identify the presence of any larger macrofauna not captured during benthic sediment sampling.
The SPI results indicated that the dredged material thickness was consistent with disposal
operations at both the LA-3 site and the discontinued interim site. Measurements of aRPD
depths indicated that stations with thicker dredged material deposits had deeper aRPD depths;
however, aRPD depths indicated healthy benthic conditions across all sampling stations. PVI
results showed that the native seafloor surrounding the LA-3 site consisted of a uniform layer of
light tan colored fine silt-clay with rippled surfaces and surface tubes. PVI collected from within
the disposal site boundaries did not show any significant differences in these features, nor in the
presence and abundance of epifauna.
Benthic sediment and biological samples were collected from within and around the LA-3
ODMDS and the discontinued interim site. Benthic sediment samples were analyzed for grain
size distribution and the presence of chemical analytes including PCBs, PAHs, dichloro-
diphenyl-trichloroethanes (DDTs), metals, TOC, organotins, and dioxins. Benthic biological
samples were analyzed to determine macroinvertebrate abundance, diversity, and evenness.
Sediment samples collected from within the LA-3 site had significantly more sand, less fines,
and slightly less organic carbon content than samples collected from outside of the disposal
site. Sediment chemistry results showed that most sampling stations throughout the study area
had chemical concentrations below NOAA's ERL. Some sampling stations, located both within
and outside of the LA-3 site boundaries, showed ERL exceedances of metal concentrations,
DDTs, and PCBs; however, the screening level exceedances were minor in magnitude. Results
from the biological sample analyses identified multiple benthic infauna successional stages
within the LA-3 ODMDS and at the sampling stations located within the discontinued interim
site.
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ursro-w
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Figure 11. SPI/PVI station locations at the LA-3 ODMDS.
3.7.3 Conclusions and Recommended Management Actions
Based on the physical, chemical, and biological data collected during this survey, Region 9
concluded that there were no long-term adverse impacts resulting from dredged material
disposal at the LA-3 ODMDS, the discontinued interim site, or in the area surrounding those
sites. Differences in predominant sediment types between the ODMDS and areas outside of the
site were consistent with dredged material characteristics and disposal operations The
variations in aRPD depths, with greater aRPD depths in areas with thicker deposits of dredged
material, suggested that dredged material disposal may increase aRPD depth. However, the
greater aRPD depths observed were not associated with any adverse impacts to the benthic
communities within or around the disposal site and the aRPD depths measured throughout the
study area indicated healthy benthic conditions. The metal, DDT, and PCB concentrations
measured in the LA-3 ODMDS that exceeded the ERL reflected levels consistent to those
identified during predisposal testing of dredged material; these concentrations were not elevated
enough to be associated with toxicity in the benthic community. The multiple infauna
successional stages observed through the study area indicated a well-established benthic
community that was able to recolonize following historical and continued disposal activities.
Considering all of the results from the LA-3 ODMDS survey, Region 9 concluded that the
benthic community in the discontinued interim site has recovered from historical dredged
material disposal operations and that the LA-3 ODMDS is performing as anticipated and no
changes to site management are necessary at this time.
4.0 Conclusions
EPA conducts oceanographic surveys to monitor the impacts of regulated dumping at ocean
disposal sites and to inform management decisions in accordance with EPA roles and
responsibilities under the MPRSA and the ocean dumping regulations. EPA monitors ocean
disposal sites to ensure that dumping will not unreasonably degrade or endanger human health
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or the environment, to verify that unanticipated adverse effects are not occurring from past or
continued use of sites, and to ensure that terms of ocean dumping permits are met.
Based on the results of these FY 2015 ocean disposal site surveys:
EPA found that environmentally acceptable conditions have been met and determined
that permitted disposal of dredged material under the MPRSA could continue without
modifications to site usage at eight of the monitored ocean disposal sites: HARS,
Norfolk, Brunswick Harbor, Fernandina Beach, Corpus Christi Ship Channel, Corpus
Christi New Work, Matagorda Ship Channel, and LA-3 ODMDSs.
EPA also used the data collected during these surveys to:
o Inform the proposal to expand the boundaries of the existing Massachusetts Bay
Disposal Site to include a portion of the historical Industrial Waste Site (IWS).
This site expansion is a key step in the Massachusetts Bay IWS Restoration
Project, whereby suitable dredged material from a federal navigation project
authorized under the MPRSA would be disposed of at an expanded
Massachusetts Bay Disposal Site (MBDS), isolating legacy contaminants on the
seafloor under a protective layer of dredged material;8
o Identify the location of two shipwrecks within the MBDS and establish a 50-meter
disposal buffer around the wrecks to avoid impacts to these potential cultural
resources during future disposal activities;
o Better understand the ecological succession and variability of rock habitat within
the HARS and inform methodologies to be utilized during future studies of the
site;
o Inform future studies of the benthic communities in the Norfolk ODMDS;
o Confirm that the SMMP for the Brunswick Harbor ODMDS is effective in ensuring
that disposal is not unreasonably degrading or endangering human health,
amenities, or the marine environment;
o Confirm that the Fernandina ODMDS is performing as anticipated and inform
future studies of the site and surrounding area;
o Confirm that the Corpus Christi Ship Channel, Corpus Christi New Work, and
Matagorda Ship Channel ODMDSs were not adversely impacted by the 2014
Texas City "Y" oil spill;
o Inform future monitoring surveys to evaluate the fate and transport of dredged
material disposed of at the Corpus Christi Ship Channel ODMDS and identify a
reference area that is more suitable for comparison to the material being
disposed of at the ODMDS;
o Contribute to a compendium of background tissue values for contaminants of
concern that may be used in future disposal permit evaluations in the Western
Gulf of Mexico; and
o Confirm that there were no long-term adverse impacts resulting from dredged
material disposal at the LA-3 ODMDS.
8The Final Rule for the Modification of an Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site in Massachusetts Bay
was published in the Federal Register on May 29, 2018, with an effective date of June 28, 2018 (83 FR
24408).
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5.0 Acknowledgements
This report is based on the monitoring surveys conducted, analyses performed, and conclusions
drawn by EPA Regional offices 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 9 during FY 2015. This report was developed
with the support of Ocean Dumping staff from EPA Headquarters and all coastal Regional
offices.
Cover art by Allie Redford.
6.0 References
EPA and USACE. 1991. Evaluation of Dredged Material Proposed for Ocean Disposal.
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-10/documents/green book.pdf
National Oceans Economics Program. Market Data.
http://www.oceaneconomics.org/Market/ocean/oceanEcon.asp
NOAA. 1999. Sediment Quality Guidelines Developed for the National Status and Trends
Program, http://archive.orr.noaa.gov/book shelf/121 sedi gual guide.pdf
Rhoads, D.C. and J.D. Germano. 1982. Characterization of Organism-Sediment Relations
Using Sediment Profile Imaging: An Efficient Method of Remote Ecological Monitoring of
the Seafloor (Remots System). Marine Ecology Progress Series, 8:115-128.
Sturdivant, S. K.; Carey, D. A. 2017. Baseline Seafloor Assessment Survey for the Proposed
Expansion of the Massachusetts Bay Disposal Site September/October 2015. DAMOS
Contribution No. 201. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Concord,
MA, 105 pp.
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