Environmental Monitoring Of Remedial Dredging At The New Bedford Harbor, Ma, Superfund Site |
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Authors: | Barbara J Bergen William G Nelson Joseph Mackay David Dickerson Saro Jayaraman |
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Institution: | (1) Atlantic Ecology Division, U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Laboratory, 27 Tarzwell Dr., Narragansett, Rhode Island, U.S.A.;(2) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, North Atlantic Division New England District (CENAE), Concord, Massachusetts, U.S.A.;(3) U.S. EPA, Region I, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. |
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Abstract: | New Bedford Harbor (NBH), MA, is a Superfund site because of high polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations in the sediment.
From April 1994 to September 1995, a remedial dredging operation (termed the “Hot Spot”) removed the most contaminated sediments
(PCB concentrations greater than 4000μg/g) from the upper harbor. During remediation, a monitoring program assessed the potential
environmental impacts to NBH and adjacent Buzzards Bay. The monitoring program was developed with input from federal, state,
and local authorities. Site-specific decision criteria were established to assess net PCB transport, water column toxicity,
and PCB bioaccumulation in blue and ribbed mussels (Mytilus edulis and Geukensia demissa, respectively). The remediation was completed without exceeding PCB net transport or acute toxicity effects specified in
the decision criteria. In addition, PCB bioaccumulation in mussels during this time period was not significantly greater than
pre- or post-operational measurements. The results indicated that approximately 14000 cubic yards of highly PCB contaminated
sediment were permanently removed with minimal environmental effects. The lessons learned during this operation, as well as
previous pilot studies at the site, will be used to make full-scale remedial efforts in NBH more efficient and environmentally
protective. |
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Keywords: | monitoring New Bedford Harbor PCB transport remedial dredging site-specific criteria |
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