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ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING OF REMEDIAL DREDGING AT THE NEW BEDFORD HARBOR, MA, SUPERFUND SITE
Citation:
Bergen, B J., W G. Nelson, D. Mackay, AND R. Dickerson. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING OF REMEDIAL DREDGING AT THE NEW BEDFORD HARBOR, MA, SUPERFUND SITE. Presented at American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, August 20-25, 2000.
Description:
New Bedford Harbor (NBH), MA, is a Superfund site due to high sediment polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations. An initial remedial dredging operation removed the most contaminated sediments from the upper harbor ("Hot Spot"). During remediation, a monitoring program assessed the environmental impacts to NBH and adjacent Buzzards Bay. The program was developed with input from federal, state, and local authorities and the public. Site-specific decision criteria were established to assess PCB transport, water column toxicity, and PCB bioaccumulation in blue and ribbed mussels (Mytilus edulis and Modiolus demissus, respectively). The remediation was completed within the established limits, including minimal PCB net transport and no acute toxicity effects. PCB bioaccumulation in mussels during this time period was not significantly greater than pre- or post-operational measurements. The results indicate that a substantial percentage of the PCB mass in the harbor was removed with little or no negative environmental effects.