Marine Discharge Compliance Studies
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Compliance Inspections of Permitted Discharges at Seafood Processors and Log Transfer Sites
What: The EPA Region 10 Dive Team has conducted compliance inspections of pollutant discharges permitted under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) at seafood processors and log transfer facilities (LTF) in coastal Alaska.
Why: EPA periodically conducts "surprise" SCUBA-based inspections of pipes discharging wastes and any resulting deposits for compliance with the conditions of NPDES permits. Permit conditions include limitations on the size of discharged waste particles (e.g., ground to one half inch for seafood waste solids in most of Alaska) and the area of the deposition field (e.g., often one acre for both seafood processors and log transfer facilities). Thickness of waste deposits, impacts on benthic communities, and water quality conditions at discharge sites are data needed to evaluate permit compliance.
Where: Compliance inspections for seafood processors have been conducted throughout Southeast Alaska and Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands. LTF survey was in Port Fredrick near Hoonah, AK..
When: Compliance inspections customarily occur between April and October and have been conducted intermittently since 1977.
How: Observations are made, photographs and video records are taken, and core samples of sediment may be collected. All data are synthesized as inspection reports for the compliance record of each facility inspected.
Results: Inspection information is used to develop NPDES permit conditions as well as support enforcement actions when permit limits and conditions have been violated.
More Details: Compliance Inspection Reports and, in some cases, enforcement actions and civil penalties for violations of NPDES permit conditions.
Contact: Rob Pedersen at pedersen.rob@epa.gov
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A typical log raft operation | Typical discharge from a seafood processing plant | Discharged waste on the bottom near a seafood processing plant | |
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Occasionally large size pieces of salmon are discharged from the seafood processors | An old bone pile from
processing years ago | Looking for a meal: Sharks circling above seafood discharge | |
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Rob Pedersen, Unit Dive Officer operating video camera during a seafood inspection. | Sediment core analysis conducted
to determine seafood waste
impact on benthic life. | Sharks above a Kethikan Seafood Discharge, July 2000. | |
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Video: Compliance Inspection at an Alaska Seafood Processor Outfall inspection (2 minutes, 21 MB Quicktime format)
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Salmon Net-pen Study
What: The EPA Region 10 Dive Team studied the benthic effects of five salmon net-pens in Puget Sound, WA.
Why: The culturing of salmon in marine net-pens results in the release of solid organic wastes (fish feces, unconsumed food, and carcasses) to the surrounding aquatic environment. Deposition of these organic materials may have effects ranging from none to biotic enrichment to an anoxic sea floor inhabited only by bacteria and nematodes. EPA's Dive Team was asked to study this range of impacts in support of the issuance of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits to salmon net-pens in Puget Sound. The study objectives were: (1) assess the nature and extent of benthic impacts associated with net-pen operations and (2) recommend benthic survey requirements within NPDES permits for assessing such benthic impacts.
Where: Salmon net-pens were studied in Clam Bay, Rich Passage, Port Townsend, Port Angeles Harbor, and Cypress Island.
When: Spring, 1991
How: Observations were made, photographs taken, and core samples of sediment were collected along 200' transects extending away from the sides of the net-pens. Sediment cores were subdivided for the analysis of grain size, sediment chemistry, and infaunal macroinvertebrate communities.
Results: Benthic impacts, when present, were most intense under and immediately adjacent to the pens. The distance of the impact zone varied from zero to more than 200 feet. Scientific diving survey methods were developed and incorporated into NPDES permits for salmon marine net-pens in Puget Sound. These methods included transects, photography, and sediment sampling. Location of net-pens in areas of adequate depth (>50') and current speeds (> 0.2 knots) was important for ameliorating effects, particularly for large, high-production net-pens.
More Details: PTI Environmental Services. 1991. Puget Sound Estuarine Studies, Procedures for Monitoring Salmon Marine Net-Pens. Data Report for U.S. EPA Region 10. EPA Cont. No. 68-D8-0089, 35 p. + 8 App. (35 pp, 2 MB pdf to start)
Contact: Burney Hill at hill.burney@epa.gov
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Wyckoff Outfall Survey
What: The EPA Region 10 Dive Team performed an outfall and impact survey for the Wyckoff treatment plant to support the Region 10 Superfund program and USACE.
Why: The survey was designed to determine the level of impact of the outfall on nearby sediment and to observe the outfall to determine if was in need of maintenance. The outfall discharges treated effluent from the Wyckoff treatment plant which treats creosote contaminated groundwater as part of a Superfund cleanup of an old wood treating site.
Where: Near Eagle Harbor, City of Bainbridge Island
When: The survey was conducted in August, 2002.
How: Divers located the outfall, took still photos and video, then placed a transect along which surface sediment samples were taken. Samples of the top 2 cm were collected into 16 oz. jars using pre-cleaned stainless steel spoons with special care to include the very fine flocculent surface layer. In total, 54 samples were collected from the acute and chronic mixing zone/zone of deposit.
Equipment Used: Support vessel with GPS; down lines, nikonos V, Sony video camera.
Results: Samples were successfully collected, including still and video documentation.
More Details: EPA Wyckoff web page
Video: Surface Sediment Sampling Techniques, (2 minutes, Total file size 27 MB Windows Media format)
Contact: Rob Pedersen at pedersen.rob@epa.gov
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