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Marine Environmental Monitoring Program Memo
To: Clarissa Trasko
From: John W.Sowles
Date: April 28,1998
Subject: Field Investigation- General Alum
Field Investigation - General Alum
On Thursday, April 16, 1998, Lee Doggett, Alison Ward and I met with Alex Horth of General Alum, Ralph Harriman, Searsport Shellfish Warden, and Ron Huber and Herb Hoche of the Coastal Waters Project. The purpose of the visit was to assess the health of the intertidal zone in front of General Alum.
The flat has a history of incidents, mostly chemical spills while under various owners. We walked the shoreline from a point just west of the General Alum property (but just short of the "engineered" shellfish flat made to mitigate the causeway) to the now discontinued cooling water intake canal at the eastern end of their property. The survey covered low intertidal to high beach habitats (see map). '
Findings
The overall habitat of the area is variable containing a mixture of boulders, cobbles, coarse and fine sands and mud. Sediment in the high to mid intertidal area west of outfall 001 to about halfway to the causeway is obviously altered from its natural state. Occasional lumps of sulfur are scattered on the beach along with ceramic packing material and other debris.
The sediment itself is a discolored an off-white creamy color in small patches up to a meter square. Just under the surface, over an area comprising about an acre, similar discolored sediment is found. Overall depth of this material varies from a few millimeters to several (10) centimeters. Below the discolored material, a typical anoxic (black) sediment is found. The texture of the discolored material is similar to mud/silt and soft, having a high water content.
The origin of the material is probably from historical spills and slumping banks and chemical piles. An eroding/slumping embankment is immediately landward of the altered flat. This is filled land and, according to Alec, contains a creamy/light rose colored bauxite. Presumably, the beach and flat contains this same material.
Between Outfall 001 and 002, sediments appeared normal. At Outfall 001, a cloudy white plume indicated an active discharge. There had not been rain for at least 5 days previous so this was not stormwater and the licensed discharge should be clear, not cloudy. Mr. Horth did not have an explanation. At Outfall 002, sheening was visible. Mud at the foot of the outfall structure was moderately oiled and had a characteristic and distinct odor of petroleum, however there were no sheens or indication of oil in the intertidal sediments.
Biological
To determine whether the foreign material was having an adverse impact on the biota, we did a cursory "presence-absence" survey as we walked the beach. On the surface, periwinkles, green crabs, barnacles, blue mussels, filamentous algae and worm and clam holes are common (eg. mostly always within view). These were found in the reference
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Field Investigation - General Alum 04/28/98 Page 2
area as well as throughout the site including areas of discolored sediment. Lee also looked at infauna (see attached report). Although the surface organisms appeared "normal" in terms of abundance and species, it is Lee's opinion that the infauna suggests a stressed community. She could not rule out seasonality as a contributing factor.
Subsequently, a second survey was done to account for seasonal effects on a mixed substrate habitat and serve as a better reference than the beach between the engineered flat and General Alum. This second survey was conducted on April 23rd in Fort Point Cove on Cape Jellison in a habitat similar to that in front of General Alum. At all reference sites, worm tubes and fecal mounds were more abundant and more evenly distributed throughout the flat. The amphipod Corophium that is preyed on by shorebirds during their seasonal migration, was very common in Fort Point Cove but absent at General Alum. Thus, it would appear that the differences in the community in front of General Alum is probably a result of physical/chemical alteration of the flat.
Live clams of all size classes were found throughout the flat areas in both "normal" sediments as well as discolored areas. Mr. Huber asked me to examine 4 clams dug from the colored sediment for deformities. At the laboratory, I dissected all four clams. All were anatomically normal and appeared healthy. No obvious signs of tumors or siphon anomalies were present.
Tissue Analysis
In fall 1996, clams from this area were sampled for heavy metal analyses due to contamination concerns. Results (below) indicate that clams collected from this area did not contain toxic contaminants at unhealthful levels.
Concentrations (ug/g dry wt) of Various Metals in Clams from Stockton Springs
Area Collected November 3, 1996
Stations reps Ag Cd Cu Pb Hg Zn AI Fe Se As V Mn % Solids
Kidder Pt. 1 0.12 0.02 4.6 0.4 0.06 18 159 290 0.11 1.84 0.48 22.14 67.29
Kidder Pt. 2 0.16 <0.022 6.6 0.6 0.07 23 198 395 <0.09 2.07 0.49 27.57 55.14
Mill Cove" 1 0.22 0.08 11.5 0.5 0.17 30 618 1494 <0.11 4.53 1.30 36.60 43.71
Mill Cove 2 0.20 0.10 12.6 0.7 0.18 29 582 1645 <0.11 4.39 1.46 74.77 46.01
Squaw Hd 1 0.21 0.06 17.2 0.4 0.07 25 297 644 <0.08 2.82 0.68 23.89 60.28
Squaw Hd 2 0.31 <0.028 14.5 0.9 0.08 29 459 909 <0.12 3.16 0.88 92.96 43.35
Kidder Point is directly in front of General Alum. Mill Cove is at the head of Stockton Harbor about a mile east of General Alum. Squaw Head is the outer portion of Cape Jellison as Stockton Harbor empties into Penobscot Bay.
Comparison is difficult since we have very few data on soft shelled clam tissue concentrations. However, if compared to blue mussel data, for which we have calculated "natural" background levels, only aluminum appears elevated, and even then in Mill Cove, not Kidder Point.
Aluminum and iron are abundant crustal elements. We measure both to determine whether or not the animals have accumulated significant quantities of sediment in their gut. In the event that aluminum was elevated and iron was not, one might conclude that General Alum is the source of aluminum. However, since iron is also elevated, we conclude that resuspended sediment is the source and not the General Alum site.
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Field Investigation - General Alum 04/28/98
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Conclusion
The intertidal zone below General Alum immediately west of Outfall 001 is, according to our best professional judgement, is not supporting a biological community typical of a mixed substrate habitat of this type and season. Although there were no obvious signs of gross toxicity, fewer individuals are living at this site when compared to an otherwise unimpacted site.
However, despite the present visual appearance, the habitat is appears to be in a stage of recovery with marine life that is both reproducing and growing. Infauna was found alive and at various life stages even in the discolored areas. For this reason and because chemical tests do not indicate an unhealthful situation for human consumers, we do not recommend direct remediation of the flats. Direct remediation would cause more harm than allowing natural processes to restore this area over time. However, preventing further degradation is a necessary condition of ensuring the success of natural processes. Given the history of the site and proximity of the site to ongoing industrial chemical operations, recommendations to prevent further degradation follow:
Specific Recommendations
1 Further investigation of the Outfall 001 system is needed to determine whether or not unintended discharges can or could occur. Dye tests may prove useful when investigating floor and sink drains and other drains and connections.
2 A site runoff prevention plan should be developed, scheduled and implemented. Given the materials handled on site and apparent absence of containment structures, any accidental spill would flow directly into Stockton Harbor. Areas of the site where chemicals are handled, stored, conveyed or otherwise vulnerable to spills should be separated from non-spill areas and directed into a containment area.
3 Stabilize all eroding banks using "soft" techniques beginning with area west of Outfall 001. "Soft" techniques incorporate vegetation that is self-healing after disturbance. This may require slightly cutting the banks back.
4. Remove the small amount of soil contaminated with petroleum at base of 002 and stabilize outfall. Given the nature of the material already removed from 002 and apparently moving through the system, the structure should be converted into a true oil/water separator and sediment trap until such time that petroleum is not longer present.
cc: Phil Garwood, Alec Horth, Ron Huber,,Ed Logue, Mike Barden