of the Port of Oakland provided lead responsibility for contracting support vessels and collecting test sediment. In addition, we thank Dr. Brian Melzian and Mr. Pat Cotter of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for their part in the planning and technical design of these studies. Several key MSL scientists (not cited as authors) worked carefully and diligently to help generate the data critical to this report, including Dr. Eric Crecelius, Mr.

This is Volume 1 of a two-volume report that presents information gathered to determine the suitability of ocean disposal of sediment dredged from Oakland Harbor. This volume contains project background, materials and methods, results, discussions, and conclusions. Volume 2 contains the appendixes (A through S), which provide details of the data analyses and full presentation of the data and results.

No abstract

J • Determined bioaccumulation potential of contaminants associated with test treatment composite IH-2/IH-3 Comp through 28-day exposures using the clam Macoma nasuta and the polychaete N. virens. Bioaccumulation potential was evaluated by comparing contaminants associated with tissues exposed to test treatments to tissue levels after exposure to the reference treatments IHR1 and IHR2. • Performed appropriate comparisons of results through statistical analyses to determine compliance of the proposed dredged material with Section 103 of MPRSA. WINYAH BAY iii The resultsof physical/chemicalanalyses Indicatedthat some contaminantsof concern were presentin testtreatmentsrepresentingdredgedmaterialwhencomparedto the reference treatmentsEC Ref-Comp, IHR1, and IHR2. Elevatedlevelsof polynucleararomatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were observedin testtreatmentsIH-2, IH-3, and Samplt Rivertreatments; pesticideswere detectedonly in testtreatmentSR-1. Dioxincongenerswere presentin all test treatments,thoughthe mosttoxicformssuchas 2,3,7,8-TCDD were absent. Metalswere presentin all treatments,butonlyelevated in the Sampit Rivertest treatments. Inner Harbortest treatmentswere notanalyzedfor metalsas data from previousstudieswere available. Organotinswere presentonly In test treatment SR-1. Acute SP toxicological testsshowed no evidenceof acute toxicityof test sedimentsto A. abd/ta, R. abron/us, or N. vtrens,althoughboth A. abdlta and N. v/renstoxicological tests were not consideredvalid becauseof a <90% controlsurvival. The SPP exposureswere not acutely toxicto M. baha, M. bery///na,or L. pictus. Bloaccumulation potentialwas evaluatedthroughthe exposureof M. nasuta and N. v/rens to test treatmentIH-2/IH-3 Compand reference treatments IHR1 and IHR2 for 28 days. Statistical analyses of these data showed no evidence of significantlyelevated levels of PAHs, dioxlns,or organotinsin the tissues of these organisms. The resultsof this study Indicate that, based on the acute toxicityand bioaccumulationtests, dredged material representedby these test treatmentsis in compliancewiththe benthicbtoassay critedaor Section 227.13(c) as well as AppendixesA and B of the 1991/mp/ernentat/on Manual The resultsgenerated by this study can be used by USACE in their decision-makingprocess regardingacceptabledisposaloptionsfor the sedimentsfrom WinyahBay.

Testing Manual hereafter referred to as the 1991 Implementation Manual. The Wilmington, North Carolina District Office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), requested that the Battelle/Marine Sciences Laboratory (MSL) collect sediment samples and conduct physical/chemical, toxicological, and bioaccumulation evaluations as required in the 1991 Implementation Manual In support of the Wilmington Harbor Program, the MSL: • Characterized sediment samples representing proposed dredged material (test treatments) through physical/chemical analyses. • Evaluated acute toxicity of test treatments through solid-phase (SP) tests using the amphipods Ampelisca abdita and Rhepoxynius abronius, as well as the polychaete Nereis virens. Toxicological results of test treatments were compared to that observed in the reference treatment WHREF. • Evaluated acute toxicity of test treatments through suspended-particulate-phase (SPP) tests using the mysid Mysidopsis bahia, the silverside Menidia beryllina, and larvae of the sea urchin Lytechinus pictus. Toxicological results of test treatments were compared to that observed in seawater-only controls. An LCsoor ECsowas calculated when a 50% decrease in survival relative to control was observed. • Determinedbioaccumulationpotentialof contaminants associatedwith testtreatments through 28-day exposures using the clam Macoma nasuta and the polychaete N. virens. Bioaccumulation potential was evaluated through comparison of contaminants associated with tissues exposed to test treatments relative to tissues exposed to the referencetreatment WHREF. • Performed appropriate comparisons of r_.sultsthrough statistical analyses to determine compliance of the proposed dredged material with Section 103 of MPRSA. The results of physical/chemicalanalysesindicatedthat some contaminants of concem were present in test treatments representing dredged material when compared to the reference treatment WHREF. Elevated levels of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), metals, and organotins were observed in these treatments. Other compounds (pe._ticides,polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), dioxins, phenols, and phthalates) were either not detected in sediments, detected below the target detection limits, or present in very low levels. Acute SP toxicologicaltests showed no evidence of acute toxicity of test sediments to R. abronius or N. virens. The other amphipod included in SP testing, A. abdita, did not exhibit acute toxicity to test sediments, but these data were not considered valid according to the 1991 Implementation Manual because of poor control survival. The SPP exposures were not acutely toxic to M. bahia or M. beryllina, but were acutely toxic to the larvae of L. pictus in the SPP prepared with sediment representing MOTMA. In the L. pictus exposures, an LCsoof 97.86% SPP was estimated. Under the 1991 Implementation Manual guidelines, the limiting permissible concentration for dissolved plus suspended contaminants (represented by the SPP) cannot exceed 0.01 (1%) of the acutely toxic concentration (LC...