At a previous meeting, the Council had expressed interest in learning more about a recent dredging project(s) in Mamaroneck Harbor that used an open water site in Long Island Sound for the disposal of the dredged material. Some councilors had been informed that the management of this project had been conducted in such a way as to circumvent regulations involving the testing of dredged material for contaminants and environmental impacts.

Ms. Karen Chytalo of DEC’s Bureau of Marine Habitat Protection distributed a briefing sheet on the Mamaroneck Harbor dredging activity. There had been twenty-one separate, private marina dredging projects plus the federal navigation channel. Originally, the NYS Department of State and the other agencies initiated uniting the smaller projects both for the financial and ecological savings of performing the dredging all at once using a single dredging contractor. Project permits were required from both the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, DEP (the designated disposal area in Long Island Sound is in Connecticut waters). All dredging projects must have basic chemical testing of the dredged material performed, regardless of the amount of material to be dredged. Projects removing more than 25,000 yd3 are also required to have the material tested for direct biological effects. None of the 21 private marina projects exceeded this 25,000 yd3 threshold. Dredging of the federal navigation channel involved 166,000 yd3 and was required to have the material tested for biological effects.

Within a specific dredging area, samples from several locations were typically pooled and the combined sample analyzed for contaminants, as provided for by US Army Corps of Engineer testing protocols. Several of the private marina sediments had lead and zinc concentrations higher than those found in the federal navigation channel sediments. Two private marinas with sediments high in mercury and polyaromatic hydrocarbons dropped out of the dredging program. Pesticides were below detectable limits. Samples from the federal navigation channel passed the acute toxicity and 28 day bio-accumulation tests (biological effects tests). Tests for dioxin and furans were done on the federal navigation channel sediments. There were no unusual results, and therefore disposal of the dredged material in a designated area off New Haven was certified.

The dredging was performed continuously, day and night, with an inspector on board, beginning in late winter of 1998/99. By March 1999, less material was dredged from the private marinas than was originally permitted because the marina operators ran short of money. The entire project in the federal channel was completed. Only one short dump was made, and a letter was sent out about that. Also, one barge hit a rock off Mamaroneck, but only 75-100 cubic yards of dredged material was released. Currently, dredging has resumed in the outer harbor private marina areas; the material is largely clean sand.

Ms. Chytalo said that a multi-agency effort was being begun to assess the likely impact of dredged material disposal on the Long Island Sound lobster population. Some individuals have suggested that there is a link between dredging and disposal activity and the severe mortalities experienced by the Sound lobster population in Fall, 1999.

Councilor Sullivan questioned the "combined sample" method. Mr. Gordon responded that sampling and testing had been done according to Corps of Engineers regulations. Ms. Chytalo explained that some samples from similar, adjacent sites had been blended for cost effectiveness. Special work on Long Island Sound lobster contaminants should start soon, including chemistry, toxicity, and a juvenile lobster survey at the disposal sites where the worst material had been dumped in the past. The University of Connecticut would be sent lobsters for parasite analysis. The process will be repeated next year at current and potential disposal sites to examine whether site management contributed to the lobster disease/mortality problem. Councilor Schwab asked if New York State issued permits for dredging, while it was the Corps of Engineers who permitted the disposal activity? Ms. Chytalo explained that Corps issued dumping permits contingent on water quality certification of the materials by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection.

Councilor Sullivan asked how the grant for investigating alternatives to disposal of dredged materials in the marine environment was being utilized in New York, since neighboring states had been exploring decontamination technology, among other things. Mr. Colvin said it was a $45 million project; if MRAC wanted details, speakers from DEC could be invited to present a briefing. Mr. Colvin added that Connecticut DEP water quality tests had found nothing to explain the lobster die off, but the results of testing of lobsters carcasses was not yet available.

Councilor Sullivan and several members of the audience expressed concern that dredging materials were being dumped in the Long Island Sound with unpredictable results. Chairman Wise agreed that dredging urban waterways and disposal of contaminated materials was a persistent problem with no simple solutions. An expert could be invited to brief the Council in detail on this topic. Councilor Knobel questioned whether this enormously complicated issue was within the Council’s purview. Mr. Wise answered that the Council focused primarily but not exclusively on fishery management. He cautioned that it would take a major investment of MRAC’s time to grapple with the details of this issue. A majority of the councilors requested that the Army Corps of Engineers make a presentation.