397 



study Title: 



Sponsoring Office: 



Georges Bank Monitoring Program - 

 Analysis of Hydrocarbons in Bottom 

 Sediments and Benthic Fauna and 

 Trace Metals in Benthic Fauna 



New York OCS Office 



Principal Investigator: Dr. James R. Payne 



Science Applications Inc 

 476 Prospect Street 

 La Jolla, CA 92038 



BLM Contract Number: 

 Period of Performance: 



Study Cost: 

 Objectives: 



AA851-CT2-33 



May 1982 - December 1982 



Reauthorized for an additional two year 



period. 



FY 1982: $125,408 Cumulative: $125,408 

 FY 1983: Cummulative: 



1. Determine the quantities, composition, and seasonal 

 distribution of hydrocarbons in bottom sediments emd 

 benthic fauna at selected sample sites on and near 

 Georges Bank. 



2. Determine whether petroleum hydrocarbon contamination 

 of bottom sediments and fauna is occurring at these 

 sites and whether the source of contamination is 

 associated with exploratory drilling activities. 



3. Relate concentrations of trace metals and hydrocarbons 

 observed in benthic fauna to drilling discharges. 



Background: 



The Biological Task Force for Sale #42 on Georges Bank was 

 established to recommend to the U. S. Minerals Management 

 Service's Supervisor for Oil and Gas Operations in the North 

 Atlantic "the design of environmental studies and surveys 

 as well as periodic sampling of environmental conditions to 

 provide warning of adverse effects" of OCS operations. MMS 

 is currently funding the research program recommended by the 

 Biological Task Force on April 14, I98I. 



The major emphasis of the Biological Task Force's monitoring 

 program is to link the discharges from oil and gas operations 

 to effects on the benthic communities on or near Georges Bank. 

 This program design requires an understanding of the (1) 

 physical processes on Georges Bank which transport materials 

 and nutrients, (2) areas of pollutant accumulation, and (3) 

 effects of pollutants on various benthic communities of the 

 Georges Bank ecosystem. This contract is specifically for 

 the analysis of bottom sediments for petroleum hydrocarbons 

 and the analysis of benthic epifauna for both petroleum 

 hydrocarbons and trace metals. 



