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2.2 Chemical Testing of Sediment 



Sediments which are not predominantly sand require bulk sediment analyses for 

 eight metals, total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), chlorinated pesticides, and 

 polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) according to EPA guidance (EPA/USACE 

 1991). All project areas in New Haven Harbor including the outer channel required 

 chemical analyses. 



2.2.1 Metals 



The metals required for analysis included arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium 

 (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn). Sediments from 

 the inner federal channel contained moderate levels of all metals except Hg and Pb (present 

 in low levels) when compared to the classification guidelines provided by the New England 

 River Basins Commission (NERBC) (Table 2-1; Appendix A Tables 1 through 7). Zn was 

 high in one sample (595 ppm). Low to moderate levels of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn 

 were present in sediments sampled from the outer channel with only one value of Zn 

 classified as high (440 ppm). Metal concentrations were low in sediments sampled from 

 Mobil Oil and the New Haven Terminal. Moderate levels of Cr (117 to 123 ppm), Pb 

 (110 to 158 ppm), and Zn (264 to 350 ppm) were detected in some sediments collected 

 from Gulf Oil; Wyatt Incorporated, Zn (213 to 265 ppm) and Pb (105 to 168 ppm); and 

 Northeast Petroleum, moderate to high levels of Zn (235 to 919 ppm) and a moderate level 

 ofPb(144ppm). 



2.2.2 Organic Compounds 



Pesticides were below the detection limit for all compounds in the inner channel 

 and outer channel sediments except for heptachlor epoxide which ranged from 0.46 to 

 1.94 ppm in the inner channel and from less than the detection limit to 0.82 ppm in the 

 outer channel sediments. Pesticides were below the detection limit for all five terminal 

 project areas. 



Total PCBs for the inner and outer channel sediments were less than the 

 laboratory's reported detection limit of 100 ppb. Total PCBs were detected by another 

 laboratory in sediments collected from Mobil Oil (less than unreported detection limit to 

 56 ppb), Wyatt Incorporated (22 to 68 ppb), and Gulf Oil (140 to 280 ppb). 



For the permitting process PAH values were normalized to percent organic carbon 

 and compared to the carbon normalized PAH values for the CLIS Reference area. The 

 concentrations of PAHs in some sediments from the inner federal channel and the five 



Monitoring Surveys of the New Haven Capping Project, 1993-1994 



