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area. This complicated the search for appropriate reference areas, since such areas should 

 presumably reflect ambient, undisturbed conditions. 



Based on a preliminary REMOTS® survey, the EAST position was selected because it 

 was a) outside historic disposal site boundaries, b) of a similar depth to the disposal site, c) 

 appeared to have similar grain sizes to the disposal site, and d) did not show evidence of past 

 dredged material deposition. However, the full REMOTS® sampling grid for all stations 

 within EAST showed the presence of relic dredged material and some evidence of shell lags 

 and current scour. Moreover, the chemical analysis for PAHs (completed after the survey) 

 demonstrated only a minor distinction between WLIS-REF and the proposed EAST area. 

 This sampling, and the initial exploratory REMOTS® survey, point out the difficulty in 

 identifying any area north of the disposal site that has not been affected by historic dredged 

 material disposal. 



There is no compelling reason for future surveys to relocate the WLIS-REF reference 

 area to the EAST position. As a result of the extensive effort made to identify a new 

 reference area north of WLIS, a more important question is whether a north reference area 

 should be used at all. Although desirable, it is not necessary to have three reference areas in 

 separate compass directions relative to the disposal site. Because much of the area north, 

 east, and west of WLIS has such an extensive history of disposal, the most realistic solution 

 may be to identify a third area in the vicinity of the new SOUTH reference. 



Monitoring Cruise at the Western Long Island Sound Disposal Site, July 1992 



