Dredged Material Management Plan (DMMP) EOEA No. 11669 Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for New Bedford and Fairhaven Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management City of New Bedford, MA Town of Fairhaven, MA April 30, 2002 Dredged Material Management Plan (DMMP) EOEA No. 11669 Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for New Bedford and Fairhaven, Massachusetts April 30, 2002 Prepared For: Office of Coastal Zone Management City of New Bedford, MA Town of Fairhaven, MA Prepared By: Maguire Group Inc. 225 Foxborough Boulevard Foxborough, MA In Association with: SAIC GEI Consultants, Inc. Apex Environmental, Inc. ASA, Inc. A Project Funded by The Seaport Advisory Council ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM), the City of New Bedford and Town of Fairhaven gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the many local, state and federal interests who have generously contributed their time and expertise to the development of this Draft Environmental Impact Report: New Bedford/Fairhaven Dredged Material Management Committee MA Department of Environmental Protection MA Department of Environmental Management MA Division of Marine Fisheries MA Board of Underwater Archaeology US Army Corps of Engineers National Marine Fisheries Service US Environmental Protection Agency US Fish and Wildlife Service Any errors in the use of data, policy guidance and/or recommendations provided for this document are the sole responsibility of CZM. TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................. 1 - 1 1.1 Name and Location of Project ..................................... 1 - 1 1.2 Project Description ............................................. 1 - 1 1.2.1 DEIR Development Process ................................. 1 - 3 1.2.2 Public Comment Process .................................... 1 - 3 1.2.3 Purpose and Need ......................................... 1 - 3 1.2.4 Alternative Disposal Sites ................................... 1 - 7 1.2.5 Identification of the Preferred Alternative ..................... 1 - 22 1.2.6 Next Steps .............................................. 1 - 31 2.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................... 2 - 1 2.1 DEIR Organization ............................................. 2 - 1 2.2 New Bedford/Fairhaven Harbor ................................... 2 - 4 2.3 Background of the CZM DMMP .................................. 2 - 6 2.4 Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) Procedural History .... 2 - 9 2.5 Scoping and Coordination Summary ................................ 2 - 9 2.5.1 Coordination with Harbor Planning Process ..................... 2 - 10 2.5.2 Coordination with Federal Agencies ........................... 2 - 12 2.5.3 Coordination with State Agencies ............................. 2 - 13 2.5.3.1 Department of Environmental Protection .................. 2 - 13 2.5.3.2 Division of Marine Fisheries ........................... 2 - 14 2.5.3.3 Massachusetts Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources . 2 - 14 NEW BEDFORD/FAIRHAVEN HARBOR DMMP DEIR Page i TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) 3.0 PURPOSE AND NEED ................................................ 3 - 1 3.1 Project Purpose ................................................ 3 - 1 3.2 Harbor Planning Context ......................................... 3 - 1 3.3 Project Need .................................................. 3 - 2 3.3.1 Dredging ................................................ 3 - 2 3.3.1.1 Dredging History .................................... 3 - 2 3.3.1.2 Dredging Inventory ................................... 3 - 2 3.3.1.3 Baseline Dredging Demand ............................. 3 - 6 3.3.2 Sediment Quality and Quantity ............................... 3 - 7 3.3.2.1 Sediment Quality - Conformance with Regulatory Requirements .. 3 - 7 3.3.2.2 Sediment Quantity - Suitable versus Unsuitable Volumes ....... 3 - 16 3.4 Harbor Plan Implementation .................................... 3 - 18 4.0 ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS .......................................... 4 - 1 4.1 Introduction .................................................. 4 - 1 4.2 No Action Alternative ........................................... 4 - 1 4.3 Description of Disposal Alternatives ............................... 4 - 2 4.3.1 Aquatic Disposal Alternatives ................................ 4 - 2 4.3.1.1 Confined Aquatic Disposal ............................. 4 - 2 4.3.1.2 Confined Disposal Facility .............................. 4 - 5 4.3.1.3 Tidal Habitat ........................................ 4 - 6 4.3.2 Relationship of Alternative Treatment Technologies, Dewatering and Upland Disposal .......................................... 4 - 7 4.3.3 Alternative Treatment Technologies ........................... 4 - 8 4.3.4 Dewatering Alternatives .................................... 4 - 9 4.3.5 Upland Disposal/Reuse Disposal Alternatives ................... 4 - 12 Page ii NEW BEDFORD/FAIRHAVEN HARBOR DMMP DEIR TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) 4.4 Disposal Site Screening Process .................................. 4 - 14 4.5 Alternative Treatment Technology Alternatives ..................... 4 - 17 4.5.1 Screening Process ........................................ 4 - 17 4.5.2 Description of Treatment Technologies ........................ 4 - 20 4.5.2.1 Chelation ........................................ 4 - 22 4.5.2.2 Chemical Reduction/Oxidation ........................ 4 - 22 4.5.2.3 Dehalogenation ................................... 4 - 23 4.5.2.4 Fungal Remediation ................................ 4 - 23 4.5.2.5 Incineration ...................................... 4 - 23 4.5.2.6 In-situ Bioremediation .............................. 4 - 24 4.5.2.7 Pyrolysis ........................................ 4 - 24 4.5.2.8 Slurry Bioreactor .................................. 4 - 25 4.5.2.9 Soil Washing ..................................... 4 - 25 4.5.2.10 Solid-Phase Bioremediation .......................... 4 - 26 4.5.2.11 Landfarming ..................................... 4 - 26 4.5.2.12 Composting ...................................... 4 - 27 4.5.2.13 In-Vessel Bioremediation ............................ 4 - 27 4.5.2.14 Solidification/Stabilization ............................ 4 - 28 4.5.2.15 Solvent Extraction ................................. 4 - 29 4.5.2.16 Thermal Desorption ................................ 4 - 30 4.5.2.17 Vitrification ...................................... 4 - 30 4.5.3 Screening Factors ......................................... 4 - 31 4.5.3.1 Ability to Treat ..................................... 4 - 31 4.5.3.2 Effects of Sediment Characteristics ..................... 4 - 32 4.5.3.3 Process Information ................................. 4 - 32 4.5.3.4 Cost ............................................ 4 - 32 4.5.3.5 Throughput ....................................... 4 - 32 4.5.3.6 Demonstrated Success .............................. 4 - 33 4.5.3.7 Logistics ......................................... 4 - 33 4.5.3.8 Permitting Issues .................................. 4 - 33 4.5.3.9 Residuals Management .............................. 4 - 33 NEW BEDFORD/FAIRHAVEN HARBOR DMMP DEIR Page iii TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) 4.5.4 Screening Results ......................................... 4 - 33 4.5.4.1 Chelation ........................................ 4 - 35 4.5.4.2 Chemical Reduction/Oxidation ........................ 4 - 35 4.5.4.3 Dehalogenation ................................... 4 - 35 4.5.4.4 Fungal Remediation ................................ 4 - 35 4.5.4.5 Incineration ...................................... 4 - 35 4.5.4.6 In-Situ Bioremediation .............................. 4 - 36 4.5.4.7 Pyrolysis ........................................ 4 - 36 4.5.4.8 Slurry Bioreactor .................................. 4 - 36 4.5.4.9 Soil Washing ..................................... 4 - 36 4.5.4.10 Solid-Phase Bioremediation .......................... 4 - 36 4.5.4.11 Solidification/Stabilization ............................ 4 - 37 4.5.4.12 Solvent Extraction ................................. 4 - 38 4.5.4.13 Thermal Desporption ............................... 4 - 38 4.5.4.14 Vitrification ...................................... 4 - 38 4.5.5 Summary of Alternative Treatment Technology Practicability ...... 4 - 38 4.5.5.1 Potential Future Alternatives ........................... 4 - 40 4.6 Dewatering Site Selection ....................................... 4 - 41 4.6.1 Screening Process ........................................ 4 - 41 4.6.2 Screening Factors ........................................ 4 - 41 4.6.3 Screening Results ........................................ 4 - 43 4.6.3.1 Exclusionary Screening ............................... 4 - 43 4.6.3.2 Discretionary Screening .............................. 4 - 47 4.7 Upland Disposal/Reuse Alternatives .............................. 4 - 49 4.7.1 Screening Process ....................................... 4 - 49 4.7.2 Screening Factors ........................................ 4 - 51 4.7.2.1 Exclusionary Factors ................................. 4 - 56 4.7.2.2 Discretionary Factors ................................ 4 - 57 4.7.3 Screening Results ........................................ 4 - 61 4.7.4 Potential Alternatives ..................................... 4 - 63 4.7.4.1 Detailed Screening of Potential Upland Disposal Sites ......... 4 - 63 4.7.5 The Preferred Upland Disposal Sites ........................