| Comments |
May 15, 1998 FARALLONS CRUISE A survey of the Farallon Islands Radioactive Waste Dump site was recently completed using the NOAA ship McArthur. The survey was a collaboration among the U.S .Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Geological Survey, the British Geological Survey, and the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Approximately 47,800 barrels of low-level radioactive waste were dumped at 3 sites between 1946 and 1970. The barrels litter a 1400-square-km area, most of which is now within the boundary of the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Previous studies in 1990, using SeaMARC 1A, identified objects on the seafloor at the site which were interpreted as barrels. This interpretation was confirmed by video footage during the sidescan cruise, and subsequently in 1994 using the U.S. Navy submersible Sea Cliff and the unmanned Advanced Tethered Vehicle. Systematic regional data on seafloor radioactivity were obtained on the McArthur using the BGS-towed sea-bed gamma-ray spectrometer (EEL) system. More localized data were also collected with the system at known sites of barrel clusters. Sediment samples were collected, both regionally and around the known barrel clusters, for subsequent laboratory analysis. Studies were focused on the shallower parts of the dump site where commercial fishing is carried out. About 90 line-km of EEL trackline were obtained in the shallowest part of the dump site (the 90 m site), and 9 sediment samples were collected at locations determined by the variation in the EEL "signature". Approximately 80 line-km of EEL data were gathered in the intermediate-depth section of the site (the 900 m site) and extending towards the deepest part (the 1800m site). Six sediment samples were collected on the tracklines at the 900-m site. In addition, 10 samples were collected clustered around known barrel clusters. The deepest EEL survey line was towed in 1500 m of water, extending the previous record for the system (600m) by a considerable margin. Preliminary interpretation of the data suggests that the observed variations in seafloor radioactivity can be attributed to geological features. There were no indications of man-made radioactivity, suggesting that, if present on a regional scale, it is only at very low levels. Further information will become available when data and sample analyses are completed. Participants on the cruise were Dave Jones and Phil Roberts (BGS), Dan Howard (GFNMS), and Bob Hall and Lynn Karr (USEPA) (who due to circumstances beyond our control, were replaced by Scott Faller (USEPA)), Pat Shanks (USGS-Denver), John Chin, Michael Hamer, Gita Dunhill, Fred Payne, and Herman Karl. MarFac, coordinated by Steve Wallace and Dave Hogg, as usual, provided excellent support in getting this cruise out to sea, and shipping equipment back to England. Owing to the efforts of all above, this cruise was highly successful, despite extremely adverse conditions. It is one cruise that Herman Karl is glad to have behind him, however! Of note, and of unknown significance, is that a rainbow appeared both at the start and end of the cruise, just as the McArthur sailed under the Golden Gate. For a snapshot of the cruise go to: http://www.pmc.noaa.gov/mcarthur/ar9803.htm to view the website prepared by Kaye Kinoshita.
Staff information imported from InfoBank
Herman Karl (USGS Western Region) - Chief Scientist
Dave Jones (British Geological Survey) - Chief Scientist
Dan Howard (Gulf Of The Farallon National Marine Sanctary) - Biologist
Fred Payne (USGS Western Region) - Electronics Technician
Mike Hamer (USGS Western Region) - Facs Curator and Navigator
Phil Roberts (British Geological Survey) - Geochemist
Pat Shanks (USGS Western Region) - Geochemist
John Chin (USGS Western Region) - Geologist
Gita Dunhill (USGS Western Region) - Navigator
Lynn Karr (EPA) - Unspecified Investigator
Scott Faller (EPA, Radiological Saftey, ) - Unspecified Investigator
Robert Hall (EPA) - Unspecified Investigator
Bill Sites (McArthur) - Commanding Officer
Duane Timmons (McArthur) - Executive Officer
Dana Wilkes (McArthur) - Field Operations Officer
Greg Jubner (McArthur) - 3rd Mate
Dave Minshall (McArthur) - Chief Bosun
Steve Pierce (McArthur) - Bosun Group Leader
Dave Hermanson (McArthur) - Seaman Surveyor
Leroy Jordan (McArthur) - Seaman Surveyor
Cheryl Ells (bodied Seaman, McArthur) - Able
Terence Singerline (bodied Seaman, McArthur) - Able
Lillian Stuart (McArthur) - Ordinary Seaman
Hilary Swartz (McArthur) - Ordinary Seaman
Dave Waller (McArthur) - Chief Marine Engineer
Dave Bennett (McArthur) - 1st Engineer
Sam Hardy (McArthur) - Junior Engineer
Brett Puckett (McArthur) - Engineer Utility Man
Chris Dvorak (McArthur) - Wiper
John Knox (McArthur) - Lead Electronics Technician
Kaye Kinoshita (McArthur) - Senior Survey Technician
Art Mercardo (McArthur) - Chief Stweard
Dave Boden (McArthur) - Chief Cook
Raul Monillas (McArthur) - 2nd Cook |
