Sources of PCBs in the Ramford River

| History | Surface Sediment Samples | Water Samples | Species Samples | Sampling Protocol |

History:

International Energy (IE) discharged approximately one million pounds of PCBs into the Ramford River from the late 1940s to 1977 when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stopped discharge into the River. The discharges were made into two discharge pools; one above the plant, and one below the plant (Sampling Stations 5 and 6). The discharge pools were created by enlarging natural impoundment areas in the river by dredging and constructing earthen walls to further restrict outflow. Over the thirty year period (1947-1977) the earthen walls deteriorated allowing PCB laden sediments to enter the main channel of the Ramford River.

The production of PCBs were banned by the EPA in 1979.

Many of the PCBs adhered to and accumulated with the sediments as they settled in the discharge pools at the IE plant and in other natural impoundments and back water areas downstream. These areas have been sampled by the Ramford Department of Environmental Protection at five year intervals since 1975. The map shows the 30 sampling sites with the sediment values at these stations. All these data are displayed in Table 1.

Concentrations of total PCBs were also measured in the water column in transects across the Ramford River: above the IE plant at Station 2; below the IE discharge pool at Station 6; and below the plant at Station 19. The map shows these 3 sampling sites with the water column values at these stations. These data are displayed in Table 2.

Starting in 1975 the DEP initiated a biological sampling program at selected stations in the Ramford River. The levels of PCBs were determined in the tissues of fish and crustaceans; the map shows the sampling sites and tissue levels of the organisms collected at these stations. These data are displayed in Table 3.

In 1977 the DEP issued the first health advisory concerning the consumption of fish from the area surrounding the IE plant.

In 1978 the State issued a ban on fishing in the region of the Ramford River for 10 river miles below the IE plant because of the risk of consumption of fish contaminated with PCBs.

In 1982 the State extended the ban on fishing to 20 river miles below the IE pant and issued a ban on commercial fishing of striped bass which migrate up the Ramford River and remain until they return to Ramford Bay on the way to the ocean to spawn.

In 1987 the State issued a consumption advisory for crabs, eels, and bluefish caught in the lower section of the Ramford River.

The State continues to recommend that no fish caught within 20 river miles of the plant be consumed and that children under 15 years of age, pregnant women, and women of childbearing age eat no fish or crustaceans from the river below the IE plant.

The DEP has designated areas in the Ramford River that have average total PCB concentrations of 50 (ppm) or greater as "PCB Hot Spots". The area from Station 5 to below Station 17 above the Ramford Falls contain 17 "Hot Spots" and are scheduled for the proposed dredging.