Canaveral Harbor is a man-made marine facility in Cape Canaveral between the Banana River and the Atlantic Ocean. The harbor serves as a multiple-use facility for passenger (cruise) ships, cargo carriers, and military vessels.
ANAMAR was contracted by Canaveral Port Authority (CPA) to perform activities related to the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (MPRSA) and in support of the (new work) widening and deepening of the harbor channels. The purpose of this project was to assist the Canaveral Harbor Navigation Improvements project in determining the suitability of nearly 4 million cubic yards of dredged sediment for ocean disposal in the Canaveral Harbor ODMDS as required under the MPRSA. The dredging project was needed to improve navigation for cargo and cruise ships transiting the harbor.
Areas proposed for dredging were divided into a total of 16 dredging zones (Zones 6A through 14) based on expected characteristics. An initial Tier I analysis report was generated in June 2012 wherein Zones 13A, 13B, and 14 were proposed for exclusion from further testing under 40 CFR §227.13(b). A subsequent field effort was conducted in September 2012 involving vibracoring and grab sampling of sediment and collection of site water using a pneumatic pump. ANAMAR coordinated and directed field operations and worked closely with CPA and USACE to design sampling and analysis schemes, perform sample collection, subcontract vibracore services and laboratory analyses, and prepare final report deliverables. ANAMAR reviewed all data and produced a report summarizing the results of the physical, chemical, toxicological, and bioaccumulation analysis of sediment, elutriate, water, and tissue samples of the material proposed for dredging and ocean disposal. An additional sediment evaluation was finalized for use by USACE in obtaining concurrence from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). USACE obtained concurrence by EPA in October 2013 for this new work project using a maximum disposal capacity of 9,000 cubic yards per barge load.