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Remedial/Injury Assessment
Case: Buzzards Bay/Bouchard 120, MA
The Trustees, in cooperation with Bouchard Transportation Company and its
representatives have surveyed shorelines, collected and analyzed oil, water,
sediment, and shellfish tissue samples, and conducted modeling. They are
analyzing data on oiled and dead birds and have examined lost recreational use
of Buzzards Bay. To date, the Trustees have identified impacts to the following
natural resources and associated services:
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Shoreline habitat.
An estimated 90 miles of shoreline were oiled to varying degrees. Of this
amount, 53 miles of shoreline were directly oiled and more than 40 miles of
shoreline experienced occasional tar ball stranding. The Trustees collected and
analyzed water, sediment, and shellfish tissue samples to determine oil
exposure. The Trustees are currently finalizing the injury report that examines
the impact of the spill on three principal shoreline habitat categories – tidal
marshes, sand beaches, and coarse substrates. The Trustees have begun
restoration planning activities and will seek public input on proposed projects
soon. A Feasibility Study for potential restoration at Ram Island is being
conducted and is expected to be completed this summer.
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Birds/wildlife. Approximately 450 birds were immediately
killed by the oil spill including; loons, scoters, mergansers, oyster catchers,
terns (including roseate terns), eiders, and piping plovers. The Trustees are
particularly concerned about the impact on roseate terns and piping plovers,
two federally protected species. The bird Injury has been broken down into
three injury categories,:
The bird injury assessment is complex and requires not only determining the
immediate impact to the birds, but also calculating delayed mortality and
future lost productivity. Due to the migratory nature of birds, and to
processes such as natural animal scavenging, determining the magnitude of
injuries to bird resources is often a difficult and lengthy process The
Trustees are in the midst of the injury assessment and have initiated
restoration planning activities for all three subcategories of birds.
The Trustees explored potential impacts to the northeastern beach tiger beetle
(federally listed threatened species), the American burying beetle (federally
listed endangered species), and the diamondback terrapin (a state-listed
threatened species), and determined that no significant injuries occurred.
These assessment reports can be viewed in the Administrative
Record. The Trustees are also examining potential injury to some
marine mammals.
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Recreational uses.
The state of Massachusetts closed substantial parts of Buzzards Bay to
shellfishing soon after the spill. Most of the shellfish beds were reopened by
the fall of 2003. A few areas remain closed. Additionally, there was limited
access to some parts of the Bay for boating and some shoreline areas following
the spill. The Trustees have assessed the spill’s effects on recreational
shellfishing, boating, and general shoreline use The Trustees are currently
finalizing the Injury Report and will add it to the Administrative Record for
public review and comment when it is completed.
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Aquatic resources.The Trustees collected samples from the
water column and utilized the data with a hydrodynamic model to assess
biological damages to the water column in Buzzards Bay. Potential adverse
impacts to American lobster were also investigated, but no significant injuries
were identified. The Trustees expect to complete the Aquatic Resources Injury
Report and add it to the Administrative Record for public review and comment
this summer.
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