In response to passage of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972, as amended (EPA, 1984b), and to Congressional concerns raised during hearings held in Boston (Janes, 1981; USHR, 1981), the NOAA, EPA and FDA conducted a series of surveys at four previously permitted radioactive waste disposal sites in 1981 and 1982. These sites included the Industrial Waste Site (IWS) or Foul Area (Area 1), the Boston Lightship Dumping Ground (Area 2), the Marblehead Light Site (Area 3), and the Southeast Massachusetts Bay Site (Area 5). In addition, the investigation included one reference area (Area 4). A total of 4008 radioactive waste containers were reported as disposed in the bay. The purpose of this survey included locating these containers and assessing the potential risk to human health and the environment. The final report produced by EPA (1984b) presented results of studies that included sidescan sonar surveys of the disposal areas, collections of sediment and biota for radiochemical analysis, collection of seafood samples for a human consumption safety assessment, and a radiological monitoring program to determine whether any concern should be expressed for public health due to the low level radioactive waste disposal. The radiochemical results for biota, edible seafood and sediments were not remarkable and the data has not been included in this CD-ROM. A composite graphic interpretation of the sidescan survey (not included in this GIS) depicted areas of potential waste container targets (EPA, 1984b; Lockwood and others, 1982). Future surveys verified that numerous containers occurred in some of these areas (Wiley and others, 1992; NOAA, 1996).

Coverages provided in Chapter 2A:    (Summary metadata for files in the Chapter 2A view are listed alphabetically in the table below. For complete metadata, go to directory "9_biblio" on this CD-ROM and open the file metadata.mdb using Microsoft Access or the file Gismeta.htm using your browser.)