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Dredging occurred from June 6-November 8, 2011.  Performance standard monitoring data was collected daily between May-November 2011. Once all 2011 dredging activities were completed, and baseline (pre-dredging) water PCB levels were reached, weekly monitoring began (November 14, 2011).  Baseline monitoring results are received in accordance with standard lab turnaround time (approx 20 days). 

The locations of the water monitors can be viewed on the Far-Field Water Monitoring Locations map at left.  Click here to view water quality data on the Water Quality Interactive Data Map.  Phase 1 data is available by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page.

Weekly Calendar (Please click on data for more information)

Legend:

Phase 2 Dredging Monitoring Schedule
Routine Monitoring is performed during typical operations, and Contingency Monitoring is performed when the Control Levels are exceeded.

Sampling Frequency	Rogers Island	Thompson Island	Schuylerville (Lock 5)	Stillwater	Waterford	Albany	Poughkeepsie
Routine	Weekly	Daily	Daily	Weekly/Daily*	Daily	Monthly	Monthly
Contingency	Daily	Daily	Daily	N/A	Daily	Weekly	Weekly

*Stillwater will be monitored weekly until dredging begins in River Section 3, at which point it will be monitored daily as a compliance station.

Baseline Monitoring Schedule

Sampling Frequency	Rogers Island	Thompson Island	Schuylerville (Lock 5)	Stillwater	Waterford	Albany	Poughkeepsie
Baseline	Weekly	Weekly	Weekly	Monthly	Weekly	Monthly	Monthly

 

Engineering Performance Standards: Resuspension

Engineering Performance Standards have been developed to minimize resuspension of PCBs during dredging to limit the transport of PCBs and protect water intakes.

What is the Standard?

The Resuspension Standard for Phase 2 dredging is the control level of 500 parts per trillion (ppt) Total PCBs, the EPA drinking water standard under the Safe Drinking Water Act.  If there is a single exceedance of the Resuspension Standard at one of the monitoring stations located a mile or more downstream of dredging operations, EPA may require GE to conduct evaluations of the dredge operations and/or implement best management practices.

If the 500 ppt Total PCBs standard is exceeded at Schuylerville (Lock 5) for five days out of any seven-day period or there is a confirmed exceedance at Waterford, EPA may require GE to slow down or shut down dredging operations upstream. If a slowdown or shutdown is required, normal operations will typically resume when the concentration at the applicaple monitoring station is below 500 ppt Total PCBs for two consecutive days.

EPA will use an adaptive management approach to make adjustments to dredging operations and the application of the performance standards, as necessary, as Phase 2 progresses to ensure that cleanup goals are met.

How is the Standard Measured?

Through an extensive river water quality monitoring program at upstream, “near-field”, "mid-field", and “far-field” stations.

• Near-field: 300 meters downstream of dredging (PCBs and total suspended solids)
• Mid-field: approximately 1 to 2 miles downstream of dredging (PCBs and total suspended solids)
• Far-field: greater than 2 miles downstream of dredging (PCBs and total suspended solids) (see Far-field Water Monitoring Locations map at left)