Latitude: 37°46’22.47” N

Longitude: 122°14’24.09”W

 
An estuary is a body of water formed where freshwater from rivers and streams flows into the ocean, mixing with the seawater.  Estuaries and the lands surrounding them are places of transition from land to sea, and from freshwater to saltwater. Although influenced by the tides, estuaries are protected from the full force of ocean waves, winds, and storms by the reefs, barrier Island, or fingers of land, mud, or sand that surround them making them unique habitat for marine mammals, fish, and birds. San Leandro Bay, which lies to the east of the estuary, is fed by San Leandro Creek and home to Damon Marsh.  Damon Marsh is a tidal wetland as well as one of several wildlife sanctuaries found in San Leandro Bay.   A 1989 biological study of Damon Marsh found that this habitat supports the California Clapper Rail, a California and federally listed endangered avian species.

On August 24, 2012, CalRecycle sent a letter to Army Corps, Coast Guard, and EPA requesting their participation in a joint venture raising, evaluating, assessing, and removing abandoned wrecks and other marine debris from the Oakland Estuary.  The abandoned wrecks and marine debris are located throughout the Oakland Estuary, including the shoreline along Coast Guard Island and the San Leandro Bay.  The EPA offered to be the lead federal agency with the Army Corps and Coast Guard offering resources and support to the field effort.  The Coast Guard gave EPA authority to be the FOSC in the Coastal Zone for the assessment and removal of hazardous material, but retain FOSC authority for all oil.  The Site consists of four sunken abandoned wrecks and other clusters of marine debris containing hazardous substances situated in the Oakland Estuary.  Specifically, the areas that will be targeted during the removal action are located between the inlets of the Oakland Middle and Inner Harbors and south to the San Leandro Bay.  The abandoned wrecks have been completely under water for years, and if allowed to remain will continue to deteriorate and likely break apart and/or drift creating a substantial threat of a release of a hazardous substance into the environment as well as potentially impeding navigation and creating public safety hazards.  These abandoned wrecks and marine debris containing hazardous substances may also pose a direct threat to plant and wildlife species.

Included in the four abandoned wrecks is a 160 foot tug boat “the Respect,” a 102 foot long commercial vessel “the Captain,” and two commercial fishing vessel.  The Respect poses a navigational hazard so the Army Corps has marked its location with a hazard buoy.  All of the identified wrecks will be removed unless they pose no threat of releasing a hazardous substance.

• PCBs:    Levels above Industrial Regional Screening Levels (“RSLs”) were found in peeling paint taken from the exterior of wrecks.
• Arsenic: Levels above Industrial RSLs were found in paint taken from exterior of wrecks
• Cobalt:   Levels above Industrial RSLs were found in paint taken from exterior of wrecks
• Lead:     Levels above Industrial RSLs were found in paint taken from exterior of wrecks
• Asbestos: Was found in samples collected from the hull of the wrecks
• TPHd/mo:  Levels above San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control (SFRWCB)  Environmental Screening Levels (ESL) for shallow soils and surface water bodies were found on wrecks

The Removal action at the Oakland Estuary Marine Debris Removal Site involves The removal of four vessels from the estuary.  The first abandoned vessel that the EPA will address will be the tug "Captain Al".  The removal strategy for this vessel is a combination of lift bags and overhead lift.  The captain is approximately 75% full of sediment.  The first phase of the operation will be to have divers dredge the sediment from inside the barge.  After the dredging is completed, divers will rig the vessel with approximately 20 lift bags, each with an open water lifting capacity of 9 tons.  The lift bags will be connected to the ship via chains that will be jetted under the hull of the vessel.  The lift bags will be complimented by overhead lift provided by a derrick crane.  The ship will be raised to the surface at which point high capacity pumps will be used to dewater the vessel.  It is anticipated that the vessel will be made able to float on its own, enough so that it can be towed to Bay Ship for drydocking.  If the vessel cannot be made water tight enough for her to be towed to the shipyard, the ship will be towed very slowly to the shipyard with the liftbags still in place.  When the vessel is drydocked, it will become the responsibility of CalRecycle to manage disposal.

The second abandoned vessel that the EPA will address is the tug "Respect".  The removal strategy for this vessel is parbuckling and dewatering.  Based on photos taken at the time of sinking, it is believed that when the vessel is parbuckled (rolled on its keel), the decks will be out of the water, allowing for immediate dewatering.  The vessel is anticipated to be approximately 20% full of sediment.  The first phase of the operation will be to have divers dredge the sediment from inside the barge.  The sediment is anticipated to be loaded into a hopper barge for sampling, and then either dumped in a USACE/EPA approved site, or off-loaded as Hazmat.  After the sediment has been removed, Global will move into the parbuckling phase. This will be accomplished through application of forces in specific locations on the vessel.  The primary righting force will be generated by D-9 bulldozers pulling high on the vessel from the shore.  This force will be counteracted by the placement of 2 large anchors on the opposite side of the channel from the wreck, which will be connected near the keel of the ship.  These two opposing forces will create a rotational moment which will tend to stand the vessel back up on its keel.  These forces alone will likely not be sufficient enough to overcome the mass and friction of the 700+ ton vessel sitting on soft mud.  Additional force will be applied as necessary from a derrick crane and/or a series of 9 ton lift bags on the low side of the vessel.  One option that is still being evaluated is digging a trench parallel and close to the keel of the ship on the near shore side.  This trench will give the ship a “hole” to “fall” into (reducing the friction caused by mud).  Once the appropriate combinations of force have been applied, and the vessel is standing nearly vertical on her keel, high capacity dewatering pumps will be used to dewater the interior of the vessel.  It is anticipated that the vessel will be made able to float on its own, enough so that it can be towed to Bay Ship for drydocking.  If the vessel cannot be made water tight enough for her to be towed to the shipyard, the ship will be towed very slowly to the shipyard with dewatering pumps continuously running to prevent sinking.  Should the ship require continuous dewatering to remain afloat, another option is to bring the drydock to the salvage site (or nearby).  This will eliminate the need to tow a vessel, in danger of sinking, through navigable channels, whose closure due to a sunken vessel would be detrimental to shipping and commerce in the Oakland/Whelmed Estuary.  When the vessel is drydocked, it will become the responsibility of CalRecycle to manage disposal.

The third abandoned vessel the EPA will address is the the wooden boat by USCG causeway.  The removal strategy for this vessel is overhead lift.  Divers will deploy heavy lift straps under the hull of the vessel in two locations.  The following day, a derrick crane and deck barge will move into position alongside the wreck.  The first phase of the operation will be to rig and remove a fiberglass boat that is partially submerged on top of the wood boat.  This will be necessary to obtain access to the wood vessel.  The crane will then lower spreader bars to the water line, where crews will shackle the lifting straps to the spreader bars.  The crane will lift the vessel slowly to the surface, allowing water to drain out of compartments.  Once the deck of the boat is out of the water, crews will deploy dewatering pumps to remove the water from inside the hull.  It is anticipated that the vessel will have enough structural integrity to withstand the forces applied during lifting, and that the boat will be able to float again with minor patching.  If, during the dewatering phase, it becomes apparent that the vessel is flooding uncontrollably, dewatering attempts will be abandoned, and the vessel will be lifted completely from the water and set on the deck barge.  If the vessel floats on her own, she will be towed to a haul-out facility in coordination with CalRecycle.  If the vessel is loaded onto the barge, the barge and derrick will be shifted to a pier, in coordination with CalRecycle, and off-loaded for demolition.  The fiberglass vessel will be off-loaded by a crane at a pier, as the vessel will not float again.

The fourth and final abandoned vessel that the EPA will address will be the San Leandro Bay Flotilla. The removal strategy for this vessel and surrounding debris, is in situ demolition.  The water depth in San Leandro Bay is very shallow and transiting to and from the site, even in a small boat, is limited to high tides.  A modular barge will be assembled in Whelmed, and will be loaded with an excavator with shears, and a series of 20 yard waste/recycling bins.  The barge will be pushed into position at high tide and will be spudded down.  The excavator with shear will demolish the steel hull vessel, loading the scrap steel into recycle bins.  After the steel vessel has been demolished, the barge will be transported back to a pier in Whelmed where the shear will be removed and a different excavator, this time with a thumb, will be loaded.  The barge will go back into position and the excavator will be used to demolish and remove the remaining debris.  The full waste bins will then be off-loaded in Whelmed for disposal in coordination with CalRecycle.

In support of all water based removal activities, an 80 foot x 40 foot working barge will be constructed out of “flexi-floats”.   The barge will hold all the supplies necessary to run an extended dive operation as well as the pump used to dredge/ vacuum sediments.  The sediment will be collected and managed until representative samples can be collected and analyzed.  Disposal options will be based on analytical results.  The following daily summaries cover the operating period from September 9, 2013 thru October 26, 2013.


2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

Weekly Operations (September 9 – 13, 2013)

On-site Personnel:  (1) EQM Representative, (11) Global Representatives

Mobilization of resources to the Oakland Estuary Abandoned Vessel and Marine Debris removal site began on September 9, 2013.  Activities during the week included the assembly of the working barge, mobilization of containment boom, a boom trailer, dive safety gear, two work boats, a dive boat and heavy lift salvage gear.  Mooring lines for the hopper barge were installed and crane was placed on to the working barge to assist with picking equipment from the dock to the barge and raising/lowering the spuds which are used to anchor the barge.  Marker buoys were installed on the submerged vessels  to identify their location from the surface.  The water filtration system and flocculent was also placed on the working barge in preparation for sediment pumping activities next week.

Weekly Operations (September 16 – 21, 2013)

On-site Personnel:  (2) EPA OSCs (3) EQM Representatives, (11) Global Representatives

Access to 2229 Clement Street was secured and EQM and Global moved all non-essential material from Dutra’s Yard to the new staging area.  This location will serve as the main staging area for all EPA and State activities.  A hopper barge measuring 242 foot in length was mobilized and moored to the working barge.  Dredging discharge hoses were plumbed to the barge as well as dewatering pumps.  Sea Water pumped from the hopper barge will travel through a filtration system prior to being released back into the estuary.  Sediments will be sampled to determine where they will be taken for disposal.  Divers began assessment dredging on the inside and outside of the Captain Al in an attempt to get a better idea of where the sediment is and the amount located inside vessel.  Containment Boom was extended around barge and dive operations.  It was decided that the sediment management system would work better on land.  The hopper barge was de-mobed prior to any sediment being pumped into it and a land based system was put into place.  Eight 18,000 gallon storage tanks were mobilized and staged on the north side of the property.  The dredging discharge hoses were plumbed into the tanks and  the filtration system was installed so that the seawater, after settling could be filtered prior to discharging back into estuary.  As dredge materials are pumped from the abandoned vessel a flocculant is added to speed up the settling process.   Materials are discharged into one of two initial settling tanks where most of the sediments settle out of the water column.  Water is then transferred into a series of seven settling tanks and pumped through a filtration system on its way back to the estuary.  This land based system will be a great deal less than the hopper barge settling system, saving the project over 200,000 dollars.  The Dive crew worked on rigging and assessment on the Captain Al during the period of time between when the hopper barge was demobed and the land based system was installed and plumbed.

Weekly Operations (September 23 – 28, 2013)

On-site Personnel:  (2) EPA OSCs (3) EQM Representatives, (12) Global Representatives

During the first part of the week, the dive crew focused on rigging activities on the Captain Al.  They also continued to remove marine growth off the main deck.  The tank farm crew finished getting system put together and ran discharge material through so that water samples could be collected from the last tank prior to filtration and discharge back to the estuary.   Background water samples were collected from the estuary for comparison purposes.  Samples were sent for analytical testing and results indicated that the settling system was successful in allowing sediments to settle out of water column and that effluent was comparable to background.  The pumping of sediments from inside the abandoned vessels re-started on Saturday, September 28.  Water operations (Divers) continued to work on rigging and were able to get the first messenger line around the stern.   The messenger line will be used to bring the chain underneath and around the boat.   At the end of the week a total of 105, 600 gallons of sea water was discharged back into the estuary after traveling through the land based settling system.

The state’s contractor mobilized to the site and began demolition activities of the old, collapsed wharf along the shoreline.

Weekly Operations (September 30 – October 5, 2013)

On-site Personnel:  (1) EPA OSC (2) EQM Representatives, (13) Global Representatives

On September 30, an incident involving the crane which is based on the barge prevented the divers from doing any work in the water.  On October 1 the divers were back to pumping mud and rigging activities.  A paint locker was discovered on the tug “Captain AL”.  Attempts were made to collect the paint from inside the locker but the containers were too corroded to withstand being picked up.   It was decided that the paint containers would be dredged with the surrounding sediments and collection steps would be taken at the settling tanks to remove any gross contamination.   By the end of the week sediment removal on the tug “Captain Al” was completed.   Once rigging activities are completed, the tug will be ready to lift, par buckle and dewater.  At the end of the week a total of 216,900 gallons of sea water was discharged back into the estuary after traveling through the land based settling system.

Due to the Government shut-down, only one OSC was onsite from October 1 thru the end of the week.  This site has been deemed “excepted” and will continue operating throughout the shutdown/furlough period.

The State contractor continued demolition activities and began constructing a demolition pad for for debris and boats.

Weekly Operations (October 7- 11, 2013)

On-site Personnel:  (1) EPA OSC (2) EQM Representatives, (12) Global Representatives

Site activities this week included completing the rigging of the tug “Captain Al”.  With the help of a crane barge two shots of 2.5 inch anchor chain were rigged around the bow and two shots of 3.5 inch anchor chain were rigged around the stern.  The tug is now ready to be lifted out of water as soon as the cranes are available.  The Dive crew moved their dive boat and work barge over to the tug “Respect” and began dredging activities from inside the boat.  Unlike the tug “Captain Al”, this boat has more debris or flotsam in it.  The dive crew is encountering clothing, garbage bags and other items that cannot be pumped.   The dive crew has also discovered bags marked with “asbestos” that must have been part of a remedial effort on the ship.  These bags are being loaded into cubic yard boxes and staged in the hazardous waste segregation area.   At the end of the week a total of 148, 700 gallons of sea water was discharged back into the estuary after traveling through the land based settling system. 

The Government shutdown is still in effect and Saturday site operations have been temporarily suspended.  The state has begun pulling sunken boats out of the estuary.  They removed a fishing vessel from inside a round public fishing pier.  CalRecycle continues to work with the state lands representative to address the illegal mooring of recreational/live-aboard boats.  In late August the State lands and Oakland Police department posted 28 of these boats with a notification that they were illegally moored and that they had 30 days to move their boats out of the estuary.   CalRecycle, State Lands and Oakland Police Department enforced the deadline this week towing several of the boats over to the Alameda Marina for temporary storage.

Weekly Operations (October 14 – 18, 2013)

On-site Personnel:  (1) EPA OSC (2) EQM Representatives, (12) Global Representatives

Activities this week include continuing to dredge sediment out of respect and send it through the settling system.  On Thursday, November 17, a press event was hosted by State at the site.  The EPA Regional Administrator,  USCG Captain of the Port, Oakland Police Department, CalRecycle, and the Regional Quality Control Board Director were present to make statements about the activities at the site.  A tour was also provided.  Also of note, the sediment being pumped to the settling system contains what appears to be a waxy, black oil that is surfacing in the tanks.  Divers are on the search for tanks that may contain oil.  Divers also discovered a small tank that contained a oil-type substance that most are calling “lube oil”.  The Coast Guard has been notified that oil and sediments contaminated with oil have been identified in the tug “Respect” .  They will be consulting with National Pollution Fund Center (NPFC) to determine their role in raising the tug and removing the oil and fuel. We also discussed the pre-deployment of oil spill equipment in the event that oil or fuel is released from the tug during the lift and stabilization efforts.   Discussions with the Coast Guard Water Ways Management group about closing the Estuary to all traffic during the lift of the tug “Captain Al”.    At the end of the week a total of 346,700 gallons of sea water was discharged back into the estuary after traveling through the land based settling system.  The START collected sediment samples from the settling system today.  The government shutdown ended on Wednesday.

Weekly Operations (October 21 – 26, 2013)

On-site Personnel:  (2) EPA OSCs (2) EQM Representatives, (12) Global Representatives

Activities this week include continuing to dredge sediment out of tug “respect” and send it through the settling system.  Tar balls that have been transported with sediments into the settling system are impacting the performance of the sand filter, clogging it and preventing the operators from back washing the system.  The system was shut down completely on Thursday afternoon so that sediments could be bulked into several tanks and new tanks could be plumbed into the system.  There are now 13 tanks on site, five are full of sediments.    The State continues to remove debris and sunken vessels from the estuary.  At the end of the week a total of 348,500 gallons of sea water was discharged back into the estuary after traveling through the land based settling system.  A total of 1,165,700 gallons of seawater has been discharge from the system.  The tug “Captain Al” will be lifted using two cranes on November 4, 2013.  The lift is expected to last two days.


Special Note:  The project has used approximately 800 feet of sorbent boom and 100 square feet of sorbent pads to remove oil that is floating on top of the material (seawater and sediment) that is being dredged out of the tug "Respect".