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Remedial/Injury Assessment
Case: Island End River, MA
Source: Former coal tar processing facility adjacent to the
estuary.
Release: Coal tar.
Primary Injury: Surface and core sediments, collected in 1995
and 1996, respectively, from the Island End River show total polynuclear
aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) concentrations greater than 1,000 parts per million
(ppm) at sites adjacent to the facility and in the hundreds of ppm as one
approaches the Mystic River. A downriver gradient clearly exists, yet
concentrations remain very elevated as one nears the Mystic River. Core sample
PAH concentrations collected close to the Site are as high as 110,000 ppm in
the deep organic silt zone.
The 1991 Ecological Risk Assessment, completed on behalf of the responsible
parties, states that “the conditions in this area have impacted a local food
supply for winter flounder and other demersal fish species, hence such fish
will tend to avoid the area because of the lack of food and the because of the
oily nature of the sediments.” A report completed by the Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institute shows numerous internal and external tumors caused by
Site-related PAH contamination in the local foraging fishery (killifish). Given
that PAH concentrations remain extremely high as one approaches the Mystic
River, it is likely that recreational fishery resources and supporting habitat
in the Mystic River have been adversely affected by continuing releases from
the Site.
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