Free Declaration - District Court of Delaware - Delaware

Case 1:88-cv—O0263-SLR Document 314-5 Filed O9/O9/2005 Page 1 013
Exhibit

Case 1:88-cv—O0263-SLR Document_3.14-5 Filed O9/O9/2005 Page 2 0fEP 0 I 2000
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Queenstown. Maryland 2l65l·l
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A(2RN'ZUI.TUI!...•\L EXPEIUMENT S`l‘.-\'l"If.`lN
Wyo Rrsmrrlr and Erlumrmu Cmarr September 1 U 2
Mr. Charles Lesser `
Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
89 Kings Highway g
Dover, DE 19901
RE: Use of Louisiana Brackish Water Clams (Rangia cuneata) in the Delaware River
Dear Mr. Lesser: _ -
As perourdiscussions this summer, the University of Maryland would like to request
permission to use brackish water clams {Rangia cuneafa) obtained from Louisiana in a
bioaccu mulation study of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH s) in the vicinity of Motiva
Enterprises LLC's Delaware City Refinery. The University of Maryland is conducting a four-
year study to determine whether or not Refinery-related PAHs are affecting the biological
communities in the vicinity of the discharge. One ofthe study elements is a caged bivalve
study to address the bioavailability of PAHs. The purpose of the bioavailability study is to
provide an in situ characterization of chemical exposure and potential biological effects
from the Refinery. The study will provide 1) a time—integrated physical, chemical, and '
biological sampling process to assess existing conditions at representative test sites and
2) data to predict the fate and effects of bioaccumulative chemicals of concern. We would
like to use Rangia because this species has been found in several preliminary benthic
samples above and below the Refinery. Briefly, the following approach will be used;
Rangia will be used as integrators ofthe physical-chemical environment over space
and time in a controlled field exposure. Chemicals accumulated in the tissues will
characterize chemical exposure. Growth rates will be used to characterize potential
effects. Sampling sites will be selected based on fate and transport studies currently being
conducted. The caged clam studies will be conducted in the late springfearly summer of
2001. Triplicate cages with 75 clams per cage will be deployed at each site. The clams
will be deployed for 60 days to ensure that chemical equilibrium has been reached
between chemicals inthe Delaware River and chemicals in the cIam’s tissues. The cages
will be deployed at a depth of 1 meter off the bottom to combine potential exposure from
the water column and suspended sediment.
The statistical model to assess differences in exposure and effects among sites will B
be ANOVA. For the effects characterization portion of the study, the level of replication is
the individual clam. Power analyses performed on data from similar studies conducted
2 0 wi hgthe eagieég oyster (Crassostrea virginica) in Georgia and Delaware Bay indicate that
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` Case 1:88-cv—O0263-SLR Document 314-5 Filed O9/O9/2005 Page 3 of 3
_ approximately 75 bivalves per replicate are sufhcient to detect differences in weight on the
‘ order of 0.2 g. For the exposure characterization portion of the study, the analytical
samples will be created by pooling the soft tissues of all living clams from a given cage at
a particular station. Three chemistry samples will be prepared for each station. This will
provide three replicate samples for each station for the statistical comparisons. PAHs,
PCBs, and metals will be analyzed. _
We have been unable to locate Rangia is the Delaware River system that do not
have the potential for signiticant PAHs to be present in their tissues. It is important that we
initiate our study with clams that have minor, or more preferably, no PAHs present in their
tissues. We have looked at a number of sources of Rangia which have a low potential for
PAHs levels and/or PAH levels below detection limits in their tissues. We have also looked
for clams that are not infected with Dermo. We have finally located a source in Louisiana
which is essentially free of Dermo. I have enclosed a copy of a diagnostic report by the
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Cooperative Oxford Laboratory, Oxford,
Maryland, on a 30-animal sub-sample of Rangia from the Louisiana source. As can be
seen in the report, Dermo was detected in one of 30 animals. The percent prevalence was
3.3%, mean infection intensity was 0.03 on a scale of 0 (negative) to 7 (very heavy), and
weighted infection intensity of 1 on a scale of 0-7.
If you have any questions or need additional information about the source of the
clams or other details of the Refinery study, please contact me at the above address or call
me at 410-827-8056. We appreciate your consideration in this matter.
‘ Sincerely yours,
Dennis T. Burton, Ph.D.
Senior Research Scientist
cc: R. Cole (Div. Fish. Wildlife)
L. Hall (Univ. Md.)