U.S. Department of the Interior

Minerals Management Service

Alaska Outer Continental Shelf Region 

OCS Study MMS 2005-051 

ANIMIDA Task 1 

Core Contractor Program Management, 

Logistics, Database, and Reporting 

Phase II Final Summary Report 

Submitted to: 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

Minerals Management Service 

Anchorage, Alaska

Submitted by: 

John Brown, Principal Investigator 

Exponent 

2 Clock Tower Place, Suite 340 

Maynard, Massachusetts 

October 6, 2005 

Contract No.143501-99-CT-30998 TO 10901 
ANIMIDA Task 1 

Core Contractor Program Management, 

Logistics, Database, and Reporting 

Phase II Final Summary Report 

Volume 1 of 1 

John Brown, Principal Investigator 

Exponent, Inc. 

2 Clock Tower Place, Suite 340 

Maynard, Massachusetts 01754 

This study was funded by the U.S. Department of the Interior, 

Minerals Management Service (MMS), Alaska Outer Continental Shelf Region, 

Anchorage, Alaska, under Contract No. 143501-99-CT-30998 TO 10901 

as part of the MMS Alaska Environmental Studies Program. 

October 2005 

The opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this report or product 

are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department 

of the Interior, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement 

or recommendation for use by the Federal Government.
Table of Contents 

1.0 ANIMIDA Program Overview.............................................................................................1

2.0 Task Background, Objectives, and Status ......................................................................2

Task 1: ANIMIDA Phase II – Core Contractor Program Management, Logistics, Database, and 

Reporting 2

Task 2: Hydrocarbon and Metal Characterization of Sediments, Bivalves, and Amphipods in the 

ANIMIDA Study Area 4

Task 3: Baseline Acoustic Monitoring: Bowhead Whale Migration Corridor 5

Task 4: Annual Assessment of Subsistence Bowhead Whaling Near Cross Island 5

Task 5: Sources, Concentrations, and Dispersion Pathways for Suspended Sediment in Areas of 

Oil and Gas Development along the Coastal Beaufort Sea 6

Task 6: Monitoring the “Boulder Patch” as part of the Arctic Nearshore Impact Monitoring In the 

Development Area (ANIMIDA) Program (Phase II) 7

Task 7: Partitioning of Potential Contaminants between Dissolved and Particulate Phases in 

Waters of the Coastal Beaufort Sea 7

Task 8: Baseline Characterization of Anthropogenic Contaminants in Biota Associated with the 

Alaska OCS Liberty and Northstar Oil and Gas Production Units in the Nearshore Beaufort Sea 8

3.0 Executive Summaries......................................................................................................10

Task 2: Hydrocarbon and Metal Characterization of Sediments, Bivalves and Amphipods in the 

ANIMIDA Study Area – Executive Summary 10

Task 4: Annual Assessment of Subsistence Bowhead Whaling Near Cross Island, 2001 and 2002 – 

Executive Summary 24

Task 4: Annual Assessment of Subsistence Bowhead Whaling Near Cross Island, 2003 – 

Executive Summary 26

Task 5: Sources, Concentrations and Dispersion Pathways for Suspended Sediment in the Coastal 

Beaufort Sea – Executive Summary 28

Task 6: Linking Water Turbidity and Total Suspended Sediment Loading to Kelp Productivity 

within the Stefansson Sound Boulder Patch – Executive Summary 32

Task 7: Partitioning of Potential Anthropogenic Chemicals between Dissolved and Particulate 

Phases in Arctic Rivers and the Coastal Beaufort Sea – Executive Summary 34

Task 8: Baseline Characterization of Anthropogenic Contaminants in Biota Associated with the 

Alaska OCS Liberty and Northstar Oil and Gas Production Units in the Nearshore Beaufort Sea – 

Executive Summary 38

4.0 ANIMIDA OCS Study Reports .........................................................................................42

5.0 References........................................................................................................................43
Acknowledgements 

The authors of this report and the Minerals Management Service would like to extend their 

gratitude to the members of the Scientific Review Board of the ANIMIDA Program for their 

review, comments and guidance on this program. The members of the ANIMIDA Scientific 

Review Board included scientists from the North Slope Borough, academia, the private sector, 

and industry. We would like to individually recognize and extend our thanks to each member of 

the Scientific Review Board for their contributions to the ANIMIDA Program. 

Stephen Braund - Stephan R. Braund & Associates, Anchorage, AK 

Todd O’Hara, Ph.D., D.V.M. – North Slope Borough Research Biologist, Barrow, AK 

Christopher Clark, Ph.D. – Bioacoustics Research Program, Cornell University, NY 

David Shaw, Ph.D. – Professor Emeritus, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK 

Ray Jakubczak, Ph.D. – British Petroleum, Anchorage, AK
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 1

This Final Summary Report for the Arctic Nearshore Impact Monitoring in the Development 

Area (ANIMIDA) project Task 1 provides an overview of the ANIMIDA project and the 

background, objectives, and current status of each task. Additionally, the Executive Summaries 

for the Final Reports generated for Tasks 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are attached in Section 3.0 of this 

report. 

1.0 ANIMIDA Program Overview 

The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) Amendments of 1978 (92 Stat. 629) 

established a policy for the management of oil in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and for 

protection of the marine and coastal environments. The amendments authorize the Secretary of 

the Interior to conduct studies in areas of offshore leasing activities to assess potential impacts 

on the marine and coastal environments resulting from oil exploration, development, and 

production activities. 

In 1998, MMS decided to conduct studies to characterize the pre-construction environment near 

the proposed Northstar and Liberty developments and to monitor selected parameters over time 

as part of a long-term project to assess potential spatial and temporal changes related to potential 

oil development and production near both the Northstar and Liberty sites. Information generated 

from these studies will be considered in post-leasing decisions to help understand and minimize 

potential impacts. 

The project, Arctic Nearshore Impact Monitoring in the Development Area (ANIMIDA), was 

initially designed to carefully monitor perturbations specifically related to construction activities 

and oil recovery and transportation via pipeline from the gravel islands to the onshore 

processing facilities. Thus, the overall rationale of the project was to establish two site-specific 

monitoring efforts directed at the Northstar and Liberty developments. Priorities were placed on 

characterizing the pre-construction environment and establishing a scientific basis for postconstruction and production monitoring. The ANIMIDA project was implemented in phases: 

Phase I focused on establishing pre-construction and development baselines; Phase II combined 

continued monitoring at Northstar along with the continuation of a regional baseline survey. 

In the nearshore Alaskan Beaufort Sea, BP Exploration Alaska, Inc.’s (BPXA) offshore oil 

development has been completed and production activities ongoing at the Northstar site. The 

Liberty development was delayed by BPXA and has not been restarted as of this writing. At 

Northstar, the oil field was developed from a man-made gravel island. A sub-sea pipeline 

carries oil shoreward to a land-based connection with existing pipelines. Extensive 

Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) were prepared by the U.S. Army Engineering District, 

Alaska (USAEDA) for the Northstar area (USAEDA, 1999) and by the U.S. Department of the 

Interior (USDOI), Minerals Management Service (MMS) for the Liberty area (USDOI, 2002). 

Over the past three decades, numerous onshore and offshore oil exploration and development 

projects have been conducted in both the Alaskan and Canadian Beaufort Seas. Discoveries and 

development include over 20 discoveries such as Endicott (an offshore field in state waters), 

Prudhoe Bay, Kuparuk, and Alpine. Because of these past activities, the ANIMIDA study area 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 2

cannot be considered pristine from a chemical perspective. Thus, ANIMIDA was designed to 

both carefully characterize the “baseline” (pre-Northstar and Liberty development) conditions 

and to develop sensitive measurement programs that could detect incremental change in these 

new development areas.

Phase I. Phase I of ANIMIDA was designed and implemented with a focus on the 1999 latesummer, open-water period and the winter 2000 ice-covered period. The late-summer 1999 

sampling represented pre-construction baselines at both the Northstar and Liberty areas. The 

winter 2000 sampling represented the first construction-monitoring period for Northstar and 

another pre-construction data acquisition opportunity at Liberty. 

The primary objectives of the ANIMIDA project were to characterize and monitor the physical 

environment of the Northstar and Liberty development areas to evaluate potential and actual 

impacts from these major offshore oil developments. The Phase I monitoring project was 

initiated and focused on those parameters that could be used to determine the existence, extent, 

and magnitude of environmental effects from the Northstar and Liberty oil development 

projects. Specifically, the Phase I project included baseline sediment and biota (bivalves and 

amphipods) monitoring for metal and organic contaminants (summer 1999), suspended sediment 

measurements and monitoring (summer 1999 and winter 2000), and acoustics monitoring during 

Northstar construction (winter 2000). 

The summer 1999 and winter 2000 field sampling programs successfully obtained samples of 

surficial sediments, riverine sediments and peat, biota (clams and amphipods), suspended 

sediments, and ice cores in the ANIMIDA study area. Ancillary data on acoustics, currents, 

photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and conductivity, temperature and depth (CTD) were 

also collected. The findings, interpretations and evaluations of the baseline Phase I data are 

reported in detail in the Phase I Final Reports (Boehm, et al., 2001; Shepard, et al., 2001). 

Phase II. Part of the overall Phase I effort was to rapidly evaluate Phase I preliminary 

monitoring findings and to develop a set of recommendations for the Phase II project. The 

recommendations for the Phase II effort began to evolve at the ANIMIDA Phase I project’s 

annual meeting in October 1999, when a draft plan was discussed. Subsequent discussions with 

the scientific review board (SRB), the Alaska subcommittee of the MMS Scientific Committee, 

and MMS led to the issuance of Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for eight different task orders. 

The background and objectives of the eight proposed Phase II tasks are presented below in 

Section 2.0. 

2.0 Task Background, Objectives, and Status 

Task 1: ANIMIDA Phase II – Core Contractor Program Management, Logistics, 

Database, and Reporting 

Background: Both offshore and onshore oil and gas development and production activities 

were planned for the Northstar and Liberty site in the nearshore Beaufort Sea. Coastal 

indigenous peoples were concerned about the long-term effects of these developments, as well 

as long-term effects of any development associated with offshore lease sales. Historical data in 

the region have been collected over several decades. Nonetheless, the sensitivity of the region 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 3

adjacent to Northstar and Liberty, and the highly variable and complex environmental 

conditions, made further monitoring necessary. In response to interagency reviews of related 

EISs and development and production plans, the ANIMIDA project was initiated as a 

comprehensive long-term project to monitor the spatial and temporal shifts in chemical and 

physical parameters associated with the construction and operations of the Northstar and Liberty 

developments. Phase II work involved concurrent performance of multiple tasks by multiple 

contractors. Task 1 provided for the Core Contractor to coordinate and manage logistics, data 

management and reporting elements of the overall ANIMIDA project. 

Objectives: The ANIMIDA Phase II Core Contractor Support Task (Task 1) provided overall 

project management and logistics support for the tasks associated with the ANIMIDA project. 

The specific objectives of the core contractor included: 

1. Provide annual updates to the ANIMIDA Phase I literature review. 

 

2. Provide logistics support and field personnel for Phase II field programs, including 

coordination of field activities, communications, transportation, and providing a skipper for the 

MMS Launch 1273. 

3. Provide Science Review Board (SRB) for ANIMIDA. 

4. Hold annual Public Workshops with MMS, other Phase II contractors, the SRB, and other 

government/academic representatives. The meetings included provisions for public involvement 

(local residents, industry, environmental and other public groups, etc.). 

5. Develop and implement communication/involvement for North Slope residents. 

6. Develop Phase II database design and analysis tools, import forms and metadata source file 

and integrate with the MMS Coastal and Offshore Resource Information System (CORIS) 

database. 

7. Overall Phase II project management, including project management plan, data management 

plan, coordination of Phase II contractors, presentation slides, and quarterly progress reports. 

8. Coordinate annual Phase II reports, including annual reports, final report, technical 

summary, and journal article. 

9. Compile individual task reports into single annual or final report, adding introduction and 

executive summary. 

10. Provide draft annual or draft final reports to SRB and Contracting Officer’s Technical 

Representative (COTR) prior to annual Public Workshops. Provide revised reports to SRB and 

COTR prior to annual SRB meetings. 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 4

Status: This work was completed during FY 2005. The final field survey was successfully 

completed during the summer of 2002. The database design was finalized and the database was 

populated with project data. 

Task 2: Hydrocarbon and Metal Characterization of Sediments, Bivalves, and 

Amphipods in the ANIMIDA Study Area 

Background: The MMS initiated an environmental monitoring project in the Beaufort Sea in 

1984 to assess the potential area-wide or cumulative effects of gas and oil exploration and 

development. The project was designed to detect and quantify long-term changes in the 

concentrations of metals and hydrocarbons in sediments and animal tissues. Its design was 

based on recommendations from a workshop conducted by MMS and the National 

Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in 1983. The initial phase of the 

monitoring study was a three-year project, with field sampling and analyses taking place in 

1984, 1985, and 1986. Subsequent sampling was recommended for every third year, but took 

place only in 1989. Some data are also available from an MMS/University of Alaska Fairbanks, 

Coastal Marine Institute (CMI) study that sampled nearshore sediment stations in the vicinity in 

1997 and from a BPXA study that sampled nine sediment stations near the proposed Northstar 

Development and pipeline route in February 1999. 

The sensitivity of the region adjacent to Northstar and Liberty, and the highly variable and 

complex environmental conditions, made further monitoring necessary. Because current 

practice is to not discharge muds, cuttings, and formation waters during development and 

production, environmental concerns are shifting toward gravel-construction effects, such as may 

have occurred at Endicott, and to pre-potential spill baselines. During Phase I, chemistry 

measurements were made during the open-water season near the Northstar and Liberty sites, and 

at selected BSMP stations. A winter sampling program was also conducted under Phase I to 

collect data under ice-covered conditions. Task 2 provided the continuation of chemical 

monitoring in the nearshore Beaufort Sea to assess potential environmental contaminant inputs 

from the construction and development activities at Northstar and Liberty. 

Objectives: Task 2 was designed to characterize potential contaminants in sediment and biota 

near ongoing and proposed offshore oil developments and to serve as a continuation of the Phase 

I organic and inorganic chemistry monitoring program. The specific objectives of the chemistry 

monitoring program included: 

1. Perform annual or biannual field studies (FYs 2000 to 2003) for the monitoring of sediment 

and biota chemistry in the nearshore Beaufort Sea, focusing on potential inputs from the 

Northstar and Liberty developments. 

2. Coordinate chemistry monitoring with other ANIMIDA Phase II tasks (biology and sediment 

transport), and with ANIMIDA-coordinated studies (e.g., physical oceanography). 

3. Perform organic and inorganic chemical analyses that are consistent with previous 

measurements and thus capable of determining any observed incremental chemical inputs. 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 5

4. Collect and analyze sediment cores from the monitoring area to further evaluate trends of 

hydrocarbons and metals in the historical record (This objective was added to Task 2 based on 

the results of the summer 2000 field survey) 

Status: This work was successfully completed during FY 2004. The final Task 2 field survey 

was successfully completed during the summer of 2002. The executive summary of the overall 

Task 2 Final Report is included in Section 3 and the findings of the sediment core work is 

included in a MMS Special Report (Brown et. al, 2003). 

Task 3: Baseline Acoustic Monitoring: Bowhead Whale Migration Corridor 

Background: Both offshore and onshore oil and gas development and production activities 

were planned for the Northstar and Liberty sites in the Beaufort Sea. Coastal indigenous peoples 

were concerned about the long-term effects of noise and vibration on nearshore biota. Historical 

data in the region have been collected over several decades. However, the highly variable and 

complex environmental conditions make site-specific evaluation the most reliable and robust 

approach. During Phase I, acoustic and vibration measurements were made in August 1999 and 

April 2000, at locations near both the Northstar and Liberty sites. Since ANIMIDA Phase I was 

initially designed, BPXA has undertaken a comprehensive noise and noise-effects monitoring 

program in the study area. 

Objectives: The primary objective of Task 3 was to augment the BPXA design for acoustic 

monitoring of the bowhead migration offshore of Northstar by adding one to two seafloor 

recorder systems further offshore of BP recorders. Task 7 of Technical Plan for Marine 

Mammal and Acoustic Monitoring during Construction of BP’s Northstar Oil Development in 

the Alaskan Beaufort Sea, 2000, dated August 20, 1999, presents the design for BP’s efforts. 

Status: The work on Task 3 was deferred indefinitely under the ANIMIDA Program. The 

findings of the Phase I project are included in the Phase I Final Report (Shepard, et al., 2001). 

Task 4: Annual Assessment of Subsistence Bowhead Whaling Near Cross Island 

Background: The effects that offshore development may have on subsistence activities, 

particularly bowhead whaling at and near Cross Island, are of primary concern to the Village of 

Nuiqsut. Therefore, an effort was made to monitor the subsistence whaling effort and its 

success. 

Objective: To provide an annual narrative report showing the subsistence bowhead whaling 

activities, resources, and harvest on and near offshore Cross Island. The effort focused on where 

whalers go and where they have strikes. 

Status: This work was successfully completed during FY 2004. Two years of monitoring were 

completed for this task (2000 and 2001) as part of the ANIMIDA Phase II project and a third 

year (2003) was funded by MMS beyond the ANIMIDA Phase II project. Executive summaries 

for both the 2001-2002 and the 2003 reports are included in Section 3. 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 6

Task 5: Sources, Concentrations, and Dispersion Pathways for Suspended 

Sediment in Areas of Oil and Gas Development along the Coastal Beaufort Sea 

Background: A primary concern regarding oil and gas development in the coastal Beaufort Sea 

is increased turbidity during and after construction of offshore islands and pipelines. Suspended 

sediment may be released from storage areas on the ice (after the ice melts), from erosion of 

seafloor piles of sediment (removed from pipeline trenches) and/or from the island. Inputs of 

suspended sediment from these sources could increase turbidity, decrease the amount of 

available light for growth of marine plants, and/or increase sediment accumulation rates and thus 

alter benthic habitats. However, the sources and dispersion pathways for suspended sediment 

are not well defined and the annual contribution of suspended sediment to the study area from 

river inputs is not well known. Various, limited data sets for total suspended solids (TSS) and 

turbidity are available for open-water periods, with less information available for ice-covered 

periods. One model for dispersion of suspended matter was run for the Liberty area. Some TSS 

data from Endicott water-quality monitoring were also available from BPXA for inshore of the 

Liberty area. (Endicott currently monitors effluent TSS, but not ambient TSS). No data on 

chemical signatures existed that would help identify sources of suspended sediment. The 

Phase I effort of the ANIMIDA project made a first attempt at tracing sources of suspended 

sediment. Studies of construction and production activities at the Northstar and Liberty sites 

provided valuable opportunities to validate present models of sediment dispersion and to 

establish the spatial and temporal extent of suspended sediment dispersion. 

Objectives: The overall objectives of Task 5 were to detect changes to the quantity and quality 

of suspended particulates from oil development. 

The specific objectives for Task 5 were to: 

1. Determine concentrations of suspended sediment at varying distances from constructionrelated deposits of gravel and related material during open-water and ice-covered periods and as 

a function of time during and after construction. 

2. Help validate previous models of dispersion pathways and distances for suspended sediment 

in the study area. 

3. Determine sources of suspended sediment in the areas of the Northstar and Liberty projects 

and to discriminate among various sources. 

4. Contribute to an effort to determine the amount of sediment introduced to the coastal 

Beaufort Sea from rivers. 

5. Use data from the Northstar and Liberty studies to predict net and cumulative changes in 

suspended sediment levels from additional offshore islands and pipelines. 

Status: This work was successfully completed during FY 2004. The final Task 5 field survey 

was successfully completed during the summer of 2002 and data interpretation and reporting 

were completed for this task in FY 2004. The executive summary for the Task 5 Final Report is 

included in Section 3. 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 7

Task 6: Monitoring the “Boulder Patch” as part of the Arctic Nearshore Impact 

Monitoring In the Development Area (ANIMIDA) Program (Phase II) 

Background: The “Boulder Patch” area in Stefansson Sound, adjacent to the proposed Liberty 

development, is characterized by the only known kelp community on the Alaskan arctic coast (in 

an area where boulder and cobble cover greater than 10 percent is found). Growth and 

production of the endemic arctic kelp Laminaria solidungula, which is abundant throughout the 

area, is regulated primarily by PAR (photosynthetically active radiation) availability during the 

summer open-water period. Variation in underwater PAR, caused by changes in water 

transparency, can have significant effects on the annual productivity of this species. Although 

the physiological responses of L. solidungula to changes in PAR are well described, the 

relationship between PAR and water turbidity (measured in terms of total suspended solids 

[TSS]) is poorly understood. With the potential construction of the Liberty production island 

adjacent to the Boulder Patch, there is increased potential for impacts and effects on this 

biological community. 

Objective: The objective of Task 6 was to conduct a program to monitor the potential effects of 

a future Liberty Island and pipeline construction on the Boulder Patch community. In an attempt 

to further the understanding of the relationship between TSS and light availability, the inherent 

optical properties (IOPs) of Stefansson Sound waters including absorption, scattering, and 

attenuation, in conjunction with TSS concentrations were to be measured for a two-week period 

in summers 2001 and 2002. These data were then used in a radiative transfer equation (RTE), 

and a TSS concentration specific attenuation coefficient was determined and used in a 

productivity model to estimate daily kelp production throughout the Boulder Patch. 

Status: This work was successfully completed during FY 2004. The final Task 6 field survey 

was completed during the summer of 2003 and a final report was submitted in FY 2004 Final 

Report (Executive Summary included in Section 3). 

Task 7: Partitioning of Potential Contaminants between Dissolved and 

Particulate Phases in Waters of the Coastal Beaufort Sea 

Background: Considerable interest has been expressed in selected metal and organic 

contaminants in waters of the coastal Beaufort Sea. These contaminant metals and organic 

substances may be particulate, colloidal, or dissolved in form, with the dissolved contaminants 

generally being more biologically available. During resuspension of bottom sediments by storm 

events, some contaminants may be released from sediment particles and added to the water 

column, while others may be adsorbed to particles and removed from the water column. Little 

or no data are available on dissolved contaminants in the coastal Beaufort Sea. No data are 

available to predict and model the behavior and uptake or release of contaminants from 

resuspended sediments. One ongoing MMS CMI study, Kinetics and Mechanisms of Slow PAH 

Desorption from Lower Cook Inlet and Beaufort Sea Sediments, is examining longer-term 

kinetics (1 to 180 days) for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). 

Objectives: The specific objectives for Task 7 are the following: 

1. To determine concentrations of selected metals and organic substances in dissolved and 

particulate forms in waters of the coastal Beaufort Sea 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 8

2. To determine partition coefficients (particulate/dissolved) for selected metals and organic 

substances in waters of the coastal Beaufort Sea 

3. To determine the equilibrium kinetics for release or uptake of selected metals and organic 

substances during sediment resuspension events 

Status: This work was successfully completed during FY 2004. The final Task 7 field survey 

was successfully completed during the summer of 2002. Final data interpretation and reporting 

were completed for this task in the FY 2004 Task 7 Final Report (Executive Summary included 

in Section 3). 

Task 8: Baseline Characterization of Anthropogenic Contaminants in Biota 

Associated with the Alaska OCS Liberty and Northstar Oil and Gas Production 

Units in the Nearshore Beaufort Sea 

Background: Biomarker and contaminant analyses of marine mammals, birds, and fish provide 

an opportunity to learn more about the effects of bioaccumulation of anthropogenic compounds 

in Arctic food chains. Anthropogenic contaminants of Arctic concern are persistent organic 

pollutants (POPs) and metals. The POPs include polycyclic and polyhalogenated aromatic 

hydrocarbons and are globally distributed. However, due to their chemical characteristics and 

atmospheric transport, rates of deposition are much greater than rates of production in the Arctic. 

Some POPs are poorly metabolized, and may bioaccumulate or biomagnify in tissue. Although 

PAHs can be metabolized in mammal tissues, lessening their concentrations, PAH 

concentrations in edible tissue are still a concern, because of subsistence use and potential local 

or regional oil industry or spill sources. 

Some aromatic compounds found in the Arctic induce enzyme P4501A in fish, birds, and marine 

mammals. The induction of this enzyme facilitates metabolism of aromatic compounds and the 

intermediate reaction products can react with cellular molecules, such as deoxyribonucleic acid 

(DNA), causing cellular damage. Measurement of P4501A may provide evidence of exposure to 

these compounds, their metabolism, and the subsequent risk to induced animals. In addition, 

analyses of a variety of tissues and cell types can indicate the route of uptake and exposure. 

Strandings of both beluga and pilot whales in temperate climates have shown that induced 

cytochrome P4501A1 occurs in cetacean liver. Recently a correlation was described between 

hepatic CYP1A content and the content of co-planar PCBs in the blubber of beluga whales 

consistent with an environmental chemical induction in these animals. The extent of such 

induction in extrahepatic organs of cetaceans was not known until recently, when a variety of 

tissues from stranded pilot whales were collected, analyzed, and found to have P4501 induction. 

If correlations of P4501A induction were to be found with the concentrations of polyhalogenated 

aromatic hydrocarbons in Arctic whales, seals, birds, or fish, for example, then these compounds 

are the most likely proximate cause of such effects. 

Regional studies of contaminants in marine mammals in the Beaufort Sea are presently being 

performed by the North Slope Borough (NSB) and by the Alaska Marine Mammal Tissue 

Archival Program (AMMTAP). The United States Geological Survey (USGS) Biological 

Resource Division (BRD) has collected and stored blood samples from polar bears for several 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 9

years, as well as from common eiders, oldsquaw, and nonviable eggs from common eiders in the 

ANIMIDA area and adjoining shoreline, starting in 1999. 

Objectives: The objective of Task 8 was to detect changes or impacts from oil development and 

other contaminant sources. 

Specific objectives include: 

1. Determine baseline levels of anthropogenic compounds and contaminant biomarkers in 

representative upper-trophic biota (e.g., fish). 

2. Evaluate whether the concentration of contaminants and/or biomarker responses indicate 

significant contaminant exposure to subsistence consumers. 

3. Provide the essential background data and a framework for long-term monitoring of local 

biota if warranted by initial results of this study. 

Status: This work was completed during FY 2004. The final Task 8 field survey was 

successfully completed during the summer of 2001. The Executive Summary of the Final 

Report submitted in FY 2004 is included in Section 3.
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 10

3.0 Executive Summaries 

Task 2: Hydrocarbon and Metal Characterization of Sediments, Bivalves and 

Amphipods in the ANIMIDA Study Area – Executive Summary 

John Brown, Paul Boehm, and Linda Cook, Exponent, Maynard, Massachusetts 

John Trefry, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Florida 

Overview 

The Arctic Nearshore Impact Monitoring in the Development Area (ANIMIDA) Program was designed 

to assess potential environmental contaminant inputs from oil and gas developments in the Beaufort Sea, 

namely the Northstar and Liberty developments. The Phase I Report (Boehm et al. 2001b) presented the 

initial findings on the ANIMIDA Program associated with the pre-Northstar construction environment. 

Based on Phase I results, several tasks were recommended for implementation in Phase II and accepted 

by Minerals Management Service (MMS). The tasks included Task 2- Continue Chemical Monitoring 

Effort: "Hydrocarbon and Metal Characterization of Sediments, Bivalves and Amphipods in the 

ANIMIDA Study Area. The resulting information from Task 2 will be used to: 

• Assess environmental conditions prior to Northstar and Liberty oil development and production 

activities, 

• Monitor temporal and spatial changes in sediment and biota chemistry associated with Northstar 

and Liberty oil development and production activities, and 

• Provide information needed in post-leasing decisions to help minimize these changes. 

Phase II – Task 2 sampling activities began during the summer of 2000 and were completed during the 

summer of 2003. The associated Task 2 findings for the summer field sampling programs conducted in 

1999 (Phase I), 2000, 2001, and 2002 are reported and discussed in this report. For Task 2, data were 

acquired on surficial sediments, riverine sediments and peat, biota (clams and amphipods), semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs), caged mussels, and sediment cores in the ANIMIDA study area. 

The results and discussion associated with the sediment core program (2001 field program) are contained 

in a separate MMS Report (Brown, et al., 2003) and briefly addressed in this report. 

Phase II was designed to monitor the spatial and temporal shifts in chemical parameters associated with 

the construction and operation of the Northstar and Liberty developments. Northstar construction began 

in late 1999, island construction was completed in early 2000, and the first Northstar oil was produced at 

the end of 2001. The Liberty development was delayed by British Petroleum Exploration Alaska 

(BPXA) and has not been restarted as of this writing. Organic and metal parameters were analyzed to 

investigate the hypothesis that there was a shift in these parameters associated with the island 

construction and oil production activities at Northstar. The summer 1999 survey data represent preconstruction activities at Liberty and Northstar, the summer 2000 and 2001 survey data represent postconstruction, pre-production measurements at Northstar and additional pre-construction measurements at 

Liberty, and the summer 2002 survey data represent post-construction, and ongoing production 

measurements at Northstar and additional pre-construction measurements at Liberty. Thus, the data 

collected and the results reported here represent the monitoring of the Northstar development during the 

construction of the gravel island, pipeline, and facility; the monitoring of the Northstar development 

during continued oil production; and continued pre-construction monitoring at the Liberty prospect area. 

Objectives 

The ANIMIDA Program was designed to address a series of scientific questions concerning the potential 

for shifts in environmental chemistry parameters associated with the Northstar and Liberty developments. 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 11

Each question can then be turned into a testable hypothesis, which guides the design of the technical 

program. The key questions, which drive Task 2 of ANIMIDA, are as follows: 

Question 1. What are the background levels of chemicals of concern (i.e., the organic and trace metal 

contaminants) that are known to be associated with historic oil exploration, development, and production 

activities, and do the concentrations of these chemicals increase as a result of the Northstar and Liberty 

developments? 

Question 2. If concentrations of organic and/or metal pollutants do increase in the environment as a 

result of the Northstar and Liberty developments, do these increases pose an ecological “threat” or 

“risk”? 

Task 2 addresses the first question and Task 2 along with two additional ANIMIDA Tasks (Task 6 and 

Task 8) are needed collectively to address the second question. 

To provide the data needed to address these questions, the specific objectives of Task 2 include: 

• Perform annual field studies (Fiscal Years [FYs] 1999 - 2002) to monitor sediment and/or biota 

chemistry in the nearshore Beaufort Sea, focusing on potential contaminant inputs from the 

Northstar development. 

• Coordinate chemistry monitoring coupled with other ANIMIDA Phase II tasks (biology, sediment 

transport), and with ANIMIDA-coordinated studies (e.g.; physical oceanography). 

• Perform organic and inorganic chemical analyses and analysis of data to document any incremental 

input of contaminants. 

It is an explicit goal of the ANIMIDA Program to examine temporal and spatial changes and to determine 

if any observed changes in concentration and/or composition are related to the Northstar development. 

ANIMIDA Task 2 Study Design 

To meet the objectives of the ANIMIDA project, the study design of Task 2 focused on measuring those 

parameters that would be leading indicators of, or related to environmental contaminant inputs from the 

Northstar and Liberty oil development projects. The elements of primary focus included: 

• Hydrocarbons and associate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and metals as primary 

contaminants of concern 

• Sediment contamination 

• Bioaccumulation of contaminants 

• Other natural and anthropogenic sources of chemicals of concern 

The study design for Phase II built on the Phase I design (Boehm et al. 2001b) and involved several 

components: 

• Design of a site-specific radial array sampling grid around each development centroid 

• Selection of area-wide stations that had previously been sampled as part of the MMS Beaufort Sea 

Monitoring Program (BSMP; Boehm et al. 1991) 

• Location and sampling of reference stations 

• Identification of source samples for collection (e.g. river sediments) 

• Addition of Phase II sampling stations along the pipeline route. 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 12

Findings 

Sediments

As part of ANIMIDA Phase II, surficial sediment samples were collected from the ANIMIDA study area 

during the summers of 2000 and 2002 and sediment core samples were collected during the summer of 

2001. All samples were analyzed for PAH, saturated hydrocarbons (SHC), steranes/triterpanes (S/T), 

metals, grain size, and total organic carbon (TOC). The sediment core samples were also analyzed for 

radionuclides for age-dating. This report also presents surficial sediment sample data collected in the 

1980’s as part of the BSMP (Boehm et al. 1991) and in 1999 as part of ANIMIDA Phase I (Boehm et al. 

2001b). 

Sediment Characteristics. Comparison of grain size data from 1999 with data from 2000 shows some 

inter-annual shifts in the texture of surficial sediment throughout the study area as well as some possible 

influences from Northstar Island. The largest changes in grain size distribution occurred at nearshore 

stations, landward of Northstar Island. During 1999, surficial sediment at stations N11-N14 was 

essentially all sand and gravel. In contrast, the 2000 samples were dominated by silt and clay (Figure 1). 

Although the exact mechanism for this shift is unknown, the 1999 samples were collected after a 6-day 

storm with winds >25 knots that may have eroded away finer-grained material. No such storms preceded 

collection of the 2000 samples that probably contained finer-grained material carried in by the Kuparuk 

River during the spring of 2000. At stations N06 and N10 (Figure 1), both close to Northstar Island, 

much finer-grained particles were collected during 1999 than 2000, possibly resulting from inputs of 

coarser material at these sites in association with construction of the island. Most importantly, Figure 1 

depicts the marked patchiness in sediment composition and the spatial and temporal variability of 

sediment in the area. 

Figure 1. Values for silt + clay in surficial sediment from the coastal Beaufort Sea for 2000 

versus 1999 with data from Northstar area (circles) Liberty Prospect (squares) and adjacent 

areas (triangles).

The largest changes in grain size distribution observed during this study occurred between 1999 and 

2000. Differences in grain size distribution between the 2000 and 2002 sampling are less than observed 

between 1999 and 2000. 

The most important finding derived from the grain size data is that sediments in many locations 

throughout the ANIMIDA study area are regularly shifting and that the sediment grain sizes found during 

one year may shift prior to sampling during a subsequent year. Thus, techniques that normalize sediment 

chemistry to account for differences in grain size need to be used. 

Silt + Clay 2000 (%)

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Silt + Clay 1999 (%)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100 N06 N10

5(10)

5A

N05

N03

3A N04

3B

L06 N02

5D

L04

4A

N12

N13

N14

L07

L08

L09

N09

5(0)

5H

N08 5(5) 5E

4B

5F N07

5(1) 4C N11 L01 N15

N01

5B

1:1
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 13

Hydrocarbons. In contrast to a crude oil composition (Figure 2), the surficial sediments in the Northstar 

area and indeed for the whole region (e.g., Figure 3) exhibit a mixture of primarily terrestrial biogenic 

hydrocarbons and lower levels of petroleum hydrocarbons. This assemblage is clearly dominated by 

plant wax normal (i.e., straight-chain) alkanes in the n-C27 through n-C33 carbon range. This is further 

demonstrated by carbon preference index (CPI) values that range from two to seven for most samples, 

which is characteristic of sediments influenced by terrigenous plant inputs (Wakeham and Carpenter, 

1976; Boehm, 1984). 

The PAH distributions for most of the surficial sediments (e.g., Figure 3) show that the PAHs are 

primarily of a combined fossil fuel origin (i.e., petroleum and coal) with a biogenic component 

(perylene), and lesser contributions of pyrogenic or combustion-related compounds (e.g., 4-, 5-, and 6-

ring PAHs). The petrogenic PAHs account for approximately 90 percent of the Total PAH less perylene 

throughout the study area (Figure 4). Perylene was abundant in surficial sediments, often the most 

abundant single PAH compound in the overall PAH distribution. 

Concentrations of hydrocarbons in the sediments adjacent to Northstar and Liberty are generally within 

the observed historical range for these parameters in the overall study area. Background concentrations 

of Total PAHs (a sum of 2 to 6 ringed parent and alkylated PAHs) in recent Alaskan surficial sediment 

studies range from <10 parts per billion (ppb) to 1000 ppb. Typically PAH profiles indicate significant 

levels of a fossil fuel-type signature, which appears to be sourced in organics shales brought to the 

sediments from river runoff and coastal peat. PAH compositional results (i.e., petrogenic PAHs vs. 

pyrogenic PAHs) (Figure 4), illustrate no significant changes in PAH composition year over year related 

to Northstar construction and production activities. 

The observation that the Northstar 1999 sediments may be depleted in hydrocarbons relative to the other 

1999, 2000 and 2002 sediments is supported by a Total PAH less perylene versus silt + clay regression 

plot for all the 1999, 2000, and 2002 sediment data. In this plot (Figure 5), the regression and 95% 

prediction intervals are shown for all data. The plot shows a small cluster of Northstar 1999 samples 

which are below the 95% prediction interval, indicating that these samples are significantly lower in PAH 

versus silt + clay than the overall population of 1999, 2000 and 2002 samples. An analysis of the 

comparison of the Northstar 2000 and 2002 samples versus the BSMP and Liberty 2000 and 2002 

samples resulted in no significant difference for all bulk hydrocarbon parameters and most of the 

diagnostic ratios. The results of this analysis are illustrated by a PAH regression plot (Figure 6) which 

shows complete overlap between the regression lines and 95% prediction intervals (i.e., no significant 

difference) for the Northstar, BSMP, and Liberty sediments for 2000 and 2002. No evidence of any 

inputs of Northstar-related petroleum hydrocarbons were observed in the surface sediments. 

Additionally, a comparison of the Total PAH from all ANIMIDA sediments from the study region in 

1999, 2000, and 2002 to the Effects Range Low (ERL) and Effects Range Median (ERM) sediment 

quality guidelines reveals that none of the Total PAH concentrations determined in this study exceed the 

guidelines. 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 14

Figure 2. Northstar Oil – GC/FID Chromatogram (top), PAH Distribution Histogram (middle), 

Triterpane Ion Chromatogram (bottom) 

0.00 10.00 20.00 30.00 40.00 50.00 60.00 70.00 80.00

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

40000

45000

50000

55000

Time

Response_

10170214.D\FID1A

02-NOR-01-PHC-O (Northstar Oil)

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

C0NC1NC2NC3NC4N

ACEY

ACE

BIP

C0FC1FC2FC3F

C0AC0P

C1P/AC2P/AC3P/AC4P/A

C0DC1DC2DC3D

FL

PYR

C1F/PC2F/PC3F/P

BAA

C0CC1CC2CC3CC4C

BBFBKF

BEPBAP

PER

INDPYR

DAHA

BGHIP

Concentration (mg/Kg)

36.00 38.00 40.00 42.00 44.00 46.00 48.00 50.00 52.00 54.00 56.00 58.00

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

40000

45000

50000

55000

60000

65000

70000

75000

Time-->

Abundance

Ion 191.00 (190.70 to 191.70): S6405.D

T22

T21

T19

T15

T12

T11

T10

T9

T4

n-C17 

n-C27 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 15

Figure 3. Northstar Station 6 Sediment, Year 1999 – GC/FID Chromatogram (top), PAH Distribution 

Histogram (middle), Triterpane Ion Chromatogram (bottom)

0.00 10.00 20.00 30.00 40.00 50.00 60.00 70.00 80.00

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

18000

Time

Response_

10219930.D\FID1A

0

2 0

4 0

6 0

8 0

100

120

C0N

C1N

C2N

C3N

C4N

ACEY

ACE

BIP

C0F

C1F

C2F

C3F

C0A

C0P

C1P/A

C2P/A

C3P/A

C4P/A

C0D

C1D

C2D

C3D

FL

PYR

C1F/P

C2F/P

C3F/P

BAA

C0C

C1C

C2C

C3C

C4C

BBF

BKF

BEP

BAP

PER

INDPYR

DAHA

BGHP

Compounds

Concentration ug/Kg

"99A4740: 99-N06-01-PH C-S SEDIM ENT"

PAH

38.00 40.00 42.00 44.00 46.00 48.00 50.00 52.00 54.00 56.00 58.00

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

Time-->

Abundance

Ion 191.00 (190.70 to 191.70): W1157.D

n-C27 

n-C17 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 16

.000

.020

.040

.060

.080

.100

.120

.140

5A N01 N02 N03 N04 N05 N06 N07 N08 N09 N10 N11 N12 N13 N14 N15 N16 N17 N18 N19 N20 N21 N23

Pyrogenic:Petrogenic Ratio 

Pyrogenic/Petrogenic 1999 Pyrogenic/Petrogenic 2000 Pyrogenic/Petrogenic 2002

Figure 4. Pyrogenic:Petrogenic Ratios of Northstar Surficial Sediment Samples for 1999, 2000, and 

2002 

Silt+Clay(%)

-20 0 20 40 60 80 100

LN Total PAH less perylene (ug/Kg)

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

Region by Year

Lib/BSMP 2000+2002

Northstar 2000+2002

Lib/BSMP 1999

Northstar 1999

Total Population

Rsq = 0.6341 

4C

N08

5D

L01

N15

N11

N01

Figure 5. Regression Plot of Total PAH less Perylene versus Silt + Clay for all 1999, 2000, and 2002 

Northstar, Liberty and BSMP Sediments
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 17

Silt+Clay(%)

-20 0 20 40 60 80 100

LN Total PAH less perylene (ug/Kg)

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

Region-Year

Lib/BSMP 2000+2002

Rsq = 0.5502 

Northstar 2000+2002

Rsq = 0.6305 

Figure 6. Regression Plot of LN Total PAH less Perylene versus Silt + Clay for all 2000 and 2002 

Northstar, Liberty and BSMP Sediments. The lines, Rsq, and 95% prediction intervals are from linear 

regression and related statistical calculations.

Trace Metals. Concentrations of metals in sediment help identify spatial and temporal trends in the 

distribution of potential anthropogenic chemicals. Fourteen metals (Ag, As, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, 

Pb, Sb, Tl, V and Zn - element symbols are defined in Table 2-6) were analyzed in sediment from this 

study because of their potential as pollutants. Four other metals (Al, Fe, Ba, and Mn) were included in 

the study as indicator metals because they provide insight to sediment composition (Al in clays and Fe in 

iron oxide coatings), the presence of drilling discharges (Ba in barite, a common additive in drilling 

fluids), and sediment redox conditions (Mn, a redox-sensitive metal). 

A spatial patchwork in concentrations of metals in sediment was observed as a function of variability in 

the distribution of sediment texture as described above. However, concentrations of trace metals 

generally correlated well with concentrations of Al and Fe because concentrations of most metals are 

very low in quartz sand or carbonate shell material and much higher in fine-grained, metal-bearing 

aluminosilicates. Anthropogenic processes rarely affect Al and Fe concentrations because these major 

elements are naturally present at percent levels in most sediment relative to part per million (ppm) levels 

for trace metals. Thus, Al and Fe provided a valuable normalization tool for this study that incorporated 

the metal-controlling variables of grain size, organic carbon content and mineralogy. In the ideal case, a 

good linear correlation was observed between concentrations of a trace metal and Al and/or Fe. 

Significant, positive deviations from this linear trend helped identify metal contamination. 

Concentrations of all trace metals in sediment from all study years have been plotted versus Al. Each 

plot has been fit with a linear regression line and a 99% prediction interval. These plots serve as 

templates for identifying past and future metal contamination. Each plot reveals a consistent pattern of 

Al versus metal for the study period. For example, the Al versus Cr plot (Figure 7a) shows that all data 

points fit the 99% prediction interval very well and thus no anthropogenic inputs of Cr to the study area 

were encountered. The graph for Al versus Ba (Figure 7b) shows a reasonably good fit for most of the 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 18

data; however, several data points plot at more than 10% above the upper prediction interval. The 

anomalous points were from sites where minor inputs of Ba via runoff from land operations or from 

activity at Northstar Island or as remnants of prior exploratory drilling may have occurred, as explained 

in the report. A few other instances of slightly elevated levels of Hg (Figure 7c), Ag, Sb and Zn were 

found in a total of ~10 instances or only 0.8% of the >1200 data points for metals in sediment. Although 

these various anomalies are minor, and are generally identified at low levels of Al, they do support the 

sensitivity of Al versus Ba graphs and help identify locations where future monitoring efforts can be 

focused. 

 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 19

Al (%)

0 2 4 6 8 10

Cr (μg/g)

0

50

100

150

Y = 12.4X + 8.1

r = 0.91, n = 191

2001 2000 1999

C

S

2002

Al (%)

0 2 4 6 8 10

Ba (μg/g)

0

300

600

900

1200

N14

N12

N13

L08

Y = 72.9X +115

r = 0.82, n = 192

N22

2001

C

K S

2002 + 2000 1999

Al (%)

0 2 4 6 8 10

Hg (μg/g)

0.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

Y = 0.013X- 0.012

r = 0.88, n = 133 

N10

2000 1999

N17

2001

6G

2002

Figure 7. Concentrations of aluminum versus (a) chromium, (b) barium, and (c) mercury for 

sediment from the ANIMIDA study area. Equations are from linear regression calculations and r is the 

correlation coefficient. Dashed lines show the 99% prediction interval. Points marked with large letters 

are for suspended sediment from the Sagavanirktok (S), Kuparuk (K) and Colville (C) rivers. Data for 

sites identified on the graphs were not included in the regression calculations. 

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 20

Biological Samples 

As part of ANIMIDA Phase II, biota samples were collected from the ANIMIDA study area during the 

summers of 2000 and 2002. All samples were analyzed for PAH, SHC, S/T, and metals. This report also 

presents biota sample data collected in the 1980’s as part of the BSMP (Boehm et al. 1991) and in 1999 

as part of ANIMIDA Phase I (Boehm et al. 2001b). 

Hydrocarbons. As with the pre-construction (1999) data, the amphipods (Anonyx) and clams (Astarte sp.) 

indicate that hydrocarbons in the sediment system are not readily bioavailable as these species exhibit 

little ability to bioaccumulate saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons from sediment or from the overlying 

water column. PAH levels are very low, showing consistent concentrations of contaminants over time in 

the study area. 

Metals. Mean concentrations of Ba, Cu, Pb, V and Zn in clams (Astarte sp.) sampled during 1986, 1989, 

1999, 2000, and 2002 are relatively uniform among years. Such uniformity is encouraging with respect to 

using body burdens for metals as long-term indicators of metal availability. This uniformity also 

indicates that no detectable shifts in metal levels in Astarte occurred between 1986 and 2000. However, 

the standard deviation for a given metal in an individual year is sometimes large. Such variability limits 

statistical discrimination of changes in metal levels. 

Among the metals for which data are available for all five years, concentrations of Cu and Zn in the 

amphipod Anonyx are highest, yet, most uniform. Levels of these two essential metals are controlled by 

osmoregulation within the organism and anomalous body burdens for these metals may imply a 

physiological imbalance. However, the results based on these two metals indicate no imbalance at this 

time. Concentrations of Pb, a non-essential metal, are low, yet, reasonably uniform. The data for 1999, 

2000 and 2002 for Ba, Cd, Cu, Pb, V, and Zn in Anonyx (Figure 8) as well as the other trace metals show 

marked similarity among years and no influence of anthropogenic input from the Northstar development. 

Overall, the metal data for the amphipods provide a useful baseline for monitoring shifts in 

concentrations over time. 

SPMDs 

The SPMDs from the reference site and from the Northstar site showed no significant differences in most 

of the key PAH parameters measured. The Total PAH concentrations in the SPMDs were low (210 – 260 

ng/g). An evaluation of the PAH distribution in the SPMD samples (Figure 9) reveals composition of 

primarily petroleum PAH in both the Northstar and reference SPMDs, mixed with trace levels of 

pyrogenic PAH. 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 21

1986 1989 1999 2000 2002

0

20

40

60

80

Ba (μg/g, dry weight)

Anonyx (amphipods)

1986 1989 1999 2000 2002

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

Cd (μg/g, dry weight)

Anonyx (amphipods)

1986 1989 1999 2000 2002

0

50

100

150

200

Cu (μg/g, dry weight)

Anonyx (amphipods)

1986 1989 1999 2000 2002

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

Pb (μg/g, dry weight)

Anonyx (amphipods)

<MDL

1986 1989 1999 2000 2002

0

2

4

6

V (μg/g, dry weight)

Anonyx (amphipods)

1986 1989 1999 2000 2002

0

50

100

150

200

Zn (μg/g, dry weight)

Anonyx (amphipods)

Figure 8. Mean concentrations (± standard deviation) of Ba, Cd, Cu, Pb, V and Zn in amphipods 

(Anonyx) collected from sites in the BSMP during 1986, 1989 and for ANIMIDA during 1999, 2000 

and 2002. 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 22

Figure 9. Composition of PAHs in SPMDs from Reference Site (A) and Northstar Site (B) 

(A) 

Northstar SPMD Samples

0.00

10.00

20.00

30.00

40.00

50.00

60.00

70.00

C0NC1NC2NC3NC4N

ACEY

ACE

BIP

C0FC1FC2FC3F

C0AC0P

C1P/AC2P/AC3P/AC4P/A

C0DC1DC2DC3D

FL

PYR

C1F/PC2F/PC3F/P

BAA

C0CC1CC2CC3CC4C

BBFBKF

BEPBAP

PER

INDPYR

DAHA

BGHIP

Mean Concentration (ng/SPMD)

(B) 

Reference SPMD Samples

0.00

10.00

20.00

30.00

40.00

50.00

60.00

70.00

C0NC1NC2NC3NC4N

ACEY

ACE

BIP

C0FC1FC2FC3F

C0AC0P

C1P/AC2P/AC3P/AC4P/A

C0DC1DC2DC3D

FL

PYR

C1F/PC2F/PC3F/P

BAA

C0CC1CC2CC3CC4C

BBFBKF

BEPBAP

PER

INDPYR

DAHA

BGHIP

Mean Concentration (ng/SPMD)
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 23

Caged Mussels 

The caged mussels from the Northstar and reference deployments showed no significant differences in 

most of the key hydrocarbon parameters measured. The PAH concentrations in the mussels were very 

low (13 – 17 ng/g Total PAH), however, the concentrations were substantially higher than the predeployment reference levels indicating that the mussels bioaccumulated trace levels of hydrocarbons. No 

significant differences were observed between concentrations of metals in samples from the reference site 

in the coastal Beaufort Sea versus Northstar Island. 

Summary 

Phase II sampling efforts began with the summer 2000 field survey and proceeded through the summer of 

2002. Phase I sampling was conducted during the summer of 1999. During this period, construction of 

the Northstar Island and pipeline was completed in 2000 and production of oil began 2001. 

Overall, the results of the ANIMIDA Phase I and II, Task 2 effort indicated that no significant 

contaminant inputs from Northstar development activities were detected and that any observed changes 

in the monitored environmental conditions were well within the natural variability of the study area. At 

the same time, the results, coupled to increased knowledge of the chemistry of natural sources of 

hydrocarbons and metals, indicated that the monitoring and data interpretation approaches as designed 

are very sensitive to changes and that if inputs were to occur, the measurement systems set in place 

would be powerful and sensitive enough to detect such inputs. 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 24

Task 4: Annual Assessment of Subsistence Bowhead Whaling Near Cross 

Island, 2001 and 2002 – Executive Summary 

Michael Galginaitis, Applied Sociocultural Research 

Dale W. Funk, LGL Alaska Research Associates, Inc. 

This Task Order, funded by the Minerals Management Service (MMS) describes subsistence whaling as 

currently conducted near Cross Island by residents of Nuiqsut. While “traditional” subsistence whaling 

has been well documented in a number of locations, contemporary subsistence whaling is not as well 

documented, especially in terms of change over time. This effort is designed to measure basic parameters 

of Cross Island whaling so that observed changes (if any) can in the future be analyzed in relation to such 

factors as oil and gas activities, weather and ice conditions, or other variables. Observations, and the 

narrative annual report summarizing them, focus on descriptive measures of activities associated with 

whaling. Special attention is devoted to geospatial information through the sharing of GIS information by 

participating whaling crews. Project reports are only for the purposes of reporting information collected, 

with no analysis of the information either as a self-contained database or in conjunction with the many 

pertinent external databases (for example, weather records, sea ice condition remote sensing photographs, 

AEWC historical bowhead whale harvest records). Also, the project is designed as a collaborative effort 

of MMS and its contractor, Applied Sociocultural Research (ASR), the subsistence whalers from 

Nuiqsut, and the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission (AEWC). Beyond the goal of two (now expanded 

to six) years of descriptive information on Cross Island subsistence whaling activities, the project will 

develop a system for collecting such information that local whalers themselves can adopt, adapt, and 

maintain. 

Three methods of information collection were employed – systematic observations, collection of daily 

vessel locational information from handheld GPS units, and whalers’ self-reports and perceptions. 

Emphasis has been placed on such measures as: 

• Number of crews actively whaling (observation) 

• Size and composition of crews, and fluctuation over the whaling season (observation) 

• Number of whales harvested (observation, self-report) 

• Days spent whaling, and days prevented from whaling (observation, self-report) 

• Days suitable for whaling when whaling did not occur (observation, self-report) 

• Subsistence activities occurring other than whaling (self-report, observation) 

• Location of whale searching, whale sightings, and whale harvest (GPS, self-report) 

• Local weather and ice conditions (observation, self-report) 

• Bowhead whale behavior in the Cross Island area, and differences from past experience (self-report) 

• Changes in access or other issues related to the whale hunt, such as increased effort for the same (or 

reduced) harvest, increased risk, increased cost (self-report) 

In 2001, four whaling crews from Nuiqsut whaled from Cross Island. At least 1 boat went whaling on 12 

different days. Whalers were on Cross Island a total of 24 days (counting day of arrival and day of 

departure). Weather prevented whaling on 7-8 days, 3 days were devoted to butchering a whale taken the 

prior day, and 2 days were devoted to travel. Three whales were harvested. The report and attached daily 

vessel trip forms present information on boat crew size (3 to 6 per boat per day) and daily trip 

characteristics (duration, GPS track, marked points, self-report of sightings and other perceptions). In 

2002, three whaling crews from Nuiqsut whaled from Cross Island. At least 1 boat went whaling on 15 

different days. Whalers were on Cross Island a total of 24 days (counting day of arrival and day of 

departure). Weather prevented whaling on 3 to 5 days, 3 days were devoted to butchering a whale taken 

the prior day, and 2 days were devoted to travel. Four whales were harvested, and one was struck and 

lost. Two of the harvested whales sank when killed, and were recovered later as “stinkers”. The report 

and attached daily vessel trip forms present information on boat crew size (2 to 6 per boat per day, most 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 25

commonly 3 to 5) and daily trip characteristics (duration, GPS track, marked points, self-report of 

significant sightings and other perceptions). The report also summarizes Nuiqsut whalers’ observations 

and perceptions on how whale behavior in 2001 and 2002 was different from that of other years, and the 

implications of those differences for subsistence whaling. 

 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 26

Task 4: Annual Assessment of Subsistence Bowhead Whaling Near Cross 

Island, 2003 – Executive Summary 

Michael Galginaitis, Applied Sociocultural Research 

Dale W. Funk, LGL Alaska Research Associates, Inc. 

This Task Order, funded by the Minerals Management Service (MMS) has as its broad objective the 

description of subsistence whaling as currently conducted near Cross Island by residents of Nuiqsut. This 

effort is designed to measure basic descriptive parameters of Cross Island whaling so that observed 

changes (if any) can be analyzed in relation to such factors as oil and gas activities, weather and ice 

conditions, or other variables. Special attention is devoted to geospatial information through the sharing 

of GIS information by participating whaling crews. Project reports are only for the purposes of reporting 

information collected, with no analysis of the information either as a self-contained database or in 

conjunction with the many pertinent external databases. As a second broad objective, the project is 

designed as a collaborative effort of MMS and its contractor, Applied Sociocultural Research (ASR), the 

subsistence whalers from Nuiqsut, and the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission (AEWC). The project 

will develop a system for collecting information that local whalers themselves can adopt, adapt, and 

maintain. This report documents the results of the third and final year of this component of the 

ANIMIDA project. It will be continued by at least three (possibly four) years of additional data collection 

as a component of the cANIMIDA project. 

Three methods of information collection are employed – systematic observations, collection of daily 

vessel locational information from handheld GPS units, and whalers’ self-reports and perceptions. 

Emphasis has been placed on such measures as: 

• Number of crews actively whaling (observation) 

• Size and composition of crews, and fluctuation over the whaling season (observation) 

• Number of whales harvested (observation, self-report) 

• Days spent whaling, and days prevented from whaling (weather, equipment failure or repair, etc.) 

(observation, self-report) 

• Days suitable for whaling when whaling did not occur (observation, self-report) 

• Subsistence activities occurring other than whaling (self-report, observation) 

• Location of whale sightings and whale harvest (GPS, self-report) 

• Location of whale searching (GPS, self-report) 

• Local weather and ice conditions (observation, self-report) 

• Bowhead whale behavior in the Cross Island area, and indicated differences from past experience 

(self-report) 

• Changes in access or other issues related to the whale hunt, such as increased effort for the same (or 

reduced) harvest, increased risk, increased cost (self-report) 

In 2003, four crews from Nuiqsut whaled from Cross Island. At least two boats went whaling on seven 

different days. At least one crew was on Cross Island a total of nineteen days (counting day of arrival and 

day of departure). Weather prevented whaling on seven days, three days were devoted to butchering and 

preparations to leave Cross Island after the community quota was taken, and two days were devoted to 

travel. Four whales were harvested. Weather conditions were poor during the 2003 season, and Nuiqsut 

whalers scouted for whales on all days when conditions allowed (including the day after the first whale 

was taken). The final three whales were taken in two days and butchered in sequence. The number of 

crew members in each vessel scouting for whales varied 2 to 6 per boat per day (most commonly 3 or 4). 

Scouting trips varied in duration from one hour nine minutes to nine hours six minutes. Total trip 

distance varied from 25 to 66 miles (with the exception of aborted trips due to mechanical problems) with 

a greatest distance from Cross Island of from 5.5 to 22.6 miles. Whales were struck from 5.2 to 12.2 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 27

(average 9.3) miles from Cross Island. Other daily trip characteristics -- GPS tracks, marked points, selfreport of significant sightings, and other perceptions – were also collected and are discussed in the report. 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 28

Task 5: Sources, Concentrations and Dispersion Pathways for Suspended 

Sediment in the Coastal Beaufort Sea – Executive Summary 

John H. Trefry, Robert D. Rember and Robert P. Trocine, Florida Institute of Technology 

Mark Savoie, Kinnetics Laboratories, Inc., Anchorage 

The Arctic Nearshore Impact Monitoring in the Development Area (ANIMIDA) Program was developed 

to monitor potential environmental changes related to oil and gas development in the Beaufort Sea with a 

special focus on the Northstar and Liberty developments. A variety of biological and chemical studies 

were included in the ANIMIDA Program. This report presents the results from study of suspended 

sediment. The study was designed to address the possibility that oil and gas activities might increase 

levels of suspended sediment in the coastal Beaufort Sea. 

 

The concentrations and composition of suspended particles in the coastal Beaufort Sea directly influence 

a variety of important processes including the following: 

(1) Penetration of light in the water column and the rate of primary productivity. 

(2) Transport and fate of trace metals and organic substances in the water column. 

(3) Adsorption of dissolved trace metals from seawater and partial control of concentrations of 

the more biologically available dissolved metals. 

To better understand the sources and distribution of suspended sediment as they relate to the diverse 

processes listed above, the goals for this Task 5 study included the following: 

(1) Determine the amounts and composition of suspended sediment carried to the coastal 

Beaufort Sea by the Sagavanirktok, Kuparuk and Colville rivers. 

(2) Determine the concentrations, distribution patterns, composition and fate of suspended 

particles in the coastal Beaufort Sea, especially in areas such as Northstar Island and 

Liberty Prospect where construction activities now or in the future may influence 

concentrations of suspended sediment. 

One goal of this effort was to understand the importance of river inputs and storm activity to the 

transport, distribution, composition and fate of suspended sediment in the coastal Beaufort Sea. In other 

words, natural processes and natural variations in levels of suspended sediment must be understood 

before attempting to identify anthropogenic perturbations. Field activities for this Task 5 study included 

sampling rivers during spring breakup in May-June 2001 and 2002 (Figure ES-1), through ice sampling 

of the Beaufort Sea during spring floods (2001 and 2002) and sampling rivers and offshore waters during 

the open-water periods of June-August 2000, 2001 and 2002. 

 

Figure ES-1. The Sagavanirktok River at a bridge near the Prudhoe Bay Operations Center 

 (a) flowing on May 22, 2002 and (b) re-frozen on May 29, 2002. 

(a) (b)
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 29

Rivers are an important source of water and sediment to the study area during the period of spring runoff 

and on an annual basis. Determining the amounts and composition of river-borne suspended sediment 

was a key task during 2001 and 2002. The Sagavanirktok River was sampled daily during late May and 

June and the other two rivers were sampled every two to five days as logistics permitted. Samples of 

water and suspended sediment from the Sagavanirktok River also were collected at mile 401 on the 

Dalton Highway and at a gauging station maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey, about 100 miles 

south of Deadhorse (mile 327 on the Dalton Highway). 

Concentrations of total suspended solids (TSS) in the Sagavanirktok River near the Prudhoe Bay 

Operations Center (PBOC) increased from ~40 mg/L on June 1 when flow began to 600 mg/L on June 

12, 2001, and then decreased to ~30 mg/L by June 18 (Figure ES-2). During late July and August 2001, 

concentrations of TSS were ~2 mg/L. Concentrations of TSS followed similar trends for the Colville 

River with maximum levels of about 600 mg/L on June 13, 2001. In contrast, concentrations of TSS 

reached peak values of only 60 mg/L in the Kuparuk River on June 10, 2001 and decreased to <5 mg/L 

after June 16, 2001. Peak flow recorded for the Kuparuk River was about 600 m3

/sec on June 12, 2001, 

decreasing to <50 m3

/sec after June 28, 2001. During 2002, the same trend of increasing concentrations 

of TSS was observed; however, freezing temperatures led to refreezing of the rivers and put a hiatus in 

the spring flood for the Sagavanirktok River (Figure ES-2). However, the dramatic two-day flood of the 

Kuparuk River in 2002 occurred during the period prior to refreezing. 

6/1/01 6/8/01 6/15/01 6/22/01 

Water Discharge (m3/s)

0

100

200

300

400

Total Suspended Solids (mg/L)

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

TSS 

Water Flow Calculated

Water Flow Measured

Sagavanirktok River 2001

 05/20/02 05/27/02 06/03/02 06/10/02 06/17/02 TSS (mg/L) and Turbidity (NTU)

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Turbidity (NTU) 

TSS (mg/L)

Sagavanirktok River 2002

river froze

river re-melted

river flood begins

rain 

Figure ES-2. Water discharge (from U.S. Geological Survey), turbidity and concentrations of total 

suspended solids (TSS) in the Sagavanirktok River near the Prudhoe Bay Operations 

Center during May-June 2001 and 2002. 

For the Sagavanirktok River, the calculated annual sediment transport was ~0.33 million metric tons for 

2001, with ~87% of the annual transport of suspended sediment occurring during just 12 days in June. 

Total transport of suspended sediment by the Kuparuk River was 0.02 million metric tons for 2001 with 

~90% of the annual sediment load of the river being carried during just three days in June. Previous 

estimates for the Colville River of 5 million metric tons of sediment per year are supported by recent 

measurements during high flow. These natural inputs by rivers can be compared with ~1.6 million 

metric tons of sand and gravel used to construct Northstar Island [(800,000 yd3

 x 0.76 m3/yd3 x 2.6 metric 

tons/m3 = 1.6 million metric tons). Coastal erosion also is an important source of sediment to the coastal 

Beaufort Sea, including the ANIMIDA study area. Estimates from previous studies state that coastal 

erosion may contribute sediment to the coastal Beaufort Sea at levels that are equal to or several times 

greater than inputs of sediment by rivers. Studies of erosion were not part of the ANIMIDA project; 

however, available results are reviewed in this report. 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 30

Samples of suspended sediment also were collected under the ice, seaward of the rivers during the early 

days of spring runoff in 2001 and 2002 when the coastal Beaufort Sea was still ice covered. 

Concentrations of TSS averaged ~40 mg/L in a 2-m thick lens of freshwater immediately under the ice 

that extended >10 km offshore (Figure ES-3). The suspended sediment was very rich in fine-grained 

aluminosilicates as shown by the levels of Al and other metals in the particles. Metal/Al ratios in 

suspended particles collected under the ice showed that the composition of river-borne particles was 

similar to that found for bottom sediment. 

Figure ES-3. Vertical profiles for salinity and transmissivity (turbidity) along a transect (distances on 

lower x axis) seaward of the Sagavanirktok River for May 27, 2002. 

During the open-water period in 1999-2002, numerous vertical casts and horizontal tows in the water 

column were made throughout the coastal Beaufort Sea to measure turbidity, salinity, temperature and 

current speed and direction. Turbidity was measured by in situ turbidimeter, by laboratory turbidimeter 

using discrete samples and by filtration/gravimetry using discrete samples. 

The day-to-day turbidity and distribution of TSS in the coastal Beaufort Sea were dependent on river 

flow, ice cover and sea state. In the protected, relatively quiescent waters under ice during most of the 

year, levels of TSS were low at a few tenths of a milligram per liter relative to average levels of ~40 

mg/L in surface waters under the ice during the spring floods. During the brief open-water period, after 

the spring floods, concentrations of TSS were typically <20 mg/L and varied as a function of sea state 

and the presence of floating sea ice. Sea state was directly related to the strength and duration of winds. 

Concentrations of TSS increased to >50 mg/L during the summer only following a period of several days 

with winds greater than 20 knots. In contrast, levels of TSS <2 mg/L were observed under conditions 

where calm water had prevailed for several days. This later condition was most likely to occur when 

floating ice dampened any wind effects. No significant deviations in levels of turbidity were observed 

adjacent to Northstar Island during 2000-2002 while towing a turbidimeter-CTD package along transects 

at distances as close as 100-500 m from the island. 

The chemical composition of river suspended sediment was compared with results for bottom sediment 

to help identify possible anthropogenic inputs of suspended sediment or contaminant metals to the coastal 

environment. Differences in the elemental composition of suspended sediment were observed among 

rivers. The Colville River contained greater amounts of particulate Al, Fe and trace metals relative to the 

more Ca-rich particles of the Sagavanirktok River and the more organic carbon-rich particles of the 

Kuparuk River. However, the metal/Al ratios for all elements, except Ca, were not significantly different 

among rivers and bottom sediment from the coastal Beaufort Sea. 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 31

Concentrations of trace metals also were determined for samples of suspended matter collected from the 

coastal Beaufort Sea. The fine-grained aluminosilicates suspended in the water column were enriched 

with Al and trace metals. However, concentrations of most metals in suspended sediment for 2000 and 

2001 plotted within the 99% prediction intervals for metals versus Al that were developed using data for 

bottom sediment. Thus, in most instances, concentrations of trace metals associated with suspended 

particles were within the limits established for uncontaminated sediment. Suspended particles are 

potentially a more sensitive indicator of recent metal contamination than sediment because the small 

amounts of suspended particles typically found in the water column lead to a larger relative enrichment 

of anthropogenic metal concentrations. This sensitivity was demonstrated with several samples of 

suspended sediment that were collected very near Northstar Island during construction in August 2000 

and contained Pb at levels that were 20-50% above background. 

With respect to sedimentation, the ANIMIDA area appears to be a net erosional environment at this time. 

Based on our observations, much of the large sediment load of the rivers is carried across the nearshore 

environment to deeper waters of the Beaufort Sea along a freshwater channel under the ice during spring 

or with summer and fall storms. Therefore, sediment monitoring for contaminants must be coordinated 

with measurements of radionuclides such as 137Cs, excess 210Pb, 234Th or 7

Be that help ensure that 

samples are recent and not relict deposits. 

Overall, no significant differences in concentrations of TSS that could be directly linked to oil and gas 

operations were observed in the ANIMIDA area. Periodic enhancement in levels of TSS in the coastal 

Beaufort Sea can be related to river runoff and resuspension of bottom sediment by strong winds. 

Natural inputs of suspended sediment from runoff and erosion are large relative to any anthropogenic 

inputs of sediment. 

 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 32

Task 6: Linking Water Turbidity and Total Suspended Sediment Loading to Kelp 

Productivity within the Stefansson Sound Boulder Patch – Executive Summary 

Ken Dunton, University of Texas Marine Science Institute 

Adrian Burd, Department of Marine Science, University of Georgia 

Dale Funk, LGL Alaska Research Associates 

Robert Maffione, HOBI-Laboratories 

The Stefansson Sound Boulder Patch, located 20 km northeast of Prudhoe Bay in the Alaskan Beaufort 

Sea, supports the only known kelp bed on the Alaskan arctic coast that is characterized by high benthic 

diversity associated with an abundance of boulders, cobbles, and pebbles. Growth and production of the 

endemic arctic kelp Laminaria solidungula, which is abundant throughout the area, is regulated primarily 

by PAR (photosynthetically active radiation) availability during the summer open-water period. 

Variation in underwater PAR, caused by changes in water transparency, can have significant effects on 

the annual productivity of this species (Dunton, 1990). Although the physiological responses of L. 

solidungula to changes in PAR are well described, the relationship between PAR and water turbidity 

(measured in terms of total suspended solids [TSS]) is poorly understood. Consequently, our ability to 

assess the effects of changes in water transparency, whether caused by natural or anthropogenic events, is 

significantly compromised. 

In an attempt to further our understanding of the relationship between TSS and light availability, we 

measured the inherent optical properties (IOPs) of Stefansson Sound waters, including absorption, 

scattering, and attenuation, in conjunction with TSS concentrations for a two-week period in summers 

2001 and 2002. These data were used in a radiative transfer equation (RTE), and a TSS concentration 

specific attenuation coefficient [K*

d(λ,H)] was determined. The attenuation coefficient was inserted into a 

productivity model to estimate daily kelp production throughout the Boulder Patch. Our model output 

agreed well with previously published measurements of annual kelp production based on the number of 

hours of saturating irradiance available to the kelp under average water transparency conditions. 

The highest TSS levels (23.0 – 24.2 mg L-1) occurred in nearshore areas during summer 2001 and were 

coincident with increased light attenuation (11.4 – 14.0 m-1). In both years, lower TSS concentrations and 

lower light attenuations were measured in areas furthest from the coast within the Boulder Patch kelp 

community. Although light attenuation through the water column decreased in summer 2002, attenuation 

and TSS were significantly correlated (p < 0.01). 

Our results clearly demonstrate that suspended sediment concentrations have varying but substantial 

affects on light availability, and subsequent kelp production, during the summer open-water period. 

Increasing average TSS concentrations from 1 to 10 mg L-1, within ranges measured in situ, decreased 

annual production by an order of magnitude. Even under an array of surface irradiance budgets, 

production estimates and rates changed substantially under different TSS concentrations. Production, 

modeled under a variety of summer surface light regimes, was always higher at lower TSS concentrations 

and estimated kelp production was higher in offshore locations, despite deeper depths, because they are 

characterized by lower TSS. 

The accuracy of the model was tested using previously recorded surface irradiance data from 1990 and 

1991. In both years, model estimated production coincided well with annual production calculated from 

blade length data. Similar accuracy was demonstrated when the model was used to estimate annual 

production for 2001. Although previous years’ estimates coincided with those calculated using blade 

length data, estimates for 2002 production were distinctly different. This was most likely the result of 

temporal sampling bias. Low TSS concentrations recorded during a two-week period in summer 2002 

were probably not representative of water conditions for the entire summer open water season in 2002. 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 33

Consequently, reasonable estimates of kelp production using this model are dependent on TSS, IOP, and 

surface light measurements reflective of overall summer conditions. 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 34

Task 7: Partitioning of Potential Anthropogenic Chemicals between Dissolved 

and Particulate Phases in Arctic Rivers and the Coastal Beaufort Sea – Executive 

Summary 

John H. Trefry, Robert P. Trocine and Robert D. Rember, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Florida 

John S. Brown, Exponent, Maynard, Massachusetts 

The Arctic Nearshore Impact Monitoring in the Development Area (ANIMIDA) Program was developed 

to monitor potential environmental changes related to oil and gas development in the Beaufort Sea with a 

special focus on the Northstar development. The ANIMIDA Program included a variety of biological 

and chemical studies. This report presents results from study of the partitioning of potential 

anthropogenic chemicals between dissolved and particulate phases in arctic rivers and the coastal water 

of the Beaufort Sea. 

 

In the dissolved form, trace metals and organic substances are generally more biologically available and 

have a greater chance to induce toxic effects in organisms. In general, concentrations of dissolved trace 

metals in coastal seawater are controlled by river runoff, adsorption on suspended sediment and 

biological uptake. During 2001 and 2002, concentrations of dissolved metals were determined for the 

Sagavanirktok, Kuparuk and Colville rivers and for coastal water of the Beaufort Sea. The underlying 

theme in this effort was to understand the natural sources, transport pathways and concentrations of 

dissolved metals in the coastal Beaufort Sea. The natural processes that help regulate concentrations of 

dissolved substances must be understood before attempting to identify anthropogenic perturbations. 

Field activities for ANIMIDA Task 7 included sampling of rivers and offshore water during open-water 

periods of July-August 2000, 2001 and 2002 plus through-ice and river break-up efforts during May-June 

2001 and 2002. Rivers are a major source of dissolved metals to the study area. The Sagavanirktok 

River was sampled daily during June 2001 and 2002 and the other two rivers were sampled every two to 

five days as logistics permitted. Samples of water and suspended sediment from the Sagavanirktok River 

also were collected at mile 401 on the Dalton Highway, and at the site of a gauging station maintained by 

the U.S. Geological Survey (U.S.G.S.), about 100 miles south of Deadhorse. 

Concentrations of the following dissolved and particulate metals: arsenic (As), barium (Ba), calcium 

(Ca), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), sodium (Na), nickel 

(Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn), particulate aluminum (Al) and dissolved and particulate organic carbon 

(DOC and POC) were determined for the three rivers during June to August 2001 and 2002. 

Concentrations of dissolved trace metals were low, but different among the three rivers. For example, in 

the Sagavanirktok River, the following average concentrations of dissolved metals were determined: Pb 

at 15 ng/L, Cu at 0.6 μg/L and Ba at 32 μg/L whereas in the Colville River these three metals were found 

at concentrations of 60 ng/L, 2 μg/L and 50 μg/L, respectively. 

The most striking trend in the dissolved data was found for DOC with maximum levels of DOC in the 

Sagavanirktok River >8 mg/L during peak flow relative to 2 mg/L at lower flow (Figure ES-1). 

Concentrations of Fe, Mn, K and Cu followed trends for DOC quite 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 35

05/28/01 06/04/01 06/11/01 06/18/01 06/25/01 07/02/01 DOC (mg/L)

0

2

4

6

8

10

POC (%)

0

1

2

3

4

5

0

100

200

300

400

500

05/28/01 06/04/01 06/11/01 06/18/01 06/25/01 07/02/01 Fe (%)

0

1

2

3

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5

Fe (μg/L) 0

20

40

60

80

Figure ES-1. Concentrations of dissolved (triangles) and particulate (circles) organic carbon (DOC and 

POC) and dissolved (triangles) and particulate (circles) iron (Fe) in the Sagavanirktok 

River during June 2001. 

well (e.g., Fe in Figure ES-1). These trends are consistent with a pulse of exuded, DOC-rich water from 

thawing soils in the drainage basin that occurred shortly after the initial melt event during the period of 

peak flow. Trends for dissolved Fe, Mn and K, also derived from thawing soils, matched the trend 

observed for DOC. Concentrations of dissolved Cu followed DOC relatively well; however, the 

magnitude of change was somewhat less than observed for the other elements. For dissolved Ba, Ni and 

Pb, concentrations shifted only slightly in response to the increase in levels of DOC. Concentrations of 

particulate metals (on the basis of μg metal/g suspended sediment) were rather uniform during June 2001 

and fit metal/Al ratios defined for bottom sediment in the coastal Beaufort Sea. In most cases, very little 

(<10%) of the metal burden of the rivers was in the dissolved phase during the June period of high flow. 

The forms of the metals and controls on concentrations of dissolved metals in rivers are important to 

understanding subsequent behavior in the saline water of the coastal Beaufort Sea. Concentrations of 

dissolved and particulate Ba varied directly among the rivers (Figure ES-2) and thus a simple distribution 

coefficient (Kd) was used to explain observed concentrations, where 

(concentration of particulate metal in μg metal/g particles) 

Kd = ____________________________________________________________________________ 

 (concentration of dissolved metal in μg metal/g water) 

When this approach was used for Ba, the fit was quite good with the Kd for Ba averaging 2.4 ± 0.5 x 104

for all the rivers (Figure ES-2). This trend supports the concept that concentrations of Ba in suspended 

sediment regulate concentrations of dissolved Ba. The same approach also was applied to Pb and Cu; 

however, the fit was less consistent, suggesting that other factors, such as complexation with organic 

matter influences concentrations of dissolved Pb and Cu. 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 36

 

Figure ES-2. Concentrations of dissolved and particulate barium (Ba) in the Sagavanirktok (Sag), 

Kuparuk (Kup) and Colville (Col) rivers during summer 2001 and log of the distribution 

coefficient (Kd) for Ba. Sag-g identifies upstream location at site of U.S.G.S. gauge. 

Concentrations of dissolved trace metals in the saline water of the coastal Beaufort Sea were generally 

lower than found in the rivers with the following observations: Pb at 4-7 ng/L, Cu at 0.5 μg/L and Ba at 

13 μg/L. Concentrations of total Hg in the coastal Beaufort Sea also were low at about 0.5-0.8 ng/L. 

Schematic representations for the distributions of dissolved As and Ba are shown in Figure ES-3. 

Concentrations of As increased from the rivers to the sea and concentrations of Ba decreased. 

Rivers

Coastal Beaufort Sea Coastal Beaufort Sea

0.1 μg/L

Dissolved As Dissolved As

0.9-1.3 μg/L @ Salinity ~ 30 psu

~0.4-0.7 μg/L 0.7 μg/L @ Salinity ~20 @ Salinity ~20 psu

~0.2-0.4 μg/L @ Salinity ~10 @ Salinity ~10 psu

 

Rivers

Coastal Beaufort Sea Coastal Beaufort Sea

30 μg/L 30 μg/L

Dissolved Dissolved Ba

~10 μg/L ~10 μg/L @ Salinity ~ 30 @ Salinity ~ 30 psu

30- 50 μg/L @ Salinity ~ 10 @ Salinity ~ 10 psu

 

Figure ES-3. Generalized distributions of dissolved arsenic (As) and barium (Ba) in source rivers and 

coastal water of the Beaufort Sea. 

The Total PAH (TPAH) concentrations in whole seawater samples (dissolved + particulate fractions) 

were low and ranged from 22 to 68 ng/L. The TPAH of the particulate fraction of the seawater samples 

ranged from 13.2 to 18.5 ng/L. The PAH distribution for the particles shows a petrogenic or petroleum 

hydrocarbon composition, characterized by a predominance of the 2- and 3-ringed alkyated PAH 

compounds, with a lower abundance of 4-, 5- and 6-ringed PAH. The PAH in the seawater samples were 

primarily associated with suspended sediment. The composition of the PAH in the suspended sediment 

was similar to that observed for riverine and benthic sediment in the ANIMIDA study area. Analysis of 

the dissolved fraction showed no detectable PAH in the dissolved phase in support of the statement that 

the PAH are bound to suspended sediment and do not partition to any great extent into the dissolved 

phase. 

Sag Sag-g Kup Col

0

20

40

60

Dissolved Ba (μg/L)

31.7 ± 2.0

Sag Sag-g Kup Col

0

300

600

900

1200

Particulate Ba (μg/g)

Sag Sag-g Kup Col

0

1

2

3

4

5

log Kd for Ba
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 37

The main conclusions from ANIMIDA Task 7 are as follows: (1) concentrations of dissolved trace metals 

and PAH in the study area are very low and characteristic of pristine water, (2) concentrations of some 

metals can be modeled with a simple distribution coefficient, and (3) active physical, chemical and 

biological processes are at work to create a dynamic, yet predictable, distribution of dissolved trace 

metals in the study area. Such information will be useful for long-term monitoring (years, decades and 

centuries) and will provide an evolving capability for predicting impacts from any spills or other releases 

of chemicals within the drainage basin or the coastal sea. 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 38

Task 8: Baseline Characterization of Anthropogenic Contaminants in Biota 

Associated with the Alaska OCS Liberty and Northstar Oil and Gas Production 

Units in the Nearshore Beaufort Sea – Executive Summary 

Robert Spies, Jordan Gold, Dane Hardin, and David Bell, Applied Marine Sciences, Inc. 

The bioaccumulation of trace substances, including anthropogenic contaminants, was investigated in five 

species of fish in and near the North Slope oil field developments, including the Northstar project area 

and the Liberty prospect. The fish species studied were: Arctic Cod, Arctic Cisco, Four Horn Sculpin, 

Broad Whitefish and Humpback Whitefish. We collected fish from a total of five sites (from west to 

east): Stump Island, Northstar, Point Brower, Liberty and Bullen Point. Whole body concentrations of 

polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), organochlorine compounds (PCBs and 12 pesticides) and 12 

trace metals were determined. Two biomarkers of contaminant exposure were also evaluated: P4501A in 

liver hepatocytes and gut epithelial cells and bile hydrocarbon metabolites. 

The PAH, and many of the metals are potential contaminants arising from oil field operations, such as 

drilling, production, transportation of personnel and materials, dock construction, and onshore support 

operations. These contaminants also have local natural sources and distant anthropogenic sources. The 

organochlorines are normally not expected to result from oil field operations and most of the 

organochlorines undoubtedly have their ultimate sources far from the North Slope of Alaska, from where 

they are carried in winds and haze as volatile gases or absorbed to aerosols. However, some 

organochlorine data were needed for interpretation of biomarker data and their analysis did not incur 

much extra cost to the project. In addition, the Arctic Marine Assessment Program (AMAP), a multinational program to assess contaminants in the Arctic, has recommended that organochlorines be 

measured in and around oil field operations and sites of historic military operations, e.g., Bullen Point 

near the development area. Further, Presidential Executive Order 12898 mandates measurement of 

contaminants in subsistence resources as a matter of environmental justice. In addition, distant 

anthropogenic sources of metals are likely making some contributions to the metals measured in biota in 

the development area. 

The two biomarkers, P4501A induction and bile metabolites of PAH, both respond to exposure to PAH, 

and because of PAH metabolism, are in fact, more relevant to PAH exposure than measures of these 

compounds in tissues. 

Site-by-site comparisons were also carried out by analysis of variance for each species to see which sites had 

statistically higher concentrations of contaminants. Other analyses of variance were carried out to determine if 

weight of fish explained a significant amount of variability in the contaminant concentration data. We report a 

number of different patterns of variability in which there were differences in trace substance concentrations in 

fish due to site and discuss site-to-site differences and whether they may be related to anthropogenic inputs. 

The site-to-site comparisons of trace substance concentrations in various species of fish are based on 

relatively small numbers of samples, so the relationships found should be interpreted cautiously, i.e. they may 

change with larger sample numbers. About 10% of the significant site differences in individual trace 

substances could be due to chance. These data and their analysis should be the basis for further investigation 

and monitoring. However, the data 

provide a good overall picture of trace substance concentrations in fish in the development area. 

Perhaps the strongest evidence for anthropogenic influences from petroleum development are the 

concentrations of PAH and the two biomarkers that respond to PAH, particularly in the Four Horn 

Sculpin. While there were no effects of site on total PAH or low-molecular weight PAH in any species of 

fish, there were differences seen in high-molecular-weight PAH between sites for Arctic Cisco and Four 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 39

Horn Sculpin. The sites where there were elevated concentrations in these two species were Stump Island 

and Point Brower. In Four Horn Sculpin P4501A induction in liver varied significantly with site, with 

Point Brower and Stump Island having the highest responses. In Arctic Cod, Northstar fish had 

significantly greater P4501A content than Liberty fish. Hydrocarbon metabolites in the bile also had a 

pattern of differences that is somewhat consistent with P4501A induction. Phenanthrene equivalents in 

the bile varied significantly with site in Four Horn Sculpin, with Bullen Point, Stump Island, and Liberty 

having the higher responses than Point Brower. Benz(a)pyrene equivalents in the bile of this species also 

varied significantly with site with Stump Island clearly having the highest concentrations. Arctic Cisco 

also had benz(a)pyrene equivalents that varied significantly with site, with Bullen Point having the 

highest measured concentrations. 

Both of these bile hydrocarbon components occur in extracted petroleum, and probably in drill cuttings from 

the developed formations, but they also have potential natural sources, particularly benzo(a)pyrene. If 

anthropogenic activities are responsible or contributing to these responses in Four Horn Sculpin, and given 

the sites at which they occur, then it is more likely that they are not directly related to drilling at the platform 

sites. Rather, it may be the activity to the east of Stump Island at West Dock, e.g., motorized vessels, that 

may be the source. There also may be some influence of the nearby Endicott Causeway on fish caught at 

Point Brower. At Bullen Point, historical activities at the military site may be responsible for the observed 

responses. 

Among the chlorinated hydrocarbons and pesticides, a variety of patterns were observed. Data on site 

differences in these anthropogenic compounds were interpreted as to whether they may indicate distant 

sources, e.g., transport from lower latitudes, or some local source. In the case of PCBs, Arctic Cisco 

varied significantly with site; fish from Stump Island had the highest concentrations. A similar trend was 

seen for total pesticides, except that Stump Island and Point Brower were the two sites with the higher 

concentrations. However, for other individual classes of pesticides making up the total pesticide category,

there were significant differences due to site with one or more species. For Chlordanes, DDTs, 

Endosulfans and Endrins, Stump Island had consistently high concentrations relative to the other sites. It 

was also mainly the Arctic Cisco that had significant site differences for these groups of compounds 

(save for DDTs). The Four Horn Sculpin had site differences for Chlordanes. Humpback Whitefish had 

site differences for Endrins. Arctic Cod had site differences for HCHs. Taken together these data suggest 

that there are elevated concentrations of several pesticides in the area of Stump Island and Point Brower 

over the general background for the area and there might be a low-level source there for pesticides. We 

do not know what the potential local source for this low-level elevation over background might be, but 

Arctic Rivers can carry significant amounts of contaminants from distant sources that are deposited on 

the land and washed into the rivers during the summer. Point Brower is in the delta of the Sagavanirktok 

River. 

Also consistent with the known long-range transport in the atmosphere from lower latitudes to the Arctic, 

PCBs were generally uniformly distributed among sites for four of the five species of fish analyzed, the 

exception being Arctic Cisco at Stump Island. We have, however, recognized two patterns of relative 

congener abundance in the fish from this study: a mixture dominated by high-molecular-weight 

congeners, and a second pattern including a similar congener composition of high-molecular-weight 

compounds, but also has significant, and sometimes dominant, low-molecular-weight components (e.g. 

IUPAC congener 8). The low-molecular-weight congeners in such mixes have been reported previously 

from Beaufort Sea samples. 

Interpreting anthropogenic contributions of metals poses a particular problem, as the metals being 

analyzed all occur in the sediments and fish tissues naturally and it is possible to have residual 

concentrations in the gut of the fish being analyzed. We can probably discount anthropogenic loadings of 

nickel that did not differ with change of site. However, most of the metals did show significant 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 40

differences due to site in one or two species: arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, iron, lead, mercury, 

selenium, vanadium and zinc. 

The high concentrations of arsenic in Four Horn Sculpin occurred at Stump Island, Liberty and Point 

Brower. The reason for this pattern is not know, as it did not appear to be significantly elevated in 

sediments anywhere in the area on an iron-normalized basis. It is not known if there is an anthropogenic 

source of arsenic in the area. 

Analysis of the ratios of barium to iron in the fish data suggests that sediment may have played a role in 

trace metals detected in Four Horn Sculpin. We therefore ascribe no other particular interpretation to the 

site effect seen with this element in Four Horn Sculpin. In addition, the barium sulfate used in drilling 

mud is not very biologically available to marine organisms. 

Site effects were found for cadmium in Arctic Cisco and Humpback Whitefish. In the former species, 

Point Brower, Liberty and Stump Island fish had higher concentrations than Bullen Point. Stump Island 

Humpback Whitefish had greater concentrations of cadmium than Point Brower fish. Cadmium 

bioavailability can change with salinity, but it is not known if salinity was a factor in determining site 

differences in these two species. 

There was only one species where the variation in iron content differed significantly between sites: Arctic 

Cod. Again, it is not known whether this is attributable to development activity at the Northstar location, 

but further consideration may be in order for this element as well. Since Cod are bottom feeders, at least 

part of the time, sediments in the gut may have influenced this outcome. Iron is an essential element and 

is therefore physiologically regulated in fish. It seems unlikely that without a very large biologically 

available source that iron would appreciably accumulate in fish beyond the range that is physiologically 

required. 

Humpback Whitefish was the only species where site differences were seen for lead concentrations, with 

Stump Island fish having higher concentrations than Point Brower. 

One species showed significant variation in mercury: Arctic Cisco. Point Brower Cod had greater 

concentrations than the other sites, but the differences in means were very little. At this stage, we cannot 

rule out a slight difference in natural or anthropogenic influence on mercury in this species. Nor can we 

rule out random variability in a small sample set (n=5-11 per site) as an explanation of this finding. 

For selenium there was one species for which site had a significant effect on whole-body concentrations: 

Arctic Cod from Liberty had greater concentrations than those from Northstar. Again, this is based on a 

very small sample size (n=7-8) and we have no reason to attribute this to anthropogenic activities. 

Vanadium is another element for which Arctic Cod showed significant differences due to site. In this case 

the Liberty fish had higher concentrations than the Northstar fish. Again the potential influence of 

sediments in the gut may as well as small sample size may be a factor, as there are no known sources of 

Vanadium at Liberty. 

For zinc, the Arctic Cisco was the only species in which site had an influence on whole-body 

concentrations. In this case, Point Brower, Liberty and Stump Island had higher concentrations than 

Bullen Point. We attach no particular significance to this finding. 

Based on high site-trace contaminant and site-biomarker differences, we recommend the Four Horn 

Sculpin as a candidate species for further monitoring of possible anthropogenic releases of trace 

substances that may be bioaccumulated by fish. The Four Horn Sculpin, along with the Arctic Cod, 

appear to be the two species that are most appropriate for monitoring at the offshore platform areas, while 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 41

the two species of Whitefish and the Arctic Cisco are anadromous and more closely tied to the inshore 

portions of the development area. In this regard, we present and discuss the relative power of different 

sized collections of Four Horn Sculpin to detect changes in various trace contaminants and the number of 

years required to detect different percentage change with a fixed number of fish per site. For example, if 

Four Horn Sculpin were to be analyzed for PAH by collecting 20 fish per site per year, it is estimated that 

it would take 4 to 7 years of data to detect a 50% change in concentrations. The analysis of variation also 

indicated that 50% differences in concentrations of most analytes can be detected with fewer than 15 fish. 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 42

4.0 ANIMIDA OCS Study Reports 

ANIMIDA Phase I: Ambient and Industrial Noise Measurements near the Northstar and Liberty Sites 

during April 2000, Final Report. OCS Study MMS 2001-047. 

ANIMIDA Phase I: Arctic Nearshore Characterization and Monitoring of the Physical Enviroment in 

the Northstar and Liberty Development Areas, Final Report. OCS Study MMS 2001-104. 

Baseline Characterization of Anthropogenic Contaminants in Biota Associated with the Alaska OCS 

Liberty and Northstar Oil and Gas Production Units in the Nearshore Beaufort Sea. OCS Study MMS 

2003-071. 

ANIMIDA Task 2: Hydrocarbon and Metal Characterization of Sediment Cores in the ANIMIDA Study 

Area - Special Report. OCS Study MMS 2004-023. 

ANIMIDA Task 2: Hydrocarbon and Metal Characterization of Sediments, Bivalves and Amphipods 

in the ANIMIDA Study Area, Final Report. OCS Study MMS 2004-024. 

Annual Assessment of Subsistence Bowhead Whaling Near Cross Island, 2003: ANIMIDA Task 4 

Annual Report. OCS Study MMS 2005-025. 

Annual Assessment of Subsistence Bowhead Whaling Near Cross Island, 2001 and 2002: ANIMIDA 

Task 4 Final Report. OCS Study MMS 2004-030 

ANIMIDA Task 7: Partitioning of Potential Anthropogenic Chemicals between Dissolved and 

Particulate Phases in Arctic Rivers and the Coastal Beaufort Sea. OCS Study MMS 2004-031. 

ANIMIDA Task 5: Sources, Concentrations and Dispersion Pathways for Suspended Sediment in the 

Coastal Beaufort Sea. OCS Study MMS 2004-032. 

Linking Water Turbidity and Total Suspended Sediment Loading to Kelp Productivity within the 

Stefansson Sound Boulder Patch, ANIMIDA Task 6. OCS Study MMS 2005-011. 

ANIMIDA Task 1: Core Contractor Program Management, Logistics, Database, and Reporting, 

Phase II Final Summary Report. OCS Study MMS 2005-051. 
MMS ANIMIDA\2002 Interim Reports\Task 1 Annual Report Summary.doc 43

5.0 References 

Boehm, P.D. et al. 2001. ANIMIDA Phase I: Arctic Nearshore Impact Monitoring in the Development 

Area - Final Report. OCS Study MMS 2001-104, Anchorage, AK: Minerals Management Service, U.S. 

Department of Interior. 

Brown, J.S., J.H. Trefry, L.L. Cook, and P.D. Boehm. 2003. ANIMIDA Task 2: Hydrocarbon and Metal 

Characterization of Sediment Cores in the ANIMIDA Study Area - Special Report. OCS Study MMS 

2004-023, Anchorage, Alaska: Minerals Management Service, Department of Interior. 

Shepard, G.W., P.A. Krumhansl, M.L. Knack, and C.I. Malme. 2001. ANIMIDA Phase I: Ambient and 

Industrial Noise Measurements Near the Northstar and Liberty Sites During April 2000, Final Report. 

OCS Study MMS 2001-047, Anchorage, AK: Minerals Management Service, U.S. Department of 

Interior. 

USAEDA. 1999. Final Environmental Impact Statement, Beaufort Sea Oil and Gas 

Development/Northstar Project. Volumes I – IV. Appendices A – K. Anchorage, Alaska. 

USDOI. 2002. Liberty Development and Production Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement. OCS 

EIS/EA, MMS 2002-0019. Anchorage, Alaska.