North East File Collection - NEFC

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https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/573075/Appendix_B_Action_Levels.pdf

Cefas

Use of Action Levels in Dredged Material Assessments

Action Levels are used as part of a ‘weight of evidence’ approach to assessing dredged material and its suitability for disposal to sea. These values will be used in conjunction with a range of other assessment methods e.g. bioassays, as well as historical data and knowledge regarding the dredging site, the material's physical characteristics, the disposal site characteristics and other relevant data, to make management decisions regarding the fate of dredged material. We are currently in the process of testing sediment bioassays to provide further information on the characteristics of dredged material. This integrated approach is in line with recent discussions regarding weight of evidence approaches to environmental management of sediments. It considers balancing multiple lines of evidence concerning ecological assessment as an aid to decision making.

In general, contaminant levels in dredged material below Action Level 1 are of no concern and are unlikely to influence the licensing decision. However, dredged material with contaminant levels above Action Level 2 is generally considered unsuitable for sea disposal. The latter situation most often applies only to a part of a proposed dredging area and so that area can be excluded from disposal at sea and disposed of by other routes e.g. landfill. Dredged material with contaminant levels between Action Levels 1 and 2 requires further consideration and testing before a decision can be made.

ACTION LEVELS

Contaminant / Compound	Action Level 1	Action Level 2
mg/kg Dry Weight (ppm)
As	20	100
Hg	0.3	3
Cd	0.4	5
Cr	40	400
Cu	40	400
Ni	20	200
Pb	50	500
Zn	130	800
Organotins; TBT DBT MBT	0.1	1
PCB's, sum of ICES 7	0.01	none
PCB's, sum of 25 congeners	0.02	0.2
PAHs	0.1**	None
*DDT	*0.001
*Dieldrin	*0.005

* these levels were set in 1994

from: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/marine-licensing-sediment-analysis-and-sample-plans

Table from Environmental Resources Managements - relating to Able UK Ltd marine license application

Contaminant	Unit	CEFAS AL1	CEFAS AL2	Dutch	Canada	Intertidal (Surface)		Subtidal (Surface)		Subtidal (Vibrocore)		CEFAS Samples
Min Max	Min	Max	Min	Max	Min	Max
Heavy metals
Arsenic	mg/kg	20	100	29	7.24	13.8 18.9	14.3	29.6	3.38	30.9	7.5	50
Cadmium	mg/kg	0.4	5	0.8	0.7	0.296 0.533	0.185	0.44	0.141	0.469	0.12	0.46
Chromium	mg/kg	40	400	100	52.3	31.6 45.7	10.7	35.4	4	42.5	15	96
Copper	mg/kg	40	400	35	18.7	23.5 31.4	7	49.9	3.16	26.6	11	53
Lead	mg/kg	50	500	85	30.2	35.4 54.6	26.7	57.7	2.34	48.8	8.8	135
Mercury	mg/kg	0.3	3	0.3	0.13	<0.14 <0.14	<0.14	0.177	<0.14	<0.14	0	0.36
Nickel	mg/kg	20	200	35	15.9	22.1 32.4	10.2	19	4.13	28.4	14	53
Zinc	mg/kg	130	800	140	124	112 145	66.7	115	13.1	131	56	287
Organo tins & PCBs
Di-butyl-tin	mg/kg	0.1	-	-	-				<0.02	<0.02	<0.002	0.01069
Tri-butyl-tin	mg/kg	0.1	-	-	-				<0.02	<0.02	<0.003	0.03615
PCBs - sum of ICES 7	µg/kg	100	-	-	-	<3 <3	<3	<3	<3	<3	0.00087	0.03022
PAHs
Acenaphthene	µg/kg	100	-	-	6.71 33.59 Action Level	29.8 50.9	18.5	41.4	<8	54.8	0.35	33.59
Acenaphthylene	µg/kg	100	-	-	5.87	118.58 2 19.9 28.3	<12	27.5	<12	43.6	0.8	118.58
Anthracene	µg/kg	100	-	-	46.9	62 111	38.5	95.2	<16	127	1.53	154.13
Benzo(a)anthracene	µg/kg	100-	-	-	74.8	169 282	90	268	<14	237	8.41	443.13
Benzo(a)pyrene	µg/kg	100	-	-	88.8	Dutch 167 258	118	278	<15	250	8.45	575.9
Chrysene	µg/kg	100	-	-	108S	tandard1s 52 243	79.4	189	<10	186	5.65	371.13
Dibenz(ah)anthracene	µg/kg	10	-	-	6.22	<23 48.6	<23	43.32	<23	45.7	2.2	104.04
Fluoranthene	µg/kg	100	-	-	113	304 507	165	377	<17	433	9.99	850.17
Fluorene	µg/kg	100	-	-	21.2C	anadian4 6.7 72.4	25.4	72.4	<10	75	3.33	210.17
Naphthalene	µg/kg	100	-	-	34.G6 uideline1s5 0	237	52.6	177	<9	112	9.55	567.79
Phenanthrene	µg/kg	100	-	-	86.7	251 406	127	264	<15	287	12.75	848.19
Pyrene	µg/kg	100	-	-	153	291 464	162	347	<15	375	9.22	668.9