From the wheelhouse, I disagree with cutting corners on sediment testing

Many operators believe visual checks of the dredge spoil are sufficient, but I insist on proper lab analysis every time. We avoided a costly fine by testing a sample that looked clean but had high contaminant levels.

3 comments

3 Comments

wren_smith441mo ago

Visual checks aren't totally worthless, they can catch obvious things like oil sheens. But they completely miss hidden contaminants, like heavy metals or low-level toxics. We had a site where the spoil looked fine, but lab tests found arsenic above the limit. Skipping real testing is just risking a huge fine.

seth_green851mo ago

What about the folks who buy the land later? They could be stuck with a huge cleanup bill if hidden toxics aren't found now.

rose_hart311mo ago

Ever hear about that developer who skipped soil tests to save cash? They ended up with a lawsuit when the new owners found lead in the backyard.