Environmental Studies
Environmental studies were managed, scoped, and interpreted by Fugro including sediment chemistry and bioassay testing and dredge material disposal studies. For all of the reconfiguration options, 4 to 15 million cubic yards of recent bay floor sediments may have to be dredged to remove weak soils and/or provide navigation access during construction. The types and level of contaminates in the soils and volume of soils will determine their suitability for various beneficial reuse/disposal options, which may include:

• Unconfined aquatic disposal in the ocean or in inland waters,
  
• Beneficial reuse at wetland and upland sites,
  
• Confined aquatic disposal, and
  
• Disposal at an upland fill.
  

The test program included bulk sediment chemical and physical testing, elutriate and/or deionized water waste extraction (DI-WET) testing, water column and benthic bioassay testing, and bioaccumulation testing.

Moffat and Nichol Engineers conducted the hydrodynamic, sedimentation, and water quality modeling to access the impacts of the various runway alternatives on the bay. Wind, wave, and run-up analyses were conducted to determine the potential requirements for coastal containment and protection dikes.