Guidance

Marine Licensing:licensing: sedimentSediment analysis and sample plansAnalysis

Details of sedimenthow andto correctly sample analysisand foranalyse sediment in support of a marine licence applications.application.

From:
Marine Management Organisation
Published
2 October 2014
Last updated
1927 JulyJanuary 20232025 — See all updates

Sample plans and sediment analysis

TheBefore UKyou iscan signedcomplete up to the London Protocol and OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic, both of which address preventing marine pollution from disposal at sea.

MMO licenses disposing of dredged materials at sea and uses guidelines produced by OSPAR to regulate this activity. A marine licence to dispose of dredged materials to sea requires the sediments to be characterised to allow the potential adverse environmental effects of disposing of the material to be considered.

The OSPAR guidelines recommend a tieredsediment approachanalysis to assess the sediments, if sufficient information is not already available from existing sources. The assessments required will depend upon the specific details of the proposed activities, although characterisation of a standard set of physical and chemical determinands within the sediments is often necessary.

Sample plans

Before you applymust forhave a marinesediment licence,sample aplan sedimentin samplingplace. The plan must behave agreedapproval withfrom the MMO inand consultation with the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas). TheFind sample plan will set out themore about sample locations as well as the specific biological, chemical and physical analysis requirements.plans.

Overview  

The sample plan must be requested through the The MMO’s must Marineensure Casethat Managementsediment System as a sample plananalysis request.

Ifdata ansubmitted applicationin forsupport aof marine licence applications is submittedconsistent, without sediment sample analysis and thein MMOa considersformat that thislets evidenceus iscompare required,separate theapplications.  

You applicationshould willfollow be placed on hold and the applicantguidance directedbelow to request a sample plan.

Sediment analysis

The MMO must ensure that sedimentwe samplecan analysisprocess datayour submitted to support a marine licence applicationapplication.  

We isalso consistentuse and comparable between separate applications, as well as the Cefas action levels. Cefas action levels are currently used by the MMO to decide how suitable it is to dispose of dredged sediments at sea.

Information for marine licence applicants 

You must make sure that your sediment samplesampling analysis,and asanalysis set out in the MMO approved sample plan, is undertaken by a a MMO validated validated laboratory. A laboratoryIf maya chooselaboratory chooses to sub-contract analysis of samplessamples, forthe specific determinands. Any sub-contracted laboratories must also meet the same requirements.

To

Laboratories note:validated Dueby to the current coronavirus pandemic, some laboratories are experiencing delays in analysing certain chemicals for sediment samples. Please be mindful of this when considering project timeframes and engage with your chosen validated laboratory in order to have a clear understanding of predicted timeframes.

MMO

LaboratoriesBelow thatare havethe beenlaboratories validated toby MMO for undertake sediment sample analysis to inform marine licence applications canand bevalidated founddeterminands. inDeterminands theare table below, alongside the determinandsspecific theybiological, havechemical beenand validatedphysical toproperties analyse.

Tableof 1 – Laboratories validated by MMO for sediment analysis to inform marine licence applications and validated determinandssediment.

  • Yes - determinands validated
  • No - determinands unvalidated
  Cefas National Laboratory Service – Environment Agency SOCOTEC RPS Ocean Ecology Limited Kenneth Pye Associates Limited Fugro GB Marine Limited Element Materials Technology Benthic Solutions Limited
Inorganics (inc. Trace Metals) Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No Yes No
Organotins (Tributyltin and dibutylin) Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No No
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No No
Brominated Flame Retardants Yes No Yes No No No No No No
Total hydrocarbon content (THC) Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No
Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) Yes No Yes No No No No No No
Total Organic Carbon (TOC) Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No No
Particle Size Analysis (PSA) Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes No Yes

Submit

Submitting data

your data 

You must use theour results template below to submit your sediment sample analysis data, undertaken by a MMO validated laboratory, in support of a marine licence application.data.

Results template

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Your sediment sample analysis results should be a single report. The validatedreport laboratories must also comply with the requirements set out in your Sediment Sample Plan.  

The laboratory who completed the sampling and analysis work for you must provide a chain of custody evidence in support of the analysis resultsresults. This is to prove that the samples have been handled and stored correctly.correctly by them. 

Samples taken for chemical analysisanalysis, as part of your application, must be stored frozen in glass containers. These containers must be acid cleaned (10% volume-to-volume aqueous nitric acid), and solvent-rinsed (hexane or pentane) before they are used. The integrity of container closure must also be protected (solvent-rinsed aluminium foil) to avoid potential loss of determinands, contamination of samples, or both.both. 

A temperature of 25°C should not be exceeded at any stage of storage or transportation. Samples not analysed within 48 hours must be stored at 4°C (short-term storage, under 1 week). Samples stored for more than 1 week and up to a maximum of 3 months must be kept frozen at -20°C or below.below. 

TheIf MMOyour willreport requestis furthermissing informationinformation, we’ll write to supportyou anyto incompleterequest submissionsthe toextra youinformation. andThis thisis maylikely to delay the marine licence application process.

Using existing data

You may use existing analytical data on the physical and chemical properties of sediments in support of ayour marine licence application. The information must be from a lablaboratory that hadhas been validated by the the MMO at at the time of the analysisanalysis. andThe data must also have been collected within 3 to 5 calendar years offrom yourthe validdate you submitted your marine licence applicationapplication, beingand receivedwe accepted it. 

If the data was collected outside the marine licensing process, you must provide full information on the original analysis of the samples. This should be submitted using laboratory capability statements and acceptedlaboratory bymethodological statements. See the MMO.section ‘Laboratory validation’ for more information on these statements. 

YouWe shouldrecommend engageyou withtalk theto MMOus atbefore theyou earliestuse opportunityexisting todata. We can help you establish suitability and relevance of the existing datadata. beforeWe’ll itsalso use,support evidencingyou thatto theprove that data complies with storage, analysisanalysis, and quality control requirements.

If theYou datacan wascontact collectedus outsideby thesubmitting marinean licensingenquiry process,from youyour mustaccount provide full information on theour originalonline analysislicensing ofsystem. theSubmitting samples.an Thisenquiry shouldmay beincur submitteda usingcharge. laboratoryFind capabilityabout statementsour and laboratory methodological statements found below.fees.

Suitability of material

material 

Marine licence application chemical analysis results are assessed against Cefas action levels and geological background levels. The action levels are used to determine the contaminant loading of the material and it’sits suitability for disposal at sea.sea. 

Current Cefas action levels were set in 1994 and are provided in the table below:

Contaminant or compound Action Level 1 (mg/kg dry weight (ppm)) Action Level 2 (mg/kg dry weight (ppm))
Arsenic 20 100
Mercury 0.3 3
Cadmium 0.4 5
Chromium 40 400
Copper 40 400
Nickel 20 200
Lead 50 500
Zinc 130 800
Organotins (TBT, DBT, MBT) 0.1 1
PCBs – sum of ICES 7 0.01 None
PCBs – sum of 25 congeners 0.02 0.2
PAHs 0.1 None
DDT *0.001  
Dieldrin *0.005  

Information for laboratories

Laboratory validation

TheOur MMO’s laboratory validation process is undertaken in consultation with Cefas.Cefas. 

InLaboratories orderseeking tovalidation becomeare aencouraged validatedto laboratory,engage thewith followingthe MMO before informationapplying mustto be submittedvalidated. toYou thewill MMOneed to register for reviewan throughaccount theon MMOour Marineonline Caselicensing Managementsystem System:

  • Laboratoryand Capabilitythen Statement;submit and
  • Methodologicalan statements

Laboratoriesenquiry. seekingSubmitting validationan areenquiry encouragedmay toincur engagea withcharge. theFind MMOout beforeabout applyingour fees. toOnce bevalidated, validated.a Thislaboratory canwill be requestedsubject throughto an Enquiryon-going oncompetence review. 

To become a validated laboratory, the following information must be submitted to the MMO: 

You validated,should laboratoriessubmit willthese alsostatements beby subjectregistering toon anour on-goingonline competencelicensing review.system and submitting them from your account.  

The The MMO and and Cefas charge for validating laboratories. Work is charged at an hourly rate of £122 for for MMO staff staff and £90.30£108.32 an hour for Cefas staff. You will be invoiced in arrears.

Laboratory capability statementstatement 

InTo order to be validated by the the MMO, laboratories must submit a laboratory capability statement confirming they meet minimum standards.

Sampling and sediment analysis – Laboratory capability statement

PDF, 133 KB, 2 pages

The capability statement includes:includes: 

  • being ISO/IEC 17025 accreditedaccredited 
  • for particle size analysis, successfully participating in the National Marine Biological Analytical Quality Control (NMBAQC)(NMBAQC) Particle Analysis Size ring testtest 
  • for chemical analysis, successfully participating twice a year inin QUASIMEME (Quality QUASIMEME (Quality Assurance of Information for Marine Environmental Monitoring in Europe) over a minimum of 2 years

Methodological requirements

statement 

LaboratoriesTo be validated by the MMO, laboratories must provide details of methodologies and quality control processes for the sample analyses they perform.perform. 

A laboratory must submit a methodological statement for particle size analysis and for each group of, or individual, determinands where methods differ. This is so the laboratory’s methods can be validated.

Sampling and sediment analysis – Methodological statement

PDF, 174 KB, 6 pages

Methodological statement

The laboratory must detail performance characteristics of the methods within the methodological statement and must meet the minimum performance requirements.requirements. 

Laboratories can use methods other than those specified, but they must demonstrate fitness for purpose within the methodological statement. Sediment analysis outputs must be comparable with those obtained using the methods detailed here.here. 

Laboratories should see the the guidance on physical and chemical determinands for sampling and sediment analysis 

The The MMO must must review methodologies not previously validated, or changes to previously validated methodologies, before analysis outputs are accepted in support of a marine licence application.

Laboratories are encouraged to engage with MMO to agree appropriate methodologies before you apply. MMO may request extra documentation to support the application. This may include but is not limited to:

  • audit reports and improvement actions from UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) surveillance visits
  • chemical reference material control charts
  • instrumental reports for each sample including calibration curves
  • full raw data from the analysis including procedural blanks or blank reagent results

Blind Testing Exercise in support of evidence for external Quality ControlControl 

For chemical analysis, where a laboratory does not have sufficient proficiency testing data (i.e. because a method has been newly developed or improved to meet meet MMO requirements), requirements), a one-off blind testing exercise consisting of up to 6 reference materials can be arranged via the the MMO. This is to allow the laboratory to generate sufficient external quality control data. Each blind testing exercise must however be complimented with results from at least one round ofof QUASIMEME (i.e. QUASIMEME (i.e. two sediment materials tested per round).round). 

Results of the blind testing exercise must be submitted to the the MMO. Z-scores will be derived using thethe QUASIMEME method QUASIMEME method of calculation and will be evaluated against against MMO requirement requirement for proficiency testing. Blind testing is chargeable at an hourly rate of £122 for for MMO staff staff and £90.36£108.32 an hour for Cefas staff. You will be invoiced in arrears.arrears. 

On-going Competence ReviewReview 

In order to ensure that MMO validated validated laboratories maintainmust fitness-for-purpose,be thefit for purpose. The requirements to demonstrate on-going competence are as follows;

  1. United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS)(UKAS) ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation is to be maintained for the laboratorylaboratory 

  2. United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS)(UKAS) ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation is to be gained or maintained within 2 years from the date of the Laboratory Validation letter for the determinands and specific methods used for for MMO marine marine licence applications. The determinands and specific methods validated by the the MMO must must be added to the Schedule of Accreditation for assessment by UKAS by UKAS 

  3. The laboratory is required to submit the annualannual UKAS issued UKAS issued Schedule of Accreditation,Accreditation, UKAS Assessment UKAS Assessment Report andand UKAS Improvement UKAS Improvement Action Report (IAR) to the the MMO within within 1 month of the reports being producedproduced 

  4. Where the laboratory is issued with improvement actions following thethe UKAS annual UKAS annual assessment then the laboratory will be required to rectify the findings within the timescale set byby UKAS in UKAS in the IARIAR 

  5. Where

    Where UKAS accreditation UKAS accreditation is suspended, or any any MMO validated validated method is removed from the Schedule of Accreditation, then the laboratory must inform the the MMO in in writing within 24 hourshours 

Failure to comply with the expectations of the the MMO, as set out above, would result in the the MMO withdrawing withdrawing validation and the laboratory will no longer be allowed to analyse marine sediments to inform marine licence applications. All evidence provided to the the MMO in in support of on-going competence must be submitted via the Marine Case Management System (MCMS) as a sample plan request ‘validate a laboratory’.laboratory’. 

ContactSample informationplans and sediment analysis

The UK is signed up to the London Protocol and OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine LicensingEnvironment Teamof the North-East Atlantic, both of which address preventing marine pollution from disposal at sea.

MMO licenses disposing of dredged materials at sea and uses guidelines produced by OSPAR to regulate this activity. A marine licence to dispose of dredged materials to sea requires the sediments to be characterised to allow the potential adverse environmental effects of disposing of the material to be considered.

The OSPAR guidelines recommend a tiered approach to assess the sediments, if sufficient information is not already available from existing sources. The assessments required will depend upon the specific details of the proposed activities, although characterisation of a standard set of physical and chemical determinands within the sediments is often necessary.

Sample plans

0300Before 123you 1032apply for a marine licence, a sediment sampling plan must be agreed with the MMO in consultation with the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas). The sample plan will set out the sample locations as well as the specific biological, chemical and physical analysis requirements.

The sample plan must be requested through the MMO’s Marine Case Management System as a sample plan request.

If an application for a marine licence is submitted without sediment sample analysis and the MMO considers that this evidence is required, the application will be placed on hold and the applicant directed to request a sample plan.

Contact information 

Marine Licensing Team  0300 123 1032  marine.consents@marinemanagement.org.uk

Updates to this page

Published 2 October 2014
Last updated 1927 JulyJanuary 2023 2025 + show all updates

  1. Text amends

  2. Column added to table

  4. Sediment analysis table update

  6. Sediment Analysis update

  8. Amendments made to PDF attachments in line with .GOV accessibility requirements

  10. SOCOTEC validated to test for OCPs

  12. RPS column added

  14. Results template added

  16. Table updated

  18. Table updated

  20. Text amended

  22. Suitability of material information added

  24. Link to Guidelines produced by OSPAR broken and removed

  26. First published.

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