Ecological Evaluation Technical Guidance - State of New Jersey

5.5 Ecological Evaluation ReportThe EE must be submitted with the Site Investigation Report (N.J.A.C. 7:26E-1.16).The EE must document the presence or absence of ESNRs, COPECs, andcontaminant migration pathways (N.J.A.C. 7:26E-4.8(a) and 4.8(b)). The report mustconform to N.J.A.C.7:26E-1.6(b), 1.16, 3.13, and 4.8. Additionally, the report must:(a) Present all data and highlight exceedances of the ESC from ESNRs orcontaminant migration pathways in chemical data boxes on a figure showing theESNRs. Map and label the locations and boundaries of the ESNRs to estimatetheir size and location with respect to each contaminated site or AOC. Asappropriate, habitat or vegetative cover-type maps should be used. The datashould also be presented in tabular format, according to medium and chemicalfraction, and include TICs and contaminants without ESC (N.J.A.C. 7:26E-1.6(b)8).i. Other basic information to be illustrated on figures includes sample date, depth,and ESC. Other physical characteristics of the ESNRs that should be noted (asavailable) in text or figures include morphology, areal extent, flow, and tidalinformation, depth, discharge points, etc.ii. MDLs must be included for all analytical data (N.J.A.C. 7:26E-1.6(b)6).Statistics at a minimum should also include mean, maximum, 95 percent UpperConfidence Limit (UCL) (if appropriate based on number of samples),concentration range, and frequency of detection on an ESNR basis; qualified orrejected data must be clearly noted pursuant to N.J.A.C.7:26E-2.1.iii. For surface water data, both filtered (dissolved) and unfiltered (total) metalsresults should be reported. Hardness as mg/l CaCO 3 and pH must be reportedbecause the standards for metals are calculated using these parameters (SWQSN.J.A.C. 7:9B). Salinity, temperature, Eh and dissolved oxygen (DO) should bereported, when collected.iv. For sediment data, TOC, particle grain size, Eh, and pH should be measuredand reported because these measurements are critical to determinebioavailability and habitat availability, depositional areas, etc.v. Food chain modeling results, if conducted in the EE.(b) Based on Section 5.5(a), the conclusions of the EE can include the followingdeterminations.i. No further ecological evaluation is appropriate. In cases where there areexceedances of ESC, spatial distribution of contaminants, de minimis quantitiesand background contamination could be considered as part of this determination.ii Further ecological evaluation pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:26E-4.8 is required.Identify data gaps and propose how they will be addressed, including additionalsample collection to determine whether a contaminant migration pathway iscomplete to an ESNR. The additional sample collection results may be reportedin an EE addendum or an ERA, as appropriate.iii. A remedial action is appropriate at this time. In lieu of performing an ERA,Ecological Evaluation Technical Guidance Document 30Version 1.2 8/29/12