Ecological Evaluation Technical Guidance - State of New Jersey

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Site history;Results of previous investigations (e.g., the EE);Locations and characteristics of historic and current COPEC sources, andcontaminant migration pathways in the vicinity of the site (e.g.,stormwater discharges, wastewater discharges, hazardous waste storage ordisposal, and hazardous material spills);Locations of depositional areas; andDesignated water uses.This information will provide a basis for identifying sediment quality issuesand concerns at the site, and support the design of a sampling program thatcharacterizes the nature, extent, and severity of sediment contamination. Inaddition, information regarding the physical and environmental conditions ofthe sediment-containing feature should be evaluated to identify relevantaquatic habitats and possible uses by ecological ROIs, including:Types of water bodies (e.g., freshwater or marine; river, estuary or bay);Presence of tides, waves or currents;Potential groundwater-surface water interactions;Bathymetry and sediment substrate;Presence or absence of exposed sediments;Shoreline features (e.g., bulkheads, emergent vegetation, beaches,terrestrial habitats);Potential presence of endangered species; andExtent and nature of surrounding land use (e.g., undeveloped, residential,industrial).All of these features can influence the use of the site by ecologicalcommunities and may help to identify complete exposure pathways requiringfurther assessment.II. Field VerificationAn inspection of the site is recommended when developing a sediment studyplan to assess the completeness and validity of the collected historic data andto identify any significant changes that might have occurred at the site sincethe collection of the historical data (e.g., SI data). If the study design is toinclude reference area locations, a reconnaissance sampling focused onparticle grain size distribution, TOC, or some other suitable indicators ofchemical contamination may be worthwhile to refine the sampling design(Section 6.2.2.1 II. A. 3.).A. Sample Design Considerations based on Sampling Objectives1. Sampling DepthEEs typically focus on surface sediment (the biologically active zone,usually defined as approximately the top zero to six inches) becausebenthic communities are not significantly exposed to sediments at depth.However, if historical evidence indicates the potential for contamination toEcological Evaluation Technical Guidance Document 55Version 1.2 8/29/12
e present at intervals greater than six inches, sampling at depth alsoshould be considered to evaluate potential future risks from the sediments,particularly if future dredging or scouring is likely to occur. To enhancecomparability of the resulting data, the same sediment sampling methodshould be used to collect samples from all of the sampling locations withinthe assessment area, whenever practicable. However, the need to collectboth surficial and deeper sediments may preclude this possibility in certaincircumstances.2. Sample VolumesA key factor of a given sediment study is the types of analyses requiredbecause the analyses will determine the sample mass required and howsamples are processed. The sediment samples that are collected in thefield are likely to be subjected to physical, chemical, and/or biologicaltesting to support the overall sediment assessment program. Therefore,the collection of sufficient volumes of sediment at each sample location tofacilitate the preparation of subsamples for toxicity testing and subsamplesfor chemical analysis from a single, homogenized sediment sample needsto be given consideration prior to field implementation when dealing witha study design that includes multiple indicators of sediment quality.3. Other Typical ParametersIt is important that conventional parameters receive as much carefulattention, in terms of sampling and sample processing procedures, as dothe COPECs or parameters of direct interest. Other parameters to considerfor analysis as a means to help interpret chemical, biological, andtoxicological data collected in an ERA at a sediment site include TOC,acid volatile sulfide (AVS), sediment grain size, total solids, ammonia,and total sulfides.4. Sample SizeThe number of samples collected directly affects the representativenessand completeness of the data for purposes of addressing project goals. Ageneral rule of thumb is that a greater number of samples will yield betterdefinition of the areal extent of the contamination or toxicity. Theappropriate number of samples is generally determined by the size of thestudy site, type, and distribution of the COPECs being measured,characteristics and homogeneity of the sediment, concentrations ofCOPECs likely to be found in the sediments, sample volume requirementsand desired level of statistical resolution or precision.B. Reference Area SamplingBasic guidance for background area sampling is provided in Section 5.3.4.This section describes the suggested reference area sampling to be used inmore comprehensive sediment sampling programs. Given that sedimentinvestigations typically include community surveys, toxicity tests, tissueresidue sampling, and bioaccumulation studies, the identification and selectionEcological Evaluation Technical Guidance Document 56Version 1.2 8/29/12
Page 1 and 2:
Ecological EvaluationTechnical Guid
Page 3 and 4:
6.2.1.3 Biological Sampling of Fish
Page 5 and 6: Acronyms and AbbreviationsADDAETAFA
Page 7 and 8: Executive SummaryThis document prov
Page 9 and 10: environmentally sensitive areas pur
Page 11 and 12: Figure 3-1: Flow diagram to describ
Page 13 and 14: assessment may also include evaluat
Page 15 and 16: “Hazard quotient” or “HQ” m
Page 17 and 18: “Site investigation” means the
Page 19 and 20: parameters as specified in ERAGS (i
Page 21 and 22: document otherwise). The investigat
Page 23 and 24: 5.3.2.1 Potential Contaminant Migra
Page 25 and 26: 71 0Sampling pointsSampling transec
Page 27 and 28: 5.3.4 Background ConsiderationsIt i
Page 29 and 30: III. GroundwaterAnalytical data fro
Page 31 and 32: 5.5 Ecological Evaluation ReportThe
Page 33 and 34: Step 1 - Preliminary Screening Leve
Page 35 and 36: specific measurements of receptor h
Page 37 and 38: Figure 6-2: Ecological Conceptual S
Page 39 and 40: ingested, air inhaled, or material
Page 41 and 42: Fugacity, which is described as the
Page 43 and 44: environment. As noted in ERAGS, the
Page 45 and 46: Sample SelectionAfter completing th
Page 47 and 48: While there are many laboratories t
Page 49 and 50: ioavailability, and by doing so, of
Page 51 and 52: For the purposes of surface water,
Page 53 and 54: higher trophic level receptors. Lip
Page 55: Details regarding surface water tox
Page 59 and 60: elatively sedentary organisms that
Page 61 and 62: COPECs. The following references ar
Page 63 and 64: tests (USEPA, 2002e). After collect
Page 65 and 66: multiple reference area soils repre
Page 67 and 68: In ERAs, tissue residue analyses ar
Page 69 and 70: Objectives of the ERA: including a
Page 71 and 72: evaluation might necessitate the co
Page 73 and 74: N.J.A.C. 7:26E-4.8(c)1. The ERA may
Page 75 and 76: sediment (i.e., that fraction that
Page 77 and 78: Twelve dioxin-like PCB congeners ha
Page 79 and 80: indicates burial of potential dioxi
Page 81 and 82: of evidence for evaluating risk unt
Page 83 and 84: 7.2.1 Apparent Effects Threshold Ap
Page 85 and 86: when site conditions are most simil
Page 87 and 88: destroying 10 acres of the mature f
Page 89 and 90: ASTM (American Society for Testing
Page 91 and 92: Establishing Sediment Quality Crite
Page 93 and 94: N.J.A.C. (New Jersey Administrative
Page 95 and 96: USEPA. 1989c. Risk Assessment Guida
Page 97 and 98: http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/regu
Page 99 and 100: USEPA 2006a. Data Quality Assessmen
Page 101 and 102: Appendix A - Habitat Survey FormsEc
Page 103 and 104: Ecological Evaluation Technical Gui
Page 105 and 106: Appendix B - Sampling Procedures fo
Page 107 and 108:
Appendix C - Surface Water Toxicity
Page 109 and 110:
Short-term chronic studies, endpoin
Page 111 and 112:
Appendix D - Sediment Toxicity Test
Page 113 and 114:
Toxicity Test DesignSediment toxici
Page 115 and 116:
Appendix E - Sediment Pore Water an
Page 117 and 118:
The seven-day daphnid survival and
Page 119 and 120:
esults are then evaluated using USE
Page 121 and 122:
Surber or Square-foot BottomThis sa
Page 123 and 124:
Appendix H - Soil Toxicity TestingS
Page 125 and 126:
another sample may still have a sub
Page 127 and 128:
conservative approach from an ecolo
Page 129:
Data PresentationTabular presentati
show all

Ecological Evaluation Technical Guidance - State of New Jersey

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?