Ecological Evaluation Technical Guidance - State of New Jersey

tests (USEPA, 2002e). After collection of pore water samples or preparationof elutriates, toxicity tests should follow established USEPA guidance foraqueous toxicity tests. Acute toxicity studies should be performed inaccordance with Methods for Measuring the Acute Toxicity of Effluents andReceiving Waters to Freshwater and Marine Organisms (USEPA, 2002b).Short-term chronic toxicity studies should be performed in accordance withShort-Term Methods for Estimating the Chronic Toxicity of Effluents andReceiving Waters to Freshwater Organisms (USEPA, 2002c), or Short-TermMethods for Estimating the Chronic Toxicity of Effluents and ReceivingWaters to Marine and Estuarine Organisms (USEPA, 2002d), as appropriate.NJDEP toxicity laboratory certification is only required for those laboratoriesperforming Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) testing for NJPDES compliancepurposes. However, surface water toxicity testing guidance can also be foundin the NJDEP’s Regulations Governing the Certification of Laboratories andEnvironmental Measurements (N.J.A.C. 7:18, Sub-Chapter 7 ToxicityTesting).While the NELAP is a national certification program for surface water andwastewater toxicity testing laboratories, there is no laboratory certificationprogram for sediment pore water or elutriate testing.Details regarding sediment pore water and elutriate toxicity test procedurescan be found in Appendix E.6.2.3 SoilBasic soil sampling guidance is provided in Section 5.3. The following sectionsdescribe data development issues and the suggested protocols to be used in morecomprehensive soil sampling programs.6.2.3.1 Sampling Plan Design for Study and Reference AreasI. Study DesignThe goals of a soil sampling program include preliminary and definitivedetermination of the nature and areal extent of contamination, andidentification of areas of highest contamination. Data are gathered in supportof the ERA, but may also be used for long-term monitoring, or for soiltransport and deposition modeling. Site-specific details regarding the studyobjectives, DQOs, sampling methodology, location, and depth of samplesmust be specified, as well as field and laboratory QA/QC procedures(N.J.A.C. 7:26E). The investigator is referred to NJDEP (2005) and Sections5.4 and 6.2.3.3 for further information.II. Analytical Protocol and Additional MeasurementsThe investigator is referred to N.J.A.C. 7:26E-2.1 for appropriate analyticalprotocol and quality assurance requirements. The investigator is also referredto Section 10.0 for additional guidance on QA/QC and the preparation ofquality assurance plans.Ecological Evaluation Technical Guidance Document 62Version 1.2 8/29/12