United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
(WH-585)
EPA-823-N92-001
Number 9
August t993
Contaminated
Sediments News'
Science Advisory Board Reviews
Inland Testing Manual
On July 7-8, 1993, EPA's Science
Advisory Board (SAB) met in
Washington, DC, to review the draft
document, Evaluation of Dredged
Material Proposed for Discharge in
Inland and Near Coastal Waters -
Testing Manual (Inland Testing
Manual). The Inland Testing Manual
is a joint U.S. Army Corps of Engi-
neers-EPA document that will
provide national guidance on evaluat-
ing potential contaminant-related
environmental impacts of proposed
discharges of dredged material into
waters of the U.S. " "
The charge to the SAB requested that
the review should focus on the
adequacy of the technical methods
"and their organization in the Inland
Inside this issue...
Headquarters Activities 2
Regional Activities 5
Focus: Sediment Toxicity
Bioassays... ....6
Creature Feature 8
ORD Activities :. 8
Relevant Publications ;..11
oEWV Evaluation of Dredged Material
fEBj Proposed For Discharge in Inland
SSL. and Near Coastal Waters-Testing
""- Manual (Draft)
Inland Testing Manual
Testing Manual. The SAB's report is
expected to be transmitted to the EPA
Administrator in October. The
workgroup of 20 Corps and EPA
headquarters, field, and research staff
who generated the current draft will
reconvene to address both field and
SAB comments this fall.
Issues discussed by SAB during the
review included: phytotoxicity testing,
the "reference sediment" approach used
in the document for comparing test
results, testing for microbial pathogens,
"Tier IV" chronic and field studies,
bioaccumulation tests, sampling
guidance, and the STFATE mixing
zone model. For more information
.contact Mike Kravitz at (202) 260-8085.
Contaminated Sediment
Activities Timeline
July 20-22. Assessment and Management
Seminar. Sponsored by USAGE and
USEPA. Holiday Inn, Ann Arbor, ML
Contact Larry Bird at (601) 634-4148.
September 12-17. 9th International
Conference on Heavy Metals in the
Environment, Toronto, Canada. Contact
Heavy Metals Secretariat, CEP Consult-
ants Ltd., 26-28 Albany St., Edinburgh
EH13QH, U.K.
September 19-24. 1st International
IAWPRC Conference on Diffuse (NFS)
Pollution: Sources. Prevention, Impact-
and Abatement, Chicago, IL. Contact Dr.
Vladimir Novotny, IAWPRC Conference,
Marquette University, at (414) 288-3524.
October 2-7. Water Environment
Federation Annual Conference, Anaheim,
CA. Contact Maureen Novotne, WEF, at
(703) 684-2400.
October 4-7. QA Challenges: Bridging
Science and Compliance, San Francisco,
".A. 9th Annual Meeting of the Society
of Quality Assurance. Contact SQ A
Headquarters at (703) 914-0835.
October 17-20. 20th Annual Aquatic
Toxicity Workshop, Quebec City, Quebec.
Contact Peter Campbell. FAX: (418) 654-
2562.
November 13-14. ASTM. Sediment
^oxicology Subcommittee meeting.
Westin Galleria, Houston, TX. Contact
Chris Ingersoll at (314) 875-5399.
November 14-18. 14th Annual Meeting.
'ociety of Environmental Toxicology and
".hemlstiy. Westin Galleria, Houston,
TX. Contact Philip Dorn, Shell Develop-
ment Company, at (713) 493-7213.
Recycled/Recyclable
Printed on paper that contains
at least 50% recycled fiber
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EPA Headquarters
National Sediment
Contaminant Source Inventory
EPA's Contaminated Sediment
Management Strategy calls for the
development of an inventory of point
and non-point source discharges of
contaminants which lead to the
formation of contaminated sediments.
The Office of Science and Technol-
ogy initiated work on the National
Sediment Contaminant Source
Inventory (NSCSI) almost a year ago
and is now preparing a report that
will identify and rank chemicals,
geographic areas, and industries of
concern which contribute to the
formation of contaminated sediments,
as well as demonstrate the usefulness
of this information in selected appli-
cations to characterize the potential
extent and management of contami-
natcd sediments.
Selected uses of the NSCSI include:
1) incorporation of the data in the
National Sediment Inventory to
identify relationships and data
gaps between pollutant dis-
charges and sediment quality
information;
2) in effluent guidelines develop-
ment to aid in the selection of
industries and pollutants for
regulation;
3) in permitting, to aid in the
identification of areas and '
chemicals of concern for the
development of permits to protect
sediment quality; and
4) in enforcement to identify
sources
potentially
responsible
for sediment
contamina-
tion and/or
fish advisories.
A draft report detailing the methodol-
ogy and applications of the NSCSI,
specifically point source discharges,
will be available this fall. Investiga-
tion of non-point source discharges
(urban, agricultural and atmospheric)
will take place this fall and whiter.
Both reports will be peer reviewed
before release to the general public.
For more information contact
Catherine Fox at (202) 260-1327.
Office of Wastewater
Enforcement and Compliance
Sediment Quality-Based NPDES
Permit Limits
One component of EPA's Draft
Contaminated Sediment Management
Strategy addresses prevention of
sediment contamination. EPA
believes .that one way to prevent
sediment contamination through the
implementation of NPDES permit
limits. Sediment quality at a given
site can be specified by establishing
chemical-specific sediment quality
criteria. EPA is currently developing
the capability to derive chemical-
specific effluent limitations that will
protect sediment quality.
Sediment Quality-Based Modeling
The ability to identify point sources
of sediment contamination and to
determine what decreases in pollutant
loadings are needed to protect sedi-
ment quality is essential to meet water
quality standards through effluent
limitations. A number of existing
water quality models are quite helpful
in understanding sediment dynamics
in specific waterbodies, but they may
be too complex for routine use by
'regulatory authorities for deriving,
sediment quality-based effluent
limits. To meet the need for a sedi-
ment quality-based modeling proce-
dure that is sophisticated enough to be
scientifically sound, yet simple
enough for routine regulatory use, the
Office of Wastewater Enforcement
and Compliance (OWEC) is support-
ing test applications and modifica-
tions of EPA's SMPTOX3E model.
SMPTOX3E is a one-dimensional,
steady-state mass balance model that
predicts particulate and dissolved-
phase toxic chemical concentrations
in the water column and bedded
sediments based on loadings data.
Lake Charles, Louisiana, Test
Application
The SMPTOX3E model was applied
at an industrial site near Lake
Charles, Louisiana. An industrial
plant at the site discharged four
hydrophobic organic
chemicals-hexachlorobenzene(HCB),
hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD),
hexachloroethane (HCE), and 1,2,4-
G$New$te produced by Etffc'
on contaminated sediments
and to Increase eomitmniea-
tfonamorcg interested parties.
To obtain copies of this re-
port orio contribute inf orraa-
tlon> ooittaet Beverly Bakery
EPA HO, at (202)a6p-7037,
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Study Site at Lake Charles, Louisiana
trichloroethane (l,2,4-T)-through an
effluent/cooling water canal into
Bayou d'Inde, a tributary to the
Calcasieu River Estuary. The pur-
pose of the field application was to
test the ability of the SMPTOX3E
model to describe chemical concen-
trations in the water column and
bedded sediments resulting from
effluent discharges. The model
required Site-specific information
including flow and loading input,
physical transport parameters, and
information on kinetic processes. ;
Field data were .available for effluent
and ambient toxic chemical concen-
trations, including tissue residues in
selected resident biota. These field
data were not acquired for the pur-
pose of supporting the model test
application, but to support validation
of a proposed EPA protocol for
assessment, criteria development, and
control of bioconcentratable contami-
nants in surface waters.
Given data uncertainties and assump-
tions in the modeling framework,
modeling results were reasonably
consistent with both water column
and sediment observed concentrations
in Bayou d'Inde and with water
column observed concentrations in
the canal. There were large inconsis-
tencies between model results and
observations of toxic chemical
concentrations in the canal sediments.
Two hypotheses, based on anecdotal
data, may explain the discrepancy
between the model results and
observed concentrations in the canal
sediments. The first hypothesis is
that there may be an undocumented
ground-water source of chemicals to
the canal. Anecdotal reports indicate
that historically large quantities of
wastes were landfilled near the canal.
Given that large amounts of water are
flushed through the relatively small
canal, a significant ground water
loading could
elevate sediment
concentrations
substantially with-
out noticeably
affecting water
column concentra-
tions. An analysis
of the model com-
ponents showed that
water column
concentrations in
the canal would be
quite insensitive to
chemical concentra-
.tions in the bedded
sediments.
The second hypoth-
esis for explaining
the disequilibrium ..
in the canal is that
the observed
sediment concentrations in the canal
have not had sufficient time to , ,
recover from historical wastewater
loadings, which reportedly were
orders of magnitude higher than
present levels. This hypothesis _could
not be confirmed because no histori-
cal loadings data were .available.
Conclusions from the Test Application
Two of the major conclusions drawn
from the SMPTOX3E test application
at the Lake Charles site are as follows:
First,'any future test site applications,
and accompanying'data collection,.
should focus on attempting to vali-
date the model process mechanisms.
For example, emphasis should be
placed on validating that the model
, correctly reflects the controlling
sediment partitioning mechanisms
and provides reasonable representa-
tion of water column responses to a
-------
range of hydraulic conditions. The
characteristics of the site and the
available data should determine
whether steady-state and/or time
variable models would be most
appropriate for this validation. A
time-variable model is appropriate
when temporal disequilibrium exists
between external loadings and
sediment concentrations.
Second, in the Lake Charles test
application, steady-state model results
were consistent with observed data
for areas where chemical concentra-
tions were assumed to be in equilib-
rium with present loads. Conse-
quently, steady-state models, such as
SMPTOX3E, are well suited for
effluent permitting purposes where
the objective is to determine the long-
term average effluent loading re-
quired to maintain sediment quality
criteria. Any steady-state model used
for permitting purposes should be
based on the same scientific prin-
ciples and should contain the same
process mechanisms as those models
field-validated in more extensive test
site applications.
Future Actions
OWEC is planning to support a
second model test application on the
Blackstone River, which runs through
Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
The Blackstone River receives
discharges from a number of indus-
trial and municipal sources and has
documented problems with metals
contamination of sediments. The test
application will include both time-
variable and steady-state
(SMPTOX3E) models. It will focus
on validating that the model correctly
characterizes the controlling metals-
partitioning mechanisms and reason-
ably predicts water column responses
to loadings from effluent discharges.
In the future, OWEC plans to make
the SMPTOX3E model and accompa-
nying sediment quality-based permit-
ting guidance available to permit
writers and the general public. This
package will provide permit writers
with the tools they need to address
the prevention of sediment contami-
nation and protection of sediment
quality through the NPDES program.
For more information on sediment
quality-based NPDES permitting, call
Greg Currey, OWEC, at (202) 260-
1718.
i
Advecttan
Photolysis
4
Decay
Dlspottlon
Decay
Loads and Flows:
1) Point Source
2) Non-Point Source
3) Tributary
I
. ni
.H
Chemical on
Paniculate Organic
Carbon (ug/kg O.CJ
.c
o
I/I
Koc
Atmosphere
1
Advection
Chemical in
Dissolved Phase
(ug/l)
Chemical on
Paniculate Organic
Carbon {ug/kg 6.C.)
Koc
Photolysis
Decay
Dispersion
Water Column
Chemical in
Dissolved Phase
(ug/l)
Decay
Active Sediment
SYMPTOX3E Conceptual Framework
4
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Regional Activities
REGION 6
The Region is overseeing a project to
assess ambient water and sediment
quality for the Houston Ship Channel
System, focusing primarily on its
tributaries. This supplementary
environmental project (SEP) is being
conducted by the City of Houston as
required by a Consent Decree be-
tween the City and EPA for past
discharge permit violations. The
project will include sediment sam-
pling for priority pollutants, TOC,
AVS, and grain size at approximately
35 sites. Toxicity testing using
Ampelisca and mysids will be con-
ducted to assess
cumulative toxic
impacts of
sediments.
Dioxin will also
be analyzed at
several of these
sites. The
results will be used to determine the
contaminants of greatest risk to
aquatic life and human health. For
more information contact Philip
Crocker at (214) 655-6644.
REGION 9
Region 9 and EPA's Environmental
Research Laboratory (ERL) in
Newport, Oregon, are now in the
process of completing an Ecological
Assessment of pesticide-contami-
nated sediments in Richmond Harbor
(United Heckathorn Superfund Site)
located in San Francisco Bay. At this
site, the California State "Mussel
2.3.7.8-Tetrachloro-
dibenzodioxin
DDT
H
CI
H
Cl
Dieldrin
Watch" Program
has measured
the highest
bioaccumulated
levels of DDTs
and dieldrin
ever recorded
since the
program started.
The Ecological
Assessment
included: (1)
bulk sediment
toxicity testing;
(2) benthic infauna community
analyses; (3) bioaccumulation testing;
and (4) chemical analyses of surface
waters, sediments, and tissues of
benthic organisms, fish, and shellfish
collected by trawls. A major goal of
this study was to determine the
predictive relationships between
sediment contaminant concentrations
and concentrations in other media.
This relationship will allow the
determination of a sediment clean-up
concentration that will result in the
attainment of protective contaminant
levels in fish and shellfish tissues.
Results to date include the finding
that the DDT sediment concentrations
necessary to achieve criteria for
protecting human health and fish-
eating birds were about 10-fold lower
than those required to protect the
benthos in this relatively shallow and
enclosed harbor. For additional
information, contact Andrew Lincoff
(Region 9) at (415) 744-2245, Dr.
Henry Lee (ERL) at (503) 867-4042,
or Dr. Brian Melzian (Region 9) at
(415)744-1161.
Recently, Region 9 worked with the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(Corps), South Pacific Division, Los
Angeles District and San Francisco
District to publish Regional Imple-
mentation Agreements for the Ocean
Dumping Program. The agreements
provide specific guidance on sedi-
ment sampling, testing, and reporting
for ocean dumping projects in Cali-
fornia. Comments were due to the
Los Angeles District by June 30,
1993, and comments were due to the
San Francisco District by July 12,
1993. To receive copies of these
agreements, contact Tiffany Welch
(Corps Los Angeles District) at (805)
641-1127, Wade Eakle (Corps San
Francisco District) at (415) 744-3036,
or Patrick Cotter (EPA Region 9) at
(415)744-1163.
In the future the
U.S. Navy plans to
home-port
many ships at
its San Diego
Bay facilities
because of base
closures along the
west coast. Rear Admiral F.K.
Holian (Commander Naval Base)
holds quarterly meetings with federal
and state regulatory and resource
agencies to discuss the Navy's
projects. Region 9 and the Corps' s
Los Angeles District participate in
these meetings to coordinate on the
Navy's dredging projects. The
quarterly meetings provide the Navy
with early comments on its proposed
dredging projects. This successful
strategy also keeps the resource and
regulatory agencies advised of the
Navy's priority projects to meet their
base realignment schedule. For
additional information, contact Dan
Muslin (Navy San Diego) at (619)
532-3403, Patrick Cotter (EPA
Region 9) at (415) 744-1163, or
David Zoutendyk (Corps Los Ange-
les District) at (619) 455-9414.
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FOCUS:
Sediment
Toxicity
Bioassays
Summary of Round Robin Testing of
Draft USEPA National Sediment
Toxicity Test Methods
EPA's Office of Science and Tech-
nology is developing test procedures
for measuring the toxicity and
bioaccumulation of contaminated
sediment with freshwater, estuarine,
and marine invertebrates. As part of
this development process, the draft
methods are being
evaluated, in part,
via round robin
testing. The
freshwater acute
toxicity test
methods for the
amphipod
Hyalella azteca
and the midge
Chironomiis
tentans were tested in a round robin
design with up to 11 government
research laboratories, environmental
consultants, and universites partici-
Chironomus tentans
pating. The assays were evaluated in
two phases, including a water-only
reference toxicant (KC1) exposure for
4 days and a whole sediment 10 d
exposure using reference and con-
taminated field sediments. The
preliminary evaluation of inter-
laboratory variance showed the draft
methods to be very promising.
Measured coefficients of variation
were similar or better than those
reported for other effluent toxicity or
chemical methods. The results will
be presented in the national methods
document and presented at the
Annual Meeting of the Society of
Environmental Toxicology and
Chemistry, Houston, Texas, in
November 1993. For more informa-
tion on the results of the round robin
testing.contact Dr. Allen Burton at
(513)873-2201.
U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers Host
Workshop: "A Developmental
Paradigm for Sediment
Toxicity Bioassays"
On June 16-17, the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers held a workshop to
discuss a paradigm for developing
sediment toxicity bioassays. Work-
shop participants included scientists
and program staff from EPA and
Corps research laboratories, Regional
and District offices, and Headquarters
offices. Scientists associated with
contract laboratories, universities, and
Environment Canada also attended
the workshop. Workshop participants
discussed various phases in the
process of bioassay development for
regulatory program use. Phases
included such activities as initial
scoping by test proponents, labora-.
tory research, evaluation by multiple
laboratories, final test protocol
development, and protocol evaluation
by regulating agencies. A Corps of
Engineers Technical note is being
developed on this process. For more
information contact Tom Dillon at
(601) 634-3922.
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Meeting Held to Discuss
Statistical Issues
Related to Use of
Whole Sediment Bioassays
On June 2, a meeting was held in
Washington, DC, to discuss statistical
guidance for the standard toxicity and
bioaccumulation tests that are being
developed for the Agency. Individuals
writing the freshwater and marine
manuals met with EPA program office
staff to discuss how the tests will be
used in the various programs. Specific
program office testing needs addressed
at the meeting included: (l)'Office of
Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds
(sediment toxicity and
bioaccumulation), (2) Office of Pollu-
tion Prevention and Toxic Substances
(sediment spiking), (3) Office of
Pesticide Programs (bioaccumulation,
sediment spiking), (4) Office of
Emergency and Remedial Response
(Superfund; toxicity and
bioaccumulation, spiked sediment-
bioaccumulation), (5) Office of Solid
Waste (toxicity and bioaccumulation),
and (6) Office of Wastewater Enforce-
ment and Compliance (toxicity and
bioaccumulation, sediment spiking-
bioaccumulation). Three case studies
were discussed:
1) comparison of a contaminated
sediment to a reference or control
sediment,
2) spiked-sediment toxicity tests, and
3) bioaccumulation tests.
Statistical guidance in the manuals will
include (1) power of the test and
number of replicates, (2) minimum
detectable differences, (3) hypothesis
testing, (e.g., ANOVA), (4) point
estimates (e.g., LC50), and (5) kinetics
for bioaccumulation tests. The statisti-
cal guidance for interpretation of test
results is currently being incorporated
into the freshwater and marine manuals
scheduled for completion in October.
For more information, contact Tom
Armitage at (202) 260-5388.
EPA/Corps of Engineers
Technical Panel Convened to
Evaluate Use of Amphipod
Bioassays for Evaluation of
Sediment Toxicity
On June 18, a technical panel of
experts selected by EPA and the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers met in
Denver, Colorado to discuss the use
of amphipod bioassays for evaluating
the toxicity of dredged material. The
panel included scientists from a
number of different laboratories who
have worked on the development of
amphipod bioassay protocols, con-
tractors who conduct amphipod
bioassays, and program managers and
staff from several EPA and Corps
offices. The panel was convened to
discuss potential interfering effects
such as ammonia and hydrogen
sulfide toxicity, and sensitivity to
grain size in amphipod bioassays.
Panel members supported the contin-
ued use of the amphipod bioassays
for evaluation of sediment toxicity,
and data were presented to show that
amphipod laboratory toxicity test
results correlate well with environ- -
mental effects observed in the field.
However, it was noted that the
amphipod laboratory tests are
probably not sufficiently sensitive
to predict some unacceptably adverse
effects in the field. It was determined
that adequate data describing poten-
tial interfering effects are available to
provide acceptable ranges of test
application conditions for a number
of amphipod species. Standard
amphipod toxicity test method
protocols to be completed
by EPA this year will include
this information. For more infor-
mation, contact Tom Armitage
at (202) 260-5388.
Standardization of National
USEPA Methods for
Measuring the Toxicity and
Bioaccumulation of
Sediment-associated
Contaminants with
Freshwater Invertebrates
A draft USEPA manual describing
procedures will be completed in
October for testing freshwater organ-
isms to evaluate the toxicity or
bioaccumulation of contaminants
associated with whole sediment.
Toxicity methods are outlined in the
manual for two organisms, the amphi-
pod Hyalella azateca and the midge
Chironomus tertians. Toxicity tests
are: (1) conducted for 10 d in 300-mL
chambers containing 100 mL of
sediment and 175 mL of overlying
water, (2) overlying water is renewed
daily, (3) organisms are fed during the
tests, and (4) endpoints monitored are
survival and growth. Bioaccumulation
methods are outlined in the manual for
the oligochaete Lwnbriculus
variegatus. Bioaccumulation tests are:
(1) conducted for 28 d, (2) overlying
water is renewed daily, (3) test organ-
isms are not fed, and (4) methods are
described for determining bio-
accumulation kinetics during 28-day
exposures. Performance-based criteria
are used to determine acceptability of a
test. Performance criteria include: (1)
survival of control organisms at the
end of a test, (2) response of test
organisms to reference toxicants, (3)
size of the test organisms at the start
and end of a test, (2) maintenance of
sediment and water quality characteris-
tics during a test. For more informa-
tion, contact Tom Armitage at (202)
260-5388.
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ORD Activities
ERL-Narragansett/Newport
ERL Narragansett/Newport is cur-
rently working on the following
sediment research issues:
Extrapolation from Laboratory
to Field Effects: Case Studies
with Contaminated Sediments
Segment toxicity to the amphipod
Eohaustoriits estuarius and the
abundance of benthic amphipods were
examined along a sediment contami-
nation gradient on theLauritzen
Channel, Santa Fe Channel, and
Richmond Inner Harbor area of San
Francisco.
Toxicity and the abundance of
amphipods, except Grandidierella
japonica, were inversely related to
sediment contamination by dieldrin
and the sum of
DDT metabolites
(SDDT). The
maximum concen-
trations of dieldrin
and ZDDT in
toxic units were
0.018 and 9.43,
respectively,
indicating that
EDDT was the
dominant
ecotoxicological factor. For more
information contact Faith Cole at
(503) 867-4023.
Fish Reproduction
Investigators are determining the
reproductive effects of sediment
toxicants on winter flounder
(Pleuronectes americanus) and
killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus).
The approach includes:
The effects
of coplanar
PCBson
reproduction
(field and
laboratory
studies);
Dioxin
dietary
uptake and
reproductive effects;
» Incorporation of reproductive
data into demographic models to
predict population effects;
Other biomarker responses-
immune suppression, DNA ad-
ducts, calcium cycling, and cell-
to-cell communication and their
relation to reproductive failure.
Results to date include the following:
Coplanar PCBs reduce egg
reproduction in killifish, and
Decreased gonadotrophin (a
pituitary hormone that controls
oocyte growth and maturation)
has been observed.
For more information call Diane
Black at (401) 782-3096.
Accumulation and Trophic
Transfer of Sediment-
Associated Contaminants
Investigators are elucidating the
relationships between chemical
contaminants in sediments and
organisms at various trophic levels.
These studies have included:
Laboratory food-chain studies
with field-collected sediments
that investigate the relationships
between sediments, polychaetes,
and lobsters with respect to
dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans,
and PCBs (including the coplanar
congeners);
The relative importance of
sediment versus food exposures;
BSAF measurements;
Changes in contaminant ratios
with food chain level; and
TEF calculations.
For more information call Richard
Pruell at (401) 782-3091.
Creature
Feature
This creature spends part of its life
inside grasshoppers and beetles
(sometimes humans if you're
unlucky) before settling down in
a nice freshwater puddle or
stream. Answer on p. 11.
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EWIAP at ERL-Narragansett
EMAP activities through ERL-
Narragansett include:
Virginian Province monitoring
since 1990,
NY/NJ Harbor R-EMAP Project,
DE/MD Inland Bays Project,
New Bedford Superfund
remediation monitoring design,
Interaction in design of National
Estuary Program monitoring, and
Joint assessment with Chesa-
peake Bay Program.
Results from 1990 Virginian Prov-
ince are available (95 percent confi-
dence intervals)
Benthic community
16-30 percent of province area
degraded
Sediment toxicity
3-13 percent of area with survival
<80%
24-40 percent of area small
systems (<260 km2) with survival
<80%
Sediments contaminants
27-45 percent of area with at least
one metal >ER-L
2-12 percent of area with at least
one metal >ER-M
8-16 percent of area with at least
one pesticide >ER-L
0-2 percent of area with at least
one pesticide >ER-M
The 1991 data will be available
shortly. For more information call
John Paul, ERL-Narragansettj
at (401) 782-3037.
ASTM UPDATE
The ASTM Subcommittee E47.03 on Sediment Toxicology met
Tuesday, April 27, and Wednesday, April 28, 1993, in Atlanta,
Georgia, during the 3rd Annual ASTM Symposium on Environ-
mental Toxicology and Risk Assessment. Ballot results on stan-
dards were discussed during the Subcommittee meeting for:
(1) Terminology (control sediment,water, pore water);
(2) Revisions to E1383 (freshwater invertebrate toxicity); Annex
4 on Daphnia and Ceriodaphnia on Diporeia;
(3) Polychaete testing;
(4) Earthworm testing;
(5) E1525-93 (Sediment design); and
(6) Statistical guidance.
Subcommittee ballots are pending for (1) Invertebrate
bioaccumulation (not reballoted since spring 1991) and (2) Fish
bioaccumulation (not reballoted since spring 1992). The activities
of the following Task Groups were also discussed: (1) E1391-90
(Sediment collection, manipulation), (2) Sediment resuspension,
(3) Reference toxicants, (4) Echinoderm and oyster testing, and (5)
Bacteria testing.
Betsy Southerland of the USEPA Office of Science and Technol-
ogy is interested in balloting proposed USEPA methods for fresh-
water and marine toxicity and bioaccumulation sediment testing.
These USEPA manuals should be balloted after the next Subcom-
mittee meeting.
The next Subcommittee meeting will be Saturday, November 13
(AM/PM) and Sunday, November 14 (AM, if necessary), 1993,
before the 14th annual meeting of SET AC at the Westin Galleria
in Houston, Texas. Contact Chris Ingersqll at (314) 875-5399,
FAX (314) 876-1896, if you would like more information con-
cerning the Subcommittee meeting or the activities of the Subcom-
mittee.
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Hazardous Substance Research
Center/South and Southwest
The Hazardous Substance Research Center/South and Southwest held its serai-annual
meeting of the Scientific-Advisory and Training and Technology Transfer Committees at
Georgia Institute of Technology on February 1-3,1993. The Center, which is a consortium
composed of Louisiana State University (LSU), Georgia Institute of Technology (GIT), and
Rice University (Rice), focuses its research efforts on contaminated sediments and dredged
materials, as well as hazardous materials problems unique to EPA Regions 4 and 6. Re-
search results generated by the nine basic research projects and one technology transfer
project during the first year of funding were presented.
The currently funded research projects, by university, are:
Mobility and Transport of Radium in Sediment and Waste Pits, LSU
An Investigation of Chemical Transport from Porous Contaminated Sediment through
Porous Containment Structures, LSU
Pollutant Fluxes to Aquatic Systems via Coupled Biological and Physicochemical Bed-
Sediment Processes, LSU
Contaminant Transport Across Cohesive Sediment Interfaces, GIT
Investigation on the Fate and Biotransformation of Hexachlorobutadiene and Chlo-
robenzenes in a Sediment-Water Estuarine System", GIT
Development of an Integrated-Optic Interferometer for'InSitu Monitoring of Volatile
Hydrocarbons, GIT
Bioremediation of Contaminated Sediments and Dredged Material, Rice
Role of Panicles in Mobilizing Hazardous Chemicals in Urban Runofff, Rice, and
Effect of Natural Dynamic Changes on Pollutant-Sediment Interactions, Rice.
The technology transfer project, Fostering Pollution Prevention in Mid-Sized Firms:
Strategies for More Effective Technology Transfers, is being conducted by researchers at
Georgia Tech.
The Center receives its funding primarily from USEPA's Office of Research and Develop-
ment. The Project Officer is Dr. Dale Manty. For more information about the Center and
its projects, contact Rosalind Segesta in care of the Hazardous Substance Research Center,
College of Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803; phone (504)
388-6770, FAX (504) 388-5990.
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Relevant Publications
Remediation Document is Available
This document, Selecting Remediation Techniques for Contaminated Sedi-
ment, June 1993, (EPA-823-B93-001), was developed by the USEPA
Sediment Oversight Technical Committee with assistance from the Office of
Research and Development's Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory. It is
intended to assist federal and state remedial managers, local agencies,
private clean-up companies, and supporting contractors in the remedial
decision-making process at contaminated sediment sites.
The Remediation document contains an appendix with a summary of
Superfund RoDs from 1982-1989. An updated and comprehensive listing of
RoDs for sites with contaminated sediment from 1989-1992 is available
through EPA Regional hazardous waste libraries or the national RoDs
database. For more information, contact Bev Baker at (202) 260-7037.
Recent Products from the Corps of Engineers'
Environmental Effects of Dredging Technical Notes
EEDP-01-27. A Computer-Assisted Expert System for Interpreting the Consequences of
Bioaccumulation in Aquatic Animals (COBIAA) (Nov. 1992)
EEDP-01-28. Risk-Based Testing of Dredged Material for Aquatic Disposal Evaluations (Dec. 1992)
EEDP-01-29. Determining the Developmental Status of Sediment Toxicity Bioassays (Dec. 1992)
EEDP-04-15. New Technique for Sediment/Organism Equilibrium Partitioning Studies (Dec. 1992)
EEDP-04-16. The KOC of Nonpolar Organic Compounds in Sediment (Dec. 1992)
EEDP-04-17. Critical Body Residue (CBR) Approach for Interpreting the Consequences of
Bioaccumulation of Neutral Organic Contaminants (Dec. 1992)
EEDP-06-17. Documentation of the DYECON Module for ADDAMS: Determining the Hydraulic
Retention and Efficiency of Confined Disposal Facilities (Dec. 1992)
EEDP-06-18. Documentation of the SETTLE Module for ADDAMS: Design of Confined Disposal
Facilities for Solids Retention and Initial Storage (Dec. 1992)
For information on the Technical Notes, including additions to the distribution list, contact Dr. Robert
M. Engler, Manager, Environmental Effects of Dredging Programs, at (601) 634-3624.
spsoqojd popnijoid
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United States
Environmental Protection
Agency (WH-585)
Washington, DC 20460
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use
$300
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