- Qol6
EPA
Number 2
April 1990
Contaminated Sediments News
Contaminated Sediment Task Force Formed
An EPA Task Force on sediment and
fish contamination has recently been
formed to develop an agency- wide
management strategy for
contaminated sediments, and to
initiate a plan to provide states with
necessary information and/or
guidance oh fish contamination
assessment procedures. The Task
Force will serve as a central point of
contact for inquiries from Congress,
other federal agencies, and the states
regarding the Agency's sediment
management policies and fish
contamination issues.
The sediment strategy will establish
national priorities for source
controls, remediation efforts and
dredged material disposal options; it
will be developed from the input of four
workgroups (Assessment and
Identification of Risk, Prevention,
Remediation, and Management of
Dredged Material). A final strategy is
expected to be published in the
Federal Register by July 1991.
With respect to fish contamination, the
Task Force is preparing an issue
paper explaining why and how fish risk
assessments differ among federal
agencies. For more information on
the EPA Task Force, contact Tom
Wall, OWRS, at (202) 382-7037.
EPA Scientists Travel to
Soviet Union to investigate
Radioactivity
Two scientists from EPA's Office of
Radiation Programs (ORP) will travel
to the Soviet Union this summer to
study the evidence of nuclear fallout
from the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant in
the sediments of the northern Black
Sea. This summer study is part of a
larger investigation to collect water
column, biota, and sediment samples
over a 3-yr period in the Black Sea to
determine levels of radioactivity.
Scientists from the Woodshole
Oceanographic Institute will be joining
the EPA scientists in this cooperative
effort. For more information contact
Bill Curtis, ORP, at (202) 475-9630.
CS News is produced by EPA-OWRS to
exchange relevant information on
contaminated sedimerrtsandtoincraase
comtminicationanxjogirrtefested parties.
To obtain copies of this report or to
contribute information, contact Mika
KravHz, EPA-HQ at (202)475-8085.
Sediment Activities
Around the Country
EPA Headquarters
OFFICE OF FEDERAL ACTIVITIES
EPA has initiated discussions with the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to
develop a Memorandum of Agreement
(MOA) between the two agencies.
The MOA would have three objectives:
Facilitating the dredging and
disposal of polluted sediments
from the nation's waters,
Increasing cooperation between
the agencies, and
Assisting in mutual research and
development efforts.
the MOA could lead to legislative
changes which would enable the
(continued on p. 2}
Contaminated Sediment
Activities Timeline
March 12-30,1990. Analysis of
Biological Effects Techniques.
International Council for Exploration of
the Seas. Bremerhaven, West
Germany.
April 10-13,1990. Midwest Pollution
Control Biologists Meeting. U.S. EPA,
Region V. Chicago, IL.
April 22-24,1990. 14th Annual
American Society of Testing Materials
Symposium on Aquatic Toxicology and
Risk Assessment. San Francisco, CA.
April 30- May 4,1990. International
Conference on Metals in Soils, Water,
Plants, and Animals. Orlando, FL.
May 13-17,1990. 33rd Annual
Conference on Great Lakes Research.
Windsor, Ontario.
May 22-25,1990. 38th Annual Meeting
of the North American Benthogical
Society. Virginia Polytechnic Institute
and State University, Blacksburg, VA.
Includes Symposium on Sediment -
Biota Interactions in Water Quality and
Toxicity Assessments.
June 13-14,1990. Workshop on
Innovative Technologies for
Contaminated Sediments. U.S. EPA.
Cincinnati, OH.
Nov 5-7,1990. 17th Annual Aquatic
Toxicity Workshop. Vancouver,
Canada.
Nov 10-11,1990. American Society of
Testing Materials Sediment Toxicology
Subcommittee Meeting. Arlington, VA.
Nov 11-15,1990. 11th Annual Meeting
of the Society of Environmental
Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC).
Arlington, VA.
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Corps to dredge beyond federal
project limits as well as broaden its
authority to dredge areas to protect
environmental quality while
maintaining navigational channels.
The Office of Federal Activities is
currently soliciting comments on a
draft MOA within the Agency. For
more information contact Shannon
Cunniff, OFA, at (202) 382-5067.
OFFICE OF WATER REGULATIONS
AND STANDARDS/CRITERIA
AND STANDARDS DIVISION
(OWRS/CSD)
In an effort to further the development
of sediment criteria and sediment
assessment methods, annual
technical planning meetings are held.
In 1990, the contaminated sediment
planning meeting will be held in the
fall at or near the ERL-Narragansett
Lab. Yearjy planning meetings
provide opportunities for EPA OWRS/
CSD to acquire technical guidance on
a variety of topics affecting the
development of sediment criteria and
sediment assessment methods.
OWRS/CSD relies heavily on the
findings and recommendations that
are formulated at these meetings.
Technical planning meetings also
provide an opportunity for technical
persons with a wide range of
interests to influence, participate in,
and become more familiar with
ongoing and planned contaminated
sediment activities. The meeting is
open to anyone wishing to attend.
For more information contact Warren
Banks, CSD, at (202) 382-7893.
Development of Sediment Criteria
for Metals
Recent findings in the effort to
develop sediment criteria for metals
have identified acid volatile sulfides
(AVS) as a major influence on the
bioavailability of metals in sediments.
At this time, Superfund and other sites
with elevated levels of metal
contaminants are being used to verify .
and quantify the role AVS plays in
determining bioavailability. A report
on AVS findings has been published
and can be obtained from Chris Zarba,
CSD, at (202) 475-7326.
Development of Sediment Criteria
for Human Health Protection
OWRS/CSD is initiating efforts to work
more closely with the EPA laboratory
in Cincinnati to develop sediment
criteria protective of human health.
For more information contact Warren
Banks at (202) 382-7893.
Sediment Criteria Documents
and Guidance
Sediment criteria documents are
under development. Initial efforts are
focusing on developing a single
document for 5 to 7 chemicals.
Opportunities for agency and public
comment are planned followed by
announcement of their availability in
the Federal Register.
The first draft of an equilibrium
partitioning-based sediment criteria
guidance document has been
developed and is going through a
limited review. The draft document
includes a section with examples of
different contaminated sediment sites.
In these examples, the reader is
walked through the calculation of site-
specific sediment criteria values. This
section also includes information on
how criteria may best be used to
interpret various risks posed by
contaminants at these sites.
OFFICE OF MARINE AND
ESTUARINE PROTECTION/OFFICE
OF WETLANDS PROTECTION
The Office of Marine and Estuarine
Protection (OMEP) and the Office of
Wetlands Protection (OWP) are
working with the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers to develop guidance
documents that will help provide
nationally consistent testing and
decision making with respect to
dredged material disposal in MPRSA
Section 103 and CWA Section 404
waters. These documents are listed
below.
Draft-Ecological Evaluation of
Proposed Discharge of Dredged
Material Into Ocean Waters
A revised testing manual for ocean
dumping, developed jointly by EPA
(OMEP) and the Corps of
Engineers; it updates the 1977
Implementation Manual for Section
103 of the MPRSA (the Green Book)
and determines the suitability of
dredged material for ocean disposal
using a tiered approach. The tiers
consist of 1) use of existing
information 2) use of models and
chemistry data 3) use of
bioaccumulation and acute toxicity
tests, and 4) use of long-term and
chronic tests. Training sessions are
planned around the country to inform
interested persons of the procedures
(continued on p. 3)
SAB Completes Review of
Equilibrium Partitioning (EqP) Approach
The Science Advisory Board
(SAB) has completed its review and
issued a very favorable report on the
EqP approach for assessing
sediment quality. The Subcommittee
found the EqP "to have major
strengths in its foundation in
chemical theory, its ease of
calculation, and its ability to make
use of existing data... The
conceptual basis of the approach
is supported by the Subcommittee,
however, its application at this
time is limited. This is because a
better understanding of the
uncertainty around the
assumptions inherent in the
approach, including assumptions
of equilibrium, bioavailability, and
kinetics, all critical to the
application of the EqP, is needed."
For more information or to receive a
copy of the findings document
"Report of the Sediment Criteria
Subcommittee of the Ecological
Processes and Effects Committee -
Evaluation of the Equilibrium
Partitioning (EqP) Approach for
Assessing Sediment Quality".
contact Chris 2arba, CSD, at (202)
475-7326.
-------
and techniques used in the draft
manual and to discuss technical
issues. A final manual is expected
by September 1990. For more
information contact Dave Bedford,
QMEP, at (202) 475-7179. .
Testing Manual for Section 404
Program under development by OWP
and the Corps; will contain
appropriate testing requirements for
freshwater systems, using the same
framework developed for ocean
disposal.
Dredged Material Disposal Strategy
Document
Applicable to both Section 4047
CWA and Section 103/MPRSA waters;
will evaluate various disposal options
and provide a decision-making
framework for reaching a decision for
upland or aquatic disposal. Disposal
alternatives include upland
(containment, land spreading/filling),
wetland disposal, open water
(including ocean, estuarine, lake and
riverine), and confined aquatic
(capping, islands and borrow pits). A
draft is currently available for review
and a final document is expected to be
available at the end of the year.
Revised Site Designation,
Monitoring, and Management
Document
Revision of existing OMEP
document for ocean disposal to
include criteria on'site designation/
selection, appropriate monitoring
techniques to evaluate adverse
impacts, and management procedures
to lessen impacts for both 103 and
404 programs. When a draft is
developed - probably this year - OWP
will evaluate its potential applicability
to the Section 404 program.
For more information on these
documents, contact Barry Burgan,
OMEP, at (202) 475-7134 or Menchu
Martinez, OWP, at (202) 382-5299.
SUPERFUND
The Superfund Program has compiled
a "Draft Master List of National
Priorities List (NPL) Sites with
Potentially Contaminated Sediments".
The Master List represents the nature
and extent of sediment contamination
at CERCLA sites nationally, and will
be used asfa bench-mark from which
a more extefisive search and analysis
may be conducted. This list,
containing 281 or 24 percent of the
total 1175 NPL sites, was drawn from
five databases:
The Battelle Automated Search
Information System (BASIS) was used
to retrieve the site names of all NPL
sites with associated Records of
Decision (RODs). A ROD is a
document which reflects extensive site
investigation data and preliminary
decisions on the type and extent of
response action planned.
The ROD Information Directory
(RID) which contains site-specific
information relating to NPL sites'
remediation plans.
The National Priorities List Technical
Data Base (NPL) contains preliminary
site hazard ranking system data.
"An Overview of Sediment Quality in
the United States", June 1987, EPA-
905/9-88-002, contains quantitative
descriptions on the nature and extent
of sediment contamination.
A 1988 Marine Sediment Report,
based on NPL technical data base
searches and NOAA data, provided
information concerning site proximity
to marine environments.
For more information contact Carole
Bass, OERR, at (202) 475-9752.
ORD Activities
ERL-NEWPORT (OR)
On March 12,1990, the International
Council for Exploration of the Seas
sponsored a conference in
Brememaven, West Germany on the
Analysis of Biological Effects
Techniques. Rick Swartz from ERL-
Newport conducted a sediment toxicity
workgroup at the conference.
Seventeen stations in western Europe
were sampled and analyzed using the
sediment quality triad approach.
Chemical and biological analyses, as
well as bioassays, were performed.
The biological analyses include
meiobenthos, macrobenthos, and fish
pathology.' For more information
contact Rick Swartz, ERL-Newport, at
(503)867-4031,
ERL-DULUTH
Activities at ERL-Duluth include the
following:
Development of standard test
methods for bulk sediments using
three freshwater benthic species: the
amphipod Hyalella azteca, the insect
Hyallela azecta
Chironomus tentans, and the
oligochaete Lumbriculus variegatus.
These tests will determine both acute
and chronic toxicity. The oligochaete
L.variegatus also has sufficient
biomass to enable the development of
a protocol to assess bioaccumulative
non-polar organics. The lab is using
sediment from various regions in the
country. If you are interested in
providing sediment for toxicity testing,
contact Gary Ankley, ERL-Duluth, at
(218)720-5603.
Use of Toxicity Identification
Evaluation (TIE) methods, originally
developed for complex effluents, to
determine specific compounds
responsible for toxicity in acutely toxic
sediments. These toxicity-based
approaches separate the toxicants
from nontoxic components in the
samples prior to performing analyses.
This step saves time and enables
correct analytical techniques to be
used. The toxicants are isolated using
sample fractionation techniques with
toxicity tests. TIEs were used
successfully in the Lower Fox River
(continued on p. 4)
-------
and Green Bay Wisconsin to identify
ammonia as a major sediment
toxicant. TIEs also are being applied
with sediments from several other
freshwater sites. For more
information contact Gary Ankley at
(218)720-5603.
* Conducting, in the near future, a
field validation study using the EqP
approach for sediment quality criteria
(in conjunction with ERL-Narragansett
and ERL-Newport). They are currently
looking for an appropriate test site.
The requirements include a site which
is contaminated with one or two non-
polar organics, shows a gradient of
contamination, and has benthic
impacts.
Development of methods to test the
toxicity of suspended sediments.
Using the medaka, a system has
been developed which simulates a
realistic worst-case exposure to the
sediments. The fish are exposed for a
period of 30 to 45 days and then
analyzed for biological endpoints such
as survival, growth, tissue pathology,
and reproduction, as well as the
presence of bioaccumulative
compounds. For more information
contact Rod Johnson at (218) 720-
5731.
ERL-NARRAGANSETT
The EPA laboratory at Narragansett,
RI, recently completed a cooperative
project with EPA Region I and the
New England Division of the Corps of
Engineers to monitor the effects of a
pilot dredging operation at the New
Bedford Harbor (NBH) Superfund Site.
The pilot project was designed to
examine and compare the efficiency
and effects of three hydraulic dredges
and two disposal methods for use in a
possible large scale remediation at
this site.
Because federal and state water
quality standards for PCBs and certain
heavy metals were exceeded in NBH
under pre-operational baseline
conditions, it was necessary to
develop a unique site-specific
monitoring/management strategy for
NBH. The strategy included
developing a set of site-specific
numerical chemical and biological
decision values (Decision Criteria),
establishing a panel of environmental
managers (Decision Criteria
Committee) to use the decision
criteria and monitoring data in a timely
manner to limit environmental
damage, and designing and
implementing a monitoring program
that would provide the necessary
environmental data to the Decision
Criteria Committee prior to the next
day's dredging operations.
The results of the NBH Pilot Dredging
Project demonstrated the utility of
biological and chemical monitoring
techniques to evaluate and manage,
on a "real-time" basis, the
environmental risks of a dredging
operation. For more information
contact David Hansen or William
Nelson at (401) 782-3000.
Great Lakes National
Program Office
In 1987, the amendments to the Clean
Water Act (CWA) authorized the Great
Lakes National Program Office
(GLNPO) to conduct a 5-year study
and demonstration project on the
control and removal of toxic pollutants
in the Great Lakes sediments. Five
sites were specified requiring priority
consideration for the demonstration
projects: Saginaw Bay, Michigan;
Sheboygan Harbor, Wisconsin; Grand
Calumet River, Indiana; Ashtabula
River, Ohio; and Buffalo River, New
York. In response to this mandate
from Congress, GLNPO established
the Assessment and Remediation of
Contaminated Sediments (ARCS)
Program. ARCS is an integrated
program for the development and
testing of assessment and remedial
action alternatives for contaminated
sediments.
A Management Advisory Committee
has been set up to provide general
oversight to the project while
fourworkgroups were formed to focus
on specific project activities. The four
workgroups and their responsibilities
are listed below:
Engineering/Technology - Responsible
for evaluating and testing available
removal and remedial technologies for
contaminated sediments, selecting
promising new technologies for further
testing, and demonstrating remedial
alternatives at the priority sites.
Toxicitv/Chemistrv - Responsible for
application of sediment assessment
methods and producing contaminant
maps.
Risk Assessment/Modeling -
Responsible for evaluating
environmental and human health
impacts resulting from contaminated
sediments, and developing techniques
to assess the environmental impacts
resulting from alternative remedial
actions.
Communication/Liason - Responsible
for facilitating the flow of information
from the technical workgroups and the
overall ARCS Program to the public.
A major output at the end of the
program in 1992 will be guidance
documents on methods to assess and
(continued on p. 5)
ARCS Management Structure
(MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE^
Chaired by GLNPO Director J
1
C ACTIVITIES INTEGRATION COMMITTEES
Chaired by GLNPO Staff Chief J
\
f TOXICITY/ "\
1 CHEMISTRY
\^ WORKGROUP^
1
1
/fiiSK ASSESSMENT/S
I MODELING 1
\^ WORK GROUP J
\
/^ENGINEERING/ "\
TECHNOLOGY 1
^ WORK GROUP J
/COMMUNICATIONA
LIASON
\^ WORK GROUP J
-------
remediate contaminated sediments in
all Great Lakes areas of concern. For
more information on the ARCS
Program contact Dave Cowgill,
GLNPO, at (312) 353-3576.
Bench Scale Tests To Be
Conducted
The Engineering/Technology
workgroup from the ARCS Program
will conduct bench-scale tests of
several remedial technologies in FY
90 to determine their effectiveness.
These laboratory tests will include
solidification, Alkali-metal
polyethyleneglycoldehalogenation
(KPEG), Basic Extraction Sludge
Technology (BEST), critical fluid
extraction (CF Systems), incineration,
low temperature thermal stripping, wet
air oxidation, low energy extraction,
and the Eco-logic destruction process.
Testing of physical separation and
metals recovery processes will also be
conducted for the ARCS Program by
the Bureau of Mines. For more
information on these tests contact
Steve Garbaciak, of the Corp's
Chicago District, at (312) 353-0789.
Regional Programs
EPA REGION I
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
has formed an interagency task force
to address the problem of PCB-
contaminated sediments in the Millers
River in Massachusetts. In 1987 and
1988, studies conducted by the
Massachusetts Department of
Environmental Quality Engineering
(MDEQE), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS), and the Corps
found fish contaminated with PCBs in
the Millers River, and sediment
samples containing PCBs with
concentrations up to 250 ppm.
Originally the Corps recommended no
action as they believed that attempting
to remove the contaminated
sediments would cause more harm to
the adjacent wetlands than leaving
them in place. In response to EPA's
suggestions for further assessment
and growing public concern, the Corps
has taken responsibility for the project
and has agreed with the state to
conduct a Preliminary Assessment
and Phase I Limited Site Investigation
and to take corrective action if deemed
necessary. Members on the task
force include representatives from the
Corps, several state environmental
offices, USFWS, and EPA Region I.
EPA REGION V
Region V is currently conducting a
Pilot Study to evaluate bioremediation
and other innovative technologies for
the treatment of PCB- contaminated
sediments at the Sheboygan River
and Harbor Superfund site located in
Sheboygan, Wisconsin. The site was
finalized on the National Priority List in
1986. The principal contaminants
include PCBs as high as 4500 ppm
and various heavy metals in the river
and harbor sediments. Tecumseh
Products Company is conducting this
voluntary effort under the supervision
of EPA and the Wisconsin Department
of Natural Resources as part of the
overall Remedial Investigation and
Feasibility Study (RI/FS) they have
been performing since 1985. The goal
of this study is to determine the
appropriate course of remedial action
at the Sheboygan site.
The multi-faceted study includes:
A Pilot Confined Treatment Facility
(CTF) to study enhanced natural
biodegradation for the treatment of
PCB-contaminated sediments
removed from the river.
Armoring Placement Activities
conditions, including various PCB
extraction technologies, chemical
fixation, armoring, dewatering, and
bioremediation.
Evaluation of sediment removal
technologies.
Armoring of sediments in place.
The results of the Pilot Study are
expected in the summer of 1991.
For more information contact Bonnie
Eleder, Region V, at (312) 886-4885.
In 1980, EPA Region V issued a
consent decree requiring the U.S.
Steel Plant in Lorraine, Ohio, to
remediate a PAH-contaminated site
adjacent to the Black River. U.S.
Steel did not complete the remediation
projects and, consequently, owed
EPA over $1.5 million dollars in fines.
In a 1985 amended consent decree,
U.S. Steel agreed to dredge 50,000
cubic yards of contaminated sediment
downstream from the steel plant and
dispose of it in a RCRA-approved
landfill with a leachate collection and
treatment system. Dredging began in
November 1989 and will continue in
the spring of 1990. Monitoring
activities will be conducted before,
during, and after the dredging
operations to minmize any adverse
impacts from the dredging. In
addition, a 30-year monitoring
program will be implemented to
monitor the leachate from
the landfill which is
regulated by an NPDES
permit. For more
information contact Ron
Kovach, Region V, at (312)
886-1441.
OaMon Anchor
G«ot«til«
In Place S*dinwnts
Bench-scale studies on removed
sediments performed under laboratory
In August 1989, the Bay
Protection and Toxic
Cleanup Program was
signed into law in the State
of California. This 5-year
program requires the State
Water Resources Control
Board (State Board) to
develop a Water Quality
Control Plan for the State's bays and
(continued on p. 6)
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estuaries, develop a workplan for the
development of sediment quality
objectives, and create a consolidated
data base of known or suspected toxic
hotspots throughout the State's bays
and estuaries. The budget for the first
two years of the program is an
estimated $2.5 million dollars per year.
A draft Water Quality Control Plan has
been completed and is listed in the
section on available literature. The
workplan on sediment quality
objectives is due July 1,1991. This
workplan will review appropriate
methods such as the Apparent Effects
Threshold approach and the
Equilibrium Partitioning approach and
outline the approach which will be
used to develop the sediment objec-
tives. The State is also mandated to
link these objectives with human
health and this will be addressed in
the workplan.
The data base on toxic hotspots is due
January 1,1992. Once identified, the
hotspots will be ranked on a statewide
basis. The Regional Boards, in
conjunction with the State Board, will
then devise plans to clean up these
sites. Finally, a statewide cleanup
plan will be developed for remediation
of these toxic hotspots.
In addition to the Bay Protection and
Toxic Cleanup Program, the State
Board is developing a regional
monitoring program for San Francisco
Bay. This program will include the
analysis of water column, sediment,
and biological samples. The State
Board hopes to coordinate as much as
possible with existing monitoring
efforts in the Bay. For more
information contact Brian Melzian,
Region IX, at (401) 782-3163.
REGION X
The State of Washington has
developed draft sediment
management standards which will be
incorporated into the state
administrative code. In addition to the
sediment standards themselves, the
document contains general
information on the uses of the
standards and a discussion on
sediment dilution zones. These
standards will eventually be included
in NPDES permits. The draft
standards are currently being
circulated for public comment and it is
anticipated that the proposed
standards will be issued in July of this
year.
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA)
As a part of its National Status and
Trends (NS&T) Program, NOAA has
several projects underway that involve
the determination of sediment quality.
Chemical analyses of sediments
collected throughout the marine and
estuarine regimes of the nation are
routinely performed as a part of the
program. In order to evaluate the
potential biological significance of the
data from the chemical analyses,
effects-based guidelines were
developed for the NS&T Program. A
unique approach was undertaken in
the development of these guidelines.
In this approach, a preponderance of
evidence gathered from many different
studies and methods was established
for many of the NS&T Program
analytes. Data from the EqP
approach, the spiked sediment
bioassay approach and from the
various approaches to evaluating field-
collected data were pooled for each
analyte. Then, the data were sorted in
ascending order. The concentrations
equivalent to the lower 10 percentile
(continued on p. 7)
ASTM MEETING
The Sediment Toxicology Subcommittee E47.03 of the American
Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) will meet on April 25 and 26 in San
Francisco following the 14th Annual ASTM meeting. The goal of the Sediment
Toxicology Subcommittee is to develop guides for assesing bioavailability of
contaminants associated with sediments. These guides will help in evaluating
the toxicological hazard associated with contaminated sediment, soil, sludge,
drilling fluids, and other similar materials.
The following draft standards for assessing contaminated sediments will be
discussed. It is anticipated that documents 1 and 2 will become
approved standards this summer.
1. New Standard Guide for Conducting Sediment Tpxicity Tests with
Freshwater Invertebrates.
2. New Standard Guide for Conducting Solid Phase 10-d Static Sediment
Toxicity Tests with Estuarine and Marine Amphipods.
3. New Standard Guide for Collection, Storage, Characterization, and
Manipulation of Sediment for Toxicity Testing.
4. New Standard Guide for Designing Sediment Toxicity Tests.
5. New Standard Guide for Conducting Solid Phase Sediment Bioaccumulation
Tests with Freshwater and Marine Invertebrates.
6. New Standard Guide for Conducting Solid Phase Sediment Bioaccumulation
Tests with Freshwater and Marine Fish.
Several additional draft documents will also be discussed at the Subcommittee
meeting including 1) Design of sediment toxicity tests, 2) Sediment
bioaccumulation testing methods, 3) Use of oysters, echinoderms, and
polychaetes in sediment testing, 4) Toxicity Identification and Evaluation (TIE)
for sediment water extracts, and 5) Sediment resuspension testing methods.
Please contact Chris Ingersoll at (314) 875-5399 for more information or to be
put on the mailing list.
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and the 50 percent/Is of the data that
indicated a biological effect associated
with the particular analyte were
identified (the data were also
examined visually to determine if there
were overall thresholds above which
biological effects always or usually
occured). The 10 percentile value was
assumed to indicate the chemical
concentration in sediments at which
effects may be first expected. The 50
percentile value was assumed to
indicate the chemical concentration at
or above which effects were very likely
to occur.
Agreement among the data from
diffrent studies and areas for many of
the analytes were surprisingly good.
For example, numerous data points
from field studies and spiked sediment
bioassays indicate that 5 ppm dry wt.
Cd in sediments or more is often
associated with measures of toxicity or
other effects. Concentrations
equivalent to or exceeding 1 ppm Pb,
1.7 ppm Ag, 300 ppm Cu, 370 ppb
PCS, 300 ppb anthracene are ususally
associated with effects.
The informal guidelines were used to
rank the NS&T Program sediment
sampling sites. One site each located
in the Hudson/Raritan estuary, in
western Long Island Sound, in Boston
Harbor and in the Oakland Estuary of
San Francisco Bay were ranked
highest. The results of this evaluation
are reported in NOAA Technical
Memorandum NOS OMA 52 "The
potential for biological effects of
sediment-sorbed contaminants tested
in the National Status and Trends
Program", by E.R. Long and L.G.
Morgan, NOAA, N/OMA32x2, 7600
Sand Pt. Way NE., Seattle, WA.
98115.
Surveys of sediment toxicity in some
of the regions in which chemical
concentrations have been relatively
high and exceeded these guidelines
are being conducted by the NS&T
Program. These surveys include San
Francisco Bay and the Hudson/Raritan
estuary. In both surveys the objective
is to determine the degree and extent
of sediment toxicity as an indicator of
adverse biological effects associated
with the presence of toxic chemicals.
Selected Available Literature
Geotechnical, Geological, and Selected Radionuclide Retention
Characteristics of the Radioactive Waste Disposal Site near the
Farallone Islands. J. Booth, W. Winters, L. Poppe, J. Neiheisel, and
R. Dyer. 1989. Marine Geotechnology, Volume 8. Pgs 111-132.
Contact James Neiheisel at (202) 475-9644.
Sorption of Organic Acid Compounds to Sediment: Initial Model
Development. Chad Jafvert. In Press. Environmental Toxicology and
Chemistry.
Toxicity of Cadmium in Sediments: The Role of Acid Volatile Sulfide.
August 1989. Contact Chris Zarba at (202) 475-7326-
Integrated Assessment of Contaminated Sediments in the Lower Fox
River and Green Bay Wisconsin. Draft 1989. Contact Gary Ankley at
(218)720-5603.
Identification of Ammonia as an Important Sediment-associated
Toxicant in the Lower Fox River/Green Bay Wisconsin. G.T. Ankley,
A. Katko, and J. Arthur. 1990. Environmental Toxicology and
Chemistry, Volume 9. Contact Gary Ankley at (218) 720-5603.
A Review and Synthesis of Bioassessment Methodologies for
Freshwater Contaminated Sediments. 1990. Contact Dave Cowgill at
(312)353-3576.
Functional Equivalent Document: Development of the Water Quality
Control Plans for the Inland Surface Waters of California and Enclosed
Bays and Estuaries of California. Draft January 1990. Contact Craig
Wilson at (916) 322-4506.
Functional Equivalent Document: Amendment of the Water Quality
Control Plan for the Oceans of California. Contact Craig Wilson at
(916)322-4506.
Standards for Confined Disposal of Contaminated Sediments.
Development Documentation, January 1990. Contact John Malek at
(206)442-1286.
Draft-Ecological Evaluation of Proposed Discharge of Dredged
Material Into Ocean Waters. Contact Ms. Billie Skinner at (601) 634-
3701.
Second National Symposium on Water Quality Assessment: EPA
Meeting Summary. 1990. (Includes a session on Assessing Sediment
and Tissue Contamination). Contact Herman Baucom at (202) 382-
7056.
Potential Applications of Sediment Quality Measures to Management
Decisions. M. Kravitz and K. Devonald. In Press (1990). In Ports and
Harbors: Our Link to the Water. Proceedings of the 11th International
Conference, Coastal Society. Coastal Society, Bethesda, MD.
Contact Mike Kravitz at (202) 475-8085.
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LEGISLATION HIGHLIGHTS
Recent Legislative Proposals Highlighting Sediment Activities:
Comprehensive Ocean Assessment
and Strategy Act of 1989 (S. 1179.
Sen. Lautenberg et al.) Marine areas are
to be designated as high priorities
requiring accelerated point and nonpoint
source controls if they have sediment
contamination problems. " EPA must
develop criteria for marine water quality.
sediment quality, and biological quality.
* Coastal states must establish numerical
standards based on these criteria within
two years of EPA developing the marine
criteria. * EPA must promulgate
standards in areas of the marine
environment outside of State control.
* EPA must promulgate protocols for
monitoring water, sediments, and living
resources in the marine environment.
Marine Protection Act of 1989 (S.
1178, Sen. Mitchell et al.). Estuaries and
coastal waters are to be designated as
high priorities requiring accelerated point
and nonpoint source controls if they have
sediment contamination problems. * EPA
must promulgate numerical standards for
coastal water quality and sediment quality.
' If material to be dredged contains
pollutant concentrations in excess of
sediment quality standards, dumping of
this material must be restricted to certain
times and sites and must employ best
management practices.
National Sediment Contamination
Survey Act of 1989 (S. 1210, Sen.
Moynihan et al.). EPA must conduct a
comprehensive national survey of
sediment contamination in all lakes, rivers,
harbors, estuaries, and streams of the
United States. * Survey compiles all
existing information on the quantity,
chemical and physical make-up, location,
and source of contaminated sediments.
Coastal Defense Initiative of 1989
(H.R. 2647, Rep. Studds et al.). The
National Coastal Monitoring Task Force
shall develop protocols for collecting and
analyzing sediment samples.
Great Lakes Critical Programs Act
(S. 1646, Sen. Levin et al.). Within one
year, promulgate numeric standards for
Great Lakes sediments that classify
whether the sediments can support aquatic
life, wildlife, and recreational uses.
Promulgate regulations on how to use
these standards to authorize dredging
operations, to issue NPDES permits, and
in U.S.-Canada GLWQA remedial action
plans. No deadline specified. * ARCS
program must complete assessment of
sediments at project sites by June 30.
1990 and select demonstration
technologies by September 30. 1990.
* ARCS program must complete full-scale
demonstration projects at each location by
December 31, 1991 and issue a final
report by December 31, 1992.
* Funding for Great Lakes (Section 118)
activities is extended through FY 93 and
increased to $25 million for FY 91 -93.
Draft Contaminated Underwater
Sediments Legislation (Draft Proposal
to Rep. Nowak) EPA shall do the
following: Complete a comprehensive
survey identifying those locations with
contaminated sediments within two years.
* Develop sediment criteria for all priority
pollutants and any other pollutants of
concern within one year. * Develop a
Toxics Source Reduction Strategy
encompassing pollution prevention,
industrial pretreatment and urban and
agricultural runoff. 'Administer $25 million
per year in grants to states for adopting
sediment standards. * Make all
environmental decisions regarding
contaminated sites and direct the Corps'
activities at these sites; remediate
contaminated sites to bring them into
compliance with sediment criteria.
* Apply sediment quality standards to the
disposal of dredged material. * Reduce
by 5 percent annually the dumping of
materials that contain pollutants in excess
of the concentrations established in
sediment standards. * Issue NPDES
permits for dredging operations and
confined disposal facilities. * Identify.
designate and justify remediation and
removal techniques in Reports to
Congress every other year. * Prepare
Annual Program Summary Reports to
Congress.
Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife
Restoration Act of 1990 (H.R. 4299.
Rep. Nowak et al.). Perform
comprehensive study of the status.
assessment, management, and restoration
needs 'of the Great Lakes fishery
resources. * Describe component
drainage systems * analyze historic
fishery data. * Develop recommendations
for action plans to analyze effects of
contaminant levels on fishery resources.
* Prepare annual reports to Congress.
Great Lakes Water Quality
Improvement Act of 1990 (H.R. 4323.
Rep. Nowak). The Federal Water Pollution
Control Act is to be amended to accelerate
contaminated sediment cleanup in the
Great Lakes, and promote a better
understanding of the effects of toxic
pollutants on the Great Lakes ecosystem
and the implications of such effects on
human health.
REQUEST FOR DATA
The Criteria and Standards Division (CSD) of OWRS contemplates setting
sediment quality criteria for substances whose risks are associated with food
chain bioaccumulation by using bioenergetic-based food chain models that
requrie specific data to predict and field validate sediment quality criteria
concentrations. Specifically, CSD needs paired data from the same location
of lipid-normalized concentrations of non-ionic organic chemicals in benthic
and water column organisms, and organic carbon-normalized
concentrations of non-ionic organic chemicals in sediments. CSD also
needs bioenergetics data on the uptake of dissolved oxygen and chemicals
from water and sediments to aquatic organisms; consumption, respiration
and excretion rates; and growth rates for fishes and especially for benthic
invertebrates.
Data comparability between diverse sources is important. To maximize
utility of data, CSD will provide standard procedures for lipid, organic carbon
and other methodologies or must know specific methods used.
Contact Chris Zarba at (202)475-7326 if you can help.
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