United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
(4305)
EPA-823-N-98-003
Number 21
Spring 1998
&EPA Contaminated
Sediments News
INSIDE - - -
4 Headquarters
Activities. . .
Clean Water Action
Plan Targets Fish
Advisories, Sediments
Inland Testing Manual
Published
7 National Sediment
Bioaccumulation
Conference
Proceedings
Published
Q Information
Exchange Program
Offers Links to
Central and
Eastern Europe
9 New Data Study
Supports SQGs
Developed Using
Co-occurrence
Approaches
10 Activities Timeline
<\<\ Creature Feature
CS News is produced by the
EPA Office of Science and
Technology (OST) to exchange
information on contaminated
sediments and to increase
communication among
interested parties. To obtain
copies of this report or to
contribute information, contact
Jane Marshall Farris, EPA
OST, mail code 4305, 401M
Street S.W., Washington, DC
20460 at (202) 260-8897.
To be added to the mailing list
or to make changes to your
address, please fax your
request to Jane Marshall Farris
at (202) 260-9830.
EPA Releases National Inventory of
Contaminated Sediments
Tie U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency's (EPA's) first national re-
port on sediment quality in the
nation's rivers and other inland and coastal
waterways finds every state has some sedi-
ment contamination—accumulation of toxic
chemicals sufficient to pose potential risks
to people who eat fish, and to fish and
wildlife themselves.
Sites with the highest measured levels of
sediment contamination tend to cluster
around larger urban areas and industrial
centers, and in regions affected by agricul-
tural and urban runoff. Streams, lakes, and
harbors can be affected.
Report Released in January
EPA released its report, The Incidence and
Severity of Sediment Contamination in
Surface Waters of the United States, on
January 7, 1998. It is the Agency's first
comprehensive analysis of existing sediment
chemistry and related biological data to as-
sess the national incidence and severity of
sediment contamination.
The three-volume report describes areas
where chemical contaminants are present in
river, lake, ocean, and estuary sediments
and includes an assessment of the potential
for associated adverse effects on people and
aquatic life:
• Volume 1: National Sediment Quality
Survey (EPA 823-R-97-006) assesses
the probability of associated adverse
human or ecological effects with con-
taminated sediment based on a weight-
of-evidence evaluation.
• Volume 2: Data Summaries for Water-
sheds Containing Areas of Probable
Concern (APCs) (EPA 823- R-97-007)
presents sampling station location
maps and chemical and biological
summary data for watersheds contain-
ing APCs.
• Volume 3: National Sediment Con-
taminant Point Source Inventory (EPA
823-R-97-008): A screening analysis
that identifies probable point source
contributors of sediment pollutants.
In preparing the report,
EPA assembled the
largest set of sediment
chemistry and related
biological data ever
and compiled the data
into a database called the
National Sediment Inventory.
EPA advocates using a "weight-'
evidence" approach to sediment
tamination assessment based on
types of measures.
The Agency examined approximately 2
million records from more than 21,000
sampling stations located in 1,363 of the
2,111 watersheds (65 percent) in the conti-
nental United States. The locations were
sampled between 1980 and 1993. Because
the data were collected over a relatively
long period of time, the results represent
conditions over the past 15 years and are a
baseline for future assessments.
Watershed Classifications
EPA classified each sampling station in
one of three tiers based on data recorded
Continued on page 2
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No. 21
Spring 1998
EPA RELEASES NATIONAL C.S. INVENTORY Continued from page 1
for that location: 26 percent of the sam-
pling stations fell into Tier 1 - adverse ef-
fects are probable; 49 percent fell into
Tier 2 - adverse effects are possible but
expected infrequently; and 25 percent fell
into Tier 3 - no ^^^^^^_^^^^^^_
indication of ad-
verse effects.
Adjusting for
sampling bias to-
wards known or
suspected con-
tamination, and
the efficiency of
screening-level
assessment
guidelines to
predict adverse
effects, EPA es- ^^^^^~^^^^^~
timates that approximately 6-12 percent
of the sediment underlying the nation's
surface water poses a potential environ-
mental threat.
Areas of Probable Concern
The Agency identified 96 watersheds (7
percent of those evaluated) that contain
"areas of probable concern" (APCs)
where potential adverse effects of sedi-
ment contamination are likely to be found.
These watersheds contain 10 or more Tier
1 sampling stations,and at least 75 percent
of their sampling stations are classified as
either Tier 1 or Tier 2. As shown in the
accompanying map, they are on the Atlan-
tic, Gulf, Great Lakes, and Pacific coasts,
as well as in inland waterways, and in re-
gions affected by urban and agricultural
runoff, municipal and industrial waste dis-
charges, and other pollution sources.
Other areas, however, may require further
evaluation to confirm that environmental
effects are occurring. Because EPA relied
on readily available electronic data, pri-
marily from national and regional data-
^^^^^^_^^^^^^_ bases, some
well-known
highly contami-
nated areas are
omitted.
"The report confirms that contaminated
sediment is a significant problem in
many watersheds around the country.
The report underscores the need to finish
the job of cleaning up our nation's
waters and to prevent their continued
pollution to protect public health. "
Robert Perciasepe
EPA Assistant Administrator for Water
Heads Up on EPA's
Contaminated Sediment
Management Strategy
As this issue of CSNews was going to
press, EPA's Contaminated Sediment
Management Strategy was nearing its
own publication date.
The document will be available soon as
EPA823-R-98-001 from NCEPI; P.O.
Box 42419; Cincinnati, Ohio 45242.
Additional information will be available in
the next issue of CSNews.
Bottom-dwelling creatures
may not be able to live in
portions of these watersheds.
And because contaminants
in sediment can move up the
food chain, fish that live in
these waters may contain
chemicals at levels unsafe
for regular consumption.
Some of these areas have
been studied extensively,
and appropriate management
actions are now in place.
Concerns
Over Fish
Consumption
Anyone fishing
contaminated
waters for food
faces health
risks. People
^^^^^^~^^^^^^~ who regularly
eat fish caught
from areas where sediment is contami-
nated may increase their risk of cancer or
other long-term adverse health effects be-
cause toxic chemicals can accumulate in
the edible portions of fish.
Most states routinely issue consumption
warnings for waters where fish are con-
taminated. More than two-thirds of the
watersheds containing areas of probable
concern already have active fish consump-
tion advisories in place. Not all of the
APCs are based on potential human health
risk, however, many are based solely on
potential risks to aquatic life.
Sediment at many sites throughout the
United States was polluted years ago by
chemicals such as DDT, polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs), and mercury. While
their use has been banned or restricted for
many years, these chemicals persist for de-
cades in the sediment, where they continue
to be a source of concern for the environ-
ment and public health. In the meantime,
other chemicals entering surface waters
from industrial and municipal discharges
and polluted runoff from urban and agri-
cultural areas continue to accumulate to
harmful levels in sediments.
Societal Costs of Contamination
Ecological and human health impairment
due to contaminated sediment imposes
costs on society. Diseases that cause tu-
mors and fin rot in fish and and the loss of
-------
species and communities that cannot tol-
erate sediment contamination can se-
verely damage aquatic ecosystems.
Potential societal costs include lost recre-
ational enjoyment and revenues or, worse,
possible long-term health problems such
as cancer or children's neurological and
IQ impairment if fish consumption warn-
ings are not issued and heeded.
The health and ecological risks posed by
contaminated sediment dredged from har-
bors can lead to increased cost of disposal
and lost opportunities for beneficial uses,
such as habitat restoration.
Future Study Recommendations
Based on the results of this study, EPA
recommends further evaluations of the 96
watersheds containing areas of probable
concern that focus on:
• Collecting and analyzing additional
sediment chemistry and related bio-
logical data where needed.
• Further evaluating the potential for
human health and ecological risk.
• Determining spatial and temporal
trends.
• Identifying potential sources of con-
taminants and determining whether
they are adequately controlled.
For More
Information
An electronic copy
of The Incidence
and Severity of Sedi-
ment Contamination
in Surface Waters of
the United States is
available on the
Internet at http://
www.epa.gov/OST/
No. 21
Spring 1998
National Sediment Inventory
Watersheds of Concern
Printed copies are
available from:
U. S. Environmental
Protection Agency
National Center for Environmental Publi-
cations and Information (NCEPI)
P.O. Box 42419
Cincinnati, Ohio 45242
They may be ordered by phone at
(800) 490-9198; fax at (513) 489-8695
or on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/
ncepihom/orderpub.html.
To order copies from the National Tech-
nical Information Service, U.S. customers
should call (800) 553-NTIS, and other
customers should call (703) 605-6000.
Summary of Discussions During the Interactive Short Course on
"Use of Sediment Quality Guidelines in the Assessment and
Management of Contaminated Sediments"
A 1-day course held in San Francisco,
California, on November 16, 1997, in
conjunction with the 18th annual SET AC
meeting, described approaches to devel-
oping sediment quality guidelines (SQGs)
and discussed their use in sediment qual-
ity assessment and management.
The course was developed by 24 instruc-
tors and attended by 80 individuals repre-
senting a broad range in backgrounds and
expertise. It consisted of both Plenary and
Work Group sessions. The opening ple-
nary session gave participants informa-
tion on the derivation, strengths, limita-
tions, and uses of numerical SQGs. An
integrated framework for assessing sedi-
ment quality conditions and several case
studies were presented to illustrate the ap-
plications of SQGs.
The Work Group sessions gave course
participants an opportunity to discuss sev-
eral important applications of the SQGs,
including dredged material disposal
analysis, sediment management, and sedi-
ment remediation. During the final ple-
nary session, the main points of the Work
Group discussions were presented to the
entire group. In addition, through keypad
polling and panel discussions, partici-
pants expressed their views on the appli-
cation of SQGs.
Continued on page 5
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No. 21
Spring 1998
Clean Water Action Plan Targets Fish
Advisories, Contaminated Sediments
The President's Clean Water Action Plan,
released in February, provides a blueprint
for restoring and protecting the nation's
rivers, lakes, and coastal areas.
Its centerpiece is a new initiative to inte-
grate efforts to restore and protect the
quality of water and related natural re-
sources on a watershed basis. Organizing
projects at this level helps achieve clean
water goals in more places, more quickly.
The plan is the core of the President's
Clean Water Initiative to fulfill the Clean
Water Act's original goal—fishable and
swimmable water for every American. It
seeks to bolster current clean water pro-
grams in public health and other areas.
Fish and the Action Plan
Improving assurances that fish and shell-
fish are safe to eat is one way the plan will
increase efforts to protect public health.
States and tribes issue consumption advi-
sories to protect citizens from eating con-
taminated fish. In 1996, 2,193 public advi-
sories restricting the consumption of
locally caught fish were in effect. Today,
15 percent of the nation's lake acreage and
5 percent of the nation's river miles are
under fish consumption advisories, along
with all of the Great Lakes and their con-
necting waters, a large portion of the
nation's coastal waters, and about 20 per-
cent of the National Wildlife Refuges.
Most consumption advisories have in-
volved mercury contamination of fish.
Mercury accumulates most efficiently in
the aquatic food web. Predators at the top
of the aquatic food web generally have
higher mercury concentrations.
To assess the extent offish contamination,
the action plan calls for EPA and the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration to conduct a national survey of
mercury and other contaminant levels in
fish and shellfish from 1998 to 2000. To
maximize its coverage, this effort will be
coordinated with state and tribal efforts.
Contaminated Sediment and the
Action Plan
Besides mercury, fish advisories have
been issued for such long-lasting toxic
pollutants as polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs), chlordane, dioxin, and DDT—
even though the use of PCBs, chlordane,
and DDT was banned or drastically re-
stricted many years ago. Many of these
pollutants settle into aquatic sediments,
remaining a source of contamination long
after the original source is controlled.
The plan lists three key EPA actions re-
garding contaminated sediments:
• Develop, by 1998, a multimedia strat-
egy addressing mercury and other
persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic
pollutants that cannot be fully ad-
dressed through single medium con-
trols or approaches. The strategy will
include enforcement and compliance
efforts to address noncompliance asso-
ciated with contaminated fish and
shellfish areas.
• Release its Contaminated Sediment
Strategy for coordinating program
goals to (1) prevent increases in the
volume of contaminated sediment, (2)
reduce the volume of existing con-
taminated sediment, (3) ensure that
sediment dredging and disposal are
managed in an environmentally
sound manner consistent with the
needs of waterborne commerce, and
(4) develop scientifically sound sedi-
ment management tools for use in
pollution prevention, source control,
remediation, and dredged material
management.
• Begin, in 1998, place-based contami-
nated sediment recovery demonstra-
tion projects in five of the watersheds
of greatest concern listed in EPA's
-------
National Inventory of Sediment Qual-
ity. Remediation efforts will be coor-
dinated with federal resource trustees.
Conclusions
Even with aggressive efforts to reduce the
levels of mercury and other pollutants in
fish and sediment that make fish unsafe to
eat, many years will be required to stop
and then reverse the buildup of these pol-
lutants. Before pollution reduction mea-
sures lower pollutants in fish to safe lev-
els, federal, state, and tribal agencies
must work together to ensure that the
public is accurately informed about con-
taminated sediments and related health
risks of eating fish from specific waters.
For More Information
The Clean Water Action Plan is available
for review on the Internet at http://
www.epa.gov/cleanwater/action/toc.html.
No. 21
Spring 1998
SHORT COURSE SUMMARY Continued from page 3
Discussions Summary
Some important summary points from the
course participants' discussions and asso-
ciated keypad polling sessions included:
• Information on background concen-
trations is important for using SQGs
in sediment quality assessments.
• SQGs are useful tools for assessing
sediment quality, but all SQGs de-
rived from different approaches have
a number of limitations which influ-
ence their use in various applications.
Therefore, SQGs used in conjunction
with other tools (e.g., toxicity tests,
benthic community surveys) to obtain
a weight-of-evidence can enhance
sediment management decisions.
SQGs provide relevant tools for
screening sediment chemistry data;
designing monitoring programs; iden-
tifying the need for source controls;
classifying hot spots,ranking sites;
identifying chemicals of potential
concern; and establishing candidate
sediment quality remediation objec-
tives. However, they cannot be used
alone as pass/fail criteria for all appli-
cations.
Sediment chemistry, sediment toxic-
ity, benthic invertebrate community
structure, and bioavailability data are
all relevant for development of sedi-
ment quality remediation objectives
(i.e., clean-up levels).
Multiple SQGs can be evaluated and
the most appropriate used to develop
sediment quality remediation objec-
tives for a particular site.
Effects-based SQGs do not consider
the potential for bioaccumulation;
therefore, bioaccumulation-based
SQGs should be evaluated and used,
as applicable, to support the estab-
lishment of sediment quality
remediation objectives.
A range of suggestions for improving
the SQGs were also provided by
short course participants, including
addressing the major limitations of
the SQGs, identifying cause and ef-
fect relationships, calculating toxicity
equivalents, addressing the bioavail-
ability of contaminants, identifying
the substances contributing to the
toxicity of mixtures, and increasing
their applicability in different sedi-
ment types.
Guidance Planned
The instructors are developing a series of
journal articles dealing with guidance on
uses of SQGs to assess and manage con-
taminated sediments. They plan to de-
velop a lead paper describing an overall
framework of how SQGs can be used in
assessing sediments, followed by a series
of papers outlining SQG applications.
For More Information
A detailed summary of the discussions
held during the short course is available
on the Internet at: http://www.ecrc.cr.
usgs.gov/pubs/shortcourse.htm.
Additional information is available by
contacting Don MacDonald (MacDonald
Environmental Sciences Ltd., 250 753-
1583; e-mail; SFF-MESL@island.net) or
Chris Ingersoll (USGS), (573) 876-1819;
e-mail: chris_ingersoll@usgs.gov).
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No. 21
Spring 1998
Inland Testing Manual Published by
EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
&EPA
The Inland Testing Manual
(ITM) contains up-to-date
procedures to implement re-
quirements in the Clean Wa-
ter Act (CWA) Section
404(b)(l) Guidelines for
evaluation of potential contaminant-re-
lated impacts associated with the dis-
charge of dredged material in fresh, es-
tuarine, and saline (near-coastal) waters.
Formally titled Evaluation of Dredged
Material Proposed for Discharge in Wa-
ters of the U.S. - Testing Manual, it was
prepared by a joint Environmental Protec-
tion Agency/U.S. Army Corps of Engi-
neers (EPA/CE) Workgroup.
In 1991, EPA and CE revised an Ocean
Testing Manual (Evaluation of Dredged
Material Proposed for Ocean Disposal -
Testing Manual) for evaluation of poten-
tial contaminant-related impacts associ-
ated with the discharge of dredged mate-
rial in the ocean, under the Marine
Protection Research and Sanctuaries Act
(MPRSA). The ITM is patterned after this
manual.
The ITM Addresses:
• contaminated-related impacts associ-
ated with discharges of dredged ma-
terial resulting from navigational
dredging (or dredging activities of es-
sentially the same character as navi-
gation dredging, such as open water
discharges of dredged material exca-
vated from a soft-bottom flood con-
trol channel or reservoir) in open wa-
ter disposal areas.
• contaminated-related impacts to wa-
ters of the U.S. associated with
dredged material runoff from con-
fined disposal areas.
The ITM Does Not Address:
• impacts associated with the dredging
activity itself.
• impacts associated with dredged ma-
terial discharges resulting from exca-
vation of drainage ditches and
landclearing.
• impacts associated with the discharge
of fill material. However, where
dredged material associated with
navigational dredging will be dis-
charged in open water as fill, the pro-
cedures of this manual are applicable
(e.g., the construction of an underwa-
ter berm using dredged material).
Purpose
The ITM provides a national testing
framework which comprises one element
of an overall decision-making process for
determining whether dredged material
can be discharged into CWA Section 404
waters. The ITM is intended to provide
for consistency between dredged material
evaluations under CWA and MPRSA. In
recognition of the importance of site- and
situation-specific concerns, regional flex-
ibility in implementation and application
is allowed within this national frame-
work.
Description
The ITM uses a tiered testing approach:
• Tier I - Involves an examination of
existing information to determine (1)
whether or not there is "reason to be-
lieve" that the material needs to be
tested for potential adverse effects,
and (2) identification of any contami-
nants of concern relative to testing in
later tiers. Material may be excluded
from further testing if there is reason-
able assurance that (1) it is not a car-
rier of contaminants, or (2) it is adja-
cent and similar to the disposal site
material, and dispersal of the dis-
charge can be controlled. Some lim-
ited testing may be necessary to con-
firm such exclusions.
• Tier II - Is concerned solely with
sediment and water chemistry. Tier II
provides useful information through
screening tools, but not all possible
determinations can be reached at this
tier. It presently consists of (1) mea-
-------
suring dissolved contaminants, (2)
evaluation of state Water Quality
Standard (WQS) compliance using a
numerical mixing model, and (3) an
evaluation of theoretical
bioaccumulation potential for nonpo-
lar organic chemicals.
Tier III - Employs well-defined, na-
tionally accepted bioassays including:
(1) water column laboratory toxicity
tests, (2) whole sediment laboratory
toxicity tests, (3) whole sediment
bioaccumulation tests. Appropriately
sensitive organisms are recommended,
including benchmark species for
evaluating the sensitivity of regional
species. Summaries of test conditions
and test acceptability criteria for all
recommended bioassay species are
also provided. Toxicity testing em-
phasizes acute responses, generally
survival. Water column toxicity
evaluations consider mixing of the
dredged material at the discharge site.
Benthic bioaccumulation testing pro-
vides for the determination of
bioavailability through 28-day expo-
sure tests. Tier III testing will usually
provide sufficient information for use
National Sediment
Bioaccumulation Conference
Proceedings Published
The proceedings are available for the Na-
tional Sediment Bioaccumulation Confer-
ence sponsored by EPA's Office of Sci-
ence and Technology (OST) and Office
of Research and Development in Septem-
ber 1996.
They document the conference presenta-
tions, panel discussions, and other key
conference materials such as the final
agenda and attendee list. The papers in
the proceedings include state-of-the-sci-
ence information on bioaccumulation as-
sessment, case studies on using
bioaccumulation data in risk assessments,
and examples of integrating such data
into EPA's regulatory decision-making.
The proceedings are currently available
on the OST home page: www.epa.gov/
OST.
in the overall decision-making pro-
cess for compliance with the Guide-
lines.
Tier IV- Will only be
used in special cases,
where results from
tests in earlier tiers
are insufficient to de-
termine the potential
adverse effects of the
material to be dis-
charged. Tier IV, like
Tier III, uses toxicity
and bioaccumulation
tests, however: (1)
toxicity tests may in-
volve field (rather
than laboratory) expo-
sures, different end-
points (e.g., chronic
rather than acute), dif-
ferent species, or
longer laboratory ex-
posures; (2)
bioaccumulation tests
may involve field
(rather than labora-
tory) exposures using
transplanted or resi-
dent organisms, or
longer laboratory ex-
posures. Tier IV can
also include benthos
studies.
No. 21
Spring 1998
The ITM Includes
Statutory and Regulatory Background
Scope and Applicability
Overview of Testing and Evaluation
Technical Guidance
- Sampling and Analysis
- Physical and Chemical Evaluations
- Bioassays (Toxicity and
Bioaccumulation)
- Quality Assurance/Quality Control
- Evaluation of Discharges from
Confined Disposal Facilities
- Evaluation of Mixing
- Statistical Methods
- Identification of Ammonia Toxicity
Summary
The ITM is intended to provide greater
national consistency in the (1) testing pro-
cess, and (2) level of environmental pro-
tection, both among regions of the U.S.
and between inland and ocean waters.
For More Information
The ITM is available for viewing or
downloading at http://www.epa.gov/OST/
pubs/ITM.html and http://www.wes.army.
mil/el/dots/.
Additional information is available from
Mike Kravitz of EPA at (202) 260-8085
His e-mail address is Kravitz.Michael@
epamail.epa.gov.
To order copies from the National Tech-
nical Information Service, U.S. customers
should call (800) 553-NTIS, and other
customers should call (703) 605-6000.
-------
No. 21
Spring 1998
Information Exchange Program Offers
Links to Central and Eastern Europe
If you have questions about the environ-
ment in Central and Eastern Europe, the
Regional Environmental Center (REC)
for Central and Eastern Europe can help.
The REC is an independent, nonprofit, re-
gional organization devoted to the im-
provement of the environment in Central
and Eastern Europe. It was established in
1990 by the United States, Hungary, and
the Commission of the European Com-
munities. Additional donors include Aus-
tria, the Czech Re-
public, Denmark,
Finland, France,
Germany, Japan, the
Netherlands, Nor-
way and Switzer-
land. Today, there
are 24 signatory
governments to its
charter.
The Center's mis-
sion is to assist in
solving the environ-
mental problems in
Central and Eastern
Europe by encour-
aging cooperation
among nongovern-
mental organiza-
tions (NGOs), gov-
ernments,
businesses, and
other environmental
stakeholders, by
supporting the free
exchange of infor-
mation and by pro-
moting public par-
ticipation in
environmental decisionmaking. Benefi-
ciary countries include Albania, Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia,
Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary,
Latvia, Lithuania, FYR Macedonia, Po-
land, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and
FR Yugoslavia.
REC's Information Exchange Program
has extensive resources including a spe-
cialized library, computer databases, and
access to global electronic communica-
tions networks. It fields questions from
many public and private groups, includ-
ing NGOs looking for information about
funding, environmental events, and the
activities of other organizations; govern-
ments seeking comparative information
on policymaking tools; and journalists
seeking referrals to independent experts.
The REC publishes The Bulletin, a quar-
terly English-language newsletter, as well
as monthly local-language newsletters, an
annual report, and many reports that re-
sult from its activities. Also available in
print and electronic format are:
• NGO Directory, listing more than
1,700 organizations in 15 countries.
• Environment and Government Direc-
tory, with contact information for all
the environmental ministries in Cen-
tral and Eastern Europe.
• Grant Project Summaries, describing
the results of REC-funded projects.
• Environmental Business Directory,
listing more than 700 environmental
suppliers in Poland, the Czech Re-
public, the Slovak Republic, and
Hungary.
For More Information
The Regional Environmental Center for
Central and Eastern Europe can be
reached at:
AdyEndreut9-ll,2000
Szentendre, Hungary
tel: (3 6-26) 311-199
fax: (36-26) 311-294
e-mail: rec-info@rec.org
CompuServe: 100324,24
The Center maintains home pages on the
World Wide Web, Gopher, and FTP serv-
ers at the following address:
http ://www.rec. org
gopher://gopher.rec. org
ftp://ftp.rec.org
-------
New Data Study Supports Existing
Sediment Quality Guidelines Developed
Using Co-occurrence Approaches
No. 21
Spring 1998
Co-occurrence approaches for developing
sediment assessment guidelines rely on
paired field and laboratory data to relate
incidence of observed biological effects to
the dry-weight sediment concentration of a
specific chemical parameter.
Long et al. (1995) and MacDonald et al.
(1996) have generated marine sediment
quality guidelines using similar co-occur-
rence approaches. For each chemical pa-
rameter, both approaches identify an upper
threshold above which adverse biological
effects frequently occur, and a lower
threshold below which adverse biological
effects rarely occur. Despite some differ-
ences in methodology and data used, the
thresholds derived from each approach are
generally in good agreement with one an-
other.
Comparison of independently derived sedi-
ment quality guidelines to existing co-oc-
currence values, using the same methodol-
ogy, can help determine how applicable a
particular co-occurrence approach is to
other data sets and to other measures of ef-
fects. Numerous sediment quality assess-
ment surveys using the sea urchin
(Arbacia punctulata) fertilization and em-
bryological development tests have been
conducted along the Atlantic and Gulf
coasts of the United States. The sea urchin
test is performed using porewater from
sampled sediment. These data were used
to generate co-occurrence sediment quality
guidelines using the Long et al. and
MacDonald et al. methods for four metals
and for PAHs.
In general, there was excellent agreement
between the porewater-based values and
the existing sediment quality guidelines.
The lower threshold values tended to cor-
respond more closely than the upper
threshold comparisons, which were gener-
ally within a factor of 2 and usually lower
than the comparable Long et al. and
MacDonald et al. values. The close corre-
spondence among comparable values for
these two distinctly different data sets
demonstrates the general applicability of
sediment quality guidelines based on the
co-occurrence approach, and the compara-
bility of the sea urchin porewater test to
other adverse biological effect measures.
For More Information
For more information, contact Robert
Scott Carr, Ph.D., United States Geologi-
cal Survey, Corpus Christi, TX at (512)
980-3216 (e-mail: Scott_Carr@usgs.gov).
References Cited
Long, E.R., D.D. MacDonald, S.L. Smith,
andF.D. Calder. 1995. Incidence of ad-
verse biological effects within ranges of
chemical concentrations in marine and es-
tuarine sediment. Environ. Mngmt. 19:81-
97.
MacDonald, D.D., R.S. Carr, F.D. Calder,
E.R. Long, and C.G. Ingersoll. 1996. De-
velopment and evaluation of sediment
quality guidelines for Florida coastal wa-
ters. Ecotoxicology 5:253-278.
Editors Note: This article comes from the poster,
Comparison of Sediment Porewater Effect Based
Concentration Values with Marine Sediment
Quality Assessment Guidelines, presented at the
1996 annual Southeast Chapter of the Society of
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC)
meeting in Washington, DC.
Unfertilized (left)
and fertilized egg
with an elevated
fertilization
membrane, the
endpoint used in
the fertilization
assay.
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No. 21
Spring 1998
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July 6-10, 1998
Quantitative Methods in Ecotoxicology
College of William and Mary
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Gloucester Point, Virginia
July 20-24, 1998
Quantitative Methods in Ecotoxicology
University of Georgia's Savannah River
Ecology Laboratory
Aiken, South Carolina
Course presenting quantitative methods for
analyzing and applying ecotoxicological
data with PC-based software. The scientific
and statistical soundness of techniques are
emphasized. Morning lectures will outline
quantitative methods and statistical aspects
of their implementation. Example data sets
will be analyzed using PC-based software
during the afternoon sessions.
For more information, contact:
Dr. Michael C. Newman (Instructor)
The College of William and Mary
Department of Environmental Sciences
Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences
Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062-1346
Phone: (804) 684-7725
Fax: (804)684-7186
e-mail: Newman@vims.edu
Ms. Edith Towns (Coordinator)
University of Georgia
Savannah River Ecology Laboratory
P.O. Drawer E
Aiken, South Carolina 29803
Phone: (803) 725-8239
Fax: (803) 725-3309
e-mail: towns@srel.edu
August 24-28-1998
Annual Multi-Regional Meeting on Water
Quality Standards, Water Quality Criteria,
and Implementation, including Water
Quality-Based Permitting
"Strengthening the Foundation of the
Nation's Water Quality Program"
Wyndham Franklin Plaza Hotel*
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
EPA's meeting on water
quality provides for an
exchange of scien-
Ttific, technical, and
\\ policy information
on water
standards,
water quality
criteria, and implementation, including
water quality-based permitting.
This meeting will focus on the Water Quality
Criteria and Standards Plan, a vision and
strategy for important new initiatives to
improve water quality, better protect human
health, and maintain and enhance the
quality of the nation's water.
Request for Abstracts: Please submit
abstracts by May 1, 1998. Potential topics
for abstracts and poster sessions include:
• Developing nutrient criteria and
assessment methods to better protect
human health and aquatic life.
• Developing criteria for microbial
pathogens to better protect human
health.
• Using biological criteria as an improved
basis for aquatic life protection.
• Maintaining and strengthening existing
ambient water quality criteria.
• Ensuring implementation of these new
initiatives and improvements by the
States and Indian tribes in partnerships
with EPA.
Registration and logistical information will
be posted on the Office of Science and
Technology Home Page at www.epa.gov/
OST and the Office of Wastewater Manage-
ment Home Page at www.epa.gov/OWM.
For additional information you may also
contact EPA's contractor, The Cadmus
Group, at (703) 998-6862 (press 2190) or
by e-mail at mrm98@cadmusgroup.com.
*Note: An earlier announcement identified the
meeting site as the Philadelphia Marriott
Convention Hotel. The meeting location has
been changed to the Wyndham Franklin Plaza
Hotel, 17th and Race Street, Philadelphia
(Phone:215448-2000).
August 31 - September 3, 1998
3rd International Conference on
Hydroscience and Engineering
Cottbus/Berlin, Germany
The conference will cover the latest ideas in
the field of hydroscience and engineering,
including the scientific aspects of modelling
(conceptual, physical-mathematical models,
field observations, computer science
application, and computer implementation).
-------
No. 21
Spring 1998
Conference topics will include surface and
subsurface hydrodynamics; estuarine,
coastal, and nearshore processes; river
mechanics; reservoir management; erosion
and sedimentation modeling; pollutant
transport and dispersion in free surface and
ground water; data investigation and
uncertainty analysis; numerical methods
and techniques; parameter estimation and
control applications; software development
and model building; and management and
decision support systems.
Sponsors include the International Associa-
tion for Hydrological Sciences and the
International Research and Training Center
on Erosion and Sedimentation
For more information, contact:
Conference Secretariat
Brandenburg University of Technology at
Cottbus
Institut fuer Bauinformatik
Karl-Marx-Strasse 17
D-03044
Cottbus, Germany
Phone: +1-49-355-69-2262
Fax: +1-49-355-69-2262
e-mail: lfb@bauinf.tu-cottbus.de
Web: http://www.bauinf.tu-cottbus.de/
ICHE98/
If you bother me before I have a chance to
burrow into the sediment, you may end up
with a handful of my innards. Do you know
what I am?
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September 15-17, 1998
Fourth International Symposium and
Exhibition on Environmental Contamination
in Central and Eastern Europe
Warsaw, Poland
Using a global perspective, experts will
discuss and demonstrate equipment,
innovative technologies, and
management methods
that can be used to
address environ-
mental problems.
Technical focus
areas will
include site
restoration and
remediation,
waste treatment
and disposal,
technology develop-
ment, environmental
monitoring, site characterization, contain-
ment and control, human health and risk
assessment, and other issues related to
environmental contamination.
For more information, contact:
Warsaw '98
Florida State University
2035 East Paul Dirac Drive, 226 HMB
Tallahassee, Florida 32310-3700
Phone: (850)644-7211
Fax: (850) 574-6704
e-mail: Warsaw98@mailer.fsu.edu
Internet: http://www.warsaw98.fsu.edu
October 5-7, 1998
Fifth International Conference on Remote
Sensing for Marine and Coastal Environ-
ments
San Diego Princess Convention Center
San Diego, California
Organized by ERIM.
Sponsors include
NASA, NOAA/NESDIS,
U.S. DOE Nevada
Operations and Remote
Sensing Lab, GER
Corporation, RadarSat
International, and
National Wetlands
Research Center.
For details, contact:
ERIM Marine Conferences
Box134001
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48113-4001
Phone: (313) 994-1200 ext. 3234
Fax: (313)994-5123
e-mail: wallman@erim.org
-------
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