=PA 3 10/9-35-' 3C
Alaska
United States Region 10 • Idaho
Environmental Protection 1200 Sixt* Av.>nue Oregon
Agency Seattle .'A 96101 Washingtsr.
Management Division September 1985
SERA Region 10 ~~~
Environmental Management
Report
Update
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United States Region 10 Alaska
Environmental Protection 1200 Sixth Avenue Idaho
Agency Seattle WA 98101 Oregon
Washington
<&ERA Briefing
Document
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REGION 10
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT REPORT UPDATE
SEPTEMBER, 1985
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Part I. - Regional Administrator's Overview 1
Environmental Priority List 5
Part II. - Regional Environmental Problems
Groundwater Contamination 6
- Hazardous Waste Disposal
- Pesticides
- Leaking Underground Storage Tanks
Air Contamination 12
- Air Toxics
- Respirable Particulates
- Carbon Monoxide
- Acid Deposition
Surface Water Contamination
- Bacterial/Toxic Contamination of Shellfish 27
- Nonpoint Source 29
- Placer Mining 31
PCB Disposal 34
Wetlands Protection 37
Puqet Sound 40
Silver Valley 47
Part III. - Regional Recommendations for the FY 87-88 56
Agency Priority List
Part IV. - Most Significant Environmental Problems - 57
Region 10 Chart
Appendix - Proposed Environmental Indicators 59
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LIST OF TABLES AND MAPS
Majas
Region 10 1984 Air Quality status - Carbon Monoxide 24
Total Alkalinity of Region 10 Surface Waters 25
Washington State Lake Sampling Regions and Study Sites 26
NPDES Permitted Placer Mines in Alaska 33
Chemical Contamination Sites in Puget Sound 45
Puget Sound Priority Shellfish Protection Areas 46
Silver Valley - Superfund Site Boundary and Bunker Hill Complex ... 53
Silver Valley - Ambient Lead Monitoring Sites 54
Silver Valley - Active NPDES Mine and Hill Locations . 55
Tables
Estimates of PM-10 Exceedance Probabilities at 20
Prospective Region 10 Monitoring Sites
Region 10 CO Nonattaiment Problem Areas 21
Days of Second High Violations (mg/mJ)
Major CO Nonattainment Area Control Strategies 22
Status of I/M Programs
Estimated Population Exposure to Unhealthy Carbon Monoxide Levels . . 23
1983 to 1988
Estimated Average Zinc Loadings in the South Fork 50
Coeur d'Alene Basin 1974 to 1984
Comparison of Metal Concentrations - 1982 and 1984 51
South Fork and Main Stem Coeur d'Alene Rivers
Silver Valley Ambient Lead Concentrations - 1975 to 1984 52
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Part I. Regional Administrator's Overview
The 1985 update to the Region 10 Environmental Management Report of 1983
describes work planned during FiscaJ 86 in high priority efforts by the
States of the Pacific Northwest and Region 10 to address current and
emerging environmental problems. Because those problems we now feel merit
priority status are not the same problems we discussed in 1983 and 1984, the
organization of this 1985 Update differs.
Where possible, environmental problems were discussed collectively by
media. For example, the general topic of Pesticides and Toxic Substances,
identified as a separate priority problem in 1983, is addressed this year in
media-related sections on Groundwater and Air Contamination. Similarly,
Fishery Damage is discussed this year as part of the placer mining and
nonpoint source problem discussions.
We also took a different approach to ranking the significance of each
problem this year. Our Management Team assessed each environmental problem
independently according to four criteria: (1) number of persons exposed,
(2) human health risk, (3) ecological risk, and (4) the level of public
concern. They were also asked to weigh each of the four criteria. The
attached environmental priority list presents the results of this exercise.
Our top priority — hazardous waste contamination of groundwater.
Region 10 program staff devoted extra effort this year to identify potential
environmental indicators for each problem and to analyze two geographical
focus areas ~ Puget Sound and Silver Valley, Idaho.
1983 Environmental Priorities not appearing in this 1985 Update:
Lead - Due to the depressed world market for copper, the ASARCO smelter in
Tacoma closed. Our concern for lead pollution is now much more
localized as In Silver Valley, Idaho. Even there, the closure of
the Bunker Hill Smelter has drastically reduced ambient lead
concentrations.
Ozone - State Implementation Plan redesignations of ozone nonattalnment
areas to attainment were submitted for Medford, Oregon and
Seattle-Tacoma, Washington. The Portland-Vancouver area exceeded
ambient standards only twice during the summer of 1985 due to
meteorological conditions. Generally, ambient ozone standards are
rarely exceeded.
TSP - Air quality improvements resulting from diminishing ambient
concentrations of TSP are due, in large part, to the implementation
of effective control strategies. EPA approved a joint request to
redesignate the Lewiston-Clarks ton interstate nonattalnment area to
attainment for primary TSP standards this year. New woodstove
legislation was approved and incorporated within the Oregon State
Implementation Plan (SIP) this year also.
Activities in 1985
Fiscal 1985 brought limited improvement in compliance with hazardous waste
requirements affecting groundwater. Some businesses that now manage on-site
the hazardous wastes they generate are electing to close their waste
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management activities rather than upgrade to meet stringent technical
operating requirements. We hope to issue final permits under the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act for seven operating sites next year. Surface
clean-up was completed at the Western Processing Superfund site in Kent,
Washington this year.
Region 10 participated in Agency efforts to determine the extent and
significance of groundwater contamination from agricultural pesticides and
leaking underground storage tanks. Protective state or local programs seem
unlikely to develop until EPA inventories are in. Private-sector and EPA
laboratory resources are generally inadequate to respond to public concerns
about pesticides in groundwater.
Hater pollution by nonpoint source continues to be a stubborn and
frustrating problem. About 60 percent of the Region's water pollution
problem stems from nonpoint sources. Nonpoint source pollution is largely
responsible for the closing of shellfish beds in the commercially important
southern region of Puget Sound. We know how to solve these problems, but
lack regulatory and funding authority to do so. Control of nonpoint
pollution from federal lands could be achieved through EPA arrangements with
the custodial agencies. Each state in Region 10 has projects or activities
partly supported with federal funds to address agricultural or si 1v1 cultural
pollution. The effectiveness of these projects varies. Alaska, Idaho and
Washington plan to further stiffen the water quality sections of their
silviculture control programs next year. Management plans to control
nonpoint source pollution in Tillamook and Coos Bays, Oregon have resulted
in the reclassification of some closed shellfish beds to conditional
status.
Wetlands protection activities in Region 10 resulted in the development of a
policy to require mitigative measures to offset losses of wetlands functions
and values, and a priority list to alert developers and others planning
development projects that important sites might be affected. The Regional
Office elevated two wetlands permit cases for reviews by EPA and the Army
Corps of Engineers Headquarters this year. Region 10 also plans to work
next year to raise public awareness and concern about wetlands.
Information gathered by states and local agencies in the Northwest suggests
that wood-treatment and chemical facilities are potential major sources of
toxic air pollutants. Other sources include motor vehicles, petroleum
distribution, residential woodstoves and agricultural burning. By the end
of 1987, a draft Regional air toxics strategy prepared this year is expected
to lead to the development of a database and state and local control
programs. We are optimistic that state programs will include contingency
plans to protect public health in the event of emergency releases of
toxicants. Headquarters funding and guidance is needed to facilitate
development of toxicant control programs.
State systems to monitor respirable particulates will be established and
operational by January 1986. Development of a control program, however,
still awaits promulgation of EPA standards and guidelines. Particulate
monitoring so far indicates problems in suburban areas, rural communities,
topographically confined locales, and areas where integral vistas are
affected. Oregon requires certification of woodburning stoves. Other
Region 10 states also seek to stabilize these emissions and are considering
strategies similar to Oregon's.
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Public concern about inhalable particles led to vigorous prohibition of
woodburning when pollution is excessive in the Mendenhall Valley of Juneau,
Alaska, and the development of an air quality management plan for a rural
valley in Washington targeted for a ski development. The Region is
undertaking studies to characterize the health effects, of slash and field
burning.
Consent decrees ready for signature by nearly 550 placer miners in Alaska
are expected next year to result in relatively rapid reduction of turbidity
in about 4,100 miles of streams designated for fish habitat and drinking
water supply.
A Momorandum of Agreement signed this year by the Puget Sound Water Quality
Authority, the Washington Department of Ecology and EPA established the
mutual responsibility of these agencies to: (1) delineate complementary
roles, (2) coordinate their management programs, and (3) jointly implement
the Puget Sound Estuarine Program. Studies continue to develop the Sound's
loading model and to clean-up chemically contaminated embayments.
Significant environmental progress in the past year occurred due to the
cooperative efforts of NEIC and EPA criminal Investigators. Through
vigorous federal-state compliance and enforcement actions, evidence of
illegal dumping by one Duwamish River wood-treatment company in Seattle was
obtained and resulted in a fine of $1 million against the company and a jail
term of 60 days for the company president. Part of the fine ($850,000) 1s
to be spent for Puget Sound pollution control work designated by the
Regional Administrator through an environmental trust fund. This trust fund
represents a creative solution to the need to make the criminal justice
system dovetail with environmental protection.
Some additional highlights:
At our mid-year management retreat, we heard predictions from Northwest
experts on the economic future of the industries we regulate and then
contemplated what impact such changes might have on the way Region 10
does business. As background research for the meeting, our economist,
Bob Coughlin, prepared a study of Region 10 economic trends. That study
has been widely distributed throughout the business and government
communities and was cited by an area newspaper for its fresh insights.
Because our ADP staff have demonstrated their proficiency through
projects like the development of telecommunication and minicomputer
system software for the Agency, Region 10 has been selected to receive a
new minicomputer. This equipment will greatly enhance our ability to
store, manipulate and transfer data and assist current efforts.to: (1)
develop an enforcement caseload system, (2) store Western Lakes Survey
data, and expedite lab research utilization and automation.
V»4 vL. j ^
Ernesta B. Barnes
Region 10 Administrator
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For those readers not familiar with the Pacific Northwest, a summary of
the findings from the Region 10 Economic Trend Study are provided below as
an introduction. Those who desire more information may contact our Seattle
office for a copy of the study.
1. Historically, population growth of Region 10 states has occurred at
rates greater than the nation. In the last decade the region's population
increased at twice the national rate.
2. High relative personal income in Region 10 has stemmed in large measure
from industrialization, based on natural resources and skilled labor.
Forest products, agriculture, and hydroelectricity have been the central
elements of the economy, with transportation equipment and nuclear
engineering secondary sources of Income advantage.
3. Average income in all Region 10 states but Washington has been falling
since the mid-seventies. Per capita personal income in both Oregon and
Idaho is now distinctly below the national norm.
4. Nationally, goods-related industries are producing a progressively
smaller share of personal income, while dividends, interest, rent and
transfers provide a progressively larger share. Prices of raw materials
have been falling relative to interest rates and finished product prices.
The trends have been disadvantageous to regions with economies based on raw
materials and manufacturing.
5. a) Alaska has been enjoying a continuing boom as a consequence of
expanded petroleum production. Service industries have been stimulated by
petroleum revenues. Conversely, established forest products and fishery
industries have declined as a consequence of resource and exchange
constraints.
b> Idaho's economy has contracted severely in the last five years as a
consequence of its dependence on agriculture and forest products. Secondary
service industries have suffered, though there has been some strength in
miscellaneous manufacturing. The State has become dependent on transfers
for roughly three-tenths of its personal income.
c) Oregon has suffered a four year recession 1n which all of its basic
Industries—but particularly lumbering, construction, and wholesale and
retail trade—have contracted. Weakness has extended to secondary service
industries; and only secondary manufacturing industries show any sign of
relative strength. Gross personal income as well as per capita income has
been dropping.
d) Washington's economy, bolstered by military spending, service to
Alaska and atypically strong agriculture, has been the firmest among Region
10 states since 1972 despite the absolute weakness of its forest products
industries and relative weakness in both trade and secondary services.
6. The region as a whole has been increasing its economic dependence on
manufacturing and agriculture, the softest elements of the national
economy. Alaska's economy has become dominated by petroleum. Significant
elements in the Region's economic future will be the rate of depletion of
Alaskan petroleum reserves, loss of the competitive advantage previously
conferred by hydroelectricity, constraints on forest products imposed by the
reforestation rate, and expansion of Pacific basin trade.
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Region 10
1985 EMR Update
Environmental Priority List
1. Hazardous Waste Contamination of Groundwater
2. Puget Sound
3. Air Toxics
4. PCB Strategy for Utility and Scrap/Salvage Operations
5. Bacterial/Toxic Contamination of Shellfish
6. Pesticide Contamination of Groundwater
7. Leaking Underground Storage Tanks
8. Wetlands Protection
9. Nonpoint Source Contamination of Surface Water
10. Silver Valley/Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
11. Carbon Monoxide
12. Acid Deposition
13. Respirable Particulates
14. Placer Mining
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Part II. Regional Environmental Problems
GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION
Problem Assessment
Groundwater contamination in the Northwest is on the increase and stems from
many sources. This year, Region 10 judged that waste-disposal practices,
leaking underground storage tanks and the use of agricultural chemicals
constitute the most significant aspects of groundwater contamination
problems in need of our attention here. Contaminants from these sources
include chlorinated solvents, pesticides, other hydrocarbons (gasoline),
metals, nitrates and microorganisms.
Most aquifers in the Northwest are relatively shallow, easy to tap and
produce large volumes of high quality water. These same characteristics
also make groundwater resources easily susceptible to contamination by land
surface activities and waste disposal. The extent of the threat to public
health and the environment is better understood when one considers that over
50 percent of the population in Region 10 receives their drinking water from
groundwater sources. In the state of Washington alone, over 95 percent of
the 10,000 public water systems use groundwater resources.
Superfund:
Past practices for the disposal of toxic and hazardous wastes have caused
actual or potential contamination of groundwater. Nationally, over 80
percent of the sites on the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) rank
high in actual or potential threats to groundwater. In Region 10, the list
of potential groundwater contamination sites stands at 914 and includes 32
sites on or proposed for the NPL (Idaho -4; Oregon -5; and Washington -23).
Emergency cleanups were completed at three sites during 1985 to stabilize
them until long-term remedial work is completed.
While a limited, emergency cleanup can be conducted at any site where the
public health is threatened, the more expensive, long-term cleanup actions,
such as those under Superfund, must be based on thorough research and site
evaluation. Ground-water protection research is being conducted under the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) for operating hazardous waste
disposal sites; however, it is extremely complex. Tracing contamination
after it is found is only slightly easier.
RCRA:
Presently in Region 10, there are at least twenty-five industrial facilities
— electroplaters, wood-treatment plants, refineries, and large
waste-disposal operations — with activities that potentially affect
groundwater. While most of these facilities have installed monitoring
wells, the extent to which each of these facilities may be affecting
groundwater has not yet been determined. Several instances of groundwater
contamination have been detected, however. Some businesses that now manage
on-site the hazardous wastes that they generate are electing to close their
waste management activities rather than upgrade to meet more stringent
technical operating requirements.
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EPA must gather enough information to tailor each RCRA permit precisely to
soil, geological and flow conditions unique to each site. These
conditions may vary significantly at different points within the same
site. At one complex site, more than 100 monitoring wells have been
installed so far to define the underlying geology and to measure the rate
and directions of waterflow. Detailed site information is then used to
define acceptable operating practices.
EPA regulations grant "interim" status to active sites known or believed
to be active while information is gathered for final permit issuance.
Final permits will be good for 5 to 10 years. Permits may be changed if
hazardous chemicals are later discovered in groundwater stemming from a
disposal site. However, final permits may not be amended should compounds
declared hazardous after the permit was issued be discovered. No permits
have yet been issued for a Pacific Northwest disposal site where
groundwater may be affected. By law, all permits must be issued by
November 1988.
Pesti cides:
Recent discoveries of pesticide contamination of ground water raises
concern that such contamination may be widespread and of significant
concentrations, yet the use of agricultural chemicals is sanctioned for
economic and public health reasons. Four pesticides have been found in
public drinking water supplies following complaint investigations. Our
recent experience with the soil fumigant ethylene dibromide (EDB)
illustrates this previously unrecognized problem.
EDB in concentrations of up to H ppb has been found in public and private
wells in several Washington counties. Translated into cancer risk levels
of about 2 per 100, these are among the highest risk levels yet found in
drinking water in the Northwest. The presence or potential presence of
pesticides in groundwater raises two problems. The long-term problem will
be to deal with a nonpoint source of groundwater pollution that has
official sanction and is viewed as critical to the agricultural economy.
In the short-term, the problem is to determine the extent and significance
of pesticide contamination. Complicating this problem is the fact that
health risks, leachabi1ity, and similar factors about pesticides have not
been fully determined.
Given the lack of knowledge about the extent of the problem and the
factors influencing groundwater contamination, studies are under way at
the national, regional, and State level to better define the problem.
Last year in preparation for a national survey, EPA identified forty-five
"migratory" pesticides likely to leach into groundwater. This survey will
examine pesticide contamination of groundwater and identify relationships
among chemical use, soil and geological conditions conducive to
contamination. Only six pesticides (four of which are banned) are covered
under current water supply standards prescribed by EPA under the Safe
Drinking Water Act. National survey results are not be expected until
1988. The search for pesticides in Northwest groundwater is only
beginning, and the magnitude of the problem is largely unknown.
Leaking Underground Storage Tanks:
Leakage of toxic chemicals from underground storage tanks is a problem of
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growing concern. Each of the states in Region 10 has ranked underground
storage tanks as a major source of contamination threats. Idaho conducted
a survey in 1984 and plans to regulate tanks through legislation.
The number of incidences reported to the States and EPA involving leakage
of gasoline from underground tanks has increased. Although the exact
number, location and contents of leaking tanks in Region 10 is largely
unknown, the large number of unprotected tanks, some buried 25 to 30 years
ago, hints at the possible magnitude of this threat to groundwater
resources.
Regional Agenda/Barriers
Efforts to prevent all forms of groundwater contamination are urgent
because once aquifers and wells have been contaminated there may be no
other alternative except to look for other sources or install costly
treatment facilities. Region 10 will use a two-pronged approach to attack
the problem of groundwater contamination. Prevention and cleanup will be
the thrust of our program.
The key elements will include efforts to:
° Assist state and local agencies in developing comprehensive
groundwater programs. With the help of EPA funding through
Section 106 of the Clean Water Act, Washington, Oregon and Idaho
are developing more integrated and comprehensive groundwater
programs. These programs will include management tools like
monitoring strategies, aquifer classification systems and
groundwater quality standards.
Investigate and take appropriate action on previously
unaddressed sources of contamination such as non-hazardous waste
landfills, pits and lagoons, pesticide use, and leaking
underground storage tanks.
Create a policy framework to provide consistency among EPA
programs on issues such as the resource to be protected and the
level of protection to be provided that resource based on. the
use, value, and vulnerability of groundwater supplies.
° Develop a groundwater focus to identify program needs, outputs,
exchange information, coordinate actions, and measure progress
toward meeting goals.
One barrier to progress is the general lack of understanding of the value
and vulnerability of our groundwater resources. A patchwork of statutes,
policies and strategies that impact groundwater resources exists at all
levels of government and presents a major barrier. Of equal concern is
the fact that many of the "patches" are totally missing.
Superfund:
With regard to specific program activities, Region 10's Superfund program
will focus on removal of wastes that imperil public health, and on
long-term remedial actions where no immediate threat exists. During 1985,
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the State of Washington began four remedial investigations and Region 10
started two. EPA wants to make sure that waste from Superfund sites is
safely disposed of instead of becoming a potential problem in a new
location. A new policy requires that Superfund waste be sent only to an
active hazardous waste site having no significant violations of the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
During FY 86, immediate removals are planned at two NPL sites. Region 10
also plans remedial investigations at six sites, and will undertake at
least one long-term, remedial cleanup. Region 10 should also complete
remedial design at four sites and begin design of remedial actions at
three sites. In addition, remedial activities by responsible parties are
to start at several sites both on and off the National Priorities List.
Barriers to expediting these activities include contract laboratory
capacity and quality requirements.
The major portion of this work is in Washington State which has its own
"Superfund" to meet cost-matching requirements for Federally assisted
cleanup. Oregon also has a State fund for investigating and monitoring
disposal sites and to provide the required State match for remedial
action. Oregon will tap this matching fund in 1986 for one site, United
Chrome at Corvallis. Under current economic conditions, the states find
it increasingly difficult to find ways to meet matching fund
stipulations. Alaska plans to conduct 15 to 20 site investigations next
year.
RCRA:
Permits under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act are a mechanism
for acquiring data on groundwater impacts and analyzing the potential
contamination threat. Permits require facilities to monitor groundwater
quality. New or expanded facilities must have impermeable liners and
collect and properly dispose of liquids that seep through the site.
Over the past year, Region 10 has seen limited improvements in compliance
with hazardous waste requirements. Operating facilities are better
managed, but compliance actions have been taken by the States and EPA to
enforce monitoring requirements at facilities with interim status.
The development of RCRA permits for operating sites has been technically
challenging. The Regional office augmented its staff for this work in
Fiscal 1985. Research continues at these sites to evaluate soil,
geological, and waterflow conditions as a basis for permit requirements.
As noted, no final, 10-year permit has been issued to an existing disposal
site so far in the Pacific Northwest.
Pesticides:
States have sampled for specific pesticides such as EDB in drinking water
supplies. Region 10 has conducted limited sampling for 13 migratory
pesticides in drinklng-water wells in the Ontario, Oregon area.
Pesticides being sought are those identified as having been used in the
area. Additional sampling is proposed in Oregon's Willamette Valley and
in Fort Hall, Idaho. Results are expected late this year. Recognizing
limited resources and competing priorities, our strategy is to complement
and enhance state efforts. Region 10 will integrate regional and national
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pesticide issues in State and local groundwater and drinking water
management programs. Federal, state and local plans and programs will be
reviewed to ascertain appropriate roles for various agencies. Oversight
and information gaps will be identified. Thereafter, the Region will help
States develop data on uses of migratory pesticides over vulnerable
aquifers.
There are significant barriers. Many state and local agencies are
reluctant to begin to look for pesticides in water supplies until EPA
begins to issue health advisories. In addition, many laboratories lack
equipment and expertise necessary to run the costly tests that detect
migratory pesticides in drinking water.
Leaking Storage Tanks:
The Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984 added a major new program
for regulating underground storage tanks used to store petroleum products
and substances regulated under the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA). A major implementation
barrier is the lack of information regarding the number, location, type,
age, condition, and use of underground storage tanks in the Northwest.
As part of the overall national strategy to address this problem, a
national survey of underground motor fuel tanks is currently underway. In
order to prevent the installation of new underground tanks today from
becoming leakers in 20 or 30 years, interim standards that govern
installation of new tanks, require protection from corrosion and eliminate
the burial of unprotected steel tanks became effective in May 1985. By
May 1986 all owners of underground tanks currently in use, or taken out of
service after January 1, 1974 but still buried, will be required to notify
a designated state agency of the location, age, use, and other information
pertaining to each tank.
A second barrier is the difficulty in determining that a tank is leaking
and the impact and fate of the leaking product on groundwater. Region 10
and the states will take part in national work to characterize the problem
and also will conduct seminars to inform state and local officials and the
public of the problem of leaking tanks.
Headquarters Actions Needed
Assist the region and states in strengthening technical expertise in
areas such as geohydrology, toxicology, and treatment technology.
Provide further guidance on RCRA/CERCLA interface and Superfund site
waste disposal practices.
Support requests for additional resources needed to meet deadlines
for issuing land disposal permits.
Issue health advisories for pesticides with groundwater contamination
potential.
Issue drinking water standards for target pesticides as soon as
possible.
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Environmental Results
The Region 10 Office of Groundwater has been staffed with three
professionals. The Regional Groundwater Task Force, established to
coordinate EPA program activities with respect to groundwater problems,
met six times last year. An outside liaison to deal with the states,
other federal agencies and the private sector was also established.
During 1985, Section 106 supplement grants have been made to Idaho,
Oregon, and Washington.
Groundwater protection and cleanup activities will be carried out through
final RCRA permit determinations. The Region hopes to upgrade seven
hazardous waste disposal sites in Fiscal 1986 through permit issuance. By
the end of FY 85, comprehensive inspections, including independent
sampling by inspectors, will be complete at nearly all of the sites in the
Region required to monitor groundwater. As monitoring efforts continue,
the seriousness of groundwater contamination from hazardous wastes will be
better understood.
Last year through the Superfund program, surface cleanup at the Western
Processing site was completed. Engineering design was completed at Well
12A in Tacoma and begun at Western Processing and United Chrome. Remedial
investigations were initiated at five sites.
Significantly more data about pesticides in groundwater will become
available by the end of 1986. A regional mapping exercise for Washington
State will correlate pesticide usage and vulnerable aquifers. Region 10
wiH provide interpretation of pesticide data to agricultural and health
officials that will help them advise consumers on safety of water supplies
and the safe use of pesticides to reduce groundwater contamination
problems.
Data obtained through underground storage tank owner notifications will
help to establish the magnitude of the potential problem in the region.
Compliance with currently applicable interview standards for new
underground tank, installations accompanied by new standards should
significantly reduce the leakage potential as these tanks age.
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AIR CONTAMINATION
Problem Assessment
Air quality is steadily improving throughout Region 10. Public exposure to
unhealthful concentrations of carbon monoxide, respirable particulates, and
asbestos continues to lessen as more control strategies are put into
effect. Vehicle inspection and maintenance programs to control auto
emissions have been or are being implemented in almost all areas where
carbon monoxide is a serious environmental problem. New PM-10 monitoring
equipment is helping state and local agencies detect excess concentrations
of particulate matter. Asbestos exposure is being controlled as a result of
federal compliance inspections and monitoring data is being collected to
identify and classify other hazardous chemicals in our air. Questions are
being raised about interactions between air pollutants under certain weather
conditions. Public recognition of acid deposition as a problem is
increasing.
In spite of past progress, air pollution remains a serious concern. Current
efforts focus on five potential or significant threats to human health and
the environment:
Toxic Air Pollutants. A 1985 EPA study showed that past efforts to control
common air pollutants like sulfur dioxides and particulates also resulted in
significant reductions in toxic gaseous and particulate emissions. However,
this same study estimated that current emissions of air toxics may be
responsible for 1300 to 1700 cancer cases annually in the United States.
Progress has been made in controlling asbestos air toxics through the
NESHAPS program. To date, regulations have been developed for asbestos,
beryllium, mercury, vinyl chloride, radionuclides and benzene. Additional
controls will be needed to reduce cancer risks and to control other effects
on health or the environment that may be occurring.
Limited information exists on sources, quantities and effects of toxic air
emissions in the Pacific Northwest. Data on the sources and quantities of
toxic emissions is now being gathered by state and local agencies.
Preliminary data and information gathered in the national EPA study suggest
that the wood-treatment and chemical Industries are potential problem
areas. Wood-treatment facilities release creosote and pentachlorophenol,
which are known to contain carcinogenic constituents. Chemical facilities
emit chlorinated solvents and other organic chemicals also known to be
carcinogenic or mutagenic.
Some other nontradltional sources are of equal or greater interest as
potential air toxicant sources. They include motor vehicles, the refining
and distribution of petroleum products, residential woodstoves, drycleaners,
and slash burning. Motor vehicle fuels emit varying amounts of benzene and
ethylene dibromide, both of which have been shown to cause cancer in humans
and animals. Under certain conditions, the smoke from combustion of
agricultural residues and residential woodstoves can contain high levels of
polycyclic organic materials (POM) which are carcinogenic, mutagenic or
both.
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Another toxic air pollutant that has received much attention from EPA the
past several years is asbestos. Asbestos becomes a health hazard when
fibers become airborne, and is known to cause cancer after a long latency
period and respiratory diseases. Although the use of sprayed-on asbestos is
now banned, it was a widely used material in schools and other structures.
Two EPA programs regulate asbestos. Exposure to asbestos in schools is
addressed through a program of inspection and notification of schools and
parents. The program requires mandatory notification of staff and parents
regarding the location of material containing friable asbestos. School
compliance inspections are carried out with staff hired under a national EPA
grant to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). Moderate
penalties are imposed for noncompliance. Penalties are mitigated downward
when the schools undertake asbestos-abatement work.
Under NESHAPS, EPA has established notification and operating standards for
control of asbestos emissions during demolition and renovation of commercial
buildings. Revised standards governing removal procedures were promulgated
in 1984. Enforcement of these demolition and renovation regulations was a
priority program emphasis in 1985. Washington and Oregon have been
delegated the NESHAPS program.
Respirable Particulates. Particles, 10 microns in diameter and smaller, are
drawn deep into the human respiratory tract during ordinary breathing.
These particles, including some attached to pesticides and other toxic
substances, can be potential carcinogens or mutagens. In the Pacific
Northwest, monitoring indicates problems in suburban areas, rural
communities and topographically confined locales
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Idaho to seek the inclusion of Boise in EPA's Integrated Air Cancer Study.
Plans for a ski resort in the rural Methow Valley of Washington prompted
community support of an air quality management plan and local ordinances to
ensure that particulate standards are maintained and no violations occur.
There are virtually no data or studies on the health or ecological effects
of slash and field burning. Work to characterize these effects is now
underway in the Region. The health impacts of these smoke particles may not
be as significant as impacts from area particulate sources that are located
near populated areas. Distances separating slash and field burning
activities from major population centers and smoke management policies to
control the direction of smoke plumes support this contention.
Carbon Monoxide. Measured by magnitude and frequency, carbon monoxide
problems in the Pacific Northwest, including Alaska, are among the worst in
the United States. Cold weather conditions, difficult topography, and and
lack of interest among the public and some officials raise questions as to
whether the standard will be met throughout Region 10. Current levels of
control are less effective in cold climates in Region 10 where carbon
monoxide standards are most frequently exceeded. Figure 1 illustrates the
CO air quality status of Region 10 states in 1984. The map shows the
relative severity of CO NAAQS standard exceedances that occurred in 1984.
In areas where there is more than one monitor, the exceedance information
represents worst site data.
Most of the public and some elected officials are unconvinced that carbon
monoxide is a threat to public health. Carbon monoxide is an odorless,
tasteless, and invisible gas which is emitted from such sources as
automobiles and "residential woodstoves. At excessive environmental
concentration, carbon monoxide impedes the human body's ability to absorb
oxygen.
Seven Northwest cities with significant CO problems have not yet attained
the national ambient air quality standard: Anchorage and Fairbanks in
Alaska, Boise in Idaho, Medford and Portland in Oregon, and Seattle and
Spokane in Washington. Other cities with somewhat smaller CO problems are
Eugene, Grants Pass and Salem in Oregon, and Tacoma and Yakima in
Washington. Table 2 shows the number of second-high violation days for
nonattainment areas.
Acid Deposition. Rain becomes acidic when sulfate and nitrate particulate
emissions from industrial and automotive sources chemically react with
moisture in the atmosphere. Although there is not yet evidence of
environmental damage to lakes and forest lands from acid rain, lakes in
Oregon, Idaho and Washington do have some sensitive lakes. Figure 2 shows
the alkalinity levels of lakes in these states. Deposition data indicates
that no further study is needed in Oregon and Idaho at this time, but they
are continuing to watch deposition rates.
There are no records of any acidified lakes in Washington to date. However,
western Washington experiences acid deposition in the form of rain, snow and
dry particulate fallout. In 1985, data gathered by the Washington
Department of Ecology showed that rainfall in western Washington had an
average pH of 4.9 to 5.3 with a low of 3.9. This level of acidity is about
10 times stronger than uncontaminated rainfall, and WDOE is currently
sampling the sites shown in Figure 3. Research by the Washington
14
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Department of Ecology (WDOE) arid others Indicates that much of the
deposition in Washington's mountainous areas is in the form of snow. Other
data suggests that alpine lakes in such areas are poorly buffered, and
consequently are vulnerable to acidification from snow melt.
There is also a concern that acidic deposition could cause a decline of
forest productivity, especially in areas already weakened by ozone air
pollution or other environmental factors, such as drought or insects. A
major reduction in sulfate emissions from the closure of the ASARCQ smelter
in Tacoma is expected to significantly lower measured deposition. However,
studies to determine the influences of nitrate sources, dry deposition and
transport/transformation are still needed.
Regional Agenda/Barriers
Toxic Air Pollutants:
Region 10 has recently completed a draft Air Toxicant Strategy which sets
goals for air toxicant program development for the Region and for state and
local agencies during FY 85-87. These goals, which have been largely
incorporated into the FY 86 State/EPA Agreements, include state development
of an air toxics data base and of programs to control new and existing
sources of air toxic emissions. EPA will provide technical and monetary
assistance.to states and local agencies to help them achieve these goals.
This strategy also calls for increased Integration and improved
communication between the Air, RCRA and Superfund programs with respect to
multi-media, air toxics issues. An EPA air toxics group is being formed to
provide technical advice to other EPA and state and local agency staffs on
issues such as monitoring, exposure assessments and healthi data. Under
consideration is a process that would link the Air Program role to Superfund
investigations and actions and RCRA permit development when air toxics are a
potential problem. Contingency plans for air toxic emission emergencies
need to be developed.
Major barriers have been the lack of a national strategy and regulations for
controlling air toxicants. Funding for state development of air toxicant
programs and Regional efforts in this quickly expanding area are inadequate.
Nearly every local education agency has completed some asbestos abatement
work. Their efforts range from rewrapping boiler-room pipes to major
alterations which may cost over a million dollars. Overall compliance with
federal asbestos-in-schools regulations at the time of inspection is about
60 percent, based on inspections in 327 of the 1370 school districts in
Region 10. Following inspections, all schools found in violation are
brought into compliance.
A small number of grants and loans were made available on a competitive
basis to help local school districts abate the most serious asbestos
hazards. A state program to develop a contractor certification program is
being partially funded by EPA in Alaska. EPA also made a one-year grant to
the State of Idaho for school compliance inspections. Washington has taken
the initiative to legislate and provide certification training for asbestos
contractors. Barriers include inadequate local funds for abatement, a
shortage of qualified removal contractors, limited state participation and
lack of manpower for compliance inspections.
15
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Since October 1984 under the NESHAPS program, Washington received 212
notifications, inspected 64 projects and found 17 violations. Oregon
reviewed 166 notifications, inspected 16 projects and found 15 violations.
In the non-delegated states, EPA reviewed 109 notifications, inspected 4
projects and found 5 violations. The Regional office has issued six orders
and referred one case to the Department of Justice. Some 105 grant special
projects money has been given to the delegated states for equipment and
technical assistance in support of the NESHAPS program.
The lack of adequate inspector and Investigator resources to establish an
effective enforcement presence is a barrier for EPA and delegated states.
Respirable Particulates:
EPA has distributed monitoring equipment to State agencies and anticipates
that initial monitoring networks will be established and operational by this
fall. Regulatory agencies were given up-to-date information and explored
control issues and approaches at a regional workshop In May. Northwest
states are expected during Fiscal 86 to evaluate and modify these monitoring
networks, identify geographic problem areas, complete emission inventories
and devise approaches to control emissions of particles of 10 microns and
smaller.
However, state and local regulatory agencies will await final EPA
promulgation of the standard and related regulations and guidelines before
starting complex, controversial and perhaps unpopular work to control these
emissions.
Also awaiting resolution are national and regional standards on sampling for
condensable particulates, policies on monitoring and how to deal with
windblown dust, especially in rural areas, and verification of certain
control techniques for which effectiveness has not been scientifically
demonstrated. In addition, state and local agency resources for studies,
monitoring, laboratory analyses, and personnel are constrained by inadequate
allocations.
Carbon Monoxide:
Under the Clean Air Act, programs to ensure in-use effectiveness of vehicle
emissions controls are required for areas where the air quality standard for
carbon monoxide cannot otherwise be met.
Portland and Seattle have run motor vehicle inspection and maintenance
programs for several years. Both cities are to attain the carbon monoxide
standard by the end of this year. Boise's program began late in 1984, is to
attain the standard by the end of 1986. Spokane, Anchorage and Fairbanks
began their programs this year. Medford will start early in 1986. Medford
and the two Alaskan cities are to meet the standard by the end of 1988, and
Spokane by the end of 1989. The other cities with somewhat smaller carbon
monoxide problems will expeditiously achieve the health-related standard
without the need for inspection and maintenance, programs. Table 3 displays
the status of CO control strategies for attainment in these areas.
Emission controls affected by tampering are identified by the I/M program in
all cities except Seattle and Spokane. Such tampering is a violation of
Federal law if performed by an auto dealer and a violation of State law if
16
-------
performed by a service station mechanic.
Because Headquarters is reviewing the health data underlying the ambient air
standard, elected officials and regulatory agencies are reluctant to commit
scarce resources to reduce carbon monoxide, especially by means that
directly affect many voters. Headquarters consideration of revised vehicle
emission standards worries state and local officials in Region 10. The
Clean Air Act needs to be revised because several sections are outdated and
do not address newly discovered carbon monoxide problem areas.
Acid Deposition:
Region 10 is directing the National Lakes Survey for the Western region.
Selected lakes will be sampled from September - November 1985. Preliminary
results are expected in 1986.
Washington legislators passed two bills promoting acid deposition research
and authorized the involvement of local researchers and forestry asociations
in efforts to examine the effects of acid deposition. Region 10 is funding
work by the Washington State Department of Ecology to monitor wet deposition
and to conduct detailed examinations of lake sensitivity to determine
potential deposition impacts and develop control strategies if needed.
Current statistics from these studies Indicate that Region 10 is out in
front of any serious environmental damage. It is the goal of the Department
of Ecology and EPA to continue rain monitoring and lake studies to better
understand the process of acidification and to provide a system that will
indicate acidity in the environment.
Since our Region is not part of the National Acid Precipitation Assessment
Program, Region 10 has been funding all acid deposition research out of
Section 105 special project monies. Acid rain studies in the Midwest and
Northeast appear to have higher priority for federal spending. The problem
in Region 10 is that state decision-makers need more data to shape future
legislation confidently. The Northwest seems particularly sensitive to dry
acid deposition; more so than the Northeast because of climactic
differences. More study also is needed on the influence of nitrate sources,
as the West has more nitrate sources, such as automobiles and power plants,
in relation to the number of sulfate sources found elsewhere in the nation.
Headquarters Actions Needed
Toxic Air Pollutants:
Finalize and implement the June 1985 national strategy on air
toxicants.
Help develop local contingency plans for air toxic emergencies.
Increase funding, guidance and technical assistance needed to help
the states and local agencies gather data on sources and quantities
of air toxicants and develop regulatory programs to control them.
More NESHAPS resources for enforcement activities and inspectors
are needed for compliance rates to increase.
NESHAPS regulations should be strengthened to address asbestos
exposure in other settings like public buildings and hospitals.
17
-------
Assure continuation of the AARP compliance inspection program for
at least three years.
Expand funding for grants arid loans to finance high-priority
asbestos abatement projects by local school districts.
Expand funding for state grants to support asbestos programs for
contractor certification and compliance inspections.
Respirable Particulates:
Expedite promulgation of final standards, regulations and
implementation policies. Policy issues must be resolved by next
fall if state programs are to proceed effectively.
Increase public awareness of the problem, and the future economic
implications of failure to control PM-10 emissions.
Carbon Monoxide:
Re-assess the validity of the existing carbon monoxide air quality
standard with additional medical and/or environmental studies.
Conduct an Agency-wide public information program. Publications
should provide convincing evidence of the health-related impacts of
carbon monoxide exposure.
Deny requests to reduce motor vehicle emission standards. Unless
benefits nationally will offset the political and economic cost of
steps to achieve and maintain healthful air quality in
nonattainment areas, these requests appear highly inappropriate.
Request that Congress update outdated sections of the Clean Air Act
to provide a more flexible timeframe for dealing with newly
discovered carbon monoxide problem areas.
Acid Deposition:
Greater attention to acid deposition research west of the Rockies
by the Office of Research and Development and the Acid Rain Office
appears necessary and warranted.
More funding is needed to maintain current levels of environmental
monitoring of dry and wet deposition and the resulting impacts on
lakes and forest lands.
Environmental Results
Toxic Air Pollutants:
Alleviate specific problems defined in the inventory process.
Reduce public exposure to air toxicants through effective state and
local programs to regulate point emissions like those from area and
non-traditional sources such as woodstoves.
18
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Increasing rates of compliance with federal asbestos regulations.
Respirable Particulates:
Identify nonattainment areas and potential problem areas. Develop
and implement effective control strategies in these areas leading
to progressive air quality improvements.
Reduce public exposure to PM-10 through traditional and novel
control techniques for industrial and area sources. Achieve
considerable control of residential woodstove/fireplace emissions
by elevating the public's awareness and enlisting their cooperation.
Carbon Monoxide:
Reduce carbon monoxide concentrations in all major cities of Region
10 by 1988. The potential number of persons exposed to unhealthy
levels of carbon monoxide will decline from 4,266,000 in January
1983 to 456,000 by 1988 (see Table 4).
Acid Deposition:
Region 10 presently has no record of environmental damage to lakes
or forests from acid rain, although the rain monitoring network,
suggests we are at threshold levels where we might expect impacts
on poorly buffered lakes. Such sensitive lakes usually have
alkalinity levels less than 200 microequivalents per liter, but
most typically less than 50 microequivalents per liter. These
lakes would serve as an early warning system for severe acid
contamination. Continued lake monitoring in combination with rain
monitoring would give us an early indication of the need to reduce
current emissions through existing or new legislation.
19
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TABLE 1
Estimates of PM-10 Exceedance Probabilities
for Prospective Region
10 Monitoring Sites
CITY OR COUNTY
STATE
0-20%
20-95%
>95'
Anchorage
Alaska
(1)
(4)
(2)
Fairbanks
Alaska
(4)
Juneau
Alaska
(3)
Bannock County
Idaho
(1)
(1)
Boi se
Idaho
(1)
(1)
Caribou County
Idaho
(1)
<1>
(1)
Idaho Falls
Idaho
(1)
Kellogg
Idaho
(1)
Lewi ston
Idaho
(2)
Moscow
Idaho
(1)
Nampa
Idaho
(1)
Pocatello
Idaho
(1)
(1)
Shoshone County
Idaho
(1)
(2)
Twin Falls
Idaho
(1)
Bend
Oregon
(1)
Eugene
Oregon
(1)
(1>
Grants Pass
Orgeon
(1>
Klamath Falls
Oregon
(1)
La Grande
Oregon
U>
Medford
Oregon
(1)
Pendleton
Oregon
<1>
Portland
Oregon
(3)
Bellevue
Washi ngton
(1)
Bel 11ngham
Washington
(1)
CI arkston
Washington
CI)
Kennewick
Washington
(1)
Longview
Washington
(1)
Seattle
Washington
<2>
(2)
(1)
Spokane
Washington
(3)
Spokane County
Washington
(1)
Tacoma
Washington
(1)
(1)
Vancouver
Washi ngton
(1)
Walla Walla
Washi ngton
(1)
Yakima
Washington
(1)
Yakima County
Washington
(1>
NOTE: Criteria
= 0-20% probability of exceeding 24-hour PM-10 standard
20-95% probability of exceeding 24-hour PM-10 standard
> 95% probability of exceeding 24-hour PM-10 standard
() - Indicates number of sites in the city or county calculated
for a given probability range.
Source: 1981 - 1983 SAROAD
20
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TABLE 2
Region 10 CO Nonattainment Problem Areas
Days of Second High Violations (mg/m3>
1980 Census
1982
1983
1984
Major CO
Problem Areas
SMSA
Population
2nd
high
violation
days
2nd
high
violation
days
2nd *
high
violation
days
Anchorage, AK
174,000
20.8
44
20.7
56
19.7
35
Fairbanks, AK
53,000
18.5
39
20.3
37
13.1
7s
Boise, ID
173,000
14.7
17
17.8
94
11 .3
r
Medford, OR
133,000
15.2
22
14.5
29
13.3
18
Portland, OR
1,050,000
12.0
5
14.0
12
11.3
4
Seattle, WA1
1,400,000
13.8
15
13.2
14
11.6
4
Spokane, WA2
267,000
16.4
47
17.7
363
19.5
32
Other Areas
Eugene, OR
275,000
9.6
0
10.9
2
9.1
0
Grants Pass, OR
15,000
14.9
29
12.9
11
12.8
12
Salem, OR
250,000
8.2
0
8.5
0
7.5
0
Tacoma, WA
402,000
13.1
6
11.2
2
11.5
5
Yakima, WA
173,000
13.8
3
11.8
2
16.0
3
1 Includes Bellevue, excludes Everett
2 Monitoring discontinued - Fernwell Bldg. 6/83
Monitoring began - Hamilton Street site 12/1/83
3 Analysis includes fernwell Bldg. and Hamilton Street sites
4 Data missing in CO season
5 One site discontinued 4/84
Source: SAROAD
21
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TABLE 3
Major CO Nonattainment Area Control Strategies
Status of I/M* Programs
Area
Attainment Plans
Submitted Status
I/M
Start-up Date
Anti-Tamp**
Attainment
Date
Anchorage, AK
yes proposed aprvl
July 1985
yes
1988
Fairbanks, AK
yes proposed aprvl
July 1985
yes
1988
Boise, ID
yes approval
Aug. 1984
yes
1986
Medford, OR
in process projctd aprvl
Jan. 1986
yes
1988
Portland, OR
yes approval
July 1975
yes
1986
Seattle, WA
yes approval
July 1982
no
1986
Spokane, WA
yes approval
July 1985
no
1989
* Motor vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Programs.
** Anti-Tampering Program conducted during I/M inspections.
Source: Region 10 State Implementation Plans
22
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TABLE 4
Estimated Population Exposure
to Unhealthy Carbon Monoxide Levels
1983-1988
DATE CITY POPULATION SIZE
January 1983 Anchorage 174,000
Fairbanks 53,000
Boise 173,000
Eugene 275,000
Grants Pass 15,000
Medford 133,000
Portland 1,050,000
Salem 250,000
Seattle 1,400,000
Spokane 267,000
Tacoma 403,000
Yakima 73,000
TOTAL 4,266,000
January 1986 Anchorage 174,000
Fairbanks 53,000
Boise 173,000
Grants Pass 15,000
Medford 133,000
Spokane 267,000
Tacoma 403,000
TOTAL 1,218,000
January 1988 Anchorage* 174,000
Grants Pass* 15,000
Spokane 267,000
TOTAL 456,000
* Marginal Nonattainment
Source: 1981-1983 SAR0AD
23
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Region 10
1984 Air Quality Status
Carbon Monoxide
Summer 1985
~ Area Complies with or
Is Considered to Comply with Standard
j Alert Level Exceeded
Note: Bellevue was considered together with Seattle.
BARROW
KOBUK
NOME
UPPEO
YUKON
YUKON-KOYUKUK
WADE
HAMPTON
SOUTHEAST FAIRBANKS
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BETHEL
ANC
KENA
IvSmr CORDOVA
McCarthy
BRISTOL BAY
COOK
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yakutat
HAINES
SEWARC
VALDE2
CHITINA-WHITTIER
SKAGWAY
JUNEAU
KOOlAK
WPANGELL
PETERSBURG
SITK#
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KETCHmAN
PRINCE
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KETCHIKAN
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SAN JUAN
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BONNEP
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KOOTENAI
DOUGLAS
LINCOLN
MASON
BENEWAH
GRANT
KITTITAS
ADAMS
LATAH
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CLEARWATER
• Moscow
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FRANKLIN
PACIFIC
LEWIS
GARFlELC
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[ASOTIN
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AHKIAKUW
COWLIT2
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BENTON WALLA WALLA
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WALLOWA
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YAMHILL
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24
-------
Total Alkalinity of
Region 10 Surface Waters
June 1983
Total Alkalinity
IMean Annual Values)
*Mean Annual Alkalinity measured
as 1 Micro Equivalent/Liter = 0.05 mg CaC03
-------
2>
Washington State J
Lake Sampling Regions and
Study Sites
June 1983
Intensive Study Lakes
Seasonal Study Lakes
Lake Sampling Regions
SAN JUAN A
0*
WHATcdfcl
• Bellingham
PEND
REILLE
FERRY
SKAGIT
Anacortes
OKANOGAN
ISLAND
Rort Angeles
CLALLAM
SNOHOMISH
Everett
CHELAN
JEFFERSON
Spokane
SPOKANE
KITSAP
DOUGLAS
LINCOLN
GRAYS
HARBOR
MASON
GRANT
Mosesa
KITTITAS
WHITMAN
ADAMS
Tacoma
Otympia PIERCE
THURSTON
FRANKLIN
PACIFIC
LEWIS
Yakima •
YAKIMA
GARFIELD
n
COLUMBIA
Ctarkston
AHKIAKUM
Pasco .
BENTON WALLA WALLA
Walla
COWLITZ
LongvieW
SKAMANIA
KLICKITAT
f CLARK
i Vancouver
26
-------
BACTERIAL AND CHEMICAL SHELLFISH CONTAMINATION
Problem Assessment
(This section deals with contamination of Pacific commercial shellfish
grounds in Alaska, Oregon and Washington. Puget Sound shellfish are
presented separately as part of the Puget Sound geographical focus
di scussion).
Highly productive shellfish resources in estuaries of the Pacific Northwest
are susceptible to bacterial and chemical contamination. As of July 1985,
approximately 309,000 commercial acres had been classified along the Pacific
coast by State agencies as open, closed or conditionally approved for
harvest. Excluding Puget Sound, 57 percent of the total classified acreage
is open, 30 percent is conditionally approved, and 13 percent is closed to
commercial harvest. Washington contains the highest percent of classified
acres (154,000 acres or 50%), followed by Alaska (127,000 acres or 41%) and
Oregon (28,000 acres or 9%).
Shellfish are good surrogate indicators of the effectiveness of water
quality management programs because they are filter feeders capable of
accumulating bacteria, viruses and toxic substances. The level of such
contaminants present in waters surrounding shellfish beds therefore
indicates whether shellfish at a particular site are safe for human
consumption. Over the past several years, conditionally-approved shellfish
beds in Oregon and Washington have been closed many times due to
microbiological contamination that might cause illness In humans.
Commercial shellfish beds in Oregon and Washington produce clams, oysters
and mussels. These beds are located in estuaries subject to point and
nonpoint source contamination. The Alaskan commercial harvest is
predominantly razor clams. All classified commercial acres in Alaska are
open to harvest. There, paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), not toxic or
bacterial contamination is the present threat. PSP is a naturally occurring
toxin produced by a group of one-celled algae. More information about what
stimulates these algal blooms is needed.
Regional Agenda/Barriers
Washington and Oregon are working to protect shellfish resources through
basin water quality management plans, upgrading of public wastewater
treatment facilities and administering the Coastal Zone Management and
Section 404 wetlands programs. Ongoing permit and enforcement programs are
relied upon to control point source discharges. EPA is providing
monitoring and technical assistance to these states through annual State/EPA
Agreements and water quality management funding. Section 205(j) funds are
being used to help develop and implement best management practices for
nonpoint sources.
In Oregon, efforts continue to control farm waste and to improve municipal
sewage treatment capacity at Tillamook and Coos Bays, Oregon. Problems at
Coos Bay are from combined sewer overflows, inadequate municipal treatment
plants, failing septic tanks, and agricultural nonpoint sources. Tillamook
Bay is similarly impacted by nonpoint source dairy farm waste and five
municipal sewage treatment plants. Coos Bay and North Bend, the two
municipal dischargers to Coos Bay, are high on Oregon's priority list for
27
-------
facility improvements. These are to be completed by 1988 and water quality
improvements should be noticeable soon thereafter. Implementation of a
waste control plan at Tillamook Bay is nearly complete, and follow-up
monitoring on that project will conclude next year. Improvement in these
two bays is already measurable. From 1977 - 1985, there has been a 30
percent shift from closed to conditionally approved acreage.
Washington continues to work on the Grays Harbor Management Plan. The
Department of Social and Health Services in that state runs a shellfish
monitoring program. Problems in Grays Harbor include fecal coliform
bacteria, low dissolved oxygen, high water temperatures during low-flow
periods and toxic chemical pollutants. Discussions with local industries
have been initiated, and sewage and other industrial discharge permits are
being reviewed.
Headquarters Actions Needed
Support flexibility in using available funds, such as those allocated for
Clean Water Act Section 205
-------
NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION
Problem Assessment
To date, traditional approaches to water pollution problems such as point
source permitting and compliance review have been responsible for most of
the water quality improvements in Region 10. However, many streams are
still extensively affected by pollution from nonpoint sources. Nonpoint
source pollution accounts for an estimated 60 percent of the Region's
water quality problems. A different emphasis is clearly required by EPA
and the States if the goals of the Clean Water Act are to be achieved.
Nonpoint pollution in the Region is most often associated with
agricultural and silvicultural activities. Urban runoff, septic tank
failures, and construction and mining activities are more localized but
may cause serious contamination problems.
Agricultural cropland totals about 19.4 million acres in the Region.
Excessive soil erosion on this cropland amounts to 2.2 million acres.
Irrigation return flow is an agricultural practice contributes
substantially to pollution In several major rivers. The Yakima and
Palouse rivers in Washington; the Owyhee, Malheur and Klamath basins in
Oregon; and Rock Creek and the Boise, Portneuf, Wei set and Payette rivers
in Idaho suffer from significant, agricultural nonpoint source pollution.
Erosion from improperly built or maintained logging roads is the major
concern in silvicultural operations. Region 10 has more than 65 million
acres of commercial forest. Depending on economic conditions in the
regional forestry industry, approximately 8000 miles of new logging roads
may be built annually and 3800 miles rebuilt. Decreased demand for
Northwest timber in recent years has resulted in more road rebuilding than
new construction. Many rebuilt roads are poorly located near streams and
on steep slopes, Increasing streambank erosion and their potential to
Impair water quality.
The major water quality problems associated with agriculture and
silviculture are turbidity, nutrients, bacteria, higher than normal
temperatures and pesticide contamination. Turbidity interferes with the
feeding ability of fish and other aquatic organisms. Sediments associated
with turbidity destroy aquatic habitat and damage respiratory systems of
fish. Excess nutrients produce algal blooms and aquatic-weed growth that
impair fisheries and recreational uses. High levels of fecal coliform
bacteria from concentrated animal feeding operations adversely impact
shellfish harvesting areas and affect contact recreational uses of
receiving waters. Logging operations that remove streamside vegetative
cover elevate water temperatures and may reduce the level of dissolved
oxygen available. Migratory pesticides may also be toxic to fish.
Regional Agenda/Barriers
States and local agencies have primary responsibility for the control of
nonpoint sources of pollution. EPA's role is to provide technical and
financial assistance and oversight to ensure that Clean Water Act goals,
are met. Region 10's strategy for controlling nonpoint sources emphasizes
technical assistance (such as field reviews and comments on best
management practice plans) to States, local governments and federal
agencies to carry out effective programs.
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States are encouraged to use Clean Water Act grant funds to solve nonpoint
source problems. Each state has projects partly supported with EPA grants
to address agricultural and si 1vicultural nonpoint source problems. The
effectiveness of these programs varies with state enforcement resources
and priorities. Water quality management plans for concentrated animal
feeding operations are being developed for priority areas in each state.
Moses Lake in eastern Washington is being cleaned up with the help of an
EPA/State grant for a cooperative agricultural control program.
Alaska, Idaho and Washington plan activities next year to further
strengthen the water quality elements of their silvicultural programs.
The nineteen national forests in the Region are developing long-term
resource management plans with water quality considerations as part of the
planning process. EPA and State water quality agencies will review the
forest plans in FY 86 to ensure that water quality concerns are adequately
addressed. EPA will also continue to encourage and assist State water
quality and forestry agencies to strengthen field enforcement of forest
practice rules and regulations.
Most solutions to nonpoint source water quality problems rely upon the
willingness of individual landowners to take corrective actions and bear
the cost of those actions. However human health, recreational and fishery
benefits of individual actions often accrue to society as a whole, rather
than to an Individual who has acted to control a pollution source. As a
result, responsible individuals are either unwilling or unable to
voluntarily bear the cost of correcting a problem. The absence of
regulatory requirements for nonpoint source programs coupled with the lack
of adequate public funding to share the cost of applying best management
practices are the major barriers to implementation.
Headquarters Actions Needed
- Clean Water Act funding programs for nonpoint source controls must
be reviewed. Increased funding levels are needed to help State and
local agencies implement effective programs.
- Guidance on the use of existing EPA grants (106, 205(j> and 314)
must continue to emphasize the need for nonpoint source control
programs. States should be given additional incentives to develop
nonpoint source programs. Perhaps a portion of 106 funds could be
specifically designated for state nonpoint source programs.
- EPA Headquarters must take the lead in working with other federal
agencies that produce significant nonpoint source problems.
Substantive and quantifiable annual work plans should be tailored to
regional priorities and needs.
Environmental Results
Over the long-term, nonpoint source programs should help to achieve:
Reduction in the number of river miles not meeting designated water
uses due to contamination from nonpoint sources.
Reduction in the number of acres of lakes/ponds and reservoirs not
meeting designated water uses due to nonpoint sources.
Decreased loadings of sediment, nutrients, bacteria and pesticides in
rivers, streams and lakes impacted by nonpoint source activities.
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PLACER MINING
Problem Assessment
Placer mining for gold and other precious heavy metals has an important
historic and present-day role in the Alaskan economy. According to a
study prepared by Berger & Associates in 1983, the placer mining industry
generated direct expenditures for goods, services and labor of over $80
million in 1982, and it contributes substantially to the well-being of
Fairbanks, Nome and several smaller communities.
Placer mining activities introduce solid materials (sediment and organic
debris) into streams during sluicing operations. These solid materials
can significantly reduce the abundance and diversity of aquatic life and
alter a stream's physical characteristics. Placer mining operations
discolor streams and increase arsenic concentrations above normal
background levels. Placer mining operations also reroute stream channels
and increase erosion from ground lacking soil and plant cover.
Certain species of fish migrate from highly turbid streams. However,
migration may be impeded in areas with extremely high sediment loadings
and is not possible at all stages of the fish's life cycle. Fish are
therefore directly and indirectly vulnerable to placer mining operations.
For example:
* Suspended solids interfere with the ability of "sight feeder"
species to recogniEe food sources and capture prey. Suspended
solids also accumulate in gill tissues, decreasing respiratory
ability.
* Settleable solids block water movement in fish spawning beds.
This condition reduces the amount of dissolved oxygen available
to fish eggs, increases water temperatures, and alters the pH
balance critical for survival of fish eggs.
Regional Agenda/Barriers
The Region's primary goal is to reduce the impact of placer mining
activities on fisheries. Excluding streams known or suspected to be
affected by naturally occurring turbidity like glacial runoff, there are
approximately 4100 stream miles in Alaska which exhibit, to varying
degrees, the impacts of 509 placer mining operations permitted by EPA as
of May 1985.
Figure 4 shows the distribution of NPDES permitted mines in Alaska.
Region 10 conducted 60 site inspections at remote Alaska placer mines in
1984 and plans to inspect about 30 sites in 1985. Region 10 has issued
538 federal clean water permits to limit placer mining discharges of
suspended solids and arsenic and reduce turbidity. EPA is also proposing
a consent order to placer miners. When signed by the miner and EPA, this
order sets out an agreement and schedule for bringing a placer mining
operation into full compliance with the terms of their NPDES permits. The
order includes a schedule for meeting turbidity and arsenic limitations
that is written in individual permits. Placer mining operators located on
priority streams and drainages are required to meet these permit limits by
June 1, 1986. All others have until November 30, 1986 to meet the
conditions of their permits.
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Headquarters Actions Needed
- Promulgate effluent guidelines for placer-mine discharges.
- Revise the form entitled National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System Application for Permit to Discharge — Short Form C (OMB No.
2000-0023). The Short Form C should include the following items:
a) Number 1 - The Name and Address of the facility operator.
b) Number 7 - A column designated 20 cubic yards per day or less is
needed under Raw Materials Consumed. This would enable the Region
to separate NPDES Permit applications from small operations, which
are not being issued permits at this time.
Number 8 - Short Form C should include units of measurement in
cubic yards per day.
Environmental Results
Ongoing inspection and enforcement activities should help yield the
following results:
Decreased loadings of arsenic and suspended and settleable solids in
rivers and streams affected by placer mining operations.
Increased water clarity, survival of fish eggs and populations of
healthy fish where historically fish have thrived, but are no longer
present in streams and rivers associated with placer mining activities.
Reduced number of rivers and streams affected by placer mining
operations having high turbidity and low dissolved oxygen values.
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NPDES Permitted Placer Mines ^ „
in Alaska fijU^T
May 1985
Number of NPDES Mines
in Quadrant
Indicates more than 25
NPDES Mines in Quadrant
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33
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PCB STRATEGY FOR UTILITIES AND SCRAP/SALVAGE OPERATIONS
Problem Assessment
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) persist, bioaccumulate, and bioconcentrate
in animals and humans. Based on animal studies, EPA considers PCBs a
possible human carcinogen. Exposure to PCBs can also cause a variety of
other human health problems. PCBs have been found at high levels in
Columbia River sturgeon by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and are
believed responsible for the decline of Columbia River mink and otter. PCBs
are also found to persistently occur in Puget Sound fish tissues and
sediments, thus presenting a continuing threat to this critical
environmental resource. In general, PCBs are widely present throughout the
environment.
PCB regulations, which were promulgated in 1978 under the Toxic Substances
Control Act (TSCA), ban the further manufacture of PCBs in the United States
and strictly regulate the use and disposal of existing PCBs and equipment
containing PCBs. Because PCBs have had a wide range of uses and
applications in various industries, compliance activities have been directed
at ten diverse industry groups which together represent the bulk of PCBs in
the Pacific Northwest. The number of sites considered appropriate for
inspection is more than 15,000. These sites include food and feed
facilities, federal installations, utilities, scrap metal dealers, and
industries that use large amounts of electric power. Were we to continue to
inspect at the 1985 rate, it would require over 150 years to inspect all
presumed PCB sources in Region 10.
During 1984-85, Region 10 decided it would be fruitful to place increased
emphasis on compliance, enforcement and cleanup activities relating to
utilities and scrap/salvage operations. Utilities account for a large share
of capacitors and transformers containing PCBs, and utilities and
scrap/salvage operations have had continuing, high rates of noncompliance
with federal PCB regulations. Utilities are increasingly implicated as
parties to violations of the Toxic Substances Control Act at scrap/salvage
sites. Such violations frequently involve many pieces of PCB-containing
equipment over long periods of time, and such sites often require major
cleanup efforts under Superfund.
Regional Agenda and Barriers
Region 10 has developed a multi-component strategy to address environmental
contamination at scrap/salvage sites. The strategy offers the regulated
industry opportunities for cooperative participation with EPA in addressing
this problem, and 1s backed up by an aggressive compliance and enforcement
effort. This strategy focuses on utilities and scrap/salvage operations and
extends from the balance of FY 85 into 1986. At the same time, other
industry groups will continue to be addressed by ongoing compliance and
enforcement efforts.
The four components of the new strategy include:
- Information Gathering. Region 10 will: develop a comprehensive
inventory of facilities using or handling PCBs with the assistance of
selected utilities, identify disposal sites, select sites for priority
inspections, and encourage utilities to volunteer information on other sites.
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- Technical Assistance. EPA will work with utilities to target cleanup
actions at the most environmentally significant or sensitive sites, develop
consent agreements for targeted sites, and train utilities to perform
"equivalent" PCB inspections.
- Compliance/Enforcement. Region 10 will increase the proportion of
utilities and scrap/salvage operations scheduled for inspections, increase
penalty collections, decline to mitigate civil penalties for activities
utilities already should be doing (e.g., staff training, system-wide
audits), and reinspect selected violators to assure quick compliance.
- Outreach. Press releases will be used creatively to better educate
the public and the regulated community about individual cases and to convey
developing policy. A dialog will be opened with the insurance industry
regarding the financial benefits of voluntary cleanups. The direction and
momentum of the new strategy will be conveyed in frank speeches to
industry.
The fact that the new strategy outlined above will be very resource
intensive presents a potential barrier. Some aspects of the strategy may
have to be compromised during implementation if resources continue to be cut.
In the overall PCB program, Region 10 staff met and exceeded the FY 85
Headquarters goal for regional PCB inspections in May 1985. In addition,
leverage gained from assessment of TSCA penalties resulted in several
utilities joining with EPA to cleanup a major contamination site.
Headquarters Actions Needed
Headquarters Office of Toxic Substances (OTS) should set compliance
goals for utilities and other industry sectors in all regions to drive
enforcement programs and foster creative approaches. Currently, there
are no compliance goals similar to those in air and water programs.
OTS should consider establishing the Region 10 utility and scrap/salvage
program as a pilot project and provide a work-year of resources during
1986 to help implement it.
Environmental Results
No environmental goals for PCBs have been established at either the
Headquarters or regional levels. As noted above, compliance goals have also
not been established. Problems in setting goals stem from the lack of
information on safe threshold levels (there may be none), the lack of
information and consensus on appropriate cleanup levels, the widespread
presence of PCBs, and the difficulty in tracking sources of contamination
(some of which may be one-time occurrences from as much as 50 years ago).
Possible approaches to monitoring for environmental results would involve
very long-term and expensive studies to assess whether PCB levels in humans,
birds and fish were being reduced. Another less conclusive indicator might
involve monitoring the amounts of PCBs which are incinerated or otherwise
properly disposed. Reductions in the inventory of such materials could be
presumed to indicate a decrease in overall threat to the environment.
While the problem of which indicator to use is being addressed, EPA has
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settled for interim goals that address compliance and enforcement targets
(i.e., number of inspections and civil complaints issued, etc.). In this
regard, Region X staff have done well. As noted earlier, the Headquarters
PCB inspection target was achieved in May 1985. In addition, through
application of leverage gained from assessments of TSCA. penalties, a cleanup
has been initiated with a consortium of utilities at a major contamination
site in Region 10. More such cleanups will result from aggressive
implementation of the PCB Strategy for Utilities and Scrap/Salvage
Operations.
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WETLANDS PROTECTION
Problem Assessment
With recognition of the loss of more than half of the historic original
wetlands of the United States, the irreplaceable utility of wetlands has
become more fully understood. Wetlands are natural flood-prevention and
pollution-filtering systems and contribute significantly to ground-water
recharge. An evaluation along the Charles River in Massachusetts a few
years ago showed wetlands soaked up annual floods that otherwise would have
caused millions of dollars in damage, and that their capacity to treat and
clean waste water also was worth $17,500 per acre each year. Wetlands also
provide habitat for sport fish, wildfowl, furbearers, and myriad other
wildlife. One third of all endangered species depend on wetlands for some
part of their life cycle.
In the Northwest, the most significant examples of wetland loss range from
the total destruction of the Puyallup estuary in Tacoma and the near-total
loss of the Duwamish estuary in Seattle to 30 percent at Grays Harbor and 24
percent in the Columbia River.
In spite of past wetlands losses and growing appreciation for the
environmental utility of wetlands, intense pressure for additional filling
and construction continues. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and EPA share
Clean Water Act authority to regulate wetlands activities directly. This
authority 1s exercised 1n cooperation with other agencies at the federal,
state and local level. Each year the Corps receives — and Region 10
reviews — more than 1200 applications for permits to undertake activities
that might affect wetlands. Many activities that affect wetlands are not
covered by Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. One important exemption 1s
the drainage of wetlands, especially for agricultural purposes.
Of particular concern in Region 10 are oil and gas development activities
affecting Alaskan tundra along the Arctic Ocean, log storage and transfer
activities in southeast Alaska, the disposal of dredged material and
intertldal habitat protection in Washington's Puget Sound; estuarine
protection and dredge/spoil disposal along the Columbia River, and the
continuing need to inventory and map wetland functions and assign relative
values. This planning approach has been undertaken in only a few Alaskan
locations through a variety of federal and state agency funding programs.
That wetland values are not widely understood may be the greatest barrier to
effective action to preserve remaining wetlands. This is reflected in the
fact that past enforcement activities have not been as vigorous as in some
other environmental programs, and violations have resulted in additional
losses of wetlands.
Regional Agenda/Barriers
Region 10 has progressively developed a more active posture in wetlands
protection during the past two years. Key activities include:
- Identification of wetlands has resulted in a priority listing of
wetlands of significant value to advise developers and others
planning activities that might affect such sites.
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- Stringent review of wetlands projects. EPA and other natural
resource agencies evaluate the necessity for any disruption, and
identify feasible project alternatives and mitigation measures
needed to replace natural wetlands with nearby man-made substitutes
of equivalent ecological potential.
- Implemented a Region 10 mitigation policy to support staff
efforts to obtain mitigation for lost functions and values.
However, inadequate resources for travel have limited our ability
to assure mitigation is effectively implemented.
- Expanded use of the EPA-Department of the Army Section 404(q)
referral process to resolve important differences between EPA
recommendations and Corps actions as to permitting and mitigation
of actions affecting wetlands. Region 10 initiated two such
reviews in FY85 and expects to do more.
- Use of the Section 404(c) "last-resort" veto by EPA of wetlands
projects that threaten significant adverse impact. Such a process
was initiated this year on a project that could have had serious
impacts on waterfowl use of an Alaskan wetland. An agreement with
the project sponsor for monitoring of the environment and waterfowl
plus a change in the Corps Section 404 permit made it unnecessary
to pursue the action.
- Initiated a 404 enforcement program which has resulted in the
issuance of several compliance orders in FY 85.
We will use EPA authority to elicit facts about apparent wetlands-rule
violations, and to remedy such violations, to enhance Corps enforcement
efforts.
Region 10 will develop and carry out a public awareness program to explain
wetlands values and Federal regulations in cooperation with local, state and
other federal agencies. A goal of this activity is increased public
reporting of wetlands violations.
We will sponsor at least one state wetlands enforcement conference to bring
various Federal and State agencies together to coordinate wetlands
protection and enforcement activities and encourage data sharing. The goal
of these efforts is to increase the effectiveness of enforcement of Section
404 of the Clean Water Act.
Unified enforcement activities are particularly needed — but EPA-resource
consumptive — in remote areas of Alaska. There, "gypsy" developers
sneak-build on wetlands in violation of regulations and can get their
actions ratified later with a Corps permit. Developers who properly apply
in advance for permission to build similar developments often will find
their plans disapproved. The next highest enforcement priority is
Washington, where most unauthorized filling activities occur. The State of
Oregon is working hard to become the first state nationally to be delegated
the 404 permit program for non-navigable waters there.
Headquarters Actions Needed
* Successfully renegotiate the expired memorandum of agreement
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between EPA and the Corps that underlies 404 wetlands protection
and enforcement activities. Rewrite 404 (b) (1) rules to
strengthen EPA's role as protector of wetlands.
* Develop a new memorandum of agreement with the Department of
Justice to allow Regional Offices to refer 404 violations directly
to local U.S. District Attorneys.
* Promulgate a national policy on the mitigation of adverse
environmental impacts from wetlands developments.
* Delegate Section 404(c) veto to the Regional Administrator level.
* Provide additional staff training in wetlands ecology and
enforcement, and adequate travel funds to implement national and
regional policies.
* Provide additional funds for enforcement-related travel or
develop alternative means of establishing EPA enforcement presence.
* Develop a wetlands-protection proposal as a replacement for the
Section 404 language in the Clean Water Act.
Support an interagency effort to determine relative wetland
values. These values could later be used to develop a general
permitting approach for lower-valued wetlands.
Environmental Results
Reduce by at least 50 percent the yearly loss of wetlands acreage in Region
10 and increase the acreage restored or protected in FY85.
Increase by 50 percent the number of wetlands violations reported by other
federal and state resource agencies.
Obtain a 50 percent increase in the number of Corps permits containing
EPA-approved mitigation plans.
Obtain 100 percent success using 404(q) referrals and 404(c) actions in
terms of avoiding adverse impacts to high priority wetlands or completely
replacing wetland functional values.
Obtain a 100 percent increase in the number of Section 404 violations
reported to Region 10 by the general public as a result of educational
activities conducted by the Region.
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PUGET SOUND
Problem Assessment
The Puget Sound region, particularly the eastern shore from Tacoma to
Everett, is the most densely populated and heavily industrialized area of
the Pacific Northwest. The Sound receives wastes from approximately 2.5
million people, as well as from land and facilities associated with
agriculture and the forest products, food processing, metals, oil, chemical,
construction and maritime industries. Erosion, urban runoff and atmospheric
emissions also contribute contaminants. Together, these contaminants limit
beneficial uses of the Sound and cause detrimental or potentially
detrimental water quality alterations and biological stresses.
Many discharges to the Sound contain toxic and hazardous materials. These
range from potential carcinogens, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs),
to heavy metals like copper, lead and arsenic. Relatively little is known
about the ways in which exposure to specific chemicals or combinations of
chemicals affect marine life. Recent studies, however, have revealed
significant biological problems associated with toxic contaminants at a
number of locations in Puget Sound.
In one recent study, funded by EPA and the Washington Department of Ecology,
alarming rates of abnormalities were found in bottomfish and benthic
communities in marine waters adjacent to Commencement Bay. English sole 1n
certain parts of the Bay were found to suffer liver neoplasms at a 5-8
percent rate and pre-neoplastic nodules at a rate of 18-26 percent. By
comparison, Carr Inlet reference area rates were zero for both conditions.
In addition, abnormalities were observed in communities of bottom-dwelling
organisms (e.g. worms and clams). These communities tended to be dominated
by a few species, rather than having the normal variety observed at Carr
Inlet. Such "high dominance" communities generally indicate areas of
environmental stress where less tolerant species are eliminated and more
tolerant, opportunistic species achieve higher abundance.
Organisms exposed to contamination in the Sound are concentrating chemicals
in their tissues and organs. Certain predators (e.g. harbor seals, blue
herons) are known to accumulate PCBs and mercury in their body tissue as a
result of eating contaminated, lower-trophic organisms such as fish and
shellfish. Potential human health risk associated with the consumption of
Puget Sound seafood is of concern. The flesh of English sole analyzed
during the recent Commencement Bay study was tainted with toxic and
carcinogenic substances. It also was estimated that an average of 1.5
people consuming a pound of fish daily from Commencement Bay face a one in a
million risk of contracting cancer during a 70-year lifetime. Based upon
the results of a cancer risk assessment analysis of Commencement Bay,
warnings against eating seafood caught there were placed in portions of the
Bay.
Current or past urban/industrial activities have been linked to toxic
contamination in at lease five other bays. These are Elliott Bay (including
Lake Union to Shilshole Bay), Everett Harbor-Port Gardner, Sinclair Inlet,
Bellingham Bay and Eagle Harbor (see Figure 5). There are reasons to
believe other embayments may have similar problems.
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Another important public concern is the protection of the Sound's rich
shellfish resource. The Puget Sound area constitutes about 20 percent of the
shellfish resource in Region 10. Approximately 79,000 acres in Puget Sound
and the Strait of Juan de Fuca are now classified for commercial shellfish
harvesting. Of the total acreage, 41 percent is closed., 49 percent is open,
and 10 percent is conditionally approved for commercial harvest. In the past
thirty years, most of the densely populated eastern shore of the Sound from
Tacoma north to Everett has been closed to commercial shellfish harvesting.
To the south, where most of the remaining commercial shellfish operations are
located, bacterial contamination from nonpoint sources appear to pose an
increasing threat.
Bacteria are a food source for shellfish and are generally harmless. Fecal
bacteria, however, serve as an indicator of the potential presence in water of
harmful viruses and other pathogens associated with human and animal waste.
The Washington Department of Social and Health Services certifies areas as
safe for commercial shellfish production, and may close those areas where
allowable levels of fecal coliform bacteria are exceeded.
In urban areas such as Elliot and Commencement Bays, shellfish are exposed to
potentially harmful pathogens that enter the Sound from large sewage treatment
plants, combined sewer overflows and urban runoff. Shellfish beds in such
waters carry a high probability of bacterial and chemical contamination.
Although removed from urban centers, areas such as Hood Canal and Discovery
Bay in southern Puget Sound may face decertification because of wastes
resulting from growth of shoreline recreational developments, industrial
operations and small-scale farming. Last year, 233 acres were closed in
Quilcene Bay.
While the problems associated with toxic contamination in urban bays are of
immediate concern, there is also growing concern about the cumulative impacts
of chronic pollution exposure on the long-term health of the Sound. This
concern is based on the recognition that large portions of Puget Sound are
poorly flushed and data indicate that most of the contaminants entering the
system remain in the system. While the Sound can absorb a certain amount of
chemical and biological wastes, its assimilative capacity is limited. Recent
studies by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (N0AA) have
shown elevated levels of chemicals in the sediments of Puget Sound embayments
far removed from any urban development or Industrial activity.
Until recently, pollution control and prevention actions focused upon
traditional approaches — limiting municipal and industrial discharges through
permits and by building wastewater treatment facilities, correcting sewer
overflows, and developing management practices to control urban runoff. These
methods significantly improved water quality. However an integrated,
system-wide approach to current concerns and anticipated environmental
problems is still lacking.
Public concern over the condition of Puget Sound moved the Washington State
Legislature to establish the Puget Sound Water Quality Authority
(reconstituted June 1985). It is the Authority's responsibility to develop a
comprehensive plan that will restore and protect water quality (including long
and short-term management goals), identify research needs and priorities, and
recommend guidelines, standards and timetables for State and local
activities. The Authority has been given two years and a substantial budget
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to produce this plan.
Additional indication of support for the study and cleanup of Puget Sound is
reflected by the continued funding of the Puget Sound Initiative. The
Initiative joins federal, state and local agencies having regulatory, research
and resource management responsibilities in Puget Sound to develop coordinated
strategies to address marine environmental problems. In 1985, EPA contributed
$1.6 million to this effort.
Regional Agenda/Barriers
As a first step in reducing toxic contamination in Puget Sound, EPA is funding
the development of "action plans" for several urban bays where problems appear
most severe. The action plans will define the problems, identify what needs
to be done, when and by whom, and will call for sequential implementation.
Implementation is expected to rely chiefly on enhanced waste treatment and
cleanup by responsible parties (e.g., reduction of contaminant discharges,
cleanup of in-place toxic hot spots). This strategy will be carried out
through appropriate regulatory and enforcement actions if necessary. The EPA
and WDOE are prepared to use the full range of their permit authority and
enforcement capabilities to reduce future and current pollution.
In 1985, efforts to address toxic contamination in the bays of Puget Sound
focused on Commencement Bay, Elliott Bay and Everett Harbor. Action plans are
being developed for these areas and additional enforcement staff has been
hired to assist with source identification, source control implementation and
compliance.
Region 10 is also working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and EPA
Headquarters to develop criteria for environmentally safe levels of
contaminants in marine sediments. It is anticipated that these criteria will
be based upon studies of chemical/biological effects relationships. Sediment
criteria will be used to supplement existing water quality criteria in judging
the significance of contaminant concentrations and providing a basis for
remedial actions.
In an effort to more fully quantify the loading of pollutants to the Sound and
to reduce loadings to acceptable levels, EPA and the State of Washington are
developing new strategies relying on clean water permits issued under the
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. WDOE administers the program
and monitors compliance. EPA provides assistance. Current work in this area
includes:
* Review of discharges not covered by existing permits for possible
permit issuance, inspection, and sampling and monitoring requirements.
* A cooperative effort with the Department of Social and Health Services
to implement ways to reduce the impact of sewage treatment plants on
nearby shellfish resources.
* Investigation by EPA to determine the feasibility of revising
monitoring requirements to cover chemical contaminants of greatest
concern.
* Completion by EPA of draft packages for state permits for eight
municipal sewage treatment facilities which earlier were denied 301(h)
waivers.
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* Approval by EPA of municipal pretreatment programs for large cities
like Seattle, Tacoma and Olympia. Implementation is required in the case
of reissued permits.
In addition, Region 10 is collaborating with NOAA on field studies in Elliott
Bay and Commencement Bay to determine the extent of transport of pollutants to
the central basin of the Sound. Similar studies are underway to quantify the
total loading of pollutants in the Sound by source, type and amount. Such
studies will help us predict adverse effects associated with cumulative
impacts of pollution. After enough technical information has been collected,
EPA will develop a system-wide model to relate source inputs to depositional
areas. The model will help evaluate the nature and extent of existing
problems, develop an integrated abatement and protection program, and forecast
future water quality impacts.
WDOE has the lead in efforts to prevent problems where shellfish harvesting is
allowed and to restore water quality in decertified areas considered
potentially certifiable. The State strategy involves:
1) Basin planning which will address nonpoint pollution from failing on-site
sewage disposal, animal keeping, stormwater and clearing and grading.
2) Intensive surveys which will be designed to identify the general location
and type of coliform sources. The surveys will typically involve
bi-monthly sampling for up to a year at a time at a number of locations
in the Sound.
3) Point Discharge Policies will address problems with new, existing,
private, and municipal sewage treatment plants. This component features
a cooperative effort with the Department of Social and Health Services
to Identify ways to reduce the impacts of sewage plants on shellfish
resources.
In order to allow the most effective use of limited resources, WDOE has
prioritized the various shellfish growing areas in the Sound using a
classification system based on the degree of threat, and to a lesser extent,
productivity. Intensive surveys require considerable staff and budget
resources and will be conducted only in the highest priority areas. All
shellfish culture areas are considered important, however, and the policies of
intensive permit review and basin planning apply equally to all.
In Puget Sound, four areas have exceptionally high production and have been
designated "unique" growing areas that will receive priority attention and
protection: Burley Lagoon/M1nter Bay, Hammersley Inlet/Oakland Bay,
Totten/Skookum Inlet and Penn Cove (see Figure 6).. In 1985 and 1986,
shellfish protection efforts will be concentrated in Burley Lagoon/Minter Bay
and Skookum and Totten Inlets. Additional work to examine options for
controlling discharges of bacterial contaminants from nonpoint sources will be
initiated for the Sti1laguamish Basin. Dairy waste management plans will be
developed for King, Pierce and Skagit Counties.
Historically, efforts by WDOE and the Department of Social and Health Services
to protect Puget Sound shellfish resources have focused on bacterial
contamination. Very little work has been done to date to examine toxic
chemical contamination of shellfish. As a first step in addressing this
issue, EPA will be funding studies in 1986 to study chemical uptake and
accumulation in shellfish and the associated health risk to humans who might
consume contaminated shellfish.
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Headquarters Actions Needed
Additional staff for contract management and oversight activities.
More decision-making authority at the policy level should be delegated to the
Regional Administrator.
Environmental Results
Through pretreatment and other Clean Water Act controls, reduce
discharges of toxic and hazardous wastes to Puget Sound.
Reduced incidence of fish and shellfish abnormalities in Puget Sound
embayments.
Reduced number of commercial shellfish acres closed due to bacterial
contamination.
Revocation of health warnings against consumption of recreationally
harvested shellfish.
Increased number of acres classified as conditionally approved or open
for shellfish harvesting.
44
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Chemical Contamination Sites in Puget Sound
June 1983
.ol
-------
Puget Sound Priority Shellfish Protection Areas
June 1983
Everett
Strait of Juan de fuca
ort Town send
Whidbey
Island I «
Affected Areas
1 Penn Cove
Totten Inlet
Skookum Inlet
Hammersley Inlet
Oakland Bay
Minter Bay
Burley Lagoon
Puget Sound
Quilcene Bay
Miles
Seattle
Bremerton
Shelton
$
Tacoma
Olympia
-------
SILVER VALLEY/COEUR d'ALENE, IDAHO
Problem Assessment
Idaho ranks first in silver, second in zinc, and fourth in lead production
among the United States. Extraction, concentration (milling and washing),
smelting and disposal of such ores over nearly one hundred years of mining
activity has contaminated soils and surface and groundwater in Idaho's
Silver Valley. Mine tailings have become mixed with surface alluvium,
leaving much of the Valley contaminated with heavy metals such as lead,
zinc, cadmium, copper and chromium. Particularly affected are the South
Fork of the Couer d'Alene River and the Silver Valley aquifer.
Silver Valley mines are among the deepest in the world. The miles of mining
tunnels would stretch from Los Angeles to San Francisco. Groundwater
recharges surface waters throughout the Valley, contributing hundreds of
pounds per day of heavy metal loading. Because of the toxicity of the
metals, fish were virtually absent from the South Fork of the Coeur d'Alene
River a few years ago. Rough estimates of the amount of zinc contributed by
groundwater to the main river stem range between 800 and 1000 pounds a day -
well above the natural level (see Table 5).
The only smelter in the Valley, at Kellogg, was operated in recent years
along with a lead mine as the Bunker Hill Company, a subsidiary of the Gulf
Resources and Chemicals Corp. The mine and smelter were closed In 1981 due
to economic conditions. EPA and IDHW have defined an initial study area of
twenty-one square miles around this site which will be addressed under the
Superfund program. The Bunker Hill complex is on EPA's National Priorities
List (see Figure 7).
Knowledge of the geohydrology of the Valley is limited except in areas
studied by the EPA, U.S. Geological Survey and Idaho. For example, the
bottom and surrounding dikes of the 160 acre waste disposal lagoon at Bunker
Hill leak through underlying soils. Two aquifers underlie the lagoon. The
top one consists of about twenty feet of sand and gravel intermixed with
mine tailings. A thirty to fifty foot layer of fine sand, silt and clay
overlays the lower aquifer. The zones appear to be interconnected although
the greatest impact is mainly associated with the upper zone. Tests show
unhealthful levels of zinc in groundwater near the Bunker Hill tailings pond.
The ground-water aquifer beneath the Valley is composed mainly of stream
deposited sands and gravels and glacial fill. Depths range from 30 feet
near the upper (eastern) end of the Valley near Mullen to over 400 feet deep
at the other edge of the Valley fifty miles west. Because of the high
permeability and short distance to the uppermost ground water, the potential
for contamination from mine tailings and waste discharges is high.
Heavy metals contamination in the environment can be toxic to humans and
animal life. For example, mental development in children can be retarded by
eating or breathing lead particles. In 1978, an airborne lead concentration
of 18.99 micrograms per cubic meter (compared with current standard of 1.5)
was recorded at Silver King School in Kellogg. (See Figure 8). Excessive
amounts of cadmium, zinc, antimony and chromium are also toxic to fish and
other aquatic life. However, with the slow down of mining activities, a
decrease in heavy metals loading is improving conditions in the Coeur
d'Alene river system for the re-establishment of aquatic life.
47
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Ten mines in the Valley are still active according to NPDES permit records
(see Figure 9). The local Bunker Limited Partnership has purchased that
facility and reopened the Crescent (Silver) mine. (Bunker LTD is currently
salvaging the smelter's rolling stock).
Regional Agenda/Barriers
Environmental problems in the Silver Valley are being attacked under several
Federal laws, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liabi1ity Act (Superfund) and the
Safe Drinking Water Act. Taking these in order:
The Clean Air Act:
Since the shutdown of the Bunker Hill smelter and the completion of an
on-site cleanup, there have been no measured violations of the
health-related standard for lead in the air of the Valley, although
localized violations may occur where the soil is highly contaminated. (See
Table 7).
Under the settlement of a Clean Air Act lawsuit by the Natural Resources
Defense Council, EPA regulations will require the smelter, if it is
reopened, to begin in 1988 to use controls like those at comparable U.S.
smelters. Such controls would significantly reduce quarterly ambient
concentrations of lead in the valley, as compared with pre-shutdown levels.
For example, quarterly average ambient concentrations of lead at the Silver
King School in Kellogg would be reduced below 3 micrograms per cubic meter
of air in 1988, compared with the quarterly average level of 18.99 measured
at the school in 1978. Additional controls would be required in 1990 to
attain the health-related standard for air purity throughout Silver Valley.
The Clean Water Act:
Water in the South Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River has improved in recent
years.. Since 1976, concentrations of heavy metals have decreased
significantly and a concurrent Improvement in the fishery has been
observed. (See Table 6). Waste water discharge permits requiring
nationally standardized, technology-based levels of control may not achieve
stream and ground-water quality goals in the Valley.
Three major mining and milling operations need new Federal permits. These
operations are being examined to see if additional controls are needed. As
appropriate, biomonitoring may be required at these facilities to test the
toxicity of their effluent, and controls will be required on surface runoff
and seepage from tailings ponds.
Region 10 and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare are exploring a
cooperative, one year ambient water monitoring study along the South Fork
Coeur d'Alene River and its tributaries. The study would help locate and
characterize sources of heavy metal loadings and so help develop site
specific criteria for discharge permits. If approved, the study should
begin in spring or summer of 1986.
Superfund:
EPA Region 10 has lead responsibility for the Superfund remedial
investigation and cleanup feasibility studies at the Bunker Hill smelter
site. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare provides technical advice
48
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and studies and ensures that the 6000 or so affected residents in the area
are included in decision-making processes. An advisory task force was
created by the Shoshone County Commission to work with EPA and the Idaho
Department of Health and Welfare on the cleanup. Due to the size and nature
of the site, community support is essential. A community relations plan has
been developed for the project.
The principal barrier to immediate action under Superfund is the lack of an
adequately specific definition of problems at the site. Existing data from
state, local and federal agencies, past and present owners of the mine and
smelter and university researchers is being reviewed for an interim report
due by late summer, 1985. By year end, we will identify any further studies
needed to plan Superfund cleanup activities.
In the interim, EPA and the State are evaluating short-term measures that
could be taken on site to reduce public exposure to heavy metals from
contaminated soils that collected in children's play areas and other areas
that are current sources of windblown dust. This evaluation, too, is to be
completed by winter 1985. The State Department of Health and Welfare also
is seeking Federal aid for a 3-year program to keep lead levels in the blood
of children as low as possible during the long-term cleanup. The remedial
investigation work plan should be completed early in 1986 and take one year
to execute. Gulf Resources, the former owner of the smelter, has expressed
interest in carrying out the remedial investigation and cleanup feasibility
study.
Safe Drinking Water Act:
Lack of data and uncertainty about Agency policy still bars action on
groundwater problems in the Silver Valley. EPA is working on a policy to
guide decisions on the degree of cleanup to be undertaken at various types
of aquifers. Superfund-related studies at Bunker Hill are expected to
provide additional information; however, no ground-water- specific remedial
activities have taken place and no other well sampling for heavy metals has
been conducted.
The Bunker Hill waste disposal is being evaluated, and the dried-up tailings
pond at the inactive Page mine near Smelterville may also be considered for
Superfund cleanup. Work also 1s needed to characterize the aquifer system
according to hydrology, gradients, and connections between ground and
surface waters.
Headquarters Actions Needed
Develop the national ground-water classification policy so goals
may be set regarding the extent of aquifer cleanup work required.
Augment laboratory analytical capabilities needed to define the
extent of present contamination and to plan future prevention and
mitigation strategies.
Environmental Results
Environmental monitoring at the completion of the Region 10 work would
reveal lower levels of heavy metals contamination in soils, surface waters,
and groundwater. The local fishery should continue to improve as stream
water quality also improves.
49
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TABLE 5
ESTIMATED AVERAGE LOADINGS IN THE SOUTH FORK COUER D'ALENE RIVER BASIN
LOW FLOW CONDITIONS
Total Zinc
Survey Date
River Flow
Near
Kellogg cfs
cfs
All sources
Above BH
to Mile
6.9
Leakage/
Seepage from
CIA Area
Mile 6.9 - 5.3
Bunker Creek
& CIA
Discharge
Mile 5.3
Si 1ver King
Creek Dschrge
Mile 5.0
Seepage &
Inflows from
Mile 5.3 - 2.3
TOTAL
BASIN
LOADING
LBS/DAY
%
LBS/DAY
%
LBS/DAY
%
LBS/DAY
%
LBS/DAY
%
LBS/DAY
Oct. 9, 1974
79
1200
24%
1450
29%
160
3%
1900
38%
300
6%
5000
Oct. 7-9, 1975
122
1620
28%
1950
34%
400
7%
1330
23%
450
8%
5750
Oct 5, 1976
79
1300
14%
3950
42%
1200
13%
1850
20%
1000
11%
9300
Sept. 18-19, 1979
66
760
30%
1000
40%
40
2%
10
—
700
28%
2500
Oct. 7-8, 1980
76
1070
42%
1070
42%
70
3%
10
—
330
13%
2550
Sept. 21-21, 1982
89
1000
48%
650
31%
40
2%
40
2%
350
17%
2100
Sept. 26, 1984
95
1100
55%
550
27%
100
5%
20
1%
250
12%
2000
NOTE: * Broken Waste line from zinc plant to waste disposal site complex caused abnormally high loadings
during this survey.
Source: EPA Water Quality Survey Data
-------
TABLE 6
Comparison of Metal Concentrations - 1982 and 1984
South Fork and Main Stem Coeur d'Alene Rivers
Main Stem - Coeur d'Alene River'
Total Total Total Total Total
Flow Cadmium Copper Lead Mercury Zinc
(cfs) (mq/1) (mq/1) (mq/1) (mg/1) (mq/1)
September 1982 261.0 0.1 0.7 18.0 0.1 1.0
September 1984 311.0 0.2 2.0 0.5 0.1 1.0
South Fork Coeur d'Alene River2
September 1982 141.0 16.7 2.15 31.0 0.1 2767.0
September 1984 145.5 23.2 15.0* 25.4 0.1 2563.0
*(range 2.0 to 39.3)
1 Not affected by mining.
Above confluence with the South Fork Coeur d'Alene River.
2 Affected by mining.
Above confluence with the Main Stem of the Coeur d'Alene River.
Source: EPA Water Quality Survey Data.
51
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TABLE 7
Silver Valley Ambient Lead Concentrations
Quarterly Averages (ug/m3) - 1975 to 1984
Monitoring Site
KELLOGG MEDICAL CENTER
KELLOGG SILVER KING SCHOOL
OSBURN RADIO STATION
PINEHURST SCHOOL
Quarter 1y Average
Year
1
. 2
3
4
1975
7.06
5.31
5.97
11 .22
1976
7.11
4.24
9.37
8.37
1977
9.63
6.55
4.21
6.71
1978
5.94
2.37
4.16
9.20
1979
8.25
4.92
4.82
5.37
1980
6.82
3.32
4.55
8.72
1981
6.67
2.41
2.21
5.04
1982
.36
.38
.02
.16
1983
.24
.22
.12
.18
1984
.16
.12
.09
.12
1975
15.50
12.36
17.05
18.78
1976
12.66
11 .52
18.49
16.73
1977
14.87
15.75
12.14
13.04
1978
10.62
6.23
7.03
18.99
1979
13.54
8.02
11.08
10.37
1980
13.33
4.67
9.21
13.67
1981
11 .62
3.66
6.51
7.88
1982
1.75
1.01
.51
.20
1983
.27
.26
.13
.13
1984
.17
.10
.15
.07
1975
3.12
.88
1.12
2.31
1976
1 .62
.77
1 .54
2.34
1977
4.69
1 .31
1.16
2.81
1978
1 .72
.67
.87
2.58
1979
4.11
.86
.89
1 .35
1980
2.10
.74
.77
2.15
1981
1 .49
.75
.09
.43
1982
.14
.06
.06
.12
1983
.18
.14
.09
.17
1984
.13
.06
.07
.13
1975
3.28
1 .79
3.93
3.23
1976
3.31
1 .34
3.31
5.04
1977
4.85
2.91
2.25
4.21
1978
3.01
1 .02
1 .55
5.08
1979
4.57
1 .69
3.06
2.91
1980
2.42
.94
2.15
3.33
1981
1 .54
.69
.88
1 .54
1982
.29
.07
.09
.17
1983
.22
.16
.08
.16
1984
.12
.06
.08
.09
Source: 1984 Idaho Air Quality Annual Report
52
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Silver Valley, Idaho
{Kellogg- Wa/lace-Muf/an Corridor}
Superfund Site Boundary & Bunker Hill Complex
Summer 1985
cn
CjJ
Coeur d Alene
£
d'Alene ^
Bunker Hill
Waste Disposal
Area
SUPERFUND Site Boundary
Smelterville
Kellogg
Pinehurst
Area of
Bunker Hill
Complex
Wardner
Silver Kmo/Cr
SUPERFUND Site Boundary
7
Coeur d'Alene
Silver Valley
Area
Boise
Location Map
Kellogg
,ct
Wallace
Miles
10
Muilan
20
-------
Silver Valley, Idaho
(Kellogg- Wallace-Mu/lan Corridor)
Ambient Lead Monitoring Sites
Summer 1985
n
Coeur d'Alene
Silver Valley
Area
Boise
D A H 0
Coeur d'Alene
Location Map
Kellogg
Mullan
Wallace
~ Ambient Lead Monitoring Site
5
Miles
10
20
3
-------
Silver Valley, Idaho
(Kellogg- Wallace-Mullan Corridor}
Active NPDES Mine and Mill Locations
Summer 1985
CTJ
CJ1
o
Kl
cho
>
Coeur d'Alene
G j
I
o
/
'CO®'
!Uf d'Alene
1 Bunker Ltd. Partnership
2 Asarco
3 Callahan Mining
4 Gold Back
5 Consolidated Silver Mine (HECLAJ
6 Lucky Friday Mill (HECLA)
7 Star Mill (HECLA)
8 Morning Mine Portal (HECLA)
9 Silver Corporation of America (HECLA)
10 Sunshine Mine (HECLA)
n
Coeur d'Alene
Silver Valley
Area
Boise
IDAHO
Location Map
Wallace
C>«1°
0
5
Miles
10
20
-------
Part III. Recommendations for the FY 87-88 Agency Priority List
Air Program
1. The ranking assigned to acid deposition is too high. Acid deposition
should be placed after Priorities #9, #15, and #16.
2. Radon should be added as a national priority problem in the top 10-15
items on this list. Radon could be included in Priority #15, but if so,
should be explicitly mentioned.
3. Priority #9 should also emphasize the need to implement air compliance
assurance agreements. The need to increase permit and point source
compliance should be be specifically mentioned.
4. Priority #15 should clearly refer to a national air toxics strategy as
opposed to "...a comprehensive national strategy for the control of
hazardous air pollutants."
5. Priority #15 should state the need to development and implement an air
toxics emergency response capability.
Mater Program
6. Priority #20 which deals with nonpoint source control should be given
much higher priority.
RCRA Program
7. If State RCRA programs were authorized, the issuance of permits and
reductions in the number of violations would be more readily accomplished.
Priority #21, RCRA authorizations, should be moved up with Priorities #3
and #4.
56
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Part IV
Region 10
1985 Environmental Management Report Update
Significant Environmental Problems Chart
Relative Ranking of Geographic
Environmental Problems Scope
Level of
Public Concern
Contaminants
Of Concern
Major
Source
cjn
Hazardous Waste
Contamination of
Groundwater
Puget Sound
activities
Air Toxics
vehicles
PCB Strategy for
Utility and
Scrap/Salvage
Operations
Bacterial/Chemical
Contamination of
Shellfish
Pesticide Contamination
of Groundwater
Region
Washington
Low
Low
Region
Medium
Region
Alaska
Oregon
Washington
Region
Medium
Medium
Medium
organic compounds
toxic metals
radioactive waste
pesticides
coliform bacteria
organic toxicants
heavy metals
chlorinated solvents
aromatic polycyclic
hydrocarbons, asbestos
PBCs
coliform bacteria
organic toxicants
PSP
EDB, 2,4-D and
others
generators
transporters
disposers
failing septic tanks
waste treatment plants
various industries
dredge/disposal
chemical industries
wood treatment industries
wood stoves, motor
field burning
electric capacitor
manufacturers and
salvage operations
falling septic tanks
dairies/small-scale farms
waste treatment plants
agriculture
silviculture
LUST
Region
High
Toxic & hazardous under investigation
chemicals
-------
Region 10
1985 Environmental Management Report Update
page two
Significant Environmental Problems Chart
Relative Ranking of Geographic
Environmental Problems Scope
Level of
Public Concern
Contaminants
of Concern
Major
Source
Wetlands Protection
Alaska
Oregon
Washington
Medium
varies with
location
dredge & fill activities
agricultural drainage
oil & gas development
log transfer
Nonpoint Source
Contamination of
Surface Water
Silver Valley, Idaho
Carbon Monoxide
Acid Deposition
Respirable
Particulates
Placer Mining
Region
Medi um
Idaho
Region
Region
Region
Alaska
High
High
Medi um
High
High
bacteria, pesticides
sediments, nutrients
heavy metals
carbon monoxide
sulfates
nitrates
PM -10 particles
arsenic
suspended solids
agriculture
silviculture
urban runoff
mining
septic tank failures
mining
smeltering
motorized vehicles
wood Stoves
various industries
motor vehicles
wood stoves
field burning
fugitive rural dust
wood products processors
placer mining operations
-------
u. s.
A *
MI
% ^
*1 PRO^
M/S 312
MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT: Environmental Indicators
FROM: Marci Melvin^tJ^-
EMR Coordinator^ Region 10
TO: Pam Cooper
Environmental Results Branch
As requested, I am enclosing a summary of the environmental indicators
that have been proposed by our EMR authors. They are listed below by
environmental problem captions. We did not limit discussion of environmental
indicators to our geographic specific problems. These indicators represent a
mixture of short and long term measures — many simply represent a "wish
list" of information we would like to have were funds and resources not an
issue.
Carbon Monoxide
1. Number of locations with healthful CO levels.
2. Number of local attainment goals met through I/M programs.
3. Number of nonattainment areas.
4. Number of violation days.
5. Number of secondary ambient violation days.
Respirable Particulates (PM -10)
1. Improved visibility levels through comparative measurement.
2. Reduced exposure to high concentrations of PM -10.
3. Reduced exposure to rural fugitive dust.
4. Number of locations meeting NAAQS for PM -10.
Air Toxics
1. Decreased air toxics emissions from traditional and non-traditional
sources (woodstoves, landfills, sewage treatment plants, field burning,
hazardous waste sites).
2. Reduced cancer risk associated with air toxics exposure.
Acid Deposition
1. Wet deposition trends.
2. Lake acidity levels.
3. Changes in tree growth patterns.
4. Reduced sulfate and nitrate emissions.
5. Fish population and algal growth trends.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
REGION X
1200 SIXTH AVENUE J| mm
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98101 U§\ J\ fT
AUG 71985
59
-------
DRAFT
Asbestos
1. Increased school compliance rates.
Nonpoint Source Pollution
1. Number of acres/lakes or miles/streams not meeting designated uses.
2. Number of stream miles not meeting normal temperatures.
3. Decreased loadings of sediment, nutrients, pesticides and bacteria
in surface waters.
Placer Mining
1. Compliance rates for turbidity and arsenic standards.
2. Number of miles of increased water clarity and dissolved oxygen values
in streams affected by placer mining activity.
3. Number of miles of decreased suspended and settleable solids loadings
in streams affected by placer mining activity.
4. Number of stream miles supporting designated fish populations.
5. Increased percentage of fish egg survival in streams affected by placer
mining.
LUST
1. Number of leaking tanks in Region 10.
2. Reduced instances of volatile organic chemical contamination
of groundwater supplies.
3. Reduced potential for leaking tank contamination in Region 10.
Groundwater Contamination - RCRA/Superfund
1. Number of final RCRA permits issued.
2. Attainment of toxic concentration limits in groundwater at hazardous
waste sites.
3. Number of national priority sites.
4. Reduced exposure levels at remedial action sites.
Groundwater Contamination - Pesticides
1. Reduced migratory pesticide levels in areas vulnerable to groundwater
contamination.
2. Reduced pounds of pesticides applied in vulnerable groundwater areas.
PCBs
1. Number of inspections or civil complaints.
2. Number of private sector clean-up programs.
3. Number of scrap/salvage operations in compliance.
Shellfish
1. Acres of shellfish grounds re-opened for harvest.
2. Acres of priority shellfish grounds closed to harvest.
3. Reduced levels of toxic and bacterial contamination in shellfish
waters and shellfish tissues.
50
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DRAFT
Wetlands
1. Decrease in acres of wetlands lost.
2. Increase in acres of wetlands restored or protected.
3. Number of violations reported by public.
4. Number of Corps permits containing mitigation plans.
5. Number of referrals or enforcement actions that minimize impacts
or replace functional values.
6. Number of state enforcement conferences held.
7. Number of cubic yards of dredged material not allowed for in-water
disposal due to EPA sediment criteria.
Silver Valley - Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
1. Increased fish populations in streams contaminated with heavy metals.
2. Reduced levels of lead, zinc, cadmium, copper and chromium in surface
water, soil and groundwater.
3. Reduced population exposure to contaminated soils.
4. Reduced blood lead levels in children.
5. Reduced contaminant loading to the South Fork Coeur d'Alene River from
surface water and groundwater inflows within the Superfund area.
Puget Sound
1. Reduced cases of biological abnormalities in berithic fish populations.
2. Reduced levels of toxic contaminants In sediments and interstitial waters.
3. Removal of health warnings against fish and shellfish harvest.
4. Increased reproductive success of fish and shellfish.
61
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United States Region 10 Alaska
Environmental Protection 1200 Sixth Avenue Idaho
Agency Seattle WA 98101 Oregon
Washington
<&ERA Briefing
Document
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