United States Environmental Protection Agency ^ PHA
Office of Research and Development L l#\
National Health and Environmental Effects Atlantic Ecology Division
Research Laboratory Narragansett, Rhode Island
ATLANTIC ECOLOGY DIVISION
Division Review
23-25 October, 2002
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Agenda
)ON30^
*6
.jf
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Atlantic Ecology Division
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory
Office of Research and Development
Divisional Peer Review
23-25 October 2002
Agenda
Tuesday, 22 October
7 00 pm Executive Session with NHEERL Leadership
Bay Voyage Inn
Wednesday, 23 October U.S. EPA Main Building, 27 Tarzwell Drive, Narragansett, RI
8 30 am Introductory Remarks Larry Reiter, NHEERL Director
8 35 Welcome and Logistics Jonathan Garber, AED Director
9:00 Overview of AED Jonathan Garber
9*30 AED's Science Program Wayne Munns, AED Associate
Director for Science
10 00 AED Resources and Infrastructure
Sheila Meuse, AED Associate Director
for Program Operations
10 30 Questions, Clarifications and Discussion
11 00 Facilities Tour
12 00 Working Lunch in Executive Session
Characterizing Environmental Condition
1 00 pm Overview of Monitoring, Assessment
and Diagnosis Research
Barbara Brown, Chief of ERB
1 30 Assessing the Condition of Estuaries and Gerald Pesch
Streams (GPRA Goal 8)
2 00 Identifying Ecological Impairment
(GPRA Goal 8)
Matthew Nicholson
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2-30 Diagnosing Causes of Ecological Impairment
(GPRA Goal 2)
3 00 Poster Session (Room 130)
4'30 Questions, Clarifications and Discussion
5 -00 Adjourn
Evening no planned event
Kay Ho
various presenters
Thursday, 24 October U S EPA Mam Building, 27 Tarzwell Drive, Narragansett, RI
Ecological Effects Research to Support Risk Management
Extrapolating Effects to Populations
8 30 am The Wildlife Research Strategy
900
9 30
10 00
11-30
12 00
1:00
1.30
2 00
2:30
3.00
Population Modeling to Support Ecological
Risk Assessment (GPRA Goals 4
and 8)
Wildlife Risk Assessment - The Loon/Hg
Demonstration (GPRA Goal 2)
Tim Gleason, Acting Chief of IDB
Matthew Mitro
Diane Nacci
various presenters
Poster Session (Room 130)
Questions, Clarifications and Discussion
Work Lunch in Executive Session
Developing Stressor-Response Relationships
A Framework for Assessing Effects of Charlie Strobe], Acting Chief of EASB
Aquatic Stressors
Stressor-Response Relationships for Nutrients Jim Latimer
(GPRA Goal 2)
Stressor-Response Relationships for
Habitat Alteration (GPRA Goal 2)
Effects of Contaminated Sediment
(GPRA Goals 2 and 5)
Poster Session (Room 130)
Cathleen Wigand
Barbara Bergen
various presenters
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4 30 Questions, Clarifications and Discussion
5 00 Adjourn
Evening no planned event
Friday, 25 October U.S EPA Main Building, 27 Tarzwell Drive, Narragansett, R1
Integration Research
9 00 am Integrating Ecology, Human Health and Wayne Munns/
Socioeconomics (GPRA Goal 8) Dan Campbell/Sherry Brandt-Williams
10 00 General Questions, Clarifications and Discussion
10:30 Review Program Adjourns
Panel Meets in Executive Session
Working Lunch
2:30 Panel Interview with NHEERL and Division Management
Panel Departs
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AED Peer Review Panel
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AED PEER REVIEW
LIST OF PANELISTS
CHAIR:
Gregory Biddinger
ExxonMobil Refining and Supply Company
3225 Gallows Road, 8B-0235
Fairfax, VA 22037
T: 703.846 7078
F: 703.846.5599
E. gregory.r.biddmger@exxonrnobil.com
PANEL:
Denise Breitburg
The Academy of Natural Sciences
Estuarine Research Center
10545 Mackall Road
St. Leonard, MD 20685
T: 410.586.9711
F: 410.586.9705
E: breit@acnatsci.org
Carl Hershner
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
The College of William and Mary
1208 Greate Road
Gloucester Point, VA 23062
T. 804 684.7387
F: 804.684.7391
E. carl@vims.edu
Peter Kareiva
The Nature Conservancy
Home Address:
4722 Latona Avenue, NE
Seattle, WA 98105
T- 206 406.2249
F- 408.554.2312
E- pkareiva@tnc org
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James R. Karr
University of Washington
Aquatic and Fishery Sciences
Box 355020
Seattle, WA 98195-5020
T- 206.685.4784
F: 206.528.0885
E: irkarr@.u.washington edu
FEDEX ADDRESS:
6002 McKinley Place North
Seattle, WA 98103
206.522.1993
Charlie Menzie
Menzie-Cura & Associates, Inc
One Courthouse Lane, Suite 2
Chelmsford, MA 01824
P: 978 322.2856
F: 978.970.2791
E: camenzie@menziecura.com
Michael Newman
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
The College of William and Maiy
Watermen's Hall, Room 232
Gloucester Point, VA 23062
T: 804.684.7105, 7725
F: 804 684.7097
E: newman@.vims edu
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Charge to Review Panel
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U. S. EPA NATIONAL HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
RESEARCH LABORATORY
ATLANTIC ECOLOGY DIVISION
PEER REVIEW OCTOBER 23-25, 2002
CHARGE TO THE PEER REVIEW PANEL
OVERALL GOAL
The National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL) conducts a peer
review of each of its Divisions on a four-year cycle The primary goal of the peer review is to
provide Senior Management with guidance for the planning and implementation of research and
the allocation of resources over the next five years. The review is conducted to evaluate 1) the
quality of the science within the Division, and 2) the responsiveness of the Division's science on
Agency needs and problems. Each of these two dimensions is to be assessed relative to the
research, advisory, and leadership roles of the Laboratory To assist you with your review,
sample questions relative to each of these roles are tabulated on page 6.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Panel members are encouraged to bring their own laptop computers for use during the sessions.
A computer, printer, and photocopier also will be available on site. Use of WordPerfect 9 is
preferred, but converters are available for other word processing software.
Please note that the review panel is not an advisory committee The objective is not to come to a
consensus regarding the Division's program; rather, the report should represent a summation of
individual critiques, opinions, and viewpoints.
PANEL CHAIR
In addition to his own writing assignments, Dr. Greg Biddinger will serve as the Editor-in-Chief
for the panel report and will draft the Executive Summary.
ALL PANEL MEMBERS
Each panel member has been assigned the role of primary and secondary reviewer for the various
research areas of the Division's program. The proposed writing assignments are listed on the
next page Modifications to the proposed assignments can be accommodated within the panel
Specified assignments do not preclude reviewers from evaluating other research areas; in fact,
such efforts are encouraged, especially when disciplines cross research areas.
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Writing Assignments
Executive Summary
Progress Since Last Review
Greg Biddinger
Greg Biddinger
Research Area
Primary Reviewer
Secondary Reviewer
Agenda
Assessing Condition of
Streams and Estuaries
James Kan
Michael Newman
Wednesday
afternoon
Identifying Ecological
Impairment
Charlie Menzie
James Karr
Diagnosing Ecological
Impairment
Denise Breitburg
James Kan-
Wildlife Risk Assessment -
Loon/Hg Case Study
Charlie Menzie
Peter Kareiva
Thursday
morning
Population Modeling
Peter Kareiva
Charlie Menzie
Michael Newman
Nutrient Effects
Denise Breitburg
Carl Hershner
Thursday
afternoon
Habitat Alteration
Carl Hershner
Denise Breitburg
Contaminated Sediment
Effects
Michael Newman
Greg Biddinger
Integrated Research
Carl Hershner
Greg Biddinger
Friday
morning
What should be written prior to the on-site visit
Primary Reviewers:
Primary reviewers for each of the assigned Research Areas in the above table are asked to bring
to the on-site meeting a written critique based upon the materials provided in this notebook. The
critiques should provide an analysis of 1) the Division's research (with an evaluation of the
quality of the research and its impact both on scientific understanding and on Agency needs), 2)
the extent to which the Division provides advice and assistance to the scientific community and
EPA, and 3) leadership exhibited by the Division.
A suggested format for your critique is outlined on page 5, and the table on page 6 will assist you
in preparing these critiques. Significant accomplishments, strengths, and weaknesses should
be highlighted. Please note that reviewers are not asked to evaluate individual members of the
AED staff.
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A hard copy of your critique should be given to the Peer Review Coordinator during the
Executive Session on October 22. Copies of these critiques will be distributed to all panel
members for discussion during the site visit.
Secondary reviewers:
All panel members have secondary writing responsibilities in which brief written statements or
bullets on the research areas should be prepared. These statements/bullets will be given to the
primary reviewers at the meeting for incorporation into the overall review.
What should be written on-site
Primary reviewers:
Primary reviewers should edit and amend their critiques as necessary based on observations
made during the site visit and the comments of secondary reviewers.
Secondary reviewers:
Secondary reviewers should amend their initial comments based on observations made during the
site visit; this information should be given to the appropriate primary reviewer.
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT WE MUST HAVE A DRAFT REVIEW REPORT BEFORE
YOUR DEPARTURE ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25.
Prior to adjournment, the Panel shall present its key findings to the NHEERL Director, the acting
Associate Director for Ecology, the Division's Management Team, and the Peer Review
Coordinator.
Post-meeting obligations
The Panel Chair, with assistance (if needed) from the Peer Review Coordinator, will complete
the draft report and circulate it to all members of the panel for their approval A final Peer
Review Report will be presented by the Panel Chair to the NHEERL Director no later than
November 29,2002.
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SCHEDULE
All panel members are urged to arrive Tuesday, October 22, in time to attend a 7.00 PM meeting
with NHEERL's Director, Dr Larry Reiter; the acting Associate Director for Ecology, Dr. Steve
Hedtke; the acting Director of the Research Planning and Coordination Staff (RPCS), Dr. Bill
Russo, and the Peer Review Coordinator, Virginia Houk The meeting will be held in the
"Commons Room" at the Bay Voyage Inn where you have your room reservations.
Upon arrival, the preliminary evaluations prepared by each panel member will be collected by
the Peer Review Coordinator. The material will be duplicated and distnbuted to all panel
members to facilitate discussions and consolidate evaluations.
On October 23-25, the Division's program will be presented through oral and poster
presentations. Ample time has been set aside for the reviewers to confer with Division staff and
each other. These interactions will allow reviewers to obtain more detailed information on the
Division's program, to query researchers, and to clarify outstanding issues.
A portion of October 25 will be devoted to preparing the draft peer review report. During this
writing session, primary reviewers will modify, as necessary, their preliminary critiques to reflect
observations made during the site visit and to incorporate input from secondary reviewers Time
also has been set aside on this day for the chair and panel members to summarize and discuss
major findings and recommendations with the NHEERL and AED senior managers
The timeline can be summed up as follows:
Approximately 4 weeks prior to review (mid-September): Panel members receive
review package
Prior to arrival at on-site meeting: Reviewers prepare preliminary text of review
Evening before review (October 22): Reviewers meet in Executive Session with
Laboratory Director, Associate Director, RPCS Director, and Peer Review Coordinator
On-site review (October 22-25): Division discusses program with reviewers
Last half day (October 25): Reviewers modify preliminary evaluation as needed; panel
chair and members hold exit interview with the Laboratory Director, Associate Director,
RPCS Director, Division senior staff, and Peer Review Coordinator
Within approximately one month following site visit (November 29): panel chair and
members edit document and present final peer review report to the Laboratory Director
The Peer Review Coordinator, Virginia Houk, will work with you throughout the peer review
process. Questions concerning the review should go directly to her (phone: 919.541-2815; fax:
919 541-4324; e-mail, houk virginia@epa.gov') We ask that there be no contact between you
and the staff of the Atlantic Ecology Division regarding the review, but you may contact the
Division's Associate Director for Science, Dr. Wayne Munns, at 401.782-3017 for information
regarding local arrangements (hotels, transportation).
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GUIDELINES AND FORMAT FOR PREPARING THE REVIEW REPORT
The following outline for the review report is suggested. Parties responsible for the different
pieces are included in parentheses. Please use the table on page 6 for guidance m preparing the
sections on Individual Research Areas.
~ Executive Summary (Dr. Biddinger, with input from individual reviewers)
Description and evaluation of overall program, along with specific panel
recommendations and suggestions.
~ Individual Research Areas (primary reviewer, as assigned, with input from
secondary reviewer and others, as appropriate)
Evaluation of research areas based upon the material in the review notebook,
poster sessions, oral presentations, and discussions.
¦ Introduction
Brief description of Research Area
¦ Research
Assessment of strengths and weaknesses, suggestions for improvement,
evaluation of future directions
Quality of the Science and its Impact
Responsiveness to Agency Needs
¦ Advice and Assistance
Critique of Division's role in providing advice/assistance to the
scientific community and EPA
Quality
Responsiveness to Agency Needs*
¦ Leadership
Critique of Division's leadership role in the scientific community and
within the Agency
Quality
Responsiveness to Agency Needs*
¦ Summary and Recommendations
Overall evaluative statement and recommendations
~ Progress Since Last Review (Dr. Biddinger, with input from individual reviewers)
Critique of Division's responsiveness to the last Division review, taking into
consideration the former panel's recommendations and the Division's Response to
Comments, and steps taken to improve the program. Has the Division made
satisfactory progress on the panel's recommendations? Where do reviewers see
room for improvement9
*We in NHEERL acknowledge the difficulty for a panel of this kind to evaluate the Division's "Advice/Assistance"
and "Leadership" roles within the Agency However, please comment to the extent possible in these 2 areas
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GUIDANCE FOR DIVISIONAL REVIEW
Research
Advice/ Assistance
Leadership
Quality of the
Science
Division's approach to a given environmental problem
Examples
has the Division identified major uncertainties and appropriate
research priorities9
are approaches scientifically sound9
in what ways has the Division advanced scientific understanding
of the problem9 (Has it had an impact9)
are future directions sound9
Division's resources (assume fixed numbers)
Examples
are Division's resources effectively and strategically allocated
across problems (appropriate depth and breadth)?
is the skill mix optimized for the scientific direction taken9
does workforce maintain cutting-edge knowledge and skills9
Mechanisms and extent to which findings /products are
disseminated to scientific audience in timely fashion
Extent to which Division's assistance is
sought by or provided to the scientific
community
Examples:
do scientists serve on national/
international workgroups, symposia,
professional societies, publication boards9
are they members of research review
boards (e g , study sections) for other
organizations9
do they provide scientific or technical
guidance to local, state, tribal, and
international governments
Division's leadership role in the scientific
community (influence on agendas, decisions,
priorities of other researchers /
organizations)
Examples
do scientists lead collaborative research
efforts at the national / international level9
do they serve on advisory boards of other
major agencies / organizations9
are they invited to chair major committees9
do they organize major conferences,
symposia9
do they receive awards / honors for
scientific contributions9
Responsiveness
to Agency
Needs and
Problems
Division's responsiveness to Agency needs
Examples
is research driven by Agency priorities9
does the research address the critical issues within EPA's
mission?
is the Agency using the Division's data / products9
does the Agency adopt approaches or methods developed by the
Division9
does the Division provide information necessary for EPA users to
meet statutory requirements or other policy needs9
what problems has the Division solved for the Agency9
Balance between core and problem-driven research
Mechanisms and extent to which findings /products are
disseminated to Agency in timely fashion
Extent to which Division's advice /
technical support is sought by the Agency*
(Program Offices, Regional Offices)
Examples
does Division staff participate on major
within-Agency workgroups9
do Division scientists assist the Agency in
developing testing guidelines, interpreting
research advances, reviewing Program
Office or Regional documents9
*We acknowledge the difficulty of evaluating
the Division's "Advice/Assistance" roles within
the Agency However, please comment to the
extent possible
Division's leadership role in the Agency*
(influence on research planning efforts,
decisions, and priorities of the Agency)
Examples
does Division staff lead research planning
and coordination efforts across Divisions,
Agency Labs, and Offices9
do scientists represent ORD/Agency on
workshops or workgroups addressing major
risk assessment or environmental issues9
do they receive major Agency awards/
honors?
*We acknowledge the difficulty of evaluating the
Division's "Leadership" role within the Agency
However, please comment to the extent possible
SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS
Provide suggestions for improvement in any of the above areas What can be said about the adequacy of the Division's resources and facilities for meeting its scientific
commitments'' Given the available resources, are productivity and efficiency optimized within the Division9
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ORD/NHEERL OVERVIEW
fy^m
*r\ V
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INTRODUCTION
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established in 1970 in response to
growing concerns over polluted air, unclean rivers, unsafe drinking water, endangered species, and
careless waste disposal. EPA was given the responsibility for implementing a broad set of federal
environmental laws, which have contributed in the intervening years to significant improvements in
environmental quality. Currently, EPA has jurisdiction over more than a dozen statutes enacted to
protect public health and the environment (e.g, the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Air Act).
EPA is both a regulatory and a scientific agency; it is one of only a few federal organizations
that operates in this capacity. The environmental laws that form the legal basis for the Agency's
regulatory activities also authorize its research efforts. It is this research that provides the foundation
for scientifically defensible environmental policies, programs, and regulations. EPA research is
housed chiefly in the Office of Research and Development (ORD), which includes the National Health
and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL).
ORD is the principal research arm of EPA. Its role is to provide the critical science for
environmental decision-making. Unlike much of the Agency, ORD has no direct regulatory function;
rather, its responsibility is to inform the regulatory process. Through the development of technical
information and scientific tools, ORD's research strengthens EPA's science base, providing the
Agency's Program Offices and Regional Offices with sound data for use in developing and
implementing tenable environmental policies, regulations, and practices. Comprising five national
Laboratories and Centers across the country, ORD's broad scope encompasses both human health and
ecology.
ORD is organized around the principles of risk assessment and risk management. These
principles not only help shape and prioritize ORD's research agenda, they also are an inherent part of
its organizational structure. A diagram of risk assessment and its relationship to ORD's Labs and
Centers is depicted in Figure 1 on the next page. The paradigm in Figure la historically has applied
to human health risk assessment, while the framework in Figure lb, which conceptually mirrors the
health paradigm, has been used for ecological risk assessment. Simply put, risk assessment is the
process of evaluating the nature, magnitude, and likelihood of an adverse effect following exposure
to a stressor(s), such as pollution or habitat loss. For health risk assessment, the process involves
hazard identification, dose-response assessment, exposure assessment, and risk characterization.
EPA's Mission
Protect human health and safeguard the natural
environment - air, water, land - upon which life depends.
EPA's OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (ORD )
l
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Figure 1. Risk Assessment and ORD
a. Health Paradigm
Risk Assessment Risk Management
Sldlutoiy and L*ng
ConsidrtjiK.rt?
Dose Response
Assessment
t
Hjwarrl
Identification
CorinlcTfllKjns,
R,sk I \
Characterization -*Rl*
Decision
Economic
Exposure
Assessment
FarUirs
"Adapted from
KA Mk it*
Ciwnwnwif.'
jUjaj^Vvj th* P>MiL
N«bon#J b<»a*>irrf of
Sa«ne«». 1003.
Sotwc and Juik/rrncnt
tn fbsk Assessment
Council 1994
b. Ecology Framework
The US EPA ecological
risk assessment framework
(EPA. 1992)
o"<
Characterization
Exposure
Characterization
PROBLEM FORMULATION
RISK CHARACTERIZATION
ANALYSIS
RISK MANAGEMENT DECISIONS
c. Alignment of ORD Labs / Centers with Risk Paradigm
National Exposure
Research Laboratory
National Health and
Environmental Effects
Research Laboratory
National Center for
Environmental
Assessment
National Risk
Management
Research Laboratory
National Center for
Environmental
Research
Research to measure,
characterize, and assess
exposures and to support
compliance with
environmental regulations
and policies
Research to identify
hazards, formulate
the problem, and
characterize response
Risk characterization
and research on risk
assessment methods
Research and technology
transfer to prevent,
mitigate, and control
pollution
Extramural program -
grants, fellowships, and
national centers of
excellence - to
complement ORD's
intramural program
2
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Ecological risk assessment, on the other hand, involves problem formulation, exposure and effects
analysis, and risk characterization. Once risk has been characterized, that information, together with
factors such as economic considerations, is used to make decisions on how to manage risk. Figure lc
shows how ORD's institutional structure is aligned to comport with the risk paradigm, with each of
ORD's Labs and Centers focusing on a different aspect of risk assessment. NHEERL's singular focus
is upon potential effects of environmental stressors. Our role is to develop the methods, models, and
data to better identify, characterize, and quantify the risks associated with stressors that adversely
impact human and ecological health.
ORD cannot address every problem in the environmental arena. It must be selective when
deciding which problems to tackle. Some research is required by law; other research is initiated in
response to specific environmental exigencies or opportunities. Thus, research in ORD can be broadly
viewed from two perspectives: scientific and programmatic. This is an important distinction because
it reflects the dual responsibility of ORD to advance environmental science frontiers while remaining
responsive to the program needs and priorities of the Agency. ORD research must be scientifically
relevant, but it also must be responsive to those in the Agency tasked with making regulatory and
policy decisions.
The framework for organizing research within ORD
(and NHEERL) is drawn from EPA's Strategic Goals,
summarized in the box to the right. These Goals identify
the overall environmental results, such as cleaner air, that
EPA is working to attain. We use these goals to
systematize the way in which we prioritize, plan, and
implement our research, report our research findings and
products, and budget our programs. Of EPA's 10 national
environmental goals, the first eight involve research. Each
goal is linked to key environmental statutes. For example,
Goal 2: Clean and Safe Water is arrayed with the Clean
Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act. Accordingly,
research performed under a particular goal supports the
regulatory actions mandated by the corresponding
legislation.
Goal 8, Sound Science, deserves some explanation
due to its confusing nomenclature. This goal is unique because of the relevance of its research across
media and for multiple EPA offices. This category is where our core research falls (core is similar to
basic research, and is described more fully on page 6). As opposed to problem-driven research, which
addresses specific environmental problems, core research improves our fundamental understanding
of complex environmental and human health issues. The information and tools gleaned from this
research are the kind that can apply to a wide variety of environmental problems, including prospective
environmental hazards. An example of "Sound Science" research is our study of the unique
susceptibilities of infants and children to toxic substances, the results of which are far-reaching and
can be used to address age-related issues in many problem areas.
All research performed in ORD (and, therefore, in NHEERL) is driven by one of these strategic
EPA's Strategic Goals
1. Clean Air
2. Clean and Safe Water
3. Safe Food
4. Preventing Pollution and Reducing I
Risk in Communities
5. Better Waste Management
6. Reducing Global Risks
7. Expansion of American's Right to
Know About their Environment
8. Sound Science
9. Greater Compliance with the Law
10. Effective Management
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goals. For each of the goals, ORD's Labs and Centers have committed to reaching certain milestones
and delivering specific products within a given time period, thus providing a mechanism for measuring
tangible progress toward completion of long-term objectives. This explicit accountability grew out
of the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) passed by Congress in 1993; consequently,
these Agency goals are sometimes referred to as "GPRA Goals."
THE NATIONAL HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
RESEARCH LABORATORY (NHEERL)
Organizational Structure. NHEERL is the largest research organization in ORD, employing
over 700 federal employees at various facilities across the country. The current organizational
structure is diagramed in Figure 2. Based in Research Triangle Park, NC, NHEERL has nine divisions
that specialize in different facets of human health or ecology research. Our Health Divisions are
centrally located in Research Triangle Park and Chapel Hill, NC. Our Ecology Divisions are based
in Gulf Breeze, FL; Duluth, MN; Corvallis, OR; and Narragansett, RI, each location representing a
significant regional ecosystem (Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes, Pacific Coast, and Atlantic Seaboard,
respectively). Table 1 on the next page lays out the research focus for each NHEERL division.
ORD
National Accountability
and Resource
Management Staff
National Outreach,
Information, and
Technology Staff
National Health
and
Environmental
Effects Research
Laboratory
NHEERL
Research Planning and
Coordination Staff
Office of the
Associate Director
for Health
Environmental
Carcinogenesis Division
Experimental
Toxicology Division
Human Studies Division
Reproductive
Toxicology Division
Neurotoxicology Division
Office of the
Associate Director
for Ecology
Environmental Monitoring
and Assessment
Program
Atlantic Ecology
Division
Gulf Ecology Division
Mid-Continent Ecology
Division
Western Ecology
Division
Figure 2. Organizational Structure of NHEERL
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Table 1. Overview of NHEERL's Health and Ecology Divisions
DIVISION
LOCATION
RESEARCH FOCUS
Atlantic Ecology
Division (AED)
Narragansett. R1
Studies the environmental effects of anthropogenic stressors on marine, coastal and estuarine water quality, with an emphasis on the coastal waters and
watersheds of the Atlantic seaboard. Areas of research specialization include modeling cumulative effects of multiple stressors on coastal ecosystems, developing
methods for assessing the ecological effects of contaminated marine sediments, analyzing the role of biogeochemical processes on effects, and conducting
geographic-based ecological assessments for the Atlantic coast
Environmental
Carcinogenesis Division
(ECD)
Research Triangle Park,
NC
Performs research to assess potential carcinogenicity of environmental chemicals. The aim is to reduce uncertainty in cancer risk assessment models by
developing mechanistic data underlying chemical carcinogenesis for agents of environmental concern (including mixtures). This approach is enhanced by
developing and applying biomarkers of response for predicting cancer outcomes and by incorporating information gained from structure-activity and molecular
modeling approaches.
Experimental Toxicology
Division (ETD)
Research Triangle Park.
NC
Performs research to determine the health effects of environmental pollutants and cause-and-effect relationships at pollutant concentrations that mimic those in
the environment. Investigations center on the pulmonary and cardiovascular systems; the immune system; and susceptibility to infectious, allergic, and neoplastic
disease. Focal point for pharmacokinetic studies to elucidate dose-response relationships for systems susceptible to pollutants.
Gulf Ecology Division
(GED)
Gulf Breeze, FL
Assesses the ecological condition of estuaries, coastal wetlands, coral reefs, and other critical habitats of the Gulf of Mexico. Determines cause(s) of affected and
declining systems; predicts future risk to populations, communities, and ecosystems from aquatic stressors; and supports the establishment of criteria to protect
critical habitats.
Human Studies Division
(HSD)
Chapel Hill, NC
Conducts an interdisciplinary program of clinical and epidemiologic research that provides critical data for health risk assessment. Clinical studies determine the
pharmacokinetics, dosimetry, and effects of pollutants in controlled exposure studies of healthy and susceptible individuals. Epidemiologic studies evaluate the
relationship between real-world exposures and observed health effects in populations of interest. The program focuses on the effects of pollutants in air and water
on the pulmonary, cardiovascular, and neurobehavioral systems.
Mid-continent Ecology
Division (MED)
Duluth, MN
Grosse De, MI
(field station)
Develops methods for predicting and assessing the effects of anthropogenic stressors on freshwater ecological resources, including the Great Lakes and Great
Rivers. Conducts cause-and-effect research on the effects of nutrients, clean sediments, climate change, and toxic chemicals on lake, stream, and wetland
ecosystems, as well as aquatic life and wildlife communities and populations Wildlife and aquatic life toxicology research, conducted in collaboration with
human health-based research performed in NHEERL's health divisions, establishes advanced animal and dose-response extrapolation models to support
integrated risk assessments.
Neurotoxicology
Division (NTD)
Research Triangle Park,
NC
Performs research to provide the scientific and technological means to predict the neurotoxicity of environmental agents in humans Human neurotoxic disease is
modeled in laboratory animals, and data arc collected in animals to make predictions about possible neurotoxic risk. Studies range from the molecular level to the
whole organism and include neurobehavioral, neurochemical, neurophysiological. and neuroanatomical approaches. Major emphasis on the study of sensitive
subpopulations and developmental neurotoxicity.
Reproductive Toxicology
Division (RTD)
Research Triangle Park,
NC
Performs research on the effects of environmental pollutants on reproduction and development. Develops biological indices for assessing germ cell maturation,
embryonic development, and adult reproductive capacity and endocrine status, integrating information into biologically based dose-response models. Major
research emphasis on assessing modes of action for endocrine disrupting chemicals and drinking water disinfection by-products in order to reduce uncertainties in
the risk assessment of associated adverse reproductive outcomes.
Western Ecology
Division (WED)
Corvallis, OR
Newport, OR
(field station)
Studies estuarine. terrestrial and watershed ecology with a focus on the Pacific Northwest region Research emphasizes marine, coastal, and inland ecosystem
functions and response to stress. Areas of specialization include ecological theory for spatial and temporal analysis of regional environmental data; developing
methods for assessing regional-scale condition of ecological resources; and assessing the effects of changes in habitat and land use on terrestrial systems; and
modeling of estuarine systems.
5
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NHEERL's Mission. NHEERL is a problem-solving organization. We are EPA's focal point for
research on the adverse effects of contaminants and environmental stressors on human health and
ecosystem vitality. Our mission is to:
perform high quality effects-based research to identify, understand and solve current
and future environmental problems;
provide leadership in addressing environmental issues; and
provide scientific and technical assistance at the local, state, federal, and international
level.
These three elements, discussed separately below, interface squarely with the missions of EPA and
ORD.
Research. Research provides EPA with the necessary information and technologies for
detecting, abating, and avoiding environmental problems. NHEERL's approach to research, in
accordance with ORD, is founded on principles of nsk assessment. Our research is designed, within
a risk assessment context, to answer scientific questions and reduce major uncertainties about the
effects produced by pollutants and human activities on health and the environment. As shown in
Figure 1, our research focuses on two components of the nsk assessment paradigm: problem
identification /formulation (does the contaminant or stressor cause the adverse effect?) and dose-
response / stressor-response analysis (what are the relationships between the contaminant or stressor
and the extent of injury, disease, or damage?).
Rather than characterize our research as basic
or applied, we use the terms core and problem-driven.
Core research (supporting EPA's Strategic Goal 8:
Sound Science) seeks to produce a fundamental
understanding of the key biological, chemical, and
physical processes that underlie environmental
systems, thus forging basic scientific capabilities that
can be applied to a wide range of environmental
problems. Core investigations address questions
common to many EPA programs, and they provide the
preparedness needed to confront unforeseen environmental problems. Examples of this type of
research include NHEERL's multidisciplinary efforts to improve human health and ecological nsk
assessment, in which issues such as susceptibility and extrapolation of response are addressed, and the
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program, designed to develop the science needed to
describe the condition of our nation's ecological resources. Problem-driven research (supporting
EPA Goals 1-7), on the other hand, focuses on specific environmental problems. Studies in these areas
respond to explicit Agency needs and may be motivated by regulatory requirements or court-ordered
deadlines. This type of research is exemplified by our Particulate Matter research program, in which
the relationships between airborne particles and increases in morbidity and mortality are being studied
to address critically important human health questions. Another example is our Aquatic Stressors
Program, in which we are developing stressor-response models to advance our understanding of the
effects of nutrients, habitat alteration, sedimentation, and toxic chemicals on aquatic ecosystems, as
well as techniques to diagnose cause of ecosystem impairment.
Core and problem-driven research are simdar, but
not equivalent, to baste and applied research.
Their complementary nature enhances NHEERL's
ability to address diverse environmental issues.
Scientists often pursue both types of research
simultaneously, and cross-fertilization is
encouraged.
6
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Figure 3. The Relationship between
Problem-Driven and Core Research
(adapted from NRC, 1997)
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k_
ro
3
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a)
i
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+
(0
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0}
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a)
tr
Of course, core and problem-driven research are not entirely separable; in fact, they are highly
complementary and interactive, each informing the other (see Figure 3). An example can help
illustrate this. As previously mentioned, one of the issues under our core research program is the
unique susceptibilities of infants and children to toxic chemicals: how does age influence health
effects? This is a fundamental question in risk assessment, and the results of this research may be far-
reaching, providing useful information to other studies, such as those conducted under Goal 2: Clean
and Safe Water. Here, under Goal 2, we are studying the reproductive and developmental effects of
disinfection by-products found in drinking water, and because this is an age-related susceptibility issue,
results from our core program readily feed into this research (and vice versa). Thus, susceptibility
research takes place in both areas (under Goal 8 and Goal 2), but the target question is different. In
our core program (Goal 8: Sound Science), the question relates to the rudimentary principles of age-
related differences; in Goal 2 (Clean and Safe Water), the question is how disinfection by-products per
se impact an organism during its developmental stages. This blend of core and problem-driven
research yields a robust research portfolio that couples a stable core effort with research focused on
the mission needs of the Agency.
NHEERL's current core and problem-driven research topics are listed in Table 2 on the next
page. Relative emphasis in each of these topics may change as ORD priorities shift, as new data
surfaces, as court-ordered deadlines are met, or as budgets grow and shrink. However, substantial
efforts are made by NHEERL to build and maintain research programs that are both relevant to the
scientific problem and responsive to Agency needs. The objective is to create an integrated and
coherent program, not a collection of disconnected projects. There are three principal types of research
Elucidation of
environmental
. processes
Development
of tools
Collection
of data
FRAMEWORK FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
Problem-Driven
Research
Identifying existing and
"emerging" issues
Use risk assessment to
rank issues and pinpoint
largest uncertainties
Narrow EPA focus based
on mission needs and
acknowledgment of
what others >re doing _
Improve understanding
and reduce uncertainties
Core Research
Select projects based on broad
applicability, relevance to EPA,
and scientific merit.
7
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product:
methods for detecting and characterizing hazard (e.g., new bioassays or ecological
indicators);
predictive models for understanding and predicting relationships between stressors and
response (e.g., biologically based dose-response models or computer models that
predict the effects of climate change); and
data designed to fill information gaps and address limitations associated with risk
assessment (e.g., toxicological or epidemiological data).
Table 2. NHEERL's Core and Problem-Driven Research Programs
CORE
PROBLEM-DRIVEN
Goal 8: Sound Science
Goal 1: Clean Air
Goal 5: Safe Waste
~ Human Health Risk Assessment
~ Particulate Matter
~ Contaminated Sites
Harmonizing Cancer/Noncancer Risk Assmt
~ Air Toxics
Cumulative/Aggregate Risk
Goal 6: Global Risks
Susceptibility
Goal 2: Clean, Safe Water
~ Global Climate Change
~ Research to Improve Ecosystems
~ Drinking Water
Risk Assessment
~ Aquatic Stressors
Goal 7: Right-to-Know
~ Chemical Information
~ EMAP
Goal 3: Safe Food
Databases
~ Endocrine Disruptors
~ Effects of Pesticides
Goal 4: Reducing Risk in Communities
~ Human Health Effects and Susceptible Subpopulations
* Ecosystem Effects
Leadership. NHEERL provides vital leadership in the environmental research arena, and its
scientists are proactive in the scientific community at many levels. Within the Agency, we help shape
the research agenda by contributing to research planning and coordination exercises, and we participate
in the development of ORD Research Plans and Strategies. Our scientists represent the Agency on
workshops and task forces addressing major risk assessment, public health, and environmental issues.
Outside EPA, we influence the direction and priorities of environmental research worldwide. We steer
collaborative research efforts at the national and international level, we are members of international
planning committees and research review panels, we serve on advisory boards of other major agencies
and organizations, and we serve as adjunct faculty members at major universities across the nation.
Scientific and Technical Assistance. As part of our mission, NHEERL responds to diverse
requests for scientific advice and technical consultation, both within and outside EPA. We provide
technical support to the Agency by advising EPA Program Offices and Regional Offices on scientific
matters, by participating on Agency workgroups, and by helping develop testing and risk assessment
guidelines. We bring our expertise to bear at the national and international level by organizing
scientific workgroups and symposia, and by serving in professional and scientific societies and on
publication boards. We provide guidance to local, state, tribal, and international governments and
8
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other federal agencies, informing them on issues of environmental importance and enabling them to
implement more effective environmental programs. We work to establish partnerships with the
corporate, public, private, and educational sectors and assist them in setting and achieving
environmental goals. We provide technical training and developmental opportunities for the senior
scientist as well as the post doctoral candidate and the student. By sharing our skills and knowledge,
we enhance the ability of other organizations to protect public health and the environment, and we
serve as an important catalyst for scientific and technological progress.
PRIMER ON RESEARCH PLANNING AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION
WITHIN NHEERL
Certain functions and operations within NHEERL are expressly governed by federal law. For
example, explicit limitations and constraints are placed upon the way in which we obligate research
funds. In other instances, NHEERL sets its own policies and procedures, consistent with Agency and
ORD guidance. The information below is designed to present the ways in which NHEERL operates
with respect to two important responsibilities: research planning and resource allocation.
Research Planning. EPA's research agenda is determined by means of a research planning
process involving every organizational level within the Agency. Figure 4 is a simplified diagram of
the inter-relationships that exist in research planning. Long-term guidance for research direction is
provided by several sources, the most important being Strategic Plans. These Plans focus on both
organizational issues and research. EPA's Strategic Plan is broad in scope, articulating EPA's mission
and its 10 national environmental goals ("GPRA Goals") and offering a framework for effective
planning. ORD's Strategic Plan and NHEERL's complementary Organizational Strategy, in turn, are
specific to each organization's role within the Agency, though they naturally adhere to the principles
and long-term objectives contained in EPA's Strategic Plan.
ORD's first Strategic Plan, published in 1996, was pivotal to the research planning process.
It instituted a new system, founded on a risk-based approach to
decision-making, for determining research priorities. The
system uses the risk paradigm to shape the research agenda.
Using this risk-based process, ORD has identified areas of
greatest potential risk to human health and the environment (see
box to right). The selection of these high-priority research topics
was conducted in partnership with ORD's many stakeholders,
including the external scientific community (EPA's Science
Advisory Board, the National Research Council, other
government agencies, and the private sector) and the Agency's
Program and Regional Offices and scientific staff.
Once identified, these high-priority areas have become
the strategic targets for ORD research. For each of these topics
(plus several other high-profile areas), ORD develops Research
Strategies and Multi-Year Plans. Research Strategies provide the conceptual framework for the
research, identifying the salient scientific questions associated with each environmental issue.
High Priority Research Areas
~ Particulate Matter
~ Drinking Water
~ Clean Water (Aquatic Ecosystems)
~ Global Change
~ Ecological Risk Assessment
~ Human Health Risk Assessment
~ Endocrine Disruptors
~ Pollution Prevention and New
Technologies
9
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Figure 4. Research Planning
Identify national environmental priorities and_
determine strategic direction
Set national environmental goals
Establish research priorities to help achieve Agency Goals7
Develop research framework across ORD Labs/Centers^
~ Identify priority needs^
~ Plan effects-based research to address EPA/ORD priorities
~ Coordinate research programs across health/eco divisions
~ Identify emerging issues
Implement research to address EPA/ORD/NHEERL priorities
Direct specialized research within Division
~ Identify key scientific
questions
Conduct research to address EPA/ORD/NHEERL/Division
priorities
Develop methodologies for solving problems
~ Identify new hypotheses
10
STAKEHOLDERS I
~other federal agencies
~Congress
~the Administration
~ industry
~academia
~taxpayers
~EPA Program Offices
~EPA Regions
~other federal research
partners
~other ORD Labs and
Centers
~research collaborators
-------
NHEERL provides input to these strategies when effects-based research is needed by the Agency for
which NHEERL can offer its expertise and technical capability. Multi-Year Plans, in contrast, are
more detailed, specifying the research approaches to be applied to the problems and integrating
research across ORD. These Plans are developed with input from all of ORD's Labs and Centers, and
NHEERL and its staff play a lead role in their development. From these Multi-Year Plans, NHEERL
then develops its own Implementation Plans that bring the planning process to the operational level.
Implementation Plans are developed by a steering committee made up of representatives from each
Division as well as representatives from appropriate EPA Offices. ORD's research strategies and
plans are available on the Internet at http://www epa gov/ORDAVebPubs/final.
The preceding description of our long-range planning process and the accompanying
documents that serve as blueprints for research is meant to illustrate the interconnectedness of EPA's
environmental goals, ORD's research priorities, and the course set by NHEERL to address these
priorities. This process establishes research direction for a 5- to 10-year period. We are held
accountable for meeting the commitments made under this exercise, and certain measures are put into
place to gauge our progress. Table 3 shows more clearly how NHEERL's research is aligned with, and
linked to, ORD priorities and EPA goals.
Annual research planning also takes place within the Agency as part of the federally mandated
planning and budgeting process. Annual planning in ORD is driven largely by the commitments laid
out in the process described above, but in addition, pressing needs may be identified by the Program
and Regional Offices and ORD's scientific staff. These needs are then prioritized by Agency-wide
teams (called Research Coordination Teams). Special attention is paid to research required to fulfill
a legislative mandate, court order, or Agency GPRA commitment; priority setting also takes into
consideration scientific feasibility, the status of ongoing research, budgetary constraints, and ORD's
ability to make a contribution relative to other research institutions that may be working in the same
area The objective is to focus on environmental problems that pose the greatest risks to people and
the environment (using criteria such as seventy, permanence, scale), on uncertainties in nsk
assessment that can be effectively reduced, and on areas that clearly help the Agency fulfill its
regulatory mandates. These research needs become the priorities for ORD and, in turn, for NHEERL.
While the problems NHEERL is tasked to solve are defined by the above process, the research
agenda for solving these problems is determined by NHEERL and its staff (see the Implementation
Plans description above). NHEERL structures a coherent research program around the problem areas,
with its various divisions playing specified roles. Divisions are held accountable for implementing
research activities within the program and for addressing the priorities established through the ORD
planning process. Divisional scientists identify the critical paths for research to resolve the key
scientific questions and are often the first to raise new questions and recommend new methods for
problem-solving. Their suggestions and ideas are fed back into the planning process by several means,
the most common being discussions with the appropriate NHEERL Associate Director and Assistant
Laboratory Director (ALD) and through the steering committee process, as shown in Figure 4.
Resource Allocation. Each year, EPA develops a budget that defines the funding required to
accomplish its goals and objectives. EPA provides its funding targets to ORD, and ORD provides a
funding target to NHEERL. When approved by the President and Congress, the enacted budget serves
as the blueprint for all Agency activities.
11
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TABLE 3. Alignment of NHEERL's Research
with ORD's Research Priorities and EPA's Strategic Goals
EPA Goal 8 SOUND SCIENCE
EPA Goal 7 RIGHT-TO-KNOW
EPA Goal 6 REDUCING GLOBAL RISKS
EPA Goal 5 BETTER WASTE MANAGEMENT
EPA Goal 4 SAFE COMMUNITIES
EPA Goal 3 SAFE FOOD
EPA Goal 2 CLEAN AND SAFE WATER
EPA Goal 1 CLEAN AIR
1
mmm
^articulate Matter*
Particulate Matter
"ol
Air Toxics
Air Toxics
°
Drinking Water*
Drinking Water
°
Water Quality*
Aquatic Stressors
o
o
o
Safe Food
Effects of Pesticides
o
o
Safe Communities
Health/Ecosystem Effects
°
Contaminated Sites
Contaminated Sites
o
o
Global Change*
Global Climate Change
o
Right-to-Know
Chemical Info. Databases
o
Ecosystem Assessment*
Ecosystems Research
o
o
o
o
Human Health Risk
Assmt*
Human Health Research
o
o
o
o
o
Endocrine Disruptors*
Emerging Risks (EDCs)
o
o
o
o
o
*ORD's highest research priorities
Directly contributes to meeting Strategic Goal
O Supports achievement of Strategic Goal
12
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It is important to note that NHEERL research planning assumes a flat overall budget from year
to year. However, when fluctuations occur, resource allocation is adjusted accordingly.
Although the funding priority of a research area within NHEERL may shift over time as research is
completed or as new problems emerge, NHEERL's overall resources have remained more or less fixed
in the recent past. This means that if expenditures (and research) are allowed to grow in one area,
spending (and research) in another area must shrink. (As an aside, it should be noted that a limit on
NHEERL FTEs is imposed by EPA, and each Division is required to operate with an FTE ceiling.)
In addition to salaries and benefits, travel, and operating expenses (e.g., equipment, equipment
maintenance, supplies, training, etc.), NHEERL's resources include those required to sustain our m-
house research capabilities, which are generally referred to as "research support" or "infrastructure,"
and those that augment or leverage our m-house efforts, referred to as "above infrastructure." Above-
infrastructure resources become available to the Laboratory through the ORD planning process as the
result of initiatives for research in specified high-pnority areas. In certain cases, an internal
competition is held within the Laboratory for these funds, which are then awarded to investigators
whose research proposals are meritorious based on reviews for scientific excellence and programmatic
responsiveness. These above-infrastructure resources may be used to provide funding for:
support contracts (used, for example, for technical support, analytical services,
information technology, and animal care);
competitive cooperative agreements (used, for example, to train post-doctoral
candidates); and
interagency agreements (used to fund collaborative research across federal agencies).
Most resources are managed by the Divisions themselves. However, the management of
certain support services, such as computer support and animal procurement and care, is location-based:
such services are centrally managed in Research Triangle Park for our health divisions, while the
ecology divisions manage these activities themselves due to their geographically separate locations.
It is important to realize that there are explicit limitations - mandated by law - on spending and
obligating funds. The law states that spending (by any agency) cannot exceed the amount appropriated
by Congress. This means that NHEERL cannot apply for grants from other agencies or institutions,
and we cannot increase our permanent technical support staff through the use of external resources.
However, NHEERL scientists are encouraged to collaborate both within the Agency (within Divisions,
across Divisions, across Laboratories) and outside of EPA. In such cases, external resources may
become available. Examples include Interagency Agreements, which foster research across federal
agencies, and Cooperative Research and Development Agreements, which allow us to work with
industry partners on issues of mutual interest.
NHEERL does not have its own extramural grants program. EPA research grants are handled
by ORD's National Center for Environmental Research and are not administered by NHEERL.
However, funds may be targeted to topics of importance to NHEERL, thereby expanding the Agency's
science and technology base and leveraging our own research.
13
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REFERENCES
National Research Council (NRC), Committee on Research Opportunities and Priorities for EPA.
Building a Foundation for Sound Environmental Decisions. Washington, DC, National Academy
Press, 1997.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development (ORD),
Framework for Ecological Risk Assessment, Washington, DC, EPA/630/R-92/001, 1992.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Strategic Plan, Washington, DC, EPA/190/R-00/02,
September 2000, www.epa.gov/ocfopage/plan/plan.htm.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development (ORD), Strategic
Plan, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-01/003, January 2001, www epa.gov/ord/sp/.
14
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Overview of the
Atlantic Ecology Division
wMr^v
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Overview
of the
Atlantic Ecology Division
The U.S. EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD) has a unique environmental
mission focused at the juncture of core and problem-solving science. ORD's research must
provide both a firm scientific understanding upon which to base environmental decisions, and
methods to apply that knowledge to protect human and ecosystem health most effectively. To do
this, four of ORD's national laboratories and centers focus on principal components of the risk
assessment paradigm: exposure, human health and ecological effects, nsk assessment, and risk
management. A fifth national center provides extramural and quality assurance support. The
Atlantic Ecology Division (AED) is one of nine divisions within EPA's National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL). Five of the divisions address human
health effects and the remaining four divisions, including the Atlantic Ecology Division, are
focused on assessing, diagnosing, and predicting the ecological effects of anthropogenic stressors
on the nation's ecological systems.
The research programs of NHEERL focus on the effects of environmental pollutants and other
anthropogenic stresses on human health and the Nation's ecosystems. Long-term research at
NHEERL is designed to reduce critical data gaps and uncertainties that hinder sound decision-
making NHEERL scientists create and apply biological assays, toxicological assessment
methods, monitoring and assessment techniques, population and ecological response models, and
extrapolation methods needed to improve the scientific underpinnings of the Agency's risk
assessments, policies, and regulatory decisions.
Research in each of NHEERL's ecology divisions emphasize particular ecosystem types, levels
of biological organization, and areas of geographic focus. The geographical distribution of
NHEERL's ecology divisions provides an efficient framework for the kinds of place-based
research needed to answer ecological effects questions. Research at AED, located on
Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island, focuses on the effects of human activities on the coastal
waters and watersheds of the Atlantic seaboard, with particular emphasis on the effects of these
activities on populations of fish, shellfish, and aquatic-dependent wildlife.
Within this context, AED supports the overall mission of the Agency in three ways: conducting
scientific research, providing scientific and organizational leadership, and supplying technical
advice to EPA Program Offices and Regions. AED's mission is to perform research to identify
and quantify the ecological effects of anthropogenic stressors on coastal waters and watersheds
of the Atlantic seaboard. Research conducted at the AED advances scientifically sound
approaches needed to monitor trends in the ecological condition of the coastal water bodies and
watersheds, identifies impaired watersheds, and diagnoses causes of ecological impairment.
Research at the Division also develops stressor-response data and effects models for chemical
pollutants and non-traditional anthropogenic stressors to reduce uncertainties in nsk assessments
and support the Agency's restoration and remediation decisions A third component of AED
1
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research advances the scientific underpinnings of risk assessment by developing population risk
assessment models and extrapolation methods. AED has the capability to sustain the major
effort needed to attack significant Agency challenges and take on emerging issues as needs
change and problems are solved.
History of the Research Facility at Narragansett
Today's Atlantic Ecology Division was originally founded as one of seven National Water
Quality Laboratories authorized by Congress in 1961 to conduct water pollution research for the
Pollution Control Administration of the Department of Interior. The laboratory began operations
with a small staff temporarily assigned space at the University of Rhode Island. In 1966, the
laboratory staff moved to temporary quarters in West Kingston, RI. During this period a
modified barge moored at the head of Great Salt Pond provided wet laboratory space and flowing
seawater needed to culture organisms and develop test methods. Re-authonzation of the Federal
Water Pollution Control Administration in 1970 created the U S Environmental Protection
Agency and the Rhode Island laboratory was transferred to the newly formed agency. The
laboratory, now designated the Environmental Research Laboratory-Narragansett, moved to its
present location in 1974 in a laboratory that formerly housed a U.S. Public Heath Service
Shellfish Sanitation Laboratory. Construction of new analytical laboratories, wet lab, and
seawater systems, as well as major renovation of the building's existing facilities, were
completed in 1977. In 1984, the Field Station in Newport, Oregon, was administratively
assigned to the ERL-Narragansett. The basic organizational structure of the laboratory was
established in 1989 when research activities were assigned to four research branches, three in
Narragansett and one in Newport, Oregon, with an administrative support staff located in
Narragansett. The Newport branch obtained new research laboratories, a library, and new
seawater systems in 1990. Following the 1995 reorganization of EPA's Office of Research and
Development, the facility in Narragansett was designated the Atlantic Ecology Division within
NHEERL; the Newport field station was reassigned as a branch of NHEERL's Western Ecology
Division in Corvallis, Oregon. Since 1995, AED has added a research greenhouse and office
wing. The Division is currently in the initial planning phase for a 5-year multi-million dollar
renovation of its wet and dry laboratory spaces.
Since its inception, the Division has been at the forefront of marine toxicological research, trace
pollutant chemistry, and coastal marine ecology. Products of AED research over the history of
the Division contributed to the scientific underpinnings for water quality criteria, effluent test
methods, and risk assessment techniques needed by the Agency to identify and evaluate the
effects of toxic chemicals in coastal waters. More recently, AED has made great strides in
developing, testing, and transferring monitonng designs and indicators to assist coastal states
monitor the condition and diagnose causes of impairment of coastal water bodies. Through
research, leadership, and technical assistance, the Division has a long history of contributing to
the protection of Nation's aquatic ecosystems.
2
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The Integrated Mission of ORD, NHEERL and AED
The mission of the Atlantic Ecology Division is to provide scientific information that will be
used by the Agency to assess and predict the effects of pollutants and other anthropogenic
stressors on coastal ecosystems of the Nation's Atlantic Seaboard. The Division accomplishes
its mission in partnership with counterparts within NHEERL, other ORD laboratories, EPA
Program Offices and Regions. Partners in this endeavor include public and private research
organizations, States, Tribes, other federal agencies and international organizations.
To meet the information needs of the Agency, ORD's national laboratories and centers strive to
integrate problem-driven and core research programs. Problem-driven research aims at solving
scientific problems arising from specific regulatory authorities, such as implementation of federal
Clean Water, Clean Air, and Superfund legislation. As such, it is designed to strengthen and
improve the scientific basis for regulatory approaches that have proven effective and may be
currently employed by EPA Offices and Regions. Core research addresses cross-cutting, often
multi-media, and future Agency challenges needed to advance the scientific basis for risk
assessment. The core research program is designed to provide fundamentally new tools and
approaches that take advantage of new and emerging knowledge and technical advances.
To support and complement areas of expertise in other NHEERL and ORD Divisions, AED's
research activities primarily fall within the disciplines of coastal marine ecology, aquatic
toxicology, and marine chemistry. Consistent with NHEERL's role and mission, AED's
research is planned and executed as part of multi-organizational programs that are designed to
improve the ability of the Agency, coastal States and Tribes to (1) monitor and assess the
ecological condition of coastal ecosystems; (2) identify impaired waters and diagnose the causes
of impairment, and (3) develop predictive models of population responses and ecological
condition under varying stressor combinations and loads. Underlying the advancement of
assessment, diagnostic and predictive capabilities is the development of stressor-response data
that link chemical and non-chemical stressors to response and effects endpoints of high
ecological or societal value.
Division Research Planning
Research planning at AED is hierarchical and takes place at several levels within the
organization AED research scientists participate in planning for strategic, long-term programs
within EPA and ORD that produce multi-year plans and issue-specific strategic research plans.
As multi-year plans are developed, AED researchers participate in cross-divisional teams that
organize and coordinate implementation of research efforts across NHEERL.
To facilitate research activities across the Laboratory, NHEERL has established a research and
implementation process that links the broader strategic research directions identified by ORD's
planning process to specific research activities conducted by each division's scientists. The goal
of NHEERL's process is to improve the responsiveness of each Division's research to high-
3
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priority Agency needs as well as coordinate research across Divisions. This planning effort
involves appropnate research scientists and managers from multiple divisions The product of
NHEERL's planning effort is a research implementation plan that highlights key uncertainties
and the approach - the critical path - that will be taken across the Laboratory to attack key
scientific questions over a 5- to 10-year time frame.
In response to the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), EPA established 10
strategic goals to guide its planning and against which to measure its progress. As noted in the
Panel's Introduction to EPA's Office of Research and Development, AED's research planning is
driven by a hierarchical process designed to address GPRA Goals and Objectives for the Agency.
AED currently conducts research in support of five of these goals: Clean and Safe Water (Goal
2), Preventing Pollution and Reducing Risk in Communities (Goal 4), Better Waste Management
(Goal 5), Reducing Global Risks (Goal 6) and Sound Science (Goal 8). AED's contnbutions to
multi-year and cross-divisional research that addresses these strategic goals are provided m the
table below.
GPRA
Goal
Agency Problem
Primary ORD Research
Focus
Research Implementation Focus
for AED
2
Clean, Safe
Water
Aquatic Stressors
Nutrient criteria
Habitat criteria
Clean sediment criteria
Effects of toxic chemicals
Diagnosing impairment
4
Safe
Communities
Ecosystem Effects
Population modeling
5
Better Waste
Management
Contaminated Sediments
Effects of contaminated sediment
6*
Reducing Global
Risks
Global Climate Change
Long-term watershed response
8
Sound Science
Ecosystem Assessment
Ecotoxicological Models
Emerging risks
Assessing ecological condition
Identifying ecological impairment
Endocrine disruptor effects*
Integrating ecological response
and socio-economics
* 1 FTE or less of effort and not presented for review.
Once the direction of new research is determined through the development of Multi-Year
Implementation Plans, Division teams design specific activities by prepare Divisional Research
Implementation Plans. This document details the specific objectives, approach, products, time
4
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line, quality assurance and quality control plans, as well as health, safety and animal care plans
for the body of research.
AED's Branch Chiefs have primary responsibility for implementing assigned components of the
Division's overall research program. These assigned components are defined by branch
missions, guiding strategic planning documents, and the research priorities established by ORD's
Research Planning Processes. Branch Chiefs provide leadership for the programmatic,
organizational, and administrative aspects of scientific research planning, implementation, and
technical transfer necessary to accomplish the Branch research mission. The Division's Branch
Chiefs are responsible for organizing the research staff under their supervision in a manner that
most effectively and efficiently accomplishes the Branch research mission and contributes to the
Division's pursuit of NHEERL, ORD, and EPA Strategic Goals. As the Division's first line
supervisors, Branch Chiefs are accountable to the Division Director for both the individual
productivity and morale of the researchers under their supervision and, as members of the
Division's Management Team, for the productivity and morale of the Division as a whole.
Branch Chiefs will manage the scientific research within their branches with due consideration of
established commitments, new opportunities, Agency priorities, staff and facility capabilities,
career opportunities and available resources To accomplish this end, Branch Chiefs may
employ more or less formal teams or ad hoc research groups formed under the technical
leadership of staff scientists. Depending on the nature of the Branch's research assignment, a
Branch Chiefs expertise may be appropriate to include in Branch-level, Divisional, or inter-
Divisional research efforts. Similarly, some matrixing of employee expertise across Branches
and NHEERL Divisions may be necessary to complete a research assignment. Integration and
coordination of the Division's research portfolio is the responsibility of the Branch Chiefs and
Associate Director for Science, all of whom report to the Division Director as members of the
Division's Management Team.
Division Research Program
The Division's research programs are organized, as reflected m this notebook, around three main
themes and the strategic research plans that guide its current research. In addition, we will
describe one important emerging area of work that is in its early stages of development.
Research accomplishments since the last Divisional Peer Review in 1997 are highlighted as well
as directions for future research.
The research will be presented as follows:
Monitoring, Assessment, and Diagnosis Research
GPRA Goal 8 Condition of estuaries and streams
GPRA Goal 8 Identifying ecological impairment
GPRA Goal 2 Diagnosing ecological impairment
5
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Extrapolating Effects to Populations
GPRA Goal 4 & 8 Population modeling
GPRA Goal 2 Loon/mercury demonstration
Developing Stressor-Response Relationships
GPRA Goal 2 Nutrient effects
GPRA Goal 2 Habitat alteration
GPRA Goal 2 & 5 Contaminated sediment effects
Integrative Research
GPRA Goal 8 Integrating ecology, human health and socioeconomics
Each of the first three of these major areas is introduced with an overview of the programmatic
directions and major objectives of the research area.
Leadership and Advice
As explained above, in addition to conducting research, AED is responsible for providing
leadership and technical advice to the Agency and broader community of environmental
researchers and clients. Inventories of AED contributions in these areas are provided under
separate tab in this booklet.
Ensuring Quality
AED is committed to producing high quality research products and has a system in place to
ensure their quality. AED has an independent Quality Assurance (QA) Officer housed in the
Office of the Division Director that is responsible for overseeing the Division's Quality
Management System. The system includes three tiers of documentation:
The Quality Management Plan (QMP), which outlines our commitment to quality and
specifies how quality assurance issues will be addressed.
Research Implementation Plans (RIPs), which document the research planning process and
provide project-specific directions for obtaining the type and quality of environmental data
needed for the intended use. RIPs also provide project - and activity - level quality
assurance plans.
Quality assurance (QA) records such as calibration records, laboratory notebooks and field
data sheets, QA-related memoranda and narratives, and other records created at the bench
level which document execution of the research. Researchers have the benefit of being able
to refer to AED's collection of almost one hundred current or archived laboratory operating
procedures to assist them with their routine activities.
6
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We also maintain a comprehensive records management policy with provisions to link QA
documentation to research products via the "Study File" concept. Together with regular QA
reviews by Team Leaders, our Quality Assurance Officer, AED management, NHEERL's
Quality Management System, and EPA's Quality Staff within the Office of Environmental
Information, AED's quality system helps to ensure that our research products are of the highest
quality necessary. In addition to technical systems reviews, AED routinely takes part in the
annual laboratory inter-comparison exercises sponsored by the National Institutes of Standards
and Technology and the National Research Council of Canada This annual performance
evaluation demonstrates the continued capability and quality of our analyses.
To ensure that the research staff is aware of the Quality Management System and other QA
issues, the QA Officer meets with each of the three AED Branches as necessary. The topics
covered in each short presentation have included the AED Quality Management System,
guidance on the treatment of laboratory and field notebooks, AED's on-line research planning
tools documentation system, and a discussion of quality control responsibilities.
As part of AED's pursuit of continuous quality improvement, AED's Quality Assurance
Committee receives input from bench level scientists from different disciplines within the
Division The Committee's responsibilities are to assist in the review of the QMP, assist with
QA reviews from time to time (if appropriate), and bring quality assurance issues up for
discussion at Committee meetings and to the attention of the QA Officer. Recognizing that
treatment of research organisms is a quality control issue, the most recent products of the
Committee include AED's Animal Care and Use Policy document and AED's Animal Care and
Maintenance Practices and Procedures.
Primary Clients and Types of Research Products
AED's research and staff support a wide community of environmental interests, including, over
the past 5 years, such diverse users as environmental managers and scientists in EPA's Offices of
Water, Pollution Prevention and Toxic Substances, Solid Waste and Emergency Response and
Air, as well as several EPA Regions, numerous State agencies, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, and a variety of international, academic and non-governmental
organizations. AED research products, while having wide-spread implications and uses, also
immediately respond to the needs of a few key clients. Given AED's mission, both past and
present, it is not surprising that EPA's Office of Water (Office of Wetlands, Oceans and
Watersheds and the Office of Science and Technology), as well as the EPA Regions bordering
the Atlantic Coast (Regions 1,2, 3 and 4), have come to rely on AED expertise to support
technical aspects of their programs. Other agencies having mandates that include aquatic
environments, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA), and the US
Geological Survey (USGS), are also principal clients for the results of AED research.
As a research organization, AED contributes to the state of science through peer-reviewed
journal articles, book chapters and workshop proceedings. Other types of products provided by
7
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AED include
sediment criteria benchmark and water quality criteria guidance documents
risk assessment methods and case studies
geographic information system (GIS) maps, posters, models, data and analyses
environmental monitoring designs
population and ecological simulation models
environmental database and information management systems
World Wide Web sites for distribution of environmental information, including the
design and maintenance of the EMAP monitoring database and Web sites supporting
interagency work in EPA Regions 2 and 3
marine organism culture methods
sediment toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) methods
Activities In Response to October 1997 Peer Review
AED outlined the initial steps it would take to build on the strengths recognized by the panel and
address areas identified as weaknesses and opportunities in its written response to the 1997 Peer
Review Report. Since 1997, AED has pursued a combination of strategic and tactical approaches
in response to the Peer Review Report. Activities in five of the salient points raised in 1997
include:
1 Developing the skill mix needed to address a new mission by hiring ecologists, avoiding
parochialism, and aggressively recruiting new staff.
Since 1997, staff attrition at AED has averaged about 3.5%, or about 2 positions per year,
divided almost equally between scientific and administrative positions The Division has filled
eight scientific positions that turned over during this period after nation-wide competitive
searches. Of the eight recent scientific hires, all but one were targeted toward entry- or mid-level
scientists with expertise in coastal ecology. In a manner consistent with the recommendations of
the 1997 Panel, these scientists were hired to bring fresh ideas and expertise in the areas of
wetlands ecology, benthic community ecology, nutrient dynamics, population modeling, spatial
analysis, ecosystem theory and modeling. In addition to hiring ecologists and modelers, the
Division has continued to align its scientific workforce to its ecological mission by supporting
specialized and long-term training, participating in NHEERL-wide cross-divisional research,
building vigorous pre- and post-doctoral programs, and developing collaborations with other
Federal, State, academic, and private research establishments. In addition, AED encouraged and
sponsored staff exchanges, visits and rotational assignments within and outside the Division.
8
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2. Exploring alternate strategies to pursuing single-number criteria
The previous Peer Review Panel, citing the complexity of coastal ecosystems as a reality that
demands sophisticated and realistic approaches to ecosystem protection, cautioned the Division
against relying too heavily on research in pursuit of "magic number" criteria, indicators, and
thresholds of ecological effects. Since 1997, AED's contributions to NHEERL's current
research effort have been guided by strategic research plans for EMAP, Aquatic Stressors, and
Wildlife Risk Assessment. These plans provide critical paths for research that specifically
address the need to improve the scientific foundations of existing regulatory approaches, but also
call for new methods, models, indicators and data that will lead the Agency beyond smgle-
species, single-chemical, single-media criteria. AED's response to this need can be seen in
contributions to the National Coastal Assessment, a nation-wide multi-factor assessment of the
condition of the Nation's coastal waters, as well as development and application of spatially-
explicit population models, habitat effects research, and the NHEERL-wide focus on a common
set of risk assessment endpoints (populations of fish, shellfish and aquatic dependent wildlife)
for its stressor-response work. In all this work, there is the explicit understanding that
anthropogenic stressors are multi-dimensional and are expressed against a background of natural
variability.
3. Developing strategic watershed studies linked to estuarine effects research and searching for
the balance in intensive and regional studies.
In 1997, the Panel noted that although AED's mission calls for watershed-level studies, little
work at that scale was actually underway. At the same time, the panel recognized that, given the
size and skill mix of AED's workforce, the Division faced a dilemma in finding the ideal balance
among laboratory-scale, locally-intensive, and regionally-relevant research. While the basic
elements of this dilemma remain, AED has developed three approaches to achieve proper
balance, responsiveness and "extrapolability" of its research to the coastal systems of entire
Atlantic coast. The first, and perhaps most important, is the explicit recognition that AED
research flows from and contributes to NHEERL's overall ecological research program. The
overall program is national in scope, addresses multiple stressors at multiple spatial scales and
habitats, and requires contributions and interactions across NHEERL divisions from multiple
scientific disciplines. This means that AED's contributions to, for example, nutnent or habitat
alteration effects research at the scale of sub-watersheds and small catchments in New England
are part of an overall national program addressing similar stressors and assessment endpoints at
different spatial scales in the Great Lakes, Gulf Coast and Pacific Northwest. The second
approach, which is closely allied with the first, involves leveraging research conducted by
partners and collaborators outside of NHEERL. For example, AED's Loon-Mercury case study
in support of Wildlife Risk Assessment is a component of much larger multi-divisional effort
that links spatially explicit population models being developed both at AED and WED with
American kestrel feeding studies being earned out by the U.S. Geological Survey in Maryland
and field data being collected by a host of academic and private organizations throughout the
northeast. The third approach is to strengthen our ability and capacity to provide the Agency
with environmental data. For example, AED's contributions to ORD's EMAP program has
moved beyond developing and testing coastal probability-based monitoring designs and
9
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indicators toward much more sophisticated interactions with coastal States and their regulatory
agencies. The Division now works closely with the States themselves to develop monitoring
programs, assessment products, and local capacity for the States to meet their water quality
monitoring and water body listing requirements under the Clean Water Act. Data generated by
the States can then be used by the Division in the development of scientifically sound assessment
products.
4. Developing greater visibility, impact, and leadership m coastal research by publishing in a
wider variety of journals.
The 1997 Report observed that with AED's excellent research facilities, relatively stable resource
base, and its committed and enthusiastic scientific workforce, the Division was poised to raise
the bar both in terms of its visibility and impact in the area of coastal ecosystems research The
panel made several suggestions that could improve the Division's leadership position, such as
increasing overall productivity and reaching a broader scientific audience by publishing in wider
range of journals - high-profile ecological journals, in particular. The breadth and depth of
AED's leadership activities, technical support, and outside recognition are detailed elsewhere in
this notebook. Here we highlight the Division's publication record which, as shown in the figure
below, has improved substantially since 1997. In addition to mcreasing the number of peer-
reviewed articles by AED authors, the distribution of the Division's contributions to the peer
reviewed literature has also changed. Prior to 1997, although AED research had appeared in
fairly wide range of journals, the majority of AED's contributions and professional affiliations
were, as noted by the prior panel, to be found in a relatively small number of toxicology journals,
especially Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. Since then, research reports from AED
authors have appeared in more ecological journals, including Estuaries, Marine Ecology
Progress Series, Limnology and Oceanography, Hydrobiologia, and Estuarine and Coastal
Marine, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. In terms of both numbers and audience,
AED has made significant progress toward reaching a broader scientific audience.
10
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5. Focusing and integrating research within and outside the Division.
The 1997 Report highlighted the need for better integration and collaboration within and among
what, at the time, were AED's four Research Themes. The Themes provided structure and
direction during an important transition period for the Division and were designed with a 5-year
planning horizon. As illustrated in the sections of this Briefing Book and the structure of the
¦ Human Health &
Ecological Risk
Assessment
~ EPA & Other
Government Reports
~ Environmental Monitoring
& Assessment
¦ Ecological Processes
and Modeling
¦ Environmental
Toxicology, Chemistry,
Pollution
supporting presentations and poster sessions, AED has further refined and focused its research
activities in response to the top-down priorities of ORD's research planning process. AED's
themes positioned the Division to move almost seamlessly into three main areas of NHEERL-
wide research that now constitute the main thrust of its research agenda. Over the past 10 years,
the number of research projects at AED has declined steadily from a high of 25-30 in the early
1990s, to the dozen or so activities that supported AED's Research Themes in the mid-1990s, to
the nine research areas presented in this review. Even more important than the number of
research areas is the fact that all but about 2 FTE of scientific effort in AED's research portfolio
are conducting research that falls along the critical paths defined by only three NHEERL-wide
research Strategies: Monitoring and Assessment (EMAP), Aquatic Stressors Research, and
Wildlife Risk Assessment. These strategies, and the Agency problems they address, provide the
focus, integration, and framework for outside collaborations for AED research.
., i&l J:
si I
i R ^
Peer Reviewed Publications
1997 1 998 1 999 2000 2001 2002*
Year (*2002 partial)
11
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Resources and Infrastructure
AED strives to provide the resources and infrastructure required to conduct outstanding research
and develop quality research products. Infrastructure includes state-of-the-art laboratories,
equipment and supplies, environmental data management and analysis systems, advanced
communication systems, field sampling equipment (including boats), and the human resources
(including those provided by extramural funding) needed to support the mission and program
goals. The necessary support and infrastructure needed to accomplish the research is identified
through AED's research implementation process. AED's management is committed to
addressing human resource and infrastructure needs effectively and proactively.
I. Human Resources
AED workforce demoeraphics
The AED federal workforce is comprised of 82 employees, including 4 postdoctoral
appointments. The mix of professional disciplines, administrative support, and other
infrastructure positions (postdoctoral positions, ADP support, and physical plant) reflects the
AED mission and program goals.
The diverse AED staff consists of permanent or term federal employees with diverse
backgrounds. Most staff are full-time
employees. Nearly all are in the three
research Branches (Ecological Response,
Ecosystem Analysis & Simulation, and
Indicator Development), although
several reside within Program Operations
Staff or the Office of the Division
Director. The vast majority of staff are
assigned in the scientific and technical
areas with a small proportion assigned to
administrative and support functions.
Figure 1 shows the relative percent of
professional and scientific staff to
administrative and support staff for the
Division.
Figure 1. Ratio of administrative to scientific/technical staff
H ADMINISTRATIVE
SCIENTIFIC/TECHNICAL
12
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AED's staff are highly trained
individuals from colleges and
universities all over the country and
the world. Over 95% of the federal
staff hold degrees, with the following
breakdown of highest degrees held:
43% hold Doctoral degrees, 28%
hold Master degrees, and 22% hold
Bachelor degrees (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Staff education level-highest degree held
BA/BS 22%
MA/MS 28%
[ AA/AAS 2% |
AA/AAS
BA/BS
~ MA/MS
Ph.D
Non-degreed support staff
The majority of staff hold degrees in
Biological Sciences or Marine
Science and Oceanography (Figure
3). As expected, over 50% of the
staff are trained in the biological,
physical or chemical sciences (58%).
Thirty-percent received specialty
training in Marine Sciences and
Oceanographic disciplines. Thirty-
five percent hold degrees in various
related disciplines including Physics,
Natural Resources Development,
Aquaculture, and Fisheries. Table 1
lists staff members, highest degree
attained, and field of study.
Figure 3. Degree fields of study
|J| Oceanography
Biology and Chemistry
Other Science
Business/Finance/Communications
Engineering
13
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Table 1. Federal employees in AED's workforce
Last Name
First Name
Highest
Major Field of Study
Education
Degree
PHEIFFER
THOMAS
MS
AGRICULTURE
KUHN-HINES
ANNE
MS
AQUACULTURE NUTRITION
LUSSIER
SUZANNE
MS
AQUACULTURE SCIENCE
NACCI
DIANE
Ph D
BIOCHEMISTRY
NORWOOD
CURTIS
PhD
BIOCHEMISTRY
ZAROOGIAN
GERALD
PhD
BIOCHEMISTRY
BERRY
WALTER
Ph D
BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY
CICCHETTI
GIANCARLO
Ph.D.
BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY
HALE
STEPHEN
MS
BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY
MELZIAN
BRIAN
Ph.D
BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY
PESCH
GERALD
Ph D.
BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY
GLEASON
TIMOTHY
PhD
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
MILLS
LESLEY
MS
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
MUNNS
WAYNE
Ph D
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
NELSON
WILLIAM
PhD
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
SANTOS
ANTELMO
Ph D
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
THURSBY
GLEN
Ph.D
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
DAVEY
EARL
Ph D.
BIOLOGICAL/CHEMICAL OCEANOGRAPHY
PESCH
CAROL
MS
BIOLOGY
ROCHA
KENNETH
BS
BIOLOGY
STROBEL
CHARLES
MS
BIOLOGY
TAGLIABUE
MARK
BS
BIOLOGY
BRADLEY
MARY
MS
BUSINESS
ZAMBRANO
ELLEN
AAS
BUSINESS
SAKIEWICZ
CAROL
MS
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
BURGESS
ROBERT
Ph D
CHEMICAL OCEANOGRAPHY
HO
KAY
Ph D
CHEMICAL OCEANOGRAPHY
LATIMER
JAMES
Ph D.
CHEMICAL OCEANOGRAPHY
PRUELL
RICHARD
Ph.D.
CHEMICAL OCEANOGRAPHY
BOOTHMAN
WARREN
Ph D.
CHEMISTRY
COBB
DONALD
BS
CHEMISTRY
JAYARAMAN
SAROJA
BS
CHEMISTRY
MCKINNEY
RICHARD
MS
CHEMISTRY
ABDELRHMAN
MOHAMED
Ph.D
CIVIL ENGINEERING
BROWN
BARBARA
MS
CIVIL ENGINEERING
MEUSE
SHEILA
Ph D
COMMUNICATIONS
MENG
LESA
Ph.D.
ECOLOGY
MITRO
MATTHEW
Ph D
ECOLOGY
CHINTALA
MARNITA
MS
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
DELUCA
LYNN
BS
ECONOMICS
GREENBERG
JEFFREY
MS
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
BRANDT-WILLIAMS
SHERRY
Ph D
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
CAI
TINGTING
Ph D
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
CAMPBELL
DANIEL
Ph D
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
14
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CANTWELL
MARK
MS
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
GARDNER
GEORGE
BS
FISHERIES
OSTERMAN
FRANK
BS
GENERAL STUDIES
GALLOWAY
WALTER
MS
GEOCHEMISTRY
KEITH
DARRYL
MS
GEOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY
LAPAN
RICHARD
BS
GEOLOGY
NICHOLSON
MATTHEW
PhD
LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY
MOORE
WILLIAM
MS
MARINE AFFAIRS
GUTJAHR-GOBELL
RUTH
BS
MARINE BIOLOGY
RUBINSTEIN
NORMAN
MS
MARINE BIOLOGY
BERGEN
BARBARA
PhD
MARINE CHEMISTRY
LAKE
JAMES
PhD
MARINE SCIENCE
WIGAND
CATHLEEN
Ph D
MARINE SCIENCE
CARDIN
JOHN
BS
MICROBIOLOGY
CHAMPLIN
DENISE
BS
NATURAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
BENYI
SANDRA
MS
OCEANOGRAPHY
GARBER
JONATHAN
Ph D
OCEANOGRAPHY
KIDDON
JOHN
Ph D
OCEANOGRAPHY
WALKER
HENRY
Ph D.
OCEANOGRAPHY
LI VOLS 1
JOSEPH
MS
ORGANIC GEOCHEMISTRY
DETTMANN
EDWARD
Ph D
PHYSICS
RYBA
STEPHAN
BS
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
JOHNSON
ROXANNE
MS
STATISTICS
ROSSNER
LAWRENCE
Ph D
THEORETICAL ASTROPHYSICS
HAEBLER
ROMONA
PhD
VETERINARY PATHOLOGY
TAPLIN
BRYAN
MS
WATER RESOURCES
REGO
STEVEN
BS
WILDLIFE BIOLOGY
HOROWITZ
DORANNE
BS
ZOOLOGY
MILLS
DOUGLAS
BS
ZOOLOGY
PELLETIER
MARGUERITE
MS
ZOOLOGY
PEREZ
KENNETH
PhD
ZOOLOGY
SERBST
JONATHAN
BS
ZOOLOGY
WINWARD
LAURA
BS
ZOOLOGY
AHLGREN
RUSSELL
ND
DISTEFANO
LINDA
ND
JACOX
CARRIE
ND
JOHNSON
MARY
AA
STEARNS
LUCY
ND
15
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2. Employee accessions and
separations history
Figure 4 illustrates the relative stability
of the AED workforce over the past
five years. Recent small gains in
staffing offset prior separations.
Figure 5 shows average length of
service at separation. Over half (59%)
of separations involved staff with over
20 years of service pursuing retirement.
Six separations (35%) occurred after
only 1-4 years of service. Only 1
employee separated after 5 years with
less than 20 years of service.
3. Career development
Opportunities for career development
are especially important in a relatively
stable workforce. AED emphasizes
targeted training opportunities and
outside work experiences allowing
employees to grow in their
experiences and capabilities. AED has
excelled in providing training and
work experience opportunities for its
staff for many years. In 2002, two
AED employees were competitively
selected to participate in NHEERL's
newly reconstituted "Long Term
Training Program." This program
addresses the need for scientific career
development to meet changing
Agency needs.
Figure 5. Length of service at separation
HI 1-4 years | 5-19 years
20-29 years | 30 years
4. On-site contractors, interns, co-operators, pre- and postdoc associates
In addition to the 82 federal employees who make up the core of AED's scientific and
administrative workforce, an additional 59 non-federal personnel work in the laboratory (Table
3). These individuals support important functions including administrative and secretarial
services, building maintenance, library services, security, and glassware preparation. Non-
federal staff also include student interns, trainees, undergraduate students, pre-doctoral students,
postdoctoral fellows, and visiting scientists conducting research in the facility under various
formal agreements.
Figure 4. Accessions and Separations 1997-2002
0
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
01 ACCESSIONS | SEPARATIONS
16
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Table 2. AED's on-site non-federal staff.
Employer Name
BOB HOLTZ SERVICES INC.
COMPUTER SCIENCES CORPORATION
ENVIRONMENTAL CAREERS ORGANIZATION
SENIOR SERVICES OF AMERICA INC
OPTIMUS CORPORATION
SAI CONSULTING COMPANY
SECURITY CONSULTANTS GROUP
T&T JANITORIAL SERVICES
Count
9
16
2
14
3
3
9
3
59
II. Organizational Structure
AED has implemented an organizational structure designed to support attainment of our mission
and goals (Figure 6) The Division Director has total responsibility and authority for all aspects
of Division operations. The Division Director also functions as an interface with NHEERL
senior management, and reports directly to NHEERL's Associate Director for Ecology
Supporting the Division Director are the Associate Director for Science and the Associate
Director for Program Operations.
First-line research and scientific staff supervision occurs at the level of the Branch. In addition
to responsibility for direct supervision and career development of branch staff, our Branch
Chiefs support the Division Director in performance of administrative functions. The Branch
Chiefs are responsible for the allocation of resources within the respective Branches, including
personnel, supplies and equipment, and travel dollars.
To continue to provide optimal organizational infrastructure support for the mission, the
organization is evolving to meet current and future needs. To this end, a reorganization plan was
submitted through NHEERL to Office of Research and Development (ORD) in July 2002.
Approval for implementation has been granted recently, and plans are to begin implementation
this fall.
17
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Figure 6 Organizational Chart
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
for
PROGRAM OPERATIONS
Sheila Meuse
(401) 782-3012
Russell Ahlgren, Facilities & Marine
Operations Mgr
Lynn DeLuca, FCO
Linda DiStefano, Property Mngt &
Receiving Specialist
Jeffrey Greenberg, Electrical Engineer
Carrie Jacox, Administrative Specialist
Mimi Johnson, TIM
Doug Mills, P/T Editorial Clerk
Ellen Zambrano, Purchasing Agent
INDICATOR DEVELOPMENT
BRANCH
Timothy Gleason, Chief (Acting)
(401) 782-3017
Waller Berry, Res Biologist
Warren Boothman, Res Chemist
Rob Burgess, Res Env Scientist
Mark Cantwell, Env Scientist
Laura Coiro, Biologist
George Gardner, Res Aqua Biologist
Ruth Gobell-Gutjahr, Biologist
Ann Kuhn-Hines, Res Phy Scientist
Kay Ho, Res Env Scientist
Rick McKinney, Env Scientist
Lesley Mills, Res Biologist
Matthew Mitro, Population Biologist
Diane Nacci, Res Biologist
Peg Pelletier, Biologist
Stephan Ryba, Phy Biologist
Antelmo Santos, Res Chemist
Jonathan Serbst, Biologist
Mark Tagliabue, Bio Scientist
Gerald Zaroogian, Res Chemist
OFFICE of the DIRECTOR
Jonathan Garber
(401)782-3001
Rick Lapan, SHEMP Manager
Joseph LiVoIsi, QA Officer
Brian Melzian, Spec Ass't
Glenn Moore, Spec Ass't
Larry Rossner, IT Coordinator
Norman Rubinstein, IPA/URI
Carol Ann Sakiewicz, Acquisition
Manager
Lucy Steams, Secretary
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
for
SCIENCE
Wayne Munns
(401) 782-3017
ECOLOGICAL RESPONSE
BRANCH
Barbara Brown, Chief
(401) 782-3088
Sherry Brandt-Williams, Env Engineer
Tingting Cai, Biologist
Dan Campbell, Res Ecologist
Donald Cobb, Res Chemist
Edward Dettmann, Res Env Scientist
Walter Galloway, Sr Env Scientist
Romona Haebler, Vet Med' 1 Officer
Stephen Hale, Ecologist
Doranne Borsay Horowitz, Biologist
Darryl Keith, Oceanographer
John Kiddon, Res Phy Scientist
James Latimer, Res Phy Sci
Suzanne Lussier, Res Aqua Biologist
Matt Nicholson, Landscape Ecologist
Curt Norwood, Res Env Scientist
Gerald Pesch, Res Aqua Biologist
Steven Rego, Biologist
Henry Walker, Res Env Scientist
* Patricia Bradley
* Thomas Pheiffer
* MAIA Team, Fort Meade, MD
ECOSYSTEM ANALYSIS and
SIMULATION BRANCH
Charles Strobel, Chief (Acting)
(401) 782-3078
Mohammed Abdelrhman, Res Phy Sci
Sandra Benyi, Biologist
Barbara Bergen, ChemistyAnalytical
John Cardin, Res Aqua Biologist
Denise Champlin, Biologist
Mamita Chintala, Res Biologist
Giancarlo Cicchetti, Ecologist
Earl Davey, Res Aqua Biologist
Saro Jayaraman, Env Scientist
Roxanne Johnson, Res Chemist
James Lake, Res Env Scientist
Lesa Meng, Res Ecologist
William Nelson, Res Physiologist
Frank Osterman, Phy Sci Tech
Kenneth Perez, Res Aqua Biologist
Carol Pesch, Res Aqua Biologist
Richard Pruell, Res Chemist
Kenneth Rocha, Biologist
Bryan Taplin, Env Scientist
Glen Thursby, Res Biologist
Cathleen Wigand, Wetland Ecologist
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III. Other Resources and Infrastructure
Effective allocation of other resources and sound infrastructure is critical to enabling the
professional staff to work efficiently and effectively toward and achieve the mission and
program objectives. Financial and personnel resources, facility, marine operations and field
support, research library resources, Information Technology (IT) and conferencing room
capabilities are addressed in this section
1 Financial and Personnel Resources: 1997-2002
Table 3 provides a summary of the sources of funds (in $K) and numbers of full-time employee
equivalents (FTE) for federal employees for fiscal years 1997 to 2002. Table 4 shows FY 2002
allocations by category of expenditure
Table 3. AED Financial and personnel resources (m SK) FY1997-2002.
FISCAL
YEAR
BASE R&D
(Extramural)
BASE S&E/"E"
(Intramural)
Total Base
All Other
Sources
(Non-Base)
Total $K
FT EE
1997
3,867 30
8,619 80
12,487 10
376 50
12,863 60
82 4
1998
2,613 40
8,631.70
11,245.10
0
11,245.10
81 8
1999
2,010 50
7,892.30
9,902 80
14.20
9,917 00
81 2
2000
1,991 10
9,175 40
11,166 50
31 5
11,198 00
80 7
2001
2,262 60
10,109 40
12,372 00
0
12,372 00
80 7
2002
3,135 80
10,740 30
13,876 10
0
13,876 10
79 7
Table 4. Breakdown of categories of AED expenditures ($K) for FY2002:
Category of Amount ($K)
Expenditure
Salaries
6,722 9
Travel
153 9
Lab Operations
2,598 8
Facility Support
1,390 9
ADP Operations Ctr
782 6
**Other Contracts
100 1
SEE Coop Agreement
150.0
State Monitoring Coops
1,390.8
~"""Other Coop Agreements
586.1
Totals
13,876 1
~Includes O&M (1,057 4) Security (169 8), Janitorial (154 0), Pest Control (7) and solid waste (9 0)
"Includes Dishroom (46 7), Sample Analysis (20 8), Peer Review (30 0), and Loon Workshop (2 6)
*** Includes NNEMS (22 0), EOC (160 0), ECO (74 2), SMILE (41 9), and Population Modeling (288 0)
19
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2. Research Support and Facilities: Buildings. Grounds. Facilities and Marine Support
a. Location
AED is located approximately 30 miles south of Providence, Rhode Island, on an 11-acre site
overlooking the West Passage of Narragansett Bay. The surrounding area is predominantly rural
or residential, with services provided at village-sized commercial centers. The 165-acre Bay
Campus is adjacent to AED and houses the University of Rhode Island's Graduate School of
Oceanography, the Coastal Resources Center, and the Rhode Island Nuclear Science Center.
Also adjacent to AED is the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Narragansett Laboratory.
The main campus of the University of Rhode Island is 7 miles west of the site. This location is
optimal due to access to high quality sea water for experiments and for deployment of marine
operations for the Atlantic coastline.
b. Buildings
Front Entrance Main Building
AED's buildings provide 78,600 square
feet for research and support activities.
The AED campus includes a number of
unique or special facilities, such as our
wet lab, organic and inorganic analytical
chemistry labs, IM/GIS/Training Center,
organism culture facilities, and
microcosms.
The Main Office and Laboratory are
comprised of approximately 58,000
square feet in three buildings:
Building 1, is a two-story concreted frame
structure providing office space of
administrative support functions,
computer facilities (GIS lab) and
contractor offices.
Building 2 is a three-story structure for
wet lab activities and laboratory systems
equipment (such as air pressure pumps for the wet lab.)
Building 3 is a three-story high bay, concrete frame structure providing space for chemistry
laboratories, a salt water aquarium, wet lab functions and support for wet lab research, sample
preparation areas, constant temperature and humidity chambers, flow through seawater, test
chambers, office support and storage rooms.
20
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Additional services buildings include:
Support Services Building (9,900 ft2)
for receiving, storage, machine and
woodworking shops, diving locker
facilities, and on-site contractor
administration.
Hazardous Materials Building (1,656
ft2) provides isolated and segregated
storage for bulk chemicals, compressed
gases, and hazardous wastes.
High Hazard Laboratory and Pollution
Abatement Building (690 ft2) houses a containment laboratory for handling and
conducting experiments with highly toxic or contaminated materials (upper floor)
and the Laboratory's wastewater pre-treatment facility (lower floor).
Field Operations Building and Boat Maintenance Facility (3,600 ft2) houses
maintenance space for boats and other field equipment. A state of the art vessel
storage and maintenance facility was constructed and accepted in 2001. Vessels
are stored and maintained in a climate controlled environment, overhead lifts and
lighting allow for the outfitting of vessels in a secure, protected environment.
A small frame cottage provide about 4,000 ft2 of office space is currently occupied
by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under a two-year MOU.
3. Unique and World Class Research Capabilities
a. Wet laboratory
Wet laboratory facilities are especially noteworthy, and occupy approximately 12,500 square feet.
Each day approximately 500,000 gallons of sea water flow through the pipes, tanks, wet tables,
and aquaria in the wet lab areas. Sea water can be delivered in any combination of raw, filtered
(down to 5 microns), heated, or chilled states. Vacuum processing allows suppression of
dissolved oxygen levels, and salinity concentration may be tempered with the addition of de-
ionized water.
b. Facilities Team and Marine Operations research support activities
In addition to ensuring facility support, the AED Facility and Marine Operations Program
provides support to the fleet and equipment used in field activities. An inventory of the available
Support Services Building
21
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boats and related equipment (along with specifications) is maintained and available to the science
staff to assist in current and future research planning.
The AED Facilities Team provides 24 hour/7 days a week response to science initiatives to
include response to alarms generated affecting laboratory functions (monitored by Digital Direct
Control (DDC) system), delivery of spare parts or alternate vessels and vehicles to research
location, communication support, state-of-the-art mobile Differential Global Positioning Systems
(DGPS) compatible with GIS technology (all vessels over 17' have DGPS and global mapping
devices and RADAR as noted in Table 6). Professional Captain services are available at
researchers' request.
c. Information Center
The Information Center is divided into four main service areas. These service areas include a
training room capable of accommodating up to 12 students at six shared PC workstations with:
state-of-the-art ceiling mounted projection equipment; a GIS laboratory providing specialized
hardware and software to the ADP staff for the entry, analysis, and display of spatially-oriented
data, a locked machine room with state-of-the-art security features, including environmental,
power, and other physical controls to centrally house the Divisions data servers, other associated
LAN equipment, and data archives, and an 1-0 room for easy access by the user community to
commonly needed peripherals such as printers, drives and a digitizer.
d. Research Library
The research library provides scientific, technical, and administrative library services to support
Division research and management. Library holdings include: approximately 2700 volumes;
technical books; abstracts and databases on disk, CD-ROM, and on-line; theses; journals; selected
Codes of Federal Regulations; EPA Research Reports; AED publications collection; and
environmental legislation.
e. Conferencing facilities
There are two main conference rooms within the main building, in addition to numerous
conferencing areas distributed within the work areas suitable for team meetings and small
conferences. Conferencing capabilities include video-teleconferencing in addition to the more
commonly used teleconferencing.
f. Laboratory Modernization Project
EPA is currently reviewing a five year "road map" for incremental, yearly modernization plans
for the Chemistry and Wet Lab functions. We will explore two scenarios to achieve the EPA goal
to modernize these Laboratories within the $1,000,000 funding constraint anticipated each fiscal
year for the duration of the project. Consideration will be given to mechanical, electrical and
plumbing systems (infrastructure) with an eye towards sustainable design parameters. Laboratory
fit-outs (case work, fiime hoods, finishes both natural and artificial lighting, etc.) with be included
22
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in the upgrades. The project includes a practical emphasis on "Green" design such as recyclable
and recycled materials, low impact development construction sequencing and the like. Physical
reconfiguration of the laboratory spaces will be in basic accordance with functional space
requirements outlined by "Labs of the 21st Century" working groups comprised of end-users.
23
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Monitoring, Assessment and Diagnostic
Research to Characterize
Environmental
Condition
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II
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Monitoring, Assessment and Diagnostic Research
to Characterize Environmental Condition
Overview
Agency Problem
The mission of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is to protect human health and
to safeguard the natural environment - air, water, and land - upon which life depends. However,
during the past decade, concerns have been raised about the Agency's ability to assess and
compare risks to ecosystems adequately, to protect and restore them, and to track progress in
terms of ecological outcomes. One of the most recent evaluations focusing on this problem in
implementing the Clean Water Act (GAO 2000) stated:
"...[EPA's] National Water Quality Inventory does not accurately portray water quality
conditions nationwide. A major reason is that states collectively assess only a small
percentage of waters in the United States.... It would be cost-prohibitive to physically
monitor all of the waters in the country, and, therefore, almost all states monitor a subset
of their waters. However, most monitoring is not done in a way that allows for
statistically valid assessments of water quality conditions in unmonitored waters. In
addition, the Inventory is not reliable because wide variation exists in (1) the way that
individual states select their monitoring sites, (2) the kinds of tests they perform on their
waters and how the results of these tests are interpreted, and (3) the methods they use to
determine the causes and sources of pollution in waters that do not meet water quality
standards.
As a result, the information in the Inventory cannot be meaningfully compared across
states. EPA uses information from the Inventory as a basis for a number of important
decisions and activities, such as deciding how to allocate federal funds for Clean Water
Act programs to states and measuring and communicating EPA's and states' progress in
implementing the act. However, the dearth of the waters actually monitored, combined
with the wide variation among states' monitoring and assessment approaches, make the
national statistics unreliable and subject to misinterpretation and, therefore, of limited
usefulness for these purposes. While these limitations may call into question some of
EPA's decisions that rely on these data, there is little doubt among experts that the
remaining problems are considerable and that solutions will entail significant
expenditures. What is uncertain, however, is the precise extent of water quality
problems, where and what the most severe problems are, and the location of high-quality
waters that need to be protected."
In response to the concerns expressed over the last decade, ORD has set the goal to provide the
scientific understanding to measure, model, maintain and restore the integrity and sustainability
of highly valued ecosystems as part of our core research program (GPRA 8). To do this, ORD
has organized its research to answer four scientific questions-
1
-------
What is the current ecosystem condition, what are trends in this condition, and what
stressors appear to have been responsible for harm or deterioration?
How do biological, chemical and physical processes affect the condition of ecosystems,
and how can we most accurately diagnose problems facing ecosystems and forecast
future effects?
What are the relative risks posed to ecosystems by stressors, alone and in combination,
now and in the future?
How can we most effectively reduce risks to protect ecosystems and to restore them once
they have become degraded?
The first two questions are the basis for much of NHEERL's research to characterize ecological
condition, with an emphasis on. 1) providing tools to monitor ecosystem condition in a manner
that reflects the scale of the problem, the causes of harm, and the success or failure of restoration
and mitigation efforts; and 2) developing models and methods that help diagnose the causes of
degradation to ecosystems and forecast future condition. The third and fourth questions are the
focus for much of our ecological effects research and will be addressed in more detail in
subsequent sections of this briefing book.
ORD/NHEERL/AED Research Approach
ORD realized that substantial amounts of both time and money were being spent to collect data
on ecosystem condition that were neither complete, nor necessarily relevant to understand current
conditions. Fundamental research needed to be conducted to improve the science associated with
ecological monitoring and therefore, in 1990, ORD created the Environmental Monitoring and
Assessment Program (EMAP) to lead its research efforts to develop better monitoring designs
and indicators to allow scientifically defensible statements to be made about the ecological
condition of the Nation's natural resources. Early in EMAP's history, it became apparent that
EMAP alone could not develop designs and indicators for all the Nation's resources, and that a
subset of these would have to be chosen. EMAP selected aquatic ecosystems for development
because they integrate the atmospheric, landscape, and upstream water inputs, and because EPA
has clear statutory mandates related to clean water.
EMAP has made significant progress in developing methods to characterize ecological condition
and USEPA's Office of Water is strongly encouraging incorporation of these methods into state
monitoring programs (USEPA 2002) It has become apparent in recent years that establishing an
understanding of overall condition is necessary, but not sufficient to ensure the protection of
aquatic ecosystems. Once overall condition is established, the specific waters which have
problems, and the particulars of the causes of those problems, must be identified to allow
development of appropriate restoration strategies. For example, in implementing the Clean
Water Act, a list of the specific impaired waters must be generated biannually (the "303(d) list").
2
-------
In addition, once the systems most likely to have problems have been located, confirmation of
the problem and diagnosis of the specific cause(s) of that impairment are necessary to develop
the most appropriate, cost effective means to restore the ecosystem to its desired state. This is
the basis of the Clean Water Act requirement to develop Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
for impaired waterbodies. The need to identify specific impaired waters and the cause of the
impairment has therefore been the basis of much of the piecemeal and costly site-specific
monitoring which has characterized aquatic monitoring in the United States over the last 30
years.
To meet the needs described above, ORD's Ecological Research Multi-Year Plan (MYP)
outlines several Long-Term Goals (LTGs), including that.
A national monitoring framework is available for estuaries and streams that can be used
from the local to the national level for statistical assessments of the condition and change,
Methods to effectively monitor trends in environmental condition with known confidence
are available to EPA, the States, and Tribes,
The states and tribes use a common monitoring design and appropriate ecological
indicators: to allow a scientifically-valid determination of the status and trends of their
aquatic resources; to improve the cost-effectiveness of their environmental programs and
policies; and to allow their findings to be aggregated into regional and national
determinations to support Clean Water Act 305(b) and GPRA requirements, and
Tools are provided to assess and diagnose impairment in aquatic systems and the sources
of associated stressors
To help address ORD's goals of developing tools to monitor for condition and diagnose cause in
a manner which can be implemented in a cost-effective manner by appropriate management
agencies, the EMAP Strategy (USEPA 2001) outlines an approach to build the scientific basis,
and the local, state and tribal capacity, to monitor for status and trends in the condition of the
Nation's aquatic ecosystems. Our approach is based on developing statistically-based sampling
designs that are spatially extensive and allow aggregation of monitored data from the local level
to the national level. Within this, key scientific issues relating to ecological indicators,
ecosystem classification, and reference conditions are being addressed to develop a
comprehensive aquatic ecosystem monitoring approach for the nation. EMAP's approach has
been to develop the tools and methods to address these issues in particular ecosystem types (or
"resources"), test and hone the methods in prototype geographic regions, then transfer the
technology nationally to the entities which have responsibility for implementing the monitoring
programs. Methods development, demonstration, and technology transfer are well underway for
estuaries and wadeable streams. Large rivers is the next priority.
EMAP is also initiating research to determine how to predict the location of the Nation's
impaired waters and their cause of impairment in a cost effective manner through development of
screening models which incorporate probability-based survey data and landcover/landscape
3
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information to allow identification of the likely locations of impaired waters. Key scientific
issues include identification of classifying variables of watershed or ecosystem susceptibility to
impairment to allow pre-stratification for sampling and aid in data analysis; identification of
landscape characteristics which correlate with metrics of impairment to allow development of
empirical relationships that link stressors, effects and characteristic patterns of source and
causality; and synthesis of these relationships into statistical models to predict those non-
momtored areas which have the highest probability of ecological alteration or impairment.
NHEERL has developed a framework for its ecological effects research on aquatic stressors
(GPRA Goal 2, described later in this briefing book). A key component of that work focuses on
development of tools to populate a diagnostic framework for resource managers to interpret
cause-and-effect relationships of stressors on aquatic systems. Key scientific issues include
development of: 1) conceptual ecosystem models based on appropriate mechanisms of action that
can be used to improve the accuracy of impairment decisions, and classification frameworks that
explain variation in the response of individuals, populations, communities and ecosystems at
regional, watershed, water body and habitat scales, 2) single-stressor diagnostic methods and
models to determine the primary source of biological impairment of aquatic ecosystems; 3)
methods and models to allocate causality among multiple stressors and to diagnose interactions
among them; and 4) forecasting methods and models to evaluate the ecological benefits of source
reductions, investigate stressor interactions, and assess the gains and losses realized by various
alternatives for restoration and remediation. Issue 1 obviously overlaps with similar work in the
EMAP development of screening models. The EMAP screening models can be considered a
first-stage screening diagnosis, to be followed by a more rigorous, confirmatory diagnosis based
on the mechanistic models and protocols to be developed to support specific Office of Water
stressors of concern.
Extensive work is needed to address this scale of problems; research effort has therefore been
distributed over a number of NHEERL and other ORD laboratory divisions. The basic
components in EMAP include: research on monitoring designs, led by WED; landscape
modeling techniques, led by NERL's Environmental Sciences Division; information
management, led by AED; and a number of geographic initiatives. The Mid-Atlantic Integrated
Assessment is led by AED; Western EMAP by WED; the National Coastal Assessment by GED;
and a new start, the Central Basin Initiative, is led by MED. Although each of these research
areas has a lead division, support from all divisions is critical in each area. NHEERL's
diagnostic research is similarly performed by all divisions, with each division having the lead for
a particular, regionally-focused case study. These are described in more detail in the diagnostics
section of this briefing book.
Organization of Research
To support the approach described above, AED's current research to support characterization and
diagnosis of condition is structured in three parts-
4
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Assessing condition of estuaries and streams (Goal 8)
Identifying areas of ecological impairment (Goal 8)
Diagnosing causes of ecological impairment (Goal 2)
Assessing Condition of Estuaries and Streams
As described above, the first step m integrated monitoring and assessment is to describe the
condition of the resource at the appropriate scale. ORD's EMAP program has identified the
priority scientific needs as: development of design techniques for probabilistic sampling of
aquatic resources, identification and development of appropriate measures and indicators of
ecosystem condition which can be momtored routinely, and demonstration and transfer of these
designs and methods to the agencies responsible for environmental resource management. AED
research and development has supported development of EMAP since its inception. AED had
the lead for the first project which demonstrated that probabilistic sampling and integrated
monitoring of the physical, chemical and biological properties of an ecosystem could be used to
assess the condition of estuaries at regional scales (Paul et al. 1999). AED was also the lead in
the next step of demonstrating that not only could these methods be used, but that multiple
agencies could effectively integrate their existing monitoring programs through these methods to
assess both regional condition as well as the condition of individual embayments without
additional funding (USEPA 1998, in press). AED is now the lead for the Northeastern
Component of the National Coastal Assessment, which is building the capacity of state and tribal
water quality agencies to incorporate these methods into their base monitoring programs to
address their multiple information needs, while at the same time acquiring the data for the first
baseline assessment of one class of our Nation's aquatic resources.
A parallel effort has been underway in wadeable streams ecosystems concurrent with the efforts
in estuarine ecosystems. AED has been working with the states and NHEERL's Western
Ecology Division to develop probabilistic monitoring designs for the wadeable streams for 12 of
the 13 northeastern states. AED has also been working with the individual states and EPA
Regions to demonstrate the utility of these methods to meet the multiple information needs of
the states' base monitoring programs. The ultimate aim is to assist the states in combining the
results of both the streams and estuaries monitoring into an overall assessment of the state of
their environment.
Identifying Areas of Ecological Impairment
A critical gap remains in our ability to move from overall assessment of ecosystem condition to
taking specific management action to restore or maintain the integrity of a particular ecosystem -
it is necessary to first identify specific management units that are impaired and diagnose the
cause of such impairment Although surveying techniques are now being used that can
adequately describe overall system condition, it is often overlooked that data from such surveys
contain important information on the actual location being sampled. Furthermore, because
surveys to assess overall condition are designed to quantify the variability in the resource being
surveyed, sample points usually capture a wide range of conditions present for other resources
within the ecosystem. Thus, it is reasonable to expect that if predictable relationships exist
5
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between the resource in question and other more completely measured resources, these
relationships can be modeled and used to predict condition of the resource in areas where it is not
sampled. AED has begun to evaluate ecosystem characteristics, such as patterns of land cover,
for their use in predicting aquatic impairment (Paul et al. 2002). As part of this research, a broad
spectrum of ecosystem characteristics that are known from remote sensing, field observation and
modeling are being assessed. In addition, the available statistical tools to draw relationships
between data are being compared. If reliable models can be developed to identify unsampled
resources that are ecologically impaired, then monitoring efforts can be prioritized toward
sampling those areas that have a high likelihood of being impaired. Moreover, such models
could suggest potential causes of impairment, thus providing important evidence for diagnosis
and ultimate mitigation of ecological impairment
Diagnosing Causes of Ecological Impairment
AED's diagnostic research in support of the Office of Water (Goal 2) focuses on the need to
diagnose causes of biological impairment within an integrated framework linking watersheds
with receiving water bodies to support the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) process. The
starting point for diagnostic process is the need to respond to suspected or reported biological
impairment, non-attainment of aquatic life use, and other indications of adverse effects (e.g.,
toxicity, benthic community damage). Initial assessments may also record evidence of multiple
potential causes of impairment and conflicting lines of evidence that might complicate a
diagnosis. Thus, the goal of the diagnostic process is to both define the primary causes of
impairment as well as allocate observed effects among multiple potential stressors, and assess
potential interactive effects among stressors.
To narrow the number of possible stressors of concern, diagnostic models and methods are being
developed based on the Toxicity Identification Evaluation (TIE) procedures (Norberg-King et al.
1991, Burgess et al. 1996, Ho et al. in prep.). In TIE, toxic stressors are first considered in broad
classes, and as the evaluation proceeds, the focus moves to specific toxicants. In this way, large
numbers of insignificant toxicants are excluded from further consideration. For example,
sediment toxicity may be first classified as being caused by organic contaminants, then narrowed
to pesticides, and finally identified as being due to DDT. Analogously, in a multi-stressor
diagnostic process, broad classes of stressors (i.e., nutrients, clean sediments, altered habitat,
toxic chemicals) would be narrowed to identify the specific stressor or combination of stressors
causing the impairment.
To develop these diagnostic methods and models, three specific areas of research and
development are being pursued. First is the development of conceptual models based on
appropriate mechanisms of action that can be used to provide a framework for understanding
how stressors affect ecosystems on an individual and combined basis. Further, these models will
improve the accuracy of impairment decision-making by environmental managers in the
Regions, States and Tribes. Second, classification schemes are being developed to explain
variation in the responses of individuals, populations, communities and ecosystems at regional,
watershed, water body and habitat scales. Most importantly, valid classification schemes will
provide Regional, State and Tnbal environmental managers methods for collapsing the over
6
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40,000 TMDLs into more manageable numbers by aggregating into similar units or water body
classes. Finally, a series of case studies are being performed in which diagnostic methods will be
developed and the conceptual models and classification schemes applied. The case studies will
also provide the best opportunity to integrate our diagnostic methods with stressors-response
relationships for nutrients, toxic chemicals and other stressors as developed by other components
of our Aquatic Stressors research (described later in this briefing book).
References
(References cited in bold signify AED research products)
Burgess, R.M., K.T. Ho, G.E. Morrison, G. Chapman and D.L. Denton. 1996. Marine
Toxicity Identification Evaluation (TIE): Phase I Guidance Document. EPA 600/R-
96/054, Office of Research and Development, Washington, D.C.
GAO 2000. Water Quality: Key EPA and state decisions limited by inconsistent and incomplete
data. GAO/RCED-OO-54, U.S. General Accounting Office, Washington, DC
Ho, K.T. et ai. (in prep.). Freshwater and marine sediment Toxicity Identification
Evaluation (TIE): Guidance Document. Office of Research and Development,
Washington, DC.
Norberg-King, T., D. Mount, E. Durhan, G. Ankley, L. Burkhard, J. Amato, M. Lukasewycz, M.
Schubauer-Berigan and L. Anderson-Carnahan. 1991. Methods for aquatic Toxicity
Identification Evaluations: Phase I Toxicity Characterization Procedures, Second Edition.
EPA/600/6-91/003, Environmental Research Laboratory, Duluth, MN.
Paul J.F., J.H. Gentile, K.J. Scott, S.C. Schimmel, D.E. Campbell, and R.W. Latimer. 1999.
EMAP-Virginian Province four-year assessment (1990-93). EPA/600/R-99/004,
Office of Research and Development, Narragansett, RI.
Paul, J.F., R.L. Comeleo and J. Copeland. 2002. Landscape metrics and estuarine sediment
contamination in the Mid-Atlantic and Southern New England Regions. Journal of
Environmental Quality 31:1-10.
USEPA. 1998. Condition of the Mid-Atlantic Estuaries. EPA/600/R-98/147, Office of
Research and Development, Washington, DC.
USEPA. 2001 Environmental Monitonng and Assessment Program (EMAP) Research Strategy
(draft). EPA-620R-01-XXX, Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC.
USEPA. 2002. Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology: Toward a compendium of
best practices, First Edition. Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds, Washington,
DC
7
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USEPA. (in press). Mid-Atlantic Integrated Assessment-Estuaries 1997-98 Summary
Report. EPA/XXX/R02/XXX, Office of Research and Development, Narragansett,
RI.
8
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Assessing the Condition of Estuaries
and Streams
(GPRA Goal 8)
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Assessing the Condition of Estuaries and Streams (GPRA Goal 8)
Agency Problem
The Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 305(b) directs States to assess the overall quality of the
waters in the States, determine whether that quality is-changing over time, identify problem areas
and management actions necessary to resolve those problems, and evaluate the effectiveness of
CWA programs. The Agency needs the ability to assess and track risks to ecosystems In
particular, to successfully meet CWA requirements, States and Tribes need tools to monitor,
maintain, and restore their resources However, less than half of all waters are currently assessed
(USEPA 1998a). The monitoring that is done is not coordinated among states. Each state uses
their own methods and their own sampling designs. Therefore, the data from different states
cannot be compared and regional and national assessments of condition are not well supported
scientifically.
Objectives of Research
Within the context of the EMAP Strategy (USEPA 2001a) and to support ORD's Multi-Year
Plan for Ecosystem Research (Goal 8) Long-Term Goals (see Monitoring, Assessment and
Diagnostic Research to Characterize Environmental Condition Overview), the primary goal of
AED's condition research is to build the scientific basis, and the local, state, and tnbal capacity,
to monitor for the status and trends in the condition of the Nation's aquatic ecosystems, initially
focusing on estuaries and streams. The foundation of the EMAP approach to monitoring
condition is a statistical (or probability) sampling framework that provides the basis for
estimating resource extent and condition, for characterizing trends, and for representing spatial
pattern, all with a known level of confidence. Within this monitoring framework, condition is
measured by sampling ecological indicators that reflect the ecosystems' biological, chemical and
physical attributes. EMAP primarily uses biological indicators as they integrate all the different
stressors acting on a system EMAP typically conducts this research in specific geographic areas
to reduce the scientific uncertainties associated with the design and indicators as well as to
engage and transfer the technology to the entities, such as States and Tribes, who will hopefully
incorporate this approach into their base programs (EPA Environmental Indicators Initiative
2001). All four ecology divisions of NHEERL have EMAP implementation responsibilities and
work closely together to ensure that our activities support and complement the overall objectives.
The focus of AED's condition research over the next 5 years is to:
Test and demonstrate this approach nationally in diverse areas to ensure applicability and
establish the statistical variability of the measured parameters.
Determine the ability of the EMAP indicators and design to detect changes and trends in
the condition of stream and estuarine ecosystems.
Develop new and better indicators of condition, if needed.
1
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Demonstrate the efficacy of the EMAP approach to state, tribal and local agencies, and
build their capacity to develop and analyze information from statistical monitoring
designs.
Improve information storage and transfer to optimize the available information from the
EMAP monitoring approach
Approach and Recent Accomplishments
AED researchers have designed and implemented monitoring programs to report on the
ecological condition of several regions in the past decade. The nature and expectations of the
activities has evolved over time in conjunction with the evolution of EMAP itself. Schimmel et
al. (1994) and Strobel et al. (1995) produced statistical summaries of annual results obtained in
the EMAP-Estuanes Virginian Province surveys conducted by AED in 1990-93. The lessons of
the four-year Virginian Province study were summarized by Paul et al. (1999), and we
additionally evaluated associations between ecological condition as indicated by biologically-
based indicators (e.g , a multi-metric benthic index) and other physical and chemical measures.
Mid-Atlantic Integrated Assessment (MA1A)
In 1994, the National Science and Technology Council's Committee on the Environmental and
Natural Resources (CENR) reviewed the state of environmental monitoring during the preceding
two and a half decades in the United States. While noting advances in the development of
monitoring tools and methods, the Committee concluded that federal, state and local agencies
still collected data that were fragmentary, often incompatible and lacking coverage on a national
scale. They recommended that federal agencies coordinate monitoring efforts, conduct
assessments on ecosystems rather than on regions, and provide information that is applicable on
various spatial scales (CENR 1996). In response to the CENR report, the Mid-Atlantic
Integrated Assessment (MALA) was selected as a prototype demonstration, focusing attention at
a regional scale to test the concepts. The Mid-Atlantic region was selected as the site of the
study because it contained a variety of ecological systems (lakes, streams, forests, agricultural
areas, wetlands and estuaries) and exhibited a wide range of environmental problems.
AED personnel played a major role in the design and implementation of the estuanne component
of the MALA program (MALA-Estuaries). During the summers of 1997 and 1998, a consortium
of federal and state agencies conducted an assessment of conditions in Delaware Estuary,
Chesapeake Bay, the coastal bays of Virginia and Maryland, and the Albemarle-Pamlico
Estuarine System. The objectives of this program were to: (1) characterize the ecological
condition of the Mid-Atlantic estuaries using a common set of measurements, (2) focus research
on small estuaries to help design more efficient monitoring approaches for these critical systems,
and (3) demonstrate that effective partnerships can be established among Federal and State
agencies for resource management purposes. In preparation for the study, AED researchers
synthesized information previously published in scientific reports and databases (USEPA
1998b), highlighting data gaps evident in the previous work (e.g., the lack of consistent
measurements of eutrophication-related indicators in all systems). Successful elements of the
2
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EMAP program were incorporated in the MAIA-Estuaries study, including reliance on a
probabilistic sampling design, use of a common set of indicators and analytical methods, and
emphasis on biological indicators. New elements of the MAIA-Estuanes program included the
participation of more than a dozen environmental agencies active in the region, and incorporation
of existing sampling programs where possible without sacrificing the probabilistic nature of the
EMAP design. In particular, the MAIA-Estuaries study included intensive sampling of small
estuaries selected by regional managers to focus attention on conditions at the local scale. In
addition to the core indicators measured by EMAP, the MAIA-Estuaries program placed
additional emphasis on water quality indicators to better evaluate the incidence and possible
causes of a key management concern, estuanne eutrophication, in the region.
Evolution was also evident in the analysis and reporting activities of the MAIA-Estuanes
program. The earlier EMAP studies concluded with statistical summaries and assessments
prepared exclusively with EMAP data (Schimmel et al. 1994, Strobel et al. 1995, Paul et al
1999), and emphasized comparison of conditions in broad categories, for instance, in tributaries
and in large and small estuaries. In contrast, Condition of the Mid-Atlantic Estuaries
incorporated other sources of data (Paul et al. 2000), and related analysis and reporting to various
scales of integration, ranging from specific estuaries and tributaries, to large estuanne systems, to
the entire Mid-Atlantic region (Paul et al. 2000, Strobel et al. 2000, Kiddon et al. in prep). A
peer-reviewed MAIA-Estuaries summary report (USEPA in prep), which analyzed the 1997 and
1998 MAIA-Estuaries data, was prepared with extensive participation of all MAIA partners, and
was written for the general public and environmental scientists as well as for environmental
managers. This broad inclusion resulted m the incorporation of several novel reporting features,
such as a report card comparing conditions in neighboring estuaries. An important contribution
of this report is a presentation of changes that occurred in the region between the 1990-93
EMAP-Estuanes and 1997-98 MAIA-Estuanes studies, thus demonstrating for the first time the
advantage of the estimates of condition and uncertainty allowed by the probabilistic sampling
designs employed during both sampling programs. Methods developed for The Condition of the
Mid-Atlantic Estuaries were used in the development of the National Coastal Condition Report
(USEPA 2001b); this report incorporated the data and information generated by AED for the
EMAP Virginian Province. The National Coastal Condition Report used available information
to develop a national "report card" using existing data largely from EMAP, and the National
Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's Status and Trends program.
National Coastal Assessment
The US EPA's National Coastal Assessment (NCA) is a current EMAP geographic initiative.
This five year program (2000-2005), coordinated by NHEERL's Gulf Ecology Division (GED),
focuses on surveying the condition of the Nation's coastal resources (estuanes and offshore
waters) through an integrated, comprehensive coastal monitoring program among the coastal
states to assess coastal ecological condition The approach for NCA focuses on a strategic
partnership with all 24 U.S. coastal states Using a compatible, probabilistic design and a
common set of survey indicators, each state is surveying and assessing the condition of their
coastal resources independently. These data can then be used to develop statements of condition
at multiple scales.
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AED researchers are currently directing the planning, sampling, and reporting activities in the
NCA of estuaries in northeastern states (Virginia to Maine). During the five year program
period, the intention is to demonstrate the utility of probability based monitoring to support state
needs and priorities, and to build capacity and transfer the needed technology to each of the states
to implement a probability based design component in their own state programs. To support
transfer of this technology, AED researchers administer approximately S1 million annually in
cooperative agreements with the nine Northeastern states, as well as provide annual week-long
training to each state's field crew, on-site quality assurance visits to crews during sampling
events, visits to laboratories responsible for NCA-related analyses and as-needed technical
consultation with state field or laboratory personnel. To facilitate and standardize these
processes, AED personnel have developed or substantially contributed to a number of guidance
documents, including the NCA Quality Assurance Plan (USEPA 2001c), NCA Field Operations
Manual (USEPA 200Id), and the Coastal 2000 Northeast Component Fish Pathology Field
Guide (USEPA 2000).
The data from the first two years of NCA will be aggregated by AED to assess conditions at the
state, EPA Regional and biogeographical levels in the Northeast, and incorporated by GED into
the 2003 assessment of condition at the National level. Successful completion of the NCA will
result in the first comprehensive national environmental assessment of our Nation's coastal
resources using consistent methods, and a baseline from which to measure future change.
Ongoing AED work to support the NCA is described more fully in the remaining needs section
below.
Tables 1-4 summarize the evolution and advancements to the basic design, indicators, reporting
and technology transfer methodologies of EMAP which have resulted from the studies to date.
EMAP Information Management
AED is responsible for managing the data and information from the national EMAP program,
including the surface waters, estuaries, and landscapes data generated through the efforts of
NHEERL's Western and Gulf Ecology Divisions and NERL's Environmental Services Division,
respectively. The approach developed by AED is described in the EMAP Information
Management Plan (Hale et al. 1999). The major components of this approach are the national
EMAP Data Directory, Data Catalog, EMAP Bibliography data and metadata files, and coastal
database, which includes the national coastal species database and an online coastal data
mapping application. The EMAP Web site ('www.epa.gov/emap') is a well recognized source for
quality data on environmental condition, as evidenced by its inclusion by the Internet Scout
Report for Science & Engineering in their "best of the Web" report. AED is also working to
ensure long-term management of the data by supporting EPA's Office of Water (OW) in their
redesign of the STORET system to allow the EMAP data to be archived, and by exporting data
directory information to EPA's Environmental Information Management System (EIMS).
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Table 1
Progression of Sampling Designs
Program
Survey design
Incorporation of existing
program sites
EMAP-Virginian
Province
1990-93
sampling classes (strata) based on physical
extent
separate design for each class
large systems - tesselated, centerpoint chosen
small systems - list frame, random start for 1"
year, all systems over 4 yrs
tidal - rib & spine
none possible
MAIA-Estuaries
1997-1998
RTS (random tesselated stratified) for each
strata
large - tesselated, random point w/in cell
small - list frame
equal weights within each strata
incorporate other sites for entire
strata
National Coastal
Assessment
2000-2004
RTS with variable weights for each strata
sites restricted to estuarine resource
criteria for possible use of
existing sites
strata may contain mix of
existing and survey sites
Table 2
Progression of Indicators
Program
Type of Indicators
EMAP-Virginian Province
1990-93
best available, mostly standard methods, nothing on
eutrophication
MAIA-Estuaries
1997-1998
best available, mostly standard methods, with additional
indicators for eutrophication
National Coastal Assessment
2000-2004
incorporate in state monitoring programs, new research
indicators
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Table 3
Progression of Analysis and Reporting
Program
^ &
Type of Assessments
EMAP-Virginian Province
1990-93
ORD Statistical Summaries and Assessments with EMAP
data
MAIA-Estuaries
1997-1998
Partnered assessments incorporating other data (e.g., State
of the Estuaries Report)
National Coastal Assessment
2000-2004
Assessments jointly with state partners to varying level of
detail as needed (one-pagers, four-pagers, Web-based
reporting)
Progression of Infrastrucl
Table 4
ture Investment and Technology Transfer
Program
artnering
EMAP-Virginian Province
1990-93
Crews by ORD contracts/Cooperative Agreements
MAIA-Estuaries
1997-1998
ORD , federal, state, academic crews
National Coastal Assessment
2000-2004
Crews of state personnel, supplemented by ORD
The data gathered and state capacity built by this research will be directly incorporated to
complete the following goals and products for Goal 8:
Annual Performance Goal (APG) - The condition of estuarine coastal ecosystems is determined
for the US by 2006
Annual Performance Measure (APM) - Report on the condition of coastal ecosystems in
the US by 2003
APM - Report on the trends in condition of coastal ecosystems in the US by 2006
APG - National probabilistic stream and estuarine monitoring frameworks are developed by 2007
APM - Transfer monitoring design technology for states and tribes to use in monitoring
stream and estuarine condition by 2007
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Impacts of Research
AED has significantly contnbuted to major improvements in environmental monitoring,
resulting in:
1. A scientifically defensible, cohesive approach for state-based statistical monitoring
designs for streams and estuaries; aggregation of state data to the national level; and
provision of scientifically defensible measures of changes in ecosystem condition in
support of the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA).
2. Acceptance by EPA OW of probability-based monitoring as appropriate for state
reporting on the status of state water resources (305(b)), as reflected in the
Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (CALM) guidance and OW's
integrated listing and assessment guidance for 2001.
3. National monitoring of a water resource (estuaries) with a common set of indicators
and compatible probability-based designs, which will result in 2003 in the first
comprehensive national environmental assessment of our Nation's coastal resources
and a baseline from which to measure future change.
Remaining Needs
To support attainment of the LTG and Annual Performance Goals laid out in the Goal 8
Ecological Research Multi-Year Plan, future AED efforts on condition will center on:
1 Completion of the NCA to establish trends in the environmental state of US coastal waters.
We are three years into the five year NCA program. The monitoring data collected by the states
in the first two years will be used to prepare the 2003 national assessment of all US estuaries.
The data collected in the remaining years will be used to develop the 2006 trends report
comparing condition between the two time periods, and will be used as well to help us assess the
strengths and improvements needed to the probability sampling design to detect trends
2. Testing potential new indicators and designs for coastal assessment
Some of the Northeastern states participating in NCA are evaluating additional indicators as part
of their effort. Connecticut is interested in a more ecologically-based management of Long
Island Sound (LIS) and NCA monitoring is viewed as an important component in their strategy
to achieve this. Nutrient loading and eutrophication are large problems in LIS. Connecticut
currently relies on dissolved oxygen (DO) levels as a response indicator for eutrophication,
although a phytoplankton/zooplankton based index may be more sensitive and responsive. In the
summer of 2002, Connecticut is including monthly samples at their NCA stations for plankton
identification and enumeration. Pigment samples are also being taken for HPLC analysis. These
measures, taken together, are intended to identify sensitive measures of plankton response to
nutrient enrichment in Long Island Sound waters. Because better water column condition
7
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indicators for eutrophication are needed to assess coastal environmental condition, what is
learned in Long Island Sound is likely to have broad application nationally This work
represents a collaboration between Connecticut and AED's research in both condition research
and Aquatic Stressors Nutrients research.
Some of the Northeastern states participating m NCA are evaluating the potential of hybrid
monitoring designs to control both spatial and temporal components of variation in estuanne
conditions in Long Island Sound and Narragansett Bay. Rhode Island is testing a design which,
in addition to being able to characterize Narragansett Bay in relation to regional and national
coastal conditions, will support identification of the location and timing of low dissolved oxygen
events. The hybrid monitoring includes
sampling during the late summer index period based on probabilistic designs
° continuous sampling using moored instruments at fixed sites in the bay
0 sampling on periodic transects of the bay by NOAA-NMFS
0 periodic, event-driven sampling by the state and other partners at locations and times
when low DO events are anticipated
3. Surveying the condition of the Northeast streams resources.
The strategy for the Northeast streams survey is much the same as that for the NCA, and focuses
on building strategic partnerships with the states to develop and use compatible, probabilistic
designs and a common set of survey indicators, assisting each state to conduct the survey and
assess the condition of their streams independently, and aggregating these estimates to assess
conditions at the state, EPA Regional, biogeographical, and National levels.
AED researchers are currently working with EPA Region I to implement the New England
Wadeable Streams (NEWS) survey as a component of a Regional EMAP (REMAP) program. A
probabilistic monitoring design, developed by AED in collaboration with NHEERL's Western
Ecology Division, and a core set of metrics are being demonstrated by a team from the New
England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) and EPA Region I during
2001 to 2003. In 2002 and 2003, four of the New England states (Connecticut, Vermont, New
Hampshire and Maine) are conducting similar monitoring efforts based on EMAP developed
designs within their borders. Rhode Island's wadeable streams were monitored in similar fashion
in the summer of 2000.
Similarly, AED scientists have worked for the past six years with EPA Region III to implement
stream surveys in the Mid-Atlantic States. To date, REMAP projects have been completed in
Delaware and Maryland (both of which have incorporated EMAP designs and methods into their
base state monitoring programs), are currently ongoing in West Virginia (which will also be
using the streams data to develop their state biological criteria), and will be initiated in Virginia
in 2003 to help the state assess the effects of toxics in their streams.
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4 Developing methods to allow joint reporting and analysis of environmental data and
information to optimize assessment.
A focus of this effort will be to develop the methods and institutional commitments for Web-
based reporting of environmental data derived from the states' efforts. These may include active
links between the National State of the Environment Report, the National Coastal Condition
Report, regional coastal conditions reports, and state level reports on strategies, state level
conditions, and action plans.
References
(References cited in bold signify AED research products)
CENR (Committee on the Environment and Natural Resources). 1996. Integrating the Nation's
environmental monitoring and research networks and programs: a proposed framework.
White House National Science and Technology Council, Washington, DC.
EPA Environmental Indicators Initiative, 2001. http://www.epa.gov/indicators/
Hale, S.S., M.M. Hughes, C.J. Strobel, H.W. Buffum, J.L. Copeland and J.F. Paul, (in
press). Coastal ecological data from the Virginian Biogeographic Province,
1990-1993. Ecological Archives.
Hale, S.S., J. Rosen, D. Scott, J.F. Paul and M.M. Hughes. 1999. EMAP information
management plan: 1998-2001. EPA/620/R-99/001a, Office of Research and
Development, Research Triangle Park, NC.
Kiddon, J.A., J.F. Paul, H.W. Buffum, C.J. Strobel and D.J. Cobb, (in prep.).
Eutrophication and sediment contamination in Mid-Atlantic estuaries 1997-98.
Paul, J.F., J.H. Gentile, K.J. Scott, S.C. Schimmel, D.E. Campbell and R.W. Latimer. 1999.
EMAP-Virginian Province Four-Year Assessment (1990-93). EPA/600/R-99/004,
Office of Research and Development, Narragansett, RL.
Paul, J.F., J.A. Kiddon, C.J. Strobel, B.D. Melzian, J.S. Latimer, D.J. Cobb, D.E. Campbell
and B.S. Brown. 2000. Condition of the Mid-Atlantic Estuaries: Production of a
state of the environment report. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
63(1):115-29.
Schimmel, S.C., B.D. Melzian, D.E. Campbell, C.J. Strobel, S.J. Benyi, J.S. Rosen and
H.W. Buffum. 1994. Statistical Summary: EMAP-Estuaries Virginian Province -
1991. EPA/620/R-94/005, Office of Research and Development., Narragansett, RI.
Strobel, C.J., H.W. Buffum, S.J. Benyi, E.A. Petrocelli, D.R. Reifsteck and D.J. Keith. 1995.
Statistical Summary: EMAP-Estuaries Virginian Province - 1990-93. EPA/620/R-
94/026, Office of Research and Development, Narragansett, RI.
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Strobel, C.J., J.F. Paul, M.M. Hughes, H.W. Buffum, B.S. Brown and J.K. Summers. 2000.
Using information on spatial variability of small estuaries in designing large-scale
estuarine monitoring programs. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
63(l):223-36.
USEPA. 1998a. Water quality conditions in the United States. EPA/84l/F-00/006, Office of
Research and Development, Washington, DC.
USEPA. 1998b. Condition of the Mid-Atlantic Estuaries. EPA/600/R-98/147, Office of
Research and Development, Washington, DC.
USEPA. 2000. Coastal 2000 Northeast Component - Fish Pathology Field Guide. Office of
Research and Development, Narragansett, RI.
USEPA. 2001a. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) Research Strategy
(draft). EPA-620R-01-XXX, Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC.
USEPA. 2001b. National Coastal Condition Report. EPA-620/R-01/005, Office of Research and
Development, Washington, DC.
USEPA. 2001c. National Coastal Assessment (Coastal 2000) Quality Assurance Project
Plan -2000. EPA/620/R-01/002, Office of Research and Development, Washington,
DC.
USEPA. 2001d. Coastal 2000 Northeast Component - Field Operations Manual.
EPA/620/R-01/003, Office of Research and Development, Narragansett, RI.
USEPA. (in press). Mid-Atlantic Integrated Assessment-Estuaries 1997-98 Summary
Report. EPA/XXX/R02/XXX, Office of Research and Development, Narragansett,
RI.
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Identifying Ecological Impairment
(GPRA Goal 8)
Oregon Pilot Area
Predicted Total Phosphorus
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Identifying Ecological Impairment (GPRA Goal 8)
Agency Problem
The objective of the Clean Water Act (CWA) is to "restore and maintain the physical, chemical,
and biological integrity of the Nation's waters". To achieve this objective, Section 303(c) of the
Act mandates that states adopt Water Quality Standards that include designated uses for waters,
as well as narrative and numeric criteria to protect those uses. When a state determines that
waters do not meet these standards or criteria, they are considered impaired. Under section
303(d) of the CWA, states must develop lists of all impaired waterbodies and prioritize these
waters for establishment of TMDLs designed to restore degraded areas
Earlier sections of this Briefing Book provide an overview of the objectives, rationale and
approach being used by the AED to help improve the Nation's aquatic resource monitoring and
assessment activities. This research is contributing to an improved framework for integrated
monitoring and assessment in support of CWA requirements As part of this work,
environmental mdicators and probabilistic sampling (survey) designs are being developed and
implemented to characterize the overall condition of aquatic resources in a state (e.g , percent of
surveyed waters with evidence of impairment) for reporting under section 305(b) of the CWA
Missing from surveys intended for 305(b) reporting is an explicit determination of the actual
waterbodies impaired to allow for listing under section 303(d) Often overlooked is the fact that
data used for 305(b) reporting not only can be used for estimating overall condition of aquatic
resources, but also are real information on the actual sites sampled. These data can and should
be used in the 303(d) listing process. However, by the nature of survey designs, these data do
not completely census the entire aquatic resource. In their assessment of the 303(d) process, the
National Research Council (2001) recommended the use of predictive models when data are
limited. Given limited financial resources and limited data, models are needed that help predict
aquatic resource impairment in support of the 303(d) process, thus providing States with an
explicit rationale for targeting their follow up investigations of aquatic resources in focused
manner.
Objectives of Research
Figure 1 describes a process that can be used to address the assessment and reporting
requirements of the CWA (Brown et al. in prep). This staged approach starts with an accurate,
though broad-scale, overall assessment of the quality of all waters, then refines that assessment
through screening models to target follow-up confirmatory monitoring in areas which have a
high probability of impairment.
1
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Figure 1. Tools to help States meet the requirements of the Clean Water Act.
Product
305(b)
INTEGRATED MONITORING FRAMEWORK
Assessment Process
Report
NRC1
"planning"
list
T
303(d)
List
i
TMDL development
~
Management Action
Tools
.(1) probability survey
design ("EMAP" design)
(2) empirically based
landscape models,
watershed characterization,
clustering survey data
(e g , EMAP, ReVA)
(3) Hybrid designs
combining Intensified
survey designs, gradient
sampling and site-
specific grid designs'*
as appropriate
.Survey of condition
(gives status)
Where do I need to do the
follow up monitoring'
waterbody has high
probability of impairment
How do I collect info
to confirm impairment'
waterbodies confirmed
to be impaired
waterbody has low
probability of
impairment, no add't
monitoring needed
AT THIS TIME
(continue monitoring
as part of 5-year
cycle)
(4) Probability
survey design to
monitor when
reaches attainment
4
All others
san i
Is there an existing TMDL,
or impairment not caused by
pollutant?
Is there a 319 watershed mgmt
plan which addresses & can be implemented?
The condition research descnbed earlier provides the tools and data to support section 305(b) of
CWA reporting (Tool #1, Figure 1). AED's research to identify ecological impairment is
intended to develop assessment tools to improve our understanding of the quantitative
relationships among watershed characteristics associated with impairment, known stressors, and
aquatic resource condition. Building upon such associations, the probability of impairment in
streams and coastal waters across an entire state or region should be predictable. The tools
developed to make such predictions will support the States in meeting the listing requirements of
303(d) (Tool #2, Figure 1). These tools will link 305(b) reports on condition to 303(d) listing of
impairment, and ultimately to the establishment of TMDLs. The research descnbed in the next
section of this Briefing Book ("Diagnosing Causes of Ecological Impairment") will develop
tools needed to identify the causes of impairment to support development of those TMDLs (Tool
#3, Figure 1). All of this research supports implementation of the recent Consolidated
Assessment and Listing Methodology (CALM) provided by the EPA Office of Water (U S.
Environmental Protection Agency 2002a).
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This research contributes directly to completion of the Long-Term Goal (LTG) of ORD's Multi-
Year Plan for Ecosystem Research (Goal 8).
The states and tribes use a common monitoring design and appropriate ecological
indicators: to allow a scientifically-valid determination of the status and trends of their
aquatic resources; to improve the cost-effectiveness of their environmental programs and
policies; and to allow their findings to be aggregated into regional and national
determinations to support Clean Water Act 305(b) and GPRA requirements
and indirectly to attainment of the LTG of the Multi-Year Plan for Water Quality (Goal 2)-
Tools are provided to assess and diagnose impairment in aquatic systems and the sources
of associated stressors
Our primary objective is to develop statistical models for predicting the condition of aquatic
resources by merging probabilistic survey data with broadly available geographic data to
estimate regional stressor patterns. Specifically, we are addressing the following questions-
1) What watershed characteristics are associated with variations in aquatic condition?
2) What are methodologies for discerning relationships between watershed charactensties and
aquatic condition7
3) Can the probability of impairment in aquatic resources be accurately predicted with
watershed characteristics?
Approach and Recent Accomplishments
To simplify modeling efforts, we have focused initial analysis and model development to one
region of the coastal United States, the Virginian Biogeographic Province (Cape Cod, MA to
Cape Henry, VA). The Virginian Province was chosen because coastal areas within the Province
have been the subject of extensive EPA monitoring efforts (i.e., Virginian Biogeographic
Province 1990-1993, Paul et al. 1999; Mid-Atlantic Integrated Assessment 1997-1998, U.S EPA
2000a; National Coastal Assessment 2000-present, U S EPA 2000b). In addition, this area has
been at the center of a larger interagency effort in environmental data collection and analysis,
including the Mid-Atlantic Integrated Assessment Thus, a wealth of information is available
concerning environmental condition and stressor distributions. While initial modeling tool
development has focused in the Mid-Atlantic, some applications will be tested in other areas of
the US to ensure broad applicability of the methods
Initial analysis in this study is focusing on estuanne and coastal conditions within the Virginian
Province. Similar methods to identify probability of aquatic ecosystem impairment in wadable
streams in the region are being developed in research efforts led by NHEERL's Western Ecology
3
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Division and NERL's Landscape Ecology Branch. In later stages of ORD research,
methodologies developed in different aquatic ecosystems will be compared for their ability to
predict impairment, to aid in determining causes of impairment, and to provide more efficient
sampling and reporting in support of CWA requirements. The Virginian Province is likely to be
the first region in the US where this level of cross system integration on condition of aquatic
ecosystems will be attempted.
The most recent guidance on water quality monitoring and assessment (U.S. EPA 2001)
recommends that States develop integrated water quality monitoring and assessment reports that
satisfy CWA requirements for both 305(b) reports and 303(d) lists. According to this guidance,
these reports should delineate water quality assessment units (AUs). These AUs are the defined
boundaries of waterbodies within the state and should be the unit for 303(d) listing. As the
ultimate goal of this project is to provide tools to aid States in integrating water quality
assessments, State-determined AUs (when available) and their associated watershed are the basic
units of analysis in this research
Thus, the challenge is one of using information from regional scale probabilistic surveys of
aquatic ecosystem condition, in conjunction with other information describing watersheds, to
predict which AUs are impaired Together with NHEERL's Western Ecology Division and the
Landscape Ecology Branch of NERL, the following critical path of research will be used to
address this challenge-
Develop appropriate definitions for aquatic impairment.
Identify key watershed attributes potentially associated with impairment.
Quantify relationships between watershed attributes and aquatic impairment and use
these relationships to predict impairment.
Defining Impairment
Preferably, State water quality standards would define impairment for the purposes of this study
However, water quality standards vary between States and no single measure of impairment
exists for our study area Impairment should be determined by those physical, chemical, and
biological characteristics that measure a waterbody's ability to support its intended use (U.S
EPA 2002a) Some indicators of waterbody impairment, such as nutrient over-enrichment, may
be quantitatively linked to watershed characteristics. Others, such as biological measures of
community structure, may only have indirect links to the watershed characteristics through
anthropogenic stressors Clearly, the definition used for impairment will impact our ability to
predict aquatic condition In our initial research we are assessing predictive models using
various measures of waterbody impairment. This may ultimately lead to a definition of
impairment that combines multiple lines of evidence (e.g., biological and chemical) into a single
estimate of impairment (U.S EPA 2002b).
Data from the EMAP-Virginian Province (Paul et al. 1999) and MAIA-Estuanes (U.S. EPA
2000a) monitoring programs are being used to determine estuarine condition EMAP collected
environmental data in the Virginian Province during the summers of 1990 to 1993. Samples
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were collected of sediments, water column and biological communities using a probabilistic
survey design that provided an unbiased estimate of the ecological condition of the estuaries
Sediment samples were collected at 425 stations in 148 estuaries. The MAIA-Estuaries program
collected sediment, water and biological community data in Mid-Atlantic estuaries during the
summers of 1997-1998. The estuanne systems included Delaware Bay, Chesapeake Bay,
Maryland and Virginia coastal bays and the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine System (APES).
Samples were collected using a probability-based sampling design. Sediment samples were
collected at 399 stations in 67 estuaries.
The Virginia Province and MAIA-Estuaries programs used comparable sampling and analysis
methods to characterize sediments. Measured or calculated indicators that can be used in
assessing estuarine condition include sediment gram size, total organic carbon, index of benthic
community condition (calculated as described in Paul et al. 1999), sediment toxicity, dissolved
oxygen and sediment contamination for heavy metals and organic toxicants expressed using
toxicity benchmarks developed by Long et al. (1995). All of these data are being used to
evaluate multiple measures of impairment.
Characterizing Watersheds
Watersheds can be characterized in multiple ways. A primary goal of this research is to assess
various measures of watershed condition for their use in predicting aquatic impairment. Because
the tools we are developing will ultimately be used by States, and are intended as initial
screening methods not requiring extensive additional data collection, one qualification of any
data we assess must be that they are widely available and spatially ubiquitous. While national
data sets are available for land use or hydrology, other potentially useful data are sparsely
collected. Therefore, in addition to geographic data, we are exploring the use of predictive
models (e.g., atmospheric deposition models) for filling information gaps.
Human use of land impacts waterbodies m innumerable ways. The type of landuse present in a
watershed influences groundwater recharge, flooding, sedimentation, and the extent and severity
of point and nonpoint source pollution. Indeed, many researchers have documented links
between landuse patterns and excess nutrients (Wahl et al. 1997), metals (Paul et al. 2002), and
pesticides (Munn and Gruber 1997), amongst others. Based on a search of the literature we are
assessing the use of several landscape metrics. National Land Cover Data is being used to
measure the percent composition of each watershed in a set of land cover classes. Most
researchers examining relationships between water quality and the surrounding watershed have
focused on landscape metrics associated with composition (e.g , % of an area in agriculture). It
is reasonable to assume that the spatial arrangement (pattern) of elements within a watershed
also affects water quality. For example, Comeleo et al. (1996) found that the area of developed
land located within 10km of an estuarine site affected sediment condition far greater than
developed land further away in the watershed. Therefore, we are also investigating how the
arrangement of patches within a watershed impacts water and sediment quality. In addition to
standard measures of landscape structure such as contagion and interspersion (Rntters et al
1995), we are also exploring the use of Neutral Landscape models (O'Neill et al. 1996) in
predicting aquatic impairment.
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In addition to land cover, we are gathering other data to characterize watersheds including: soils
from the State Soil Geographic Database, human population density from the Census TIGER
database, livestock presence and abundance from U S Department of Agriculture's Annual
Census of Agriculture, topography from Digital Elevation Models, and point sources of pollution
from the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. Finally, the efficacy of information
derived from models on hydrology, climate variability, atmospheric deposition of pollutants and
others is being examined.
Quantifying Relationships
In research originally conducted in the mid 1990s, researchers at AED used a combination of
multivariate linear regression and principle component analysis to investigate relationships
between landscape composition and concentrations of metals in estuarine sediments to help
understand and quantify the causes of observed estuarine condition (Comeleo et al. 1996) As
this work has progressed we have refined our characterization of the landscape (Paul et al 2002),
and used other statistical approaches that provide a more direct estimation of impairment
probability (Hale et al. in prep) Having recognized that different statistical approaches provide
different insights into relationships, we are currently testing five modeling techniques for
predicting aquatic condition Statistical tools that are being evaluated include multivariate linear
regression, multivariate logistic regression, classification and regression tree analysis, quantile
regression and Bayesian Analysis This multi-pronged approach will provide a comparison of
the different techniques available for predicting condition.
The available data has been parsed into two groups, one for model development and one for
model validation. Each statistical approach is being assessed by measuring prediction
performance (e.g., Kappa statistic) and confidence associated with predictions. Additionally,
statistical tools will be evaluated for suitability in use by States.
Although this research has just begun, it builds on previous research conducted at AED relating
landscape characteristics to estuarine condition (Comeleo et al. 1996, Paul et al 2002, Hale et al.
in prep.). To date a literature review has been conducted and pertinent spatial data have been
gathered. Statistical approaches to predicting impairment have been identified and when
necessary appropriate software has been procured. In addition, there are multiple opportunities
for synergy between this work and the Aquatic Stressors Diagnostics research described in the
next section of this Briefing Book. For example, the research described here will be based
primarily on statistical models of association, while the Diagnostics research will explore
mechanistic evaluation of causality Although the primary product of our research will be a
method for prediction of estuarine impairment for unsampled waters, the tools used in prediction
can also be used to estimate the relative contribution of explanatory variables to the statistical
diagnosis of impairment. In this way, the statistical models developed here could be used as
evidence in the diagnostic decision support system described in the following section.
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Impacts of Research
If accurate and accessible methods can be developed for predicting aquatic impairment, these
tools can be transferred to States to help in the 303(d) reporting and TMDL processes. Not only
could the statistical models developed here help prioritize sampling efforts to confirm
impairment, they also could shed light on the potential causes of impairment. Finally, if strong
associations between aquatic impairment and watershed characteristics exist, this could lead to
hypotheses and further research regarding the mechanisms for such associations. This would
also support the Diagnostics research in specific waterbodies described later in this Briefing
Book.
Remaining Needs
The following steps remain to complete this effort:
Step 1 Develop appropriate definitions for aquatic impairment
We are continuing a search of the literature including scientific research and the current State
303(d) listing procedures to develop appropriate definitions of aquatic impairment. Measures of
impairment are being scrutinized based on availability of data to confirm impairment and will be
assessed further using newly developed statistical approaches for evaluation of ecological
indicators (Murtaugh 1996). This will be a continuing effort, although most work should be
complete within the next fiscal year.
Step 2 Identify key watershed attributes potentially associated with impairment
This effort is attempting to identifying measures of watershed condition that potentially could be
used in model development. Criteria for assess suitability of watershed characteristics in this
application will include whether links to watershed function (and therefore aquatic condition)
have been hypothesized or demonstrated m the literature, and if the characteristics can be
measured or modeled for all watersheds in the study. In addition to standard measures of
landscape composition, we are evaluating which landscape patterns, such as contagion and
interspersion of impervious and pervious surfaces (i e , potential contaminant sources and sinks),
affect watershed processes pertinent to impairment across the watershed. In some cases, data are
unavailable or limited. For these cases we are exploring the use of models to estimate watershed
characteristics. These include existing mathematical models for ecological processes and
geostatistical approaches for interpolating point estimates of data. Essential to this task is that all
data must exist at a scale that is appropriate for the goals of our research. Most of the available
geographic data for the Virginia Province has been gathered and are currently being processed.
This will be an ongoing effort, although most watershed characteristics should be identified and
appropriate geographic analysis complete within the next fiscal year.
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Step 3 Quantify relationships between watershed attributes and aquatic impairment and use
these relationships to predict impairment
As described above, we are developing statistical models that predict estuanne impairment
within the Virginian Biogeographic Province. As part of the task, we are using several statistical
approaches for modeling and prediction. A comparison of the statistical methods for prediction
should be complete in the second year of the project. Once appropriate statistical tools and
watershed characteristics have been tested within the Virginian Province, methods developed
there will be extended to other regions of the country and potentially at different scales. It is
reasonable to assume that some watershed characteristics not identified within the Virginian
Province effort may be critical elsewhere and therefore the models developed may not be
broadly applicable; however, it is expected that the overall methodology for model development
should remain the same.
The research described here is part of a larger effort by ORD to predict aquatic impairment from
probabilistic surveys designed to address section 305(b) of the CWA. A final step in AED's
research will be to integrate our efforts with those of several other ORD Divisions that focus on
a variety of aquatic systems to develop a methodology that will assist States in identifying
impairment for all aquatic ecosystems
References
(References cited in bold signify AED research products)
Brown, B.S., N.E. Detenbeck and R. Eskin. (in prep.). Integrating 305(b) and 303(d): How
EMAP aids in monitoring and assessment of state waters. Environmental
Monitoring and Assessment.
Comeleo, R.L., J.F. Paul, P.V. August, J. Copeland, C. Baker, S.S. Hale and R.W. Latimer.
1996. Relationships between watershed stressors and sediment contamination in
Chesapeake Bay estuaries. Landscape Ecology 11:307-319.
Hale, S.S., J.F. Paul, J.L. Copeland and J.F. Heltshe. (in prep.). Using landscape
characteristics of watersheds to find impaired estuarine bottom communities.
Munn, M.D. and S.J. Gruber. 1997 The relationship between land use and organochlonne
compounds in streambed sediment and fish in the central Columbia Plateau, Washington
and Idaho, USA. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 16.1877-1887.
Murtaugh, P. A. 1996. The statistical evaluation of ecological indicators. Ecological Applications
6:132-139.
National Research Council. 2001. Assessing the TMDL approach to water quality management.
National Academy Press, Washington, DC.
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O'Neill, R.V., R H Gardner and M.G. Turner. 1992. A hierarchical neutral model for landscape
analysis. Landscape Ecology 7.55-61
Paul J.F., J.H. Gentile, K.J. Scott, S.C. Schimmel, D.E. Campbell and R.W. Latimer. 1999.
EMAP-Virginian Province four-year assessment report (1990-93). EPA/620/R-
99/004, Office of Research and Development, Narragansett, RI.
Paul, J.F., R.L. Comeleo and J. Copeland. 2002. Landscape metrics and estuarine sediment
contamination in the Mid-Atlantic and Southern New England Regions. Journal of
Environmental Quality 31:1-10.
Paul, J.F., K.J. Scott, D.E. Campbell, J.H. Gentile, C.S. Strobel, R.M. Valente, S.B.
Weisberg, A.F. Holland and J. Ananda Ranasinghe. 2001. Developing and applying
a benthic index of estuarine condition for the Virginian Biogeographic Province.
Ecological Indicators 1:83-99.
Ratters, K.H., R.V. O'Neill, C.T. Hunsaker, J.D. Wickham, D.H. Yankee, S P. Timmins, K.B.
Jones and B.L. Jackson. 1995. A factor analysis of landscape pattern and structure
metrics Landscape Ecology 10-23-39.
U.S. EPA. 2000a. Coastal Research Communications. Integrated monitoring of Mid-
Atlantic estuaries (Delaware Bay to North Carolina). EPA/620/R-00/005i, Office of
Research and Development, Washington, DC.
U S EPA. 2000b Coastal Research Communications. National Coastal Assessment - Coastal
2000. EPA/620/R-00/005b, Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC.
U S. EPA. 2001. Memorandum from Robert H. Wayland HI to EPA Regional Water
Management Directors, Science and Technology Directors and State, Territory and
Authorized Tribe Water Quality Program Directors. Re: 2002 Integrated Water Quality
Monitoring and Assessment Report Guidance. November 19, 2001.
U.S. EPA. 2002a. Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology Toward a compendium of
best practices, First Edition. Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds, Office of
Water, Washington, DC.
U S EPA 2002b. The Twenty Needs Report How research can improve the TMDL Program.
Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds, Office of Water, Washington, DC
Wahl, M.H., H.N. McKellar and T M. Williams. 1997. Patterns of nutrient loading in forested
and urbanized coastal streams. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
213:111-131.
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Diagnosing Causes of Ecological Impairment
(GPRA Goal 2)
Priority ranking
Develop
schedule
I Identify impaired ai
(threatened waters
needing TMDLs
/ Listing Process of
I Integrated
Identify WQS attainment Monitoring and Submit
status of all watersf305b) Assessment Report 303
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Diagnosing Causes of Ecological Impairment (GPRA Goal 2)
Agency Problem
Under the Clean Water Act, States must list surface waters as impaired or threatened on 305(b)
reports and 303(d) listings based on one or more of three types of criteria biological criteria
(narrative or numeric), chemical criteria, or physical attributes (e.g., habitat quality
assessments). When impairment is determined based on biological criteria (26% of impairment
decisions), States are also faced with the problem of diagnosing the cause of impairment before
plans can be made to reduce the loading of pollutants through the total maximum daily loads
(TMDL) process (40 CFR Ch.l, Part 130; US EPA 1991; httpV/www epa.gov/owow/tmdl/).
The nation-wide scope of this diagnostic task is enormous; approximately 21,000 water bodies
have been designated as impaired (44% of stream or river miles, 49% of lakes, reservoirs, and
ponds, 98% of Great Lakes shoreline waters, and 42% of estuaries (EPA 2000a)) The U.S.
EPA Clean Water Action Plan (1998) states that to improve overall efficiency of the TMDL
process and to coordinate remediation activities, diagnosis of the causes of impairment is
needed. A National Academy of Sciences (2001) review of TMDL procedures concluded that
the Agency should promote development of methods and models that can more effectively link
environmental stressors to biological responses (e.g., indications of impairment) Finally, the
General Accounting Office (2002) states that there are large variations in State approaches and
a lack of sufficient (and consistent) scientifically-ngorous EPA guidance to aid in TMDL
development. Consequently, a clear need for diagnostic tools, methods and models exists.
Objectives of Research
To meet the needs described above, ORD's Multi-Year Plan for Water Quality outlines a Long-
Term Goal (LTG) to "Provide the tools to assess and diagnose impairment in aquatic systems
and the sources of the associated stressors." The Aquatic Stressors Framework (described later
in this Briefing Book) describes NHEERL's multidivisional diagnostics research to support
attainment of this goal, with special emphasis on the need to diagnose causes of biological
impairment within an integrated framework linking watersheds with receiving water bodies to
support the TMDL process.
Four primary objectives support attainment of this LTG:
1) Provide a framework for interpreting cause-and-effect relationships including:
development of conceptual ecosystem models based on appropriate mechanisms of
action that can be used to form the framework for diagnostic methods, tools and
models, and ultimately, a user-friendly decision support system for the States
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development of classification schemes that explain variation in the response of
individuals, populations, communities, and ecosystems at the habitat, water body,
watershed and regional scales and may be used to reduce the overall number of
impaired water bodies to a manageable number by grouping similar systems
2) Develop single-stressor diagnostic methods and models to determine the primary cause of
biological impairment of aquatic ecosystems
3) Develop methods and models to allocate causality among multiple stressors and/or to
diagnose interactions among them.
4) Develop methods and models capable of forecasting to evaluate the ecological benefits of
source reductions, to investigate stressor interactions, and to assess the gains and losses realized
by various alternatives for restoration and remediation
An ancillary objective is to provide to the Regions, States and Tribes tools with different levels
of accuracy and sophistication dependent upon the cost-benefit ratios of a given resource
decision. Tools for diagnosing both single-stressor impacts and multiple stressor interactions
are being piloted using regional case studies. These pilots will then be incorporated as example
applications into decision-support systems. Ultimately, the decision-support systems will be
linked to tools and models developed by ORD's National Risk Management Research
Laboratory (NRMRL; responsible for restoration research), forecasting not only future impacts
based on no action, but also the results of alternative remediation scenarios.
Approach and Recent Accomplishments
NHEERL's Aquatic Stressor Diagnostics research is based on a critical path with four steps to
accomplish its objective of development of methods and models to aid the States and Tribes for
identifying causes of impairment in water bodies. The relationship of the steps in the critical
path to each other and to the research of ORD's other laboratories (National Exposure Research
Laboratory (NERL) and NRMRL) is defined Figure 1. The steps in the critical path of research
are as follows:
Step 1. Develop a conceptual model and classification framework
This step includes development of conceptual models illustrating stressor-response
relationships for single and multiple stressors and development of appropriate classification
frameworks at the habitat, water body, watershed, and regional scales Development of
hierarchical classification frameworks involves determination of which types of habitats, water
bodies, watersheds, and regions are expected to behave similarly in response to a given level of
stressor(s) or loading(s). Thus, classification helps establish regional, watershed, or habitat-
specific criteria and the range across which model extrapolations (including empirical stressor-
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response relationships) are appropriate. At this stage, the nature of significant interactions
among stressors is also being defined based on the expected modes of action.
Step 2 Development of single-stressor methods and models
Methods and models for diagnosis of the predominant cause of impairment from single
stressors are needed. Significant input is required at this step from other Aquatic Stressors
research areas (described in later sections of this briefing book) including nutrients, suspended
and bedded sediments, habitat alteration and toxic chemicals. We are exploring characteristics
of environmental factors that influence stressor-response relationships that may be exploited as
diagnostically valuable. For example, measurement of acid volatile sulfides (AVS) may allow
us to catagonze habitats as susceptible to metal toxicity because AVS is a major environmental
factor that controls metal bioavailability
Step 3 Development of multiple-stressor methods and models
Methods and models for single stressors are combined and refined to diagnose multiple sources
of impairment The latter stage includes the development of tools both to allocate cause among
multiple additive stressors and to diagnose significant interactive effects among stressors
Ultimately these tools will be incorporated into a decision-support system.
Step 4 Develop forecasting approaches
This step builds upon the development of multi-stressor methods and models (Step 3) that
include forecasting techniques to project the response of aquatic ecosystems to load reductions
or watershed restoration activities into the future. Forecasting methods are particularly
important in protecting large, complex, unique resources (e.g., Great Lakes, Gulf of Mexico,
Chesapeake Bay) for which costs of restoration are large, interactions are involved, and lag
times between an event and the eventual system response must be taken into consideration.
Development of forecasting techniques also allows NHEERL to be proactive in defining
potential shifts in the causes of impairment, and to anticipate future threats to the environment.
Activities in this area are coordinated with NRMRL, ORD's Laboratory for restoration
research.
To complete the four steps describing this critical path of research, three explicit research
projects are being conducted by AED: (1) establish a conceptual framework to guide
implementation of diagnostics methods and models, (2) develop classification schemes across
habitat, water body, watershed and regional scales to provide a means for grouping similarly
impaired systems, and (3) perform case studies to develop and test methods and models for both
single and multiple stressor scenarios, assess the likelihood of multiple stressor interactions, and
establish the structure for a decision-support system. These projects are coordinated with
NHEERL's other ecology divisions to support the objectives of Aquatic Stressors Diagnostic
research.
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K orecasting
M u Iti-stressor
M eth od s+ M od els
Single-stressor
M ethods+M odels
>1
Conceptual/
C la ssifica tio n
TMDL
(NERL)
R estora tio n
(NRML)
Figure 1. Flow diagram of critical path for diagnostics research.
Project 1. Conceptual Model Development and Information Management Framework
The goal of this project is to support the problem formulation stage of a diagnostic assessment.
The main objective is to develop conceptual models describing the factors that control stressor-
response relationships with respect to diagnosis within ecosystems, including potential
interactions among multiple stressors across all scales relevant to setting a protective TMDL.
These conceptual models provide the basis for creating a national database on toxic and non-
toxic aquatic stressor-response relationships and for improving information management
systems in support of 303(d) assessment activities.
Conceptual model development focuses on the effects of habitat alteration, nutrients, suspended
and bedded sediments, and toxic chemicals on appropriate endpoints (i.e., individuals,
populations, communities, ecosystems) across spatial scales (habitats, water body, watershed,
region) relevant to setting a protective TMDL. This research is being performed in
coordination with NHEERL's Mid-Continent and Gulf Ecology Divisions. Priorities for
refining conceptual models for single and multiple stressors at the habitat scale are being
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established by examining the relative frequency of stressor X or stressor combination X, ,X;
with habitat type Y combinations in the Office of Water 303(d) listing database (USEPA 2001,
Imp /Avww cpa nov/owow/tmdl/trcksvs html). A determination of impairment may be
controlled by different factors as the scale of impact gets larger Therefore, conceptual models
examine the cross-scale interactions (habitat <=> water body <=> watershed <=>region) that
must be understood to determine the appropriate scale at which a protective TMDL must be
established In addition, interactions among predominant stressors are included as appropriate,
based on expected mechanisms of action Conceptual models are being developed through a
series of cross-divisional workshops and in consultation with EPA Offices and Regions.
To date, narrative conceptual models have been developed for four stressors We are working
towards establishing relationships that affect the behavior of these four stressors m different
systems This work has interfaced with the classification effort and resulted in models which
encompass both stressors and traditional classification schemes.
Protect 2 Classification Framework
Integrated hierarchical classification schemes are being developed at the scale of habitats, water
bodies, watersheds, and regions to identify systems that are expected to respond similarly to
aquatic stressors. For example, estuaries with longer retention times are more susceptible to the
effects of nutrient loading (Palter and Dettman 1999). The relative impact of suspended and
bedded sediments via sedimentation and physical habitat alteration versus turbidity also depend
on retention time. The effect of toxic chemicals can also be expected to vary systematically
depending on physico-chemical characteristics of water bodies and sediments such as organic
carbon, AVS, suspended solids and hardness (Hamelink et al. 1994, Bergman and Dorward-
King 1997).
The central question that must be answered to determine if a classification system will be useful
for diagnosis is, "does grouping of systems by class simplify the problem of determining the
cause of the observed ecological effects which are equated with an impaired condition of a
water body?" We are answering this question by developing classification systems that are
keyed to, or inclusive of, the different levels of a nested spatial hierarchy that proceeds as
follows: habitat, water body, watershed, and region. Some classification schemes already exist
for systems at each of these levels of organization (e.g., Cowardin et al. 1979, Omernik 1987,
McKee et al. 1992, Bnnson 1993, Maxwell et al. 1995, Fnssell et al. 1986, Rosgen 1996,
Detenbeck et al. 2000) To be useful in diagnoses, classification systems must be based on
differences in the spectrum of forcing functions that result in differences in the behavior of
systems among classes (e.g., fluvial versus lagoonal geomorphology of a water body). The key
to the viability of a classification system at any of these hierarchical levels is that the classes
identified behave differently under the influence of the stressor of concern. Classes are being
identified based on existing or new classification systems, and screening of the stressor-
response data at all four levels of organization will determine if research should proceed further
on a specific stressor/class combination
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Classification research is working towards the following goals
Identification of key factors (forcing functions) controlling sensitivity of response to
different classes of toxic and non-toxic (non-point source) stressors
Identification of key factors determining sensitivity of response across multiple
stressors to facilitate development of a comprehensive classification scheme rather
than multiple schemes.
Development of national and regional classification frameworks.
Coordination of opportunities for testing classification strategies in a systematic
fashion.
Existing classification frameworks and necessary elements of an integrated classification
strategy are being reviewed by a cross-NHEERL work group with representation from other
ORD Laboratories and Centers, other Federal agencies, EPA Program Offices, and non-
governmental organizations as appropriate. Each scheme is being assessed for its utility in
meeting diagnostic needs, and we are determining whether portions of different schemes can be
merged together to develop a useful classification scheme for all possible watershed stressors.
We are also developing strategies to test classification frameworks through regional case
studies (Project 3). These case studies are based on multiple-scale classification schemes, with
coordination across NHEERL to bring together appropriate areas of expertise In particular,
stressor-response relationships will be compared among regional/watershed/water body/habitat
classes.
Protect 3. Diagnostic Tool Development and Application throueh Regional Case Studies
Case studies are useful for developing and testing conceptual models, classification systems,
diagnostic tools and models, and stressor-response relationships. Furthermore, case studies
focused on specific places or issues of interest to the Agency provide an excellent mechanism to
address high priority environmental problems, including the development of TMDLs.
Diagnostic case studies provide a mechanism for developing, testing, and applying methods and
models for distinguishing among single aquatic stressors and allocating cause among multiple
stressors. The case studies are designed to incorporate the habitat, water body, watershed, and
regional spatial scales as well as the appropriate organismal, population, community, and
ecosystem levels of biological organization. Specific objectives of each case study are to:
Develop and validate diagnostic tools for single and multiple stressors.
Illustrate the application of diagnostic methods, tools and models for single and
multiple stressors (including forecasting models).
Provide input to regional decision-support systems.
Demonstrate how assessment results can be extrapolated across habitats, water
bodies, watersheds and regions.
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Illustrate how stressor-response relationships vary among different classes of systems
in a predictable fashion.
Develop forecasting models.
With these objectives in mind, Aquatic Stressors Diagnostic research case studies have been
selected based on the following critical attributes.
Sites have been selected from those already designated as impaired or threatened
based on the 305(b) or 303(d) reporting process, representing a range of degree of
impairment, a range of stressor combinations, multiple stressors with interaction
potential, and common stressor-resource class combinations
Sites have been selected to represent specific habitat-water body-watershed-regional
classes, such that results can be extrapolated using a regional or nationwide
classification system.
Coastal systems have been selected to include both watershed(s) and receiving
waters
Three of NHEERL's ecology divisions (AED, MED and GED) are conducting regionally-
focused case studies with methods and information management coordinated across case
studies. Initial AED research focuses on Narragansett Bay and potentially a neighboring
coastal system in Massachusetts. In this case study, we are applying a diagnostics approach
based on the Toxicity Identification Evaluation (TIE) process developed by NHEERL
(Norberg-King et al. 2001, Burgess et al. 1996, 2000, Burgess 2000, Ho et al. 1997, 2002) The
approach utilizes a screening step and then three phases: 1) Characterization, 2) Identification
and 3) Confirmation. In general, the approach begins by considering all possible stressors, then
through careful consideration of diagnostic evidence (including what stressors are present in
the impaired system), narrows down the search to likely causal stressors. In the
Characterization step, evidence of a stressor source, a stressor and an effect must be present In
the Identification phase, evidence linking the source to the stressor and the stressor to the effect
is developed. Finally, in the confirmation phase, evidence is sought to confirm the correctness
of the diagnosis. The approach includes guidance as to the patterns of evidence expected at
each phase and steps to take when certain patterns emerge. For example, after the
characterization phase, there may be evidence of a stressor and an effect, but no source.
Guidance recommends looking outside of the boundaries of the original site (cross-boundary
flow) to identify possible sources A structured walk-through of this approach is underway
using existing data from New Bedford Harbor (MA), and we have contributed this thinking in
development of the Stressor Identification Evaluation (SIE) guidance (USEPA, 2000b).
The relationship of the diagnostic Annual Performance Goals (APGs) to each other and to the
research of other ORD laboratories (NERL, NRMRL) is defined in the critical path diagram of
diagnostic research (Figure 1) Three APGs are associated with Aquatic Stressors Diagnostics
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research. Three NHEERL Divisions (AED, MED and GED) and contributing towards these
goals
APG 1 (FY03) Provide the scientific foundation and information management scheme for the
303(d) listing process including a classification framework for surface waters,
watersheds, and regions to guide problem formulation.
APM 1A (FY02) Conceptual framework for both single and multiple stressors including
a consideration of cross-scale issues.
APM IB (FY03) Classification frameworks for geographic regions and at the
watershed, water body and habitat scale
APG 2 (FY04) Provide first generation of diagnostics methods to distinguish among major
classes of single aquatic stressors and/or suggest causal mechanisms that contribute to
impairment of marine and freshwater systems.
APM 2A (FY03) Guidance on whole sediment TIE procedures.
APM 2B (FY04) Guidance on and user-friendly interfaces for derivation of diagnostic
indicators for individual stressors.
APG 3 (FY07) Provide EPA Regions and States decision support systems that enable diagnostic
assessments for listing impairments via 303(d) and for inferring cause of listed impairments
across multiple scales for freshwater and coastal systems.
APM 3 A (FY02) Case studies of multivariate approaches to community data analysis to
apportion cause among stressors.
APM 3B (FY04) Simulation of key stressor interactions with generic ecosystem models
using sensitivity analysis to define the range of stressors and stressor combinations
under which non-additive interactive effects will occur.
APM 3C (FY07) Decision-support system(s), including forecasting of future cause-
effect relationships.
Impacts of Research
Conceptual models provide frameworks for developing stressor-response relationships and an
information framework for organizing geospatial and toxicity data tailored to diagnostic
applications (e.g., methods and models) Development of the geospatial database support
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system is being coordinated with OW's Office of Science and Technology and their BASINS
modeling support system will serve as the integrative system. This provides State, Regional
and Tribal authorities with critical and essential tools, currently unavailable, for starting the
diagnosis process on an impairment problem. Ultimately, these information management tools
can be incorporated into decision-support systems
A classification framework provides Regional, State, and Tribal regulatory authorities a tool to
collapse the over 40,000 TMDLs into a more manageable number of similar units or water body
classes Defining water body classes allows creation of a TMDL template for remediating
impairments which could then be applied to all of the water bodies within the class with minor
adjustments. Classification frameworks also help to regionalize criteria development and
define thresholds for impairment. This improves the applicability of catena to specific sites or
classes of sites and lower the error rate in identifying impaired or threatened aquatic
ecosystems In particular, a watershed classification scheme within a regional framework helps
to integrate and coordinate the 303(d) listing process at the watershed scale
Case studies support diagnostic tool development and will produce the single stressor, multiple
stressor, and forecasting methods and models necessary to determine the causes of adverse
effects on intact water bodies. These case studies provide the basis for verifying the efficacy of
these diagnostic tools. Further, regional case studies provide the basis for development of the
guidance listed above, and allow diagnostic tools to be demonstrated to stakeholders in sites
where TMDLs need to be developed. These studies enable OW to understand how multiple
stressors, such as nutrients and toxic chemical loadings, affect important habitats separately and
in combination for several types of coastal ecosystems across the United States. We are
developing generic methods and models for specific stressor-ecosystem combinations so they
can be applied in other regions that contain similar stressor-ecosystem class combinations.
Classification schemes allow us to regionalize results and recommendations for TMDLs and
watershed restoration activities The scientific approach used here is also generic and could be
applied to develop similar relationships for the ecosystems and stressors that predominate in
any region
Remaining Needs
Aquatic Stressors Diagnostic research is in the early stages of a five year program. Key
informational gaps have been identified relating to nutrient effects in marine systems, and the
adverse impacts of clean suspended and bedded sediments on coastal wetlands and estuaries
Because these are significant stressors, attainment of Diagnostics research objectives will
require substantial input from the stressor-response research being conducted by the other
components of our Aquatic Stressors program (described later in this Briefing Book).
Significant collaboration with other federal programs (e.g., NOAA, Chesapeake Bay Program)
and academic institutions also will be required
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In addition, the lack of information about effects on biological communities in many
combinations of resource class and stressor will need to be addressed, as this is the level of
organization at which the States are assessing biological impairment in current monitoring
programs. We are assessing the freshwater approach for measuring condition, used by several
States, to increase our knowledge of effects at the community level. Diagnostic methods
development will be coordinated with EMAP condition assessments of watersheds and
development of appropriate exposure metrics to improve monitoring designs, as well as with
NERL to develop improved loading models for TMDLs that include components predicting
biological responses. In addition, classification frameworks and other tools developed here will
be coordinated with research on prioritization of watershed restoration activities, prediction of
recovery paths, and assessment of the success of remediation actions currently under way
within NRMRL NRMRL scientists have been and continued to be appraised of the progress of
our research. Expertise available at AED is being supplemented with expertise in watershed
classification and assessment through collaboration with other research groups (e.g., MED,
GED, USGS NAWQA, and Nature Conservancy programs).
References
(References cited in bold signify AED research products)
Bergman, H.L. and E J Dorward-King (eds.). 1997. Reassessment of metals criteria for aquatic
life protection. SETAC Press, Pensacola, FL
Brinson, M M. 1993. A hydrogeomorphic classification for wetlands Wetlands Research
Program Technical Report WRP-DE, U S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC
Burgess, R.M., K.T. Ho, G.E. Morrison, G. Chapman and D.L. Denton. 1996. Marine
toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) procedures manual: Phase I Guidance
Document. EPA 600/R-96/054, Office of Research and Development, Washington,
D.C.
Burgess, R.M., M.G. Cantwell, M.C. Pelletier, K.T. Ho, J.R. Serbst, H.F. Cook and A.
Kuhn. 2000. Development of a Toxicity Identification Evaluation (TIE) procedure
for characterizing metal toxicity in marine sediments. Environmental Toxicology
and Chemistry 19:982-991.
Burgess, R.M. 2000. Characterizing and identifying toxicants in marine waters: a review of
marine Toxicity Identification Evaluations (TIEs). International Journal of
Environment and Pollution 13:2-33.
Cowardin, L M., V. Carter, F.C. Golet and E.T. LaRoe. 1979. Classification of wetlands and
deepwater habitats of the United States. FWS/OBS-79/31, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service,
Washington, DC.
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Detenbeck, N.E., S L Batterman, V J Brady, J C Brazner, V M Snarski, D.M. Taylor, J.A.
Thompson and J W Arthur. 2000. A test of watershed classification systems for
ecological risk assessment Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 19 1174-81.
Fnssell, C A., W.J. Liss, C.E Warren and M.D Hurley 1986. A hierarchical framework for
stream habitat classification, viewing streams in a watershed context. Environmental
Management 10199-214
General Accounting Office 2002. Water quality: inconsistent state approaches complicate
nation's efforts to identify its most polluted waters GAO-02-186, Washington, DC.
Hamelink, J.L., P.F Landrum, H L Bergman and W.H. Benson (eds.). 1994 Bioavialability:
Physical, Chemical and Biological Interactions. Lewis Publishers, Ann Arbor, MI.
Ho, K.T., R.A. McKinney, A. Kuhn, M.C. Pelletier and R.M. Burgess. 1997. Identification
of acute toxicants in New Bedford Harbor sediments. Environmental Toxicology and
Chemistry 16:551-558.
Ho, K.T., R.M. Burgess, M.C. Pelletier, J.R. Serbst, S.A. Ryba, M.G. Cantwell, A. Kuhn
and P. Raczelowski. 2002. An overview of toxicant identification in sediments and
dredged materials. Marine Pollution Bulletin 44: 286-293.
Maxwell, J.R., C.J. Edwards, M.E. Jensen, S J. Paustian, H. Parott and D.M. Hill. 1995. A
hierarchical framework of aquatic ecological units in North America (Nearctic Zone)
Technical report ,USDA, Forest Service, NC
McK.ee, P.M., T.R. Batterson, T.E Dahl, V. Glooschenko, V. Jaworski, J.B. Pearce, C.N.
Raphael, T.H. Whillans and E T. LaRoe. 1992. Great Lakes aquatic habitat classification
based on wetland classification systems, Chapter 4. In: The Development of an Aquatic
Habitat Classification System for Lakes (W. Dieter, N Busch and P.G. Sly, eds.), CRC
Press, Ann Arbor, MI.
National Academy of Sciences. 2001. Assessing the TMDL approach to water quality
management. National Research Council, National Academy Press, Washington, DC.
Norberg-King, T., D. Mount, E. Durhan, G. Ankley, L. Burkhard, J. Amato, M. Lukasewycz,
M. Schubauer-Bengan and L. Anderson-Carnahan. 1991 Methods for aquatic Toxicity
Identification Evaluations- Phase I Toxicity Characterization Procedures, Second
Edition. EPA/600/6-91/003, Environmental Research Laboratory, Duluth, MN.
Omernik, J M 1987. Ecoregions of the conterminous United States. Ann. Assoc. Am. Geogr.
77:1 18-125.
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Palter, J.B. and E.H. Dettmann, E.H. 1999. The effects of nitrogen loading and freshwater
residence time on the estuarine ecosystem. 15th Biennial International Conference of
the Estuarine Research Federation, New Orleans, LA.
Rosgen, D.L. 1996 Applied river morphology Wildland Hydrology, Pargosa Springs, CO.
USEPA. 1998 Clean Water Action Plan: Restoring and Protecting Amenca's Waters. EPA
840-R-98-001, Office of Water, Washington, DC.
USEPA. 2000a. National water quality inventory: 1998 report to Congress. EPA-841-F-00-006,
Office of Water, Washington, DC.
USEPA. 2000b. Stressor identification guidance document EPA-822-B-00-025, Office of
Water and Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC.
USEPA. 2001 TMDL Tracking System, http //www cpa uov/owow/tmdl/ticksvs html
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Wildlife Research Strategy
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The Wildlife Research Strategy
Agency Problem
The mission of the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is to protect human health and
to safeguard the natural environment - air, water and land - upon which life depends. During
the past decade, concerns have been raised about EPA's ability to adequately assess and
compare risks to ecosystems, to protect and restore them and to track progress in terms of
ecological outcomes. Advanced ecological risk assessment knowledge bases and methods,
particularly with respect to the effects of anthropogenic stressors on populations of aquatic life
and wildlife, is a need for multiple Program Offices and Regional programs as reflected below.
Although immediate needs focus primarily upon the potential adverse effects of chemical
contaminants, the importance of effects associated with multiple types of stressors (e.g.,
chemical and habitat) is also recognized
The Office of Pesticides Programs (OPP) within the EPA Office of Pollution Prevention and
Toxic Substances (OPPTS) has responsibility for the pesticides registration process under the
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rotenticide Act (FIFRA). During the 1990s, OPP began
working to improve the implementation of the pesticides registration process by more explicitly
estimating the ecological risks (the probability and magnitude of adverse effects) of pesticides
in the environment. The Ecological Committee on FIFRA Risk Assessment Methods
(ECOFRAM) was established in 1997 to seek input from experts throughout government,
industry, academia, and non-governmental organizations on an improved risk assessment
methodology. The ultimate goal as stated by OPP management was to develop and validate risk
assessment tools and processes that address increasing levels of biological organization (e.g.,
individuals, populations, communities, ecosystems), accounting for direct and indirect effects
that pesticides may have. This goal has not yet been reached.
In addition to criteria for protection of aquatic organisms directly from toxic chemicals in water
and sediments, the Office of Water requires criteria that protect aquatic-dependent populations
of wildlife. Prototypical methodologies to assess risks of bioaccumulative chemicals to wildlife
were developed in 1995 through the Great Lakes Water Quality Initiative (USEPA 1995).
Wildlife criteria methodology, as well as numeric criteria for four specific pollutants (DDT,
2,3,7,8-TCDD, PCB, and mercury), were developed collaboratively by federal and state
scientists and risk assessors However, a draft Memorandum of Agreement between the Office
of Water, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and National Marine Fisheries Service
(Federal Register, January 7, 1999) calls for development of improved approaches for wildlife
criteria derivation, and requires EPA to explicitly address protection of threatened and
endangered species in implementation of the Clean Water Act. The draft Jeopardy Opinion for
the California Toxics Rules also requires the Office of Water to derive new wildlife criteria
(specifically for mercury and selenium)
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The 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments require the Office of Air to consider possible effects on
wildlife from airborne deposition of hazardous substances. Adverse effects from airborne
deposition of mercury is of special interest In the Agency's Mercury Report to Congress
(USEPA 1997), the approaches used in the Great Lakes Water Quality Initiative (USEPA 1995)
were adapted to assess risks to piscivorous birds and mammals Limitations in current
techniques and databases were noted. Of particular concern were the paucity of controlled
experiments on sensitive avian species and lifestages assessing the effects of mercury exposure
to wildlife and the relatively limited data available to support population level assessments.
The Office of Air is in the process of developing approaches to assess the significance of effects
from other hazardous air pollutants on wildlife and related ecosystem components
Finally, the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER - Superfund) program is
attempting to establish consistency in wildlife risk assessment approaches for organic
compounds and metals, with an emphasis on terrestrial ecosystems In the absence of a
cohesive approach to wildlife risk assessment, risk assessors render decisions impacting wildlife
based on variable assumptions regarding exposure and effects. Currently, an OSWER-
sponsored multi-stakeholder workgroup is attempting to develop scientifically sound screening
levels for chemicals in soils that would be protective of mammalian and avian wildlife
populations. The mammalian and avian benchmarks will be based on a hazard quotient method
derived from toxicity data for higher vertebrates and a generic food chain model. In addition to
generating discrete benchmark values, the workgroup is considering using methods to estimate
the likelihood of wildlife effects based upon probabilistic distributions of toxicity and exposure
data for some chemicals.
ORD/NHEERL/AED Research Approach
The Agency-wide problems described above have been translated into research goals through
the ORD multi-year planning process. The ORD Multi-Year Plans have identified the
following Long Term Goals (LTGs) for ecological effects research:
Problem Driven Research:
GPRA Goal 2 (Support for Office of Water)
Provide the approaches and methods to develop and apply criteria to support
designated uses.
GPRA Goal 4 (Support for Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxic Substances)
To create the scientific foundation for probabilistic risk assessment methods to
protect natural populations of birds, fish and other wildlife.
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Core Research'
GPRA Goal 8
Managers and researchers understand links between human activities, natural
changes, and ecological stressors and between multiple stressors and valued
resources at the appropriate level of ecological organization (e.g , species,
populations, communities).
NHEERL's ecological effects research is designed to contribute to the attainment of the LTGs
that support both the "problem driven" Program Office needs and the Core research program
that develops techniques and tools that are generally applicable across the Agency Programs.
Underlying each of the above LTGs is the need for improved techniques to develop stressor
response relations and extrapolate effects across species, levels of biological organization, and
landscapes.
There are two primary components to the NHEERL ecological effects research program, the
Wildlife Research Strategy and the Aquatic Stressors Framework. The Wildlife Research
Strategy describes a conceptual model for integrating NHEERL's ecological effects research
focusing on risks to populations of wildlife and aquatic populations. This strategy is described
below. The Aquatic Stressors Framework describes research to understand the relations
between key stressors of concern for EPA's Office of Water and ecological responses of fish,
shellfish, and aquatic-dependent wildlife and will be described later in this document.
The NHEERL Wildlife Research Strategy (WLS; NHEERL 2000) provides a conceptual model
for integrating wildlife toxicology, population biology, and landscape ecology to address the
critical research needs identified by the ORD multi-year planning process. The focus of the
research strategy is effects on wildlife, in particular birds, amphibians and mammals.
Historically, ORD's ecological research has dealt predominately with aquatic biota and, to a
lesser degree, terrestrial vegetation, as the basis for defining water and air quality criteria
authorized under the Clean Water and Clean Air Acts. The present focus on wildlife is
designed to build on approaches previously developed for aquatic biota. Tests of new models
and hypotheses will incorporate both wildlife and aquatic biota to ensure that the approaches
developed are robust across taxa and ecosystem types.
The assessment endpoint entity in this research is the population, that is, the abundance
(numbers, biomass) and long-term viability of a given species within a defined geographic area.
We recognized that other assessment endpoint entities (e.g., at the individual or community
level) may be appropriate for some wildlife nsk assessments. NHEERL research focuses on
population-level effects, however, because they represent ecologically and legislatively
important endpoints of concern as expressed, for example, in the Great Lakes Water Quality
Initiative (USEPA 1995) and the Endangered Species Act. While mortality or injury of
individuals (e g., malformations) may cause concern, a more important question ecologically is
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whether these individual losses affect population growth and viability. Community-level
effects, such as declines in species diversity or disruption of food webs, are important endpoints
as well, but are far less tangible from both scientific and management perspectives
Furthermore, information on population-level responses represents an important stepping stone
to improved understanding of community-level responses
EPA regulatory authorities deal most directly with limiting release of chemical stressors into the
environment. Wildlife populations also are impacted, however, by many other stressors
resulting directly or indirectly from human activities (e.g., habitat loss and alterations,
introduced species, harvesting pressures) The sensitivity of a population to a given
contaminant, as well as the ecological significance of a contaminant effect, are influenced by
these other stressors. Thus, an important aspect of this research strategy is to develop
approaches for assessing risks of contaminants within this broader context. This strategy deals
explicitly with the combined effects of contaminants and habitat alteration on wildlife
populations Other types of stressors (e g., introduced species, direct human disturbance) could
also be readily incorporated into the framework and models, but are not the subject of focused
attention in the near term.
It is well recognized that neither stressors nor wildlife populations are distributed uniformly
within the environment. The interplay between spatial and temporal heterogeneity in wildlife
population structure, and in spatial and temporal patterns of stressors can be an important factor
controlling the seventy of effects on wildlife populations (e g., Kareiva 1990; Turner et al.
1995; Hanski 1998). Thus, an important feature of the NHEERL research approach is
development of models that deal explicitly with the spatial distribution of population and
stressors over time. These models are being designed for application to real landscapes, by
interfacing with geographical information systems (GIS).
It is impractical for NHEERL to undertake an extensive empirical testing program for all
species, contaminants, and habitats, and therefore an extrapolation approach to fill gaps in
existing knowledge is being developed. Consequently, the research strategy reflects an
integration of strategic laboratory and field-based studies with mechanistic modeling.
Additionally, because of the scope of these research needs, emphasis is being placed on
fostering partnerships with external partners to collaborate on these research problems. To that
end, we are actively developing partnerships where appropriate with academic institutions,
other federal and state organizations and non-government organizations. Examples of these
critical partnerships will be described more fully in subsequent sections.
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HABITAT
UNIT A
HABITAT
UNIT B
PREY ABUNDANCE
HABITAT
UNIT C
PCS CONCENTRATION
Figure 1. Conceptual approach to wildlife risk assessment.
Figure 1 illustrates our conceptual approach for wildlife risk assessment. The first step of this
process involves spatial and temporal characterization of stressors, and in particular
contaminant exposure and habitat suitability that may adversely impact the assessment
population. Much of this information, especially data on contaminant exposures, is being
derived from appropriate monitoring and assessment studies and exposure studies (e.g., EMAP,
ORD's National Exposure Research Laboratory exposure modeling efforts, OPP's
Environmental Fate and Effects Division (EFED)). The second step uses stressor-response
relationships to translate stressor information into effects on reproduction and survival, the two
key demographic rates that determine population growth. NHEERL research supporting this
step includes development and quantification of the appropriate exposure-response and habitat-
response relationships at the individual level. The demographic rates from this second step in
turn drive population models in the third step, which generate outputs describing population
growth rate or other appropriate population-level endpoints (e.g., extinction probabilities).
Finally, these population measures are inserted back into the landscape in the last step to
determine habitat-specific population sources and sinks using spatially explicit modeling
platforms. Analysis of the cumulative population dynamics across the landscape would provide
estimates of wildlife risks from chemical exposure, habitat changes, introduced species, and
other forms of disturbance in the landscape.
Organization of Program
The conceptual framework outlined above provides the structure for organization of NHEERL's
Wildlife research and defines the three major research objectives of NHEERL's program:
1. Develop mechanistically-based approaches for extrapolating toxicological data
across wildlife species, media, and individual-level response endpoints.
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2.
Develop approaches for predicting population-level responses to stressors.
Identify the responses at the individual level that have the greatest influence on
population-level responses for a wide range of life-history types.
3. Develop approaches for evaluating relative risks from chemical and non-
chemical stressors on spatially structured wildlife populations across large areas
or regions.
Objectives 1-3 correspond to the last three steps, respectively, in the conceptual framework
presented in Figure 1. Objective 1 deals with development of individual-level exposure-
response relationships. We are not developing these relationships by substantially new
mammalian and avian toxicity testing, in part because such work can be achieved by
collaborating with existing facilities better suited for such efforts (e g., USGS Patuxent
Research Center) Rather, NHEERL research emphasizes approaches for extrapolating toxicity
data to a broader array of species, environmental media, and response endpoints (in particular,
the endpoints required as input to population response models). NHEERL's Mid-Continent
Ecology Division (MED) has taken the lead for this research objective.
Objective 2 addresses extrapolation from individual level responses up to the population level.
The development and application of population response models is the primary approach and
organizing structure for this objective. Modeling efforts are being supplemented with targeted
field and laboratory studies designed to evaluate model outputs, key assumptions and model
parameters, as well as potential population-level compensatory mechanisms. Analyses also are
being conducted to identify responses at the individual level that have the greatest influence on
population-level responses, to help prioritize future research under Objective 1. AED is
NHEERL's lead division for this objective.
Objective 3 introduces issues associated with the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of
populations and stressors, and extends the analyses under Objectives 1 and 2 to applications in
real landscapes Because different stressors tend to be distributed differently in the landscape, it
is under Objective 3 that we can most completely address the interactive effects of contaminants
and habitat alteration on wildlife populations. Models and analyses under Objective 3 are
designed both to assess risks from multiple stressors and to evaluate the relative effectiveness of
alternative management strategies. NHEERL's Western Ecology Division (WED) is leading
research to achieve this objective.
The following two sections in this briefing book describe AED's ecological effects research that
support development of scientifically sound wildlife risk assessment methods. Specifically, this
work is:
1. Population Modeling to Support Ecological Risk Assessment (GPRA Goals 4 and
8). AED's population modeling research - developing approaches for predicting
population-level responses to stressors, evaluating efficacy of modeling approaches and
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potential compensatory mechanisms The research described in this section supports
development of core methods for wildlife risk assessment, as well as OPP's need for
refined risk assessment methods focusing on populations
2 Wildlife Risk Assessment - Loon/Hg Demonstration Project (GPRA Goal 2).
Rather than focusing on one aspect of the conceptual model above, this demonstration
project is attempting to integrate research efforts across the 4 steps of the conceptual
model to develop tools to assess the relative risks of habitat alteration and chemical
exposure (Hg) for common loon, a high trophic level piscivorous bird. This work
directly addresses OW's need for a method to establish wildlife criteria.
References
(References cited in bold signify AED research products)
Hanski, I. 1998 Metapopulation dynamics. Nature 396(6706): 41-49.
Kareiva, P. 1990. Population dynamics in spatially complex environments theory and data
Phil Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B 330: 175-190
Kuhn, A., W.R. Munns, Jr., D. Champlin, R. McKinney, M. Tagliabue, J. Serbst and T.
Gleason. 2001. Evaluation of the efficacy of extrapolation population modeling to
predict the dynamics of Americamysis bahia populations in the laboratory.
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 20: 213-221.
Nacci, D., T. Gleason, R. Gutjahr-Gobell, M. Huber, and W.R. Munns, Jr. 2002. Effects of
environmental stressors on wildlife populations. In: Coastal and Estuarine Risk
Assessment: Risk on the Edge (M.C. Newman, M.H. Roberts, Jr., and R.C. Hale,
eds.), CRC Press/Lewis Publishers, New York, pp. 247-272.
NHEERL. 2000. Wildlife Research Strategy. U.S. EPA Office of Research and
Development, Research Triangle Park, NC.
Munns, W.R., Jr., T.R. Gleason, N. Clancy, A. Keller, and S. Poucher. 1995. Development
of population models for the risked based approach to criteria derivation. Prepared
for the U.S. EPA Office of Water Aquatic Life Criteria Guidelines Committee,
Office of Research and Development, Narragansett, RI.
Turner, M.G., R H. Gardner and R.V. O'Neill. 1995. Ecological dynamics at broad scales-
ecosystems and landscapes. Bioscience Supplement 1995. S-29 to S-35
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1995. Great Lakes Water Quality Initiative technical
support document for wildlife criteria. EPA-820-B-95-009, Office of Water,
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Washington, DC.
U.S. EPA 1997 Mercury Study Report to Congress. EPA-452/R-97-003, Office of Air Quality
Planning and Standards and Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC
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Population Modeling
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Population Modeling to Support Ecological Risk Assessment
(GPRA Goals 4 and 8)
Agency Problem
The mission of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is to protect human health and
safeguard the natural environment upon which life depends. Whereas human health protection is
focused primarily on individual humans and their health, ecological protection requires
consideration of diverse aquatic and wildlife populations to preserve the biological integrity of
ecosystems. This mandate requires scientifically sound, generalized approaches to evaluate and
predict population status and trends. It also requires an understanding of how anthropogenic
stressors affect populations, and the management strategies to restore those that are adversely
affected. Research to advance ecological risk assessment knowledge bases and methods,
particularly with respect to the effects of anthropogenic stressors on populations of aquatic life
and wildlife, is critical to strengthening the Agency's ability to assess ecological risks and weigh
risk management options in an objective and scientifically defensible manner.
These broad Agency needs are reflected in the specific problems faced by individual Program
Offices. For instance, the Office of Water (OW) requires criteria protective of populations of
aquatic species and aquatic-dependent wildlife. The Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response (OSWER) is beginning to recognize the need to establish consistency in wildlife risk
assessment approaches employed in remedial investigations of hazardous waste sites. Further,
the Office of Pesticides Programs (OPP) within EPA's Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxic
Substances (OPPTS) is leading the way in expanding ecological risk assessments to provide
probabilistic expressions of risk to fish and wildlife populations. OPP has responsibility for the
pesticide registration process under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rotenticide Act
(FIFRA). During the 1990s, OPP began working to refine implementation of the registration
process by more explicitly estimating the ecological risks of pesticides in the environment. To
support this refinement, the Ecological Committee on FEFRA Risk Assessment Methods
(ECOFRAM) was established in 1997 to provide input on appropriate risk assessment
methodologies from experts throughout government, industry, academia and non-governmental
organizations. ECOFRAM's recommendations helped OPP to identify a challenging goal to
develop and test risk assessment tools and approaches, supporting a tiered risk assessment
process, that address increasing levels of biological organization (e.g., individuals, populations,
communities, ecosystems). Additionally, the resulting methodology would account for both
direct and indirect ecological effects that pesticides might have in real pesticide applications and
landscapes. Although OPP has made progress in this direction, this goal has not yet been met.
NHEERL's research addresses the growing recognition across EPA of the need to assess effects
of anthropogenic stressors on populations of aquatic life and wildlife. The NHEERL Wildlife
Research Strategy (NHEERL 2000), described earlier in this Briefing Book, conveys a
conceptual model for assessing risks to wildlife (including populations of aquatic species), and
an approach for integrating NHEERL ecological effects research that can address this need. The
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goal of the Wildlife Research Strategy is to develop scientifically valid approaches for assessing
risks to wildlife populations from multiple stressors that can be used to solve multiple Agency
problems
Objectives of Research
AED's Population Modeling research is developing the tools and specific models to support
attainment of Long Term Goals (LTGs) in two of ORD's Multi-Year Plans (MYPs)- the draft
MYP for Safe Communities in support of OPPTS in GPRA Goal 4, and the Goal 8 MYP for
Ecosystem Research. Our efforts m this area are addressing specific problems faced by OPPTS,
and are developing a comprehensive basis for responding to a wide range of ecological risk
assessment issues as part of our core program
The Safe Communities MYP LTG "to create the scientific foundation for probabilistic risk
assessment methods to protect natural populations of birds, fish and other midlife" is the focus
for much of NHEERL's and AED's problem-driven ecological research in support of OPPTS.
Using the concepts developed in the Wildlife Research Strategy, NHEERL's Ecology Divisions
are developing the tools that will allow OPP to assess pesticide risks to non-target populations of
aquatic species and wildlife. In close consultation with OPP's Environmental Fate and Effects
Division (EFED), NHEERL has developed a demonstration project to build and test the
appropriate tools for a refined nsk assessment methodology. The demonstration focuses on the
potential adverse effects of typical agricultural pesticide application practices on non-target bird
populations Building on EFED's probabilistic exposure assessment methodology, our research
focuses on development and application of both spatially-independent and spatially-explicit
population models, and involves contrasting landuse and pesticide-use scenarios. AED has the
lead for developing spatially-independent bird population models as part of this demonstration.
AED is also supporting refinement of EFED's aquatic risk assessment methodology through
development and demonstration of spatially-independent population models for key invertebrate
and fish species. The objective of these two efforts is to provide the modeling tools and
information that will advance EFED's ability to assess the risks of pesticides to populations of
naturally occurring, non-target species.
AED is contributing to the attainment of Ecosystem Research (Goal 8) MYP LTG that
"managers and researchers understand links between human activities, natural changes, and
ecological stressors and between multiple stressors and valued resources at the appropriate
level of ecological organization (e.g, species, populations, communities)" by developing
approaches for modeling populations, evaluating model performance and examining potential
population-level compensatory mechanisms that confound model efficacy. Additionally,
catalogues of models for particular species and classes of life histories are being developed to
provide the information needed to solve a variety of ecological risk assessment problems in the
future. The overall objective of this research is build a capability for population nsk assessment
that will address a number of Agency problems.
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Approaches and Recent Accomplishments
AED's Population Modeling research is described below relative to three mam areas of activity,
development of refined risk assessment methods for pesticides in support of OPP EFED (Goal
4), development of core population risk assessment capabilities (Goal 8), and technical support
for population risk assessment (Goal 8).
Population Models for Refined Risk Assessment of Pesticides
Acting on the recommendations of ECOFRAM, EFED has begun development of refined risk
assessment methods for terrestrial and aquatic non-target species. To date, their efforts have
focused primarily on developing fairly rigorous probabilistic estimates (using Monte Carlo
simulation techniques) of agricultural pesticide exposure to birds through a number of terrestrial
exposure pathways, and to a lessor extent on aquatic invertebrates and fish through aquatic
pathways. In both cases (terrestrial and aquatic), biological effects have been simulated as
mortality of individuals, the prediction of which is based on estimated distributions of species'
(and life stages') sensitivities to a model pesticide and individual variation therein. The outputs
of these simulations, and therefore the estimates of risk themselves, are couched in terms of
individual mortality. AED's Population Modeling research is developing the species-specific
models that will permit these mortality outputs, in conjunction with predictions of effects on
reproduction, to be used to predict the population consequences of these exposure scenarios.
Several approaches for modeling populations have been developed by the population biology
community, including bioenergetics models (e.g., Hewett 1989), individual-based models (e.g.,
DeAngelis and Gross 1992) and matrix population models (e.g., Caswell 2001). To meet the
objectives of our pesticide risk assessment research, a modeling approach is needed that: 1)
integrates individual-level (i e., survivorship and fecundity) stressor-response data to project
population-level responses; 2) is compatible with the simulation approach developed by EFED,
3) is compatible with a spatially-explicit modeling framework to allow evaluation of different
scenarios of landuse and pesticide use; 4) provides a basis for estimating effects on species with
different life history strategies, and 5) is relatively easy for risk assessors and risk managers to
use in terms of application and interpretation. We have chosen to focus on developing matrix
population models to meet EFED's needs because they provide the best overall match with these
catena. Matrix models utilize basic demographic data, including age- or stage-specific survival
and reproduction, as input. This information has been published for many species, thus reducing
the need to conduct extensive studies to collect baseline data. Matrix models also provide a great
deal of flexibility because they can be developed with a range of complexity from very general to
highly detailed, making them appropriate for multiple levels of a tiered risk assessment approach.
For example, simple density-independent matrix models using literature-derived demographic
data can be used for screening-level risk assessments, while more complex models incorporating
stochastic processes and density-dependence can be developed for detailed, site-specific risk
assessments Finally, the demographic information required as input to matrix models is
compatible with the data typically generated by toxicity tests (mortality and reproduction) that
are required as part of the pesticide registration process.
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Over the past decade, AED's Population Modeling research has developed a number of matrix
models for aquatic invertebrate and fish species appropriate to OPP's refined risk assessment
goal. Many of these were developed in earlier support of OW's objective to enhance the
technical basis for derivation of aquatic life criteria (Munns et al. 1995). More recently, we
developed and evaluated (see Mitro 2001) the efficacy of matrix models for predicting
population responses to chemical exposure under controlled laboratory conditions. In this
research, AED used exposure-response data generated from standard mysid shrimp toxicity tests
as input to a model constructed to capture the temporal nature of data collection in the tests (i.e.,
daily measures of deaths and reproduction), and evaluated model predictions of long-term
population dynamics in a subsequent multi-generational study (> 3 generations) involving the
ubiquitous contaminant p-nonylphenol (Kuhn et al. 2000, 2001). This evaluation demonstrated
that the matrix model was able to predict within a few micrograms per liter the concentration at
which significant population-level effects would begin to occur (16 ng/L predicted by model
versus 19 ng/L measured in multi-generational assay). AED's Population Modeling effort has
also developed models for other aquatic invertebrate species used in toxicity testing (e.g.,
Gleason et al. 2000, Kuhn et al. 2002), and has used matrix models to understand population-
level effects of natural fish populations in the field (e.g., Munns et al. 1997).
In support of EFED's terrestrial risk assessment refinements, AED developed matrix models for
four bird species (selected in consultation with EFED) common to agricultural settings: Vesper
Sparrow, Horned Lark, Mourning Dove and Meadowlark. Using demographic information
available in the literature, this effort demonstrated parameterization of stochastic matrix models,
how species' population responses could vary with life history, and how the models in turn could
be used to identify data deficiencies that, if corrected, would improve the quality of population
risk assessments. For example, elasticity analyses and simulated perturbations to model
parameters illustrated that changes in adult survival effected greater (Mourning Dove) or about
equal (Vesper Sparrow, Homed Lark, and Meadowlark) changes in population growth rate as
compared to proportional changes in reproductive output and juvenile survival. Therefore, high
quality data describing pesticide effects on survival are as important as data for reproduction in
EFED's terrestrial risk assessment. This knowledge assists OPP in identifying the nature and
quality of information required of registration applicants as part of the pesticide data packages
they submit.
AED is also working with NHEERL's Western (WED) and Mid-Continent (MED) Ecology
Divisions to support development of spatially-explicit models to meet EFED's need to evaluate
realistic landuse scenarios of pesticide application. This effort utilizes PATCH, a cellular
automaton spatial model developed by WED (Schumaker 1998) and realistic landuse data to
simulate agricultural mosaics in landscapes typical of the Central US. The models for birds
described above will used to represent typical species utilizing these landscapes to estimate
pesticide risks to non-target avian species. Ultimately, PATCH and the associated population
models for birds will be linked explicitly to EFED's probabilistic modeling framework to
produce the next generation of refined risk assessment tools for pesticide registration.
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Development of Core Population Risk Assessment Capability
At the heart of NHEERL's Wildlife Research Strategy is the objective to develop approaches for
predicting population responses to multiple environmental stressors and to identify the responses
at the individual level that have the greatest influence on population responses for a wide range
of life-history types. AED's Population Modeling research is addressing this objective by
evaluating modeling approaches in a variety of risk assessment applications, identifying
individual and population compensatory mechanisms that might limit the usefulness of modeling
approaches. We are also evaluating how characteristics of species' life histories influence the
effects of exposure to stressors. Together with our efforts to facilitate availability of life history
data for wildlife species, the products of this research will support development of core
population risk assessment capability for addressing multiple Agency needs.
AED used laboratory and field-based studies to develop and evaluate a population model for an
estuarine fish species living in a highly contaminated environment and identified a compensatory
mechanism indicating the need for model refinement. Matrix population modeling was used to
estimate effects of dioxin-like compounds (DLCs) to populations of the mummichog, Fundulus
heteroclitus, resident at the New Bedford Harbor, MA Superfund site (Munns et al. 1997).
Population effects were modeled using demographic data obtained in short-term laboratory
studies as input. Model projections suggested relatively high risks to mummichog populations
subject to high DLC exposure, such those living near the highest sediment concentrations of
DLC in the Harbor. However, mummichogs appeared to be thriving in those areas, indicating
inadequacies m model construction or parameterization. Through an elegant series of laboratory
experimentation and field evaluations summarized in Nacci et al. (2002), adaptation of the aryl
hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor system (mechanistically linked to DLC effects) was suggested to
decrease CLC sensitivity of New Bedford Harbor mummichogs. This research highlights the
need to consider evolutionary and other compensatory mechanisms in developing approaches for
population risk assessment.
Ecological risk assessments often proceed in a tiered fashion (as reflected in OPP's pesticide risk
assessment approach described earlier), starting with screemng activities and proceeding through
to more definitive (realistic and site-specific) tiers if required. NHEERL's Wildlife Research
Strategy identifies the need for a range of methods and tools to support assessments at different
tiers in the assessment process. In addition to developing fairly sophisticated stochastic
modeling approaches, AED's Population Modeling research is exploring methods that can be
used to screen population response that are based on species' life history patterns Specifically,
we are developing an ordination scheme based on demographic elasticity analyses that groups
species according to the life history characteristics that have the greatest influence on population
growth rate, and therefore on population response to stressor. This approach builds from earlier
work by Heppell et al. (2000) and others. Our approach m this research has been to conduct
elasticity analyses of most species-specific models developed to date. Once a sufficiently-large
catalogue of species-specific models has been developed, we will use appropriate muhtvariate
statistical techniques to ordinate life history types. With understanding of a stressor's
mechanism of effect with respect to demographic parameters, this scheme should permit
screening-level predictions of the effects of that stressor on population response. We expect to
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develop an initial ordination scheme within the next three years.
A core capability for population risk assessment requires easy access to life history and
population trends data. AED has recently formed a cooperative research partnership with the
Cornell Laboratory for Ornithology (CLO), the lead organization for Partners in Flight which
serves as an umbrella organization for the Audubon Society and other private and public
conservation and environmental protection organizations. Entitled "Avian Risk Assessment for
Multiple Anthropogenic Stressors Through Citizen Science Monitoring of Bird Populations,"
this collaboration will facilitate access to bird population monitoring data sets generated through
"citizen scientist" activities and managed by CLO. These data can be used to develop population
models and realistic risk assessment scenarios, to evaluate the efficacy of population risk
assessments, and to identify emerging risk problems relative to bird populations in the Western
Hemisphere. The cooperative partnership also affords a mechanism for joint research to link
spatially-explicit bird abundance and environmental quality data to support development of new
methodologies for wildlife risk assessment.
Technical Support for Population Risk Assessment
Many environmental managers and ecological risk assessors lack practical knowledge of the
concepts, approaches and methods for assessing the effects of environmental stressors on
populations. Questions often asked concern how to extrapolate effects on individuals to the
responses of populations, what to measure to characterize effects on populations, how to make
such measurements for field-based populations, and how to interpret measured population
responses. Such questions were recently asked of ORD's Ecological Risk Assessment Support
Center (ERASC) by EPA Regional risk assessors and managers associated with Superfund and
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) site-specific investigations of hazardous
waste sites. AED responded to this request by developing a state-of-the-science white paper for
site-specific population risk assessment (Munns and Mitro 2002). The ERASC report provides
information that supports performance and interpretation of population-level risk assessments
conducted during the Superfund remedial investigation/feasibility study process. Focusing on
the evaluation of effects on populations (as opposed to issues of exposure assessment), the white
paper describes population-level endpoints, development and application of population models to
link effects on individuals to populations, and methods for measuring population responses in the
field. This product may become the basis of guidance to Superfund and RCRA for population
risk assessment.
A limiting factor in the development of population models for many wildlife species is the
paucity of published demographic information. This necessitates collecting or discovering
information, and using modeling techniques to derive best estimates for population parameters.
AED recently used these approaches in partnership with a local conservation organization, the
Barnngton (RI) Land Conservation Trust to complete a comprehensive analysis of a long-term
mark-recapture data set for a diamondback terrapin population in Narragansett Bay, RI. The data
set comprised 12 years of mark-recapture data for breeding females. Analyses of these data
yielded estimates of abundance, apparent survival rate, capture probability, seniority (the
probability that an animal m the population at time i was in the population at time *-1),
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recruitment, and population growth rate, and showed how these parameters changed over time.
A matrix population model was developed using these estimates and additional demographic
information from the literature. Apparent survival rates were high (about 95%) and recruitment
of breeding females was low and decreasing. Elasticity analyses indicated population growth
rate to be highly sensitive to proportional changes in survival versus reproduction. We used the
model to evaluate the management strategy of capping nests to improve reproductive success.
Model results indicated that this strategy could increase population growth, but that the
magnitude of increase was positively related to pre-reproductive survival, thereby negating nest
capping as a remedy for declining populations or ones with poor juvenile survival. This work
demonstrated the development of a population model for conservation purposes, highlighting: 1)
model development using a long-term data set, 2) evaluation of management options using the
population model; and 3) as illustrated throughout this Briefing Book, AED's partnership
strategy that integrates our analytical capability with talents of collaborators to solve
environmental problems.
AED is also supporting a Society of Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) "Pellston" workshop
to advance the science of population risk assessment. Entitled "Population-Level Ecological
Risk Assessment," this workshop will ask international experts in population modeling and risk
assessment from North America, Europe, and Asia to address four key issues:
Establishing ecological protection goals for populations
Empirical approaches for population-level assessment
Modeling approaches for population-level assessment
Risk management decision-making for protecting populations
In addition, the workshop will establish a framework for population-level ecological risk
assessment that integrates the workshop recommendations concerning all four of these issues.
Scheduled for summer of 2003, this workshop builds from an earlier Pellston workshop entitled
"Ecological Variability: Separating Natural form Anthropogenic Causes of Ecosystem
Impairment" (Baird and Burton 2001), which in part addressed extrapolation of organismal-level
effects to population response (Maltby et al. 2001). AED is represented on the Steering
Committee of the Population workshop and will chair one of its working groups.
Finally, AED has also provided training in population modeling to Office of Water personnel on
detail to AED. When population models are delivered to Program Offices, it is anticipated that
considerable technical support will be provided concerning the development and interpretation of
model results.
AED's progress towards attainment of LTGs supporting Goals 4 and 8 are measured by annual
performance goals (APG) and annual performance measures (APM). Our Population Modeling
research supports the following APGs and APMs addressed by NHEERL's Wildlife research
Strategy:
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GPRA Goal 4
APG 05 - ORD will develop improved methods and models to evaluate the impact of
environmental stressors on human health and ecological endpoints for use in guidelines, risk
assessments, and risk management strategies by 2002.
APM 150 - A report to demonstrate approaches in FEFRA ecological nsk assessment
methods by projecting the consequences of probabilistic risk estimates to bird populations
in various agricultural scenarios by 2002. (completed)
APG 19 - Develop improved tools and models to assess and predict human health and ecological
nsk from exposure to commercial chemicals and microorganisms by 2003.
APM - Literature based verification and performance evaluation of demographic
modeling approaches by 2003
GPRA Goal 8
APG - Deliver to Program Offices and Regional Offices data and models for understanding
national distribution of habitat and natural populations for spatially explicit ecological risk
assessments by 2005.
APM - Knowledge base of regional and national distributions and population trends for
North American bird species by 2005.
APG - Deliver to the Program Offices and Regional Offices life-history and other biological data
for estimating the effects of natural variation and habitat disturbance on the variability of natural
populations by 2007
APM - Demographic classifications for screening-level assessments by 2005.
APG - Deliver to Program Offices and Regional Offices an updated GIS with databases and
models for conducting spatially-explicit ecological risk assessments by 2008.
APM - Evaluation of the efficacy of population modeling approaches to assess risk from
multiple stressors from demonstration projects by 2007.
Impacts of Research
Through our efforts in the agricultural pesticides demonstration, AED's Population Modeling
research is supporting development of OPP's refined risk assessment methodology for pesticide
registration We are developing methods to link EFED's probabilistic exposure model outputs to
population models for bird species, and in doing so are helping to define the nature and quality of
data required by OPP in registration data packages. Similar support is being provided for aquatic
nsk assessment methods development. We are also supporting development of methods for
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evaluating realistic scenarios of landuse and pesticide use by providing population modeling
input to the spatial model developed by WED. This support is helping OPP to respond to the
recommendations of ECOFRAM and meet its ambitious goal of refined risk assessment for
pesticide registration This is an important first step towards achieving the Safe Communities
MYP LTG
Our Population Modeling research is also contributing to establishment of a core methodology
for wildlife nsk assessment that can be used to address multiple Agency needs. Development of
a catalogue of species-specific models, evaluation of model efficacy, identification of
compensatory mechanisms that can affect population responses to environmental stressors (and
therefore our ability to predict them), and development of tools for application at various levels
in a tiered risk assessment approach address many of the critical elements of need identified in
NHEERL's Wildlife Research Strategy. Facilitating access to high quality wildlife demographic
and population trends data will support specific application of the core methodology to address a
number of population nsk assessment problems the Agency faces. The population modeling
expertise we have developed over the past several years will continue to a source of advice and
technical support while this core methodology is bemg developed by ORD and NHEERL.
Remaining Needs
NHEERL's Wildlife Research Strategy outlines the objectives and future direction of research in
support of population risk assessment, including coordinated population biology and toxicology
research to improve predictions of population dynamics in spatially-explicit landscapes, and
research to advance techniques for assessing the relative risk of chemical and non-chemical
stressors on wildlife and other populations. AED's Population Modeling research will contribute
to these objectives through:
1. Continued support for OPP in development of refined nsk assessment methods for
pesticide registration. A technical challenge to be overcome in the near term is
interfacing EFED's probabilistic exposure procedures with population models to
create a seamless nsk assessment modeling package. AED is explonng options for
linking program codes or outputs to facilitate a solution to this challenge.
2. Continued exploration of both spatially-independent and spatially-explicit population
modeling approaches suitable for various risk assessment applications. Our past
research has focused primarily on matrix modeling formulations We will need to
develop a capability for other modeling approaches (e.g , individual-based models) to
evaluate which models are best used to address specific combinations of species life
history, exposure scenario, and risk problem. Additionally, our support of spatial
model development and application has been primanly limited to the PATCH cellular
automaton approach As described for the Loon/Hg Demonstration later in this
Bnefing Book, this approach may not be best suited for certain wildlife nsk
assessment problems. This suggests the need to explore alternative approaches for
spatial modeling.
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3. Integration of habitat-response relationships with chemical-response relations through
population models. As described for NHEERL's Aquatic Stressors research later in
the Briefing Book, habitat alteration is recognized as an important stressor for
populations of fish, shellfish and aquatic-dependent wildlife. NHEERL's Wildlife
Research Strategy acknowledges that our core population risk assessment
methodology needs to incorporate methods for evaluating the relative and absolute
risks of multiple stressors in the landscape. A key scientific challenge to
accomplishing this objective relates to the modeling approaches used to integrate the
effects of multiple stressors. AED's Population Modeling research will address this
challenge by evaluating different mathematical (perhaps based on mechanisms of
effect) and simulation approaches to integration.
The goals of the NHEERL's Wildlife Research program are ambitious and success in some areas
will depend on our ability to develop external partnerships to leverage expertise from other
Federal and State government scientists and managers, academic institutions, and non-
government organizations.
References
(References cited in bold signify AED research products)
Baird, D.J. and G.A. Burton, Jr. (eds.). 2001. Ecological variability: separating natural from
anthropogenic causes of ecosystem impairment. SETAC Press, Pensacola, FL.
Caswell, H. 2001. Matrix population models: construction, analysis, and interpretation, second
edition Sinauer, Sunderland, MA
DeAngelis, D.L. and L.J. Gross 1992. Individual-based models and approaches in ecology:
populations, communities, and ecosystems Chapman and Hall, NY.
Gleason, T.R., W.R. Munns, Jr. and D.E. Nacci. 2000. Projecting population-level response
of purple sea urchins to lead contamination for an estuarine ecological risk
assessment. Journal of Aquatic Ecosystem Stress and Recovery 7:177-185.
Heppell, S.S., H Caswell and L.B. Crowder. 2000. Life histories and elasticity patterns:
perturbation analysis for species with minimal demographic data. Ecology 81(3)654-665
Hewett, S.W. 1989. Ecological applications of bioenergetics models. American Fisheries Society
Symposium 6:113-120.
Kuhn, A., W.R. Munns, Jr., S. Poucher, D. Champlin and S. Lussier. 2000. Prediction of
population-level response from mysid toxicity test data using population modeling
techniques. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 19:2364-2371.
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Kuhn, A., W.R. Munns, Jr., D. Chaniplin, R. McKinney, M. Tagliabue, J. Serbst and T.
Gleason. 2001. Evaluation of the efficacy of extrapolation population modeling to
predict dynamics of Americamysis bahia populations in the laboratory.
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 20:213-221.
Kuhn, A., W.R. Munns, Jr., J. Serbst, P. Edwards, M.G. Cantwell, T. Gleason, M.C.
Pelletier and W. Berry. 2002. Evaluating the ecological significance of laboratory
response data to predict population-level effects for the estuarine amphipod
Ampelisca abdita. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 21:865-874.
Maltby, L, T.J. Kedwards, V.E. Forbes, K. Grasman, J.E. Kammenga, W.R. Munns, Jr.,
A.H. Ringwood, J.S. Weis and S.N. Wood. 2001. Linking individual-level responses
and population-level consequences. In: Ecological Variability: Separating Natural
from Anthropogenic Causes of Ecosystem Impairment (D.J. Baird and G.A. Burton,
Jr., eds.), SETAC Press, Pensacola, FL, pp. 27-82.
Mitro, M.G. 2001. Ecological model testing: verification, validation, or neither? Bulletin of
the Ecological Society of America 82:235-237.
Munns, W.M., Jr., D.E. Black, T.R. Gleason, K. Salomon, D.A. Bengtson, and R. Gutjahr-
Gobell. 1997. Evaluation of the effects of dioxin and PCBs on Fundulus heteroclitus
populations using a modeling approach. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
16:1074-1081.
Munns, W.R., Jr., T.R Gleason, N. Clancy, A. Keller and S. Poucher. 1995. Development
of population models for the risk based approach to criteria derivation: interim
report. Prepared for the Office of Water and Office of Research and Development,
Science Applications International Corporation, Narragansett, RI.
Munns, W.R., Jr. and M. Mitro. 2001. Assessing risks to populations at Superfund Sites -
characterizing effects on populations. Ecological Risk Assessment Support Center,
ERASC Request No. 6, Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati, OH.
Nacci, D.E., T.R. Gleason, R. Gutjahr-Gobell, M. Huber and W.R. Munns, Jr. 2002. Effects
of chronic stress on wildlife populations: a population modeling approach and case
study. In: Coastal and estuarine risk assessment (M.C. Newman, M. H. Roberts, Jr.
and R.C. Hale, eds.), Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, FL.
NHEERL. 2000. Wildlife Research Strategy. Office of Research and Development,
Research Triangle Park, NC.
Schumaker, N.H. 1998. A users guide to the PATCH model. EPA/600/R-98/135, Office of
Research and Development, Corvalhs, OR.
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Loon/Hg
Demonstration
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WILDLIFE RISK ASSESSMENT - LOON/HG DEMONSTRATION
PROJECT (GPRA Goal 2)
Agency Problem
The Clean Water Act (CWA) provides the legislative mandate under which the Office of Water
(OW) is charged with restoring and maintaining the chemical, physical, and biological integrity
of the Nation's waters. To fulfill this mandate, EPA has established under Government
Performance and Results Act (GPRA) Goal 2, sub-objective 2.2 3, requirements for developing
ecological criteria that protect use designations for the Nation's aquatic resources. NHEERL
developed its Aquatic Stressors research (described later in this briefing book) to provide
scientific support for OW to address this need with respect to criteria development for aquatic
species and aquatic-dependent wildlife (US EPA 2002), Much of this research focuses on
specific categories of aquatic stressors that have been recognized for their potential and actual
impacts on aquatic ecosystems (e.g., US EPA 1998, NOAA 1999, US EPA 2000a). Two of
these high priority stressors are toxic chemicals and critical habitat alteration.
Historically, minimizing the risks of chemical contaminants to aquatic and aquatic-dependent
wildlife populations has been an important goal for EPA, and OW, with support from ORD,
developed Water Quality Criteria (WQC) to be protective of adverse effects to aquatic organisms
(e.g, US EPA 1991,1994,1995). These chemical-specific criteria have had an enormous impact
on the Agency's ability to manage toxic chemical inputs to aquatic systems. However, the
procedures used to develop WQC are based on simplifying assumptions and a relatively narrow
framework that limit their use in fully assessing the risks of a wide range of toxic chemicals to
both aquatic life and aquatic-dependent wildlife (US EPA 2002). In recognition of some of these
limitations, OW, again with the support of ORD, developed prototypical methodologies to assess
risks of persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) chemicals to wildlife through the Great
Lakes Water Quality Initiative (US EPA 1995). These efforts advanced specific aspects of
wildlife risk assessment considerably, and this approach was adapted to assess risks to
piscivorous birds and mammals in the Agency's Mercury Report to Congress (US EPA 1997).
However, mercury (Hg) contamination remains a high priority issue for OW, other EPA Program
Offices, Regions, and States and Tribes because of widespread atmospheric deposition and
concerns of accumulation through aquatic food webs of the extremely toxic methylmercury
(CH3Hg). In addition, the draft Jeopardy Opinion for the California Toxics Rules also requires
the Office of Water to derive new wildlife criteria, specifically for Hg and selenium.
Whereas environmental protection of the Nation's waters over the last several decades has
focused on the effects of single chemical contaminants, the mandates of the Clean Water Act
dictate the need to address stressors other than chemicals, and employ approaches that reflect
greater environmental complexity. To meet this goal, EPA has recognized the need to enhance
understanding of the ecological effects of habitat alteration, and how co-occumng anthropogenic
stressors and natural factors may affect habitat quality (US EPA 2002). Of specific concern to
OW is that alteration of critical habitats threatens the persistence of populations of aquatic
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species and aquatic-dependent wildlife. In addition, EPA is being asked increasingly to
participate in interagency species protection and conservation efforts where the importance of
habitat issues have been long been recognized. For example, a draft Memorandum of Agreement
between OW, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Marine Fisheries Service
(Federal Register, January 7, 1999) calls for development of improved approaches for wildlife
criteria derivation and requires EPA to address explicitly protection of threatened and
endangered species in implementation of the Clean Water Act. In fact, 'habitat-based'
approaches, e.g., habitat suitability models typically used for wildlife conservation purposes,
provide a framework for assessing effects of multiple, co-occurring environmental factors.
However, the utility and accuracy of this approach in an environmental protection context
requires further evaluation.
Thus, there are defined needs for research to provide methods, models, and data to address
concerns related to toxic chemicals and habitat alteration in the context of wildlife risk
assessment and criteria development This need has resulted in the development of NHEERL's
Wildlife Research Strategy (NHEERL 2000a). Key research needs, identified through EPA
Science Advisory Board consultations and other EPA peer-reviews, that are addressed in the
Strategy include improved capabilities for cross-species extrapolation, prediction of population
dynamics in spatially-explicit habitats, assessment of the relative risk of chemical and non-
chemical stressors and definition of appropriate spatial scales for wildlife risk assessments. The
advancement of science in these areas requires approaches that integrate theory and practice from
scientific disciplines ranging from chemistry, toxicology, pathology, population biology and
spatial ecology.
The ecological research described in this section reflects application of NHEERL's wildlife risk
assessment research approaches within the framework of NHEERL's Aquatic Stressors research
program to support the wildlife criteria development needs of OW. Specifically, methods and
approaches are being developed to assess the effects of Hg and habitat alteration on populations
of aquatic-dependent wildlife. Because Hg bioaccumulates in the aquatic food web, this project
focuses on the risks of CH3Hg to a top level predator, the common loon (Gavia immer).
Although there is evidence of reduced productivity in some piscivorous birds and widespread
reports of Hg in wildlife tissues at concentrations exceeding levels associated with adverse
effects in controlled studies, it is unclear what impact Hg has on the viability of populations of
piscivorous wildlife (US EPA 1997). In addition to the effects of Hg, other effects of broad-
ranging industrial pollution (i.e., acidification), point source contamination and land-use changes
have altered biotic and abiotic characteristics of habitats that support loons and other wildlife
species. Thus, this project was developed to address the need to improve characterization of the
effects of this toxic chemicals and altered critical habitat to wildlife populations, but also to
identify the effects of interactions among stressors, and quantify the relative risks among
potential stressors to populations of wildlife species at various spatial scales. Focus on the
common loon to develop and demonstrate wildlife risk assessment methods necessitates
collaborations with local and national avian conservation organizations that have invaluable
expertise and an abundance of information on this charismatic, wild bird.
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Objectives of the Research
This project has been developed as a demonstration and evaluation of the utility of the research
approaches described in NHEERL's Wildlife Research Strategy and Aquatic Stressors
Framework to support attainment of ORD's Water Quality Multi-Year Plan long term goal to
"provide the approaches and methods to develop and apply criteria to support designated uses."
This specific project was identified as the demonstration because it involved minimal data
collection activities and addressed a problem of immediate concern (risks of Hg) to the Agency.
The overall objective of this demonstration project is to develop the tools and approaches for
assessing the risks of multiple stressors to populations of piscivorous wildlife, leading to the
development of risk-based criteria. The research attempts to make advances in key research
areas through demonstration and evaluation of the tools necessary to conduct an assessment of
the risks of PBTs (i.e., Hg) and habitat alteration to populations of piscivorous birds in
northeastern U.S. and Canada. In the process of developing the approach and tools for
conducting the risk assessment, we will also develop a framework for establishing wildlife
criteria using piscivorous birds and Hg as the example. Another component of this project
involves assessment of the interactive effects of landscape-level habitat alteration and Hg on
loons. Therefore, research issues regarding habitat alteration, including evaluating the spatial
configuration of loon habitat and Hg impacts in the landscape mosaic, and the issue of scaling up
from local to regional impact assessments will constitute a significant component of this project.
Three specific major research objectives are
Development of a mechanistically-based approach for extrapolating Hg
toxicological data across wildlife species.
Development of approaches for predicting population-level responses of common
loons and other avian species, to stressors including Hg exposure and habitat
alteration, and identification of responses at the individual level that have the
greatest influence on population-level responses.
Development of approaches for evaluating the absolute and relative risks from Hg
exposure, habitat alteration, and other environmental factors on (spatially
structured) common loon populations of northeastern US and Canada at varying
scales ranging up to watershed and biogeographic region.
Approaches and Recent Accomplishments
The Loon/Hg Demonstration Project is being conducted as six interdependent research activities,
which collectively represent the critical path of research needed to meet the objectives above
Research conducted within each activity is designed to contribute towards the advancement of
ecological risk assessment in both general and specific ways. However, this project is also
designed to demonstrate a risk assessment methodology which connects information from each
activity through important feedback loops. The level of refinement needed in the models and
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data acquired is a function of the degree of uncertainty acceptable for setting criteria. Therefore,
the application of tools will explicitly consider the availability and quality of data for various
tiers (screening to definitive) of risk assessment.
The first activity involves acquisition and organization of data that provides the basis for
predicting effects of Hg and habitat alteration on aquatic-dependent piscivorous wildlife species.
Data on the spatial and temporal distribution of environmental characteristics, including natural
and anthropogenic factors associated with potential loon habitat, are being acquired and
organized using a geographic information system. These data are obtained through national
programs such as ORD's Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP), as well
as regional and state-sponsored environmental monitoring programs Spatially-explicit data on
the abundance and distribution of loons is being acquired from government environmental
agencies and through collaborations with avian conservation groups. To facilitate this, AED
sponsored two workshops over the past two years An initial expert symposium in 2000 was
attended by internationally-recognized experts who provided state-of-the-science information on
various aspects of loon biology and Hg effects. Six invited speakers, including representatives
from academia, private industry, and US, State and Canadian governments, provided focused
presentations on subjects that ranged from molecular- to landscape-scale effects of environmental
Hg contamination. The following year, AED convened a multi-divisional workshop focused on
development of a data management system for the assembly and analysis of existing data. This
system is modeled after the highly successful EMAP data management approach developed and
maintained at AED. In addition to NHEERL scientists, participants (about 40) included
representatives from USGS, the Canadian Wildlife Service, New York and New England state
departments of environmental protection, management, and conservation, Tufts University
School of Veterinary Medicine, and private loon conservation groups from New England and
New York. This workshop highlighted some of the risk assessment tools under development at
AED and demonstrated their application to the Loon/Hg project and other conservation issues.
In addition, the workshop provided an opportunity to begin addressing issues related to data
sharing amongst the various organizations represented. The outcome of this workshop was the
development of collaborations and agreements for data sharing that have enhanced project
development. These two workshops also supported the other remaining five activities of the
Loon/Hg Demonstration.
Also supporting this activity is the development of a cooperative research agreement between
AED and the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology (CLO), the lead organization for Partners in
Flight, which serves as an umbrella organization for the Audubon Society and other private and
public conservation and environmental protection organizations. Entitled "Avian Risk
Assessment for Multiple Anthropogenic Stressors Through Citizen Science Monitoring of Bird
Populations," this collaboration will provide a mechanism for NHEERL and CLO scientists to
compare and contrast current risk assessment methodologies, and develop new methodologies
that take advantage of avian monitoring data sets, generated through "citizen scientist" activities,
and currently managed by CLO. Generally, cooperative research projects with academic and
other scientific institutions which complement the objectives of the EPA ensure that the Agency
supports the highest quality peer-reviewed environmental science. More specifically, Cornell's
leadership role at the center of the science of bird conservation in North America will provide the
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best opportunity for NHEERL to extend support into new areas of research related to aquatic-
dependent and terrestrial bird species for the principle purpose of the general advancement of
wildlife risk assessment.
The second research activity is designed to improve current understanding of relationships
between aquatic Hg, environmental factors and Hg bioaccumulation in species at higher trophic
levels. Currently focusing on top-level aquatic and aquatic-dependent predators, it supports
future development of predictive relationships between environmental and tissue Hg
concentrations for common loons and other piscivorous birds. Such relationships will provide a
mechanism to link changes in atmospheric Hg deposition to predictions of ecological effects.
Within this activity, data are being gathered and used to develop predictive relationships for Hg
concentrations in several species of freshwater fish and some of their predators (e g., mink,
snapping turtles, and some birds). These relationships are based on measurements of Hg
concentrations and stable isotopic data in tissues, and site-specific environmental information,
including water chemistry, land use, and selected physical factors. Currently, this research is
being conducted in several freshwater lakes in southern New England.
In the third activity, CH3Hg dose-response relationships are being developed for important
demographic endpoints, including stage-specific survival and fecundity rates, for common loon.
Relationships are being developed empirically from field data and generated in laboratory tests
based on representative exposure scenarios. Where data are available, these relationships are
developed based on responses of caged and wild loons. Additional dose-response information is
being extrapolated from controlled exposures of a surrogate test species, the American kestrel
(Falco sparverius), conducted through a cooperative agreement with the USGS Patuxent
Wildlife Center. A primary goal of this effort is to develop a physiologically-based toxicokinetic
(PBTK) model for CH3Hg in kestrels that can be used to extrapolate effects information from
kestrels to other avian species, including loons, on the basis of CH3Hg concentrations in selected
tissues. This research is being conducted primarily by NHEERL's Mid-Continent Ecology
Division (MED).
The fourth activity also focuses on CH3Hg effects on individual birds. Specifically, pathological
analysis is being conducted using tissues from the Patuxent caged kestrel studies. Analysis of
pathological endpoints of Hg intoxication from these controlled studies are being used to
diagnose Hg intoxication in wild birds, and serves as a basis for predicting Hg sensitivity in
diverse avian species. In addition, avian pathology records of the Tufts University School of
Veterinary Medicine are being organized and analyzed to evaluate the relative role of Hg and
spatio-temporal trends in the morbidity and mortality of loons and other avian species.
In the fifth activity, population models are being developed using empirical data on loons
indigenous to different geographic areas and subject to varying levels of Hg exposure.
Population models predictive of Hg effects on wild loons have been developed using Hg stressor-
response relationships for demographically important endpoints (developed in the third activity
of this project). In addition to population modeling, this activity includes application and
development of molecular genetic techniques to define and assess the condition of loon
populations within the assessment area This work is occurring through a collaboration between
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AED and the Molecular Ecology Research Branch within ORD's National Exposure Research
Laboratory's (NERL) Ecological Exposure Research Division. This collaboration has resulted in
the development of molecular genetic markers for common loons (and other avian species) and
has provided a training opportunity for an AED NRC postdoctoral fellow.
The sixth and final activity involves integration of information in a spatial context. Specifically,
loon-specific habitat suitability models are being developed that provide an approach to assess
the relative importance of natural and anthropogenic features in defining and predicting loon
distribution and abundance, using information accessible through the first activity of this project.
In addition, spatially-explicit population modeling approaches are being applied to describe and
predict population dynamics across heterogeneous landscapes where variable stressor levels and
habitat quality influence the distribution of populations. Ultimately, these models will be applied
at differing spatial scales as an approach to characterize the relative risk of stressor effects as a
function of spatial scale of assessment. Our intention is to use data and information obtained in
New England and southeastern Canada in the developmental stages of this research. Ultimately,
evaluation of the methods and approaches will be made by applying them to loon populations in
the north central portion of the US (i.e., the Great Lakes).
Impacts of Research
The final planning phase for this project has just recently concluded, and initial research
activities have been underway for approximately one year. Preliminary habitat suitability
relationships and population models have been developed that provide the bases for guiding
much for the research in activities of the project. A prototype data management system is being
populated to support specific development and assessment needs. Substantial data also have
been collected that address Hg concentrations in top-level consumers in lakes from southern New
England.
While the full benefits of this research have yet to be realized, this project is designed ultimately
to provide the Agency, States, and other environmental protection and conservation
organizations with scientifically defensible methods to enhance ecological risk assessment and
wildlife criteria derivations. These methods, identified in the Aquatic Stressors Implementation
Plan as critical steps to achieve this ultimate goal, will improve characterization of risks to
individuals (including those from species of special concern), extrapolation of population level
effects from individual-level data, and evaluation of risks to wildlife populations at various
spatial scales of stressors, including toxic chemicals, in the context of other stressors. Several
specific products developed within this project are described as annual performance goals
(APGs) and measures (APMs), and provide specific support to GPRA Goal 2.2.3, Long Term
Goal 1 (Table 1).
In addition to supporting OW needs directly, the research conducted within this project will help
to address the science-based problems of other Program Offices with respect to ecological risk
assessment. Specifically, this research will improve the ability of managers and researchers to
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Table 1. AED research products for the Loon/Hg Demonstration Project in
support of GPRA GOAL 2.2.3 Long Term Goal 1.
ANNUAL PERFORMANCE GOALS (APGs) AND
MEASURES (APMs)
YEAR
APG - Provide models for linking habitat alteration stressors and
mercury to the regional problems of Northeast Loons.
2003
APM
Habitat suitability indices to support population models
for projecting relative nsks of multiple stressors
including toxic chemicals and habitat alteration to
common loons
2003
APG - Provide methods for developing water quality criteria
based on characterization of population-level risks of toxic
chemicals to aquatic life and aquatic-dependent wildlife
2005
APM
Population models that project the relative nsks of
multiple stressors (toxics, habitat alterations) to
piscivorous birds
2004
APG - Provide methods for extrapolating chemical toxicity data
across exposure conditions and across endpoints, lifestages, and
species which can support assessment of nsks to aquatic life and
aquatic-dependent wildlife for chemicals with limited data
2006
APG - Provide approaches for evaluating the relative and
cumulative risks from toxic chemicals, with respect to risks from
nonchemical stressors, on populations of aquatic life and aquatic-
dependent wildlife at various spatial scales.
2008
APM
Approaches for addressing spatial scale issues in
assessing nsks of multiple stressors to wildlife
populations in spatially-diverse landscapes
2006
understand links between human activities, natural changes, and ecological stressors, and
between multiple stressors and valued resources at the appropriate level of ecological
organization (a long term goal for Diagnosis and Forecasting in GPRA Goal 8). For example,
through our cooperative research with the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, we are beginning
development of a knowledge base of regional and national distributions and population trends for
North American bird species (a Goal 8 APM for 2005), that will support delivery to Program
Offices and Regional Offices of data and models for understanding the national distribution of
habitat and natural populations for spatially explicit ecological risk assessments. In addition,
through our evaluation of the efficacy of population modeling approaches to assess risk from
multiple stressors (a Goal 8 APM for 2007), we will provide tools for environmental managers in
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Program and Regional Offices to diagnose present conditions that support decision making.
Remaining Needs
This is an ambitious project and given its early stage of implementation, many technical
challenges remam. Notable among these are:
Institution of data management, quality assurance and quality control procedures
to facilitate development of accessible databases directly supporting the Loon/Hg
demonstration and describing status and trends for avian species through the
cooperative agreement with the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. Strategic
partnerships with other government and non-government organizations will
support this need, as well as provide access to essential data. Close coordination
with EMAP data management activities is also required.
Development of appropriate stressor-response relationships relating Hg exposure
to biological effects, and habitat suitability as it affects key demographic rates.
Methods also are needed to combine stressor-response relationships involving
different stressors in biologically realistic ways.
Refinement of GIS-based spatial modeling methods taking loon life history and
ecology into account. We currently have cellular automaton models (Schumaker
1998) that divide landscapes into cells through which individual organisms move,
but this approach may not describe loon (and other) life history adequately. Other
modeling approaches may need to be explored in this regard.
References
(References cited in bold signify AED research products)
NHEERL. 2000a. Wildlife Research Strategy. Office of Research and Development,
Research Triangle Park, NC.
NHEERL. 2002b. Aquatic Stressors: Framework and Implementation Plan for Effects
Research. Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, NC.
NOAA. 1999. National estuanne eutrophication assessment: a summary of conditions, historical
trends, and future outlook. Draft. National Ocean Service, Silver Spring, MD.
Schumaker, N.H. 1998. A users guide to the PATCH model. EPA/600/R-98/135, Office of
Research and Development, Corvallis, OR.
US EPA. 1991. Technical support document for water quality-based control. EPA/505/2-90-001,
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Office of Water, Washington, DC.
US EPA. 1992. Framework for ecological risk assessment. EPA/630/R-92/001, Risk Assessment
Forum, Washington, DC.
US EPA. 1994. Interim guidance on determination and use of water-effect ratios for metals. EPA
823-B-94-001, Office of Water, Washington, DC.
US EPA. 1995. Great Lakes Water Quality Initiative technical support document for wildlife
criteria. EPA-820-B-95-009, Office of Water, Washington, DC.
US EPA. 1997. Mercury Study Report to Congress. EPA-452/R-97-003, Office of Air Quality
Planning and Standards and Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC.
US EPA. 1998. Water quality criteria and standards plan - priorities for the future. EPA 822-R-
98-003, Office of Water, Washington, DC.
US EPA. 1998b. Guidelines for ecological risk assessment. EPA/630/R-95/002F. Risk
Assessment Forum, Washington, DC.
US EPA. 2000. OW/ORD Strategic Planning Research Coordination workshop document,
version 2.
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Framework for Assessing
Effects of Aquatic
Stressors
mmM
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Framework for Assessing Effects of Aquatic Stressors
Agency Problem
EPA's Office of Water (OW) has primary regulatory responsibility for protecting the ecological
integrity of the Nation's aquatic resources and ecosystems. Three elements provide the
regulatory context for this responsibility First, the Clean Water Act (CWA) provides the
legislative mandate to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the
Nation's waters. Second, the Administration's Clean Water Action Plan (CWAP; U S EPA
1998a) establishes key actions focused on watershed, wetland, and stream corridor protection and
restoration; nutrient assessment and catena development; and development of a contaminated
sediment strategy. Finally, to fulfill this mandate, EPA has established under GPRA Goal 2,
requirements for developing ecological criteria that protect use designations for the Nation's
aquatic resources. To accomplish its mission, OW requires the knowledge bases and methods to
assess the ecological risks of aquatic stressors. The immediate need is to develop and improve
ecological criteria and diagnostic capabilities for managers to help them meet the designated uses
of water bodies, and to develop options for protection and remediation efforts.
The common management goal for all aquatic ecosystems is to maintain ecological integrity by
protecting these systems against degradation of habitat, loss of ecosystem functions and services,
and reduced biodiversity To this end, environmental managers must be able to: 1) assess the
condition of an aquatic resource and determine its degree of impairment, 2) diagnose the causes
of impairment if observed, 3) forecast the effects of changes in stressor levels, and 4) develop
and implement remediation and maintenance strategies. To accomplish these, managers must be
able to characterize aquatic systems, knowing the appropriate reference conditions against which
to compare their assessments, have the diagnostic tools necessary to ascertain causes, and
understand specific aquatic systems well enough to forecast the effectiveness of potential
remediation efforts. The information, methods, and tools needed by the Agency, States, and
Tribes to conduct these activities are incompletely developed with respect to many of the
Nation's aquatic resources.
ORD/NHEERL/AED Research Approach
In response to these needs, ORD's Multi-Year Plan for Water Quality has established two long
term goals (LTG): 1) "Provide the approaches and methods to develop and apply criteria to
support designated uses," and 2) "Provide the tools to assess and diagnose impairment in aquatic
systems and the sources of the associated stressors " NHEERL has organized its aquatic
stressors research within an interdivisional framework to support attainment of these goals.
Working closely with the OW and the Regions, NHEERL developed the multidivisional Aquatic
Stressors Framework and Implementation Plan for Effects Research (NHEERL 2002). The
purpose of this framework is to focus NHEERL's stressor-effects research on the specific
research needs for criteria development and diagnostic capability, and to provide an effective
mechanism for interdivisional collaboration.
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Consistent with recent scientific consensus of their potential to cause adverse ecological effects
on aquatic ecosystems (NRC 1993, Naiman et al. 1995, Vitousek et al. 1997, U.S. EPA 1998b,
2000a, NOAA 1999), NHEERL's Aquatic Stressors research focuses on the effects of the habitat
alteration, nutrients, suspended and bedded sediments, and toxic chemicals These stressors are
cited most often in failures of aquatic resources to meet their designated uses, and States and
Tribes commonly report these stressors in their 303(d) lists of impaired waters under the Clean
Water Act However, the methods used to assign causation are inconsistent at best. Therefore,
Aquatic Stressors research will also develop diagnostic tools for a decision support system for
environmental managers.
Effective management and protection of aquatic resources requires multiple science-based
elements. NHEERL's Aquatic Stressors research process for developing these elements, and the
products of that research, are shown in Figure 1. Although this process presents a generally
linear research sequence, some research elements are being conducted simultaneously.
Research Products
Research Process
Program Offices, State
and Tribal Management
Agencies
NHEERL
4a Classification for Extrapolation of
Diagnostic Approaches and Stressor
Response Models
lb Methods to Predict Biological Effects of Habitat Alteration
3b DiagnosncTools
5b Criteria Development Approaches
3a Diagnosis of Current
Ecosystem Conditions
6b Criteria to Support Use Designations
6a Management Strategy Development
Criteria Development
Sa Method Support
4b Watershed, Ecoregion Classification Approaches
2b Population, Community, Ecosystem Stressor-Response
Models
GOAL-
Protection of Ecological Integrity of
Aquatic Ecosystems (including Aquatic
Dependent Wildlife Populations)
2a Stressor-Response Relationships Habitat
Alteration, Nutrients, Suspended and Bedded
Sediments, and Toxic Chemicals
la Quantification of Inherent Properties of Aquatic
and Aquatic Dependent Habitats Key to Support
Fish, Shellfish, and Wildlife Populations
Figure 1. Research process and products for the Aquatic Stressors Framework
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Protection of the ecological integrity of aquatic ecosystems must begin with a quantification of
the inherent properties of habitats that are critical to the life-support of important fish, shellfish
and aquatic-dependent wildlife populations (Figure 1: box la). The importance of habitat quality
and quantity for maintaining species is indisputable, but quantifying exactly how species depend
on habitats is multi-faceted and complex. Aquatic Stressors research addressing this issue
focuses on habitat types (submerged aquatic vegetation, wetlands, habitat mosiacs) of priority to
OW to assess their life-support functions and provide quantitative methods to link biological
effects with alteration of these functions
Knowledge of the life-support properties of priority aquatic habitats are key to developing
stressor-response relationships not only for habitat alteration, but also for other aquatic stressors
(Figure l- box 2a). These relationships provide the fundamental information required to define
response patterns or thresholds needed to establish aquatic life and aquatic-dependent wildlife
criteria. Determining stressor-response relationships also helps to define the symptoms of
impairment and their diagnosis NHEERL's Aquatic Stressors research is developing stressor-
response models (Figure 1: box 2b) for each of the four priority stressors (habitat alteration,
nutrients, suspended and bedded sediment, and toxic chemicals). Although initial research
focuses on development of stressor-response relationships for individual stressors, such models
will eventually reflect multiple stressor interactions. Much of AED's Aquatic Stressors research
is currently focusing on development of stressor-response relationships for habitat alteration and
nutrients.
As stressor-response relationships are being determined, research is also being directed towards
developing diagnostic approaches (Figure 1 box 3a), which will provide tools (Figure 1 box 3b)
for building a decision support system, supporting ORD Water Quality Multi-Year Plan LTG 2
Resource managers then can use the system to diagnose the causes of impairment, and to predict
the results of corrective actions that might be needed. AED's role in diagnostic research is
described earlier in this Briefing Book, and builds from our development of Toxicity Identity
Evaluation methods (TIE, Burgess et al. 2000, Pelletier et al. 2001, Ho et al. 1997).
Stressor-response relationships can be specific to different classes of ecological systems. Thus,
research is also focused on developing ecosystem classification approaches (Figure 1: boxes
4a,b) that support extrapolation of diagnostic approaches and stressor-response models across
systems. Classification is valuable for two primary reasons: 1) grouping ecosystems according
to similar criteria, and 2) spatially classifying ecosystems that are connected via stressor actions.
Since little is known about scale relative to ecosystem classification, our effects research also
results in guidance about the most appropriate scale for various ecosystem classification
approaches, up to and including the watershed scale. AED's Aquatic Stressors research is
focused at the habitat, shoreline (mosaic) and landscape scales.
Research identified in boxes la-4a will result in methods and approaches for deriving criteria
(Figure 1 boxes 5a,b) for protecting aquatic ecosystems. Establishing specific criteria and the
management strategies for their use are the responsibility of OW. In combination, the elements
of Aquatic Stressors research will improve the tools available to managers for meeting aquatic
designated uses (Figure 1: boxes 6a,b).
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Organization of Program
NHEERL's Aquatic Stressors research into five research areas.
Stressor-Response Relationships for Habitat Alteration
Stressor-Response Relationships for Nutrients
Stressor-Response Relationships for Suspended and Bedded Sediments
Stressor-Response Relationships for Toxic Chemicals
Diagnostics Research
Based on consideration of their programmatic history and resident expertise, lead responsibility
for these areas has been distributed amongst NHEERL's four ecology divisions (Gulf Ecology
Division - GED, Mid-Continent Ecology Division - MED, Western Ecology Division - WED,
and AED). AED is the lead division for Suspended and Bedded Sediments research, but is
contributing substantially to the other four research areas.
Many human activities exert their influence on biota via effects on habitat, and habitat alteration
is arguably the most important cause of declines in ecological resources in North America (U.S
EPA 1990). Although the Agency has not traditionally focused its regulatory, policy and
research efforts on habitat alteration as a stressor, a number of factors converge to justify a new
EPA emphasis on habitat issues. These include the mandate of the CWA "to restore and
maintain the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of the Nation's waters" and that habitat
alteration is a commonly-cited cause for failure of aquatic systems to meet designated uses. The
goal of NHEERL's Aquatic Stressors Habitat Alteration research (WED lead) is to provide the
scientific basis for assessing the role of essential habitat in maintaining healthy populations of
fish, shellfish, aquatic-dependent wildlife, and the ecosystems upon which they depend A key
scientific challenge is the development of habitat-alteration-population response relationships for
the species and habitats of priority concern, capable of quantifying effects of both incremental
and catastrophic habitat alteration. These relationships must reflect both individual habitat
components and interactions among them AED's research in this area is organized into three
major components: coastal vegetated habitat, shoreline scale, and landscape scale. The first two,
described in detail later in this Briefing Book, build on foundations laid in previous wetlands and
fish habitat research (e.g., Wigand and Thursby 2000, Wigand et al. 2001, Meng et al. 2001).
Landscape Scale research (predominantly the Loon/Hg Demonstration Project, which also
supports Aquatic Stressors Toxic Chemical research and is described earlier in this book), is
essentially a new area of endeavor for AED.
Human activities have dramatically changed the amounts, distribution, and movement of major
nutrients m the landscape, and have increased nutrient loading to receiving waters. Some of
these changes affect use of the Nation's aquatic resources, and pose risks to human health and the
environment (NRC 2000) The principal goal of Aquatic Stressors Nutrient research (GED lead)
is to provide the scientific basis and load-response relationships required to develop numeric
criteria protective of aquatic life. This research is focused on coastal receiving waters as opposed
to inland waters and wetlands AED is supporting this goal by assessing the responses of
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dissolved oxygen (DO), submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) and food web changes to nutrient
loading using an empirical approach (other portions of NHEERL's program are taking modeling
approaches to establish loading-response relationships). This approach requires quantification of
loading rates to coastal systems, in addition to measurement of system response relative to the
three primary endpoints both spatially and temporally, and builds on our contributions to the
existing guidance for saltwater DO criteria (U.S. EPA 2000b) and nutrient criteria (U.S. EPA
2002). AED's research to overcome these challenges is described in the following section of this
Briefing Book.
Sediment loading to aquatic systems is often cited as a cause for failure of aquatic systems to
meet designated uses, and OW has identified criteria for suspended and bedded sediments as one
of its highest priorities The primary goal of Aquatic Stressors Suspended and Bedded Sediment
research (AED lead) is to provide and demonstrate the approach for establishing sediment criteria
that support aquatic life use in streams and rivers, lakes and reservoirs, wetlands, and estuaries.
The methods and models developed to obtain this goal will link directly to exposure assessment
and management models (e g , TMDLs) for use in regulatory actions, and should provide a
practical solution for States and Tribes in monitoring and assessing suspended and bedded
sediment problems. A first step in the critical path of research to meet this goal is a state-of-the-
science review of the direct effects of sediment on aquatic biota, and direct effects on the
physical habitat which result in indirect effects on biota. AED is completing this review this
year. Because the expertise needed to develop mechanistically-based stressor-response
relationships is limited within NHEERL, we anticipated that any future work in this area will be
conducted primarily through analysis of existing stream condition data collected through ORD's
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP).
NHEERL has a long history of supporting development of the technical basis for toxic chemical
criteria for waters and sediment (e g., Boothman et al 2001), and procedures for deriving aquatic
life water quality criteria have existed for many years. However, these procedures are based on
simplifying assumptions and a relatively narrow framework that limit their use in fully assessing
the risk of a range of toxic chemicals to both aquatic life and aquatic-dependent wildlife. A key
uncertainty in the use of current criteria arises from the use of organismal-level toxicity
(primarily mortality) to establish concentrations protective of populations and communities
Aquatic Stressors Toxic Chemicals research (MED lead) is addressing this and other
uncertainties associated with criteria development for broad classes of inorganic and
bioaccumulative organic chemicals. The goal of this research is to develop scientifically-
defensible methods for describing risks of toxic chemicals to aquatic and aquatic-dependent
populations and communities. AED's research to support attainment of this goal consists
primarily of the Loon/Hg Demonstration Project. This effort is demonstrating population-level,
risk-based methods for wildlife criteria development using the common loon (Gavia immer) as a
model assessment endpoint, and mercury and habitat alteration as stressors (described earlier in
this Briefing Book). We are also contributing to conceptualization of approaches to develop
risk-based criteria for classes of inorganic and organic contaminants. This research builds from
AED's substantial history and expertise in developing the technical basis for water quality
criteria and sediment quality guidelines. Much of this expertise now contributes to supporting
the science-based needs of EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) for
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managing contaminated sediments. Our contaminated sediments effects research currently is
directed toward attainment of ORD's Contaminated Sites MYP LTG of providing "scientific
tools, methods, models, data, guidance, and technical support to more accurately, rapidly, and
cost-effectively characterize the extent of site contamination, estimate risks to human health and
the environment, and evaluate residual (post-cleanup) risks" to achieve GPRA Goal 5, as
described later in this Briefing Book.
When States list waters as biologically impaired, they're faced with the problem of diagnosing
the cause(s) of that impairment before plans can be made to reduce loadings of pollutants
through the TMDL process. A key scientific need in diagnosing impairment is a decision
support system that allows interpretation of cause-and-effect relationships and allocation of
causality among likely stressors. The goals of Aquatic Stressors Diagnostic research (MED lead)
include development of a framework for interpreting cause-and-effect, diagnostic methods and
models for single and multiple stressors to allocate causality, and methods and models capable of
forecasting causality to support evaluation of the ecological benefits of various alternatives for
source reduction and restoration. AED's research to support attainment of these goals builds
from our development of TIE methods for chemical stressors in water and sediments (e.g.,
Burgess 2000, Burgess et al. 1997,2000, Ho et al 1997, 2002, Pelletier et al. 2001), and uses a
case study approach to development diagnostic methods for estuaries. This research is described
earlier in this Briefing Book in the context of supporting OW, State, and Tribe needs with respect
to meeting the monitoring, listing and TMDL requirements of the Clean Water Act.
References
(References cited in bold signify AED research products)
Boothman, W.S., D.J. Hansen, W.J. Berry, D.L. Robson, A. Helmstetter, J.M. Corbin and
S.D. Pratt. 2001. Biological response to variation of acid-volatile sulfides and metals
in field-exposed spiked sediments. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
20(2):264-272.
Burgess, R.M., J.B. Charles, A. Kuhn, K.T. Ho, L.E. Patton and D.G. McGovern. 1997.
Development of a cation exchange methodology for marine toxicity identification
(TIE) application. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 16: 1203-1211.
Burgess, R.M., M.G. Cantwell, M.C. Pelletier, K.T. Ho, J.R. Serbst, H.F. Cook and A.
Kuhn. 2000. Development of a Toxicity Identification Evaluation (TIE) procedure
for characterizing metal toxicity in marine sediments. Environmental Toxicology
and Chemistry 19:982-991.
Burgess, R.M. 2000. Characterizing and identifying toxicants in marine waters: a review of
marine Toxicity Identification Evaluations (TIEs). International Journal of
Environment and Pollution 13:2-33.
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Ho, K.T., R.A. McKinney, A. Kuhn, M.C. Pelletier and R.M. Burgess. 1997. Identification
of acute toxicants in New Bedford Harbor sediments. Environmental Toxicology
and Chemistry 16: 551-558.
Ho, K.T., R.M. Burgess, M.C. Pelletier, J.R. Serbst, S.A. Ryba, M.G. Cantwell, A. Kuhn
and P. Raczelowski. 2002. An overview of toxicant identification in sediments and
dredged materials. Marine Pollution Bulletin 44: 286-293.
Meng, L., J.C. Powell and B. Taplin. 2001. Using winter flounder growth rates to assess
habitat quality across an anthropogenic gradient in Narragansett Bay, Rhode
Island. Estuaries 24:576-584.
Naiman, R.J., J.J. Magnusen, D.M. McKnight and J.A. Stanford (eds).1995. The Freshwater
Imperative: a Research Agenda. Island Press, Washington, DC.
NHEERL. 2002 Aquatic Stressors: Framework and Implementation Plan for Effects Research.
Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, NC.
NOAA. 1999 National estuanne eutrophication assessment: a summary of conditions, historical
trends, and future outlook. Draft. National Ocean Service, Silver Spring, MD.
NRC. 1993. Managing Wastewater in Coastal Urban Areas. National Academy Press,
Washington, DC.
NRC. 2000. Clean Coastal Waters: Understanding and Reducing the Effects of Nutrient
Pollution National Academy Press, Washington, DC
Pelletier, M., K.T. Ho, M.G. Cantwell, A. Kuhn-Hines, S. Jayaraman and R.M. Burgess.
2001. Use of Ulva lactuca to identify ammonia toxicity in marine and estuarine
sediments. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 20: 2852-2859.
U.S. EPA. 1990. Reducing risk: setting priorities and strategies for environmental protection.
SAB-EC-90-021, EPA Science Advisory Board, Washington, DC.
U.S. EPA. 1997. EPA Strategic Plan. EPA/190-R-97-002, Washington, DC.
U.S. EPA. 1998a Clean Water Action Plan. EPA 840-R-98-001, Office of Water, Washington,
DC.
U.S EPA. 1998b. Water quality criteria and standards plan - priorities for the future
EPA 822-R-98-003, Office of Water, Washington, DC.
U.S. EPA. 2000a. OW/ORD Strategic Planning Research Coordination workshop document,
version 2. January 31.
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U.S. EPA. 2000b. Ambient Aquatic Life Water Quality Criteria for Dissolved Oxygen
(Saltwater): Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras. EPA-822-R-00-012, Office of Water,
Washington DC.
U.S. EPA. 2002. Nutrient Criteria Technical Guidance Manual: Estuarine and Coastal Marine
Waters. EPA 822-B-01-003, Office of Water, Washington, DC.
Vitousek, P.M., J.D. Aber, R.W. Howarth, G.E. Likens, P.A. Matson, D.W. Schindler, W.H.
Schlesinger and D.G. Tilman 1997. Human alteration of the global nitrogen cycle-
sources and consequences. Ecological Applications 7.737-750.
Wigand, C. and G. Thursby. 2000. Strategy for Evaluating Ecological Integrity of Salt
Marshes (APM 552; Internal EPA - NHEERL document). Pages 1 - 17.
Wigand, C., R. Comeleo, R. McKinney, G. Thursby, M. Chintala and M. Charpentier.
2001. Outline of a new approach to evaluate ecological integrity of salt marshes.
Human and Ecological Risk Assessment 7:1541-1554.
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Stressor-Response
Relationships for
Nutrients
Refined N Loading to Estuary
(Including oceanic inputs, normalized for depth,
residence time)
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Stressor-Response Relationships for Nutrients (GPRA Goal 2)
Agency Problem
There is growing evidence that human activities have dramatically changed the amounts,
distribution, and movement of major nutrient elements (nitrogen-N and phosphorus-P) in the
landscape and have increased nutrient loading to receiving waters. Some of these changes affect
use of the Nation's aquatic resources, and pose risks to human health and the environment (NRC
2000). EPA is in the process of developing guidelines that States and Tnbes will use to set
nutrient criteria for our Nation's waters. For waters failing to meet water quality standards,
States and Tribes are required to develop Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) to eliminate the
causes of non-attainment. At present we cannot extrapolate knowledge of nutrient load-response
relationships from systems for which we have adequate data to predict adverse effects on specific
systems with more limited data. Sound methods and information on nutrient load-response
relationships are required to develop numeric nutrient criteria protective of aquatic life to manage
nutrient risks for such systems.
A primary goal of NHEERL's Aquatic Stressors research (NHEERL 2002) is to develop and
improve ecological criteria and diagnostic capabilities for managers, to help them meet
designated uses, and to develop options for protection and remediation efforts As part of this
effort, AED along with the Gulf, Western, and Mid-Continent Ecology Divisions, are
implementing an integrated research plan whose goal is to develop stressor-response models for
nutrients in marine and Great Lakes coastal waters useful to the Office of Water, the Regional
Offices, and the States and Tribes in establishing numeric nitrogen criteria that protect aquatic
life in estuarine and coastal waters. This research will advance and augment the current
scientific basis for the developing water quality criteria as outlined in the technical guidance
manual for estuaries (U.S. EPA 2002).
Objectives of Research
A long-term goal (LTG) of ORD's Multi-Year Plan for Water Quality is to provide the
approaches and methods to develop and apply criteria to support designated uses. Aquatic
Stressors Nutrient research supports this goal by quantifying relationships between nitrogen
loading and ecological responses for estuarine and coastal waters (NHEERL 2002). Increased
algal biomass (or carbon supply as defined by Nixon (1995)) is the principal causative agent for
the three key effects in aquatic systems: (1) low dissolved oxygen (DO) or hypoxia leading to
fish kills or loss of shellfish and degradation of benthic habitats, (2) shifts in basic food webs
(including changes in algal community composition and the presence of harmful algal blooms)
leading to loss of commercially important fisheries and overall aquatic biodiversity; and (3) loss
of natural submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) habitat, important to fish and other biota and due
to changes in water clarity, epiphytic growth, or smothering by invasive algae. These effects (or
endpoints) are the primary focus of Aquatic Stressors Nutrient research.
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AED's contribution to development of stressor-response relationships for nutrients focuses
primarily with coastal receiving waters and the development of nitrogen load-response
relationships for dissolved oxygen, submerged aquatic vegetation, and food web (community
composition) changes using an empirical approach. Our specific objectives are to:
Provide the science to support consistent dissolved oxygen criteria for prevention of
hypoxia impacts in all coastal regions of the US.
Provide a first generation protocol to classify eutrophication models for nutrient load
allocation in coastal systems.
Provide the scientific foundation for development and application of quantitative
measures of food web attributes that are sensitive to ecological changes associated
with nutrient enrichment.
Provide the scientific foundation for establishing site-specific nutrient threshold
criteria to protect estuanne SAY.
Approaches and Recent Accomplishments
NHEERL's Aquatic Stressors Nutrient research follows a critical path of activities to meet the
objectives above:
Step 1. Mine and assess existing information.
Step 2. Develop conceptual models
Step 3. Develop classification schemes.
Step 4. Develop standard methods and procedures.
Step 5. Develop nutrient loading-ecological response models
AED is utilizing a comparative systems empirical approach as outlined in an appendix of EPA's
Nutrient Criteria Technical Guidance Manual: Estuarine and Coastal Marine Waters (U.S. EPA
2002, Cicchetti et al. 2000, Latimer et al. 2000). This approach has been used successfully to
derive water quality standards and total maximum loads for some embayments of Buzzards Bay
(Costa et al. 1999). Three kinds of information are needed to develop loading-response
relationships using this approach: 1) loading estimates, 2) classification factors, and 3) response
measures.
Step 1. Mine and assess existing information
Three main tasks are needed to complete this portion of the critical path:
Obtain data sets, models, pertinent reports and articles
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Set up a central bibliographic database at AED with cross-divisional access
Maintain database (AED)
To date, AED has developed a bibliographic database that is accessible to ORD scientists
working on Aquatic Stressors Nutrient research. Presently, this database is populated with over
2,300 records Information will be added to the database in an ongoing manner throughout the
life of the nutrients effort.
Step 2 Develop conceptual models
Conceptual models describing important aspects of ecosystem response, relative to the three key
endpoints to excess nutrients, are currently under development. These describe the ecological
relationships between nutrient input to the aquatic system, and changes in key system processes
as they influence each endpoint. To date, the conceptual model for response of DO has been
developed in final form
Step 3 Develop classification schemes
Development of nitrogen loading-response relationships requires consideration of the factors that
govern estuary response to nitrogen loading. Classification factors may be used to separate
estuaries into more-or-less discrete categories that correspond to the sensitivity of estuary
response to nitrogen loading In other cases, a variable that influences the sensitivity of estuanne
response to nitrogen loading may be used to scale (or normalize) nitrogen loading. For instance,
the volume and freshwater residence time of the estuary are often used to normalize the loading
rate of nitrogen when analyzing the relationship between the loading rate and ecological response
(e g, Dettmann 2001). This form of analysis makes use of the continuous nature of volume and
residence time, and does not divide the estuaries into categories; rather, systems are ordinated
along axes of residence time. Some parameters are inherently discrete (e.g., physiographic
setting and primary production base) and therefore lend themselves only to classification; others
are continuous (e.g., volume, residence time, depth) and may be used for normalization.
Continuous parameters may be used in either way, depending on the application.
Classification and normalization procedures for estuaries and coastal waters are currently being
developed for the specific endpoints important to Aquatic Stressor Nutrients research. Although
several estuary classification schemes already exist in the literature, most have been developed
for purposes other than evaluating response to nutrient loading and do not lend readily
themselves to this purpose. An NHEERL workshop was conducted in 2001 to frame the
classification scheme research. It is probable that separate methods of classification or
normalization will be required for each of the three ecological endpoints. For instance, it is
likely that some parameters, such as residence time and estuary volume are important for all
response categories. On the other hand, degree of benthic filter feeding can be an important
control on phytoplankton abundance, but is not for seagrasses. Stratification of the water column
is probably more important in controlling oxygen depletion than some other responses. Efforts
to develop classification and normalization procedures include application and extension of a
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model developed at AED (Dettmann 2001), investigation of nitrogen-chlorophyll relationships,
and conducting a state-of-science review of estuary classification. Anticipating that water
residence time will play an important role in any method to classify estuaries and to normalize
loading rates in developing loading-response relationships, we are usmg simulation models and
statistical models that relate water residence time to estuary morphological parameters
Step 4 Develop standard methods and procedures
Loading Estimates
Estimates of nitrogen loads from watershed, atmospheric, and point source inputs are needed to
establish empirical multi-scale nitrogen loading-response relationships for East Coast estuaries
and coastal water bodies. Point source inputs from municipal and industrial discharge sites can
be estimated from existing mtrogen concentration and flow data generated as part of the National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permitting Program. Atmospheric nitrogen
inputs are being estimated from studies on regional atmospheric deposition. Exchange-water
inputs are being estimated using published data on nitrogen concentrations in the water column
combined with physical transport estimates based on flushing analyses. Watershed (non-point)
sources of nitrogen are estimated by the use of nitrogen loading models which, in their various
forms, incorporate land-use characteristics and human population density estimates. Currently,
we are using the Waquoit Bay Land Margin Ecosystems Research (WBLMER) project nitrogen
loading model (Valiela and Bowen 2002) to calculate nitrogen loads from land-use
characteristics. This model estimates inputs by land use types (natural vegetation, agricultural
land, turf, residential land and impervious surfaces) within the watershed. The model then
estimates and corrects for losses in the various compartments (vegetation and soils, vadose zone,
aquifer) in the watershed ecosystem as nitrogen is transported to the estuary.
In addition, we are using stable nitrogen isotopes to assess the relative source strengths of the
various nitrogen sources to each embayment. Because the nitrogen isotope ratio increases in a
fairly predictable fashion as it passes through the food chain (Fry 1988), anthropogenic nitrogen
inputs can influence the isotopic composition of organisms in an ecosystem. Stable nitrogen
isotope measurements can thus be used to trace nitrogen from diffuse, land-based sources to
coastal marshes (McClelland and Valiela 1998). Therefore, the nitrogen isotope ratio, or
signature, of a biotic component or components of an ecosystem is being used to characterize the
relative magnitude of point and non-point derived nitrogen inputs to that system (McKinney et
al. 2001,2002).
System Responses to Nitrogen
DO assessment endpoint - Dissolved oxygen is somewhat unique relative to the other response
endpoints in that the Office of Water requires specific numeric criteria based on DO
concentration in addition to loading-DO response models for establishing nutrient criteria. Thus,
AED's research on the dissolved oxygen endpoint has two primary components: (1) development
of the technical basis for saltwater DO water quality criteria for aquatic life, and (2) development
of nitrogen load-hypoxia relationships for coastal waters. AED developed an approach (U.S
EPA 2000) and the data (Coiro et al 2000, Miller et al. 2002) necessary for establishing site-
specific DO criteria that utilizes both standard toxicity endpoints (mortality, individual growth)
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and a population-level endpoint (recruitment) This approach, for which AED scientists received
a Bronze Medal from OW, was demonstrated for the northeast and mid-Atlantic regions of the
US. The approach applies both to persistent and cyclic hypoxia. The demonstration yielded
saltwater criteria of 4.8 mg/L to protect against unacceptable effects on growth of aquatic
animals, 2.3 mg/L to protect against unacceptable effects on juvemle and adult survival, and
larval recruitment to a population. Currently, AED is conducting species sensitivity studies
using west coast species. This information will be used in conjunction with results of testing
underway at NHEERL's Gulf Ecology Division (GED) to determine the applicability of these
criteria Nation-wide Support also has been provided to the Office of Water's Chesapeake Bay
Program in Bay-specific application of the approach.
While it is most desirable to develop modeled relationships between nitrogen loading to coastal
systems and measures of hypoxia intensity and duration, in practice, the logistical and resource
demands required for accurate models are relatively high. AED is currently testing the feasibility
of using surrogate measures for hypoxia intensity and duration. Depth of the redox potential
discontinuity (RPD, as measured using sediment profile imaging (SPI)) and redox-sensitive
metals are being measured over a three month period (the time period encompassing the lowest
expected DO levels) along with continuous DO measurements at four stations of differing
expected hypoxia intensity and duration Laboratory experiments, using AED's controlled DO
dosmg system, are being used to interpret RPDs measured in the field. The kinetics and timing
of the formation and destruction of the RPD are being determined for environmentally relevant
DO conditions and for various types of sediment (e.g., biotic and abiotic). If successful, this
series of experiments will allow managers to use benthic profile data to assess whether a system
has exceeded water quality criteria for saltwater dissolved oxygen (U.S. EPA 2000).
An alternative to the use of RPD depth as an indicator of DO levels in bottom waters is the
measurement of so-called "redox-sensitive" metals such as uranium, vanadium, rhenium, and
molybdenum (U, V, Re, and Mo) in sediments. These metals are highly enriched in reducing
sediments due to their very low crustal abundance, conservative behavior in oxic seawater and
their greatly decreased solubility in lower oxidation states (Morford and Emerson, 1999). As a
result, differential patterns of enrichment may be used to discern both the spatial extent and
duration of anoxic bottom water conditions (Adelson, 2001). Laboratory experiments, using
AED's controlled DO dosing system, will determine the short-term kinetics of enrichment and
oxidative remobilization of the metals to examine potential complications in interpreting field
sediment records. Completion of this year's field and laboratory effort will determine whether
the SPI data and redox-sensitive metals are reasonable surrogates for hypoxia intensity and
duration in bottom waters of shallow well flushed systems.
Food web assessment endpoint - Phytoplankton are at the base of many marine food webs.
Assessments of phytoplankton biomass as a function of nutrient input can be used as an indicator
of food web effects. Yet, changes in phytoplankton biomass as a primary symptom of nitrogen
pollution can be difficult to determine because they are quite variable in space and time A large
area must be sampled, and measurements must be taken regularly over a prolonged time period.
Remote sensing via aircraft allows broad spatial coverage as well as the ability to sample through
time, since all systems can be covered relatively synoptically. Satlantic, Inc. (Halifax, N.S ) has
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developed the MicroSAS remote sensing system, a complete spectral analysis package that
consists of three digital sensor heads to measure solar and sea surface radiance and solar
irradiance in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum (300-700 nm) with data logging
software. Using conversion software, these data can be transformed into measurements of light
reflectance from the sea surface from which estimates of chlorophyll concentration can be
derived from algorithms developed to examine selected bandwidths. By combining the spectral
data with locational (i.e., GPS ) data, the spatial distribution of chlorophyll can be mapped onto
system chart overlays (Keith et al. 2002). AED is using this approach to quantify phytoplankton
biomass in coves, bays, and rivers from Connecticut through Massachusetts with substantial
spatial and temporal resolution. These data can also be used to estimate productivity for entire
systems over several years. The spectral system is being flown from an aircraft at an altitude of
152 m (500 ft) with a maximum spatial resolution of eight meters. AED is validating algorithm-
derived estimates using in situ fluorometric determination of chlorophyll a, together with HPLC
phytopigments analysis for phytoplankton taxonomy, and spectrophotometric determination of
colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) to measure light absorption by this material.
Moreover, existing data on chlorophyll a and nitrogen in estuaries are being used to develop
relationships to augment the relationships derived from the field effort.
SAV assessment endpoint - abundance of seagrass - Some of the damaging effects of
eutrophication occur through destruction of seagrass beds. Nitrogen overennchment leads to a
variety of system changes that tend to favor growth of phytoplankton and macroalgae over SAV,
leading to the destruction of productive seagrass meadows. A seagrass indicator is being
developed by AED as the area actually covered by seagrass compared to the area that is
potentially useable by seagrasses (i.e , area of coverage/area of colonizable habitat). The area of
actual seagrass coverage is taken from digital imagery captured during airplane flyovers. Towed
video transects are being run to validate this approach. Potential habitat depths are estimated
using historical data from the study region and from a SAV restoration model output (Thayer et
al. 1997).
Step 5. Develop nutrient loading-ecological response models
Once the necessary methods and information have been developed using the approaches above,
load-response models will be developed by AED for:
Nitrogen loading-dissolved oxygen levels (direct DO or surrogate indicators)
Nitrogen loading-phytoplankton abundance (remotely-sensed chl-a concentration)
Nitrogen loading-diatom/dinoflagellate community abundance (remotely-sensed
phytopigment concentration)
Nitrogen loading-SAV (extent/potential colonizable habitat extent)
Part of this work is based on application and extension of a model previously developed at AED
that relates the loading rate of total nitrogen to concentrations, export and retention of total
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nitrogen in estuaries (Dettmann 2001). This model quantifies the relationship between estuanne
response and estuary volume, residence time, and a first-order rate coefficient for long-term
nitrogen removal from the water column. Although this model was derived for total nitrogen
(TN), it has also been found to provide good estimates of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) in a
broad range of estuaries, and may be useful in investigation of maximum annual macroalgal
biomass in estuaries A preliminary study of Long Island Sound, Boston Harbor/Massachusetts
Bay and Chesapeake Bay identified a linear relationship between annual (or longer-term) average
concentrations of DIN and TN. This largely explains why the model works for DIN as well as
TN. This model has proven useful in providing a quantitative basis for some of our work on
estuary classification, and we are continuing to investigate methods to extend this model to
predict quantities other than total nitrogen.
We are also investigating the relationship between nitrogen concentrations and planktonic
chlorophyll concentrations in estuaries. Recent work at AED has shown strong relationships
between average seasonal, annual and longer-term concentrations of TN and chlorophyll in Long
Island Sound This work shows that the long-term average slope of the chlorophyll:TN
relationship in Long Island Sound is similar to that found in freshwater lakes by Sakamoto
(1966), but that it is smaller for years beginning with warm wintertime water temperatures than
for years with colder winter water temperatures.
The following are AED's contribution to NHEERL's Annual Performance Goals (APGs) and
Measures (APMs) that support attainment of the LTG:
Assessment Endpoint. Hypoxia
APG 1 (FY03) Provide the science to support consistent dissolved oxygen criteria for prevention
of hypoxia impacts in all coastal regions of the US.
APM 1 (FY02) Minimum DO requirements of important marine organisms (fish and
crustaceans) from the Nation's coastal waters (Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf of Mexico).
South Atlantic (Cape Hatteras to Florida Keys) (AED, FY01)
Pacific Coast (AED, WED; FY02)
APG 2 (FY04) Provide first generation protocols to classify eutrophication models for nutrient
load allocation in coastal systems.
APM 2 (FY03) Propose classification scheme for predicting sensitivity of coastal
receiving waters to effects of nutrients on DO (MED, GED, AED).
Assessment Endpoint: Foodweb
APG 4 ( FY07) Provide scientific foundation for development and application of quantitative
measures of food web attributes that are sensitive to ecological changes associated with nutrient
enrichment.
APM 4G (FY06) Report on classification scheme for grouping coastal or lake receiving
waters based on sensitivity to food web alterations (GED, WED, AED, MED).
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Assessment Endpoint SA V
APG 3 (FY07) Provide the scientific foundation for establishing site-specific nutrient threshold
criteria to protect estuarine SAV.
APM 3D (FY04) Development of empirical load-response models for Zostera marina in
NE US (AED)
APM 3E (FY05) Development of load-response models for estuaries of Pacific
Northwest and Gulf Coast, and validation of stress-response model for Zostera marina in
NEUS (WED, GED, AED)
APM 3F (FY05) Propose classification scheme for predicting sensitivity of coastal
receiving waters to the effects of nutrients on SAV (WED, GED, AED)
APM 3G (FY06) Report on the empirical and numeric models for SAV (WED, GED,
AED)
APM 3H (FY06) Report on a classification scheme for grouping coastal receiving waters
based on sensitivity to nutrients.(WED, GED, AED)
Impacts of Research
NHEERL's Aquatic Stressors Nutrient research is in the early stages of its approximate 6-year
program. Although maintenance of the bibliographic database described earlier is intended to be
an ongoing activity throughout the program, AED has made substantial progress towards
completing this step of the critical path of research. This database provides the most recent and
important citations related to the eutrophication issue. We have also completed major
laboratory-based components of research needed to support DO criteria derivation, but
substantial field effort remains with respect to developing a nutrient loading-response
relationship for this assessment endpoint. AED's Nutrient research has begun to develop the
information necessary for development of classification schemes, and nutrient loading-response
relationships for the SAV and food web assessments, and will complete these efforts over the
next five years.
AED has been instrumental in engaging the Office of Water and Region 1 in the development
and use of empirically derived stressor-response models. The division has received funding from
the Office of Water and Region 1 to initiate an airplane-based remote sensing program for the
development of nutrient loading-chlorophyll-a and SAV abundance response models for
southern New England. AED researchers also participate on several Office of Water and
Regional Advisory Committees aimed at the development and implementation of water quality
criteria and standards for nutrients. Once completed, AED's Nutrient research will provide
empirically-derived stressor-response relationships that, when combined with the results of the
modeling approaches being undertaken by other NHEERL divisions in this program, will provide
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the basis for deriving nutrient criteria by OW and the States for protection of important aquatic
resources. Accomplishing this objective is an important step towards meeting the LTG of
ORD's Water Quality Multi-Year Plan.
Remaining Needs
Over the next six years (2002-2008), Aquatic Stressors Nutrient research, integrated across
biogeographic areas associated with NHEERL's ecology divisions, will provide increasingly
sophisticated tools to help resources managers develop numeric nutrient standards and target
nutrient loads for coastal and estuarme waters. We anticipate that development of schemes
suitable for classifying the wide variety of coastal waters around the country will present a
significant scientific challenge to our overall progress in completing the critical path of research
We will approach this problem initially by applymg three classification factors: biogeography,
residence time, and water clarity. Alternative factors will be sought if insufficient reductions of
response variability are observed. Additionally, we will need to assess the advantages and
disadvantages of the empirical methods being employed by AED and the numerical modeling
approach being used by GED. Because NHEERL Nutrients research is focusing on a common
set of assessment endpoints regardless of approach taken, we should be able to compare these
methods in terms of accuracy of prediction and control of variation in loading-response
relationships. Ultimately, we expect both approaches to provide information useful to the Office
of Water, the States and Tribes in their derivation of nutrient criteria and standards.
Further development of this research will require continuing interaction between the Office of
Research and Development's (ORD) Laboratories and Centers, as well as with EPA's Program
Offices and Regions, to ensure that the approaches developed are compatible with their needs. In
addition, it will be essential to integrate the research with future grant initiatives (including
EPA's Science to Achieve Results, STAR, program) to ensure that ORD-sponsored research
complements in-house programs.
References
(References cited in bold signify AED research products)
Adelson, J.M., G.R. Helz and C.V. Miller. 2001. Reconstructing the rise of recent coastal anoxia;
molybdenum in Chesapeake Bay sediments. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
65(2)-237-252.
Cicchetti, G., J.S. Latimer, E. Dettmann, R. McKinney, S. Rego, D. Keith, R. Ahlgren and
R. Diaz. 2000. Eutrophication of coastal water bodies: relationships between
nutrient loading and ecological response. New England Estuarine Research Society
Annual Meeting, Block Island, RI.
Coiro, L., S.L. Poucher and D.C. Miller. 2000. Hypoxic effects on growth of Palaemonetes
9
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vulgaris larvae and other species: using constant exposure data to estimate cyclic
exposure response. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
247:243-255.
Costa, J.E., B L. Howes, D. Janik, D. Aubrey, E. Gunn and A E. Giblin. 1999. Managing
anthropogenic nitrogen inputs to coastal embayments: technical basis and evaluation of a
management strategy adopted for Buzzards Bay. Buzzards Bay Project. Draft Final
Technical Report.
Dettmann, E.H. 2001. Effect of water residence time on annual export and denitrificaion of
nitrogen in estuaries: a model analysis. Estuaries 24(4):481 -490.
Fry, B. 1988 Food web structure on Georges Bank from stable C, N, and S isotopic
compositions. Limnology and Oceanography 33:1182-1190.
Keith, D.J., J.A. Yoder, L.W. Harding, J.S. Latimer, S.A. Freeman and C. Mouw. 2002.
Determining the distribution of chlorophyll a in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island,
with a spectral curvature algorithm. 2002 AGU/ASLO Ocean Sciences Meeting,
Honolulu, Hawaii.
Latimer, J., G. Cicchetti, E. Dettmann, R. McKinney, S. Rego, D. Keith and R. Ahlgren.
2000. Eutrophication of coastal water bodies: relationships between nutrient loading
and ecological response. NAS Symposium on Nutrient Over-Enrichment of Coastal
Waters: Global Patterns of Cause and Effects, Washington, DC.
McClelland, J.W. and I. Valiela. 1998. Linking nitrogen in estuanne producers to land-derived
sources. Limnology and Oceanography 43:577-585.
McKinney, R.A., W.G. Nelson, M.A. Charpentier and C. Wigand. 2001. Ribbed mussel
nitrogen isotope signatures reflect nitrogen sources in coastal salt marshes.
Ecological Applications 11(1):203-214.
McKinney, R.A., J.L. Lake, M.A. Charpentier and S.A. Ryba. 2002. Using mussel isotope
ratios to assess anthropogenic nitrogen inputs to freshwater ecosystems.
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 74:167-192.
Miller, D.C., S.L. Poucher and L. Coiro. 2002. Determination of lethal dissolved oxygen
levels for selected marine and estuarine fishes, crustaceans, and a bivalve. Marine
Biology 140:287-296.
Morford, J L and S. Emerson. 1999. The geochemistry of redox sensitive trace metals in
sediments. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 63(11-12):1735-1750.
NHEERL. 2002. Aquatic Stressors Framework and Implementation Plan for Effects
Research. National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory,
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Research Triangle Park, NC.
Nixon, S.W. 1995. Coastal marine eutrophication: a definition, social causes, and future
concerns. Ophelia 41:199-219.
NRC. 2000 Clean Coastal Waters: Understanding and Reducing the Effects of Nutrient
Pollution., National Academy Press, Washington, DC.
Sakamoto, M. 1966. Primary production by phytoplankton community in some Japanese lakes
and its dependence on lake depth. Archiv fur Hydrobiologie 62:1-28.
Thayer, G.W., M.S. Fonseca and J.W Kenworthy. 1997. Ecological value of seagrasses: a brief
summary for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Habitat Committee's SAV
Subcommittee. In: Atlantic Coastal Submerged Aquatic Vegetation: A review of its
ecological role, anthropogenic impacts, State regulation, and value to Atlantic coastal fish
stocks (C.D. Stephan and T.E. Bigford, eds.), ASMFC Habitat Management Series #1,
ASMFC, NOAA, Silver Spring, MD.
U.S. EPA. 1998. Clean Water Action Plan: Restoring and Protecting America's Waters. EPA
840-R-98-001, Office of Water, Washington, DC.
U.S. EPA. 2000. Ambient Aquatic Life Water Quality Criteria for Dissolved Oxygen
(Saltwater): Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras. EPA-822-R-00-012, Office of Water,
Washington, DC.
U.S. EPA. 2002. Nutrient Criteria Technical Guidance Manual: Estuarine and Coastal
Marine Waters. EPA 822-B-01-003, Office of Water, Washington, DC.
Valiela, I. and J.L. Bowen. 2002. Nitrogen sources to watersheds and estuaries: role of land cover
mosaics and losses within watersheds. Environmental Pollution 118:239-248.
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Stressor-response
Relationships for Habitat
Alteration
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Stressor-Response Relationships for Habitat Alteration (GPRA Goal 2)
Agency Problem
Many anthropogenic activities exert their influence on fish, shellfish, and waterfowl via effects
on habitat. In fact, habitat alteration is arguably the most important cause of declines in
ecological resources in North America. Thriving populations of fish, shellfish, and waterfowl are
valued by the public, not only for commercial, recreational, and aesthetic reasons, but also as
tangible and visible surrogates for the overall condition of the environment. Habitats essential to
the well being of these species are rapidly being affected by many human activities. For
example, by the 1980s, about one-half of all wetlands in the conterminous 48 United States were
lost to filling in or draining for human activities such as land development and agriculture
(Mitsch and Gosselink 2000), and the current rate of wetland loss in the US is about 40,000 acres
per year (US Ocean Policy Commission 2002). Habitat alterations have been identified as a
major cause of endangerment for species within the United States. For example, the US has the
most diverse temperate freshwater fish fauna in the world, but 35-40% of its 790 fish species are
imperiled because of poor land use practices, wetland alteration, introductions of exotic species
and other habitat altering factors (Warren and Burr 1994, Stein and Flack 1997). In addition,
more than 50% of US marine fisheries (exclusive of Alaska pollock) exploit species that are
dependent on estuaries at some life stage, and many estuanne fisheries are in decline due to
combined effects of over fishing, habitat alteration and pollution (Houde and Rutherford 1993)
Assessing the ecological consequences of habitat alteration has been called one of the most
challenging scientific problems and environmental policy issues confronting society in recent
years (National Research Council 1997, Rapport et al. 1998). The importance of habitat quality
and quantity for maintaining species is indisputable, but quantifying exactly how species depend
on habitats is multi-faceted and complex Habitat provides a wide array of species life-support
functions, ranging from providing shelter, substrate, and appropnate physiological conditions, to
mediating natural disturbances and anthropogenic stressors, to maintaining food webs by hosting
primary and secondary production. Consequently, alteration of habitat can degrade diversity,
food-web structure, ecosystem function, and populations of valued fish, shellfish and waterfowl
via complex effect pathways. Mobile and migratory species can use multiple habitats to meet
developmental requirements or sustain local populations, and "habitat" for them may refer to a
combination of quantity, quality, extent and arrangement of different habitat types at a variety of
spatial scales. Many stressors interact in aquatic systems in ways that alter the normal spatial
distribution or mosaic of habitat patches, with important implications for ecosystem function and
fish, shellfish and waterfowl populations. More generally, successful preservation of biological
diversity and ecosystem structure and function requires protection of multiple habitats within a
landscape framework and not merely individual habitats in isolation For many important
aquatic habitats, there is little quantitative information on the relationship of habitat alteration to
dependent biota, in particular how changes in habitat quality influence the well being of fish,
shellfish and aquatic-dependent wildlife populations. Finally, broad biogeographic gradients
affect the responses of ecosystems and biota to habitat alteration. For all these reasons,
1
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quantifying the life support functions of specific habitats and habitat complexes in sufficient
detail to predict the biological effects of both incremental and catastrophic habitat alteration is a
significant challenge.
EPA's Office of Water (OW) has primary regulatory responsibility for protecting the ecological
integrity of the Nation's aquatic resources and ecosystems. Although the Agency has not
traditionally focused its regulatory, policy and research efforts on habitat alteration as a stressor,
a number of factors converge to justify a new EPA emphasis on habitat issues. These include the
mandate of the Clean Water Act (CWA) "to restore and maintain the physical, chemical, and
biological integrity of the Nation's waters" and that habitat alteration is a commonly-cited cause
for failure of aquatic systems to meet designated uses. Additionally, EPA is being asked
increasingly to participate in interagency species protection and conservation efforts where the
importance of habitat issues have been long been recognized. For example, a draft Memorandum
of Agreement between OW, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Marine
Fisheries Service (Federal Register, January 7, 1999) calls for development of improved
approaches for wildlife criteria derivation and requires the Agency to address explicitly
protection of threatened and endangered species in implementation of the CWA. In response to
its need to develop ecological criteria to assess the role of essential habitat in maintaining healthy
populations of fish, shellfish and aquatic-dependent wildlife, NHEERL's Aquatic Stressor
Habitat Alteration research will provide approaches and methods to assess critical habitats and
their ability to sustain fish, shellfish and wildlife.
Objectives of Research
ORD's Multi-Year Plan (MYP) for Water Quality has established as a Long-Term Goal (LTG):
"Provide the approaches and methods to develop and apply criteria to support designated uses."
The purpose of NHEERL's Aquatic Stressors Habitat Alteration research is to focus stressor-
effects research on developing approaches, methods and information for developing criteria
support of this LTG. The specific goal of Habitat Alteration research is to provide the scientific
basis for assessing the role of essential habitat in maintaining healthy populations of fish,
shellfish, aquatic-dependent wildlife, and the ecosystems upon which they depend. A key
scientific challenge is the development of habitat-alteration-population response relationships for
the species and habitats of priority concern, capable of quantifying effects of both incremental
and catastrophic habitat alteration. AED's efforts focus on New England coastal zones including
wetlands, tributaries, near shore and estuarine areas to descnbe relationships between habitat
alteration and biota (i.e., populations of fish, shellfish and aquatic-dependent wildlife) at
appropriate spatial scales and with sufficient detail and resolution to quantify the effects of
habitat alteration.
Approach and Recent Accomplishments
The approach taken for NHEERL and AED's habitat research has four primary steps as
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identified in Figure 1. The first step in this critical path is a literature and data review to identify
the target species representing the key assessment endpoints, the habitats upon which they
depend, and published data on habitat alteration-biota response relationships. A key factor
influencing this was the inclusion of specific habitat types of concern to OW. These include
freshwater and estuanne wetlands, stream corridors, and marine coastal zones. Additionally OW
identified a specific interest in vegetated aquatic habitats since it is not only a key habitat for
many wetland, estuarine, and coastal species, but also a key mediator of stressor effects on
aquatic biota and a primary response variable for anthropogenic stressors such as nutrient and
sediment loading. Additionally, focal species (economically or ecologically important) were
identified and their key habitat needs determined. As a result, AED has developed a listing of
the high priority species and habitat types that includes fish (winter flounder, striped bass,
bluefish), shellfish (quahogs and bay scallop), and wintering waterfowl (e g., harlequin ducks,
buffleheads, and mallards) in vegetated aquatic habitat and estuarine systems in general.
Development of habitat alteration-response for these species and habitat types will be the near
term focus for AED's research (Step 2 of the critical path). This research will focus on
development of stressor-response relationships at three scales: vegetated habitat, shoreline, and
landscape (AED's Habitat Alteration research at this last scale is described in the Wildlife Risk
Assessment - Loon/Hg Demonstration section of this Briefing Book). One result of the
vegetated habitat and shoreline scale research will be a number of habitat alteration-response
relationships (shown conceptually in Figure 2) that can be used to guide habitat protection and
restoration decisions (Steps 3 and 4 m the critical path) by OW and the States. Additional
anticipated products include rapid assessment methods for evaluating the integrity of coastal
wetlands and their ability to sustain fish, shellfish and waterfowl.
Step 1 - Ongoing
Literature and
Data Review ,
Step 2
Habitat
Assessment
Methods
Habitat
Quality
and
Quantity
1° Endpoints:
Fish, Shellfish,
Waterfowl
Step 4 -
Application to
Managers and
Regulators
Statistical,
Population, and
Ecosystem
Models
Step 3
Figure 1. Critical path of research.
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Vegetated Habitat Scale Research
For a number of years, research at AED
has focused on developing methods and
tools for evaluating the condition and
quality of New England wetlands
(Wigand and Thursby 2000, Wigand et
al. 2001). This previous habitat-scale
research provides the groundwork for the
development of indicators of habitat
quality for use in the establishment of
stressor-response relationships between
habitat alteration and populations of
some fish, shellfish, and waterfowl
(Figure 2). AED is using a reference-
based assessment approach adapted from
both the Hydrogeomorphic Approach of Bioassessment (Brinson 1993) and the Index of Biotic
Integrity Approach (Karr 1991, Karr and Chu 1999). We recognize the need to evaluate similar
habitats in the context of their natural geomorphology, elevation, and hydrology before
examining the structure and function of the habitats and the effect of habitat alteration on biotic
Habitat Quality / Quantity
Figure 2. Stressor-response approach.
APPONAUG RIVER
legend
Figure 3. Comparison of a historic map of Apponaug Cove wetlands dating back to 1868 with
present-day wetlands.
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assemblages (Wigand et al. 2002). Therefore, habitats being examined are first pre-classified
into similar habitat types (e.g., fringe salt marshes; seagrass beds; mudflats) with similar
hydrogeomorphology. In addition, connectivity of habitats in the watershed along with areal
extent is being examined using geographic information system (GIS) approaches and ground-
truthing. For example, the habitat quantity and quality of the adjacent riparian zone and
discharge streams into coastal salt marshes are under study in our current coastal salt marsh
assessment (Lussier et al. 2002a, b).
Efforts to evaluate changes in habitat quantity include an examination of historic maps dating
back 200 years, historic photographs, and town records as well as present-day overflights to
determine extent of coastal habitats (e.g., salt marshes and seagrass beds). To quantify extent of
wetlands over time, area of wetlands on old maps (1800s) will be compared to those on
contemporary maps using GIS technology (Figure 3). These GIS techniques have been
successfully developed and demonstrated in previous AED research on the ecological history of
the New Bedford Harbor watershed (Pesch and Garber 2001, Voyer et al. 2000). Measurements
of historic and present-day extent of aquatic habitats will be linked with measurements of the
habitat biota.
Assessing wintering sea ducks at the habitat-scale includes a combination of measures including
census of resident populations, field study of animal behavior (i.e., activity budgets), and diet
assessment at a number of expected low and high impact sites. Census activities began in winter
2001 and are being used to quantify the number of animals per site. We are using direct
observation of the waterfowl from land using binoculars and spotting scopes and, if resources
permit, census activities may be augmented by aerial observations and simultaneous observance
at multiple sites (Stott and Olson 1972,1973, Robertson et al. 1998). Numbers of birds will be
related to the habitat area and quality to determine patterns of habitat utilization.
To relate quality of a vegetated habitat area to shellfish endpoints, surveys of bivalves are being
conducted at marsh sites at least once during the sampling season, and will be made both on the
marsh and off the edge adjacent to the marsh. Marsh quantity and quality are being assessed, and
counts and size measurements of individual bivalves will be used to estimate the population of
bivalves along the marsh edge. In addition to adult clams, mussels and oysters, samples of
surface sediments are being collected to count and measure spat that have settled, and an estimate
of their potential contribution to the settled population will be determined. Other aquatic habitats
(e.g., seagrass beds, mudflats) supporting bivalves, particularly quahogs and bay scallops, will
also be sampled and animal population measurements will be related to the quantity and quality
of the habitat.
Our research efforts are also focusing on the ability of coastal habitats to provide critical life
support functions, that is suitable food, shelter, and clean water to fish, shellfish, and waterfowl.
The food value of New England fringe salt marshes are being examined by taking invertebrate
cores and sampling the resident forage species on the marsh surface of reference and impacted
marshes. Nekton are being sampled with 2 x 3 m bottomless lift nets. There are also two pit
traps inside each net. The nekton research will provide information on both juvenile fish use of
5
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12
10
8
6
4
2
0
8000
4000
6000
10000
12000
0
2000
Nitrogen load normalized to marsh area (kg ha 'yr ')
Figure 4. Marsh plant species richness and estimated nitrogen loads
the marshes by societally important species (e.g, winter flounder, striped bass) as well as
availability of forage species. Other approaches to examine quality of the food for fish, shell
fish, and waterfowl include various phytoplankton and benthic surveys as well as video transects
of habitats
Plant structure is linked to habitat quality because of the refuge service of the habitat, and AED is
currently measuring plant species richness, density, biomass and extent of invasive species using
survey approaches (i.e , marsh transects and underwater camera transects of intertidal and
subtidal habitats) AED past wetland research showed a significant inverse relationship between
marsh plant species richness and estimated nitrogen loads from the watershed (Figure 4). Water
quality of the habitat is being described by measurement of nutrient and dissolved oxygen
concentrations. We expect that a multi-metric indicator will be necessary to describe habitat
quality, and building on our past and present wetlands research, we are developing one for New
England coastal salt marshes.
Successful rapid assessment methods for evaluating habitat quality of inland wetlands in a
number of US states have already been developed, and we are adapting these methods for coastal
habitat assessments. Along with a more intensive habitat assessment (e.g., measurements of prey
items, plant structure, and water quality), the rapid assessment methods will be conducted at
various coastal habitat types. An iterative approach to modify the rapid assessment methods will
be employed until they satisfactorily describe the condition of each separate set of habitats to
6
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support populations of fish, shellfish, and wildlife. This work will support completion of Step 3
of the critical path (Figure 1).
Shoreline scale
To help predict consequences of alteration (i.e., loss and degradation) of multiple habitats at the
estuanne scale, we are developing a habitat alteration-population response model for winter
flounder in western Narragansett Bay. This research directly contributes to Step 2 of the critical
path, developing stressor-response relationships. This research was started in spring of 2002
using a random probabilistic design. The habitat alteration-population response model will be
based on empirical relationships between habitat quality (the spatial arrangement and abundance
of multiple habitat types on an estuarine shoreline) and animal density. Prior extensive research
at AED examining winter flounder and its relationship to habitat quality will provide the
foundation for the development of the current stressor-response research (Meng and Powell
1999, Meng et al. 2000, 2001, 2002). For the current investigation, all nearshore habitat types
(unvegetated intertidal, macroalgae, shellfish reef, shallow unvegetated subtidal, seagrass, deeper
subtidal, etc.) are being sampled using an instrument platform consisting of an integrated
underwater videocamera, beam trawl, GPS, and water quality monitor. This instrument platform
is towed in random transects from the intertidal through the 7 m depth stratum at high tide.
High-resolution aerial image data will also be acquired from each sampling location at low tide
to characterize aquatic habitats, salt marshes, and shoreline development at larger scales. Using
these approaches, we will link juvenile winter flounder densities to habitat characteristics and
shoreline development at scales ranging from a few square meters to 10,000 square meters. We
will also explore links between winter flounder nurseries and high-value adult flounder
populations using chemical signature methods (l e., stable isotopic ratios and trace metals) based
on the initial (central) otolith deposits in adult fish, which were laid down during the period of
juvenile near-shore dependency. Our goals are to establish empirical links between habitat
quality and winter flounder populations at several scales, and to develop transferable methods for
characterizing altered habitats and quantifying population responses that can be applied to other
species, habitat types, and locations (this research will support Steps 2 and 3 in the critical path).
The research described for vegetated habitat and shoreline scales supports ORD's MYP for
Water Quality and the following Annual Performance Goals (APGs) and Annual Performance
Measures (APMs) identified in the Aquatic Stressors Framework.
APG (FY02) Provide suites of relevant fish, shellfish, and wildlife species endpoints suitable
for setting habitat protection priorities for coastal regions, along with preliminary reviews of
methods, modeling approaches, and available data for relating habitat alteration to changes in
those species.
APM (FY02) Listings of the high-priority species of fish, shellfish, and aquatic-
dependent wildlife for study in the northeast coastal region, and listings of the habitats
that are critical to each.
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APG (FY06) Provide demonstration stressor-response relationships and/or models linking loss
and alteration of habitat to selected biotic endpoints.
APM (FY04) Report characterizing the relationship between alteration of vegetated
habitats and nekton use of those habitats.
APM (FY04) Report characterizing the relationships between multiple habitat types and
economically valuable fish at the scale of an estuarine shoreline.
APM (FY06) Report characterizing relationships between abundance, quality, and
arrangement of various habitat types and selected biotic assessment endpoints in coastal
ecosystems (WED has the lead for this but AED will be a significant contributor).
APG (FY08) Provide suites of habitat alteration-biological response relationships and
generalization/extrapolation schemes suitable for developing broad-scale habitat criteria for
streams and coastal systems, and provide approaches for evaluating combined effects of habitat
alteration and other stressors.
APM (FY08) Synthesized quantitative species-habitat relationships suitable for
developing regional habitat-based biocriteria for shorelines, lakes, and estuaries. (WED
and AED share the lead on this)
Impacts of Research
Through our cooperative efforts with MA Coastal Zone management and EPA Region 1 we have
developed rapid assessment methods for evaluating the condition of coastal salt marshes of New
England, and we will use these methods to serve as a model for development of rapid assessment
methods for other coastal habitats in support of OW. We are progressing along the identified
critical path towards our goal to provide the scientific basis for assessing the role of essential
habitat in maintaining healthy populations of fish, shellfish, aquatic-dependent wildlife, and the
ecosystems upon which they depend. We have completed the literature review and identified the
species and habitat types for our research and have initiated the fieldwork to develop empirical
relationships between habitat quality and quantity in multiple habitats (salt marshes, seagrass
beds, macroalgal beds, and mud/soft bottom) with fish, shellfish, and/or waterfowl. These
empirical relationships will provide the basis for stressor-response models to link habitat
alteration to key fish, shellfish, and wildlife endpoints. We have developed partnerships with
Federal and State agencies and these cooperative efforts are resulting in data collection to
develop stressor-response relationships and models. Results of the habitat alteration research
will provide approaches and methods to develop ecological criteria to assess critical habitats and
their ability to sustain fish, shellfish, and wildlife.
8
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Remaining Needs
We have outlined an ambitious research agenda to develop stressor response relationships for the
effects of habitat alteration on populations of fish, shellfish, and aquatic dependent wildlife. This
research is at a relatively early stage of development and as such several of the steps along the
critical path (Figure 1) remain to be completed. We anticipate that as we progress along the
critical path that a key technical challenge will be in integrating the models and approaches
developed at AED with those from the other NHEERL Divisions. Interdivisional workgroups,
NHEERL-wide meetings and workshops help to ensure adequate communication of methods and
results and integration of approaches. Continuing communication and cooperation with OW will
ensure that our research efforts to focusing on the effect of habitat alteration on fish, shellfish and
wildlife will address the long-term goal to provide the approaches and methods to develop and
apply criteria to support designated uses.
Literature Cited
Bnnson, M.M. 1993. A hydrogeomorphic classification for wetlands. Technical Report WRP-
DE-4, Waterways Experiment Station, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, Vicksburg, MS.
Houde, E.D. and E.S. Rutherford. 1993. Recent trends in estuanne fisheries: predictions of fish
production and yield. Estuaries 16(2): 161-176.
Karr, J.R 1991. Assessment of biotic integrity using fish communities. Fisheries 6:21-27.
Karr, J.R. and E.W. Chu. 1999. Restoring life in running waters. Island Press, Washington, DC.
Lussier, S.M., C. Wigand, S. DaSilva and M. Charpentier. 2002. Relationships among
watershed attributes and biotic integrity in streams and salt marshes. Poster
presentation at the Watersheds Conference, Florida.
Lussier, S.M., C. Wigand, S. DaSilva, M. Charpentier, S,C. Cormier and D.J. Klemm. 2002
A Watershed approach to understanding anthropogenic influences on streams and
their receiving salt marshes. Poster presentation at the North American
Benthological Society, Pennsylvania.
McKinney, R., W.G. Nelson, M.A. Charpentier and C. Wigand. 2001. Ribbed mussel
nitrogen isotope signatures reflect nitrogen sources in coastal salt marshes.
Ecological Applications 11:203 - 214.
Meng, L. and J.C. Powell. 1999. Linking juvenile fish and their habitats: an example from
Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. Estuaries 22:905-916.
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Meng, L., C. Gray, B. Tap Jin and E. Kupcha. 2000. Using winter flounder growth rates to
assess habitat quality in Rhode Island's coastal lagoons. Marine Ecology Progress
Series 201:287-299.
Meng, L., J.C. Powell and B. Taplin. 2001. Using winter flounder growth rates to assess
habitat quality across an anthropogenic gradient in Narragansett Bay, Rhode
Island. Estuaries 24:576-584.
Meng, L., C. Orphanides and J.C. Powell. 2002. Using a fish index to assess habitat quality
in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island: the importance of the upper estuary.
Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 131:731-742.
Mitsch, W.J. and J.G. Gosselink. 2000. Wetlands (Third Edition). John Wiley and Sons, Inc. NY,
NY.
National Research Council. 1997. Building a Foundation for Sound Environmental Decisions.
National Academy Press, Washington, DC.
Pesch, C.E. and J. Garber. 2001. Historical analysis, a valuable tool in community-based
environmental protection. Marine Pollution Bulletin 42:339-349.
Rapport, D.J., R. Costanza, P.R. Epstein, C.L. Gaudet and R. Levins. 1998. Ecosystem health.
Blackwell Science, Maiden, MA.
Robertson, G J., F. Cooke, R.I. Goudie and W.S Boyd. 1998. The timing of pair formation in
Harlequin Ducks Condor 100 5 51 -5 5 5.
Stein, B.A. and S.R. Flack. 1997. 1997 Species Report Card, the state of U.S. plants and animals.
The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA.
Stott, R.S. and D.P. Olson. 1972. An evaluation of waterfowl surveys on the New Hampshire
coastline. Journal of Wildlife Management 36:996-1007.
Stott, R.S. and D.P. Olson. 1973. Food-habitat relationship of sea ducks on the New Hampshire
coastline. Ecology 36:468-477.
Voyer, R. A., C.E .Pesch, J. Garber, J. Copeland and R Comeleo. 2000. New Bedford,
Massachusetts: A story of urbanization and ecological connections. Environmental
History 5:352-377.
Warren, M.L. and B.M Burr. 1994 Status of freshwater fishes of the United States: overview of
an imperiled fauna. Fisheries 19:6-17.
Wigand, C. and G. Thursby. 2000. Strategy for Evaluating Ecological Integrity of Salt
Marshes (APM 552; Internal EPA - NHEERL document).
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Wigand, C., R. Comeleo, R. McKinney, G. Thursby, M. Chintala and M. Charpentier.
2001. Outline of a new approach to evaluate ecological integrity of salt marshes.
Human and Ecological Risk Assessment 7:1541-1554.
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,uj i
0- V Sediment PCB Concentrations (ppm)
Effects of
Contaminated
Sediment
(before)
(after)
76 27 28
20 P
¦ 0-10
10-50
~ 50-100
m 100-500
¦ >500
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o> 2.
Q- Q)
3'3
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Effects of Contaminated Sediment (GPRA Goals 2 and 5)
Agency Problem
EPA's mission is to protect human health and to safeguard the natural environment - air, water,
and land - upon which life depends Sediments are an integral component of aquatic ecosystems
providing a habitat for many aquatic organisms Many sediment-dwelling organisms at the base
of the food chain are eaten by organisms at higher trophic levels. Chemicals released to surface
waters from industrial and municipal discharges, atmospheric deposition, and polluted runoff
from urban and agricultural areas can accumulate in sediment to environmentally harmful levels
Humans, aquatic organisms, and wildlife are at risk through direct exposure to pollutants or
through consumption of contaminated fish and wildlife Exposure to these contaminants is
linked to cancer, birth defects, neurological defects, immune dysfunction, and liver and kidney
ailments Contaminated sediments may also cause economic impacts to corporations and
taxpayers, at both the local and regional level (U S EPA in prep a)
In 1997, the National Sediment Quality Survey (U.S EPA 1997) identified potential sediment
contamination in all regions and states Currently, there are over 2,800 fish consumption
advisories in the US and these are often traced to sediment contamination. In addition, there are
340 Superfiind sites that have at least a partial sediment component. For these reasons, EPA has
had to respond to an increasing amount of congressional interest and mandates regarding
contaminated sediment This includes addressing the recommendations made in the National
Research Council (NRC) report entitled A Risk Management Strategy for PCB-Contaminated
Sediments (NRC 2001). One of the report's recommendations was that EPA increase research to
reduce the uncertainty surrounding contaminated sediment issues, not only the ecological effects
of contaminated sediment itself but also the effects of available remedial technologies (e g ,
dredging, natural attenuation).
Objectives of Research
In 2001, U.S. EPA's Science Policy Council (SPC) initiated the development of the
Contaminated Sediments Science Plan (CSSP) (U S EPA in prep b). The CSSP was coordinated
across EPA program and Regional Offices because contamination of sediments is a multi-
faceted, cross-Agency issue The CSSP identified key scientific questions that ORD and
NHEERL research should address-
a Sediment Site Characterization: What physical, chemical and biological
methods best characterize sediments and assess sediment quality?
b. Exposure Assessment: What are the primary exposure pathways to humans and
wildlife from contaminants in sediments and how can we reduce uncertainty in
quantifying and modeling the degree of exposure?
c Health Effects and Risk Assessment: What are the risks associated with
1
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exposure to contaminants in sediments through direct and indirect pathways9
d Ecological Effects and Risk Assessment: What are the risks associated with
exposure to contaminants m sediments to wildlife species and aquatic
communities?
e. Sediment Remediation: What sediment remedial technology or combination of
technologies is available to effectively remediate sites7
f. Baseline and Post-Remediation Monitoring: What types of monitoring are
needed to ensure that the implemented remedy meets remedial performance goals
and does not cause unacceptable short-term effects?
g Information Management and Exchange Activities: How do we improve
information management and exchange activities on contaminated sediments
across the Agency?
ORD has developed the Goal 5 Contaminated Sites Multi-Year Plan to address these and other
contaminated sediment issues with the Long Term Goal (LTG) of providing "scientific tools,
methods, models, data, guidance, and technical support to more accurately, rapidly, and cost-
effectively characterize the extent of site contamination, estimate risks to human health and the
environment, and evaluate residual (post-cleanup) risks". Additionally, ORD in collaboration
with the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response's (OSWER) Office of Emergency and
Remedial Response (OERR, Superfund), the Office of Water (OW), and the Regions have
instituted a number of Focus Groups to address the important technical issues in contaminated
sediments outlined in the CSSP The Focus Group topics are:
bioaccumulation and fate and transport modeling
biological, chemical and physical monitoring approaches
risk management
community involvement
ecological significance
dermal contact
The Focus Groups will review the state of science needed to address contaminated sediment
problems, recommend research approaches and annual performance goals and measures to help
solve those problems, and facilitate communication of research results. ORD's Multi-Year Plan
and Focus Group activities will help ORD meet its commitments to the CSSP.
Approaches and Recent Accomplishments
AED has had an active contaminated sediment research program for more than 20 years The
majority of this work was conducted to support OW in attainment of Goal 2 - Water Quality
(e.g , Equilibrium Partitioning Sediment Benchmark development: Burgess and Ryba 1998,
Burgess and McKinney 1999, Burgess et al 2000, 2001, Boothman et al 2001, Cantwell and
Burgess 2001, Berry et al 1999, O'Connor and Paul 2000, U.S. EPA 2002a-g), and as technical
assistance at sediment sites (e g, support to Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) and Region 1 at
2
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the New Bedford Harbor Superfund site-Nelson et al 1996, Hoetal 1997, Bergen et al 1998)
In FY 2002, NHEERL transferred 10 positions from Goal 2 to support OERR's Superfund-
related contaminated sediment research needs in Goal 5 The purpose of this redirection of
resources was to increase research which provides the scientific basis for the regulation and
remediation of contaminated sediment, specifically those sediments at Superfund sites. Five of
those positions are located at AED, with the remainder being assigned to NHEERL's Mid-
Continent Division (MED) in Duluth, MN The objective of NHEERL's and AED's future
contaminated sediment research will be to support attainment of the LTG of the Contaminated
Sites Multi-Year Plan in response to the science needs of OERR. Within the next six months,
NHEERL staff will develop a multi-year implementation plan (MYIP) which will descnbe the
specific research which will be undertaken at AED and MED to reach this goal.
During this initial period of transition of research effort from Goal 2 to Goal 5, AED is focusing
on three main areas of activity- 1) timely completion of the Contaminated Sediment research
products originally initiated in Goal 2; 2) responding to OERR's stated highest priority " . to
continue to provide site-specific technical support", and 3) research planning to support
development of the NHEERL Goal 5 MYIP. The following are summaries of AED's current
problem-solving research, site-specific technical support, and program support activities related
to contaminated sediment in the first two areas above.
Equilibrium Partitioning Sediment Benchmarks (ESBs)
Regulatory programs in OERR and OW require methods to evaluate, at least in a screening
mode, the potential toxicity of sediments Many of the numerical sediment guidelines developed
to date rely on empirical relationships between sediment chemistry and biological effects.
However, the use of such guidelines is limited in situations where it is important to predict the
biological effect of a particular chemical or class of chemicals In earlier research supporting
OW in Goal 2, a scientifically defensible approach was developed by AED, MED and
NHEERL's Western Ecology Division (WED) to derive sediment concentrations protective of
benthic organisms using equilibrium partitioning as the technical basis (e.g., Berry et al. 1999,
U.S. EPA 2002a-g). These Equilibrium Partitioning Sediment Benchmarks (ESBs) are based on
laboratory sediment effects data and geochemical models of bioavailability As the culmination
of this research, descriptions are being produced of the ESB methodology and its application for
cationic metals, two pesticides, and PAHs. The description for cationic metals will include an
appendix describing research to support benchmark development for chromium, performed in
part in assistance to the Shipyard Creek Superfund site in Region 4 ESB methods for site-
specific applications are also available, together with screening values for 67 other contaminants.
The ESB approach provides a variable level of protection to suit resource management needs, as
long as sufficient effects data are available. Site-specific application can be made by adjusting
the level of protection for specific receptors and, if necessary, accounting for unusual chemical
partitioning at a site. The seven ESB documents (U.S. EPA, 2002 a-g) will be completed under
Goal 5 by the end of 2003. Completion of these products represents the conclusion of AED's
sediment benchmark research
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Toxicity Identification and Evaluation
NHEERL and AED have developed methods to diagnose the likely causes of sediment toxicity
when such impairment is observed (Burgess et al. 2000, Ho et al. 1997, 2002). Toxicity
Identification and Evaluation (TIE) procedures use chemical manipulations to partition toxicity
among classes of chemicals, such as metals, organic compounds and ammonia (Ho et al. 2002).
In TIE, chemical stressors are first considered in broad classes, and as the evaluation proceeds,
the focus moves to specific toxicants. In this way, large numbers of insignificant toxicants are
excluded from further consideration. For example, sediment toxicity may be first classified as
being caused by organic contaminants, then narrowed to pesticides, and finally identified as
being due to DDT. Based on TIE data, site remediation efforts can be designed to target
contaminants determined to be causing toxic effects (Ho et al. 1997). As with the ESB research
descnbed above, AED's TIE research is moving towards final completion with development of a
guidance document scheduled for completion in the upcoming year As a joint product with
GED, this guidance describes TIE procedures for marine and freshwater sediments, and directly
supports attainment of the Goal 2 LTG for diagnostic methods (see "Diagnosing Ecological
Impairment" earlier in this Briefing Book)
National Sediment Inventory
On a biennial basis, OW is required to report to Congress on the condition of the sediments in
US waters. The National Sediment Inventory (NSI) is a project which provides information used
to help set national policy on contaminated sediments AED scientists have served on the
Technical Advisory Board for the NSI since its inception, providing technical assistance and
advice on contaminated sediment issues.
New Bedford Harbor Superfund Site
In support of OSWER and EPA Regions, AED has provided technical support to a large number
of Superfund remedial investigations around the Nation over the past several decades (e g., Nacci
et al. 2000, Johnston et al 2001, 2002). In particular, we are providing substantial assistance to
Region 1 at New Bedford Harbor (MA), one of the Nation's largest marine Superfund sites, and
one with extreme PCB sediment contamination. We participated in the initial sediment toxicity
testing at this site in the mid-1980's. During a pilot dredging feasibility study in 1987, AED
designed and implemented a real-time monitoring program, including developing site-specific
decision criteria used by the Region to manage offsite release of PCBs during dredging
operations (Bergen et al 1998). Over the last 15 years, AED scientists, in conjunction with EPA
Region 1 and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, have designed monitoring programs to assess
the effects of a variety of remedial and other sediment-related activities (e g , Hot Spot
remediation, pre-design dredge field testing). We have also designed, and currently participate
in, the long-term monitoring program that will be used to assess the overall effectiveness of all
remedial activities (Nelson et al. 1996) This design is based on the probabilistic survey
methodology developed by ORD's Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP,
descnbed in earlier sections of this Briefing Book) In addition to these technical assistance
activities, several site-specific biological, chemical, and physical research activities have been
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conducted by AED at New Bedford Harbor (e g , Munns et al. 1997, Nacci et al 1998, 2002a-b,
Black et al. 1998a-b) These efforts have produced information that was incorporated into the
Superfund decision-making process for the site, as well as directly addressing specific research
objectives in Goals 4 and 8 Currently, AED staff are members of the New Bedford Harbor
oversight committee which provides technical advice to the site Remedial Project Managers
(RPMs), and are supporting plan development for the full-scale upper Harbor remediation.
Contaminated Aquatic Sediment Remedial Guidance Workgroup
The multi-agency Contaminated Aquatic Sediment Remedial Guidance Workgroup (CASRGW)
was formed in 1998 to assist OERR in developing national guidance for selecting amongst
remedial options at Superfund sites. Together with representatives of OERR, ORD's Office of
Science Policy, EPA's Regions, NOAA, ACOE, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and site
RPMs, AED is developing guidance that describes four of the most commonly selected remedial
options (dredging, capping, monitored natural process and no action), together with the
advantages and disadvantages of each, and consideration for selecting amongst them on a site-
specific basis. This guidance currently is in Agency-level review, and is scheduled for
completion by the end of 2002.
Contaminated Sediments Technical Advisory Group
OSWER Directive 9285.6-08, Principles for Managing Contaminated Sediment Risfa at
Hazardous Waste Sites (February 12, 2002), established the Contaminated Sediments Technical
Advisory Group (CSTAG) to "monitor the progress of and provide advice regarding a small
number of large, complex, or controversial contaminated sediment Superfund sites " CSTAG
has three main purposes' 1) to help RPMs of a select number of large, complex, or controversial
sediment sites investigate and manage their sites in accordance with OSWER's 11 Risk
Management Principles, 2) to encourage national consistency m the management of sediment
sites by providing a forum for exchange of technical and policy information; and 3) to provide a
mechanism for monitoring and evaluating the progress at a number of the largest and most
complex sites. CSTAG membership consists of one representative from each EPA Region, two
from ORD, one from OW, and two from OERR. AED's Barbara Bergen currently is one of
ORD's representatives on CSTAG The group has reviewed two sites to date: the Kalamazoo
River (MI) and the Ashland (Northern States Power) Lakefront (WI). A review of the
Housatonic River (MA) site is scheduled for October 2002.
AED's current Contaminated Sediment Effects research supports attainment of the LTG of
ORD's MYP for Contaminated Sites with the following products. We expect that NHEERL
multi-year implementation planning will identify additional future products that reflect
application of AED's expertise to priority OERR science needs.
Annual Performance Goal (APG) - In FY05, provide improved methods, tools, and
guidance on contaminated sediment ecological issues
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Annual Performance Measure (APM) - In FY04, provide an approach for long-
term ecological monitoring to assess the effectiveness of contaminated sediment
remediation at the New Bedford Harbor, MA, Superfund site
Impacts of Research
The NHEERL research program for Contaminated Sediment Effects in support of the
Contaminated Sites MYP is in its planning stage However, completion of the research
described above will contribute to the science needs of both OERR and OW. Completion of the
ESB documents represents closure to the critical path of research providing screening-level risk
assessment tools for cationic metals, pesticides, and PAHs The significance of this research was
recognized by OW m awarding its Science Achievement Award for Water Quality to scientists
from AED and MED. Additionally, the diagnostic approach described by TIE guidance will
support determination of the causes of toxicity when such impairment is observed. Both can be
used as effective decision-support tools for managing the risks of contaminated sediment.
AED's support of national guidance development helps bring consistency to the Superfund
process A lack of national consistency in EPA's approach to sediment is one reason Potentially
Responsible Parties (PRPs) often cite in arguments to limit their liability at contaminated
sediment sites. The CASRGW document will be used nationally to assist RPMs in comparing
and selecting remedial options at Superfund sites This guidance is the first step in the critical
path to achieve ORD's MYP long-term goal for risk management ". .selecting, implementing
and verifying remediation options for contaminated sites" (U S. EPA 2001).
Another criticism used by PRPs in arguments to reduce or eliminate liability is that monitoring
during sediment remediation, as well as documentation of the effectiveness of the selected
remedy, are inadequate or even nonexistent at sediment sites. In addition to supporting
development of effective monitoring designs and providing site-specific data, AED is assisted
OERR staff in developing a monitoring "fact sheet". When complete, this and other topically-
oriented fact sheets will be given to all RPMs nationally to ensure that scientifically sound proper
monitoring approaches, including collection of appropriate baseline samples, are employed at all
Superfund sediment sites This support provides the foundation for addressing ORD's MYP
Long-Term Goal, specifically with respect to site characterization and monitoring components
(U.S. EPA 2001)
Remaining Needs
Reflecting the recent transition of our contaminated sediments research from Goal 2 to Goal 5,
the next step in our planning process will be the completion of the NHEERL MYIP. AED and
MED staff will develop this plan over the next 6 months and continue an on-going dialogue with
OERR to enhance our understanding of the nature and format of products that will most directly
support the ORD Contaminated Sites LTG. It is likely that NHEERL's future Contaminated
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Sediment Effects research will include studies on the uptake of contaminants from sediment and
their effects once they reach biotic compartments, in addition to research to evaluate the
ecological effectiveness of various remedial options
References
(References cited in bold signify AED research products)
Bergen, B.J., K. Rahn and W.G. Nelson 1998. Remediation at a marine Superfund site:
surficial sediment PCB congener concentration, composition and redistribution.
Environmental Science and Technology 32:3496-3501.
Berry, W.J., M.G. Cantwell, P.A. Edwards, J.R. Serbst and D.J. Hansen. 1999. Predicting
toxicity of sediments spiked with silver. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
18(l):40-48.
Black, D.E., R.E. Gutjahr-Gobell, R.J. Pruell, B.J. Bergen, L.J. Mills and A.E. McElroy.
1998a. Reproduction and polychlorinated biphenyls in Fundulus heteroclitus
(Linnaeus) from New Bedford Harbor, Massachusetts, USA. Environmental
Toxicology and Chemistry 17(7):1405-1444.
Black, D.E., R.E. Gutjahr-Gobell, R.J. Pruell, B.J. Bergen and A.E. McElroy. 1998b.
Effects of a mixture of non-ortho- and mono-ortho-polychlorinated biphenyls on
reproduction in Fundulus heteroclitus (Linnaeus). Environmental Toxicology and
Chemistry 17(7): 1396-1404.
Boothman, W.S., D.J. Hansen, W.J. Berry, D.L. Robson, A. Helmstetter, J.M. Corbin and
S.D. Pratt. 2001. Biological response to variation of acid-volatile sulfides and metals
in field-exposed spiked sediments. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
20(2):264-272.
Burgess, R.M. and R.A. McKinney. 1999. Importance of interstitial, overlying water and
whole sediment exposures to bioaccumulation by marine bivalves. Environmental
Pollution 104:373-382.
Burgess, R.M. and S.A. Ryba. 1998. Comparison of colloid-contaminant C18-based
isolation techniques using PCB contaminated humic substances and interstitial
water. Chemosphere 36(ll):2549-2568.
Burgess, R.M., S.A. Ryba and M.G. Cantwell. 2000. Importance of organic carbon quantity
on the variation of K,,,. in marine sediments. Toxicologica! and Environmental
Chemistry 77:9-29.
Burgess, R.M., S.A. Ryba, M.G. Cantwell and J.L. Gundersen. 2001. Exploratory analysis
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of the effects of particulate characteristics on the variation in partitioning of
nonpolar organic contaminants to marine sediments. Water Research
35(18):4390-4404.
Cantwell, M.G. and R.M. Burgess. 2001. Metal-colloid partitioning in artificial interstitial
waters of marine sediments: influences of salinity, pH, and colloidal organic carbon
concentration. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 20(ll):2420-2427.
Ho K.T., R. McKinney, A. Kuhn, M. Pelletier and R. Burgess. 1997. Identification of acute
toxicants in New Bedford Harbor sediments. Environmental Toxicology and
Chemistry 16:551-558.
Ho K.T., R.M. Burgess, M. Pelletier, J.R. Serbst, S.A. Ryba, M.G. Cantwell, A. Kuhn and
P. Raczelowski. 2002. An overview of toxicant identification in sediments and
dredged materials. Marine Pollution Bulletin 44:286-293.
Johnston, R.K., W.R. Munns, Jr. and D.E. Nacci. 2001. A probabilistic analysis to
determine ecological risk drivers. In: Environmental Toxicology and Risk
Assessment: Science, Policy, and Standardization - Implications for Environmental
Decisions: Tenth Volume, ASTM STP 1403. B.M. Greenberg, R.N. Hull, M.H.
Roberts, Jr., and R.W. Gensemer, eds. West Conshohocken, PA: American Society
for Testing and Materials, pp 68-82.
Johnston, R.K., W.R. Munns, Jr., P.L. Tyler, P. Marajh-Whitemore, K. Finkelstein, K.
Munney, F.T. Short, A. Melville and S.P. Hahn. 2002. Weighing the evidence of
ecological risk from chemical contamination in the estuarine environment adjacent
to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine, USA. Environmental Toxicology
and Chemistry 21(1):182-194.
Munns, W.R., Jr., D.E. Black, T.R. Gleason, K. Salomon, D.A. Bengtson and R.E.
Gutjahr-Gobell. 1997. Evaluation of the effects of dioxin and PCBs on Fundulus
heteroclitus populations using a modeling approach. Environmental Toxicology and
Chemistry 16(5):1074-1081.
Nacci, D.E., L. Coiro, A. Kuhn, D. Champlin, W.R. Munns, Jr., J.L. Specker and K.R.
Cooper. 1998. Nondestructive indicator of ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity in
embryonic fish. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 17(12):2481-2486.
Nacci, D.E., J.R. Serbst, T.R. Gleason, S. Cayula, G.B. Thursby, W.R. Munns, Jr. and R.K.
Johnston. 2000. Biological responses of the sea urchin, Arbacia punctulata, to lead
contamination for an estuarine ecological risk assessment. Journal of Aquatic
Ecosystem Stress and Recovery 7:187-199.
Nacci, D.E., D. Champlin, L. Coiro, R. McKinney and S. Jayaraman. 2002a. Predicting the
occurrence of adaptation to dioxin-like compounds in populations of the estuarine
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fish, Fundulus heteroclitus. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 21(7):1525-
1532.
Nacci, D.E., T.R. Gleason, R. Gutjahr-GobeN, M. Huber and W.R. Munns, Jr. 2002b.
Effects of chronic stress on wildlife populations: a modeling approach and case
study. In: Coastal and Estuarine Risk Assessment: Risk on the Edge (M.C.
Newman, M.H. Roberts, Jr. and R.C. Hale, eds.), CRC Press/Lewis Publishers, New
York, pp. 247-272.
National Research Council. 2001. A Risk Management Strategy for PCB-Contaminated
Sediments. National Academy Press, Washington DC
Nelson, W.G., B.J. Bergen, S.J. Benyi, G. Morrison, R.A. Voyer, C.J. Strobel, S. Rego, G.
Thursby and C.E. Pesch. 1996. New Bedford Harbor Long-Term Monitoring
Assessment Report: Baseline Sampling. EPA/600/R-96/097, Office of Research and
Development, Narragansett, RI.
O'Conner, T.P. and J.F. Paul. 2000. Misfit between sediment toxicity and chemistry.
Marine Pollution Bulletin 40(l):59-64.
U S EPA. 1997 The incidence and seventy of sediment contamination in surface waters of the
United States: EPA's Report to Congress National Sediment Quality Survey. Office of
Water, Washington, DC.
U S EPA. 2001. Contaminated Sites Multi-Year Research Plan, FY2001 version. Office of
Research and Development, Washington, DC.
U.S. EPA. 2002a. Procedures for deriving Equilibrium Partitioning Sediment Benchmarks
(ESBs) for the protection of benthic organisms: Endrin. EPA-600-R-02-009, Office
of Research and Development, Washington, DC.
U.S. EPA. 2002b. Procedures for deriving Equilibrium Partitioning Sediment Benchmarks
(ESBs) for the protection of benthic organisms: Dieldrin. EPA-600-R-02-010, Office
of Research and Development, Washington, DC.
U.S. EPA. 2002c. Procedures for deriving Equilibrium Partitioning Sediment Benchmarks
(ESBs) for the protection of benthic organisms: metal mixtures (cadmium, copper,
lead, nickel, silver, and zinc). EPA-600-R-02-011, Office of Research and
Development, Washington, DC.
U.S. EPA. 2002d. Procedures for deriving Equilibrium Partitioning Sediment Benchmarks
(ESBs) for the protection of benthic organisms: nonionic organics. EPA-600-R-02-
012, Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC.
U.S. EPA. 2002e. Procedures for deriving Equilibrium Partitioning Sediment Benchmarks
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(ESBs) for the protection of benthic organisms: PAH mixtures. EPA-600-R-02-013,
Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC.
U.S. EPA. 2002f. Technical Basis for the derivation of Equilibrium Partitioning Sediment
Benchmarks (ESBs) for the protection of benthic organisms: nonionic organics.
EPA-600-R-02-014, Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC.
U.S. EPA. 2002g. Procedures for deriving Equilibrium Partitioning Sediment Benchmarks
(ESBs) for the protection of benthic organisms: nonionics compendium. EPA-600-R-
02-016, Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC.
U S. EPA. in prep a October 2002 draft out for public review. OSWER Guidance #9355.0-85
Contaminated Sediment Remediation Guidance for Hazardous Waste Sites.
U S. EPA. in prep b. June 13, 2002 draft out for public review. Contaminated Sediment Science
Plan. Contaminated Sediment Science Plan Workgroup of the Science Policy Council
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Integrative Research -
Integrating Ecology, Human Health and
Socioeconomics (GPRA Goal 8) J
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Integrative Research
Integrating Ecology, Human Health and Socioeconomics (GPRA Goal 8)
Agency Problem
Environmental and public health policy continues to evolve in response to new and complex
social, economic and environmental drivers. Globalization and centralization of commerce,
evolving patterns of land use (e g., urbanization, deforestation), and technological advances in
such areas as manufacturing and development of genetically modified foods have created new
and complex classes of stressors and risks (e.g., climate change, emergent and opportunist
disease, sprawl, genomic change). The Agency's current media-specific and unidisciplinary
focus is ill equipped to address these risks as they pertain to protection and sustamabihty of
human health and the environment
At the heart of this issue is the fact that human living standards are inextricably linked through
the economy to the integrity of the natural resources from which they are derived. Reconciliation
of society's developmental goals with the planet's environmental limits over the long term is the
foundation of the idea of sustainable development (NRC 1999). Currently, the efforts to link
human health, ecological condition and socioeconomics are disjointed, and without integrating
mechanism. The complex trade-offs needed to shape sustainable living standards will require a
much greater ability to predict the consequences of public policy with respect to both
socioeconomic and environmental conditions.
To address this challenge, EPA requires an understanding of the causal linkages between policy
decisions and their consequences with respect to economic productivity and environmental
quality, and the methods and tools to evaluate policy options for their consequences The science
needed to support this understanding includes determining the impacts of human activity patterns
on human well-being as mediated through the environment, as well as identifying the
information and tools needed to support decisions directed towards human and environmental
well-being.
ORD/NHEERL/AED Research Approach and Recent Accomplishments
An organizational goal of ORD and NHEERL is to anticipate future environmental issues that
will affect the Agency's ability to accomplish its human health and environmental protection
mission - a portion of our research should be forward-looking to prepare the Agency to meet
emerging problems with science-based solutions. As part of our core research effort, we have
undertaken two principal activities to begin addressing the integration needs outlined above. The
first is a collaborative effort involving ORD, the WHO International Programme on Chemical
Safety (IPCS), the European Commission (EC), and the Organization for Economic Cooperation
and Development (OECD) to foster integration of assessment approaches used to evaluate human
health and ecological risks. The second is a joint research project involving NHEERL, and
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ORD's National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL) and National Center for
Environmental Assessment (NCEA) that initially focuses on testing and demonstrating integrated
environmental-socioeconomic approaches in the Mid-Atlantic Highlands region of the US in
partnership with the Canaan Valley Institute (CVI). This latter effort also indirectly supports a
Long Term Goal of ORD's Water Quality Multi-Year Plan that "Federal, State and local
managers are provided the tools to restore and protect aquatic systems and to forecast the
ecological, economic, and human health outcomes of alternative solutions." As intermediate
goals and products in this effort, ORD will:
Annual Performance Goal (APG) - Demonstrate proof of concept integrated assessments
for allocation of restoration resources within context of relevant socioeconomic factors,
infrastructure, and ecological integrity by 2006
Annual Performance Measure (APM) Report on integrated application of
regional planning for economic development, infrastructure development and
replacement, and strategic restoration and pollution prevention investments in
2006.
Integrating Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment
Recognizing the need to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of risk assessments globally,
ORD, IPCS, EC and OECD formed a collaborative partnership to foster integration of
assessment approaches used to evaluate human health and ecological nsks (Munns et al. in press
a). AED played a key leadership role m all phases of this collaboration. The primary objectives
of this effort include' 1) ensuring better understanding of the benefits of integration, 2)
identifying the obstacles that might be encountered in the integration process; and 3) engaging
key agencies, organizations, and scientific societies to promote discussion of integration.
Through a series of international meetings and working sessions (e g., Munns and MacPhail
2002), a framework and supporting documentation were developed that describe an approach for
integration based on existing models for health and ecological risk assessment (Suter et al. in
press) Four case studies were constructed to illustrate how integrated risk assessments might be
conducted for chemical (persistent organic pollutants, Ross and Birnbaum in press; butyltins and
phenyltins, Sekizawa et al. in press; organophosphorous pesticides, Vermeire et al. in press) and
nonchemical stressors (ultraviolet radiation, Hansen et al. in press). The concepts and
approaches developed in this effort were evaluated m an international workshop involving
approximately 40 environmental managers, risk assessors, and environmental scientists from
European, Asian, and North and South American countries Participants were asked to identify
the benefits of and obstacles to integration, the research needed to facilitate its implementation,
and the mechanisms and actions that facilitate practical application of integrated risk assessment
(Munns et al. in press b). As a final component to this research, planning is underway to conduct
an actual integrated risk assessment focusing on a nsk problem with high visibility to the
international environmental community AED's role in conducting that nsk assessment will be
determined by the risk problem and our technical expertise
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Integrating Ecology and Socioeconomics - the CVIProject
Two questions are central to our research to integrate ecology and socioeconomics-
What methods support the linkage of ecological and economic attributes7
How can these linkages be evaluated dynamically to permit alternative futures to be
evaluated in addition to current condition?
To begin answering these questions, ORD developed a partnership in 2001 with the Canaan
Valley Institute, a not-for-profit, non-advocacy organization committed to enhancing the ability
of the Mid-Atlantic Highland's residents to improve their quality of life. CVI works to help
communities build on their assets and implement locally-determined solutions to problems that
threaten their economic and environmental resources. Reflecting this mission, CVI is interested
not only in issues at the local scale, but also how the cumulative effects of these issues affect
ecoregions, subregions, and the entire Mid-Atlantic Highlands, as well as how decisions made at
the Highlands scale affect local issues. Developing tools through this partnership will help
ensure a direct connection to decision makers and stakeholders at multiple levels.
The "CVI Project" is focused on two primary objectives:
Developing a multi-scale, multi-issue process that integrates economic and ecological
information to support decision making
Illustrating how the process captures the cascading and ascending linkages from a
local watershed scale to the entire Highlands region
We initially are evaluating energy systems theory and economic valuation as providing the
concepts and approaches to link environmental and socioeconomic condition. AED's research
focuses on emergy analysis and its methods (Odum 1996, described below) to achieve project
objectives. NRMRL and NCEA are testing various methods of economic valuation to the same
end. Ultimately, the two approaches will be compared for their relative strengths, weaknesses
and possible synthesis. To support the primary objectives, AED's research is organized into
three related components:
Developing and comparing emergy inventories across multiple states to identify
differences in outcomes of policy implementation and economic investment
Developing and evaluating spatially-explicit models of emergy flows at multiple
spatial scales
Comparing findings from emergy and economic valuation to evaluate their potential
roles in supporting decision making
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Component 1 - Large scale emergy analysis of states and regions - The objective of this
component is to provide scientific evidence documenting the relationships between economic
productivity, environmental resources and equity of exchanges for states and regions in the
United States to support the development of sound public policies. In addition, these
macroscopic assessments will provide ecological-economic indices that are needed as inputs to
carry out environmental assessments at smaller scales.
Environmental accounting of macroeconomic relationships for states and regions will be earned
out through emergy auditing (Odum 1996). Emergy provides a complete accounting mechanism
for evaluating the environment because the work of the environment, economy and society are
made comparable by expressing each in equivalent units, solar equivalent joules (sej). Emergy
measures the real value in an economic or environmental product or service because it tabulates
the energy of all kinds (expressed m equivalent units) that was required both directly and
indirectly in making the product or service. Emergy can be thought of as an "energy memory"
because it quantifies the energy used in the past to make a product or service and as such it
requires a new umt of quantification, the emjoule, connoting past energy use. Extensive data
documenting the annual flows of energy and materials for the states and the nation are available
from US government and other sources. For the most part, these data are of known quality and
serve as the basis for performing an emergy audit. In an emergy audit an annual "income"
statement is created for the state, region, or nation under analysis by documenting all major
inflows, exports, production, and consumption using a standard energy systems model as the
starting point, and modifying it as needed based on the particular circumstances of the system
under evaluation. These raw data are converted to energy by using standard physical formulae,
and the energy flows converted to emergy by multiplying by the appropriate transformity
Transformity is the ratio of emergy input to the unit energy output for any specific entity. Many
transformities have been tabulated, but when one has not and is needed, it can be determined by
performing an emergy analysis of the production process for that entity. Once emergy values for
system flows and storages are determined, useful indices can be formed that provide information
on the relative degree of self-sufficiency, development intensity, resource import and export, and
human well-being that exist in the state when compared to the values of the same indices for
other states. Emergy analysis can address difficult questions for managers, such as 1) "What
degree of economic development is sustainable for a state or region?", 2) "Is there an equitable
exchange of real wealth between the state and other states or between the state and the nation?",
and (3) "What is the cost of environmental degradation in the state relative to economic gains?"
An emergy audit of the state of West Virginia has been completed in draft form. This analysis
examines inputs to and outputs from the state economy at the level of a macroeconomic analysis.
West Virginia's indices are being interpreted within the context of existing emergy analyses of
six other states (e.g., Campbell 1998) and the nation as a whole. Analyses of additional states in
the Northeast-Midwest region of the US are planned and will be used for comparison purposes.
These analyses are expected to be completed in the next two to three years.
Component 2 - Spatial modeling and emergy analysis of landscapes - The objective of this
research component is to produce models based on energy transformations as the underlying
causal factor to predict and interpret the spatial organization of environment, economy and
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society on the landscape. A change in the spatial organization of the landscape is often the most
noticeable result of an environmental policy choice, and is often of greatest interest to managers
and the residents of an area. The models being developed will allow evaluation of the effects of
policy alternatives on the environment, economy and society of systems with arbitrarily defined
spatial boundaries. Multiple scales of spatial aggregation can then be analyzed to make spatially-
explicit predictions by simulating the underlying energy based model. This format is often the
most meaningful to stakeholders and for developing policy at all scales of governance from local
watershed groups to the state as a whole.
Energy systems theory (Odum 1994) is being used as an integrating approach for modeling the
key interrelationships of environmental, economic and social factors on the landscape. The
vehicle for modeling spatial patterns is the construction of a "unit model" which explicitly
represents the kinetics and energetics of the network of interactions among the environmental,
economic and social factors that constitute the structural and functional organization of an
individual spatial unit. This research builds from a simpler approach used to quantify water,
nutrient and emergy movement at a watershed scale (Brandt-Williams 1999, Brandt-Williams
and Shirley 2001, Brandt-Williams 2002). These earlier simulations used energy and matenal
models to complete standard difference equations balancing flows in and out of each spatial unit,
with use or retention within each cell dependent upon the unique characteristics of that cell.
Similar cellular energy and emergy models have been developed and tested for a large repertoire
of natural and socioeconomic interactions (Odum 1994, 2001, Brandt-Williams 1999, Tilley
1999, Odum and Odum 2000)
The boundaries of a spatial unit can be defined arbitrarily, but for our purposes watershed and
political boundaries are most useful. The unit model is replicated over the entire area of the
system under analysis, and one spatial unit is linked to another using expressions for the
transport of energy materials, or information that is based on the underlying process and
infrastructure Change on the landscape is driven by the energy sources that enter each unit and
the rules controlling the transfer between units The internal dynamics of the unit model itself
determine the patterns that result. Emergy is being simulated concomitantly with the flows of
energy, material and information so that integrative emergy indices can be easily calculated over
the landscape and used as comprehensive evaluation criteria to judge the relative costs and
benefits of policy alternatives for the system over several scales of spatial aggregation
A conceptual model for unit spatial evaluations has been developed and a mathematically
explicit unit model should be complete in early 2003. Preliminary data required to run
simulations have been identified, and assessment of their availability and applicability will be
complete for West Virginia by the end of 2002. Development of deterministic models using
spatial energy and emergy data will begin immediately following data assessment. A version of
this model will also be used as the foundation for CVI's simulated watershed initiative, which is
attempting to develop a user-friendly, scenario-building tool for stakeholders to evaluate possible
futures for their watershed.
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Component 3 - Comparison of emergy analysis and economic methods for determining
value - The objective of this component is to evaluate and compare the costs and benefits of
alternative management choices using different assessment methods. One problem that decision
makers face in determining the best management policies for the environment is that the
conclusions drawn from different assessment methods can produce conflicting information about
the consequences of management alternatives. This research is comparing economic assessments
using market and nonmarket valuations with value as determined by comprehensive emergy
analysis
Economic value, whether market or nonmarket, is based on the willingness of people to pay for
something. Thus, value is determined by the receiver of the good or service, and is therefore a
subjective measure. The emergy value of a product or service is determined by accounting for all
the energy (in equivalent units) required for the existence of the product or service, and thus is
donor-based and objective in nature The emergy of a product or service is a measure of the real
wealth in it. Real wealth is what a product or service can do when used within the system
determining its design. For example, a gallon of gas will move a car only so many miles
regardless of the price of that gallon The real value of the gallon of gas is in what it can do
when used for its designated purpose Assuming people have perfect knowledge of the real value
of environmental and economic products and services, their subjective assessments of value
would be expected to correspond with the assessments of value based on emergy.
AED's approach to understanding the relationship between value as determined by these two
methodologies is to evaluate environmental management alternatives proposed to solve a
particular problem in West Virginia using both economic and energetic evaluations. Our initial
focus has been on the issue of flooding as an organizing principle to evaluate the relationships
among multiple environmental and socioeconomic components. Flooding is a major problem
identified by stakeholders throughout the Highlands, thereby satisfying the "multi-scale"
criterion of the first objective of the CVI Project. Working with local experts within CVI, we've
begun developing conceptual models (or "systems diagrams") reflecting the key components of
the environmental-socioeconomic systems realized at several spatial scales, starting at a localized
sub-watershed level and moving to the level of the entire Highlands region. This process has
identified changes in the controlling relationships among system components as the scale of
evaluation changes (e.g., the importance of mountain-top mining as an economic activity
influencing environmental condition), as well as changes in the perceived importance of various
environmental and socioeconomic stressors. Once completed, the systems diagrams will be
made mathematically explicit using information about the rates of the various processes linking
system components. Outputs from analyses of these models will then be compared with similar
analyses using economic valuation methods being developed concurrently by ORD's NRMRL
and NCEA.
AED is also participating in the development of an international Society of Toxicology and
Chemistry (SETAC) Pellston workshop ("Valuation of Ecological Resources: Integration of
Ecological Risk Assessment and Socio-Economics to Support Environmental Decisions") to help
address issues of valuation as they affect decision making. Scheduled for summer of 2003, the
overall goal of this workshop is to integrate the respective theories, tools, and procedures of
6
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ecological risk assessment and economics to support sound environmental decisions. Some of
the concepts upon which the Valuation workshop builds were developed in an NHEERL and
AED-sponsored predecessor Pellston workshop entitled "Interconnections Between Human
Health and Ecological Integrity" (DiGuilio and Benson 2002, Miranda et al 2002). The
Valuation workshop will support the objective of this component of our CVI Project.
Impacts of Research
With communication of the approach for integrated risk assessment (international peer review
and workshop; Munns et al. in press b), organizations responsible for evaluating risks of
chemical stressors have begun to embrace many of the concepts and approaches described in
Suter et al (in press). For example, the Netherlands National Institute of Public Health and the
Environment (RIVM) recently developed a probabilistic risk assessment of dibutylphthalate
(Vermeire et al. 2001, Jager et al. 2001). Although jurisdictional requirements prevented
performance of a completely integrated risk assessment, the assessment used data sets and
methods common to both human health and ecology to evaluate risks More broadly,
international organizations such as the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) have
begun to address some of the specific integrated risk assessment research needs identified by our
collaborative effort. Along these lines, NHEERL is currently evaluating future contributions we
can make integrating human health and ecological risk research.
In 2001, Congress directed EPA to develop a Highlands Action Program to implement
collaborative monitoring, research, management and restoration activities needed in the Mid-
Atlantic Highlands region CVI was specifically mentioned by Congress as playing an important
role in development of this program based on its mission and accomplishments CVI is
preparing a Highlands Action Program report (Canaan Valley Institute in prep.) in response to
this need, and has identified several key management questions concerning environmental and
socioeconomic conditions and trends in the Highlands. Working closely with the authors of this
report, ORD's CVI Project will provide the tools, information, and analyses needed to answer
those questions with a known degree of scientific confidence. Although our CVI Project effort
only began in earnest in 2001, it has already produced a tool (the West Virginia emergy analysis)
in draft form to answer some of these questions at a State level. Completion of similar analyses
for other States in the Highlands will permit a more complete assessment of environmental-
socioeconomic status for the entire region. Further, successful development and application of
the spatially-explicit unit model will support dynamic simulation of various management and
policy alternatives to help support selection of appropriate actions to meet management goals in
the Highlands. Once fully developed and demonstrated, these tools can be used throughout the
country to improve management decisions
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Remaining Needs
A final step remains with respect to meeting the objectives of our integrated risk assessment
research: completion of a truly integrated risk assessment. As mentioned, discussions are
currently underway to identify a risk problem with high visibility to the international
environmental community. A planning session of project collaborators is scheduled to coincide
with the upcoming annual meeting of SETAC that will define the specific objectives of this
assessment, and begin to develop candidate risk problems A strategy for conducting the
assessment will also be developed, as will a strategy for communicating the activity and its
results. Although AED will play a key role in this remaining step, our participation in
conducting integrated risk assessment activities will be determined by the risk problem and our
technical expertise.
Reflecting the maturity of ORD's CVI Project, substantial research remains to be conducted
before the goals of this effort can be met There are a number of technical challenges that must
be overcome to complete emergy analyses and produce an integrated, spatially-explicit
simulation model of the environment, economy and society. Most importantly is incompatibility
in the methods of collection and in the resolution of data sources for socioeconomic versus
environmental information. Creative solutions will need to be found to overcome this obstacle
References
(References cited in bold signify AED research products)
Brandt-Williams, S.L. 2002. Spatial emergy dynamics as an ecological engineering design tool.
In: Emergy Synthesis 2: Theory and Applications of the Emergy Methodology (M.
Brown, ed.), Center for Environmental Policy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
Brandt-Williams, S. and M. Shirley. 2001. An ecological landscape characterization of the
Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and Belle Meade Watershed. Report
to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Florida Department of
Environmental Protection
Brandt-Williams, S. 1999 Evaluation of watershed control of two central Florida lakes:
Newnans Lake and Lake Weir. Ph.D dissertation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
Campbell, D.E. 1998. Emergy analysis of human carrying capacity and regional
sustainability: an example using the State of Maine. Environmental Monitoring and
Assessment 51:531-569.
Canaan Valley Institute, (in prep.). Mid-Atlantic Highlands Action Program - Transforming the
Legacy. Canaan Valley Institute, Thomas, WV
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DiGuilio, R. and W. Benson. 2002. Interconnections Between Human Health and
Ecological Integrity. SET AC Press, Pensacola, FL.
Hansen, L., S.F. Hedtke, and W.R. Munns, Jr. (in press). Integrated human and ecological
risk assessment: A case study of ultraviolet radiation effects on amphibians, coral,
humans, and oceanic primary productivity. Human and Ecological Risk
Assessment.
Jager, T H.A. den Hollander, P. van der Poel, M.G.J. Rikken and T. Vermeire. 2001.
Probabilistic environmental risk assessment for dibutylphthalate (DBP). Human and
Ecological Risk Assessment 7 1681-1697.
Miranda, M.L., P. Mohai, J. Bus, G. Charnley, E. Doward-King, P. Foster, J. Leckie, and
W.R. Munns, Jr. 2002. Interconnections between human health and ecological
integrity: policy concepts and applications. In: Interconnections Between Human
Health and Ecological Integrity (R. DiGuilio and W. Benson, eds.), SETAC Press,
Pensacola, FL, pp. 15-41.
Munns, W.R., Jr., R. Kroes, G. Veith, G.W. Suter II, T. Damstra, M. Waters, (in press).
Approaches for integrated risk assessment. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment.
Munns, W.R., Jr. and R. MacPhail (eds.). 2002. Extrapolation in Human Health and
Ecological Risk Assessments. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment Special Issue
8:1-213.
Munns, W.R., Jr., G.W. Suter II, T. Damstra, R. Kroes, L.W. Reiter, and E. Marafante. (in
press). Integrated risk assessment - Recommendations of an international
workshop. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment.
NRC (National Research Council). 1999. Our common journey: a transition toward
sustainability. National Academy Press, Washington, DC.
Odum, H.T. 1994 Ecological and General Systems: An Introduction to Systems Ecology.
University Press of Colorado, Boulder, CO.
Odum, HT 1996 Environmental Accounting Wiley, New York
Odum, H.T. 2001. Simulating emergy and materials in hierarchical steps. In Emergy Synthesis-
Theory and Applications of the Emergy Methodology, Proceedings of the International
Workshop on Emergy and Energy Quality (M. Brown, S. Brandt-Williams, D. Tilley and
S. Ulgiati, eds), Center for Environmental Policy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL,
pp. 119-127.
Odum, H.T. and E C. Odum. 2000. Modeling for All Scales, an Introduction to System
Simulation. Academic Press, San Diego, CA.
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Ross, P. and L. Birnbaum. (in press). Integrated human and ecological risk assessment: A case
study of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) risks to humans and wildlife. Human and
Ecological Risk Assessment.
Sekizawa, J , G.W. Suter II and L. Bimbaum. (in press). Integrated human and ecological risk
assessment- A case study of tnbutyltin and tnphenyltin compounds Human and
Ecological Risk Assessment.
Suter, G.W. II, T. Vermeire, W.R. Munns, Jr. and J. Sekizawa. (in press). A framework for
the integration of health and ecological risk assessment. Human and Ecological Risk
Assessment.
Tilley, D. 1999. Emergy basis of forest systems. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Florida,
Gainesville, FL.
Vermeire, T., T. Jager, G. Janseen, P. Bos and M. Pieters. 2001. A probabilistic human health
risk assessment for environmental exposure to dibutylphthalate. Human and Ecological
Risk Assessment 7:1663-1679.
Vermeire, T., R. MacPhail and M. Waters, (in press). Integrated human and ecological risk
assessment. A case study of organophosphorous pesticides in the environment. Human
and Ecological Risk Assessment
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Leadership and Advice
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Atlantic Ecology Division
Scientific Leadership and Advice
Evidence of scientific leadership by Atlantic Ecology Division staff can be shown in several
ways Similarly, the extent to which advice and assistance are sought from our staff can be
demonstrated using various kinds of evidence. We have chosen to highlight our scientific
leadership and the degree to which our advice is sought by others by identifying awards received
by Division staff (Table 1), participation by staff in various committees, panels and advisory
boards (Table 2), participation in program, organizational and proposal reviews (Table 3),
academic appointments (Table 4), leadership roles in professional societies (Table 5), technical
presentations at professional meetings (Table 6), and recent (2001-2001) support and advice
provided to Regional Offices (Table 7).
The information in these tables (except Table 7) covers the 5-year period since AED's previous
Peer Review in 1997.
Table 1. Awards Received by Division Staff
EPA Awards
EPA Silver Medal for scientific contributions in leadership in developing the science and tools for monitoring and
assessing the status and trends of the condition of our environment
EPA Bronze Medal for demonstrating exceptional skill, creativity and attention to partner and stakeholder
involvement in completing an assessment of the current environmental condition of the Mid-Atlantic
estuaries
EPA Bronze Medal for Exceptional/Outstanding ORD Technical Assistance to the Regions or Program Offices as
part of the ORD Ecological Survey Design Team
EPA Bronze Medal for significant contributions toward maintaining and improving the science and technology base
for environmental and natural resource issues through production of the Region III (Mid-Atlantic) State of
the Estuaries Report
EPA Bronze Medal for significant achievement in the rapid response to Pfiesteria outbreaks, resulting in the
protection of human health-threatening conditions and effective coordination of an immediate response by
the Federal government
EPA Bronze Medal for creativity, scientific excellence, and endurance in creating the nation's first comprehensive
assessment of the ecological condition of a very important natural resource (EMAP Estuaries Team)
EPA Bronze Medal for dedicated service to EPA and the public by completing an extensive study of Hawaii sugar
mill discharges, thereby contributing to continuing compliance with existing effluent guidelines and
preventing potentially severe environmental impacts
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EPA Bronze Medal for outstanding leadership and initiative in the development and application of a marine
sediment testing program for the San Francisco Bay
EPA Bronze Metal for outstanding accomplishments in developing an innovative water quality criteria for dissolved
oxygen in saltwater to protect aquatic life in the Mid-Atlantic region
EPA Bronze Medal for the development of techniques to assess the risks of metals in sediments using interstitial
water metal concentrations and ratios of metals in sediments to acid volatile sulfide concentrations in
sediments
EPA Bronze Medal for Coastal 2000 implementation
EPA Bronze Medal as a member of the ORD Organization Development Team
EPA Bronze Medal for Commendable Service for the initiation and execution of the first integrated and
comprehensive survey of coastal condition throughout the Western United States
EPA Bronze Medal for the National Assessment Team for production of the first U S National Assessment Report
"Climate Change Impacts on the United States"
EPA Bronze Medal for Commendable Service for the development of a technically-rigorous basis upon which to
assess the environmental risk of metals in sediment using AVS SEM and interstitial water metal
concentrations
EPA Bronze Medal for Marine Toxicity Identification Evaluation (TIE) Guidance Document Phase I
EPA Science Achievement Award for Water Quality for National Sediment Quality Assessment Research
EPA Community-Based Environmental Protection Award, 1996
EPA Fellowship Award
Exceptional/Outstanding ORD Technical Assistance to the Regions or Program Offices for Exceptional
achievements in promoting EMAP monitoring design concepts and principles within States, Regions and
Tribes
EPA 2002 ORD Statesmanship Award given in Recognition of Outstanding Efforts of Providing the Scientific and
Technical Needs of the Program Offices, Regions ans States as a member of the National Coastal
Assessment - North East Coordination Team
EPA Region 1 Office Award for Superior Accomplishment Award
EPA New England Region 1 Employee of the Month for October as a member of the RI Team/Urban
Environmental Initiative
Lee M Thomas Excellence in Management Award
EPA Scientific and Technical Achievement Awards
(Awards for significant publications having impact on Agency needs)
1997 - Level III (1), Honorable Mention (2)
1998 - Level III (2), Honorable Mention (3)
1999 - Level III (2)
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Scientific Society Awards
American Chemical Society Division of Environmental Chemistry Award of Excellence
American Chemical Society Division of Environmental Chemistry Outstanding Graduate Student Award
Estuanne Research Federation Appreciation Award for Exceptional Contribution to ERF'97
American Fisheries Society Special Achievement Award
American Fisheries Society Outstanding Member Award
American Fisheries Society 1998 Skinner Memorial Award
National Society for Histotechnology Annual Conference, Outstanding Poster Presentation Award in the Veterinary,
Industry, and Research Fields
Best of Session Award- 4th International Conference on Remote Sensing for Marine and Coastal Environments
Honorable Mention, American Fisheries Society/Sea Grant Outstanding Student Paper Award, American Fisheries
Society 128th Annual Meeting
Other Awards
RI Governor's Commendation for participation in Rhode Island Oil Spill Assessment
U S Fish and Wildlife Service Special Recognition Award for "Recovery Plan for Native Fishes of the San
Francisco Bay Estuary"
National Science Foundation MEDI Fellowship
Women's Studies Student Association Women at the University of Florida Award
Certificate of Recogmtion from U S. Department of Commerce for serving as original member of Working Group
on Unusual Marine Mammal Mortalities
Unit Citation from DOC/NOAA Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere for contribution to the US Antarctic
Marine Living Resources Program
Letters of Recognition from Anne Arundel County Maryland for Leadership in Addressing Radium Problems in
Drinking Water
I
National Technical Association Top 10 Minority Women in the Umted States
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Table 2. Participation in Committees, Panels and Advisory Boards
International
Environment Canada Technical Subcommittee on Development of Guidelines
Environment Canada Method Development & Application Section Science Advisory Group
World Health Organization International Programme on Chemical Safety (WHO
IPCS)/Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)/U.S. EPA
Steering Group for Approaches to Integrated Risk Assessment
National Multi-Agency
Contaminated Aquatic Sediment Remedial Guidance Workgroup (CASRGW)
New Bedford Harbor Technical Advisory Panel
California/Federal Coalition to Restore San Francisco Bay (CAL/FED)
Everglades Restoration Initiative, USACE-Southern Golden Gates Estates Restoration
Interagency Planning Committee
NMFS/EPA/USCG/US Navy/COE Northeast Implementation Team for Recovery of the North
Atlantic Right Whale
NMFS Working Group on Unusual Marine Mammal Mortality Events
National Park Service, National Capital Region Science Advisory Committee
Mid-Atlantic Federal Partners for the Environment (MAFPE)
EPA/NOAA/USGS Clean Water Action Plan for Coastal Research and Monitoring Workgroup
U.S. EPA/U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE)/National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) Bioaccumulation Guidance Work Group
EPA
EPA Risk Assessment Forum, Eco-Risk Oversight Group
Contaminated Sediments Technical Advisory Group (CSTAG)
OERR/ORD/OW Contaminated Sediment Focus Groups
Chesapeake Bay Program Dissolved Oxygen Work Group
ORD Ecological Survey Design Team
Region 1 Technical Advisory Group for Nutrient Criteria in Estuaries and Coastal Waters
EMAP Information Management Working Group
EMAP Indicators Working Group
Region 2 Steering Committee - Case Studies on National Estuary Program's Use of
Environmental Indicators and Measurements
ReVA Steering Committee
ORD-Region III Mid-Atlantic Integrated Assessment Steering Committee
Mid-Atlantic Integrated Assessment Integrated Assessment Group
Mid-Atlantic Integrated Assessment Estuaries Assessment Group
Mid-Atlantic Integrated Assessment Forest Assessment Group
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Mid-Atlantic Integrated Assessment Surface Waters Assessment Group
Mid-Atlantic Integrated Assessment Ground Water Assessment Group
Mid-Atlantic Integrated Assessment Landscape Ecology Group
Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (CALM) Workgroup
Sediment Effects Research Group
Toxicity Identification Evaluation (TIE) Workgroup
Select Expert Review Team, Scientific Basis for Development of Dissolved Oxygen Criteria
for Chesapeake Bay
OW/ORD Stressor Identification Evaluation (SEE) Work Group
State and Local
Save the Bay (RI) Scientific Council and Advisory Board
New Jersey Sea Grant Science Advisory Council
Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrators (ASIWPCA) Water
Quality Monitoring Program National Assessment Workgroup
RI DOH Fish Advisory Group
Non-Governmental
National Association of Marine Laboratories (NAML)
University of Chicago External Advisory Board for Integrating Statistics and Environmental
Science
American Water Works Association Standard Methods Committee
Center for Urban Environmental Research and Education Urban Roundtable
Pennsylvania Consortium for Interdisciplinary Environmental Policy (PCIEP)
National Center for Graduate Education for Minorities
Harvard School of Public Health Superfund Basic Research Program
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Table 3. Participation in Program, Organizational and Proposal Reviews
Program and Organizational Reviews
NOAA/EPA/NASA Coastal Intensive Site Network (CISNet) Research Program (NCER)
EPA Region 2/CENAN Framework for Evaluating Dredged Material for Proposed Placement at
the HARS
Scientific Basis for Development of Dissolved Oxygen Criteria for Chesapeake Bay, Select
Expert Review Team
USGS Biological Resources Division Interagency Peer Review Panel
Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) of the Maryland Coastal Bays Program,
Environmental Goals for Aquatic Habitat
The Cooperative Institute for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Technology (CICEET)
USGS Woods Hole Research Program Review
Proposal Reviews
The Netherlands National Institute for Coastal and Marine Management
Environment Canada
NOAA Coastal Ocean Program, ECOHAB (Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal
Blooms)
ERF - Dissertation Symposium for the Advancement of Coastal, Estuarine and Great Lakes
Science applications
National Science Foundation
NOAA Graduate Fellowships for Narragansett Estuarine Research Reserve
Hudson River Foundation
Natural Environmental Research Council
NOAA National Undersea Research Center
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Massachusetts Bays Program
South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium
WHOI Sea Grant
Virginia Sea Grant
University of New Hampshire Sea Grant
Water Environment Research Foundation
Long Island Sound Research Fund
Harvard School of Public Health
California/Federal Coalition to Restore San Francisco Bay (CAL/FED)
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Table 4. Academic Appointments
Sherry Brandt-Williams - Florida Gulf Coast University, College of Arts and Science
Daniel Campbell - University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography
Daniel Campbell - Bigelow Laboratory for the Ocean Sciences
George Gardner - University of Puerto Rico, Marine Sciences
Timothy Gleason - University of Rhode Island, Department of Fisheries and Veterinary Sciences
Kay Ho - University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography
Wayne Munns - University of Rhode Island, Biomedical Sciences
Matthew Nicholson - University of Rhode Island, Natural Resources
Kenneth Perez - University of Rhode Island, Natural Resources Science
Gerald Pesch - University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography
Glen Thursby - University of Rhode Island, Biological Sciences
Cathleen Wigand - Bard College, Graduate School of Environmental Studies
Table 5. Leadership Roles in Professional Societies and Organizations
American Fisheries Society, Program Committee
American Fisheries Society - Early Life History Subdivision, Sally Richardson Committee
American Fisheries Society - Southern New England Chapter, Program Committee Chair
American Society for Testing and Materials, E47 Workgroup Co-chair
National Shellfisheries Association, Student Endowment and Awards Committee
National Society for Histotechnology, Veterinary, Industrial, and Research Committee,
Webmaster
Northeast Algal Society, Treasurer
Northeastern Association of Marine and Great Lakes Laboratories, President-Elect
Regional Association for Research on the Gulf of Maine, Chair
Regional Association for Research on the Gulf of Maine, Vice Chair
Regional Association for Research on the Gulf of Maine, Board Member
Rhode Island Society for Histotechnology, Board Member
Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Board of Directors
Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistiy, Standing Committee for Short Courses
Chair
Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Meetings Committee Chair
Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Annual Meeting Program Chair
Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Annual Meeting Program Committee
Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Editorial Board (2 staff)
Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Ecological Risk Assessment Advisory
Group Workgroup on Assessing Risks to Populations
Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry - North Atlantic Chapter, President
Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry - North Atlantic Chapter, Board Member
(5 staff)
Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry - North Atlantic Chapter, Short Course
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Committee Chair
Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Committee Chair
Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Chair
Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
North Atlantic Chapter, Nominations
North Atlantic Chapter, 1999 Meeting
North Atlantic Chapter, Webmaster
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Table 6. Technical Presentations at Professional Meetings
International
Meetine
Association of Applied Biologists Conference on Challenges of
Applied Population Biology
European Environmental Mutagen Society
European Environmental Mutagen Society 29th Annual Meeting
2nd Biennial International Workshop on Advances in Energy Studies -
Exploring Supplies, Constraints and Strategies
Human Health and Environmental Effects of Agent Orange/Dioxins
30th Annual Society Invertebrate Pathology
Aquatic Toxicity Workshop
Argentum V (Silver Conference)
UNEP/who/ipcs EC International Workshop on
Integrated Risk Assessment
American Society of Limnology and Oceanography
ASTM 10th Symposium on Environmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment
Science Policy and Standardization-Implications
for Environmental Decisions
Canadian Association of Geographers
Chapman Conference on the North Atlantic Oscillation
Coastal Stewardship Lessons Learned and the Paths Ahead
European Environmental Mutagen Society
Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry European Meeting
Wildlife Toxicology Program Science Meeting
Location Year #
London, England 1999 2
Vilnius, Lithuania 1999 2
Copenhagen, Denmark 1999 2
Porto Venere, Italy 2000 2
Hanoi, Viet Nam 2002 1
Banff, Canada 1997 1
Winnepeg, Canada 2001 1
Hamilton, Canada 2001 1
Orta, Italy 2001 1
Victoria, Canada 2002 1
Ontario, Canada 2000 I
Montreal, Canada 2001 1
Galicia, Spain 2000 I
St John, Canada 2000 1
Salzburg, Austria 1998 1
Leipzig, Germany 1999 1
Ottawa, Canada 2001 1
National/Regional/Local
Meetine
Location
Year
19th Annual ESRI International User Conference
San Diego, CA
1999
4th International Conference on Remote Sensing for Marine and
Coastal Environments
Orlando, FL
1997
International Association of Landscape Ecology
Tempe, AZ
2001
International Business Community Conference-Ecological Risk Assessment
Tools for an Emerging Discipline
Boston, MA
1997
International Nitrogen Conference
Potomac, MD
2001
Internationa] Society for Systems Science
Atlanta, GA
1998
International Symposium on Global Patterns of Nutrient
Over-Enrichment in Coastal Waters
Washington, DC
2000
International Symposium on Society and Resource Management
Indiana University, ID
2002
1 st Annual Emergy Analysis Research Conference
Gainesville, FL
1999
1st Biennial NOAA/NMFS Conference on the Biology of Tautog and Cunner
Mystic, CT
1999
224th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society
Boston, MA
2002
25th Annual Benthic Ecology Symposium
Portland, ME
1997
25th Annual Eastern Fish Health Workshop
Plymouth, MA
2000
25th Annual Meeting of the New England Association of Environmental Biologists
Norwich, CT
2001
26th Northeast Endocrinology Conference
Narragansett, RJ
1999
2nd Biennial Emergy Evaluation and Research Conference
Gainesville, FL
2001
3rd Annual EMAP Research Symposium
Albany, NY
1997
3rd International Conference on Arsenic Exposure and Health Effects
San Diego, CA
1998
3rd Marine and Estuarine Shallow Water Conference
Atlantic City, NJ
1996
41st Annual Meeting of the Society of Toxicology
Nashville, 1>l
2002
9th Symposium on Environmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment
Recent Achievements in Environmental Fate and Transport
Seattle, WA
1999
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Meeting
Location
Year
ACE/EPA Dredged Material Assessment Seminar
Baltimore, MD
2001
ACS Environmental Chemistry Division Symposium
Emphasis on EPA and EPA Supported Research
Washington, DC
2000
AFS Southern New England Chapter Meeting
Narragansett, RJ
2000
American Association of Geographers Annual Meeting
Honolulu, HA
1999
American Chemical Society Annual Meeting
Boston, MA
1998
American Chemical Society Annual Meeting
Orlando, FL
2002
American Chemical Society Annual National Meeting
Anaheim, CA
1999
American Chemical Society Conference
San Francisco, CA
1997
American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting
Monterey, CA
1997
American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting
Hartford, CT
1998
American Geophysical Union 1999 Meeting, Hydrology Section
Boston, MA
1999
American Geophysical Union 2000 Ocean Sciences Conference
San Antonio, TX
2000
American Society of Limnology and Oceanography
Albuquerque, NM
2001
American Society of Limnology and Oceanography/Ecological Society of America
Conference on the Land-Water Interface Science for a Sustainable
Biosphere
St Louis, MO
1998
American Waterbird Society Annual Meeting
Plymouth, MA
2000
Annual Meeting of the Society of Risk Analysis
Atlanta, GA
1999
ASLO/AGU Ocean Sciences Meeting 2002
Honolulu, HA
2002
Association of American Cancer Society
New Orleans, LA
1998
ASTM
St Louis, MO
1997
Chesapeake Bay ProgTam Meeting
Baltimore, MD
2001
Chesapeake Bay Program Monitoring Subcommittee Meeting
Forte Meade, MD
2000
Coastal Zone 2001
Cleveland, OH
2001
Conference on Linkages Between Biodiversity, Ecosystem Health
and Human Health
Washington, DC
2002
Contaminated Aquatic Sediment Remediation Guidance Workshop
Potomac, MD
1998
Dredged Materials Managers Meeting
San Francisco, CA
2002
Eastern Fish Health Workshop
Leestown, WV
2001
Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting
Albuquerque, NM
1997
Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting
Spokane, WA
1999
Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting
Snowbird, Utah
2000
Electrical Power Research Institute
Palo Alto, CA
1998
EMAP Coastal Symposium on Coastal Monitoring
Pensacola, FL
2001
EMAP Symposium 2002
Kansas City, MO
2002
EMAP Symposium on Western Ecological Systems
San Francisco, CA
1999
EPA Superfund Meeting on Managing Ecological Risk at
Contaminated Sediment Sites
Chicago, IL
2002
Estuarine Research Federation
Providence, RI
1997
Estuanne Research Federation 16th Biennial Conference
St Petersburg, FL
2001
Estuarine Research Federation '99
New Orleans, LA
1999
Federal Interagency Workshop on Urban Sprawl
Harpers Ferry, WV
2000
Flatfish Biology Conference
Mystic, CT
2000
Gordon Conference on Environmental Endocrine Disruptors
Plymouth, NH
1998
Great Lakes National Program Conference
Chicago, IL
1998
Larval Fish Conference
Gulf Shores, AL
2000
Long Island Sound Research Conference
New Haven, CT
1996
Mid-Atlantic Integrated Assessment Working Conference
Baltimore, MD
1998
MIT Conference on Options for Dredged Material Disposal Management
Cambridge, MA
2000
National Conference on Marine Bioinvasions
Boston, MA
1999
National Research Council Conference-Data for Science and Society
Washington, DC
2000
National Shellfishenes Association Conference
Seattle, WA
2000
National Society of Histotechnology Conference
Providence, RI
1999
National Water Quality Monitoring Council Annual Meeting
Madison, WI
2002
National Watershed Coalition Annual Meeting
Austin, TX
1999
New England Association of Environmental Biologists
Cromwell, CT
1997
New England Association of Environmental Biologists
Newport, RI
2002
#
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Meetine Location Year
New England Estuarine Research Society Regional Meeting New London, CT 1998
New England Estuarine Research Society Regional Meeting Block Island, RI 2000
New England Estuarine Research Society Regional Meeting Salem, MA 2001
New England Estuarine Research Society Regional Meeting Block Island, RI 1996
New England Estuarine Research Society Regional Meeting Wells, ME 1997
New England Pharmacologist Meeting Newport, RJ 2001
New England Regional Assessment Meeting Durham, NH 2001
New England Waters Sharing Successes Building the Future Conference Kingston RI 1997
Fourth NHEERL Symposium on Research Advances In Risk Assessment
Extraploation in Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment Cary, NC 1998
Fifth NHEERL Symposium on Research Advances in Risk Assessment
Indicators m Health and Environmental Risk Assessment RTP, NC 2000
NIST/NOAA/EPA Quality Assurance Meeting Charleston, SC 1998
North American Benthological Society Annual Meeting Pittsburg, PA 2002
North Atlantic Chapter of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Portland, ME 1997
North Atlantic Chapter of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Saratoga Springs, NY 1998
North Atlantic Chapter of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Boston, MA 1999
North Atlantic Chapter of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Newport, RI 2000
North Atlantic Chapter of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Plymouth, MA 2001
North Atlantic Chapter of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Portland, ME 2002
Northeast ARC Users Group-16th Annual Conference Worcester, MA 2001
Northeast Fish and Wildlife Conference Portland, ME 2002
PITCON Atlanta, GA 1997
Preserving Place-Growing Smart Conference Kingston, RI 1997
RI Natural History Survey 2002 Conference Warwick, RI 2002
RI Natural History Survey 1998 Conference Kingston, RI 1998
RI Natural History Survey 1999 Conference Providence, RJ 1999
Right Whale Consortium Annual Meeting Boston, MA 2000
SETAC Ecovulnerability Syposium Seattle, WA 1998
Society For Human Ecology Conference Bar Harbor, ME 1997
Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 17Ih Annual Meeting Washington, DC 1996
Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 18111 Annual Meeting San Francisco, CA 1997
Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 19th Annual Meeting Charlotte, NC 1998
Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 20lh Annual Meeting Philadelphia, PA 1999
Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 21" Annual Meeting Nashville, TN 2000
Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 22n(i Annual Meeting Baltimore, MD 2001
Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 23ri Annual Meeting Salt Lake City, UT 2002
Society of Molecular Biology/Evolution and American Genetics Association New Haven, CT 2000
Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting Cincinnati, OH 1997
Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting Seattle, WA 1998
Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting New Orleans, LA 1999
Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting Philadelphia, PA 2000
Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting San Francisco, CA 2001
Society Of Wetland Scientists Meeting Bozeman, MT 1997
Society of Wetland Scientists New England Chapter 2nd Annual Conference Worcester, MA 2002
Southern New England Chapter of the American Fisheries Society Old Lyme, CT 2000
Southern New England Chapter of the American Fisheries Society Bristol, RJ 2002
Southern New England Chapter of the American Fisheries Society Woods Hole, MA 1997
Striped Bass Working Symposium Baltimore, MD 2000
National Water Quality Monitoring Council's National Monitoring Conference 2000
Monitoring for the Millennium Austin, TX 2000
American Geophysical Society Meeting Boston, MA 1999
Northeast Algal Symposium Durham, NH 2002
US EPA 20th National Annual Conference on Managing Environmental Systems St Louis, MO 2001
US EPA National Environmental Monitoring Conference Boston, MA 2000
Watersheds 2002 Fort Lauderdale, FL 2002
#
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Table 7. Recent (2001-2002) Support and Advice Provided to Regional Offices
EPA
Region Support Function
1 Provided Hydrolab equipment and technical guidance via an RLA to the Wood
Pawcatuck Watershed Association based on a request from Region 1.
1 Provided technical reviews of several Providence River dredging proposals.
1 Reviewed Quality Assurance Project Plans for a modeling study of 89
Massachusetts estuaries and for a flushing study of Acushnet River Estuary, RL
1 Technical review of modeling portions in a proposal to EPA-Long Island Office,
New York Sea Grant, and Connecticut Sea Grant: Multifactorial analysis of time-
dependent variables contributing to hypoxia in Western Long Island Sound.
1 Technical review of proposal for Quonsett Point, RI dredging.
1 Assisted in the Long Island Sound "Site Designation Study".We are quantifying
macrophage aggregate area in spleen of winter flounder (as a marker of PAH
pollution and disease), and reviewed the physical oceanography Quality Assurance
Project Plan for this project.
2 Project officer for a research grant to investigate the cause of American lobster
mortality in Long Island Sound.
2 Examining lobsters from Long Island Sound for histopathological changes.
Technical expertise for the Long Island Sound Lobster Mortality Project.
1 Reviewed Charles River water quality monitoring proposal.
1 Advisory support and technical assistance for monitoring activities at multiple
superfund sites in the northeast. Includes deployment of mussels, and subsequent
chemical analysis of those mussels, in and around New Bedford Harbor.
1 Provide an historical assessment of New Bedford Harbor
1 Assist Regional personnel in the synthesis and interpretation of sediment profile
image data from Mount Hope Bay, RI.
4, 6 Participated in EMAP workshops - Technical transfer of probability-based
environmental monitoring design and data management systems.
1-10 REMAP - Transfer of information management tools and techniques.
1, 2, 3 National Coastal Assessment - Transfer of information management tools and
techniques.
12
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EPA
Region Support Function
1, 2, 3 Support of Regional 305 (b) efforts through National Coastal Assessment
monitoring designs and interactions with individual states.
1, 2, 3 Currently working with Regional personnel in designing "state of the environment"
reports based on data collected through the National Coastal Assessment
1 One staff member is located in the Region 1 office and serves as a technical advisor
for training staff on technical issues, setting up workshops and responding to
technical requests.
1 Support Region 1 in developing probability-based monitoring designs for streams,
lakes, and ponds.
1 Currently working with Region 1 in development of a coastal wetland monitoring
program
2 Project officer on several Region 2 REMAP projects. Also reviewed proposals for
these projects and coordinated data analysis.
2 Project officer on Region 2 estuarine biocriteria RARE project.
1 Develop proposal for Regional Methods Initiative - Develop bioassessment methods
for tidal-fresh streams.
1 Reviewed a proposal for eutrophication-related research on Long Island Sound.
1 Providing support to Region 1 concerning evaluating loading of nutrients to
estuaries, and modeling the effects of that loading, in the context of the National
Estuary Program.
1 Supported model-based TMDL study in the Seekonk and Providence Rivers.
1 Reviewed Implementation Manual for Nutrient Criteria in Lakes.
1 Served on Region 1 Technical Advisory Group for Development of Nutrient Criteria
m Estuaries.
1 Participated in the development of a contaminant monitoring program for Rhode
Island fish.
1 Provided technical information related to the development of protocols for
evaluating dredged material and provided technical information related to the
measurement of lipids in tissues being tested as part of dredged material
assessments.
1 Measured contaminant levels in sediment samples from the Barrington River.
13
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EPA
Region Support Function
1 Provided technical information related to dioxin contamination of the
Woonasquatucket River, RI.
3, 10 ORD representative for a regional methods project on the development of standard
protocols for the measurement of PCBs and PBDEs.
1 Provided information on standard reference materials for the measurement of
dibenzodioxins.
1 Collected and provided data and literature information on contaminant levels in
winter flounder.
1 Transmitted protocols on the measurement of lipids in marine tissue samples.
2, 3, 4 Supported development of monitoring approaches and indicators of wetlands in 2
pilot watersheds (Juniata and Nanticoke).
2, 3, 4 Expansion of Bird Community Index to Coastal Plain & Piedmont; Use of BBS data
- Transfer of state-of-science integrative indicator of ecosystem condition through
existing long-term monitoring program
2, 3, 4 Supported development of volunteer monitoring program for amphibians (NAAMP)
and development of stream-side salamander monitoring techniques.
3 Mid-Atlantic Integrated Assessment - Transfer of information management tools
and techniques.
3 Initiated MALA/STAR pilot - purpose is to transfer of state-of-science knowledge
and products from STAR grant program to support Program mission.
3 An Ecological Assessment of the United States Mid-Atlantic Region (Landscape
Atlas) - transfer of state-of-science knowledge of landscape ecology to support
Program mission.
3 Condition of the Mid-Atlantic Estuaries Report - transfer results of Mid-Atlantic
Estuaries Assessment to Region and States.
3 From the Mountains to the Sea: The State of Maryland's Freshwater Streams -
transfer results of Maryland Stream Assessment to Region and States.
3 Birds Indicate Ecological Condition of the Mid-Atlantic highlands - transfer of
state-of-science landscape-level biological indicator to support program mission.
3 Mid-Atlantic Highlands Streams Assessment - transfer results of Mid-Atlantic
Highlands Streams Assessment to Region and States
14
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EPA
Region Support Function
3 Maryland Agriculture and Your Watershed - transfer of state-of-the-science
statistical methods to support Program mission.
3 How Will Climate Change Affect the Mid-Atlantic Region? - transfer key messages
from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Assessment of Global Climate Change to Region
and States.
3 What is the State of the Environment in the mid-Atlantic Region? - transfer key
messages from five years of MALA assessments to Region and States.
2, 3, 4 Watershed Partnership to Stabilize Stream Banks in the Spring Creek Watershed,
Central, Pennsylvania - transfer watershed-group's approach to stream restoration
to Regions, States and local governments.
2,3, 4 Pesticide Use Reduction with Geographic Information Systems, Ruggles Golf
Course, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland - transfer of application of GIS
approach to Regions, States and local governments.
2, 3, 4 Web-based Inventory of Ecological Restoration Projects in the Mid-Atlantic Region
- transfer information on restoration projects in the Mid-Atlantic region to Region,
States, and local governments.
2, 3,4 A Guide to Land Cover/Land Use in the Mid-Atlantic Region - transfer information
on research and application of land cover/land use information, including standards.
2, 3, 4 Update of State BioAssessment Programs in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
5 Interpretation of historical AVS and metals data, and chemical analysis, reporting
and interpretation of AVS/SEM concentrations m Tuscarawus River sediment
samples collected by the PPG Barberton Ohio facility.
4 Reporting and interpretation of results from chemical analysis and toxicity testing of
sediments from Shipyard Creek in the Macalloy corporation Superfund site
(Charleston, SC).
1 Established conduit for technical transfer of latest information on endocrine
disrupting chemicals to Region 1 scientists.
9 Participated in meeting to identify issues/needs of Region 9 that NHEERL could
assist with.
1 Assisting Region 1 TMDL Coordinator in the development of diagnostic tools.
1 Project Officer for RARE project to develop a rapid method for measuring
pathogens in seawater samples.
9 Reviewed site-specific Copper Water Quality Criteria for San Francisco Bay.
15
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AED Staff Biosketches
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MOHAMED ABDELRHMAN
Research Physical Scientist
401-782-3182
abdelrhman. mohamcdi« cpa.uov
B.S., (Honors), Civil Engineering, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt, 1971
M.S., Civil Engineering, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt, 1977
Ph.D., Civil Engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 1985
Employment:
1995-present Research Physical Scientist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National
Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD,
U.S. EPA, Narragansett, R1
1993-1995 Senior Environmental Engineer, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC),
Narragansett, RI
1990-1993 Senior Technical Staff Programmer/analyst/modeler, Computer Sciences Corporation,
Narragansett, RI
1989-1990 Associate Research Scientist, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait.
1988-1989 Senior Technical Staff Programmer/analyst/modeler, Computer Sciences Corporation,
Narragansett, RI
1987-1988 Postdoctoral Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
1986-1987 Postdoctoral Fellow, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
1985-1986 Postdoctoral Research, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
1980-1985 Graduate Research Associate, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
1977-1980 Assistant Lecturer, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
1971-1977 Graduate Teaching Associate, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Mohamed is a civil engineer with expertise in computational fluid dynamics and transport phenomena of
contaminants in surface waters; mathematical and numerical modeling; hydraulics and water resources; coastal
engineering and sediment transport; and data analysis and pattern recognition.
Professional Societies:
Member Professional Engineering Society, State of Rhode Island
Member The American Geophysical Union
Member The Egyptian Professional Engineering Society
Selected Recent Publications:
Abdelrhman, M.A. (submitted) Effects of eelgrass (Zostera marina) canopies on flow and transport. Marine
Ecology Progress Series.
Abdelrhman, M.A. 2002. Modeling how a hurricane barrier in New Bedford Harbor, Massachusetts, affects the
hydrodynamics and residence times. Estuaries 25(2): 177-196.
Abdelrhman, M.A. 2001. Mapping bathymetry and bottom type in a shallow estuary. Poster. EMAP Symposium
2001, Pensacola, FL.
Abdelrhman, M.A., E. Davey, and K. Rocha. 1999. Hydrodynamic data from the Slocums River estuary,
Massachusetts, during the period 26 October to 5 November 1998, with bathymetric surveys during
summer of 1999. Data Report, Contribution Number NHEERL-NAR-2116, U.S. EPA, National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Atlantic Ecology Division, Narragansett, RI. 101 pp.
Abdelrhman, M.A., B.J. Bergen, and W.G. Nelson. 1998. Modeling of PCB concentrations in water and biota
Mytilus edulis in New Bedford Harbor, Massachusetts. Estuaries 21(3): 435-448.
Abdelrhman, M.A. and E.G. Dettmann. 1997. Two-dimensional modeling of current circulation and contaminant
transport in surface waters. Chapter 12 in Next Generation Environmental Models: Computational
Methods, Ed. George Delic, in Society of Industry and Applied Mathematics, pp.117-123.
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SANDRA J. BENYI
Research Biologist
401-782-3041
ben vi. sandrafaepa.gov
B.S., Marine Science, Southampton College, Long Island University, N.Y., 1983
M.S., Oceanography, Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode
Island, R.I., 1992
Employment:
1995 - present Research Biologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health
and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S.
EPA, Narragansett, RI
1988-1995 Biologist, Science Applications International Corporation
(SAIC), Narragansett, RI
1984-1988 Graduate Research Assistant, University of Rhode Island
1982 Aquaculture Intern, Aquatic Systems Inc., San Diego, Calif.
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Sandra is a biological oceanographer with experience in analyzing large environmental data sets and evaluating
shellfish and marsh habitat.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Member National Shellfisheries Association
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for Chronic Effect of Cadmium In Sediments On Colonization By Benthic Marine
Organisms
Selected Recent Publications:
Schimmel, S.C., S.J. Benyi, and C.J. Strobel. 1999. Assessment of the ecological condition of Long Island Sound,
1990-1993. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment: 56:27-49.
Strobel, C.J., H.W. Buffum, S.J. Benyi, and J.F. Paul. 1999. Environmental monitoring and assessment program:
current status of Virginia Province (U.S.) estuaries. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 56: 1-25.
Hansen, D.J., J.D. Mahony, W.J. Berry, S.J. Benyi, J.M. Corbin, S.D. Pratt, D.M. DiToro, and M.B. Abel. 1996.
Chronic effect of cadmium in sediments on colonization by benthic marine organisms: An evaluation of
the role of interstitial cadmium and acid-volatile sulfide in biological availability. Environmental
Toxicology & Chemistry 15(12): 2126-2137.
Nelson, W.G., B.J. Bergen, S.J. Benyi, G.E. Morrison, R.A. Voyer, C.J. Strobel, S.A. Rego, G.B. Thursby, and C.E.
Pesch. 1996. New Bedford Harbor long-term monitoring assessment report: Baseline sampling. U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory,
Atlantic Ecology Division, Narragansett, RI. EPA/600/R-96/097.
Munns, W.R. Jr, C. Mueller, B.A. Rogers, S. Benyi, S. Anderson, T. Gleason, W.G. Nelson, and R. K. Johnston.
1994. Risk assessment pilot study - phase III. Naval Construction Battalion Center, Davisville, RI. U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency.
Strobel, C.J., H.W. Buffum, S.J. Benyi, E.A. Petrocelli, D.R. Reifsteck, and D.J. Keith. 1994. Statistical Summary:
EMAP-Estuaries Virginian Province -1990 to 1993.
Benyi, S.J. 1993. Contaminated sediment effects on calcium hemolymph and calcium concretions in selected
species of marine mollusks. M.S. Thesis. University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography.
Gardner G.R., P.P. Yevich, J. Hurst, P. Thayer, S. Benyi, J. Harshbarger, and R.J. Pruell.1991. Germinomas and
teratoid siphon anomalies in soft-shelled clams, Mya arenaria, environmentally exposed to herbicides. J.
Environ. Health Perspectives 9: 43-51.
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BARBARA J. BERGEN
Research Chemist
401-782-3059
bert;en.barbara(« epa.nov
B.A., Biology, Southampton College, Southampton, NY, 1982
B.S., Marine Chemistry, Southampton College, Southampton, NY, 1982
M.S., Marine Chemistry, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1991
Ph.D., Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1999
Employment:
1995-present Research Chemist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health
and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1988-1995 Chemist/Work Assignment Manager, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC),
Narragansett, RI
1986-1988 Chemist/Bookeeper, Spatco Ltd, Narragansett, RI
1984-1986 Chemist, Analytical Testing Services, Pawtucket, RI
1982-1984 Graduate Student, Graduate School of Oceanography, Narragansett, RI
1981 -1982 Research Assistant, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, Savannah, GA
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Barbara is a marine chemist with expertise in applying quantitative methods to assess the effects and fate/transport
of chemicals in the marine environment, developing monitoring plans for contaminated sediment remediation, and
evaluating the impact of nutrient enrichment on coastal areas.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Representative to U.S. EPA's Contaminated Sediment Technical Advisory Group, 2002
U.S. EPA STAA award Honorable Mention, 2001
U.S. EPA Special Accomplishment Recognition Award, Participation in the Contaminated Aquatic Sediment
Remedial Guidance Workgroup - 2000
Member, Estuarine Research Federation - 1997- present
Division of Environmental Chemistry of the American Chemical Society: Award of Excellence, Graduate Student
Paper Award for "Remediation at a Marine Superfund Site: Surficial Sediment PCB Congener
Concentration, Composition, and Redistribution"- 1998
Division of Environmental Chemistry of the American Chemical Society: Outstanding Graduate Student Award -
1997
CBEP Champion Award, U.S. EPA, For significant contributions to community-based approaches to environmental
protection -1996
Selected Recent Publications:
Bergen, B.J., W.G. Nelson, J.G. Quinn, and S. Jayaraman. 2001. Relationships among total lipid, lipid classes, and
polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations in two indigenous populations of ribbed mussels (Geukensia
demissa) over an annual cycle. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 20(3): 575-581.
Bergen, B.J., J.G. Quinn, and C.C. Parrish. 2000. Quality assurance study of marine lipid classes using
Chromorod/Iatroscan TLC-FID. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 19: 2189-2197.
Bergen, B J., K. Rahn, and W.G. Nelson. 1998. Remediation at a marine superfund site: Surficial sediment PCB
congener concentration, composition and redistribution. Environmental Science and Technology 32:
3496-3501.
Bergen, B.J., W.G. Nelson, and R.J. Pruell. 1996. Comparison of nonplanar and coplanar PCB congener
partitioning in seawater and bioaccumulation in blue mussels (Mytilus edulis). Environmental Toxicology
and Chemistry 15 (9): 1517-1523.
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WALTER J. BERRY
Research Biologist
401-782-3101
berry.waiter^ epa.uov
A.B., Biology, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, 1976
Ph.D., Biological Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1987
Employment:
1995-present
1989-1995
1987-1988
1984-1987
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Walter is a Research Biologist with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and
Development, Atlantic Ecology Division in Narragansett, Rhode Island. Walter holds a Ph.D. in Biological
Oceanography from the University of Rhode Island. His research has focused primarily on the bioavailability of
metals in sediments. He has also worked on the development of Equilibrium Partitioning Derived Sediment
Guidelines (ESGs), and been involved in a number of navigational dredging projects.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Member Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry and New England Estuarine Research Society
Reviewer for Estuaries, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Environmental Toxicology and Water Quality,
Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Marine Ecology Progress Series, Marine Environmental Research,
Water, Air, and Soil Pollution.
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for the development of a technically-rigorous basis upon which to assess the
environmental risks of metals in sediments using SEM: AVS and interstitial water metals concentrations,
1999
U.S. EPA Science and Technology Achievement Award, 1999
U.S. EPA Science Achievement Award, Water Quality, 2002
Selected Recent Publications:
Kuhn, A., W.R. Munns, Jr., J. Serbst, P. Edwards, P. Edwards, M.G. Cantwell, T. Gleason, M.C. Pelletier, and W.
Berry. 2002. The chronic effects of cadmium on the amphipod, Ampelisca abdita. Environmental
Toxicology and Chemistry 21: 865-874.
Munns, W.R., Jr., W. Berry, and T. DeWitt. 2002. Toxicity testing, risk assessment, and options for dredged
material management. Marine Pollution Bulletin 44: 294-302.
Boothman W. S., D.J. Hansen, W.H. Berry, R.L. Robson, A. Helmstetter, J.M. Corbin, and S.D. Pratt. 2001.
Biological response to variation of acid-volatile sulfides and metals in field-exposed spiked sediments.
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 20: 264-272.
Berry, W.J., M. Cantwell, P. Edwards, J. Serbst, and D.J. Hansen. 1999. Predicting the toxicity of sediments
spiked with silver in the laboratory. Environmental Toxicolology and Chemistry 18: 40-48.
Research Biologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health
and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S.
EPA, Narragansett, RI
Senior Biologist, Science Applications International Corporation
(SAIC), Narragansett, RI
Research Associate, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
Biologist/Semior Biologist, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Narragansett,
RI
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WARREN S. BOOTHMAN
Research Chemist
401-782-3161
boothman. warrenfa' epa.gov
Sc.B. with Honors, Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, 1973.
Ph.D., Chemistry, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1990.
Employment:
1992-present
1988-1992
1987-1988
1984-1987
1984
1981-1984
1981
1973-1976
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Warren is an environmental analytical chemist with expertise in analytical and statistical methods for assessing
extent, sources and bioavailability of contaminants in marine systems, and mechanisms and environmental factors
affecting geochemistry and bioavailability of metals in marine sediments and waters.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Mai or Awards:
Member American Chemical Society, Environmental Chemistry Division
Member Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Board of Directors, 2001-2004
Reviewer for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Archives of
Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
U.S. EPA Scientific and Technological Achievement Award, Level 2, 1998
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for the development of a technically-rigorous basis upon which to assess the
environmental risk of metals in sediment using AVS:SEM and interstitial water metal concentrations.
(Group award to Sediment Assessment and Criteria Workgroup), 1998
Selected Recent Publications:
Latimer, J.S., W.S. Boothman, C. Pesch, G.L. Chmura, V.Pospelova, and S.Jayaraman. Environmental stress and
recovery: the geochemical record of human disturbance in New Bedford Harbor and Apponagansett Bay.
Submitted to Science of the Total Environment.
Boothman W.S., D.J. Hansen, W.J. Berry, D.L. Robson, A. Helmstetter, J.M. Corbin, and S.D. Pratt. 2001.
Biological response to variation of acid-volatile sulfides and metals in field-exposed spiked sediments.
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 20: 264-272.
Lussier, S.M., W.S. Boothman, S. Poucher, D. Champlin, and A. Helmstetter. 1999. Comparison of dissolved and
total metals concentrations from acute tests with saltwater organisms. Environmental Toxicology and
Chemistry 18: 889-898.
Bothner, M.H., P.W. Gill, W.S. Boothman, B.B. Taylor and H.A. Karl. 1998. Chemical gradients in sediment cores
from an EPA reference site off the Farallon Islands - Assessing chemical indicators of dredged material
disposal in the deep sea. Marine Pollution Bulletin 36: 443-457.
Research Chemist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National
Health and Environmental Research Laboratory,
ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
Chemist, National Health and Environmental
Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
Research Scientist, Texas A&M University, College
Station, TX
Associate Chemist, Science Applications International Corporation, (SAIC), Narragansett, RI
Laboratory Automation Specialist, Computer Sciences Corp. (CSC), Narragansett, RI
Graduate Research Assistant, University of RI, Kingston, RI
SEAREX (SEa Air EXchange program) Peru research cruise.
Chemist, Dow Chemical Company, New England Research Lab, Wayland, Mass.
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M. PATRICIA BRADLEY
Environmental Program Manager
410-305-2744
bradlev.patriciatocna.gov
B.S., Music, Towson University, Towson, MD, 1976
MBA, Golden Gate University, San Francisco, CA,1985
Employment:
1996-present Environmental Program Manager (MAIA), Atlantic Ecology
Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research
Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1989-1996 Associate Director for Program Operations, Environmental
Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1988-1989 Program Analyst, Office of Research and Development, U.S. EPA,
Washington, DC
1987-1988 Program Analyst, Chief of Naval Operations,
Washington, DC
1985-1987 Program Analysis Officer, Naval Supply Center,
Norfolk, VA
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Pat is a member of Mid-Atlantic Integrated Assessment (MAIA) Team, an ORD/Region 3 partnership to integrate
scientific knowledge into the decision-making process for the Mid-Atlantic. Pat's work has focused on working
with other agencies, states, local governments, citizens, and research scientists to improve the science used in
assessing policy and management issues of critical importance to resource managers and environmental decision-
makers. She also brings extensive expertise in administrative areas such as contract management, funds control and
personnel.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
External Advisory Board for the Center for Integrating Statistical and Environmental Science, The University of
Chicago
Science Advisory Committee, National Park Service, National Capital Region
EMAP Information Management Working Group
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for the MAIA Integrated Assessment Team, Region III, 1999
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for Development of the Mid Atlantic Integrated Assessment (MAIA) State of the Estuaries
Report, Region III, 1998
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for Development of the Mid Atlantic Integrated Assessment (MAIA) State of the Estuaries
Report, Office of Research and Development, 1998
U.S. EPA Lee M. Thomas Excellence in Management Award, 1990
U.S. EPA Excellence in Management Award, Office of Research and Development, 1990
Selected Recent Publications:
Bradley, M.P. and R.B.Landy. 2000. The Mid-Atlantic integrated assessment (MAIA). Environmental Monitoring and
Assessment 63: 1-13.
Bradley, M P., B.S. Brown, S.S. Hale, F.W. Kutz, R B. Landy, R Shedlock, A. Morris, W.B. Galloway, J.S. Rosen,
R. Pepino and B. Wiersma. 2000. Summary of the MAIA working conference. Environmental Monitoring and
Assessment 63: 15-29.
Jackson, L.E. and M.P. Gant. 1998. Interactive, spatial inventory of environmental data in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 51: 325-329.
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SHERRY L. BRANDT-WILLIAMS
Landscape Systems Ecologist/Environmental Engineer
401-782-3065
brandt-williams.sherrviVi epa, gov
B.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 1984
Ph.D., Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville,
FL,1999
Employment:
2002-present
1999-2002
1995-1999
1989-2002
1984-1989
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Sherry is a systems ecologist and engineer with expertise in development of temporal and spatial models as support
for environmental remediation policy, quantifying the interface between environment and socioeconomics using
energy and emergy, and in development and execution of terrestrial/aquatic field studies.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Member, American Society of Ecological Engineers
EIT, State of Florida
"Women at the University of Florida" Award, Women's Studies Student Association, 1999-2000 U.S. Patent
granted 1987
Results Achiever Award, Procter & Gamble, 1986
Benton Engineering Council Leadership Key Award, University of Florida, 1984
UF Presidential Leadership Recognition Award, University of Florida, 1984
Selected Recent Publications:
Brandt-Williams, S.L. 2002. Spatial emergy dynamics as an ecological engineering design tool. In Brown, M. (ed.),
Emergy Synthesis 2: Theory and Applications of the Emergy Methodology. Gainesville, Florida, Center
for Environmental Policy, in press.
Brandt-Williams, S.L. andG. Pillet. 2002. Fertilizer byproducts as agricultural emternalities: quantifying
environmental services used in production of food. In Brown, M. (ed.), Emergy Synthesis 2: Theory and
Applications of the Emergy Methodology. Gainesville, Florida: Center for Environmental Policy, in press.
Brandt-Williams, S. and M. Shirley. 2001. An ecological landscape characterization of the Rookery Bay National
Estuarine Research Reserve and Belle Meade Watershed. Report to National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration. Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 70 pp. and a CD.
Patten, B., B. Fath, S. Bastianoni, S. Borrett, S. Brandt-Williams, J. Choi, M. Debeljak, J. Fonseca, W. Grant, D.
Karnawati, J. Marques, A. Moser, F. Muller, C. Pahl-Wostl, S. Priyanto, and R. Seppelt. 2001.
Perspectives on CAHSystemscomplex adaptive hierarchical systems. In Costanza, R. and S. Jorgensen
(eds.), Understanding and Solving Environmental Problems in the 21s' Century. New York, Elsevier,
pp. 41-49.
Brandt-Williams, S. 1999. Evaluation of watershed control of two central Florida lakes: Newnans Lake and Lake
Weir. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Florida, 257 pp.
Post-doctorate, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA,
Narragansett, RI
Project manager, Ecosystem Assessment, Rookery Bay NERR,
Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Naples, FL
National Science Foundation Fellow and graduate teaching assistant, University of Florida,
Gainesville, FL
Independent contractor: GIS and remote sensing imagery applications and modeling, computer
graphics, web site development
Group Leader and project engineer. Paper Research and Development, Procter & Gamble,
Cincinnati, OH
-------
BARBARA S. BROWN
Chief, Ecological Response Branch
401-782-3088
brown .barbara(« ena.izov
B.S., Civil Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, 1976
M.S., Civil Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, 1983
Employment:
1995-present Chief, Ecological Response Branch, Atlantic Ecology Division,
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory,
ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1993-1995 Regional Scientist, Office of the Regional Administrator, Region
I, U.S. EPA, Boston, MA
1990-1993 Research Environmental Scientist, Environmental Research
Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1989-1990 Planning Coordinator, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore, MD
1985-1989 U.S. Senate Liaison/National Flood Control Program Manager,
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC
1977-1985 Chief, Small Projects Section/Project Manager/Civil Engineer,
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa, OK
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Barbara is a civil engineer with expertise in environmental monitoring and assessment, developing and applying
hydrodynamic models for sediment transport, developing and applying large river basin hydrologic models, and
incorporating ecological and socioeconomic considerations in environmental decision support systems.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Member, American Society of Civil Engineers
Professional Engineer license: Oklahoma and Maryland
Reviewer for Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, Journal of Environmental Management
Interagency Clean Water Action Plan Workgroup for Coastal Research and Monitoring
U.S. EPA Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (CALM) Workgroup
Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrators (ASIWPCA)
Water Quality Monitoring Program National Assessment Workgroup
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for Development of the Center for Environmental Industry and Technology , Region I,
1995
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for Development of the Mid Atlantic Integrated Assessment (MAIA) State of the Estuaries
Report, Region III, 1998
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for Development of the Mid Atlantic Integrated Assessment (MAIA) State of the Estuaries
Report, Office of Research and Development, 1998
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for the MAIA Integrated Assessment Team, Region III, 1999
U.S. EPA Outstanding/Exceptional ORD Technical Assistance to Regions or Program Offices, EMAP Survey
Design Team, 2001
Selected Recent Publications:
Lazorchak, J.M., B.H. Hill, B.S. Brown, F.H. McCormick, V. Engle, D.J. Lattier, M.J. Bagley, M.B. Griffith,
A.F. Maciorowski, and G.P. Toth. 2002. USEPA biomonitoring and bioindicator concepts needed to
evaluate the biological integrity of aquatic systems. In Bioindicators/Biomonitors - Principles, Assessment,
Concepts. A.M. Breure, B. Markert, and H. Zechmeister (eds)., Elsevier Science B.V., in press.
Brown, B.S.,W.R. Munns, Jr., and J.F. Paul, 2002. Integrated ecological assessment of resource condition and its
application to the Mid Atlantic estuaries. Journal of Environmental Management, in press.
Bradley, M.P., B. Brown, W. Galloway, S. Hale, F.Kutz, R. Landy, R. Mangold, and R. Shedlock. 2000. Results of
the MAIA conference. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 63(1): 1-13.
USEPA. 1998. Condition of the Mid-Atlantic estuaries. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of
Research Development, Narragansett, RI, 50 pp.
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ROBERT M. BURGESS
Research Environmental Scientist
401-782-3106
burgess .roberK^epa. uov
B.S., Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1987
M.S., Biological Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI,
1990
Ph.D., Chemical Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI,
1996
Employment:
1997-present
1997-1997
1992-1997
1987-1992
Research Environmental Scientist, Atlantic Ecology Division,
National Health and Environmental Research Laboratory,
ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
Expert Consultant, Office of Water, Office of Science and
Technology, Health and Environmental Criteria Division,
U.S. EPA, Washington, DC
Physical Scientist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and Environmental Research
Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
Biologist, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Narragansett, RI
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Rob is an environmental geochemist and toxicologist with expertise in assessing the bioavailability of stressors,
including organic and metal contaminants and ammonia, to marine organisms. He also has expertise in developing
methods for identifying stressors in environmental media including sediments, surface waters and effluents. In
general, this expertise is used to develop tools for application by environmental managers.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Member American Association for Advancement of Science, American Chemical Society, American Geophysical
Union and Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Reviewer for Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, Chemosphere, Environmental Pollution,
Environmental Science and Technology, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Estuaries, Marine
Pollution Bulletin and Organic Geochemistry
Advisory Board Member, Harvard School of Public Health, Superfund Basic Research Program
Environment Canada Technical Subcommittee on Development of Guidelines
Article Highlighted in Quintessence: Excellence in Environmental Contamination and Toxicology - 1995
U.S. EPA Bron2e Metal for Toxicity Identification Evaluation (TIE) Research - 1997
U.S. EPA Science Achievement Award in Water Quality - 2002
U.S. EPA Science and Technology Achievement Awards: 1997(11), 1998 (Honorable Mentions) and 2000 (III)
Selected Recent Publications:
Burgess, R.M. 2002. Ammonia. In The Encyclopedia of Water, J.H. Lehr (ed.), John Wiley & Sons, New York, in
press.
Ho, K.T., R.M. Burgess, M.C. Pelletier, J.R. Serbst, S.A. Ryba, M.G. Cantwell, A. Kuhn, and P. Raczelowski.
2002. An overview of toxicant identification in sediments and dredged materials. Marine Pollution Bulletin
44: 286-293.
Ryba, S.A. and R.M. Burgess. 2002. Effects of sample preparation on the measurement of organic carbon,
hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen concentrations in marine sediments. Chemosphere 48: 139-147.
Burgess, R.M., S.A. Ryba, M.G. Cantwell and J.L. Gundersen. 2001. Exploratory analysis of the effects of
particulate characteristics on the variation in partitioning of nonpolar organic contaminants to marine
sediments. Water Research 35: 4390-4404.
-------
DANIEL E. CAMPBELL
Systems Ecologist
401-782-3195
campbell. dantVi epa. gov
B.S., Biology, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington VA, 1970
M.S. Oceanography, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, 1977
Ph.D., Env. Eng. Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 1984
Post-Doctoral Fellow, Zoology, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 1984-1986
Employment:
1995-present
1990-1994
1986-1990
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Dan is a systems ecologist with expertise in applying energy systems theory, computer simulation, and
environmental accounting using emergy to (1) perform comprehensive evaluations of the environmental, economic,
and social effects of environmental policies, (2) assess risks and significance of environmental change on the health
and integrity of ecosystems, and (3) develop models and methods to diagnose the causes of biological impairment
in our nation's aquatic ecosystems.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Adjunct Professor, Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI
Adjunct Research Scientist, Bigelow Laboratory for the Ocean Sciences, West Boothbay Harbor, ME
Member, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, International Society for Ecosystem Health, Rhode
Island Natural History Society, and Estuarine Research Federation
Reviewer for Population and Environment, Ecosystem Health, Chemosphere, Office of Water U.S. EPA
(Biocriteria Guidance for Estuaries), Handbook of Detergents, Center for Environmental Policy, University
of Florida.
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for Development of the Mid Atlantic Integrated Assessment (MAIA) State of the Estuaries
Report, Region III, 1998
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for Development of the Mid Atlantic Integrated Assessment (MAIA) State of the Estuaries
Report, Office of Research and Development, 1998
U.S. EPA Science and Technology Achievement Award, Honorable Mention, 1999.
Selected Recent Publications:
Campbell, Daniel E. 2002. Emergy analysis of the prehistoric global nitrogen cycle. Proceedings of the 2"d Biennial
Emergy Analysis Research Conference, Center for Environmental Policy, University of Florida,
Gainesville, FL, in press.
Campbell, Daniel E. 2001. An energy systems analysis of constraints on economic development. In Advances in
Energy Studies, Exploring Supplies, Constraints, and Strategies, Porto Venere, Italy, May 25-27, 2000. S.
Ulgiati, M.T. Brown, M., Giampetro, R. Herendeen, and K. Mayumi, (eds), Servizi Grafiei Editoriali,
Padova, Italy, pp. 175-187.
Campbell, D.E. 2001. Proposal for including what is valuable to ecosystems in environmental assessments.
Environmental Science and Technology 35: 2867-2873.
Campbell, D.E. 2000. Using energy systems theory to define, measure, and interpret ecological integrity and
ecosystem health. Ecosystem Health 6(3): 181-204.
Campbell, D.E. 1998. Emergy analysis of human carrying capacity and regional sustainability: An example using
the State of Maine. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 51:531 -569.
Ecologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA,
Narragansett, RI
Associate Research Scientist, Graduate School of Oceanography,
University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI
Marine Resource Scientist II, Maine Department of Marine Resources,
West Boothbay Harbor, ME
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MARK G. CANTWELL
Environmental Scientist
401-782-9604
Cantwell.murkfrt ena.tiov
Technical Certificate, Air and Water Pollution Control Technology, SUNY,
Liberty, NY, 1977
B.A., Environmental Science, SUNY, Plattsburgh, NY, 1980
M.S., Oceanography. Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode
Island, Kingston, RI, 2000
Ph.D. Candidate, Oceanography, Graduate School of Oceanography, University
of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 2002
Employment:
1997-present Environmental Scientist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National
Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1995-1997 Physical Science Technician, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and Environmental
Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1993-1995 Director, Technical Services Division, Koehler Instrument Co., Bohemia, N.Y.
1988-1993 Manager, Applications Engineering Department, Koehler Instrument Co., Bohemia, N.Y.
1983-1988 Chemist/Applications Engineer, Koehler Instrument Co., Bohemia, N.Y.
1980-1983 Environmental Scientist, Princeton Aqua Sciences, New Brunswick, N.J.
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
As an environmental scientist at AED, Mark has studied the distribution and biogeochemical cycling of
contaminants and nutrients in marine systems. Current research is focusing on developing diagnostic methods and
tools for assessing impairment in waters. Other research includes evaluating how physical and chemical
disequilibria affects the bioavailability of contaminants and other stressors by measuring the ecological effects to
benthic and pelagic communities.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Member Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Member American Chemical Society
Reviewer, Environmental Science and Technology
Selected Recent Publications:
Ho, K.T., R.M. Burgess, M.C. Pelletier, J.R. Serbst, S.A. Ryba, M.G. Cantwell, A. Kuhn, and P. Raczelowski.
2002. An overview of toxicant identification in sediments and dredged materials. Marine Pollution
Bulletin. 44: 286-293.
Cantwell, M.G. and R.M. Burgess. 2001. Interactions of metals and colloidal organic carbon in interstitial waters of
marine mediments: influences of salinity, pH and colloidal organic carbon concentration. Environmental
Toxicology and Chemistry 20: 2420-2427.
Pelletier, M.C., K.T. Ho, M.G. Cantwell, A. Kuhn-Hines, S. Jayaraman, and R.M. Burgess. 2001. Use of Ulva
lactuca to identify ammonia toxicity in marine and estuarine sediments. Environmental Toxicology and
Chemistry 12: 2852-2859
Burgess, R. M., S.A. Ryba, M.G. Cantwell, and J.L. Gundersen. 2001. Exploratory analysis of the effects of
particulate characteristics on the variation in partitioning of nonpolar organic contaminants to marine
sediments. Water Research 35: 4390-4404.
Burgess, R. M., S.A. Ryba, and M.G. Cantwell. 2000. Variation of Koc in surface sediment from Narragansett Bay
and Long Island Sound: (1) importance of organic carbon quantity. Toxicological and Environmental
Chemistry 77: 9-29.
Burgess, R.M., M.G. Cantwell, M.C. Pelletier, K.T. Ho, A. Kuhn, and H. Cook. 2000. A toxicity identification
evaluation (TIE) procedure for characterizing metal toxicity in marine sediments. Environmental
Toxicology and Chemistry 19: 982-991.
Pelletier, M.C., R.M. Burgess, M.G. Cantwell, J.R. Serbst, K.T. Ho, and S.A. Ryba. 2000. Importance of maternal
transfer from benthic adults on occurrence of photo-enhanced toxicity in pelagic larvae. Environmental
Toxicology and Chemistry 19: 2691-2698.
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JOHN A. CARDIN
Research Aquatic Biologist
401-782-3071
cardin.iohnw epa.uov
B.S., Microbiology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 1970
Employment:
1969 -present Research Aquatic Biologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National
Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD,
U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
John is a marine biologist with experience in developing benthic indicators of the ecological state of estuaries,
conducting microcosm simulation of estuaries, and studying the structure of zooplankton communities.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
U.S. EPA Science and Technology Achievement Award, 2000
Selected Publications:
Davey, E.W., K.T. Perez, J.A. Cardin, R.L. Johnson, and K.J. Rocha. Application of 3D computer-aided
tomography to the quantitative differentiation of marine benthic habitats, in preparation.
Johnson, R.L., K.T. Perez, E.W. Davey, J.A. Cardin, K.J. Rocha, E.H. Dettmann, and J.F. Heltshe. Discriminating
the effects of anthropogenic point sources from salinity and nitrogen loading using benthic communities: a
comparative estuarine approach, in preparation.
Perez, K.T, E.W. Davey, R.H. Moore, P R. Burn, M.S. Rosol, J.A. Cardin, R.L. Johnson, and D.N. Kopans. 1999.
Application of computer-aided tomography (CT) to the study of estuarine benthic communities.
Ecological Applications 9(3): 1050-1058.
Perez, K.T., E.W. Davey, G.E. Morrison, J.A. Cardin, N.F. Lackie, A.E. Soper, R.J. Blasco, R.L. Johnson, and S.
Marino. 1990. Science of organic matter and industrial contaminants in sewage effluents on marine
ecosystems. Environmental Protection Agency internal report. February 1990.
Perez, K.T., E.W. Davey, J. Heltshe, J.A. Cardin, N.F. Lackie, R.L. Johnson, R.J. Blasco, A.E. Soper, and E. Read.
1990. Recovery of Narragansett Bay, RI: A Feasibility Study. Environmental Protection Agency internal
report for Office of Marine and Estuarine Protection. March 1990.
Miller, D.C., S. Poucher, J.A. Cardin, and D. Hansen. 1990. The acute and chronic toxicity of ammonia to marine
fish and a mysid. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 19: 40-48.
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DENISE M. CHAMPLIN
Biologist
401-782-9605
champlin.deniseft* epa.gov
B.S., Natural Resource Development, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI,
1972
Employment:
1995-present Biologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA,
Narragansett, Rl
1989-1995 Biologist, Science Applications International Corporation
(SAIC), Narragansett, RI
1987-1989 Biologist, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Denise is a biologist with extensive experience in aquatic toxicology. Her current interests are in aquatic toxicology
and wetland ecology.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Member Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
U.S. EPA Science and Technology Achievement Awards, 2000 and 2001
Selected Recent Publications:
Kuhn, A., W.R. Munns, Jr., D. Champlin, R. McKinney, M. Tagliabue, T. Gleason, and J. Serbst. 2001.
Evaluation of the efficacy of extrapolation population modeling to predict the dynamics of Americamysis
bahia populations in the laboratory. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 20 (I): 213-221.
Kuhn, A., W.R. Munns, Jr., S. Poucher, D. Champlin, and S. Lussier. 2000. Prediction of population-level response
from mysid toxicity test data using population modeling techniques. Environmental Toxicology and
Chemistry 19(9): 2364-2371.
Spehar, R.L., S. Poucher, L. T. Brooke, D.J. Hansen, D. Champlin, and D.A. Cox. 1999. Comparative toxicity of
fluoranthene to freshwater and saltwater species under fluorescent and ultraviolet light. Environmental
Contamination and Toxicology 37: 496-502.
Nacci, D., L. Coiro, D. Champlin, S. Jayaraman, R. McKinney, T. Gleason, W.R. Munns, Jr., J. Specker, and K.
Cooper. 1999. Adaptation of wild fish populations to persistent environmental contaminants. Marine
Biology 134:9-17.
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MARN1TA M. CHINTALA
Research Biologist
401-782-3155
chin talu .marl v(« cpa.nov
B.A., Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 1984
M.S., Marine-Estuarine-Environmental-Sciences, University of Maryland, College
Park, MD, 1987
M.S., Ecology and Evolution, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 1997
Employment:
1997-present
1994-1997
1993-1994
1992-1993
1991-1992
1987-1991
Research Biologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health
and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S.
EPA, Narragansett, RI
Senior Laboratory Technician, Haskin Shellfish Research
Laboratory, Rutgers University, Port Norris, NJ
Graduate Research Assistant, Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, New
Brunswick, NJ
Teaching Assistant, Biology Department, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
Graduate Research Assistant, Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, New
Brunswick, NJ
Faculty Research Assistant, Horn Point Environmental Laboratory, University of Maryland
System, Cambridge, MD
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Marty is a marine ecologist with expertise in population and community ecology of invertebrates and fish, and
parasitic interactions of shellfish. She has worked in a variety of habitats including marshes, estuarine coves and
deeper offshore waters.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
U.S. EPA On-The-Spot Award, 2000
U.S. EPA S-Award, 2000
U.S. EPA On-The-Spot Award, Mentoring, 2000
U.S. EPA Quality Step Increase, 1998 and 1999
Member of Estuarine Research Federation and the New England Estuarine Research Society
Member of National Shellfisheries Association, Member of the Student Endowment and Awards Committee
Equal Employment Opportunity Chairperson, Atlantic Ecology Division
Violence in the Workplace Program Coordinator, Atlantic Ecology Division
Selected Recent Publications:
Thursby, G., M.M. Chintala, D. Stetson, C. Wigand, and D. Champlin. 2002. A rapid nondestructive method for
estimating aboveground biomass of salt marsh grasses. Wetlands, in press.
Chintala, M.M., D. Bushek, and S.E. Ford. 2002. Comparison of in vitro cultured and natural Perkinsus marinus. I.
Dosing methods and host response. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, in press.
Ford, S.E., M.M. Chintala, and D. Bushek. 2002. Comparison of in vitro cultured and natural Perkinsus marinus. II.
Pathogen virulence. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, in press.
Bushek, D., S.E. Ford, and M.M. Chintala. 2002. Comparison of in vitro cultured and natural Perkinsus marinus.
III. Fecal elimination and its role in transmission. Diseases of Aquatic Organism, in press.
Chintala, M.M. and J.P. Grassle. 2001. Recruitment frequency and growth in Atlantic surfclams, Spisula
solidissima (Dillwyn, 1819), in inshore New Jersey waters. J. Shellfish Res. 20 (3): 1177-1186.
Wigand, C., R. Comeleo, R. McKinney, G. Thursby, M. Chintala, and M. Charpentier. 2001. Outline of a new
approach to evaluate ecological integrity of salt marshes. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: Vol.
7(5): 1541-1554.
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GIANCARLO CICCHETTI
Ecologist
401-782-9620
cicchetti. eiancarloffl .epa.nov
B.A., Biological Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 1986
Ph.D., Biological Oceanography, School of Marine Sciences, The College of
William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA, 1998
Employment:
2002-present
1998-2002
1998
1987-1993
1986-1987
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Giancarlo is a marine ecologist with experience developing quantitative methods for field sampling of various
ecosystem components including fishes, decapods, infauna, vegetation, sediment, and water quality. His primary
interest is advancing empirical load-response models at larger scales. His recent work has focused on use of
underwater imaging in conjunction with capture sampling to assess ecological responses to habitat alteration and
nutrient pollution.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
U.S. EPA Quality Step Increase, 2001
Member, Estuarine Research Federation and New England Estuarine Research Society
Reviewer for Estuarine Research Federation-sponsored Dissertations Symposium for the Advancement of Coastal,
Estuarine, and Great Lakes Research (2002)
Thesis Committee Member for Masters Student, The College of William and Mary, School of Marine Science,
Virginia Institute of Marine Science (2000-2002)
Yearbook Dedication, Noble High School Class of 1990, Berwick, ME
Selected Recent Publications:
U.S. EPA. 2001. Aquatic stressors implementation plan for habitat alteration research, draft. Lead author for
section "Shoreline, lake, and estuary scale habitat research." U.S. EPA, Office of Research and
Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park,
NC.
Cicchetti, G. and R. J. Diaz. 2000. Types of salt marsh edge and export of trophic energy from marshes to deeper
habitats. In Concepts and Controversies in Tidal Marsh Ecology, M. P. Weinstein and D. A. Kreeger, eds.
Kluwer Academic Publications, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
Bartholomew, A., R. J. Diaz, and G. Cicchetti. 2000. New dimensionless indices of structural habitat complexity:
Predicted and actual effects on a predator's foraging success. Marine Ecology Progress Series 206:45-58.
Cicchetti, G. 1998. The importance of edge in creation and management of salt marshes for commercially valuable
marine transient species. Minding the Coast: It's Everybody's Business, M. P. Lynch, ed. Proceedings of
the 16th International Conference of the Coastal Society, Alexandria VA.
Ecologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA,
Narragansett, RI
Post-Doctoral Fellow, Atlantic Ecology Division, National
Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD,
U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
Monitoring Coordinator, Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Virginia,
Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point VA
High School Science Teacher, Noble High School, Berwick ME
Aquaculturist, Sea Farms West, Carlsbad CA
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DONALD J. COBB
Physical Scientist
401-782-9616
cobb.donald@epa.gov
B.S., Chemistry, Southampton College of Long Island University, 1980
B.S., Marine Science, Southampton College of Long Island University, 1980
Employment:
2000-present Physical Scientist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health
and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S.
EPA, Narragansett, RI
1995-2000 Chemist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1993-1995 Laboratory Manager, Northeast Laboratory Services, Inc., Waterville, ME
1988-1993 Senior Chemist/Work Assignment Manager, Science Applications International Corporation
(SAIC), Narragansett, RI
1986-1988 Officer, United States Navy, Newport, RI
1983-1986 Researcher, Battelle New England Marine Research Laboratory, Duxbury, MA
1980-1983 Marine Chemistry Technician, Energy Resources Company, Inc., Cambridge, MA
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Don is a marine chemist with experience in environmental monitoring programs, including sampling design,
ecological indicator development and selection, conduct of sample collection, project management, and data
assessment. Additionally, he has considerable experience in the analysis of marine sediment and tissue samples for
organic and metal contaminants.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development Statesmanship Award, 2002
U.S. EPA Bronze Metal for Coastal 2000 Planning and Execution, Office of Research and Development, 2001
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for Development of the Mid Atlantic Integrated Assessment (MAIA) State of the Estuaries
Report, Office of Research and Development, 1999
Selected Recent Publications:
Paul, J.F., J.A. Kiddon, C.J. Strobel, B.D. Melzian, J.S. Latimer, D.J. Cobb, D.E. Campbell and B.S. Brown. 2000.
Condition of the Mid-Atlantic estuaries: production of a state of the environment report. Environmental
Monitoring and Assessment 63: 115-129.
Paul, J.F., B.D. Melzian, B.S. Brown, C.J. Strobel, J.A. Kiddon, J.S. Latimer, D.E. Campbell and D.J. Cobb. 1999.
MAIA project summary: condition of the Mid-Atlantic estuaries. 600/SR-98/147, US EPA Office of
Research and Development, Washington, DC, December 1999,6 pp.
USEPA. 1998. Condition of the Mid-Atlantic estuaries. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of
Research Development, Narragansett, RI, 50 pp.
Paul, J.F., C.J. Strobel, B.D. Melzian, J.A. Kiddon, J.S. Latimer, D.E. Campbell and D.J. Cobb. 1998. State of the
estuaries in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
51:269-284.
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LAURA L. COIRO
Biologist
401-782-9603
coiro.laurato epa.iiov
B.A., Zoology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1988
Employment:
1997-present
1995-1997
1990-1995
1989-1990
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Aaencv Needs:
Laura is a biologist with expertise in water quality criteria development, with special emphasis on dissolved oxygen
requirements of marine species. She was a primary reseacher in the development of the Salt Water Dissolved
Oxygen Criteria for the Virginian Province, and is currently involved in the expansion of the Dissolved Oxygen
Criteria program, the efforts of which will be used to expand the regional criteria developed for the Virginian
Province to encompass the Gulf and Pacific Coasts as well.
Laura is also involved in research efforts geared at the examination of import environmental stressors including
the impact of endocrine disruptors, contaminated sediments and dioxin-like compounds on the environment and
aquatic wildlife. Laura was one of the primary researchers involved in the development of a novel non-destructive
in ovo assay for the assessment of exposure and genetic adaptation to dioxin-like contaminants.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
U.S. EPA Special Act Award, 1997
U.S. EPA Science and Technology Achievement Awards, 1999
U.S. EPA Special Accomplishment Award, 2000
U.S. EPA Science and Technology Achievement Awards, 2000
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for Innovation in Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of Aquatic Life: Saltwater
Dissolved Oxygen, 2002
Selected Recent Publications:
Miller, D.C., S. Poucher, and L. Coiro. 2002. Determination of lethal dissolved oxygen levels for selected marine
and estuarine fishes, crustaceans, and a bivalve. Marine Biology 140: 287-296.
Thursby, G., D.C. Miller, S. Poucher, L. Coiro, W. Munns, Jr., and T. Gleason. 2000. Ambient aquatic life water quality
criteria for dissolved oxygen (saltwater): Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras. EPA 822-R-00-012, US EPA, Office of
Water, Washington, DC
Coiro, L., S. Poucher, and D. Miller. 2002. Hypoxic effects on growth of Palaemonetes vulgaris larvae: using
constant exposure data to estimate cyclic exposure response. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and
Ecology 247: 243-255.
Nacci, D., L. Coiro, D. Champlin, S. Jayaraman, R. McKinney, T. Gleason, W. Munns, Jr., J. Specker, and K.
Cooper. 1999. Adaptations of wild populations of the estuarine rish Fundulus heteroclitus to persistent
environmental contaminants. Marine Biology 134: 9-17.
Nacci, D., L. Coiro, A. Kuhn, D. Champlin, W. Munns, Jr., J. Specker, and K. Cooper. 1998. A nondestructive indicator
of EROD activity in embryonic fish. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 17(12): 2481-2486.
Biologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA,
Narragansett, RI
Biological Sciences Technician, Atlantic Ecology Division,
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory,
ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
Biologist, Science Applications International Corporation
(SA1C), Narragansett, RI
Biological Technician, Brown University-Psychology Department, Providence, RI
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EARL WALTER DAVEY
Research Aquatic Biologist
401-782-3083
davev.earKrteDa.gov
B.S., Analytical Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara, 1962
M.S., Biological Oceanography, Oregon State University, 1964
Ph.D., Biological/Chemical Oceanography, Oregon State University, 1970
Employment:
1967-present Research Aquatic Biologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National
Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD,
U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Aeencv Needs:
Earl is a research aquatic biologist with expertise in marine ecosystems, watersheds, microcosms, analytical
chemistry, and computer-aided tomography.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
U.S. EPA Science and Technology Achievement Awards, 1992 and 2002
Selected Recent Publications:
Davey, E.W., K.T. Perez, J. A. Cardin, R.L. Johnson, and K.J. Rocha. Application of 3D computer-aided
tomography to the quantitative differentiation of marine benthic habitats, in preparation.
Johnson, R.L., K.T. Perez, E.W. Davey, J.A. Cardin, and K.J. Rocha. Discriminating the effects of anthropogenic
point sources from salinity and nitrogen loading using benthic communities: A comparative estuarine
method, in preparation.
Perez, K.T., E.W. Davey, R.H. Moore, P.R. Bum, M.S. Rosol, J.A. Cardin, R.L. Johnson, and D.N. Kopans. 1999.
Application of computer-aided tomography to the study of estuarine benthic communities. Ecol. Appl.
9(3): 1050-1058.
Davey, E.W., K.T. Perez, A.E. Soper, N.F. Lackie, G.E. Morrison, R.L. Johnson, and J.F. Heltshe. 1990.
Significance of the surface microlayer to the environmental fate of di(2-ethyexyl)phthalate predicted from
marine microcosms. Marine Chemistry 31: 231 -269.
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EDWARD H. DETTMANN
Research Environmental Scientist
401-782-3039
dettmann.edward«/ epa.gov
B.S., Physics, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 1962
M.S., Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 1964
Ph.D., Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 1971
Employment:
1986-present
1982-1986
1975-1981
1970-1975
Research Environmental Scientist, Atlantic Ecology Division,
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory,
ORD, U.S .EPA, Narragansett, RI
Chief, Ecology and Environment, Inc., Buffalo, NY
Scientist/Assistant Scientist, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL
Research and Project Associate, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Wisconsin,
Madison, WI
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Ed has expertise in analysis and modeling of water quality in marine and freshwater systems. The current focus of
his research is eutrophication in estuaries and other coastal waters, and the physical and other factors that determine
the sensitivity of these systems to nutrient loading.
Selected Memberships & Appointments:
Member, Estuarine Research Federation and New England Estuarine Research Society
Technical Oversight/Review/Advisory Committees:
Department of Interior CERCLA Type A Damage Assessment Model (1986-1989);
Siting of Massachusetts Water Resources Authority POTW Outfall (1987- 1988);
New Bedford POTW outfall (1987-1990);
Nutrient Criteria Technical Guidance Manual for Estuarine and Coastal Marine Waters (2000-2002);
NHEERL Nutrient Research/Aquatic Stressors Program (2000-present)
Region I Technical Advisory Group for Nutrient Criteria in Estuaries and Coastal Marine Waters (2000-present).
Selected Publications:
Dettmann, E.H. 2001. Effect of water residence time on annual export and denitrification of nitrogen in estuaries: a
model analysis. Estuaries 24(4): 481-490.
Dettmann, E.H. 2001. Additional information on flushing in estuaries. Appendix C in nutrient criteria technical
guidance manual: estuarine and marine waters. Report No. EPA-822-B-01-003, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Office of Water, Washington D.C.
Barrera, J., R. Cantilli, I. Davis, E. Dettmann, J. Fisher, D. Flemer, T. Gardner, G. Gibson, D. Hart, J. Latimer, S.
Libby, G. Smith, C. Siciliano, and J. Word. 2001. Nutrient criteria technical guidance manual: estuarine
and coastal marine waters. Guidance Manual No. EPA-822-B-01-003, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Office of Water, Washington DC.
Walker, H.A., J.S. Latimer, E.H. Dettmann. 2000. Assessing the effects of natural and anthropogenic stressors in
the Potomac estuary: implications for long-term monitoring. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
63: 237-251.
Dettmann, E.H., and M.A. Abdelrhman. 1997. Modeling short-term behavior of dredged material disposed in very
shallow and very deep coastal waters. Proceedings of USEPA Workshop on Next Generation
Environmental Models and Computational Methods (NGEMCOM), Philadelphia. Society for Industrial
and Applied Mathematics, pp. 109-115.
Abdelrhman, M.A. and E.H. Dettmann. 1997. Two-dimensional modeling of current circulation and contamination
transport in surface waters. Proceedings of USEPA Workshop on Next Generation Environmental Models
and Computational Methods (NGEMCOM) Philadelphia. Society for Industrial and Applied
Mathematics, pp. 117-123.
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WALTER B. GALLOWAY
Senior Environmental Scientist
401-782-3096
galloway.walt@epa.gov
B.A., Chemistry, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH, 1969
M.S., Geochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rl, 1973
Employment:
1997-present Senior Environmental Scientist, Atlantic Ecology Division,
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory,
ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1994-1997 Senior Environmental Scientist, Characterization Research
Division, National Exposure Research Laboratory, ORD, U. S.
EPA, Las Vegas, NV
1991-1994 Director, Office of Program Management, Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory, Office
of Modeling, Monitoring Systems and Quality Assurance, ORD, U. S. EPA, Las Vegas, NV
1988-1991 Environmental Scientist, Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory, Office of Modeling,
Monitoring Systems and Quality Assurance, ORD, U. S. EPA, Las Vegas, NV
1987-1988 Acting Branch Chief, Environmental Chemistry Branch, Environmental Research Laboratory,
Office of Environmental Processes and Effects Research, ORD, U. S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1974-1987 Environmental Scientist/Chemist, Environmental Research Laboratory, Office of Environmental
Processes and Effects Research, ORD, U. S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Walt has been involved in environmental research, and various forms of training, facilitation, and organization
development. He has worked as a chemist, environmental scientist, facilitator, change agent, and manager. His
most recent work has focused on working with local governments, citizens, and fellow research scientists to identify
how to truly succeed in Community Based Environmental Protection.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Member, Association for Quality and Participation
Member and Lead Facilitator, ORD Human Resources Council
U.S. EPA New England Region 1 October, 1998 Employee of the Month as a member of the EPA-New England
Rhode Island State Unit and the Urban Environmental Initiative
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for Exceptional/Outstanding ORD Technical Assistance to the Regions or Programs
Offices as part of the ORD Ecological Survey Design Team, 2001
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal as a member of the ORD Organization Development Team, 2002
U.S. EPA ORD Statesmanship Award as a member of the Northeast National Coastal Assessment Team, 2002
Selected Recent Publications:
Lussier, S.M., H.A. Walker, G.G. Pesch, W.B. Galloway, R. Adler, M.A. Charpentier, R.L. Comeleo and J.L.
Copeland. 2001. Strategies for protecting and restoring Rhode Island's watersheds on multiple scales.
Human and Ecological Risk Assessment 7(5): 1483-1491.
Bradley, M.P., B.S. Brown, S.S. Hale, F.W. Kutz, R.B. Landy, R. Shedlock, A. Morris, W.B. Galloway, J.S. Rosen,
R. Pepino and B. Wiersma. 2000. Summary of the MAIA working conference. Environmental Monitoring
and Assessment 63: 15-29.
Galloway, W.B., G.G. Pesch, W.K. Smith, P.J. Morneault and W.W. Barchard. 2000. What's the C in CBEP?
Proceedings of the 6th Annual National Watershed Coalition Conference "Getting the Job Done at the
Ground Level (Supporting Local Decision Making), Austin, TX, May 16-19, 1999, July 2000,
pp. 203-216.
Campbell, D.E., W.B. Galloway and G.G. Pesch. 1998. Appreciative inquiry: a mechanism for maximizing
empower in social systems. Proceedings of the 42nd Annual Meeting of the International Society For
Systems Sciences, Atlanta, GA, July 19-23 1988. J.K. Allen and J. Wilby, (eds). Paper 3107.
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JONATHAN H. GARBER
Director
401-782-3001
uarbei .ionathan(» epa.uov
A.B., Biological Science and Science Teaching, Rutgers-The State University, New
Brunswick, NJ, 1971
Ph.D., Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1982
Employment:
2001 -present Director, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA,
Narragansett, RI
2000-2001 Acting Director, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA,
Narragansett, RI
1997-2000 Research Aquatic Biologist, Special Assistant to the Director, Atlantic Ecology Division, National
Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1995-1997 Chief, Ecosystems Branch, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and Environmental Effects
Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1989-1995 Chief, Ecosystems Branch, Environmental Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1986-1989 Research Associate/Senior Research Associate/Associate Research Scientist, Chesapeake Biological
Laboratory, University of Maryland, Solomons, MD
1982-1989 Assistant Professor, College of Oceanography, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
1981-1982 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Jonathan is a coastal marine ecologist whose expertise in nutrient dynamics and stable isotope geochemistry has been
applied toward developing quantitative and historical methods to monitor and assess risks to coastal systems posed by
nutrient pollution and guide the development of the Agency's strategy for nutrient pollution research.
Selected Aopointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Co-Chair Technical Qualifications Board, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory
Member Estuarine Research Federation
Reviewer for Estuaries
Chairman 14th International Conference of the Estuarine Research Federation
Consultant to the Tanzania Coastal Management Partnership, Coastal Resources Center, University of Rhode Island
Selected Recent Publications:
Pesch, C.E. and J.H. Garber. 2001. Historical analysis: a valuable tool in community-based environmental protection.
Marine Pollution Bulletin 42(5):339-349.
Voyer, R.A., C.E. Pesch, J.H. Garber, J.L. Copeland and R. Comeleo. 2000. New Bedford Harbor, Massachusetts: a
story of urbanization and ecological connections. Environmental History 5(3):354-377.
Stahl, R.G., J. Orme-Zavelata, K. Austin, W.J. Berry, J.R. Clark, S. Cormier, W. Fisher, J.H. Garber, R. Hoke, L.E.
Jackson, G.L. Kreamer, C. Muska and M.E. Sierszen. 2000. Ecological indicators in risk assessment:
workshop summary. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment 6(4):671-677.
Nixon, S.W., J.W. Ammerman, P. Atkinson, W.M. Berounsky, G. Billen, W.C. Boicourt, W.R. Boynton, T.M.
Church, D.M. DiToro, R. Elmgren, J.H. Garber, A.E. Giblin, R.A. Jahnke, N.J.P. Owens, M.E.Q. Pilson, and
S.P. Seitzinger. 1996. The fate of nitrogen and phosphorus at the land-sea margin of the North Atlantic
Ocean. Biogeochemistry 35(1): 141-180.
Boynton, W.R., J.H.Garber, R.Summers, and W.M. Kemp. 1995. Inputs, transformations, and transport of nitrogen
and phosphorus in Chesapeake Bay and selected tributaries. Estuaries 18(1B): 285-314.
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GEORGE R. GARDNER
Research Aquatic Biologist
401-782-3036
gardner.ucoriiefti ena.nt
B.S., Forestry, University of Idaho, Idaho, 1962
Graduate School, Fisheries; Michigan State University, 1963
Graduate School, Fisheries; Pathology Dept., University of Rhode Island, 1974
Employment:
1966-present Research Aquatic Biologist, Atlantic Ecology Division,
National Health and Environmental Effects Research
Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
George is a research aquatic biologist with expertise in fish and shellfish histopathology; toxicologic methods
development; issues of environmental and public health; ecological epidemiology
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Member Society for Invertebrate Pathology
Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Puerto Rico, Department of Marine Science, Mayaguez, PR
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for 301(h) National Task Force,1982.
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for Quincy Bay, Boston Harbor Study, 1988
U.S. EPA Science and Technology Achievement Award, 1989
Selected Recent Publications:
Johnson, K.A., G.M. Calliet, M. Stephenson, and G. Gardner. 1997. Frequency and determination of external lesions
in Dover sole (Microstomus pacified) and English sole (Pleuronectes vetulus) in Monterey Bay, CA.
Southern Monterey Bay Continental Shelf Investigations: Former Fort Ord Restricted Area, US Dept of
Interior, US Geological Survey, 1997, Open File Report 97-450, pp 104-113. Contribution No.
AED-98-1962.
Zaroogian, G.E., G. Gardner, D.J. Borsay Horowitz, R.E. Gutjahr-Gobell, R.J. Haebler, and L.J. Mills. 2001. Effect of
17beta-estradiol, o,p'-DDT, octylphenol and p,p'-DDE on gonadal development and liver and kidney
pathology in juvenile male summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus). Aquatic Toxicology 54(1-2): 01-112.
Contribution No. AED-99-2168.
Rhodes, L.D., G.R. Gardner, and R.J. Van Beneden. 1997. Short-term tissue distribution, depuration and possible
gene expression effects of [3H]TCDD exposure in soft-shell clams (Mya arenaria). Environmental
Toxicology and Chemistry 16(9): 1888-1894. 600/J-98/003, Contribution No. 1826.
VanBeneden, R.J., L.D. Rhodes, and G.R. Gardner. 1998. Studies of the molecular basis of gonadal tumors in the
marine bivalve, Mya arenaria. Marine Environmental Research 46(1-5): 209-213. 600/J-98/396,
Contribution No. 1957.
VanBeneden, R.J., L.D. Rhodes, and G.R. Gardner. 2000. Potential alterations in gene expression associated with
carcinogen exposure in Mya arenaria. Biomarkers 4(6): 485-491. Contribution No. 2045.
Folmar, L.C., G.R. Gardner, M.P. Schreibman, L. Magliulo-Cepriano, L.J. Mills, G.E. Zaroogian, R.E.
Gutjahr-Gobell, R.J. Haebler, D.B. Horowitz, and N.D. Denslow. 2001. Vitellogenin-induced pathology in
male summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus). Aquatic Toxicology 51:431-441 Contribution No.
AED-00-078.
Mills, L.J., R.E. Gutjahr-Gobell, R.J. Haebler, D.J. Borsay Horowitz, S. Jayaraman, R.J. Pruell, R.A. McKinney, G.R.
Gardner, and G.E. Zaroogian. 2001. Effects of estrogenic (o,p'-DDT;octylphenol) and enti-androgenic
(p,p'-DDE) chemicals on indicators of endocrine status in juvenile male summer flounder (Paralichthys
dentatus). Aquatic Toxicology 52: 157-176 Contribution No. AED-99-2074.
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TIMOTHY R. GLEASON
Acting Supervisory Research Biologist
401-782-3033
gleason.timothv(a epa.gov
B.S., Biology, Bates College, Lewiston, ME, 1983
M.S., Fisheries, Aquaculture and Pathology, University of Rhode Island,
Kingston, RI, 1988
Ph.D., Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1995
Employment:
2000-present Supervisory Research Research Biologist (acting), Atlantic Ecology
Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research
Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
2001-2002 Assistant Laboratory Director, National Health and Environmental
Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina (9 month
temporary assignment)
1995-2000 Research Biologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research
Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, NaiTagansett, RI
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Tim is a biologist with expertise in developing and applying quantitative methods to support ecological risk
assessment, including development and application of population models.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Rhode Island,
Kingston, RI.
Bronze Medal - U.S. EPA, Office of Water, Innovation in Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of Aquatic Life
2002
U.S. EPA Science and Technology Achievement Award 2001.
Invited speaker: Indicators in Health and Ecological Risk Assessment, NHEERL Symposium, 2000.
Invited speaker: Challenges in Applied Population Biology, Association of Applied Biologists, 1999.
Member: American Fisheries Society, Ecological Society of America, Society for Conservation Biology, AAAS
Reviewer, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, North
American Journal of Fisheries Management, Fishery Bulletin, Marine Ecology Progress Series.
Selected Recent Publications:
Nacci, D., T. Gleason, and W.R. Munns, Jr. 2002. Evolutionary and ecological effects of multi-generational
exposures to anthropogenic stressors. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment 8(1): 91-97.
Gleason, T.R., and D.E. Nacci. 2001. Risks of endocrine-disrupting compounds to wildlife: extrapolating from effects
on individuals to population response. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment 7(5): 1027-1042.
Nacci, D., T.R. Gleason, R. Gutjahr-Gobell, M. Huber, and W.R. Munns, Jr. 2001. Effects of environmental stressors
on wildlife populations. In Coastal and Estuarine Risk Assessment: Risk on the Edge. M.C. Newman (ed.).
CRC Press/Lewis Publishers, Washington, DC, pp. 247-272.
Pechenik, J.A., T.R. Gleason, D. Daniels, and D. Champlin. 2001. Influence of larval exposure to salinity and
cadmium stress on juvenile performance of two marine invertebrates (Capitella sp. I and Crepidula
fornicata). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 264: 101-114.
Gleason, T.R., Munns, W.R., Jr., and D.E. Nacci. 2000. Projecting population-level response of purple sea urchins to
lead contamination for an estuarine ecological risk assessment. Journal of Aquatic Ecosystem Stress and
Recovery 7(3): 177-185.
Gleason, T.R., W.R. Munns, Jr., and D.E. Nacci. 1999. Influence of model time step on the relative sensitivity of
population growth rate to survival, growth and reproduction. In Challenges in Applied Population Biology,
July 8-9, 1999, Royal Holloway, University of London, produced by the Association of Applied Biologists,
M.B. Thomas and T. Kedwards (eds.). Aspects in Applied Biology 53: 253-260.
Nacci, D., L. Coiro, D. Champlin, S. Jayaraman, R. McKinney, T. Gleason, W.R. Munns, Jr., J. Specker, and K.
Cooper. 1999. Adaptation of wild fish populations to dioxin-like environmental contamination. Marine
Biology 134: 9-17.
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RUTH E. <
Biologist
401 -782-308*
gobell.ru thte
B.S., Marine
RI, I
Employment:
1997-present
1995-1997
1986-1995
1985-1986
1982-1985
1981-1982
1980-1981
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Ruth is a marine biologist with expertise in developing and applying quantitative methods for ecotoxicological testing
with marine organisms, endocrine disrupting chemical exposure and effects on marine fish, establishing links between
indicators of exposure and reproductive success in marine organisms and modeling population dynamics.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Member - Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Member - North Atlantic Chapter / Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Reviewer - Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
U.S. EPA Superior Accomplishment Recognition Awards, 1997, 1999,2000 and 2001
Selected Recent Publications:
Mills, L.J., R.E. Gutjahr-Gobell, D.J. Borsay Horowitz, M Chow, N. Denslow, and G.E. Zaroogian. 2002.
Relationship between reproductive success and male plasma vitellogenin levels in cunner Tautogolabrus
adspersus. Env. Health Perspectives, in press.
Gutjahr-Gobell, R.E., M. Huber, D. Borsay Horowitz, G. Zaroogian, and L.J. Mills. 2002. A temperate reef fish
Tautogolabrus adspersus as a potential model species for laboratory studies evaluating effects of chemical
exposure. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 21: 380-389.
Nacci, D.E., T.R. Gleason, R. Gutjahr-Gobell, M. Huber, and W.R. Munns, Jr. 2002. Effects of chronic stress on
wildlife populations: A population modeling approach and case study. In: Coastal and Estuarine Risk
Assessment. M.C. Newman, M.H. Roberts, Jr., R.C. Hale (eds.). CRC Press/Lewis Publishers, Washington,
DC, pp. 247-272.
Mills, L.J., R.E. Gutjahr-Gobell, D. Borsay-Horowitz, R. Haebler, R. Pruell, S. Jayaraman, R. McKinney, and G.
Zaroogian. 2001. Effects of selected endocrine disrupting chemicals on GSI, HSI, plasma steroid hormone
levels and vitellogenin production in juvenile summer flounder. Aquatic Tox. 52: 157-176.
Zaroogian, G., G. Gardner, D. Borsay-Horowitz, R. Haebler, R. Gutjahr-Gobell, L. Mills. 2001. Effect of 17p
estradiol o,/?'-DDT, octylphenol and />,p'-DDE, on gonadal development and liver and kidney pathology in
juvenile male summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus). Aquatic Tox. 54: 101-112.
Gutjahr-Gobell, R.E., D.E. Black, L.J. Mills, R.J. Pruell, B.K. Taplin, and S. Jayaraman. 1999. Feeding the
mummichog (Fudndulus heteroclitus) a diet spiked with non-ortho- and mono-ortho-substituted
polychlorinated biphenyls: accumulation and effects. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 18: 699-
707.
GUTJAHR-GOBELL
)
gpa.uov
Biology and Chemistry, Roger Williams University, Bristol,
980
Biologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA,
Narragansett, RI
Biological Technician, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health
and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA,
Narragansett, RI
Biologist, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Narragansett, RI
Physical Science Technician, National Marine Fisheries Service, Narragansett, RI
Research Assistant, New England Aquarium, On-site grant at the U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
Research Assistant, Ecosystems Center, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA
Research Assistant, National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA
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JEFFREY GREENBERG
Engineer
401-782-3077
Greenbert:. ie ffrevffl una, up v
M.S., Electrical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, North
Dartmouth, MA, 1993
B.S., Electrical Engineering,, Southeastern Massachusetts University, North
Dartmouth, MA, 1986
B.S., Computer Engineering,, Southeastern Massachusetts University, North
Dartmouth, MA, 1986
B.S., Computer Science, Southeastern Massachusetts University, North Dartmouth
MA, 1986
Employment:
1997-2002
1999
1995-1997
1988-1995
Engineer, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research
Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
Acting Facility Manager, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and Environmental Effects
Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
Wet Lab Manager, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research
Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
Senior Engineer, Combat Systems Test Activity, U.S. Army, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD
Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Jeffrey is a Licenced Professional Engineer, Rhode Island and Massachusetts with expertise in designing state of the
art instrumentation, data acquisition, and control systems, animal holding/testing systems, power distribution systems,
writing construction and performance statements of work, and monitoring contracts.
Professional Organizations/Licenses:
Member of the Aquatic Animal Life Support Operators (AALSO)
Licensed Professional Engineer, State of Rhode Island
Licensed Professional Engineer, State of Massachusetts
General Radiotelephone Operator License
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ROMONA A. HAEBLER
Research Veterinary Medical Officer
401-782-3095
haebler.romona@epa.gov
B.A., Psychology, University of Michigan, 1969
D.V.M., Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, 1977
Ph.D.,Veterinary Pathology, Michigan State University, 1984
Employment:
1988- present Research Veterinary Medical Officer
Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and Environmental
Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, R1
1986-1988: Acting Director, Marine Effects Division,
Environmental Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA,
Narragansett, RI
1984-1986: Special Assistant to the Assistant Administrator, ORD, US. EPA,
Washington, DC
1977-1980: Veterinary Clinician, Zeeb Animal Hospital, Lansing, Ml
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Romona is a veterinary pathologist with skills and expertise in wildlife medicine and disease, especially concerning
marine mammals and endangered species. Past work has focused on disease investigations of unusual mortality events
and assessment of catastrophic marine pollution events on protected and endangered species. Current work and future
interests focus on assessing anthropogenic factors driving disease emergence, especially on temporal and spatial
scales.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Member, Society of Marine Mammology, International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine, American
Veterinary Medical Association
Detailed to the US Fish and Wildlife Service as the Pathologist of Record for the Exxon Valdez
oil spill response to wildlife. Ancorage, Alaska, 1989.
U.S. EPA Silver Medal for Response to Exxon Valdez Oil spill, 1989
Member emeritus, Unusual Marine Mammal Mortality Group(UMMMG), NMFS/ NOAA, 1990-present
Certificate of Recognition, Department of Commerce, for serving on UMMMG group to improve the quality of
response to marine mammal mortality events
Member, Northeast Implementation Team the Right Whale, 1992- present
Selected Publications:
Horowitz, D.B. and R.A. Haebler. 2001. Demonstration of apergillus sp. in tissues of the common loon, gavia immer:
incidence, progression, and severity. Journal of Histotechnology 24(2): 101-106.
Kuehl, D.W., and R. Haebler. 1995. Organochlorine, organobromine, metal, and selenium residues in dolphins
bottlenos, tursiops truncatus, collected during an unusual mortality event in the Gulf of Mexico, 1990.
Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 28: 494-499.
Lake, C.A., J. L. Lake, R Haebler, R. McKinney, W.S. Boothman, and S.S. Sadove. 1995.Contaminants levels
in harbor seals from the northeastern United States. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 29: 128-134.
Haebler, R. 1994. Biological effects: marine mammals and sea turtles. In J. Burger (ed.) Before and After an
Oil Spill, pp. 238-252. Rutgers University Press. New Brunswick, NJ.
Kuehl, D.W., R Haebler, and C. Potter. 1994. Coplanar PCB and metal residues on dolphins, including atlantic
bottlenose obtained during the 1987-1988 mass mortality. Chemosphere 28(6): 1245-1253.
Haebler, R.,and R .Moeller. 1993. Pathobiology of selected marine mammal diseases. In J.A. Couch and J.W.
Fournie (eds.) Pathobiology of Marine and Estuarine Organism, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, pp. 217-244.
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STEPHEN S. HALE
Ecologist
401-782-3048
hale.Stephens cpa.uov
B. A., Zoology, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 1967
M. S., Biological Oceanography, University of RI, Kingston, RI, 1974
Professional Certificate, Computer Science, University of Mass.,
Amherst, MA, 1985
Employment:
1995-present
1993-1995
1992-1993
1986-1992
1986
1980-1985
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Benthic ecology (nutrient cycles, sediment chemistry, community dynamics, species distribution); Fish ecology
(population and habitat assessment); Information management of environmental data (design, database management
software, Geographic Information Systems); Ecological assessments (statistical analyses).
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Technical Director for Information Management, U. S. EPA's Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
Certified Senior Ecologist, Ecological Society of America, 2000
Certified Fisheries Scientist, American Fisheries Society, 1984
Guest Editor, Coastal and marine databases. Maritimes 43(2). 2001.
Scientific Editor, Proceedings of the First Symposium on the Mid-Atlantic Integrated Assessment Program.
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment vol. 63, July, 2000.
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for the initiation and execution of the first integrated and comprehensive survey of coastal
condition throughout the Western United States, 2001.
Selected Recent Publications:
Hale S.S., M.M Hughes, C.J. Strobel, H.W. Buffum, J.L. Copeland, and J.F. Paul. 2002. Coastal ecological data
from the Virginian biogeographic province, 1990-1993. Ecological Archives, in press.
McDonald, M., R. Blair, S. Hale, S. Hedtke, D. Heggem, L. Jackson, K B. Jones, T. Olsen, S. Paulsen, J. Stoddard,
K. Summers, and G. Veith. 2002. EPA's environmental monitoring and assessment program in the 21s'
century. Hydrologic Science and Technology, in press.
Hale, S.S., A.H. Miglarese, M.P. Bradley, T.J. Belton, L.C. Cooper, M.T. Frame, C.A. Friel, L.M. Harwell, R.E.
King, W.K. Michener, D.T. Nicolson, and B.G. Peteijohn. 2002. Managing troubled data: coastal data
partnerships smooth data integration. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, in press.
Hale, S.S. 2002. Marine bottom communities of Block Island waters. In Ecology of Block Island, Rhode Island
Natural History Survey, Kingston, RI, in press.
Hale, S.S. 2001. Species databases and the bioinformatics revolution. RINHewS, the Newsletter of the Rhode Island
Natural History Survey 8(2): 10-11.
Hale, S.S. 2001. Coastal and marine databases. Maritimes 43(2): 1-2. Guest editor for this issue of Maritimes.
Hale, S.S. 2001. Managing data for the environmental monitoring and assessment program. Maritimes
43(2): 14-15.
Ecologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA,
Narragansett, RI
Senior Systems Analyst, Computer Sciences Corp.
Narragansett, RI
Data Management Consultant, National Marine Fisheries Service, Narragansett, RI
Marine Research Associate, Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island,
Narragansett, RI
Research Programmer, Brown University, Providence, RI
Fishery Biologist and Biometrician, Alaska Department of Fish & Game, Anchorage, AK.
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Hale, S S 2001 Data are, datta is Science Editor 24 135
Hale, S S , and H W Buffum 2000 Designing environmental databases for statistical analyses Environmental
Monitoring and Assessment 64 55-68
Hale, S S , L H Bahner, and J F Paul 2000 Finding common ground in managing data used for regional
environmental assessments Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 63 143-157
Bradley, P , B Brown, S Hale, W Galloway, R Kutz, R Landy, R Shedlock, R Mangold, A Morris, W
Galloway, J Rosen , R Pepino, and B Wiersma 2000 Summary of the MAIA Mid-Atlantic integrated
assessment working conference Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 63 15-29
Hale, S S 2000 How to manage data badly (pan 2) Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America 81(1) 101-103
Hale, S S 1999 How to manage data badly (part 1) Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America 80(4) 265-268
Hale, SS, J Rosen, D Scott, J F Paul, and M M Hughes 1999 EMAP information management plan 1998-2001
EPA/620/R-99/001 a U S Environmental Protection Agency, ORD, NHEERL Research Triangle Park,
NC, 333 pp
Hale, S S , M M Hughes, J F Paul, R S McAskill, S A Rego, D R Bender, N J Dodge, T L Richter,and J L
Copeland 1998 Managing scientific data the EMAP approach Environmental Monitoring and
Assessment 51 429440
Comeleo, R L , J F Paul, P V August, J Copeland, C Baker, S S Hale, and R L Latimer 1996 Relationships
between watershed stressors and sediment contamination in Chesapeake Bay estuaries Landscape Ecology
11 307-319
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KAY T. HO
Environmental Research Scientist
401-782-3196
ho.kav(« ena.gov
B.S., Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Davis, CA, 1982
M.S., Environmental Toxicology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 1985
Ph.D., Chemical Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1992
Employment:
1992-present
1989-1990
1985-1986
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Kay is an marine environmental scientist with broad training in toxicology and ecology. Her expertise includes
method development for assessment and identification of stressors in aquatic systems with an emphasis on benthic
systems.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Member Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Society of Sigma Xi Inducted 1992
Reviewer for: Estuaries, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Marine Environmental Research, Marine
Pollution Bulletin, Environmental Toxicology, Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology,
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, Chemosphere, Contaminant Hydrology, Journal
of the Water Research Environment Federation
Editorial Board of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 1999-2001
Editorial Board of Environmental Toxicology, 1997-present
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry- Guest Editor: Session on Produced Waters 1996
National Technical Association - Top 10 Minority Women in the United States 1998
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for Development of Marine Toxicity Identification Evaluation Methods 1998
U.S. EPAScience and Technology Achievement Award Honorable Mention 1998 and 2001
Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry:
North Atlantic Chapter-President-1995-1997.
Executive Board 1995-1998.
Hampton University, Hampton, VA Adjunct Professor. (1993-1996)
Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island Adjunct Professor (2000-present)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute, College of Forestry and Wildlife, and Natural Resource Sciences Academic Program,
Program Review Panel, 1995.
Science Advisory GroupEnvironment Canada-Method Development Section 1998- present.
National Center for Graduate Education for Minorities Review Panel (1994-1998); chair (1996-1998).
Selected Recent Publications:
Ho, K. T., R.M. Burgess, M. Pelletier, J.R. Sebst, S.A. Ryba, M.G. Cantwell, A. Kuhn, and P. Raczelowski. 2002. An
overview of toxicant identification in sediments and dredged materials. Mar. Poll. Bull. 44:4, 286-293.
Ho, K.T., R. McKinney, A. Kuhn, M. Pelletier, and R. Burgess. 1997. Identification of acute toxicants in New
Bedford Harbor sediments. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 16:3, 551-558.
Ho, K. T. 1997. Toxicity-based approach to environmental protection. European Water Pollution Control 7:4, 49-52.
Luoma, S. N. and K. T. Ho. 1993. Appropriate uses of marine and estuarine sediment nioassays. Handbook of
Ecotoxicology: 1 Peter Calow, Ed. Blackwell Scientific Publications. London, pp. 193-226.
Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and Environmental
Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
- Detail, Acting Indicator Development Branch Chief
- Team Leader- Bioavailability
- Environmental Research Scientist- Method development for
marine sediment assessments.
Research Associate, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI
TASIS Cyprus American School, Nicosia, Cyprus and London, England
High School Teacher: Environmental Chemistry Oceanography, Biology, and Ecology
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DORANNE BORSAY HOROWITZ
Biologist
401-782-3042
borsav.doditrt epa.gov
B.S., Zoology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1975
Employment:
1997-present
1995-1997
1986-1995
Biologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA,
Narragansett, RI
Biology Technician, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health
and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. EPA,
Narragansett, RI
Biologist, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC),
Narragansett, RI
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Dodi is a biologist with expertise in marine histopathology, adapting clinical methodologies to assess the effects of
toxic chemicals, stressors, and environmental condition on wildlife and marine populations and organizing these data
into databases to apply quantitative methods for ecological and human health risk assessments and research.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
American Fisheries Society, Fish Health Section member and webmaster for Southern New England Chapter
American Society of Clinical Pathologists associate member
National Society for Histotechnology member and webmaster for Veterinary, Industry, and Research Committee,
past Chair of Region I Convention/Symposium
North Atlantic Chapter of Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry board member and webmaster
Rhode Island Society for Histotechnology member - past President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Board Member
Society for Invertebrate Pathology member
Southern New England Chapter of American Fisheries Society member and webmaster
Selected Recent Publications:
Gutjahr-Gobell, R.E., M. Huber, D.B. Horowitz, G.E. Zaroogian and L.J. Mills. 2002. A temperate reef fish,
tautogolabrus adspersus, (Walbaum) as a potential model species for laboratory studies evaluating
reproductive effects of chemical exposure. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 21(2): 380-389.
Folmar, L.C., G.R. Gardner, M.P. Schreibman, L. Magliuo-Cepriano, L.J. Mills, G.E. Zaroogian, R. Gutjahr-Gobell,
R.A. Haebler, D.B. Horowitz, and N.D. Denslow. 2001. Vitellogen-induced pathology and mortality in
male flounder, paralichthys dentatus. Aquatic Toxicology 51: 431 -441.
Mills, L.J., R.E. Gutjahr-Gobell, R.J. Haebler, D.B. Horowitz, S. Jayaraman, R.J. Pruell, R.A. McKinney, G.R.
Gardner and G.E. Zaroogian. 2001. Effects of estrogenic (o,p'-DDT, octylphenol) and anti-androgenic
(p,p'-DDE) chemicals as indicators of endocrine status in juvenile male summer flounder, paralichthys
dentatus. Aquatic Toxicology 52: 157-176.
Horowitz, D.B. and R.A. Haebler. 2001. Demonstration of aspergillus sp. in the common loon, gavia immer:
incidence, progression, and severity. The Journal of Histotechnology 24(2): 101-106.
Zaroogian, G.E., G.R. Gardner, D.B. Horowitz, R. Gutjahr-Gobell, R.A. Haebler, and L.J. Mills. 2001. Effect of
17b-estradiol, o,p'-DDT, octylphenol, and p,p'-DDE on gonadal development and liver and kidney
pathology in juvenile male summer flounder, paralichthys dentatus. Aquatic Toxicology 54(1-2): 101-112.
Fogg-Matarese, S., D.B. Horowitz, and G. Kass-Simon. 2001. An valuation of three conventional histological
techniques for staining the cerata of cratena pilata. The Journal of Histotechnology 24(4): 255-258.
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SARO JAYARAMAN
Environmental Scientist
401-782-9613
jayaraman.saro(« epa.gov
B.A., Chemistry University of Kerala, India, 1967
Employment:
1997-present Environmental Scientist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National
Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S.
EPA, Narragansett, RI
1995-1997 Technician, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA,
Narragansett, RI
1988-1995 Chemist, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC),
Narragansett, RI
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Aeencv Needs:
Saro is an analytical chemist with interests in chemical stressors, such as persistent bioaccumulative toxicants, and
eutrophication.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
American Chemical Society
U.S. EPA Science and Technology Achievement Awards, 2001
Selected Recent Publications:
Jayaraman, S., R.J. Pruell, and R.A. McKinney. 2001. Extraction of organic contaminants from marine sediments and
tissues using microwave energy. Chemosphere 44: 181-191.
Nacci, D.E., S. Jayaraman, and J. Specker. 2001. Stored retinoids in populations of the estuarine fish Fundulus
heteroclitus indigenous to PCB-contaminated and reference sites. Archives of Environmental Contamination
and Toxicology 40: 511-518.
Nacci, D.E., L. Coiro, D. Champlin, S. Jayaraman, R.A. McKinney, T.R. Gleason, W.R. Munns, Jr., J.L. Specker, and
K.R. Cooper. 1999. Adaptions of wild populations of the estuarine fish Fundulus heteroclitus to persistent
environmental contaminants. Marine Biology 134: 9-17.
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MARY W. JOHNSON
Technical Information Manager
401-782-3028
Johnson. Mimi(« cna.uov
B.A., Political Science (pending), University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 2002
Master of Marine Affairs Program, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
A.A., Liberal Arts, Bennett College, Millbrook, NY, 1965
Employment:
1993-present Technical Information Manager, Atlantic Ecology Division,
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory,
ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1973-1993 Biological Laboratory Technician, Atlantic Ecology Division,
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1969-1973 U.S. Department of Interior, Federal Water Pollution Control Administration, West Kingston, RI
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Mimi is biologist and information manager with expertise in lobster biology and culture, physiological measurement,
and information management.
Selected Recent Publications:
Juinio, M.A., J.S. Cobb, D. Bengtson and M. Johnson, 1992. Changes in nucleic acids over the molt cycle in relation
to food availability and temperature in Homarus americanus postlarvae. Marine Biology 114:1-10.
Zaroogian, G. and M. Johnson. 1989. Adenylate energy charge and adenine nucleotide measurements as indicators of
stress in the mussel, Mytilus edulis, treated with dredged material. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination
and Toxicology 43:428-435.
Zaroogian, G. and M. Johnson. 1989. Application of adenylate energy charge and adenine nucleotide measurements
as indicators of stress in Nepthys incisa treated with dredged material. Bulletin of Environmental
Contamination and Toxicology 43:261-270.
Zaroogian, G., P. Rogerson, G. Hoffman, M, Johnson. M. Johns and W. Nelson. 1988. A field and laboratory study
using adenylate energy charge as an indicator of stress in Mytilus edulis and Nepthys incisa treated with
dredge materials. TRD-88-4, U.S. Army Engineers Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS.
Zaroogian, G., J. Heltshe and M. Johnson. 1985. Estimation of toxicity to marine species with structure-activity
models developed to estimate toxicity to freshwater fish. Aquatic Toxicology 6:251-270.
Zaroogian, G. J. Heltshe and M. Johnson. 1985. Estimation of bioconcentration in marine species using
structure-activity models. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 4:3-12.
Zaroogian, G. and M. Johnson. 1984. Nickel uptake and loss in the bivalves Crassostrea virginica and Mytilus edulis.
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 13:411-418.
Zaroogian, G. and M. Johnson. 1983. Copper Accumulation in the bay scallop, Argopecten irradians. Archives of
Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 12:127-133.
Zaroogian, G. and M. Johnson. 1983. Chromium Uptake and loss in the bivalves Crassostrea virginica and Mytilus
edulis. Marine Ecology Progress Series 12:167-173.
Zaroogian, G., J. Gentile, J. Heltshe, M. Johnson and A. Ivanovici. 1982. Application of adenine nucleotide
measurements for the evaluation of stress in Mytilus edulis and Crassostrea virginica. Comparative
Biochemistry and Physiology 71B(4):643-649.
Johnson, M. and J. Gentile. 1979. Acute toxicity of cadmium, copper, and mercury to larval american lobster,
Homarus americanus. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 22:258-264.
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ROXANNE L. JOHNSON
Chemist
401-782-9609
i ohnson. rox annelfa epa. gov
B.A., Chemical Science, Connecticut College, New London, CT 1965
M.S., Statistics, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 1997
Employment:
1995 - present
1984- 1995
1982- 1984
1975 - 1982
Chemist, Atlantic Ecology Division,
National Health and Environmental Effects Research
Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
Associate Chemist, Science Applications International Corporation
(SAIC), Narragansett, RI
Marine Research Specialist, University of Rhode Island
Narragansett, RI
Research Assistant, Biochemistry Department,
University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Roxanne is a chemist with expertise in developing and applying quantitative methods to determine nutrient levels in
estuarine systems, and the fate and effects of chemicals and mixtures of anthropogenic contaminants in microcosm
and estuarine systems. Additionally she develops experimental designs for the analysis of benthic communities.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
USEPA Science and Technology Achievement Award, 2000
Selected Recent Publications:
Davey, E.W., K.T. Perez, J.A. Cardin, R.L. Johnson, and K.J. Rocha Application of 3D computer-aided tomography
to the quantitative differentiation of marine benthic habitats, in preparation.
Johnson, R.L., K.T. Perez, E.W. Davey, J.A. Cardin, K.J. Rocha, E.H. Dettmann, and J.F. Heltshe. Discriminating the
effects of anthropogenic point sources from salinity and nitrogen loading using benthic communities: a
comparative estuarine approach, in preparation.
Perez, K.T, E.W. Davey, R.H. Moore, P R. Burn, M.S. Rosol, J.A. Cardin, R.L. Johnson, and D.N. Kopans. 1999.
Application of computer-aided tomography (CT) to the study of estuarine benthic communities. Ecological
Applications 9(3): 1050-1058.
Perez, K.T., G.E. Morrison, E. W. Davey, N.F. Lackie, A.E. Soper, R.J. Blasco, D.L. Winslow, R.L. Johnson, P.G.
Murphy, and J.F. Heltshe. 1991. Influence of size on fate and ecological effects ofKepone in physical
models. Ecological Applications 1(3): 237-24.
Davey, E.W., K.T. Perez, A.E. Soper, N.F. Lackie, G.E. Morrison, R.L. Johnson, and J.F. Heltshe. 1990. Significance
of the surface microlayer to the environmental fate of di (2-ethylhexy) phthlate predicted from a marine
microcosm. Marine Chemistry 31: 231 -269.
Perez, K.T., E.W. Davey, G.E. Morrison, J.A. Cardin, N.F. Lackie, A.E. Soper, R.J. Blasco, R.L. Johnson, and S.
Marino. 1990. Influence of organic matter and industrial contaminants in sewage effluents on marine
ecosystems. Environmental Protection Agency internal report. Februrary 1990.
Perez, K.T., E.W. Davey, J. Heltshe, J.A. Cardin, N.F. Lackie, R.L. Johnson, R.J. Blasco, A.E. Soper, and E. Read.
1990. Recovery of Narragansett Bay, RI: A Feasibility Study. Environmental Protection Agency internal
report for Office of Marine and Estuarine Protection. March 1990.
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DARRYL J. KEITH
Research Oceanographer
401- 782-3135
keith.darrvlto '.epamail.epa.gov
B.A., Geology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 1977
M.S., Geological Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1986
Master of Marine Affairs, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1993
Ph.D. Candidate, Biological Oceanography, University of Rhode Island,
Kingston, RI
Employment
1990-present Research Oceanographer, Atlantic Ecology Division, National
Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD,
U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1988-1990 Information Management Specialist., Computer Sciences Corporation,
U.S. EPA Environmental Research Laboratory, Narragansett, RI
1987-1988 Oceanographer, National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. NOAA, Narragansett, RI
1986-1987 Research Assistant III, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA.
1984-1986 Science Coordinator, JOIDES/Ocean Drilling Program Office, Graduate School of Oceanography,
University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
1982-1984 Graduate Research Assistant, Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island,
Kingston, RI
1977-1981 Research Assistant II, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution,Woods Hole, Massachusetts.
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Darryl is an oceanographer with expertise in integrating data from airborne and spacecraft mounted sensors to
predict and map the distribution and abundance of phytoplankton biomass in coastal and estuarine environments.
Darryl also has expertise in marine geology and coastal sedimentary processes and ocean disposal & dredge
material management issues.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Member, American Geophysical Union
Member, American Association of Limnology and Oceanography
Licensed Geologist - State of North Carolina
U.S. EPA/ORD/AED Representative:EPA/NASA Workshop on Water Monitoring, Remote Sensing, and Advanced
Technologies; Washington, DC, 1996.
Remote Sensing Briefing for Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) at Brown University, 2001.
ORD/AED Representative: Region I Long Term Strategy Working Group for Historic Waste Dumping in
Massachusetts Bay; Boston, MA, 1992.
Massachusetts Bay Dredged Material Capping Demonstration Working Group, Boston, MA, 1992.
Region I Massachusetts Bay Waste Task Force, Boston, MA, 1993.
Region I Massachusetts Bay Peer Review Panel, Boston, MA, 1993.
Providence River Shipping Channel Dredging Technical Advisory Committee, Providence, RI, 1994.
U.S. EPA Remote Sensing Working Group, 1996.
Review panel member: NOAA/National Undersea Research Program- Aquanaut Program 1993,1995
Councilor: Marine Technology Society, NE Section 1994-1996
Mentor: NOAA/National Undersea Research- Aquanaut Program 1994, 1996.
American Society of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) Minorities Program, 2001.
Steering Committee Member "Expanding Opportunities in Ocean Science- A Conference to Strengthen the Links
Between HBMSCU Undergraduates and Oceanic Graduate Studies in Marine and Atmospheric Sciences;
Hampton University, VA (1995), Univ. of Md-Eastern Shore, MD (1999), and Jackson State University,
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MS (2001)
Conference Co-chair, "Reducing the Uncertainties of Ecological Risk Assessment at Deeper Water Hazardous
Radiation Waste Sites Through the Application of Advanced Technologies", Woods Hole, MA, 1997
Session Co-chair, EMAP Symposium, Pensacola, FL, April 2001
U S EPA Bronze Metal for work on radioactive contamination of Massachusetts Bay, Office of Reseach and
Development, 1992
Selected Publications
Keith, D , J Yoder, S A Freeman 2002 Spatial and temporal distribution of colored dissolved organic
matter (CDOM) in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island implications for phytoplankton in coastal waters
Journal of Estuarme, Coastal and Shelf Science, in press
Keith, D , H A Walker, JF Paul 2002 Terrestrial vegetation greenness of the Lower Galveston Bay watershed
from satellite remote sensing and its relation to water use and the salinity regime of the Galveston Bay
estuary (USA) International Journal of Remote Sensing, Vol 23, No 5, 905-916
Latimer, J S , W R Davis, and D J Keith 1999 Mobilization of PAHs and PCBs from m-place contaminated
sediments during simulated resuspension events Estuarme, Coastal and Shelf Science, Vol 49, 577-595
Keith, D , H Coulton, J Lindsay, H Louft and L Stewart 1999 New technology for conducting radiation hazard
assessments application of the underwater radiation spectral identification system at Massachusetts Bay
industrial waste site Journal of Environmental Management and Assessment, Vol 54, 259-282
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fe*.
JOHN A. KIDDON
Physical Research Scientist
401-782-3044
kiddon. iohnta epa.gov
B.A., Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, 1974
M.S., Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, 1979
Ph.D., Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1993
Employment:
1995-present Physical Research Scientist,
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory,
ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1994-1995 Scientist, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC),
Narragansett, RI
1993-1994 Assistant Professor, Maine Maritime Academy, Castine, Maine
1986-1993 Research Assistant and Student, Graduate School of Oceanography,
University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
1979-1986 Research Engineer, Honeywell Inc, Minneapolis, MN
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
John brings experience in marine biology and geochemistry to the monitoring and assessment of estuarine and
riverine ecosystems. His primary interests lie in applying monitoring data in order to develop and implement criteria
that designate impairment in aquatic ecosystems. John also measures the concentration of stable isotopes in estuarine
waters, sediments, and organisms in order to trace the origins and fates of nutrients and to reconstruct historic changes
in estuarine processes.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for Development of the Mid Atlantic Integrated Assessment (MAIA) State of the Estuaries
Report, Office of Research and Development, 1998
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for Development of the Mid Atlantic Integrated Assessment (MAIA) State of the Estuaries
Report, Region III, 1998
Selected Recent Publications:
Lake, J.L., R.A. McKinney, F.A. Osterman, R.J. Pruell, J.A. Kiddon, S.A. Ryba and A.D. Libby. 2001. Stable
nitrogen isotopes as indicators of anthropogenic activities in small freshwater systems. Canadian Journal of
Fisheries and Aquatic Science 58: 870-878.
Paul J.F., J.A. Kiddon, C.J. Strobel, B.D. Melzian, J.S. Latimer, D.J. Cobb, D.E. Campbell and B.S. Brown. 2000.
Condition of the Mid-Atlantic estuaries: production of a state of the environment report. Environmental
Monitoring and Assessment 63(1): 115-29.
Paul, J.F., B.D. Melzian, B.S. Brown, C.J. Strobel, J.A. Kiddon, J.S. Latimer, D.E. Campbell and D.J. Cobb. 1999.
MAIA project summary: condition of the Mid-Atlantic estuaries. US EPA Office of Research and
Development, Washington, DC, December 1999, 6 pp. 600/SR-98/147.
USEPA. 1998. Condition of the Mid-Atlantic estuaries. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of
Research Development, Narragansett, RI.
Paul, J.F., C.J. Strobel, B.D. Melzian, J.A. Kiddon, J.S. Latimer, D.E. Campbell and D.J. Cobb. 1998. State of the
estuaries in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
51:269-284.
Kiddon, J., M.L. Bender, and J. Marra. 1994. Production and respiration in the 1989 North Atlantic bloom: an
analysis of irradiance-dependent changes. Deep-Sea Research 42: 553-576.
Kiddon, J., M.L. Bender, J. Orchardo, J. Goldman, D.A. Caron, and M. Dennett 1993. Isotopic fractionation of
oxygen by respiring marine organisms. Global Biogeochemical Cycles 73: 679-694.
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ANNE KUHN
Research Physical Scientist
401-782-3199
kuhn.annefrt.epa.gov
B.S., Natural Resources/Aquaculture and Pathology, University of Rhode Island,
Kingston, RI, 1980
M.S., Natural Resources/Aquacultural Nutrition, University of Rhode Island,
Kingston, RI, 1988
Ph.D. Candidate, Wildlife Conservation Biology, University of Rhode Island,
Kingston, RI, expected 2004
Employment:
1995-present
1993-1995
1990-1993
1984-1990
1982-1984
1981-1982
Research Physical Scientist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National
Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S.
EPA, Narragansett, RI
Research Biologist/Work Assignment Manager Contaminated Sediments Program, Science
Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Narragansett, RI
Lab Manager/Project Manager Environmental Testing Center, Science Applications International
Corporation (SAIC), Narragansett, RI
Research Biologist/Work Assignment Manager Water Quality Criteria Program, Science
Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Narragansett, RI
Marine Research Specialist, University of Rhode Island on location at ORD, U.S. EPA
Environmental Research Laboratory, Narragansett, RI.
Aquacultural Specialist, Blue Gold Seafarms, Inc., Middletown, RI.
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Anne is a research physical scientist with expertise in the assessment of population level effects of multiple stressors
with various marine and estuarine vertebrate and invertebrate species. Anne has expertise in test method development
and experimental design including the development of matrix population models which incorporate toxicity test
measures of effects. Anne has evaluated and validated various population models using field and laboratory studies.
Anne is currently involved in developing spatially-explicit population models which incorporate landscape structure
and habitat quality for a variety of species (aquatic and avian). Anne also has expertise in the field of spatial statistics
and is developing approaches for evaluating the relative risks from chemical and non-chemical stressors on spatially
structured populations of various species across large eco-regions.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Member Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Member of Wildlife Society
Member of Society for Conservation Biology
Member of Ecological Society of America
Reviewer for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
U.S. EPA Science and Technology Achievement Awards, 1998 and 1999.
Selected Recent Publications:
Kuhn, A., W.R. Munns, Jr., J.R. Serbst, P. Edwards, M.G. Cantwell, T. Gleason, M. Pelletier, and W. Berry. 2002.
Evaluating the ecological significance of laboratory response data to predict population-level effects for the
estuarine amphipod Ampelisca abdita . Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 21: 865-874.
Kuhn, A., W.R. Munns, Jr., D. Champlin, R. McKinney, M. Tagliabue, J. Serbst, and T. Gleason. 2001. Evaluation of
the efficacy of extrapolation population modeling to predict the dynamics of Americamysis bahia populations
in the laboratory. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 20: 213-221.
Kuhn, A., W.R. Munns, Jr., S. Lussier, D. Champlin, and S. Poucher. 2000. Prediction of population-level response
from mysid toxicity test data using population modeling techniques. Environmental Toxicology and
Chemistry 19: 2364-2371.
K. T. Ho, A. Kuhn, M. Pelletier, F. Mc Gee, R. M. Burgess, and J. Serbst. 2000. Sediment toxicity assessment:
Comparison of standard and new testing designs. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
39: 462-468.
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JAMES L. LAKE
Research Environmental Scientist
401-782-3173
lakc.iim(V/:epa,nov
B.A., Biology, Denison University, Granville, OH, 1967
M.A., Marine Science, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg VA, 1972
Ph.D., Marine Science, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg VA, 1977
Employment:
1980 - present Research Environmental Scientist, Atlantic Ecology Division,
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory,
ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1977-1980 Research Chemist/Research Associate, Center for Bio-Organic Studies, University of New Orleans,
New Orleans, LA; Location of Employment - Narragansett, Rl
1977 Marine Scientist, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Pt. VA
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Jim is an environmental scientist with expertise in developing quantitative relationships for estimating accumulation
of mercury in freshwater and marine food webs. He also has expertise in the analysis of organic contaminants and
mercury in environmental samples, in assessing and modeling bioaccumulation of contaminants and in the use of
stable isotopic techniques to determine trophic positions of organisms.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Reviewer for Environmental Science and Technology, Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology,
Marine Environmental Research.
Adjunct Professor Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island. 1980-1985.
U.S. EPA Science and Technology Achievement Award, 1981
Sigma Xi (inactive)
Selected Recent Publications:
Lake, J.L., R.A. McKinney, F.A. Osterman, S.A. Ryba, M. Cantwell., R.Y. Tien., C. Brown, and L. Suprock. 2002.
Mercury and stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen in mink. Mercury in the environment: Providing the
foundation for assessing and managing risks. Editors: Jeffrey Frithsen, Allan Ford, Jonathan Herrmann and
William Stelz. American Chemical Society (Submitted).
McKinney, R.A., J.L. Lake, M.A. Charpentier, and S.A. Ryba. 2002. Using mussel isotope ratios to assess
anthropogenic nitrogen inputs to freshwater ecosystems. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 74:
167-192.
Lake, J.L., R.A. McKinney, F.A. Ostenman, R.J. Pruell, J.A. Kiddon, S.A. Ryba, and A.D. Libby. 2001. Stable
nitrogen isotopes as indicators of anthropogenic activities in small freshwater systems. Canadian Journal of
Fisheries and Aquatic Science 58: 870-878.
Reddy, C.M., L.J. Heraty, B.D. Holt, N.C. Sturchio, T.I. Eglington, N.J. Drenzek, L. Xu, J.L. Lake, and K.A. Maruya.
2000. Stable chlorine isotope compositions of Aroclors and Aroclor-contaminated sediment. Environmental
Science and Technology 34(13): 2866-2870.
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RICHARD L. LAPAN, JR.
Safety, Health, and Environmental Management Program Manager
401-782-3009
lapan.rickfc/epa.iiov
B.S., Geology, University of Rhode Island, 1972
Employment:
1986-present
2002
1986-1991
1970-1986
Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Rick serves as SHEMP Manager and Radiation Safety Officer for AED. He has served on a number of advisory
committees to EPA's Safety, Health, and Environmental Management Division including Chemical Pharmacy
Workgroup, Chemical Inventory Automation, Medical Monitoring, SHEM Audit Benchmarking and has provided
technical assistance to NOAA/NMFS and OSHA Regional Offices, the University of Rhode Island, and various EI
facilities.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Vice-Chairman Southeastern New England Federal Safety and Health Council
Member National Fire Protection Association
Member Board of Directors, Narragansett Council Boy Scouts of America, 1986-present
Member US EPA/BSA National Jamboree Executive Committee, 1989, 1993, 1997
U.S. DOL/OSHA Meritorious Achievement Award, Category III, 2000
U.S. EPA Bronze Medals, 1990, 1996, 1999
U.S. EPA Tributes of Appreciation, 1989, 1990, 1993
U.S. EPA Sustained Superior Performance Awards, 1992, 1995, 1997
U.S. EPA Special Act Cash Awards, 1999(2), 2000, 2001
Safety Health, and Environmental Management Program Manager,
Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and Environmental
Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
Associate Director for Program Operations (Acting), Atlantic
Ecology Division, National Health and Environmental Effects
Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
Technical Information Manager, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and Environmental
Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
Analytical Chemist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and Environmental Effects
Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
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JAMES S. LATIMER
Research Physical Scientist
401-782-3167
lalimcr.iiiiid/ cna.uov
B.S.(cum laude), Chemistry, Syracuse University, Utica College of, 1979
M.S., Analytical Chemistry, University of Rhode Island, 1984
Ph.D., Chemical Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, 1989
Employment:
Oct 2000-present Research Physical Scientist, Atlantic Ecology Division,National
Health and Environmental Effects Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA,
Narragansett, RI
Aug-Oct 2000 Acting Chief Ecological Response Branch, Atlantic Ecology
Division, National Health and Environmental Effects
Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1995-2000 Research Physical Scientist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and Environmental
Effects Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1994-1995 Assistant Marine Research Scientist, Graduate School of Oceanography, Univ. of Rhode Island,
Narragansett, RI.
1990-1994 Assistant Marine Scientist, Graduate School of Oceanography, Univ. of Rhode Island,
Narragansett, RI.
1985-1990 Marine Research Associate, Graduate School of Oceanography, Univ. of Rhode Island,
Narragansett, RI.
1982-1985 Marine Research Assistant, Graduate School of Oceanography, Univ. of Rhode Island,
Narragansett, RI.
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Jim has extensive experience in the study of the sources, transport, fate, and effects of environmental contaminants
in marine systems. He has planned and executed major interdisciplinary studies involving the quantification of
atmospheric inputs, freshwater sources, spatial and temporal distributions and ecological effects of nutrients, toxic
organics, and inorganics in the coastal marine environment.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Adjunct faculty, University of Rhode Island, 1992-1995.
Associate Editor: Estuaries 1996-2001.
Conference Steering Committee: Conference Tracking and Exhibitor Chair, 14th International Conference of the
Estuarine Research Federation, 1997.
Co-convener: "Assessing Ecosystem Change: Paleoecological Techniques in Coastal Marine Science," special
session at the 14th International Conference of the Estuarine Research Federation, Providence, RI, 1997.
Estuarine Research Federation Certificate of Achievement for contributions to the ERF 1997 Conference.
Technical Advisory Committee: U. S. Army Corps of Engineers and the RI Port Authority and Economic
Development Corporation on the Dredging of the Providence River Shipping Channel, 1993-1995.
Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Research Advisory Committee Member, 1997-present.
RI Governor's Commendation for participation in Rhode Island Oil Spill Assessment, 1995.
NHEERL Aquatic Stressors Nutrient research planning workgroup, 200-present.
AED representative:Rhode Island Workgroup on oil spill response, 2000-present.
National Park Service Vital Signs Monitoring Program Coastal and Barrier Network Estuarine Nutrient Enrichment
Workgroup, 2001-present.
Region 1 Technical Assistance Group for nutrient criteria development for estuaries, 2000-present.
Office of Water, National Nutrient Coordinators Group, 2001-present.
Technical Advisory Group for the Providence and Seekonk River nutrient TMDL Development, 2002-present.
Long Island Sound Management Committee, 2001-present.
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for Development of the Mid Atlantic Integrated Assessment (MAIA) State of the Estuaries
Report, Office of Research and Development, 1998
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U S EPA Bronze Medal for Development of the Mid Atlantic Integrated Assessment (MAIA) State of the Estuaries
Report, Region III, 1998
U S EPA Scientific and Technological Achievement Award, 2002
Selected Significant Publications
Pospelova, V , G L Chmura, and J S Latimer 2002 Dinoflagellate cyst records and human disturbance in two
neighboring estuaries, New Bedford Harbor and Apponagansett Bay The Science of the Total
Environment, in press
Latimer, J S and J Zheng 2002 The sources, transport, and fate of PAHs in the marine environment In PAHs An
Ecological Perspective, PET Douben, Editor, in press
Walker, H A , J S Latimer, and E H Dettmann 2000 Assessing the effects of natural and anthropogenic stressors
in the Potomac estuary implications for long-term monitoring Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
63 237-251
Latimer, J S , W R Davis, and D Keith 1999 Mobilization of PAHs and PCBs from m-place contaminated marine
sediments during simulated resuspension events Estuanne and Coastal Shelf Science 49 577-595
Ho, K,L Patton, JS Latimer, R J Pruell, M Pelletier, R McKinney, and S Jayaraman 1999 The Chemistry and
toxicity of sediment affected by oil from the North Cape spilled into Rhode Island Sound Marine Pollution
Bulletin 38(4) 314-323
Latimer, J S 1997 The significance of atmospheric deposition as a source of PCBs and PAHs to Narragansett Bay
In Atmospheric Deposition of Contaminants to the Great Lakes and Coastal Waters, J E Baker, Editor,
SETAC Press Pensacola, FL, pp 227-243
Latimer, J S and J G Quinn 1996 Historical trends and current inputs of hydrophobic organic contaminants in an
urban estuary the sedimentary record Environmental Science and Technology 30(2) 623-633
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JOSEPH A. LiVOLSI, JR.
Quality Assurance Officer
401-782-3163
livolsi.ioseph(«.epa.gov
B.S., Environmental Science, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC,
1982
M.S., Resource Chemistry (Organic Geochemistry specialization), University of
Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1989
Employment:
1994-present
1998-1999
1991-1994
1990-1991
1986-1990
1982-1983
Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Joe's technical background and experience in organic analytical chemistry has provided a sound basis for addressing
quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) needs in a research environment. He provides guidance and direction
to the research staff members in order that they might adequately address the Agency's QA requirements. In support
of these requirements Mr. LiVolsi has pursued a functional quality management system at AED and has lead and
participated in numerous quality management system reviews and technical systems audits at AED and across
NHEERL.
Environmental Scientist/Quality Assurance Officer, Atlantic
Ecology Division, National Health and Environmental Effects
Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
Director of Quality Assurance (Acting), National Health and Environmental Effects Research
Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC
Associate Chemist, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Narragansett, RI
Senior Chemist, EA Laboratories, Sparks, MD
Assistant Chemist/Associate Chemist, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC),
Narragansett, RI
Environmental Scientist, Office of Waste Programs Enforcement, U.S. EPA, Washington, DC
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SUZANNE M. LUSSIER
Research Aquatic Biologist
401-782-3157
lussier.suzanne(«¦epa.aov
B.A., Biology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1970
M.S., Aquaculture Science and Pathology, University of Rhode Island,
Kingston, RI, 1986
Employment:
1992-present
1990-1992
1989-1990
1989-1989
1971-1989
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Suzanne is a research aquatic biologist with expertise in developing and applying quantitative methods for culture and
toxicity testing of marine invertebrates, developing national water quality criteria, risk assessment, and watershed
assessment.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Member, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC)
Member and former board member of SETAC North Atlantic Chapter (2000-2002)
Reviewer for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Editorial Board of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 2000-present
Member and contributing author of American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), chair ASTM E47
Workgroup (1995-1996)
Advisor, Aquatic Life Criteria Guidelines Committee (1992-1995)
Member and contributing author of American Public Health Association (APHA) Standard Methods Committee
Member, AED representative, and former trichair (1998-1999) of Biological Advisory Committee
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal, Region II project
U.S. EPA Science and Technology Achievement Award, 1983
Selected Recent Publications:
Lussier, S.M, H.A. Walker, G.G. Pesch, W. Galloway, R. Adler, M. Charpentier, R. Comeleo, and J. Copeland. 2001.
Strategies for protecting and restoring Rhode Island's watersheds on multiple scales. Human and Ecological
Risk Assessment: 7: 5, 1483-1491.
Lussier, S.M, D. Champlin, J. LiVolsi, S. Poucher, and R.J. Pruell, 2000. Acute toxicity of para-nonylphenol to
saltwater animals. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 19: 3, 617-621.
Lussier, S.M, W. S. Boothman, S. Poucher, D. Champlin, and A. Hemstetter. 1999. Comparison of dissolved and
total metals concentrations from acute tests with saltwater organisms. Environmental Toxicology and
Chemistry, 18: 5, 889-898.
Lussier, S.M, A. Kuhn, and R. Comeleo. 1999. An evaluation of the seven-day toxicity test with americamysis bahia
(formerly mysidopsis bahia). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 18: 12,2888-2893.
Lussier, S.M., and B. Finlayson.1998. Mysids section 8714. In Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and
Waste Water, 20th edition, Washington, DC.
Lussier, S.M., D. Champlin, A. Kuhn, and J. F. Heltshe. 1996. Mysid (mysidopsis bahia) life-cycle test: design
comparisons and assessment. In Environmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment: Biomarkers and Risk
Assessment (5th Volume), ASTM STP 1306, David A. Bengtson and Diane S. Henshel (eds.), American
Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, PA.
Research Aquatic Biologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National
Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S.
EPA, Narragansett, RI
ORD Regional Scientist, U.S. EPA, Region III, Philadelphia, PA
Risk Assessment Coordinator, Region III, U.S. EPA, Philadelphia,
PA
Technical Liaison, Chesapeake Bay Program, U.S. EPA, Region III,Annapolis, MD
Research Aquatic Biologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health
and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
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RICHARD A. MCKINNEY
Environmental Scientist
401-782-3133
mck i nnev. nck(
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BRIAN D. MELZIAN
Oceanographer/Project Officer
Special Assistant to the Director
401-782-3188
melzian.brian@epa.gov
B.S., Wildlife & Fisheries, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 1968
Graduate Studies, Marine Biology/Oceanography, Stanford University, Hopkins
Marine Station, Monterey, CA, 1971
M.S. Program, Marine Biology/Oceanography, University of the Pacific,
Stockton & Dillon Beach, CA, 1971-1972
Ph.D., Biological Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of
Oceanography, Narragansett, RI, 1982
Employment
1998-present Special Assistant (Oceanographer/Project Officer) to the Director, Atlantic Ecology Division,
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett,
Rl
1993-1998 Oceanographer/Project Officer, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and Environmental
Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1989-1992 Research Oceanographer, on detail from Region 9 to the Environmental Research Laboratory-
Narragansett, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1983-1993 Environmental Scientist, U.S. EPA, Region 9, San Francisco, CA
1980-1981 Marine Specialist II, University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography,
Narragansett, RI
1977-1980 Research Biologist, Environmental Research Laboratory-Narragansett, U.S. EPA, Narragansett,
RI
1975-1977 Biological Technician, Environmental Research Laboratory-Narragansett, U.S. EPA,
Narragansett, RI
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Brian is a biological oceanographer with expertise in marine toxicology, histopathology, evaluating the effects of oil
pollution on estuarine/marine organisms, developing and implementing estuarine and marine monitoring/research
programs, and communicating scientific information.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
President-Elect of the Northeastern Association of Marine and Great Lakes Laboratories, 2002-present
Senior Scientific Editor for Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2001-present
Scientific Editor for Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 1997-2000
U.S. EPA Representative on the Insular Pacific and California NOAA/EPA Regional Marine Research Boards,
1992-1993
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for "Demonstrating exceptional skill, creativity and attention to partner and stakeholder
involvement in completing an assessment of the current environmental condition of the mid-Atlantic
estuaries", 1998
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for "Significant contributions toward maintaining and improving the science and
technology base for environmental and natural resource issues through production of the Region III (mid-
Atlantic) state of the estuaries report", 1998
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for "Significant achievement in the rapid response to Pfiesteria outbreaks, resulting in the
protection of human health-threatening conditions and effective coordination of an immediate response by
the Federal government", 1998
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for "Creativity, scientific excellence, and endurance in creating the nation's first
comprehensive assessment of the ecological condition of a very important natural resource" (EMAP
Estuaries Team), 1997
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for "Dedicated service to EPA and the public by completing an extensive study of Hawaii
sugar mill discharges, thereby contributing to continuing compliance with existing effluent guidelines and
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preventing potentially severe environmental impacts", 1989
U S EPA Bronze Medal for "Outstanding leadership and initiative in the development and application of a marine
sediment testing program for the San Francisco Bay", 1987
Selected Recent Publications
Melzian, B D , V Engle, M McAlister and S Sandhu (eds) (in press) Coastal Monitoring Through Partnerships
Proceedings of the Fifth Symposium on the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP),
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
Paul, J F , J A Kiddon, C J Strobel, B D Melzian, J S Latimer, D J Cobb, D E Campbell, and B S Brown 2000
Condition of the Mid-Atlantic Estuaries Production of the State of the Environment Report
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 63 115-129
Sandhu, S S , B D Melzian, E R Long, W G Whitford and B T Walton (eds) 2000 Monitoring Ecological
Condition in the Western United States Proceedings of the Fourth Symposium on the Environmental
Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP), Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 64(1), 447 p
Paul, J F , C J Strobel, B D Melzian, J A Kiddon, J S Latimer, D E Campbell, and D J Cobb 1998 State of the
estuaries in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 51
269-284
US EPA 1998 Condition of the Mid-Atlantic Estuaries EPA 600-R-98-147, Office of Research and
Development, Washington, DC, 50 p
Sandhu, S , L Jackson, K Austin, J Hyland, B Melzian and K Summers (eds ) 1998 Monitoring Ecological
Condition at Regional Scales Proceeding of the Third Symposium on the Environmental Monitoring and
Assessment Program (EMAP), Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 51(1-2), 603 pp
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LESA MENG
Ecologist
401-782-9618
meng.lesa(V< epa.gov
B.S., Biological Sciences, California State University, Sacramento 1988
Ph.D., Ecology, University of California, Davis 1992
Employment:
1995-present Ecologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD,
U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1992-1995 Fisheries Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento,
CA
1991-1992 Postgraduate Researcher, University of California
Davis, CA
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Lesa is a fish ecologist with expertise in developing field-related techniques and multivariate statistical methods for
evaluating fish communities and fish habitat on many scales.
Selected Appointments/Honors'Maior Awards:
Member American Fisheries Society and the Estuarine Research Federation
Program Chair for the Southern New England Chapter of the American Fisheries Society
Reviewer for Marine Ecology Progress Series, Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, The Environmental
Biology of Fishes, Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, Estuaries
Editorial Board of the American Water Works Association, Standard Methods, 2000-present
Reviewer for the California-Federal Coalition to restore San Francisco Bay, 2000-present
Special Recognition Award, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1995
Special Achievement Awards, American Fisheries Society, 1999 and 2001
EPA diver since 1996
Selected Recent Publications:
Meng, L., C.D. Orphanides, and J.C. Powell. 2002. Use of a fish index to assess habitat quality in Narragansett Bay,
RI. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 131: 731-742.
Meng, L., J.C. Powell, and B. Taplin. 2001. Using winter flounder growth rates to assess habitat quality across an
anthropogenic gradient in Narragansett Bay, RI. Estuaries 24: 576-584.
Meng, L. 2001. Research implementation plan for characterization and categorization of juvenile fish rearing habitats
project. Ecological Integrity 3a. 600/X-98/011.
Meng, L. and S.A. Matern. 2001. Native and introduced larval fishes of Suisun Marsh, California: The effects of
freshwater flow. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 130: 750-765.
Meng, L., C. Gray, B. Taplin, and E. Kupcha. 2000. Using winter flounder growth rates to assess habitat quality in
Rhode Island's coastal lagoons. Marine Ecology Progress Series 201: 287-299.
Meng, L., J.C. Powell. 1999. Linking juvenile fish and their habitats: An example from Narragansett Bay, RI.
Estuaries 22: 905-916.
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SHEILA A. MEUSE
Associate Director for Program Operations
401-782-3012
Mcusc-Shcihtu cPJ.ctn
B.A., Liberal Arts and Sciences, The University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 1977
M.A., Communications, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 1980
M.H.A. equivalent, Health Services Management, The University of Alabama at
Birmingham and The University of Mary-Hardin Baylor, 1993
Ph.D., Communications, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 1984
Employment:
2002-present
1999-2002
1993-1999
1984-1999
1984-1993
1983-1984
Associate Director for Program Operations, Atlantic Ecology
Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA,
Narragansett, RI
Chief Business Office, Department of Veterans Affairs, Tampa, FL
Management Analyst, Office of the VA, ACIO
Health System Specialist, Department of Veterans Affairs, Temple, TX
Assistant Professor (adjunct faculty), Texas A&M University, College of Medicine, College Station,
TX
Speech Language Pathologist, Department of Veterans Affairs, Temple, TX
Assistant Professor, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Sheila has approximately 19 years of government experience and has recently joined the EPA. Her most recent
experience has been in leading and managing clinical and administrative support programs for the Department of
Veterans Affairs. She has had varied experiences and education in management and organizational dynamics, and has
been recognized for her leadership in managing and leading change and as a champion of new initiatives.
Selected Apoointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Directors Commendation, Department of Veterans Affairs, 1999
Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi
Publications:
Several publications, including a book chapter, in the field of communications.
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LESLEY J. MILLS
Research Biologist
401-782-3050
niills.leslevto epa.nov
B.S., Biology, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL, 1974
M.S., Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1982
PhD. Candidate, Biomedical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
Employment:
1995-present Research Biologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National
Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S.
EPA, Narragansett, RI
1984-1995 Biologist/Senior Scientist, Science Applications International
Corporation (SAIC), Narragansett, RI
1981 -1984 Research Associate, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
1979-1981 Visiting Scientist, Environmental Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1976-1979 Student 1040 Appointment, Environmental Research Laboratory, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1974-1976 Biologist, Marine Research Incorporated, Falmouth, MA
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Lesley is a research biologist with a background in the diverse areas of molecular biology, plankton biology,
carcinogenesis and toxicology. She currently serves as project lead for research at AED on endocrine disrupting
chemicals (EDCs). This research was initiated in response to EDCs being identified as one of six high-priority
research areas in ORD's Strategic Plan. The project is investigating the impact of EDCs found in estuarine and
marine waters on fish populations. Current research is focusing on interspecies extrapolation and, in collaboration
with scientists in an NHEERL health division, is examining whether specific EDCs work through similar mechanisms
of action in a mammalian and a fish species.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Member - Society of Toxicology
Guest reviewer for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry and the Water Resources Council
Selected Publications:
Mills, L.J., R.E. Gutjahr-Gobell, D. Borsay-Horowitz, N.D. Denslow, M. Chow, and G.E. Zaroogian. 2002.
Relationship between reproductive success and male plasma vitellogenin levels in cunner, Tautogolabrus
adspersus. Environmental Health Perspectives, in press.
Mills, L.J., R.E. Gutjahr-Gobell, D. Borsay-Horowitz, R Haebler, R Pruell, S. Jayaraman, R McKinney, G. Zaroogian.
2001. Effects of estrogenic (o,p'-DDT, octylphenol) and anti-androgenic (p.p'-DDE) chemicals on indicators
of endocrine status in juvenile male summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus). Aquatic Toxicology 52: 157-
176.
Gutjahr-Gobell, R.E., M. Huber, D. Borsay-Horowitz, G. Zaroogian, and L.J. Mills. 2001. A temperate reef fish,
Tautogolabrus adspersus, as a potential model species for laboratory studies evaluating reproductive effects
of chemical exposure. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 21(2): 380-389.
Zaroogian, G., G. Gardner, D. Borsay-Horowitz, R. Gutjahr-Gobell, R. Haebler, and L. Mills. 2001. Effect of 170-
estradiol, o,p'-DDT, octylphenol and p,p"-DDE on gonadal development and liver and kidney pathology in
juvenile male summer flounder, (Paralichthys dentatus). Aquatic Toxicology 54: 101-112.
Mills, L.J., S.N. Nelson, and A.R. Malcolm. (1994). Effects of selected anti-tumor promoting chemicals on metabolic
cooperation between Chinese hamster V79 cells. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 126: 338-344.
Mills, L.J., D.L. Robson, and A.R. Malcolm. 1991. Interactive effects of aldrin, cyclohexylamine, 2,4-diaminotoluene
and two phorbol esters on metabolic cooperation between V79 cells. Carcinogenesis 12(7): 1293-1299.
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MATTHEW G. MITRO
Population Ecologist
401-782-9615
mitro.matt(«epa.uov
B.A., Biology, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY, 1992
M.S., Wildlife and Fisheries Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington,
VT, 1995
M.S., Statistics, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 1999
Ph.D., Fish and Wildlife Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman,
MT, 1999
Employment:
2000-present
1999-2000
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Matt is a population ecologist with expertise in fish and wildlife ecology, using mark-recapture to quantify population
parameters, developing and applying matrix population models, and applying statistical methods for population
analysis.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Member of American Fisheries Society, American Institute of Biological Sciences, and Ecological Society of
America
Reviewer for Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
Mentor, MentorNet E-Mentoring Network for Women in Engineering and Science, 2001-present
Recipient, S-Award for contributions to the Atlantic Ecology Division's wildlife risk assessment research program,
U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI, 2001
Recipient, Gary Lynch Memorial Scholarship, Outstanding Biology Department Graduate Student, Montana State
University, Bozeman, MT, 1999
Honorable Mention, American Fisheries Society/Sea Grant Outstanding Student Paper Award for Paper presented at
the American Fisheries Society 128th Annual Meeting, Hartford, CT, 1998
Recipient, Skinner Memorial Award, American Fisheries Society, 1998
Selected Recent Publications:
Mitro, M. G. In Internal Review. Population analysis and management of the diamondback terrapin in Narragansett
Bay, Rhode Island. To be submitted.
Mitro, M. G., A. V. Zale, and B. A. Rich. 2002. The relation between age-0 rainbow trout abundance and winter
discharge in a regulated river. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, in press.
Mitro, M. G., and A. V. Zale. 2002. Seasonal survival, movement, and habitat use of age-0 rainbow trout in the
Henrys Fork of the Snake River, Idaho. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 131: 271-286.
Mitro, M. G. and A. V. Zale. 2002. Estimating abundances of age-0 rainbow trout by mark-recapture in a medium-
sized river. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 22: 188-203.
Munns, W. R., and M. G. Mitro. 2001. Assessing risks to populations at superfund sites: characterizing effects on
populations. Ecological Risk Assessment Support Center, Request No. 6., U.S. EPA. 62 pp.
Mitro, M. G. 2001. Ecological model testing: verification, validation, or neither? Bulletin of the Ecological Society of
America 82: 235-237.
Mitro, M. G., and A. V. Zale. 2000. Predicting fish abundance using single-pass removal sampling. Canadian Journal
of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 57: 951-961.
Mitro, M. G., and A. V. Zale. 2000. Use of distance sampling to estimate rainbow trout redd abundances in the
Henry's Fork of the Snake River, Idaho. Intermountain Journal of Sciences 6: 223-231.
Population Ecologist (Postdoc), Atlantic Ecology Division,
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory,
ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
Stock Assessment Biologist, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, Wakefield, RI
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WILLIAM GLENN MOORE III
Environmental Protection Specialist
401-782-3024
mopre.uleniKiv cna.tiov
B.S., History/Naval Science, Jacksonville University, Jacksonville, FL, 1977
MMA, Marine Affairs, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1989
Graduate/PhD Studies, Marine Affairs and Natural Resource Science, University
of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, ongoing
Employment:
2000-present
1998-2000
1996-1998
1990-1996
1987-1989
1983-1986
1982-1983
1980-1982
1977-1980
Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Glenn has over twenty-five years of experience in program management, operations, planning and analysis, with
expertise in federal and international marine programs and policy development, federal/congressional programming
and budget, organizational development, and security management. He also has extensive experience in IT systems
and data base R&D, national defense operations and intelligence, and naval engineering.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
U.S. EPA Quality Performance Award
US Coast Guard Commander's Awards for Civilian Service (2)
US Coast Guard Commandant's Letter of Commendation
US Coast Guard Public Service Commendation
US Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation (4)
US Coast Guard Distinguished Service Award (3)
DOT Outstanding Service Medal
US Navy Navy Commendation Medal
US Navy Navy Achievement Medal (2)
US Navy Flag Letter of Commendation
Special Assistant to the Director for Coastal Zone Management and
Security Manager, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA,
Narragansett, RI
Associate Director for Program Operations, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
Program/Management Analyst, Office of Marine Investigations, US Coast Guard Headquarters,
Washington, DC
Program/Management Analyst, Office of Vessel Inspection, US Coast Guard Headquarters,
Washington, DC
Simulation Systems Analyst, Pacer Systems, Inc, US Naval War College, Newport, RI
Lieutenant USN, Operations Program Officer (Intelligence, Security, Training and Readiness),
Commander Service Group Two Staff, Norfolk, VA
Lieutenant USN, Communications Officer, USS Arkansas (CGN-41), Norfolk, VA
Lieutenant USN, Assistant CIC Officer, USS America (CV-66), Norfolk, VA
Lieutenant, Junior Grade USN, Assistant First Lieutenant, USS Canisteo (AO-99), Norfolk, VA
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WAYNE R. MUNNS, JR.
Associate Director for Science
401-782-3017
munns. wavne(» era, uov
B.A., Zoology, University ofWashington, Seattle, WA, 1977
Ph.D., Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1983
Employment:
2000-present
1997-2000
1995-1997
1991-1995
1983-1991
Associate Director for Science, Atlantic Ecology Division, National
Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S.
EPA, Narragansett, RI
Chief, Indicator Development Branch, Atlantic Ecology Division,
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory,
ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
Research Ecologist (Ecological Risk Assessor), Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
Senior Scientist/Division Manager/Assistant Vice President, Science Applications International
Corporation (SAIC), Narragansett, RI
Scientist/Senior Biologist/Senior Scientist, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC),
Narragansett, RI
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Wayne is a marine ecologist with expertise in developing and applying quantitative methods for ecological risk
assessment, modeling population dynamics, integrating ecological and human health risk assessments and research,
and incorporating socioeconomic considerations in risk management support systems.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Member Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Reviewer for Ecology, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Environmental Health Perspectives, Environmental
Toxicology and Water Quality, Critical Reviews in Toxicology, Human and Ecological Risk Assessment,
Journal of Aquatic Ecosystem Stress and Recovery
Editorial Board of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 1998-2000
Guest Editor for Human and Ecological Risk Assessment, 2002
NRC Research Associateship Program, Local Site Representative and Advisor
U.S. EPA Risk Assessment Forum, Eco-Risk Oversight Group
USGS Biological Resources Division Peer Review Interagency Panel
World Health Organization Steering Group for Approaches to Integrated Risk Assessment
Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Rhode Island, Department of Biomedical Sciences
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for Innovation in Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of Aquatic Life: Saltwater
Dissolved Oxygen, 2002
U.S. EPA Science and Technology Achievement Awards, 2000 and 2001
Selected Recent Publications:
Munns, W.R., Jr., R. Kroes, G. Veith, G.W. Suter II, T. Damstra, and M. Waters. 2002. Approaches for integrated risk
assessment. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment, in press.
Suter, G.W. II, T. Veimeire, W.R. Munns, Jr, and J. Sekizawa. 2002. A framework for the integration of health and
ecological risk assessment. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment, in press.
Munns, W.R., Jr. 2002. Axes of extrapolation in risk assessment. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment 8: 19-29.
Munns, W.R., Jr., W. Berry, and T. DeWitt. 2002. Toxicity testing, risk assessment, and options for dredged material
management. Marine Pollution Bulletin 44: 294-302.
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DIANE E. NACCI
Research Biologist
401-782-3143
nacci.diane(«-. epa.gov
B.S., Zoology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1975
M.S., Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1984
Ph.D., Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 2000
Employment:
1995-present Research Biologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S.
EPA, Narragansett, RI
1984-1995 Senior Scientist, Science Applications International Corporation
(SAIC), Narragansett, RI
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Diane is a biologist with expertise in developing and applying quantitative methods to support ecological risk
assessment,including methods to assess the evolutionary effects of environmental stressors.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Member Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Reviewer for Ecology, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Aquatic
Toxicology, Marine Environmental Research, Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Hudson
River Foundation
Advisor for post-doctoral fellows through NRC Research Associateship Program
Mentor for under- and graduate student interns through: Rhode Island State Government Intership Program, EPA-
Morgan State University Summer Intern Program, National Network for Environmental Management Studies
Program, University of Rhode Island Cooperative Agreement Projects, University of Rhode Island Coastal
Fellows Program
U.S. EPA Science and Technology Achievement Awards, 2000 and 2001
Selected Recent Publications:
Nacci, D., T. Gleason, and W.R. Munns, Jr. 2002. Evolutionary and ecological effects of multi-generational
exposures to anthropogenic stressors. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment 8(1): 91-97.
Nacci, D., M. Kohan, L. Coiro, and E. George. 2002. Effects of benzo(a)pyrene exposure on a PCB-adapted fish
population. Aquatic Toxicology 57: 203-215.
Nacci, D., L. Coiro, D. Champlin, S. Jayaraman, and R. McKinney. 2002. Predicting responsiveness to contaminants
in wild populations of the estuarine fish Fundulus heteroclitus. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
21(7): 1525-1532.
Nacci, D., S. Jayaraman, and J. Specker. 2001. Stored retinoids in populations of an estuarine fish, Fundulus
heteroclitus, indigenous to highly PCB-contaminated and reference sites. Archives Environmental
Contamination and Toxicology 40(4): 511-518.
Nacci, D., T. Gleason, R. Gutjahr-Gobell, M. Huber, and W.R. Munns, Jr. 2001. Effects of environmental stressors
on wildlife populations. In Coastal and Estuarine Risk Assessment: Risk on the Edge. M.C. Newman,
Editor, CRC Press/Lewis Publishers, Washington, DC, pp. 247-272.
Nacci, D., L. Coiro, D. Champlin, S. Jayaraman, R. McKinney, T. Gleason, W.R. Munns, Jr., J. Specker and K.
Cooper. 1999. Adaptation of wild fish populations to dioxin-like environmental contamination. Marine
Biology 134: 9-17.
Nacci, D., L. Coiro, A. Kuhn. D. Champlin, W.R. Munns, Jr., J. Specker and K. Cooper. 1998. A fish embryonic
EROD bioassay. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry: 17(12): 2481-2486.
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WILLIAM (SKIP) NELSON
Research Physiologist
401-782-3053
nelson, williamteepa. gov
B.A., Biology, University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT, 1974
M.S., Biology, University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT, 1978
Ph.D., Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1987
Employment:
1987-present Research Physiologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health
and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA,
Narragansett, RI
1984-1987 Scientist/Senior Biologist, Science Applications International o rr)|V
Corporation (SAIC), Narragansett, RI
1981-1984 Marine Specialist, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI
1978-1981 Aquatic Research Scientist, Environmental Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1976-1978 Biological Technician, National Marine Fisheries Service, Milford, CT
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Skip is a biologist with extensive experience in designing and implementing monitoring programs related to
Superfund remedial dredging projects, including quantifying both the short-term effects of remedial activities (e.g.,
resuspension) as well as measuring the long-term ecological effects necessary to assess the overall effectiveness of
remediation.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Member Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Member Estuarine Research Federation
ORD Representative for U.S. EPA "Contaminated Aquatic Sediment Remedial Guidance Document"
U.S. EPA Community-Based Environmental Protection Champion Award, 1996
U.S. EPA Science and Technical Achievement Award, 1996
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal Award, 1990
Selected Recent Publications:
Bergen, B.J., W.G. Nelson, J.G. Quinn, and S. Jayaraman. 2001. Relationships among total lipid, lipid classes, and
PCB concentrations in two indigenous populations of ribbed mussels (Guekensia demissa) over an annual
cycle. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 20: 575-581.
Bergen, B.J., K. Rahn, and W.G. Nelson. 1998. Remediation at a marine Superfund site: Surficial sediment PCB
concentrations, composition and redistribution. Environmental Science and Technology, 32: pp. 3496-3501.
Bergen, B.J., W.G. Nelson, and R.J. Pruell. 1996. Comparison of non-planar and co-planar PCB congener partitioning
in seawater and bioaccumulation in blue mussels (Mytilus edulis). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
15 (9): 1517-1523.
Nelson, W.G., B.J. Bergen, S.J. Benyi, G. Morrison, R.A. Voyer, C.J. Strobel, S. Rego, G. Thursby, and C.E. Pesch.
1996. New Bedford Harbor long-term monitoring assessment report: Baseline sampling. U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, Atlantic Ecology
Division, Narragansett, RI. EPA/600/R-96/097.
Nelson, W.G., B.J. Bergen, and D.J. Cobb. 1995. Comparison of PCB and trace metal bioaccumulation in the blue
mussel, Mytilus edulis, and the ribbed mussel, Modiolus demissus, in New Bedford Harbor, MA.
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 14 (3): 513-521.
Nelson, W.G. and D.J. Hansen. 1991. Development and use of site-specific chemical and biological decision criteria
for assessing the New Bedford Harbor pilot dredging project. Environmental Management 15(1): 105-112.
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MATTHEW C. NICHOLSON
Ecologist
401-782-9655
iiicholson.matt(« epa.uov
B.S., Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1984
M.S., Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1988
Ph.D., Wildlife Ecology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, 1995
Employment:
2002-present Ecologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA,
Narragansett, RI
1998-2001 Assistant Professor, Cooperative Wildlife Research
Laboratory, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale,
IL
1996-1998 Research Assistant Professor, Department of Natural Resources Science,
University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
1992-1996 Postdoctoral Fellow in Mammalian Ecology, Center for Vector-borne
Disease Research, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Matt is a landscape ecologist with experience in the application of geographic information systems and other spatial
monitoring and analysis tools to the study and conservation of nature. His expertise includes monitoring and
assessing spatial patterns in nature and quantifying wildlife-habitat relationships.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Mai or Awards:
Consultant to Grupo Lobo in efforts to conserve the Iberian Wolf in Portugal
Phi Kappa Phi honor society
Centers for Disease Control panel to develop a national Lyme disease risk map
Postgraduate Internship with Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
Review Panelist, EPA Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowship Grant Program
Reviewer for Alces, California Wildlife Conservation Bulletin, Journal of Mammalogy
Selected Recent Publications:
Kie, J.G., R.T. Bowyer, M.C. Nicholson, B. B. Boroski, and E. R. Loft. 2002. Landscape heterogeneity at differing
scales: effects on spatial distribution of mule deer. Ecology 83: 530-544.
Bowyer, R.T., M.C. Nicholson, E.M. Molvar, and J.B. Faro. 1999. Moose on Kalgin Island: are density-dependent
processes related to harvest? Alces 35: 73-89.
Nicholson, M.C., R.T. Bowyer, and J.G. Kie. 1997. Habitat selection and survival of mule deer: tradeoffs associated
with migration. Journal of Mammalogy, 78: 483-504.
Mather, T.N., M. C. Nicholson, E.F. Donnelly, and B.T. Matyas. 1996. An entomological index to human risk of
Lyme disease. American Journal of Epidemiology, 144: 1066-1069.
Mather, T.N., M.C. Nicholson, R. Hu, and N.J. Miller. 1996. Entomological correlates of babesia microti prevalence
in an area where ixodes scapularis (acari: ixodidae) is endemic. Journal of Medical Entomology, 33: 866-
870.
Nicholson, M.C., and T.N. Mather. 1996. Evaluating Lyme disease risks using geographic information systems and
geospatial analytical methods. Journal of Medical Entomology, 33: 711-720.
Bleich, V.C., R.T. Bowyer, A.M. Pauley, M.C. Nicholson, and R.W. Anthes. 1994. Mountain sheep ovis canadensis
and helicopter surveys: ramifications for the conservation of large mammals. Biological Conservation, 70: 1-
7.
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CURT NORWOOD
Research Environmental Scientist
401-782-3087
norwood.curt(a cpa.gov
B.S., Mathematics, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 1970
M.S, Geochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, 1974
Ph.D., Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1995
Employment:
1974-present Research Environmental Scientist, Atlantic Ecology Division,
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory,
ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Curt is an analytical biochemist with expertise in mass spectrometry, capillary electrophoresis, gas chromatography,
high pressure liquid chromatography and various types of sample preparation. His research interests include
petroleum hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, DNA adducts,
endocrine disrupting chemicals, and nutrients. His mathematical skills include various statistical methods and
modeling.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Member, American Society of Mass Spectrometry
U.S. EPA Science and Technology Achievement Award, 1997
Selected Recent Publications:
Barry, JP, C. Norwood, and P. Vouros. 1996. Detection and identification of benzo[a]pyrene diolepoxide adducts to
DNA utilizing capillary electrophoresis-electrospray mass spectrometry. Analytical Chemistry
68:1432-1438.
Norwood, C. and P. Vouros. 1994. DNA modifications: investigations by mass spectrometry. In Mass Spectrometry:
Clinical and Biomedical Applications, Volume 2, D.M. Desiderio (ed.) Plenum Press, New York, NY, pp.
89-133.
Norwood, C., E. Jackim, and S. Cheer. 1993. DNA adduct research with capillary electrophoresis. Analytical
Biochemistry 213: 194-199.
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FRANK A. OSTERMAN
Physical Science Technician
401-782-3057
osterman. frank(« epa.uov
B.A., General Studies: Rhode Island College, 1984
Employment:
1975-present Physical Science Technician, Atlantic Ecology Division, National
Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S.
EPA, Narragansett, RI
1967-1975 Biological Laboratory technician, National Marine Water Quality
Laboratory West Kingston, R.I.
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Frank is a physical science technician with experience in chemical analytical techniques and environmental sampling.
His current interest is in the area of aquatic ecosystems.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
U.S. EPA Superior Accomplishment Recognition, 1999
Selected Recent Publications:
Lake, J.L., R. McKinney, F. Osterman, R. Pruell, J. Kiddon, S. Ryba, and A. Libby. 2001. Stable nitrogen isotopes as
indicators of anthropogenic activities in small freshwater systems. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic
Sciences 58(5): 870-878.
Lake, J.L., R. McKinney, F. Osterman, and C. Lake, 1996. C-18 coated silica particles as a surrogate for benthic
uptake of hydrophobic compounds from bedded sediment. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 15: 2284-2289.
Lake, J.L., R. McKinney, C. Lake, F. Osterman, and J. Heltshe. 1995. Comparisons of patterns of polychlorinated
biphenyl congeners in water, sediment, and indigenous organisms from New Bedford Harbor Massachusetts.
Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 29: 207-220.
Lake, J.L., R. Pruell, and F. Osterman, 1992. An examination of dechlorination processes and pathways in New
Bedford Harbor sediments. Mar. Environ. Res. 33: 31-47.
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MARGUERITE C. PELLETIER
Research Biologist
401-782-3131
ndlcin'i .ncmti cpa.uov
B.A., Aquaculture and Fisheries Technology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston,
RI, 1989
M.S., Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1995
Ph.D. studies, Natural Resources, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI,
anticipated graduation: 2006
Employment:
1995-present Research Biologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S.
EPA, Narragansett, RI
1993-1995 Biologist/Task Manager, Science Applications International
Corporation (SAIC), Narragansett, RI
1990-1993 Biologist, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Environmental Testing Center,
Narragansett, RI
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Aeencv Needs:
Marguerite (Peg) is a marine biologist with expertise in development of toxicity identification evaluation procedures,
and use of multivariate statistical procedures to assess benthic community condition. Most recently, she has been
involved in the development of methods to allow the diagnosis of impacts to estuarine waterbodies in support of the
TMDL process.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Member Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Member American Association for the Advancement of Science
Diagnostics Core Workgroup member
U.S. EPA Science and Technology Achievement Awards, 1999 and 2001
Selected Recent Publications:
Ho, K.T., R.M. Burgess, M.C. Pelletier, J R. Serbst, S.A. Ryba, M.G. Cantwell, A. Kuhn, and P. Raczeloski. 2002. An
overview of toxicant identification in sediments and dredged materials. Marine Pollution Bulletin 44: 286-
293.
Pelletier, M.C., K.T. Ho, M. Cantwell, A. Kuhn-Hines, S. Jayaraman, and R. Burgess. 2001. Use of Ulva lactuca to
identify ammonia toxicity in marine and estuarine sediments. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 20:
2852-2859.
Pelletier, M.C., R.M. Burgess, J.R. Serbst, M. Cantwell, K.T. Ho, and S. Ryba. 2000. Importance of maternal transfer
of photo-reactive PAHs from benthic adults bivalves to their pelagic larvae. Environmental Toxicology and
Chemistry 19: 2691-2698.
Ho, K., L. Patton, J.S. Latimer, R.J. Pruell, M. Pelletier, R. McKinney, and S. Jayaraman. 1999. The chemistry and
toxicity of sediment affected by oil from the North Cape spilled into Rhode Island Sound. Marine Pollution
Bulletin 38: 314-323.
Ho, K.T., A. Kuhn, M.C. Pelletier, T.L. Hendricks, and A. Helmstetter. 1999. pH Dependent toxicity of five metals to
three marine organisms. Environ. Toxicol. 14: 235-240.
Pelletier, M.C., R.M. Burgess, K.T. Ho, A. Kuhn-Hines, R. McKinney, and S. Ryba. 1997. Phototoxicity of individual
PAHs and petroleum to marine invertebrate larvae and juveniles. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
16(10): 2190-2199
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KENNETH T. PEREZ
Research Aquatic Biologist
401-782-3052
nerez.kennelh(« ena.uov
B.S., Biology, SUNY, Stony Brook, 1965
M.S., Zoology, University of North Carolina, Raleigh, 1969
Ph.D., Zoology, University of North Carolina, Raleigh, 1971
Employment:
1973-present Research Aquatic Biologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National
Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S.
EPA, Narragansett, RI
1971-1973 Ford Foundation Fellow, University of British Columbia, Canada
Research Expertise and Skills relative to Agency Needs:
Ken is an ecologist with experience in the development and application of living physical models to assess the
ecological effects and fate of toxic chemicals in aquatic environments. Also, Ken has developed estuarine
experimental methods to discern anthropogenic point source effects from both natural factors and materials from non-
point sources.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Member of Ecological Society of America
Reviewer for NOAA , NSF, SETAC and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Test Guidelines
Program, OPPTS, U.S. EPA
Adjunct Professor, Dept. Natural Resources, University of Rhode Island
NRC Research Associateship Program, Ecology
U.S.EPA Science and Technology Awards, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1999
Selected Recent Publications:
Perez, K.T., E.W. Davey, R.H. Moore, P.R. Bum, M.S. Rosol, J.A. Cardin, R.L. Johnson, and D.N. Kopans. 1999.
Application of computer-aided tomography (CT) to the study of estuarine benthic communities. Ecol. Appl.
9(3): 1050-1058.
Perez, K.T. 1995. Role and Significance of scale to ecotoxicology. Ecological Toxicity Testing, J. Cairns, Jr. and B.R.
Niederlehner eds., Scale, Complexity and Relevance, Chapter 4, pp. 49-72, Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton,
FL.
Perez, K.T., G.E. Morrison, E. W. Davey, N.F. Lackie, A.E. Soper, R.J. Blasco, D.L. Winslow, R.L. Johnson, P.G.
Murphy, and J.F. Heltshe. 1991. Influence of size on fate and ecological effects of Kepone in physical
models. Ecol. Appl. 1(3): 237-248.
Davey, E.W., K.T. Perez, A.E. Soper, N.F. Lackie, G.E. Morrison, R.L. Johnson, and J.F. Heltshe. 1990.
Significance of the surface microlayer to the environmental fate of di(2-ethylhexy) phthlate predicted from a
marine microcosm. Mar. Chem. 31: 231-269.
Perez, K.T., G.E. Morrison, N.F. Lackie, C.A. Oviatt, S.W. Nixon, B.A.Buckley, and J.F. Heltshe. 1977. The
importance of physical and biotic scaling to the experimental simulation of a coastal marine ecosystem.
Helgol. Wiss. Meeresunters 30: 144-162.
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CAROL E. PESCH
Research Aquatic Biologist
401-782-3081
pesch.carol(« epa.gov
B.S., Biology, Marietta College, Marietta, Ohio, 1967
M.S., Biology, Purdue University, 1968
Employment:
1970-present Research Aquatic Biologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National
Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD,
U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1968-1970 Scientist, Immunology Dept., Burroughs Wellcome,
Tuckahoe, NY
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Carol is a marine toxicologist with expertise in developing sediment testing protocols and culture methods for marine
polychaetes. Her recent work has focused on developing historical ecology as an educational tool for scientists,
managers, and the general public, and to be used as a community-based approach to environmental protection.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for Development of a Technically Rigorous Basis to Assess Environmental Risk of Metals in
Sediments Using AVS:SEM and Interstitial Water Metal Concentrations, 1999
U.S. EPA CBEP Champion Award for Significant Contributions to Community-based Approaches to Environmental
Protection, 1996
U.S. EPA Science and Technology Achievement Awards, 1980, 1981, 1982,1998
Member Standard Methods Committee, to review and update Standards Methods for the Examination of Water and
Wastewater, 1982 - present
Member Estuarine Research Federation
Past Member Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Reviewer for Environment Canada and Environmental Protection Department, Hong Kong Special Administration
Region Government for polychaete sediment test methods
Selected Recent Publications:
Pesch, C.E. and J. Garber. 2001. Historical Analysis, a valuable tool in community-based environmental protection.
Marine Pollution Bulletin 42: 339-349.
Pesch, C.E., R.A. Voyer, J. Copeland, G. Morrison, and J. Lund. 2001. Imprint of the Past: Ecological History of
New Bedford Harbor. U.S. EPA Region 1, New England, EPA /901-R-01-003.
Pesch, C.E. Imprint of the Past: Ecological History of New Bedford Harbor, www.epa.uov/nbh
Voyer, R. A., C.E. Pesch, J. Garber, J. Copeland, and R.Comeleo. 2000. New Bedford, Massachusetts: A story of
urbanization and ecological connections. Environmental History 5: 352-377.
Hansen, D.J., W.J. Berry, J.D. Mahony, W.S. Boothman, D.M. Di Toro, D.L. Robson, G.T. Ankley, D. Ma, Q. Yan,
and C.E. Pesch. 1996. Predicting the toxicity of metal-contaminated field sediments using interstitial
concentration of metals and acid-volatile sulfide normalizations. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 15: 2080-2094.
Pesch, C.E., D.J. Hansen, W.S. Boothman, W.J. Berry, and J.D. Mahony. 1995. The role of acid-volatile sulfide and
interstitial water metal concentrations in determining bioavailability of cadmium and nickel from
contaminated sediments to the marine polychaete Neanthes arenaceodentata. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 14:
129-141.
Pesch, C.E., W.R. Munns, and R. Gutjahr-Gobell. 1991. Effects of a contaminated sediment on life history traits and
population growth rate of Neanthes arenceodentata (Polychaeta:Nereidae) in the laboratory. Environ.
Toxicol. Chem. 10: 805-815.
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GERALD PESCH
Research Aquatic Biologist
401-782-3007
pesch.uerald(« cna.uov
B.S., Biology, Queens College, City University of New York, 1963
M.S., Biological Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, 1966
Ph.D., Biological Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, 1972
M.B.A., Executive MBA Program, University of Rhode Island, 1994
Employment:
1997-present Research Aquatic Biologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National
Health and Environmental Effects Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA,
Narragansett, RI
1995-1996 Regional Scientist, Office of the Regional Administrator, Region I,
U.S. EPA, Boston, MA
1989-1995 Chief Ecological Response Branch, Environmental Research
Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1972-1989 Research Aquatic Biologist, Environmental Research Laboratory,
ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Jerry has a background in marine ecology and oceanography as well as marine monitoring and assessment,
has also focused on working with other EPA/ORD facilities, EPA Office of Water and the Regional Offices
practical applications of science & technology for priority issues in the coastal environment.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Chair, Regional Association for Research on the Gulf of Maine Policy Board
Adjunct Professor, Graduate School of Oceanography, URI
NY/NJ Harbor Estuary Program Management Committee
Past Chair, OEPER Promotion Review Board
Past member of URI's Institutional Biosafety Committee.
Past member of the EPA/COE Technical Committee on Criteria for Dredged and Fill Material
U.S. EPA Outstanding/Exceptional ORD Technical Assistance to Regions or Program Offices, EMAP Survey Design
Team, 2001
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for First National Coastal Condition Survey, 2001
U.S. EPA Science and Technology Achievement Award, 1981
Selected Publications:
Pawcutuck Watershed Partnership. 1998. The Pawcutuck watershed report. United States Environmental Protection
Agency, Region I, Boston, MA.
MacGregor, J., L .D. Claxton, J. Lewtas, R. Jensen, W.R. Lower, and G.G. Pesch. 1994. Monitoring environmental
genotoxicants. Chap. 5. In Methods for Genetic Risk Assessment, D.J.Brusick (ed.), Lewis Publishers,
Boca Raton, FL, pp. 171-243.
Gentile, J. H., G. G. Pesch, K.J. Scott, W.G. Nelson, W.R. Munns, and J.M. Capuzzo. 1990. Bioassessment methods
for determining the hazards of dredged material disposal in the marine environment. In In Situ Evaluation of
Biological Hazards of Environmental Pollutants. S.S.Sandhu, W.R.Lower, F.J.deSerres, W.A. Suk, and
R.R.Tice, (eds.) Plenum Press, New York, pp. 31-47.
Pesch, G. G.,. 1990. Sister chromatid exchange and genotoxicity measurements using polychaete worms. Reviews in
Aquatic Sciences, Vol.2(l), pp. 19-25.
His work
on
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TOM PHEIFFER
Environmental Scientist
401-305-2740
Pheit'fer.Tom(« cpa.aov
B.S., Agronomy, Delaware Valley College, Doylestown, PA 1966
M.A., Education, Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA 1967
Employment:
1995-present Environmental Scientist (MAIA), Atlantic Ecology Division,
National Health and Environmental Effects Laboratory, ORD, U.S.
EPA, Fort Meade, MD
1991 -1995 National Environmental Service Officer, Office of the Administrator
(Regional Operations), U.S. EPA, Washington, DC
1990-1991 Environmental Scientist, Office of Modeling, Monitoring Systems,
and Quality Assurance, Office of Research and Development,
U.S. EPA, Washington DC
1985-1990 Technology Transfer Director, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response, U.S. EPA, Washington, DC
1980-1985 National Program Manager, Municipal Wastewater Research,
Office of Research and Development, U.S. EPA, Washington DC
1976-1980 Technical Coordinator, Chesapeake Bay Program, Region 3,
U.S. EPA, Annapolis, MD
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Tom is a senior environmental scientist with expertise in environmental monitoring design and implementation. He
has special expertise in conducting ground-water and surface-water studies.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
U.S. EPA Silver Medal for ORD Laboratory Study, 1992
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for the MAIA Integrated Assessment Team, Region III, 1999
Numerous Citations of Recognition for leadership in conducting assessments radium and cancer concerns in Anne
Arundel County, Md by Maryland Legislature and AA County Health Department
Sected Recent Publications:
Bolton, D.A.,T. Pheiffer, and J. Grace. 2000. Radium in Maryland coastal plain ground water: an emerging issue
resulting from a multi-agency study of carcinogens. In Well Water, Proceedings of NWQMC National Monitoring
Conference.
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RICHARD J. PRUELL
Research Chemist
401-782-3091
pruel 1. richard(« ena. nov
B.A., Biology, Merrimack College, North Andover, MA, 1974
M.S., Marine Biology, Southeastern Massachusetts University, North Dartmouth,
MA, 1977
Ph.D., Chemical Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1984
Employment:
1995-present
1994-1995
1987-1994
1984-1987
1984-1984
1978-1984
1976-1977
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Richard is a research chemist with expertise in the biogeochemistry of organic contaminants in the marine
environment and the use of stable isotopes to study ecological questions in the marine environment.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
U.S. EPA Science and Technology Achievement Awards, 1995, 2000 and 2001
Adjunct Professor of Oceanography, Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island
Organizing committee for the National Sediment Bioaccumulation Conference, 1996
Steering Committee for workshop on "PCBs in Fish Tissues" sponsored by EPA's Office of Water, 1990
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for work done on the Quincy Bay Study, 1989
Expert Testimony - New Bedford Harbor Superfund Litigation, 1988
Member of the American Chemical Society
Selected Recent Publications:
Pruell, R.J., B.K. Taplin, and K. Cicchelli. Stable isotope ratios in archived striped bass scales suggest changes in
trophic structure. Fisheries Management and Ecology, in press.
Lake, J.L., R.A. McKinney, F.A. Osterman, R.J. Pruell, J. Kiddon, S.A. Ryba, and A.D. Libby. 2001. Stable nitrogen
isotopes as indicators of anthropogenic activities in small freshwater systems. Canadian Journal of Fisheries
and Aquatic Science 58: 870-878.
Mills, L.J., R.E. Guthajr-Gobell, R.A. Haebler, D.J. Borsay Horowitz, S. Jayaraman, R.J. Pruell, R.A. McKinney,
G.R. Gardner, and G.E. Zaroogian. 2001. Effects of anti-androgenic (/?,/>'-DDE) and two estrogenic (o.p'-
DDT; octylphenol) chemicals on indicators of endocrine status in juvenile summer flounder (Paralichthys
dentatus). Aquatic Toxicology 52: 157-176.
Jayaraman, S., R.J. Pruell, and R. McKinney. 2001. Extraction of organic contaminants from marine sediments and
tissues using microwave energy. Chemosphere 44: 181-191.
Pruell, R.J., B.K. Taplin, D.G. McGovern, and S.B. Norton. 2000. Organic contaminant distributions in sediment,
polychaetes {Nereis virens) and the American lobster (Homarus americanus) in a laboratory food chain
experiment. Marine Environmental Research 49:19-36.
Research Chemist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health
and Environmental Effects Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA,
Narragansett, RI
Chief, Exposure Research Branch, Environmental Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA,
Narragansett, RI
Research Chemist, Environmental Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
Senior Chemist, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Narragansett, RI
Laboratory Automation Specialist, Computer Sciences, Narragansett, RI
Marine Research Assistant, Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island,
Kingston, RI
Research Biologist, Environmental Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
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STEVEN A. REGO
Biologist
401-782-3177
reno.stevenfr/ epa.uov
B.S., Natural Resources Management/Wildlife Biology, University of
Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1990
Employment:
1995-present Biologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National
Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory,
ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1991-1994 Biologist, Science Applications International
Corporation (SAIC), Narragansett, RI
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Steve is a biologist with expertise in marine science, ecology and GIS, particularly in developing and applying spatial
methodologies using Geographic Inforation Systems (GIS) for wildlife and marine water research. He has specialized
experience with oceanographic sensing and data logging instrumentation and technologies.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
U.S. EPA, Community Based Environmental Protection Champion Award - New Bedford Harbor, MA,
Superfund Remediation, 1996
Selected Recent Publications:
Burgess, R.M., B.A. Rogers, S. Rego, J. Corbin, G.E. Morrison. 1994. Sand spiked with copperas a reference
toxicant material for sediment toxicity testing: a preliminary evaluation. Environmental Contamination and
Toxicology 26: 163-168.
Hale, S.S., M.M Hughes, J.F. Paul, R.S. McAskill, S.A. Rego, D.R. Bender, N.J. Dodge, T.L. Richter, and J.L.
Copeland. 1998. Managing scientific data: the EMAP approach. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
51:429-440.
Nelson, W.G., B.J. Bergen, S.J. Benyi, G. Morrison, R.A. Voyer, C.J. Strobel, S. Rego, G. Thursby, and C.E. Pesch.
1996. New Bedford Harbor long-term monitoring assessment report: baseline sampling. U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Atlantic
Ecology Division (AED), EPA/600/R-96/097.
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KENNETH J. ROCHA
Biologist
401-782-9612
rocha. kcnneth(« cpa.mn
B.S., Biology, University of Massachusetts, MA 1985
Employment
1997-present Biologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA,
Narragansett, RI
1995-1997 Biological Science Technician, Atlantic Ecology Division, National
Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S.
EPA, Narragansett, RI
1991-1994 Biologist / Quality Assurance Officer, New England Bioassay Inc.,
Manchester, CT
1986-1990 Aquatic Biologist, Springborn Laboratories Inc., Wareham, MA
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Ken has a background in marine ecology and aquatic toxicology. His current research interest is in the environmental
monitoring and assessment of estuaries.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Partnership Award, Coastal America, Eelgrass Mapping Team, 1997
Selected Recent Publications:
Johnson, R.L., K. Perez, E. Davey, J. Cardin, K. Rocha, E. Dettmann, and J.Heltshe. Discriminating the effects of
anthropogenic point sources from salinity and nitrogen loading using benthic communities: A comparative
estuarine method, in preparation.
Davey, E.W., K. Perez, J. Cardin, R. Johnson, and K. Rocha. Application of 3D computer-aided tomography to the
quantitative differentiation of marine benthic habitats, in preparation.
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I
NORMAN I. RUBINSTEIN
Life Scientist
401-874-2491
rubinstein.norman@epa.gov
B.S., Biology, City College of New York, 1968
M.S. Marine Biology, University of West Florida, 1976
Employment:
2000-present 1PA: University of Rhode Island, Coastal Institute, Department
of Natural Resource Sciences.
1995-2000 Director (Acting), Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA,
Narragansett, RI
1994-1995 Deputy Director, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1989-1994 Chief Exposure Research Branch, Environmental Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett,
RI
1983-1989 Research Aquatic Biologist, Environmental Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1979-1983 Research Aquatic Biologist, Environmental Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, GulfBreeze, FL
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs;
Norm is a marine biologist and research manager with expertise in developing and managing environmental monitoring
and assessment programs. He serves as the Agency's representative on the Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit,
National Coordinating Council. Norm also serves as a national and international expert on the ecological impacts of
dredging and dredged material disposal in aquatic systems.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Election to Sigma Xi Honor Society, 1976
U.S. EPA Special Achievement Award, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996
U.S. EPA Scientific and Technological Achievement Award (Level III), 1985
U.S. EPA Scientific and Technological Achievement Award (Honorable Mention ), 1994
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal, 1994
Lee Thomas Award for Excellence in Management, 1999
Selected Recent Publications:
Rubinstein, N.I. 1996. Reference sediment approach for determining sediment contamination. Proceedings of
the National Sediment Bioaccumulation Conference, Bethesda, MD.
Pruell, R.J., N.I. Rubinstein, B.K. Taplin, J.A. LiVosi and R.D. Bowen. 1993. Accumulation of polychlorinated organic
compounds from sediment by three infaunal benthic marine species. Archives of Environmental Contamination
and Toxicology 24:290-297.
Munns, W.R., Jr. and N.I. Rubinstein. 1990. Environmental risks of ocean disposal. In: Cleaning Up Our Coastal Waters:
An Unfinished Agenda (M.T. Southerland, ed.), Dynamac, Rockville, MD, pp 515-531.
Rubinstein, N.I., R.J. Pruell, B. Taplin, J. LiVolsi, and C.Norwood. 1990. Bioavailabilityof2,3,7,8-TCDD,2,3,7,8-TCDF
and PCBs to marine benthos from Passaic River sediments. Chemosphere 20:1097-1102.
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STEPHAN A. RYBA
Biologist
401-782-9606
rvba.stephan(« epa.gov
B.S., Resource Development, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1992
Employment:
1997-present Biologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA,
Narragansett, RI
1995-1997 Physical Science Technician, Atlantic Ecology Division,
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory,
ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1994-1995 GC Technician, Laboratory Resources, Inc., Eastern Scientific Division, Brooklyn, CT.
1992-1994 Biologist, Northeast Environmental Testing Laboratories, Inc., Cranston, RI
1991 Research Assistant, Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Stephan is involved in research focusing on the utilization of stable isotope levels to assess the trophic position of fish
and aquatic dependent wildlife and relating contaminant (e.g. Hg) data in order to measure the extent of biomagnification.
This work will be used to develop predictive relationships for estimating fish contaminant levels in untested systems, and
thereby allow for the development of an exposure field for piscivorus wildlife so that impacts on mink, snapping turtle
and bird populations can be examined. He is also working as part of a research team focusing on the development of
diagnostic tools for the identification of toxic stressors in the environment..
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Member of North Atlantic Chapter of Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.
Selected Recent Publications:
Ryba, S.A. and R.M. Burgess. 2002. Effects of sample preparation on the measurement of organic carbon, hydrogen,
nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen concentrations in marine sediments. Chemosphere 48: 139-147.
McKinney, R J.L. Lake, M.A. Charpentier, and S. Ryba. 2002. Using mussel isotope ratios to assess anthropogenic
nitrogen inputs to freshwater ecosystems. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 74: 167-192.
Ho, K.T., R.M. Burgess, M. Pelletier, J. Serbst, S.A. Ryba, M. Cantwell, A. Kuhn, and P. Raczelowski. 2002. An
overview of toxicant identification in sediments and dredged materials. Marine Pollution Bulletin 44: 286-293.
Lake, J.L.,R. McKinney, F. Osterman, R. Pruell, J. Kiddon, A. Libby, and S. Ryba. 2001. Stable nitrogen isotopes as
indicators of anthropogenic activities in small freshwater systems. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic
Sciences 58: 870-878.
Burgess, R.M., S.A. Ryba, M.G. Cantwell, and J.L. Gundersen. 2001. Exploratory analysis of the effects of particulate
characteristics on the variation in partitioning of nonpolar organic contaminants to marine sediments. Water
Research 35: 4390-4404.
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ANTELMO SANTOS
Research Chemist
401-782-9610
santos.antelmofcj epa.gov
B.S., Biology, University of Azores, Portugal, 1980
M.S., Food Science, University of Rhode Island, 1989
Ph.D., Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, 1994
Employment:
1996-present
1997-1999
1996-1997
1994-1996
1992-1994
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Antelmo is studying the effects of nutrient loadings on phytoplankton assemblages using CHEMTAX and HPLC pigment
analysis and the relationships between nutrient enrichments and food webs.
Selected appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Member Society for Environmental Toxicologists and Chemists
Member Estuarine Research Federation
Selected Publications:
Santos, A. and S. Jayaraman. 2002. High performance liquid chromatographic analysis of phytoplankton pigments using
a CI6-Amide column, in review.
Chmura, G.L., A. Santos, V. Pospelova, Z. Spasojevic, R. Lam, and J. Latimer. 2002. Changes in estuarine primary
production in response to watershed forest clearance, urbanization and industrialization. Science of the Total
Environment, in press.
Research Biologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S.
EPA, Narragansett, RI
Laboratory Supervisor, Ceimic Corporation, Narragansett, RI
Senior Chemist, Ceimic Corporation, Narragansett, RI
Coordinator of Brazilian Operations, Ceimic Analizes Ambientais, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Analytical Chemist, Ceimic Corporation, Narragansett, RI
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JONATHAN R. SERBST
Biologist
401-782-3086
serbst. ionathanfr/ .epa.gov
B.S., Zoology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1989
Employment:
1995-present Biologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA,
Narragansett, RI
1991-1995 Biologist, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC),
Narragansett, RI
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Jonathan is a Biologist with the United States Environmental Protection
Agency, Office of Research and Development, Atlantic Ecology Division in Narragansett, Rhode Island. Jonathan holds
a B.S. in Zoology from the University of Rhode Island. His research has focused primarily on the marine toxicology and
ecology, test method development, chronic and acute testing of contaminated sediments, influences of environmental
stressors on community structure, population assessment of estuarine fish and amphipods, environmental monitoring of
coastal estuaries. Additionally, Jonathan is responsible for the culture of test organisms.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Selected Recent Publications:
Serbst, J.R., R.M. Burgess, A Kuhn, P.E. Edwards, M.G. Cantwell, M.C. Pelletier, and W.J. Berry. 2002. Interstitial water
sampling of metals: precision of the dialysis (Peeper) method. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol, submitted.
Kuhn, A., W.R. Munns, Jr., J. Serbst, P. Edwards, P. Edwards, M.G. Cantwell, T. Gleason, M.C. Pelletier, and W. Berry.
2002. The chronic effects of cadmium on the amphipod, Ampelisca abdita. Environmental Toxicology and
Chemistry 21: 865-874.
Ho, K.T., R.M. Burgess, M.C. Pelletier, J.R. Serbst, S.A. Ryba, M.G. Cantwell, A. Kuhn, and P. Raczelowski. 2002. An
overview of toxicant identification in sediments and dredged materials. Mar. Poll. Bull. 44: 286-293.
Kuhn, A., W.R. Munns, Jr., D. Champlin, R. McKinney, J. Serbst, M. Tagliabue, and T. Gleason. 2001. Evaluation of the
efficacy of extrapolation population modeling to predict the dynamics of Americamysis bahia populations in the
laboratory. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 20: 1.
Pelletier, M.C., R.M. Burgess, M.G. Cantwell, J.R. Serbst, K.T. Ho, and S.A. Ryba. 2000. Importance of maternal
transfer of the photoreactive polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon fluoranthene from benthic adult bivalves to their
pelagic larvae. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 19: 2691-2698.
Nacci, D.E., J.R. Serbst, T.R. Gleason, S. Cayula, G.B. Thursby, W.R. Munns, Jr., and R.K. Johnston. 2000. Biological
responses of the sea urchin, Arbacia punctulata, to lead contamination for an estuarine ecological risk
assessment. Journal of Aquatic Ecosystem Stress and Recovery 7: 187-199.
Ho, K.T., A. Kuhn, M. Pelletier, F. McGee, R.M. Burgess, and J. Serbst. 2000. Sediment toxicity assessment: comparison
of standard and new testing designs. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 39: 462-468.
Burgess, R., M.G. Cantwell, M.C. Pelletier, K.T. Ho, J.R. Serbst, H.F. Cook, and A. Kuhn. 2000. Development of a
toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) procedure for characterizing metal toxicity in marine sediments.
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 19: 982 - 991.
Berry, W.J., M. Cantwell, P. Edwards, J. Serbst, and D.J. Hansen. 1999. Predicting the toxicity of sediments
spiked with silver in the laboratory. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 18: 40-48.
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CHARLES J. STROBEL
Acting Branch Chief, Ecosystems Analysis & Simulation Branch
401-782-3180
strobel.charlesfoepa.gov
B.S., Biology, State University of New York at Stony Brook, 1976
M.S. Biology, Adelphi University, 1978
Ph.D. Studies, Marine Science, College of William and Mary, 1978 - 1985
Employment:
2002-present Acting Branch Chief, Ecosystem Analysis & Simulation Branch,
Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and Environmental
Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1995-2002 Biologist/Research Biologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National
Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S.
EPA, Narragansett, RI
1985-1995 Biologist/Senior Biologist, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Narragansett, RI
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Charles is a marine biologist with expertise in developing and implementing large-scale environmental monitoring
programs, and the development of ecological indicators.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Member of Estuarine Research Federation, Steering Committee for ERF'97 international meeting, Session Chair for ERF
'01 Biocriteria Session
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for Commendable Service, 1997
U.S. EPA Outstanding Performance Award, 1997
U.S. EPA Bronze Medals (2) for Commendable Service, 1998
U.S. EPA Special Accomplishment Recognition Award, 2000
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for Commendable Service, 2000
U.S. EPA Statesmanship Award, 2002
Selected Recent Publications:
Paul, J.F., K.J. Scott, D.E. Campbell, J.H. Gentile, C.J. Strobel, R.M. Valente, S.B. Weisberg, A.F. Holland, and J.A.
Ranasinghe. 2001. Developing and applying a benthic index of estuarine condition for the Virginian
Biogeographic Province. Ecological Indicators 1: 83-99.
Paul, J.F., J. Kiddon, C.J. Strobel, B. Melzian, J. Latimer, D. Cobb, D. Campbell, and B. Brown. 2000. Condition of the
Mid-Atlantic estuaries: production of a state of the environment report. Environ. Monit. Assess. 63: 115-129.
Strobel, C.J. 2000. Coastal 2000-Northeast Component: Field Operations Manual. U.S Environmental Protection Agency,
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Atlantic Ecology Division, Narragansett, RI.
EPA/620/R-00/002.
Strobel, C.J. and J. Heltshe. 2000. Dissolved oxygen concentration as an indicator of the extent of hypoxia in estuarine
waters. Evaluation Guidelines for Ecological Indicators, L.E. Jackson, J.C. Kurtz, and W.S. Fisher, Eds. US
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, NC.
EPA620/R-99/005.
Strobel C.J., H.W. Buffum, S.J. Benyi, and J.F. Paul. 1999. Environmental monitoring and assessment program: current
status of Virginian Province (US) estuaries. Environ. Monit. Assess. 56: 1 - 25.
Strobel, C.J., J.F. Paul, and B.S. Brown. 1999. Spatial variability of selected ecological parameters in small estuaries of
the Mid-Adantic region of the United States. Environ. Monit. Assess. 63: 223-236.
US EPA. 1998. Condition of the Mid-Atlantic estuaries. EPA 600-R-98-147. US Environmental Protection Agency,
Office of Research and Development, Washington DC. (Prepared by J.F. Paul, C.J. Strobel, D. Cobb, D.
Campbell, J. Latimer, J. Kiddon, B. Melzian, and B. Brown).
Strobel, C.J., H.W. Buffum, S.J. Benyi, E.A. Petrocelli, and D.J. Keith. 1995. Statistical summary: EMAP-estuaries
Virginian Province - 1990 to 1993. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and
Development, Environmental Research Laboratory, Narragansett, RI. EPA/620/R-94/026.
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MARK D. TAGLIABUE
Biologist
401-782-3181
taaliabue.markfaepa.aov
B.S., Biology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston R.I., 1987
Employment:
1995 - Present Biologist Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA,
Narragansett, RI
1988-1995 Biologist, Science Applications International Corporation, Science
Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Narragansett, RI
1986-1988 Biologist, University of Rhode Island (Botany Dept.), Kingston RI
1984-1986 Animal Handler/Aquarist, Mystic Marinelife Aquarium, Mystic, CT.
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Nutritional requirements of marine organisms.; culture of marine organisms, including fin fish, invertebrates, and marine
macro algae.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Society of Environmental Toxicologists and Chemists
Selected Recent Publications:
Burgess, R.M., K.T. Ho, M.D. Tagliabue, A. Kuhn, R. Comeleo, P. Comeleo, G. Modica, and G. E. Morrison. 1995.
T oxicity characterization of an industrial and municipal effluent discharging into the marine environment. Marine
Pollution Bulletin 30: 524-535
Burgess, R.M., R. Comeleo, M. D. Tagliabue, C. Sheehan, A.S. Kuhn-Hines, and D.K. Phelps. 1993. Water column
toxicity from contaminated marine sediments: effects on multiple endpoints of three marine species. In
Environmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment, ASTM STP 1179. W.G. Landis, A.S. Hughes, and M. A. Lewis
(eds.), American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, PA. pp. 303-315.
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BRYAN K. TAPLIN
Environmental Scientist
401-782-9607
taplin.brvanteepa.gov
B.A., Biology and Geology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1983
M.S., Water Resources, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1991
Employment:
1998-present Environmental Scientist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health
and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA,
Narragansett, RI
1995-1998 Physical Science Technician, Atlantic Ecology Division, National
Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S.
EPA, Narragansett, RI
1988-1995 Chemist, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Narragansett, RI
1985-1988 Research Biologist, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Bryan is a physical scientist with a background in measuring stable isotopes and chemical stressors in ecological systems.
His work involves developing chemical and isotopic fingerprints that characterize estuarine and marine habitats for
juvenile and adult fish populations. His interest lies in otolith microchemistry and stable isotopic chemistry.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Member Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Selected Recent Publications:
Pruell, R.J., B. Taplin, and K. Cicchelli. Stable isotope ratios in archived Striped Bass scales. Fisheries Management and
Ecology, in press.
Taplin, B.K., R. Pruell, R. McKinney, and J. Kiddon. Changes in the l3C/'2C and l5N/l4N ratios in the American lobster,
Homarus americanus, in response to a change in diet, in preparation.
Meng, L., J. Powell, and B. Taplin. 2001. Using winter flounder growth rates to assess habitat quality across an
anthropogenic gradient in Narragansett Bay, RI. Estuaries 24: 576-584.
Meng, L., C. Gray, B. Taplin, and E. Kupcha. 2000. Using winter flounder growth rates to assess habitat quality in Rhode
Island's coastal lagoons. Marine Ecology Progress Series 201: 287-299.
Pruell, R.J., B. Taplin, D. McGovern, R. McKinney, and S. Norton, 1999. Organic contaminant distributions in sediments,
polychaetes (Nereis virens) and the American lobster (.Homarus americanus) in a laboratory food chain
experiment. Marine Environmental Research 48: 1-18.
Gutjahr, R., D. Black, L. Mills, R. Pruell, B. Taplin, and S. Jayaraman. 1999. Feeding the mummichog, Fundulus
heteroclitus, a diet spiked with non-ortho and mono-ortho substituted polychlorinated biphenyls: accumulation
and effects. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 18(4): 699-707.
Pruell, R.J., N. Rubinstein, B. Taplin, J. Livolsi, and R. Bowen. 1993. Accumulation of polychlorinated organic
contaminants from sediment by three benthic marine species. Archives of Environmental Contamination and
Toxicology 24: 290-297.
Tracey, G.A., B.Taplin, D. Cobb, W. Berry, D. Keith, W. Boothman, and N. Rubinstein. 1991. Dredge material
assessment methods: evaluation of the Revised Implementation Manual for Section 103 of the Marine Protection
Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (PL92-532). Technical report for the Army Corps of Engineers, New
York. Environmental Research Laboratory, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI.
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GLEN B. THURSBY
Research Biologist
401-782-3178
thursbv.glenfrtepa.gov
B.A., Biology & Art, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 1974
M.S., Botany, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 1976
Ph.D., Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1983
Employment:
1995-present Research Biologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA,
Narragansett, RI
1988-1995 Director, Environmental Testing Center, Science Applications
International Corporation (SAIC), Narragansett, RI
1983-1988 Research Assistant Professor, Botany Department, URI, Kingston, RI
1978-1980 Biologist, Environmental Research laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1977-1978 Instructor, Botany Department, URI, Kingston, RI
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Glen is a marine botanist with expertise in the physiological ecology of marine seaweeds, submerged aquatic vegetation
(SAV) and saltmarsh plants. He is one of EPA's experts in the development and application of water quality criteria, with
a particular emphasis on dissolved oxygen.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Member Phycological Society of America
Treasurer of Northeast Algal Society, 1997-2002
Reviewer for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, U.S. Geological Survey, American Water Works Association,
Chemosphere, Rhodora, Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Advances in Evironmental Research,
Environmental Pollution, New Hampshire Sea Grant, NOAA, US EPA,
Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Rhode Island, Department of Biological Sciences
U.S. EPA Science and Technology Achievement Awards, 1984 and 1998.
Invited participant in SET AC Pellston workshop on whole effluent toxicity, 1995.
Member of Research Advisory Committee for the Narragansett Bay National Research Reserve, 1997-1998.
CBEP Champion Award for significant contributions to community-based approaches to environmental protection, 1996
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for Innovation in Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of Aquatic Life: Saltwater Dissolved
Oxygen, 2002
U.S. EPA Honor Award for Exceptional/Outstanding ORD Technical Assistance to the Regions or Program Offices, 2002
Selected Recent Publications:
Thursby, G.B., M. Chintala, D. Stetson, C. Wigand, and D. Champlin. 2002. A rapid, non-destructive method for
estimating aboveground biomass of salt marsh grasses. Wetlands, in press.
Thursby, G.B., E. Stern, K. Scott, and J. Heltshe. 2000. Survey of toxicity in ambient waters of the Hudson/Raritan
estuary USA: Importance of small-scale variations. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 19: 2678-2682.
Thursby, G.B., D. Miller, S. Poucher, L. Coiro, W. Munns, and T. Gleason. 2000. Ambient aquatic life water quality
criteria for dissolved oxygen (saltwater): Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras. EPA Report No. 822-R-00-012.
Thursby, G.B., J. Heltshe, and K. Scott. 1997. Revised approach to toxicity test acceptability criteria using a statistical
performance assessment. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 16: 1322-1329.
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HENRY A. WALKER
Research Environmental Scientist
401-782-3134
walker.lienrvW cpa.izov
B.A., Biology, Colby College, Waterville, ME, 1971
M.S., Marine Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst MA, 1976
M.S., Experimental Statistics, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1979
PhD, Biological Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1991
Employment:
1986-present Research Environmental Scientist, Atlantic Ecology Division,
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory,
ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1985-1986 Work Assignment Manager. Science Applications International
Corporation
1984-1985 Technical Project Leader. Applied Technology Division, Computer Sciences Corporation
1983-1984 Research Associate. Institute for Statistical and Mathematical Modeling, University of West Florida,
Pensacola, Florida
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Henry is a biological oceanographer and statistician with expertise in ecological risk assessment. Recent research has
involved developing and applying methods to distinguish between anthropogenic and natural changes in coastal
ecosystems for use in integrated assessments of the joint effects in coastal receiving waters of anthropogenic changes in
nutrient loading, regional climate variability, and potential consequences of regional climate change.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
U.S. Steering Committee for Global Change Observing System
Steering Committee, Estuarine Research Federation Initiative in Biocomplexity
Member, Adaptation Workgroup of theClimate Change Steering Committee for the New England Governors and Eastern
Canadian Premiers
U.S. EPA Bronze Medal for the National Assessment Team for production of the first U.S. National Assessment Report:
"Climate Change Impacts on the United States", 2001
Selected Recent Publications:
Walker HA, Keim B, and Amdt MB. 2001. Chapter 3: Natural and anthropogenic factors affecting global and regional
climate. In Preparing for a Changing Climate: The New England Regional Assessment Foundations Report.
B. Rock (ed.),108 pp.
Walker HA. 2001. Understanding and managing the risks to health and environment from global atmospheric change:
a synthesis. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment 7(5): 1195-1209.
Walker, H.A., J. S. Latimer, and E. H. Dettmann. 2000. Assessing the effects of natural and anthropogenic stressors in
the Potomac estuary: implications for long-term monitoring. Environmental Monitoring
and Assessment, 63: 237-251. EPA Contribution # ERLN-2056.
Najjar, R G., H.A.Walker, P.J. Anderson, E.J. Barron, R. Bord, J. Gibson, V.S. Kennedy, C.G. Knight,
P. Megonigal, R. O'Connor, C.D. Polsky, N.P. Psulty, B. Richards, L.G. Sorenson, E. Steele and
R.S. Swanson. 2000. The potential impacts of climate change on the Mid-Atlantic coastal region.
Climate Research. CR Special 7 14(3): 219-233. EPA Contribution # ERLN-2125.
Keith, D.J., H.A. Walker, and J. F. Paul. 2002. Terrestrial vegetation greenness of the Lower Galveston Bay watershed
from satellite remote sensing and its relation to water use and the salinity regime of the Galveston Bay estuary
(USA). International Journal of Remote Sensing. 23(5): 905-916.
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CATHLEEN WIGAND
Ecologist
401-782-3090
wmand.cathlcenW ena.nov
Education:
B.S., Biology, Iona College, New Rochelle, N,Y 1982
M.S., Biology, Adelphi University, Garden City, NY, 1984
Ph.D., Marine Estuarine and Environmental Studies, University of Maryland,
College Park, MD, 1994
Employment:
1998 - present Ecologist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA,
Narragansett, RI
1997 (summer) Instructor (Wetland Ecology), Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Bard College,
Annandale-on-Hudson, NY
1994 - 1997 Postdoctorate Researcher, (Mary Flagler Cary Fellow), Institute of Ecosystems Studies,
Millbrook, NY
1994 - 1995 Postdoctorate Researcher, Institute of Biology, Odense University, Odense, Denmark
1990 - 1993 Graduate Research Assistant, Horn Point Environmental Laboratory, University of Maryland,
Cambridge, MD
1987 - 1989 Research Assistant (Marine Sciences), State University of NY at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Cathy is a wetland ecologist with expertise in developing and applying quantitative methods for assessing the
integrity of wetland habitats and the aquatic life use support that they provide.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
EPA Special accomplishment recognition award 8/31/2001
EPA Time-off award for wetlands research efforts 4/24/2001
EPA Special act award 8/27/2000: "Strategy for Evaluating Ecological Integrity of Salt Marshes (APM 552)"
EPA Special act award for leadership role in the wetlands project 1/02/2000
EPA Time-off award for work with Ecological Integrity planning group 9/12/1999
EPA Quality Step Increase 9/27/1998
Mary Flagler Cary Postdoctoral Fellowship 1994-1997
Estuarine Research Federation "Best Student Talk" Award 1984
Iona College Senior Biology Award
Iona College Freshman Chemistry Award 1979
Iona College 4-year academic scholarship 1978-1982
Selected Recent Publications:
Findlay, S., C. Wigand, and W. Nieder. 2002. Submersed macrophyte distribution and function in the tidal
freshwater Hudson River. The Hudson River Ecosystem, (ed) J.S. Levinton. in review.
Lackey, R.T., G. Cicchetti, C. Wigand, R. Devereux, J. Macauley, J. Brazner, A. Trebitz, J. Power, and P.
Wigington. 2002. Habitat alteration chapter: Aquatic Stressors, Framework and Implementation Plan For
Effects Research. Internal EPA - NHEERL document: 1-35.
McKinney, R., W. Nelson, M. Charpentier, and C. Wigand. 2001. Ribbed mussel nitrogen isotope signatures reflect
nitrogen sources in coastal salt marshes. Ecological Applications 11: 203-214.
Wigand, C., R. Comeleo, R. McKinney, G. Thursby, M. Chintala, and M. Charpentier. 2001. Outline of a new
approach to evaluate ecological integrity of salt marshes. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment 7: 1541
-1554.
Wigand, C., M. Finn, S. Findlay, and S. Fischer. 2001. Submersed macrophyte effects on nutrient exchanges in
riverine sediments. Estuaries 3: 398-406.
Van Hoewyk, D., C. Wigand, and P. Groffinan. 2001. Endomycorrhizal colonization of Dasiphora floribunda, a
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native plant of calcareous wetlands in eastern New York State, USA Wetlands 21 431-436
Wigand, C , J Wehr, K. Limburg, B Gorham, S Longergan, and S Findlay 2000 Effect of Valltsneria americana
on community structure and ecosystem function in lake mesocosms Hydrobiologia 418 137-146
Wigand, C andG Thursby 2000 Strategy for evaluating ecological integrity of salt marshes APM 552 Internal EPA -
NHEERL document 1-17
Nielsen, S L , I Thingstrup, and C Wigand 1999 Apparent lack of Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM) in
the seagrasses Zostera marina L and Thalassia testuclinum Banks ex Konig Aquatic Botany 63 261 -266
Breitburg, D L , J Baxter, C Hatfield, R Howarth, C Jones, G Lovett, andC Wigand 1998 Understanding
effects of multiple stressors ideas and challenges Successes, Limitations and Frontiers in Ecosystem
Science, M L Pace and P M Groffman, editors Spnnger-Verlag, New York 1-499
Chnstensen, K K , H Jensen, F Andersen, C Wigand, and M Holmer 1998 Interferences between root plaque
formation and phosphorus availability for isoetids in sediments of ohgotrophic lakes Biogeochemistry 43
107-128
Chnstensen, K. K and C Wigand 1998 Formation of root plaques and their influence on tissue phosphorus content
in Lobelia dortmanna Aquatic Botany 61 111-122
Holmer, M , H Jensen, K Chnstensen, C Wigand, and F Andersen 1998 Sulfate reduction in lake sediments
inhabited by the isoetid macrophytes Littorella uniflora and Isoetes lacustris Aquatic Botany 60 307- 324
Templer, P , S Findlay, and C Wigand 1998 Sediment chemistry associated with native and non-native emergent
macrophytes of a Hudson River ecosystem Wetlands 18 70-78
Wigand, C , K Chnstensen, H Jensen, F Andersen, and M Holmer 1998 Endomycorrhizae of isoetids along a
biogeochemical gradient Limnology and Oceanography 43 508-515
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ELLEN T. ZAMBRANO
Purchasing Agent
401-782-3056
Zambrano.Elleiw cpa.uov
A.S., Business Management, Community College of Rhode Island, Warwick, RI
Employment:
2002-present Simplified Acquisition Contracting Officer, Atlantic Ecology
Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research
Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
1998-2002 Procurement Technician for Naval Facilities Engineering Command,
Newport, RI
1989-1998 Procurement Technician for Supply Department, Naval Station
Newport, Newport, RI
Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency Needs:
Ellen has worked for the Government for 13 years, and has recently started working for the EPA. Her expertise includes
purchasing, and construction and facilities support contracting.
Selected Appointments/Honors/Maior Awards:
Administrative Employee of the Year for Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Atlantic Division, 2001
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GERALD E. ZAROOGIAN
Chemist
401-782-3079
zarooaian.ierrvffl epa.gov
B.S., Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1958
M.S., Microbiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 1960
Ph.D., Biochemical Toxicology, Purdue University, West Lafayette,
IN,1963
Employment:
1967-present Chemist, Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA,
Narragansett, RI
1964-1967 Assistant Professor, University of Rhode Island,
Kingston, RI
1963-1964 Biochemical Toxicologist, United Fruit Company,
Norwood, MA
Research Expertise and Skills Relative to Agency needs:
Gerald is a biochemical toxicologist with expertise in developing and performing assays and tests to determine the effect
of anthropogenic compounds on marine fish and invertebrates.Primary interests focus on physiology and biochemistry
of stress, mechanisms of pharmacologically active compounds and biomarkers of sublethal effects. Presently, studies are
concentrated on the effect of endocrine disrupting compounds on fish populations with consideration given to
extrapolation to human health.
Selected appointments/Honors/maior Awards:
Member Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; Society of Toxicology; AAAS; AIBS; Industrial in Vitro
Toxicology; Phi Sigma Society; Sigma Xi; American Pharmaceutical Association and Phi Kappa Phi.
Editorial Board of Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 1995-present
Reviewer for Environmental Toxicology and chemistry; Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences; Cell
Biology; Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology; Bulleti of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
and Toxicology
U.S.EPA Science and Technology Achievement Award, 1994
Sustained superior performance awards, 1990, 1994
Special achievement award, ERL, Narragansett, 1984
Employee of the Year, ERL, Narragansett, 1978
Selected Recent Publications:
Zaroogian, G. and C. Norwood. 2002. Glutathione and metallothionein status in an acute response by Mercenaria
mercenaria brown cells in vivo. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, in press.
Gutjahr-Gobell, R., G. Zaroogian, M. Huber, D. Borsay-Horowitz, and L. Mills. 2002. A temperate reef fish,
Tautogolabrus adspersus, (Walbaum) as a potential model species for laboratory studies evaluating reproductive
effects of chemical exposure. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 21: 380-389.
Zaroogian, G., G. Gardner, D. Borsay Horowitz, R. Gutjahr-Gobell, R. Haebler, and L. Mills. 2001. Effect of 17P-
estradiol, o,p'-DDT, octylphenol and p,p'-DDE on gonadal development and liver and kidney pathology in
juvenile male summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus). Aquatic Toxicol. 54: 101-112.
Zaroogian, G. and E. Jackim. 2000. In vivo metallothionein and glutathione status in an acute response to cadmium in
Mercenaria mercenaria brown cells. Comp. Biochem and Physiol. (C)127: 251-261.
Mills, L., R. Gutjahr-Gobell, D. Borsay Horowitz, and G. Zaroogian. 2001. Effects of estrogenic (o,p'-DDT, octylphenol)
and anti-androgenic (p,p'-DDE) chemicals on indicators of endocrine status in juvenile male summer flounder
(Paralichthys dentatus). Aquatic Toxicol. 52: 157-176.
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1997
Jaworski, N.A., R.W. Howarth and L.J. Hetling. 1997. Atmospheric deposition of nitrogen
oxides onto the landscape contributes to coastal eutrophication in the northeast United States.
Environmental Science and Technology 31(7): 1995-2004.
1998
Thursby, G.B., D.C. Miller, S.L. Poucher, L. Coiro, W.R. Munns, Jr. and T.R. Gleason.
1998. Protection of saltwater animals from low dissolved oxygen: Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras.
EPA/600/X-98/041, Office of Water, Washington, DC.
1999
McKinney, R.A., J.L. Lake, M Allen, and S.A. Ryba. 1999. Spatial variability in mussels used
to assess base level nitrogen isotope ratio in freshwater ecosystems. Hydrobiologia 412:17-24.
2000
Coiro, L., S.L. Poucher and D.C. Miller. 2000. Hypoxic effects on growth of Palaemonetes
vulgaris larvae and other species: using constant exposure data to estimate cyclic exposure
response. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 247:243-255.
Walker, H.A., J.S. Latimer and E.H. Dettmann. 2000. Assessing the effects of natural and
anthropogenic stressors in the Potomac Estuary: implications for long-term monitoring.
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 63:237-251.
2001
Barrera, J., R. Cantilli,, I. Davis, E.H. Dettmann, J. Fisher, D.A. Flemer, T. Gardner, G. Gibson,
D. Hart, J. Latimer, S. Libby, G. Smith, C. Siciliano and J. Word. 2001. Nutrient Criteria
Technical Guidance Manual: Estuarine and Coastal Marine Waters. EPA/822/B-01/003, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Washington, DC.
Dettmann, E.H. 2001. Effect of water residence time on annual export and denitrificaion of
nitrogen in estuaries: a model analysis. Estuaries 24(4):481-490.
Dettmann, E.H. 2001. Appendix C: Additional information on flushing in estuaries. In: Barrera,
J , et al. Nutrient Criteria Technical Guidance Manual: Estuarine and Coastal Marine Waters
Report No. EPA/822/B-01/003, U.S Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water,
Washington, DC.
1
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McKinney, R.A., W.G. Nelson, M.A. Charpentier and C. Wigand. 2001. Ribbed mussel
nitrogen isotope signatures reflect nitrogen sources in coastal salt marshes. Ecological
Applications 11(1):203-214.
2002
McKinney, R.A., J.L. Lake, M.A. Charpentier and S.A. Ryba. 2002. Using mussel isotope
ratios to assess anthropogenic nitrogen inputs to freshwater ecosystems. Environmental
Monitoring and Assessment 74:167-192.
Miller, D.C., S.L. Poucher and L. Coiro. 2002. Determination of lethal dissolved oxygen levels
for selected marine and estuarine fishes, crustaceans, and a bivalve. Marine Biology
140:287-296.
Altered Habitat
1998
Chnstensen, K.K. and C. Wigand. 1998. Formation of root plaques and their influence on tissue
phosphorus content in Lobelia dortmanna. Aquatic Botany 61:111-122.
Holmer, M., H.S. Jensen, K.K. Christensen, C. Wigand and F.O. Andersen. 1998. Sulfate
reduction in lake sediments inhabited by the isoetid macrophytes Littorella umflora and Isoetes
lacustris. Aquatic Botany 60:307-324.
Wigand, C., F.O. Andersen, K.K. Christensen, M. Holmer and H.S. Jensen. 1998.
Endomycorrhizae of isoetids along a biogeochemical gradient. Limnology and Oceanography
43(3):508-515.
1999
Meng, L. and J.C. Powell. 1999. Linking juvenile fish and their habitats: an example from
Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. Estuaries 22(4):905-916.
Nielsen, S.L., I. Thingstrup and C. Wigand. 1999. Apparent lack of vesicular-arbuscular
mycorrhiza (VAM) in the seagrasses Zostera marina L. and Thalassia testudinum Banks ex
Komg. Aquatic Botany 63:261-266.
2000
Cicchetti, G. and R.J Diaz. 2000. Types of salt marsh edge and export of trophic energy from
marshes to deeper habitats. In: Concepts and Controversies in Tidal Marsh Ecology (M.P.
Weinstein and D. A Kreeger, eds.), Kluwer Academic Publications, Dordrecht, The Netherlands,
pp 515-541.
Meng, L., C Gray, B.K. Taplin and E. Kupcha. 2000. Using winter flounder growth rates to
assess habitat quality in Rhode Island's coastal lagoons Marine Ecology Progress Series
201:287-299.
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Wigand, C., J. Wehr, K. Limburg, B. Gorham, S. Logergan and S. Findlay. 2000. Effect of
Vallisneria americana (L.) on community structure and ecosystem function in lake mesocosms.
Hydrobiologia 418:137-146.
2001
Chintala, M.M. and J.P. Grassle. 2001. Comparison of recruitment frequency and growth of
surfclams, Spisula sohdissima (Dillwyn, 1817), in different inner-shelf habitats of New Jersey.
Journal of Shellfish Research 20(3): 1177-1186.
Meng, L. and S.A. Matern. 2001. Native and introduced larval fishes of Suisun Marsh,
California, the effects of freshwater flow. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society
130:750-765
Meng, L., J.C Powell and B.K. Taplin. 2001. Using wintersflounder growth rates to assess
habitat quality across an anthropogenic gradient in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. Estuaries
24(4):576-584.
VanHoewyk, D., C. Wigand and P.M. Groffman. 2001. Endomycorrhizal colonization of
Dasiphora floribunda, a native plant species of calcareous wetlands in eastern New York State,
USA. Wetlands 21(3):431-436.
Wigand, C., M. Finn, S. Findlay and D. Fischer. 2001. Submersed macrophyte effects on
nutrient exchanges in riverine sediments. Estuaries 24(3):398-406.
Wigand, C., R L. Comeleo, R.A. McKinney, G.B. Thursby, M. Chintala and M.A.
Charpentier. 2001. Outline of a new approach to evaluate ecological integrity of salt marshes.
Human and Ecological Risk Assessment 7(5): 1541-1554.
2002
Meng, L., C.D. Orphanides and J.C. Powell. 2002. Use of a fish index to assess habitat quality in
Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 131:731-742.
Thursby, G.B., M. Chintala, D. Stetson, C. Wigand and D. Cbamplin. (in press).
Nondestructive estimates for aboveground biomass for the wetland grasses Spartina alterniflora
and Phragmites australis. Wetlands.
Toxic Chemicals (including Loon/Hg)
1997
American Society for Testing and Materials. 1997. Standard guide for conducting life-cycle
toxicity tests with saltwater mysids. El 191-97. In: Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.05.
Philadelphia, PA, pp. 445-460. (prepared by S.M. Lussier)
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Ho, K.T. 1997. Toxicity-based approach to environmental protection. European Water Pollution
Control 7:49-52.
Ho, K.T. and D. Caudle. 1997. Ion toxicity and produced water. Environmental Toxicology and
Chemistry 16(10): 1993-1995.
Jones, K.W., W.J. Berry, D.J. Borsay, H.T. Cline, W.C. Conner and C.S. Fullmer. 1997.
Applications of synchrotron radiation-induced X-ray emission (SRIXE). X-Ray Spectrometry
26:350-358.
Pelletier, M.C., R.M. Burgess, K.T. Ho, A. Kuhn, R.A. McKinney and S.A. Ryba. 1997.
Phototoxicity of individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and petroleum to marine
invertebrate larvae and juveniles. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 16(10):2190-2199.
Rhodes, L.D., G.R. Gardner and van Beneden R.J. 1997. Short-term tissue distribution,
depuration and possible gene expression effects of [3H]TCDD exposure in soft-shell clams (Mya
arenaria). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 16(9) 1888-1894.
Thursby, G.B., J.F Heltshe and K.J. Scott. 1997. Revised Approach to toxicity test acceptability
criteria using a statistical performance assessment. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
16(6)-1322-1329. (STAA Level III Award)
Zaroogian, G.E. 1997. Use of monochlorobimane to determine the in vivo effect of cadmium,
copper and lead on glutathione status in Mercenaria mercenaria brown cells. Comparative
Biochemistry and Physiology 116c(2):l 17-123.
1998
Lussier S.M and B. Finlayson. 1998. Mysids Section 8714 In: Standard Methods for the
Examination of Water and Wastewater, 20th Edition (M.H. Franson, ed.), American Public
Health Association, Washington, DC, pp. 8-91-8-100.
1999
Ho, K.T., A. Kuhn, M.C. Pelletier, T.L. Hendricks and A. Helmstetter 1999. pH dependent
toxicity of five metals to three marine organisms. Environmental Toxicology 14.235-240.
Lussier, S.M., W.S. Boothman, S L. Poucher, D. Champlin and A. Helmstetter. 1999.
Comparison of dissolved and total metals concentrations from acute tests with saltwater
organisms. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 18(5):889-898.
Lussier, S.M., A. Kuhn and R.L. Comeleo. 1999. An evaluation of the seven-day toxicity test
with Americamysis bahia (formerly Mysidopsis bahia). Environmental Toxicology and
Chemistry 18(12):2888-2893.
Spehar, R.L., S.L. Poucher, L. T Brooke, D.J. Hansen, D. Champlin and D.A. Cox. 1999.
Comparative toxicity of fluoranthene to freshwater and saltwater species under fluorescent and
4
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ultraviolet light. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 37:496-502.
2000
Lussier, S.M., D. Champlin, J.A. Livolsi, S L. Poucher and R.J. Pruell. 2000. Acute toxicity
of para-nonylphenol to saltwater animals. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
19(3):617-621
Pelletier, M.C., R.M. Burgess, M.G. Cantwell, J.R. Serbst, K.T. Ho and S.A. Ryba. 2000.
Importance of maternal transfer of the photoreactive polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon
fluoranthene from benthic adult bivalves to their pelagic larvae. Environmental Toxicology and
Chemistry 19(11):2691-2698.
Sarakinos, H.C., N. Birmingham, P.A. White and J.B. Rasmussen. 2000. Correspondence
between whole effluent toxicity and the presence of priority substances in complex industrial
effluents. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 19(1):63-71.
Thursby, G.B., E A. Stern, KJ. Scott and J.F. Heltshe. 2000. Survey of toxicity in ambient
waters of the Hudson/Raritan Estuary, USA: importance of small scale variations. Environmental
Toxicology and Chemistry 19(11):2678-2682.
Zaroogian, G.E. and E. Jackim. 2000. In vivo metallothionein and glutathione status in an acute
response to cadmium in Mercenaria mercenaria brown cells. Comparative Biochemistry and
Physiology Part C 127.251-261.
2001
Borsay Horowitz, D.J. and R.J. Haebler 2001. Demonstration of Aspergillus sp. in tissues of
the common loon, Gavier immer. incidence, progression, and severity. The Journal of
Histotechnology 24(2): 101-106.
Gundersen, J.L. 2001. Separation of isomers of nonyphenol and select nonyphenol
polyethoxylates by high-performance liquid chromatography on a graphitic carbon column.
Journal of Chromatography A 914:161 -166.
Pechenik, J.A., R Berard, D. Daniels, T.R. Gleason and D. Champlin. 2001. Influence of
lowered salinity and elevated cadmium on the survival and metamorphosis of trochophores in
Capitella sp. I. Invertebrate Biology 120(2):142-148.
Pechenik, J. A., T.R. Gleason, D. Daniels and D. Champlin. 2001. Influence of larval exposure
to salinity and cadmium stress on juvenile performance of two marine invertebrates (Capitella
sp. I and Crepidula fornicata). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
264:101-114.
2002
Burgess, R.M. (in press). Ammonia. In: The Encyclopedia of Water (J.H. Lehr, ed.), John Wiley
& Sons, New York.
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Mount, D., G. Ankley, K. Brix, W. Clements, G. Dixon, A. Fairbrother, C. Hickey, R. Kent, W.
Landis, R. Lanno, C. Lee, W. Munns, B. Ringer, J. Stavely, C. Wood, R. Erickson, and P.
Hodson. (in press). Effects assessment. In. Reevaluation of the State of the Science for Water
Quality Criteria Development, SETAC Special Publication Series, Society of Environmental
Toxicology and Chemistry, Pensacola, FL.
Diagnostics (see TIE products under Goal 5 listing)
1999
Suter, G., B.L. Antcliffe, W.R. Davis, S Dyer, J. Gerntsen, G. Linder, K. Munkittnck and E.
Rankin. 1999. Conceptual approaches to identify and assess multiple stressors. In: Multiple
Stressors In Ecological Risk and Impact Assessment (J.A Foran and S. A Ferenc, eds.), SETAC
Press, Pensacola, FL, pp. 1-88.
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GPRA Goal 4 - Safe Communities
1997
Munns, W.R., Jr., D.E. Black, T.R. Gleason, K. Salomon, D.A. Bengtson and R.E.
Gutjahr-Gobell. 1997. Evaluation of the effects of dioxin and PCBs on Fundulus heteroclitus
populations using a modeling approach. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
16(5): 1074-1081.
Nacci, D.E., L. Coiro, A. Kuhn, D. Champlin, W.R. Munns, Jr., J.L. Specker and K.R.
Cooper. 1998 Nondestructive indicator of ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity in embryonic
fish Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 17(12):2481-2486.
1998
Black, D.E., R.E. Gutjahr-Gobell, R.J. Pruell, B.J. Bergen, L.J. Mills and A.E. McElroy.
1998. Reproduction and polychlorinated biphenyls in Fundulus heteroclitus (Linnaeus) from
New Bedford Harbor, Massachusetts, USA. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
17(7):1405-1444. (STAA Level III Award)
Black, D.E., R.E. Gutjahr-Gobell, R.J. Pruell, B.J. Bergen and A.E. McElroy. 1998. Effects
of a mixture of non-ortho- and mono-ortho-polychlorinated biphenyls on reproduction in
Fundulus heteroclitus (Linnaeus). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 17(7): 1396-1404.
(STAA Level III Award)
Gutjahr-Gobell, R.E. 1998. Growth of juveniles and egg production of mummichogs fed
different diets in the laboratory. The Progressive Fish Cultunst 60:276-283.
1999
Gutjahr-Gobell, R.E., D.E. Black, L.J. Mills, R.J. Pruell, B.K. Taplin and S. Jayaraman.
1999. Feeding the mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) a diet spiked with non-ortho- and
mono-ortho-substituted polychlorinated biphenyls: accumulation and effects. Environmental
Toxicology and Chemistry 18(4):699-707.
2001
Kuhn, A., W.R. Munns, Jr., S L. Poucher, D. Champlin and S.M. Lussier. 2000. Prediction of
population-level responses from mysid toxicity test data using population model techniques.
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 19(9):2364-2371.
Kuhn, A., W.R. Munns, Jr., D Champlin, R.A. McKinney, M. Tagliabue, J. Serbst and T.
Gleason. 2001. Evaluation of the efficacy of extrapolation population modeling to predict the
dynamics of Americamysis bahia populations in the laboratory. Environmental Toxicology and
Chemistry 20(1):213-221.
2002
Gutjahr-Gobell, R.E., M. Huber, D.J. Borsay Horowitz, G.E. Zaroogian and L.J. Mills.
2002. A temperate reef fish, Tautogolabrus adspersus (Walbaum), as a potential model species
7
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for laboratory studies evaluating reproductive effects of chemical exposure. Environmental
Toxicology and Chemistry 21(2):380-389.
Kuhn, A., W.R. Munns, Jr., J.R. Serbst, P.A. Edwards, M.G. Cantwell, T.R. Gleason, M.C.
Pelletier and W.J. Berry. 2002. Evaluating the ecological significance of laboratory response
data to predict population-level effects for the estuarine amphipod Ampelisca abdita.
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 21(4):865-874.
Nacci, D.E., D. Champlin, L. Coiro, R. McKinney and S. Jayaraman. 2002. Predicting the
occurrence of adaptation to dioxin-like compounds in populations of the estuarine fish, Fundulus
heterochtus. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 21(7): 1525-1532.
Nacci, D.E., M. Kohan, M. Pelletier and E. George. 2002. Effects of benzo[a]pyrene exposure
on a fish population resistant to the toxic effects of dioxin-like compounds. Aquatic Toxicology
57(4):203-215.
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GPRA Goal 5 - Contaminated Sites
Contaminated Sediments (including contaminated sediment products developed under GPRA
Goal 2 before 2002)
1997
Burgess, R.M., J.B. Charles, A. Kuhn, K.T. Ho, L.E. Patton and D.G. McGovern. 1997.
Development of a cation-exchange methodology for marine toxicity identification evaluation
applications Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 16(6): 1203-1211.
Burgess, R.M. and R.A. McKinney. 1997. Effects of sediment homogenization on interstitial
water PCB geochemistry. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 33:
125-129. (STAA Honorable Mention)
Guodersen, J.L., W.G Macintyre and R.C. Hale. 1997. pH-dependent sorption of chlorinated
guaiacols on estuarine sediments: the effects of humic acids and TOC. Environmental Science
and Technology 31(1):188-193.
Ho, K.T., R.A. McKinney, A. Kuhn, M.C. Pelletier and R.M. Burgess. 1997. Identification of
acute toxicants in New Bedford Harbor sediments. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
16(3):551-558. (STAA Honorable Mention)
Huber, M., M.C. Pelletier, J.B. Charles and R.M. Burgess. 1997. Ammonia tolerance of the
bivalve Muhnia lateralis sublethal sediment toxicity test. Environmental Contamination and
Toxicology 59:292-297.
Peddicord, R, T. Chase, T. Dillon, J. MacGrath, W.R. Munns, K. van de Gucthe, and W. van der
Schahe. 1997. Navigational dredging. In: Ecological Risk Assessments of Contaminated
Sediments (C.G. Ingersoll, T. Dillon, and G A. Biddinger, eds.), SETAC Special Publication
Series, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Pensacola, FL, pp. 41-71.
1998
Abdelrhman, M.A., B.J. Bergen and W.G. Nelson. 1998. Modeling of PCB concentrations in
water and biota (Mytilus edulis) in New Bedford Harbor, Massachusetts. Estuaries
21(3):435-448.
Bergen, B.J., K A. Rahn and W.G. Nelson. 1998. Remediation at a marine Superfund site:
surficial sediment PCB congener concentration, composition, and redistribution. Environmental
Science and Technology 32(22):3496-3501. (STAA Honorable Mention)
Bothner, M.H., P.W. Gill, W.S. Boothman, B.B. Taylor and H.A. Karl. 1998. Chemical
gradients in sediment cores from an EPA reference site off the Farallon Islands - assessing
chemical indicators of dredged material disposal in the deep sea. Marine Pollution Bulletin
36(6)- 443-457.
9
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Burgess, R.M. and S.A. Ryba. 1998. Comparison of colloid-contaminant C18-based isolation
techniques using PCB contaminated humic substances and interstitial water. Chemosphere 36
(ll):2549-2568.
Davis, W.R., J.A.F. Draxler, J.F. Paul and J.J Vitaliano. 1998. Benthic biological processes and
eh as a basis for a benthic index. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 51:259-268. (STAA
Honorable Mention)
Latimer, J.S. and J.G. Quinn. 1998. Aliphatic petroleum and biogenic hydrocarbons entering
Narragansett Bay from tributaries under dry weather conditions. Estuaries 21(1):91-107.
Munns, W.R., Jr. 1998. Use of bioaccumulation data in aquatic life risk assessment.
Proceedings of the National Sediment Bioaccumulation Conference, EPA-823-R-98-002, U.S.
EPA Office of Water, Washington, DC, pp 6-3-6-8.
Rubinstein, N.I. 1998. Reference sediment approach for determining sediment contamination.
Proceedings of the National Sediment Bioaccumulation Conference, U.S. EPA Office of Water,
Washington, DC, EPA 823-R-98-002.
1999
Berry, W.J., M.G. Cantwell, P.A. Edwards, J.R. Serbst and D.J. Hansen. 1999. Predicting
toxicity of sediments spiked with silver. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 18 (l):40-48.
Burgess, R.M. and R.A. McKinney. 1999. Importance of interstitial, overlying water and whole
sediment exposures to bioaccumulation by marine bivalves. Environmental Pollution
104:373-382.
Ho, K.T., L.E. Patton, J.S. Latimer, R.J. Pruell, M.C. Pelletier, R.A. McKinney and S.
Jayaraman. 1999. Chemistry and toxicity of sediment affected by oil from the North Cape
spilled into Rhode Island Sound. Marine Pollution Bulletin 38(4):314-323. (STAA Honorable
Mention)
Ho, K.T., A. Kuhn, M.C. Pelletier, R.M. Burgess and A. Helmstetter. 1999. Use of JJlva
lactuca to distinguish pH-dependent toxicants in marine waters and sediments. Environmental
Toxicology and Chemistry 18(2): 207-212.
Klamer, H., C.A. Schipper, R.M. Burgess, J.H. de Vries and J. Stronkhorst. 1999. Standard
Operating Procedures: Mutatox Genotoxicity Sediment Extract Toxicity Test. National
Institute for Coastal and Marine Management/RIKZ. The Hague, The Netherlands.
Latimer, J.S., W.R. Davis and D.J. Keith. 1999. Mobilization of PAHs and PCBs from in-place
contaminated marine sediments during simulated resuspension events. Estuarine, Coastal and
Shelf Science 49(4):577-595.
Lebo, J. A., J.N. Huckins, J.D. Petty and KT. Ho. 1999. Removal of organic contaminant
10
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toxicity from sediments - early work towards development of a method for use in toxicity
identification evaluations. Chemosphere 39-389-406
McKinney, R.A., R.J. Pruell and R.M. Burgess. 1999. Ratio of the concentration of
anthraquinone to anthracene in coastal marine sediments. Chemosphere 38(10) 2415-2430.
(STAA Level III Award)
Perez, K.T., E.W. Davey, R.H. Moore, P.R. Burn, M.S. Rosol, J.A. Cardin, R.L. Johnson and
D.N. Kopans. 1999. Application of computer-aided tomography (CT) to the study of estuanne
benthic communities. Ecological Applications 9(3): 1050-1058. (STAA Level III Award)
Ross P., G.A. Burton, M. Greene, K.T. Ho, P. Meier and L. Sweet. 1999. Inter-laboratory
precision study of a whole sediment toxicity test with the luminescent bacterium, Vibrio fischeri
Environmental Toxicology and Water Quality 14:339-345.
Schipper, C.A., R.M. Burgess, L C. van den Dikkenberg, B.J. Kater and J. Stronkhorst. 1999.
Standard Operating Procedures: Marine Amphipod Corophium volutator Mortality Sediment
Toxicity Test National Institute for Coastal and Marine Management/RIKZ. The Hague, The
Netherlands.
Schipper, C.A., R.M. Burgess, M. Schot, B.J. Kater and J. Stronkhorst. 1999. Standard
Operating Procedures: Marine Microtox Solid Phase (Vibrio fisheri) Sediment Toxicity Test.
National Institute for Coastal and Marine Management/RIKZ. The Hague, The Netherlands.
Schipper, C.A., R.M. Burgess, M. Schot, H. Klamer and J. Stronkhorst. 1999. Standard
Operating Procedures: Marine Urchin Echinocardium cordatum Mortality and Behavior
Sediment Toxicity Test. National Institute for Coastal and Marine Management/RIKZ. The
Hague, The Netherlands.
Schipper, C.A., R.M. Burgess, L.C. van den Dikkenberg, B.J. Kater and J. Stronkhorst. 1999.
Standard Operating Procedures: Marine Oyster Crassostrea gigas Embryo-Larvae Mortality and
Development Sediment Toxicity Test. National Institute for Coastal and Marine
Management/RIKZ. The Hague, The Netherlands.
Schipper, C.A., R.M. Burgess, L.C. van den Dikkenberg, B.J. Kater and J. Stronkhorst. 1999.
Standard Operating Procedures. Brachionus plicatilis Sediment Pore Water Toxicity Test.
National Institute for Coastal and Marine Management/RIKZ. The Hague, The Netherlands.
2000
Burgess, R.M. 2000. Characterizing and identifying toxicants in marine waters: a review of
marine toxicity identification evaluations (TIEs) International Journal of Environment and
Pollution 13(1 -6):2-33.
Burgess, R.M., M.G. Cantwell, M.C. Pelletier, K.T. Ho, J.R. Serbst, G.S. Cook and A.
Kuhn. 2000. Development of a toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) procedure for
11
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characterizing metal toxicity in marine sediments. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
19(4):982-991.
Burgess, R.M., S.A. Ryba and M.G. Cantwell. 2000. Importance of organic carbon quantity on
the variation of K,,,. in marine sediments. Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry 77:9-29.
Ho, K.T., A. Kuhn, M. Pelletier, F. McGee, R.M. Burgess and J. Serbst. 2000. Sediment
toxicity assessment: comparison of standard and new testing designs. Archives of Environmental
Contamination and Toxicology 39:462-468.
Lebo, J. A., J.N. Huckins, J.D. Petty, K.T. Ho and E.A. Stern. 2000. Selective removal of organic
contaminants from sediments: a methodology for toxicity identification evaluations (TIEs).
Chemosphere 40:811-819.
Nacci, D.E., J.R. Serbst, T.R. Gleason, S. Cayula, G.B. Thursby, W.R. Munns, Jr. and R.K.
Johnston. 2000. Biological responses of the sea urchin, Arbacia punctulata, to lead
contamination for an estuanne ecological risk assessment. Journal of Aquatic Ecosystem Stress
and Recovery 7:187-199.
O'Conner, T.P. and J.F. Paul. 2000. Misfit between sediment toxicity and chemistry. Marine
Pollution Bulletin 40(l)'59-64.
Pruell, R.J., B.K. Taplin, D.G. McGovern, R.A. McKinney and S.B. Norton. 2000. Organic
contaminant distributions in sediments, polychaetes (Nereis virens) and American lobster
(Homarus americanus) from a laboratory food chain experiment. Marine Environmental
Research 49:19-36.
Reddy, C.M., L.J. Heraty, B.D. Holt, N.C. Sturchio, T I Eglington, N.J. Drenzek, L. Xu, J.L.
Lake and K.A. Maruya. 2000 Stable chlorine isotope compositions of Aroclors and
Aroclor-contaminated sediment. Environmental Science and Technology 34(13):2866-2870.
Yan, Q., D. Ma, H. Guo, D.J. Hansen and W.J. Berry. 2000. Testing acute toxicity of
contaminated sediment in Jinzhou Bay with marine amphipods. Oceanologia et Limnologia
Sinica 30(6):629-633.
2001
Bergen, B.J., W.G. Nelson, J.G. Quinn and S. Jayaraman. 2001. Relationships among total
lipid, lipid classes, and polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations in two indigenous populations of
ribbed mussels (Geukensia demissa) over an annual cycle. Environmental Toxicology and
Chemistry 20(3):575-581.
Boothman, W.S., D.J. Hansen, W.J. Berry, D.L. Robson, A. Helmstetter, J.M. Corbin and S.D.
Pratt. 2001. Biological response to variation of acid-volatile sulfides and metals in field-exposed
spiked sediments. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 20(2)-264-272.
12
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Burgess, R.M., S.A. Ryba, M.G. Cantwell and J.L. Gundersen. 2001. Exploratory analysis of
the effects of particulate characteristics on the variation in partitioning of nonpolar organic
contaminants to marine sediments. Water Research 35(18).4390-4404.
Cantwell, M.G. and R.M. Burgess. 2001. Metal-colloid partitioning in artificial interstitial
waters of marine sediments: influences of salinity, pH, and colloidal organic carbon
concentration. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 20(11):2420-2427.
Jayaraman, S., R.J. Pruell and R.A. McKinney. 2001. Extraction of organic contaminants
from marine sediments and tissues using microwave energy. Chemosphere 44:181-191.
Johnston, R.K., W.R. Munns, Jr. and D.E. Nacci. 2001. A probabilistic analysis to determine
ecological risk drivers. In: Environmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment: Science, Policy, and
Standardization - Implications for Environmental Decisions:-Tenth Volume, ASTM STP 1403.
B.M. Greenberg, R.N Hull, M.H. Roberts, Jr., and R.W. Gensemer, eds. West Conshohocken,
PA: American Society for Testing and Materials, pp 68-82.
Nacci, D.E., S. Jayaraman and J. Specker. 2001. Stored retinoids in populations of the estuanne
fish Fundulus heteroclitus indigenous to PCB-contaminated and reference sites. Archives of
Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 40:511-518.
Pelletier, M.C., K.T. Ho, M.G. Cantwell, A. Kuhn-Hines, S. Jayaraman and R.M. Burgess.
2001. Use of Ulva lactuca to identify ammonia toxicity in marine and estuarine sediments.
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 20(12):2852-2859.
2002
Burgess, R.M., M.J. Ahrens and C.W. Hickey. (in press). Geochemistry of PAHs in aquatic
environments, a synthesis of source, distribution and persistence. In: PAHs: An Ecotoxicological
Perspective (P.E.T. Douben, ed.), John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., London.
Burgess, R.M., M.J. Ahrens, C.W. Hickey, P.J. den Besten, D. ten Hulscher, B. van Hattum, J.P.
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sediment toxicity and ecological risk assessment. Marine Pollution Bulletin 44:271-278.
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and developments for effluents, ambient waters and other aqueous media (T. Norberg-King, L.
Ausley, D.T. Burton, W.L. Goodfellow, J. Miller and W.T. Waller, eds.), SETAC Technical
Publication, SETAC Press, Pensacola, FL.
Ho, K.T., R.M. Burgess, M.C. Pelletier, J.R. Serbst, S.A. Ryba, M.G. Cantwell, A. Kuhn
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Ho, K.T., A. Kuhn, R.M. Burgess, M. Pelletier, D.G. McGovem, J. Charles and L. Patton. (in
press). Use of marine toxicity identification and evaluation (TIE) methods in determining causes
of toxicity to fish in a public marine aquarium. North American Journal of Aquaculture.
Johnston, R.K, W.R. Munns, Jr., P L. Tyler, P. Marajh-Whitemore, K. Finkelstein, K. Munney,
F.T. Short, A. Melville and S.P. Hahn 2002. Weighing the evidence of ecological risk from
chemical contamination in the estuanne environment adjacent to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard,
Kittery, Maine, USA. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 21(1): 182-194.
Miller, J., H. Bailey, K.T. Ho, J. Hunt, D. Pillard, C. Rowland, B. Venables and W.T. Waller, (in
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Munns, W.R., Jr., W.J. Berry and T.H. DeWitt. 2002. Toxicity testing, risk assessment, and
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Ryba, S.A. and R.M. Burgess. 2002. Effects of sample preparation on the measurement of
organic carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur, and oxygen concentrations in marine sediments.
Chemosphere 48:139-147.
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GPRA Goal 6 - Global Change
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1997. Ultraviolet-B radiation enhancement does not affect marine trophic levels during a
winter-spring bloom. Ecoscience 4(2): 129-139.
1998
Keeling, R.F., A.C. Manning, E M. McEvoy and S.R. Shertz. 1998. Methods for measuring
changes in atmospheric 02 concentration and their application in southern hemisphere air.
Journal of Geophysical Research 103(D3):3381-3357.
1999
Keller, A. A., C.A. Oviatt, H.A. Walker and J.D. Hawk. 1999. Predicted impacts of elevated
temperature on the magnitude of the winter-spring phytoplankton bloom in temperate coastal
waters: a mesocosm study. Limnology and Oceanography 44(2):344-356.
2000
Keller, A. A. and G. Klein-MacPhee. 2000. Impact of elevated temperature on the growth,
survival, and trophic dynamics of winter flounder larvae: a mesocosm study. Canadian Journal of
Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 57:2382-2392.
Najjar, R G., P.J. Anderson, C.G. Knight, H.A. Walker, P. Megonigal, N.P. Psuty, V.S.
Kennedy, R.S. Swanson, J.R. Gibson and E. Steele. 2000. Chapter 7. Coastal Zones. Preparing
for a changing climate: the potential consequences of climate variability and
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Najjar, R.G., H.A. Walker, P.J. Anderson, E.J. Barron, R.J. Bord, J.R. Gibson, V.S. Kennedy,
C.G. Knight, J.P. Megonigal, R.E. O'Connor, C.D. Polsky, N.P. Psuty, B.A. Richards, L.G.
Sorenson and E.M. Steele 2000 The potential impacts of climate change on the mid-Atlantic
coastal region. Climate Research 14:219-233.
Neff, R., H. Chang, C.G. Knight, R.G. Najjar, B. Yamal and H.A. Walker. 2000. Impact of
climate variation and change in Mid-Atlantic Region hydrology and water resources. Climate
Research 14:207-218.
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Hanson, A.K., N.W. Tindale and M.A.R. Abdel-Moati. 2001. An Equatorial Pacific rain event,
influence on the distribution of iron and hydrogen peroxide in surface waters. Marine Chemistry
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impacts on regional water. Chapter 6 In: Preparing for a Changing Climate - The Potential
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Consequences of Climate Change and Variability: New England Regional Overview. A Report
of the New England Regional Assessment Group for the US Global Change Program, August
2001, University of New Hampshire Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space,
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Walker, H.A., B. Keim and M.B. Arndt. 2001. Natural and anthropogenic factors affecting
global and regional climate. Chapter 3 In: Preparing for a Changing Climate - The Potential
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GPRA Goal 8 - Ecosystem Protection
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1999
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Strobel, C.J., H.W. Buffum, S.J. Benyi and J.F. Paul 1999. Environmental Monitoring and
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Monitoring and Assessment 56:1-25.
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Bolton, D.W., T.H. PheifTer and J.W. Grace. 2000. Radium in Maryland coastal plain ground
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Bradley, M.P. and R.B. Landy. 2000. The Mid-Atlantic Integrated Assessment (MAIA)
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Bradley, M.P., B.S. Brown, S.S. Hale, F.W. Kutz, R.B. Landy, R. Shedlock, A. Moms, W.B.
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Galloway, W.B., G.G. Pesch, W.K. Smith, P.J. Morneault and W.W. Barchard. 2000. What's
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Hale, S.S., L.H. Bahner and J.F. Paul. 2000. Finding common ground in managing data using
regional environmental assessments. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 63:143-157.
Hale, S.S. and H.W. Buffiim. 2000. Designing environmental monitoring databases for statistical
analyses. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 64(l):55-68.
Kutz, F.W., J.F. Paul and T.B. DeMoss. 2000. Update on the ecological condition of the
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Approaches to Preserving Aquatic Resources (F.W. Kutz, P. Kownings, and L. Adelhardt, eds.),
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macro invertebrates. Journal of North American Benthological Society 19(1): 128-144.
Paul, J.F., J.A. Kiddon, C.J. Strobel, B.D. Melzian, J.S. Latimer, D.J. Cobb, D.E. Campbell
and B.S. Brown. 2000. Condition of the Mid-Atlantic Estuaries: production of a state of the
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Monitoring Ecological Condition in the Western United States. Proceedings of the Fourth
Symposium on the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP), Environmental
Monitoring and Assessment 64(1), 447 p.
Stahl, R.G., J. Orme-Zavelata, K. Austin, W.J. Berry, J.R. Clark, S. Cormier, W. Fisher, J.H.
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Strobel, C.J., J.F. Paul, M.M. Hughes, H.W. Buffum, B.S. Brown and J.K. Summers. 2000.
Using information on spatial variability of small estuaries in designing large scale estuarine
monitoring programs Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 63.223-236.
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Boesch, D.F. and J.F. Paul. 2001. An overview of coastal environmental health indicators
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Hale, S.S. 2001. Data are, datta is. Science Editor 24(4): 135.
Hale, S.S. 2001. Species databases and the bioinformatics revolution. RINHewS 8(2): 10-11.
Hale, S.S. 2001. Managing data for the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program.
Maritimes 43(2): 14-16.
Hale, S.S. 2001. Coastal and marine databases. Maritimes 43(2): 1-2.
Lussier, S.M., H.A. Walker, G.G. Pesch, W.B. Galloway, R. Adler, M.A. Charpentier, R.L.
Comeleo and J.L. Copeland. 2001. Strategies for protecting and restoring Rhode Island's
watersheds on multiple scales. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment 7(5): 1483-1491.
Paul, J.F. and T.B. DeMoss. 2001. Integration of environmental indicators for the U S.
Mid-Atlantic Region. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment 7(5): 1555-1564.
Paul, J.F., K.J. Scott, D.E. Campbell, J.H. Gentile, C.J. Strobel, R.M. Valente, S.B. Weisberg,
A.F. Holland and J.A. Ranasinghe. 2001. Developing and applying a benthic index of estuarine
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Coastal ecological data from the Virginian Biogeographic Province, 1990-1993. Ecological
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Monitoring and Assessment.
Keith, D.J., H.A. Walker and J.F. Paul. 2002. Terrestrial vegetation greenness of the Lower
Galveston Bay Watershed from satellite remote sensing and its relation to water use and the
salinity regime of the Galveston Bay Estuary (USA). International Journal of Remote Sensing
23(5):905-916.
McDonald, M., R. Blair, S. Hale, S. Hedtke, D. Heggem, L.Jackson, K.B. Jones, T. Olsen, S.
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Paul, J.F., R.L. Comeleo, and J. Copeland. 2002. Quantitative relationships between landscape
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relative sensitivity of population growth rate to survival, growth and reproduction. In: Challenges
in Applied Population Biology, July 8-9, 1999 Royal Holloway, University of London, produced
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Nacci, D.E., L. Coiro, D. Champlin, S. Jayaraman, R.A. McKinney, T.R. Gleason, W.R.
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fish Fundulus heterochtus to persistent environmental contaminants. Marine Biology 134:9-17.
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White, P.A., S. Robitaille and J.B. Rasmussen. 1999. Heritable reproductive effects of
benzo[a]pyrene on the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). Environmental Toxicology and
Chemistry 18(8): 1843-1847.
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Gleason, T.R., W.R. Munns, Jr. and D.E. Nacci. 2000. Projecting population-level response of
purple sea urchins to lead contamination for an estuarine ecological risk assessment. Journal of
Aquatic Ecosystem Stress and Recovery 7-177-185.
2001
Gleason, T.R. and D.E. Nacci. 2001. Risks of endocrine-disrupting compounds to wildlife:
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of chronic stress on wildlife populations: a modeling approach and case study. In. Coastal and
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Integrating Environmental and Socioeconomics
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Campbell, D.E. 2000 Using energy systems theory to define, measure, and interpret ecological
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Hansen, L., S.F. Hedtke, and W.R. Munns, Jr. (in press). Integrated human and ecological nsk
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press). Integrated risk assessment - Recommendations of an international workshop. Human and
Ecological Risk Assessment.
Suter, G.W. II, W.R. Munns, Jr., and J. Sekizawa. (in press). Types of integrated risk
assessment and management, and why they are needed. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment.
Suter, G.W. II, T. Vermeire, W.R. Munns, Jr. and J. Sekizawa. (in press). A framework for the
integration of health and ecological risk assessment. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment.
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Other (including smaller research activity in Goal 8)
1997
Abdelrhman, M.A. and Dettmann, E.H. 1997. Two-dimensional modeling of current
circulation and contaminant transport in surface waters. In: Next Generation Environmental
Models: Computational Methods (G. Delic and M.F. Wheeler, eds.), Society of Industry and
Applied Mathematics (SIAM), Philadelphia, PA, pp 117-123.
Frick, W.E., C.A. Sproul and D. Stuart. 1997. Bacterial impacts of ocean outfalls: legal
challenges. Journal of Environmental Engineering 123(2): 191-196.
Johnson, K.A., G.M. Calliet, M. Stephenson and G. Gardner. 1997. Frequency and
determination of external lesions in Dover sole (Microstomias pacified) and English sole
(Pleuronectes vetulus) in Monterey Bay, CA. Southern Monterey Bay Continental Shelf
Investigations. Former Fort Ord Restricted Area, US Dept of Interior, US Geological Survey,
1997, Open File Report 97-450, pp 104-113.
1998
Campbell, D.E. and C.R. Newell. 1998. MUSMOD, a production model for bottom culture of
the blue mussel, Mytilus eduhs L. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
219:171-203
Newell, C.R., D.E. Campbell and S M. Gallagher. 1998. Development of the Mussel
Aquaculture Lease Site Model MUSMOD: a field program to calibrate model formulations.
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 219:143-169.
VanBeneden, R.J., L.D. Rhodes and G.R. Gardner. 1998. Studies of the molecular basis of
gonadal tumors in the marine bivalve, Mya arenaria. Marine Environmental Research
46(l-5):209-213.
1999
Bengtson, D.A , T.R. Gleason and M.A Hossam. 1999 Consumption rates of summer flounder
larvae on rotifer and brine shrimp prey during larval rearing. North American Journal of
Aquaculture 61:243-245.
Fairbrother, A., J.H Gentile, C. Menzie and W.R. Munns, Jr. 1999. Report on the Shrimp Virus
Peer Review and Risk Assessment Workshop: developing a qualitative ecological risk
assessment. EPA, ORD National Center for Environmental Assessment, Washington, DC.
Huber, M. and D.A. Bengtson. 1999. Effects of photoperiod and temperature on the regulation
of the onset of maturation in the estuarine fish Memdia berylhna (Cope) (Atherinidae). Journal
of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 240(1999):285-302.
Keith, D.J., D. Colton, J. Lindsay, H. Louft and L. Stewart. 1999. New technology for
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conducting radiation hazard assessments: the application of the Underwriter Radiation Spectral
Identification System (URSIS) at the Massachusetts Bay Industrial Waste (U.S.A.).
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 54.259-282
Norwood, C.B. 1999. Punfication and recovery of bulky hydrophobic DNA adducts. Analytical
Biochemistry 272:100-106.
2000
Bergen, B.J., J.G. Quinn and P.R. Parrish. 2000. Quality assurance study of marine lipid class
determination using Chromarod/Iatroscan (Reg. Trademark) thin-layer chromatography-flame
lonatization detector. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 19(9): 2189-2197.
King, N.J., W.H. Howell, M. Huber and D.A. Bengtson. 2000. Effects of larval stocking density
on laboratory-scale and commercial-scale production of summer flounder Parahchthys dentatus.
Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 31(3):436-445.
VanBeneden, R J , L.D. Rhodes and G.R. Gardner. 2000. Potential alterations in gene
expression associated with carcinogen exposure in Mya arenaria. Biomarkers 4(6):485-491.
2001
Fogg-Matarese, S., D.J. Borsay Horowitz and G. Kass-Simon. 2001. An evaluation of three
conventional histological techniques for staining the cerata of Cratena pilata. The Journal of
Histotechnology 24(4):255-258.
Folmar, L.C., G.R. Gardner, M.P. Schreibman, L. Magliulo-Cepriano, L.J. Mills, G.E.
Zaroogian, R.E. Gutjahr-Gobell, R.J. Haebler, D.B. Horowitz and N.D. Denslow 2001.
Vitellogenin-induced pathology in male summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus). Aquatic
Toxicology 51:431-441.
Lake, J.L., R.A. McKinney, F.A. Osterman, R.J. Pruell, J.A. Kiddon, S.A. Ryba and A.D.
Libby 2001. Stable nitrogen isotopes as indicators of anthropogenic activities in small
freshwater systems. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science 58:870-878.
Mills, L.J., R.E. Gutjahr-Gobell, R.J. Haebler, Horowitz D.J. Borsay, S. Jayaraman, R.J.
Pruell, R.A. McKinney, G.R. Gardner and G.E. Zaroogian. 2001. Effects of estrogenic
(o,p'-DDT; octylphenol) and anti-androgenic (p,p'-DDE) chemicals on indicators of endocrine
status in juvenile male summer flounder {Paralichthys dentatus). Aquatic Toxicology
52:157-176.
Zaroogian, G.E., G. Gardner, D.J. Borsay Horowitz, R.E. Gutjahr-Gobell, R.J. Haebler
and L.J. Mills. 2001. Effect of 17beta-estradiol, o,p'-DDT, octylphenol and p,p'-DDE on gonadal
development and liver and kidney pathology in juvenile male summer flounder (Paralichthys
dentatus). Aquatic Toxicology 54(1-2):101-112.
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2002
Abdelrhman, M.A. 2002. Modeling how a hurricane barrier in New Bedford Harbor,
Massachusetts, affects hydrodynamics and residence times. Estuaries 25(2):177-196.
Hale, S.S. (in press). Marine bottom communities of Block Island waters. In: Ecology of Block
Island. Rhode Island Natural History Survey, Kingston, RI.
Mills, L.J., RE. Gutjahr-Gobell, D.B. Borsay Horowitz, N.D. Denslow, M.C. Chow, and
G.E. Zaroogian. (in press). Relationship between reproductive success and male plasma
vitellogenin concentrations in cunner, Tautogolabrus adspersus. Environmental Health
Perspectives.
Pruell, R.J., B.K. Taplin and K. Cicchelli. (in press). Stable isotope ratios in archived striped
bass scales suggest changes in trophic structure. Fisheries Management and Ecology.
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1997 Peer Review Report
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RESPONSE TO THE 1997 PEER REVIEW
OF NHEERL'S
ATLANTIC ECOLOGY DIVISION
OVERVIEW
A scientific peer review was held at The National Health and Environmental Effects
Laboratory's Atlantic Ecology Division (AED) from October 20-22, 1997 The charge to the
reviewers was to conduct a review "in such a manner as to allow for the evaluation of the three
primary divisional functions, namely research (major focus), advice/review to support Agency
offices, and scientific leadership activities". The purpose of this report and action plan is to
respond to the general findings of the Peer Review Panel and to outline a plan of action that will
describe how AED will proceed to further our role in fulfilling our stated mission to: "perform
research to understand better and to quantify the ecological effects of anthropogenic
stressors on the coastal waters and watersheds of the Atlantic seaboard".
Our analysis of the Overview section of the Peer Review Report revealed several salient points.
First, several major strengths were recognized by the Peer Review Panel Included among them
are: the appropriateness of our thematic areas; the excellent facilities and source of seawater for
conducting nationally-recognized research; and a bright and enthusiastic research staff who
"exhibit good teamwork".
The Committee recognized the significant changes that the Division has undergone since the
1995 reorganization of ORD and relatively little time for the research to respond to the new
mission and its responsibilities. Given the new responsibilities, the Panel identified areas of
research that should be augmented using all vehicles available to the Federal government. In
addition, it was suggested that several of the research approaches that are being pursued may be
too narrow to encompass the chasm of scientific uncertainty when measuring ecological
condition
Lastly, a number of opportunities were suggested by the Panel to expand AED's influence within
the scientific community and to enhance our leadership of that community, of Atlantic coastal
State and Regional regulatory agencies, and of EPA's national programs. The following
response addresses the issues related to AED's strengths and opportunities as perceived by the
Peer Review Panel.
GENERAL RESPONSE
Strengths
We are extremely gratified by the Panel's opinion that the "bottom-up" approach AED used to
select our current research themes has accurately captured the important issues in marine
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environmental quality related to our Agency and Divisional mission. As described in the
briefing book provided to the Panel, development of AED's thematic research program required
over 18 months and considerable effort. Our current thematic areas encompass a spectrum of
research questions spanning a wide range of ecological organization. Included are- research to aid
the Office of Water, Regions, and states to assess the ecological risks of contaminated sediments
and movement of these contaminants in living coastal resources (Bioavailability); development
of extrapolation methods to help environmental regulators to interpret toxicity test results in a
population and community context (Ecological Significance); investigations concerning how
coastal ecosystems function and development of useful indicators of system integrity (Ecological
Integrity); and development and application of sound scientific procedures that integrate
ecological monitoring and other data into appropriate courses of regulatory or management
action (Integrated Assessment).
We agree with the Panel that two of our four themes, Bioavailability and Integrated Assessment,
have foundations in AED's programs that precede the 1995 reorganization. These research
themes have a tradition of close programmatic ties with the Office of Water and EPA Regional
Offices, and Integrated Assessment has a basis in the national EMAP program. Our two
remaining themes represent new directions for AED. The Ecological Significance Theme is a
natural outgrowth of the long history of aquatic toxicology at Narragansett This theme attempts
to answer several "so what" questions that are often are asked by the environmental community,
such as the relevance of the toxicity tests to the receiving systems, and the relationships between
short-term toxicity test results and population response of the same or other species in the field.
Perhaps the most challenging change in research direction from AED's past is the Ecological
Integrity Theme, which endeavors to develop ecological indicators of ecosystem-level response.
Issues raised specific to these themes will be covered in separate sections below.
We also agree that the facilities at AED provide for excellent opportunities to conduct "cause and
effect" research and represent a national resource. The water quality is excellent, and our
proximity to other research institutions offers excellent opportunities for collaboration The staff
at AED has worked very hard to maintain and enhance our physical plant and our research vessel
fleet, and to incorporate (or utilize) new and innovative technologies (GIS, remote sensing, CAT
scan techniques). These efforts have been instrumental, over the past several years, in attracting
to our Federal staff the "bright and enthusiastic" scientists that the Peer Review Panel noted,
including promising young scientists with cutting-edge training. In addition to hiring highly-
talented scientists, we have dedicated significant resources for training our new and veteran
scientists. As outlined in the briefing book, four of our staff have received long-term training
since 1992. Additionally, the majority of our scientific staff have benefitted from EPA-
sponsored formal training (undergraduate or graduate courses) and in-house training (technical
writing, team-building) within the last five years.
Opportunities
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Most of the comments from the "Opportunities" section of the Peer Review Report emphasize
the importance of expanding AED's leadership role in areas reflected in our new mission of
ecological effects research. The essence of this challenge is to enhance our visibility as leaders
in the fields of ecology and coastal research, and to incorporate more fully into our research
program established scientists who have national or international reputations and experience.
We are encouraged to recruit aggressively and widely, to expand our research efforts to the entire
Atlantic Coast, to build networks and collaborations with other research organizations with
strong ecological programs, and to strengthen the relationships with our clients, including the
Regions and states.
We agree that AED needs to develop "greater visibility and demonstrate greater leadership in
eco-risk studies of coastal ecosystems" We believe that leadership can be fostered in a number
of ways:
1) encourage our staff to organize, chair relevant sessions at, and participate in national
scientific meetings that emphasize the thrust of our new mission;
2) submit our manuscripts to highly regarded journals of coastal ecosystem research,
3) serve as editors for reputable scientific journals,
4) hold offices in relevant professional organizations;
5) serve on interagency panels related to coastal research,
6) serve as adjunct professors for universities that have significant coastal research
programs;
7) "show the AED flag" by presenting seminars of our research at other coastal
institutions;
8) expand and nurture our pre- and post-doctoral research programs and maintain an
active visiting scientist program withm the organization;
10) act as a "national resource" by expanding our information management function so
that we are the prominent (if not preeminent) data and information resource for the
condition of the Nation's coastal environment;
11) forge stronger relationships with the clients and "end users" of AED's research
products.
We are pursuing all of the above approaches for developing leadership in the field, though
admittedly, some of these efforts are in their early stages. It should be noted that items 1-6 are
among the primary criteria that ORD's Technical Qualifications Board uses to evaluate our staff
for promotion to the higher ranks in the scientific grades.
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Since ORD's reorganization, we have been limited in our opportunity to hire new employees
beyond the original contract conversion process which reflected our former mission in
environmental toxicology and chemistry. However we are making progress in acquiring critical
skills through our strategic hiring plan. We recently hired a Wetlands Ecologist and a Research
Biologist to develop a new Wetlands project within the Ecological Integrity Theme Current
recruitment actions for term positions include a Landscape Ecologist, a Systems Ecologist, and a
Population/Community Ecologist, and we are using the NRC postdoc program to bring in several
ecologists. Recruitments for these positions have been advertised nationally to obtain the very
best qualified scientists. AED is taking advantage of every opportunity available to increase the
critically-needed expertise in the ecological sciences.
The Panel observed that "the scientific staff should publish more and in a wider variety of
journals". We strongly agree. Many of our staff are highly trained aquatic toxicologists and
before the reorganization were conducting research that favored existing toxicological research
journals (Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry, Environmental Science & Technology,
Aquatic Toxicology). The new AED mission should move us into the more ecologically-oriented
journals (Limnology & Oceanography, Ecology, Conservation Ecology, Estuaries, etc.) and
journals that emphasize ecosystem monitoring (Environmental Monitoring & Assessment) The
scientific staff are being strongly encouraged to publish more often, to broaden the list of
candidate journals, and to attain a greater visibility through publication in these journals.
Other issues raised by the Committee include the need to better integrate research among the four
research themes. We agree, in part, that better integration will be a strategic goal. To this end,
active discussions are occurring between the Ecological Integrity and Integrated Assessment
themes, and we are in the process of identifying specific environmental problems and settings
that will focus the research attention of all four themes on common issues. Our planned focus on
Regions 1 and 2 offers the opportunity to integrate our thematic research around significant
environmental problems that require a spectrum of research approaches to solve AED's Science
Council currently serves as an excellent vehicle for identification and communication of potential
integration opportunities; these efforts will be enhanced once a permanent Associate Director for
Research is named as chair of the Council. Through active planning and communication, we
also will ensure that AED's research program is better integrated with those of our sister
divisions in NHEERL.
We are continuing to develop our capability in the areas of information management. In addition
to our recently completed Information Management Center, which houses state-of-the-art
computing, GIS, and presentation equipment and software, we are ramping up our automated
data processing support function through the addition of contract staff. Building on our historic
expertise in environmental information management, we are also in the early stages of organizing
a Coastal Environmental Information Center to complement our research in regional
environmental assessment.
Finally, we believe that AED scientists are especially effective in cultivating research and client
relationships with regional and state agencies This is most evident with the current Mid-Atlantic
Integrated Assessment (MALA) Program with EPA Region III and associated states. As
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mentioned, we are now laying the groundwork for a similar involvement with EPA Regions 1
and 2 and this will eventually expand to include all coastal systems of the Atlantic seaboard.
Historically, this facility has been a consistent contributor of technical assistance to coastal
Regions and states throughout the U.S. and will continue to do so.
RESPONSES TO INDIVIDUAL THEME REVIEWS
Bioavailability
The reviewers of the Bioavailability Theme provided several constructive comments regarding
ways to improve our Theme. The area most emphasized was equilibrium partitioning (EqP)
theory which is used by our Theme to predict effects from concentrations of known stressors.
They felt that further research to challenge EqP theory should be performed, and that our group
was in a unique position to carry out this research We are using this opportunity to change our
strategy from elucidating the underpinnings of equilibrium partitioning to challenging the theory
of equilibrium partitioning. Our approach is not to determine whether or not EqP theory is
"correct", but whether it is useful. We believe a practical question to ask is "In what percentage
of contaminated sediments is EqP theory useful for predicting effects?" We recognize this is not
a trivial task and are just beginning to develop a strategy for answering this question. We
propose to challenge the usefulness of the theory on two levels- 1) the organismal level and 2)
the ecosystem level.
At the organismal level, we are discussing experimental designs that challenge the usefulness of
EqP theory in predicting effects. These experiments may incorporate different modes of
exposure (e.g. absorption via respiratory surfaces vs. ingestion), exposures of organisms to
sediments that contain different types and levels of organic carbon, and determining the
importance of other sediment phases on bioavailability In addition to m-house resources, we
propose the use of new post-doctoral positions to encourage different perspectives in evaluating
the theory. We are also considering putting out an informal call to selected long-standing critics
of the theory, challenging them to design "the definitive experiment" that would demonstrate
whether the theory is useful or not.
The second approach is on a larger ecological scale and also benefits the theme by moving it
ahead to it's stated goal of testing laboratory theories in the field. Possible approaches include
use of the EMAP, MALA and similar data sets where a number of factors needed to predict
effects using EqP theory have been measured. From these measurements we can predict effects
and compare the predicted to observed results. This will give us a spatial and geographical sense
of the usefulness of the theory and allow us to pinpoint specific ecosystems where additional
unmeasured factors controlling effects may be explored Using the framework of testing EqP
theory in different ecological and geographical areas will allow us to follow through on some
previously discussed large-scale experiments in different areas of the country with a group like
SERG (Sediment Effects Research Group). This project may include researchers from the
different Effects Divisions measuring field factors in differing ecosystems. From this data we
may determine the usefulness of EqP theory in predicting observed effects. The resources to
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successfully complete this project, and demonstrate the usefulness of EqP theory which underlies
water and sediment regulations in EPA, include an additional $20K of travel money to allow
inter-divisional collaboration, and additional skills (new term appointments) in spatial modeling
and benthic ecology. Initial contacts, email and phone calls, have been performed. We
anticipate at least two inter-divisional meetings over the next year, hosted at different eco-effects
divisions to discuss project design and implementation. Another complementary method of
examining the usefulness of EqP is a field experiment with the objective of examining
ecosystems which include the end-members of steady-state sediments. For example, we may
choose three ecosystems: the first in steady state (e.g. sheltered subtidal sediments); the second,
in an area where we expect some perturbation, and the third in an area we expect to be constantly
perturbed such as a tidal influenced salt marsh. Measuring factors that control the bioavailability
of contaminants over the course of different seasons for as long as a few years will give us an
understanding of the limits of EqP theory to predict effects over seasonal changes in different
ecosystems. Other experiments include manipulations of field sediments in the laboratory, or
sediment transfer experiments, to define the time it takes to reestablish equilibrium in a perturbed
sediment.
In addition to comments regarding EqP theory, the panel pointed out the lack of research being
performed on "the transfer of bioaccumulative contaminants from in-place sediments through
benthic organisms into higher trophic levels in coastal waters " The panel believed that marine
systems may be significantly different from freshwater systems, thereby making extrapolation
from freshwater systems impossible, and necessitating separate study. The principal focus of the
Biota Sediment Accumulation Factor (BSAF) research in our Theme was to examine the extent
of transfer of contaminants from sediment into benthic organisms. One of the principal
drawbacks of the BSAF approach is that its application to higher trophic level organisms is
limited. To overcome this limitation research linking trophic position with contaminant
accumulation was planned and has started. These studies were started in fresh water because the
problem of migration of top level predators is avoided, and because the capability to replicate
exposures is greater in confined fresh water systems. However, the long term goal of the trophic
positioning research is to allow prediction of the extent of bioaccumulation in both fresh and salt
water systems. Results from the fresh water studies will allow a more narrow focus when
research is started in the more complex estuarine systems. We believe we have the in-house
resources to devote to the majority of this research but we may require additional funding (S50K)
for LAGs with State and/or local organizations to facilitate sampling.
While the panel did not specifically indicate the need for further integration with groups outside
of our Theme, we continue our efforts to integrate research among the four Themes in the
laboratory. In addition to our ongoing research with the Ecological Significance Theme in
effects measurement, and the Ecological Integrity Theme in bioaccumulation research, we have
started a new effort with the Integrated Assessment Theme to use large scale system theory to
help us understand mixtures of stressors and their effects at an ecosystem level. We have
submitted an abstract to the workshop on Modeling and Measuring the Vulnerability of
Ecosystems at Regional Scales for Use m Ecological Risk Assessment and Risk Management in
Seattle focusing on integrating mixed stressors in ecosystems.
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Finally, we appreciate the effort of the panel to understand our research and the positive tone of
their review. We plan to continue research in the areas where the panel indicated our strengths
lie such as studying photo-enhanced toxicity, developing methods for identification of toxicants
in marine sediments, and measuring effects. As stated in our Theme, we plan to focus our
objective of understanding the bioavailability of stressors in the manne system towards levels of
higher biological organization and increased ecological complexity.
Ecological Significance
The Ecological Significance Team (ES) would like to express appreciation for the valuable
comments provided by the AED peer review committee. Though we believed all along that our
internal AED research planning process had insured that we were on the right track, there is some
comfort in the knowledge that our scientific peers reached a similar conclusion. The constructive
criticisms provided by the peer review committee in many cases served to reinforce measures
that were already in progress. The major points identified by the peer review committee that will
be addressed below are: a) over-extension, b) needed expertise, c) client connections and d) inter-
theme collaborations.
One of the primary points raised by the peer review was that because of the limited number of
staff in this theme, we should narrow our research focus by reducing the number of experimental
systems under study. While we recognize that our goals have been ambitious, we believe that
this comment was at least partially due to the way that we defined our activities For example,
within Project 1, all five activities use the same research approach to predict ecological effects
from biological data derived from diverse species. In fact, the activities within Project 1 are
tightly integrated, conducted by the same core staff members and of a relatively short term
nature. The completion of Project 1 in FY98-99, will reduce the number of activities in ES by
50%. The remaining Projects (2, 3, and 4) have highly integrated activities using similar
experimental systems to address in a multidisciplinary fashion biological and ecological
responses to chronic anthropogenic stress. The integration of research across levels of biological
organization was specifically called out by the peer review as a critical research need that we
were addressing. While it is certainly important to guard against over committing our resources,
it is equally important that we set challenging goals that push our scientists, our team, and the
science forward. We believe that rather than narrow our focus to compensate for a limited
number of staff, as suggested by the peer review panel, that we should instead identify and
acquire critical expertise that could permit us to effectively address the difficult questions and
important questions being asked by the ES theme.
We agree with the peer review committee that we have too few ecologists and modelers
associated with this research team Though we must point out that the reason for this is not
because we have underestimated the complexity of ecological systems, rather we have
developed a new research team with new research directions (focus on ecology) and have not yet
had the opportunity to hire additional personnel with these skills. Long before the peer review
convened, we were proactive in addressing this issue from two directions. From an immediate
perspective, we have been targeting post doctoral candidates through the infrastructure funded
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AED post-doc program and anticipate bringing in one population ecologist/modeler
(physiologically-based modeling) and molecular ecologist (genetic diversity) this summer. The
infrastructure funded post doctoral program represents an important mechanism for bringing in
talented scientists and we sincerely hope that this program will continue to be supported by
NHEERL. We have identified two positions in the recent NHEERL wide term post doc
competition, population/community ecologist with expertise in spatially explicit population
modeling (AED-2) and aquatic ecologist (AED-4). The addition of these four positions would
provide the ES team with a dynamic core of ecologists and modelers and quite frankly would
position this research team squarely on the leading edge of the field. While the post-doc program
has the advantage of being an immediate fix, these positions are by nature short-term. From a
longer term perspective, we are working through the AED-Strategic Hiring Process to commit
full time FTE's to positions with these skills. The obvious drawback to the strategic hire process
is the slow pace at which positions become available in the federal system. We expect that by
utilizing both approaches that we can fulfill needs in the short-term through the various post
doctoral mechanisms, while we work through the longer term strategic hire process.
Another approach to increase the number of ecologists and modelers involved with our research
would be to establish collaborative efforts across NHEERL divisions and outside of EPA. Cross
divisional collaborations could be fostered through the population modeling work group. This
could conceivably occur immediately The drawback associated with this approach is that most
people are committed to research within their own division, so that any such collaboration would
occur at a low level of effort. Potential remedies include the recognition of the importance of
such cross divisional collaborative efforts at the NHEERL level, and restructuring of priorities as
necessary. Identification and support of post-doctoral positions to help bridge the gaps between
the divisions could make cross divisional collaboration work for all parties External
collaboration in ecological modeling could also be an important mechanism for improving our
capacity to conduct such research. A well planned workshop on ecological modeling (roughly
$75K) would represent a valuable investment towards establishing NHEERL as a partner and
leader in the field of ecological modeling. Following up this workshop with an internal
competitive grant process would be a valuable mechanism to provide resources to foster the
collaborative research efforts that would be developed through the workshop.
We concur with the peer review panel that the ES Theme must clearly identify and communicate
with the clients for our research. Since ES represents a new research direction, it does not have
the longstanding programmatic ties within EPA that some of the older research themes have.
The ES Team is developing a strategy for identifying and communicating with clients for our
research. The primary activities presently under consideration include; establishing active
communications with the appropriate ALDs, establishing active communications with the
Regional Offices, and enhancing communications with the scientific community. Increased
communications with the ALD's (annual visits to the Ecology Divisions) could help to identify
clients in the Program Offices and could potentially smooth the transition between the top-down
and bottom-up research planning processes. Strengthening communication with the Regional
Offices and Program Offices will assure that our research directly supports the mission of EPA
(knowledge for a purpose), while also assuring that these offices have an appreciation of the
value of our research. We will continue to develop ties to the scientific community through
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participation in professional societies, participating in scientific meetings and workshops, and
where possible by sponsoring seminar speakers Our success in these activities will depend, in
part, on a greater commitment of resources for travel.
The peer review panel raised the issue of increasing inter-theme collaborative research efforts.
We have been pursuing several project and activity level collaborative activities with other AED
Themes. One mechanism that we have been using to foster inter-theme collaboration is to
identify post-doc opportunities that support multiple themes. For example the molecular
ecologist (genetic diversity) position identified previously would support activities in ES and the
Ecological Integrity theme. The spatial population modeling position identified earlier would
support a joint project between ES and the Bioavailability theme addressing the spatial aspects of
sediment contamination and ecological effects. This research would likely include input from
SERG and the population modeling work group and would thus have cross divisional
components. A recent and exciting development is that researchers from each of the four AED
Research Themes have initiated discussions that are being directed towards the development of a
cross thematic research project that would integrate each of the Themes. Present discussions are
centered around New Bedford Harbor, Massachusetts where several of the research teams are
conducting research The new cross thematic project would explicitly integrate the existing
activities as well as new research efforts around a core set of research questions. The proposed
study would represent a pilot study for integrating research across a wide range of spatial scales
and biological organization.
In conclusion, we appreciate the comments of the peer review panel and believe that their
criticisms by in large were constructive and objective. We appreciate the peer review's
acknowledgment that we are asking difficult but important questions. It is our intention to use
the comments from the peer review along with our internal review processes to continue to
strengthen the research conducted by the Ecological Significance Team. In particular we intend
to add core ecological expertise, improve communications with clients, and continue to pursue
research that integrates across levels of biological organization. We look forward to the next
peer review and the opportunity to demonstrate how we have responded and developed in the
interim.
Ecological Integrity
The overall conclusion of the peer-review committee is that the Ecological Integrity
theme needs to be "re-focused." The primary response to this comment is that the theme
has been undergoing a re-focusing process over the past year, most intensively during the
past six months. We believe that an update on this process will demonstrate that the
theme has made significant progress m addressing not only this general comment, but
also many of the other specific criticisms.
As discussed during the review, the approach of developing indicators of ecological
integrity is new to AED. It is reflective of the overall change in mission from an aquatic
toxicology laboratory to one focused on broader ecological questions. This peer-review
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occurred two years into a multi-year research program, therefore, evaluation and response
to the peer-review comments must be understood in that context. Many of the specific
peer-review comments reflect this "newness" and will continue to be addressed as the
theme evolves. Peer-reviewers observed a lack of: (1) integration among projects, (2) a
common field site, (3) communication with EPA program and regional offices, and (4)
publications in appropriate ecological journals. These are all consequences of the
newness of the theme, not the intended direction of the theme. Each of these major
criticisms will be addressed individually in this response.
Project Integration: As pointed out correctly, the current projects were selected
initially based on a loose connection to the theme goal, not on the basis of how
well they could be integrated. The limitations of personnel, relative to both
numbers and specific scientific disciplines, precluded identifying specific research
areas, then identifying the appropriate personnel. This deficiency was recognized
prior to the peer-review and was pointed out during the Ecological Integrity theme
presentation. Steps toward resolving this problem have been on-going over the
last six months by providing a common focus for each project, consistent with the
theme goal, and also compatible with sound ecological theory and programmatic
relevance for EPA ("Science For a Purpose"). Four elements were gleaned from
the theme goal. Each existing project, or proposed new research indicator, must
address all of these elements: level of ecological organization the project will
quantify, how the project quantifies ecological integrity (completeness and
expectations), how the indicator response distinguishes between natural vs
anthropogenic impacts, and the specific regulatory/management applicability
(ultimate user of the indicator). This approach specifies those elements which
must be common to each project, as well as identifies those activities which do
not meet these criteria. An internal mini-review of all EI projects was conducted
this past April (1998) to determine how well each addressed these elements.
Appropriate modifications to each project have begun to ensure consistency with
the four theme elements.
Common Field Site: From the theme's inception, it was recognized that in order
for this research to be most effective, all projects would eventually have to work
in at least one common system. However, it was recognized that requiring each
project to sample in a common system during the first year or two would be
disruptive to on-going research, especially given the theme's evolving focus. The
theme has now developed sufficiently that planning is underway to identify at
least one estuarine system that all projects will work in. This does not preclude
projects working in multiple independent systems, rather, it ensures that there is at
least one system common to all projects. Furthermore, monthly meetings are
being held with the project leaders to identify exactly how each existing project
will contribute to an understanding of the system's ecological integrity. This
process will be completed this fall and a common site selected for sampling next
spnng. At that point, this approach will be incorporated into both the overall
theme description as well as the individual project research implementation plans.
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Communication with Program and Regional Offices: Because of the
embryonic status of the theme, it was premature to develop well-connected links
with program offices/regions until the specific indicators were more developed
and tested. Preliminary discussions were conducted with environmental managers
initially; however, not to the degree that other more well-established themes have
(e.g., Bioavailability Theme and the Office of Water). As stated previously, the
theme has evolved to include four common elements, one of which is
regulatory/management applicability. This requires each project to develop more
formal links to program and regional offices. For example, several individuals
within the theme Wetlands project have met with the Office of Wetlands and
Watersheds (OWOW) and presented the theme design and initial project results.
Feedback from OWOW was incorporated into the project, thereby increasing it's
programmatic relevance. In addition, this process provided OWOW managers
with a better understanding of the state-of-the-art relative to wetlands research
Similar discussions are on-going with personnel in EPA's Regional Offices.
Publications in Ecological Journals: The number of publications in the peer-
reviewed ecological literature will increase commensurate with time working in
that research area. As pointed out by the review committee, the shift in research
direction from toxicology to ecology has only occurred at AED within the past
three years. The lag time involved in selecting a new area of research, the
implementation of that research, and the appearance of published journal articles
is greater than this time-frame Many of the projects have presented initial
research results at national ecological meetings (e g , Ecological Society of
America, Estuarine Research Federation). Manuscripts from these presentations
currently are being produced. As part of an internal planning exercise, twenty-
two peer-reviewed manuscripts are anticipated from this thematic research during
FY'2000, less than two years away. Furthermore, the addition of personnel more
intensively trained in ecology will increase the number of publications in
"ecological" journals While personnel changes usually occur slowly within the
Federal system, since the peer-review, a full-time wetlands ecologist has been
added to the theme as well as two cooperative agreement pre-doctoral degree
students pursuing ecologically-onented research projects. Opportunities to hire
additional pre- and post-doctoral students, as well as Federal term appointees, will
be pursued vigorously in the future as funding allows.
In summary, we believe that most of the peer-reviewer's comments, while valid, are more
a consequence of the timing of the review relative to the theme's development. The
actions taken to re-focus the theme began well before the results of the peer-review were
received and are remarkably consistent with the concerns which the reviewers expressed.
Therefore, we believe the modifications to the theme and it's projects have addressed the
overall tenor of the reviewers comments.
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Integrated Assessment
The major comments from the AED peer review specifically directed toward the
Integrated Assessments Theme are. (1) The work is a logical extension of EMAP work
previously accomplished by AED. There are some interesting science projects being
planned in connection with the MALA efforts. (2) Management links need to be fortified
and further communication with managers needs to be emphasized. Hopefully some
useful suggestions in this regard will emerge from the work task to define assessment
questions. (3) The integrated assessment framework project may become a dead end if
further planning is not initiated soon, including the discussion of results with EPA
regional offices. (4) The data management project is well designed and will facilitate the
exchange of data and information collected under EMAP and other projects.
Research in the Integrated Assessments Theme will continue in connection with the
ongoing MAIA efforts. In addition to continuing with existing projects, (1) research will
focus on analysis of field data collected during 1997 and 1998 through the collaborative
efforts of the many organizations participating in the MAIA-Estuanes project, and (2)
research will be initiated in conducting cross ecological resource assessments with the
MAIA data collected for estuaries, surface waters, forests, and terrestrial landscapes.
AED was a major collaborator in the design of and implementation of estuanne field
activities in 1997 and 1998. AED is also maintaining the summary data base for all of the
MAIA-Estuanes data, and is taking the lead in the analysis for the MAIA-wide
assessments. It is anticipated that a two-year statistical data summary will be produced in
1999, with an assessment report to be used for the next version of the State of the
Estuaries Report available the following year. If travel funds are available, the Integrated
Assessment Theme members will be making numerous presentations at the upcoming
MAIA Working Conference to be held 30 November to 2 December 1998 in Baltimore.
Cross resource assessment is a new area of research for the Theme, building upon the
landscape association projects already underway, and will incorporate data collected in
many of the other natural resource areas.
The management questions included in the theme plan emerged from the original EMAP
work conducted through AED. The generic environmental management questions
actually grew out of the User Network Exchange Workshop, held in 1991 in Ocean City,
Maryland, with environmental managers from across the region participating. The
specific research that the theme has been conducting in MAIA has been planned in
conjunction with the regional environmental managers. This point was not
overemphasized in the theme plan since we were concerned that we did not want to give
the impression that the environmental managers were directing our research. The
reviewers point is well taken, and we need to give proper emphasis to the interactions we
had, and will continue to have, with environmental managers in planning and conducting
our research. We will use our interaction in the production of the State of the Estuaries
Report as a solid example of the link with the managers. To help bridge the
communication gap between scientists and decision-makers, two actions are underway
within the Integrated Assessment Theme: (1) the community-based members from the
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former AED Coastal Futures Theme (Jerry Pesch, Walt Galloway, and Suzanne Lussier)
have been added, and (2) the AED Community-Based Assessment Team in Annapolis is
expected to be made members of the IA Theme. These actions will complement the
existing expertise of the Theme.
The proposed integrated assessment framework was developed as a result of AED's
involvement with EMAP. It was proposed as a process to consistently address
assessment questions. The framework used in MAIA, will be evaluated for its
effectiveness as a process for addressing environmental management concern, and will be
refined to address identified inadequacies. Workshops for environmental managers are
proposed for 1999 and beyond to review our application of the framework for conducting
MAIA assessments and to discuss how this process can be effectively utilized by the
managers. The refined framework will be used by AED for other geographic studies that
will be conducted An example of future studies at AED is one currently being planned
for the Gulf of Maine. We are initiating the planning by having our community-based
members solicit information from regional and state environmental managers for their
current and anticipated future environmental information needs.
We appreciate the comments on our efforts in information management. We are now
building upon our accomplishments to (1) continue the existing effort in EMAP and
MAIA by maintaining the resource level necessary keep it successful, (2) transfer what
we have developed in information management for MAIA to the EPA Region 3 staff for
continuance and expansion, (3) transfer the experience in developing an information
management system for a geographic study to the EMAP Western pilot, which is
currently in the planning stage, and (4) pursue the expansion of the AED efforts in
information management by taking on the role of an Atlantic Coast Environmental
Information Center, whose purpose would be to identify, gather, document, and manage
relevant environmental information and to provide for its broad dissemination. This last
item would require a significant commitment of federal staff and resources to implement
The Integrated Assessment Theme members thank the peer-review group for their
constructive comments on our research Our plans are to continue in and expand upon
the areas identified as being our strengths (building upon EMAP experience, MAIA
connection, and information management) and institute changes that will address our
weaknesses (bridge between science and management, and future plans for assessment
framework).
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Review of
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's
ATLANTIC ECOLOGY DIVISION
October 20-21,1997
Narragansett, Rhode Island
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1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1
OVERVIEW 2
ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE 5
INTEGRATED ASSESSMENTS 10
ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY 13
BIOAVAILABILITY 19
AED REVIEW PANEL ROSTER 24
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OVERVIEW
The mission of the Atlantic Ecology Division (AED) at Narragansett is to perform research to
understand better and quantify the ecological effects of anthropogenic stressors on the coastal
waters and watersheds of the Atlantic seaboard. AED's strategy for accomplishing this mission
was set forth in several forms, including: (1) a clear and concise statement that defines the
AED's vision; (2) a well-articulated mission statement reflection the mission assigned by the
EPA Office of Research and Development through the parent Nation Health and Environmental
Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL); (3) a list of strategic principles which serve as
guideposts for developing programmatic goals; and (4) presentation of programmatic goals
designed to keep the AED and its research staff continually focused on the defined mission.
The AED has undergone some major and challenging changes as a result of its incorporation
within NHEERL and contractor conversion. These have affected the scope and focus of the
laboratory's work and how it is accomplished. The traditional focus and strengths of the
Narragansett Laboratory have been in environmental chemistry, aquatic toxicology, and the
effects of stress on individuals and populations as determined from controlled laboratory studies.
These studies focused on Narragansett Bay and the northeast. In addition, the Narragansett
Laboratory has in more recent years been heavily involved in the Environmental Monitoring and
Assessment Program (EMAP), particularly related to estuaries in the Mid-Atlantic region. Under
the NHEERL reorganization, the laboratory no longer has a lead responsibility for aquatic
toxicology and is being asked to address the broad and challenging objective of understanding,
measuring and predicting the effects of human activities on the integrity of Atlantic coast
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ecosystems. This requires new approaches, different skills and experience, and a wider
geographic perspective. In addition, as in other NHEERL divisions, the AED has recently
undergone the termination of on-site scientific contractors together with an expansion of EPA
scientific staff, who are now required to be more hands-on researchers than contract
administrators. These transitions of scope and mechanisms are still underway, in many respects
deserving a grade of "incomplete." However, the planning is addressing the right scientific
issues and building on the new staffing arrangement. In general, we feel that the AED is heading
in the right direction.
The peer review panel was impressed with the overall presentation and found a great deal of
excellent research going on. Much effort has been expended in setting criteria for pursuing
research projects and in evaluating progress in reaching goals. It was clear that considerable
thought and energy had been expended in building thematic teams of researchers. The complex
and interdisciplinary nature of the research questions makes the team approach very appropriate
for the AED. However, the panel is not sure that the four theme areas are completely natural
divisions of what, in effect, represent a continuum of levels of biological organization and scales
of ecological effects. In any case, because this is a continuum considerable efforts are still
required for intra-theme integration. The themes and their teams vary in their coherence and
productivity, with those that were largely ongoing before the redefinition of the laboratory's
mission (Bioavailability and Integrated Assessment) being more mature and the two new
constructs (Ecological Significance and Ecological Integrity) being not yet settled and more
challenging.
From a tradition of laboratory studies, it appears that an overarching objective within the AED is
the development of integrative indices of ecosystem structure and function that are applicable in
the field. It seems that many projects are directed toward finding some magic number that will
define the health of an ecosystem, akin to taking the temperature or blood pressure of a human
subject. While useful integrative measures may certainly be developed and should be sought, and
while regulatory and legal requirements may demand them, this approach runs the danger of
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oversimplification of complex biological systems to the point where they have diminished
usefulness for correctly assessing ecological conditions. The panel counsels consideration of
alternative strategies, rather than this singular one, that evaluate both the complexity and
predictability of dynamic coastal ecosystems and the ecology of species that are particularly
important in maintenance of the integrity of ecosystems, or keystone species.
Very many of the projects seem to be conducted over a one to two year duration. For some, this
is perfectly appropriate, but there are concerns that important dynamics due to events that recur
over longer time periods or that affect similarly longer term ecosystem recovery cannot be
addressed under this constraint. While university-based researchers are frequently constrained
by these short timeframes of project support, as a federal laboratory with predictable support and
long-term objectives the AED has the opportunity to gain distinction by emphasizing longer-term
studies. For example, a few important long-term sampling sites could be established at which
studies from several or all of the themes could concentrate.
The AED mission encompasses coastal waters and watersheds. However, there is precious little
coastal watershed work being done at present. Because Atlantic coastal ecosystems are so
heavily influenced by their watersheds (nonpoint source pollution, changes in freshwater inflow
and sediments, etc.), this should be corrected with the addition of strategic watershed studies
linked with those in estuaries.
The AED also faces a conundrum that will challenge priority setting and logistical execution. It
has superb experimental facilities along side of a natural laboratory, Narragansett Bay. This has
been the laboratory's traditional geographic focus and continues to be a distinct asset, especially
in terms of integrating studies across the themes. However, the Division has been given the
mission to address Atlantic coastal ecosystems more generally. These systems are diverse and
expansive. How, then, should the AED balance locally intensive studies and studies applicable
throughout the Eastern seaboard? In the view of the panel, this requires the development and
nurturing of partnerships between the AED and academic, state governmental, and federal
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research institutions throughout the region. The AED should strive to provide assistance, foster
communication and collaboration, and participate in interpersonnel exchanges to accomplish
this.
In conclusion, the panelists offer the following brief statements concerning the Division's
"strengths" as well as the still-to-be-developed areas that represent opportunities as well as
challenges:
Strengths
The strategic themes developed for the AED appropriately address important issues in
marine environmental quality related to the EPA mission.
The research under the Bioavailability and Integrated Assessment themes is already
strong and appears to have good connections with clients and users of information.
The AED facilities for experimental research and laboratory analysis are excellent and
constitute a nationally important resource.
The location of the AED on the Narragansett Bay campus offers excellent opportunities
for interaction and collaboration with other appropriate organizations such as the
University of Rhode Island and the National Marine Fisheries Service.
The combination of outstanding experimental facilities and very good water quality
conditions allow for cause and effect research, especially in conjunction with the URI
mesocosm facilities next door.
The scientific staff is bright and enthusiastic and exhibits a good spirit of team work.
Opportunities
The AED needs to develop greater visibility and demonstrate more leadership in eco-risk
studies of coastal ecosystems. This requires a stabilized mission.
The scientific staff should publish more and in a wider variety of journals (i.e. beyond
the SET AC media and community) in order to develop its reputation in ecological
effects research.
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There should be more integration and interaction among the themes. The Science
Council, seminars, etc. should help.
The Ecological Significance and Ecological Integrity themes should be more fully and
solidly developed by nurturing leadership, encouraging more interaction with the outside
community, hosting post-doctoral and senior visiting researchers, externships for AED
scientists, and sponsoring meetings and workshops.
The experience of the scientific staff is somewhat parochial, with many having been
trained at URI or having had most of their professional experience at Narragansett.
Recruitment should be more nationally aggressive.
It is important to build networks with clients and users of information, including the
EPA Regions and state agencies and particularly for the newer themes.
The new AED mission gives it the unusual opportunity to pursue multidisciplinary
approaches to questions of ecosystem health and risks through longer-term field
research.
At the same time, the AED must seek to make contributions over the entire Atlantic
coastal region. This requires approaches which are larger scale than the states, effective
collaboration with academic and state agency scientists, synthesis efforts, and
development of management-oriented tools based on the work of others.
ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Description:
The objective of this theme appears to be to discover the physiologic responses of single species
populations at the individual, cellular, and sub-cellular levels. However, the description makes it
hard to see how this will be done in an integrated manner. Questions posed on the effects of
stressors on the structure and function of ecosystems are important, but we are no where near
being able to answer them. Projects addressing these questions seem more ideas for future
consideration than well-conceived research projects. Why are the in situ fates of bioassay
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indicator organisms necessarily important to know? Might there be other species not chosen as
laboratory models whose fates are more important for ecosystem functioning?
Critique:
This is a group with a good pool of human resources - these investigators are energetic and
intelligent. The overall theme of linking cellular/subcellular and other laboratory metrics with
population processes in the field highlights a significant area of need in the research community.
This theme is a critical link (levels of biological organization) in the overall mission of AED.
Success in this area will require more of a focus than is presented in the research plan. In other
words, the group needs less breadth and more depth. Consolidation to a more narrow focus
along the major theme lines is strongly encouraged. For example, the researchers should work in
fewer systems or with fewer species. Recognizing the limitations of hiring, this group needs
more input from ecologists.
The researchers are taking an extremely important step in trying to move beyond determining
proximate responses of toxicants to ask what these responses will mean in the natural
environment. This is a difficult task, but one that is critical if we are going to be able to
understand and predict the real-world efFects of contaminants in coastal systems.
Two changes in the range of projects should be considered. Aa mentioned above, there are too
many projects for the number of senior staff on the team. On the other hand, over the long term,
the scope of this theme could be improved by moving beyond contaminants and endocrine
disruptors to determine whether population-level predictions might be different with other kinds
of stressors (e.g. climate change, eutrophication, etc.).
A lot of attention needs to be paid to alternative methods of population-level extrapolation and
processes. For example, different kinds of conceptual and mathematical models that have
different assumptions (density dependence, frequency dependence,increasing or decreasing
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populations, environmental variability) should be tested and explored. The stage-classified
matrix model is a good starting place, but not a good stopping point. In addition, a continued
emphasis on comparisons between field data, lab experiments and models is important.
A number of the projects look quite interesting. In particular, the issue of genetic adaptation in
contaminated sites is particularly intriguing. In addition, the role of compensatory mechanisms in
either exacerbating or masking contaminant effects will be critical to making the extrapolation
from lab to field settings. Other conceptual models besides incremental levels of stress leading to
increasingly expensive forms of resistance need to be considered. For example, highest diversity
and productivity often occur at intermediate levels of natural stress; perhaps this is also true of
anthropogenic stress.
In sum, much of the basic information needed to assess the role this group plays in delivering
advice to the agency and others is difficult to extract from the document provided. An overall
sense is that the level of exchange could be expanded. The group has unrealized potential to
provide scientific leadership. The Team members should work to broaden their connections with
scientists along the Atlantic coast, looking for opportunities to interact with colleagues outside of
the RI region and bringing more experts in for seminars.
The following bullets offer several questions/comments (areas of uncertainty and observations)
about several aspects of the theme:
1. Extrapolation of short-term bioassay endpoints to indicators of population response (Munns,
Gleason, Kuhn, Mills, Nacci, Champlin, McKinney, Serbst, Tagliabue).
- How does AED address acute and sublethal chronic endpoints vs. population, community and
ecosystems responses?
- What short-term endpoints maximize accuracy of predictions at higher levels?
- Why is AED using 4 species - urchin, amphipod, mysid and fish to evaluate these questions?
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The goal of linking short-term endpoints with population level effects is tangible. This group of
researchers (as far as can be determined from the info provided) seems suited to address this
goal with most of the members having published some previous work in the area. BUT, the
extrapolation to higher levels of organization (community, ecosystem) is beyond the reach of this
group as presently constituted. Current efforts present enough of a challenge without going this
far.
2. Cellular and subcellular endpoints vs. organismal and population response (Mills, Nacci,
Zaroogian, Guthajr-Gobell, Borsay, Haebler, Pruell, McKinney, Jayaraman, Gardner).
- How is AED going to be able to go beyond predictive indicators at cellular/subcellular level for
population effects?
- How are impacts at lower levels expressed or repressed at higher levels?
The focus on EDs and retinoids in a characteristic estuarine fish seems appropriate. The
members of this group are demonstrating a relatively high level of research productivity within
the area of cellular and subcellular endpoints.
3. Extrapolation of laboratory endpoints to field population responses (Gleason, Champlin,
Rocha, Edwards, Nacci, Rego, Serbst, Munns, Gutjahr-Gobbell).
- What about impacts at lower levels vs. organism/population?
- Are changes in population growth vs. population persistence and community dynamics being
(going to be) addressed?
- How will AED address concerns regarding laboratory setting vs. field?
- Attention should be paid to the mummichog along PCB gradient, Ampehsca population
dynamics.
To a degree, this project supports projects 1 and 2 - extrapolating more to the field. Themes are
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similar. This is a good idea. This is a good example of a project area where more depth and
less breadth will be critical for success. There is a needfor site replication in multiple years.
4. Compensatory responses of natural populations to environmental stress (Nacci, Coiro,
Champlin, Pelletier, Gleason, Munns).
- Note concerns regarding lower level vs. higher level responses.
- What are the mechanisms at various levels that compensate for environmental stress?
- Do homeostatic and genetic compensatory mechanisms mitigate stress effects?What about
reduced plasticity due to stress?, The role of behavioral modifications?, Algae?
- In using using mummichog model, distinguish between stressed vs. unstressed.
Extrapolation past the population level is probably beyond the reach of this group as presently
constituted. Overall, this project area has some strong projects and some that seem to have less
focus towards the overall theme/goals. Dr Nacci's work is outstanding.
5. Influence of environmental stressors on community and ecosystem function.
- What kinds of system changes affect ecological structure, function and health?
- What are the useful metrics for these changes?
- How much change before structure and function are significantly altered?
These are good questions, but also very significant questions. AED can not address this area
effectively as staffed and would need many new people to do this wort
Resources and facilities:
Commitment of senior personnel to ecology and modeling is too low. For example, a total of
0.65 Research Biologist/Ecologist FTEs were allocated for the 5 studies for Project 1. This
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reflects a serious underestimate of the difficulty and complexity of the ecological questions being
addressed.
As new hires are made, additional senior personnel need to be added to this team. Special effort
should be made to add personnel with expertise in modeling and theoretical/conceptual issues in
ecology.
Facilities, however, seem excellent. The Team has access to a great deal of instrumentation and
wet labs. Some other resources are hard to evaluate based on info given.
Summary and Conclusions:
The Panel makes the following recommendations which can potentially enhance these efforts:
1) Improve active collaboration with non-AED scientists. For example, there has been a large
EPRI-funded program at Oak Ridge. Collaboration with scientists that have been involved with
the CompMech program would greatly benefit the ES researchers.
2) Do not underestimate the complexity of the ecological issues. It is important to consider
multiple options for population-level processes.
INTEGRATED ASSESSMENTS
Description:
The goal is the "development and application of methods to conduct integrated ecological
resource assessments across large regional spatial scales." As presented/defined, an integrated
assessment is a technical evaluation that combines various data into one overall assessment. The
advantage being that an integrated analysis of a suite of variables will provide more insight into
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ecological conditions than interpreting individual parameters. The major focus of this effort is to
provide tools that can be applied at large spatial scales (e.g., the Virginian Province of EMAP)
and that can be used to evaluate the influence of ecological resources on one another (e.g., the
influence of land use of a watershed to water quality conditions in an adjoining estuary).
Critique:
Much of the focus of this theme seems to be an outgrowth of the EMAP program. In particular,
criticism was leveled at the program by the National Science and Technology Council's
Committee on Environment and Natural Resources (CENR) and the National Research Council
(NRC). The NRC was concerned that clients for EMAP information were never clearly
identified and the relationship between managers' concerns and EMAP activities was "tenuous."
The CENR recommended more focused attention be given to geographic regions (in a rotating
fashion) to address specific questions related to the condition of environment resources, how they
are changing, why and whether environmental policies are working.
In response to these comments and the new ecological directions suggested by ORD, AED has
reacted with a program to: (1) develop a framework to conduct integrated assessments (with
emphasis on coordinating with managers); (2) develop new assessment tools and conducting a
geographically specific, large scale assessment of the mid-Atlantic region to address CENR
questions; and (3) create an information management system for EMAP.
(Note: The write-up contained in the notebook for this program theme was the only one that
didn't list authors. However, the two Research Implementation Plans (RIPs) provided on diskette
did provide additional information about staff commitments. In future reviews, all personnel
should be clearly identified with the programs they are working on. One of the most important
components of any technical proposal is the qualifications of the investigators). Just a listing of
grade levels and job titles at the end of each chapter is insufficient to judge the full capabilities
and resources devoted to the projects. Also, neither the notebooks nor the RIPs provide
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information about project costs.)
Regarding (1) above, AED has responded to criticism by devoting considerable effort (in terms
of pages of text not clear how much money is invested in this effort) to developing a
framework to plan and conduct integrated assessments, with emphasis given to researching how
integrated assessment questions can be framed to assist both managers and scientists. The
underlying assumption for this work task (and theme) is that integrated assessments conducted
over large spatial scales will be useful to managers. This is probably true, but no examples are
used to demonstrate the potential utility of the tools. Are there many managers really out there
that deal with decisions at these scales? Decision-makers are the true "managers." There needs
to be better communication between scientists and decision-makers. Does AED have the in-
house expertise to bridge this apparent communication gap?
The MAIA work may determine how successful this assessment approach will be. But it is not
clear to me whether any of work on developing a framework will be used for the MAIA
initiative. It appears that the MAIA approach will be evaluated and appropriate new guidance
will be prepared after critical MAIA decisions and /or assessments have already been made.
What will happen to the new guidance? Who is it intended for? Will any new research projects
at AED use it?
The MAIA project appears to be a logical and needed extension of EMAP. Even though the
research is addressing some interesting science questions, the management link is missing in the
Project 2 descriptions (Development of Assessment Tools).
The data management task seems to be well designed to promote the exchange of data and
information. It is consistent with other data management efforts within the National Estuary
Program.
GIS approaches have great potential as exploratory tools and may provide significant insights
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into first order effects. But, some aspects of system structure and function may be 'emergent
properties' that can not be elucidated via simple correlations.
Overall, the tasks in this theme respond very well to comments and criticisms made in
connection with past activities. Some of the investigators have fine track records and will likely
continue to produce high quality products. It would be nice to see a bit more vision in where
AED believes integrated assessments will take them. What lies beyond MAIA? Who will
responsible for implementing the newly developed framework?
The success of this theme research will be measured in large part by its utility in assisting
managers. Reviewers are not convinced by the write-ups that substantive dialogue is occurring
between AED and the management community. All of the reports are either technical manuals
or peer reviewed articles. Will managers read any of this? Why aren't meetings and briefings
with EPA regional staff part of the plan?
Some of the scientists involved in this program have indeed shown leadership in arranging
meeting and symposia, and being part of larger planning exercises particularly those involved
in EMAP. Again, at this point it is difficult to gauge the full success since all of the participants
are not clearly delineated.
The group needs to focus on linking in both directions (science/management). The goal of
interfacing to management is good. But, the total process is dependent on the indices being used
to evaluate ecosystem health. These indices have soft spots. AED is in an excellent position to
evaluate the weaknesses of the approach. If the goal is to reduce uncertainty then the focus
should be on moving the approaches (e.g. assessment based on indices) forward using in-house
talent and by drawing expertise from the external community.
Resources and Facilities:
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Budgets are not listed for the individual tasks. Personnel are not specified as noted above,
making an assessment difficult.
Summary and Conclusions:
The work under this theme is a logical extension of EMAP work previously accomplished by
AED. There are some interesting science projects being planned in connection with the MAIA
efforts. Management links need to be fortified and further communication with managers needs
to be emphasized. Hopefully some useful suggestions in this regard will emerge from the work
task to define assessment questions. The integrated assessment framework project may become
a dead end if further planning is not initiated soon, including the discussion of results with EPA
regional offices. The data management project is well designed and will facilitate the exchange
of data and information collected under EMAP and other projects.
ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY
Description:
The goal of this theme is to develop a framework aod indicators to characterize, understand, and
predict the ecological integrity of Atlantic Coast estuarine ecosystems. The term "integrity" was
used in the 1972 Clean Water Act which stipulated that the physical, chemical and biological
integrity of our Nation's waters be preserved. This theme sets out to define "integrity" and
develop indicators to measure and assess ecological integrity in estuaries. An ecosystem has
integrity, the team says, if it has the species composition and function of relatively undisturbed
communities. This is a useful definition, but its current if not final usefulness may be limited by
other regulatory or legislative understandings of the term.
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Critique:
While the theme of ecological integrity was presented as: definition of emergent properties
within a framework that would lead to indicators that reflect ecosystem response, there does not
seem to be much integration between projects. This theme is, instead, an outgrowth of the
former Cumulative Effects Research Program (CERP) at AED. Were the projects conceived as
the post hoc rationalization of the Pi's or as an integrated approach to development of EI?
Project leaders need to work together to select field sites that will provide opportunities for
synergistic interactions, field sites should be at the same places and times.
This would speed the selection of methods that work and help in the interpretations of results.
This theme has six project elements that are supposed to address the three questions articulated
on p. 9 of the write-up. Question 1 asks, "Is it possible to develop a quantifiable, scientifically
defensible definition of ecological integrity for estuarine systems?" Except for the introductory
remarks, a work element that attempts to answer this question is not present. I assume that the
answer must be yes.
The second question asks, "What is the best framework for organizing and aggregating the
complexity of estuarine systems to identify system-level ecological indicators?" The first project
titled "Energy System Models to Define and Evaluate Ecological Integrity Indicators" is billed as
"developing the overall conceptual model for the theme..." This project will use a systems
ecology approach to elucidate important components (based upon energy flow) of ecosystem
integrity. Much of this work is theoretical in nature, and emanates from recent work of Odum
and others. This appears to be a new area for AED, but at least one AED scientist has experience
in this type of modeling. Has any consideration been given to extramural funding to bring in
researchers like Odum to help with this task?
The third question asks, "Is it possible to develop system-level indicators of ecological integrity
and what is the selection process for identifying which indicators should be developed?" The
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first project (described above) will address both of parts of this question while the remaining 5
projects only deal with the first part developing indicators. Projects 2-6 seem to be completely
independent of Project 1. It is not clear how the indicators in these projects were selected for
further development.
With the exception of Project 4 (Point Source Effects to Soft Bottom Communities) and Project
5 (Wetland Plant Index), the other three involve the further refinement of methods developed by
others. It is not clear how these methods will be integrated into overall assessment of integrity.
In some cases, like the core work, it appears that the outside scientific community might be in a
better position to refine this tool.
Regarding Project 5 (Development of a Coastal Wetland Plant Condition Index), I have my
doubts whether a condition index will be a valuable tool. Who will really use it? What are the
management implications? What are the functional implications of this? Since wetlands have
some many varied functions, how will plant condition be factored into an assessment of other
wetland functions?
There is little, if any, reference to the application of the indicators to EPA programs. There
appear to be no plans to communicate the research results to EPA regional offices .In general, For
many of the activities, it is not clear whether the primary intent is exploratory and method
development (energy modeling?), attempts to adapt current research tools to broader-scale
assessments (historical reconstruction?), efforts to improve existing approaches (benthic index?),
or application of existing techniques to specific situations (fish index?). (Note: perceived goal of
projects is in parentheses). In addition, more attention needs to be focussed on insuring that
measures of integrity distinguish between natural and anthropogenic stressors.
A much greater level of coordination between the various projects is needed if one of the goals is
truly to 'develop and evaluate' approaches to describing and evaluating ecosystem or ecological
integrity. An important way to compare and coordinate the various activities would be to select a
suite of 4-5 sites that vary in their level of anthropogenic impact and to use the entire suite of
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approaches at all of those sites. This would allow the AED team to evaluate how well the various
approaches to measuring ecological integrity work, under what circumstances they agree, and to
what extent and why they make different predictions about the integrity of the same systems.
Similarly, the importance of comparing predictions of'emergent' properties with those of
physiological and organismal-to-species level properties should be emphasized and seen as a
strength. The relative usefulness of emergent properties and lower-levels of ecological
organization as indicators of integrity should be an important aspect of this research that can be
determined by the current research projects. It may be that there are truly emergent properties
that are the best descriptors of the 'integrity' of estuarine systems. On the other hand, the older
approach of changes in the abundance, distribution, fecundity or physiological state of sensitive
species may be more reliable. I realize that your orientation is towards emergent properties,
however, there is nothing wrong with a conclusion that a focus on sensitive species works better
(if it does).
The focus on developing historical reconstruction as a more routine & widespread technique is
extremely important. We are not likely to get away from the problem of the idiosyncratic nature
of individual systems. Historical reconstruction to determine the magnitude and time horizon of
change is invaluable in determining how a system has deviated from its 'natural' state as a result
of both anthropogenic and climatic influences.
The theoretical basis for relating some of the measures of integrity to the level of degradation of
the system was not always clear. For example, the trophic complexity and the length of food
webs may be influenced by a host of physical processes, the regional species pool, or the habitat
in which an individual is collected in addition to the extent to which a system is degraded by
anthropogenic activities. Similarly, a lot of thought needs to be put into how energy would be
expected to differ in systems with different levels of anthropogenic degradation.
Resources and Facilities:
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The physical plant is outstanding and support staff seems very keen and up to date. Financial
support from management seems good for most projects. The wet lab and potential for
experimentation are strongest elements of the lab.
How well the team concept is working could not be assessed. It is still unclear who does what on
each project and the theme overall has almost twice the number of senior FTEs as the ES theme.
Consequently, one must question if this was a conscious decision or an historical accident of
staffing.
Summary and Conclusions:
The group felt, in general, that these are all worthy projects, but wondered if scope should be
broadened. There is a significant chance that there may be no one adequate measure of the
multitude of possible outcomes following ecosystem disturbance. An assumption in the team's
work seems to be that there are equilibrium states for coastal marine communities that can be
used as reference points for measuring the effects of anthropogenic stressors. But it may be that
many bottom communities possess no equilibrium state, but are continually varying in various
states of recovery from past disturbances. Furthermore, other researchers have good evidence for
the proposition that while community dynamics may be determined, that is, they follow rules,
future states of the community may be unpredictable. Marine communities may be chaotic
systems with a different set of metrics than the team anticipates. Second, if history plays an
important but unpredictable role in ecosystem structure and function, it may be that biological
narratives are in some cases the best descriptors of stressor effects. The goal of conducting multi-
year studies of the natural histories of the dominant and functionally significant species in coastal
systems would then be of great importance. It could be done by extramural projects when in-
house expertise is absent, and in any case is another activity that would make this federal lab
distinctive.
The project teams, with a few exceptions, are young and very energetic, but not well recognized
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as leaders in their fields. Initiation of a senior visiting scientist program would go a long way to
providing the knowledge base that the project teams need to be on the cutting edge of what they
are doing. This is particularly true for the benthic community program (4) and historical
conditions program (2).
The EI theme is composed of six loosely connected projects some of which are not up on what is
happening outside of this lab. Project groups need to mine the work of others and select key
elements that advance the theme of EI. Initiation of a monthly seminar series, each focused on a
project activity, would be most helpful. The team describes six projects:
1 ] find the pattern if energy input to habitats and compare clean vs. dirty habitats
2] chronicle the pollution history of estuaries using various measures of sediment cores
3] use N- isotopes to measure food chain structure
4,5,6] develop indices of health for benthos, wetlands, and fish communities.
The research in project 1 is worth pin-suing. However, it might assume that there are equilibrium
energy states to be measured and that they produce equilibrium communities and it may not be
safe to do that. Project 2 has the advantage that in addition to estuarine chronologies, it utilizes
the lab's well developed measurement skills and will likely result in new or better measures of
several sediment components. Project three is exciting. But, in project 3.3 how does the team
propose to measure food chain length (and is it a 'chain'?) and whether other food web
characteristics ought to be considered. And in project 3.4 - are mussels and snails the base of the
food web?
In project 4, three sediment characteristics - pore water ammonia, tube density, and sediment
compaction - are proposed as rapidly assessed measures of benthos community structure and
function. While the approach is good, the selection of these particular measures is questionable.
What leads the team to think these are the best indicators? There might be other sediment
properties (e.g.,redox discontinuity, sulphide) that are useful. (Perhaps it would be prudent to
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organize a conference on the topic!). Second, when measuring the indicators in situ, it seems
likely that differences in communities might not be due solely to anthropogenic stressors, but
also to time varying local natural disturbances. Woodwell hypothesized as long ago as 1969 that
some community responses are invariant with respect to the source of disturbance. Finally, has
the team considered using temperature-adjusted sediment mixing rate or oxygen consumption or
pore water flux of chemical species as proxy measures for benthic community function?
In project 5, it may be obvious to botanists, but why not use plant yellowing as a measure of
Spartina stress? It simple and might show up in remote sensing. It is not clear how project 6 fits
the overall theme and connects with the other projects. Most all of these projects have a 2 year
duration. The team should also look at the idea of monitoring their sites for a longer time period.
In general, this theme, while purporting to be cohesive, is clearly not. A great deal of research is
being done under the EI theme. Research is weakly interconnected, possibly reflecting the
newness of the EI organization. Interdisciplinary interaction need to fostered. The EI theme is
not on the cutting edge of advancing knowledge for a purpose. For EI to work the development
of projects needs to be driven by seminal questions within the individual research areas. For
example, benthic community activities do not seem to be current with national and international
work on indicators or bioturbation. Also, more weight needs to be given to what each indicator
is going to be used for, who will eventually use the indicator and how it can guide other indicator
work. It may also be a prudent question to assess whether EPA should be getting so heavily
involved in the ecological methods refinement business when there are many academic
institutions that can do it better. Again, the ecological systems project could use more outside
support and guidance. Panelists question if existing AED staff can work on this problem alone.
If one looks at leadership as measured by publication rate, it is minimal. For the credibility of
the EI theme to rise, publication rates must rise. Few will take the programs seriously with out
peer recognition. Basically, EI theme needs to refocused. The development of a conceptual
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frame work on which to hinge each of the activities is needed. The ecosystem modeling would
be a good starting point.
With regard to personnel, there is a very high percentage of URI graduates. Cross fertilization
and different mentor imprinting that different schools can provide is lessened by the high
proportion of URI grads. This is not to say URI grads are not top notch, but that diversity of
background and training are important to maintain.
BIOAVAILABILITY
Description:
The stated goal of the Biological Availability of Contaminants in Sediments and Waters of
Aquatic Systems (Bioavailability) Research Theme is to develop (i) innovative measures of
biological and chemical impact, (ii) methods to identify chemical stressors in complex mixtures
using a biologically directed chemical fractionation approach, and (iii) tools for predicting
fundamental equilibrium partitioning processes.
Critique:
The description is well-written and well justified. The researchers seem to have a wide and
competent network of collaborators, reflecting perhaps the historical expertise of the lab. The
description does get a lot more vague when describing field verification of methods. They seem
to have a good handle on sediment chemistry, and the sediment colloid work and resuspension
episode study are particularly exciting as is the idea of participating in an inter-division working
group like SERG. It would be a useful activity for all the thematic groups.
The write up presented three project areas that cooperatively are to be used to achieve the
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bioavailability theme goals. These are: method development for effects measurement,
identification of stressors causing adverse effects, and predicting adverse effects of stressors.
The project areas will each contribute to the program goals; however, Project 2 - which focuses
on demonstrating causality by identifying stressors that cause effects through biologically
directed fractionation was not clearly described in the research work plan. Nonetheless, this
work, which centers around the toxicity identification and evaluation methods (TIE), was well
described in the presentation and overall, the bioavailability presentations were well done and
helpful in assessing this program.
Is the program asking the right questions? In general the answer to this question is yes.
Reviewers were particularly impressed with efforts to evaluate phototoxicity, quality of sediment
organic carbon in addressing the bioaccumulation of sediment-associated contaminants, and the
work on dioxin-like compounds. However, an area of concern is the breadth and depth to which
this group is pursuing some of the scientific questions being posed. The primary example of this
is the tendency to rely on the equilibrium partitioning approach to predicting the bioavailability
of sediment-associated contaminants. Rather than continue to conduct assessments and compare
the results to what EqP predicts, this group should be challenging the theory. Only in this way,
by proving a theory stands up to rigorous scientific testing and/or by revealing its limitations, can
the program adequately provide advice to the EPA. In addition, there are emerging scientific
issues relevant to the areas of research in the bioavailabilty theme that should be considered by
these scientists in proceeding with their research. Some specific suggestions are outlined below.
The chemical indicator activity should be thinking about ways to identify sources of
contaminants (e.g. PAHs) in addition to developing new methods for measuring pollutant levels.
There are various indications in the recent scientific literature that PAH source (i.e. soot
particles, creosote treated wood - see McGroddy and Farrington, Gustafsson et al.) is related to
sediment-pore water partitioning and bioavailability. Thus, efforts to identify contaminant
sources using compound, isomer or isotope ratios will be extremely useful in interpreting
bioavailability, particularly for field sediments. Additionally, an emerging idea to consider as a
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novel tool for measuring bioavailability of contaminants is the work of L. Mayer and D. Weston
on the use of benthic invertebrate digestive juices.
Some issues other than contaminant source to consider in examining the bioavailability of
organic chemicals are availability of the sediment organic carbon (i.e. surface sorbed/digestible -
see work of L. Mayer, J. Hedges, Keil) for contaminant partitioning and the metabolic capability
of the benthic invertebrates. These factors will affect bioavailability, as well as predicted
bioaccumulation via EqP. The group would also be able to gain much more information by
examining compound classes, which range in partition coefficients, rather than representative
compounds from various pollutant groups. Finally, wide ranges in organic carbon quality (e.g. as
evidenced by C/N ratio or lipid biomarkers) should be used in testing EqP.
The following more project-specific comments hopefully provide some insights on problems and
omissions that can be addressed to enhance an otherwise impressive group/program:
Project 1. Biological and chemical indicator development. The biological indicator
development work as proposed is first rate and reflects the state of the science. The text
describing 'community level assays' in the out years is vague (what are community level
endpoints?), but the Pis are well aware of the potential approaches and problems.
The chemical indicator development section is very cursory and unimaginative. Perhaps this
activity would be more appropriately couched in terms of an analytical service facility
(comparable to the operation of the seawater facility) rather than a research project. The
development of'novel tools' (CI 8, SPMD) to explore bioavailable fractions is potentially
interesting, but the text does not cite the large amount of recent literature on the subject and does
not mention the use of microfiber sampling, likely the most promising approach.
Project 2. Identification of stressors. Continuation of productive research area. Impressed with
the New Bedford Harbor TIE paper (recently published in Environmental Toxicology and
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Chemistry).
Project 3. Predicting adverse effects of stressors. Test equilibrium partitioning. Equilibrium
partitioning theory has been a great help to the initial development of sediment quality criteria.
The use of organic carbon and AVS normalization reduces intersite variability. However, it has
limits. There are many skeptics of EqP, and I am concerned that it is accepted at AED as the
best approach for sediment quality criteria. EPA is going forward with SQC using EqP, and
there may be a natural tendency within the agency not to question the approach during this time.
However, AED scientists should be the harshest critic of EqP, even as they continue to refine the
technique. They should be developing the next generation of approaches to assessing sediment
quality criteria, even higher risk efforts with potentially long maturation times.
In several places in the written document, relevant recent literature is not cited. Whether this is
an oversight or reflects a poor understanding of the literature is unclear. Specific examples
include:
a. The proposed work on bioavailability of ionic organic chemicals does not cite any of
the voluminous literature on the sorption of cationic and anionic chemicals to soils and
sediments. See recent work by John Westall and co-workers and by Walter Giger.
b. The proposed work on bioavailability of non-ionic organic chemicals, particularly the
binding of organic chemicals to different types of organic matter and to colloids seems to repeat
work that was done more than ten years ago (Chiou, Brownawell).
It would have been more appropriate that the 'non-equilibrium' systems section be weighted
more heavily, as this is probably the largest area of uncertainty in contaminated sediment
management in coastal areas. Are contaminants released during sediment dredging or storm-
induced resuspension events? What about during seasonally-varying redox changes? This is an
opportunity for AED to make a difference.
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There is also an overall and potentially a serious gap in the overall program as proposed. A
significant National concern is the transfer of bioaccumulative contaminants from in-place
sediments through benthic organisms into higher trophic levels in coastal waters. This is not
addressed in the AED themes, nor apparently anywhere else (for marine food webs) within ORD.
This is a serious oversight, as it will not allow a balanced development of sediment risk
management that includes both in situ toxicity and bioaccumulative risks. It is not clear that the
freshwater bioaccumulation work conducted at the Duluth laboratory could be extrapolated to
coastal food webs, which are dominated by migratory species involved in active osmoregulation.
Substantial new research has demonstrated the controlling influence of food web structure
(Rasmussen et al; Kidd et al.), animal behavior (e.g., migration) and trophic condition (e.g.,
extent of eutrophication) on the efficiency of food web transfers of bioaccumulative pollutants.
AED should be allocated the resources to conduct this important research.
The work proposed to used stable nitrogen isotopes to characterize food webs is presented here in
the context of using trophic depth and/or breadth as an indicator of ecosystem integrity. The
feasibility of this is questionable, but the same food web structure analysis, coupled with the
other contaminated sediment bioavailability work proposed here, would provide the basis for a
'sediment bioaccumulation' activity within the Bioavailability Theme.
(Minor comments on Project 3)
A. They note that 'several studies show metals bioaccumulation in sediments with SEM-
AVS>r which 'contradicts our predictions based on sulfide binding' (pg 22). However, there
isn't any discussion in the plan about specific research efforts to examine these sediments.
B. Proposed work on arsenic cycling (pg. 23) should refer to the recent work on As cycling in
the Abeijona watershed (Aurillo, Mason, and Hemond, Environ. Sci. Technol., 28, 577-585;
Spliethoff, Mason, and Hemond, ES&T, 29,2157-2161).
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C. Rates of FeS and MnS oxidation are fairly well known, and the literature should be consulted
before deciding whether to pursue this research (pg. 23-24).
Resources and Facilities:
Resources and facilities appear adequate with the comments noted above and in summary and
conclusions section.
Summary and Conclusions:
The written and oral presentations of the bioavailability theme appear to indicate that this
program area is a priority function to support Agency goals. It is unclear how the information
from this program are being translated to the Agency; however, this group does appear to be
publishing, presenting their results at scientific meetings, and interacting with other agencies via
regular conference calls. It is as an active, enthusiastic group that is poised to make significant
strides in advancing the state of the art in environmental science and risk assessment. There are
several people who are likely to develop as leaders in the field. To do this they should be
challenging current paradigms, as noted above. Individuals in this group should also continue
work on publishing in the peer reviewed literature, presenting information at a variety of
scientific meetings, and organizing symposia etc. at both the national and international level.
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NARRAGANSETT PEER REVIEW PANEL
October 20-21,1997
Dr. Donald F. Boesch, Chairman
President, Environmental & Estuarine Studies
University of Maryland
P.O. Box 775
Cambridge, MD 21613
Dr. Joel Baker
Associate Professor
Chesapeake Biological Laboratory
One William Street
Solomons, MD 20688
Dr. Denise Breitburg
Estuarine Research Laboratory
Academy of Natural Sciences
10545 Mackall Road
St. Leonard, MD 20685
Dr. Robert J. Diaz
School of Marine Science
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
The College of Marine Science
P.O. Box 1346
Gloucester Point, VA 23062
Dr. Rebecca Dickhut
School of Marine Science
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
The College of William and Mary
Gloucester Point, VA 23062
Dr. Peter McCall
Dept. Of Geological Sciences
Case Western Reserve University
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