United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Off ice of Water
(4305)
EPA-823-N-00-002
Number 24
Spring 2000
&EPA Contaminated
Sediments News
3 Headquarters
Activities...
5 Regional
Activities...
EPA Region 5
EPA Region 10
"7 EPA Laboratories
0 U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers
1 1 U.S. Geological
Survey
1 2 Contaminated
Sediment Web
Pages
1 4 Announcements
Creature Feature
Activities Timeline
Recent Publications
CS News is produced by the
EPA Office of Science and
Technology (OSTI to
exchange information on
contaminated sediments and
to increase communication
among interested parties. To
obtain copies of this report
or to contribute information,
contact Charles Kovatch,
EPA OST mail code 4305,
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20460 at
(2021 260-3754.
To be added to the mailing
list or to make changes to
your address, please fax your
request to Charles Kovatch
at (2021 260-9830 or e-mail
kovatch.charles@epa.gov.
EPA Headquarters
EPA Releases Two New Documents
Persistent bioaccumulative chemicals are
distributed in sediments throughout the
United States, with sediments serving as
both a sink and a reservoir for these
chemicals. The U.S. Environmental Protec-
tion Agency (EPA) and other regulatory
agencies are frequently required to interpret
the environmental significance of laboratory
and field studies. EPA has prepared the
Bioaccumulation Testing and Interpreta-
tion for the Purpose of Sediment Quality
Assessment documents to provide a summary
of the current status of bioaccumulation
testing and data interpretation. The docu-
ments are the result of a collaborative effort
among the members of the EPA Bioaccumu-
lation Analysis Workgroup (BAW) to (1)
summarize and describe existing knowledge
on the use of bioaccumulation data as part
of sediment quality assessments (2) re-
spond to increased interest in the fate and
effects of persistent, bioaccumulative, and
toxic (PBT) pollutants, as evidenced by
the development of EPA's multimedia PBT
Strategy, and (3) identify
how various EPA programs
interpret bioaccumulation
data for sediment manage-
ment decisions.
These documents are separated
into five sections which:
• Discuss factors that affect the
bioavailability of sediment-associated
contaminants.
• Discuss methods for assessing
bioaccumulative chemicals.
• Provide a compilation of exposure and
effects data for persistent,
bioaccumulative chemicals.
• Identify issues and research needs for
interpreting bioaccumulation data for the
purpose of assessing sediment quality.
• Include Agency information on
bioaccumulation data collection and
interpretation.
Bioaccumulative chemicals of potential
concern listed in this document were se-
lected based on input from the BAW and a
review of various documents. These
chemicals are known to be found in sediment
and in animal tissues at levels associated
with toxic effects. The document contains
information in tabular format for 11 metals,
1 chlorinated phenol, 10 polycyclic aro-
matic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 13 pesticides,
selected dioxins and furans, selected
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No. 24
Spring 2000
Aroclors and congeners of the PCB group,
and total PCBs. Criteria for selecting an
initial set of chemicals to be researched
and summarized in this document included
the following: (1) information was readily
available; (2) the chemical was of immedi-
ate concern and known to bioaccumulate;
(3) the chemical was representative of a
group or class of compounds; and (4) the
chemical was considered to be important
in one or more EPA programs.
The chemical tables (in the document
Appendix) summarize information on
chemical characteristics, including water
solubilities, half-lives, and partition coeffi-
cients (log Kow and log Koc); human health
concerns; wildlife and aquatic organism
Agency Information on
Bioaccumulation Data Collection
and Interpretation
The bioaccumulation documents identify
a variety of EPA programs that interpret
bioaccumulation data to help assess sedi-
ment quality. These programs represent a
broad spectrum of approaches which
address specific statutory mandates and
the goals of EPA's Contaminated Sedi-
ment Management Strategy. Several
agencies contribute and overlap in their
efforts to address the components of the
Contaminated Sediment Management
Strategy; Research, Assessment,
Remediation, Dredged Material Manage-
ment, Prevention, and Outreach. Infor-
mation included in the bioaccumulation
Key Issues and Research Needs Identified by
the Bioaccumulation Analysis Workgroup
Better interpretation of bioaccumulation data will require a greater understanding
of the relationship between environmental media concentrations, tissue concentra-
tions, and effects on specific organisms or consumers of those organisms.
Several issues and research needs have been identified by the BAW. These issues
and needs have been grouped according to topic and include the following:
• Methods—Laboratory and field methods for assessing bioaccumulation
• Chemical Identification—Identification ofbioaccumulative chemicals
• Species Considerations—Species selection for bioaccumulation testing
• Toxicology—Dose-response relationships for bio accumulative contaminants
partitioning factors; and food chain multi-
pliers. A brief profile of the chemical's
toxicity, mode of action, and potential for
bioaccumulation is also included. Daily in-
take levels of concern for the protection
of human health were compiled, including
estimated values for carcinogenic end-
points (slope factors) and non-carcino-
genic endpoints (reference doses) for the
oral ingestion exposure pathway, and
EPA's carcinogenic classifications are
provided. Factors affecting partitioning of
the chemical in relation to wildlife and
aquatic organisms, food chain multipliers
(biomagnification factors), toxic effects
and mode of action, and other informa-
tion were compiled from various sources.
documents will be useful in evaluating
existing approaches to collect data and to
prioritize research needs related to sedi-
ment contamination.
For More Information
Copies of the documents (EPA-823-R-
00-001 and EPA-823-R-00-002) are avail-
able at EPA National Service Center for
Environmental Publications U.S. EPA/
NSCEP, P.O. Box 42419, Cincinnati, OH
45242-2419. Phone: 1-800-490-9198,
Fax: 513-489-8695,
www.epa.gov/ncepihom or at the Office
of Science and Technology by contacting
Richard Healy at (202) 260-7812 or visit-
ing www.epa.gov/ost.
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No. 24
Spring 2000
CSN
Outreach on Contaminated
Sediments
The Standards and Applied Sciences Divi-
sion (SASD) of USEPA is pleased to an-
nounce the release of a brochure entitled
Introduction to Contaminated Sediments
(EPA-823-F-99-006) as well as a poster
entitled A Healthy Ecosystem Can Be
Damaged by Toxic Contaminants (EPA-
823-H-99-001). These materials were
prepared in response to EPA's Contami-
nated Sediment Management Strategy to
inform a variety of audiences about issues
and solutions related to sediment contami-
nation. Information provided includes an
overview of: contaminated sediments;
major contaminants; source and location
of contamination; species affected; and
federal laws and management options to
address sediment contamination.
EPA submitted to Congress its first sur-
vey report on sediment contamination in
1998. The survey found contaminated
sediment in all regions and every state of
the country. The affected water bodies
include streams, lakes, harbors, near-
shore areas, and oceans. Some of the
most contaminated sediment is found in
the Great Lakes and in the harbors of
Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit,
and Puget Sound. All of these water bodies
have been affected throughout the years
by heavy shipping traffic, contamination
from upstream sources, and local munici-
pal and industrial discharges.
No single government agency is completely
responsible for addressing the problem of
contaminated sediments. A variety of laws
give federal, state, and tribal agencies au-
thority to address sediment quality issues.
Private industry and the public also have
roles to play in contaminated sediment pre-
vention. Increasing public awareness of the
problem is crucial to developing an effective
solution. By providing background informa-
tion on contaminated sediments, the bro-
chure and poster will provide greater public
understanding of the problem.
For copies of the brochure and poster, con-
tact the EPA National Service Center for
Environmental Publications at (800) 490-
9198 or www.epa.gov/ncepihom.
EPA Offices Meet to Discuss
Sediment Issues
The Office of Research and Development
(ORD), the Office of Solid Waste and
Emergency Response (OSWER), and the
Office of Water (OW) held a meeting in
October 1999 to discuss sediment issues
and learn about the sediment activities of
the other EPA offices. OSWER and OW
provided overviews of their current sedi-
ment projects, ORD presented existing and
projected contaminated sediment research,
and all three offices defined steps to improve
inter-office communication and collabora-
tion in sediment work. Some of the existing
and anticipated projects discussed during
the meeting—and the questions they are
addressing—are listed below by office.
OW/Office of Science and
Technology (OST)
Develop Equilibrium Partitioning Sedi-
ment Guidelines (ESG) Implementation
Guidance. Implementation framework
will provide information on the use of
ESGs and sediment bioassays in State/
Tribal Water Quality Standards programs.
Develop Sediment Methods Manual Manual
will provide field and laboratory procedures for
collecting, storing and manipulating sediments.
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\No. 24
\Spring 2000
Compile new data for National Sedi-
ment Inventory 2000 report to Congress.
This report will assess aquatic sediment
quality throughout the United States and
submit findings to Congress.
Assess with ORD chronic sublethal sedi-
ment toxicity test methods for freshwater
and marine organisms.
OSWER/Office of Emergency and
Remedial Response (OERR)
Ex-situ sediment removal This project
addresses short-term vs. long-term effec-
tiveness, what are the impacts and trade-
offs of resuspension, over-dredging, in-
creased biota exposure, transportation risks.
In-situ sediment treatment and natural
recovery. This project addresses short-
term vs. long-term effectiveness, im-
pacts and trade-offs of attenuation,
isolation of biota vs. understanding
release mechanisms, and flooding.
Performance monitoring for
subaqueous caps and natural at-
tenuation remedies. This work ad-
dresses the following questions: How will
project managers determine whether
natural attenuation or biodegradation is
occurring or will occur? What are
screening or characterization guidelines
and siting criteria for contaminated sedi-
ment site remedies?
Potential benthic macroinvertebrate cap
attraction. This project addresses sedi-
ment contaminant flux/benthic bioaccum-
ulation/bioconcentration studies to deter-
mine depth and extent of benthic activity
on caps. What depth would be protective?
PCB volatilization to the atmosphere as
a result of sediment removal projects.
This project examines the role and rate of
contaminant volatilization and escape
from sediments stored in Confined Dis-
posal Facilities (CDF). Can CDFs be
treated in-situ to dechlorinate the sedi-
ments so they can be recycled?
Can dredged or capped sites be engi-
neered to enhance wildlife benefits? This
work addresses the use of sediments for
beneficial reuse; building aggregate,
manufactured soils, fill and cover for old
mine sites, etc.
ORD/National Health and Environ-
mental Effects Research Lab
(NHEERL)
Develop new methodology. This project
focuses on a methodology to predict ef-
fects of bioaccumulative sediment con-
taminants and establish link between tis-
sue residues and toxic contaminants.
Extrapolating across systems. The focus
of this project is on understanding the
means to extrapolate across systems and
select site-appropriate values for food chain
transfer and water-sediments disequilibria.
Develop fractionation approach for non-
ionic organic chemicals. This project
focuses on developing an approach and
completing a guidance document for
porewater TIE and characterization in
solid-phase.
ORD/National Risk Management
Research Lab (NRMRL)
Sediment Decision Analysis - This
project addresses selecting cost estimate
methods, and metrics to measure benefits.
Other projects address:
Sediment Removal - dredging effective-
ness, SVOC volatilization during removal.
Ex-situ treatment - management in
CDFs, treatment for controlled disposal
and beneficial use.
In-situ treatment - capping effective-
ness, contaminant destruction and immo-
bilization methods.
Ecosystems - ecoeffects of residual con-
tamination, ecotolerance and adaptation.
Source Control - identification of sources
and pathways, overland and erosion flows.
Pollution Prevention - clean technology
for industrial sources, alternative urban design.
ORD/National Exposure Research
Lab (NERL)
Simulate and predict the chemical reactivity
of environmental surfaces for organic and
inorganic contaminants. This project
focuses on predicting and modeling sorp-
tion (Kd) values based on the physical/
chemical properties of the contaminant, the
environmental matrices (humic, mineral,
microbial), and water properties.
Multimedia Integrated Modeling System
(MIMS) (air, water, soil, sediments). MIMS
is an ecological modeling system designed
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to help evaluate collective impacts of mul-
tiple sites. The work incorporates research
on TMDLs (including focus on sediment
transport) and SPARC (SPARC Performs
Automated Reasoning in Chemistry) to
generate parameter input estimates from
chemical structure information on chemical
reactivities (e.g., redox potential), constants
for discrete speciation/sorption/degradation
processes and rate/equilibrium constants.
Develop indicators for stressors in envi-
ronmental media and mixtures. This
work focuses on developing indicators
that can be used to determine toxicity of
sediment or water.
Develop stressor signatures of habitat deg-
radation among metrics from fish, benthic
macroinvertebrates, andperiphyton assem-
blages. This work addresses development
and evaluation of biological indicators and
preparation of OW/ORD Stressor Identifica-
tion Evaluation Guidelines that help to identify
stressors and sources, including sediments.
Development of indicators as measures
of ecosystem sustainability. Indicator
methods can be used to measure PAH ex-
posure, to determine exposure exceeding
natural background, and to evaluate changes
in exposure to petroleum and combustion
by-product (PAH) waste in dredged streams.
Sediment toxicity evaluation of the
effectiveness of remediation technologies
to reduce contamination of sediments.
This work focuses on development of
new methods for determining acute,
chronic, or bioaccumulation endpoints. These
methods will be used to assess how much
each treatment reduces lethal, sublethal, or
bioaccumulative levels in sediments.
For more information, contact Paul Zielinski
at (202) 564-6772 or e-mail zielinski.paul@
epa.gov for waste or Bruce Peirano at
(513) 569-7540 or e-mail peirano.bruce@
epa.gov for water related contaminants.
No. 24
Spring 2000
CSN
EPA Region 5
Using FIELDS to Support,
Enhance, & Communicate
Environmental Decisions
EPA Region 5 's Fully-Integrated Environmen-
tal Location Decision Support (FIELDS)
system is a collection of innovative technol-
ogy tools and applications designed to en-
hance and expedite environmental decision-
making at the site and area of concern (AOC)
level. FIELDS was created through a part-
nership between the Superfund and Water
Divisions to effectively support Agency
decisions and actions in Region 5 to achieve
meaningful and measurable environmental
benefits (i.e., sources identified and addressed,
mass of contaminant removed, risk reduction).
The focus of FIELDS is to provide in-
depth evaluations of current and historical
site conditions at some of the Region's
most contaminated sites and priority geo-
graphic areas to give fast, reliable and af-
fordable decision support to the Agency
and public.
The system combines a number of
technologies such as relational
databases, geographic infor-
mation systems (GIS),
global positioning sys-
tems (GPS), statistical
applications, and in-field
analytical techniques
that, when combined,
detail a variety of condi-
tions at a micro-level.
The FIELDS system was
originally developed in the
Southeast Michigan Initiative
(SEMI) geographic area to assist EPA,
State, and local decision makers with
identifying, prioritizing, and remediating
contaminated sediment within SEMI's five
areas of concern waterways. The system
continues to support sediment decisions in
the SEMI area, while expanding heavily into
support for high priority CERCLA/AOC
areas such as the Manistique, Fox,
Ashtabula, Saginaw, Sheboygan,
Kalamazoo, and Pine Rivers; Neal's Land-
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CSN
No. 24
Spring 2000
fill; Valentine-Clark; and Tri-State Tank
sites. FIELDS has been used by CERCLA
and Water Division project managers to de-
termine the spatial distribution of contami-
nants, volume, mass, human health risk,
cleanup goals, and remedial evaluations.
The system is run by the FIELDS Group,
made up by staff from both the Superfund
and Water Divisions. The Group has de-
veloped expertise in a variety of technical
and multimedia program areas including
sediment assessment/remediation, risk as-
sessment, relational databases, GIS, GPS,
statistics, aerial mapping, real time field
sampling, computer networking, and
Internet communications technologies.
In fiscal year 2000, the Group plans to
continue assisting in the cleanup of
Superfund sites, especially ones posing
risk from fish, sediment, surface or
groundwater contamination. The follow-
ing support activities have been planned:
• Identifying hot spots and pollutant
sources.
• Assessing risks and contaminant mass
loadings.
• Prioritizing and targeting sites.
• Evaluating remedial alternatives and costs.
• Effectively visualizing and communi-
cating options to decision makers.
For more information on FIELDS, visit the
FIELDS website at http://www.epa.gov/
rSwater/fields/ or contact Tim Drexler,
Water Division, FIELDS Team Manager at
drexler.timothy@epa.gov or Brian Cooper,
Superfund Division, FIELDS Technical
Manager at cooper.brian@epa.gov.
EPA Region 10
Final Programmatic EIS
Released by EPA
The Final Puget Sound Confined Dis-
posal Site Study Programmatic EIS was
issued in October with the comment
period closing on November 22, 1999.
This interagency study was led by the
Washington Department of Ecology,
Washington Department of Natural Re-
sources, and the U.S. Army Corps of En-
gineers, with the cooperation of EPA
Region 10, the WA Public Ports Associa-
tion, and the Puget Sound Water Quality
Action Team. The study area encompasses
the entire upland Puget Sound basin from
the Canadian border to 35 miles south of
Olympia (about 300 miles), and east to
the Cascade range foothills. It also en-
compasses all of Puget Sound and the
waters north to the Canadian border. It is
estimated that between 6 to 13 million
cubic yards of contaminated dredged
material from Puget Sound will require
confined disposal or treatment within the
next 15 years to eliminate or minimize the
risk of short- and long-term contaminant
release to the environment. The volume
and variety of contaminants indicate, that
in all likelihood, more than one location
and type of facility will be required.
The EIS addresses the recognized need
for environmentally sound solutions to the
disposal of contaminated sediment in
Puget Sound, and evaluates the environ-
mental impacts of developing multiuser
confined disposal or treatment facilities.
The EIS lays out environmentally sound,
technically feasible and affordable ways
to confine or treat contaminated sedi-
ments; however, no alternative is preferred
at this time. The objective of this study is
to provide a broad initial environmental
review and cost analysis of major alterna-
tives and establish the basis for site-
specific efforts.
With the release of the Final Programmatic
EIS, the first of several meetings of agency
leaders of the Combined Sediment Manage-
ment Program was held. They are reviewing
the next steps of the process, looking at
management options, treatment technologies,
siting criteria, the screening process, and
public participation. At the October meet-
ing, the study committee presented scopes
of work, costs, and tentative calendars to
the agency leaders for further discussion.
For more information, contact John Malek,
EPA Region 10, at (206) 553-1286.
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EWV Lab
Gulf Ecology Division
No. 24
Spring 2000
CSN
Using Grass Shrimp as an
Indicator of Pore Water Toxicity
To provide insight on the suite of test
species that can be used to determine if a
near-coastal sediment is toxic, scientists
at ORD's Gulf Ecology Division recently
completed a baseline study evaluating the
usefulness of the grass shrimp,
Palaemonetes pugio, as an indicator of
pore water toxicity.
Grass shrimp are
widely distributed
abundant
benthic or-
ganisms in
shallow es-
tuaries along
the Gulf of
Mexico and
Atlantic coasts,
but they have been
used infrequently in contaminated sediment
assessments. In this survey, early life
stages of Palaemonetes pugio were ex-
posed to pore waters obtained from sedi-
ments collected from 37 Florida coastal
areas affected by coastal golf courses,
urbanization, agriculture, and wastewater
discharges.
Scientists conducted a 12-day static bio-
assay procedure for Palaemonetes pugio
(see Table). One to three females pos-
sessing embryos at the tissue cap stage
(2-3 days after oviposition) were selected
from a laboratory culture to provide the
test organisms. Twenty-four embryos
were exposed to each pore water indi-
vidually in wells of disposable plastic cul-
ture plates. Each well contained 2 ml of
undiluted (100%) pore water. Filtered
natural seawater (10 ppt and 20 ppt salin-
ity) served as controls. The grass shrimp
were examined on test days 10, 11, and
12 for mortality and morbidity.
In a few cases, additional sediment bio-
assays were conducted using duplicate
samples of the sediments from which the
pore waters were extracted and used in
the shrimp bioassays. Acute bioassays
were conducted with the epibenthic in-
vertebrate, Mysidopsis bahia, and whole
sediments (solid phase) to provide some
information on the effect of the test media
on the sediment toxicity evaluations. The
7-day bioassays were static; a total of 50
organisms were exposed to three replicate
sediment samples collected from each site.
Results
Most pore waters, regardless of the col-
lection site, were not
acutely toxic to
grass shrimp
embryos. Of
the 53 bioas-
says con-
ducted
with this
species,
mortality
above con-
trol levels was observed in 15 tests (28%
of the total). The average survival in these
tests was 27 (1 standard deviation =
±27)% relative to 94(±7)% in the corre-
sponding seawater controls. The embry-
onic life stage demonstrated the greatest
sensitivity to pore waters. The response of
different brood stocks were statistically
similar (P=0.05) when exposed to the
same pore waters.
The whole sediments were not acutely
toxic to juvenile Mysidopsis bahia. Survival
ranged between 97 percent and 100 per-
cent. Consequently, the pore water bioas-
says with grass shrimp embryos were a
more sensitive indicator of sediment quality.
Conclusion
Based on all considerations, it was con-
cluded that the grass shrimp early-life stage
test shows promise as being useful to de-
tect pore water toxicity. This is based on
the availability of a test methodology that
requires minimal space and effort, and the
test species geographical distribution and
year-round availability. However, the impor-
tant issue of its sensitivity remains to be de-
termined relative to that for other pore water
test species as well as for those used in
solid-phase bioassays. For this reason, the
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No. 24
Spring 2000
use of grass shrimp is encouraged for con-
taminated sediment evaluations conducted
within its geographic range in order to es-
tablish a sufficient background data base on
which to more definitively judge its value in
contaminated sediment toxicity assessments.
For more information concerning this
study, contact Michael Lewis, EPA Gulf
Ecology Division, at (850) 934-9382. A
complete description of the results will
appear in the Journal ofEcotoxicology.
Experimental conditions for the 12-day grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio)
early life stage toxicity test
Media:
Test duration:
Temperature:
Light quality and intensity:
Photo period:
Test container size:
Test chamber:
Salinity:
Test solution volume:
Renewal of test media:
Age of test species:
Number of organisms per test well:
Number of replicates per concentration:
Number of organisms per concentration:
Feeding regime:
Aeration:
Sediment pore water
12-day
27±1°C
Total darkness
None
14 well culture plates - 2 ml volume per well
Temperature controlled incubators
100 ppt to 32 ppt
2ml
None
Tissue cap stage (3 days after oviposition)
1
24
24
None
None
National Exposure
Research Lab
Update on National Exposure
Research Lab (NERL)
Information Programs
Superfund Tech Support
EPA ORD's National Exposure Research
Lab provides scientific understanding, in-
formation, and assessment tools to re-
duce and quantify the uncertainty in the
Agency's exposure and risk assessments
for all environmental stressors. Following
is an update on NERL's programs provid-
ing Superfund tech support.
Hazardous Waste Identification Rule
(HWIR) - This multimedia, multi-receptor,
multi-stressor, open architectural model-
ing system is designed for establishing
safe exit levels for some waste streams
that may now require disposal in Subtitle
C facilities. The methodology is site-scale
in nature but designed for National appli-
cation, and includes a variety of exposure
pathways for both human and ecological
exposures in air; surface water and ground-
water media; and terrestrial, aquatic, and
farm-food chain relationships. (Contact:
NERL/ERD, Dave Brown at (706) 355-8328).
CEAM (Center for Exposure Assessment
Modeling) - CEAM's goals are to de-
velop, maintain, and apply state-of-the
science technical tools including multime-
dia exposure and ecosystem response
simulation models, environmental data-
bases, data analysis packages, tool appli-
cation strategies, and advanced educa-
tional materials in the environmental
sciences. (Contact: NERL/ERD, Frank
Stancil at (706) 355-8300 or Dave Brown
at (706) 355-8328).
Monitoring and Site Characterization
Tech Support Center - This Center pro-
vides scientific and technical assistance in
the characterization of hazardous waste
sites and associated site contaminants.
State-of-the-science methods and technolo-
gies are identified and applied to identify
contaminants, determine their levels and
concentrations, and identify their geo-
-------
graphic extent and distribution for site char-
acterization and remediation. (Contact:
NERL/ESD, Ken Brown at (702) 798-2270
or Brian Schumacher at (702) 798-2242).
Environmental Photographic Interpreta-
tion Center (EPIC) - This Center pro-
vides site-specific information on the
condition and activities occurring at haz-
ardous waste disposal sites at a point in
time or over a historical period; documents
these conditions and changes; provides
guides in the form of reports, maps, and
photographs for assisting in the safe
cleanup of hazardous waste materials;
and assists in emergency response and
enforcement efforts when requested by
client offices. (Contact: NERL/ESD, Don
Garofalo at (703) 648-4285).
Site Characterization Library - This CD-
ROM library, completed in 1998, includes
in one, easily-portable place about 65
documents (20,000 pages) and 20 com-
puter programs related to the character-
ization of hazardous waste sites. Topics
include project planning, quality assur-
ance, RCRA and Superfund
site assessment, field opera-
tions and SOPs, geophysics,
soil sampling, ground-water
monitoring, risk assessment,
and more. The format allows
easy access and navigation
across documents.
(Contact: NERL/ESD, Jeff
van Ee at (702) 798-2367 or
Brian Schumacher at (702)
798-2242).
No. 24
Spring 2000
CSN
US, Army Corps of E
LJ
Corps to Develop Guidance on
Ecological and Human Health
Risks Associated with Upland
Disposal of Dredged Material
The risk associated with disposal of con-
taminated sediment in upland environ-
ments, e.g., within confined disposal fa-
cilities (CDFs), is a function of the
likelihood that an organism would be ex-
posed to contaminants within the sedi-
ment and the likelihood that those con-
taminants would cause adverse effects in
the exposed organisms. The Corps of En-
gineers and USEPA have identified a
number of contaminant migration path-
ways by which ecological receptors or
humans could potentially be exposed to
contaminants from upland sites, including:
• effluent discharged during
disposal operation
• surface water runoff from the site
• leaching of contaminants into
groundwater
• volatilization of contaminants
into the air
• direct contact with in-place
sediment
• consumption of food organisms
exposed to contaminated
sediments
The Corps and EPA also developed a
number of assessment tools for evaluating
the potential for contaminant releases from
upland disposal sites. As more restrictions
are placed upon the use of open water
disposal and management of dredged mate-
rial, greater emphasis and use will be made
of upland disposal sites. These sites must
also be managed in a way that minimizes
risks to human health and the environment.
This research and development effort or-
ganizes the use of available tools within a
tiered framework to evaluate and manage
potential ecological and human health risks
posed by upland disposal sites. The guid-
ance will be composed of four tiers, similar
to the Inland and Ocean testing manuals.
Within tiers 1 and 2, screening-levels ap-
proaches will be applied to each of the con-
taminant migration pathways relevant to
CDFs. The level-of-evaluation effort will
increase in higher tiers where more defini-
tive testing and modeling methods must be
applied to resolve the extent and magni-
tude of potential risks. For each of the
pathways of concern, an evaluation will
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CSN
No. 24
Spring 2000
10
proceed to a higher tier only when suffi-
cient information is needed to confidently
identify the need for risk management.
A risk guidance document produced as a
result of this research will be the funda-
mental tool used by the Corps and EPA to
identify contaminants and pathways of
concern, to assess the risks posed by
these contaminants, and to identify the
need for specific management actions to
reduce exposure levels.
For More Information
Contact Todd S. Bridges, Ph.D., U.S. Army
Engineer Research and Development Center,
Environmental Laboratory, at (601) 634-
3626 or e-mail bridget@wes.army.mil. This
article may be found at www.wes.army.mil/
el/resbrief/ecohum.html.
Comprehensive Open Water
Site Management System
Efficient dredging project management is
critical for the U.S. Army Corps of Engi-
neers, which maintains navigation on
25,000 miles of waterways that serve
400 major ports in the United States.
Engineers and scientists at the ERDC per-
form research and develop technologies
to support the Corps' Districts in effec-
tively managing dredging projects. As
technologies become available to the field,
technology transfer in a meaningful, use-
ful, and effective manner impacts adop-
tion of new and innovative management
tools in the field.
Currently, ERDC staff is developing inte-
grated software for dredging project
management based on a Geographic
Information System (GIS) customized
for dredged material management. The
name of the software system is the
Dredged Material Spatial Management
Record Tool (DMSMART).
Dredging project management encom-
passes a wide variety of areas. High
priority capabilities for DMSMART as
indicated from District input include:
• estimating fate and transport in the
far field;
• track contract status
• track environmental compliance status
• view and analyze bathymetric
surveys of dredged channels and
disposal sites
• store, access, and display
environmental monitoring data
• view and analyze dredging
history for dredge cuts
For More Information
Contact James E. Clausner, U.S. Army
Engineer Research and Development Cen-
ter, Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory, at
(601) 634-2009. This article may be
found at www.wes.army.mil/el/resbrief/
openwat.html.
Corps Performs Rapid Screens
for Chlorinated Hydrocarbons
(Dioxins) in Contaminated
Sediments
Dioxins (polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins
and dibenzofurans) are persistent and
widespread contaminants in the sediments
of many industrialized
waterways. When
\^c^^O^/\ ^Cl dioxins are
[( )i 1C J\ suspected of
^ \^^Q^\/^\QI being present
in channel sedi-
ments during per-
mit evaluation prior to dredging, chemical
analyses are usually required. The cost of
high resolution GC/MS analysis of a single
sediment sample can be as much as $2,000.
When a large number of samples have to
be analyzed, the costs can be a burden to
the applicant. Low-cost screening assays
allow early identification of sediments that
are demonstrably contaminated, thus elimi-
nating them from further costly chemical
analysis. Screening assays for dioxins
have other applications as well, such as
monitoring the progress and effectiveness
of remediation efforts.
The Corps is evaluating the use of cultured
vertebrate cell bioassays coupled with rapid
extraction and sample clean-up techniques
to apply as screening tests for dioxins. Bio-
assays using cultured cells of mammals and
fish can be used to detect and quantitate the
dioxin-like activity in extracts of environ-
mental samples by taking advantage of this
mechanism. By coupling cell-based bioas-
say methods with accelerated solvent ex-
traction (ASE), which uses high pressure
and temperature to extract chemicals from
-------
sediments and soils, a rapid, low-cost screen-
ing assay for dioxins can be produced (view
slides; 1.12KB). Research will be conducted
on several cell lines, comparing them with
each other and with chemical analyses of
sediments. An optimized method for a cell-
based assay will be field-demonstrated.
For More Information
Contact Victor McFarland, Ph.D., U.S. Army
Engineer Research and Development Center,
Environmental Laboratory, at (601) 634-3721
or e-mail mcfarlv@wes.army.mil. This article
may be found at www.wes.army.mil/el/
resbrief/rapidsc.html.
No. 24
Spring 2000
CSN
11
urvey
USGS Puts Terrestrial
Vertebrates Database on
World Wide Web
USGS's Biomonitoring of Environmental
Status and Trends (BEST) program is de-
signed to assess and monitor the effects
of environmental contaminants on biologi-
cal resources, particularly those under the
stewardship of the Department of the
Interior. As part of this program, the
threat of contaminants and other anthro-
pogenic activities to terrestrial vertebrates
residing in or near Atlantic, Pacific, and
Gulf coasts estuarine ecosystems is being
evaluated by data synthesis and field
activities. USGS created a "Contaminant
Exposure and Effects—Terrestrial Verte-
brates" (CEE-TV) database of informa-
tion obtained by computerized search of
published literature, review of existing
databases, and solicitation of unpublished
reports from conservation agencies, pri-
vate groups, and universities. Summary
information in the database includes
species, collection date (1965-present),
site coordinates, estuary name, hydro-
logic unit code, sample matrix, contami-
nant concentrations, biomarker and
bioindicator responses, and reference
source. Currently, the CEE-TV database
contains approximately 4,300 records with
ecotoxicological exposure and effects in-
formation on over 150,000 individuals
representing 200 species of amphibians,
reptiles, birds, and mammals residing in
estuaries. The database has a number of
potential applications, including focusing
biomonitoring efforts to generate critically
needed ecotoxicological data in the
numerous "gaps" along the coast, reducing
uncertainty about contaminant risk, iden-
tifying areas for mitigation, restoration or
special management, and ranking the eco-
logical conditions of estuaries. The data-
base can easily be queried using taxonomic,
chronologic, geographic, and contaminant
search categories. To visit the database,
go to http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/ceetv/.
For More Information
Contact Barnett A. Rattner, USGS
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, at
Barnett_Rattner@usgs.gov.
Sediment-contaminant
Database for the Upper
Mississippi River System
Now Available Online
Sediments in the Upper Mississippi River
System contain a vast array of organic
and inorganic contaminants from agricul-
tural, industrial, municipal, and residential
sources. A new sediment-contaminant
database is available to facilitate both the
assessment of riverine contamination
and the responses of resource
managers to contami-
nant issues in the
river system. The
database was
compiled by the
U.S. Geologi-
cal Survey
Upper Mid-
west Environ-
mental Sci-
ences Center
and the Uni-
versity of Wis-
consin-La
Crosse River
Studies Center,
with funding from
EPA Region 5 and
USGS.
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CSN
No. 24
Spring 2000
12
The current version (version 1) of the data-
base contains information from a total of
2627 analyzed sediment samples collected
from 1974 through 1995, including 1880
samples from the Upper Mississippi River,
271 from the Illinois River, and 476 from
tributary streams. Groups of contaminants
represented in the database include metals,
metalloids, nutrients, polynuclear aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs), insecticides, herbi-
cides, fungicides, industrial compounds,
sterols, petroleum-related compounds, and
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Consid-
erable care was taken to enhance the reli-
ability of the database, and a quality-assur-
ance index indicates the relative completeness
of quality-assurance documentation for
each of the 30 discreet data sets entered
into the database. The types of sediment
samples represented in the database include
bed sediment (80.4% of the samples), sedi-
ment trap (2.1%), and pore water (17.5%).
To facilitate the interpretation of the con-
taminant data, the database provides infor-
mation on sampling locations, methods of
sediment collection, physical characteristics
of the analyzed sediments, and other ancillary
variables for each sediment sample repre-
sented. The database resides on an Internet
server at the Upper Midwest Environmental
Sciences Center and is available to the
general public and to all federal, state,
and private entities. The database can be
downloaded from the Upper Midwest Envi-
ronmental Sciences Center website in its
entirety or by individual data set in any of
three readily accessible formats: ASCII
text, Excel® 97 spreadsheet, and Lotus®
123 (version 5) spreadsheet. The website
address is http://www.umesc.usgs.gov/
data_ library/ sediment_contaminants/
sediment_ contaminant_page.html.
Work on the database will continue for
one more year, culminating in the produc-
tion and release of database version 2.
Planned areas of expansion or improve-
ment include (1) the entry of additional
data for tributary streams, (2) the entry
of Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM)
coordinates for sediment samples that
lack spatial data in version 1, and (3) the
development of a spatial data query and
visualization tool to facilitate viewing and
querying of the data.
For More Information
Contact the Upper Midwest Environmen-
tal Sciences Center at (608) 783-6451 or
www.emtc.usgs.gov/.
Contaminated
Interested in checking out some contami-
nated-sediment websites? Here are a few
you can browse:
• Dredging News Online. Dredging
News Online (DNO) is a unique publi-
cation for all those involved in the
international dredging industry, ports
and harbors, and marine contracting.
Published bi-weekly, DNO addresses
every aspect of dredging and related
subjects and brings you the latest
news from around the world.
www.sandandgravel.com
• The Great Lakes Dredging Team
Website: Leading the Way in Provid-
ing Regional Dredging Information.
The Great Lakes Dredging Team's
website is emerging as the online re-
source for dredging-related information
in the Great Lakes region. Launched in
1998, the Great Lakes Dredging Team
(GLDT) website includes region-specific
information developed by the team, as
well as links to regional and national
information sources that are relevant
to Great Lakes dredging.
The website includes standard pages
such as a site index, an "about GLDT"
page where users can learn more about
the history, structure and operations
of the Great Lakes Dredging Team, and
links to other relevant web pages. Impor-
tantly, the GLDT website is structured
to inform about issues pertaining to
Great Lakes Dredging: a contaminated
sediments page acknowledges this
widespread environmental and dredging-
related issue throughout the basin; a
research and development and tech-
nologies page supports the region's
efforts to find new dredged material
management methodologies and treat-
-------
ment technologies; and a soil erosion
and sedimentation page reflects the in-
tensity of agricultural land use, particu-
larly in the southern portion of the Great
Lakes Basin, and the potential to reduce
dredging needs by controlling soil ero-
sion and sedimentation at the source.
The GLDT website is hosted by the
Great Lakes Commission, an inter-
state compact agency comprised of
the eight Great Lakes states, which is
also a member of the GLDT.
www.glc.org/projects/dredging/
ECOTOX (ECOTOXicological Data-
base). The ECOTOX system, devel-
oped by EPA, National Health and
Environmental Effects Research
Laboratory (NHEERL), Mid-Continent
Ecology Division in Duluth (MED-
Duluth), Minnesota, provides a web
browser search interface for
locating aquatic
and terrestrial
toxicity effects
information.
This data-
base is useful
in developing
consistent
ecosystem
management
decisions, and
provides a means to cost-effectively
collect standardized and critically
needed effects data for a wide variety
of ecological risk assessments, hi support
of the ECOTOX database, aquatic and
terrestrial environmental toxicology lit-
erature is acquired and relevant data on
single chemical exposures are ab-
stracted into the database. Users may
conduct searches by specifying chemi-
cal, species, publication year, recent
updates to the database, and/or test
variable information such as calculated
endpoints, observed effect responses,
media type, and study location. The
aquatic component of ECOTOX is cur-
rently available on the World Wide Web
and the terrestrial component is scheduled
for release in January 2000. ECOTOX
contains more than 259,000 individual
test records for over 7,500 chemicals,
and 4,600 aquatic and terrestrial organ-
isms. The data have been abstracted
from over 15,900 publications. The
web version of ECOTOX is open to the
public and may be accessed through a
web browser at www.epa.gov/ecotox/.
For more information, contact MED-
Duluth Scientific Outreach Program
at (218) 529-5225, FAX (218) 529-
5003, or www.epa.gov/ecotox.
IRIS-The Integrated Risk Information
System (IRIS), prepared and main-
tained by EPA, is an electronic database
containing information on human health
effects that may result from exposure
to various chemicals in the environ-
ment. IRIS was initially developed for
EPA staff in response to a growing
demand for consistent information on
chemical substances for use in risk
assessments, decision-making and
regulatory activities. The information in
IRIS is intended for those without ex-
tensive training in toxicology, but with
some knowledge of health sciences.
The heart of the IRIS system is its
collection of computer files covering
individual chemicals. These chemical
files contain descriptive and quantitative
information in the following categories:
Oral reference doses and inhalation
reference concentrations (RfDs and
RfCs, respectively) for chronic
noncarcinogenic health effects.
Hazard identification, oral slope
factors, and oral and inhalation unit
risks for carcinogenic effects.
The information in IRIS is intended for
use in protecting public health through
risk assessment and risk management.
For more information on the process
for developing information for IRIS,
contact the Risk Information Hotline
in EPA's National Center for Environ-
mental Assessment, Cincinnati, OH at
(513) 569-7254, Fax (513) 569-7159,
or e-mail RIH.IRIS@epamail.epa.gov.
Great Lakes Contaminated Sedi-
ment Program This EPA Region 5
site highlights the Great Lakes Na-
tional Program Office's work with
contaminated sediments.
www.epa.gov/glnpo/sediments.html
No. 24
Spring 2000
CSN
13
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CSN
No. 24
Spring 2000
14
TOXNET-National Library of
Medicine. TOXNET is a free web-
based system of searchable databases
containing information on toxicology,
hazardous chemicals, and environmen-
tal health. TOXNET provides access or
links to over 10 databases compiled by
the Environmental Protection Agency,
National Cancer Institute and National
Library of Medicine to help assess the
nature and severity of toxic hazards
around us. For questions go to
custserv@nhn.nih.gov or call 1-888-
findnlm. http://sis.nlm.nih/sisl/
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This
website contains a large searchable in-
formation database on sediments
(contaminated and uncontaminated).
It includes hot links to related sites
that include foreign sites. It includes
the Corps/EPA sediments toxic sub-
stances tissue/residue effects bioaccu-
mulation database, Corps/EPA regula-
tory guidance documents (all
downloadable), a current review of the
Corps research on contaminated sedi-
ments, information on beneficial uses
of sediments, sediment management
models, sediment management training,
and a Center for Contaminated Sedi-
ments. www.wes.army.mil/el/dots
If you would like to share a website with
the readers of CSNews, send your website
address and description to Charles Kovatch,
EPA, at kovatch.charles@epa.gov. Some
EPA websites have been temporarily
taken offline for security upgrades. EPA
expects to have these sites back online
when the upgrades are complete.
Arm jimcerm ni j
ICCE 2000: 27th International
Conference on Coastal
Engineering
The Institution of Engineers, Australia, and
the Coastal Engineering Research Council
of the American Society of Civil Engineers
has announced details of the 27th ICCE
conference on coastal engineering in
Sydney, Australia, from July 16-21, 2000.
Original papers will be presented on theory,
measurement, analysis, modeling, and
Creature Feature
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podadoQ e jo sm|dne|\|
practice for: coastal oceanography and
meteorology; wind, waves, currents and
water levels; coastal sediment processes;
sediment motion, sediment transport, and
morphology; shore protection beach
nourishment, bypassing, hard structures,
natural defenses and hybrid projects; stabil-
ity, construction techniques, and perfor-
mance of coastal structures; recreation,
water quality, wetlands, dunes and estuaries
in the coastal environment; and dredging,
navigation channels, harbors and ports.
A technical exhibition will be held at the
conference venue to highlight products,
services and research activities of interest
to coastal engineers. The exhibition area
will be the main meeting point outside the
technical sessions and morning and after-
noon coffee breaks will be held there.
Participation in the exhibition is open to
all companies and organizations that pro-
vide a service in coastal engineering.
For further information on ICCE 2000,
contact Capital Conferences Pty Ltd., PO
Box N399, Grosvener Place NSW 1220,
Australia. Phone: + 61 (0) 292523388;
Fax: + 61 (0) 292415282; e-mail:
capcon@ozemail.com.au; website: http://
www.mhl.nsw.gov.au/ICCE2000.html
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GSJM
No. 24
Spring 2000
CSN
15
April 25-27, 2000
National Water Quality Monitoring Council
National Monitoring Conference 2000,
Austin, TX. Contact GWPC at (405) 516-
4972; e-mail: jeff@gwpc.site.net;
website: nwqmc.site.net.
May 1-3,2000
Sixth Internationa/ Conference on Remote
Sensing for Marine and Coastal Environ-
ments, Charleston, SC. Contact ERIM/
Marine Con-ference, P.O. Box 134008, Ann
Arbor, Ml 48113-4008. Phone: (734) 994-
1200, ext. 3234; fax: (734) 994-5123; e-
mail: wallman@erim-int.com; website:
www.erim-int.com/CONF/marine/
MARINE.html.
May 1-5,2000
Water Quality Standards Academy,
Chicago, IL. This session will specifically
target Indian tribes. The registration cut-off
date is March 17, 2000. Two additional
sessions of the Water Quality Standards
Academy are planned this year. These
sessions are open to the public. Both
sessions will be held in the Washington,
D.C. area. Once training facilities and the
dates are determined, registration and
other pertinent information will be avail-
able at: www.epa.gov/ost. For more
information about these sessions you may
also contact Greg Smith at Great Lakes
Environmental Center, EPA's contractor, at
(614) 487-1040.
May 21-25, 2000
Third SET AC World Congress: Global
Environmental Issues in the 21st Century:
Problems, Causes and Solutions. Brighton
Center, Brighton, UK. Contact SETAC
Europe at 32.2.772.72.81, fax:
32.2.770.53.86, e-mail: setac@ping.be.
May 23-25, 2000
Sustainability of Wetlands and Water
Resources: How Well Can Riverine
Wetlands Continue to Support Society into
the 21st Century? Center for Water and
Wetland Resource, University of Missis-
sippi Field Station. Contact Leslie White at
(662) 232-5479 or e-mail:
umfs@olemiss.edu, www.olemiss.edu/
depts/umbfs.
June 21-24, 2000
ASCE Watershed Management 2000
Conference: Science and Technology for
the New Millennium, Fort Collins, CO.
Contact:
dfrevert@do.usbr.gov.www.siwi.org.
October 14-18, 2000
WEFTEC 2000. Water Environment
Federation 73rd Annual Conference and
Exposition, Anaheim Convention Center,
Anaheim, CA. Contact: WEF at (800) 666-
0206 or (703) 684-2652 or e-mail:
confinfo@wef.org.
Recent Publications
Cost-Effective Remediation and Closure
of Petroleum-Contaminated Sites
by Douglas C. Downey, Robert E. Hinchee, and Ross N. Miller
(ISBN 1-57477-071-3)
This book provides environmental managers and their supporting technical
specialists with a comprehensive strategy for cost-effectively cleaning up
soils and groundwater contaminated by petroleum releases. It includes the
most recent advances in site investigation techniques, low-cost remedial
approaches, and technologies. To order this book, contact Batelle Press at
(800) 451-3543, Fax (614) 424-3819, or www.batelle.org/bookstore.
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