&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Region 10
April 2011
I
n late April and early May, beach sediment samples will be collected from 26 beaches along the Upper
Columbia River (UCR). This is part of a larger, multi-year study of contamination along the Upper
Columbia to determine the potential risks to people and the environment.
When will the sampling occur?
Sampling will take place during daylight hours
between April 20 and May 5, 2011.
How were the sampling locations chosen?
The beaches were identified by the community
during public meetings and by staff from the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
the National Park Service, Washington State
Department of Ecology, the Confederated Tribes of
the Colville Reservation, and the Spokane Tribe
of Indians.
How many samples will be taken ?
It depends on the size of the beach. At most of
the beaches, field crews will collect sediment
samples at 60 different locations. The 60 samples
will be mixed together into 5 batches representing
average conditions for that beach. However, a few
of the beaches are quite small and on those smaller
beaches, 35 samples will be collected and mixed
together into 5 batches.
Who is doing the sampling?
Contractors working on behalf of Teck American
Incorporated (Teck) will collect the samples with
oversight by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency.
Who else will be present during the
sampling?
Each field crew will be accompanied by cultural
resource professionals from the Confederated
Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Spokane
Tribe of Indians, and/or the National Park Service.
The cultural resource professionals will help ensure
protection of cultural or historic resources that may
be uncovered during the sampling.
What are the samples being tested for?
The sediment samples will be tested for heavy
metals including arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead,
mercury and zinc and other contaminants.
What will be done with the results?
The test results will help EPA evaluate whether or
not the sediments pose unacceptable risks to people
recreating and working on the beaches. We hope
to share the results with everyone on the Upper
Columbia River email list or paper mailing list, and
post them on the internet before the end of the year.
How can I get on the UCR email list?
To be added to EPA's email list, please send a
request to Kay Morrison at morrison.kay@epa.gov
Previous Sampling
In 2005, EPA collected and analyzed sediment from
15 Upper Columbia River beaches. At that time,
EPA determined that the beaches were safe for
recreational use but that additional sampling was
needed. EPA has not yet determined the potential
risk to tribal and subsistence resource users.
The "Phase 2" sampling plan includes a total of 33
beaches. Teck attempted to sample the "Phase 2"
beaches in 2009 and 2010, but high water conditions
prevented access to many of the beaches and only
seven of them have been sampled so far. Thanks to a
low draw-down of the reservoir this year, there will
be excellent access to the remaining 26 beaches.
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Upper Columbia River Beach Sampling - Spring 2011
Beaches to be sampled this Spring
"Swimming Hole"
(Northport)
Flat Creek
Bossburg Flat
Evans Campground / Beach
Kamloops Island
Welty Bay
Kettle Falls Marina
Lyons Island
Colville River
Colville Flats
Bradbury Beach
AA Campground
Nez Perce Creek
Hunters
Enterprise
Wilmont Creek
Naborlee
Mitchell Point2
McGuire's
Seven Bays
Mouth of Hawk Creek
Whitestone Campground
Jones Bay
Swawilla Basin
Spring Canyon
Crescent Bay
You can see maps with these beaches in the.2009 Quality Assurance Project Plan for the Beach
Sediment Study on the EPA website at http://go.usa.gov/blW
Where can I learn more?
Visit EPA's project web site:
http://yosemite.epa.gov/rlO/cleanup.nsl7sites/upperc
Visit Teck's project web site: www.ucr-rifs.com
Information Repositories:
Please visit one of the Information Repositories
listed below to find information about EPA's
work on the Upper Columbia River, including
full copies of technical documents. Be sure to
call ahead for hours.
Northport: Northport Town Hall
315 Summit St.
(509)732-4450
Colville: Colville Public Library
195 S. Oak St.
(509)684-6620
Inchelium: Inchelium Tribal Resource Center
12 Community Loop
(509)634-2791
Nespelem: Colville Confederated Tribes Office
of Environmental Trust Building #2,
(509)634-2413
Grand Coulee: Grand Coulee Library,
225 Federal St.
(509)633-0972
Wellpinit: Spokane Tribe Department of
Natural Resources - 6290 B Ford-Wellpinit Rd.
(509)626-4425
Spokane: Spokane Library
906 W. Main
(509) 444-5336, ext. 5404
Upper Columbia River Remedial
Investigation and Feasibility Study
(RI/FS)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is
studying hazardous waste contamination in the
Columbia River from the U.S./Canada border to
the Grand Coulee Dam and surrounding upland
areas. The study is called a Remedial Investigation
and Feasibility Study. Under the June 2006
Settlement Agreement between EPA and Teck,
Teck is required to complete a portion of the RI/FS
with EPA oversight and approval.
Teck is responsible for conducting the ecological
risk assessment for the site. EPA is responsible for
completing the human health risk assessment for
the site. EPA is working with local tribes and other
partners to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of
potential risks to human health, such as eating fish,
food gathering, cultural practices, extended beach
use, and wind-blown dust.
During the RI/FS process, EPA will oversee all
work, including validating and interpreting data
collected by Teck and their technical consultants.
Who can I call if I have questions?
Helen Bottcher, Project Manager (206) 553-6069;
bottchenhelen @ epa.gov
Monica Tonel, Project Manager (206) 553-0323;
tonel.monica @ epa. gov
Kay Morrison, Community Involvement
Coordinator (206) 553-8321
morrison.kay @ epa. gov
Toll-free number for all contacts:(l-800) 424-4372
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Upper Columbia River Beach Sampling - Spring 2011
Beach Sampling Areas
CANADA
Rivers
Urban areas
Beaches sampled by EPA in 2005
Beaches to be sampled in 2011
Beaches sampled in 2009
Beaches sampled in 2010
Grand
Coulee
Dam
If you need materials in an alternative format, please
contact Kay Morrison, TTY users please call the
Federal Relay Service: 800-877-8339
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United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Region 10
1200 Sixth Avenue, Suite 900, ETPA-081
Seattle, Washington 98101-3140
April 2011
Upper Columbia River Beach Sampling
Spring 2011
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