EPA 910-K-11-005 I December 2011 www.epa.gov/region10/ United States Environmental Protection Agency EPA Region 10 Off ice of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report 2010-2011 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 10 ------- ------- EPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 Joyce Kelly, Director Ann Williamson, Associate Director OEA Mission Statement: The mission of the Office of Environmental Assessment is to provide scientific/technical leadership, develop partnerships for providing scientific/technical information, assess the condition of the environment, and determine the compliance status of pollution sources. Our Priority Focus: Support core media programs and National/ Regional strategic work and endeavors. Ensure solid technical and scientific work is conducted in the Region and participate in National initiatives to advance innovative solutions to environmental problems. Play a leadership role on important Regional initiatives including Climate Change, Puget Sound, Columbia River, and the Mercury strategy. Highlights for 2010-2011 OEA Leads Investigation of Yakima Drinking Water Contamination As a part of the Regional Applied Research Effort (RARE) program in Region 10, OEA led a collaborative sampling effort between several offices (OWW, Region 10 Lab, ETPA, ORC, and ORD) in the Lower Yakima Valley from February to April 2010. The main purpose of the sampling was to provide information to evaluate the link between high nitrate levels in private drinking water wells to the source of that nitrate from nearby land uses. Three potential sources of nitrate were evaluated: septic systems, irrigated cropland, and dairies. The results from the sampling may provide information to evaluate options for reducing nitrogen loadings to the land, and therefore reduce nitrate levels in private drinking water wells. EPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 ------- The sampling was in part a response to concerns raised by state and local agencies, as well as community members, about high nitrate levels in private domestic drinking water wells. Sampling data from 1990-2008 in the Lower Yakima Valley indicated that as many as 12% of private drinking water wells had nitrate levels above the EPA drinking water standard (10 mg/L) and about 20% were found to have bacterial contamination. These wells tend to be shallow and in many cases are primarily used by tribal members of the Yakima Nation, or by Spanish speaking families participating in the local agricultural economy. However, these wells may be used by anyone in the community not served by a public water-supply system. While sampling for nitrate has been conducted in the Lower Valley for decades, there has been little work linking sources of nitrate to levels in drinking water wells. As a first step in trying to identify areas of impact, OEA developed a GIS tool that overlays potential sources: septic systems, irrigated cropland, and dairies. Sampling was then conducted at almost 340 homes to identify those with high nitrate levels. The 48-hour hold time for nitrate Taking a water sample at a required close coordination residence in the Yakima valley between our laboratory and field team, and a willingness to accept samples in the evening and on weekends, and commence work immediately. Twenty-one percent of the homes sampled had nitrate levels greater than the 10 mg/L drinking water standard. Based on these results, combined with further GIS analysis, additional sampling was conducted at 62 locations throughout the Lower Yakima Valley, including water wells, treatment lagoons, water treatment plants, and cropland soils. The goal was to provide a linkage to the different sources of nitrate. Over 1200 samples were collected and sent to six labs around the country for analysis. The compounds tested included general water chemistry, pesticides, hormones, veterinary Pharmaceuticals, and trace organics like caffeine. In addition, age dating and isotopic analyses were used EPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 ------- for all of the water wells as additional methods to identify drinking water sources. The results are currently being evaluated and a report will be completed at the end of 2011. The results will be used to determine the next steps in trying to reduce the loadings of nitrogen to the land, including potential enforcement actions. OEA Continues to Provide Leadership in TMDL Science Water quality models can have significant implications on the manner in which Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) are established and the subsequent decisions made to clean up rivers. The data produced by these models can result in decisions by EPA and/or our Region 10 States requiring multi-million dollar efforts to reduce pollution. Consequently, it's critical that models are rigorously developed and documented so that they are accepted as reasonable scientific tools by the TMDL program and the municipalities, industries, and government agencies that are involved in implementing the TMDLs. OEA's water quality modeler has provided strong leadership in the successful development and acceptance of models in a number of controversial settings. Here are two examples: Resolving Science Disputes for the Spokane River TMDL For the past few years, OEA's modeler has been directing the water quality assessment portion of the TMDL for dissolved oxygen in Lake Spokane, a man-made impoundment of the Spokane River. This TMDL is focused on reducing nuisance algal blooms and reversing a trend toward lower oxygen levels in the lake by reducing phosphorus discharges. The scientific analysis for the TMDL is focused on defining the level of reduction needed to meet water quality standards. The Washington Department of Ecology requested that EPA lead the technical work for this project, which involved development and application of a sophisticated water quality model of the river and lake. The project has been controversial from the beginning. Because Washington's water quality standards for dissolved oxygen are stringent and the population in the Spokane River valley is growing, the scientific assessment points to the need for state-of-the- art wastewater treatment in the Spokane-Coeur d'Alene corridor to reduce phosphorus levels to near-natural conditions. The resulting EPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 ------- Greenish hue of an algal bloom in Lake Spokane (Source: ecologywa.blogspot.comj permit limits for the treatment plants are among the lowest in the country, and some stakeholders have questioned whether this level of treatment is necessary. The water quality model, developed by Portland State University (PSD) under contract to EPA and Ecology, was initially part of the controversy. Several of the affected municipalities and industries in the area were critical of certain aspects of the model, such as the model assumptions for groundwater inflows, algae growth, and phosphorus releases from lake sediments. OEA's modeler convinced the project team to build time into the TMDL project schedule for an update to the model and an opportunity for peer review by the consultants. This process culminated in a workshop attended by both modelers and facility managers. In the end, the peer review process was successful and the model was accepted by the stakeholders and consultants. This approach moved the areas of contention to policy aspects of the TMDL rather than the underlying science; it proved to be a major accomplishment for the project and helped move the TMDL toward completion in 2010. Ecology has recently issued NPDES permits with the new phosphorus limits for the City of Spokane and other sources. Construction of new phosphorus treatment systems will begin in the next few years. Klamath River TMDL The Klamath River TMDL for nutrients and temperature is nearing successful completion by the States of California and Oregon, thanks to the successful development of a water quality model of the river from its headwaters to the Pacific Ocean. The Klamath watershed has been the focus of well publicized concerns with water demands; one of the related problems is poor water quality. OEA's water quality modeler led a consensus building effort to establish an acceptable model and enable the TMDL to proceed. EPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 ------- Developing an appropriate model was challenging due to several factors: the fact that the Klamath watershed is heavily managed; the large size of the river; and the different types of river systems involved -free flowing, reservoirs, and estuaries. A contractor developed the model for the two states involved (Oregon and California), as well as EPA Regions 9 and 10. OEA's expert provided internal guidance and review of the model for the project team. The project suffered a set back in 2010 over criticism of the model by USGS and the Bureau of Reclamation. The Bureau of Reclamation is involved in managing the irrigation system for the river, and will play a major role in TMDL implementation. In response to the concerns that were raised, OEA's modeler, an ODEQ modeler, and the contractor joined forces to address the USGS concerns, culminating in a formal presentation supporting the modeling work to California's North Coast Water Quality Control Board. Subsequently, the local board decided that the model was adequate and adopted the TMDL. Later, at the state level, the California State Water Resources Control Board followed suit. ODEQ is nearing completion of its TMDL for the portion of the river in Oregon. USGS criticism of the modeling work has diminished over time and after numerous interactions. OEA Launching Climate Change Adaptation Strategy Historical records and observations are showing that steady increases in air and surface temperatures over the past few decades are leading to significant weather-related changes in our region, such as different timing and intensity of precipitation, earlier melting of snowpack and sea ice in the spring, delayed formation of sea ice in the fall, and increased likelihood of drought. These and other observed changes are evidence that EPA's programs can no longer rely on historical data as the best indicator of the future but must instead incorporate information about the projected changes for some of their analyses. To address this situation, OEA is launching a climate change adaptation strategy that will deliver targeted information on projected scenarios in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska to Region 10 program offices. It will also work with programs on how to incorporate projected scenarios into their regulatory and implementation work. EPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 ------- Changes in Alaska's Muir Glacier between 1941 (above) and 2004 (below) To develop its strategy, OEA is partnering with the Office of Water and Watersheds (OWW) in conducting a pilot project using climate change science to identify critical issues for water policy development. Drawing from the most current science on the climate change impacts projected for the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, the project will identify how those impacts will affect EPA's ability to implement its water quality programs, starting with the TMDL program that sets the pollution reduction goals for impaired water bodies. The goal of the pilot project is to identify and fill science and data needs, and highlight any policy needs, so that projected climate change scenarios are integrated into TMDLs. While states conduct most of the TMDLs, EPA is involved with those that are multi-jurisdictional, from which it is likely a candidate watershed for the pilot project will be selected. This pilot uses the "Awareness, Analysis, Action, Assessment, Adaptive Management" paradigm. To date OEA has provided information on likely changes in the Region under climate change scenarios, and evaluated several completed TMDLs in order to identify opportunities for integrating projected changes for specific TMDL parameters. The next steps are to select a TMDL in its earliest stages of development, incorporate relevant climate change impact data in the most appropriate stages of analysis, and then evaluate how the TMDL development process may need to adapt as a result of the pilot. Expected outcomes are that OWW will modify its TMDL analyses to include relevant projected climate change scenarios and that OEA will develop information and provide suggestions for action on needed tools, guidance, policy, and research. This EPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 ------- pilot project will also provide OEA an opportunity to contemplate any lessons learned and then to revise its approach for integrating climate change scenario information in other programs. RIO Science Steering Council Identifies Key Science Needs One of the ways in which science is reinforced in Region 10 is via the Science Steering Council (RSSC). Its goal is to develop broad based, region-wide leadership to strengthen and sustain the role of science as a core value in Region 10 decisionmaking. The group is co-chaired by the Director of the Office of Environmental Assessment and an Executive Team member. Science Steering Council members represent the Region's offices that produce, maintain or use science information either directly or indirectly in the fulfillment of their missions. In 2010, the RSSC issued the results of its most recent Science Needs Survey. The goals of the survey were to provide direction for RSSC activities, identify training and staffing needs, focus requests to the Office of Research and Development (ORD), and/or direct discretionary resources. Survey responses were received from 140 participants and 58 narratives were provided. Participants included staff and managers from each of Region 10's program offices. Some highlighted needs from the survey findings: Develop data and assessments to support air and water permits for the outer continental shelf exploratory drilling program in the Alaskan North Slope region. Address Puget Sound toxics and water quality, with an emphasis on emerging challenges, sustainability and cumulative impacts, including data collection, data management, modeling, improved detection methods and other science-based tools . Characterize agricultural chemical and waste management impacts in the Columbia River Basin and Snake River Plain. Determine health risks of air toxics & criteria pollutants in tribal communities. Build resilience to the impacts of climate change in human communities and ecosystems in Region 10. Support succession planning for scientists and enhance capacity of scientific staff. EPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 ------- Based on the results of the survey, the RSSC will use its role in competitive programs such as the Region's Sci/Tech scholarships, Regional Applied Research Effort (RARE) proposals, and the Regional Research Partnership Program to give additional weight to proposals that address priority regional science needs. In addition, the RSSC will identify potential resources to help address scientific research needs by working collaboratively with ORD, EPA Programs, other agencies, universities, nongovernmental organizations, and research groups to address emerging, cutting-edge science initiatives. One example of this are "Science Cafes" that are now hosted by OEA. In August a cafe was held on the topic of "Greening the Park Place Building". Several presentations were given on current green building practices, as well as techniques that will be part of the remodel process for the building. In conjunction with EPA's Children's Health month, an October 2011 cafe Cafe featured an ORD speaker on the topic of the National Children's Study. More information on the work of the Science Council is available at: http://rlOnapps3.rlO.epa.gov:9876/R10/INFOPAGE/oeainfo. nsf/webpage/Region+10+Science+Steering+Council+(RSSC) OEA Provides Technical Analyses for Outer Continental Shelf Permits One of the more challenging regulatory areas for this Region has been permitting exploratory oil and gas drilling projects on the outer continental shelf (DCS) of Alaska. Having been granted exploratory leases, oil companies such as Shell and ConocoPhillips have applied for water pollution discharge permits and air quality construction permits. These permits limit the air emissions and water discharges for the vessels and support fleets that will conduct oil exploration activities in Alaska's Arctic Outer Continental Shelf in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas. Exploration work by Shell and ConocoPhillips is slated for the 2012 and 2013 drilling seasons. These permit reviews unfolded in a highly visible and controversial setting, and involved technical, regulatory, and policy decisions on issues EPA has not previously considered in this context. Two of the permits were appealed to the Environmental Appeals Board last year and parts of them were remanded back to the Region for additional work. Media and public scrutiny were also high, with the permits MEPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 ------- I The Shell Noble Discoverer is one of the vessels that will be drilling in the OCS. drawing tens of thousands of public comments in a 30 day public comment period. There were numerous technical hurdles associated with these permits. Particularly challenging was the lack of off-shore marine environment air quality models and over-water meteorological and air quality data. OEA's air team assisted the companies in developing methodologies and implementing both surface level and upper air meteorological data collection systems in the remote arctic marine environment. Our air modeling experts oversaw the development of a marine environment meteorological preprocessor and a non-guideline air dispersion model. This required an extensive science review, code development, performance verification, and independent evaluations. We also performed cumulative impact analyses for nearby environmental justice communities. Similarly, there were challenges on the water side. OEA water quality experts assisted in preparing the Ocean Discharge Criteria Evaluation document, which is designed to ensure the discharges will not cause unreasonable degradation to the Arctic environment. As on the air side, developing these evaluation criteria were particularly challenging in the Arctic, with the short drilling seasons and evolving technologies that were evaluated. In short, OEA technical experts worked nearly around the clock to help get these permits completed on an extremely tight deadline and under intense scrutiny from all sectors - members of the Congress, the oil industry, native whaling communities, environmental groups, as well as national and international press. In doing so we demonstrated that EPA can work through challenging environmental issues to successfully permit these complex and unique drilling operations. EPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 ------- Sampling for Mercury Contamination in NE Oregon Fish EPA's national air modeling effort "REMSAD" has predicted a high mercury deposition area in northeastern Oregon. A significant human toxin, mercury also accumulates in the food chain. As a result, consumption offish contaminated with mercury is the most widespread human exposure to this toxin. Local residents fish in northeastern Oregon lakes, so potential mercury ingestion is of real concern to them. However, to date there is limited information on mercury levels in fish tissue in this region. Given the suspected high levels of deposition and the potential for high human exposure through consumption offish, OEA was asked to assess fish tissue from the area. Specifically, this study was designed to determine whether people are at risk for elevated mercury exposure from eating fish caught in these water bodies. Five reservoirs were selected for sampling based on their proximity to the high deposition zone identified in the model, combined with Preparing fish for tissue analysis their widespread use by at one of NE Oregon's reservoirs anglers and high consumption of resident fish. OEA designed a sampling plan for total mercury that was rigorous enough to generate data that would be useful for fish consumption advisories as well as screening level analyses. We targeted fish considered desirable for catching and eating, as well as species that are more likely to bioaccumulate mercury including bass, crappie, trout, and perch. Field sampling was completed in June and sample processing and tissue analysis will be conducted at the Region 10 Laboratory this fall. OEA will complete the analysis and reporting this winter. EPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 ------- This work supports key objectives of the Regional Mercury Strategy: to characterize mercury levels in fish in the Region and provide monitoring support. Significant involvement in planning this project was provided by three Oregon State agencies: ODEQ, Oregon Health Authority (OHA), and Oregon Dept of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW). OEA Fosters Innovative Approaches to Help Region 10 States with PM2.5 Nonattainment Plans In recent years, Region 10 has had relatively few nonattainment areas based on the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). However, with the 2006 revisions to the NAAQS, five new nonattainment areas were designated based on unhealthy levels of PM2.5. These five areas of pollution are unique in their combination of emissions sources, complex geography, and contributing weather patterns. State and local air agencies responsible for reducing levels of PM2.5 have found it challenging to develop modeling tools and analyses needed to project attainment of the new NAAQS standard. Developing a credible and useful air quality modeling framework (consisting of emissions models, meteorological models, and air quality models) is essential for creating pollution control strategies that are scientifically credible to the local communities coping with dirty air. To address these challenges, OEA has worked with the state and local air agencies to develop novel modeling strategies, both in terms of the tools used and the philosophy of how technical issues are prioritized. OEA's involvement helped to ensure that modeling tools were developed in a way that was scientifically sound, but at the same time minimized the resource burden on the agencies involved. These strategies helped circumvent the gridlock that often occurs when these agencies confront EPA's National modeling policies and the challenges posed by needing to understand and adapt to these unique situations. One example is our work with Fairbanks, Alaska. Here OEA facilitated dramatic modeling capacity building for the challenging and unique Fairbanks Nonattainment Area, where the state and local air agencies had to work under tight deadlines to put together complicated and cutting-edge modeling tools. OEA helped to develop local modeling expertise through a RARE grant, and facilitated EPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 ------- Ice Fog in Fairbanks - Source: http://www.alaska-in-pictures.com consensus on complicated technical issues such as source mixtures, temperature inversions and the effects of ice fog. OEA's investment in active and collaborative relationships with our counterparts in at the state and local level has helped provide the appropriate modeling tools, so that local communities and these agencies, in collaboration with the Region's Air Program, can assess pollution control strategies and reduce local air pollution. These tools enable local stakeholders who are responsible for cleaning up the air to support the control measures that are selected. OEA Reports on the Status of Northwest Lakes OEA has issued a report: "Ecological Condition of Lakes in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington". Based on data generated by the National Lakes Assessment, the report provides a snapshot of a host of indicators related to physical, chemical and biological conditions of these lakes. This report was written by members of OEA's Aquatic Ecosystem Monitoring Team, which has expertise in the areas of aquatic community ecology, water quality monitoring, and landscape ecology. Since the mid-1990s, the team has been applying the tools developed by EPA's Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program to measure environmental resources and determine if they are in an acceptable condition relative to a set of environmental values. These surveys provide information OEA Scientists operating sampling equipment EPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 ------- vital to describing water resource quality conditions across the Region, and examine associations between ecological condition and natural/anthropogenic influences. This latest OEA project demonstrates state-of-the-science techniques in ecological monitoring. The analysis identifies physical habitat quality of the lakeshore and shallow areas and nutrients as the most widespread stressors in Region 10 lakes. Estimates of the extent of a good, fair, or poor condition for important indicators are presented. The report also includes a technical analysis of landscape indicators that may be useful for assessing regional lake conditions, and an in depth analysis of limiting nutrients in Region 10 lakes. This work reflects a partnership between EPA Region 10, EPA's Office of Water, EPA's Office of Research and Development, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, the Washington Department of Ecology, and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. The report is available on the Region 10 website at: http:// www.epa.gov/regionlO/pdf/wetlands/lakes 04 25 11.pdf. OEA's Landscape Ecologist Collaborates in the Development of PNW Forest Practice Rules As a key player on the Regional Forest Team, OEA's landscape ecologist has worked closely with both federal and state partners in reviewing, developing, and modifying current forest practices rules. The goal is to ensure healthy water quality conditions through the elimination and abatement of non-point source temperature pollution resulting from forest management activities, and thereby meet Clean Water Act (CWA) requirements on forested lands in the Pacific Northwest. Specifically, our landscape ecologist participates in the State of Idaho Forest Practices Act (IFPA) shade rule subcommittee, which is tasked with developing revised riparian (i.e., near a waterbody) forest management rules for private Landscape Modeling is critical for evaluating forest practices EPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 ------- and State lands in Idaho. Work on this project has promoted a more realistic assessment of the range of "natural disturbance" conditions that should be used when developing forest management targets. In addition, OEA's landscape ecologist participates on the Federal "Riparian Management Science Roundtable" (SRT), which is tasked with determining the effects of tree removal in riparian areas on aquatic ecosystem function for federally managed forested lands in western Oregon. In this role, he has helped develop modeling guidelines and information requirements to be used in evaluating the effects of tree removal, such as habitat impacts, as well as effects to the species of interest. These recommendations will be utilized during riparian forest management on federal forest lands in western Oregon. CIS Team Improves Accessibility to Site Information OEA's GIS team continues to receive an increasing number of requests for mapping applications that display environmental data at specific sites. Public requests for this kind of information are also on the rise. Packaging the data in simple, user-friendly mapping applications allows stakeholders and external partners to quickly visualize the data spatially and temporally. The GIS Queiy and display data on map and in grid Sort grid Highlight grid records on map ,..,.-.-.. Legend - shows the station type - River/Stream, Lake.Well Screen shots of the GIS Data Viewer EPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 ------- group has combined a new regional database, web services and mapping technologies in the release of an improved data viewer that will allow easier access to these regional data sets. A regional Ambient Water Quality Monitoring Database System (AWQMS) was installed a year ago and is managed by the GIS group. It houses regional data from select Superfund sites and OEA projects, and now contains over 2 million chemical results and 4000 monitoring locations for a variety of sites, including the Coeuer d'Alene Basin, Portland Harbor, Midnite Mine, Upper Columbia, Duwamish River and Sumas Mountain Superfund Sites, as well as regional studies such as the Yakima Valley Nitrate study. The new data viewer makes use of web services from both within and outside the Agency to create an integrated environment for the user. A link with a GIS Virtual Environment at EPA's National Computer Center in Research Triangle Park now makes this information available to the public as well. The GIS team expects demand for this kind of work to grow in the future. Evaluating Mercury Deposition in SE Idaho OEA, in collaboration with OAWT, carried out a RARE-funded study of mercury deposition in the Great Basin region of Southern Idaho. For this project, EPA teamed up with the University of Utah, which provided sampling and modeling expertise for the study. Mercury deposition in Southern Idaho has become a concern for multiple government agencies and programs within Region 10. High concentrations of mercury in fish in Idaho have led to consumption advisories for a number of water bodies within the state, including Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir (SFCR) in south-central Idaho. This research project had two primary objectives. One was to quantify the amount of mercury that was being deposited to the watershed via dry deposition. The other objective was to determine the sources of that mercury. The mercury species measured included gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), reactive gaseous mercury (RGM) and particulate bound mercury (HgP). RGM is of particular concern due to its ability to be converted to the more toxic methyl mercury. GEM is important as it makes up approximately 99% of global atmospheric mercury and can be oxidized into RGM. EPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 ------- Mercury monitor mounted on trailer housing analytical equipment The mercury air monitoring field site was situated in a remote location in south-central Idaho approximately 25 miles due west of the Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir. The research methodology included in situ measurements of gaseous and particulate mercury in the atmosphere, the size-resolved elemental composition of particulate matter, and a variety of meteorological parameters. These measurements were collected in a series of four 4-week field experiments (one in each season) during the first year of the study. During the second year, state-of the-art models were applied to the data to quantitatively apportion GEM and RGM to individual sources. The in situ data was combined with appropriate models to estimate the dry deposition of elemental gaseous mercury, reactive gaseous mercury, and particulate mercury for each season of the year. This data was combined with historic wet deposition mercury data to quantify total atmospheric mercury deposition to the SFCR watershed, which was estimated to be 14.65 micrograms/m2 per year. This study indicated that the dry deposition of GEM and RGM is responsible for nearly 80% of the total mercury deposition to the SFCR watershed. Mining operations were identified as the most significant regional source of GEM, contributing approximately 10% of the winter and summer GEM. Other GEM source types identified included biomass burning, Asian dust transport, coal combustion, and surface reemission. For the more environmentally-active RGM, background transport from the upper troposphere to the surface was identified as the dominant source. Other sources contributing RGM to the site included biomass burning, Asian dust transport, North American dust transport, metal smelting, and mining operations. EPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 ------- OEA and OCE Join in a Field Operations Group Assessment of Region 10 In November 2010, a sampling or Region 10's field programs were assessed under nine national Field Operation Group (FOG) consensus standards. These consensus standards promote tighter enforcement, encourage Regional consistency, provide clear expectations for how we do our work, and assist in new employee training. Our hazardous waste, air, community right-to- know, underground injection and drinking water programs were selected as representative of our regional compliance practices. The FOG is comprised of Region 10, NEIC, and Headquarters managers who are responsible for implementing compliance and ambient field monitoring programs. The goal of the program is to provide guidance and consistency among the various field programs with respect to environmental sampling and field measurement activities, inspection protocols, and enforcement activities. Over the last several years, the FOG established nine infrastructure consensus standards for field sampling and measurement activities to promote consistency within the agency's field organizations. The standards address: Evidence Management, Document Control, Equipment and Instrument Inventory, Calibration, and Maintenance, Records Management, Personnel Training and Records of Training, Field Documentation, Field Inspections and Investigations, Reports, and Audits (Internal Audits & Corrective Actions). OCE and OEA staff prepared for months for the Region 10 assessment. This preparation included coordinating with the Deputy Regional Administrator, Region 10's Executive Team, managers, and staff covered under the audit, and determining the most relevant program offices to be assessed. When the assessment team arrived, the two- day audit was coordinated between the Seattle Regional office and our region's laboratory, and involved dozens of staff and managers. EPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 ------- The assessment identified several areas where we are performing well, as well as areas for improvement. The assessment showed that the Region has developed good overarching Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), effective internet sites, a clear inspector credential process, and has made great strides in inventorying our field equipment. The FOG assessment also identified several areas for improvement and of nonconformance. OCE's and OEA's review of the report determined that the most significant areas for the Region were: Records management, Evidence management, Inspection report format and content, and Management of training records and on- the-job training documentation. OCE and OEA have also begun implementing some of the changes recommended by the FOG assessment including the development of over 25 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for field work, training, and sampling procedures. Internet pages have also been set up with relevant information; a Field Equipment Inventory database and checkout system is also under development. Implementing the recommendations in the assessment will improve our efforts to protect human health and the environment. Elwha River Dam Removal Baseline Survey in the Strait of Juan de Fuca The Elwha Dam removal project on the Elwha River at the north end of the Olympic Peninsula is the largest dam removal project in the US. After twenty years of planning, the physical removal of the Elwha and Glines Canyon Dams began in September 2011 and will continue for three years. As the dams are removed, an immense amount of sediment behind the dams will be released into the Elwha River and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, changing the structure of the riverbed and estuary below the dams. USGS studies indicate that high concentrations of sediment will create turbid conditions in the River and coastal waters during some seasons for up to five years, a process that scientists hope to monitor. The Puget Sound Team requested that the Region 10 Dive Unit provide their scientific expertise to this important restoration project by performing biological and habitat surveys in the straits near the _ _ EPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 ------- mouth of the Elwha River. The primary goals of the surveys were to establish baseline conditions that would allow us to understand how underwater plant and animal life react and adapt to the downstream effects of dam removal, and also provide scientists a more detailed and complete picture EPA diver conducting the of the geological restoration. algal swath survey EPA also awarded a grant to the US Geological Service to conduct characterization work. The partnership between EPA, USGS, and the Lower Elwha Klallum Tribe will better ensure that sufficient, high quality data is collected for the Puget Sound program. EPA divers along with USGS divers conducted three separate, 5-day diving operations during July and August 2011. Ninety individual dives were conducted in support of the project off the EPA vessel "Monitor", fourteen of which were by USGS divers diving under reciprocity with the EPA Dive Program. Additional dives were also conducted by USGS on their own vessel. The data collected by EPA and USGS will support research to assess the effects of removing the Elwha River dams on shallow subtidal benthic communities, including pre-removal baseline studies. Data on organism density (macroalgae, invertebrates, and fish) and presence/ absence (for encrusting species, such as certain sponges), macroalgae size and percent coverage, substrate composition, and sea-floor relief were collected along transects. Instruments to monitor sedimentation and turbidity were also deployed and will be collecting data throughout the course of the study. The dive teams, in collaboration with the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, established and surveyed marked transects spread throughout the Elwha River nearshore zone, as well as transect pairs at sites further from the Elwha River mouth. These same strips of seafloor will be monitored during and after dam removal to see how fish, kelp and invertebrate populations respond to changes in deposited and suspended sediments. EPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 ------- EPA, USGS, and the Tribe will be monitoring this important restoration project over the years. This once-robust salmon stream will be watched with special interest as it regains its former prominence and cultural importance. EPA Region 10 Dive Team Supports Northwest Straits Survey of Derelict Fishing Gear in Puget Sound Decades of commercial and recreational fishing in Puget Sound have left behind tons of abandoned fishing gear that kills marine life and degrades habitat. Since 2002, the Northwest Straits Commission, Marine Conservation Initiative (Northwest Straits), has operated a program to survey and remove this derelict fishing gear from Puget Sound. This effort received a major boost when Northwest Straits received $4.6M in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Funding from NOAA with the goal of removing 90 percent of the derelict nets in Puget Sound between July 2009 and December 2010. To leverage the NOAA grant funding, the EPA RIO Dive Team assisted Northwest Straits and their contractors, Natural Resources Consultants (NRC), in mapping derelict net locations in Puget Sound. Several weeks of dive operations were devoted to this project from March through November, 2010. Assisting NRC in surveying derelict net locations allows them to focus more of their efforts on gear removal rather than conducting visual dive surveys. The Region 10 Dive Team received three types of information from NRC related to potential derelict net locations: 1) side-scan sonar imagery and GPS coordinates where bottom topography and bathymetry show a high potential to snag abandoned nets; 2) reports from fishermen and other reputable sources that have direct knowledge of net locations; and, 3) shoreline A monofilament gill net and associated lead- line being recovered EPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 ------- reaches with high potential for hosting derelict gear. Divers were deployed in pairs at each potential location to perform a visual bottom survey to determine if derelict nets were present. Dive buddy teams descended on each target location and performed a visual search for derelict nets while noting other significant features such as bottom type and topography. Derelict gear was identified at more than half of the survey locations. This gear varied from thin, monofilament drift nets partly buried in the bottom sand, to thick, heavy cotton nets that are piled up on the bottom. Lead lines are often associated with abandoned nets as well. These can leach out lead, causing toxic pollution in Puget Sound. At each dive location, a tabulated descriptive report was provided to NRC including latitude/ longitude GPS coordinate, depth, bottom type, and descriptions about what type of gear was observed, if any. Locations with abandoned nets present were then targeted for removal. As a result of the Dive Teams assistance, in the 18 months of the project, Northwest Straits was able to remove and recover nearly 2500 derelict nets, 140 abandoned crab pots, and other harmful debris from Puget Sound. The efforts restored over 232 acres of critical marine habitat. This important work will result in the improvement of the overall health of Puget Sound by removing thousands of pounds debris that are deadly to fish and marine mammals. For more information go to: http://www.derelictgear. org/Progress/ARRA-Project.aspx EPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 ------- OEA Develops Innovative Technique for Measuring Asbestos in Soil Determining asbestos content in soil is a significant challenge at many contaminated sites. Asbestos fibers from soil can be released into the air by wind or soil-disturbance, and become a significant source of inhalation exposure to humans. Working with scientists from the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), OEA has developed a novel method for detecting low-level concentrations of asbestos in soil using a fluidized bed asbestos segregator (FBAS). As incoming air fluidizes the sample, the FBAS segregates asbestos fibers and deposits them onto an air filter, allowing an analysis of the filter by transmission electron microscope (TEM) to determine the releasable asbestos content of the soil. Chrysotile asbestos fibers from a sample of sediment from Whatcom County that was processed with the fluidized bed asbestos segregator (FBAS). Technician operating the FBAS The initial prototype FBAS was designed and built by Battelle Energy Alliance under contract with INL as part of an EPA RARE project. Additional funding was provided from EPA Headquarters for an interagency agreement (IAG) between EPA Region 10 and the Department of Energy. Since receiving the original prototype, OEA has made several modifications to the original design and manufactured four identical FBAS units for evaluation. OEA operates one of the units at the EPA Region 10 Laboratory, two of the units are being used at the EPA Region 8 soil preparation laboratory in Libby, Montana, and one of the units is on loan to a commercial laboratory in Cinnaminson, New Jersey, through a cooperative research and development agreement EPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 ------- (CRADA). For the past two years, OEA has coordinated efforts between laboratories to evaluate the FBAS using performance evaluation (PE) samples that contain known concentrations of asbestos. In addition, field samples from asbestos sites located in California, Montana, North Carolina, Texas, Vermont, and Washington have been prepared and analyzed to produce data that can be compared with results obtained through traditional sampling and analytical techniques. Initial performance evaluation studies have shown that analyses of filters prepared using the FBAS technique are able to detect asbestos at levels that are much lower than most standard analytical methods for the analysis of asbestos in bulk materials. In addition, preliminary field-based testing suggests that asbestos results for soil prepared using the FBAS technique may correlate with activity-based air sampling results typically used for Superfund site assessment work. This information suggests that the FBAS technique is potentially a useful risk screening method to complement the more resource intensive activity-based air sampling. OEA Scientist Helps Develop and Troubleshoot Methods for Stable Isotope Analysis A scientist from OEA's quality assurance team participated in a Regional Research Partnership Project (RRPP) with the Western Ecology Division (WED) of EPA's National Health Environmental Effects Research Laboratory. The RRPP participant took part in various aspects of stable isotope research occurring at WED's Integrated Stable Isotope Research Facility (ISIRF). Stable isotopes provide a unique tool for studying Isotope ratio mass spectrometer biological and environmental with GasBench II system processes, and conditions, as well as evaluating sources of environmental contaminants. Because the physical properties of isotopes of a given element differ, the isotopes fractionate EPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 ------- during chemical reactions or physical changes. Fractionation changes the isotopic content of chemicals or substances as the chemical or physical process takes place in the environment. Applications of stable isotopes to ecological and environmental studies are numerous and increasing rapidly. The objective for this Regional Research Partnership Project was to understand applications of stable isotopes that may be used to enhance environmental studies in Region 10. Specifically, the work focused on laboratory procedures used to analyze for stable isotopes in order to support the work of the Region 10's quality assurance team. OEA's scientist worked with ISIRF's laboratory manager to implement and trouble-shoot a method for the analysis of nitrogen and oxygen isotopes of nitrate in water samples. The method involves denitrifying dissolved nitrate with bacteria in a sealed test tube, where the nitrate is reduced to nitrous oxide by the bacteria. The nitrous oxide is then purged from the test tube and analyzed using a Gas Bench II autosampler and gas chromatograph (GC) with an Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer. Initial work involved trouble-shooting procedures for method development and preparing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for future use. The bacterial denitrification portion of the method was successful, however, isotope ratios seen in the standards and method blanks indicated a need to identify and eliminate sources of nitrate contamination. Resolving this issue will be the next step in implementing this method at ISIRF, prior to scaling the method up to accommodate a large number of samples. The knowledge attained in this partnership will allow technical transfer of information to Region 10 for application in regional work, including planning site investigations, evaluating isotope data quality limitations, and technical review of proposed work within Region 10 by government agencies and private entities. ORD benefited by receiving assistance implementing a method that ISIRF can use to analyze nitrate in water samples for nitrogen and oxygen isotope composition. EPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 ------- EPA and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation Complete Comprehensive Tribal Exposure Survey OEA scientists and Superfund staff, working with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation (CCT), have completed over 6,000 interviews for a comprehensive survey to estimate total dietary intakes and other activities that could have potential for exposure from the Upper Columbia River site (UCR). The survey will also assess current resource avoidance due to perceived or actual contamination of tribal resources. The results of the survey will support exposure assessment, risk assessment, \\A ^TNL \WIV1 9 risk management, and risk \\1 alnlll/ communication to inform and promote healthy dietary and lifestyle choices for members of the CCT. The UCR Site extends 150 river miles from the U.S. - Canadian border to the Grand Coulee Dam. The survey is part of a large Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study performed under a Settlement Agreement with Teck, Inc., which operates a large lead and zinc smelter on the Columbia River in Trail, British Columbia. The eligible survey population included residents of the 2,100 square mile Colville Reservation. The survey collected data from interviews conducted by CCT Tribal members using three survey instruments administered over 18 months. The dietary component combined data from two survey instruments with state-of-the-art methods developed by statisticians from the National Cancer Institute: An Automated Multi-Pass (AMPM) 24-hour recall instrument, used by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, repeated 2 or more times: http:// riskfactor.cancer.gov/diet/usualintakes/method.html A CCT-specific annual Food Questionnaire (FQ) that was used to supplement multiple 24-hour AMPM recalls with dietary patterns representative of the previous year, including collecting the locations of locally gathered foods. EPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 ------- A Resource Utilization and Practices Questionnaire (ReUP) that collected data on all non-dietary cultural practices, including: Sweat lodge use and construction Crafts such as weaving, tanning, and processing materials by mouth Spiritual and medicinal practices using plants, animals, or minerals A CCT Advisory Committee consisting of Tribal elders, CCT staff, and subject experts in language, culture, plants, wildlife, ethnobotany, and a medical doctor was assembled to assist with review and design of the survey instruments. Statistical representativeness was achieved by enumerating the entire CCT population to estimate accurate sample weights for the probabilistic samples supplemented by recruitment of self- identified "heavy traditional users". The survey is unique in terms of its sample size, budget, reliance on validated survey instruments which were cognitively tested with the study population, and inclusion of virtually all potential sources of exposure. Data analysis and report development is ongoing. Regional Lab Continues to Expand Services The Region 10 Laboratory in Manchester, Washington, is a critical component of OEA and figures prominently in the work of the Region. The highlights that follow, while representative of the important work performed at the Lab, are only a fraction of it. Developing Chemical Warfare Agent Testing Capability: In June 2011, EPA's Manchester Laboratory completed a $3.5 million laboratory renovation project that gave it the capability to analyze ultra-dilute chemical warfare agents (CWA). This work is part of a national effort supporting the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) goal of creating an integrated network of laboratories that can be accessed during a national incident. EPA created the Environmental Response Laboratory Network (ERLN), and designated Region 10's Laboratory as the lead ERLN Laboratory in the region , as well as one of seven laboratories in the US to analyze ultra-dilute chemical warfare agents (CWA). This new category of CWA was created by the Department of Defense specifically for EPA's program, in order to limit the amount of agent required for developing analytical methods, and therefore EPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 ------- Special handling system for Chemical Warfare Agents limit exposure risk for EPA laboratory staff. These agents are some of the most acutely toxic compounds known to mankind, and mobilizing this new capability represented a significant new challenge. As part of the mobilization effort, staff demonstrated proficiency by analyzing Performance Test samples that were prepared and scored by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. As the lead laboratory for the ERLN in Region 10, the Region 10 Lab also has responsibility for training other ERLN-member laboratories in the northwest. On August 20-27, 2010, we conducted a Joint Functional Exercise training event that involved EPA Regions 9 and 10, the EPA Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW), the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The event assessed our ability to respond to a combined chemical and biological warfare agent attack. The incident notionally occurred in the Seattle area. Region 10's Emergency Response Unit (ERU) stood up an Incident Management Team (IMT) and activated EPA's ERLN. The ERLN labs analyzed chemical warfare agent degradates and toxic industrial chemicals. Together some 28 partner laboratories, including state, public utility and private sector laboratories, participated in the event. By lunch time on the fourth day, 2.5 days post sample receipt, data had been uploaded by the partner labs, validated by Region 10 QA staff, and electronically transferred into a database to prepare GIS maps. The event was so successful that the IMT was demobilized one day ahead of schedule. Adding Methyl Mercury Capability: Cycling of mercury in the environment is complex. Understanding this cycle requires quantification of various forms of mercury, including methyl mercury, which is much more toxic to organisms than inorganic mercury, and takes longer to eliminate. The analytical method for methyl mercury, which is available as a draft EPA method, is challenging, with a reporting limit (0.05 ng/L) that is 10-fold lower than our 'ultra-clean' low level mercury method or 1000-fold lower than traditional mercury EPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 ------- Preparing samples for Methyl Mercury analysis methods. The Region 10 Laboratory undertook methyl mercury method development to complement our capability to analyze trace level inorganic mercury in support of the Region 10 Mercury Strategy. While numerous papers have been published regarding methyl mercury analysis, critical steps in the method, such as the distillation process, which uses a chemical reagent to enhance the volatility of the mercury species, are still being studied and refined. In practice, failure to fully understand and control this critical first step in the method leads to poor overall recovery and precision. Over that past year, scientists at OEA's Laboratory conducted a significant number of studies aimed at better understanding the distillation process, and have improved method robustness, precision, and accuracy in our laboratory. This method was applied to over a hundred water samples from the Willamette River Bioaccumulation and Cycling Study this summer. Method performance will be assessed to determine if the Region 10 methyl mercury method is sufficiently robust for future work. Commencement Bay-South Tacoma Channel Well 12A: Both 24- hour analytical results and extensive technical expertise were provided to a remedial design phase of a clean-up effort on the Commencement Bay - South Tacoma Channel Well 12A Superfund site. This support included 300 volatile organic analyses with a 24- hour turnaround time from the time of sampling, and over 200 samples for other organics and TCLP metals. This extraordinarily short turnaround time was not available either through our CLP or FASTAC Tier 4 contracts. During the sampling, the on-site staff discovered an underground storage tank which contained some oily waste. Our regional expert modified an existing method for oily material and determined the presence of more than one type of PCB aroclor. This discovery was a surprise to the design team EPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 ------- as PCBs had not been found at the site previously. Additional PCB aroclor analyses were then conducted to determine the extent of the pollution, which is likely to affect the remedial design plan. Nez Perce Tribal Support: Water quality and quantity have important cultural and economic significance for Tribal Nations. Our laboratory provided support to the Nez Perce Tribe Water Resources Division's (WRD) total maximum daily load (TMDL) project. The mission of the WRD is to "provide a foundation for management of the water rights secured by the Treaties of 1855 and 1863, and for monitoring the quality of water resources vital to the long-term sustainability of the Nez Perce Tribe and its heirs". Long-term viability of this resource depends on the development of comprehensive management programs for watersheds located on the reservation and ceded lands. Partnering with the tribe, the Region 10 Laboratory supported 290 sample analyses for nitrate- nitrite, total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), ammonia, total phosphorus, dissolved phosphorus, and total suspended solids (TSS). These data will be used in the development and implementation of water quality standards for the Nez Perce Reservation, in TMDL development, and to determine support of designated beneficial uses. They will also be used to support the Nonpoint Source Assessment project to identify water bodies impaired by nonpoint-source pollutants. Microbial Source Tracking in Puget Sound: The Region 10 Lab's microbiology section has been conducting Microbial Source Tracking (MST) studies in Washington since 2006. Keying on genetic differences in the bacteria of humans and ruminants, this method is used to identify source(s) of fecal contamination, such as improper agricultural practices, failing septic drainfields, or leaking sewer lines. Because one of the Region's strategic goals is clean-up of the Puget Sound Basin, this program has consistently been called upon to identify sources Hmmm, I wonder where this stuff came from ? Hopefully, MST will help us identify the source! associated with embayments where closures of tribal and commercial shellfish harvesting, EPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 ------- and TMDL listings, have been a problem due to elevated fecal coliform levels. This tool has also been used to investigate sources linked to recreational and drinking water contamination. Since 2010, we have completed intensive studies in Birch Bay, Drayton Harbor, and the Samish Watershed. Although we are only able to differentiate human and ruminant sources, we have assisted Conservation and County Health Districts, as well as the Washington State Department of Ecology in identifying sources and empowering them to conduct further investigations where warranted, or to use the information in a public forum to negotiate with farmers or private landowners. Bioassay for Endocrine Disrupters Coming On-Line: The Lab's microbiology team is using the molecular technical capability developed there to support a new area of genetic testing. Some personal care products and Pharmaceuticals contain chemicals that remain in the effluent after wastes are treated in conventional wastewater treatment plants. These substances, known as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), mimic endocrines and can have a harmful effect on male fish populations. In Puget Sound, minimizing these effects is a specific goal of the ongoing recovery plan. Currently, with help from the Cincinnati ORD lab, the laboratory is participating in a round robin evaluation of this method, which will allow us to detect an early genetic alteration in fish due to low level exposure to EDCs, like an early warning system. This method has been under development in Cincinnati for several years and is just now ready for round robin testing. After the method is implemented here at the laboratory, OEA, together with the Office of Water, the Washington Department of Ecology, and industry, will conduct a study (funded by the Puget Sound program) to determine if state-of-the-art sewage treatment techniques geared towards reducing nutrient loading will also reduce the level of these EDCs in Puget Sound and associated waterways. Although this EPA method is still in draft, its use in testing various wastewater treatment plants will go a long way towards encouraging municipalities to improve their treatment techniques. EPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 ------- Maintaining a Strong Quality Assurance Program The Region 10 Quality Assurance (RIO QA) team in OEA plays an integral role in all projects, grants and contracts involving the generation and use of environmental data in the Region. Our QA team is responsible for the development, review and approval of QA Project Plans (QAPPs); sample control; analytical services procurement; laboratory scheduling; management and oversight of OSWER's Contract Laboratory Program (CLP); data validation; field and laboratory support and assessments; and QA oversight of Region 10 States, local agencies and tribal government programs. In FY11, the team reviewed and approved more than 300 QAPPS and coordinated, scheduled and monitored the collection, shipment, analysis, data submission and payment of over 28,000 samples that were sent to CLP labs and the EPA Region 10 Lab for various chemical analyses. All CLP-generated analytical data are validated by the QAteam prior to authorization for payment. The RIO QA team also participated in the joint Region 9 and 10 Emergency Response Laboratory Network (ERLN) exercise mentioned earlier in this report. In this exercise, the QA team tested the newly developed web-based electronic data review software and identified bottlenecks in the data submission process, issues with electronic data deliverable formats, as well as strengths and weaknesses of the validation software. The RIO QA team is a major contributor to the revision and update of the QA section of the Sediment Evaluation Framework (SEF) for the Pacific Northwest. The SEF manual provides regulation guidelines for the assessment and characterization of fresh water and marine sediments in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. In addition, the RIO QAteam, in cooperation with the Region 10 Sediment Management Unit, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Washington Department Ecology, developed and created approximately 4,000 units of Sediment Reference Material (SRM) for low concentration level dioxins, furans, PCB congeners and PCB Aroclors as a QA tool for the Dredge Material Management (DMMP), Superfund and RCRA Clean-up programs. Currently, Region 10 alone has SRM materials for these low-level analyses. EPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 ------- The RIO QA team is also committed to working with our partners to ensure that they are successful in their QA efforts. An example of this commitment is the team's work with the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission (NWIFC), one of the Puget Sound Lead Organizations responsible for managing large amounts of grant dollars in support of Puget Sound restoration. The Commission, in turn, distributes grant funding to Tribal governments that are involved in this effort. The RIO QA team assisted the Commission in the development, review and approval of their Quality Management Plan. In addition, as the NWIFC establishes its own capacity and capability for a QA Program, the RIO QA team is working with the individual Tribes to assist them in the development, review, and approval of their QAPPs. The RIO QA team will also provide NWIFC technical assistance during field and laboratory Quality System and Technical System Audits (QSR and TSA, respectively) for funded projects. EPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 ------- Contact Information OEA Office Director: Joyce Kelly Kelly.Joyce@epa.gov 206-553-4027 OEA Associate Director: Ann Williamson Williamson.Ann@epa.gov 206-553-2739 OEA Lab Director: Barry Pepich Pepich.Barry@epa.gov 360-871-8701 Environmental Services Unit: Mark Filippini Filippini.Mark@epa.gov 206-553-6327 Risk Evaluation Unit: Sheila Fleming Fleming.Sheila@epa.gov 206-553-1417 Environmental Characterization Unit: Mahbubul Islam lslam.Mahbubul@epa.gov 206-553-6985 Environmental Chemistry Group: Gerald Dodo, Supv. Chem. Dodo.Gerald@epa.gov 360-871-8728 OEA Links OEA Intranet Website: http://rlOnapps3.rl0.epa.gov:9876/R10/INFOPAGE/ oeainfo.nsf/7919D39DDA013F4D88256A5400754688/592 B462BF1915CE1882573390063CE04?Open Document OEA Internet Website: http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/OEA.NSF/ webpage/Environmental+Assessment OEA Access to Technical Assistance (i.e., menu of expertise, "Tec Tasks" database): http://204.47.216.153:9876/rlO/infopage/oeainfo.ns f/4bb5d2c2196a420e8825650f00711e3b/fec236c80 4519659882570d800644316?OpenDocument OEA "In the Spotlight" Articles: http://204.47.216.153:9876/rlO/infopage/oeainfo.ns f/7919d39dda013f4d88256a5400754688/c609d224 5ab4b3e688257498005ccafc?OpenDocument OEA's Regional Laboratory in Manchester, Washington: http://rlOnapps3.rl0.epa.gov:9876/R10/INFOPAGE/labinfo. nsf/lAC4DBB9903E8797882575BD007DB98E/7B5D75 AA7F24A3B0882575BD007DA647?Open Document EPA Region 10 Office of Environmental Assessment Highlights Report for 2010-2011 ------- vvEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency ------- |