Toxics Subcommittee Meeting Minutes 10/31/2007 Present: Cathleen Hapeman, Greg Allen, Hannah Bracken, Jamie Mitchell, Tom Barron, Leonard Schugam, Fred Pinkney, A.K. Leight Agenda Item and Desired Outcome Notes and Action Items Introductions and Announcements Toxics Presentation to Jeff Lape; Summary Greg presented an overview of Toxics concerns for the Program, Toxics Subcommittee Activities, and TSC needs to CBP Director Jeff Lape and the CBPO management team. He emphasized now as a good time to review how we are addressing chemical contaminant issues since the reorganization is underway. We observe serious impacts from chemical contaminants in the Chesapeake Bay but are uncertain that these problems are adequately addressed through the Bay Program, for example we would expect the Water Quality Steering Committee to consider the full range of issues effecting water quality. Many people are of the opinion that most of the chemical contamination issues are due to legacy contamination, Greg stressed that this is not the case, while there are legacy issues there is a continuing influx of harmful chemicals, some of which are not yet understood or evaluated. Jeff indicated his belief that Toxics activities should be included in the Strategic Implementation Plan, Greg mentioned to Jeff that the Toxics Subcommittee had supplied edits for the Pillar 1 SIP. Review Draft CBP Restructuring Diagram and Functions The subcommittee reviewed the draft Proposed Functions in new CBP Structure and the Structure Diagram. Toxics appear to fall under water quality. Fred felt within this structure the worst case scenario leads to no change relative to the current structure, with nutrients and toxics separated into two boxes within water quality. It is possible to function together and target source sectors which would be a positive outcome. Living resources and water quality are both included but without a distinguished connection. Cathleen expressed concern that this ignores the ecosystem when the connection between the two is not acknowledged and planning is not centered around the entire ecosystem. Compile comments outlining concerns and offering additions or changes, and submit to Diana - All interested subcommittee members, Fred, Jamie, Cathleen and Laura, Tom, Greg, Hannah. Mercury Workshop Follow-up Email URL for Mercury Workshop to TSC. - Hannah One positive outcome of the workshop: MDE will work with DNR and begin to look at mercury concentrations in young of the year fish to track results of mercury controls. The TMDL program may fund this effort and it is possible the data could be useful for the models. Other updates Non Tidal Monitoring Workgroup is interested in developing a PCB indicator for non- tidal waters. The Endocrine Disruptors in Waste Water Treatment workshop will be planned for early 2008. ------- Lenwood Hall was asked by MDA's Pesticide Advisory Council to do another risk assessment for Atrazine in the Chesapeake Bay, this time including tidal waters beyond the mainstem. He concluded little risk to the Bay due to Atrazine. Greg and Cathleen are concerned that while his risk assessment did answer the question asked of him, the question asked may not have been adequate, and his answer considered atrazine only as it acts alone and did not consider its potential to act as an endocrine disruptor. Information on SAV in streams is limited and was not taken into account despite the fact that this is where acute risk due to Atrazine is likely. Increased usage due to increased corn production was not considered. Submit comments for the record - Greg, Cathleen UMCES is looking to include toxics in its next Bay report Card. NOAA Oxford is part of the report card cooperative effort so A.K. is willing and able to help. Include A.K. if we need help identifying and developing a method. - Greg. ------- |