Information Bulletin The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is conducting a Remedial Investigation/ Feasibility Study (RI/FS) for the Calcasieu Estuary. The RI planning was initiated in May 1999 with the most recent task, the Phase II sampling, conducted between November 2000 and January 2001. This Calcasieu Estuary Cooperative Site bulletin is presented to provide interested parties progress information on the RI/FS. This update presents information regarding: Baseline Ecological Risk Assessment (BERA) Problem Formulation document and its availability Cooperative sampling status Phase II RI data availability Problem Formulation As a part of the Phase II RI/FS, the Calcasieu Estuary Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS): Baseline Ecological Risk Assessment (BERA) Baseline Problem Formulation document was completed in September 2001. The problem formulation defines items that are ecologically important and provides a basis for measuring the impact to them from the chemical contamination. For example, fish- eating birds were identified as an important component of the ecosystem in the Calcasieu Estuary. The document describes what the possible threats are to the birds and defines exactly how the threats can be measured or estimated. The result of implementing the problem formulation will be the BERA. This risk assessment will be used in conjunction with the human health risk assessment to define the areas in the Calcasieu estuary that may require remediation. The problem formulation document may be downloaded at the Calcasieu Estuary website, www.epa.gov/region6/calcasieu, and printed copies are located at the Calcasieu Outreach Office. Phase II Cooperative Sampling Status The Phase II RI/FS sampling effort was extensive, resulting in collection of over 650 tissue samples and 129 sediment samples. Samples collected were analyzed for toxicity of the sediment and porewater, benthic community structure, and chemistry of the sediment, porewater and tissue samples. Sampling and analysis has been a cooperative effort between EPA, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ), U.S.Fish and ------- Wildlife Service (USFWS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and PPG Industries. The analysis of the tissue samples and a majority of the sediment samples were performed by a laboratory under contract to PPG Industries. To ensure the highest quality data from the laboratory, EPA utilized several approaches. First, EPA personnel performed an onsite audit of the laboratory to ensure that the correct procedures were being followed. The laboratory personnel were receptive of the audit and responded to the issues raised by the auditor. Second, samples with a known level of contaminants were sent to the laboratory. These samples are called Performance Evaluation (PE) samples and are used to determine if a laboratory could meet the project's data quality objectives. PE samples were also used to refine the methods used to analyze tissue samples. During the early stages of tissue analysis, it was found that the fat content of fish led to elevated detection limits, impacting data use in the risk assessments. PE samples were sent to the labs analyzing tissue and through that testing, a different sample extraction method was suggested. The change allowed the labs to meet the required detection limits, and tissue analysis was resumed. The decision to change the extraction method led to re-analysis of the initial tissue samples (those performed under the first method) and a schedule delay. The time and effort spent in resolving laboratory issues has resulted in data that will provide the most complete description of the site. This data will then be used to define the risks to human health and the environment. Delays in the process were minimized to the extent possible by the team with the goal of ensuring the highest quality product. Phase II Data Availability A variety of Phase II data is available, some of it in the form of interim reports. Copies of these reports are available on the Calcasieu Estuary Initiative website and include the following: • Benthic Macroinvertebrate Community Survey of the Calcasieu Estuary • Ampelisca abdita and Nereis virens Sediment /Toxicity Tests • Hvalella azteca Sediment Toxicity Tests, Solid-phase Microtox Toxicity Tests, Metals Analysis of Whole Sediment and Porewater, and Physical Characteristics of Sediments • Sediment Porewater Toxicity Tests Data currently in data validation and due out in the near future includes: Porewater chemistry data Sediment chemistry data Whole body tissue data Fillet tissue data Information is available to the public through the EPA Calcasieu Estuary Initiative website, www.epa/gov/region6/calcasieu, or at the: Calcasieu Estuary Community Outreach Office 110 West Prien Lake Road Lake Charles, LA 70601 (337) 562-9801 2 ------- Future Reports The Remedial Investigation Report will summarize all the results of the sampling for the project. This report is expected to be available by the end of the year. The Human Health Risk Assessment will be available in January 2002 and the Ecological Risk Assessment will be available in May 2002. EPA plans to have public availability meetings for each report. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION If you have questions about EPA or the INFORMATION REPOSITORIES Calcasieu Estuary Project, please contact: Calcasieu Parish Library John Meyer Central Branch Remedial Project Manager 301 West Claude Street U.S. EPA Region 6 (6SF-LP) Lake Charles, LA 70605 1445 Ross Avenue (318) 475-8792 (Reference) Dallas, TX 75202-2733 (214) 665-6742 Louisiana Department of (800) 533-5308 Toll free Environmental Quality - Inactive and Abandoned Sites Duane Wilson 7290 Bluebonnet Boulevard Louisiana Department of Environmental Baton Rouge, LA 70810 Quality (225) 765-0428 or 1-888-763-5424 7290 Bluebonnet Boulevard Baton Rouge, LA 70810 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (225) 765-0463 1445 Ross Avenue, 12th Floor Dallas, TX 75202 Janetta Coats (214) 665-2424 Community Involvement Coordinator U.S. EPA Region 6 (SF-PO) ON THE WEB.... 1445 Ross Avenue Dallas, TX 75202-2733 U.S. EPA HO: http://www/epa.eov (214) 665-7308 U.S. EPA Region 6: (800) 533-3508 Toll free http ://www. epa. eov/earth 1 r6 For the latest status of other EPA program Media questions should be directed to U.S. activities within the Calcasieu Estuary, EPA, Region 6, Office of External Affairs, please visit the Calcasieu Home Page: at (214) 665-2200. http://www.epa.aov/reaion6/calcasieu 3 ------- |