Sediment Scenario Outline

Sediment Scenario Outline
Ecochallenge Game (AIHC)

1. Background

A. Site Description

1) River - tributary to Great Lakes

2) History of industrial use

3) Dredging of harbor by Army Corps (and analysis of sediment for disposal) revealed elevated levels of PCBs, PAHs, and metals

4) Potential point sources along the river include (map)

a. Active manufacturing facility that used PCB-containing hydraulic fluids - 10 miles upstream from Lake, potential PCB source

b. Landfill - 5 miles upstream, potential metal source

c. Manufactured gas plant site - 1 mile upstream, potential PAH source

5) 10 mile-stretch of river is NPL site due to sediment contamination

B. Description of Task

1) Phase 1 - conduct an ecological risk assessment for the site to determine the need for and extent of sediment remediation

2) Phase 2 (more oriented toward RTDF use) - evaluate effectiveness of potential remedial technologies at reducing ecological risk

2. Studies/Tests [Potential outcomes are described in brackets}

A. Field Studies

1) Fish tissue residue sampling and analysis for target analytes

a. Chinook salmon fillets
[Don’t reflect contamination due to short river residence time]

b. Smallmouth bass fillets
[Useful for human health, not ecological risk]

c. Juvenile white sucker whole-body composites

2) Benthic community survey
[Lots of noise in data, difficult to interpret]

3) Sediment sampling and comparison to criteria
[Indicates lots of problems in lots of places, too conservative]

4) Triad
[Provides better information than individual components]

5) Fish liver enzyme induction
[Indicates exposure rather than effect]

6) White sucker histopathology

7) Tethered Clams
[Study turned into a smorgasboard for raccoons]

8) Caged mudpuppies

9) Caged minnows

10) Caged mussels

11) SPMDs

12) Tree swallow study

B. Laboratory Tests

1) Sediment Toxicity
Hyalella
Chironomus

2) Sediment Bioaccumulation - Lumbriculus

C. Risk Assessment Calculations

1) Mink exposed via food chain
Screening level
Site-specific
Probabilistic

2) Great blue heron exposed via food chain
Screening level
Site-specific
Probabilistic

Slide 3 of 3

1.	Background
	A.	Site Description
		1)	River - tributary to Great Lakes
		2)	History of industrial use
		3)	Dredging of harbor by Army Corps (and analysis of sediment for disposal) revealed elevated levels of PCBs, PAHs, and metals
		4)	Potential point sources along the river include (map)
			a.	Active manufacturing facility that used PCB-containing hydraulic fluids - 10 miles upstream from Lake, potential PCB source
			b.	Landfill - 5 miles upstream, potential metal source
			c.	Manufactured gas plant site - 1 mile upstream, potential PAH source
		5)	10 mile-stretch of river is NPL site due to sediment contamination
	B.	Description of Task
		1)	Phase 1 - conduct an ecological risk assessment for the site to determine the need for and extent of sediment remediation
		2)	Phase 2 (more oriented toward RTDF use) - evaluate effectiveness of potential remedial technologies at reducing ecological risk

2.	Studies/Tests [Potential outcomes are described in brackets}
	A.	Field Studies
		1)	Fish tissue residue sampling and analysis for target analytes
			a.	Chinook salmon fillets [Don’t reflect contamination due to short river residence time]
			b.	Smallmouth bass fillets [Useful for human health, not ecological risk]
			c.	Juvenile white sucker whole-body composites
		2)	Benthic community survey [Lots of noise in data, difficult to interpret]
		3)	Sediment sampling and comparison to criteria [Indicates lots of problems in lots of places, too conservative]
		4)	Triad [Provides better information than individual components]
		5)	Fish liver enzyme induction [Indicates exposure rather than effect]
		6)	White sucker histopathology
		7)	Tethered Clams [Study turned into a smorgasboard for raccoons]
		8)	Caged mudpuppies
		9)	Caged minnows
		10)	Caged mussels
		11)	SPMDs
		12)	Tree swallow study
	B.	Laboratory Tests
		1)	Sediment Toxicity Hyalella Chironomus
		2)	Sediment Bioaccumulation - Lumbriculus
	C.	Risk Assessment Calculations
		1)	Mink exposed via food chain Screening level Site-specific Probabilistic
		2)	Great blue heron exposed via food chain Screening level Site-specific Probabilistic