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MEMORANDUM
TO:
Jesse
Pritts
and
Pat
Harrigan,
EPA
EAD
CC:
Kathy
Monk,
EPA
EAD
FROM:
Betsy
Bicknell,
ERG
DATE:
February
3,
2003
SUBJECT:
Brief:
National
Sediment
Quality
Survey
(
12/
2001)

This
memorandum
is
a
partial
response
to
Technical
Direction
received
from
Jesse
Pritts
on
January
15,
2003.
Among
other
things,
ERG
was
directed
to
review
briefs
prepared
by
EAD.
These
briefs
evaluate
the
utility
of
data
sources
for
determining
specific
industrial
categories
or
facilities
that
may
pose
a
risk
to
human
health
and
the
environment
or
may
be
significant
dischargers
of
toxic
or
conventional
pollutants
to
waters
of
the
U.
S.
due
to
wastewater
and
stormwater
discharges.
This
memorandum
addresses
the
brief
describing
the
National
Sediment
Quality
Survey
(
12/
2001).

Overview
EPA
compiled
existing
data
on
concentrations
of
contaminants
in
sediments
and
tissue
residue.
The
data
reflected
samples
collected
from
1990
to
1999,
representing
about
9
percent
of
river
reaches.
Using
sediment
chemistry
and
chemical
toxicity
information
along
with
the
sediment
and
tissue
concentration
measurements,
EPA
classified
each
sampling
station
by
the
probability
of
adverse
effects
on
aquatic
life
or
human
health.
A
list,
by
chemical,
of
the
frequency
of
detection
in
sediment
and
tissue,
is
included
in
the
brief.
(
Table
C­
3).

Comments
°
This
study
identified
geographical
areas
of
concern.
Identification
of
contaminant
sources
for
each
area
of
concern
would
be
quite
difficult.
Instead,
EPA
may
be
able
to
identify
chemicals
of
concern
(
nationally)
and
investigate
the
types
of
industries
that
are
likely
sources
of
discharges
of
these
chemicals.

°
Metals
were
frequently
detected
in
sediment
and
tissue.
Because
metals
are
naturally
occurring
in
sediment
and
tissue,
concentrations
must
be
used
to
evaluate
these
results.
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°
Pesticides
were
frequently
detected
in
sediment
and
tissue.
Many
are
no
longer
in
commercial
use
and
would
likely
have
no
active
discharge.

°
Mercury
was
frequently
detected
in
sediment
and
tissue.
Atmospheric
deposition
is
a
major
route
for
introduction
of
mercury
into
the
environment.
Also,
EPA's
mercury
program
has
targeted
environmental
reductions.

°
The
remaining
results
could
be
sorted
to
identify
chemicals
potentially
of
concern,
followed
by
additional
investigation
of
discharge
sources
of
these
chemicals.

°
There
is
no
direct
connection
between
chemicals
found
in
contaminated
sediment
and
point
source
dischargers.

Short­
term
Follow­
up
(
February
­
March,
2003)

°
Review
complete
report
and
contact
authors
to
determine
if
"
chemicals
of
concern"
were
identified.
If
so,
use
OPPT
tools
and
other
sources
to
identify
potential
sources
for
active
point
source
discharges
on
the
chemicals
of
concern.

°
Determine
if
the
analyses
in
this
report
have
been
used
in
the
OPPT
programs
(
e.
g.,
PBT
chemicals)
to
target
chemical­
specific
work.

°
Compare
the
factors
used
to
weight
sediment
contaminants
to
the
"
toxic
weighting
factors"
EAD
has
used
to
analyze
the
cost­
effectiveness
of
effluent
limitations
guidelines
and
standards
and
the
environmental
indicators
included
in
RSEI.
Also
compare
these
factors
to
the
chemical
ranking
factors
used
by
OPPT.

Long­
term
Follow­
up
(
after
March
2003)

°
If
report
authors
and
OPPT
have
not
prioritized
chemicals
potentially
of
concern,
with
respect
to
sediment
contamination,
evaluate
the
study
results
to
make
preliminary
identifications.

°
Use
OPPT
tools
and
other
sources
to
identify
potential
sources
for
active
point
source
discharges
on
the
chemicals
of
concern.

°
Consider
incorporating
sediment
hazard
weighting
factors
into
other
risk
screening
tools
(
TWF,
RSEI)
if
they
are
not
yet
included.
