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Using Fish Tissue Data to Monitor Remedy Effectiveness
Citation:
GREENBERG, M., S. ELLS, AND L. P. BURKHARD. Using Fish Tissue Data to Monitor Remedy Effectiveness. Presented at Battelle 5th International Conference on Remediation of Contaminated Sediments, Jacksonville, FL, February 02 - 05, 2009.
Impact/Purpose:
This presentation will briefly cover the factors that may be important and will provide general recommendations for fish sampling at typical Superfund sites for monitoring remedy effectiveness.
Description:
Chapter 8 of the Contaminated Sediment Remediation Guidance for Hazardous Waste Sites (OSWER Directive 9355.0-85, December 2005), presents an approach for developing an effective monitoring plan. As stated in the Guidance, one of the goals of monitoring is to “evaluate long-term remedy effectiveness in achieving remedial action objectives and in reducing human health and/or environmental risk.” The Guidance describes a successful remedy as one where “the selected sediment chemical or biological cleanup levels have been met and maintained over time, and where all relevant risks have been reduced to acceptable levels based on the anticipated future uses of the water body and the goals and objectives stated in the ROD.” Fish tissue contaminant concentrations are often the key measures that need to be monitored in order to document success. The above Guidance, however, does not specify how, when, or where to collect fish tissue samples. There are many factors that can influence the measured concentrations of contaminants in biota tissues. The site manager and technical team need to be aware of these factors and consider them in developing the sampling plan. This will help ensure that the data collected can be used to evaluate remedy effectiveness and to evaluate the protectiveness of the remedy during the five year review process. This presentation will briefly cover the factors that may be important and will provide general recommendations for fish sampling at typical Superfund sites for monitoring remedy effectiveness. The information and general recommendations presented here are available in the US-Environmental Protection Agency, OSWER Directive 9200.1-77D (June 2008): The Sediment Assessment and Monitoring Sheet (SAMS) #1: Using Fish Tissue Data to Monitor Remedy Effectiveness.