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Inserting EGS Tools into the ERA Framework - An Example Crosswalk
Citation:
Maurice, C., B. Duncan, S. Mazur, AND M. Russell. Inserting EGS Tools into the ERA Framework - An Example Crosswalk. ERAF EGS Informational Webinar, NA, Virtual, November 03 - 10, 2021.
Impact/Purpose:
This presentation is intended to familiarize EPA staff with ecosystem goods and services (EGS) and associated ORD-developed enabling tools so EGS can be incorporated into ecological risk assessment for contaminated sites.
Description:
Linking the benefits of the natural environment to the health and wellbeing of people has become increasingly important. Identifying, evaluating, and characterizing ecosystem goods and services (EGS) is one way to better understand this human/environment linkage. Within the U.S. EPA Superfund and RCRA hazardous waste site cleanup processes, ecological risk assessment (ERA) is the mechanism by which threats to non-human ecological receptors are evaluated. Sometimes it is difficult to determine or communicate the benefits provided to people by the identified ecological receptors. We believe for some cases, incorporating EGS methodologies and tools into ERAs can be a useful approach to link the benefits to people provided by the environment. Depending on the circumstances, EGS can be incorporated throughout the ERA or during selected steps.