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Terrestrial Ecological Risk Assessment for the Teck Metals Ltd

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Terrestrial Ecological Risk Assessment for the Teck Metals Ltd • Terrestrial Ecological Risk Assessment for the Teck Metals Ltd. Smelter at Trail, BC. MAIN REPORT Revised May 2011 This document was jointly prepared and co-authored by: Intrinsik Environmental Sciences Inc. Swanson Environmental Strategies Ltd. Delphinium Holdings Inc. Teck Metals Ltd. (This page intentionally left blank) INTRINSIK ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES INC. SWANSON ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES LTD. DELPHINIUM HOLDINGS INC. TECK METALS LTD. TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT FOR THE TECK METALS LTD SMELTER AT TRAIL, BC. Table of Contents Page EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................ i 1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Purpose ....................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Overview of Approach .................................................................................................. 3 1.3 Consultation and External Review ................................................................................ 6 1.4 Management Goals and Objectives ............................................................................. 6 1.5 Report Organization ..................................................................................................... 8 2.0 PROBLEM FORMULATION ........................................................................................... 9 2.1 Area of Interest ............................................................................................................ 9 2.2 Levels of Refinement (LORs) for the Wildlife ERA ...................................................... 11 2.3 Potential Chemicals of Concern ................................................................................. 12 2.3.1 PCOC Screening for the Problem Formulation .................................................... 12 2.3.2 PCOC Screening for LOR2 ................................................................................. 13 2.3.3 PCOCs Retained at the Conclusion of each LOR ............................................... 18 2.3.4 Organic Compounds ........................................................................................... 18 2.3.5 Summary of PCOC Screening............................................................................. 19 2.4 Receptors of Concern ................................................................................................ 19 2.5 Conceptual Models .................................................................................................... 20 2.5.1 Other Sources of Stress in the Area of Interest ................................................... 22 2.5.2 Uncertainty .......................................................................................................... 23 2.5.2.1 Natural Variability ......................................................................................... 23 2.5.2.2 Model Uncertainty ........................................................................................ 24 2.5.2.3 Measurement Error ...................................................................................... 25 2.5.2.4 Data Errors .................................................................................................. 25 3.0 ASSESSMENT OF RISKS TO EVALUATE OBJECTIVES 1, 2 AND 3 RELATED TO VEGETATION IN WILDLAND, URBAN AND AGRICULTURAL AREAS..................... 27 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 27 3.2 Screening of Metal Concentrations in Soil Against CSR Standards ............................ 29 3.3 SALE Evaluation for Objective 1 (Wildland Plant Communities) ................................. 32 3.3.1 Screening of Polygons based on Biophysical Characteristics .............................. 33 3.3.2 SALE Effects Assessment ................................................................................... 36 3.3.2.1 Line of Evidence #1 - Forest Productivity ..................................................... 39 3.3.2.2 Line of Evidence #2 - Vegetation Community Statistics ................................ 41 3.3.2.3 Line of Evidence #3 – Soil Physical and Chemical Characteristics ............... 52 3.3.2.4 Line of Evidence #4 – Herbivore Community Changes ................................ 53 3.3.2.5 Summary of Evidence for Effects of Smelter Emissions on Plant Communities ................................................................................................ 53 3.3.3 Assessment of Causality ..................................................................................... 54 3.3.4 Risk Characterization .......................................................................................... 58 3.3.5 Conclusions and Recommendations Related to Risk Management ..................... 66 3.3.6 Sensitivity Analysis .............................................................................................. 67 3.4 Problem Formulation for Objective 2 (Urban Plants) .................................................. 68 3.4.1 Identification of Urban Areas Considered in the Problem Formulation ................. 69 3.4.2 Information Sources for the Problem Formulation ............................................... 69 3.4.3 Summary of Information ...................................................................................... 70 3.4.4 Conclusions of the Problem Formulation ............................................................. 71 Terrestrial Ecological Risk Assessment for the Teck Metals Ltd. Smelter at Trail, BC May 2011 Final Report - Project 20460 INTRINSIK ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES INC. SWANSON ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES LTD. DELPHINIUM HOLDINGS INC. TECK METALS LTD. 3.5 Problem Formulation for Objective 3 (Agricultural Crops) ........................................... 71 3.5.1 Identification of Agricultural Areas Evaluated in the Problem Formulation ........... 72 3.5.2 Information Sources for the Problem Formulation ............................................... 74 3.5.3 Summary of Information ...................................................................................... 74 3.5.4 Conclusions of the Problem Formulation ............................................................. 75 3.6 Summary of Conclusions Regarding Plant Communities in the Area of Interest ......... 76 4.0 ASSESSMENT OF RISKS TO EVALUATE OBJECTIVES 4, 5 AND 6 RELATED TO WILDLIFE ..................................................................................................................... 77 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 77 4.2 SALE Screening ......................................................................................................... 78 4.3 SALE Evaluation for American Robin ......................................................................... 80 4.3.1 Assessment of Evidence for Indirect Effects (Conceptual Model 2) ..................... 83 4.3.2 Assessment of Evidence From Field Surveys ..................................................... 87 4.3.3 Summary of Magnitude and Uncertainty for the American Robin ........................ 88 4.3.4 Risk Characterization for American Robin ........................................................... 90 4.4 SALE Evaluation for Avian Wildlife Communities ....................................................... 90 4.4.1 Assessment of Evidence for Indirect Effects via Food Chain Interactions ............ 90 4.4.2 Assessment of Evidence for Indirect Effects from Field Surveys ......................... 91 4.4.3 Summary of Magnitude and Uncertainty Evaluation for the Lines of Evidence Related to the Avian Community ......................................................................... 98 4.4.4 Risk Characterization for Avian Communities ...................................................... 99 4.5 SALE Evaluation for Mammalian Wildlife Communities ............................................ 100 4.5.1 Assessment of the Evidence for Indirect Effects ................................................ 100 4.5.2 Assessment of Evidence from Field Surveys..................................................... 102 4.5.3 Summary of Magnitude and Uncertainty Evaluation for the Lines of Evidence Related to the Mammalian Community .............................................................. 112 4.5.4 Risk Characterization for Mammalian Wildlife ................................................... 114 4.6 Conclusions and Recommendations Related to Risk Management for Avian and Mammalian Wildlife .................................................................................................. 114 5.0 ASSESSMENT OF RISKS TO EVALUATE OBJECTIVE 7 RELATED TO THREATENED AND ENDANGERED WILDLIFE ....................................................... 115 5.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 115 5.2 SALE Step 1: Direct Toxicity Screening ................................................................... 116 5.3 SALE Steps 2-4: Magnitude of Response and Uncertainty ....................................... 118 5.3.1 Assessment of Evidence for Indirect Effects...................................................... 119 5.3.2 Assessment of Evidence from Field
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