Sediment Evaluation Framework for the Pacific Northwest May 2009 SEDIMENT EVALUATION FRAMEWORK FOR THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST PREPARED BY: U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS – PORTLAND DISTRICT, SEATTLE DISTRICT, WALLA WALLA DISTRICT, AND NORTHWESTERN DIVISION U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, REGION 10 WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES OREGON DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE MAY 2009 SEF for the Pacific Northwest TABLE OF CONTENTS ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS SEDIMENT EVALUATION FRAMEWORK PREAMBLE CHAPTER 1. GOALS, DESCRIPTIONS, AND ORGANIZATION.......................................1-1 1.1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................1-1 1.2. SCOPE, APPLICABILITY, AND LIMITATIONS.....................................................................1-1 1.3. HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL............................................................................................1-2 1.4. FRAMEWORK OBJECTIVES...............................................................................................1-3 1.5. EVALUATION PROCEDURES PHILOSOPHY .......................................................................1-4 1.5.1. Characteristics of the Sediment Evaluation Framework .........................................1-5 1.5.2. Need for Flexibility in Application of Evaluation Procedures ................................1-6 1.6. RSET STRUCTURE AND PROCESS....................................................................................1-6 1.6.1. Roles, Relationships, and Representation................................................................1-6 1.6.2. Current RSET Subcommittees.................................................................................1-7 1.6.3. RSET Continuous Improvement/Adaptive Management........................................1-8 1.6.4. Regulatory/Technical Sediment Interface ...............................................................1-8 1.6.5. Region-wide Interpretation of Test Results.............................................................1-8 1.6.6. Database Management.............................................................................................1-9 1.6.7. Public Involvement/National Environmental Policy Act ........................................1-9 CHAPTER 2. SEDIMENT MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS..............................................2-1 2.1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................2-1 2.2. OVERVIEW OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT (CWA) .............................................................2-1 2.2.1. Section 401 of the CWA..........................................................................................2-1 2.2.2. Section 404 of the CWA..........................................................................................2-2 2.3. OVERVIEW OF MARINE PROTECTION, RESEARCH AND SANCTUARIES ACT (MPRSA)...2-3 2.4. OVERLAPPING GEOGRAPHIC JURISDICTION OF CWA AND MPRSA...............................2-3 2.5. OVERVIEW OF SECTION 10 OF THE RIVERS AND HARBORS ACT.....................................2-4 2.6. LISTING OF RELEVANT FEDERAL AND STATE REGULATIONS .........................................2-5 2.6.1. Federal .....................................................................................................................2-5 2.6.2. State of Washington ................................................................................................2-7 2.6.3. State of Oregon........................................................................................................2-8 2.6.4. State of Idaho...........................................................................................................2-8 CHAPTER 3. REGULATORY PROCESS AND SEDIMENT EVALUATION.....................3-1 3.1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................3-1 3.2. CONSISTENT APPLICATION OF THE SEF..........................................................................3-1 3.3. REGULATORY PERMITS AND PROCESSES ........................................................................3-1 3.3.1. Corps of Engineers Permitting Processes................................................................3-5 3.3.2. ESA Consultation Process.......................................................................................3-7 3.3.3. State Permitting Processes.......................................................................................3-9 3.4. PRGS/DMMP PROCESS...................................................................................................3-9 3.4.1. Historical Information Review ..............................................................................3-10 3.4.2. Draft Sampling and Analysis Plan (SAP) Review ................................................3-10 3.4.3. Sediment Characterization Report.........................................................................3-10 3.5. CONFLICT RESOLUTION PROCESS .................................................................................3-11 3.6. VERIFICATION OF MULTI-YEAR MAINTENANCE DREDGING PERMITS .........................3-11 3.7. PROCESS FOR CORPS OF ENGINEERS CIVIL WORKS DREDGING....................................3-11 3.8. CONTAMINATED SEDIMENT EVALUATION ....................................................................3-12 May 2009 i SEF for the Pacific Northwest CHAPTER 4. EVALUATION FRAMEWORK/SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS PLAN........4-1 4.1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................4-1 4.2. LEVEL 1 ...........................................................................................................................4-1 4.2.1. Defining the Project.................................................................................................4-1 4.2.2. Collect Existing Information ...................................................................................4-4 4.2.3. Developing a Conceptual Site Model......................................................................4-5 4.2.4. Frequency and Recency Guidelines ........................................................................4-8 4.2.5. Project Ranking .....................................................................................................4-10 4.2.6. Use of Guidelines and Level 1 Conclusions..........................................................4-12 4.3. LEVEL 2 .........................................................................................................................4-12 4.3.1. Sampling and Analysis Plan Preparation...............................................................4-13 4.3.2. Testing Requirements for Special Cases ...............................................................4-14 4.3.3. Other Special Evaluations .....................................................................................4-15 4.4. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR SEDIMENTS UNDER CLEANUP ACTIONS.....................4-16 CHAPTER 5. SAMPLING PROTOCOL ...................................................................................5-1 5.1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................5-1 5.2. SAMPLING APPROACH .....................................................................................................5-1 5.3. POSITIONING METHODS...................................................................................................5-3 5.4. SAMPLING METHODS.......................................................................................................5-3 5.5. SAMPLE COLLECTION AND HANDLING PROCEDURES .....................................................5-3 5.6. ARCHIVING ADDITIONAL SEDIMENT...............................................................................5-4 5.7. DATA SUBMITTAL............................................................................................................5-4 CHAPTER 6. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL TESTING ........................................................6-1 6.1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................6-1 6.2. GENERAL TESTING PROTOCOLS ......................................................................................6-7 6.3. CONVENTIONAL TESTING PROTOCOLS............................................................................6-7 6.4. PHYSICAL SCREENING USING GRAIN SIZE AND ORGANIC CARBON ...............................6-8 6.5. CHEMICAL TESTING PROTOCOLS AND GUIDELINES........................................................6-8 6.5.1. Standard List of Chemicals of Concern...................................................................6-9 6.5.2. Chemicals of Special Occurrence............................................................................6-9 6.5.3. Evaluation and Nomination of Emerging Chemicals ............................................6-10 6.6. TISSUE TESTING.............................................................................................................6-11 6.7. DATA QUALITY AND REPORTING ..................................................................................6-12 6.7.1. Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC)