APPENDIX S BASELINE ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT PROBLEM FORMULATION Photo by Bill Rhodes FINAL BASELINE ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT PROBLEM FORMULATION REMEDIAL INVESTIGATION/FEASIBILITY STUDY, NEWTOWN CREEK Prepared by Anchor QEA, LLC 123 Tice Boulevard, Suite 205 Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey 07677 May 2014 FINAL BASELINE ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT PROBLEM FORMULATION REMEDIAL INVESTIGATION/FEASIBILITY STUDY NEWTOWN CREEK Prepared by Anchor QEA, LLC 123 Tice Boulevard, Suite 205 Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey 07677 May 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 1 1.1 Project Background ..........................................................................................................1 1.2 Document Organization ..................................................................................................3 2 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING ............................................................................ 4 3 IDENTIFICATION OF PRELIMINARY COPECS .................................................... 6 4 ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND TRANSPORT OF PRELIMINARY COPECS .............. 7 4.1 Introduction .....................................................................................................................7 4.2 Chemical Transport in Newtown Creek .........................................................................7 4.3 Metals ................................................................................................................................8 4.4 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ................................................................................8 4.5 Polychlorinated Biphenyls ..............................................................................................9 4.6 Dioxins and Furans...........................................................................................................9 4.7 Semivolatile Organics ....................................................................................................10 4.8 Pesticides ........................................................................................................................11 5 RECEPTORS .................................................................................................. 12 5.1 Phase 1 Surveys ..............................................................................................................13 5.1.1 Collection Methods – Summary ..............................................................................13 5.1.2 Summary of Findings ...............................................................................................14 5.2 BERA Receptor Selection ..............................................................................................15 5.2.1 Aquatic Plants...........................................................................................................16 5.2.1.1 Phytoplankton ................................................................................................ 16 5.2.1.2 Aquatic Macrophytes...................................................................................... 16 5.2.2 Aquatic Invertebrates ...............................................................................................18 5.2.2.1 Zooplankton .................................................................................................... 18 5.2.2.2 Benthic Invertebrates ..................................................................................... 19 5.2.2.3 Epibenthic Invertebrates ................................................................................ 19 5.2.3 Reptiles and Amphibians .........................................................................................21 5.2.4 Fish ............................................................................................................................23 5.2.4.1 Mummichog .................................................................................................... 23 5.2.4.2 Spot .................................................................................................................. 24 BERA Problem Formulation May 2014 Newtown Creek RI/FS i 141037-01.01 Table of Contents 5.2.4.3 Migratory Species ........................................................................................... 25 5.2.5 Semi-Aquatic Birds...................................................................................................26 5.2.5.1 Piscivore/Invertivore Feeding Guild ............................................................. 26 5.2.5.2 Piscivorous Feeding Guild.............................................................................. 29 5.2.5.3 Invertivorous, Sediment-Probi ng Feedi ng Guild ......................................... 31 5.2.5.4 Herbivorous Feeding Guild ............................................................................ 32 5.2.6 Riparian Birds ...........................................................................................................33 5.2.7 Carnivorous Birds .....................................................................................................33 5.2.8 Mammals ...................................................................................................................34 6 REFINED CONCEPTUAL SITE MODEL ............................................................. 36 6.1 Sources ............................................................................................................................36 6.2 Receptors ........................................................................................................................37 6.3 Exposure Pathways ........................................................................................................37 7 ASSESSMENT ENDPOINTS, MEASUREMENT ENDPOINTS, DATA QUALITY OBJECTIVES, AND RISK QUESTIONS .................................................................... 40 7.1 Assessment Endpoints....................................................................................................40 7.2 Measurement Endpoints ................................................................................................41 7.3 Data Quality Objectives .................................................................................................41 7.4 Use in Ecological Risk Assessment ................................................................................42 7.5 Risk Questions ................................................................................................................42 7.6 Data Needs ......................................................................................................................42 7.7 Background or Reference ..............................................................................................43 8 RISK ANALYSIS PLAN .................................................................................... 44 8.1 Introduction and Overall Approach .............................................................................44 8.2 Risk Analysis Plan for Plankton ....................................................................................46 8.3 Risk Analysis Plan for Aquatic Macrophytes ...............................................................48 8.4 Risk Analysis Plan for Bivalves .....................................................................................48 8.5 Risk Analysis Plan for the Benthic Invertebrate Community.....................................50 8.5.1 Sediment, Porewater, and Surface Water Chemistry.............................................50 8.5.2 Benthic Community Structure ................................................................................52 8.5.3 Sediment Toxicity.....................................................................................................55 8.5.4 Tissue Residues .........................................................................................................56 BERA Problem Formulation May 2014 Newtown Creek RI/FS ii 141037-01.01 Table of Contents 8.5.5 Risk Characterization ...............................................................................................58 8.6 Risk Analysis Plan for Epibenthic Decapods ................................................................60 8.7 Risk Analysis Plan for Amphibians and Reptiles .........................................................61 8.8 Risk Analysis Plan for Fish ............................................................................................62 8.8.1 Surface Water Chemistry.........................................................................................62 8.8.2 Tissue Residues .........................................................................................................63 8.8.3 Dietary Intake ...........................................................................................................64 8.8.4 Fish Community Surveys .........................................................................................65 8.8.5 Risk Characterization ...............................................................................................66 8.9 Risk Analysis Plan for Wildlife (Birds and Mammals) ................................................69 8.9.1 Contami nant Concentrations in Diet ......................................................................69 8.9.1.1 Measures of Exposure ....................................................................................