Guidance for Conducting RCRA Ecological Risk Assessments “This Policy Does Not Have the Force of Law” March 2003 State of Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Division of Hazardous Waste Management P.O. Box 1049 Lazarus Government Center Columbus, Ohio 43216-1049 version date: March 2003 Page ii Forward: Ohio EPA Division of Hazardous Waste Management (DHW M) utilizes guidance to aid regulators and the regulated community in meeting laws, rules, regulations, and policy. Guidance outlines the recommended practices and explains their rationale in an effort to achieve consistency in the regulation of hazardous waste. It is important to note, however, that the term implies no enforcement authority. The Agency may not require an entity to follow methods recommended by this or any other guidance document. It may, however, require an en tity to demonstrate that an alternate method produces data and information that meet the pertinent requirements. This Guidance for Co nducting R CRA E cological Risk Ass essments is prim arily des igned to a ssist facility operators/owners in p reparing an e cological r isk assessment, and to assist technical staff of DHWM in reviewing these risk assessments. An ecological risk assessment may be performed for a RCRA closure or corrective action. Page iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Forward . ii Ohio EPA Districts . vi Acknowledgments . vii Acronyms . viii Chapter 1 OVERVIEW ............................................ 1-1 1.1 Overview of the Ecological Risk Assessment Process ........ 1-1 1.1.1 Level I - Scoping Ecological Risk Assessment .......... 1-3 1.1.2 Level II - Screening Ecological Risk Assessment ........ 1-3 1.1.3 Level III - Baseline Ecological Risk Assessment ........ 1-4 1.1.4 Level IV - Field Baseline Ecological Risk Assessment .... 1-4 Chapter 2 Level I - Scoping Ecological Risk Assessment 2.1 Objective ........................................... 2-1 2.2 Prerequisites ........................................ 2-1 2.3 Tasks .............................................. 2-1 2.3.1 Task 1: Assess Existing Data ....................... 2-1 2.3.2 Task 2: Site Information and Identification of Important Ecological Resources ...................... 2-2 2.3.3 Task 3: Identify Potential Chemical and Non-chemical Stressors ................................ 2-2 2.3.4 Task 4: Level I Assessment ........................ 2-2 2.3.5 Task 5: Subm it Level I Deliverable ................... 2-3 ATTACHMENT A - Phase I Site Assessment . 2-4 ATTACHMENT B - Ecological Scoping Checklist ............... 2-7 ATTACHMENT C - Evaluation of Potential Ecological Harm ...... 2-11 ATTACHMENT D - Level I Deliverable Outline ................. 2-12 ATTACHMENT E - ODNR Species List ...................... 2-13 Chapter 3 Level II - Screening Ecological Risk Assessment 3.1 Objective ........................................... 3-1 3.2 Prerequisites ........................................ 3-1 3.3 Tasks 3.3.1 Task 1: Evaluate Existing Site Data .................. 3-1 3.3.2 Task 2: Site Characterization ....................... 3-2 3.3.3 Task 3: Data/Media Evaluation ..................... 3-2 Frequency of Detection ..................... 3-2 Common Laboratory Contaminants ............ 3-3 Background Concentrations ................. 3-3 Ohio Sediment Reference Values (SRVs) ....... 3-4 3.3.4 Task 4: Scientific Management Decision Point ......... 3-4 3.3.5 Task 5: Screening ................................ 3-4 Soil ..................................... 3-5 Surface Water ............................ 3-5 Sediment ................................ 3-6 Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic Pollutants 3-7 Cumulative Effects ......................... 3-7 Benchm ark Availability ...................... 3-7 State and/or Federal Listed Species ........... 3-7 Page iv 3.3.6 Task 6: PECOC Selection ....................... 3-7 3.3.7 Task 7: Conduct Site Survey ..................... 3-8 3.3.8 Task 8: Update Site Description .................. 3-8 3.3.9 Task 9: Re vise Conceptual Site Model ............. 3-8 3.3.10 Task 10: Identify Ecological Receptors .............. 3-9 State and/or Federal Listed Species ......... 3-9 3.3.11 Task 11: Identify Com plete Exposure Pathways ....... 3-10 3.3.12 Task 12: Identify Candidate Assessm ent Endpoints .... 3-10 3.3.13 Task 13: Scientific Management Decision Point (SMDP) 3-11 3.3.14 Task 14: Submit Level II Report ................... 3-12 ATTACHMENT A - Flowchart and Legend .................... 3-13 ATTACHMENT B - Potential Ecological Contaminants of Concern . 3-20 ATTACHMENT C - Summary of Ecological Receptors .......... 3-21 ATTACHMENT D - Exposure Routes for Ecological Receptors by E nvironm ental Media .................. 3-22 ATTACHMENT E - CSM Diagram .......................... 3-23 ATTACHMENT F - Level II Report .......................... 3-24 ATTACHMENT G - Point of Compliance ..................... 3-25 ATTACHMENT H - Ohio Specific Sediment Reference Values .... 3-26 ATTACHMENT I - Supplemental Guidance to RAGS: Calculating the Concentration Term .................. 3-32 ATTACHMENT J - ECO Update: Ecological Significance and Selection of Candidate Assessm ent Endpoints . 3-41 ATTACHMENT K- Generic Receptor Species List . 3-47 Chapter 4 Level III - Baseline Ecological Risk Assessment 4.1 Objective ........................................... 4-1 4.2 Prerequisites ........................................ 4-1 4.3 Tasks 4.3.1 Task 1: Complete Problem Formulation ............... 4-1 4.3.2 Task 2: Prepare Analysis Plan ...................... 4-2 4.3.3 Task 3: Perform Exposure Assessment ............... 4-2 4.3.4 Task 4: Perform Toxicity Assessment ................ 4-4 4.3.5 Task 5: Perform Risk Characterization ................ 4-4 4.3.6 Task 6: Perform Uncertainty Analysis ................. 4-6 4.3.7 Task 7: Scientific Management Decision Point (SMDP) ... 4-7 4.3.8 Task 8: Subm it Level III Deliverable .................. 4-7 4.3.9 Task 9: Scientific Management Decision Point (SMDP) ... 4-7 ATTACHMENT A - Generic Receptors ....................... 4-8 ATTACHMENT B - Exposure Assessment .................... 4-13 ATTACHMENT C -Toxicity Assessment ...................... 4-22 ATTACHMENT D - Receptor Life History Data ................. 4-32 ATTACHMENT E - Level III Report - Outline .................. 4-43 Chapter 5 Level IV - Field Baseline Ecological Risk Assessment 5.1 Objective ........................................... 5-1 5.2 Prerequisites ........................................ 5-1 5.3 Tasks 5.3.1 Task 1: Refine Problem Formulation ................. 5-1 Select ECOCs ............................ 5-1 Review/revise Establish Measures ............ 5-1 5.3.2 Task 2: Select Assessment Tools ................... 5-2 Tissue Analysis/Bioaccumulation Studies ....... 5-2 Population/Community Evaluations/Toxicity Tests 5-2 Toxicity Tests (Bioassay) .................... 5-3 Page v 5.3.3 Task 3: Prepare Field Ecological Sampling and Analysis Plan 5-3 5.3.4 Task 4: Conduct Field/Laboratory Work ............... 5-3 5.3.5 Task 5: Perform Risk Characterization ................ 5-4 5.3.6 Task 6: Perform Uncertainty Analysis ................. 5-4 5.3.7 Task 7: Subm it Level IV deliverable .................. 5-4 ATTACHMENT A - Useful References ....................... 5-5 CHAPTER 6 Definitions Definitions .............................................. 6-1 CHAPTER 7 Literature Cited Literature Cited .......................................... 7-1 Page vi Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Division of Hazardous Waste Management* Central District Office Southeast District Office 3232 Alum Creek Drive 2195 Front Street Columbus, Ohio 43207-3417 Logan, Ohio 43138 Phone: (614)728-3778 Phone: (740)385-8501 Fax: (614)728-3898 Fax: (740)385-6490 Manager: Steve Rath Manager: Dave Chenault Northeast District Office Southwest District Office 2110 East Aurora Road 401 East Fifth Street Twinsburg, Ohio 44087 Dayton, Ohio 45402-2911 Phone: (330)963-1200 Phone: (937)285-6357 Fax: (330)487-0769 Fax: (937)285-6249 Manager: Kurt Princic Manager: Don Marshall Northwest District Office 347 North Dunbridge Road Bowling Green, Ohio 43402 Phone: (419)352-8461 Fax: (419)352-8468 Manager: Shannon Nabors * For questions about this guidance document, please call the Ohio EPA DHWM’s Central Office risk assessment coordinator at (614)644-2917. Page vii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: The ecological risk assessment (ERA) process proposed in this document is based on several federal and state guidance documents modified to reflect conditions of the State of Ohio. Ohio EPA DHWM would like to acknowledge t heir debt t o these ag encies, part icularly U. S. EPA and the Oreg on Department of Environm ental Quality. Ohio EPA would also like to recognize the efforts of staff members who assisted and cooperated with the development of this docum ent: Bernie Counts Laurie Eggert Brian Tucker Lawrence Sirinek Chris Skalski Sheila Abraham Dave Altfater Tara Spoon Jeff Reynolds Vanessa Steigerwald-Dick Jim Sferra Page viii ACRONYMS ADD Average Daily Dose ADDA - Average Daily Dose by ingestion of Animal matter ADDP - Average Daily Dose by ingestion of Plant matter ADDS - Average Daily Dose by ingestion of Soil ADDTotal - Total Average Daily Dose AF Fraction of the diet that is Animal matter ARL Acceptable Risk Level AUF Area Use Factor BAF Bioaccumulation Factor BAFI - Bioaccumulation Factor for Invertebrates BAFP - Bioaccumulation Factor for Prey Items BCF Bioconcentration Factor BSAF Biota-to-Sediment Accumulation Factor BW Body Weight CF Dry-weight to wet weight Conversion Factor