DIAMOND ALKALI SUPERFUND SITE NATURAL RESOURCE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT PLAN PREPARED BY THE FEDERAL NATURAL RESOURCE TRUSTEES U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Public Review Draft November 2007 Draft Natural Resource Damage Assessment Plan Diamond Alkali Superfund Site Federal Natural Resource Trustees This Draft Natural Resource Damage Assessment Plan was prepared by the Federal Natural Resource Trustees, consisting of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (part of the Department of Commerce) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (part of the Department of the Interior). These Federal Trustee agencies are working cooperatively to conduct a Natural Resource Damage Assessment for the Diamond Alkali Superfund Site. The Natural Resource Damage Assessment Plan is one step in the damage assessment process. It serves to document exposure of natural resources to hazardous substances and identify anticipated procedures for evaluating natural resource injuries potentially caused by such exposure. __________________ Credits: Cover Photos of Passaic River Courtesy USFWS. 1 Draft Natural Resource Damage Assessment Plan Diamond Alkali Superfund Site Federal Natural Resource Trustees Table of Contents Exhibits ............................................................................................................................... 4 List of Acronyms and Abbreviations.................................................................................. 6 Executive Summary............................................................................................................ 8 The Diamond Alkali Superfund Site ............................................................................... 8 The Role of the Trustees.................................................................................................. 9 The Natural Resource Damage Assessment Process....................................................... 9 Development of the Natural Resource Damage Assessment Plan ................................ 10 How You Can Help ....................................................................................................... 12 Chapter 1 : The Ecological, Cultural, and Economic Significance of the Site................. 13 The Natural Environment of the Site............................................................................. 15 Historical Significance of the Site................................................................................. 15 Commerce and Industry within the Site Today............................................................. 18 Recreational Use within the Site ................................................................................... 19 Provision of open space.............................................................................................. 19 Recreational Boating.................................................................................................. 19 Recreational Fishing................................................................................................... 19 Chapter 2 : Hazardous Substances in the Site................................................................... 21 Types and Effects of Contamination ............................................................................. 21 Dioxin-Like Compounds............................................................................................ 21 Dioxins and Furans ................................................................................................. 22 PCBs ....................................................................................................................... 24 Evaluating Toxicity of Dioxin-Like Compounds ................................................... 25 Pesticides.................................................................................................................... 31 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs).............................................................. 32 Metals......................................................................................................................... 33 Summary of Hazardous Substances of Concern ........................................................ 33 Sources of Contamination ............................................................................................. 34 Cleanup of the LPR ....................................................................................................... 35 Chapter 3 : The Role of the Trustees ................................................................................ 38 The NRDA Process ....................................................................................................... 39 Preassessment Phase .................................................................................................. 39 Preliminary Estimate of Damages.............................................................................. 39 Assessment Plan Phase............................................................................................... 39 Injury Determination Phase........................................................................................ 40 Injury Quantification Phase........................................................................................ 40 Damage Determination and Restoration Phases ........................................................ 41 Preliminary Determination of the Recovery Period................................................... 41 Trustee Coordination with Other Government Agencies.............................................. 42 Importance of Public Participation................................................................................ 43 Invitation for Cooperative Assessment.......................................................................... 43 Chapter 4 : The Diamond Alkali Superfund Site NRDA: Assessment and Restoration .. 45 Injury Determination and Quantification ...................................................................... 47 Biological Resources.................................................................................................. 48 Fish and Shellfish.................................................................................................... 48 2 Draft Natural Resource Damage Assessment Plan Diamond Alkali Superfund Site Federal Natural Resource Trustees Fish and Shellfish Consumption Advisories ....................................................... 49 Biological Injuries ............................................................................................... 50 Preliminary Evaluation of Fish and Shellfish .................................................. 50 Fish and Shellfish Community Health ............................................................. 57 Fish and Shellfish Early Life Stages ................................................................ 57 USFDA Evaluation.............................................................................................. 57 Birds........................................................................................................................ 58 Waterfowl Consumption Advisory...................................................................... 59 Biological Injuries ............................................................................................... 59 Preliminary Avian Evaluation.......................................................................... 59 Breeding Bird Survey....................................................................................... 62 Avian Developmental Studies.......................................................................... 62 Evaluation of Avian Exposure from Feeding on Floodplain Organisms......... 64 USFDA Evaluation.............................................................................................. 65 Mammals................................................................................................................. 66 Amphibians and Reptiles ........................................................................................ 66 Surface Water............................................................................................................. 67 Surface Water Quality Evaluation .......................................................................... 67 Sediment Evaluation ............................................................................................... 69 Sediments Characteristic of Solid Waste............................................................. 71 Sediments Injury: Pathway and Biota ................................................................. 71 Groundwater............................................................................................................... 72 Geologic Resources.................................................................................................... 73 Air Resources ............................................................................................................. 74 Pathway Determination.............................................................................................. 74 Sources of Hazardous Substances within the Site .................................................. 75 Food Web Pathway Evaluation............................................................................... 75 Floodplain Evaluation............................................................................................