Ecological Evaluation Technical Guidance New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Site Remediation Program February 2015 Version 1.3 Ecological Evaluation Guidance Version 1.3 Table of Contents Acronyms and Abbreviations ..............................................................................................4 Executive Summary .............................................................................................................6 1.0 Intended Use of Guidance Document ......................................................................... 7 2.0 Purpose ........................................................................................................................ 7 3.0 Document Overview ................................................................................................... 8 4.0 Definitions................................................................................................................. 11 5.0 Technical Guidance for Preparing Ecological Evaluations ...................................... 17 5.1 Ecological Evaluation Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:26E-1.16 .................................17 5.2 Ecological Evaluation Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:26E-4.8 ...................................18 5.2.1 Environmentally Sensitive Natural Resources ............................................18 5.2.2 Contaminants of Potential Ecological Concern ...........................................19 5.2.3 Contaminant Migration Pathways ...............................................................20 5.3 Recommended Sample Collection in Support of Ecological Evaluations .......20 5.3.1 When to Collect Samples ............................................................................21 5.3.2 Where to Collect Samples ...........................................................................22 5.3.2.1 Potential Contaminant Migration Pathways ......................................... 22 5.3.2.2 Environmentally Sensitive Natural Resources...................................... 22 5.3.3 How to Collect Samples ..............................................................................25 5.3.3.1 Soils and Sediments .............................................................................. 25 5.3.3.2 Surface Water ........................................................................................ 25 5.3.4 Background Considerations ........................................................................26 5.4 Comparison of Sample Data with Ecological Screening Criteria ....................27 5.4.1 Potential Migration Pathways .....................................................................28 5.4.2 Surface Water Bodies ..................................................................................28 5.4.3 Wetlands ......................................................................................................29 5.4.4 Uplands ........................................................................................................30 5.5 Ecological Evaluation Report ..........................................................................30 6.0 Technical Guidance for Preparing Ecological Risk Assessments ............................ 31 6.1 Ecological Risk Assessment Process Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:26E-4.8 ............31 6.1.1 Problem Formulation ...................................................................................33 6.1.1.1 Assessment and Measurement Endpoints ............................................. 33 6.1.1.2 Ecological Conceptual Site Model ........................................................ 35 6.1.2 Analysis .......................................................................................................38 6.1.3 Risk Characterization ..................................................................................38 6.1.3.1 Food Chain Modeling ........................................................................... 38 6.1.3.2 Bioaccumulation ................................................................................... 43 6.1.3.3 Toxicity Reference Values .................................................................... 48 6.1.3.4 Weight-of-Evidence .............................................................................. 49 6.2 ERA Data Development ..................................................................................50 6.2.1 Surface Water ..............................................................................................50 6.2.1.1 Sampling Plan Design for Study and Reference Areas ........................ 50 6.2.1.2 Surface Water Habitat Assessments and Community Surveys ............. 52 1 6.2.1.3 Biological Sampling of Fish and Other Aquatic Organisms ................ 53 6.2.1.4 Surface Water Toxicity Tests ................................................................ 55 6.2.2 Sediments ....................................................................................................56 6.2.2.1 Sampling Plan Design for Study and Reference Areas ........................ 56 6.2.2.2 Sediment Habitat Assessments and Community Surveys .................... 60 6.2.2.3 Sediment Pore Water Sampling ............................................................ 61 6.2.2.4 Benthic Macroinvertebrate Sampling ................................................... 62 6.2.2.5 Sediment Toxicity Tests ....................................................................... 63 6.2.2.6 Toxicity Testing for Sediment Pore Water and Elutriate ...................... 64 6.2.3 Soil ..............................................................................................................65 6.2.3.1 Sampling Plan Design for Study and Reference Areas ........................ 65 6.2.3.2 Terrestrial Habitat Assessments and Community Surveys ................... 67 6.2.3.3 Surface Soil Sampling........................................................................... 68 6.2.3.4 Biological Sampling of Soil Invertebrates, Plants and Wildlife ........... 68 6.2.3.5 Surface Soil Toxicity Tests ................................................................... 69 6.3 Ecological Risk Assessment Report ................................................................70 6.4 Special Circumstances .....................................................................................70 6.4.1 Wetlands ......................................................................................................71 6.4.1.1 Wetland Permit Considerations ............................................................ 72 6.4.1.2 Wetland Backfill Considerations .......................................................... 74 6.4.2 Estuaries ......................................................................................................74 6.4.3 Urban Areas .................................................................................................74 6.4.4 Hot Spots .....................................................................................................75 6.4.5 Extractable Petroleum Hydrocarbons ..........................................................75 6.4.6 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ............................................................76 6.4.7 Polychlorinated Biphenyls (Aroclor vs. Congener) ....................................78 6.4.8 Chlorinated Dioxin, Furans, and Dioxin-like Polychlorinated Biphenyls ..79 6.4.9 Historic Fill Material and Dredged Material ...............................................80 6.4.10 Acid-Volatile Sulfides/Simultaneously Extracted Metals ...........................81 6.4.11 Guidance for the Evaluation of Mercury Contaminated Sites ....................82 7.0 Determination of Ecological Risk-Based Remediation Goals .................................. 83 7.1 Use of Food Chain Models and Tissue Residue Data to Determine Remediation Goals ...........................................................................................84 7.2 Use of Soil and Sediment Toxicity Test Results to Determine Remediation Goals ................................................................................................................84 7.2.1 Apparent Effects Threshold Approach ........................................................85 7.2.2 Sediment/Soil Effects Concentration Approach ..........................................85 8.0 Uncertainty ................................................................................................................ 85 9.0 Risk Management Considerations ............................................................................ 87 9.1 Soil Remediation Standards and Deed Notices ...............................................87 9.2 Risk Management Decisions ............................................................................88 10.0 Quality Assurance/Quality Control and Data Usability ............................................ 90 11.0 References ................................................................................................................. 91 2 Appendicies Appendix A - Habitat Survey Forms ...............................................................................105 Appendix B - Sampling Procedures for Benthic Algae and Plankton .............................109 Appendix C - Surface Water Toxicity Testing ................................................................111 Appendix D - Sediment Toxicity Testing ........................................................................115 Appendix E - Sediment Pore Water and Elutriate Toxicity Testing