Land Remediation

Protocols

Recommended Guidance and Checklist for Tier 1 Ecological Risk Assessment of Contaminated Sites in British Columbia

Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks
Environment and Resource Management Department
Pollution Prevention and Remediation Branch
Victoria, British Columbia
JANUARY, 1998

Recommended Guidance and Checklist for
Tier 1 Ecological Risk Assessment
of Contaminated Sites in British Columbia

Prepared for

Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks

January, 1998

by

Wayne G. Landis, April J. Markiewicz, and Valerie Wilson
Institute of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Huxley College of Environmental Studies
Western Washington University

Anne Fairbrother
ecological planning & toxicology, inc.

Gary Mann
EVS Environmental Consultants

Acknowledgments

This report has been developed by the Ecological Risk Assessment Team comprised of the Institute of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Huxley College, Western Washington University; ecological planning and toxicology; and EVS Consultants under contract 1070-20/IWHC from the B.C. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks (Michael Macfarlane, Project Manager).

Along with the primary authors, we had numerous contributors to this final product: Janice Wiegers, Mary Moores, and Kyra Freestar of the Institute of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; Richard S. Bennett, Larry Kapustka, and Bill Williams of ecological planning and toxicology, inc.; Linda Nestic and Elizabeth Power of EVS Environmental Consultants. Michael Macfarlane, Doug Walton and Glyn Fox of the B.C. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks provided numerous resources, comments, and suggestions.

Request For Comments

This document builds on the basic national framework and concept for tiered assessment that have been provided by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, Environment Canada and the US Environmental Protection Agency and elaborated upon in numerous books. The checklist is organized to facilitate risk assessments for the five land uses designated by the Province: industrial, commercial, residential, agricultural, and urban park. The scope of the assessment endpoints is controlled by criteria specific to each land use. BC Environment's intent is to implement the use of this document for Tier-1 Ecological Risk Assessments performed under BCE's Contaminated Sites Regulation.

The guide includes some significant departures from some previous policies that have been applied to risk assessments at contaminated site in the province. BC Environment welcomes comments and suggestions on ways to improve the document with the objective to providing a practical and pragmatic checklist for screening level assessments at contaminated sites in the Province. BC Environment anticipates that changes may be warranted to clarify, improve and incorporate new scientific information. The format of the document is designed to accommodate such changes. Such revisions and amendments will be incorporated in later editions of this document. BC Environment will not formally respond to comments submitted in response to the document.

1.1 Scope and Organization of the Document

1.2 The Basic Framework for Ecological Risk Assessment

1.3 Regulatory Context, or How Did I Get to the Risk Assessment Option

1.3.1 Deciding if a site is contaminated

1.3.2 Remediation options

1.3.3 Monitoring a site after cleanup

1.4 What is the the Checklist
1.5 Use of the Checklist

2.1 Background

2.2 Site Description

2.2.1 Site location

2.2.2 Site use

2.2.3 Site description

3.1 Problem Formulation (continued)

3.1.1 Potential terrestrial receptors

3.1.1.1 Regional species list

3.1.1.2 Site-specific species lists for terrestrial plants and animals

3.1.1.3 Conceptual site model

3.1.2 Potential aquatic life receptors

3.1.2.1 Regional species lists

3.1.2.2 Site-specific species lists for aquatic plants and organisms

3.1.2.3. Conceptual site model

3.2 Effects Assessment

3.2.1 Site observations

3.2.1.1 Terrestrial plants

3.2.1.2 Soil invertebrates

3.2.1.3 Birds

3.2.1.4 Mammals

3.2.1.5 Aquatic plants

3.2.1.6 Fish

3.2.1.7 Aquatic invertebrates

3.2.2 Bioassays

3.2.2.1 General procedures for laboratory bioassays

3.2.3 Toxicity Reference Values (TRVs)

3.3. Exposure Assessment

3.3.1 Exposure patterns of plants and animals

3.3.1.1 Plants

3.3.1.2 Soil invertebrates

3.3.1.3 Birds

3.3.1.4 Mammals

3.3.1.5 Aquatic invertebrates

3.3.1.6 Fish

3.3.2 Environmental concentrations

3.3.2.1 Selection of media

3.3.2.2 Sampling design

3.3.2.3 Analytical chemistry

3.3.2.4 Soil sampling

3.3.2.5 Terrestrial plant sampling

3.3.2.6 Soil invertebrates

3.3.2.7 Groundwater samples

3.3.2.8 Surface water and sediment sampling

3.3.2.9 Fish and aquatic invertebrate sampling

3.3.2.10 Aquatic plant sampling

4.1 Problem Formulation (continued)

4.1.1 Potential terrestrial receptors

4.1.1.1 Regional species lists

4.1.1.2 Site-specific species lists for terrestrial plants and animals

4.1.1.3 Conceptual site model

4.1.2 Potential aquatic life receptors

4.1.2.1 Regional species lists

4.1.2.2 Site-specific species lists for aquatic plants and organisms

4.1.2.3 Conceptual site model

4.2 Effects Assessment

4.2.1 Site observations

4.2.1.1 Terrestrial plants

4.2.1.2 Soil invertebrates

4.2.1.3 Birds

4.2.1.4 Mammals

4.2.1.5 Aquatic plants

4.2.1.6 Fish

4.2.1.7 Aquatic invertebrates

4.2.2 Bioassays

4.2.2.1 General procedures for laboratory bioassays

4.2.3 Toxicity Reference Values (TRVs)

4.3. Exposure Assessment

4.3.1 Exposure patterns of plants and animals

4.3.1.1 Plants

4.3.1.2 Soil invertebrates

4.3.1.3 Birds

4.3.1.4 Mammals

4.3.1.5 Aquatic invertebrates

4.3.1.6 Fish

4.3.2 Environmental concentrations

4.3.2.1 Selection of media

4.3.2.2 Sampling design

4.3.2.3 Analytical chemistry

4.3.2.4 Soil sampling

4.3.2.5 Terrestrial plant sampling

4.3.2.6 Soil invertebrates

4.3.2.7 Groundwater samples

4.3.2.8 Surface water and sediment sampling

4.3.2.9 Fish and aquatic invertebrate sampling

4.3.2.10 Aquatic plant sampling

5.1 Problem Formulation (continued)

5.1.1 Potential terrestrial receptors

5.1.1.1 Regional species lists

5.1.1.2 Site-specific species lists for terrestrial plants and animals

5.1.1.3 Conceptual site model

5.1.2 Potential aquatic life receptors

5.1.2.1 Regional species lists

5.1.2.2 Site-specific species lists for aquatic plants and organisms

5.1.2.3. Conceptual site model

5.1.3 Potential plant receptors from irrigation watering

5.1.3.1 Regional species list

5.1.3.2 Site-specific species lists

5.1.3.3 Conceptual site model

5.2 Effects Assessment

5.2.1 Site observations

5.2.1.1 Terrestrial plants

5.2.1.2 Soil invertebrates

5.2.1.3 Birds

5.2.1.4 Mammals

5.2.1.5 Aquatic plants

5.2.1.6 Fish

5.2.1.7 Aquatic invertebrates

5.2.2 Bioassays

5.2.2.1 General procedures for laboratory bioassays

5.2.3 Toxicity Reference Values (TRVs)

5.3. Exposure Assessment

5.3.1 Exposure patterns of plants and animals

5.3.1.1 Plants

5.3.1.2 Soil invertebrates

5.3.1.3 Birds

5.3.1.4 Mammals

5.3.1.5 Aquatic invertebrates

5.3.1.6 Fish

5.3.2 Environmental concentrations

5.3.2.1 Selection of media

5.3.2.2 Sampling design

5.3.2.3 Analytical chemistry

5.3.2.4 Soil sampling

5.3.2.5 Terrestrial plant sampling

5.3.2.6 Soil invertebrates

5.3.2.7 Small rodent sampling

5.3.2.8 Groundwater samples

5.3.2.9 Surface water and sediment sampling

5.3.2.10 Fish and aquatic invertebrate sampling

5.3.2.11 Aquatic plant sampling

6.1 Problem Formulation (continued)

6.1.1 Potential terrestrial receptors

6.1.1.1 Regional species lists

6.1.1.2 Site-specific species lists for terrestrial plants and animals

6.1.1.3 Conceptual site model

6.1.2 Potential aquatic life receptors

6.1.2.1 Regional species lists

6.1.2.2 Site-specific species lists for aquatic plants and organisms

6.1.2.3. Conceptual site model

6.1.3 Potential plant receptors from irrigation watering

6.1.3.1 Regional species list

6.1.3.2 Site-specific plant species lists

6.1.3.3 Conceptual site model

6.2 Effects Assessment

6.2.1 Site observations

6.2.1.1 Terrestrial plants

6.2.1.2 Soil invertebrates

6.2.1.3 Birds

6.2.1.4 Mammals

6.2.1.5 Aquatic plants

6.2.1.6 Fish

6.2.1.7 Aquatic invertebrates

6.2.2 Bioassays

6.2.2.1 General procedures for laboratory bioassays

6.2.3 Toxicity Reference Values (TRVs)

6.3. Exposure Assessment

6.3.1 Exposure patterns of plants and animals

6.3.1.1 Plants

6.3.1.2 Soil invertebrates

6.3.1.3 Birds

6.3.1.4 Mammals

6.3.1.5 Aquatic invertebrates

6.3.1.6 Fish

6.3.2 Environmental concentrations

6.3.2.1 Selection of media

6.3.2.2 Sampling design

6.3.2.3 Analytical chemistry

6.3.2.4 Soil sampling

6.3.2.5 Terrestrial plant sampling

6.3.2.6 Soil invertebrates

6.3.2.7 Foliar invertebrate sampling

6.3.2.8 Small rodent sampling

6.3.2.9 Groundwater sampling

6.3.2.10 Surface water and sediment sampling

6.3.2.11 Fish and aquatic invertebrate sampling

6.3.2.12 Aquatic plant sampling

7.1 Problem Formulation (continued)

7.1.1 Potential terrestrial receptors

7.1.1.1 Regional species lists

7.1.1.2 Site-specific species lists for terrestrial plants and animals

7.1.1.3 Conceptual site model

7.1.2 Potential aquatic life receptors

7.1.2.1 Regional species lists

7.1.2.2 Site-specific species lists for aquatic plants and organisms

7.1.2.3. Conceptual site model

7.1.3 Potential plant receptors from irrigation watering

7.1.3.1 Regional species list

7.1.3.2 Site-specific plant species lists

7.1.3.3 Conceptual site model

7.1.4 Potential livestock receptors drinking from groundwater wells

7.1.4.1 Actual livestock receptors

7.1.4.2 Conceptual site model

7 .2 Effects Assessment

7.2.1 Site observations

7.2.1.1 Terrestrial plants

7.2.1.2 Soil invertebrates

7.2.1.3 Birds

7.2.1.4 Mammals

7.2.1.5 Aquatic plants

7.2.1.6 Fish

7.2.1.7 Aquatic invertebrates

7.2.2 Bioassays

7.2.2.1 General procedures for laboratory bioassays

7.2.2.2 In situ bioassays

7.2.3 Toxicity Reference Values (TRVs)

7 .3. Exposure Assessment

7.3.1 Exposure patterns of plants and animals

7.3.1.1 Plants

7.3.1.2 Soil invertebrates

7.3.1.3 Birds

7.3.1.4 Mammals

7.3.1.5 Aquatic invertebrates

7.3.1.6 Fish

7.3.2 Environmental concentrations

7.3.2.1 Selection of media

7.3.2.2 Sampling design

7.3.2.3 Analytical chemistry

7.3.2.4 Soil sampling

7.3.2.5 Terrestrial plant sampling

7.3.2.6 Soil invertebrates

7.3.2.7 Foliar invertebrate sampling

7.3.2.8 Small rodent sampling

7.3.2.9 Groundwater sampling

7.3.2.10 Surface water and sediment sampling

7.3.2.11 Fish and aquatic invertebrate sampling

7.3.2.12 Aquatic plant sampling

8.0 RISK CALCULATION

8.1 Risk Estimate

8.1.1 Introduction to the quotient method

8.1.1.1 Estimated Environmental Concentration (EEC)

8.1.1.2 Toxicity Reference Value

8.1.1.3 Risk calculation

8.1.2 Site observation method

8.1.2.1 Site observations

8.1.2.2 Bioassay results

8.2 Uncertainty Estimate

8.3 Risk Characterization

8.4 Reiteration of the T1-EcoRA

8.4.1 Options for the reduction of uncertainty, Tier 1 EcoRA

8.4.2 Options for the reduction of uncertainty, Tier 2 EcoRA

8.5 Risk Communication

8.6 BCE Report Requirements for T1-EcoRA

List of Appendicies