Preliminary investigations of ecological risk at Rocky Mountain Arsenal, Colorado

Conference · Sat Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:33552

Reagan, D P ^[1]; Blose, K ^[2]

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1. Woodward-Clyde Consultants, Denver, CO (United States)
2. Rocky Mountain Arsenal, Commerce City, CO (United States)

As part of the Remedial Investigation of contamination at Rocky Mountain Arsenal, the US Army initiated an investigation of the distribution and effects of Arsenal contaminants on biota in 1985. Input from the various stakeholders including the US Army, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Colorado Department of Health, Colorado Division of Wildlife, and shell Oil Company was provided at regular meetings held during the planning and implementation phases of the investigation. This study was completed in 1988, prior to the issuance of environmental evaluation and ecological risk assessment guidance by the US Environmental Protection Agency, but addressed many of the components of current ecological risk assessments. Contaminants of concern to biota were identified separate from those selected for human health risk. Criteria for identifying key receptor species were developed. A food web pathways model was developed to quantify exposure from abiotic sources to selected ecological receptors. Effects investigations using off site reference areas and designed to determine potential adverse chemical effects at the individual, population, and community levels of ecological organization were conducted. The final document was issued in May 1989. The overall approach developed at Rocky Mountain Arsenal was reviewed by the EPA as an ecological assessment case study from a risk assessment perspective.

• OSTI ID: 33552
• Report Number(s): CONF-9410273--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
COLORADO
CONTAMINATION
DECISION MAKING
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FOOD CHAINS
MILITARY FACILITIES
REMEDIAL ACTION