A proposed structure for ecological risk assessment in the CERCLA/Superfund paradigm
- Ecology and Environment, Inc., Seattle, WA (United States)
The US EPA Framework for Ecological Risk Assessment outlines general process nd considerations for predicting potential ecological risks. The approach includes Problem Formulation, Exposure Assessment, Ecological Effects Assessment and Risk Characterization. However, the guidance does not provide a logical presentation of step by step procedures or each of these sections. Project scoping and early risk assessor involvement in the project planning are the first critical steps to defining reasonable and appropriate approach to each site. Regardless of the complexity of the approach, a standardized set of procedures can e used to complete ecological risk assessments at a wide variety of hazardous waste sites. For Problem Formulation, these procedures include site description, review of previous ecological reports, selection of contaminants of potential ecological concern (COPECs), summary of transport and fate of COPECs, summary of the ecological effects of the COPECs, description of ecosystem components, selection of ecological endpoints and development of a conceptual ecological exposure model. Exposure Assessment procedures include presentation of exposure point concentrations and derivation of exposure doses. Ecological Effects Assessment includes selection of toxicity benchmark values, uncertainty factors and calculation of toxicity reference values. Finally, Risk Characterization provides risk estimates, description of uncertainties and the ecological significance of the risks, and may present ecologically protective cleanup goals. These procedures are consistent with the Framework and provide a consistent approach to completing ecological risk assessments of varying complexity.
- OSTI ID:
- 367513
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9511137--; ISBN 1-880611-03-1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Reference compilation: Performing qualitative and quantitative ecological risk assessments at hazardous waste sites
Issues associated with interjecting science into the ecological risk assessment process under CERCLA