A Risk-Management Strategy for PCB-Contaminated Sediments (2001) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
Defining the Problem and Setting Management Goals
Defining the Problem and Setting Management Goals
Pages 96-117
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From page 96... ...
Depending on the specific site, in addition to possible adverse human health effects, PCB contamination might result in a variety of problems, such as fish consumption advisories, limitations on navigable dredging, and adverse effects in wildlife. If the problems associated with the PCB-contaminated sediments are not identified appropriately at the outset of the management process, subsequent risk-assessment and management activities might be conducted, but the risks might not be wholly addressed or they might be transferred to a different community or ecosystem.
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From page 97... ...
The committee prepared this report based on the assumption that the sites at which this risk-management framework would be applied have already been identified as having PCB contamination. PCB contamination can be identified by a variety of mechanisms, such as fish sampling, national pollution disBOX 5-2 Defining the Problem What are the problems caused by the PCB-contaminated sediments?
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From page 98... ...
, the general problems associated with the presence of PCBs in the sediments might have been identified, although their extent and severity might be disputed by some ofthe affecteUparties. Some ofthe problems that might tee identified by the affected parties include PCB levels in fish or wildlife that have resulted in fish or wildlife consumption advisories, prohibitions against swimming, and lack of navigational dredging because of restrictions on dredged material disposal.
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From page 99... ...
For instance, at Commencement Bay, the risk-management goals were the reduction of contaminant concentrations in sediments to concentrations that would support a healthy marine environment and protect the health of people eating seafood from the bay. Public-Health Problems Food chains are the most likely source of exposure for higher trophic organisms, particularly via fish consumption.
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From page 100... ...
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From page 101... ...
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From page 102... ...
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From page 103... ...
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From page 105... ...
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From page 106... ...
The presence of contaminated sediments in a community might prevent the use of the water body for recreational activities, such as boating or swimming. Playgrounds near the Housatonic River in Massachusetts required the removal of contaminated soils before children could use them.
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From page 107... ...
The nearness of PCB-contaminated sites to Indian lands and landfill disposal of PCB sediments near tribal lands have had a disruptive effect on the way of life for some American Indians. The inability of those Indian nations to have a decision-making role with regard to PCB management has left some with a sense of alienation and inability to control an important aspect of their future (Akwesasne Research Advisory Committee 1999~.
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From page 108... ...
Other costs, such as any potential reduction in catch, lost recreation days, or any impacts associated with fishers going out of business, are not included in these estimates. If the water body was navigable prior to contamination, costs associated with continued navigational dredging can increase as a result of disposal of contaminated sediments.
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From page 109... ...
The committee learned from one meeting participant that he was unable to dispose of the zebra mussels that infested his water front because they contained such high concentrations of PCBs and were considered hazardous waste. There are also economic impacts associated with any risk-management strategy.
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From page 110... ...
Although the available information oftentimes provides an incomplete characterization of the site, this preliminary assessment provides a useful starting point for the risk-management process, particularly in identifying affected parties and in assisting the affected parties to prioritize the problems and set general risk-management goals. For example, a larger site might pose more concerns, as more communities, both human and ecological, can be affected by the contamination and therefore might have more varied perceptions of the problems at a site.
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From page 111... ...
For preliminary assessment, PCB concentrations in fish might serve as a more appropriate indicator of contamination since they provide a more direct measure of PCB effects on wildlife and of PCB exposures to humans consuming contaminated fish. EPA has developed national guidance for states to determine whether humans are at risk and what the local fish consumption advisories should be (EPA 2000~.
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From page 112... ...
parties, the next step is to set priorities and determine the risk-management goals (Box 5-3~. At most sites, human health concerns are the first priority, as is reflected in the number of fish consumption advisories.
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From page 113... ...
It should be emphasized that the problems might also need to be revised as the risk assessment indicates the severity of the effects of the PCBs to human health, wildlife, or other concerns. Some possible goals might be one or more ofthe following: being able to eat fish from the water body, preventing recontamination of the river bank or flood plain, and being able to conduct navigational dredging.
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From page 114... ...
All risk-management strategies will require some level of financial investment; a degree of willingness by all affected parties to be educated about the problems; an appreciation that the process is lengthy, detailed, and at times tedious; and revisiting various stages of the framework more than once. It might be unrealistic for a community to hold out for a goal of restoring a reach of the river to preindustrial conditions, for a potentially responsible party to expect to avoid paying some or all of the costs for a problem they caused, or for a regulatory agency to expect all affected parties to immediately appreciate the legal constraints under which it operates.
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From page 115... ...
All affected parties should be involved in setting these goals. Among the impacts that might affect communities are restrictions on commercial and recreational fishing that can impact local communities, such as occurred in New Bedford Harbor where PCB-contaminated sediments resulted in economic losses to the commercial lobster fishery.
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From page 116... ...
1992. EPA Proposes Cleanup for Second Portion of New Bedford Harbor Superfund Site.
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From page 117... ...
2000. Accomplishments at Contaminated Sediment Cleanup Sites Relevant to the Hudson River: An Update to Scenic Hudson's Report Advances in Dredging Contaminated Sediments, Poughkeepsie, NY.
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