Anacostia River Sediment Project Overview- For a Cleaner Anacostia River. Remedial Investigation May 12, 2015 Dev Murali, PG, RPM

Transcription

1 Anacostia River Sediment Project Overview- For a Cleaner Anacostia River Remedial Investigation May 12, 2015 Dev Murali, PG, RPM

2 State of the Anacostia River Contaminants: PAH s in Brown Bullhead * MacDonald Texas A&M Geotechnical and Environmental Research Group, unpublished Data Contaminants: tpcb s in Brown Bullhead * Syracuse Research Corporation (SRC) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 2000 Pinkney, A.E., Harshbarger, J.C., May, E.B., Melancon, M.J

3 State of the Anacostia River Lesion and Tumor Prevalence in Brown Bullheads of the Anacostia River Lesion Prevalence: Mouth (13%) and Liver (29%)- Pinkney, May 2000 Tumor Prevalence: Skin (24%) and Liver (55%)- Pinkney, May 2000 Tumor Prevalence: Skin (15%) and Liver (24%)- Pinkney, April

4 Introduction Anacostia River Studies dates back to 1990s 14 different studies were conducted by multiple agencies studies limited in scope with specific medium of investigation First study to cover entire Anacostia 9-mile tidal portion of the river; most comprehensive study ever undertaken DDOE is the lead for the planned Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Studies (RI/FS) for contaminated sediments in the Anacostia River River has been listed as a Region of Concern by Chesapeake Bay Program (Fish Consumption Advisories) and classified as a impaired river 4

5 Study Area Investigation entails tidal portion of the Anacostia River from NW and NE Branch confluence in Prince George s County to Potomac River (9-mile section) Includes Kingman Lake and Washington Channel River Characteristics Fresh Water Estuary (1 m tide) 60 to 500 m in width; 0.8 to 6 m in depth Low flow velocities (<1 to +25 cm/sec) Depositional environment- lower reaches Sediment deposition rates- 1.9 cm/year Channel width under average flow conditions There are seven sites currently contemplated/ or under various phases of investigation within our study area 5

6 Remedial Investigation Objectives Determine nature and extent of contaminated environmental media (surface water, sediment, biota) Characterize site to evaluate human health and ecological risks Utilize RI data to support a Natural Resources Damage Assessment (NRDA) Site characterization to support a Feasibility Study for remedial measures 6

7 CERCLA RI/FS/RD/RA Process Status In Progress Next Step to be Completed Key Steps in the Assessment and Cleanup are defined below: Remedial Investigation: A detailed investigation of the site, characterizing both the extent of sediment contamination (the area affected and its limits), and the types and concentrations of contaminants. The process also includes risk assessment to evaluate human health and ecological risks. Feasibility Study: A study of the possible ways to address the contamination at a site. The tools, techniques, and process are organized into alternatives, often with multiple elements, that are evaluated using a number of criteria including protectiveness of human health and the environment, ease of implementation, cost, and time to reach cleanup goals. Sometimes certain elements are tested at a reduced scale in the laboratory or in the field. These are called treatability studies. Their results will help determine which alternatives should be considered, and offered to the public for their comments. Proposed Plan: A summary of the contamination that has been found, compares the various ways that the contamination can be cleaned up, and identifies one preferred alternative that balances all cleanup considerations. Decision Document: A decision document explaining the cleanup approach that will be used to remediate the site. It contains information on site history, site description, site characteristics, community participation, enforcement activities, contaminated media, contaminants present, description of the response actions to be taken, and the remedy selected for cleanup. The development of the ROD also includes consideration of how the site could be used in the future. Remedial Design: The development of the engineering drawings and specifications for a site cleanup. The RD follows and is based upon the Remedial Investigation, Feasibility Study, and the Record of Decision. The RD will be completed and made available before the cleanup work begins. Remedial Action: The actual building of treatment facilities, removal of waste materials, containment of contamination, implementation of institutional controls, or any other component that completes the cleanup action. The RA also includes the testing and certifying of any facilities that are put into operation. 7

8 Conceptual Site Model Primary contaminants of concern (COCs) include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), poly-chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides and trace metals COC sources Surface water inflow (tributary streams, MS4 outfalls, combined sewer system outfalls) Sediment inflow (surface water transport) Groundwater seepage Atmospheric deposition Fine sediments act as a sink for COCs Wildlife exposure, including fish and benthic fauna exposure Human exposure Fish consumption Direct contact with sediment and surface water 8

9 Conceptual Site Model 9

10 Data Gaps Geotechnical Data Sediment distribution and chemistry Spatial coverage Verify previous sampling Subsurface sediment characteristics Sediment pore water Chemical characterization to support the FS and ecological risk assessment Biota characterization (fish and benthic invertebrates) Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment NRDA Identify and evaluate upstream loading sources Update hydrodynamic modeling and contaminant simulation loading 10

11 Sample Collection & Chemical Analysis (n = number of field samples) 11

12 Task Completed Compiled and categorized all data in GIS database Project Planning Documents Work and compliance permits Utility clearance Bathymetric surveys- determine depth of the water column and configuration of river bottom surface sediments (134) locations, subsurface sediments (81), benthic (42), sediment pore water (19), surface water (14) and fish tissue sampling (46) Phase I Field investigations Laboratory Analysis 12

13 Follow-up Investigations Proactive investigation of select sediments adjacent to PRP outfalls Obtained permits from Fed and DC agencies Field Investigations began-april 21, 2015 collecting sediments from 55 locations surface sediments (39), subsurface sediment (225), pore water (13), sediment toxicity test (39), and Bioaccumulation tissue (16) Lab analysis similar to Phase I sampling Also collect 20 background samples 13

14 Data Analysis, Reporting & follow-up Activities Full data validation (Level 4) RI summary data report RI report Risk Assessment (Human Health and Ecological) Watershed model update and revision Perform Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) 14

15 Concurrent Activities DDOE is working with the USFWS to evaluate and monitor brown bullhead fish tumors in the tidal Potomac River and the Anacostia River from Study will establish tumor trends associated with PAHs Establish whether it s a regional or local phenomenon DDOE is currently developing a strategy with USGS to investigate upstream loading and sources of contaminants into the Anacostia River 15

16 Project Challenges Delineate and quantify PCBS loads from upstream tributaries Track and quantify PCB loads from upstream contaminated sites and uncontrolled contaminant releases Determine releases from adjacent environmental sites Quantify current Combined Sewer Outflow (CSO) Loads Measure Atmospheric air deposition Collaborate, plan and work jointly with neighboring counties and state 16

17 Project Schedule Follow-up Field Investigation- April-May 2015 Laboratory Analysis- July 2015 Data Validation- September 2015 Draft RI Report- December

18 Questions? 18 Thank you for coming!! Project Contact: Dev Murali, PG, RPM