Overview of Ecological Risk Assessment Guidance for the Federal - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Ute Pott Environment and Climate Change Canada Vancouver, BC Real Property Institute of Canada Federal Contaminated Sites National Workshop Montreal 2016

Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP)

Overview of Ecological Risk Assessment Guidance for the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan

REALITY CHECK: Ecological Risk Assessment is not needed if:

• Contamination < CCME Tier 1, < Tier 2,
• r < background
• Custodian decided to remediate to guidelines
• Remediation is less costly and has no negative

impacts Risk Assessment is not the “do nothing approach”

• If risk is identified – risk management or

remediation is required

• Road-map on how to manage

federal contaminated sites within the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan

• When to conduct Ecological Risk

Assessment

• References and links to guidance

for all stages of contaminated sites management

• federalcontaminatedsites.gc.ca

FCSAP Decision Making Framework

Comprehensive Ecological Risk Assessment Guidance

• Technical guidance for all phases of ERA
• Supplemental to CCME 1996, 1997 guidance

Technical Ecological Risk Assessment Modules

• Stand-alone appendices to Comprehensive ERA guidance
• Specific guidance for certain aspects of ERA

Tool for Risk Assessment Validation

• ERA checklist
• Part of FCSAP Site Closure Tool

Standard Terms of Reference

• To be included in ERA contracts
• Federal Custodians only

FCSAP Ecological Risk Assessment Guidance

Website federalcontaminatedsites.gc.ca Email FCSAP.PASCF@ec.gc.ca

Problem Formulation Effects Assessment Exposure Assessment Risk Characterization

Iterative feedback at all stages

FCSAP Ecological Risk Assessment Guidance

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Problem Formulation Effects Assessment Exposure Assessment Risk Characterization (Weight of Evidence) Line of Evidence Evaluation Receptor 1 (Assessment Endpoint A) Effects Assessment Exposure Assessment Overall Risk Characterization Risk Characterization (Weight of Evidence) Line of Evidence 1 Line of Evidence 2 Line of Evidence Evaluation Line of Evidence 3 Receptor 2 (Assessment Endpoint B)

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Problem Formulation Effects Assessment Exposure Assessment Risk Characterization (Weight of Evidence) Line of Evidence Evaluation Receptor 1 (Assessment Endpoint A) Effects Assessment Exposure Assessment Overall Risk Characterization Risk Characterization (Weight of Evidence) Line of Evidence 1 Line of Evidence 2 Line of Evidence Evaluation Line of Evidence 3 Receptor 2 (Assessment Endpoint B)

+ ERA Strategy

Receptors of Concern:

• Consider all possible receptors
• Identify relevant receptors

Exposure Pathways

• Risk varies with exposure pathways
• Consider all possible pathways
• Identify relevant pathways

Lines of Evidence

• Lines of Evidence = methods to

evaluate the risk to receptors

• Relevant to Receptors/Pathways
• Hazard Quotient is only one type
• Weight of Evidence Approach

KEY MESSAGES Ecological Risk Assessment Guidance

Comprehensive Ecological Risk Assessment Guidance

• Technical guidance for all phases of ERA
• Supplemental to CCME 1996, 1997 guidance

Technical Ecological Risk Assessment Modules

• Stand-alone appendices to Comprehensive ERA guidance
• Specific guidance for certain aspects of ERA

Tool for Risk Assessment Validation

• ERA checklist
• Part of FCSAP Site Closure Tool

Standard Terms of Reference

• To be included in ERA contracts
• Federal Custodians only

FCSAP Ecological Risk Assessment Guidance

Website federalcontaminatedsites.gc.ca Email FCSAP.PASCF@ec.gc.ca

Module 1: Toxicity Test Selection & Interpretation

Overview of Toxicity Testing in Ecological Risk Assessment Interactive Excel Tables to select appropriate toxicity tests for ERA

Module 2: Selection & Development of Toxicity Reference Values

Different Types of Toxicity Reference Values (TRVs) and their use in ERA How to select TRVs from published sources How to derive site-specific TRVs

Module 3: Standardization of Wildlife Receptor Characteristics

Default Receptor Characteristics for 26 Wildlife Species Habitat Type, Home Range, Body Weight, Foraging, Diet, Food/Water/Incidental Soil/ Sediment Ingestion Rates

Module 4: Causality Assessment

Risk due to contamination or due to other factors on site? How to evaluate what causes effects.

Ecological Risk Assessment Modules

• Completed -

Module 5 - final draft available upon request Defining Background Conditions and Using Background Concentrations Module 6 - preliminary draft for review expected summer 2016 Ecological Risk Assessment for Amphibians on Federal Contaminated Sites Module 7- preliminary draft for review expected summer 2016 Default Wildlife Toxicity Reference Values (TRVs) Recommended for Use at FCSAP Sites

Ecological Risk Assessment Modules

• In Development -

• Guidance on how to deal with sites with high background

concentrations of metals

• Selecting Contaminants of Concern: compare to site-specific background
• Establish background with Independent Sites or Gradient Approach
• Use statistics to compare background vs. on-site data, or
• Compare on-site samples to 95% UCLM of background

Module 5 Defining Background Conditions and

Using Background Concentrations

• How to conduct an Ecological Risk Assessment when receptors are

adapted or acclimated to high background concentrations

• Hazard Quotients inappropriate

in many situations

• Toxicity Reference Values

derived from “non-acclimatized” receptors

• If background concentrations

contribute substantially to exposure use other lines of evidence to assess risk and set remediation objectives

Module 5 Defining Background Conditions and

Using Background Concentrations

Module 6 Ecological Risk Assessment for Amphibians

When Are Amphibians Receptors Of Concern?

Contamination? What species? Adequate habitat for species? Water?

Module 6 Ecological Risk Assessment for Amphibians

Conduct site-specific toxicity studies Conduct site-specific biological studies Compare to published toxicity studies Compare to published biological studies

How to study risk to amphibians? Guidance provided on four types of effects assessment:

Concentration-Response Profiles

Compilation of individual concentration-response profiles.

Multi-Study Concentration Response Profile

Effects unlikely Effects likely

Cd

• Toxicity Reference Values for mammals and birds
• For screening level ERAs if truly site-specific TRVs not available
• Default TRVs selected from existing TRVs based on compliance with

recommended TRV derivation process as per Module 2

• Evaluation Matrix categorized TRVs based on quality:

Module 7 Default Wildlife Toxicity Reference Values (TRVs)

Recommended for Use at FCSAP Sites

A N/S C B N/A Generally consistent FCSAP guidance - no change needed Some limitations – update when possible Major limitations – use with caution Several TRVs considered , but no suitable TRV identified No TRV available

FCSAP Default TRVs DRAFT

Comprehensive Ecological Risk Assessment Guidance

• Technical guidance for all phases of ERA
• Supplemental to CCME 1996, 1997 guidance

Technical Ecological Risk Assessment Modules

• Stand-alone appendices to Comprehensive ERA guidance
• Specific guidance for certain aspects of ERA

Tool for Risk Assessment Validation

• ERA checklist
• Part of FCSAP Site Closure Tool

Standard Terms of Reference

• To be included in ERA contracts
• Federal Custodians only

FCSAP Ecological Risk Assessment Guidance

Website federalcontaminatedsites.gc.ca Email FCSAP.PASCF@ec.gc.ca

TRAV is a component of PWGSC Site Closure Tool:

Excel based site closure documentation to be completed by custodian Summarizes site assessment/remediation/risk management activities Demonstrates that contamination at the site has been removed or managed so that risk is now “acceptable” Indicates “No further work required” Records site restrictions (e.g. land use = industrial, water not to be used for drinking water)

TRAV component applies to risk-assessed sites

Selected spreadsheets within the site closure tool Validates risk assessment methods and conclusions

Tool for Risk Assessment Validation

Site closure not possible. Risk may still be present. Further work required = address deficiencies in risk assessment. Site Closure Possible No Further Work Required Were there any Major Deficiencies in the Risk Assessment? Did the Risk Assessment Identify Unacceptable Risk ? NO NO YES YES Site closure not possible. Risk still present. Further work required = implement risk management

• r remediate.

Tool for Risk Assessment Validation

Comprehensive Ecological Risk Assessment Guidance

• Technical guidance for all phases of ERA
• Supplemental to CCME 1996, 1997 guidance

Technical Ecological Risk Assessment Modules

• Stand-alone appendices to Comprehensive ERA guidance
• Specific guidance for certain aspects of ERA

Tool for Risk Assessment Validation

• ERA checklist
• Part of FCSAP Site Closure Tool

Standard Terms of Reference

• To be included in ERA contracts
• Federal Custodians only

FCSAP Ecological Risk Assessment Guidance

Website federalcontaminatedsites.gc.ca Email FCSAP.PASCF@ec.gc.ca

Guidance for the Preparation

• f Statements of Work for Ecological

Risk Assessments at FCSAP Sites

• Intended for custodians when contracting ERAs to consultants
• Key considerations in the preparation of a statement of work
• Ensures compliance with FCSAP guidance for federal ERAs following

FCSAP guidance

– Areas of Responsibility - Problem Formulation Checklist – Strengthening the ERA - Common Pitfalls – Sample SoW (Terrestrial Receptors) – Sample SoW (Aquatic Receptors) – TRAV - Data Transfer

• Available to federal FCSAP users only (IDEA)

Questions?