Los Angeles Basin Contaminated Sediments Task Force

Summary of Sediment Screening Thresholds Committee Meeting
May 2, 2000

1. Attendees: John Johnsen (Hart Crowser), Paul Johansen (POLA), Steve Bay (SCCWRP), Nick Buhbe (Ogden Env.), Guang yu Wang (SMBRP), Doland Cheung (USACE), Seth Molinari (URSGWC), Mark Gold (HtB), Lisa Kay (MEC), Steven John (EPA)

2. Meeting purpose was to initiate scoping of two data gap studies (sediment quality data compilation, development of sediment quality numerical guidelines, identified as Study #6 and Study #7 in SWRCB Finance Letter #9 -- CSTF Management Plan).

3. Meeting Notes:

(a) two tiers of studies, with Study #7 supported by the database assembled in Study #6.

(b) Study #7 should be divided into distinct tasks: task #1 – from database compiled in Study #6 utilize several different approaches (AET, toxicity-sediment chemistry toxicant concentration correlation, equilibrium partitioning) to develop guidelines, produce an assessment report; task #2 – validation phase leading to selection of "best" set of guidelines; task #3 – develop guideline justification and adoption.

Starting with goal statement and identification of problem: (1) identify "clean" materials suitable for ocean or unconfined aquatic disposal (no biological testing required); (2) identify "contaminated" materials, likely to fail biological testing, unsuitable for ocean or unconfined aquatic disposal.

(c) The Scope of Work (SOW) for Study #6 would include identification of the type of data to be collected (sediment quality data from Ports, Counties, Navy, etc), monitoring (including offshore) data (SCCWRP). Setting the geographic limits for the data needs to be completed by the Subcommittee -- use of data from entire Southern California Bight or restricted to Los Angeles region.

Subcommittee reached consensus to utilize an existing database (e.g., NOAA’s Query Manager database, EPA’s BASINS database) and to hold a separate meeting (June 21) to review possible databases.

SOW of work for Study #6 would need to identify type of data to be collected, provide guidance on the form the data should be in and ensuring it can be transported easily into a data schema, and install data into a relational database.

An additional task would be to conduct a preliminary assessment of existing databases and the existence and quality of electronic data.

Specific Tasks under Study #6:

Task #1 – (a) ID electronic data sources (suitability...do the data have the necessary data fields for an assessment of sediment contamination levels)

(b) gather and format existing electronic data (using scheme provided by Subcommittee); QA data; add necessary information (coordinates, etc.).

Task #2 – Compile "best" non-electronic data (limit to LA Region; using non-electronic data to fill in data gaps in electronic data; electronic data may be limited, may require using non-LA data to meet need for greater "n").

Task #3 – establish data in standardize data transfer format.

– integrate into existing database (NOAA, etc.)

4. Draft scopes of work (SJohn) will be sent to Subcommittee for review by May 22, 2000.

5. Schedule:

May 22 – send draft SOW to Subcommittee (SJOHN)

June 2 – Sediment Subcommittee meeting to review draft SOWs

June 21 – Sediment Subcommittee meeting to discuss database (parameters needed, format, how the database is to be used, how it would be distributed; PJohansen and SBay will prepare a list of things for which the database would be used).


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