Preliminary assessment of the ecological risks to wide-ranging wildlife species on the Oak Ridge Reservation

Abstract

DlSTRlBUTlON OF Q S T IThis report has been reproduced directly from the best available copy.Available to DOE DISCLAIMERThis report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, make any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein t o any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. DISCLAIMER 2-2 G-40Soil-plant uptake factors fiom collocated soil and plant samples collected G-52Soil-plant organic contaminant uptake factors using octanol water F-18HQs for contaminants of potential concern for white-tailed deer on the ORR ..... ACKNOWLEDGMENTSThis report is the result of the efforts, contributions, and support of many persons. We are grateful to Sigurd Christensen, Craig Brandt, Michelle Bell, and John Fackenthal for their work in identi%@, locating, and acquiring data for use in this assessment. We also thank all of the ER personnel who responded to requests for data and provided input and support. We thank the following for providing us with their data and aiding in it's interpretation: George Southworth, Mark Peterson, Walter Hill, Rich Stevens, Chuck Hadden, Pat Ryon, Christy Anderson, Robert Brewer, Dick Halbrook, Chris Welsh, and Jim Evans. Brent Ziegler and John Paul Van Stone provided technical support. All maps were produced by Robert Washington-Allen. Finally, this report has benefitted from the reviews of Glenn Suter and Tom Ashwood. xv i EXECUTIVE SUMMARYHistorically, ecological risk assessment at CERCLA sites [such as the Oak Ridge Reservation (OW)], has focused on species that may be definitively associated with a Contaminated area or source operable unit. This is necessary to identify areas where risk is sufficiently high to warrant remediation. Consequently the species that are generally considered are those with home ranges small enough such that multiple individuals or a distinct population can be expected to reside within the boundaries of the contaminated site. This approach is adequate for sites with single, discrete areas of contamination that only provide habitat for species with limited spatial (e.g., small home range) requirements. This approach is not adequate however for large sites with multiple, spatially separated contaminated areas that provide habitat for wide-ranging wildlife species. Because wide-ranging wildlife species may travel between and use multiple contaminate...

Y-12 National Security Complex Biological Monitoring and Abatement Program Plan

“…Previous studies have indicated that contaminants commonly measured in biota, such as mercury, zinc, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), and PCBs, could be negatively affecting aquatic organisms in EFPC, although the importance of these contaminants in relation to other factors is not well understood (Loar et al 1992, Hinzman et al 1993, Ham et al 1997. Monitoring of EFPC has identified mercury and PCBs as the primary substances that accumulate to levels in fish and pose health concerns to human consumers as well as terrestrial wildlife (Loar et al 1992, Hinzman et al 1993, Sample et al 1996. In addition to mercury and PCBs, metals other than mercury continue to be elevated in periphyton (attached algae on rocks in close proximity to stream sediments) and fish near the Y-12 Complex; therefore some metal levels may be of ecological relevance.…”

Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant Biological Monitoring and Abatement Program Plan

“…Better understood are the potential risks to humans and wildlife that eat contaminated fish. Monitoring of EFPC has identified mercury and PCBs as substances that accumulate to levels in fish that pose health concerns to human consumers as well as terrestrial wildlife (Loar et al 1992a, Hinzman et al 1993, Sample et al 1996. Metals other than mercury continue to be elevated in periphyton and fish near the Y-12 Plant, and although reported levels in fish filets do not appear to indicate a human health concern, the concentrations in whole fish may be of ecological relevance.…”

Remedial investigation/feasibility study for the David Witherspoon, Inc., 901 Site, Knoxville, Tennessee: Volume 1

“…In ERA, the concern is for population-level effects, except for T&E species. Because there is little evidence that cancer plays a significant role in wildlife populations (Sample et al 1995), radionuclides are not considered.…”