Natural Resource Damage Assessment
Background and Process Overview

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Record of Decision for the Nearshore/Tideflats Superfund site treats each of the contaminated waterways as a distinct unit and is addressing remedial actions on a waterway-by-waterway basis. EPA has identified more than 150 potentially responsible parties (PRPs) for the site Commencement Bay Nearshore/Tideflats Record of Decision, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1989. In October 1991, the Trustees formally initiated the damage assessment and restoration planning process. Since that time, the Trustees have been compiling existing data, conducting studies of injuries to natural resources resulting from exposure to hazardous substances, entering into settlement agreements with willing parties, and planning and carrying out projects to restore injured resources and habitats. PROCESS OVERVIEW The Trustees have been conducting a baywide natural resource damage assessment(NRDA) which is being performed in three overlapping phases. PREASSESSMENT SCREEN The Trustees determined that a series of hazardous substances had been released into the Commencement Bay environment, that public trust natural resources had likely been injured by the releases, that data sufficient to pursue a natural resource damage assessment were available or could likely be obtained at a reasonable cost, and that, without further action, the planned and already-implemented response actions would not adequately remedy the resource injuries. Preassessment Screen. 10/91. Phase 1 Phase 1 was designed to identify and assess existing information concerning injuries to Commencement Bay resources, provide preliminary guidance for restoration planning, and provide initial information for determining monetary damages. The report examined information in the following areas: substances of concern, natural resources, biological pathways, and potential injuries.   Contents, Chapters 1 and 2. Table of Contents, Chapter 1: Introduction, Chapter 2: Substances of Concern (pages 2-1 to 2-25). Chapter 2 (cont.) (pages 2-26 to 2-61). Chapter 3. Natural Resources of Commencement Bay (pages 3-1 to 3-22). Chapter 4. Biological Pathways (pages 4-1 to 4-26). Chapter 4 (cont.) (pages 4-27 to 4-51). Chapter 5. Identification of Potential Injuries (pages 5-1 to 5-13). Chapter 6. Quantification and Scaling of Resource Services (pages 6-1 to 6-28). Chapters 7 and 8. Chapter 7: Identification of Restoration Options and Chapter 8: References.(pages 7-1 to 8-17). Appendix A: Distributions (maps) of Substances of Concern. In two files: (pages A1-A50) (1402KB) and (pages A51-A117) (1773KB) Appendix B: List of Benthic and Epibenthic Invertebrate Species Collected in 1980 in the Injury Study Area. Appendices B and C (combined file) (1202KB) Appendix C: Annotated List of Birds Found in Commencement Bay. Appendices B and C (combined file) (1202KB) Appendix D: Ecotoxicity of Substances of Concern Found in Commencement Bay. App. D(1531KB) Appendix E: Life Histories of Selected Fish Species Found in Commencement Bay. Appendices E and F (combined file)(958KB) Appendix F: Potential Injuries Linked to Contaminants of Concern. Appendices E and F (combined file)(958KB) Appendix G: Overlays of the Distributions of Metals/Metalloids, Chlorinated Hydrocarbons, and Aromatic Hydrocarbons. Appendices G, H, and I (combined file)(1362KB) Appendix H: Compilation and Review of Existing GIS Data Sources. Appendices G, H, and I (combined file)(1362KB) Appendix I: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region 10 GIS Database, Commencement Bay. Appendices G, H, and I (combined file)(1362KB) Phase 2 Injury Assessment and Quantification. Based on an analysis of the results from Phase 1, the Trustees proceeded with independent injury studies covering four subjects: marine sediments, benthic invertebrates, fish and birds. Except for the outer-bay sediment survey, the Phase 2 injury studies focus on the heavily-contaminated Hylebos Waterway. The Trustees are using the results of the injury studies in conjunction with data from remedial design investigations, conducted under EPA oversight, in assessing injuries to the Hylebos Waterway and in the remaining unremediated areas of the site. Phase II Report. 02/96 Tables Appendix A: Chemistry Validation Appendix B/C: Data Quality/Analytical Results Appendix D: Laboratory Bioassay Sheets Appendix D (cont.): Laboratory Bioassay Sheets (Polychaete Benthic/Mollusca) Appendix E: Benthic Enumeration Data Appendix E (cont.) Round 1 - Fish Injury in the Hylebos Waterway. 03/97. Collier, T.K., L.L. Johnson, M.S. Myers, C.M. Stehr, M.M. Krahn, and J.E. Stein. 1998. Fish injury in the Hylebos Waterway in Commencement Bay, Washington. U.S. Dept. Commerce, NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NWFSC-36, 576p. Round 1 - Data Report on a Reconnaissance-level Assessment for Avian Injury in Commencement Bay (prepared by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). 04/99. View or download in 10 parts: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] Round 2 - Juvenile Chinook Growth and Disease Challenge Studies. 08/98. The Round 2 studies are divided into three parts. Part 1: Effects of Chemical Contaminants from the Hylebos Waterway on Disease Resistance of Juvenile Chinook Salmon: The Executive Summary and preliminary narratives (without figures and tables)(838KB), [2] (1,355KB), [3] (902KB), [4] (1,017KB). Part 2: Effects of Chemical Contaminants from the Hylebos Waterway on Growth of Juvenile Chinook Salmon: The Executive Summary and preliminary narratives (without figures and tables)(959KB), [2] (1,312KB), [3] (903KB), [4] (1,798KB). Part 3: Exposure of juvenile chinook salmon to chemical contaminants specific to the Hylebos Waterway: Tissue concentrations and biochemical responses: The Executive Summary and preliminary narratives (without figures and tables)(1,064KB), [2] (2,172 KB), [3] (2,066 KB), [4] (3,200 KB). Round 3 - Juvenile Chinook Salmon Dose-Response Study (planning underway). 08/00. The Sampling and Analysis Plan for the pilot study: [1] (581KB), [2] (1,968KB), [3] (847KB). Phase 3. Valuation and Potentially Responsible Party Identification. Based on the results of the Phase 2 investigation and the outcome of settlement negotiations, the Trustees will cover damage valuation, additional identification of potentially responsible parties, and collect further information as needed. Planning for these activities has not begun. Additional Resources Johnson, L.L., Sean Y. Sol, et al. 1999. Reproductive injury in English sole (Pleuronectes vetulus) from the Hylebos aterway, Commencement Bay, Washington. Journal of Aquatic Ecosystem Stress and Recovery 6:289-310.