Draft final : Phase 1 fish tissue sampling data evaluation : Upper Columbia River Site : CERCLA RI/FS

CH2M HILL; Ecology and Environment, Inc

This report has been prepared to document the completion of the Phase I fish tissue sampling program for the Upper Columbia River (UCR) site. The UCR site is composed of an approximately 150-mile stretch of the Columbia River between the U.S.-Canada border and Grand Coulee Dam (Figure 1-1). The sampling program was conducted in September and October 2005 as part of Phase I of a Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) for the site. The overall objective of the RI/FS for the UCR is to identify site contamination, assess potential risk to human or ecological receptors, and develop remedial approaches to mitigate unacceptable risk. The Phase I fish tissue sampling program was designed to gather data to support (1) the human and ecological risk assessments, and (2) analyses to consider issuance of an updated fish advisory for Lake Roosevelt. The Phase I fish tissue sampling program was also designed to meet the following secondary objectives: • Characterize the spatial patterns of tissue contaminants • Establish baseline tissue contaminant levels for comparison with future surveys • Correlate tissue concentrations with contaminant concentrations in sediment • Compare tissue contaminant levels among fish species • Compare tissue contaminant levels among river reaches • Characterize the variation in tissue contaminant concentrations among individual fish of a species The Phase I fish tissue sampling program was developed following the process described in the RI/FS Scoping Plan (CH2M HILL, 2004a). The approach and rationale used for development of the program are described in the Phase I Fish Tissue Sampling Approach and Rationale Document (Fish Tissue A&R Document) (CH2M HILL, 2005a). Development of the Phase I fish tissue sampling program involved creation of a preliminary fish tissue conceptual site model (CSM), definition of fish tissue data quality objectives (DQOs), identification of data needs, assessment of existing data usability, and identification of data gaps. The Phase I fish tissue sampling program was developed in consideration of the specific data needs identified in the DQO process, the unique characteristics of the site, and comments received from participating stakeholders. The specific policies, organizations, objectives, and functional activities/procedures for the program are described in the Phase I Fish Tissue Sampling Quality Assurance Project Plan (Fish Tissue QAPP) (CH2M HILL, 2005b). The field activities associated with the program are described in the Phase I Fish Tissue Sampling Field Report (Fish Tissue Field Report) (CH2M HILL, 2006a). The scope of the data evaluation presented in this report includes preliminary identification of contaminants of interest (COIs) for UCR fish, and presentation of the results of the Phase I fish tissue sampling program that pertain to the nature and extent of these COIs in targeted fish species from the UCR. Other Phase I data evaluation components, such as assessment of potential human health and ecological risks posed by contaminants in fish from the UCR, are not addressed in this document. A site-specific human health risk assessment addressing consumption of targeted UCR fish species is being conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), and an ecological risk assessment addressing UCR fish will be conducted by Teck Cominco American, Inc., and overseen by USEPA. The findings of these risk assessments will be presented in separate documents. Analysis of the Phase I fish tissue data to consider issuance of an updated fish advisory for Lake Roosevelt is being conducted by the Washington State Department of Health (WDOH).