[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 140 (Friday, July 20, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 37961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-18194]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7015-1 ]


Methods for Assessing the Chronic Toxicity of Marine and 
Estuarine Sediment-Associated Contaminants With the Amphipod 
Leptocheirus plumulosus--First Edition

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Methods for Assessing the Chronic 
Toxicity of Marine and Estuarine Sediment-associated Contaminants with 
the Amphipod Leptocheirus plumulosus--First Edition.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) are publishing a technical manual that 
describes procedures for testing an estuarine organism in the 
laboratory to evaluate the potential toxicity of contaminants in whole 
sediments. This document supplements (but does not replace) procedures 
originally published in 1994 (EPA/600/6-94/025), for measuring acute 
sediment toxicity in marine and estuarine sediments. This document 
includes a new method for evaluating sublethal effects of sediment-
associated contaminants utilizing long-term sediment exposures.

Availability of Document

    Copies of the complete document, titled Methods for Assessing the 
Chronic Toxicity of Marine and Estuarine Sediment-associated 
Contaminants with the Amphipod Leptocheirus plumulosus--First Edition 
(EPA/600/R-01/020) can be obtained from the National Service Center for 
Environmental Publications, P.O. Box 42419, Cincinnati, OH., 45242 by 
phone at 1-800-490-9198 or on their web site at www.epa.gov/ncepihom/orderpub.html. A pdf version of this document will be made available to 
be viewed or downloaded from the Office of Science and Technology's 
home page on the Internet at www.epa.gov/OST.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: D. Scott Ireland, EPA, Standards and 
Health Protection Division (4305), Office of Science and Technology, 
Ariel Rios Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 
20460; or call (202) 260-6091; fax (202) 260-9830; or e-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:   

Background Information Sediment contamination is a widespread 
environmental problem that can potentially pose a threat to a variety 
of aquatic ecosystems. Sediment functions as a reservoir for common 
contaminants such as pesticides, herbicides, polychlorinated biphenyls 
(PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and metals such as 
lead, mercury, and arsenic.
    This technical manual describes procedures for testing an estuarine 
organism in the laboratory to evaluate the potential toxicity of 
contaminants in whole sediments. Sediments may be collected from the 
field or spiked with compounds in the laboratory. Toxicity methods are 
outlined for the estuarine amphipod, Leptocheirus plumulosus. Toxicity 
tests with this amphipod are conducted for 28 days in 1-L chambers 
containing 175 mL of sediment and abut 725 mL of overlying water. 
Overlying water is renewed three times per week and test organisms are 
fed during the toxicity tests. The endpoints of the 28 day test with L. 
plumulosus are survival, growth, and reproduction. This 28 day sediment 
toxicity test with L. plumulosus is recommended for use with sediment 
with varying levels of salinity from oligohaline to fully marine 
environments (from 1 to 35 salinity). The long-term 
sediment exposures with L. plumulosus are started with neonate 
(newborn) amphipods. After termination of the 28 day sediment exposure, 
the offspring are counted and the dry-weight or length of the adult 
amphipods is measured. The use of this uniform sediment testing 
procedure is expected to increase data accuracy and precision, 
facilitate test replication, and increase the comparative value of test 
results. This method provides a basis for consistent cross-program 
decision making within the EPA. Each EPA program will, however, retain 
the flexibility of deciding when and how to use this test and whether 
identified risks would trigger actions. This method also provides a 
consistent testing protocol for other Federal agencies, States, and 
Tribes. This technical manual has no immediate or direct regulatory 
consequence. It does not impose legally binding requirements, and may 
not apply to a particular situation depending on the circumstances. The 
EPA or USACE may change this technical manual in the future.
    This technical manual has been subjected to review by EPA's 
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory and 
Office of Science and Technology and approved for publication. Mention 
of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement 
by the Agency or recommendation for use.

    Dated: July 3, 2001.
Geoffrey H. Grubbs,
Director, Office of Science and Technology.
[FR Doc. 01-18194 Filed 7-19-01; 8:45 am]
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