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Strategy to evaluate persistent contaminant hazards resulting from sea-level rise and storm-derived disturbances—Study design and methodology for station prioritization

Open-File Report 2015-1188-A
Toxic Substances Hydrology Program
By: , , , , , , , , , , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20151188A

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Abstract

Coastal communities are uniquely vulnerable to sea-level rise (SLR) and severe storms such as hurricanes. These events enhance the dispersion and concentration of natural and anthropogenic chemicals and pathogenic microorganisms that could adversely affect the health and resilience of coastal communities and ecosystems in coming years. The U.S. Geological Survey has developed a strategy to define baseline and post-event sediment-bound environmental health (EH) stressors (hereafter referred to as the Sediment-Bound Contaminant Resiliency and Response [SCoRR] strategy). A tiered, multimetric approach will be used to (1) identify and map contaminant sources and potential exposure pathways for human and ecological receptors, (2) define the baseline mixtures of EH stressors present in sediments and correlations of relevance, (3) document post-event changes in EH stressors present in sediments, and (4) establish and apply metrics to quantify changes in coastal resilience associated with sediment-bound contaminants. Integration of this information provides a means to improve assessment of the baseline status of a complex system and the significance of changes in contaminant hazards due to storm-induced (episodic) and SLR (incremental) disturbances. This report describes the purpose and design of the SCoRR strategy and the methods used to construct a decision support tool to identify candidate sampling stations vulnerable to contaminants that may be mobilized by coastal storms.

Suggested Citation

Reilly, T.J., Jones, D.K., Focazio, M.J., Aquino, K.C., Carbo, C.L., Kaufhold, E.E., Zinecker, E.K., Benzel, W.M., Fisher, S.C., Griffin, D.W., Iwanowicz, L.R., Loftin, K.A. and Schill, W.B., 2015, Strategy to evaluate persistent contaminant hazards resulting from sea-level rise and storm-derived disturbances—Study design and methodology for station prioritization: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2015–1188A, 20 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20151188A.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Strategy Design
  • Analytical Approach and Site-Selection Criteria
  • Decision Support Tool for Station Prioritization
  • Sampling Methods
  • Analytical Methods
  • Metric Development
  • Data Delivery and Communication of Results
  • References Cited
  • Appendix A—National Target Analyte Strategy (NTAS) Constituent Database
  • Appendix B—National Target Analyte Strategy (NTAS) Ranked Constituent Database
  • Appendix C—U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Facility Registry Service (FRS) Questionnaire used to Generate Potential Contaminant Hazard Ranks
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Strategy to evaluate persistent contaminant hazards resulting from sea-level rise and storm-derived disturbances—Study design and methodology for station prioritization
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2015-1188
Chapter A
DOI 10.3133/ofr20151188A
Year Published 2015
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) New Jersey Water Science Center
Description Report: vi, 20 p.; 3 Appendixes
Country United States
State Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details