Beaver River Beaver River Watershed Watershed

PCB InvestigationPCB Investigation

Technical Committee Technical Committee MeetingMeeting

October 20-21, 2009October 20-21, 2009

PCB TMDL BackgroundPCB TMDL Background

Completed Ohio River PCB TMDL in 2002Completed Ohio River PCB TMDL in 2002 Entire WV border (277 river miles)Entire WV border (277 river miles)

Mainstem TMDL onlyMainstem TMDL only Basin is too large and data is too limited to Basin is too large and data is too limited to

address issue with a single TMDL for entire address issue with a single TMDL for entire watershedwatershed

Assigned allowable loadings to major Assigned allowable loadings to major tributariestributaries

Follow-up tributary TMDLs/source reductions Follow-up tributary TMDLs/source reductions necessary to meet WQS in the Ohio Rivernecessary to meet WQS in the Ohio River

Current ChallengeCurrent Challenge

The contamination is wide-spreadThe contamination is wide-spread TMDL required for the entire Ohio RiverTMDL required for the entire Ohio River

Identifying specific sources has been Identifying specific sources has been difficultdifficult Sampling indicates POTWs and numerous types Sampling indicates POTWs and numerous types

of industrial facilities may discharge PCBsof industrial facilities may discharge PCBs Thousands of potential sources spread over Thousands of potential sources spread over

basinbasin Need to focus on a smaller scaleNeed to focus on a smaller scale

Select tributary sub-basin to focus effortsSelect tributary sub-basin to focus efforts

Tributaries of ConcernTributaries of Concern AlleghenyAllegheny MonongahelMonongahel

aa BeaverBeaver MuskingumMuskingum KanawhaKanawha GuyandotteGuyandotte SciotoScioto Great MiamiGreat Miami GreenGreen WabashWabash

Identified tributaries of Identified tributaries of concern based on high-concern based on high-volume sample resultsvolume sample results

Ranked according to yield Ranked according to yield and loadand load

Why the Beaver River Why the Beaver River Watershed?Watershed?

Needed smaller area to focus source Needed smaller area to focus source identification effortidentification effort 3,130 square miles (Ranks 143,130 square miles (Ranks 14thth of Ohio R. tribs) of Ohio R. tribs) Beaver River has elevated PCB levelsBeaver River has elevated PCB levels Highest single sample concentration (19,300 Highest single sample concentration (19,300

pg/L)pg/L) Highest average concentration (11,700 pg/L)Highest average concentration (11,700 pg/L) Fourth highest load Fourth highest load Highest PCB yieldHighest PCB yield Interstate tributaryInterstate tributary

Tributary PCB LoadsHarmonic Mean Flow

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Tributary PCB YieldsHarmonic Mean Flow

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Beaver Basin Beaver Basin ImpairmentsImpairments

Beaver River (Main stem)Beaver River (Main stem) Entire 21.49 miles listed as impaired by PCBsEntire 21.49 miles listed as impaired by PCBs TMDL completed 2001 for lower 3.8 milesTMDL completed 2001 for lower 3.8 miles

MahoningMahoning Lower 82 miles listed as impaired by PCBsLower 82 miles listed as impaired by PCBs

ShenangoShenango Lower 33.1 miles listed as impaired by PCBsLower 33.1 miles listed as impaired by PCBs TMDL completed in 2001 TMDL completed in 2001

ConnoquenessingConnoquenessing Not listed as impaired by PCBsNot listed as impaired by PCBs

Inventory of Potential Inventory of Potential SourcesSources

National Priority List (Superfund)National Priority List (Superfund) 6 NPL sites6 NPL sites

Toxics Release InventoryToxics Release Inventory 2 facilities2 facilities

267 potential sources based on SIC267 potential sources based on SIC These are facility types which were These are facility types which were

found by DRBC to discharge significant found by DRBC to discharge significant levels of PCBs levels of PCBs

Met with Ohio EPA and PA DEP Met with Ohio EPA and PA DEP personnel to discuss sources and personnel to discuss sources and sampling approachsampling approach

Proposed Sampling Proposed Sampling ApproachApproach

Phased sampling approachPhased sampling approach Conduct initial round of samplingConduct initial round of sampling Subsequent rounds based on previous resultsSubsequent rounds based on previous results Focus in on hot-spots Focus in on hot-spots

First round of samplingFirst round of sampling Sample each tributary near mouthSample each tributary near mouth

Beaver, Mahoning, Shenango, ConnoquenessingBeaver, Mahoning, Shenango, Connoquenessing Add additional sites based on sources and Add additional sites based on sources and

impaired segmentsimpaired segments Following rounds would allow for Following rounds would allow for

bracketing of potential sourcesbracketing of potential sources

Sampling (continued)Sampling (continued) Use high-volume water samplingUse high-volume water sampling

May only need to filter 250 to 500 May only need to filter 250 to 500 litersliters

Would allow for 2 samples to be Would allow for 2 samples to be collected each daycollected each day

Sampling ScheduleSampling Schedule Begin sampling in November 2009Begin sampling in November 2009 Takes 4 weeks for preliminary resultsTakes 4 weeks for preliminary results Select round 2 sites based on resultsSelect round 2 sites based on results Round 2 in early 2010Round 2 in early 2010 Repeat as budget allowsRepeat as budget allows Must be completed by June 30, 2010Must be completed by June 30, 2010

Questions or Questions or Comments?Comments?