Critical Analysis of Sediment Quality Criteria and Hazard/Risk Assessment Tools

The Canadian Federal Environmental Assessment Review Office is funding the Geotechnical Research Centre to facilitate their participation in the analysis of the Environmental Impact Statement during the public hearings of the Lachine Canal decontamination project. A summary and critical analysis of recent research and practical experience in the interpretation and application of sediment quality criteria and hazard/risk assessment tools was prepared for use in a comparative examination for the Lachine project.

This present survey shows that various approaches can be taken when establishing both sediment quality and remediation criteria, in light of an increasing preference for flexible guidelines that can be adjusted according to specific site conditions and that will marry more than one approach.

Depending on the complexity of the decontamination scenario, there exist different levels of application in the analysis of the hazard and risk. Simple and complex models are available, but their actual application in ongoing sediment decontamination projects is minimal due to lack of understanding of the basics of contaminant exposure assessment and exposure routes.