Page 13 - Lake Roosevelt Forum 2020 Public Guide

FISH, MUSSELS AND CRAYFISH | SWIMMING AND SURFACE WATER | AIR QUALITY
Swimming and Surface Water
The draft Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) found that cancer and non-cancer benchmarks were not exceeded for surface water. As an exposure pathway, the quality of surface water is safe for swimming and other recreational activities.
In 2009 and 2010 surface water samples were collected from nine transects (one shore of the river to the other). Transects were distributed from the Canadian border to above Grand Coulee Dam. Surface water samples taken represented different depths, river flows and recreational conditions, e.g.—a disturbed sample to represent a child kicking up mud and beach sediment as they play.
Air Quality
For Upper Columbia Valley downwind air inhalation exposure from Teck’s Trail Smelter, cancer and non- cancer benchmarks used in the HHRA were not exceeded.
This is consistent with a 2010 report that focused on dust created by seasonally exposed wind storms entraining dried Lake Roosevelt sediments. Prepared for the U.S. Department of Interior by Industrial Economics Incorporated (IEc), the report found that human inhalation of airborne sediment particles along the reservoir containing lead and other heavy metals are within EPA’s acceptable risk standard for cancer and non-cancer health effects resulting from both acute and chronic exposures.
In addition, the HHRA used 2002- 2009 air monitoring data from an Upper Columbia Valley monitoring station near Northport. The station collected data on arsenic, cadmium, lead, zinc and particulate size. EPA concluded that concentrations
in the air were lower than data from sampling in the same location that dated back to 1994. This is attributed to operational improvements made at the Trail smelter, including significant upgrades completed in 1997 that reduced emissions to five percent of previous levels.
EPA chose not to conduct any further air monitoring for the HHRA based on results from
previous air monitoring and analysis. Ecology disagreed with this decision, stating in a 2017 fact sheet, “Collecting new, reliable measurements of metal particles in the air within the Upper Columbia Valley will be the best way to understand current conditions.”
At public meetings, community members have expressed similar viewpoints, repeatedly requesting continuance of air monitoring.
Teck’s Trail Smelter Trail, British Columbia
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