EPA Siloxanes (D4) ECA

Environmental Monitoring 

Program Update

SEHSC/EPA Meeting

November 17, 2014
Meeting Goals

• Update on SEHSC Progress 

• Feedback on SEHSC Submissions

• ECA “Next Steps”

• Collaborative Activities

• Path Forward
Progress to Date

• SEHSC Funding Agreement signed 13 Jan 2014

• Contractor Selected: ERM & ALS Lab 7 Feb 2014 

• Study Plan (4 Direct Discharge Sites) 8 Aug 2014

• Lab Certification @ Primary Site (Kelso) 18 Sep 2014

o Secondary Site (Salt Lake City) In Progress

• QAPP (applicable to all 14 sites) 1 Oct 2014

• 1

st Interim Progress Report 1 Oct 2014

• Field Sampling Certification 23 Oct 2014

• Site Access Agreements 1 Nov 2014

 4 Direct Discharge Committed

 4 Industrial Committed

 5 Residential Committed

15 months for selections and 

signed access agreements
POTW Candidate Site Selection 

Start: 

March 2013

November 

2014

Committed

9

Declined/

Eliminated

66

NEEDS 2004 Survey POTWs

16,583

ISTREAM Flow Database (dilution factor)

10,422

Activated Sludge/No Tertiary

4,871

Population and Dilution Factor 

1,070

Sites Meeting Validation Criteria

140

Contact POTWs & 

Secure Access Agreements

Remaining

65

Process to 

identify 

sites that 

meet ECA 

criteria

May 2014

January 2014 

1

st Submission of Sites to EPA
D4 ECA Sampling Locations

Lexington, KY

Region 4

Residential Sites

Boulder, CO

Region 8

Elmhurst, IL

Region 5

Steamboat 

Springs, CO

Region 8

Columbus, OH

Region 5

Gresham, OR

Region 10

Industrial Sites

South Iowa City, 

IA

Region 7

Wichita, KS

Region 7

Sistersville, WV

Region 3

Waterford, NY

Region 2

Carrolton, KY

Region 4 Direct Discharge 

Sites

Adrian, MI

Region 5

Genessee, MI

Region 5
Field Sample Training 

Video
Feedback from EPA on SEHSC Submissions

• Study Plan Sections (SPS) for the 4 

direct discharge sites

• QAPP

• 1

st Interim Progress Report

• Other?
ECA “Next Steps”

• Address EPA feedback on initial submissions, 

incorporate into remaining SPS

• Submission of the 10 POTW and revised DD 

SPS by 1 Feb 2015

• Prepare and submit 2nd Interim Progress Report 

30 Mar 2015

• Establish sampling schedule for all 14 sites
Impact of Sampling Window on ECA

Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Oct 

2014 2015 2016

SPS POTW 

and 

Revised DD

& 

Amended 

QAPP to 

EPA Feb. 1

EPA 

Approval 

SPS 

POTW & 

Amended 

QAPP 

Apr. 2

Field Sampling Event #1

(time period for low 

flow/low dilution for 

14 sites) 

May - Aug

Field Sampling Event #2

(time period for low 

flow/low dilution and 

90 day split for 14 sites) 

Sept - Nov

Final 

Report to 

EPA

QAPP 

to EPA 

Oct. 1

EPA 

Comments 

on 

DD/QAPP 

Nov. 30

SPS 

DD to 

EPA 

Aug. 8

Sampling Period (low 

flow/low dilution 

Sept. 15 to Nov. 15
Collaborative Activities

• Reaffirm Communication Loop for ECA

Challenges

• Status of POTW Encouragement Letter

• Three sites (industrial) requested 

• Status of POTW Appreciation Letter
“Suggested” Options

• Modify schedule to address updated sampling and 

analysis timing

• 1 Feb 2015 – Study Plan Submission for 

POTWs

• 1 April 2015 – Study Plan/QAPP Approval

• 30 May 2015 – Go Live for sampling

• Issue POTW Encouragement Letter

• Issue POTW Appreciation Letter
Questions and Next Steps 
Photos from Field Sample Training
DD/POTW Site Operational Issues

• Operating under normal 

conditions?

• Scheduled/unscheduled 

maintenance or 

construction?

• Other?
Environmental Issues
Sampling Issues - Mixing Zone/Plume

Ex: Carrollton, KY Site

CORMIX Model

• Mixing zone several 

miles down river

• Plume projected 

along bank
Sampling Issues - Collection of 

Benthic Invertebrates

20 samples over 4 hours
GLP Issues – Decisions in the Field