Environmental regulations and applications involving the performance of sediment toxicity testing as part of retrospective decision‐making processes
| Regulation | Guidance documents | Specific application | Guidance for using sediment toxicity testing |
| Europe | |||
| Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) and the amendments (2008/105/EC, 2013/39/EU) | European Commission (2000b, 2008a, 2013c) | Good ecological and chemical status of all waters | There are no direct regulations for the use of bioassays in sediment risk assessment or environmental quality standards (EQSs) for sediment contaminants. The member states have a possibility to derive EQS values for sediments, and there is a guidance for these actions (European Commission, 2018). |
| Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC) and the associated regulations (2017/845/EC, 2017/848/EU) | European Commission (2008b, 2017a, 2017b) | Good ecological and chemical status of marine waters | There are no direct regulations for the use of bioassays in sediment risk assessment or Environmental Quality Standards (EQSs) for sediment contaminants. The member states have a possibility to derive EQS values for marine sediments. and there is a guidance for these actions (European Commission, 2018). |
| United States | |||
| Clean Water Act; Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act | US Environmental Protection Agency and US Army Corps of Engineers (1977, 1991, 1998) | Disposal of dredged materials | Formal tiered approach using sediment toxicity testing along with water‐only toxicity, comparison to aquatic life criteria, and bioaccumulation to determine if dredged materials can be ocean‐disposed. |
| Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act; Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act | US Environmental Protection Agency (1989, 1994a, 1994b, 2005a) | Remediation of contaminated sediment sites | Part of an ecological risk assessment including recommendations for performing acute and chronic sediment toxicity testing using the freshwater amphipod (Hyalella azteca) or midge (Chironomus tentans and Chironomus riparius) and/or marine amphipods (Rhepoxynius abronius, Eohaustorius estuarius, Ampelisca abdita, Grandidier lla japonica). |
| Canada | |||
| Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan | Government of Canada (2012b) | Risk assessment of contaminated sediments | Technical guidance document intended to support federal custodians and risk‐assessment practitioners when conducting ecological risk assessments of contaminated federal soils and sediments. |
| Canada–Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem (COA) | Environment Canada and Ontario Ministry of Environment (2007) | COA decision‐making Framework for Assessment of Great Lakes Contaminated Sediment | Guidance document intended to support federal and provincial authorities and their practitioners when conducting ecological risk assessments of contaminated sediments in Canadian Great Lakes waters. |
| Australia/New Zealand | |||
| Water Quality Management Framework utilized by Australia (federal and state governments and New Zealand) | National Water Quality Management Strategy; Australian and New Zealand Governments and Australian State and Territory Governments (2018a); Simpson et al. (2013) | Risk assessment of contaminated environments, including sediments | Technical guidance document intended to support federal and state government regulators and risk‐assessment practitioners when conducting ecological risk assessments of contaminated sediments. |
| National Assessment Guidelines for Dredging | Commonwealth of Australia (2009) | Risk assessment and approval of open‐sea disposal of dredged sediments | Assessment framework and guidance for the environmental impact assessment and permitting of the ocean disposal of dredged material. |
| New Zealand; National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management | Freshwater National Policy Statement; New Zealand Ministry of Environment (2020) | Risk assessment of New Zealand freshwater environments, including sediments | The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management is the main direction to local governments about how to manage freshwater in New Zealand. |
| Regulation | Guidance documents | Specific application | Guidance for using sediment toxicity testing |
| Europe | |||
| Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) and the amendments (2008/105/EC, 2013/39/EU) | European Commission (2000b, 2008a, 2013c) | Good ecological and chemical status of all waters | There are no direct regulations for the use of bioassays in sediment risk assessment or environmental quality standards (EQSs) for sediment contaminants. The member states have a possibility to derive EQS values for sediments, and there is a guidance for these actions (European Commission, 2018). |
| Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC) and the associated regulations (2017/845/EC, 2017/848/EU) | European Commission (2008b, 2017a, 2017b) | Good ecological and chemical status of marine waters | There are no direct regulations for the use of bioassays in sediment risk assessment or Environmental Quality Standards (EQSs) for sediment contaminants. The member states have a possibility to derive EQS values for marine sediments. and there is a guidance for these actions (European Commission, 2018). |
| United States | |||
| Clean Water Act; Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act | US Environmental Protection Agency and US Army Corps of Engineers (1977, 1991, 1998) | Disposal of dredged materials | Formal tiered approach using sediment toxicity testing along with water‐only toxicity, comparison to aquatic life criteria, and bioaccumulation to determine if dredged materials can be ocean‐disposed. |
| Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act; Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act | US Environmental Protection Agency (1989, 1994a, 1994b, 2005a) | Remediation of contaminated sediment sites | Part of an ecological risk assessment including recommendations for performing acute and chronic sediment toxicity testing using the freshwater amphipod (Hyalella azteca) or midge (Chironomus tentans and Chironomus riparius) and/or marine amphipods (Rhepoxynius abronius, Eohaustorius estuarius, Ampelisca abdita, Grandidier lla japonica). |
| Canada | |||
| Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan | Government of Canada (2012b) | Risk assessment of contaminated sediments | Technical guidance document intended to support federal custodians and risk‐assessment practitioners when conducting ecological risk assessments of contaminated federal soils and sediments. |
| Canada–Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem (COA) | Environment Canada and Ontario Ministry of Environment (2007) | COA decision‐making Framework for Assessment of Great Lakes Contaminated Sediment | Guidance document intended to support federal and provincial authorities and their practitioners when conducting ecological risk assessments of contaminated sediments in Canadian Great Lakes waters. |
| Australia/New Zealand | |||
| Water Quality Management Framework utilized by Australia (federal and state governments and New Zealand) | National Water Quality Management Strategy; Australian and New Zealand Governments and Australian State and Territory Governments (2018a); Simpson et al. (2013) | Risk assessment of contaminated environments, including sediments | Technical guidance document intended to support federal and state government regulators and risk‐assessment practitioners when conducting ecological risk assessments of contaminated sediments. |
| National Assessment Guidelines for Dredging | Commonwealth of Australia (2009) | Risk assessment and approval of open‐sea disposal of dredged sediments | Assessment framework and guidance for the environmental impact assessment and permitting of the ocean disposal of dredged material. |
| New Zealand; National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management | Freshwater National Policy Statement; New Zealand Ministry of Environment (2020) | Risk assessment of New Zealand freshwater environments, including sediments | The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management is the main direction to local governments about how to manage freshwater in New Zealand. |
Environmental regulations and applications involving the performance of sediment toxicity testing as part of retrospective decision‐making processes
| Regulation | Guidance documents | Specific application | Guidance for using sediment toxicity testing |
| Europe | |||
| Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) and the amendments (2008/105/EC, 2013/39/EU) | European Commission (2000b, 2008a, 2013c) | Good ecological and chemical status of all waters | There are no direct regulations for the use of bioassays in sediment risk assessment or environmental quality standards (EQSs) for sediment contaminants. The member states have a possibility to derive EQS values for sediments, and there is a guidance for these actions (European Commission, 2018). |
| Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC) and the associated regulations (2017/845/EC, 2017/848/EU) | European Commission (2008b, 2017a, 2017b) | Good ecological and chemical status of marine waters | There are no direct regulations for the use of bioassays in sediment risk assessment or Environmental Quality Standards (EQSs) for sediment contaminants. The member states have a possibility to derive EQS values for marine sediments. and there is a guidance for these actions (European Commission, 2018). |
| United States | |||
| Clean Water Act; Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act | US Environmental Protection Agency and US Army Corps of Engineers (1977, 1991, 1998) | Disposal of dredged materials | Formal tiered approach using sediment toxicity testing along with water‐only toxicity, comparison to aquatic life criteria, and bioaccumulation to determine if dredged materials can be ocean‐disposed. |
| Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act; Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act | US Environmental Protection Agency (1989, 1994a, 1994b, 2005a) | Remediation of contaminated sediment sites | Part of an ecological risk assessment including recommendations for performing acute and chronic sediment toxicity testing using the freshwater amphipod (Hyalella azteca) or midge (Chironomus tentans and Chironomus riparius) and/or marine amphipods (Rhepoxynius abronius, Eohaustorius estuarius, Ampelisca abdita, Grandidier lla japonica). |
| Canada | |||
| Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan | Government of Canada (2012b) | Risk assessment of contaminated sediments | Technical guidance document intended to support federal custodians and risk‐assessment practitioners when conducting ecological risk assessments of contaminated federal soils and sediments. |
| Canada–Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem (COA) | Environment Canada and Ontario Ministry of Environment (2007) | COA decision‐making Framework for Assessment of Great Lakes Contaminated Sediment | Guidance document intended to support federal and provincial authorities and their practitioners when conducting ecological risk assessments of contaminated sediments in Canadian Great Lakes waters. |
| Australia/New Zealand | |||
| Water Quality Management Framework utilized by Australia (federal and state governments and New Zealand) | National Water Quality Management Strategy; Australian and New Zealand Governments and Australian State and Territory Governments (2018a); Simpson et al. (2013) | Risk assessment of contaminated environments, including sediments | Technical guidance document intended to support federal and state government regulators and risk‐assessment practitioners when conducting ecological risk assessments of contaminated sediments. |
| National Assessment Guidelines for Dredging | Commonwealth of Australia (2009) | Risk assessment and approval of open‐sea disposal of dredged sediments | Assessment framework and guidance for the environmental impact assessment and permitting of the ocean disposal of dredged material. |
| New Zealand; National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management | Freshwater National Policy Statement; New Zealand Ministry of Environment (2020) | Risk assessment of New Zealand freshwater environments, including sediments | The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management is the main direction to local governments about how to manage freshwater in New Zealand. |
| Regulation | Guidance documents | Specific application | Guidance for using sediment toxicity testing |
| Europe | |||
| Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) and the amendments (2008/105/EC, 2013/39/EU) | European Commission (2000b, 2008a, 2013c) | Good ecological and chemical status of all waters | There are no direct regulations for the use of bioassays in sediment risk assessment or environmental quality standards (EQSs) for sediment contaminants. The member states have a possibility to derive EQS values for sediments, and there is a guidance for these actions (European Commission, 2018). |
| Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC) and the associated regulations (2017/845/EC, 2017/848/EU) | European Commission (2008b, 2017a, 2017b) | Good ecological and chemical status of marine waters | There are no direct regulations for the use of bioassays in sediment risk assessment or Environmental Quality Standards (EQSs) for sediment contaminants. The member states have a possibility to derive EQS values for marine sediments. and there is a guidance for these actions (European Commission, 2018). |
| United States | |||
| Clean Water Act; Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act | US Environmental Protection Agency and US Army Corps of Engineers (1977, 1991, 1998) | Disposal of dredged materials | Formal tiered approach using sediment toxicity testing along with water‐only toxicity, comparison to aquatic life criteria, and bioaccumulation to determine if dredged materials can be ocean‐disposed. |
| Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act; Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act | US Environmental Protection Agency (1989, 1994a, 1994b, 2005a) | Remediation of contaminated sediment sites | Part of an ecological risk assessment including recommendations for performing acute and chronic sediment toxicity testing using the freshwater amphipod (Hyalella azteca) or midge (Chironomus tentans and Chironomus riparius) and/or marine amphipods (Rhepoxynius abronius, Eohaustorius estuarius, Ampelisca abdita, Grandidier lla japonica). |
| Canada | |||
| Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan | Government of Canada (2012b) | Risk assessment of contaminated sediments | Technical guidance document intended to support federal custodians and risk‐assessment practitioners when conducting ecological risk assessments of contaminated federal soils and sediments. |
| Canada–Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem (COA) | Environment Canada and Ontario Ministry of Environment (2007) | COA decision‐making Framework for Assessment of Great Lakes Contaminated Sediment | Guidance document intended to support federal and provincial authorities and their practitioners when conducting ecological risk assessments of contaminated sediments in Canadian Great Lakes waters. |
| Australia/New Zealand | |||
| Water Quality Management Framework utilized by Australia (federal and state governments and New Zealand) | National Water Quality Management Strategy; Australian and New Zealand Governments and Australian State and Territory Governments (2018a); Simpson et al. (2013) | Risk assessment of contaminated environments, including sediments | Technical guidance document intended to support federal and state government regulators and risk‐assessment practitioners when conducting ecological risk assessments of contaminated sediments. |
| National Assessment Guidelines for Dredging | Commonwealth of Australia (2009) | Risk assessment and approval of open‐sea disposal of dredged sediments | Assessment framework and guidance for the environmental impact assessment and permitting of the ocean disposal of dredged material. |
| New Zealand; National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management | Freshwater National Policy Statement; New Zealand Ministry of Environment (2020) | Risk assessment of New Zealand freshwater environments, including sediments | The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management is the main direction to local governments about how to manage freshwater in New Zealand. |
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