Lunch-and-Learn: Ecological Risk Assessments – What They Are and Their Role in Tiering Under Connecticut’s RBCRs

What happens when a contaminated site presents exposure concerns for plants and wildlife, not just people? Ecological risk assessment provides the framework for evaluating how contaminants in soil, sediment, surface water, and other environmental media may affect ecological receptors and habitats. 

SWEP-CT invites its members to attend a lunch-and-learn session with Jessica Landaverde, PhD and Kate Engler, PhD, DABT, LEP from Loureiro Engineering Associates, Inc. on the basics of ecological risk assessment and its role in environmental remediation. 

This presentation will provide an overview of the following elements of ecological risk assessment:

• Development of a conceptual site model
• Identification and screening of constituents of concern
• Hazard quotients/hazard index calculations
• Refinement of risk evaluations and key management decision points

The presentation will also review how ecological risk assessment fits within Connecticut’s Release Based Cleanup Regulations, in particular:

• Scoping Ecological Assessments – contents and requirements
• Screening Ecological Assessments – contents and requirements
• Site-Specific Ecological Risk Assessments – contents and requirements

Whether you are new to ecological risk assessment or looking for a refresher on its role in environmental projects, this session will provide a useful introduction to the science and regulatory considerations behind protecting ecological resources at contaminated sites.  

Jessica Landaverde is a senior scientist at Loureiro Engineering Associates where she has been involved with various remediation projects, including those involving ecological risk assessment. She holds a B.S. in biology and environmental health sciences from Western Kentucky University and a Ph.D. in molecular biosciences, focused in ecotoxicology, from Middle Tennessee State University.

Kate Engler is Vice President of the Environmental Division at Loureiro Engineering Associates, where she leads a talented team of scientists and geologists focused on using environmental assessment and remediation to deliver client-centered solutions. Her expertise includes human health and ecological risk assessment, toxicology, environmental remediation, and regulatory compliance under various state and federal programs. She holds a Ph.D. in environmental toxicology and a B.S. in environmental chemistry from Cornell University. She is also a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology and a Licensed Environmental Professional in the State of Connecticut.