Environmental Analysis Tools - Environmental Impact Analysis: Process and Methods - page 288

TABLE 7.5
AJ Mine Ecological Endpoints and Risk Thresholds

Assessment/Measurement
Comparison
Method & Linkage

Assessment Endpoint Measurement Endpoints Risk Thresholds

Provide food source that does not
interfere with sea bird
reproduction
Provide food source at existing
levels that do not interfere with
ish-eating marine mammal
reproduction
Provide unaltered food and habitat
requirements for naturally
occurring pelagic ish

Tissue concentrations from clams
and polychaetes, bioaccumulation
tests; and sole from historic
tailings
1. Estimate effects on salmon and
herring
2. Tissue concentrations from clams
and polychaetes, bioaccumulation
tests; snail and sole from historic
tailings

Fish tissue concentrations less than
values known to have no effect on
reproduction in seabirds or
surrogates; concentrations less
than the no observed adverse
effect level (NOAEL) if
reproduction effects levels are not
available
No reduction in density of salmon
and herring within the study area
Fish tissue concentrations less than
values known to have no effect on
reproduction in marine mammals
or surrogates

Determine whether feeding in area
will alter reproduction by
calculating concentrations in
seabird diet using measurements
from clams, polychaetes, and sole
to derive values; and comparing
intake to effects levels reported in
the literature
Determine whether feeding in area
will alter reproduction; by
calculating concentrations in
marine mammal diet using
measurements from clams,
polychaetes, snail, and sole to
derive values; and comparing
intake with effects levels reported
in the literature