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National Coastal Assessment
(Coastal 2000) for U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency
ICF International's Environmental Chemistry and Forensics
Laboratory was selected as the national laboratory
supporting the Coastal 2000 chemistry programs.
In this role, the laboratory is processing large
numbers of sediment and tissue samples from the
participating regional teams for chemical analysis.
Thousands of surface sediments from randomly selected
stations are being sampled for a variety of contaminants
of environmental concern. The methods being used
at our laboratory can achieve detection limits
10 to 100 times lower than the program-required
limits, without compromising specificity, even
in complex matrices. Analysis for pesticides and
PCB congeners utilizes GC/ECD, a technique that
is sensitive and specific for the targeted compounds.
Power Plant RCRA Closure Program
ICF International's Environmental Chemistry and Forensics
Laboratory performed the analysis of marine fish
and invertebrates and sediment samples in support
of a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
Closure Program for a nuclear power plant in New
England. Approximately 60 tissue samples and 30
sediment samples—including fish, lobsters,
mussels, and clams—were analyzed for PCBs
(congener, homologue, and Aroclor), pesticides,
semivolatile organics, and polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs). The tissues required compositing
and homogenization prior to analysis. The lobsters
were dissected to remove the hepatopancreas, which
required separate analysis.
Arctic Nearshore Impact Monitoring
in the Development Area (ANIMIDA)
Based on our experience managing difficult programs
in adverse environments, we were selected by the
U.S. Department of the Interior's Minerals Management
Service to execute a multidisciplinary monitoring
program in the difficult Arctic environment. The
management of this program required oversight
and coordination of a diverse team of scientists
who participated in the design of the study and
the implementation of the field programs. Efforts
under this program include chemical characterization
of sediments, bivalves, and amphipods in the study
area; baseline acoustic monitoring; assessment
of subsistence whaling; investigation of suspended
sediment in the development area; and baseline
characterization of anthropogenic contaminants
in biota associated with the Gas Production Units.
Ecological Risk Assessment
of PCB-Contaminated Lake Sediments, U.S. Army
ICF International performed an extensive ecological
risk assessment on PCB-contaminated lake sediments
at a U.S. Army research and development facility
in eastern Massachusetts. The tiered risk assessment
approach involved sampling of lake sediments,
invertebrates, and fish; chemical analyses;
sediment toxicity testing; benthic macroinvertebrate
surveys; and wildlife surveys. The collected
sediment and tissue data were used to support
a food chain model to estimate potential ecological
risks to higher-level mammalian and avian receptors.
Deterministic and advanced probabilistic ecological
risk assessments were performed to evaluate ecological
risks and to develop preliminary sediment remediation
goals.
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New Carissa Oil Spill Response
and Natural Resource Damage Assessment
ICF International's Environmental Chemistry and Forensics
Laboratory was contracted to support the chemical
analyses necessary for the spill response and
natural resource damage assessment. We analyzed
more than 300 tar ball, shellfish, water, and
sediment samples—many with short turnaround
times—for a variety of parameters to support
the assessment. The chemical analyses involved
"ultra-trace" level measurements of
petroleum hydrocarbons, which were necessary to
support ecological risk assessment determinations.
In addition, the laboratory performed complex
hydrocarbon fingerprinting analyses and interpretation
to differentiate between petroleum hydrocarbon
sources and nonpetroleum sources in sediments
and tissues.
PMACWA Sampling, Analysis,
and Quality Assessment Program
ICF International managed the sampling, analysis
and quality assurance (QA) programs for the U.S.
Army Program Manager for Assembled Chemical Weapons
Assessment (PMACWA). This effort required coordination
of numerous sampling locations and a network of
commercial, U.S. Army, field, and academic laboratories.
The effort involved over 40,000 sample analyses
and resulted in approximately 1 million analytical
data results in support of a multimillion-dollar
series of technology demonstration tests. ICF International also coordinated the distribution and
evaluation of performance evaluation samples and
arranged annual on-site audits of commercial laboratories.
The chemistry staff validated approximately 2,000
individual data packages and prepared a data quality
report for each technology demonstrated.
Quality Assurance Support
for Site Assessments
ICF International chemists have coordinated sampling
and analysis programs for site assessments conducted
under contract to U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency Region I, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, and numerous commercial clients.
Analytical programs were designed to provide data
to support risk assessments, evaluate the nature
and extent of contamination, perform fate and
transport studies, design and evaluate remediation
alternatives, and assess treatment programs. In
addition to managing analytical programs, ICF International chemists have prepared quality assurance
plans, performed data validation, and prepared
data usability reports in support of site assessments.
Quality Assurance Evaluation—Medical
Device Manufacturer
ICF International completed a quality assurance evaluation
of analytical data generated for submission to
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in
support of a petition for approval of an implantable
urinary sphincter. The device and components of
various sizes and lots underwent both exhaustive
and physiological extraction. The extracts were
analyzed for residual solvents, additives and
other low molecular weight organics, oligomeric
materials, catalysts, and silicon. ICF International
then conducted an audit and prepared a report
evaluating the quality of the work against FDA
Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) requirements.
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