Step 3: Identify species and humans that may use habitats

Example 2: Description of Habitat Surrounding Management Site

The risk assessor used the following questions to guide the description of the habitat at and near the

management area (disposal site) where the dredged material from the marina and channel will be

transported.

What is the size of the management area (disposal site)?

What is the size of the local water body?

Are there fishery breeding, nursery, or feeding areas near the site?

Is the site near or adjacent to seasonal migration pathways for fish,

mammals, or piscivorous birds?

Are there biological reefs near the site (shellfish reefs, coral reefs) or other

particularly productive benthic environments?

Is the site near a wetland such as a salt marsh, Typha marsh, tidal flat, or flood

plain?

Is the site near a productive commercial or recreational fishery?

Are there habitats identified by local, state, or Federal agencies for special

protection such as critical habitat for endangered species, a national seashore park,

or a state wetland refuge near the site?

Are there Federal, state, or endangered species near the site?

The management area for this dredging project is in a coastal bay that is approximately 8 3 km (5

2 miles), and connects to the open ocean through a broad mouth. The management site is 5 km (3 miles)

offshore. The nearshore environment includes an extensive salt marsh. The bay has a sand and silt bottom and

a stratified, seasonal thermocline. There is a winter flounder fishery near the site. There are migratory species,

including winter flounder and mackerel, in the area. There are no endangered species found near the site.

Step 3: Identify species and humans that may use habitats

Identify species. This is the first step in the ultimate selection of receptors for

use in the risk assessment. It also provides input to the human health risk

assessment in identifying a potential exposure pathway, ingestion of seafood by

humans (i.e., by identifying those species used in commercial or recreational

fisheries). Again, most of the necessary information should have been collected

during the disposal site selection/designation process and assembled in the

accompanying NEPA documentation.

First, identify biological communities as general community types such as

pelagic, demersal, epibenthic, or infaunal while simultaneously considering the

overlap in such distinctions. Secondly, list the types of organisms likely to occur

within these general communities. Note that stakeholders may select receptors or

resources of lesser ecological importance for economic or aesthetic reasons.

Chapter 2 Problem Formulation