Identify human users

Identify human users. The conceptual model should specify human receptors

who may use the management site, local residents living or working near the site,

and workers who may contact sediments during dredging, transport, or management

of the materials. The potential human receptors include:

a. Potential recreational users of the management site (e.g., swimmers,

boaters, fishermen, naturalists, waders).

b. Local residents, especially where upland disposal is under consideration

(e.g., off-site resident, trespassers ).

c. Workers (barge operators, on-site workers, facility workers, pretreatment

workers).

d. Individuals who fish or consume fish or shellfish that may have exposure to

contaminants from the dredged material management site.

The product of this step will be a list of animal and/or plant species and humans

likely to use the habitats at and within the influence of the disposal site. For the

organisms, the list should reflect the variety of trophic levels, feeding types, and

phylogenetic diversity in the identified habitats. As much as possible, the list should

assign species to various communities and provide their general ecological function

within the community. For humans, the list should reflect human receptors who may

use or work at the site or ingest seafood from or near the site.

Obviously, the list cannot be inclusive of all species which may use or pass

through the disposal site area. However, it should include multiple representative

species of most, if not all, the functional types in the area, and it should list any

pertinent endangered or threatened species that reside in or pass through the area.

The information gathered in this section will be important in the selection of

receptor species.

Chapter 2 Problem Formulation