112 



Monitoring Pulp Mill Effluent 



The NPDES requires pulp mills to obtain discharge permits administered by 

 WDOE. These permits require certain basic water quality levels to be 

 maintained in terms of BOD, pH, TSS, and fecal coliform bacteria. In 

 addition, they require both mills to pass acute and chronic bioassay tests 

 every two months (Don Kjcsneea, WDOE, pers. comm. ) . Several other tests, 

 particularly for total dioxin and AOX — a measure of absorbable organic 

 chlorides — hava been proposed by WDOE and are being considered by the Water 

 Pollution Control Board- 

 Sediments 



The EPA found no difference in detected metals between the inner Harbor and 

 North Bay (Schroder and Fresh 1992;. However, sediment chromium was slightly 

 above the EPA criterion for damage to Puget Sound benthic infauna, and nickel 

 was about four times the criterion. Concentrations of 4-methylphenol and N- 

 nitrosodiphenylamine were predicted to adversely affect sediment benthic 

 infauna. EPA also found Dioxin in sediments below both mill outfalls 

 (Schroder and Fresh 1992). WDOE sediment chemistry revealed that "Chromium 

 and nickel were somewhat elevated" at both outfall sites, and "exceeded the 

 most stringent proposed Apparent Effects Threshold values" at the ITT site 

 (Reif 1989b). 



Bioaccumulation 



In 1990, FWS sampled sediment, eelgrass (Zoster* marina.), amphipods (Corophium 

 species), clams, mud shrimp, crabs (Cancer magister) , salmon, and flatfish in 

 Grays Harbor (Frederick 1591). Dioxins and furans were detected in several 

 samples, with highest lev«le of dioxin in amphipods and crabs (Frederick 

 1991). Contamination of aarob oe a potential contributor to delayed 



salmon smolt mortality. 



Future Outlook 



Studies of the relation between water quality, sediments, and fish survival 

 should be broadened by looking at both water and sediment pathways. Fish can 

 pick up contaminants either by absorbing them through their gills directly 

 from the water or by feeding on contaminated organisms. Contaminants, 

 including dioxins, can get into the water either directly from mill outfalls 

 or by resuspension from the sediment. That is, contaminants either redissolve 

 into the water or ride up into the water on clay particles. Resuspension may 

 result from wave and tidal action, or from dredging and spoil disposal. 



To summarize the current status of inner Harbor pollution in relation to 

 salmon production, (1) an unidentified substance intermittently present in 

 pulp mill effluent as late as 1989 was weakening coho smolfcs after short-term 

 exposure and probably contributed to aortality, (2) both mills have since 

 upgraded their waste treatment, and (3) the first results of post-cleanup fish 



