AREA OF CONCERN

U.S.A.

(Click on the different headings to open/close the related information)

Rochester Embayment, New York
(This section includes Stage of RAP development, Beneficial Use Impairments and their delisting targets, and information on whether the AOC has been accurately mapped.)

Stage of RAP Development:

Are electronic maps available that include the AOC's geographic boundaries and associated sources of pollution?

Beneficial Use Impairments (BUI):
(The BUI will appear underlined if a delisting target has been determined.
If underlined, click on the BUI to display the delisting target.)

Restrictions on Fish and Wildlife Consumption

1. There are no Area of Concern-specific fish and wildlife consumption advisories issued by New York State; AND
2. There is no significant contaminant input from the Rochester Embayment watershed contributing to contaminant levels in fish and wildlife tissue that require fish and wildlife consumption advisories, as indicated by the following: Tissue concentrations of contaminants of concern in representative samples of resident fish and wildlife are lower than the guidelines requiring advisories.

Degraded Fish and Wildlife Populations

Environmental conditions in the Area of COncern support healthy, self-sustaining communities of fish and wildlife, as indicated by:
1. Representative samples of water do not exceed NYSDEC ambient water quality standards for the protection of aquatic life and/or for protection of wildlife; AND
2. Water colum macroinvertebrate communities are "non-impacted" or "slightly impacted" according to NYSDEC indices (Bode et al., 1996); AND
3. Mink are present and are reproducing, or levels of PCBs, dioxins/furans, mirex and mercury measured in the tissue of resident prey are below those known to be associated with mink reproductive failure.

Bird or Animal Deformities or Reproductive Problems

1. Representative samples of water do not exceed NYSDEC ambient water quality standards for the protection of aquatic life and/or for protection of wildlife; AND
2. Mink are present and are producing, or levels of PCBs, dioxins/furans, mirex and mercury measured in the tissue of resident prey are below those known to be associated with mink reproductive failure.

Degradation of Benthos

1. Benthic macroinvertebrate communities are "non-impacted" or "slightly impacted" according to NYSDEC indices (Bode et al., 1996); OR
2. In the absence of conclusive community structure data, the toxicity of sediment-associated contaminants is not statisically higher than controls.

Restrictions on Dredging Activities

1. A formal long-term agreement between Monroe County and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) is in place to prohibit overflow dredging in the Rochester harbor (the NYSDEC may also be included in the agreement); AND
2. The quality of the material to be dredged meets the standards for open-lake disposal.

Eutrophication or Undesirable Algae

1. Total Phosphorus concentrations for near (11-12m) and near-nearshore (1m) are less than or equal to 15 ppb and 20 ppb respectively; AND
2. Chlorophyll A concentrations for near (11-12m) and near-nearshore (1m) are less than or equal to 3.8 ppb and 5 ppb respectively; AND
3. Secchi disk measurements in the nearshore (12m) are greater than or equal to 4 metres.

Restrictions on Drinking Water Consumption or Taste and Odor Problems

1. Current scientific literature indicates that drinking water taste and odor is a Great Lakes-wide problem; AND
2. The scientific literature establishes cause(s) for taste and odor problems; AND
3. The Rochester Embayment watershed does not contribute significantly to the taste and odor problem as determined using the findings od Delisting Criteria #2.

Beach Closings

1. Ontario Beach is open at least 80% of the swimming season (16 days closed in a maximum 80-day season), measured as a five-year rolling average; AND
2. The Ontario Beach operating model is at least 80% accurate, measured as a five-year rolling average.

Degradation of Aesthetics

1. There is virtually no persistent decomposing algae (algae does not persist more than 10% of summer days) along the Lake Ontario shoreline that is not part of a lakewide problem, for 5 consecutive years; AND
2. There is no odor due ot chemical seeps at the Lower Fall; AND
3. There are no alewive die-offs for a 5-year period or dead alewives along the Lake Ontario shoreline are part of a lakewide problem to which the ROchester Embayment watershed does not contribute; AND
4. There are no reports of discarded salmonids along the shoreline of the lower Genesee River, due to fishing practices, for 5 consecutive years; AND
5. There is virtually no litter caused by combined sewer overflows or left by fishermen or other recreational users in the lower Genesee River or adjacent shoreline; AND
6. Suspended sediment concentrations in the Genesee River remain less than 30 mg/l for at least 80% of a year, and exceed 200 mg/l for no more than 5 events with a combined duration of not greater than 20 days, as determined by a 5-year average (habitat delisting criterion on suspended sediment).

Degradation of Phytoplankton and Zooplankton Populations

Ninety percent of ambient water samples (collected monthly for one year), compared to a control, cause no chronic toxicity to Ceriodaphnia dubia.

Added Costs to Agriculture or Industry

1. Current scientific literature indicates that zebra mussel is a Great Lakes-wide problem; AND
2. The Rochester Embayment watershed does not contribute to the presence of zebra mussel in the Rochester Embayment.

Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat

1. There is no net loss of acreage and quality of federal or state-designated wetlands, using 1996 as the baseline year for comparisons; AND
2. There is no net loss of the 50-foot wide buffer strip of trees and shrubs on both sides of NYSDEC classified streams and the Genesee River up to the Lower Falls (using 1999 as the baseline year for comparisons); AND
3. Suspended sediment concentrations remain less than 30 mg/l for at least 80% of a year, and exceed 200 mg/l for no more than 5 events with a combined duration of not greater than 20 days, as determined by a 5-year average; AND
4. Hexagenia, or another appropriate indicator, is presnt in the Embayment and in suitable habitats in the Genesee River up to the Lower Falls; Members of the stonefly, mayfly and caddisfly families are present in streams; AND
5. Amphibian diversity and abundance in the study area.

CONTAMINATED SEDIMENT

Estimated remaining volume of contaminated sediment within the AOC:

no information

Remediation to Date
Project Name:	Amount Remediated:	Remediation Cost:

Planned Action Regarding Sediment Remediation
Project Name:	Amt. to be Remediated:	Estimated Cost:
Rochester Embayment "hot spots"	50,000 cu yds	$10,000,000

WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE

Improvements to Wastewater Infrastructure - Dollars Spent:
Rochester Pure Water District - CSO improvement	$0
VanLare facility upgrades	$0

Identified Future Costs for Wastewater Infra. - Dollars Needed:

HABITAT

Projects / Proposals / Costs:

OTHER SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

Issues, including National Priority List (NPL) sites:

MANAGEMENT

Federal	Barbara Belasco, US EPA 290 Broadway New York, New York 10007 (212) 637-3848
State	Bob Townsend, RAP Coordinator - NYSDEC 625 Broadway Albany, New York 12233-3508 (518) 402-8284
Local	Todd Stevenson, Monroe County Dept of Health PO Box 92832, Room 962 Rochester, New York 14692-8932 (585) 274-7638

LINK TO US EPA WEBSITE

Please Note: Values provided are intended as indicators only, and may not capture all expenditures or work done. Summary is based on best available Information. "No Information" indicates relevant information was not available at time of publication.