This agreement provides funding to the oregon department of environmental quality (ODEQ) to: 1) study the fate and transport of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in land applied biosolids…

This agreement provides funding to the oregon department of environmental quality (ODEQ) to: 1) study the fate and transport of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in land applied biosolids in different ecosystems on the oregon side of the columbia river basin; and 2) enhance fish tissue monitoring efforts in the columbia river tributaries to identify human and ecosystem exposure to toxic legacy and emerging contaminants. Activities:the activities to be performed include identification of PFAS concentrations in land applied biosolids and correlate them with concentrations of PFAS in crops grown on application sites, in offsite drainages to surface waters, in water that infiltrates to groundwater, or that is sequestered in the soil profile. Following a selection of landowner partners, ODEQ will conduct further coordination to collect irrigation water samples and schedule soil/crop sample collection. ODEQ will implement a fish tissue monitoring effort in columbia river tributaries, including the willamette river, to identify human and ecosystem exposure to toxic legacy and emerging contaminants in the basin. Monitoring will include analysis of legacy and emerging contaminants and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), with additional monitoring of toxics in water at select sites. Subrecipient:ODEQ plans two subawards, under the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) biosolids project, to oregon state university to collect samples and to the oregon association of clean water agencies to assist in coordination and communication. Outcomes:the anticipated outputs consist of: a final report detailing PFAS results across environmental media; a minimum of 2 conference presentations; a minimum of 3 public meetings; a public fact sheet to be posted on ODEQ's and oregon state university's (OSU's) websites; generation of shared documents and collaborative discussions about methods and sampling locations to inform partners' work; the collection and analyzation of 9 biosolid samples; 153 soil samples; 48 agricultural crop samples; and 36 irrigation water samples; as well as 47 quality control samples to ensure the accuracy of the data collected; and 3-4 presentations of summary results to local community organizations and partners. The anticipated outcomes consist of identifying background concentrations of PFAS in agricultural fields in oregon; creating a snapshot of PFAS concentrations in irrigation water, soils and crops grown in agricultural fields using land applied biosolids; identifying concentrations of PFAS that accumulate in the crop, soil and potentially leach to water bodies; improving knowledge and communication about PFAS in land/water to local communities; effective and comprehensive monitoring plans; production of quality data; evaluation and assessment of potential toxic contaminant 'hot spots'; production of publicly accessible information; increased public awareness and the opportunity for public involvement; and the production of data to inform potential fish consumption advisories. The intended beneficiaries are communities along the columbia river in oregon.