Aluminum Company of America Class II Inspection

The objectives of the Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa) Class II
Inspection was to verify effluent compliance with NPDES permit (NPDES
Permit No. WA-000029-9), determine effluent toxicity using a suite of
bioassays, identify possible chemical pollutants in selected inplant
wastewaters, settling lagoon influent and lagoon effluent samples with
a priority pollutant scan, assess the impact of the industrial
discharge on the receiving water sediments with chemical analysis for
priority pollutants and toxicity testing using a Hyallela bioassay,
review Alcoa laboratory procedures to determine conformance to
standard techniques and advance state-of-the-art compliance
inspections by contributing to ongoing developmental efforts with
centrifugation (Zinner 1990). Samples of water and sediments were
taken at each effluent and influent location and upstream and
downstream from the facility.

The area of study was Lower Columbia River - Vancouver

Sample consisted of a composite of six grab samples. The samples were
mixed thoroughly and then divided for separate analysis. Samples
collected for volatile organics analysis were taken directly from the
grab sampler. Samples were kept on ice and shipped to the
laboratory.

Target analytes were VOAs, BNAs, metals, pesticides/PCBs and general
chemistry.

Analytical techniques included VOA (EPA 8260), BNA (EPA 8270), metals
(EPA 200) and pesticides/PCBs (EPA 8080). All results are reported on
a dry weight basis.

The information for this metadata was taken from the Columbia River
Basin: Sediment Database Abstracts.