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MERC+GSI – DRAFT Test Plan
15
Cold Water Effects:
One additional laboratory assay will be conducted to evaluate the toxicity and
degradation of discharge water to simulate cold water treatment in Duluth-Superior Harbor. A
50 l subsample of treated water will be collected just downstream of the treatment system during
one of the test trials, upon initial filling of the test tank. This subsample will then be placed in a
dark, temperature controlled room at 4
o
C for the required 5-day holding time and then analyzed
as described above, with the only modification being all assays will be conducted at 4°C.
Statistical Analysis
:
Data will be analyzed using the SigmaStat® program (Jandel Corporation, 1995) and
final results will be verified by using the TOXCALC® 5.0 program. Data analyses will included:
normality, homogeneity of variance, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and suite of tests
for comparison between treatment means. Non-normal survival data will be transformed using
the natural log (EPA 2000) to normalize the data. The endpoints of the dose-effectiveness
experiments were the lethal concentration that provided 50 percent mortality, the lowest
observed-effect-concentration (LOEC), and no-observed-effect-concentration (NOEC) of the test
species except for the microbes. The LOEC is the lowest concentration in a test with a
statistically significant response that is different from the control response. The NOEC is the
highest test concentration for which there was no statistically significant difference from the
control response. These measures are extrapolations of statistical results to the experimental
endpoints. Mean percent survival and mean dry weight values for the laboratory controls and
treatments will be analyzed with a statistical significance level of 0.05.
Quality Assurance/Quality Control
:
Toxicity tests will be initiated with healthy, vigorous animals. Reference toxicant tests
will be performed with the test species prior to the start of the definitive test. In the toxicity tests,
percent survival and dry weights of survivors in the controls will be compared to published test
acceptability criteria (U.S. EPA 2000) to determine the overall performance of the animals and
the test system. Class I standardized weights are used as a check for the organism drying process
and the performance of the balance. Daily and weekly calibration of test meters ensures optimal
performance. Reference standards and duplicate samples will be used in the analysis of chlorine.
The QC/QA documentation will be noted on the raw data sheets and study logbooks.
7. Evaluation Schedule
(planned dates based on current plan and may vary)
•
Test Plan for SiCURE finalized and Evaluation Agreements signed by May 22, 2009
•
SiCURE ballast water management system delivered to
Cape Washington
for testing at
MERC May 19, 2009
•
SiCURE system installed and operating on the
Cape Washington
by May 29, 2009
•
Two SiCURE calibration run completed by June 1, 2009
•
MERC evaluation of the SiCURE systems initiated by June 15, 2009
•
MERC will complete sample analysis and compile data from the evolution by July 31
2009
•
SiCURE ballast water management system delivered to Superior, WI for testing at GSI
by August 7, 2009