Preliminary Ecological Risk Assessment for Nitrogen at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipboard.

摘要

This report describes the analysis done by the Marine Environmental Quality Branch (D362), SSC San Diego, in connection with Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard Yard's application for a new National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit in April 2000. The purpose of this analysis was to define the likely causes of elevated nitrogen discharges and provide a preliminary ecological risk assessment as to possible impacts upon the local marine ecosystems from the ambient nutrient levels in Pearl Harbor. Three findings discussed in this report are: (1) Pearl Harbor has a medium Dissolved Concentration Potential (DCP) and a medium Particle Retention Efficiency when compared to other estuaries, which indicates an average susceptibility for eutrophication; (2) when adding the best available nitrogen loading estimates to the DCP, the wet and dry season data yield two of the lowest concentration statuses relative to other harbors in the U.S., and (3) incorporation of measured ambient nitrogen concentrations confirms that Pearl Harbor has a medium eutrophication risk. Report assessments recommend future monitoring that may provide long-term data and more focused management response.