How are ecologically-based clean-up levels established for removal actions?
Ideally, the results of site-specific toxicity testing or bioaccumulation studies should be used to develop appropriate clean-up levels. If an ecological risk assessment has been performed for the site, the results of that assessment should be used in developing the clean-up levels. In lieu of appropriate site-specific levels, literature-based ecotoxicological values protective of the most sensitive species that can be reasonably expected to occur on site can be used. Values no greater than a lowest observed adverse effects level (LOAEL) should be considered when establishing an appropriate clean-up range. In certain situations the use of background concentrations may be appropriate.
