Toxic Contaminants Workgroup

Upcoming Meetings

‍View Past Meetings View Group Calendar‍

Scope and Purpose

The Toxic Contaminants Workgroup (TCW) was established in 2014 after the signing of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. This workgroup exists to accomplish the toxic contaminants goals and outcomes outlined in the Agreement. For more information, visit the toxic contaminants research and toxic contaminants policy and prevention management strategy pages.

Projects and Resources

TCW PFAS Quarterly Meetings and Resources

The TCW holds quarterly meetings dedicated to the subject of Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS). A consolidation of materials and resources will be posted here concerning each of the meeting topics:

Meetings

2023 Meetings

2024 Meetings

2024 Meetings

  • January 2024 - Topic TBD

Relevant Resources

STAC State of the Science Workshop (May 2022) - Improving Understanding and Coordination of Science Activities for PFAS in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Report

PFAS Outreach from Extension Programs

State of the Science on PFAS in the Ag Systems (presentation to the Farming for Success workshop, 2024)

What We Need to Know About PFAS – the Forever Chemicals - YouTube (University of Maryland Extension)

Chesapeake Quarterly : Volume 23, Number 1 : Complicated Contaminants: Finding PFAS in the Chesapeake Bay (Maryland Sea Grant)

Understanding PFAS - What They Are, Their Impact, and What We Can Do (Penn State Extension)

PFAS Drinking Water Standards, Testing, and Treatment in Pennsylvania (Penn State Extension)

Guide to Addressing PFAS in Drinking Water (Penn State Extension)

Webinar on testing contaminants in private wells (PA); link

Virginia Tech private well study

Understanding PFAS in Delaware Flyer (University of Delaware Extension, Delaware Sea Grant, DNREC)

Upcoming Events

Webinar on PFAS Monitoring in Private Water Wells September 25, 2024 at noon, Register here: Per/Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Monitoring in Private Water Wells (psu.edu) (Penn State Extension)

STAC Workshop on Contaminants in Urban and Agricultural Settings

A wide range of contaminants of agricultural, human, and industrial origin have degraded water quality, and pose a threat to the health of fish and wildlife populations in the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. A STAC workshop brought together researchers and water quality managers working in urban and agricultural settings to synthesize the current knowledge on contaminants of concern, and discuss opportunities for their reduction.

Fish Consumption Advisory Project

Joint project with the Chesapeake Bay Program Diversity Workgroup to develop effective communication tools for populations at high risk for PCB exposure through fish consumption in waters impaired by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). These populations include children and those who are pregnant or may become pregnant in communities with high rates of subsistence fishing, and especially linguistically isolated populations or populations who do not have regular access to the publication avenues commonly used by state governments and municipalities.

Spanish video available here.

Project Infographics

The Chesapeake Bay Program developed the Fish Consumption Advisory (FCA) infographic and an accompanying user guide (below) in order to better communicate the dangers of toxic contaminants in locally caught fish and the subsequent risks to human health. The FCA infographic is intended to raise awareness about the risks of consuming contaminated fish by highlighting safe angling and cooking practices in a simple, easy-to-understand and relevant fashion. The infographic features four panels that collectively promote the safe catching, sharing, preparing and consumption of fish.

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Publications

Toxic Contaminants Phase III WIPs Co-Benefits Fact Sheet

This fact sheet describes the co-benefits that are possible when nutrient and sediment best management practices are selected in a thoughtful manner with site-specific conditions in mind. This fact sheet includes contact information for each state for more information. Additional information on best management practices and co-benefits for the Phase III WIPs is available here.

Download publication‍

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Toxic Contaminants in the Chesapeake Bay and its Watershed (2012)

Published on December 1, 2018

Exposure to toxic contaminants can result in adverse effects on biological resources within the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. In 2010, the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBCP), a federal-jurisdictional partnership, reported that 72 percent of the Bay's tidal-water segments are fully or partially impaired as a result of the presence of toxic contaminants. In some areas of the Bay watershed, fish-consumption advisories have been established as a result of concentrations of toxic contaminants. In recognition of these issues, the CBP developed the Toxics 2000 Strategy, in which commitments were made to prevent and reduce inputs of chemical contaminant and to eliminate toxic impacts on living resources that inhabit the Bay and its tributaries.

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Watershed Agreement

Members
Greg Allen (Chair), Environmental Scientist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Address:
1750 Forest Drive Suite 130
Annapolis, Maryland 21401

Email:  allen.greg@epa.gov
Phone:  (410) 267-5746
Emily Majcher (Vice Chair), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Address:
5522 Research Park Drive
Baltimore, Maryland 21228

Email:  emajcher@usgs.gov
Phone:  443-498-5520
Greg Allen (Coordinator), Environmental Scientist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Address:
1750 Forest Drive Suite 130
Annapolis, Maryland 21401

Email:  allen.greg@epa.gov
Phone:  (410) 267-5746
Sushanth Gupta (Staffer), Water Quality Goal Implementation Team Staffer, Chesapeake Research Consortium
Address:
1750 Forest Drive Suite 130
Annapolis, Maryland 21401

Email:  gupta.sushanth@epa.gov
George Onyullo, District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE)
Address:
1200 First St. NE
5th Floor
Washington, District of Columbia 20002

Email:  george.onyullo@dc.gov
Mark Richards, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Address:
P.O. Box 1105
Richmond, Virginia 23218

Email:  mark.richards@deq.virginia.gov
Phone:  804-698-4392
Leonard Schugam, Maryland Department of the Environment
Address:
Montgomery Business Park
1800 Washington Boulevard, Suite 540
Baltimore, Maryland 21230

Email:  leonard.shugam@maryland.gov
Phone:  410-537-3935
Josh Lookenbill, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Address:
Rachel Carson State Office Building, 400 Market Street
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17105

Email:  mlookenbil@pa.gov
Phone:  717.783.2959
Fred Pinkney, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
Address:
tba
tba, District of Columbia 21401

Email:  fred_pinkney@fws.gov
Charles Walker, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Address:
5522 Research Park Drive
Baltimore, Maryland 21228

Email:  cwwalker@usgs.gov
Emily Majcher, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Address:
5522 Research Park Drive
Baltimore, Maryland 21228

Email:  emajcher@usgs.gov
Phone:  443-498-5520
Joel Blanco-Gonzalez, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region 3
Address:
1650 Arch Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103

Email:  Blanco-Gonzalez.Joel@epa.gov
John Maleri, District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE)
Address:
1200 First Street NE
Washington, DC, District of Columbia 20002

Email:  john.maleri@dc.gov
John Cargill, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
Address:
89 Kings Highway
Dover, Delaware 19901

Email:  john.cargill@delaware.gov
Phone:  (302) 395-2622