SEDAG 2012 Annual Report

The Scope of SEDAG

The scope of SEDAG comprises environmental aspects of quantity and quality of sediments, both as deposits and as suspended matter in freshwater, estuarine and marine environments. Scientific coverage of SEDAG includes all fields pertinent to conducting effective environmental risk assessment and management of sediment, including issues such as transport, fate, exposure, effect, impact analysis, guideline values and frameworks (regulations), and management strategies. Where necessary, the adjoining compartments like soil, water, groundwater, air will be considered and contacts with advisory groups like the established SETAC Soil Advisory Group will be established. SEDAG, through its broad membership, will aim for cooperation and exchange with international sediment-related organizations such as the European Sediment Network "SedNet,” the Sediment Management Work Group, the Sediment Remediation Technology Development Forum, providing a strong link to application.

The Mission of the SETAC Sediment Advisory Group

SEDAG exists to serve as a scientific resource to all stakeholders interested in the topic of sediments in the environment, and fulfills the following mission and purpose:

• Serve as a focal point within SETAC as a means of involving the membership in research and discussions.
• Stimulate critical assessment in order to establish the best available science.
• Encourage the worldwide incorporation of the best available science and strategic approaches.
• Advance overall understanding of the fate, effects, and potential environmental consequences of contaminated, altered or redistributed sediments.
• Provide scientific support to facilitate effective regulatory decision making.
• Provide a neutral forum and focal point for collaborative identification, evaluation, and resolution of scientific issues.
• Provide a forum for organizing sessions at annual meetings and organizing workshops to address scientific issues associated with the assessment and management of contaminated sediments.
• Provide a mechanism to publish journal articles and books associated with the assessment and management of sediments.

The steering committee is querying potential members of the SEDAG to help establish priorities for first activities of the SEDAG.

The SEDAG will likely meet at the fall meetings of SETAC NA and at the spring meetings of SETAC Europe.

Working Groups

A series of working groups exist within SEDAG that seek to engage members with common interests. 

1. Ecosystem based sustainable sediment management.
   Chair: Sabine Apitz
   
2. Harmonization of methods for assessing contaminated sediments
   Chair: Chris Ingersoll
3. PAH-Working Group
   Chairs: Peter Van Metre, Charlene Liu
   
4. Behaviour, fate and bioavailability of particle bound contaminants in changing environments
   Chair: Susanne Heise
   
5. Understanding and preparing for the response of sediment contaminant systems to natural and anthropogenic disturbances and climate change
   Chair: Phil Owens
   
6. Sediment quality in developing countries
   Chair: Gerardo Gold-Bouchot
   
7. Reviewing sediment targets for water quality
   Chair: Adrian Collins
   
8. Sediment contaminant bioavailability and guideline modifying factors
   Chair: Stuart Simpson
   

Steering Committee Status and Membership

The SEDAG Steering Committee is currently seeking new members. The intent is that positions should be held for approximately 3 years.

Current Steering Committee

Academia
Susanne Heise, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Germany
Philip Owens, University of Northern British Columbia, Canada
Paul Sibley, University of Guelph, Canada

Industry
Sabine Apitz, SEA Environmental Decisions, United Kingdom
David Moore, Weston Solutions, USA
Greg Schiefer, SETAC North America, USA

Government
Chris Ingersoll, US Geological Survey, USA
Stuart Simpson, CSIRO Land and Water, Australia (Current Chair)
Position Open

Operating Guidelines