On April 22, 2025, the Department of Interior (DOI)—on behalf of the Federal Trustees for the natural resource damage assessment at the Diamond Alkali Superfund Site—released a draft study plan on bird injury (PDF, 35 pages) for public comment and review.

The site provides important habitat for a variety of bird species and exposure to hazardous substances through their diet may result in adverse effects on reproductive success or altered breeding behavior. 

The plan describes an egg injection study to evaluate injury to song birds exposed to dioxin and dioxin-like substances (PCBs) associated with the site in New Jersey and New York. Catbird and barn swallow eggs will be collected from a field site with documented low levels of PCBs, dioxins, and furans. The eggs will be exposed in the laboratory to environmentally relevant mixtures and concentrations of contaminants to better understand injury to these species.

The study is designed to inform the natural resource damage assessment being performed by NOAA and DOI and may guide future efforts related to injury assessment and restoration planning. This study plan is consistent with the Final Natural Resource Damage Assessment Plan (PDF, 83 pages) for the Diamond Alkali Superfund Site, released in 2020.

Public comments should be submitted in writing by May 22, 2025 to:

• Sarah Scheaffer, DOI Diamond Alkali NRDA Technical Manager at sarah_scheaffer@fws.gov
• Please include "DANRD Avian Study" in the email subject line  

A Final Study Plan will be released after consideration of submitted comments.

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