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National Recommended Water Quality Criteria; Republication
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: December 10, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 237)]
[Notices]
[Page 68353-68364]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10de98-167]
[[Page 68353]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part IV
Environmental Protection Agency
_______________________________________________________________________
National Recommended Water Quality Criteria; Notice; Republication
[[Page 68354]]
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-OW-6186-6a]
National Recommended Water Quality Criteria; Republication
Editorial Note: FR Doc. 98-30272 was originally published as
Part IV (63 FR 67548-67558) in the issue of Monday, December 7,
1998. At the request of the agency, due to incorrect footnote
identifiers in the tables, the corrected document is being
republished in its entirety.
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Compilation of recommended water quality criteria and notice of
process for new and revised criteria.
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SUMMARY: EPA is publishing a compilation of its national recommended
water quality criteria for 157 pollutants, developed pursuant to
section 304(a) of the Clean Water Act (CWA or the Act). These
recommended criteria provide guidance for States and Tribes in adopting
water quality standards under section 303(c) of the CWA. Such standards
are used in implementing a number of environmental programs, including
setting discharge limits in National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) permits. These water quality criteria are not
regulations, and do not impose legally binding requirements on EPA,
States, Tribes or the public.
This document also describes changes in EPA's process for deriving
new and revised 304(a) criteria. Comments provided to the Agency about
the content of this Notice will be considered in future publications of
water quality criteria and in carrying out the process for deriving
water quality criteria. With this improved process the public will have
more opportunity to provide data and views for consideration by EPA.
The public may send any comments or observations regarding the
compilation format or the process for deriving new or revised water
quality criteria to the Agency now, or anytime while the process is
being implemented.
ADDRESSES: A copy of the document, ``National Recommended Water Quality
Criteria'' is available from the U.S. EPA, National Center for
Environmental Publications and Information, 11029 Kenwood Road,
Cincinnati, Ohio 45242, phone (513) 489-8190. The publication is also
available electronically at: http://www.epa.gov/ost. Send an original
and 3 copies of written comments to W-98-24 Comment Clerk, Water
Docket, MC 4104, US EPA, 401 M Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460.
Comments may also be submitted electronically to OW-
Docket@epamail.epa.gov. Comments should be submitted as a WP5.1, 6.1 or
an ASCII file with no form of encryption. The documents cited in the
compilation of recommended criteria are available for inspection from 9
to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays, at the
Water Docket, EB57, East Tower Basement, USEPA, 401 M St., S.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20460. For access to these materials, please call
(202) 260-3027 to schedule an appointment.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cindy A. Roberts, Health and
Ecological Criteria Division (4304), U.S. EPA, 401 M. Street, S.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20460; (202) 260-2787; roberts.cindy@epamail.epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. What Are Water Quality Criteria?
Section 304(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act requires EPA to develop
and publish, and from time to time revise, criteria for water quality
accurately reflecting the latest scientific knowledge. Water quality
criteria developed under section 304(a) are based solely on data and
scientific judgments on the relationship between pollutant
concentrations and environmental and human health effects. Section
304(a) criteria do not reflect consideration of economic impacts or the
technological feasibility of meeting the chemical concentrations in
ambient water. Section 304(a) criteria provide guidance to States and
Tribes in adopting water quality standards that ultimately provide a
basis for controlling discharges or releases of pollutants. The
criteria also provide guidance to EPA when promulgating federal
regulations under section 303(c) when such action is necessary.
II. What is in the Compilation Published Today?
EPA is today publishing a compilation of its national recommended
water quality criteria for 157 pollutants. This compilation is also
available in hard copy at the address given above.
The compilation is presented as a summary table containing EPA's
water quality criteria for 147 pollutants, and for an additional 10
pollutants, criteria solely for organoleptic effects. For each set of
criteria, EPA lists a Federal Register citation, EPA document number or
Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) entry (www.epa.gov/ngispgm3/
iris/irisdat). Specific information pertinent to the derivation of
individual criteria may be found in cited references. If no criteria
are listed for a pollutant, EPA does not have any national recommended
water quality criteria.
These water quality criteria are the Agency's current recommended
304(a) criteria, reflecting the latest scientific knowledge. They are
generally applicable to the waters of the United States. EPA recommends
that States and Tribes use these water quality criteria as guidance in
adopting water quality standards pursuant to section 303(c) of the Act
and the implementing of federal regulations at 40 CFR part 131. Water
quality criteria derived to address site-specific situations are not
included; EPA recommends that States and Tribes follow EPA's technical
guidance in the ``Water Quality Standards Handbook--2nd Edition,'' EPA,
August 1994, in deriving such site-specific criteria. EPA recognizes
that in limited circumstances there may be regulatory voids in the
absence of State or Tribal water quality standards for specific
pollutants. However, States and Tribes should utilize the existing
State and Tribal narrative criteria to address such situations; States
and Tribes may consult EPA criteria documents and cites in the summary
table for additional information.
The national recommended water quality criteria include: previously
published criteria that are unchanged; criteria that have been
recalculated from earlier criteria; and newly calculated criteria,
based on peer-reviewed assessments, methodologies and data, that have
not been previously published.
The information used to calculate the water quality criteria is not
included in the summary table. Most information has been previously
published by the Agency in a variety of sources, and the summary table
cites those sources.
When using these 304(a) criteria as guidance in adopting water
quality standards, EPA recommends States and Tribes consult the
citations referenced in the summary table for additional information
regarding the derivation of individual criteria.
The Agency intends to revise the compilation of national
recommended water quality criteria from time to time to keep States and
Tribes informed as to the most current recommended water quality
criteria.
III. How Are National Recommended Water Quality Criteria Used?
Once new or revised 304(a) criteria are published by EPA, the
Agency expects States and Tribes to adopt promptly new or revised
numeric water quality criteria into their standards consistent with one
of the three options
[[Page 68355]]
in 40 CFR 131.11. These options are: (1) Adopt the recommended section
304(a) criteria; (2) adopt section 304(a) criteria modified to reflect
site-specific conditions; or, (3) adopt criteria derived using other
scientifically defensible methods. In adopting criteria under option
(2) or (3), States and Tribes must adopt water quality criteria
sufficient to protect the designated uses of their waters. When
establishing a numerical value based on 304(a) criteria, States and
Tribes may reflect site specific conditions or use other scientifically
defensible methods. However, States and Tribes should not selectively
apply data or selectively use endpoints, species, risk levels, or
exposure parameters in deriving criteria; this would not accurately
characterize risk and would not result in criteria protective of
designated uses.
EPA emphasizes that, in the course of carrying out its
responsibilities under section 303(c), it reviews State and Tribal
water quality standards to assess the need for new or revised water
quality criteria. EPA generally believes that five years from the date
of EPA's publication of new or revised water quality criteria is a
reasonable time by which States and Tribes should take action to adopt
new or revised water quality criteria necessary to protect the
designated uses of their waters. This period is intended to accommodate
those States and Tribes that have begun a triennial review and wish to
complete the actions they have underway, deferring initiating adoption
of new or revised section 304(a) criteria until the next triennial
review.
IV. What is the Status of Existing Criteria While They Are Under
Revision?
The question of the status of the existing section 304(a) criteria
often arises when EPA announces that it is beginning a reassessment of
existing criteria. The general answer is that water quality criteria
published by EPA remain the Agency's recommended water quality criteria
until EPA revises or withdraws the criteria. For example, while
undertaking recent reassessments of dioxin, PCBs, and other chemicals,
EPA has consistently upheld the use of the current section 304(a)
criteria for these chemicals and considers them to be scientifically
sound until new, peer reviewed, scientific assessments indicate changes
are needed. Therefore, the criteria in today's notice are and will
continue to be the Agency's national recommended water quality criteria
for States and Tribes to use in adopting or revising their water
quality standards until superseded by the publication of revised
criteria, or withdrawn by notice in the Federal Register.
V. What is the Process for Developing New or Revised Criteria?
Section 304(a)(1) of the CWA requires the Agency to develop and
publish, and from time to time revise, criteria for water quality
accurately reflecting the latest scientific knowledge. The Agency has
developed an improved process that it intends to use when deriving new
criteria or conducting a major reassessment of existing criteria. The
purpose of the improved process is to provide expanded opportunities
for public input, and to make the process more efficient.
When deriving new criteria, or when initiating a major reassessment
of existing criteria, EPA will take the following steps.
1. EPA will first undertake a comprehensive review of available
data and information.
2. EPA will publish a notice in the Federal Register and on the
Internet announcing its assessment or reassessment of the pollutant.
The notice will describe the data available to the Agency, and will
solicit any additional pertinent data or views that may be useful in
deriving new or revised criteria. EPA is especially interested in
hearing from the public regarding new data or information that was
unavailable to the Agency, and scientific views as to the application
of the relevant Agency methodology for deriving water quality criteria.
3. After public input is received and evaluated, EPA will then
utilize information obtained from both the Agency's literature review
and the public to develop draft recommended water quality criteria.
4. EPA will initiate a peer review of the draft criteria. Agency
peer review consists of a documented critical review by qualified
independent experts. Information about EPA peer review practices may be
found in the Science Policy Council's Peer Review Handbook (EPA 100-B-
98-001, www.epa.gov).
5. Concurrent with the peer review in step four, EPA will publish a
notice in the Federal Register and on the Internet, of the availability
of the draft water quality criteria and solicit views from the public
on issues of science pertaining to the information used in deriving the
draft criteria. The Agency believes it is important to provide the
public with the opportunity to provide scientific views on the draft
criteria even though we are not required to invite and respond to
written comments.
6. EPA will evaluate the results of the peer review, and prepare a
response document for the record in accordance with EPA's Peer Review
Handbook. EPA at the same time will consider views provided by the
public on issues of science. Major scientific issues will be addressed
in the record whether from the peer review or the public.
7. EPA will then revise the draft criteria as necessary, and
announce the availability of the final water quality criteria in the
Federal Register and on the Internet.
VI. What is the Process for Minor Revisions to Criteria?
In addition to developing new criteria, and conducting major
reassessments of existing criteria, EPA also from time to time
recalculates criteria based on new information pertaining to individual
components of the criteria. For example, in today's notice, EPA has
recalculated a number of criteria based on new, peer-reviewed data
contained in EPA's IRIS. Because such recalculations normally result in
only minor changes to the criteria, do not ordinarily involve a change
in the underlying scientific methodologies, and reflect peer-reviewed
data, EPA will typically publish such recalculated criteria directly as
the Agency's recommended water quality criteria. If it appears that a
recalculation results in a significant change EPA will follow the
process of peer review and public input outlined above. Further, when
EPA recalculates national water quality criteria in the course of
proposing or promulgating state-specific federal water quality
standards pursuant to section 303(c), EPA will offer an opportunity for
national public input on the recalculated criteria.
VII. How Does the Process Outlined Above Improve Public Input and
Efficiency?
In the past, EPA developed draft criteria documents and announced
their availability for public comment in the Federal Register. This led
to new data and views coming to EPA's attention after draft criteria
had already been developed. Responding to new data would sometimes lead
to extensive revisions.
The steps outlined above improve the criteria development process
in the following ways.
1. The new process is Internet-based which is in line with EPA
policy for public access and dissemination of information gathered by
EPA. Use of the Internet will allow the public to be more engaged in
the criteria development process than previously and to more
[[Page 68356]]
knowledgeably follow criteria development. For new criteria or major
revisions, EPA will announce its intentions to derive the new or
revised criteria on the Internet and include a list of the available
literature. This will give the public an opportunity to provide
additional data that might not otherwise be identified by the Agency.
2. The public now has two opportunities to contribute data and
views, before development and during development, instead of a single
opportunity after development.
3. EPA has instituted broader and more formal peer review
procedures. This independent scientific review is a more rigorous
disciplinary practice to ensure technical improvements in Agency
decision making. Previously, EPA used the public comment process
outlined above to obtain peer review. The new process allows for both
public input and a formal peer review, resulting in a more thorough and
complete evaluation of the criteria.
4. Announcing the availability of the draft water quality criteria
on the Internet will give the public an opportunity to provide input on
issues of science in a more timely manner.
VIII. Where Can I Find More Information About Water Quality
Criteria and Water Quality Standards?
For more information about water quality criteria and Water Quality
Standards refer to the following: Water Quality Standards Handbook (EPA
823-B94-005a); Advanced Notice of Proposed Rule Making (ANPRM), (63 FR
36742); Water Quality Criteria and Standards Plan--Priorities for the
Future (EPA 822-R-98-003); Guidelines and Methodologies Used in the
Preparation of Health Effects Assessment Chapters of the Consent Decree
Water Criteria Documents (45 FR 79347); Draft Water Quality Criteria
Methodology Revisions: Human Health (63 FR 43755, EPA 822-Z-98-001);
and Guidelines for Deriving Numerical National Water Quality Criteria
for the Protection of Aquatic Organisms and Their Uses (EPA 822/R-85-
100); National Strategy for the Development of Regional Nutrient
Criteria (EPA 822-R-98-002).
These publications may also be accessed through EPA's National
Center for Environmental Publications and Information (NCEPI) or on the
Office of Science and Technology's Home-page (www.epa.gov/OST).
IX. What Are the National Recommended Water Quality Criteria?
The following compilation and its associated footnotes and notes
presents the national recommended water quality criteria.
[[Page 68357]]
National Recommended Water Quality Criteria for Priority Toxic Pollutants
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Freshwater Saltwater Human health for consumption of:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Priority pollutant CAS No. CMC (µg/ CCC (µg/ CMC (µg/ CCC (µg/ Water + organism Organism only FR cite/source
L) L) L) L) (µg/L) (µg/L)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Antimony.................... 7440360 .................. ................ ............... .................. 14 B,Z............ 4300 B............ 57 FR 60848
2 Arsenic..................... 7440382 340 A,D,K.......... 150 A,D,K......... 69 A,D,bb........ 36A,D,bb........... .................. .................. 62 FR 42160
0.018 C,M,S....... 0.14 C,M,S........ 57 FR 60848
3 Beryllium................... 7440417 .................. ................. ................ .................. J,Z............... J................. 62 FR 42160
4 Cadmium..................... 7440439 4.3 D,E,K.......... 2.2 D,E,K......... 42 D,bb.......... 9.3 D,bb.......... J,Z............... J................. 62 FR 42160
5a Chromium III............... 16065831 570 D,E,K.......... 74 D,E,K.......... ................ ................. .................. .................. EPA 820/B-96-001
J,Z Total.......... J................. 62 FR 42160
5b Chromium VI................ 18540299 16 D,K............. 11 D,K............. 1,100 D,bb........ 50 D,bb........... J,Z Total.......... J................. 62 FR 42160
6 Copper...................... 7440508 13 D,E,K,cc......... 9.0 D,E,K,cc ...... 4.8 D,cc,ff....... 3.1 D,cc,ff........ 1,300 U........... .................. 62 FR 42160
7 Lead........................ 7439921 65 D,E,bb,gg ...... 2.5 D,E,bb,gg ...... 210 D,bb.......... 8.1 D,bb.......... J................. J................. 62 FR 42160
8 Mercury..................... 7439976 1.4 D,K,hh.......... 0.77 D,K,hh........ 1.8 D,ee,hh........ 0.94 D,ee,hh....... 0.050 B........... 0.051 B........... 62 FR 42160
9 Nickel...................... 7440020 470 D,E,K........... 52 D,E,K........... 74 D,bb........... 8.2 D,bb.......... 610 B............. 4,600 B........... 62 FR 42160
10 Selenium................... 7782492 L,R,T............... 5.0 T............. 290 D,bb,dd........ 71 D,bb,dd.......... .................. .................. 62 FR 42160
170 Z............. 11,000............ IRIS 09/01/91
11 Silver..................... 7440224 3.4 D,E,G........... .................. 1.9 D,G........... .................. .................. .................. 62 FR 42160
12 Thallium................... 7440280 ................... .................. ................. .................. 1.7 B............. 6.3 B............. 57 FR 60848
13 Zinc....................... 7440666 120 D,E,K........... 120 D,E,K.......... 90 D,bb......... 81 D,bb............ .................. .................. 62 FR 42160
9,100 U........... 69,000 U.......... IRIS 10/01/92
14 Cyanide.................... 57125 22 K,Q............. 5.2 K,Q........... .................. ................... .................. .................. EPA 820/B-96-001
1 Q,bb.......... 1 Q,bb............. 700 B,Z............ 220,000 B,H..... 57 FR 60848
15 Asbestos................... 1332214 .................. .................. .................. .................. 7 million fibers/LI .................. 57 FR 60848
16 2, 3, 7, 8-TCDD Dioxin..... 1746016 .................. .................. .................. .................. 1.3E-8 C.......... 1.4E-8 C.......... 62 FR 42160
17 Acrolein................... 107028 .................. .................. .................. .................. 320............... 780............... 57 FR 60848
18 Acrylonitrile.............. 107131 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.059 B,C......... 0.66 B,C.......... 57 FR 60848
19 Benzene.................... 71432 .................. .................. .................. .................. 1.2 B,C........... 71 B,C............ 62 FR 42160
20 Bromoform.................. 75252 .................. .................. .................. .................. 4.3 B,C........... 360 B,C........... 62 FR 42160
21 Carbon Tetrachloride....... 56235 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.25 B,C.......... 4.4 B,C........... 57 FR 60848
22 Chlorobenzene.............. 108907 .................. .................. .................. .................. 680 B,Z........... 21,000 B,H........ 57 FR 60848
23 Chlorodibromomethane....... 124481 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.41 B,C.......... 34 B,C............ 62 FR 42160
24 Chloroethane............... 75003 ............................
25 2-Chloroethylvinyl Ether... 110758 ............................
26 Chloroform................. 67663 .................. .................. .................. .................. 5.7 B,C........... 470 B,C........... 62 FR 42160
27 Dichlorobromomethane....... 75274 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.56 B,C.......... 46 B,C............ 62 FR 42160
28 1,1-Dichloroethane......... 75343 ............................
29 1,2-Dichloroethane......... 107062 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.38 B,C.......... 99 B,C............ 57 FR 60848
30 1,1-Dichloroethylene....... 75354 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.057 B,C......... 3.2 B,C........... 57 FR 60848
31 1,2-Dichloropropane........ 78875 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.52 B,C.......... 39 B,C............ 62 FR 42160
32 1,3-Dichloropropene........ 542756 .................. .................. .................. .................. 10 B.............. 1,700 B........... 57 FR 60848
33 Ethylbenzene............... 100414 .................. .................. .................. .................. 3,100 B,Z......... 29,000 B.......... 62 FR 42160
34 Methyl Bromide............. 74839 .................. .................. .................. .................. 48 B.............. 4000 B............ 62 FR 42160
35 Methyl Chloride............ 74873 .................. .................. .................. .................. J................. J................. 62 FR 42160
36 Methylene Chloride......... 75092 .................. .................. .................. .................. 4.7 B,C........... 1600 B,C.......... 62 FR 42160
37 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane.. 79345 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.17 B,C.......... 11B,C............. 57 FR 60848
38 Tetrachloroethylene........ 127184 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.8 C............. 8.85 C............ 57 FR 60848
39 Toluene.................... 108883 .................. .................. .................. .................. 6,800 B,Z......... 200,000 B......... 62 FR 42160
40 1,2-Trans-Dichloroethylene. 156605 .................. .................. .................. .................. 700 B,Z........... 140,000 B......... 62 FR 42160
41 1,1,1-Trichloroethane...... 71556 .................. .................. .................. .................. J,Z.............. J................ 62 FR 42160
42 1,1,2-Trichloroethane...... 79005 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.60 B,C.......... 42 B,C............ 57 FR 60848
43 Trichloroethylene.......... 79016 .................. .................. .................. .................. 2.7 C............. 81 C.............. 57 FR 60848
44 Vinyl Chloride............. 75014 .................. .................. .................. .................. 2.0 C............. 525 C............. 57 FR 60848
45 2-Chlorophenol............. 95578 .................. .................. .................. .................. 120 B,U........... 400 B,U........... 62 FR 42160
46 2,4-Dichlorophenol......... 120832 .................. .................. .................. .................. 93 B,U............ 790 B,U........... 57 FR 60848
47 2,4-Dimethylphenol......... 105679 .................. .................. .................. .................. 540 B,U........... 2,300 B,U......... 62 FR 42160
48 2-Methyl-4,6-Dinitrophenol. 534521 .................. .................. .................. .................. 13.4.............. 765............... 57 FR 60848
49 2,4-Dinitrophenol.......... 51285 .................. .................. .................. .................. 70 B.............. 14,000 B.......... 57 FR 60848
50 2-Nitrophenol.............. 88755
51 4-Nitrophenol.............. 100027
52 3-Methyl-4-Chlorophenol.... 59507 .................. .................. .................. .................. U................ U.................
[[Page 68358]]
53 Pentachlorophenol.......... 87865 19 F,K............ 15 F,K............ 13 bb............... 7.9 bb............ 0.28 B,C.......... 8.2 B,C,H......... 62 FR 42160
54 Phenol..................... 108952 .................. .................. .................. .................. 21,000 B,U........ .................. 62 FR 42160
4,600,000 B,H,U... 57 FR 60848
55 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol...... 88062 .................. .................. .................. .................. 2.1 B,C,U......... 6.5 B,C........... 62 FR 42160
56 Acenaphthene............... 83329 .................. .................. .................. .................. 1,200 B,U......... 2,700 B,U......... 62 FR 42160
57 Acenaphthylene............. 208968
58 Anthracene................. 120127 .................. .................. .................. .................. 9,600 B........... 110,000 B......... 62 FR 42160
59 Benzidine.................. 92875 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.00012 B,C....... 0.00054 B,C....... 57 FR 60848
60 BenzoaAnthracene........... 56553 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.0044 B,C........ 0.049 B,C......... 62 FR 42160
61 BenzoaPyrene............... 50328 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.0044 B,C........ 0.049 B,C......... 62 FR 42160
62 BenzobFluoranthene......... 205992 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.0044 B,C........ 0.049 B,C......... 62 FR 42160
63 BenzoghiPerylene........... 191242 ............................
64 BenzokFluoranthene......... 207089 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.0044 B,C........ 0.049 B,C......... 62 FR 42160
65 Bis2-ChloroethoxyMethane... 111911 ............................
66 Bis2-ChloroethylEther...... 111444 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.031 B,C......... 1.4 B,C........... 57 FR 60848
67 Bis2-ChloroisopropylEther.. 39638329 .................. .................. .................. .................. 1,400 B........... .................. 62 FR 42160
170,000 B......... 57 FR 60848
68 Bis2-EthylhexylPhthalate X. 117817 .................. .................. .................. .................. 1.8 B,C........... 5.9 B,C........... 57 FR 60848
69 4-Bromophenyl Phenyl Ether. 101553 ............................
70 Butylbenzyl PhthalateW..... 85687 .................. .................. .................. .................. 3,000 B........... 5,200 B........... 62 FR 42160
71 2-Chloronaphthalene........ 91587 .................. .................. .................. .................. 1,700 B........... 4,300 B........... 62 FR 42160
72 4-Chlorophenyl Phenyl Ether 7005723 ............................
73 Chrysene................... 218019 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.0044 B,C........ 0.049 B,C......... 62 FR 42160
74 Dibenzoa,hAnthracene....... 53703 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.0044 B,C........ 0.049 B,C......... 62 FR 42160
75 1,2-Dichlorobenzene........ 95501 .................. .................. .................. .................. 2,700 B,Z......... 17,000 B.......... 62 FR 42160
76 1,3-Dichlorobenzene........ 541731 .................. .................. .................. .................. 400............... 2,600............. 62 FR 42160
77 1,4-Dichlorobenzene........ 106467 .................. .................. .................. .................. 400 Z............. 2,600............. 62 FR 42160
78 3,3'-Dichlorobenzidine..... 91941 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.04 B,C.......... 0.077 B,C......... 57 FR 60848
79 Diethyl Phthalate W........ 84662 .................. .................. .................. .................. 23,000 B.......... 120,000 B......... 57 FR 60848
80 Dimethyl Phthalate W....... 131113 .................. .................. .................. .................. 313,000........... 2,900,000......... 57 FR 60848
81 Di-n-Butyl Phthalate W..... 84742 .................. .................. .................. .................. 2,700 B........... 12,000 B.......... 57 FR 60848
82 2,4-Dinitrotoluene......... 121142 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.11 C............ 9.1 C............. 57 FR 60848
83 2,6-Dinitrotoluene......... 606202 ............................
84 Di-n-Octyl Phthalate....... 117840 ............................
85 1,2-Diphenylhydrazine...... 122667 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.040 B,C......... 0.54 B,C.......... 57 FR 60848
86 Fluoranthene............... 206440 .................. .................. .................. .................. 300 B............. 370 B............. 62 FR 42160
87 Fluorene................... 86737 .................. .................. .................. .................. 1,300 B........... 14,000 B.......... 62 FR 42160
88 Hexachlorobenzene.......... 118741 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.00075 B,C....... 0.00077 B,C....... 62 FR 42160
89 Hexachlorobutadiene........ 87683 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.44 B,C.......... 50 B,C............ 57 FR 60848
90 Hexachlorocyclopentadiene.. 77474 .................. .................. .................. .................. 240 B,U,Z......... 17,000 B,H,U...... 57 FR 60848
91 Hexachloroethane........... 67721 .................. .................. .................. .................. 1.9 B,C........... 8.9 B,C........... 57 FR 60848
92 Ideno 1,2,3-cdPyrene....... 193395 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.0044 B,C........ 0.049 B,C......... 62 FR 42160
93 Isophorone................. 78591 .................. .................. .................. .................. 36 B,C............ 2,600 B,C......... IRIS 11/01/97
94 Naphthalene................ 91203 ............................
95 Nitrobenzene............... 98953 .................. .................. .................. .................. 17 B.............. 1,900 B,H,U....... 57 FR 60848
96 N-Nitrosodimethylamine..... 62759 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.00069 B,C....... 8.1 B,C........... 57 FR 60848
97 N-Nitrosodi-n-Propylamine.. 621647 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.005 B,C......... 1.4 B,C........... 62 FR 42160
98 N-Nitrosodiphenylamine..... 86306 .................. .................. .................. .................. 5.0 B,C........... 16 B,C............ 57 FR 60848
99 Phenanthrene............... 85018 ............................
100 Pyrene.................... 129000 .................. .................. .................. .................. 960 B............. 11,000 B.......... 62 FR 42160
101 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene.... 120821 .................. .................. .................. .................. 260 Z............. 940............... IRIS 11/01/96
102 Aldrin.................... 309002 3.0 G............. .................. 1.3 G............. .................. 0.00013 B,C....... 0.00014 B,C....... 62 FR 42160
103 alpha-BHC................. 319846 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.0039 B,C........ 0.013 B,C......... 62 FR 42160
104 beta-BHC.................. 319857 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.014 B,C......... 0.046 B,C......... 62 FR 42160
105 gamma-BHC (Lindane)....... 58899 0.95 K............ .................. 0.16 G............ .................. 0.019 C........... 0.063 C........... 62 FR 42160
106 delta-BHC................. 319868
107 Chlordane................. 57749 2.4 G............. 0.0043 G,aa....... 0.09 G............ 0.004 G,aa........ ................ .................. 62 FR 42160
0.0021 B,C........ 0.0022 B,C........ IRIS 02/07/98
[[Page 68359]]
108 4,4'-DDT.................. 50293 1.1 G............. 0.001 G,aa........ 0.13 G............ 0.001 G,aa........ 0.00059 B,C....... 0.00059 B,C....... 62 FR 42160
109 4,4'-DDE.................. 72559 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.00059 B,C....... 0.00059 B,C....... 62 FR 42160
110 4,4'-DDD.................. 72548 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.00083 B,C....... 0.00084 B,C....... 62 FR 42160
111 Dieldrin.................. 60571 0.24 K............ 0.056 K,O......... 0.71 G............ 0.0019 G,aa....... 0.00014 B,C....... 0.00014 B,C....... 62 FR 42160
112 alpha-Endosulfan.......... 959988 0.22 G,Y.......... 0.056 G,Y......... 0.034 G,Y......... 0.0087 G,Y.......... 110 B............. 240 B............. 62 FR 42160
113 beta-Endosulfan........... 33213659 0.22 G,Y.......... 0.056 G,Y......... 0.034 G,Y......... 0.0087 G,Y........... 110 B............. 240 B............. 62 FR 42160
114 Endosulfan Sulfate........ 1031078 .................. .................. .................. .................. 110 B............. 240 B............. 62 FR 42160
115 Endrin.................... 72208 0.086 K........... 0.036 K,O......... 0.037 G........... 0.0023 G,aa.......... 0.76 B............ 0.81 B,H.......... 62 FR 42160
116 Endrin Aldehyde........... 7421934 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.76 B............ 0.81 B,H.......... 62 FR 42160
117 Heptachlor................ 76448 0.52 G............ 0.0038 G,aa....... 0.053 G........... 0.0036 G,aa......... 0.00021 B,C....... 0.00021 B,C....... 62 FR 42160
118 Heptachlor Epoxide........ 1024573 0.52 G,V.......... 0.0038 G,V,aa..... 0.053 G,V......... 0.0036 G,V,aa...... 0.00010 B,C....... 0.00011 B,C....... 62 FR 42160
119 Polychlorinated Biphenyls ......... .................. 0.014 N,aa........ .................. 0.03 N,aa......... .................. .................. 62 FR 42160
PCBs 0.00017 B,C,P..... 0.00017 B,C,P..... 63 FR 16182
120 Toxaphene................. 8001352 0.73.............. 0.0002 aa......... 0.21.............. 0.0002 aa......... 0.00073 B,C....... 0.00075 B,C....... 62 FR 42160
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Footnotes:
A This recommended water quality criterion was derived from data for arsenic (III), but is applied here to total arsenic, which might imply that arsenic (III) and arsenic (V) are equally toxic
to aquatic life and that their toxicities are additive. In the arsenic criteria document (EPA 440/5-84-033, January 1985), Species Mean Acute Values are given for both arsenic (III) and
arsenic (V) for five species and the ratios of the SMAVs for each species range from 0.6 to 1.7. Chronic values are available for both arsenic (III) and arsenic (V) for one species; for the
fathead minnow, the chronic value for arsenic (V) is 0.29 times the chronic value for arsenic (III). No data are known to be available concerning whether the toxicities of the forms of
arsenic to aquatic organisms are additive.
B This criterion has been revised to reflect The Environmental Protection Agency's q1* or RfD, as contained in the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) as of April 8, 1998. The fish
tissue bioconcentration factor (BCF) from the 1980 Ambient Water Quality Criteria document was retained in each case.
C This criterion is based on carcinogenicity of 10 -6 risk. Alternate risk levels may be obtained by moving the decimal point (e.g., for a risk level of 10 -5, move the decimal point in the
recommended criterion one place to the right).
D Freshwater and saltwater criteria for metals are expressed in terms of the dissolved metal in the water column. The recommended water quality criteria value was calculated by using the
previous 304(a) aquatic life criteria expressed in terms of total recoverable metal, and multiplying it by a conversion factor (CF). The term ``Conversion Factor'' (CF) represents the
recommended conversion factor for converting a metal criterion expressed as the total recoverable fraction in the water column to a criterion expressed as the dissolved fraction in the water
column. (Conversion Factors for saltwater CCCs are not currently available. Conversion factors derived for saltwater CMCs have been used for both saltwater CMCs and CCCs.) See ``Office of
Water Policy and Technical Guidance on Interpretation and Implementation of Aquatic Life Metals Criteria,'' October 1, 1993, by Martha G. Prothro, Acting Assistant Administrator for Water,
available from the Water Resource center, USEPA, 401 M St., SW, mall code RC4100, Washington, DC 20460; and 40 CFRSec. 131.36(b)(1). Conversion Factors applied in the table can be found in
Appendix A to the Preamble--Conversion Factors for Dissolved Metals.
E The freshwater criterion for this metal is expressed as a function of hardness (mg/L) in the water column. The value given here corresponds to a hardness of 100 mg/L. Criteria values for
other hardness may be calculated from the following: CMC (dissolved) = exp {m A [ln(hardness)]+b A} (CF), or CCC (dissolved) = exp {m C [ln (hardness)]+b C} (CF) and the parameters specified
in Appendix B to the Preamble--Parameters for Calculating Freshwater Dissolved Metals Criteria That Are Hardness-Dependent.
F Freshwater aquatic life values for pentachlorophenol are expressed as a function of pH, and are calculated as follows: CMD=exp(1.005(pH)-4.869); CCC=exp(1.005 (pH)-5.134). Values displayed
in table correspond to a pH of 7.8.
G This Criterion is based on 304(a) aquatic life criterion issued in 1980, and was issued in one of the following documents: Aldrin/Dieldrin (EPA 440/5-80-019), Chlordane (EPA 440/5-80-027),
DDT (EPA 440/5-80-038), Endosulfan (EPA 440/5-80-046), Endrin (EPA 440/5-80-047), Heptachlor (440/5-80-052), Hexachlorocyclohexane (EPA 440/5-80-054), Silver (EPA 440/5-80-071). The Minimum
Data Requirements and derivation procedures were different in the 1980 Guidelines than in the 1985 Guidelines. For example, a ``CMC'' derived using the 1980 Guidelines was derived to be used
as an instantaneous maximum. If assessment is to be done using an averaging period, the values given should be divided by 2 to obtain a value that is more comparable to a CMC derived using
the 1985 Guidelines.
H No criterion for protection of human health from consumption of aquatic organisms excluding water was presented in the 1980 criteria document or in the 1986 Quality Criteria for Water.
Nevertheless, sufficient information was presented in the 1980 document to allow the calculation of a criterion, even though the results of such a calculation were not shown in the document.
I This criterion for asbestos is the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) developed under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
J EPA has not calculated human health criterion for this contaminant. However, permit authorities should address this contaminant in NPDES permit actions using the State's existing narrative
criteria for toxics.
K This recommended criterion is based on a 304(a) aquatic life criterion that was issued in the 1995 Updates: Water Quality Criteria Documents for the Protection of Aquatic Life in Ambient
Water, (EPA-820-B-96-011, September 1996). This value was derived using the GLI Guidelines (60 FR 15393-15399, March 23, 1995; 40 CFR 132 Appendix A); the difference between the 1985
Guidelines and the GLI Guidelines are explained on page iv of the 1995 Updates. None of the decisions concerning the derivation of this criterion were affected by any considerations that are
specific to the Great Lakes.
L The CMC=1/[(f1/CMC1)=(f2/CMC2)] where f1 and f2 are the fractions of total selenium that are treated as selenite and selenate, respectively, and CMC1 and CMC2 are 185.9 µg/l and
12.83 µg/l, respectively.
M EPA is currently reassessing the criteria for arsenic. Upon completion of the reassessment the Agency will publish revised criteria as appropriate.
N PCBs are a class of chemicals which include aroclors, 1242, 1254, 1221, 1232, 1248, 1260, and 1016, CAS numbers 53469219, 11097691, 11104282, 11141165, 12672296, 11096825 and 12674112
respectively. The aquatic life criteria apply to this set of PCBs.
O The derivation of the CCC for this pollutant did not consider exposure through the diet, which is probably important for aquatic life occupying upper trophic levels.
P This criterion applies to total pcbs, i.e., the sum of all congener or all isomer analyses.
Q This recommended water quality criterion is expressed as µg free cyanide (as CN)/L.
R This value was announced (61 FR 58444-58449, November 14, 1996) as a proposed GLI 303(c) aquatic life criterion. EPA is currently working on this criterion and so this value might change
substantially in the near future.
S This recommended water quality criterion refers to the inorganic form only.
T This recommended water quality criterion is expressed in terms of total recoverable metal in the water column. It is scientifically acceptable to use the conversion factor of 0.922 that was
used in the GLI to convert this to a value that is expressed in terms of dissolved metal.
U The organoleptic effect criterion is more stringent than the value for priority toxic pollutants.
[[Page 68360]]
V This value was derived from data for heptachlor and the criteria document provides insufficient data to estimate the relative toxicities of heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide.
W Although EPA has not published a final criteria document for this compound it is EPA's understanding that sufficient data exist to allow calculation of aquatic criteria. It is anticipated
that industry intends to publish in the peer reviewed literature draft aquatic life criteria generated in accordance with EPA Guidelines. EPA will review such criteria for possible issuance
as national WQC.
X There is a full set of aquatic life toxicity data that show that DEHP is not toxic to aquatic organisms at or below its solubility limit.
Y This value was derived from data for endosulfan and is most appropriately applied to the sum of alpha-endosulfan and beta-endosulfan.
Z A more stringent MCL has been issued by EPA. Refer to drinking water regulations (40 CFR 141) or Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791) for values.
aa This CCC is based on the Final Residue Value procedure in the 1985 Guidelines. Since the publication of the Great Lakes Aquatic Life Criteria Guidelines in 1995 (60FR 15393-15399, March 23,
1995), the Agency no longer uses the Final Residue Value procedure for deriving CCCs for new or revised 304(a) aquatic life criteria.
bb This water quality criterion is based on 304(a) aquatic life criterion that was derived using the 1985 Guidelines (Guidelines for Deriving Numerical National Water Quality Criteria for the
Protection of Aquatic Organisms and Their Uses, PB85-227049, January 1985) and was issued in one of the following criteria documents: Arsenic (EPA 440/5-84-033), Cadmium (EPA 440/5-84-032),
Chromium (EPA 440/5-84-029), Copper (EPA 440/5-84-031), Cyanide (EPA 400/5-84-028), Lead (EPA 440/5-84-027), Nickel (EPA 440/5-86-004), Pentachlorophenol (EPA 440/5-86-009), Toxaphene (EPA
440/5-86-006), Zinc (EPA 440/5-87-003).
cc When the concentration of dissolved organic carbon is elevated, copper is substantially less toxic and use of Water-Effect Ratios might be appropriate.
dd The selenium criteria document (EPA 440/5-87-006), September 1987) provides that if selenium is as toxic to saltwater fishes in the field as it is to freshwater fishes in the field, the
status of the fish community should be monitored whenever the concentration of selenium exceeds 5.0 µg/L in salt water because the saltwater CCC does not take into account uptake via
the food chain.
ee This recommended water quality criterion was derived on page 43 of the mercury criteria document (EPA 440/5-84-026, January 1985). The saltwater CCC of 0.025 µg/L given on page 23
of the criteria document is based on the Final Residue Value procedure in the 1985 Guidelines. Since the publication of the Great Lakes Aquatic Life Criteria Guidelines in 1995 (60FR15393-
15399, March 23, 1995), the Agency no longer uses the Final Residue Value procedure for deriving CCCs for new or revised 304(a) aquatic life criteria.
ff This recommended water quality criterion was derived in Ambient Water Quality Criteria Saltwater Copper Addendum (Draft, April 14, 1995) and was promulgated in the Interim Final National
Toxics Rule (60FR22228-222237, May 4, 1995).
gg EPA is actively working on this criterion and so this recommended water quality criterion may change substantially in the near future.
hh This recommended water quality criterion was derived from data for inorganic mercury (II), but is applied here to total mercury. If a substantial portion of the mercury in the water column
is methylmercury, this criterion will probably be under protective. In addition, even though inorganic mercury is converted to methylmercury and methylmercury bioaccumulates to a great
extent, this criterion does not account for uptake via the food chain because sufficient data were not available when the criteria was derived.
National Recommended Water Quality Criteria for Non Priority Pollutants
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Freshwater Saltwater Human health for consumption of:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non priority pollutant CAS No. CMC (µg/ CCC (µg/ CMC (µg/ CCC (µg/ Water + organism Organism only FR cite/source
L) L) L) L) (µg/L) (µg/L)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Alkalinity.................. ......... .................. 20000 F........... .................. .................. .................. .................. Gold Book
2 Aluminum pH 6.5-9.0......... 7429905 750 G,I........... 87 G,I,L.......... .................. .................. .................. .................. 53 FR 33178
3 Ammonia..................... 7664417 FRESHWATER CRITERIA ARE pH DEPENDENT--SEE DOCUMENT EPA822-R-98-008
SALTWATER CRITERIA ARE pH AND TEMPERATURE DEPENDENT D EPA440/5-88-004
4 Aesthetic Qualities......... NARRATIVE STATEMENT--SEE DOCUMENT Gold Book
5 Bacteria.................... ......... FOR PRIMARY RECREATION AND SHELLFISH USES--SEE DOCUMENT Gold Book
6 Barium...................... 7440393 .................. .................. .................. .................. 1,000 A........... .................. Gold Book
7 Boron....................... ......... NARRATIVE STATEMENT--SEE DOCUMENT Gold Book
8 Chloride.................... 16887006 860000 G.......... 230000 G.......... .................. .................. .................. .................. 53 FR 19028
9 Chlorine.................... 7782505 19................ 11................ 13................ 7.5............... C................ .................. Gold Book
10 Chlorophenoxy Herbicide 93721 .................. .................. .................. .................. 10 A.............. .................. Gold Book
2,4,5,-TP.
11 Chlorophenoxy Herbicide 2,4- 94757 .................. .................. .................. .................. 100 A,C........... .................. Gold Book
D.
12 Chloropyrifos............... 2921882 0.083 G........... 0.041 G........... 0.011 G........... 0.0056 G.......... .................. .................. Gold Book
13 Color....................... ......... NARRATIVE STATEMENT--SEE DOCUMENT F Gold Book
14 Demeton..................... 8065483 .................. 0.1 F,H........... .................. 0.1 F,H........... .................. .................. Gold Book
15 Ether, Bis Chloromethyl..... 542881 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.00013 E......... 0.00078 E......... IRIS 01/01/91
16 Gases, Total Dissolved...... ......... NARRATIVE STATEMENT--SEE DOCUMENT F Gold Book
17 Guthion..................... 86500 .................. 0.01 F,H.......... .................. 0.01 F,H.......... .................. .................. Gold Book
18 Hardness.................... ......... NARRATIVE STATEMENT--SEE DOCUMENT Gold Book
19 Hexachlorocyclo-hexane- 319868 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.0123............ 0.0414............ Gold Book
Technical.
20 Iron........................ 7439896 .................. 1000 F............ .................. .................. 300 A............. .................. Gold Book
21 Malathion................... 121755 .................. 0.1 F,H........... .................. .................. .................. .................. Gold Book
22 Manganese................... 7439965 .................. .................. .................. .................. 50 A.............. 100 A............. Gold Book
23 Methoxychlor................ 72435 .................. 0.03 F,H.......... .................. 0.03 F,H.......... 100 A,C............. .................. Gold Book
24 Mirex....................... 2385855 .................. 0.001 F,H......... .................. 0.001 F,H......... ................... .................. Gold Book
25 Nitrates.................... 14797558 .................. .................. .................. .................. 10,000 A.......... .................. Gold Book
26 Nitrosamines................ ......... .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.0008............ 1.24.............. ...........................
[[Page 68361]]
27 Dinitrophenols.............. 25550587 .................. .................. .................. .................. 70................ 14,000............ Gold Book
28 Nitrosodibutylamine,N....... 924163 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.0064 A.......... 0.587 A........... Gold Book
29 Nitrosodiethylamine,N....... 55185 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.0008 A.......... 1.24 A............ Gold Book
30 Nitrosopyrrolidine,N........ 930552 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0.016............. 91.9.............. Gold Book
31 Oil and Grease.............. ......... NARRATIVE STATEMENT--SEE DOCUMENT F Gold Book
32 Oxygen, Dissolved........... 7782447 WARMWATER AND COLDWATER MATRIX--SEE DOCUMENT O Gold Book
33 Parathion................... 56382 0.065 J........... 0.013 J........... .................. .................. .................. .................. Gold Book
34 Pentachlorobenzene.......... 608935 .................. .................. .................. .................. 3.5 E............. 4.1 E............. IRIS 03/01/88
35 pH.......................... ......... .................. 6.5-9 F........... .................. 6.5-8.5 F,K....... 5-9............... .................. Gold Book
36 Phosphorus Elemental........ 7723140 .................. .................. .................. 0.1 F,K........... .................. .................. Gold Book
37 Phosphate Phosphorus........ ......... NARRATIVE STATEMENT--SEE DOCUMENT Gold Book
38 Solids Dissolved and ......... .................. .................. .................. .................. 250,000 A......... .................. Gold Book
Salinity.
39 Solids Suspended and ......... NARRATIVE STATEMENT--SEE DOCUMENT F Gold Book
Turbidity.
40 Sulfide-Hydrogen Sulfide.... 7783064 .................. 2.0 F,H........... .................. 2.0 F,H........... .................. .................. Gold Book
41 Tainting Substances......... ......... NARRATIVE STATEMENT--SEE DOCUMENT Gold Book
42 Temperature................. ......... SPECIES DEPENDENT CRITERIA--SEE DOCUMENT M Gold Book
43 Tetrachlorobenzene,1,2,4,5-. 95943 .................. .................. .................. .................. 2.3 E............. 2.9 E............. IRIS03/01/91
44 Tributyltin TBT............. ......... 0.46 N............ 0.063 N........... 0.37 N............ 0.010 N........... .................. .................. 62 FR 42554
45 Trichlorophenol,2,4,5-...... 95954 .................. .................. .................. .................. 2,600 B,E......... 9,800 B,E......... IRIS 03/01/88
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Footnotes:
A This human health criterion is the same as originally published in the Red Book which predates the 1980 methodology and did not utilize the fish ingestion BCF approach. This same criterion
value is now published in the Gold Book
B The organoleptic effect criterion is more stringent than the value presented in the non priority pollutants table.
C A more stringent Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) has been issued by EPA under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Refer to drinking water regulations 40 CFR 141 or Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-
800-426-4791) for values.
D According to the procedures described in the Guidelines for Deriving Numerical National Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of Aquatic Organisms and Their Uses, except possibly where a
very sensitive species is important at a site, freshwater aquatic life should be protected if both conditions specified in Appendix C to the Preamble--Calculation of Freshwater Ammonia
Criterion are satisfied.
E This criterion has been revised to reflect The Environmental Protection Agency's q1* or RfD, as contained in the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) as of April 8, 1998. The fish
tissue bioconcentration factor (BCF) used to derive the original criterion was retained in each case.
F The derivation of this value is presented in the Red Book (EPA 440/9-76-023, July, 1976).
G This value is based on a 304(a) aquatic life criterion that was derived using the 1985 Guidelines (Guidelines for Deriving Numerical National Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of
Aquatic Organisms and Their Uses, PB85-227049, January 1985) and was issued in one of the following criteria documents: Aluminum (EPA 440/5-86-008); Chloride (EPA 440/5-88-001);
Chloropyrifos (EPA 440/5-86-005).
H This CCC is based on the Final Residue Value procedure in the 1985 Guidelines. Since the publication of the Great Lakes Aquatic Life Criteria Guidelines in 1995 (60 FR 15393-15399, March 23,
1995), the Agency no longer uses the Final Residue Value procedure for deriving CCCs for new or revised 304(a) aquatic life criteria.
I This value is expressed in terms of total recoverable metal in the water column.
J This value is based on a 304(a) aquatic life criterion that was issued in the 1995 Updates: Water Quality Criteria Documents for the Protection of Aquatic Life in Ambient Water (EPA-820-B-96-
001). This value was derived using the GLI Guidelines (60 FR 15393-15399, March 23, 1995; 40 CFR 132 Appendix A); the differences between the 1985 Guidelines and the GLI Guidelines are
explained on page iv of the 1995 Updates. No decision concerning this criterion was affected by any considerations that are specific to the Great Lakes.
K According to page 181 of the Red Book: For open ocean waters where the depth is substantially greater than the euphotic zone, the pH should not be changed more than 0.2 units from the
naturally occurring variation or any case outside the range of 6.5 to 8.5. For shallow, highly productive coastal and estuarine areas where naturally occurring pH variations approach the
lethal limits of some species, changes in pH should be avoided but in any case should not exceed the limits established for fresh water, i.e., 6.5-9.0.
L There are three major reasons why the use of Water-Effect Ratios might be appropriate. (1) The value of 87 µg/l is based on a toxicity test with the striped bass in water with pH=6.5-
6.6 and hardness <10 mg/L. Data in ``Aluminum Water-Effect Ratio for the 3M Plant Effluent Discharge, Middleway, West Virginia'' (May 1994) indicate that aluminum is substantially less toxic
at higher pH and hardness, but the effects of pH and hardness are not well quantified at this time. (2) In tests with the brook trout at low pH and hardness, effects increased with
increasing concentrations of total aluminum even though the concentration of dissolved aluminum was constant, indicating that total recoverable is a more appropriate measurement than
dissolved, at least when particulate aluminum is primarily aluminum hydroxide particles. In surface waters, however, the total recoverable procedure might measure aluminum associated with
clay particles, which might be less toxic than aluminum associated with aluminum hydroxide. (3) EPA is aware of field data indicating that many high quality waters in the U.S. contain more
than 87 µg aluminum/L, when either total recoverable or dissolved is measured.
M U.S. EPA. 1973. Water Quality Criteria 1972. EPA-R3-73-033. National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA.; U.S. EPA. 1977. Temperature Criteria for Freshwater Fish: Protocol and
Procedures. EPA-600/3-77-061. National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA.
N This value was announced (62 FR 42554, August 7, 1997) as a proposed 304(a) aquatic life criterion. Although EPA has not responded to public comment, EPA is publishing this as a 304(a)
criterion in today's notice as guidance for States and Tribes to consider when adopting water quality criteria.
O U.S. EPA. 1986. Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Dissolved Oxygen. EPA 440/5-86-003. National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA.
[[Page 68362]]
National Recommended Water Quality Criteria for Organoleptic Effects
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Organoleptic
effect
Pollutant CAS No. criteria FR cite/source
(µg/L)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Acenaphthene............................ 208968 20 Gold Book
2 Monochlorobenzene....................... 108907 20 Gold Book
3 3-Chlorophenol.......................... .............. 0.1 Gold Book
4 4-Chlorophenol.......................... 106489 0.1 Gold Book
5 2,3-Dichlorophenol...................... .............. 0.04 Gold Book
6 2,5-Dichlorophenol...................... .............. 0.5 Gold Book
7 2,6-Dichlorophenol...................... .............. 0.2 Gold Book
8 3,4-Dichlorophenol...................... .............. 0.3 Gold Book
9 2,4,5-Trichlorophenol................... 95954 1 Gold Book
10 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol.................. 88062 2 Gold Book
11 2,3,4,6-Tetrachlorophenol.............. .............. 1 Gold Book
12 2-Methyl-4-Chlorophenol................ .............. 1800 Gold Book
13 3-Methyl-4-Chlorophenol................ 59507 3000 Gold Book
14 3-Methyl-6-Chlorophenol................ .............. 20 Gold Book
15 2-Chlorophenol......................... 95578 0.1 Gold Book
16 Copper................................. 744058 1000 Gold Book
17 2,4-Dichlorophenol..................... 120832 0.3 Gold Book
18 2,4-Dimethylphenol..................... 105679 400 Gold Book
19 Hexachlorocyclopentadiene.............. 77474 1 Gold Book
20 Nitrobenzene........................... 98953 30 Gold Book
21 Pentachlorophenol...................... 87865 30 Gold Book
22 Phenol................................. 108952 300 Gold Book
23 Zinc................................... 7440666 5000 45 FR 79341
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Notes:
1. These criteria are based on organoleptic (taste and odor) effects. Because of variations in chemical
nomenclature systems, this listing of pollutants does not duplicate the listing in Appendix A of 40 CFR Part
423. Also listed are the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) registry numbers, which provide a unique
identification for each chemical.
National Recommended Water Quality Criteria
Additional Notes
1. Criteria Maximum Concentration and Criterion Continuous
Concentration
The Criteria Maximum Concentration (CMC) is an estimate of the
highest concentration of a material in surface water to which an
aquatic community can be exposed briefly without resulting in an
unacceptable effect. The Criterion Continuous Concentration (CCC) is
an estimate of the highest concentration of a material in surface
water to which an aquatic community can be exposed indefinitely
without resulting in an unacceptable effect. The CMC and CCC are
just two of the six parts of a aquatic life criterion; the other
four parts are the acute averaging period, chronic averaging period,
acute frequency of allowed exceedence, and chronic frequency of
allowed exceedence. Because 304(a) aquatic life criteria are
national guidance, they are intended to be protective of the vast
majority of the aquatic communities in the United States.
2. Criteria Recommendations for Priority Pollutants, Non Priority
Pollutants and Organoleptic Effects
This compilation lists all priority toxic pollutants and some
non priority toxic pollutants, and both human health effect and
organoleptic effect criteria issued pursuant to CWA Sec. 304(a).
Blank spaces indicate that EPA has no CWA Sec. 304(a) criteria
recommendations. For a number of non-priority toxic pollutants not
listed, CWA Sec. 304(a) ``water + organism'' human health criteria
are not available, but, EPA has published MCLs under the SDWA that
may be used in establishing water quality standards to protect water
supply designated uses. Because of variations in chemical
nomenclature systems, this listing of toxic pollutants does not
duplicate the listing in Appendix A of 40 CFR Part 423. Also listed
are the Chemical Abstracts Service CAS registry numbers, which
provide a unique identification for each chemical.
3. Human Health Risk
The human health criteria for the priority and non priority
pollutants are based on carcinogenicity of 10-6 risk.
Alternate risk levels may be obtained by moving the decimal point
(e.g., for a risk level of 10-5, move the decimal point in the
recommended criterion one place to the right).
4. Water Quality Criteria Published Pursuant to Section 304(a) or
Section 303(c) of the CWA
Many of the values in the compilation were published in the
proposed California Toxics Rule (CTR, 62 FR 42160). Although such
values were published pursuant to Section 303(c) of the CWA, they
represent the Agency's most recent calculation of water quality
criteria and thus are published today as the Agency's 304(a)
criteria. Water quality criteria published in the proposed CTR may
be revised when EPA takes final action on the CTR.
5. Calculation of Dissolved Metals Criteria
The 304(a) criteria for metals, shown as dissolved metals, are
calculated in one of two ways. For freshwater metals criteria that
are hardness-dependent, the dissolved metal criteria were calculated
using a hardness of 100 mg/l as CaCO3 for illustrative
purposes only. Saltwater and freshwater metals' criteria that are
not hardness-dependent are calculated by multiplying the total
recoverable criteria before rounding by the appropriate conversion
factors. The final dissolved metals' criteria in the table are
rounded to two significant figures. Information regarding the
calculation of hardness dependent conversion factors are included in
the footnotes.
6. Correction of Chemical Abstract Services Number
The Chemical Abstract Services number (CAS) for Bis(2-
Chloroisopropyl) Ether, has been corrected in the table. The correct
CAS number for this chemical is 39638-32-9. Previous publications
listed 108-60-1 as the CAS number for this chemical.
[[Page 68363]]
7. Maximum Contaminant Levels
The compilation includes footnotes for pollutants with Maximum
Contaminant Levels (MCLs) more stringent than the recommended water
quality criteria in the compilation. MCLs for these pollutants are
not included in the compilation, but can be found in the appropriate
drinking water regulations (40 CFR 141.11-16 and 141.60-63), or can
be accessed through the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791)
or the Internet (http://www.epa.gov/ost/tools/dwstds-s.html).
8. Organoleptic Effects
The compilation contains 304(a) criteria for pollutants with
toxicity-based criteria as well as non-toxicity based criteria. The
basis for the non-toxicity based criteria are organoleptic effects
(e.g., taste and odor) which would make water and edible aquatic
life unpalatable but not toxic to humans. The table includes
criteria for organoleptic effects for 23 pollutants. Pollutants with
organoleptic effect criteria more stringent than the criteria based
on toxicity (e.g., included in both the priority and non-priority
pollutant tables) are footnoted as such.
9. Category Criteria
In the 1980 criteria documents, certain recommended water
quality criteria were published for categories of pollutants rather
than for individual pollutants within that category. Subsequently,
in a series of separate actions, the Agency derived criteria for
specific pollutants within a category. Therefore, in this
compilation EPA is replacing criteria representing categories with
individual pollutant criteria (e.g., 1,3-dichlorobenzene, 1,4-
dichlorobenzene and 1,2-dichlorobenzene).
10. Specific Chemical Calculations
A. Selenium
(1) Human Health
In the 1980 Selenium document, a criterion for the protection of
human health from consumption of water and organisms was calculated
based on a BCF of 6.0 L/kg and a maximum water-related contribution
of 35 µg Se/day. Subsequently, the EPA Office of Health and
Environmental Assessment issued an errata notice (February 23,
1982), revising the BCF for selenium to 4.8 L/kg. In 1988, EPA
issued an addendum (ECAO-CIN-668) revising the human health criteria
for selenium. Later in the final National Toxic Rule (NTR, 57 FR
60848), EPA withdrew previously published selenium human health
criteria, pending Agency review of new epidemiological data.
This compilation includes human health criteria for selenium,
calculated using a BCF of 4.8 L/kg along with the current IRIS RfD
of 0.005 mg/kg/day. EPA included these recommended water quality
criteria in the compilation because the data necessary for
calculating a criteria in accordance with EPA's 1980 human health
methodology are available.
(2) Aquatic Life
This compilation contains aquatic life criteria for selenium
that are the same as those published in the proposed CTR. In the
CTR, EPA proposed an acute criterion for selenium based on the
criterion proposed for selenium in the Water Quality Guidance for
the Great Lakes System (61 FR 58444). The GLI and CTR proposals take
into account data showing that selenium's two most prevalent
oxidation states, selenite and selenate, present differing
potentials for aquatic toxicity, as well as new data indicating that
various forms of selenium are additive. The new approach produces a
different selenium acute criterion concentration, or CMC, depending
upon the relative proportions of selenite, selenate, and other forms
of selenium that are present.
EPA notes it is currently undertaking a reassessment of
selenium, and expects the 304(a) criteria for selenium will be
revised based on the final reassessment (63 FR 26186). However,
until such time as revised water quality criteria for selenium are
published by the Agency, the recommended water quality criteria in
this compilation are EPA's current 304(a) criteria.
B. 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene and Zinc
Human health criteria for 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene and zinc have
not been previously published. Sufficient information is now
available for calculating water quality criteria for the protection
of human health from the consumption of aquatic organisms and the
consumption of aquatic organisms and water for both these compounds.
Therefore, EPA is publishing criteria for these pollutants in this
compilation.
C. Chromium (III)
The recommended aquatic life water quality criteria for chromium
(III) included in the compilation are based on the values presented
in the document titled: 1995 Updates: Water Quality Criteria
Documents for the Protection of Aquatic Life in Ambient Water,
however, this document contains criteria based on the total
recoverable fraction. The chromium (III) criteria in this
compilation were calculated by applying the conversion factors used
in the Final Water Quality Guidance for the Great Lakes System (60
FR 15366) to the 1995 Update document values.
D. Ether, Bis (Chloromethyl), Pentachlorobenzene,
Tetrachlorobenzene 1,2,4,5- Trichlorophenol
Human health criteria for these pollutants were last published
in EPA's Quality Criteria for Water 1986 or ``Gold Book''. Some of
these criteria were calculated using Acceptable Daily Intake (ADIs)
rather than RfDs. Updated q1*s and RfDs are now available in IRIS
for ether, bis (chloromethyl), pentachlorobenzene,
tetrachlorobenzene 1,2,4,5-, and trichlorophenol, and were used to
revise the water quality criteria for these compounds. The
recommended water quality criteria for ether, bis (chloromethyl)
were revised using an updated q1*, while criteria for
pentachlorobenzene, and tetrachlorobenzene 1,2,4,5-, and
trichlorophenol were derived using an updated RfD value.
E. PCBs
In this compilation EPA is publishing aquatic life and human
health criteria based on total PCBs rather than individual
arochlors. These criteria replace the previous criteria for the
seven individual arochlors. Thus, there are criteria for a total of
102 of the 126 priority pollutants.
Dated: October 26, 1998.
J. Charles Fox,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Water.
[[Page 68364]]
Appendix A--Conversion Factors for Dissolved Metals
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conversion Conversion
Metal Conversion factor Conversion factor factor factor
freshwater CMC freshwater CCC saltwater CMC saltwater CCC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arsenic........................ 1.000.................. 1.000................. 1.000 1.000
Cadmium........................ 1.138672-[(ln hardness) 1.101672-[(ln 0.994 0.994
(0.041838)] hardness) (0.041838)]
Chromium III................... 0.316.................. 0.860
Chromium VI.................... 0.982.................. 0.962................. 0.993 0.993
Copper......................... 0.960.................. 0.960................. 0.83 0.83
Lead........................... 1.46203-[(ln hardness) 1.46203-[(ln hardness) 0.951 0.951
(0.145712)] (0.145712)]
Mercury........................ 0.85................... 0.85.................. 0.85 0.85
Nickel......................... 0.998.................. 0.997................. 0.990 0.990
Selenium....................... ....................... ...................... 0.998 0.998
Silver......................... 0.85................... ...................... 0.85
Zinc........................... 0.978.................. 0.986................. 0.946 0.946
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appendix B--Parameters for Calculating Freshwater Dissolved Metals
Criteria That Are Hardness-Dependent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Freshwater conversion factors (CF)
Chemical mA bA mC bC -------------------------------------------------------
Acute Chronic
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cadmium................................. 1.128 -3.6867 0.7852 -2.715 1.136672-[ln 1.101672-[ln
(hardness)(0.041838)] (hardness)(0.041838)]
Chromium III............................ 0.8190 3.7256 0.8190 0.6848 0.316..................... 0.860
Copper.................................. 0.9422 -1.700 0.8545 -1.702 0.960..................... 0.960
Lead.................................... 1.273 -1.460 1.273 -4.705 1.46203-[ln 1.46203-[ln
(hardness)(0.145712)] (hardness)(0.145712)]
Nickel.................................. 0.8460 2.255 0.8460 0.0584 0.998..................... 0.997
Silver.................................. 1.72 -6.52 ............ ............ 0.85
Zinc.................................... 0.8473 0.884 0.8473 0.884 0.978..................... 0.986
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appendix C--Calculation of Freshwater Ammonia Criterion
1. The one-hour average concentration of total ammonia nitrogen
(in mg N/L) does not exceed, more than once every three years on the
average, the CMC calculated using the following equation:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN10DE98.009
In situations where salmonids do not occur, the CMC may be
calculated using the following equation:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN10DE98.010
2. The thirty-day average concentration of total ammonia
nitrogen (in mg N/L) does not exceed, more than once every three
years on the average, the CCC calculated using the following
equation:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN10DE98.011
Editorial Note: FR Doc. 98-30272 was originally published as
Part IV (63 FR 67548-67558) in the issue of Monday, December 7,
1998. At the request of the agency, due to incorrect footnote
identifiers in the tables, the corrected document is being
republished in its entirety.
[FR Doc. 98-30272 Filed 12-4-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1505-01-D