Jump to main content.

Water Quality Criteria and Standards Newsletter Cont.

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

WATER QUALITY STANDARDS BRANCH/SASD
FRED LEUTNER
(202) 260-1542


WATER QUALITY STANDARDS ACADEMY

We are in the process of identifying space in which to hold sessions of the "Water Quality Standards Academy" this year. Sessions will be held in the greater Washington, DC/Baltimore, MD area. Information about the training program and registration material will be mailed as soon as sites are selected. Contact Esther Williams (202-260-7301) (Williams.Esther@usepa.epa.gov) for information.

MULTI-REGIONAL MEETINGS ON WATER QUALITY STANDARDS AND CRITERIA

Two meetings on "Water Quality Standards and Criteria" are scheduled in 1996. They will be held in Denver, Colorado, July 22-24 and Burlington, Vermont on August 26-28. A one day "Trace Metals" workshop will be held in Denver on July 25 and in Burlington on August 29. Contact Liz Hiett, Tetra Tech, Inc., at (703) 385-6000 for registration and other information. RISK ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT BRANCH/SASD
TOM ARMITAGE
(202) 260-5388

UPDATE ON INLAND TESTING MANUAL

The Draft Inland Testing Manual (ITM), distributed for public comment in July of 1994, contains up-to-date procedures to implement requirements in the Clean Water Act (CWA Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines) for evaluation of potential contaminant- related impacts associated with the discharge of dredged material in fresh, estuarine, and saline (near-coastal) waters. Formally titled "Evaluation of Dredged Material Proposed for Discharge in Waters of the U.S. - Testing Manual (Draft)", it was prepared by a joint Environmental Protection Agency/Corps of Engineers Workgroup. EPA's response to public comments is being completed, and availability of the final document will be announced in the Federal Register Contact: Mike Kravitz - (202) 260-8085 or Kravitz.Michael@usepa.epa.gov

RISK MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE

The Fish Contamination Program has provided the States and others a draft of the document titled Guidance For Assessing Chemical Contaminant Data For Use in Fish Advisories. Volume III: Risk Management. This document provides information necessary for managing risks associated with consuming chemically contaminated fish and shellfish. Volume 3 provides an in-depth discussion of various options for reducing risks; potential impacts of limiting consumption (social, economic, feasibility, cultural, etc.); and methods for comparing health risks of consumption to impacts of limiting consumption. In addition, a supplement titled Risk Characterization is provided which can be used to summarize and review data related to fish contaminants and health risks. The Agency anticipates publishing Volume 3 during the summer of 1996. If you have previously received copies of the series of documents titled Guidance For Assessing Chemical Contaminant Data For Use in Fish Advisories, you will automatically receive a copy of Volume 3. Otherwise, you may fax a request for the document to (202) 260-9830. For more information, please call Jeff Bigler @ (202) 260-1305 or Bigler.Jeffrey@usepa.epa.gov

UPDATE OF FISH AND WILDLIFE ADVISORIES

The Fish Contamination Program has initiated contact with the States for the purpose of collecting information which will be used to update The National Listing of Fish And Wildlife Consumption Advisories (NLFWCA). The update, which will be current as of December 31, 1995, will include new information such as advisories for turtles, frogs, and waterfowl; total river miles and lake acres under advisory (by individual state and national); more details regarding methods and threshold levels used by the States for developing advisories; optional layering of county lines, major cities and towns; and many user improvements such as an hyper-text help function. Additionally, due to the numerous requests from federal, state and private organizations, we will provide an RF3 reach ID file which will allow adding the NLFWCA to other GIS efforts. The 1995 update will be available for distribution in June 1996 via CD- ROM, diskettes and the USEPA internet homepage (http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/fish/). If you have previously received copies of the 1994 NLFCA, you will automatically receive a copy of the 1995 NLFWCA. Otherwise, you may fax a request for the listing to (202) 260-9830. For more information, please call Jeff Bigler @ (202) 260-1305 or Bigler.Jeffrey@usepa.epa.gov

ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT BRANCH/HECD
ALAN HAIS
(202) 260-0658

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY: SUMMARY OF STATE AND FEDERAL DRINKING WATER STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES, 1993-1995

The Federal-State Toxicology and Risk Analysis Committee (FSTRAC) is pleased to annouce the availability of the third edition of "Summary of State and Federal Drinking Water Standards and Guidelines." Composed primarily of both EPA and state government officials, FSTRAC provides a forum for EPA and states to exchange information on the risk assessment of water contaminants. For this third edition, the data base on Federal and State drinking water standards and guidelines had been added to the National Library of Medicine's (NLM's) Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB). The data base can be used to quickly identify and coordinate with States that have developed their own chemical-specific drinking water risk assessments. Those wishing to use this data can access it directly by computer through NLM's HSDB system. You can call NLM at 301-496-6531 to get more information on accessing their systems. If you wish to obtain a hard copy of the 93-95 report, please contact: Bruce Mintz, EPA (4304), 401 M St., SW, Washington, DC 20460, (202) 260-9569, (202) 260-1036(fax), Mintz.Bruce@epamail.epa.gov

SETAC WORKSHOP PRODUCES METALS RECOMMENDATIONS

On February 10-15, the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) held a workshop titled "Reassessment of Metals Criteria for Aquatic Life Protection: Priorities for Research and Implementation" in Pensacola, Florida. Participants included experts from academia, regulatory agencies, and the regulated community.

The workshop produced a report of conclusions and recommendations on ways to improve metals criteria and associated implementation procedures. As the recommendations range from measures that can be implemented immediately, to approaches for long-term research, there should be something of interest to everyone involved with aquatic life criteria for metals, or related research.

The workshop report is scheduled to be available after May 31 from SETAC, 1010 North 12th Avenue, Pensacola, FL 32501-3370. Telephone 904-469-9777; FAX 904-469-9778; E-mail setac@setac.org.

ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT

The Health and Ecological Criteria Division (HECD) of OST is developing a methodology for Watershed scale ecological risk assessments that features a scientific approach to environmental problems, at a geographic scale that is appropriate for most risk management decisions. The proposed methodology follows the paradigm advocated by EPA's Risk Assessment Forum (EPA, 1992), and parallels subsequent Risk Assessment Forum guidance (in preparation). This project is seen as movement away from the traditional "command and control" approach, and toward a more holistic assessment methodology.

To date, five case studies are being conducted to test the methodology in different settings. The studies are being conducted in: 1) Waquoit Bay, MA (nutrient enrichment in an estuary), 2) Clinch River, VA/TN (ubiquitous stresses to endangered species), 3)Big Darby Creek, OH (urbanization), 4)Middle Platte River, NE (agricultural stresses to wetlands) and 5) Snake River, ID (impoundment threats to a commercial fishery). All five case studies are currently in the Problem Formulation phase.

A Science Advisory Board Review of the Problem Formulation is scheduled for late May, 1996. Assuming a favorable review, the case studies are expected to be completed by the end of the (calendar) year, with subsequent implementation guidance following shortly thereafter. Concurrent to the method development, HECD is developing a plan to integrate the approach into existing water quality programs at the Federal, State and local level. (Contact: John Miller 202-260-1038)

References

EPA, February 1992. Framework for Ecological Risk Assessment. EPA/630/R-92/001.

BIOLOGICAL CRITERIA SERIES

NATURAL SEASONAL VARIATION

Seasonal fluctuations in ecological communities is an important consideration in the design of a biological monitoring program. Taxonomic structure and the functional composition of some assemblages undergo natural seasonal changes that affect the utility of monitoring information for biological criteria development. For example, in many waters, fish populations migrate in the spring to their spawning areas. If spring and fall fish sampling was done at a site where fish come to spawn and the sampling results were then compared, one might conclude that there was something negatively affecting the fish population because fewer numbers of fish were found in the fall. The difference in the populations sampled is most likely due to seasonal migration patterns in which fish return to non-spawning habitats after the spring spawn and not negative environmental impacts. Therefore, it is important to take into consideration the life cycles of the organisms which will be monitored when designing a biological sampling program for biological criteria development.

An optimal sampling regime should be consistent with organisms' cyclical reproduction, emergence and migration events, so the maximum amount of information can be derived from the data. Optimal conditions for biological sampling can be defined as that period of time during which the populations to be monitored have stabilized.

Other factors which also influence a sampling schedule include abiotic factors such as temperature, flow conditions and turbidity which affect sampling efficiency. For example, the Ohio EPA has determined that fish sampling is preferably conducted between mid-June and early October when stream and river flows are generally low, pollution stresses are potentially the greatest, and the fish community is most stable and sedentary. It is also the preferred time to sample because the electrofishing equipment works better under low flow conditions and sampling efficiency is greater. Because the person netting the fish must be able to see the fish, working in high flow conditions with lots of turbidity can negatively affect sampling efficiency. The electric current is also less effective at shocking fish when the water is turbid. Macroinvertebrate sampling is also less efficient, if not impossible, during high flow conditions. Where necessary, a compromise between biologically optimal conditions and water flow conditions appropriate for the sampling gear must be made. Therefore, selection of the sampling period should be based on efforts to:

The long-term goals of a biological sampling program (e.g. trend monitoring, special studies) also influence the time period when sampling should be done. As states and tribes initiate biocriteria programs they are likely to assess chronic habitat alteration and point and nonpoint sources as they relate to management planning. Such chronic stress impacts are more efficiently assessed with a single index period approach. Resident fish and benthic invertebrate assemblages integrate stress effects over the course of a year and their seasonal cycles of abundance and taxa composition are fairly predictable, within the limits of interannual variability. Single season indexing also represents a cost savings compared to seasonal or more frequent sampling.

References:
Ohio EPA. 1989. Biological Criteria for the Protection of Aquatic Life: Volume III: Standardized Biological Field Sampling and Laboratory Methods for Assessing Fish and Macroinvertebrate Communities. Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Division of Water Quality Planning and Assessment, Columbus, Ohio.
USEPA. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1994. Biological Criteria: Technical Guidance for Streams and Small Rivers. EPA 822-B-94-001. Office of Water, Washington, D.C.

For more information on the Biocriteria Series, contact Candace Stoughton at (202-260-1737) or email: stoughton.candace@usepa.epa.gov

BIOLOGICAL CRITERIA DEVELOPMENT FOR RIVERS

EPA is in the preliminary stages of developing guidance on biological criteria for rivers. The first step involves finding out who is working on biological assessment of large river systems. If you are presently doing work on rivers, the biological criteria team would like to hear from you. Areas of interest include but are not limited to:

Please contact Candace Stoughton at EPA((202)260-1737) or stoughton.candace@epamail.epa.gov.

We are also beginning to investigate the feasibility of developing biological criteria for wetlands and riverine wetland systems. We are interested in the same types of information as mentioned above, although specific to wetlands systems.

Contact Susan Jackson at EPA (202)260-1737 or email: Jackson.Susank@epamail.epa.gov (note: please make sure to include the k. There is another Susan Jackson at EPA who has been the patient recipient and resender of Susank's email)

Back to the Newsletter Cover


Other Water Topics:
Drinking Water | Wastewater Management | Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds

Local Navigation

Jump to main content.