Final National Recommended Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Carbaryl-2012, 30280-30282 [2012-12369]
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 99 / Tuesday, May 22, 2012 / Notices
changes can be logically divided into
two categories: (1) Annualized startup/
capital and operational costs associated
with CAIR affected units that are not
also affected by the ARP program and
(2) incremental operational costs for
ARP affected units that are also subject
to the CAIR program. The previous
2009–2011 ICR period contained a
number of one-time costs and burdens
associated with facilities/units either
transitioning into the CAIR program
from the NOX SIP Call program or
facilities/units previously affected by
ARP that were required to make changes
as part of CAIR. These one-time costs
and burdens were fully realized in the
2009–2011 period.
Burden Statement: The annual public
reporting and recordkeeping burden for
this collection of information is
estimated to average 22 hours per
response. Burden means the total time,
effort, or financial resources expended
by persons to generate, maintain, retain,
or disclose or provide information to or
for a Federal agency. This includes the
time needed to review instructions;
develop, acquire, install, and utilize
technology and systems for the purposes
of collecting, validating, and verifying
information, processing and
maintaining information, and disclosing
and providing information; adjust the
existing ways to comply with any
previously applicable instructions and
requirements; train personnel to be able
to respond to a collection of
information; search data sources;
complete and review the collection of
information; and transmit or otherwise
disclose the information.
Respondents/Affected Entities:
Sources subject to the CAIR program.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
1,077.
Frequency of response: Quarterly.
Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden:
265,292 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Costs:
$40,819,163, which included
$22,539,614 in capital and O&M costs.
Changes in the Estimates: There is a
decrease of 141,747 hours in the total
estimated burden currently identified in
the OMB Inventory of Approved ICR
Burdens. This change from the previous
ICR is due to three major differences. (1)
The previous ICR included a number of
one-time transition burdens associated
with the incorporation of NOX SIP Call
sources and incremental changes for
ARP sources. Those one time burdens
were fully accounted for in the previous
ICR and are not included in the 2012–
2014 period. (2) The previous ICR also
included a State and local reporting
burden associated with annual and
triennial emissions inventory reporting.
This reporting requirement was
removed with changes to 40 CFR 51.125
published in 76 FR 48353 on August 8,
2011. (3) The overall number of
facilities slightly declined despite the
previous administrative change to
include Delaware and New Jersey.
John Moses,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 2012–12322 Filed 5–21–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[FRL9675–2]
Clean Water Act Section 303(d):
Withdrawal of Nine Total Maximum
Daily Loads (TMDLs)
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of Withdrawal of Nine
TMDLs.
AGENCY:
The EPA hereby withdraws
nine final Total Maximum Daily Loads
SUMMARY:
(TMDLs) for Chloride, Sulfate, and Total
Dissolved Solids (TDS) for the Bayou de
L’Outre Watershed in Arkansas. The
EPA withdraws the Bayou de L’Outre
TMDLs due to the discovery of
inconsistencies in the values used to
derive the flow and load duration
curves, resulting in the calculation of
TMDLs which do not accurately reflect
the loading capacity of the segments.
This action does not affect seven other
final TMDLs published under the same
Federal Register notice (see 76 FR
52947) which pertain to segments
08040203–010, 08040204–006, and
08040206–015, –016, –716, –816, –916.
The Agency hereby withdraws the final
TMDLs pertaining to segments
08040202–006, –007, and –008 with
respect to Chlorides, Sulfates and TDS.
Public Participation: EPA received
five comment letters from
representatives of Clean Harbors
Environmental Services, Clean Harbors
Environmental Services—El Dorado, El
Dorado Water Utility, Great Lakes
Chemical Corporation—Chemtura, and
Lion Oil Company in support of the
withdrawal of nine TMDLs pertaining to
Bayou de L’Outre. The Agency did not
receive any adverse comments relating
to the withdrawal action.
The
TMDLs were developed under EPA
Contract Number 68–C–02–108. The
Federal Register notice of availability,
seeking public comments on the draft
TMDLs, was published on December 17,
2007 (see 72 FR 71409). Public
comments were received by January 16,
2008, and a response to each comment
was provided. The Federal Register
notice of availability for the final
TMDLs was published on August 24,
2011 (see 76 FR 52947). The nine
pollutant pairs for Bayou de L’Outre
subject to withdrawal are as follows.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Waterbody name
08040202–006 ...................................................
08040202–007 ...................................................
08040202–008 ...................................................
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Segment (Reach)
Bayou de L’Outre .............................................
Bayou de L’Outre .............................................
Bayou de L’Outre .............................................
Chloride, Sulfate, TDS.
Chloride, Sulfate, TDS.
Chloride, Sulfate, TDS.
The 2008 Arkansas Clean Water Act
(CWA) Section 303(d) list of impaired
waters is the current EPA approved list,
and includes the three Bayou de L’Outre
segments addressed by this action. This
action does not affect the listing of the
aforementioned segments.
Avenue, Dallas, TX 75202–2733, (214)
665–2145.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dated: May 9, 2012.
William K. Honker,
Acting Director, Water Quality Protection
Division, EPA Region 6
[FR Doc. 2012–12360 Filed 5–21–12; 8:45 am]
17:20 May 21, 2012
Jkt 226001
[EPA–HQ–OW–2011–0787; FRL–9674–8]
Final National Recommended Ambient
Water Quality Criteria for Carbaryl—
2012
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
Diane Smith, Environmental Protection
Specialist, Water Quality Protection
Division, U.S. EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross
VerDate Mar<15>2010
Pollutant
PO 00000
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
AGENCY:
Frm 00021
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 99 / Tuesday, May 22, 2012 / Notices
ACTION:
Notice of availability of final
criteria.
Pursuant to section 304(a) of
the Clean Water Act (CWA), the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
is announcing the availability of final
national recommended water quality
criteria for the protection of aquatic life
from effects of carbaryl (EPA–820–R–
12–007). The final criteria document
incorporates the latest scientific
knowledge on the toxicity of carbaryl to
aquatic life. On November 1, 2011, EPA
published draft national recommended
water quality criteria for carbaryl and
provided the public an opportunity to
provide scientific views. EPA developed
the aquatic life criteria based on EPA’s
Guidelines for Deriving Numerical
National Water Quality Criteria for the
Protection of Aquatic Organisms and
Their Uses (1985), (EPA/R–85–100).
EPA’s recommended section 304(a)
water quality criteria provides guidance
to States and authorized Tribes in
adopting water quality standards for
protecting aquatic life and human
health. These criteria are intended to
protect aquatic life and do not evaluate
human health toxicity data. EPA’s
recommended water quality criteria
provide technical information for states
and authorized tribes in adopting water
quality standards, but by themselves
have no binding legal effect. EPA’s
national recommended final acute and
chronic ambient water quality criteria
(AWQC) for protecting freshwater
organisms from potential effects of
carbaryl is 2.1 mg/L. For the protection
of estuarine/marine organisms from
potential effects of carbaryl, EPA is
recommending a final acute AWQC of
1.6 mg/L. At the present time, there are
insufficient data to calculate a chronic
AWQC for estuarine/marine organisms.
ADDRESSES: Scientific views received
from the public on the draft carbaryl
criteria and the draft and final carbaryl
criteria documents are available from
the EPA Docket Center and are
identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
OW–2011–0787. They may be accessed
online at:
• www.regulations.gov: Follow the
on-line instructions.
• Email: OW-Docket@epa.gov.
• Mail: US Environmental Protection
Agency; EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC)
Water Docket, MC 2822T; 1200
Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington,
DC 20460.
• On Site: EPA Docket Center, 1301
Constitution Ave. NW., EPA West,
Room 3334, Washington DC. This
Docket Facility is open from 8:30 a.m.
until 4:30 p.m., EST, Monday through
Friday, excluding legal holidays. The
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:20 May 21, 2012
Jkt 226001
telephone number for the Public
Reading Room is (202) 566–1744, and
the telephone number for the Office of
Water is (202) 566–2426.
For additional information about
EPA’s public docket visit the EPA
Docket Center homepage at https://
www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Diana Eignor, Health and Ecological
Criteria Division (4304T), U.S. EPA,
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.,
Washington, DC 20460; (202) 566–1143;
eignor.diana@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. What are water quality criteria?
Water quality criteria are either
narrative descriptions of water quality
or scientifically derived numeric values
that protect aquatic life or human health
from the deleterious effects of pollutants
in ambient water.
Section 304(a)(1) of the Clean Water
Act requires EPA to develop and
publish and, from time to time, revise,
criteria for the protection of water
quality and human health that
accurately reflect 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 authorized
Tribes in adopting water quality
standards that ultimately provide a basis
for assessing water body health and
controlling discharges or releases of
pollutants. Under the CWA and its
implementing regulations, States and
authorized Tribes are to adopt water
quality criteria to protect designated
uses (e.g., public water supply, aquatic
life, recreational use, or industrial use).
EPA’s recommended water quality
criteria do not substitute for the CWA or
regulations, nor are they regulations
themselves. Thus, EPA’s recommended
criteria do not impose legally binding
requirements. States and authorized
Tribes have the discretion to adopt,
where appropriate, other scientifically
defensible water quality criteria that
differ from these recommendations.
II. What is carbaryl and why are we
concerned about it?
Carbaryl is a member of the N-methyl
carbamate class of pesticides, which
share a common mechanism of toxicity
PO 00000
Frm 00022
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
30281
by affecting the nervous system via
cholinesterase inhibition. Carbaryl has
many trade names, but is most
commonly known as Sevin®. It is an
insecticide, a molluscide, and is used to
thin fruit in orchards. It is registered in
the United States for controlling insect
pests on over 115 agricultural and noncrop use applications, including home
and garden uses (U.S. EPA 2007; U.S.
EPA 2010). In a 2006 report, the US
Geological Survey National Water
Quality Assessment Program reported
carbaryl as the second most frequently
found insecticide in water, with
detections in approximately 50% of
urban streams (U.S.G.S. 2006). EPA has
previously developed 304(a) criteria for
the other three currently registered
insecticides found most frequently in
U.S. waters.
III. What are the final carbaryl criteria?
EPA is today publishing final national
recommended water quality criteria for
protecting aquatic life for carbaryl. EPA
developed these final criteria using
EPA’s Guidelines for Deriving
Numerical National Water Quality
Criteria for the Protection of Aquatic
Organisms and Their Uses (1985), (EPA/
R–85–100). The document has a new
format that follows the approach in the
EPA’s Guidelines for Ecological Risk
Assessment (EPA/630/R–95/002F). EPA
obtained toxicity data for developing the
water quality criteria from peerreviewed open literature studies and
from studies submitted to the Office of
Pesticide Programs for the registration
and reregistration of pesticides. To
ensure the quality of the information,
EPA subjected the toxicity data and
other information on the effects of
carbaryl to both internal and external
peer review. EPA also provided an
opportunity for the public to provide
scientific views on the draft
recommended carbaryl criteria
document. EPA received three
comments in response to its solicitation.
EPA reviewed the comments received
and concluded that they did not warrant
modification of the draft criteria for
carbaryl. The comments and EPA
responses can be found in the docket.
The final criteria statement is as
follows: The available data for carbaryl,
evaluated in accordance with EPA’s
guidelines for deriving aquatic life
criteria (Stephan et al. 1985) [referenced
in the criteria document], indicate that
freshwater aquatic animals would have
an appropriate level of protection if the
following are attained:
1. The one-hour average concentration
of carbaryl does not exceed 2.1 mg/L
more than once every three years on
E:\FR\FM\22MYN1.SGM
22MYN1
30282
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 99 / Tuesday, May 22, 2012 / Notices
average, the criterion maximum
concentration or CMC (acute criterion).
2. The four-day average concentration
of carbaryl does not exceed 2.1 mg/L
more than once every three years on
average, the criterion continuous
concentration or CCC (chronic
criterion).
The available data for carbaryl indicates
that, estuarine/marine aquatic animals
would have an appropriate level of
protection if the following is attained:
1. The one-hour average concentration
of carbaryl does not exceed 1.6 mg/L
more than once every three years on
average (except where a locally
important species may be more
sensitive).
At the present time, there are
insufficient data to calculate a chronic
AWQC for estuarine/marine organisms.
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
IV. What is the relationship between
the water quality criteria and State or
Tribal water quality standards?
Water quality standards consist of
three principal elements: designated
uses, water quality criteria to protect
those uses, and antidegradation
requirements, providing for protection
of existing water uses and high quality
waters. As part of the water quality
standards triennial review process
defined in Section 303(c)(1) of the CWA,
the States and authorized Tribes are
responsible for developing, maintaining
and revising water quality standards.
Section 303(c)(1) requires States and
authorized Tribes to review and modify,
if appropriate, their water quality
standards at least once every three
years.
States and authorized Tribes must
adopt water quality criteria into their
water quality standards that protect
designated uses. States may develop
their criteria based on EPA’s
recommended section 304(a) water
quality criteria or other scientifically
defensible methods. A State’s criteria
must contain sufficient parameters or
constituents to protect the designated
uses. Consistent with 40 CFR 131.21,
new or revised water quality criteria
adopted into law by States and
authorized Tribes on or after May 30,
2000 are the applicable water quality
standards for CWA purposes only after
EPA approval.
States and authorized Tribes may
develop site-specific criteria for
particular waterbodies as appropriate.
EPA has published procedures for
developing site-specific criteria,
described in the Guidelines for Deriving
Numerical Aquatic Site-Specific Water
Quality Criteria by Modifying National
Criteria (USEPA, 1984f). A site-specific
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:20 May 21, 2012
Jkt 226001
criterion is intended to come closer than
the national criterion to providing the
intended level of protection to the
aquatic life at the site, usually by taking
into account the biological and/or
chemical conditions (i.e., the species
composition and/or water quality
characteristics) at the site. If data in the
national criterion document and/or from
other sources indicated that the selected
resident species range of sensitivity is
different from that for the species in the
national criterion document, States and
authorized Tribes can use the Resident
Species Procedure (Section 3.7.6 of the
WQS Handbook). This procedure was
first published in the 1983 Water
Quality Standards Handbook (USEPA,
1983a) and expanded upon in the
Guidelines for Deriving Numerical
Aquatic Site-Specific Water Quality
Criteria by Modifying National Criteria
(USEPA, 1984f) and later detailed in the
‘‘Interim Guidance on Determination
and Use of Water Effect Ratio for
Metals’’ (EPA 1994).
frog. Office of Pesticide Programs,
Washington, DC, https://www.epa.gov/
espp/litstatus/effects/redleg-frog/
carbaryl/determination.pdf.
U.S. EPA. 2010. Registration Review—
Preliminary Problem Formulation for
Ecological Risk and Environmental Fate,
Endangered Species, and Drinking Water
Assessments for Carbaryl. September 3,
2010. EPA–HQ–OPP–2010–0230–0004.
U.S.G.S. 2006. The Quality of our Nation’s
Waters: Pesticides in the Nation’s
Streams and Ground Water, 1992–2001.
Circular 1291. U.S. Geological Survey.
Reston, VA.
V. 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; August 1994); Advanced
Notice of Proposed Rule Making
(ANPRM), (63 FR 36742; July 7, 1998);
Water Quality Criteria and Standards
Plan—Priorities for the Future (EPA
822–R–98–003; April 1998); Guidelines
and Methodologies Used in the
Preparation of Health Effects
Assessment Chapters of the Consent
Decree Water Criteria Documents
(45FR79347; November 1980);
Methodology for Deriving Ambient
Water Quality Criteria for the Protection
of Human Health (EPA–822–B–00–004;
October 2000); Guidelines for Deriving
Numerical National Water Quality
Criteria for the Protection of Aquatic
Organisms and Their Uses (EPA 822/R–
85–100; 1985); National Strategy for the
Development of Regional Nutrient
Criteria (EPA 822–R–98–002; June
1998); and EPA Review and Approval of
State and Tribal Water Quality
Standards (65 FR 24641; April 27,
2000).
You can find these publications
through EPA’s National Service Center
for Environmental Publications (NSCEP,
previously NCEPI) or on the Office of
Science and Technology’s Home-page
(https://www.epa.gov/waterscience).
Notice of Proposed Administrative
Settlement Pursuant to the
Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability
Act
References
U.S. EPA. 2007. Risks of carbaryl use to the
federally-listed California red legged
PO 00000
Frm 00023
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Dated: May 14, 2012.
Nancy K. Stoner,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of
Water.
[FR Doc. 2012–12369 Filed 5–21–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[FRL–9674–9]
Environmental Protection
Agency.
ACTION: Notice; request for public
comment.
AGENCY:
In accordance with Section
122(i) of the Comprehensive
Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act, as
amended (‘‘CERCLA’’), 42 U.S.C.
9622(i), notice is hereby given of a
proposed administrative settlement
concerning the Malone Service
Company Superfund Site, Texas City,
Galveston County, Texas.
The settlement requires the six (6)
settling parties to pay a total of $32,722
as payment of response costs to the
Hazardous Substances Superfund. The
settlement includes a covenant not to
sue pursuant to Section 107 of CERCLA,
42 U.S.C. § 9607.
For thirty (30) days following the date
of publication of this notice, the Agency
will receive written comments relating
to this notice and will receive written
comments relating to the settlement.
The Agency will consider all comments
received and may modify or withdraw
its consent to the settlement if
comments received disclose facts or
considerations which indicate that the
settlement is inappropriate, improper,
or inadequate. The Agency’s response to
any comments received will be available
for public inspection at 1445 Ross
Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202–2733.
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\22MYN1.SGM
22MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 99 (Tuesday, May 22, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30280-30282]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12369]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0787; FRL-9674-8]
Final National Recommended Ambient Water Quality Criteria for
Carbaryl--2012
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
[[Page 30281]]
ACTION: Notice of availability of final criteria.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 304(a) of the Clean Water Act (CWA), the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the availability of
final national recommended water quality criteria for the protection of
aquatic life from effects of carbaryl (EPA-820-R-12-007). The final
criteria document incorporates the latest scientific knowledge on the
toxicity of carbaryl to aquatic life. On November 1, 2011, EPA
published draft national recommended water quality criteria for
carbaryl and provided the public an opportunity to provide scientific
views. EPA developed the aquatic life criteria based on EPA's
Guidelines for Deriving Numerical National Water Quality Criteria for
the Protection of Aquatic Organisms and Their Uses (1985), (EPA/R-85-
100). EPA's recommended section 304(a) water quality criteria provides
guidance to States and authorized Tribes in adopting water quality
standards for protecting aquatic life and human health. These criteria
are intended to protect aquatic life and do not evaluate human health
toxicity data. EPA's recommended water quality criteria provide
technical information for states and authorized tribes in adopting
water quality standards, but by themselves have no binding legal
effect. EPA's national recommended final acute and chronic ambient
water quality criteria (AWQC) for protecting freshwater organisms from
potential effects of carbaryl is 2.1 [mu]g/L. For the protection of
estuarine/marine organisms from potential effects of carbaryl, EPA is
recommending a final acute AWQC of 1.6 [mu]g/L. At the present time,
there are insufficient data to calculate a chronic AWQC for estuarine/
marine organisms.
ADDRESSES: Scientific views received from the public on the draft
carbaryl criteria and the draft and final carbaryl criteria documents
are available from the EPA Docket Center and are identified by Docket
ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0787. They may be accessed online at:
www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions.
Email: OW-Docket@epa.gov.
Mail: US Environmental Protection Agency; EPA Docket
Center (EPA/DC) Water Docket, MC 2822T; 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20460.
On Site: EPA Docket Center, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW.,
EPA West, Room 3334, Washington DC. This Docket Facility is open from
8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., EST, Monday through Friday, excluding legal
holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is (202)
566-1744, and the telephone number for the Office of Water is (202)
566-2426.
For additional information about EPA's public docket visit the EPA
Docket Center homepage at https://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diana Eignor, Health and Ecological
Criteria Division (4304T), U.S. EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.,
Washington, DC 20460; (202) 566-1143; eignor.diana@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. What are water quality criteria?
Water quality criteria are either narrative descriptions of water
quality or scientifically derived numeric values that protect aquatic
life or human health from the deleterious effects of pollutants in
ambient water.
Section 304(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act requires EPA to develop
and publish and, from time to time, revise, criteria for the protection
of water quality and human health that accurately reflect 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 authorized
Tribes in adopting water quality standards that ultimately provide a
basis for assessing water body health and controlling discharges or
releases of pollutants. Under the CWA and its implementing regulations,
States and authorized Tribes are to adopt water quality criteria to
protect designated uses (e.g., public water supply, aquatic life,
recreational use, or industrial use). EPA's recommended water quality
criteria do not substitute for the CWA or regulations, nor are they
regulations themselves. Thus, EPA's recommended criteria do not impose
legally binding requirements. States and authorized Tribes have the
discretion to adopt, where appropriate, other scientifically defensible
water quality criteria that differ from these recommendations.
II. What is carbaryl and why are we concerned about it?
Carbaryl is a member of the N-methyl carbamate class of pesticides,
which share a common mechanism of toxicity by affecting the nervous
system via cholinesterase inhibition. Carbaryl has many trade names,
but is most commonly known as Sevin[supreg]. It is an insecticide, a
molluscide, and is used to thin fruit in orchards. It is registered in
the United States for controlling insect pests on over 115 agricultural
and non-crop use applications, including home and garden uses (U.S. EPA
2007; U.S. EPA 2010). In a 2006 report, the US Geological Survey
National Water Quality Assessment Program reported carbaryl as the
second most frequently found insecticide in water, with detections in
approximately 50% of urban streams (U.S.G.S. 2006). EPA has previously
developed 304(a) criteria for the other three currently registered
insecticides found most frequently in U.S. waters.
III. What are the final carbaryl criteria?
EPA is today publishing final national recommended water quality
criteria for protecting aquatic life for carbaryl. EPA developed these
final criteria using EPA's Guidelines for Deriving Numerical National
Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of Aquatic Organisms and
Their Uses (1985), (EPA/R-85-100). The document has a new format that
follows the approach in the EPA's Guidelines for Ecological Risk
Assessment (EPA/630/R-95/002F). EPA obtained toxicity data for
developing the water quality criteria from peer-reviewed open
literature studies and from studies submitted to the Office of
Pesticide Programs for the registration and reregistration of
pesticides. To ensure the quality of the information, EPA subjected the
toxicity data and other information on the effects of carbaryl to both
internal and external peer review. EPA also provided an opportunity for
the public to provide scientific views on the draft recommended
carbaryl criteria document. EPA received three comments in response to
its solicitation. EPA reviewed the comments received and concluded that
they did not warrant modification of the draft criteria for carbaryl.
The comments and EPA responses can be found in the docket.
The final criteria statement is as follows: The available data for
carbaryl, evaluated in accordance with EPA's guidelines for deriving
aquatic life criteria (Stephan et al. 1985) [referenced in the criteria
document], indicate that freshwater aquatic animals would have an
appropriate level of protection if the following are attained:
1. The one-hour average concentration of carbaryl does not exceed
2.1 [mu]g/L more than once every three years on
[[Page 30282]]
average, the criterion maximum concentration or CMC (acute criterion).
2. The four-day average concentration of carbaryl does not exceed
2.1 [mu]g/L more than once every three years on average, the criterion
continuous concentration or CCC (chronic criterion).
The available data for carbaryl indicates that, estuarine/marine
aquatic animals would have an appropriate level of protection if the
following is attained:
1. The one-hour average concentration of carbaryl does not exceed
1.6 [micro]g/L more than once every three years on average (except
where a locally important species may be more sensitive).
At the present time, there are insufficient data to calculate a chronic
AWQC for estuarine/marine organisms.
IV. What is the relationship between the water quality criteria and
State or Tribal water quality standards?
Water quality standards consist of three principal elements:
designated uses, water quality criteria to protect those uses, and
antidegradation requirements, providing for protection of existing
water uses and high quality waters. As part of the water quality
standards triennial review process defined in Section 303(c)(1) of the
CWA, the States and authorized Tribes are responsible for developing,
maintaining and revising water quality standards. Section 303(c)(1)
requires States and authorized Tribes to review and modify, if
appropriate, their water quality standards at least once every three
years.
States and authorized Tribes must adopt water quality criteria into
their water quality standards that protect designated uses. States may
develop their criteria based on EPA's recommended section 304(a) water
quality criteria or other scientifically defensible methods. A State's
criteria must contain sufficient parameters or constituents to protect
the designated uses. Consistent with 40 CFR 131.21, new or revised
water quality criteria adopted into law by States and authorized Tribes
on or after May 30, 2000 are the applicable water quality standards for
CWA purposes only after EPA approval.
States and authorized Tribes may develop site-specific criteria for
particular waterbodies as appropriate. EPA has published procedures for
developing site-specific criteria, described in the Guidelines for
Deriving Numerical Aquatic Site-Specific Water Quality Criteria by
Modifying National Criteria (USEPA, 1984f). A site-specific criterion
is intended to come closer than the national criterion to providing the
intended level of protection to the aquatic life at the site, usually
by taking into account the biological and/or chemical conditions (i.e.,
the species composition and/or water quality characteristics) at the
site. If data in the national criterion document and/or from other
sources indicated that the selected resident species range of
sensitivity is different from that for the species in the national
criterion document, States and authorized Tribes can use the Resident
Species Procedure (Section 3.7.6 of the WQS Handbook). This procedure
was first published in the 1983 Water Quality Standards Handbook
(USEPA, 1983a) and expanded upon in the Guidelines for Deriving
Numerical Aquatic Site-Specific Water Quality Criteria by Modifying
National Criteria (USEPA, 1984f) and later detailed in the ``Interim
Guidance on Determination and Use of Water Effect Ratio for Metals''
(EPA 1994).
V. 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; August 1994); Advanced Notice of Proposed Rule Making
(ANPRM), (63 FR 36742; July 7, 1998); Water Quality Criteria and
Standards Plan--Priorities for the Future (EPA 822-R-98-003; April
1998); Guidelines and Methodologies Used in the Preparation of Health
Effects Assessment Chapters of the Consent Decree Water Criteria
Documents (45FR79347; November 1980); Methodology for Deriving Ambient
Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of Human Health (EPA-822-B-
00-004; October 2000); Guidelines for Deriving Numerical National Water
Quality Criteria for the Protection of Aquatic Organisms and Their Uses
(EPA 822/R-85-100; 1985); National Strategy for the Development of
Regional Nutrient Criteria (EPA 822-R-98-002; June 1998); and EPA
Review and Approval of State and Tribal Water Quality Standards (65 FR
24641; April 27, 2000).
You can find these publications through EPA's National Service
Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP, previously NCEPI) or on
the Office of Science and Technology's Home-page (https://www.epa.gov/waterscience).
References
U.S. EPA. 2007. Risks of carbaryl use to the federally-listed
California red legged frog. Office of Pesticide Programs,
Washington, DC, https://www.epa.gov/espp/litstatus/effects/redleg-frog/carbaryl/determination.pdf.
U.S. EPA. 2010. Registration Review--Preliminary Problem Formulation
for Ecological Risk and Environmental Fate, Endangered Species, and
Drinking Water Assessments for Carbaryl. September 3, 2010. EPA-HQ-
OPP-2010-0230-0004.
U.S.G.S. 2006. The Quality of our Nation's Waters: Pesticides in the
Nation's Streams and Ground Water, 1992-2001. Circular 1291. U.S.
Geological Survey. Reston, VA.
Dated: May 14, 2012.
Nancy K. Stoner,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Water.
[FR Doc. 2012-12369 Filed 5-21-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
