Final Updated Ambient Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of Human Health, 36986-36989 [2015-15912]
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36986
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 124 / Monday, June 29, 2015 / Notices
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–OECA–2014–0064; FRL–9929–
77–OEI]
Information Collection Request
Submitted to OMB for Review and
Approval; Comment Request; NESHAP
for Steel Pickling, HCl Process
Facilities and Hydrochloric Acid
Regeneration Plants (Renewal)
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Environmental Protection
Agency has submitted an information
collection request (ICR), ‘‘NESHAP for
Steel Pickling, HCl Process Facilities
and Hydrochloric Acid Regeneration
Plants (40 CFR part 63, subpart CCC)
(Renewal)’’ (EPA ICR No. 1821.08, OMB
Control No. 2060–0419) to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
review and approval in accordance with
the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.
3501 et seq.). This is a proposed
extension of the ICR, which is currently
approved through June 30, 2015. Public
comments were previously requested
via the Federal Register (79 FR 30117)
on May 27, 2014 during a 60-day
comment period. This notice allows for
an additional 30 days for public
comments. A fuller description of the
ICR is given below, including its
estimated burden and cost to the public.
An Agency may not conduct or sponsor
and a person is not required to respond
to a collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid OMB control
number.
DATES: Additional comments may be
submitted on or before July 29, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
referencing Docket ID Number EPA–
HQ–OECA–2014–0064, to (1) EPA
online using www.regulations.gov (our
preferred method), by email to
docket.oeca@epa.gov, or by mail to: EPA
Docket Center, Environmental
Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T,
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.,
Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB via
email to oira_submission@omb.eop.gov.
Address comments to OMB Desk Officer
for EPA.
EPA’s policy is that all comments
received will be included in the public
docket without change including any
personal information provided, unless
the comment includes profanity, threats,
information claimed to be Confidential
Business Information (CBI) or other
information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Patrick Yellin, Monitoring, Assistance,
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
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and Media Programs Division, Office of
Compliance, Mail Code 2227A,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington,
DC 20460; telephone number: (202)
564–2970; fax number: (202) 564–0050;
email address: yellin.patrick@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Supporting documents which explain
in detail the information that the EPA
will be collecting are available in the
public docket for this ICR. The docket
can be viewed online at
www.regulations.gov or in person at the
EPA Docket Center, EPA West, Room
3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW.,
Washington, DC. The telephone number
for the Docket Center is 202–566–1744.
For additional information about EPA’s
public docket, visit https://www.epa.gov/
dockets.
Abstract: This rule applies to all
facilities that pickle steel using
hydrochloric acid or regenerate
hydrochloric acid, and are major
sources or are part of a facility that is
a major source.
In general, all NESHAP standards
require initial notifications,
performance tests, and periodic reports
by the owners/operators of the affected
facilities. They are also required to
maintain records of the occurrence and
duration of any startup, shutdown, or
malfunction in the operation of an
affected facility, or any period during
which the monitoring system is
inoperative. These notifications, reports,
and records are essential in determining
compliance, and are required of all
affected facilities subject to NESHAP.
Any owner/operator subject to the
provisions of this part shall maintain a
file of these measurements, and retain
the file for at least five years following
the date of such measurements,
maintenance reports, and records. All
reports are sent to the delegated state or
local authority. In the event that there
is no such delegated authority, the
reports are sent directly to the United
States Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) regional office.
Form Numbers: None.
Respondents/affected entities: Steel
pickling, hydrochloric acid process and
regeneration facilities.
Respondent’s obligation to respond:
Mandatory.
Estimated number of respondents:
100 (total).
Frequency of response: Initially,
occasionally and semiannually.
Total estimated burden: 35,100 hours
(per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR
1320.3(b).
Total estimated cost: $3,530,000 (per
year), includes $10,600 annualized
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capital or operation & maintenance
costs.
Changes in the Estimates: The
increase in burden and cost from the
most recently approved ICR is due to an
adjustment. It is not due to any program
changes. During the 2012 RTR, EPA did
not add additional requirements, other
than reporting performance test results
through the WebFIRE interface if the
test methods used are those supported
by the Electronic Reporting Tool (ERT).
However, we updated the estimated
number of average number of
respondents subject to Subpart CCC
from 72 to 100. The increase in the
number of facilities results in an overall
increase in the respondent and Agency
burden and in O&M costs.
Courtney Kerwin,
Acting Director, Collection Strategies
Division.
[FR Doc. 2015–15796 Filed 6–26–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–OW–2014–0135; FRL–9929–85–
OW]
Final Updated Ambient Water Quality
Criteria for the Protection of Human
Health
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) announces the final
updated recommended ambient water
quality criteria for the protection of
human health for ninety-four chemical
pollutants to reflect the latest scientific
information and implementation of
existing EPA policies found in
Methodology for Deriving Ambient
Water Quality Criteria for the Protection
of Human Health (2000). The EPA
issued the draft updated human health
criteria on May 13, 2014 and accepted
written views from the public until
August 13, 2014. The EPA prepared
responses to those public comments.
The EPA’s recommended ambient water
quality criteria for the protection of
human health provide technical
information for states and authorized
tribes to establish water quality
standards (i.e., criteria) to protect
human health under the Clean Water
Act. These final 2015 updated section
304(a) human health criteria
recommendations supersede EPA’s
previous recommendations.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jamie Strong, Office of Water, Health
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\29JNN1.SGM
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36987
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 124 / Monday, June 29, 2015 / Notices
and Ecological Criteria Division
(4304T), Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue
NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone
number: (202) 566–0056; email address:
strong.jamie@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. How can I get copies of this
document and other related
information?
1. Docket. EPA has established a
docket for this action under Docket ID
No. EPA–HQ–OW–2014–0135; FRL–
9929–85–OW. Publicly available docket
materials are available either
electronically through
www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at
the EPA Water Docket in the EPA
Docket Center, (EPA/DC) EPA West,
Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave.
NW., Washington, DC. The EPA Docket
Center Public Reading Room is open
from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday
through Friday, excluding legal
holidays. The telephone number for the
Public Reading Room is (202) 566–1744,
and the telephone number for the Water
Docket is (202) 566–2426.
2. Electronic Access. You may access
this Federal Register document
electronically from the Government
Publishing Office under the ‘‘Federal
Register’’ listings at FDSys (https://
www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/
collection.action?collectionCode=FR).
EPA’s final criteria documents for the
ninety-four chemical pollutants, the
response to views from the public on
the draft criteria, and supporting
information are also available on EPA’s
Web site https://water.epa.gov/scitech/
swguidance/standards/criteria/health/.
II. What are EPA’s recommended water
quality criteria?
EPA’s recommended water quality
criteria are scientifically derived
numeric values that EPA determines
will generally protect aquatic life or
human health from the adverse effects
of pollutants in ambient water.
Section 304(a)(1) of the Clean Water
Act (CWA) requires EPA to develop and
publish and, from time to time, revise
criteria for 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 pollutant concentrations in
ambient water.
EPA’s recommended Section 304(a)
criteria provide technical information
for states and authorized tribes to
consider and use in adopting water
quality standards that ultimately
provide the basis for assessing water
body health and controlling discharges
of pollutants into waters of the United
States. Under the CWA and its
implementing regulations, states and
authorized tribes are required to adopt
water quality criteria to protect
designated uses (e.g., public water
supply, aquatic life, recreational use, or
industrial use) and that are based on
sound scientific rationale. EPA’s
recommended 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. Ultimately, however,
such criteria must protect the
designated use and be based on sound
scientific rationale.
III. Information on EPA’s 2015 final
updated human health criteria
EPA announces the availability of
final updated national recommended
water quality criteria for the protection
of human health for ninety-four
chemical pollutants. These revisions are
based on EPA’s existing methodology
for deriving human health criteria in
Methodology for Deriving Ambient
Water Quality Criteria for the Protection
of Human Health (2000) (EPA–822–B–
00–004, October 2000). The
methodology describes EPA’s approach
for deriving national recommended
water quality criteria for the protection
of human health. Table 1 presents the
updated human health criteria for
ninety-four chemical pollutants.
TABLE 1—REVISED HUMAN HEALTH WATER QUALITY CRITERIA
Human health water quality
criteria for the consumption of
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Pollutant
CAS No.
1,1,1-Trichloroethane ...................................................................................................................
1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane ............................................................................................................
1,1,2-Trichloroethane ...................................................................................................................
1,1-Dichloroethylene ....................................................................................................................
1,2,4,5-Tetrachlorobenzene .........................................................................................................
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene ................................................................................................................
1,2-Dichlorobenzene ....................................................................................................................
1,2-Dichloroethane .......................................................................................................................
1,2-Dichloropropane ....................................................................................................................
1,2-Diphenylhydrazine .................................................................................................................
1,3-Dichlorobenzene ....................................................................................................................
1,3-Dichloropropene ....................................................................................................................
1,4-Dichlorobenzene ....................................................................................................................
2,4,5-Trichlorophenol ...................................................................................................................
2,4,6-Trichlorophenol ...................................................................................................................
2,4-Dichlorophenol .......................................................................................................................
2,4-Dimethylphenol ......................................................................................................................
2,4-Dinitrophenol ..........................................................................................................................
2,4-Dinitrotoluene .........................................................................................................................
2-Chloronaphthalene ...................................................................................................................
2-Chlorophenol ............................................................................................................................
2-Methyl-4,6-Dinitrophenol ...........................................................................................................
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71–55–6
79–34–5
79–00–5
75–35–4
95–94–3
120–82–1
95–50–1
107–06–2
78–87–5
122–66–7
541–73–1
542–75–6
106–46–7
95–95–4
88–06–2
120–83–2
105–67–9
51–28–5
121–14–2
91–58–7
95–57–8
534–52–1
E:\FR\FM\29JNN1.SGM
29JNN1
Water +
organism
(μg/L)
10,000
0.2
0.55
300
0.03
0.071
1,000
9.9
0.90
0.03
7
0.27
300
300
1.5
10
100
10
0.049
800
30
2
Organism
only
(μg/L)
200,000
3
8.9
20,000
0.03
0.076
3,000
650
31
0.2
10
12
900
600
2.8
60
3,000
300
1.7
1,000
800
30
36988
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 124 / Monday, June 29, 2015 / Notices
TABLE 1—REVISED HUMAN HEALTH WATER QUALITY CRITERIA—Continued
Human health water quality
criteria for the consumption of
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Pollutant
CAS No.
3,3′-Dichlorobenzidine .................................................................................................................
3-Methyl-4-Chlorophenol .............................................................................................................
Acenaphthene ..............................................................................................................................
Acrolein ........................................................................................................................................
Acrylonitrile ..................................................................................................................................
Aldrin ............................................................................................................................................
alpha-Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) .........................................................................................
alpha-Endosulfan .........................................................................................................................
Anthracene ...................................................................................................................................
Benzene .......................................................................................................................................
Benzidine .....................................................................................................................................
Benzo(a)anthracene ....................................................................................................................
Benzo(a)pyrene ...........................................................................................................................
Benzo(b)fluoranthene ..................................................................................................................
Benzo(k)fluoranthene ...................................................................................................................
beta-Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) ...........................................................................................
beta-Endosulfan ...........................................................................................................................
Bis(2-Chloro-1-Methylethyl) Ether ...............................................................................................
Bis(2-Chloroethyl) Ether ..............................................................................................................
Bis(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate ..........................................................................................................
Bis(Chloromethyl) Ether ...............................................................................................................
Bromoform ...................................................................................................................................
Butylbenzyl Phthalate ..................................................................................................................
Carbon Tetrachloride ...................................................................................................................
Chlordane ....................................................................................................................................
Chlorobenzene .............................................................................................................................
Chlorodibromomethane ...............................................................................................................
Chloroform ...................................................................................................................................
Chlorophenoxy Herbicide (2,4–D) ...............................................................................................
Chlorophenoxy Herbicide (2,4,5–TP) [Silvex] .............................................................................
Chrysene ......................................................................................................................................
Cyanide ........................................................................................................................................
Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene ..............................................................................................................
Dichlorobromomethane ................................................................................................................
Dieldrin .........................................................................................................................................
Diethyl Phthalate ..........................................................................................................................
Dimethyl Phthalate .......................................................................................................................
Di-n-Butyl Phthalate .....................................................................................................................
Dinitrophenols ..............................................................................................................................
Endosulfan Sulfate .......................................................................................................................
Endrin ...........................................................................................................................................
Endrin Aldehyde ..........................................................................................................................
Ethylbenzene ...............................................................................................................................
Fluoranthene ................................................................................................................................
Fluorene .......................................................................................................................................
gamma-Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) ......................................................................................
Heptachlor ....................................................................................................................................
Heptachlor Epoxide .....................................................................................................................
Hexachlorobenzene .....................................................................................................................
Hexachlorobutadiene ...................................................................................................................
Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH)-Technical ...................................................................................
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene .........................................................................................................
Hexachloroethane ........................................................................................................................
Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene ................................................................................................................
Isophorone ...................................................................................................................................
Methoxychlor ................................................................................................................................
Methyl Bromide ............................................................................................................................
Methylene Chloride ......................................................................................................................
Nitrobenzene ................................................................................................................................
Pentachlorobenzene ....................................................................................................................
Pentachlorophenol .......................................................................................................................
Phenol ..........................................................................................................................................
p,p′-Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD) ................................................................................
p,p′-Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) ..............................................................................
p,p′-Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) .................................................................................
Pyrene ..........................................................................................................................................
Tetrachloroethylene (Perchloroethylene) .....................................................................................
Toluene ........................................................................................................................................
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Water +
organism
(μg/L)
Organism
only
(μg/L)
91–94–1
59–50–7
83–32–9
107–02–8
107–13–1
309–00–2
319–84–6
959–98–8
120–12–7
71–43–2
92–87–5
56–55–3
50–32–8
205–99–2
207–08–9
319–85–7
33213–65–9
108–60–1
111–44–4
117–81–7
542–88–1
75–25–2
85–68–7
56–23–5
57–74–9
108–90–7
124–48–1
67–66–3
94–75–7
93–72–1
218–01–9
57–12–5
53–70–3
75–27–4
60–57–1
84–66–2
131–11–3
84–74–2
25550–58–7
1031–07–8
72–20–8
7421–93–4
100–41–4
206–44–0
86–73–7
58–89–9
76–44–8
1024–57–3
118–74–1
87–68–3
608–73–1
77–47–4
67–72–1
193–39–5
78–59–1
72–43–5
74–83–9
75–09–2
98–95–3
608–93–5
87–86–5
108–95–2
72–54–8
72–55–9
50–29–3
129–00–0
127–18–4
108–88–3
0.049
500
70
3
0.061
0.00000077
0.00036
20
300
0.58–2.1
0.00014
0.0012
0.00012
0.0012
0.012
0.0080
20
200
0.030
0.32
0.00015
7.0
0.10
0.4
0.00031
100
0.80
60
1,300
100
0.12
4
0.00012
0.95
0.0000012
600
2,000
20
10
20
0.03
1
68
20
50
4.2
0.0000059
0.000032
0.000079
0.01
0.0066
4
0.1
0.0012
34
0.02
100
20
10
0.1
0.03
4,000
0.00012
0.000018
0.000030
20
10
57
0.15
2,000
90
400
7.0
0.00000077
0.00039
30
400
16–58
0.011
0.0013
0.00013
0.0013
0.013
0.014
40
4,000
2.2
0.37
0.017
120
0.10
5
0.00032
800
21
2,000
12,000
400
0.13
400
0.00013
27
0.0000012
600
2,000
30
1,000
40
0.03
1
130
20
70
4.4
0.0000059
0.000032
0.000079
0.01
0.010
4
0.1
0.0013
1,800
0.02
10,000
1,000
600
0.1
0.04
300,000
0.00012
0.000018
0.000030
30
29
520
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36989
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 124 / Monday, June 29, 2015 / Notices
TABLE 1—REVISED HUMAN HEALTH WATER QUALITY CRITERIA—Continued
Human health water quality
criteria for the consumption of
Pollutant
CAS No.
Toxaphene ...................................................................................................................................
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene (DCE) ................................................................................................
Trichloroethylene (TCE) ...............................................................................................................
Vinyl Chloride ...............................................................................................................................
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
The revision of these criteria is a
systematic update of EPA’s national
recommended human health criteria.
EPA previously described its process for
publishing revised criteria [see National
Recommended Water Quality Criteria—
Correction (64 FR 19781; or EPA–822–
Z–99–001) or the Federal Register
Notice for EPA’s 2000 Methodology (65
FR 66444)]. EPA updated the human
health criteria using externally peerreviewed information sources.
On May 13, 2014, EPA announced the
availability of the draft updated human
health criteria in the Federal Register
notice ‘‘Updated National
Recommended Water Quality Criteria
for the Protection of Human Health’’ (79
FR 27303) and announced that written
views would be accepted from the
public until July 14, 2014. In response
to stakeholder requests, on June 23,
2014, EPA announced in the Federal
Register (79 FR 35545) an extension of
the public comment period for an
additional 30 days, until August 13,
2014. EPA reviewed and considered all
public comments received and prepared
responses to those comments.
EPA developed chemical-specific
science documents for each of the
ninety-four chemical pollutants. These
documents detail the latest scientific
information supporting the final human
health criteria, particularly the updated
toxicity and exposure input values. A
fact sheet and a summary of updated
input parameters (e.g., health toxicity
values, bioaccumulation factors) used to
derive the final updated criteria are
provided. All these documents,
including EPA’s responses to views
received during the comment period,
are available on EPA’s Web site at
https://water.epa.gov/scitech/
swguidance/standards/criteria/health/.
IV. What is the relationship between
EPA’s 2015 final updated human health
criteria and state or tribal water quality
standards?
Section 303(a)–(c) of the CWA
requires states and authorized tribes to
adopt water quality standards for their
waters. As part of the water quality
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standards triennial review process set
forth in section 303(c) of the CWA,
states and authorized tribes are required
to review and revise, if appropriate,
their water quality standards at least
once every three years.
States and authorized tribes must
adopt water quality criteria that protect
designated uses. 40 CFR 131.11(a)(1).
Criteria must be based on a sound
scientific rationale and contain
sufficient parameters or constituents to
protect the designated uses. Id. Criteria
may be expressed in either narrative or
numeric form. EPA’s regulations
provide that states and authorized tribes
should adopt numeric water quality
criteria based on:
(1) EPA’s recommended section
304(a) criteria; or
(2) EPA’s recommended section
304(a) criteria modified to reflect sitespecific conditions; or
(3) Other scientifically defensible
methods. (40 CFR 131.11(b)).
It is important for states and
authorized tribes to consider any new or
updated section 304(a) recommended
criteria as part of their triennial review
process to ensure that state or tribal
water quality criteria reflect sound
science and protect applicable
designated uses. EPA recently proposed
revisions to its water quality standards
regulations that would, if finalized
without substantive change, require
states during their triennial reviews to
consider new or updated section 304(a)
recommended criteria and, if they do
not adopt new or revised criteria for
such pollutants, provide an explanation
to EPA and the public as to why the
state did not do so. These final updated
section 304(a) human health criteria
recommendations supersede EPA’s
previous recommendations.
Dated: June 22, 2015.
Kenneth J. Kopocis,
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of
Water.
[FR Doc. 2015–15912 Filed 6–26–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
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8001–35–2
156–60–5
79–01–6
75–01–4
Water +
organism
(μg/L)
Organism
only
(μg/L)
0.00070
100
0.6
0.022
0.00071
4,000
7
1.6
FEDERAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH
REVIEW COMMISSION
Sunshine Act Notice
June 25, 2015.
10:00 a.m., Thursday,
July 9, 2015.
PLACE: The Richard V. Backley Hearing
Room, Room 511N, 1331 Pennsylvania
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20004
(enter from F Street entrance).
STATUS: Open.
MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: The
Commission will consider and act upon
the following in open session: Secretary
of Labor v. Newtown Energy, Inc.,
Docket No. WEVA 2011–283 (Issues
include whether the Administrative
Law Judge erred by concluding that the
violation in question was not significant
and substantial and was not the result
of an unwarrantable failure to comply.).
Any person attending this meeting
who requires special accessibility
features and/or auxiliary aids, such as
sign language interpreters, must inform
the Commission in advance of those
needs. Subject to 29 CFR 2706.150(a)(3)
and § 2706.160(d).
CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFO:
Emogene Johnson (202) 434–9935/(202)
708–9300 for TDD Relay/1–800–877–
8339 for toll free.
TIME AND DATE:
Sarah Stewart,
Deputy General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2015–16049 Filed 6–25–15; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 6735–01–P
FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
Change in Bank Control Notices;
Acquisitions of Shares of a Bank or
Bank Holding Company
The notificants listed below have
applied under the Change in Bank
Control Act (12 U.S.C. 1817(j)) and
§ 225.41 of the Board’s Regulation Y (12
CFR 225.41) to acquire shares of a bank
or bank holding company. The factors
that are considered in acting on the
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 124 (Monday, June 29, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36986-36989]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15912]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OW-2014-0135; FRL-9929-85-OW]
Final Updated Ambient Water Quality Criteria for the Protection
of Human Health
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announces the final
updated recommended ambient water quality criteria for the protection
of human health for ninety-four chemical pollutants to reflect the
latest scientific information and implementation of existing EPA
policies found in Methodology for Deriving Ambient Water Quality
Criteria for the Protection of Human Health (2000). The EPA issued the
draft updated human health criteria on May 13, 2014 and accepted
written views from the public until August 13, 2014. The EPA prepared
responses to those public comments. The EPA's recommended ambient water
quality criteria for the protection of human health provide technical
information for states and authorized tribes to establish water quality
standards (i.e., criteria) to protect human health under the Clean
Water Act. These final 2015 updated section 304(a) human health
criteria recommendations supersede EPA's previous recommendations.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jamie Strong, Office of Water, Health
[[Page 36987]]
and Ecological Criteria Division (4304T), Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone
number: (202) 566-0056; email address: strong.jamie@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. How can I get copies of this document and other related information?
1. Docket. EPA has established a docket for this action under
Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2014-0135; FRL-9929-85-OW. Publicly available
docket materials are available either electronically through
www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the EPA Water Docket in the EPA
Docket Center, (EPA/DC) EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave.
NW., Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open
from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal
holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is (202)
566-1744, and the telephone number for the Water Docket is (202) 566-
2426.
2. Electronic Access. You may access this Federal Register document
electronically from the Government Publishing Office under the
``Federal Register'' listings at FDSys (https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collection.action?collectionCode=FR). EPA's final criteria
documents for the ninety-four chemical pollutants, the response to
views from the public on the draft criteria, and supporting information
are also available on EPA's Web site https://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/standards/criteria/health/.
II. What are EPA's recommended water quality criteria?
EPA's recommended water quality criteria are scientifically derived
numeric values that EPA determines will generally protect aquatic life
or human health from the adverse effects of pollutants in ambient
water.
Section 304(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) requires EPA to
develop and publish and, from time to time, revise criteria for
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 pollutant concentrations in ambient water.
EPA's recommended Section 304(a) criteria provide technical
information for states and authorized tribes to consider and use in
adopting water quality standards that ultimately provide the basis for
assessing water body health and controlling discharges of pollutants
into waters of the United States. Under the CWA and its implementing
regulations, states and authorized tribes are required to adopt water
quality criteria to protect designated uses (e.g., public water supply,
aquatic life, recreational use, or industrial use) and that are based
on sound scientific rationale. EPA's recommended 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. Ultimately,
however, such criteria must protect the designated use and be based on
sound scientific rationale.
III. Information on EPA's 2015 final updated human health criteria
EPA announces the availability of final updated national
recommended water quality criteria for the protection of human health
for ninety-four chemical pollutants. These revisions are based on EPA's
existing methodology for deriving human health criteria in Methodology
for Deriving Ambient Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of Human
Health (2000) (EPA-822-B-00-004, October 2000). The methodology
describes EPA's approach for deriving national recommended water
quality criteria for the protection of human health. Table 1 presents
the updated human health criteria for ninety-four chemical pollutants.
Table 1--Revised Human Health Water Quality Criteria
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Human health water quality
criteria for the consumption
of
Pollutant CAS No. -------------------------------
Water +
organism Organism only
([mu]g/L) ([mu]g/L)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,1,1-Trichloroethane........................................... 71-55-6 10,000 200,000
1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane....................................... 79-34-5 0.2 3
1,1,2-Trichloroethane........................................... 79-00-5 0.55 8.9
1,1-Dichloroethylene............................................ 75-35-4 300 20,000
1,2,4,5-Tetrachlorobenzene...................................... 95-94-3 0.03 0.03
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene.......................................... 120-82-1 0.071 0.076
1,2-Dichlorobenzene............................................. 95-50-1 1,000 3,000
1,2-Dichloroethane.............................................. 107-06-2 9.9 650
1,2-Dichloropropane............................................. 78-87-5 0.90 31
1,2-Diphenylhydrazine........................................... 122-66-7 0.03 0.2
1,3-Dichlorobenzene............................................. 541-73-1 7 10
1,3-Dichloropropene............................................. 542-75-6 0.27 12
1,4-Dichlorobenzene............................................. 106-46-7 300 900
2,4,5-Trichlorophenol........................................... 95-95-4 300 600
2,4,6-Trichlorophenol........................................... 88-06-2 1.5 2.8
2,4-Dichlorophenol.............................................. 120-83-2 10 60
2,4-Dimethylphenol.............................................. 105-67-9 100 3,000
2,4-Dinitrophenol............................................... 51-28-5 10 300
2,4-Dinitrotoluene.............................................. 121-14-2 0.049 1.7
2-Chloronaphthalene............................................. 91-58-7 800 1,000
2-Chlorophenol.................................................. 95-57-8 30 800
2-Methyl-4,6-Dinitrophenol...................................... 534-52-1 2 30
[[Page 36988]]
3,3'-Dichlorobenzidine.......................................... 91-94-1 0.049 0.15
3-Methyl-4-Chlorophenol......................................... 59-50-7 500 2,000
Acenaphthene.................................................... 83-32-9 70 90
Acrolein........................................................ 107-02-8 3 400
Acrylonitrile................................................... 107-13-1 0.061 7.0
Aldrin.......................................................... 309-00-2 0.00000077 0.00000077
alpha-Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH)............................... 319-84-6 0.00036 0.00039
alpha-Endosulfan................................................ 959-98-8 20 30
Anthracene...................................................... 120-12-7 300 400
Benzene......................................................... 71-43-2 0.58-2.1 16-58
Benzidine....................................................... 92-87-5 0.00014 0.011
Benzo(a)anthracene.............................................. 56-55-3 0.0012 0.0013
Benzo(a)pyrene.................................................. 50-32-8 0.00012 0.00013
Benzo(b)fluoranthene............................................ 205-99-2 0.0012 0.0013
Benzo(k)fluoranthene............................................ 207-08-9 0.012 0.013
beta-Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH)................................ 319-85-7 0.0080 0.014
beta-Endosulfan................................................. 33213-65-9 20 40
Bis(2-Chloro-1-Methylethyl) Ether............................... 108-60-1 200 4,000
Bis(2-Chloroethyl) Ether........................................ 111-44-4 0.030 2.2
Bis(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate..................................... 117-81-7 0.32 0.37
Bis(Chloromethyl) Ether......................................... 542-88-1 0.00015 0.017
Bromoform....................................................... 75-25-2 7.0 120
Butylbenzyl Phthalate........................................... 85-68-7 0.10 0.10
Carbon Tetrachloride............................................ 56-23-5 0.4 5
Chlordane....................................................... 57-74-9 0.00031 0.00032
Chlorobenzene................................................... 108-90-7 100 800
Chlorodibromomethane............................................ 124-48-1 0.80 21
Chloroform...................................................... 67-66-3 60 2,000
Chlorophenoxy Herbicide (2,4-D)................................. 94-75-7 1,300 12,000
Chlorophenoxy Herbicide (2,4,5-TP) [Silvex]..................... 93-72-1 100 400
Chrysene........................................................ 218-01-9 0.12 0.13
Cyanide......................................................... 57-12-5 4 400
Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene.......................................... 53-70-3 0.00012 0.00013
Dichlorobromomethane............................................ 75-27-4 0.95 27
Dieldrin........................................................ 60-57-1 0.0000012 0.0000012
Diethyl Phthalate............................................... 84-66-2 600 600
Dimethyl Phthalate.............................................. 131-11-3 2,000 2,000
Di-n-Butyl Phthalate............................................ 84-74-2 20 30
Dinitrophenols.................................................. 25550-58-7 10 1,000
Endosulfan Sulfate.............................................. 1031-07-8 20 40
Endrin.......................................................... 72-20-8 0.03 0.03
Endrin Aldehyde................................................. 7421-93-4 1 1
Ethylbenzene.................................................... 100-41-4 68 130
Fluoranthene.................................................... 206-44-0 20 20
Fluorene........................................................ 86-73-7 50 70
gamma-Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH)............................... 58-89-9 4.2 4.4
Heptachlor...................................................... 76-44-8 0.0000059 0.0000059
Heptachlor Epoxide.............................................. 1024-57-3 0.000032 0.000032
Hexachlorobenzene............................................... 118-74-1 0.000079 0.000079
Hexachlorobutadiene............................................. 87-68-3 0.01 0.01
Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH)-Technical........................... 608-73-1 0.0066 0.010
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene....................................... 77-47-4 4 4
Hexachloroethane................................................ 67-72-1 0.1 0.1
Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene.......................................... 193-39-5 0.0012 0.0013
Isophorone...................................................... 78-59-1 34 1,800
Methoxychlor.................................................... 72-43-5 0.02 0.02
Methyl Bromide.................................................. 74-83-9 100 10,000
Methylene Chloride.............................................. 75-09-2 20 1,000
Nitrobenzene.................................................... 98-95-3 10 600
Pentachlorobenzene.............................................. 608-93-5 0.1 0.1
Pentachlorophenol............................................... 87-86-5 0.03 0.04
Phenol.......................................................... 108-95-2 4,000 300,000
p,p'-Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD)....................... 72-54-8 0.00012 0.00012
p,p'-Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE)..................... 72-55-9 0.000018 0.000018
p,p'-Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT)...................... 50-29-3 0.000030 0.000030
Pyrene.......................................................... 129-00-0 20 30
Tetrachloroethylene (Perchloroethylene)......................... 127-18-4 10 29
Toluene......................................................... 108-88-3 57 520
[[Page 36989]]
Toxaphene....................................................... 8001-35-2 0.00070 0.00071
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene (DCE)................................ 156-60-5 100 4,000
Trichloroethylene (TCE)......................................... 79-01-6 0.6 7
Vinyl Chloride.................................................. 75-01-4 0.022 1.6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The revision of these criteria is a systematic update of EPA's
national recommended human health criteria. EPA previously described
its process for publishing revised criteria [see National Recommended
Water Quality Criteria--Correction (64 FR 19781; or EPA-822-Z-99-001)
or the Federal Register Notice for EPA's 2000 Methodology (65 FR
66444)]. EPA updated the human health criteria using externally peer-
reviewed information sources.
On May 13, 2014, EPA announced the availability of the draft
updated human health criteria in the Federal Register notice ``Updated
National Recommended Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of Human
Health'' (79 FR 27303) and announced that written views would be
accepted from the public until July 14, 2014. In response to
stakeholder requests, on June 23, 2014, EPA announced in the Federal
Register (79 FR 35545) an extension of the public comment period for an
additional 30 days, until August 13, 2014. EPA reviewed and considered
all public comments received and prepared responses to those comments.
EPA developed chemical-specific science documents for each of the
ninety-four chemical pollutants. These documents detail the latest
scientific information supporting the final human health criteria,
particularly the updated toxicity and exposure input values. A fact
sheet and a summary of updated input parameters (e.g., health toxicity
values, bioaccumulation factors) used to derive the final updated
criteria are provided. All these documents, including EPA's responses
to views received during the comment period, are available on EPA's Web
site at https://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/standards/criteria/health/.
IV. What is the relationship between EPA's 2015 final updated human
health criteria and state or tribal water quality standards?
Section 303(a)-(c) of the CWA requires states and authorized tribes
to adopt water quality standards for their waters. As part of the water
quality standards triennial review process set forth in section 303(c)
of the CWA, states and authorized tribes are required to review and
revise, if appropriate, their water quality standards at least once
every three years.
States and authorized tribes must adopt water quality criteria that
protect designated uses. 40 CFR 131.11(a)(1). Criteria must be based on
a sound scientific rationale and contain sufficient parameters or
constituents to protect the designated uses. Id. Criteria may be
expressed in either narrative or numeric form. EPA's regulations
provide that states and authorized tribes should adopt numeric water
quality criteria based on:
(1) EPA's recommended section 304(a) criteria; or
(2) EPA's recommended section 304(a) criteria modified to reflect
site-specific conditions; or
(3) Other scientifically defensible methods. (40 CFR 131.11(b)).
It is important for states and authorized tribes to consider any
new or updated section 304(a) recommended criteria as part of their
triennial review process to ensure that state or tribal water quality
criteria reflect sound science and protect applicable designated uses.
EPA recently proposed revisions to its water quality standards
regulations that would, if finalized without substantive change,
require states during their triennial reviews to consider new or
updated section 304(a) recommended criteria and, if they do not adopt
new or revised criteria for such pollutants, provide an explanation to
EPA and the public as to why the state did not do so. These final
updated section 304(a) human health criteria recommendations supersede
EPA's previous recommendations.
Dated: June 22, 2015.
Kenneth J. Kopocis,
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Water.
[FR Doc. 2015-15912 Filed 6-26-15; 8:45 am]
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