[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 11 (Tuesday, January 18, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-1133]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: January 18, 1994]
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Part II
Environmental Protection Agency
_______________________________________________________________________
Sediment Quality Criteria; Notice
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OW-FRL-4827-2]
Sediment Quality Criteria
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Notice of Availability and Request for Comment on Sediment
Quality Criteria and Support Documents.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 304(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act, the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed, and is requesting
public comments on, documents presenting proposed Sediment Quality
Criteria for the Protection of Benthic Organisms for five priority
pollutant (section 307(a)) chemicals, guidelines for deriving these
criteria on a site-specific basis, and the technical basis for deriving
the criteria. The criteria documents present data and criteria for
acenaphthene, dieldrin, endrin, fluoranthene and phenanthrene, which
were selected for their known toxicity, hydrophobicity, and
persistence. EPA intends to publish each of the documents in final form
after considering public comments, while the general regulatory role
Sediment Quality Criteria play will be outlined in the Contaminated
Sediment Management Strategy (CSMS) which will be available for public
comment in the near future. The Agency is specifically soliciting
comments on the scientific soundness of the criteria development
methodology and the criteria themselves as opposed to their
application. Comments received in response to this notice on the
intended uses and implementation of the criteria will be taken into
account in preparing the proposed CSMS and other guidance materials. An
exception to this is the potential for the Sediment Quality Criteria to
be used as Applicable and Relevant or Appropriate Requirements (ARARs)
under CERCLA. The EPA particularly welcomes comment and discussion on
the applicability and appropriateness of using the criteria as ARARs.
DATES: Written comments must be postmarked or submitted by hand on or
before April 18, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed or delivered to: Sediment Quality
Clerk, Water Docket MC-4101, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M
Street SW., room L102 Washington, DC 20460. Commenters are requested to
submit any references cited in their comments. Commenters are also
requested to submit an original and 3 copies of their written comments
and enclosures. Commenters who want receipt of their comments
acknowledged should include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. No
facsimiles (faxes) will be accepted.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary C. Reiley, Sediment Quality
Criteria Program, Office of Science and Technology, Mail Code 4304, 401
M Street SW., Washington, DC 20460, phone: 202-260-0658.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Availability of Documents
This notice announces the availability for public review and
comment of draft documents proposing sediment quality criteria for the
protection of benthic organisms for five priority pollutant chemicals,
the methodology used to derive the criteria, and guidelines for
modifying the criteria on a site-specific basis. The seven documents
for which public comment is requested are:
Sediment Quality Criteria for the Protection of Benthic
Organisms: ACENAPHTHENE (EPA-822-R-93-013)
Sediment Quality Criteria for the Protection of Benthic
Organisms: DIELDRIN (EPA-822-R-93-015)
Sediment Quality Criteria for the Protection of Benthic
Organisms: ENDRIN (EPA-822-R-93-016)
Sediment Quality Criteria for the Protection of Benthic
Organisms: FLUORANTHENE (EPA-822-R-93-012)
Sediment Quality Criteria for the Protection of Benthic
Organisms: PHENANTHRENE (EPA-822-R-93-014)
Technical Basis for Deriving Sediment Quality Criteria for
Nonionic Organic Contaminants for the Protection of Benthic Organisms
by Using Equilibrium Partitioning (EPA-822-R-93-011)
Guidelines for Deriving Site-Specific Sediment Quality
Criteria for the Protection of Benthic Organisms (EPA-822-R-93-017)
Copies of the draft documents may be obtained upon request from the
Office of Water Resource Center (202) 260-7786. These documents are
also available for public inspection and copying during normal business
hours at the Water Docket Room L-102 (basement) Environmental
Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460. For access
to Docket materials, call (202) 260-3027 between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
for an appointment. Copies of these documents are also available for
review in the EPA Regional office libraries. For the Regional Office
library in your area contact: EPA Library, (202) 260-3944. EPA's
response to public comment will be available upon request from the
Office of Water Resource Center (202) 260-7786. As provided in 40 CFR
part 2, a reasonable fee may be charged for copying services.
II. Background Information
Toxic contaminants in bottom sediments of the nation's lakes,
rivers, wetlands, and coastal waters create the potential for continued
environmental impact even where water column contaminant levels comply
with established water quality criteria. In addition, contaminated
sediments can have impacts on water quality even when additional
pollutants are no longer being added by any other source. It is
intended that sediment quality criteria be protective of benthic
organisms and be used to: assess the extent of sediment contamination,
aid in implementing measures that limit or prevent additional
contamination, and identify when appropriate remediation activities are
needed.
Section 304(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 314(a)(1)),
directs EPA to develop and publish criteria reflecting the latest
scientific knowledge on the identifiable effects of pollutants on
public health and welfare, aquatic life, wildlife and recreation. EPA
has periodically issued ambinent water quality criteria guidance,
beginning with the publication of ``Water Quality Criteria 1972.'' All
criteria guidance through late 1986 was summarized in an EPA document
entitled ``Quality Criteria for Water, 1986.'' EPA has subsequently
published, from time to time, new ambient water quality criteria
guidance for additional pollutants or revised existing criteria
guidance.
EPA's criteria documents are intended to provide a comprehensive
toxicological evaluation of each chemical addressed therein, based on
available information. For toxic pollutants, the documents tabulate the
numeric acute and chronic toxicity information for aquatic life and,
where sufficient information is available, derive the numeric criteria
maximum concentrations (acute criteria) and the numeric criteria
continuous concentrations (chronic criteria) that the Agency recommends
to protect aquatic life resources. The documents also provide
recommended criteria to protect human health. EPA has published numeric
aquatic life criteria for 30 priority pollutants and human health
criteria for 91 priority pollutants. Aquatic life criteria address
potential water column impacts only.
EPA is now proposing sediment quality criteria for five priority
pollutant chemicals (endrin, dieldrin, fluoranthene, phenanthrene, and
acenaphthene) that EPA has determined are present in the sediment of
the Nation's waters and cause or have the potential to cause adverse
effects to the water column and benthic assemblages and their
hierarchical foodchains including humans. Pursuant to section 104 of
the Clean Water Act, the Agency has conducted research, experiments and
demonstrations and has studied the effects of contaminated sediment on
freshwater, marine, and estuarine aquatic life. EPA used this
information to develop the criteria proposed today, which represent
EPA's first effort to develop sediment quality criteria. These five
chemicals were selected because of their known toxicity,
hydrophobicity, and persistence.
EPA developed these proposed sediment quality criteria using a
methodology called the Equilibrium Partitioning Approach which was
selected after considering a variety of approaches that could be used
to assess sediment contamination. Technical reviews of the methodology
and supporting science was conducted by the EPA Science Advisory Board
(SAB) in February 1989 and June 1992. Data collected in support of the
ambient aquatic life water quality criteria or an equivalent data base
were also used to derive the proposed sediment quality criteria.
Sediment criteria concentrations are expressed as micrograms chemical
per gram organic carbon and apply to sediments with 0.2%
organic carbon; below this the criteria should not be applied because
of significant scientific uncertainty associated with extrapolating to
sediments with < 0.2%="" organic="" carbon.="" iii.="" possible="" uses="" of="" sediment="" quality="" criteria="" the="" main="" purpose="" of="" this="" notice="" is="" to="" seek="" comment="" on="" the="" scientific="" and="" technical="" merit="" of="" the="" criteria="" and="" methodology.="" to="" place="" the="" criteria="" in="" context,="" this="" section="" discusses="" potential="" uses="" of="" the="" criteria.="" epa="" is="" in="" the="" process="" of="" identifying="" and="" evaluating="" a="" range="" of="" possible="" uses="" to="" which="" final="" sediment="" quality="" criteria="" may="" be="" applied.="" for="" example,="" epa="" is="" considering="" whether="" to="" use="" these="" criteria="" as="" a="" basis="" for="" water="" quality="" assessment="" reports="" under="" section="" 305(b),="" as="" a="" basis="" for="" total="" maximum="" daily="" loads="" under="" section="" 303(d),="" and="" water="" quality-based="" effluent="" limits="" in="" national="" pollutant="" discharge="" elimination="" system="" (``npdes'')="" permits="" under="" section="" 402,="" and/or="" as="" a="" possible="" standard="" in="" developing="" clean-up="" strategies="" under="" the="" clean="" water="" act="" or="" other="" statutes.="" these="" and="" other="" possible="" uses="" are="" discussed="" below.="" section="" 305(b)="" requires="" the="" states="" to="" assess="" the="" quality="" of="" their="" navigable="" waters="" in="" terms="" of="" the="" extent="" to="" which="" they="" meet="" the="" goals="" of="" the="" clean="" water="" act.="" epa="" proposes="" to="" encourage="" states,="" during="" these="" assessments,="" to="" identify="" areas="" with="" sediment="" contamination.="" under="" section="" 303(c),="" states="" adopt="" water="" quality="" standards="" including="" criteria="" to="" protect="" designated="" uses.="" final="" section="" 304(a)="" numeric="" sediment="" quality="" criteria="" guidance="" could="" be="" used="" by="" states="" in="" adopting="" state="" numeric="" sediment="" quality="" criteria="" designed="" to="" protect="" the="" public="" health="" or="" welfare,="" enhance="" the="" quality="" of="" water,="" and="" serve="" the="" purposes="" of="" the="" act.="" sediment="" quality="" criteria="" could="" become="" a="" basis="" for="" total="" maximum="" daily="" loads="" under="" section="" 303(d)="" and="" water="" quality-based="" effluent="" limits="" in="" npdes="" permits="" under="" section="" 402.="" (their="" use="" in="" npdes="" permits="" is="" discussed="" in="" detail="" below).="" pursuant="" to="" section="" 303(d),="" states="" are="" required="" to="" identify="" and="" establish="" total="" maximum="" daily="" loads="" for="" water="" where="" existing="" pollution="" controls="" are="" not="" stringent="" enough="" to="" achieve="" applicable="" water="" quality="" standards.="" under="" section="" 301(b)(1)(c),="" permit="" writers="" are="" required="" to="" impose="" in="" npdes="" permits="" any="" more="" stringent="" limitations="" necessary="" to="" achieve="" water="" quality="" standards.="" if="" a="" state="" has="" adopted="" water="" quality="" standards="" based="" on="" sediment="" quality="" criteria,="" and="" if="" those="" standards="" are="" not="" being="" achieved,="" then="" tmdls="" are="" required="" (unless="" existing="" controls="" will="" remedy="" the="" impairment)="" and="" appropriate="" effluent="" limits="" need="" to="" be="" included="" in="" npdes="" permits.="" in="" addition,="" even="" if="" the="" states="" do="" not="" adopt="" numeric="" sediment="" criteria="" as="" part="" of="" state="" water="" quality="" standards,="" the="" epa="" section="" 304(a)="" criteria="" could="" still="" be="" used="" by="" state="" and="" federal="" permit="" writers="" as="" a="" starting="" point="" under="" 40="" cfr="" 122.44(d)(1)(vi)="" to="" derive="" numeric="" water="" quality-based="" effluent="" limits="" as="" necessary="" to="" attain="" applicable="" narrative="" criteria="" (e.g.,="" those="" that="" require="" receiving="" waters="" to="" be="" ``free="" from''="" toxics).="" indeed,="" many="" states,="" as="" part="" of="" their="" narrative="" criteria,="" have="" adopted="" prohibitions="" against="" objectionable="" sediment="" deposits.="" similarly,="" the="" section="" 304(a)="" criteria="" could="" be="" used="" in="" state's="" tmdls.="" national="" pollutant="" discharge="" elimination="" system="" program="" in="" epa's="" 1987="" report,="" an="" overview="" of="" sediment="" quality="" in="" the="" united="" states,="" municipal="" sewage="" treatment="" plants="" and="" combined="" sewer="" overflows="" were="" cited="" as="" sources="" of="" sediment="" contamination="" in="" all="" regions="" of="" the="" country.="" chemical,="" steel,="" metal="" working="" and="" electroplating="" industries="" were="" also="" mentioned="" as="" sources="" in="" many="" areas="" as="" were="" engine="" and="" automotive="" facilities,="" nuclear="" energy="" producers,="" paper="" mills,="" tanneries,="" refineries="" and="" other="" petroleum="" industries,="" electrical="" component="" and="" capacitor="" manufacturers,="" and="" wood="" preservers.="" the="" agency="" is="" compiling="" a="" national="" inventory="" of="" point="" and="" nonpoint="" sources="" of="" sediment="" contamination="" to="" assist="" in="" targeting="" at="" risk="" sites="" and="" facilities.="" in="" recognition="" of="" the="" role="" of="" contaminated="" sediments="" as="" a="" cause="" of="" impaired="" water="" quality,="" the="" npdes="" permitting="" program="" is="" developing="" and="" field="" testing="" models="" predictive="" of="" the="" ambient="" quality="" of="" water="" and="" sediment.="" while="" existing="" water="" quality="" models="" may="" be="" quite="" helpful="" in="" understanding="" the="" sediment="" dynamics="" in="" specific="" waterbodies,="" they="" may="" be="" too="" complex="" to="" be="" routinely="" used="" by="" regulatory="" authorities="" to="" establish="" water="" quality-based="" effluent="" limits="" based="" on="" sediment="" quality="" criteria.="" the="" npdes="" program="" is="" supporting="" development="" of="" a="" chemical-="" specific="" sediment="" quality="" criteria-based="" effluent="" limit="" methdology="" and="" is="" testing="" its="" application.="" the="" npdes="" program="" also="" intends="" to="" develop="" guidance="" on="" the="" procedure.="" epa="" hopes="" that="" such="" a="" method="" will="" be="" sufficiently="" sophisticated="" to="" be="" reliable="" and="" defensible,="" yet="" require="" minimal="" data="" points="" and="" scientific="" extrapolations="" so="" that="" it="" can="" be="" routinely="" applied="" in="" a="" regulatory="" context.="" in="" addition="" to="" developing="" a="" sediment="" quality="" criteria-based="" permitting="" methodology,="" the="" npdes="" program="" is="" supporting="" laboratory="" training,="" demonstrations,="" and="" guidance="" development="" on="" the="" assessment="" and="" control="" of="" bioconcentrating="" pollutants="" which,="" by="" nature,="" accumulate="" in="" sediments.="" it="" is="" also="" supporting="" development="" of="" acute="" and="" chronic="" sediment="" toxicity="" tests="" and="" sediment="" toxicity="" identification="" evaluations.="" the="" sediment="" quality="" criteria="" will="" advance="" all="" of="" these="" efforts="" by="" establishing="" a="" new="" tool="" for="" achieving="" the="" long-term="" goals="" of="" the="" act.="" great="" lakes="" program="" sediment="" quality="" criteria="" could="" also="" be="" used="" in="" connection="" with="" the="" great="" lakes="" program.="" for="" example,="" the="" great="" lakes="" water="" quality="" agreement="" provides="" that="" the="" united="" states="" and="" canadian="" governments="" will="" cooperate="" with="" state="" and="" provincial="" governments="" to="" ensure="" that="" remedial="" action="" plans="" (``raps'')="" are="" developed="" and="" implemented="" for="" specific="" areas="" of="" concern="" (``aocs'')="" in="" the="" great="" lakes.="" the="" great="" lakes="" water="" agreement="" also="" calls="" for="" the="" establishment="" of="" compatible="" criteria="" between="" the="" two="" countries="" for="" the="" classification="" of="" sediment="" quality.="" thus,="" epa="" anticipates="" that="" great="" lake="" states="" and="" epa="" regions="" will="" use="" final="" sediment="" quality="" criteria="" for="" various="" purposes,="" including="" establishing="" priorities="" for="" sites="" needing="" further="" assessment,="" targeting="" areas="" for="" potential="" remediation="" and="" prevention="" efforts,="" and="" supporting="" the="" development="" of="" state="" water="" quality="" standards="" based="" on="" sediment="" quality="" criteria.="" in="" each="" of="" the="" designated="" aoc's="" located="" in="" the="" united="" states="" contaminated="" sediments="" have="" been="" identified="" as="" causing="" at="" least="" one="" of="" the="" 14="" beneficial="" use="" impairments="" listed="" in="" the="" great="" lakes="" water="" quality="" agreement.="" the="" raps="" are="" to="" specify="" the="" beneficial="" uses="" that="" are="" impaired,="" the="" remedial="" measures="" needed="" to="" restore="" beneficial="" uses,="" and="" an="" implementation="" schedule.="" for="" those="" aoc's="" already="" identified="" most="" of="" the="" stage="" 1="" raps="" (problem="" identification)="" have="" already="" been="" completed="" and="" most="" stage="" 2="" raps="" (remedial="" actions)="" are="" in="" preparation,="" therefore,="" the="" proposed="" criteria="" will="" be="" most="" applicable="" for="" the="" identification="" of="" future="" aoc's="" and="" development="" of="" their="" stage="" 1="" and="" 2="" raps.="" the="" international="" joint="" commission="" (ijc)="" has="" published="" ``listing/="" delisting="" criteria''="" for="" adding="" and="" removing="" a="" site="" from="" the="" aoc="" list.="" the="" listing/delisting="" criteria="" refer="" to="" various="" tools="" to="" measure="" the="" impacts="" on="" beneficial="" uses,="" including="" the="" contaminant="" levels="" in="" fish="" and="" wildlife,="" numerical="" water="" quality="" criteria="" for="" surface="" waters,="" and,="" in="" the="" case="" of="" restrictions="" on="" dredging="" activities,="" the="" extent="" to="" which="" sediment="" contamination="" may="" exceed="" standards,="" guidelines,="" or="" ijc="" objectives.="" the="" epa="" will="" look="" to="" the="" great="" lakes="" states="" to="" review="" sediment="" quality="" data="" for="" each="" aoc="" in="" relation="" to="" the="" possible="" impairment="" of="" beneficial="" uses="" and="" to="" consider="" 304(a)="" sediment="" quality="" criteria="" and="" any="" other="" more="" recent="" data="" or="" relevant="" site="" specific="" data="" to="" design="" preventive="" and="" remedial="" actions="" for="" contaminated="" sediment.="" for="" example,="" epa="" in="" cooperation="" with="" great="" lakes="" states="" and="" the="" canadian="" federal="" and="" provincial="" governments,="" may="" use="" the="" sediment="" quality="" criteria="" as="" one="" means="" to="" prioritize="" sites="" for="" action="" by="" comparing="" the="" toxic="" contaminant="" concentration="" in="" the="" sediments="" to="" the="" most="" stringent="" of="" either="" canadian="" or="" u.s.="" standards="" or="" guidelines.="" superfund="" program="" uses="" the="" sqc="" have="" been="" developed="" primarily="" to="" assist="" in="" pollution="" prevention="" and="" water="" quality="" control="" activities.="" due="" to="" many="" factors,="" such="" as="" the="" potential="" for="" causing="" environmental="" damage="" through="" distrubing="" contaminated="" sediments,="" they="" are="" not="" intended="" as="" mandatory="" levels="" to="" be="" met="" in="" clean-up="" efforts.="" epa="" recognizes="" that,="" in="" particular="" circumstances,="" it="" may="" be="" appropriate="" to="" use="" natural="" recovery="" as="" a="" sediment="" remediation="" tool.="" superfund="" is="" primarily="" a="" remediation="" program="" concerned="" with="" the="" clean-up="" or="" remediation="" of="" sites="" that="" have="" been="" contaminated.="" the="" superfund="" program="" expects="" to="" use="" sqc="" as="" a="" tool="" to="" evaluate="" sites="" that="" may="" require="" assessment="" and="" possible="" remediation.="" for="" example,="" if="" a="" site="" has="" been="" shown="" to="" exceed="" sqc="" levels,="" it="" may="" be="" given="" higher="" priority="" for="" assessment="" with="" the="" hazard="" ranking="" system="" (hrs)="" to="" help="" determine="" if="" the="" site="" should="" be="" added="" to="" the="" national="" priorities="" list="" (npl).="" npl="" sites="" typically="" require="" long="" term="" remediation="" efforts.="" in="" general,="" the="" superfund="" program="" expects="" to="" employ="" sqc="" for="" sites="" with="" sediment="" contamination="" as="" part="" of="" a="" tiered="" testing="" protocol.="" given="" the="" above="" approach="" to="" the="" assessment="" of="" contaminated="" sediments,="" superfund's="" approach="" is="" consistent="" with="" the="" conclusions="" of="" both="" the="" science="" advisory="" board's="" november="" 1992="" review="" of="" the="" criteria="" and="" the="" agency:="" ``the="" use="" of="" sqc's="" as="" stand-alone,="" pass-fail="" criteria="" is="" not="" recommended="" for="" all="" applications.''="" and="" ``*="" *="" *="" the="" inappropriate="" uses="" of="" the="" sqc's,="" such="" as="" mandatory="" target="" clean-up="" standards,="" [should="" be="" stated]="" unless="" additional="" site="" specific="" studies="" are="" completed.''="" at="" the="" same="" time,="" sqc's="" might="" be="" considered="" water="" quality="" criteria="" as="" referenced="" in="" section="" 121(d)(2)(a)="" of="" cercla,="" and="" thus="" potential="" applicable="" or="" relevant="" and="" appropriate="" requirements="" (arar's).="" similarly,="" if="" sqc="" are="" adopted="" by="" states="" as="" part="" of="" water="" quality="" standards,="" they="" could="" be="" considered="" as="" arars.="" the="" agency="" requests="" comment="" on="" the="" appropriateness="" of="" the="" use="" of="" sqc="" as="" arars="" and="" if="" so="" what="" aspects="" of="" the="" remedial="" action="" they="" should="" affect.="" rcra="" corrective="" action="" the="" office="" of="" solid="" waste="" will="" include="" the="" 304(a)="" sediment="" quality="" criteria="" as="" assessment="" tools="" in="" rcra="" facility="" investigations="" (rfi's)="" guidance.="" currently="" the="" guidance="" warns="" about="" potential="" sediment="" quality="" problems="" but="" does="" not="" recommend="" specific="" tests="" to="" evaluate="" the="" ecological="" and="" human="" health="" risks="" posed="" by="" contaminated="" sediments.="" other="" programs="" a="" variety="" of="" other="" regulatory="" and="" nonregulatory="" programs="" are="" looking="" to="" sediment="" quality="" criteria="" as="" a="" benchmark="" for="" contaminated="" sediment="" evaluations.="" the="" dredging="" program="" (sec.="" 404="" of="" the="" cwa="" and="" 102="" of="" mprsa),="" which="" is="" jointly="" implemented="" by="" the="" army="" corps="" of="" engineers="" and="" the="" epa,="" may="" incorporate="" sediment="" quality="" criteria="" into="" tier="" ii="" of="" the="" dredged="" material="" management="" plan="" which="" is="" currently="" under="" development.="" other="" examples="" of="" potential="" sediment="" quality="" criteria="" uses="" are="" to:="" (1)="" proactively="" monitor="" to="" ensure="" uncontaminated="" sediments="" remain="" uncontaminated;="" (2)="" predict="" the="" need="" to="" arrest="" increasing="" contamination="" before="" harm="" occurs;="" (3)="" establish="" the="" spatial="" extent="" of="" contamination="" to="" determine="" the="" potential="" costs/benefits="" of="" clean-up="" and="" remediation="" efforts;="" and/or="" (4)="" identify="" sources="" of="" contamination="" via="" toxicity="" identification="" evaluation="" (tie)="" protocols="" that="" link="" toxic="" contaminants="" to="" sources.="" in="" some="" cases,="" sediment="" criteria="" alone="" would="" be="" sufficient="" to="" identify="" and="" to="" establish="" goals="" for="" remediation="" or="" clean-up="" of="" contaminated="" sediment.="" in="" other="" cases="" the="" sediment="" criteria="" should="" be="" supplemented="" with="" biological="" sampling="" and="" testing="" and="" more="" extensive="" chemical="" monitoring="" before="" decisions="" are="" made.="" neither="" the="" science="" advisory="" board="" nor="" the="" agency="" believes="" the="" sediment="" quality="" criteria="" should="" be="" used="" as="" ``pass/fail''="" criteria="" or="" mandatory="" clean-up="" levels="" for="" all="" programs.="" it="" is="" often="" more="" environmentally="" sound="" to="" allow="" clean="" sediments="" to="" cover="" contaminated="" sediments="" over="" time="" than="" to="" remove="" the="" sediments="" in="" question.="" the="" removal="" of="" contaminated="" sediments="" may="" in="" and="" of="" itself="" cause="" physical="" harm="" to="" bottom="" communities="" as="" well="" as="" cause="" resuspension="" and="" dispersion="" of="" the="" contaminant="" being="" removed.="" the="" costs="" of="" clean-up="" may="" also="" be="" prohibitive="" because="" of="" the="" level="" or="" areal="" extent="" of="" contamination="" and="" the="" disposal="" requirements="" for="" contaminated="" sediments.="" therefore,="" epa="" expects="" that="" the="" sediment="" quality="" criteria="" will="" be="" used="" in="" a="" tiered="" approach="" to="" evaluate="" the="" level="" and="" areal="" extent="" of="" sediment="" contamination="" and="" the="" risk="" associated="" with="" a="" variety="" of="" clean-up="" or="" remediation="" alternatives.="" in="" combination,="" the="" above="" authorities="" provide="" a="" comprehensive="" mechanism="" for="" monitoring,="" assessing="" and="" researching="" the="" effects="" of="" pollutants="" on="" the="" nation's="" waters="" and="" regulating="" the="" discharges="" in="" order="" to="" eliminate="" or="" limit="" their="" potential="" impacts="" on="" water="" quality.="" epa="" also="" expects="" to="" publish,="" in="" the="" near="" future,="" an="" epa="" contaminated="" sediment="" management="" strategy,="" which="" will="" provide="" guidance="" on="" the="" application="" of="" the="" sediment="" quality="" criteria.="" though="" not="" specifically="" requested="" at="" this="" time,="" comments="" received="" in="" connection="" with="" this="" notice="" that="" discuss="" implementation="" issues="" will="" be="" considered="" in="" the="" development="" of="" the="" draft="" strategy.="" v.="" description="" of="" sediment="" criteria="" pollutants="" criteria="" pollutants="" were="" selected="" for="" their="" known="" toxicity,="" hydrophobicity,="" and="" persistence.="" the="" following="" section="" lists="" each="" chemical,="" its="" cas="" number,="" sediment="" quality="" criteria="" value="" expressed="" as="" ug="" pollutant="" per="" gram="" of="" organic="" carbon="" within="" the="" sediment,="" and="" a="" brief="" description="" of="" the="" chemical,="" its="" potential="" sources="" and="" uses.="" the="" criteria="" documents="" themselves="" provide="" details="" on="" the="" range="" of="" uncertainty="" that="" surrounds="" the="" criteria="" values="" provided="" below.="" acenaphthene="" (cas="" no.="" 83-32-9)="" sediment="" quality="" criteria="" value:="" freshwater:="" 130="">g/goc
Saltwater: 230 g/goc
Dihydro-acenaphthylene or 1,8 ethylenenapthalene occurs in coal and
is released during the high temperature carbonization or coking of
coal. Acenaphthene is also used as a dye intermediate in the
manufacture of plastics, insecticides and fungicides, and has been
detected in cigarette smoke and gasoline condensates. It is a
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon.
Dieldrin
(CAS No. 60-57-1)
Sediment Quality Criteria Value:
Freshwater: 11 g/goc
Saltwater: 20 g/goc
Prior to the cancellation of its registration (1974), dieldrin was
one of the most widely used chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides. Prior
to its cancellation (1974), aldrin was used in greater quantity than
dieldrin but quickly transforms into dieldrin in the environment. The
chemicals were primarily used to control insect pests on corn and later
on citrus fruits.
Endrin
(CAS No. 72-20-8)
Sediment Quality Criteria Value:
Freshwater: 4.2 g/goc
Saltwater: 0.76 g/goc
Endrin is a chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide. Prior to its
cancellation (1986) it was used in the agricultural chemical industry
for the control of pests on fruits and vegetation.
Fluoranthene
(CAS No. 206-44-0)
Sediment Quality Criteria Value:
Freshwater: 620 g/goc
Saltwater: 300 g/goc
Fluoranthene, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, is a combustion
product produced by the pyrolysis of organic raw materials, such as
coal and petroleum at high temperature. It is ubiquitous in the
environment.
Phenanthrene
(CAS No. 85-01-8)
Sediment Quality Criteria Value:
Freshwater: 180 g/goc
Saltwater: 240 g/goc
Phenanthrene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, naturally
present in coal and petroleum, and having some industrial uses. It is
also formed as a combustion product.
V. Description of the Technical Basis for Deriving Numerical National
Sediment Quality Criteria for Nonionic Organic Contaminants Using
Equilibrium Partitioning
The Technical Basis for Deriving Sediment Quality Criteria for
Nonionic Organic Contaminants for the Protection of Benthic Organisms
by Using Equilibrium Partitioning presents the research performed and
data collected in the development of the equilibrium partitioning
approach to deriving sediment quality criteria. (See Section I
entitled: ``Availability of Documents''.)
VI. Description of Guidelines for Deriving Site-Specific Sediment
Quality Criteria for the Protection of Benthic Organisms
The Guidelines for Deriving Site-Specific Sediment Quality Criteria
for the Protection of Benthic Organisms provides guidance on the
methodology which is appropriate for modifying nationally applicable
sediment quality criteria on a site-specific basis. The document
details the procedures and data necessary to perform the modification
that may be required because of unique sensitivities of site species or
partitioning processes at the site. (See Section I entitled:
``Availability of Documents''.)
Request for Comments
EPA is soliciting comments on the scientific soundness of the
criteria development methodology and the proposed criteria themselves.
The sediment quality criteria, like the surface water quality criteria,
are ambient criteria describing aquatic conditions which support
designated uses. The merit and validity of these criteria must stand
alone without regard to permit limit derivation, sediment remediation
costs, etc. Specifically the Agency requests comment on the five
sediment quality criteria documents described above, the document
entitled ``Technical Basis for Deriving Sediment Quality Criteria for
Nonionic Organic Contaminants for the Protection of Benthic Organisms
by Using Equilibrium Partitioning'' and the ``Guidelines for Deriving
Site-Specific Sediment Quality Criteria for the Protection of Benthic
Organisms''. EPA is also interested in receiving comments on the
following issues:
1. Site Specific Criteria Modifications
Under section 304(a) a state may develop its own water quality
criteria on either a state-wide basis or on a site-specific basis to be
protective of unique waters. EPA is considering the same approach for
the developement of sediment quality criteria. Section 131.11(b)(1) of
EPA's regulations allows states to modify 304(a) criteria to reflect
site-specific conditions, when adopting water quality standards based
on such criteria guidance and EPA is considering allowing similar site-
specific modification for water quality standards based on EPA's
sediment quality criteria guidance. Technical persons have identified a
number of reasons both supporting and challenging the appropriateness
of allowing site specific modifications to sediment criteria. EPA is
particularly interested in receiving comments and ideas on site
specific criteria modifications. A more detailed discussion of these
issues can be found on this topic on page 99 of the Technical Basis
document identified above.
2. Need for Separate Sediment Quality Criteria To Protect Fresh Water
and Marine Species
For certain chemicals (acenaphthene, dieldrin, fluoranthene, and
phenanthrene), statistical analysis of all the data used in the
derivation of water quality criteria revealed no significant
differences in the relative sensitivity of fresh water and marine
species. Further, there are no known chemical or physical properties of
the above chemicals that would support a difference in toxicity and
bioavailability between aquatic environments. (These comparisons do not
hold for endrin.) However, EPA customarily has developed separate
criteria for saltwater and freshwater to avoid having the sensitivity
of species in one aquatic environment drive environmental decisions and
regulation in the other environment. Although these sediment quality
criteria are derived separately for freshwater and saltwater, EPA seeks
comment on the appropriateness of a single sediment quality criteria
applicable to both aquatic environments after first demonstrating
equivalency of sensitivity (for these and future criteria).
Acenaphthene
Sediment Quality Criteria Value:
Freshwater: 130 g/goc
Saltwater: 230 g/goc
This difference is less than a factor of 2.
Dieldrin
Sediment Quality Criteria Value:
Freshwater: 11 g/goc
Saltwater: 20 g/goc
This difference is less than a factor of 2.
Fluoranthene
Sediment Quality Criteria Value:
Freshwater: 620 g/goc
Saltwater: 300 g/goc
This difference is less than a factor of 2.
Phenanthrene
Sediment Quality Criteria Value:
Freshwater: 180 g/goc
Saltwater: 240 g/goc
This difference is less than a factor of 2.
Endrin
Sediment Quality Criteria Value:
Freshwater: 4.2 g/goc
Saltwater: 0.76 g/goc
This difference is approximately a factor of 5 which is
statistically significant and would require that endrin have both
criteria values.
3. Level of Protection
Existing section 304(a) criteria are intended to protect a balanced
and indigenous aquatic community by protecting most individuals within
sensitive species. As a practical matter, the basic aquatic life
procedure approximates the goal by deriving criteria to protect most
individuals in the 95th percentile (most sensitive) of the tested
genera. This is done by basing acute criteria on LC50 or similar tests,
and dividing the final result by two to protect most individuals, as
opposed to protecting only 50%. Less sensitive species are more fully
protected, while more sensitive species are somewhat protected. There
are exceptions procedures which override this basic approach where
necessary to protect wildlife, plants, or commercially important
aquatic species. See 50 FR 30784, July 29, 1985, for details. Tested
species are selected to include a minimum data set of specified aquatic
species. As such, tested species are considered to be surrogates for
untested species. This same approach is currently proposed for benthic
organisms via the sediment quality criteria. Comment is being sought on
the appropriateness of this approach.
4. Use of SQC as ARAR's in the CERCLA Program
The availability of sediment quality criteria for adoption by
States into State water quality standards provides for the potential
requirement in those States that the SQC be used as ARAR's. As
discussed earlier, EPA is concerned that this ``mandatory clean-up
level'' may be an inappropriate use of the proposed criteria. The
Agency requests comment on the use of SQC as ARAR's should they be
adopted into State water quality standards.
5. Definition of Sediments to Which Sediment Quality Criteria Apply
The criteria documents define sediments to which SQC are applicable
as those ``permanently inundated with water, intertidal sediment and to
sediments inundated periodically for durations sufficient to permit
development of benthic assemblages.'' The criteria are not intended to
apply to ``sediments occasionally inundated so that they support
terrestrial species.'' The Agency believes the appropriate uses of SQC
are for those sediments that maintain, or have the potential to
maintain if not contaminated, benthic aquatic assemblages. Comments
that discuss a broader or narrower definition or that support the
proposed definition are requested.
Dated: December 28, 1993.
Robert Perciasepe,
Assistant Administrator for Water.
[FR Doc. 94-1133 Filed 1-14-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
