[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 242 (Monday, December 16, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 66007-66008]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-31842]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 132
[FRL-5666-2]
Proposed Selenium Criterion Maximum Concentration for the Water
Quality Guidance for the Great Lakes System
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Extension of public comment period for proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: EPA is today extending the public comment period on its
proposed
[[Page 66008]]
acute aquatic life criterion for selenium (61 FR 58444, November 14,
1996) for the final Water Quality Guidance for the Great Lakes System
that was published on March 23, 1995 (60 FR 15366). The U.S. Court of
Appeals for the D.C. Circuit vacated the 1995 acute selenium criterion
on September 19, 1996.
DATES: Written comments on this proposed rule will be accepted until
January 15, 1997.
ADDRESSES: An original and 4 copies of all comments on the proposal
should be addressed to Mark Morris (4301), U.S. EPA, 401 M Street., SW,
Washington, D.C. 20460.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Morris (4301), U.S. EPA, 401 M
Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20460, (202-260-0312).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Legal Authority
These regulations are proposed under the authority of section
188(c) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1268(c).
II. Today's Action
On November 14, 1996 (61 FR 58444), EPA proposed to revise the
portion of the aquatic life criterion for selenium protecting against
acute exposures that it promulgated as part of the final Water Quality
Guidance for the Great Lakes System. The proposal takes into account
data showing that selenium's two most prevalent oxidation states,
selenate and selenite, have different potentials for acute toxicity. It
also presents new data indicating that the toxicities of all forms of
selenium are additive. EPA proposed a new Criterion Maximum
Concentration that would vary depending on the relative proportions of
selenate, selenite, and other forms of selenium that are present. EPA
provided 30 days for comment on this proposal.
At least one member of the regulated community potentially affected
by this proposal has requested EPA to extend the comment period to
provide more time to analyze the data supporting the proposal and to
develop adequate comments. EPA agrees that additional time is warranted
and is today extending the comment period by 30 days, from December 16,
1996 to January 15, 1997.
Dated: December 10, 1996.
Robert Perciasepe,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Water.
[FR Doc. 96-31842 Filed 12-13-96; 8:45 am]
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