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Start Preamble
AGENCY:
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION:
Notice of availability.
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.
Start Further InfoFOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jamie Strong, Office of Water, Health Start Printed Page 36987and 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.
End Further Info End Preamble Start Supplemental InformationSUPPLEMENTARY 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 (http://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 http://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
Pollutant CAS No. Human health water quality criteria for the consumption of Water + organism (μg/L) Organism only (μg/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 Start Printed 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 Start Printed 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 http://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.
Start SignatureDated: 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
Document Information
- Published:
- 06/29/2015
- Department:
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Entry Type:
- Notice
- Action:
- Notice of availability.
- Document Number:
- 2015-15912
- Pages:
- 36986-36989 (4 pages)
- Docket Numbers:
- EPA-HQ-OW-2014-0135, FRL-9929-85-OW
- PDF File:
- 2015-15912.pdf
- Supporting Documents:
- » USEPA Response to Public Comments on Draft 2014 AWQC [EPA 822-R-15-001]
- » Trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene 156-60-5, Final
- » Pyrene 129-00-0, Final
- » Phenol 108-95-2, Final
- » Nitrobenzene 98-95-3, Final
- » Hexachlorocyclopentadiene 77-47-4, Final
- » Ethylbenzene 100-41-4, Final
- » Endosulfan Sulfate 1031-07-8, Final
- » Di-n-Butyl Phthalate 84-74-2, Final
- » Dimethyl Phthalate 131-11-3, Final