[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 58 (Monday, March 26, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 16435-16439]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-7403]
[[Page 16435]]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 131
[FRL-6934-8]
Withdrawal of Certain Federal Human Health and Aquatic Life Water
Quality Criteria Applicable to Vermont, the District of Columbia,
Kansas and New Jersey
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Proposed rule and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In 1992, EPA promulgated Federal regulations establishing
water quality criteria for toxic pollutants for fourteen States and
jurisdictions, including Vermont, the District of Columbia, Kansas and
New Jersey. These States have now adopted, and EPA has approved, human
health and aquatic life water quality criteria for many of these
pollutants. In this action, EPA is proposing to amend the Federal
regulations to withdraw certain human health and aquatic life criteria
applicable to these States. EPA is providing an opportunity for public
comment on the proposed withdrawal of the Federal criteria applicable
to these States because the States' adopted criteria are less stringent
than the Federal criteria.
DATES: EPA will accept public comments on its proposed withdrawal of
these criteria until May 25, 2001. Comments postmarked after this date
may not be considered.
ADDRESSES: An original and three copies of comments should be submitted
to W-00-23, WQCR Comment Clerk; Water Docket (MC-4101), 1200
Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20460. Alternatively, comments may
be submitted electronically in ASCII or Word Perfect 5.1, 5.2, 6.1, or
8.0 formats to [email protected]. Hand delivered comments should be
submitted to W-00-23, WQCR Comment Clerk, Water Docket, EB 57, 401 M
St. SW, Washington DC 20460.
The administrative record for consideration of Vermont's human
health criteria is available for public inspection at EPA Region 1,
Office of Water, 1 Congress Street, Suite 1100, Boston MA 02114-1505
during normal business hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The
administrative record for consideration of the District of Columbia
human health criteria is available at EPA Region 3, Water Protection
Division, 1650 Arch St, Philadelphia PA 19103-2029 during normal
business hours of 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The administrative record for
consideration of Kansas' human health and aquatic life criteria is
available for public inspection at EPA Region 7, Water, Wetland and
Pesticides Division, 901 North 5th Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66101
during normal business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The
administrative record for consideration of New Jersey's human health
and aquatic life criteria is available for public inspection at EPA
Region 2, Division of Environmental Planning and Protection, 290
Broadway, New York, New York 10007 during normal business hours of 8:00
a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas J. Gardner at EPA Headquarters,
Office of Water (4305), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C.,
20460 (tel: 202-260-7309, fax 202-260-9830) or email
[email protected]. Alternatively, for questions regarding Vermont,
contact Bill Beckwith in EPA's Region 1 at 617-918-1544; for questions
regarding the District of Columbia, contact Garrison Miller in EPA's
Region 3 at 215-814-5745; for questions regarding Kansas, contact Ann
Jacobs in EPA's Region 7 at 913-551-7930; and for questions regarding
New Jersey, contact Wayne Jackson in EPA's Region 2 at 212-637-3807.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Potentially Affected Entities
Citizens concerned with water quality in Vermont, Kansas, the
District of Columbia and New Jersey may be interested in this proposed
rulemaking. Entities discharging toxic pollutants to waters of the
United States in these States could be affected by this proposed
rulemaking since criteria are used in determining NPDES permit limits.
Potentially affected categories and entities include:
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Examples of potentially
Category affected entities
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Industry............................... Industries discharging toxic
pollutants to surface waters
in Vermont, the District of
Columbia, Kansas and New
Jersey.
Municipalities......................... Publicly-owned treatment works
discharging toxic pollutants
to surface waters in Vermont,
the District of Columbia,
Kansas and New Jersey.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
This table is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a
guide for readers regarding entities likely to be potentially affected
by this action. This table lists the types of entities that EPA is now
aware could potentially be affected by this action. Other types of
entities not listed in the table could also be affected. To determine
whether your facility is affected by this action, you should carefully
examine the applicability criteria in section 131.36 of title 40 of the
Code of Federal Regulations. If you have any questions regarding the
applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the
appropriate person(s) listed in the preceding FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section.
Background
In 1992, EPA promulgated a final rule (known as the ``National
Toxics Rule'', or ``NTR'') to establish numeric water quality criteria
for 12 States and two Territories (hereafter ``States'') that had not
complied fully with section 303(c)(2)(B) of the Clean Water Act
(``CWA'') (57 FR 60848). The criteria, codified at 40 CFR 131.36,
became the applicable water quality standards in those 14 jurisdictions
for all purposes and programs under the CWA effective February 5, 1993.
When a State adopts and EPA approves water quality criteria that
meet the requirements of the CWA, EPA will issue a rule amending the
NTR to withdraw its criteria. If the State's criteria are no less
stringent than the promulgated Federal criteria, EPA will withdraw its
criteria without notice and comment rulemaking because additional
comment on the criteria is unnecessary (see 65 FR 19659). However, if a
State adopts criteria that are less stringent than the federally
promulgated criteria, but that in the Agency's judgment fully meet the
requirements of the Act, EPA will withdraw the federally promulgated
criteria after notice and opportunity for public comment. (see 57 FR
60860)
In today's action, EPA is proposing to amend the Federal
regulations to withdraw certain human health and aquatic life criteria
applicable to these States, and providing an opportunity for
[[Page 16436]]
public comment. In addition, this action proposes certain non
substantive revisions to the regulatory language at 40 CFR 131.36 to
make it more user-friendly and to reflect format changes in water
quality standards that have occurred in the corresponding state
regulations cited at 40 CFR 131.36.
Vermont
On July 12, 1994, Vermont adopted revisions to its surface water
quality standards (Appendix C, Vermont Water Quality Standards,
effective August 1, 1994). EPA Region 1 approved the State's adoption
of criteria for all toxics contained in the NTR on December 5, 1996,
because they are consistent with the CWA and EPA's implementing
regulations at 40 CFR Part 131.11. EPA Region 1 requested that the
Agency withdraw the Federal criteria applicable to Vermont for which
the State now has numeric criteria.
In an earlier action, EPA withdrew Vermont from the NTR for certain
human health and aquatic life criteria where the State adopted criteria
that are no less stringent than the Federal criteria (see 65 FR 19659,
April 12, 2000). Today's action addresses an arsenic criterion Vermont
adopted that is less stringent than the corresponding Federal criteria
in the NTR, but that nonetheless meets the requirements of the CWA and
EPA's implementing regulations at 40 CFR 131.11. In reviewing Vermont's
submission, EPA Region 1 concluded that the State's calculation of the
arsenic human health criterion for the consumption of fish (organisms
only) of 1.5 ug/L was scientifically defensible. EPA solicits comment
on removing the Federal organism only human health criterion for
arsenic applicable to Vermont (see column D2 of the table at 40 CFR
131.36 for the currently applicable Federal criterion).
District of Columbia
On March 4, 1994, the District of Columbia adopted revisions to its
surface water quality standards [amended Chapter 11 of Title 21 DCMR
pursuant to the authority set forth in Section 5 of the Water Pollution
Control Act of 1984, D.C. Law 5-188, effective March 16,1985, D.C. Code
Section 6-924(1988) and Mayor's Order 85-152, September 12,1985],
adopting human health criteria to protect from effects related to fish
consumption and removing the public water supply use designation. EPA
Region 3 approved these revisions on November 4, 1996, because they are
consistent with the CWA and EPA's implementing regulations at 40 CFR
Part 131.11. EPA Region 3 requested that the Agency withdraw the
Federal human health-- water and organism criteria and human health--
organism only criteria applicable to the District (see columns D1 and
D2, respectively, of the Table at 40 CFR 131.36) now that the District
no longer has any waters designated as public water supply.
In an earlier action, EPA withdrew the District of Columbia from
the NTR for human health--organism only criteria where the District
adopted criteria that are no less stringent than the Federal criteria
(see 65 FR 19659, April 12, 2000). Today's action addresses the
District's removal of the public water supply use designation and the
human health criteria for water and organisms. The District no longer
has any waterbodies designated for public water supply and therefore no
longer has need for human health criteria for water and organisms. EPA
solicits comment on removing the District from the NTR for human health
water and organism criteria (See column D2 of the Table at 40 CFR
131.36 for the currently applicable Federal criteria).
Kansas
On June 28, 1994, Kansas adopted revisions to its water quality
standards (K.A.R. 28-16-28) regarding both human health and aquatic
life criteria, and submitted them to EPA Region 7 for review and
approval on October 31, 1994. On February 19, 1998, EPA Region 7
approved certain new or revised water quality criteria for the
protection of human health and aquatic life because they are consistent
with the CWA and EPA's implementing regulations at 40 CFR 131.11, and
requested that the Agency withdraw the Federal criteria applicable to
Kansas for which the State now has numeric criteria. Also, on June 29,
1999, Kansas adopted new and revised ambient water quality criteria for
additional pollutants. They were submitted to EPA for review and
approval on August 10, 1999. On January 19, 2000, EPA Region 7 approved
these additional criteria because they are also consistent with the CWA
and EPA's implementing regulations at 40 CFR 131.11, and requested that
the Agency withdraw the Federal criteria applicable to Kansas for which
the State now has numeric criteria.
In an earlier action, EPA withdrew Kansas from the NTR for certain
human health and aquatic life criteria where the State adopted criteria
that are no less stringent than the Federal criteria. (See 65 FR 19659,
April 12, 2000) Today's action addresses arsenic and cadmium criteria
Kansas adopted that are less stringent than the corresponding criteria
in the NTR, but that nonetheless meet the requirements of the CWA and
EPA's implementing regulation at 40 CFR 131.11. In reviewing Kansas's
submission, EPA Region 7 concluded that the State's calculation of an
arsenic human health criteria for the consumption of fish (organisms
only) of 20.5 ug/L was scientifically defensible; that the State's
calculation of a cadmium freshwater aquatic life criteria (Criteria
Maximum Concentration) of 4.5 ug/l was scientifically defensible; that
the State's calculation of a cadmium freshwater aquatic life criteria
(Criteria Continuous Concentration) of 2.5 ug/L was scientifically
defensible, and that these criteria meet the requirements of the CWA
and EPA's implementing regulations at 40 CFR 131.11. In today's action,
EPA is soliciting comment on removing the Federal human health--
organisms only criteria for arsenic (see column D2 of the table at 40
CFR 131.36 for the currently applicable Federal criteria) and acute and
chronic cadmium criteria (see columns B1 and B2, respectively, of the
table at 40 CFR 131.36 for the currently applicable Federal criteria)
for Kansas.
New Jersey
On August 4, 1994, New Jersey submitted to EPA Region 2 adopted
revisions to its surface water quality standards (New Jersey
Administrative Code 7:9B), including aquatic life and human health
criteria. New Jersey adopted aquatic life and human health criteria for
some of the toxic pollutants contained in the NTR and reorganized
certain designated use classifications and requirements pertaining to
the Deleware River and Bay. EPA Region 2 approved the State's criteria
(with the exception of the State's PCB human health criteria) on March
17, 2000, because New Jersey's numeric criteria for the protection of
aquatic life and human health were consistent with the CWA and EPA's
implementing regulations at 40 CFR 131.11. EPA Region 2 requested that
the Agency withdraw the Federal criteria applicable to New Jersey for
which the State now has numeric criteria.
For many pollutants, New Jersey adopted water quality criteria as
stringent as the Federal criteria. In a separate upcoming final action,
EPA will withdraw without public comment those criteria that are no
less stringent than the Federal criteria. Today's action addresses the
criteria New Jersey adopted for aquatic life and human health that are
less stringent than the promulgated Federal criteria, but that
nonetheless meet the requirements of
[[Page 16437]]
the CWA and EPA's implementing regulations at 40 CFR Part 131.11. New
Jersey adopted the following less stringent criteria (ug/L):
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A B Freshwater C Saltwater D Human health
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Water & Organisms
CMC (g/L) m>g/L) m>g/L) m>g/L) (g/ (g/
L) L)
B1 B2 C1 C2 D1 D2
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7 Lead................................................ 7439921 ............ b, c 16.0 ............ ............ ............ ............
14 Cyanide............................................ 57125 ............ ............ ............ ............ a 768 ............
21 Carbon Tetrachloride............................... 56235 ............ ............ ............ ............ a 0.363 a 6.31
27 Dichlorobromomethane............................... 75274 ............ ............ ............ ............ b 0.559 b 55.7
30 1,1-Dichloroethylene............................... 75354 ............ ............ ............ ............ a 4.81
33 Ethylbenzene....................................... 100414 ............ ............ ............ ............ b 3120
39 Toluene............................................ 108883 ............ ............ ............ ............ a 7440 b 201,000
42 1,1,2-Trichloroethane.............................. 79005 ............ ............ ............ ............ a 13.5
49 2,4-Dinitrophenol.................................. 51285 ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ b 14,300
54 Phenol............................................. 108952 ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ b 4,620,000
67 Bis2(Chloroisopropyl) Ether........................ 39638-32-9 ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ b 17,400
75 1,2-Dichorobenzene................................. 95501 ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ b 17,400
76 1,3-Dichorobenzene................................. 541731 ............ ............ ............ ............ a 2620 b 22,200
77 1,4-Dichorobenzene................................. 106467 ............ ............ ............ ............ 419 a 3870
80 Dimethyl-Phthalate................................. 131113 ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ b 2,990,000
81 Di-n-Butyl Phthalate............................... 84742 ............ ............ ............ ............ a 3530 a 15,700
82 2,4-Dinitrotoluene................................. 121142 ............ ............ ............ ............ a 69.2 b 5670
86 Fluoranthene....................................... 206440 ............ ............ ............ ............ a 310 a 393
87 Fluorene........................................... 86737 ............ ............ ............ ............ a 1340
89 Hexachlorobutadiene................................ 87683 ............ ............ ............ ............ a 6.94
90 Hexachlorocyclopentadiene.......................... 77474 ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ b 17,400
91 Hexachloroethane................................... 67721 ............ ............ ............ ............ a 2.73 a 12.4
93 Isophorone......................................... 78591 ............ ............ ............ ............ a 552 b 2590
102 Aldrin............................................ 309002 ............ ............ ............ ............ a 0.00189 b 0.0226
109 4,4'-DDE.......................................... 72559 ............ ............ ............ ............ b 0.0054 b 0.00585
110 4,4'-DDD.......................................... 72548 ............ ............ ............ ............ b 0.00432 b 0.00436
112 alpha-Endosulfan.................................. 959988 ............ ............ ............ ............ b 111 b 239
113 beta-Endosulfan................................... 33213659 ............ ............ ............ ............ b 111 b 239
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a Number applies statewide. More restrictive criteria may apply in portions of the Delaware River and its tributaries.
b Number applies only in certain portions of the Delaware River.
c The freshwater criterion for this metal is expressed as a function of hardness in the water column. The value given here corresponds to a hardness of
100 mg/l.
In reviewing New Jersey's submission, EPA Region 2 concluded that
the State's adopted criteria are scientifically defensible. EPA
solicits comment on removing the Federal criteria for these pollutants
in New Jersey (see the currently applicable Federal criteria for the
individual pollutants in the table at 40 CFR 131.36).
In 1994, NJ reorganized certain use classification requirements
pertaining to the Delaware River and Bay, including a definition of the
appropriate points of application for criteria in these waters. EPA is
here proposing corresponding revisions to 40 CFR 131.36 (d)(3) to be
consistent with the State regulations that the Federal regulations are
intended to augment. In addition, on November 9, 1999, EPA amended the
NTR criteria for PCBs-human health (columns D1 and D2 of the table at
40 CFR 131.36) to provide for a total criteria for this pollutant, in
lieu of criteria for individual isomers (see 64 FR 61181). EPA is here
proposing corresponding revisions to 40 CFR 131.36 (d)(3) to be
consistent with this change. These proposed changes do not result in
any substantive changes to the Federal criteria applicable to New
Jersey. These proposed revisions clarify the existing Federal
regulations.
Administrative Requirements
This proposed withdrawal of Federal criteria is deregulatory in
nature and would impose no additional regulatory requirements or costs
on anyone. Therefore, it has been determined that this proposed action
is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under the terms of Executive
Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and is therefore not subject
to review by the Office of Management and Budget. For the same reason,
pursuant to section 605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C.
601 et seq.), I certify that this action will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. EPA has
determined that this action contains no Federal mandates for State,
local or tribal governments, or the private sector, nor does it contain
in regulatory requirements that might significantly or uniquely affect
small governments. Thus, today's action is not subject to the
requirements of sections 202, 203 and 205 of the Unfunded Mandates
Reform Act (Pub. L. 104-4). Further, this rule does not significantly
or uniquely affect the communities of tribal governments, as specified
by Executive Order 13084 (63 FR 27655, May 10, 1998). This rule will
not have substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship
between the national government and the States, or on the distribution
of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government,
as specified in Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999).
This rule also is not subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885,
April 23, 1997), because it is not economically significant.
This action does not involve technical standards; thus, the
requirements of section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and
Advancement
[[Page 16438]]
Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) do not apply. This rule does not
impose an information collection burden under the provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 131
Environmental protection, Indians-lands, Intergovernmental
relations, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Water pollution
control.
Dated: March 20, 2001.
Christine Todd Whitman,
Administrator.
For the reasons set out in the preamble title 40, Chapter I, part
131 of the Code of Federal Regulations is proposed to be amended as
follows:
PART 131--WATER QUALITY STANDARDS
1. The authority citation for part 131 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.
2. Section 131.36 is amended by:
a. Revising the table in paragraph (d)(2)(ii).
b. Revising the table in paragraph (d)(3)(ii).
c. Revising the table in paragraph (d)(5)(ii).
d. Revising the table in paragraph (d)(9)(ii).
The revisions read as follows:
Sec. 131.36 Toxics criteria for those states not complying with Clean
Water Act section 303(c)(2)(B).
* * * * *
(d) * * *
(2) * * *
(ii) * * *
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Use classification Applicable criteria
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Class A, B and C Waters................ These classifications are
assigned the criteria in:
Column B2-#105
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* * * * *
(3) * * *
(ii) * * *
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Use classification Applicable criteria
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Freshwater Pinelands, FW2.............. These classifications are each
assigned the criteria in:
Column B1--all except #102,
105, 107, 108, 111, 112, 113,
115, 117 and 118.
Column B2--all except #105,
107, 108, 111, 112, 113, 115,
117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122,
123, 124, and 125a.
Column D1--all at a 10-\6\ risk
level except #14, 21, 23, 30,
37, 38, 39, 42, 68, 76, 81,
86, 87, 89, 91, 93, 104, and
105.
Column D1--#23, 30, 37, 38, 42,
68, 89, 91, 93, 104, 105 at a
10-\5\ risk level.
Column D2--all at a 10-\6\ risk
level except #23, 30, 37, 38,
42, 68, 89, 91, 93, 104, 105.
Column D2--#23, 30, 37, 38, 42,
68, 89, 91, 93, 104, 105 at a
10-\5\ risk level.
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PL (Saline Water Pinelands), SE1, SE2, These classifications are each
SE3, SC, Delaware Bay Zone 6. assigned the criteria in:
Column C1-- all except #102,
105, 107, 108, 111, 112, 113,
115, 117 and 118.
Column C2--all except 105, 107,
108, 111, 112, 113, 115, 117,
118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123,
124, and 125a.
Column D2--all at a 10-\6\ risk
level except #14, 21, 23, 30,
37, 38, 42, 68, 76, 77, 81,
86, 89, 91, 93, 104, 105.
Column D2--#23, 30, 37, 38, 42,
68, 89, 91, 93, 104 and 105 at
10-\5\ risk level.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Delaware River zones 1C, 1D, 1E, 2, 3, Column B1--all.
4, and 5.
Column B2--all except #7.
Column D1--all at a 10-\6\ risk
level except #14, 23, 27, 30,
33, 37, 38, 42, 68, 76, 77,
81, 82, 89, 91, 93, 102, 104,
105, 109, 110, 112, 113.
Column D1--#23, 30, 37, 38, 42,
68, 89, 91, 93, 104, 105 at a
10-\5\ risk level.
Column D2--all at a 10-\6\ risk
level except #23, 27, 30, 37,
38, 39, 42, 49, 54, 67, 68,
75, 76, 77, 80, 81, 82, 86,
89, 90, 91, 93, 102, 104, 105,
109, 110, 112, 113.
Column D2--#23, 30, 37, 38, 42,
68, 89, 91, 93, 104, 105 at a
10-\5\ risk level.
Delaware River Zones 3, 4, and 5....... These classifications are each
assigned the criteria in:
Column C1--all.
Column C2--all.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * *
(5) * * *
(ii) * * *
[[Page 16439]]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Use classification Applicable criteria
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class C................................ This classification is assigned
the additional criteria in:
Column B2: #10, 118, 126.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * *
(9) * * *
(ii) * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Use classification Applicable criteria
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sections (2)(A), (2)(B), (2)(C), (4)... These classifications are each
assigned criteria as follows:
Column B1, #2.
Column D2, #12, 21, 29, 39, 46,
68, 79, 81, 86, 93, 104, 114,
118.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section (3)............................ This classification is assigned
all criteria in: Column D1,
all except #1, 9, 12, 14, 15,
17, 22, 33, 36, 39, 44, 75,
77, 79, 90, 112, 113, and 115.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 01-7403 Filed 3-23-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U