81 FR 49982 - Request for Scientific Views: Draft Aquatic Life Ambient Estuarine/Marine Water Quality Criteria for Copper-2016
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 146 (July 29, 2016)
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 146 (July 29, 2016)
| Page Range | 49982-49983 | |
| FR Document | 2016-18014 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 146 (Friday, July 29, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 49982-49983] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-18014] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA-HQ-OW-2016-0332; FRL9949-87-OW] Request for Scientific Views: Draft Aquatic Life Ambient Estuarine/Marine Water Quality Criteria for Copper--2016 AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of availability. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the availability of EPA's Draft Aquatic Life Ambient Estuarine/Marine Water Quality Criteria for Copper--2016 for public comment. EPA's Clean Water Act section 304(a)(1) draft recommended water quality criteria incorporate a recently-developed saltwater biotic ligand model (BLM) and the latest scientific information for estuarine/marine aquatic organisms. The updated recommended criteria will be particularly beneficial in the adoption of water quality standards for the protection of aquatic life in and around coastal harbors and marinas, where antifouling paints and coatings on vessels and marine structures represent one of the most commonly identified sources of copper to the estuarine/marine environment. Following closure of this 60-day public comment period, EPA will consider the comments, revise the document, as appropriate, and then publish a final document that will provide recommendations for states and authorized tribes to establish water quality standards under the Clean Water Act (CWA). DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 27, 2016. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW- 2016-0332, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or withdrawn. EPA may publish any comment received to its public docket. Do not submit electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. EPA will generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other file sharing system). For additional submission methods, the full EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions, and general guidance on making effective comments, please visit http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Elias, Health and Ecological Criteria Division, Office of Water, (Mail Code 4304T), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone: (202) 566-0120; email: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. General Information A. How can I get copies of this document and other related information? 1. Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically in www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the Water Docket, EPA/DC, EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. The 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. For additional information about EPA's public docket, visit EPA Docket Center homepage at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm. II. What are EPA's recommended water quality criteria? EPA's recommended water quality criteria are scientifically derived numeric values that protect aquatic life or human health from the deleterious effects of pollutants in ambient water. Section 304(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) directs EPA to develop and publish and, from time to time, revise criteria for protection of aquatic life and human health that accurately reflect the latest scientific knowledge. Water quality criteria developed under section 304(a)(1) are based solely on data and the latest scientific knowledge on the relationship between pollutant concentrations and environmental and human health effects. Section 304(a)(1) 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)(1) criteria provide technical information to states and authorized tribes in adopting water quality standards (WQS) that ultimately provide a basis for assessing water body health and controlling discharges of pollutants. Under the CWA and its implementing regulations, states and authorized tribes are to adopt water quality criteria to protect designated uses (e.g., public water supply, aquatic life, recreational use, or industrial use). EPA's recommended water quality criteria do not substitute [[Page 49983]] for the CWA or regulations, nor are they regulations themselves. 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. III. What is estuarine/marine copper and why is EPA concerned about it? Copper is an abundant trace element that occurs naturally in the earth's crust and surface waters. It is a nutrient that is essential to aquatic organisms at low concentrations, but is toxic to aquatic organisms at higher concentrations. In addition to acute effects such as mortality, chronic exposure to copper can lead to adverse effects on survival, growth, reproduction as well as alterations of brain function, enzyme activity, blood chemistry, and metabolism in aquatic organisms. Copper is commonly found in aquatic systems as a result of both natural and anthropogenic sources. Natural sources of copper in aquatic systems include geological deposits, volcanic activity, and weathering and erosion of rocks and soils. Anthropogenic sources of copper include mining activities, agriculture, metal and electrical manufacturing, sludge from publicly-owned treatment works (POTWs), pesticide use and more. A major source of copper in the marine environment is antifouling paints, used as coatings for ship hulls, buoys, and underwater surfaces, and as a legacy contaminant from decking, pilings and some marine structures that used chromated copper arsenate (CCA) treated timbers. IV. Information on the Draft Document The 2016 draft recommended update uses the saltwater biotic ligand model (BLM), a bioavailability model that relies on water quality input parameters, to estimate copper criteria protective of aquatic life in estuarine/marine environments. The BLM allows users to determine criteria values based on site-specific water quality variables (temperature, pH, dissolved organic carbon, and salinity) that influence the bioavailability and toxicity of copper in estuarine/ marine environments. EPA has included new acute toxicity data for estuarine/marine species in the 2016 draft recommended update. EPA used a total of 74 genera to derive the estuarine/marine criterion maximum concentration (CMC) in the 2016 update compared to the 44 genera EPA used in EPA's 2003 draft estuarine/marine criteria for copper. Incorporation of the BLM accounts for copper bioavailability in natural aquatic systems, in contrast to the 2003 draft criteria which did not account for the interactions of these parameters on copper bioavailability and their effect on copper toxicity. V. Solicitation of Scientific Views EPA is soliciting additional scientific views, data, and information regarding the science and technical approach used in the derivation of the draft document. Dated: July 15, 2016. Joel Beauvais, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Water. [FR Doc. 2016-18014 Filed 7-28-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
![49982 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 146 / Friday, July 29, 2016 / Notices
Ends: 08/29/2016, Contact: Jeanie marine aquatic organisms. The updated I. General Information
Cole 907–474–2340 recommended criteria will be
EIS No. 20160174, Draft Supplement, A. How can I get copies of this
particularly beneficial in the adoption of document and other related
FHWA, WV, US 340 Improvement water quality standards for the information?
Study, Comment Period Ends: 09/30/ protection of aquatic life in and around
2016, Contact: Jason Workman 304– coastal harbors and marinas, where 1. Docket: All documents in the
347–5928 docket are listed in the
antifouling paints and coatings on
EIS No. 20160175, Draft, FERC, PA, www.regulations.gov index. Although
vessels and marine structures represent
PennEast Pipeline Project, Comment listed in the index, some information is
one of the most commonly identified not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other
Period Ends: 09/12/2016, Contact:
sources of copper to the estuarine/ information whose disclosure is
Medha Kochhar 202–502–8964
EIS No. 20160176, Draft, USACE, NY, marine environment. restricted by statute. Certain other
Fire Island Inlet to Montauk Point, Following closure of this 60-day material, such as copyrighted material,
New York Combined Beach Erosion public comment period, EPA will will be publicly available only in hard
Control and Hurricane Protection consider the comments, revise the copy. Publicly available docket
Project, Comment Period Ends: 09/29/ document, as appropriate, and then materials are available either
2016, Contact: Robert Smith 917–790– publish a final document that will electronically in www.regulations.gov or
8729 provide recommendations for states and in hard copy at the Water Docket, EPA/
authorized tribes to establish water DC, EPA West, Room 3334, 1301
Amended Notices Constitution Ave. NW., Washington,
quality standards under the Clean Water
EIS No. 20160118, Draft, BLM, CO, DC. The Public Reading Room is open
Act (CWA).
Uncompahgre Draft Resource from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday
Management Plan, Comment Period DATES: Comments must be received on through Friday, excluding legal
Ends: 11/01/2016, Contact: Gina Jones or before September 27, 2016. holidays. The telephone number for the
970–240–5381; Revision to FR Notice Public Reading Room is (202) 566–1744,
Published 06/03/2016; Extending ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
and the telephone number for the Water
Comment Period from 09/01/2016 to identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– Docket is (202) 566–2426. For additional
11/01/2016 OW–2016–0332, to the Federal information about EPA’s public docket,
EIS No. 20160152, Draft, USFS, NM, eRulemaking Portal: http:// visit EPA Docket Center homepage at
Santa Fe National Forest Geothermal www.regulations.gov. Follow the online http://www.epa.gov/epahome/
Leasing, Comment Period Ends: 10/ instructions for submitting comments. dockets.htm.
28/2016, Contact: Larry Gore 575– Once submitted, comments cannot be
edited or withdrawn. EPA may publish II. What are EPA’s recommended water
289–3264; Revision to FR Notice
any comment received to its public quality criteria?
Published 07/08/2016; Change
Comment Period from 08/22/2016 to docket. Do not submit electronically any EPA’s recommended water quality
10/28/2016 information you consider to be criteria are scientifically derived
Confidential Business Information (CBI) numeric values that protect aquatic life
Dated: July 26, 2016.
or other information whose disclosure is or human health from the deleterious
Dawn Roberts,
restricted by statute. Multimedia effects of pollutants in ambient water.
Management Analyst, NEPA Compliance Section 304(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act
Division, Office of Federal Activities. submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be
accompanied by a written comment. (CWA) directs EPA to develop and
[FR Doc. 2016–18021 Filed 7–28–16; 8:45 am]
publish and, from time to time, revise
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P The written comment is considered the
criteria for protection of aquatic life and
official comment and should include
human health that accurately reflect the
discussion of all points you wish to latest scientific knowledge. Water
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION make. EPA will generally not consider quality criteria developed under section
AGENCY comments or comment contents located 304(a)(1) are based solely on data and
[EPA–HQ–OW–2016–0332; FRL9949–87– outside of the primary submission (i.e., the latest scientific knowledge on the
OW] on the web, cloud, or other file sharing relationship between pollutant
system). For additional submission concentrations and environmental and
Request for Scientific Views: Draft methods, the full EPA public comment human health effects. Section 304(a)(1)
Aquatic Life Ambient Estuarine/Marine policy, information about CBI or criteria do not reflect consideration of
Water Quality Criteria for Copper— multimedia submissions, and general economic impacts or the technological
2016 guidance on making effective feasibility of meeting pollutant
AGENCY: Environmental Protection comments, please visit http:// concentrations in ambient water.
Agency (EPA). www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting- EPA’s recommended section 304(a)(1)
ACTION: Notice of availability. epa-dockets. criteria provide technical information to
states and authorized tribes in adopting
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: water quality standards (WQS) that
Agency (EPA) is announcing the Mike Elias, Health and Ecological ultimately provide a basis for assessing
availability of EPA’s Draft Aquatic Life Criteria Division, Office of Water, (Mail water body health and controlling
Ambient Estuarine/Marine Water Code 4304T), Environmental Protection discharges of pollutants. Under the
ebenthall on DSK5MVXVN1PROD with NOTICES
Quality Criteria for Copper—2016 for Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue CWA and its implementing regulations,
public comment. EPA’s Clean Water Act NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone: states and authorized tribes are to adopt
section 304(a)(1) draft recommended (202) 566–0120; email: water quality criteria to protect
water quality criteria incorporate a elias.mike@epa.gov. designated uses (e.g., public water
recently-developed saltwater biotic supply, aquatic life, recreational use, or
ligand model (BLM) and the latest SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: industrial use). EPA’s recommended
scientific information for estuarine/ water quality criteria do not substitute
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![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 146 / Friday, July 29, 2016 / Notices 49983
for the CWA or regulations, nor are they in natural aquatic systems, in contrast to PRA that does not display a valid OMB
regulations themselves. EPA’s the 2003 draft criteria which did not control number.
recommended criteria do not impose account for the interactions of these DATES: Written comments should be
legally binding requirements. States and parameters on copper bioavailability submitted on or before August 29, 2016.
authorized tribes have the discretion to and their effect on copper toxicity. If you anticipate that you will be
adopt, where appropriate, other submitting comments, but find it
scientifically defensible water quality V. Solicitation of Scientific Views
difficult to do so within the period of
criteria that differ from these EPA is soliciting additional scientific time allowed by this notice, you should
recommendations. views, data, and information regarding advise the contacts below as soon as
the science and technical approach used possible.
III. What is estuarine/marine copper
in the derivation of the draft document.
and why is EPA concerned about it? ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to
Dated: July 15, 2016. Nicholas A. Fraser, OMB, via email
Copper is an abundant trace element
Joel Beauvais, Nicholas_A._Fraser@omb.eop.gov; and
that occurs naturally in the earth’s crust
and surface waters. It is a nutrient that Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of to Cathy Williams, FCC, via email
is essential to aquatic organisms at low Water. PRA@fcc.gov and to
concentrations, but is toxic to aquatic [FR Doc. 2016–18014 Filed 7–28–16; 8:45 am] Cathy.Williams@fcc.gov. Include in the
organisms at higher concentrations. In BILLING CODE 6560–50–P comments the OMB control number as
addition to acute effects such as shown in the SUPPLEMENTARY
mortality, chronic exposure to copper INFORMATION section below.
can lead to adverse effects on survival, FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
growth, reproduction as well as COMMISSION additional information or copies of the
alterations of brain function, enzyme information collection, contact Cathy
activity, blood chemistry, and [OMB 3060–0192] Williams at (202) 418–2918. To view a
metabolism in aquatic organisms. copy of this information collection
Copper is commonly found in aquatic Information Collections Being request (ICR) submitted to OMB: (1) Go
systems as a result of both natural and Submitted for Review and Approval to to the Web page <http://
anthropogenic sources. Natural sources the Office of Management and Budget www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain>,
of copper in aquatic systems include (2) look for the section of the Web page
geological deposits, volcanic activity, AGENCY: Federal Communications called ‘‘Currently Under Review,’’ (3)
and weathering and erosion of rocks and Commission. click on the downward-pointing arrow
soils. Anthropogenic sources of copper ACTION: Notice and request for in the ‘‘Select Agency’’ box below the
include mining activities, agriculture, comments. ‘‘Currently Under Review’’ heading, (4)
metal and electrical manufacturing, select ‘‘Federal Communications
sludge from publicly-owned treatment SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort
Commission’’ from the list of agencies
works (POTWs), pesticide use and more. to reduce paperwork burdens, and as presented in the ‘‘Select Agency’’ box,
A major source of copper in the marine required by the Paperwork Reduction (5) click the ‘‘Submit’’ button to the
environment is antifouling paints, used Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501– right of the ‘‘Select Agency’’ box, (6)
as coatings for ship hulls, buoys, and 3520), the Federal Communications when the list of FCC ICRs currently
underwater surfaces, and as a legacy Commission (FCC or Commission) under review appears, look for the OMB
contaminant from decking, pilings and invites the general public and other control number of this ICR and then
some marine structures that used Federal agencies to take this click on the ICR Reference Number. A
chromated copper arsenate (CCA) opportunity to comment on the copy of the FCC submission to OMB
treated timbers. following information collections. will be displayed.
Comments are requested concerning:
IV. Information on the Draft Document SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Whether the proposed collection of
The 2016 draft recommended update information is necessary for the proper OMB Control No.: 3060–0192.
Title: Section 87.103, Posting Station
uses the saltwater biotic ligand model performance of the functions of the
License.
(BLM), a bioavailability model that Commission, including whether the
Form No.: N/A.
relies on water quality input parameters, information shall have practical utility; Type of Review: Extension of a
to estimate copper criteria protective of the accuracy of the Commission’s currently approved collection.
aquatic life in estuarine/marine burden estimate; ways to enhance the Respondents: Business or other for-
environments. The BLM allows users to quality, utility, and clarity of the profit, not-for-profit institutions, and
determine criteria values based on site- information collected; ways to minimize state, local and tribal government.
specific water quality variables the burden of the collection of Number of Respondents and
(temperature, pH, dissolved organic information on the respondents, Responses: 33,622 respondents, 33,622
carbon, and salinity) that influence the including the use of automated responses.
bioavailability and toxicity of copper in collection techniques or other forms of Estimated Time per Response: .25
estuarine/marine environments. EPA information technology; and ways to hours.
has included new acute toxicity data for further reduce the information Frequency of Response:
estuarine/marine species in the 2016 collection burden on small business Recordkeeping requirement.
draft recommended update. EPA used a concerns with fewer than 25 employees.
ebenthall on DSK5MVXVN1PROD with NOTICES
Obligation to Respond: Required to
total of 74 genera to derive the The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a obtain or retain benefits. The statutory
estuarine/marine criterion maximum collection of information unless it authority for this collection is contained
concentration (CMC) in the 2016 update displays a currently valid Office of in 47 U.S.C. 303.
compared to the 44 genera EPA used in Management and Budget (OMB) control Total Annual Burden: 8,406 hours.
EPA’s 2003 draft estuarine/marine number. No person shall be subject to Annual Cost Burden: No cost.
criteria for copper. Incorporation of the any penalty for failing to comply with Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No
BLM accounts for copper bioavailability a collection of information subject to the impacts.
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Document Created: 2018-02-08 07:51:29
Document Modified: 2018-02-08 07:51:29
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of availability. | |
| Dates | Comments must be received on or before September 27, 2016. | |
| Contact | Mike Elias, Health and Ecological Criteria Division, Office of Water, (Mail Code 4304T), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone: (202) 566-0120; email: [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 49982 |
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