82 FR 35198 - Request for Scientific Views: Draft Updated Aquatic Life Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Aluminum in Freshwater
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 144 (July 28, 2017)
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 144 (July 28, 2017)
| Page Range | 35198-35200 | |
| FR Document | 2017-15968 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 144 (Friday, July 28, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 35198-35200] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-15968] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA-HQ-OW-2017-0260; FRL-9965-39-OW] Request for Scientific Views: Draft Updated Aquatic Life Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Aluminum in Freshwater AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of Availability. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the availability of Draft Updated Aquatic Life Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Aluminum in Freshwater for public comment. EPA first released freshwater criteria for aluminum in 1988 to protect aquatic life from harmful effects of aluminum toxicity. EPA is updating its recommended aluminum criteria to reflect the latest science and to provide users the flexibility to develop site-specific criteria based on site-specific water chemistry. The draft document provides a scientific assessment of ecological effects and is not a regulation. Following closure of this 60-day public comment period, EPA will consider the comments, revise the draft document, as appropriate, and then publish a final document that will provide recommendations for states and authorized tribes to establish water quality standards. The recommendations found in this draft document do not replace or supersede EPA's 1988 national recommended criteria for aluminum in ambient water. DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 26, 2017. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW- 2017-0260 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 Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or withdrawn.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 [[Page 35199]] 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: Diana Eignor, Health and Ecological Criteria Division, Office of Water (Mail Code 4304T), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone: (202) 566-1143; or email: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY 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-2017-0260. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically through www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the 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 Printing Office under the ``Federal Register'' listings FDSys (http://www.thefederalregister.org/fdsys/browse/collection.action?collectionCode=FR). II. What is Aluminum and how does it affect aquatic life? Aluminum is found in most soils and rocks and is the third most abundant element and the most common metal in the earth's crust. Aluminum can enter the water via natural processes, like weathering of rocks. Aluminum is also released to water by mining, industrial processes using aluminum, and waste water treated with alum, an aluminum compound. Aluminum is considered a non-essential metal because fish and other aquatic life do not need it to function. Elevated levels of aluminum can affect some species ability to regulate ions and inhibit respiratory functions. Aquatic plants are generally less sensitive to aluminum than fish and other aquatic life. III. What are EPA's updated recommended levels of aluminum in freshwater? The recommended level of aluminum in freshwater depends on a site's water quality parameters. Studies have shown that three water chemistry parameters, pH, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and hardness, can affect the toxicity of aluminum by affecting the bioavailability of aluminum in the water to aquatic species. Unlike the fixed criteria values in EPA's 1988 criteria document, these updated draft criteria use a Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) model to normalize the data, and the resulting criteria are based on site pH, DOC, and hardness. This allows users to develop site-specific aluminum criteria for fresh waters that appropriately reflect water quality parameters. See Table 1 for a comparison of EPA's currently recommended and updated draft criteria values. [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN28JY17.011 IV. What are section 304(a) water quality criteria? Section 304(a) water quality criteria are recommendations developed by EPA under authority of section 304(a) of the Clean Water Act based on the latest scientific information which examines the effect of a particular constituent concentration on an aquatic species and/or human health. Section 304(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act directs the EPA to develop and publish and, from time to time, revise criteria for water quality accurately reflecting 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. Section 304(a) criteria provide guidance to states and authorized tribes in adopting water quality standards that ultimately provide a basis for controlling discharges of pollutants. The criteria also provide guidance that EPA considers when promulgating federal regulations under section 303(c) when such action is necessary. Under the Clean Water Act and its implementing regulations, states and authorized tribes are to adopt water quality criteria to protect designated uses (e.g., aquatic life, recreational use). EPA's water quality criteria recommendations are not regulations. Thus, EPA's recommended criteria do not constitute legally binding requirements. States and authorized tribes may adopt other scientifically defensible water quality criteria that differ from these recommendations. As part of the WQS [[Page 35200]] triennial review process defined in section 303(c)(1) of the CWA, the states and authorized tribes are responsible for maintaining and revising WQS. Standards consist of designated uses, water quality criteria to protect those uses, a policy for antidegradation, and may include general policies for application and implementation. Section 303(c)(1) requires states and authorized tribes to review and modify, if appropriate, their WQS at least once every three years. States and authorized tribes must adopt water quality criteria that protect designated uses. Consistent with EPA's regulations at 40 CFR 131.11(a), protective criteria must be based on a sound scientific rationale and contain sufficient parameters or constituents to protect the designated uses. Criteria may be expressed in either narrative or numeric form. States and authorized tribes have four options when adopting water quality criteria for which EPA has published section 304(a) criteria. They may: (1) Establish numerical values based on recommended section 304(a) criteria; (2) Adopt section 304(a) criteria modified to reflect site-specific conditions; (3) Adopt criteria derived using other scientifically defensible methods; or (4) Establish narrative criteria where numeric criteria cannot be established or to supplement numeric criteria (40 CFR 131.11(b)). 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 criteria. Dated: July 17, 2017. Michael H. Shapiro, Acting Assistant Administrator. [FR Doc. 2017-15968 Filed 7-27-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
![35198 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 144 / Friday, July 28, 2017 / Notices
formally cooperate with us in the interested in and/or potentially affected Dated: July 24, 2017.
preparation of the EA.4 Agencies that by the proposed project. Kimberly D. Bose,
would like to request cooperating If we publish and distribute the EA, Secretary.
agency status should follow the copies of the EA will be sent to the [FR Doc. 2017–15914 Filed 7–27–17; 8:45 am]
instructions for filing comments environmental mailing list for public BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
provided under the Public Participation review and comment. If you would
section of this notice. prefer to receive a paper copy of the
document instead of the CD version or
Consultations Under Section 106 of the ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
would like to remove your name from
National Historic Preservation Act the mailing list, please return the AGENCY
In accordance with the Advisory attached Information Request (appendix [EPA–HQ–OW–2017–0260; FRL–9965–39–
Council on Historic Preservation’s 2). OW]
implementing regulations for section Becoming an Intervenor Request for Scientific Views: Draft
106 of the National Historic
In addition to involvement in the EA Updated Aquatic Life Ambient Water
Preservation Act, we are using this
scoping process, you may want to Quality Criteria for Aluminum in
notice to initiate consultation with the
become an intervenor which is an Freshwater
applicable State Historic Preservation
Office (SHPO), and to solicit their views official party to the Commission’s
AGENCY: Environmental Protection
and those of other government agencies, proceeding. Intervenors play a more
Agency (EPA).
interested Indian tribes, and the public formal role in the process and are able
to file briefs, appear at hearings, and be ACTION: Notice of Availability.
on the project’s potential effects on
historic properties.5 We will define the heard by the courts if they choose to SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection
project-specific Area of Potential Effects appeal the Commission’s final ruling. Agency (EPA) is announcing the
(APE) in consultation with the SHPO as An intervenor formally participates in availability of Draft Updated Aquatic
the project develops. On natural gas the proceeding by filing a request to Life Ambient Water Quality Criteria for
facility projects, the APE at a minimum intervene. Instructions for becoming an Aluminum in Freshwater for public
encompasses all areas subject to ground intervenor are in the Document-less comment. EPA first released freshwater
disturbance (examples include Intervention Guide under the e-filing criteria for aluminum in 1988 to protect
construction right-of-way, contractor/ link on the Commission’s Web site. aquatic life from harmful effects of
pipe storage yards, compressor stations, Motions to intervene are more fully aluminum toxicity. EPA is updating its
and access roads). Our EA for this described at http://www.ferc.gov/ recommended aluminum criteria to
project will document our findings on resources/guides/how-to/intervene.asp. reflect the latest science and to provide
the impacts on historic properties and Additional Information users the flexibility to develop site-
summarize the status of consultations specific criteria based on site-specific
Additional information about the
under section 106. water chemistry. The draft document
project is available from the
provides a scientific assessment of
Environmental Mailing List Commission’s Office of External Affairs,
ecological effects and is not a regulation.
at (866) 208–FERC, or on the FERC Web
The environmental mailing list Following closure of this 60-day public
site at www.ferc.gov using the eLibrary
includes federal, state, and local comment period, EPA will consider the
link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on
government representatives and comments, revise the draft document, as
General Search and enter the docket
agencies; elected officials; appropriate, and then publish a final
number, excluding the last three digits
environmental and public interest document that will provide
in the Docket Number field (i.e., CP17–
groups; Native American Tribes; other recommendations for states and
468). Be sure you have selected an
interested parties; and local libraries authorized tribes to establish water
appropriate date range. For assistance,
and newspapers. This list also includes quality standards. The
please contact FERC Online Support at
all affected landowners (as defined in recommendations found in this draft
FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free
the Commission’s regulations) who are document do not replace or supersede
at (866) 208–3676, or for TTY, contact
potential right-of-way grantors, whose EPA’s 1988 national recommended
(202) 502–8659. The eLibrary link also
property may be used temporarily for criteria for aluminum in ambient water.
provides access to the texts of formal
project purposes, or who own homes documents issued by the Commission, DATES: Comments must be received on
within certain distances of aboveground such as orders, notices, and or before September 26, 2017.
facilities, and anyone who submits rulemakings. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
comments on the project. We will In addition, the Commission offers a identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
update the environmental mailing list as free service called eSubscription which OW–2017–0260 to the Federal
the analysis proceeds to ensure that we allows you to keep track of all formal eRulemaking Portal: http://
send the information related to this issuances and submittals in specific www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
environmental review to all individuals, dockets. This can reduce the amount of instructions for submitting comments.
organizations, and government entities time you spend researching proceedings Once submitted, comments cannot be
by automatically providing you with edited or withdrawn. EPA may publish
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
4 The Council on Environmental Quality
notification of these filings, document any comment received to its public
regulations addressing cooperating agency docket. Do not submit electronically any
responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal
summaries, and direct links to the
Regulations, Part 1501.6. documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docs- information you consider to be
5 The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation’s filing/esubscription.asp. Confidential Business Information (CBI)
regulations are at Title 36, Code of Federal Finally, public sessions or site visits or other information whose disclosure is
Regulations, Part 800. Those regulations define will be posted on the Commission’s restricted by statute. Multimedia
historic properties as any prehistoric or historic
district, site, building, structure, or object included
calendar located at www.ferc.gov/ submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be
in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along accompanied by a written comment.
of Historic Places. with other related information. The written comment is considered the
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triennial review process defined in Federal agencies. EPA’s comment letters Amended Notices
section 303(c)(1) of the CWA, the states on EISs are available at: http:// EIS No. 20170106, Draft, NMFS, OR,
and authorized tribes are responsible for www.epa.gov/compliance/nepa/ Analyze Impacts of NOAA’s National
maintaining and revising WQS. eisdata.html. Marine Fisheries Service joining as a
Standards consist of designated uses, EIS No. 20170134, Final, FHWA, IL, signatory to a new U.S. v. Oregon
water quality criteria to protect those Interstate 290 Eisenhower Management Agreement for the Years
uses, a policy for antidegradation, and Expressway, Contact: Catherine A. 2018–2027, Comment Period Ends:
may include general policies for Batey 217–492–4600, Under MAP–21 08/21/2017, Contact: Jeromy Jording
application and implementation. Section 1319, FHWA has issued a 360–753–9576. Revision to the FR
Section 303(c)(1) requires states and single FEIS and ROD. Therefore, the Notice Published 06/23/2017;
authorized tribes to review and modify, 30-day wait/review period under Extending the Comment Period from
if appropriate, their WQS at least once NEPA does not apply to this action. 08/07/2017 to 08/21/2017.
every three years. States and authorized EIS No. 20170135, Draft, NPS, WA,
tribes must adopt water quality criteria Dated: July 25, 2017.
Olympic National Park Draft
that protect designated uses. Consistent Mountain Goat Management Plan, Dawn Roberts,
with EPA’s regulations at 40 CFR Comment Period Ends: 09/26/2017, Management Analyst, NEPA Compliance
131.11(a), protective criteria must be Contact: Christina Miller 360–565– Division, Office of Federal Activities.
based on a sound scientific rationale 3004. [FR Doc. 2017–15966 Filed 7–27–17; 8:45 am]
and contain sufficient parameters or EIS No. 20170136, Draft, BIA, WA, BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
constituents to protect the designated Confederated Tribes of the Colville
uses. Criteria may be expressed in either Reservation Integrated Resource
narrative or numeric form. States and Management Plan 2015, Comment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
authorized tribes have four options Period Ends: 09/11/2017, Contact: AGENCY
when adopting water quality criteria for Anna Schmidt 503–231–6808. [FRL–9965–40–OA]
which EPA has published section 304(a) EIS No. 20170137, Draft Supplement,
criteria. They may: (1) Establish Caltrans, CA, I–710 Corridor Project, Notification of a Public Teleconference
numerical values based on Comment Period Ends: 09/22/2017, of the Chartered Clean Air Scientific
recommended section 304(a) criteria; (2) Contact: Jason Roach 213–897–0357. Advisory Committee (CASAC) and the
Adopt section 304(a) criteria modified EIS No. 20170138, Final, FERC, VA, CASAC Secondary National Ambient
to reflect site-specific conditions; (3) Atlantic Coast Pipeline and Supply Air Quality Standards Review Panel for
Adopt criteria derived using other Header Project, Review Period Ends: Oxides of Nitrogen and Sulfur
scientifically defensible methods; or (4) 08/28/2017, Contact: Kevin Bowman
Establish narrative criteria where AGENCY: Environmental Protection
202–502–6287.
numeric criteria cannot be established Agency (EPA).
EIS No. 20170139, Final, FHWA, IL, US
or to supplement numeric criteria (40 30 from IL 136 to IL 40 Whiteside Co., ACTION: Notice.
CFR 131.11(b)). Contact: Catherine A. Batey 217–492– SUMMARY: The EPA Science Advisory
V. Solicitation of Scientific Views 4600, Under MAP–21 Section 1319, Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a
FHWA has issued a single FEIS and public teleconference of the Chartered
EPA is soliciting additional scientific ROD. Therefore, the 30-day wait/
views, data, and information regarding Clean Air Scientific Advisory
review period under NEPA does not Committee (CASAC) and CASAC
the science and technical approach used apply to this action.
in the derivation of the draft criteria. Secondary National Ambient Air
EIS No. 20170140, Draft, USFS, WY, Quality Standards Review Panel for
Dated: July 17, 2017. North Savery Project, Comment Oxides of Nitrogen and Sulfur to discuss
Michael H. Shapiro, Period Ends: 09/12/2017, Contact: the CASAC draft review of the EPA’s
Acting Assistant Administrator. Paula Guenther 307–326–2507. Integrated Science Assessment for
[FR Doc. 2017–15968 Filed 7–27–17; 8:45 am] EIS No. 20170141, Draft, AFS, MT, Oxides of Nitrogen, Oxides of Sulfur,
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
Starry Goat, Comment Period Ends: and Particulate Matter—Ecological
09/11/2017, Contact: Lisa Osborn Criteria (First External Review Draft—
406–295–7558. February 2017).
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION EIS No. 20170142, Adoption, Final,
DATES: The teleconference will be held
AGENCY FAA, CA, ADOPTION—Land
Acquisition and Airspace on August 31, 2017, from 1:00 p.m. to
[ER–FRL–9034–4] Establishment to Support Large-Scale 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time).
Marine Air Ground Task Force Live- ADDRESSES: The public teleconference
Environmental Impact Statements; will be held by telephone only.
Notice of Availability Fire and Maneuver Training at Marine
Corps Air Ground Combat Center, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any
Responsible Agency: Office of Federal Review Period Ends: 09/04/2017, member of the public wishing to obtain
Activities, General Information (202) Contact: Paula Miller 202–267–7378. information concerning the public
564–7146 or http://www.epa.gov/nepa. The U.S. Department of meeting may contact Dr. Thomas
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
Weekly receipt of Environmental Impact Transportation’s Federal Aviation Armitage, Designated Federal Officer
Statements (EISs) Filed 07/17/2017 Administration (FAA) has adopted (DFO), EPA Science Advisory Board
Through 07/21/2017 Pursuant to 40 the U.S. Department of Navy’s FSEIS Staff Office (1400R), U.S. Environmental
CFR 1506.9. #20160327, filed 12/30/2016 with Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania
EPA. FAA was a cooperating agency Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460; by
Notice on the project and recirculation of the telephone at (202) 564–2155 or at
Section 309(a) of the Clean Air Act document is not necessary under armitage.thomas@epa.gov. General
requires that EPA make public its Section 1506.3(c) of the CEQ information about the CASAC, as well
comments on EISs issued by other Regulations. as any updates concerning the meeting
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Document Created: 2017-07-28 03:09:58
Document Modified: 2017-07-28 03:09:58
| 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 26, 2017. | |
| Contact | Diana Eignor, Health and Ecological Criteria Division, Office of Water (Mail Code 4304T), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone: (202) 566-1143; or email: [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 35198 |
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