[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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