[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 160 (Thursday, August 17, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50201-50202]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20972]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6853-3]


Notice of Availability of Draft Aquatic Life Criteria Document 
for Cadmium

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability of draft Aquatic Life Criteria Document 
for Cadmium.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Section 304(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act requires the 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop and publish, and from 
time to time revise, criteria for water accurately reflecting the 
latest scientific knowledge. EPA is revising its aquatic life criteria 
for cadmium. Today, EPA is notifying the public about the availability 
of the draft document and is also announcing that the draft document is 
ready to undergo peer review.
    EPA is notifying the public about the availability of this draft 
document and its peer review in accordance with the Agency's new 
process for developing or revising criteria (63 FR 68354, December 10, 
1998). As indicated in the December 10, 1998 FR notice, the Agency 
believes it is important to provide the public with an opportunity to 
submit scientific information on draft criteria. EPA is soliciting 
views from the public on issues of science pertaining to the 
information used in deriving the draft criteria.

DATES: All significant scientific information must be submitted to the 
Agency under docket number W-00-15. All significant scientific 
information submissions are requested to be submitted within 60 days 
after publication of this notice. Information submitted after this date 
may not receive the degree of consideration of information submitted 
earlier. The Administrative Record supporting this draft guidance 
document is available at the Water Docket, Room EB-57, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 401 M Street SW., Washington, DC 20460 on Monday 
through Friday, excluding Federal holidays, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 
p.m. For access to docket materials call (202) 260-3027 for an 
appointment. A reasonable fee will be charged for photocopies.

ADDRESSES: Send an original and three copies of any written significant 
scientific information to W-00-15 Comment Clerk, Water Docket, Ariel 
Rios 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. Comments may be 
hand-delivered to the Water Docket, Room EB57, 401 M Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20460. Issues may also be submitted electronically to 
[email protected]. Information should be submitted as a WP5.1, 6.1 and/
or 8.0 or an ASCII file with no form of encryption.
    Copies of the draft criteria document entitled, 2000 Update of 
Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Cadmium, may be obtained from EPA's 
Water Resource Center by phone at (202) 260-7786, or by e-mail to 
[email protected] or by conventional mail to EPA Water 
Resource Center, RC-4100, 401 M Street SW., Washington, DC 20460. 
Alternatively, consult www.epa.gov/OST/standards for download 
availability.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cindy Roberts, Health and Ecological 
Criteria Division (4304), US EPA, Ariel Rios Building, 1200 
Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460; (202) 260-2787; 
[email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

What Are Water Quality Criteria?

    Section 304(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act requires the EPA to 
develop and publish, and from time to time revise, criteria for water 
accurately reflecting the latest scientific knowledge. Water quality 
criteria developed under section 304(a) are based solely on data and 
scientific judgments. They do not consider economic impacts or the 
technological feasibility of meeting the criteria in ambient water. 
Section 304(a) criteria provide guidance to States and Tribes in 
adopting water quality standards and provide a scientific basis for 
them to develop controls of discharges or releases of pollutants. The 
criteria also provide a scientific bases for EPA to develop Federal 
regulations under section 303(c).

Why Is EPA Notifying the Public About the Draft Cadmium Document 
and Peer Review?

    Today, EPA is notifying the public about the availability of the 
draft aquatic life criteria document for cadmium and its peer review to 
expand the public's involvement in the criteria development process.
    In following the Agency's new process, EPA notified the public of 
its intentions to revise the aquatic life criteria for cadmium in the 
Federal Register on October 29, 1999 (64 FR 58409). At that time EPA 
made available to the public all references identified by a recent 
literature review and solicited any additional pertinent data or 
scientific views that would be useful in revising the aquatic life 
criteria. EPA revised the aquatic life criteria for cadmium based on 
the new data and now has a draft document that is ready to undergo peer 
review.
    As indicated in the December 10, 1998 FR notice, the Agency 
believes it is important to provide the public with an opportunity to 
submit scientific information on draft criteria. EPA is soliciting 
views from the public on issues of science pertaining to the 
information used in deriving the draft criteria. EPA will review and 
consider significant scientific information submitted by the public 
that might not have otherwise been identified during development of 
these criteria.

Where Can I Find More Information on EPA's Revised Process for 
Developing New or Revised Criteria?

    The Agency published detailed information about its revised process 
for developing and revising criteria in the Federal Register on 
December 10, 1998 (63 FR 68354) and in the EPA document entitled, 
National Recommended Water Quality--Correction (EPA 822-Z-99-001, April 
1999). The purpose of the revised process is to provide expanded 
opportunities for public input, and to

[[Page 50202]]

make the criteria development process more efficient.

Jeanette Wiltse,
Acting Director, Office of Science and Technology.
[FR Doc. 00-20972 Filed 8-16-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P