[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 232 (Monday, December 3, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60211-60212]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-29868]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-OW-7111-4]


Notice of Extension of Comment Period on Draft Aquatic Life 
Criteria Document for Atrazine

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of extension of comment period on draft aquatic life 
criteria document for atrazine.

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SUMMARY: Section 304(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) 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. These criteria provide EPA's 
recommendations to states and authorized tribes as guidance in 
establishing their water quality standards as state or tribal law or 
regulation. On September 26, 2001, at 66 FR 49186, EPA published a 
notice of availability for a draft aquatic life criteria document for 
atrazine. Today, in response to an official request, EPA is notifying 
the public that the comment period on this draft aquatic life criteria 
document has been extended for an additional sixty days, until January 
25, 2002.
    As discussed in the original Federal Register notice, EPA's Office 
of Pesticide Programs (OPP) released its preliminary ecological fate 
and effects risk assessment of atrazine for a sixty day comment period 
(66 FR 49180) concurrent with the EPA's Office of Water (OW) draft 
aquatic life criteria document. However, the 60-day time extension 
announced today is only for comments on OW's draft aquatic life 
criteria document. OPP's ecological fate and effects risk assessment 
will be revised after public comments have been considered and 
incorporated, and OPP will be soliciting public comment on risk 
mitigation ideas for 60 days. Both offices continue to ask that 
comments be submitted to both the OW (W-01-10) and OPP (OPP-34237A) 
dockets, as discussed in the original Federal Register notices.
    EPA is notifying the public about the availability of this draft 
document in accordance with the Agency's 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.

DATES: All significant scientific information must be submitted to the 
Agency under docket number W-01-10. All significant scientific 
information submissions are requested to be submitted by January 25, 
2002. 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 a.m. and 4 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-01-10 Comment Clerk, Water Docket (MC4101), 
USEPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. Information 
may be hand-delivered to the Water Docket, USEPA, Room EB 57, 401 M 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460. Information 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 criteria document entitled, Ambient Aquatic Life 
Water Quality Criteria for Atrazine may be obtained from EPA's Water 
Resource

[[Page 60212]]

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, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, DC 20460. Alternatively, 
consult www.epa.gov/OST for download availability.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Gostomski, Health and Ecological 
Criteria Division (4304), US EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; (202) 260-1321; [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

What Are Recommended Water Quality Criteria?

    Recommended water quality criteria are the concentrations of a 
chemical in water at or below which aquatic life are protected from 
acute and chronic adverse effects of the chemical. Section 304(a)(1) of 
the Clean Water Act requires 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 basis for EPA to 
develop Federally promulgated water quality standards under section 
303(c).

What Is Atrazine and Why Are We Concerned About It?

    Atrazine is an organic chemical used as an herbicide throughout the 
U.S. for control of weeds in agricultural crops. Environmental exposure 
occurs mainly from its application as an herbicide but may also occur 
from industrial manufacture, distribution releases, precipitation, 
field runoff, and drift. Atrazine is moderately volatile and soluble in 
water, and resistant to natural degradation in water. Because of 
atrazine's chemical properties and widespread use as an herbicide, 
concerns have been raised over the potential risks posed by exposure of 
aquatic organisms to it. For these reasons, EPA has developed the 
following water quality criteria:

Freshwater

    Aquatic life should not be affected unacceptably if the: One-hour 
average concentration of atrazine does not exceed 350 ug/l more than 
once every three years on the average (Acute Criterion); and Four-day 
average concentration of atrazine does not exceed 12 ug/l more than 
once every three years on the average (Chronic Criterion).

Saltwater

    Aquatic life should not be affected unacceptably if the: One hour 
average concentration of atrazine does not exceed 760 ug/l more than 
once every three years on the average (Acute Criterion); and Four-day 
average concentration of atrazine does not exceed 26 ug/l more than 
once every three years on the average (Chronic Criterion).

Definitions of Criteria Terminology

    One hour average: The average of all samples taken during a one 
hour period by either continuous sampling or periodic grab samples.
    Four day average: The average of all samples taken during four 
consecutive days by either continuous sampling or periodic grab 
samples. Also known as a 96-hour average.
    Acute Criterion: A chemical concentration protective of aquatic 
organisms from short term exposure to fast acting chemicals or spikes 
in concentrations. For example exposure of a fish moving through an 
area for foraging but not residing in the area.
    Chronic Criterion: A chemical concentration protective of aquatic 
organisms from longer term exposure to slower acting chemicals or 
relatively steady concentrations. For example, exposure of a fish that 
resides in an area.

Why Is EPA Notifying the Public About the Extension of the Comment 
Period on the Draft Atrazine Criteria Document?

    Today, EPA is notifying the public about the extension of the 
comment period on the draft aquatic life criteria document for atrazine 
to expand the public's involvement in the criteria development process. 
EPA notified the public of its intent to develop aquatic life criteria 
for atrazine 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 developing the aquatic 
life criteria for atrazine. On September 26, 2001, EPA notified the 
public of the availability of a draft aquatic life criteria document 
for atrazine (66 FR 49186). EPA is now making the draft aquatic life 
criteria document for atrazine available for public review for an 
additional sixty days. 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 to derive 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 make the criteria development 
process more efficient.

    Dated: November 7, 2001.
Geoffrey H. Grubbs,
Director, Office of Science and Technology.
[FR Doc. 01-29868 Filed 11-30-01; 8:45 am]
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