[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 249 (Friday, December 27, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79090-79091]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-32771]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-OW-7431-4]


Notice of Ambient Aquatic Life Water Quality Criteria for 
Tributyltin (TBT)--Draft

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability for ambient aquatic life water quality 
criteria for tributyltin (TBT)--draft and request for scientific and 
technical input.

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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 that accurately reflect the 
latest scientific knowledge. These criteria represent EPA's current 
recommendations to States, Territories, and authorized Tribes to use as 
technical information in establishing their water quality standards as 
state or tribal law or regulation. Such standards may form the basis 
for establishing water qualty-based controls. These water quality 
criteria are not regulations and do not impose legally-binding 
requirements on EPA, States, Territories, Tribes or the public. Today, 
EPA is announcing the availability of draft water quality criteria for 
tributyltin (TBT) for scientific and technical input.
    EPA is notifying the public about the request for scientific and 
technical input on the draft criteria for TBT 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 
opportunities to submit scientific information on criteria. Today, EPA 
is asking for input from the public on issues of science related to the 
information used in deriving the draft TBT criteria. These criteria 
constitute the Agency's current recommended section 304(a)(1) criteria 
for TBT. Based on its assessment of information received in response to 
this announcement and other available information, EPA will publish a 
notice containing the final criteria and informing the public how the 
final document can be obtained.

DATES: EPA will accept significant scientific information submitted to 
the Agency on or before March 27, 2003. You should adequately document 
any scientific information and provide enough supporting information to 
indicate that acceptable and scientifically defensible procedures were 
used and that the results are reliable.

ADDRESSES: Send an original and three copies of any written significant 
scientific information to W-02-03 Comment Clerk, Water Docket 
(MC4101T), USEPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460. 
Information may be hand-delivered to the Water Docket, USEPA, Room 
B102, 1301 Constitution Avenue NW., 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 Tributyltin (TBT)--Draft (EPA-822-B-02-001) 
may be obtained from EPA's Water Resource Center by phone at (202) 566-
1729, or by e-mail to [email protected] or by conventional 
mail to EPA Water Resource Center, RC-4100T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue 
NW., Washington, DC 20460. The document is also available 
electronically at: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/criteria/tributyltin.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Gostomski, Health and Ecological 
Criteria Division (4304T), U.S. EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.,

[[Page 79091]]

Washington, DC 20460; (202) 566-1105; [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 
technical information 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). In this notice, EPA is announcing the 
publication and availability of EPA's most recent draft recommendations 
of water quality criteria for TBT and requesting scientific and 
technical input from the public.

What Is Tributyltin (TBT) and Why Are We Concerned About It?

    TBT is one of several organotin compounds with various industrial 
uses. Environmental exposure occurs mainly from its application as a 
biocide in antifouling paints applied to ship hulls to keep barnacles 
and other fouling organisms from attaching to the hull. TBT remains 
effective over long periods because it is released from the hull into 
the water column over time. TBT is extremely stable and resistant to 
natural degradation in water. Because of TBT's high toxicity and the 
potential exposure of aquatic organisms to it, EPA has developed the 
following water quality criteria:
    Freshwater: Aquatic life should not be affected unacceptably if 
the: One-hour average concentration of TBT does not exceed 0.46 ug/l 
more than once every three years on the average (Acute Criterion); and 
the Four-day average concentration of TBT does not exceed 0.063 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 TBT does not exceed 0.38 ug/l more 
than once every three years on the average (Acute Criterion); and the 
Four-day average concentration of TBT does not exceed 0.001 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 Draft Criteria for TBT?

    Today, EPA is requesting scientific and technical input on a new 
draft of the aquatic life criteria document for TBT. The new draft TBT 
criteria document incorporates scientific and technical input received 
in response to a draft criteria document which was announced in the 
Federal Register on August 7, 1997 (62 FR 42554). Based on submitted 
information and data, EPA has updated the draft recommended aquatic 
life criteria document for TBT. Today, EPA is soliciting views from the 
public on issues of science related to the information used to derive 
the draft criteria. EPA will review and consider significant scientific 
and technical information submitted by the public that might not have 
otherwise been identified during development of these draft criteria. 
Based on this information and any other new information available, EPA 
will decide whether to revise the draft criteria. EPA will publish a 
notice containing the final criteria and informing the public how the 
final document can be obtained.

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: December 19, 2002.
Geoffrey H. Grubbs,
Director, Office of Science and Technology.
[FR Doc. 02-32771 Filed 12-26-02; 8:45 am]
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