[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 2 (Monday, January 5, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 342-343]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-82]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7606-9]


Notice of Availability of Final Aquatic Life Criteria Document 
for Tributyltin (TBT)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice informs the public of the availability of a final 
aquatic life criteria document for tributyltin (TBT). 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. When final, 
these criteria provide EPA's recommendations to States and authorized 
Tribes as they establish their water quality standards as State or 
Tribal law or regulation. Once established, an EPA water quality 
criterion does not substitute for the CWA or EPA regulations, nor is it 
a regulation. It cannot impose legally binding requirements on the EPA, 
States, authorized Tribes or the regulated community. State and tribal 
decision makers have discretion to adopt approaches that differ from 
EPA's guidance on a case-by-case basis. At this time the Agency is 
making a final recomendation for TBT.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the criteria document entitled, Ambient Aquatic 
Life Water Quality Criteria for Tributyltin (TBT)--Final (EPA-822-R-03-
031) 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, 4101T, 1200 
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460. You can also download 
the document from EPA's Web site at http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/criteria/tributyltin/ criteria/tributyltin/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Gostomski, Health and Ecological 
Criteria Division (4304T), U.S. EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; (202) 566-1105; [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Interested Entities

    Entities potentially interested in today's notice are those that 
produce, use, or regulate TBT. Categories and entities interested in 
today's notice include:

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                                               Examples of interested
                 Category                             entities
------------------------------------------------------------------------
State/Local/Tribal Government.............  States and Tribes
TBT Dischargers...........................  Shipyard repair facilities
TBT Users.................................  Producers of anti-fouling
                                             paints
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This table is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a 
guide for readers regarding entities likely to be interested in this 
notice. This table lists the types of entities that EPA is now aware 
could potentially be interested in this notice. Other types of entities 
not listed in the table could also be interested.

B. How Can I Get Copies of This Document and Other Related Information?

    1. Docket. EPA has established an official public docket for this 
notice under Docket ID No. OW-2002-0003. The official public docket 
consists of the documents specifically referenced in this notice, any 
scientific views received, and other information related

[[Page 343]]

to this notice. Although a part of the official docket, the public 
docket does not include Confidential Business Information (CBI) or 
other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. The 
official public docket is the collection of materials that is available 
for public viewing at Water Docket in the EPA Docket Center, (EPA/DC) 
EPA West, Room B102, 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. To view these documents 
materials, please call ahead to schedule an appointment. Every user is 
entitled to copy 266 pages per day before incurring a charge. The 
Docket may charge 15 cents a page for each page over the 266-page limit 
plus an administrative fee of $25.00.
    2. Electronic Access. You may access this Federal Register document 
electronically through the EPA Internet under the ``Federal Register'' 
listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/.
    An electronic version of the public docket is available through 
EPA's electronic public docket and comment system, EPA Dockets. You may 
use EPA Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/edocket/ to view scientific 
views, access the index listing of the contents of the official public 
docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that are 
available electronically. Once in the system, select ``search,'' then 
key in the appropriate docket identification number.

II. Background and Today's Notice

A. 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 (CWA) 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. The 
criteria also provide a scientific basis for EPA to develop Federally 
promulgated water quality standards under section 303(c) of the CWA.

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

    TBT is an organotin compound used primarily as a biocide in 
antifouling paints. It is extremely toxic to aquatic organisms. 
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 ambient water 
quality criteria for it.

C. What Are the National Recommended Water Quality Criteria for TBT?

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 Four-day 
average concentration of TBT does not exceed 0.072 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 0.42 ug/l more than once 
every three years on the average (Acute Criterion); and Four-day 
average concentration of TBT does not exceed 0.0074 ug/l more than once 
every three years on the average (Chronic Criterion).

D. Why Is EPA Notifying the Public About the Final TBT Criteria 
Document?

    Today, EPA is notifying the public that this final aquatic life 
criteria document for TBT is available. In the Federal Register on 
August 7, 1997 (62 FR 42554), EPA notified the public that a draft 
aquatic life criteria document for TBT was available and solicited 
scientific input. Based on the information and data submitted, EPA 
updated the draft document and made revised criteria available to the 
public for scientific input in a Federal Register notice on December 
27, 2002 (67 FR 79090). EPA is now making the final aquatic life 
criteria document for TBT available to the public.

E. 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 23, 2003.
Geoffrey H. Grubbs,
Director, Office of Science and Technology.
[FR Doc. 04-82 Filed 1-2-04; 8:45 am]
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