[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 209 (Friday, October 29, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 63079-63083]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-24242]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 131

[OW-2004-0006; FRL-7825-1]


Water Quality Standards; Withdrawal of Certain Federal Water 
Quality Criteria Applicable to Alaska, Arkansas, and Puerto Rico

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is taking final action to amend the Federal regulations to 
withdraw certain water quality criteria applicable to Alaska, Arkansas, 
and Puerto Rico. In 1992, EPA promulgated Federal regulations, through 
the National Toxics Rule (``NTR''), establishing water quality criteria 
for toxic pollutants for 12 states and two territories, including 
Alaska, Arkansas, and Puerto Rico. These two states and one territory 
have now adopted, and EPA has approved, certain water quality criteria 
included in the NTR. Since Alaska, Arkansas, and Puerto Rico now have 
criteria, effective under the Clean Water Act, for the same priority 
toxic pollutants in the NTR, EPA has determined that the Federally 
promulgated criteria are no longer needed for these pollutants. In 
today's action, EPA is amending the Federal regulations to withdraw 
those certain criteria applicable to Alaska, Arkansas, and Puerto Rico. 
EPA is withdrawing its criteria without a notice and comment rulemaking 
because the adopted criteria are no less stringent than Federal 
criteria (see 65 FR 19659, April 12, 2000).

DATES: This final rule is effective on October 29, 2004.

ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID 
No. OW-2004-0006. All documents in the docket are listed in the EDOCKET 
index at http://www.epa.gov/edocket. Although listed in the index, some 
information is not publicly available, i.e., CBI or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such 
as copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet and will be 
publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly available, docket 
materials are available either electronically in EDOCKET or in hard 
copy at the following: The administrative record for the withdrawal of 
Alaska's federally promulgated criteria is also available for public 
inspection at EPA Region 10, Office of Water, 1200 Sixth Avenue, 
Seattle, WA 98101, during normal business hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 
Pacific time. The administrative record for the withdrawal of 
Arkansas's federally promulgated criteria is also available for public 
inspection at EPA Region 6, Water Quality Protection Division, 1445 
Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 75202, during normal business hours of 7:30 
a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. central time. The 
administrative record for the withdrawal of Puerto Rico's Federally 
promulgated criteria is also available for public inspection at EPA 
Region 2, 290 Broadway, New York, NY 10007, during normal business 
hours of 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. eastern time Monday through Thursday, and 
9 a.m.-1 p.m. eastern time on Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions regarding this action 
with respect to Alaska, contact Sally Brough with EPA's Region 10 at 
206-553-1295. For questions regarding this action with respect to 
Arkansas, contact Russell Nelson with EPA's Region 6 at 214-665-6646. 
For questions regarding this action with respect to Puerto Rico, 
contact Wayne Jackson with EPA's Region 2 at 212-637-3807. For general 
and administrative concerns, contact Stephanie Thornton at EPA 
Headquarters, Office of Water (4305T), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20460 (202-566-0606).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

    No one is regulated by this rule. This rule withdraws certain 
Federal water quality criteria applicable to Alaska, Arkansas, and 
Puerto Rico.

II. Background

    In 1992, EPA promulgated the ``National Toxics Rule'' (``NTR'') to 
establish numeric water quality criteria for 12 states and two 
Territories (hereafter ``States'') that had failed to comply fully with 
section 303(c)(2)(B) of the Clean Water Act (``CWA'') (57 FR 60848, 
December 22, 1992). The criteria, codified at 40 CFR 131.36, became the 
applicable water quality standards in those 14 jurisdictions for all 
purposes and programs under the CWA effective February 5, 1993.
    As described in the preamble to the final NTR, when a State adopts, 
and EPA approves, water quality criteria that meet the requirements of 
the CWA, EPA will issue a rule amending the NTR to withdraw the Federal 
criteria applicable to that State. If the State's criteria are no less 
stringent than the promulgated Federal criteria, EPA will withdraw its 
criteria without notice and comment because additional comment on the 
criteria is unnecessary (see 65 FR 19659, April 12, 2000). However, if 
a State adopts criteria that are less stringent than the Federally-
promulgated criteria, but which the Agency judges to meet the 
requirements of the Act, EPA will seek public comment before 
withdrawing the Federally-promulgated criteria (see 57 FR 60860, 
December 22, 1992). Section 553 of the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 
U.S.C. 553(b)(B), provides that, when an agency for good cause finds 
that notice and public comment procedures are impracticable, 
unnecessary or contrary to the public interest, the agency may issue a 
rule without providing notice and opportunity for public comment.
    There is good cause for making today's rule final without prior 
proposal and comment because, being identical or more stringent, the 
States' criteria are no less stringent than the Federal regulations. 
For the same reason, and because this rule relieves a Federal 
restriction, good cause exists to waive the requirement for a 30-day 
period before the amendment becomes effective. Therefore, the amendment 
is immediately effective. This rule does not remove any water quality 
protections. It removes a Federal regulation that duplicates State 
regulation.

Alaska

    On March 30 and April 27, 1999, Alaska adopted revisions to its 
surface water quality standards (18 AAC 70). Alaska submitted the 
revisions to EPA for approval by letter dated May 10, 1999, and EPA 
received the revisions on May 13, 1999.
    EPA Region 10 approved the State's freshwater and marine water 
aquatic life criteria for certain NTR pollutants on September 28, 2001, 
because they were identical to the NTR values and were consistent with 
both the CWA and EPA's implementing regulations at 40 CFR part 131. 
These pollutants are Nickel (acute), Selenium (acute and

[[Page 63080]]

chronic), Zinc (acute), Pentachlorophenol (acute), and Toxaphene 
(acute). Today, EPA is withdrawing Federal water quality criteria 
applicable to Alaska for the freshwater and marine aquatic life 
criteria.

Arkansas

    On January 23,1998, Arkansas adopted revisions to its surface water 
quality standards (Regulation 2, Establishing Water Quality Standards 
for the Surface Waters of the State of Arkansas, Minute Order 98-03). 
Arkansas adopted acute and/or chronic freshwater aquatic life criteria 
as noted and conversion factors for these metals contained in the NTR:
     Cadmium (acute and chronic),
     Chromium (III) (acute and chronic),
     Chromium (VI) (acute and chronic),
     Copper (acute and chronic),
     Lead (acute and chronic),
     Mercury (acute and chronic),
     Nickel (acute and chronic),
     Selenium (acute and chronic),
     Silver (acute), and Zinc (acute and chronic).
Arkansas also adopted acute and chronic freshwater aquatic life 
criteria for Cyanide. EPA Region 6 approved the State's dissolved 
metals criteria and Cyanide criteria on May 17, 2001, because 
Arkansas's numeric criteria were consistent with both the CWA and EPA's 
implementing regulations at 40 CFR part 131. With the adoption of these 
numeric criteria, Arkansas complied with the requirements of section 
303(c)(2)(B) of the CWA to have numeric criteria for toxic pollutants.
    Today, EPA is withdrawing Arkansas from the NTR for those criteria 
and, as a result, completely removing Arkansas from the NTR.

Puerto Rico

    On September 21, 1990, EPA Region 2 received revisions to Puerto 
Rico's water quality standards. The Chairman of the Puerto Rico 
Environmental Quality Board (PREQB) informed EPA that it may not be the 
final submission, since PREQB had not completed its public hearing 
process. Because of this caveat, and because Puerto Rico had not 
submitted the requisite certification from its Secretary of Justice as 
required by 40 CFR 131.6(e), EPA Region 2 did not act on these 
revisions immediately. As previously noted, EPA included Puerto Rico in 
the NTR in 1992, in large part because EPA did not consider Puerto 
Rico's 1990 revisions adopted. The Commonwealth's Secretary of Justice 
ultimately submitted the required certification to EPA on February 25, 
2002.
    EPA took final action on all new and revised provisions of the 1990 
Puerto Rico Water Quality Standards Regulation (PRWQSR) on March 28, 
2002, after it received the required certification. EPA Region 2 
approved Puerto Rico's numeric criteria because they were consistent 
with the CWA and EPA's implementing regulations at 40 CFR 131.11. For 
all of these pollutants, the criteria were no less stringent than the 
promulgated Federal criteria in the NTR.
    Meanwhile, in October 2001, Puerto Rico began an effort to revise 
the PRWQSR. This effort included adopting numerous chemical-specific 
numeric criteria for toxic pollutants contained in the NTR. EPA Region 
2 approved Puerto Rico's criteria on June 26, 2003, since the adopted 
numeric criteria for the protection of aquatic life and human health 
were consistent with the CWA and EPA's implementing regulations at 40 
CFR 131.11. With few exceptions, the adopted criteria were identical to 
EPA's April 1999 national recommended water quality criteria. In most 
cases, these criteria were no less stringent than the promulgated 
Federal criteria in the NTR. Puerto Rico adopted several criteria that 
are less stringent than the promulgated Federal criteria in the NTR. 
Consequently, EPA is not including any of these pollutants in today's 
withdrawal of NTR criteria applicable to waters in Puerto Rico. The 
criteria adopted by Puerto Rico and approved by EPA but not included in 
today's rulemaking are:
     Dichlorobromomethane,
     Benzo(a)Anthracene,
     Benzo(a)Pyrene,
     Benzo(b)Flouranthene,
     Benzo(k)Flouranthene,
     Chrysene,
     Dibenzo(a,h)Anthracene,
     Indeno(1,2,3-cd)Pyrene, and
     Isophrone.
Today, EPA is removing Puerto Rico from the NTR only for those 
pollutants whose criteria are no less stringent than those in the NTR.
    EPA is removing Puerto Rico from the NTR for the following 
pollutants:
     Antimony (human health--water & organism and organism 
only),
     Arsenic (all),
     Cadmium (aquatic life--freshwater (acute and chronic) and 
marine water (acute and chronic)),
     Chromium III (aquatic life--freshwater (acute and 
chronic)),
     Chromium VI (aquatic life--freshwater (acute and 
chronic)),
     Copper (aquatic life--freshwater (acute and chronic) and 
marine water (acute and chronic)),
     Lead (aquatic life--freshwater (acute and chronic) and 
marine water (acute and chronic)),
     Mercury (aquatic life--freshwater (acute), aquatic life--
marine water (acute), and human health--water & organism and organism 
only),
     Nickel (all),
     Selenium (aquatic life--freshwater (acute and chronic) and 
marine water (acute and chronic)),
     Silver (aquatic life--freshwater (acute) and aquatic 
life--marine water (acute)),
     Zinc (aquatic life--freshwater (acute and chronic) and 
marine water (acute and chronic)),
     Cyanide (all),
     Asbestos (human health--water & organism),
     Acrolein (human health--water & organism and organism 
only),
     Acrylonitrile (human health--water & organism and organism 
only),
     Benzene (human health--water & organism and organism 
only),
     Bromoform (human health--water & organism and organism 
only),
     Carbon Tetrachloride (human health--water & organism and 
organism only),
     Chlorobenzene (human health--water & organism and organism 
only),
     Chlorodibromomethane (human health--water & organism and 
organism only),
regulatory requirements that might significantly or uniquely affect 
small governments and is therefore not subject to UMRA section 203.
     Chloroform (human health--water & organism and organism 
only),
     1,2-Dichloroethane (human health--water & organism and 
organism only),
     1,1-Dichloroethylene (human health--water & organism and 
organism only),
     1,3-Dichloropropylene (human health--water & organism and 
organism only),
     Ethylbenene (human health--water & organism and organism 
only),
     Methyl Bromide (human health--water & organism and 
organism only),
     Methylene Chloride (human health--water & organism and 
organism only),
     1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane (human health--water & organism 
and organism only),
     Tetrachloroethylene (human health--water & organism and 
organism only),
     Toluene (human health--water & organism and organism 
only),
     1,1,2-Trichloroethane (human health--water & organism and 
organism only),

[[Page 63081]]

     Trichloroethylene (human health--water & organism and 
organism only),
     Vinyl Chloride (human health--water & organism and 
organism only),
     2,4-Dichlorophenol (human health--water & organism and 
organism only),
     2-Methyl-4,6-Dinitrophenol (human health--water & organism 
and organism only),
     Pentachlorophenol (human health--water & organism and 
organism only),
     Phenol (human health--water & organism and organism only),
     2,4,6-Trichlorohenol (human health--water & organism and 
organism only),
     Anthracene (human health--water & organism and organism 
only),
     Benzidene (human health--water & organism and organism 
only),
     Bis (2-Chloroethyl) Ether (human health--water & organism 
and organism only),
     Bis (2-Chloroisopropyl) Ether (human health--water & 
organism and organism only),
     Bis (2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate (human health--water & 
organism and organism only),
     1,2-Dichlorobenzene (human health--water & organism and 
organism only),
     1,3-Dichlorobenzene (human health--water & organism and 
organism only),
     1,4-Dichlorobenzene (human health--water & organism and 
organism only),
     3,3-Dichlorobenzidene (human health--water & organism and 
organism only),
     Diethyl Phthalate (human health--water & organism and 
organism only),
     Dimethyl Phthalate (human health--water & organism and 
organism only),
     Di-n-Butyl-Phthalate (human health--water & organism and 
organism only),
     2,4-Dinitrotoluene (human health--water & organism and 
organism only),
     1,2-Diphenylhydrazine (human health--water & organism and 
organism only),
     Fluoranthene (human health--water & organism and organism 
only),
     Fluorene (human health (water & organism)),
     Hexachlorobenzene (human health--water & organism and 
organism only),
     Hexachlorbutadiene (human health--water & organism and 
organism only),
     Hexachlorocyclopentadiene (human health--water & organism 
and organism only),
     Hexachloroethane (human health--water & organism and 
organism only),
     Nitrobenzene (human health--water & organism and organism 
only),
     N-Nitroso-dimethylamine (human health--water & organism 
and organism only),
     N-Nitrosodiphenylamine (human health--water & organism and 
organism only),
     Pyrene (human health--water & organism and organism only),
     Aldrin (aquatic life--freshwater (acute), aquatic life--
marine water (acute), and human health--water & organism and organism 
only),
     gamma-BHC (aquatic life--freshwater (acute), aquatic 
life--marine water (acute), and human health--water & organism and 
organism only),
     Chlordane,
     4,4-DDT, 4,4-DDE (human health--water & organism and 
organism only),
     4,4-DDD (human health--water & organism and organism 
only),
     Dieldrin (all),
     a-Endosulfan (aquatic life--freshwater (acute and chronic) 
and human health--water & organism and organism only),
     b-Endosulfan (aquatic life--freshwater (acute and chronic) 
and human health--water & organism and organism only),
     Endrin (aquatic life--freshwater (acute), aquatic life--
marine (acute and chronic), and human health--water & organism and 
organism only),
     Heptachlor (all), and
     Toxaphene (all).

III. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

A. Executive Order 12866--Regulatory Planning and Review

    This action withdraws Federal requirements applicable to Alaska, 
Arkansas, and Puerto Rico, and imposes no regulatory requirements or 
costs on any person or entity, does not interfere with the action or 
planned action of another agency, and does not have any budgetary 
impacts or raise novel legal or policy issues. Thus, it has been 
determined that this rule is not a ``significant regulatory action'' 
under the terms of Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) 
and is therefore not subject to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) review.

B. Paperwork Reduction Act

    This rule does not impose an information collection burden under 
the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 because it is 
administratively withdrawing Federal requirements that no longer need 
to apply to Alaska, Arkansas, and Puerto Rico.

C. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), as 
amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 
1996, generally requires an agency to prepare a regulatory flexibility 
analysis of a rule that is subject to notice and comment rulemaking 
requirements under the Administrative Procedure Act or any other 
statute unless the agency certifies that the rule will not have 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
This rule imposes no regulatory requirements or costs on any small 
entity. Therefore, I certify that this action will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    Title III of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) (Public Law 
104-4) establishes requirements for Federal agencies to assess the 
effects of their regulatory actions on State, Tribal, and local 
governments and the private sector. Today's rule contains no Federal 
mandates (under the regulatory provisions of Title II of the UMRA) for 
State, Tribal, or local governments or the private sector because it 
imposes no enforceable duty on any of these entities. Thus, today's 
rule is not subject to the requirements of UMRA sections 202 and 205 
for a written statement and small government agency plan. Similarly, 
EPA has determined that this rule contains no regulatory requirements 
that might significantly or uniquely affect small governments and is 
therefore not subject to UMRA section 203.

E. Executive Order 13132--Federalism

    Executive Order 13132, entitled ``Federalism'' (64 FR 43255, August 
10, 1999), requires EPA to develop an accountable process to ensure 
State and local government officials have an opportunity to provide 
input in the development of regulatory policies that have substantial 
direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the national 
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of governments. This rule 
imposes no regulatory requirements or costs on any State or local 
governments; therefore, it does not have Federalism implications under 
Executive Order 13132.

[[Page 63082]]

F. Executive Order 13175--Consultation and Coordination With Indian 
Tribal Governments

    Again, this rule imposes no regulatory requirements or costs on any 
Tribal government. It does not have substantial direct effects on 
Tribal governments, on the relationship between the Federal government 
and Indian tribes, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities 
between the Federal government and Indian tribes, as specified in 
Executive Order 13175, entitled ``Consultation and Coordination with 
Indian Tribal Governments'' (59 FR 22951, November 6, 2000).

G. Executive Order 13045--Protection of Children From Environmental 
Health and Safety Risks

    This rule is not subject to Executive Order 13045, entitled 
``Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety 
Risks'' (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997), because it is not economically 
significant and EPA has no reason to believe the environmental health 
or safety risks addressed by this action present a disproportionate 
risk to children.

H. Executive Order 13211--Actions That Significantly Affect Energy 
Supply, Distribution, or Use

    This rule is not subject to Executive Order 13211, ``Actions 
Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, 
Distribution, or Use'' (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001), because it is not a 
significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866.

I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act

    The requirements of section 12(d) of the National Technology 
Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) do not apply 
because this rule does not involve technical standards.

J. Congressional Review Act

    The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally 
provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating 
the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, 
to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the 
United States. Section 808 allows the issuing agency to make a rule 
effective sooner than otherwise provided by the CRA if the agency makes 
a good cause finding that notice and public procedure is impracticable, 
unnecessary or contrary to public interest. This determination must be 
supported by a brief statement. 5 U.S.C. 808(2). As stated previously, 
EPA has made such a good cause finding, including reasons therefore, 
and established an effective date of October 29, 2004. EPA will submit 
a report containing this rule and other required information to the 
U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Comptroller 
General of the United States prior to publication of the rule in the 
Federal Register. This action is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 
U.S.C. 804(2).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 131

    Environmental protection, Indians--lands, Intergovernmental 
relations, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Water pollution 
control.

    Dated: September 30, 2004.
Michael O. Leavitt,
Administrator.

0
For reasons set out in the preamble of title 40, chapter I, of the Code 
of Federal Regulations is amended as follows:

PART 131--WATER QUALITY STANDARDS

0
1. The authority citation for part 131 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.


Sec.  131.36  [Amended]

0
2. Section 131.36 is amended as follows:
0
a. Revising the table in paragraph (d)(4)(ii),
0
b. Revising the table in paragraph (d)(12)(ii), and
0
c. Removing and reserving paragraph (d)(8).


Sec.  131.36  Toxics criteria for those states not complying with Clean 
Water Act section 303(c)(2)(B).

* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (4) * * *
    (ii) * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Use classification                  Applicable criteria
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class SD...............................  Column B1-- 118.
                                         Column B2--s 8, 105,
                                          115, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122,
                                          123,124, 125a, 125b.
                                         Column D1--s 12, 16,
                                          27, 60, 61, 62, 64, 73, 74,
                                          92,93, 103, 104, 114, 116,
                                          118, 119, 120, 121, 122,
                                          123,124, 125a, 125b.
Class SB, Class SC.....................  Column C1--s 5b, 112,
                                          113, 118.
                                         Column C2--s 5b, 8,
                                          112, 113, 118, 119, 120, 121,
                                          122,123, 124, 125a, 125b.
                                         Column D2--s 12, 16,
                                          27, 60, 61, 62, 64, 73, 74,
                                          87,92, 93, 103, 104, 114, 116,
                                          118, 119, 120, 121, 122,123,
                                          124, 125a, 125b.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    (12) * * *
    (ii) * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Use classification                  Applicable criteria
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1)(A)(i)..............................  Column D1--s 16, 18-
                                          21, 23, 26, 27, 29, 30, 32,
                                          37, 38, 42-44, 53, 55, 59-62,
                                          64, 66, 68, 73, 74, 78, 82,
                                          85, 88, 89, 91-93, 96, 98, 102-
                                          105, 107-111, 117-126.
(1)(A)(iii)............................  Column D2--s 14, 16,
                                          18-21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 29, 30,
                                          32, 37, 38, 42-44, 46, 53, 54,
                                          55, 59-62, 64, 66, 68, 73, 74,
                                          78, 82, 85, 88-93, 95, 96, 98,
                                          102-105, 107-111, 115-126.
(1)(B)(i), (1)(B)(ii), (1)(C)..........  Column D2--s 14, 16,
                                          18-21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 29, 30,
                                          32, 37, 38, 42-44, 46, 53, 54,
                                          55, 59-62, 64, 66, 68, 73, 74,
                                          78, 82, 85, 88-93, 95, 96, 98,
                                          102-105, 107-111, 115-126.

[[Page 63083]]

 
(2)(A)(i), (2)(B)(i), and (2)(B)ii,      Column D2--s 14, 16,
 (2)(C), (2)(D).                          18-21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 29, 30,
                                          32, 37, 38, 42-44, 46, 53, 54,
                                          55, 59-62, 64, 66, 68, 73, 74,
                                          78, 82, 85, 88-93, 95, 96, 98,
                                          102-105, 107-111, 115-126.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
[FR Doc. 04-24242 Filed 10-28-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P