[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 236 (Monday, December 11, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 58156-58164]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-25706]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 131

[EPA-HQ-OW-2017-0303; FRL-9971-30-OW]
RIN 2040-AF71


Proposed Withdrawal of Certain Federal Water Quality Criteria 
Applicable to California: Lead, Chlorodibromomethane, and 
Dichlorobromomethane

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to 
amend the federal regulations to withdraw certain human health (water 
and organisms) water quality criteria and certain freshwater acute and 
chronic aquatic life water quality criteria, applicable to certain 
waters of California because California adopted, and EPA approved, 
criteria for these parameters that are considered protective of the 
uses for the waterbodies. The EPA is providing an opportunity for 
public comment to this proposed withdrawal of certain federally 
promulgated criteria. The withdrawal will enable California to 
implement their EPA-approved water quality criteria.

[[Page 58157]]


DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 9, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-
2017-0303, at https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, comments cannot 
be edited or removed from Regulations.gov. EPA may publish any comment 
received to its public docket. Do not submit electronically any 
information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) 
or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. 
Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a 
written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment 
and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. The EPA 
will generally not consider comments or comment contents located 
outside of the primary submission (i.e. on the web, cloud, or other 
file sharing system). For additional submission methods, the full EPA 
public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions, 
and general guidance on making effective comments, please visit https://www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.
    EPA is offering a virtual public hearing so that interested parties 
may also provide oral comments on this proposed rule. The virtual 
public hearing will be on January 25, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. 
Pacific Time. For more details on the public hearing and a link to 
register, please visit https://www.epa.gov/wqs-tech/water-quality-standards-regulations-california.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information with respect to 
California, contact Diane E. Fleck, P.E. Esq., U.S. EPA Region 9, WTR-
2, 75 Hawthorne St., San Francisco, CA 94105 (telephone: (415) 972-3527 
or email: [email protected]). For general and administrative 
concerns, contact Bryan ``Ibrahim'' Goodwin, U.S. EPA Headquarters, 
Office of Science and Technology, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Mail 
Code 4305T, Washington, DC 20460 (telephone: (202) 566-0762 or email: 
[email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents

I. General Information
    A. Does this action apply to me?
II. Background
    A. What are the applicable federal statutory and regulatory 
requirements?
    B. What are the applicable federal water quality criteria that 
EPA is proposing to withdraw?
III. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
    A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review and 
Executive Order 13563: Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review
    B. Executive Order 13771: Reducing Regulations and Controlling 
Regulatory Costs
    C. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)
    D. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
    E. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)
    F. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
    G. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With 
Indian Tribal Governments
    H. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From 
Environmental Health and Safety Risks
    I. Executive Order 13211: Actions That Significantly Affect 
Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use
    J. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act
    K. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address 
Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income 
Populations

I. General Information

A. Does this action apply to me?

    No one is affected by the proposed action contained in this 
document. This proposed action would merely serve to withdraw certain 
federal water quality criteria that have been applicable to California 
that are no longer needed in light of approved state water quality 
criteria. If you have any questions regarding the applicability of this 
action to a particular entity, consult the person identified in the 
preceding section entitled FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

II. Background

A. What are the applicable federal statutory and regulatory 
requirements?

    On May 18, 2000, EPA promulgated a final rule known as the 
``California Toxics Rule'' (``CTR'') at 40 CFR 131.38. This final rule 
established numeric water quality criteria for priority toxic 
pollutants for the State of California, because the State had not 
complied fully with Section 303(c)(2)(B) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) 
(65 FR 31682).
    Consistent with the basic tenet of the CWA, EPA developed the water 
quality standards program emphasizing State primacy. Although in the 
CTR EPA promulgated toxic criteria for California, EPA prefers that 
states maintain primacy, revise their own standards, and achieve full 
compliance (see 57 FR 60860, December 22, 1992). As described in the 
preamble to the final CTR (see 65 FR 31681 (May 18, 2000)), when 
California adopts, and EPA approves, water quality criteria that meet 
the requirements of the CWA, EPA will issue a rule amending the CTR to 
withdraw the federal criteria applicable to California.
    Consistent with the procedure described in the preamble to the 
final CTR, EPA is proposing to amend the federal regulations to 
withdraw certain federally promulgated human health (water and 
organisms) water quality criteria and certain freshwater aquatic life 
(acute and chronic) water quality criteria, applicable in California. 
EPA is providing an opportunity for public comment because the criteria 
adopted by the State and approved by EPA, while as protective for CWA 
purposes as the federally promulgated criteria, are less stringent than 
the federally promulgated criteria that EPA is now proposing to 
withdraw.

B. What are the applicable federal water quality criteria that EPA is 
proposing to withdraw?

    This action proposes to amend the federal regulations to withdraw 
human health (water & organisms) criteria for chlorodibromomethane and 
dichlorobromomethane for a segment of New Alamo Creek and a segment of 
Ulatis Creek, California. In addition, it proposes to amend the federal 
regulations to withdraw freshwater acute and chronic aquatic life 
criteria for lead for the Los Angeles River and its tributaries.
1. Chlorodibromomethane and Dichlorobromomethane
    On May 18, 2000, in the CTR, EPA promulgated federal regulations 
establishing water quality criteria for priority toxic pollutants for 
California. On November 3, 2011, California completed its adoption 
process to incorporate water quality criteria for chlorodibromomethane 
and dichlorobromomethane, for a segment of New Alamo Creek and a 
segment of Ulatis Creek. The State calls these criteria site-specific 
water quality objectives or site-specific objectives. On December 13, 
2011, the State submitted the site-specific objectives to EPA Region 9 
for review and approval.
    On April 9, 2013, EPA approved site-specific objectives for that 
segment of New Alamo Creek and that segment of Ulatis Creek. The 
Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board adopted the 
objectives in Resolution No. R5-2010-0047, the California State Water 
Resources Control Board approved of the objectives in Resolution 2011-
0036 and EPA subsequently approved the State Board action.
    Because California now has site-specific human health (for water 
and organisms) criteria approved by EPA for CWA purposes for

[[Page 58158]]

chlorodibromomethane and dichlorobromomethane for a segment of New 
Alamo Creek and a segment of Ulatis Creek, EPA has determined that the 
federally promulgated human health (water and organisms) criteria are 
no longer needed for these particular waters. The incremental cancer 
risk levels associated with the California site-specific objectives, 
based on the risk assessment in EPA's National Recommended Water 
Quality Criteria (2006), would range from 10-4.55 to 
10-4.91. EPA determined that these objectives assure that 
cancer risk to the most highly exposed population would not exceed a 
10-4 cancer risk level, even if the population consumed 2 L/
day of water and up to 17.5 g/day or more of fish/shellfish from the 
segments for a 70-year lifetime. States and authorized Tribes have the 
flexibility to adopt water quality criteria that result in a risk level 
higher than 10-6, up to the 10-5 level. That 
flexibility is constrained, however, by the need for careful 
consideration of the associated exposure parameter assumptions, and 
whether the resulting criteria would expose sensitive subpopulations 
consuming fish at unsuppressed rates to no more than a 10-4 
cancer risk. Thus, EPA approved the State's site-specific objectives, 
which are less stringent than the federally promulgated criteria, 
because EPA determined that the State's site-specific objectives were 
scientifically sound and protective of the designated use(s) for the 
segment of New Alamo Creek and the segment of Ulatis Creek. More 
information on EPA's action, which approved California's adopted 
objectives, including EPA's approval letter and Record of Decision, can 
be accessed at OW docket number EPA-HQ-OW-2017-0303.
    The following has been excerpted from the Water Quality Control 
Plan for the California Regional Water Quality Control Board--Central 
Valley Region (Basin Plan)--Resolution No. R5-2010-0047. Attachment 1 
includes under the heading ``ORGANIC CHEMICAL WATER QUALITY 
OBJECTIVES,'' California's recently adopted site-specific objectives 
for chlorodibromomethane and dichlorobromomethane, for a segment of New 
Alamo Creek and a segment of Ulatis Creek.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP11DE17.000

    As explained above, EPA seeks public comment before withdrawing the 
federally promulgated criteria because although these state criteria 
have been determined to be scientifically sound and protective of the 
designated use(s) for the particular waters and otherwise meet the 
requirements of the CWA and EPA's implementing regulations at 40

[[Page 58159]]

CFR 131, the state criteria are less stringent than the promulgated 
federal criteria (see Table 1). This proposal will result in the 
withdrawal of federal human health (water & organisms) criteria under 
the CTR for chlorodibromomethane and dichlorobromomethane for a segment 
of New Alamo Creek and a segment of Ulatis Creek. However, the criteria 
for chlorodibromomethane and dichlorobromomethane for other waters in 
California that are currently part of the CTR will remain in the 
federal promulgations.

      Table 1--Comparison of CTR Promulgations and CA Criteria for
   Chlorodibromomethane and Dichlorobromomethane for Certain CA Waters
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Criterion value
    Parameter and criterion        Source document            mg/L
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chlorodibromomethane: Human     40 CFR 131.38 (or                   0.41
 Health Criterion for            CTR).                               4.9
 Consumption of Water and       California Adopted
 Organisms.                      and EPA approved for
                                 CWA Purposes,
                                 applicable to a
                                 segment of New Alamo
                                 Creek and a segment
                                 of Ulatis Creek,
                                 California.
Dichlorobromomethane: Human     40 CFR 131.38 (or                   0.56
 Health Criterion for            CTR).                                16
 Consumption of Water and       California Adopted
 Organisms.                      and EPA approved for
                                 CWA Purposes,
                                 applicable to a
                                 segment of New Alamo
                                 Creek and a segment
                                 of Ulatis Creek,
                                 California.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Lead
    On May 18, 2000, in the CTR, EPA promulgated federal regulations 
establishing water quality criteria for priority toxic pollutants for 
California. On July 11, 2016, California completed its adoption process 
to incorporate water quality objectives for lead for the Los Angeles 
River and its tributaries. The State calls these criteria site-specific 
water quality objectives or site-specific objectives. On July 19, 2016, 
the State submitted the site-specific objectives to EPA Region 9 for 
review and approval. On December 12, 2016, EPA approved site-specific 
objectives for lead for the Los Angeles River and its tributaries. The 
Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board adopted these site-
specific objectives under Resolution No. R15-004. The California State 
Water Resources Control Board in Resolution No. 2015-0069 subsequently 
approved the Regional Board action on these site-specific objectives, 
and EPA subsequently approved the State Board action.
    Because California now has site-specific objectives for lead for 
the protection of aquatic life, approved by EPA for CWA purposes, for 
the Los Angeles River and its tributaries, EPA has determined that the 
federally promulgated freshwater acute and chronic aquatic life 
criteria for lead are no longer needed for these particular waters. 40 
CFR 131.11(b)(1)(ii) allows States to establish water quality criteria 
that are ``. . . modified to reflect site-specific conditions'', and, 
site-specific criteria still must be based on a sound scientific 
rationale in order to protect the designated use. The State's site-
specific objectives for lead were based on a recalculation of the water 
quality objectives established in 40 CFR 131.38 using the EPA 
Recalculation Procedure; this procedure takes into account updates or 
revisions in the national dataset used in the national water quality 
criterion development. EPA found that the State's application of the 
Recalculation Procedure for lead to be consistent with guidance for the 
development of site-specific standards using recalculation procedures. 
Thus, EPA approved the State's site-specific objectives for lead, which 
are less stringent than the federally promulgated criteria, because EPA 
determined that the State's site-specific objectives were 
scientifically sound and protective of the designated use(s) for the 
Los Angeles River and its tributaries and met the requirements of the 
CWA and EPA's implementing regulations at 40 CFR 131. More information 
on EPA's action, which approved California's adopted objectives, 
including EPA's approval letter and Record of Decision can be accessed 
at OW docket number EPA-HQ-OW-2017-0303.
    The following has been excerpted from the Water Quality Control 
Plan for the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board--
Attachment A to: Revision of Lead Water Quality Objectives for Los 
Angeles River and Tributaries, Resolution No. R15-004.
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

[[Page 58160]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP11DE17.001

BILLING CODE 6560-50-C
    As explained above, EPA seeks public comment before withdrawing the 
federally promulgated criteria because although these state criteria 
have been determined to be scientifically sound and protective of the 
designated use(s) for the particular waters and otherwise meet the 
requirements of the CWA and EPA's implementing regulations at 40 CFR 
131, the state criteria are less stringent than the promulgated federal 
criteria (see Table 2 in this preamble). This proposal will result in 
the withdrawal of federal freshwater acute and chronic criteria for 
lead under the CTR for the Los Angeles River and its tributaries. 
However, the criteria for lead for other waters in California that are 
currently part of the CTR will remain in the federal promulgations.

  Table 2--Comparison of CTR Promulgations and CA Criteria for Lead for
                            Certain CA Waters
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Criterion               Source document     Criterion value
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Freshwater Acute Criterion or    40 CFR 131.38 (or   CMC = e (1.273 *
 Criterion Maximum                CTR).               (hardness)-1.460)
 Concentration.                                       * (1.46203-In
                                                      (hardness) *
                                                      0.145712).
                                                     65 mg/L,
                                                      corresponding to a
                                                      total hardness of
                                                      100 mg/L.
                                 California Adopted  CMC = e (1.466 *
                                  and EPA approved    (hardness)-1.882)
                                  for CWA Purposes,   * (1.46203-In
                                  applicable to the   (hardness) *
                                  Los Angeles River   0.145712).
                                  and its            103 mg/L,
                                  tributaries.        corresponding to a
                                                      total hardness of
                                                      100 mg/L.

[[Page 58161]]

 
Freshwater Chronic Criterion or  40 CFR 131.38 (or   CCC = e (1.273 *
 Criterion Continuous             CTR).               (hardness)-4.705)
 Concentration.                                       * (1.46203-In
                                                      (hardness) *
                                                      0.145712).
                                                     2.5 mg/L,
                                                      corresponding to a
                                                      total hardness of
                                                      100 mg/L.
                                 California Adopted  CCC = e (1.466 *
                                  and EPA approved    (hardness)-3.649)
                                  for CWA Purposes,   * (1.46203-In
                                  applicable to the   (hardness) *
                                  Los Angeles River   0.145712).
                                  and its            17.6 mg/L,
                                  tributaries.        corresponding to a
                                                      total hardness of
                                                      100 mg/L.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review and Executive 
Order 13563: Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review

    This action is not a significant regulatory action and was 
therefore not submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for review.

B. Executive Order 13771: Reducing Regulations and Controlling 
Regulatory Costs

    This action is expected to be an Executive Order 13771 deregulatory 
action. This proposed rule is expected to provide meaningful burden 
reduction by withdrawal of certain federally promulgated criteria in 
certain waters of California.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)

    This action does not impose any new information-collection burden 
under the PRA because it is administratively withdrawing federal 
requirements that are no longer needed in California. It does not 
include any information-collection, reporting, or recordkeeping 
requirements. The OMB has previously approved the information 
collection requirements contained in the existing regulations 40 CFR 
part 131 and has assigned OMB control number 2040-0286.

D. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)

    I certify that this action will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities under the RFA. This 
action will not impose any requirements on small entities. Small 
entities, such as small businesses or small governmental jurisdictions, 
are not directly regulated by this rule.

E. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)

    This action does not contain any unfunded mandate as described in 
UMRA, 2 U.S.C. 1531-1538, and does not significantly or uniquely affect 
small governments. As this action proposes to withdraw certain 
federally promulgated criteria, the action imposes no enforceable duty 
on any state, local, or tribal governments, or the private sector.

F. Executive Order 13132: Federalism

    This action does not have federalism implications. It will not 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 government. This rule 
imposes no regulatory requirements or costs on any state or local 
governments. Thus, Executive Order 13132 does not apply to this action.
    In the spirit of Executive Order 13132, and consistent with EPA 
policy to promote communications between EPA and state and local 
governments, EPA specifically solicits comment on this proposed action 
from state and local officials.

G. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian 
Tribal Governments

    This action does not have tribal implications, as specified in 
Executive Order 13175. This rule imposes no regulatory requirements or 
costs on any tribal government. It does not have substantial direct 
effects on tribal governments, the relationship between the federal 
government and tribes, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities between the federal government and tribes. Thus, 
Executive Order 13175 does not apply to this action.

H. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental 
Health and Safety Risks

    This action is not subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, 
April 23, 1997) because it is not economically significant as defined 
in Executive Order 12866, and because the Agency does not believe the 
environmental health or safety risks addressed by this action present a 
disproportionate risk to children.

I. Executive Order 13211: Actions That Significantly Affect Energy 
Supply, Distribution, or Use

    This proposed rule is not subject to Executive Order 13211, because 
it is not a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866.

J. National Technology Transfer Advancement Act

    This proposed rulemaking does not involve technical standards.

K. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address Environmental 
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations

    Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994) establishes 
federal executive policy on environmental justice. Its main provision 
directs federal agencies, to the greatest extent practicable and 
permitted by law, to make environmental justice part of their mission 
by identifying and addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high 
and adverse human health or environmental effects of their programs, 
policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income 
populations in the United States.
    The EPA believes that this action does not have disproportionately 
high and adverse human health or environmental effects on minority 
populations, low-income populations and/or indigenous peoples, as 
specified in Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994). EPA 
has previously determined, based on the most current science and EPA's 
CWA Section 304(a) recommended criteria, that California's adopted and 
EPA-approved criteria are protective of human health.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 131

    Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Water pollution control.

    Dated: November 20, 2017.
E. Scott Pruitt,
Administrator.
    For the reasons set out in the preamble title 40, Chapter I, part 
131 of

[[Page 58162]]

the Code of Federal Regulations is proposed to be 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.

0
2. Amend Sec.  131.38, by revising the table in paragraph (b)(1) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  131.38   Establishment of numeric criteria for priority toxic 
pollutants for the State of California.

* * * * *
    (b)(1) * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      A                                         B Freshwater                                   C Saltwater                     D Human health (10-6 risk for carcinogens) for
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------                    consumption of
                                                  Criterion maximum     Criterion continuous    Criterion maximum     Criterion continuous -----------------------------------------------------
          Number compound            CAS No.    conc. d ([micro]g/L)    conc. d ([micro]g/L)   conc. d ([micro]g/L)   conc. d ([micro]g/L)  Water & organisms ([micro]g/      Organisms only
                                                         B1                      B2                     C1                     C2                      L) D1                 ([micro]g/L) D2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Antimony.......................    7440360  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  14 a,s.....................  4300 a,t.
2. Arsenic b......................    7440382  340 i,m,w.............  150 i,m,w............  69 i,m...............  36 i,m.
3. Beryllium......................    7440417  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  n..........................  n.
4. Cadmium b......................    7440439  4.3 e,i,m,w,x.........  2.2 e,i,m,w..........  42 i,m...............  9.3 i,m..............  n..........................  n.
5a. Chromium (III)................   16065831  550 e,i,m,o...........  180 e,i,m,o..........  .....................  .....................  n..........................  n.
5b. Chromium (VI) b...............   18540299  16 i,m,w..............  11 i,m,w.............  1100 i,m.............  50 i,m...............  n..........................  n.
6. Copper b.......................    7440508  13 e,i,m,w,x..........  9.0 e,i,m,w..........  4.8 i,m..............  3.1 i,m..............  1300.
7. Lead b.........................    7439921  65 e,i,m,z............  2.5 e,i,m,z..........  210 i,m..............  8.1 i,m..............  n..........................  n.
8. Mercury b......................    7439976  [Reserved]............  [Reserved]...........  [Reserved]...........  [Reserved]...........  0.050 a....................  0.051 a.
9. Nickel b.......................    7440020  470 e,i,m,w...........  52 e,i,m,w...........  74 i,m...............  8.2 i,m..............  610 a......................  4600 a.
10. Selenium b....................    7782492  [Reserved] p..........  5.0 q................  290 i,m..............  71 i,m...............  n..........................  n.
11. Silver b......................    7440224  3.4 e,i,m.............  .....................  1.9 i,m.
12. Thallium......................    7440280  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  1.7 a,s....................  6.3 a,t.
13. Zinc b........................    7440666  120 e,i,m,w,x.........  120 e,i,m,w..........  90 i,m...............  81 i,m.
14. Cyanide b.....................      57125  22 o..................  5.2 o................  1 r..................  1 r..................  700 a......................  220,000 a,j.
15. Asbestos......................    1332214  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  7,000,000 fibers/L k,s.....  .......................
16. 2,3,7,8-TCDD (Dioxin).........    1746016  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  0.000000013 c..............  0.000000014 c.
17. Acrolein......................     107028  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  320 s......................  780 t.
18. Acrylonitrile.................     107131  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  0.059 a,c,s................  0.66 a,c,t.
19. Benzene.......................      71432  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  1.2 a,c....................  71 a,c.
20. Bromoform.....................      75252  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  4.3 a,c....................  360 a,c.
21. Carbon Tetrachloride..........      56235  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  0.25 a,c,s.................  4.4 a,c,t.
22. Chlorobenzene.................     108907  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  680 a,s....................  21,000 a,j,t.
23. Chlorodibromomethane..........     124481  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  0.41 a,c,y.................  34 a,c.
24. Chloroethane..................      75003
25. 2-Chloroethylvinyl Ether......     110758
26. Chloroform....................      67663  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  [Reserved].................  [Reserved].
27. Dichlorobromomethane..........      75274  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  0.56 a,c,y.................  46 a,c.
28. 1,1-Dichloroethane............      75343
29. 1,2-Dichloroethane............     107062  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  0.38 a,c,s.................  99 a,c,t.
30. 1,1-Dichloroethylene..........      75354  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  0.057 a,c,s................  3.2 a,c,t.
31. 1,2-Dichloropropane...........      78875  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  0.52 a.....................  39 a.
32. 1,3-Dichloropropylene.........     542756  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  10 a,s.....................  1,700 a,t.
33. Ethylbenzene..................     100414  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  3,100 a,s..................  29,000 a,t.
34. Methyl Bromide................      74839  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  48 a.......................  4,000 a.
35. Methyl Chloride...............      74873  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  n..........................  n.
36. Methylene Chloride............      75092  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  4.7 a,c....................  1,600 a,c.
37. 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane.....      79345  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  0.17 a,c,s.................  11 a,c,t.
38. Tetrachloroethylene...........     127184  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  0.8 c,s....................  8.85 c,t.
39. Toluene.......................     108883  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  6,800 a....................  200,000 a.
40. 1,2-Trans-Dichloroethylene....     156605  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  700 a......................  140,000 a.
41. 1,1,1-Trichloroethane.........      71556  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  n..........................  n.
42. 1,1,2-Trichloroethane.........      79005  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  0.60 a,c,s.................  42 a,c,t.
43. Trichloroethylene.............      79016  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  2.7 c,s....................  81 c,t.
44. Vinyl Chloride................      75014  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  2 c,s......................  525 c,t.
45. 2-Chlorophenol................      95578  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  120 a......................  400 a.
46. 2,4-Dichlorophenol............     120832  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  93 a,s.....................  790 a,t.
47. 2,4-Dimethylphenol............     105679  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  540 a......................  2,300 a.
48. 2-Methyl-4,6-Dinitrophenol....     534521  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  13.4 s.....................  765 t.
49. 2,4-Dinitrophenol.............      51285  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  70 a,s.....................  14,000 a,t.
50. 2-Nitrophenol.................      88755
51. 4-Nitrophenol.................     100027
52. 3-Methyl-4-Chlorophenol.......      59507
53. Pentachlorophenol.............      87865  19 f,w................  15 f,w...............  13...................  7.9..................  0.28 a,c...................  8.2 a,c,j.
54. Phenol........................     108952  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  21,000 a...................  4,600,000 a,j,t.
55. 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol.........      88062  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  2.1 a,c....................  6.5 a,c.
56. Acenaphthene..................      83329  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  1,200 a....................  2,700 a.
57. Acenaphthylene................     208968
58. Anthracene....................     120127  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  9,600 a....................  110,000 a.
59. Benzidine.....................      92875  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  0.00012 a,c,s..............  0.00054 a,c,t.
60. Benzo(a)Anthracene............      56553  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  0.0044 a,c.................  0.049 a,c.
61. Benzo(a)Pyrene................      50328  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  0.0044 a,c.................  0.049 a,c.
62. Benzo(b)Fluoranthene..........     205992  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  0.0044 a,c.................  0.049 a,c.
63. Benzo(ghi)Perylene............     191242
64. Benzo(k)Fluoranthene..........     207089  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  0.0044 a,c.................  0.049 a,c.
65. Bis(2-Chloroethoxy)Methane....     111911
66. Bis(2-Chloroethyl)Ether.......     111444  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  0.031 a,c,s................  1.4 a,c,t.

[[Page 58163]]

 
67. Bis(2-Chloroisopropyl)Ether...     108601  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  1,400 a....................  170,000 a,t.
68. Bis(2-Ethylhexyl)Phthalate....     117817  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  1.8 a,c,s..................  5.9 a,c,t.
69. 4-Bromophenyl Phenyl Ether....     101553
70. Butylbenzyl Phthalate.........      85687  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  3,000 a....................  5,200 a.
71. 2-Chloronaphthalene...........      91587  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  1,700 a....................  4,300 a.
72. 4-Chlorophenyl Phenyl Ether...    7005723
73. Chrysene......................     218019  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  0.0044 a,c.................  0.049 a,c.
74. Dibenzo(a,h)Anthracene........      53703  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  0.0044 a,c.................  0.049 a,c.
75. 1,2 Dichlorobenzene...........      95501  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  2,700 a....................  17,000 a.
76. 1,3 Dichlorobenzene...........     541731  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  400........................  2,600.
77. 1,4 Dichlorobenzene...........     106467  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  400........................  2,600.
78. 3,3'-Dichlorobenzidine........      91941  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  0.04 a,c,s.................  0.077 a,c,t.
79. Diethyl Phthalate.............      84662  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  23,000 a,s.................  120,000 a,t.
80. Dimethyl Phthalate............     131113  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  313,000 s..................  2,900,000 t.
81. Di-n-Butyl Phthalate..........      84742  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  2,700 a,s..................  12,000 a,t.
82. 2,4-Dinitrotoluene............     121142  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  0.11 c,s...................  9.1 c,t.
83. 2,6-Dinitrotoluene............     606202
84. Di-n-Octyl Phthalate..........     117840
85. 1,2-Diphenylhydrazine.........     122667  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  0.040 a,c,s................  0.54 a,c,t.
86. Fluoranthene..................     206440  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  300 a......................  370 a.
87. Fluorene......................      86737  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  1,300 a....................  14,000 a.
88. Hexachlorobenzene.............     118741  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  0.00075 a,c................  0.00077 a,c.
89. Hexachlorobutadiene...........      87683  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  0.44 a,c,s.................  50 a,c,t.
90. Hexachlorocyclopentadiene.....      77474  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  240 a,s....................  17,000 a,j,t.
91. Hexachloroethane..............      67721  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  1.9 a,c,s..................  8.9 a,c,t.
92. Indeno(1,2,3-cd) Pyrene.......     193395  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  0.0044 a,c.................  0.049 a,c.
93. Isophorone....................      78591  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  8.4 c,s....................  600 c,t.
94. Naphthalene...................      91203
95. Nitrobenzene..................      98953  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  17 a,s.....................  1,900 a,j,t.
96. N-Nitrosodimethylamine........      62759  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  0.00069 a,c,s..............  8.1 a,c,t.
97. N-Nitrosodi-n-Propylamine.....     621647  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  0.005 a....................  1.4 a.
98. N-Nitrosodiphenylamine........      86306  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  5.0 a,c,s..................  16 a,c,t.
99. Phenanthrene..................      85018
100. Pyrene.......................     129000  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  960 a......................  11,000 a.
101. 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene.......     120821
102. Aldrin.......................     309002  3 g...................  .....................  1.3 g................  .....................  0.00013 a,c................  0.00014 a,c.
103. alpha-BHC....................     319846  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  0.0039 a,c.................  0.013 a,c.
104. beta-BHC.....................     319857  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  0.014 a,c..................  0.046 a,c.
105. gamma-BHC....................      58899  0.95 w................  .....................  0.16 g...............  .....................  0.019 c....................  0.063 c.
106. delta-BHC....................     319868
107. Chlordane....................      57749  2.4 g.................  0.0043 g.............  0.09 g...............  0.004 g..............  0.00057 a,c................  0.00059 a,c.
108. 4,4'-DDT.....................      50293  1.1 g.................  0.001 g..............  0.13 g...............  0.001 g..............  0.00059 a,c................  0.00059 a,c.
109. 4,4'-DDE.....................      72559  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  0.00059 a,c................  0.00059 a,c.
110. 4,4'-DDD.....................      72548  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  0.00083 a,c................  0.00084 a,c.
111. Dieldrin.....................      60571  0.24 w................  0.056 w..............  0.71 g...............  0.0019 g.............  0.00014 a,c................  0.00014 a,c.
112. alpha-Endosulfan.............     959988  0.22 g................  0.056 g..............  0.034 g..............  0.0087 g.............  110 a......................  240 a.
113. beta-Endosulfan..............   33213659  0.22 g................  0.056 g..............  0.034 g..............  0.0087 g.............  110 a......................  240 a.
114. Endosulfan Sulfate...........    1031078  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  110 a......................  240 a.
115. Endrin.......................      72208  0.086 w...............  0.036 w..............  0.037 g..............  0.0023 g.............  0.76 a.....................  0.81 a,j.
116. Endrin Aldehyde..............    7421934  ......................  .....................  .....................  .....................  0.76 a.....................  0.81 a,j.
117. Heptachlor...................      76448  0.52 g................  0.0038 g.............  0.053 g..............  0.0036 g.............  0.00021 a,c................  0.00021 a,c.
118. Heptachlor Epoxide...........    1024573  0.52 g................  0.0038 g.............  0.053 g..............  0.0036 g.............  0.00010 a,c................  0.00011 a,c.
119-125. Polychlorinated biphenyls  .........  ......................  0.014 u..............  .....................  0.03 u...............  0.00017 c,v................  0.00017 c,v.
 (PCBs).
126. Toxaphene....................    8001352  0.73..................  0.0002...............  0.21.................  0.0002...............  0.00073 a,c................  0.00075 a,c.
                                   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total Number of Criteria h....  .........  22....................  21...................  22...................  20...................  92.........................  90.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Footnotes to Table in Paragraph (b)(1)
a. Criteria revised to reflect the Agency q1* or RfD, as contained in the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) as of October 1, 1996. The fish tissue bioconcentration factor (BCF) from
  the 1980 documents was retained in each case.
b. Criteria apply to California waters except for those waters subject to objectives in Tables III-2A and III-2B of the San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board's (SFRWQCB) 1986
  Basin Plan that were adopted by the SFRWQCB and the State Water Resources Control Board, approved by EPA, and which continue to apply. For copper and nickel, criteria apply to California
  waters except for waters south of Dumbarton Bridge in San Francisco Bay that are subject to the objectives in the SFRWQCB's Basin Plan as amended by SFRWQCB Resolution R2-2002-0061, dated
  May 22, 2002, and approved by the State Water Resources Control Board. EPA approved the aquatic life site-specific objectives on January 21, 2003. The copper and nickel aquatic life site-
  specific objectives contained in the amended Basin Plan apply instead.
c. Criteria are based on carcinogenicity of 10 (-6) risk.
d. Criteria Maximum Concentration (CMC) equals the highest concentration of a pollutant to which aquatic life can be exposed for a short period of time without deleterious effects. Criteria
  Continuous Concentration (CCC) equals the highest concentration of a pollutant to which aquatic life can be exposed for an extended period of time (4 days) without deleterious effects. ug/L
  equals micrograms per liter.
e. Freshwater aquatic life criteria for metals are expressed as a function of total hardness (mg/L) in the water body. The equations are provided in matrix at paragraph (b)(2) of this section.
  Values displayed above in the matrix correspond to a total hardness of 100 mg/l.
f. Freshwater aquatic life criteria for pentachlorophenol are expressed as a function of pH, and are calculated as follows: Values displayed above in the matrix correspond to a pH of 7.8. CMC
  = exp(1.005(pH)-4.869). CCC = exp(1.005(pH)-5.134).
g. This criterion is based on 304(a) aquatic life criterion issued in 1980, and was issued in one of the following documents: Aldrin/Dieldrin (EPA 440/5-80-019), Chlordane (EPA 440/5-80-027),
  DDT (EPA 440/5-80-038), Endosulfan (EPA 440/5-80-046), Endrin (EPA 440/5-80-047), Heptachlor (440/5-80-052), Hexachlorocyclohexane (EPA 440/5-80-054), Silver (EPA 440/5-80-071). The Minimum
  Data Requirements and derivation procedures were different in the 1980 Guidelines than in the 1985 Guidelines. For example, a ``CMC'' derived using the 1980 Guidelines was derived to be used
  as an instantaneous maximum. If assessment is to be done using an averaging period, the values given should be divided by 2 to obtain a value that is more comparable to a CMC derived using
  the 1985 Guidelines.

[[Page 58164]]

 
h. These totals simply sum the criteria in each column. For aquatic life, there are 23 priority toxic pollutants with some type of freshwater or saltwater, acute or chronic criteria. For human
  health, there are 92 priority toxic pollutants with either ``water + organism'' or ``organism only'' criteria. Note that these totals count chromium as one pollutant even though EPA has
  developed criteria based on two valence states. In the matrix, EPA has assigned numbers 5a and 5b to the criteria for chromium to reflect the fact that the list of 126 priority pollutants
  includes only a single listing for chromium.
i. Criteria for these metals are expressed as a function of the water-effect ratio, WER, as defined in paragraph (c) of this section. CMC = column B1 or C1 value x WER; CCC = column B2 or C2
  value x WER.
j. No criterion for protection of human health from consumption of aquatic organisms (excluding water) was presented in the 1980 criteria document or in the 1986 Quality Criteria for Water.
  Nevertheless, sufficient information was presented in the 1980 document to allow a calculation of a criterion, even though the results of such a calculation were not shown in the document.
k. The CWA 304(a) criterion for asbestos is the MCL.
l. [Reserved]
m. These freshwater and saltwater criteria for metals are expressed in terms of the dissolved fraction of the metal in the water column. Criterion values were calculated by using EPA's Clean
  Water Act 304(a) guidance values (described in the total recoverable fraction) and then applying the conversion factors in Sec.   131.36(b)(1) and (2).
n. EPA is not promulgating human health criteria for these contaminants. However, permit authorities should address these contaminants in NPDES permit actions using the State's existing
  narrative criteria for toxics.
o. These criteria were promulgated for specific waters in California in the National Toxics Rule (``NTR''), at Sec.   131.36. The specific waters to which the NTR criteria apply include:
  Waters of the State defined as bays or estuaries and waters of the State defined as inland, i.e., all surface waters of the State not ocean waters. These waters specifically include the San
  Francisco Bay upstream to and including Suisun Bay and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. This section does not apply instead of the NTR for this criterion.
p. A criterion of 20 ug/l was promulgated for specific waters in California in the NTR and was promulgated in the total recoverable form. The specific waters to which the NTR criterion applies
  include: Waters of the San Francisco Bay upstream to and including Suisun Bay and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta; and waters of Salt Slough, Mud Slough (north) and the San Joaquin River,
  Sack Dam to the mouth of the Merced River. This section does not apply instead of the NTR for this criterion. The State of California adopted and EPA approved a site specific criterion for
  the San Joaquin River, mouth of Merced to Vernalis; therefore, this section does not apply to these waters.
q. This criterion is expressed in the total recoverable form. This criterion was promulgated for specific waters in California in the NTR and was promulgated in the total recoverable form. The
  specific waters to which the NTR criterion applies include: Waters of the San Francisco Bay upstream to and including Suisun Bay and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta; and waters of Salt
  Slough, Mud Slough (north) and the San Joaquin River, Sack Dam to Vernalis. This criterion does not apply instead of the NTR for these waters. This criterion applies to additional waters of
  the United States in the State of California pursuant to 40 CFR 131.38(c). The State of California adopted and EPA approved a site-specific criterion for the Grassland Water District, San
  Luis National Wildlife Refuge, and the Los Banos State Wildlife Refuge; therefore, this criterion does not apply to these waters.
r. These criteria were promulgated for specific waters in California in the NTR. The specific waters to which the NTR criteria apply include: Waters of the State defined as bays or estuaries
  including the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta within California Regional Water Board 5, but excluding the San Francisco Bay. This section does not apply instead of the NTR for these criteria.
s. These criteria were promulgated for specific waters in California in the NTR. The specific waters to which the NTR criteria apply include: Waters of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and
  waters of the State defined as inland (i.e., all surface waters of the State not bays or estuaries or ocean) that include a MUN use designation. This section does not apply instead of the
  NTR for these criteria.
t. These criteria were promulgated for specific waters in California in the NTR. The specific waters to which the NTR criteria apply include: Waters of the State defined as bays and estuaries
  including San Francisco Bay upstream to and including Suisun Bay and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta; and waters of the State defined as inland (i.e., all surface waters of the State not
  bays or estuaries or ocean) without a MUN use designation. This section does not apply instead of the NTR for these criteria.
u. PCBs are a class of chemicals which include aroclors 1242, 1254, 1221, 1232, 1248, 1260, and 1016, CAS numbers 53469219, 11097691, 11104282, 11141165, 12672296, 11096825, and 12674112,
  respectively. The aquatic life criteria apply to the sum of this set of seven aroclors.
v. This criterion applies to total PCBs, e.g., the sum of all congener or isomer or homolog or aroclor analyses.
w. This criterion has been recalculated pursuant to the 1995 Updates: Water Quality Criteria Documents for the Protection of Aquatic Life in Ambient Water, Office of Water, EPA-820-B-96-001,
  September 1996. See also Great Lakes Water Quality Initiative Criteria Documents for the Protection of Aquatic Life in Ambient Water, Office of Water, EPA-80-B-95-004, March 1995.
x. The State of California has adopted and EPA has approved site-specific criteria for the Sacramento River (and tributaries) above Hamilton City; therefore, these criteria do not apply to
  these waters.
y. The State of California adopted and EPA approved a site-specific criterion for New Alamo Creek from Old Alamo Creek to Ulatis Creek and for Ulatis Creek from Alamo Creek to Cache Slough;
  therefore, this criterion does not apply to these waters.
z. The State of California adopted and EPA approved a site-specific criterion for the Los Angeles River and its tributaries; therefore, this criterion does not apply to these waters.
General Notes to Table in Paragraph (b)(1)
1. The table in this paragraph (b)(1) lists all of EPA's priority toxic pollutants whether or not criteria guidance are available. Blank spaces indicate the absence of national section 304(a)
  criteria guidance. Because of variations in chemical nomenclature systems, this listing of toxic pollutants does not duplicate the listing in appendix A to 40 CFR part 423-126 Priority
  Pollutants. EPA has added the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) registry numbers, which provide a unique identification for each chemical.
2. The following chemicals have organoleptic-based criteria recommendations that are not included on this chart: zinc, 3-methyl-4-chlorophenol.
3. Freshwater and saltwater aquatic life criteria apply as specified in paragraph (c)(3) of this section.

* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2017-25706 Filed 12-8-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P