[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 200 (Tuesday, October 16, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52163-52169]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-22170]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 131

[EPA-HQ-OW-2017-0303; FRL-9985-34-OW]
RIN 2040-AF71


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

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final 
action to amend the Federal regulations to withdraw certain freshwater 
acute and chronic aquatic life water quality criteria and certain human 
health (water and organisms) water quality criteria, applicable to 
certain waters of California because California adopted, and the Agency 
approved, criteria for these parameters that are protective of the uses 
for the waterbodies. In this action, the EPA is amending the Federal 
regulations to withdraw those certain criteria applicable to California 
as described in the December 11, 2017 proposed rule. The withdrawal 
will enable California to implement their EPA-approved water quality 
criteria.

DATES: This final rule is effective on November 15, 2018.

ADDRESSES: The EPA has established a docket for this action identified 
by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2017-0303, at https://www.regulations.gov.
    For additional information about the EPA's public docket, visit the 
EPA Docket Center homepage at https://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the 
www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some 
information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such 
as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. 
Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically 
in www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at two Docket Facilities. The 
Office of Water (``OW'') Docket Center is open from 8:30 a.m. until 
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The Docket 
telephone number is (202) 566-2426 and the Docket address is OW Docket, 
EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20004. 
The 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. Publicly available docket 
materials are also available in hard copy at the U.S. EPA Region 9 
address. Docket materials can be accessed from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 
p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays.

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

[[Page 52164]]

(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 
the EPA is withdrawing?
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
    L. Congressional Review Act (CRA)

I. General Information

A. Does this action apply to me?

    No one is affected by the final action contained in this document. 
This final action would merely serve to withdraw certain Federal water 
quality criteria that have been applicable to California and are no 
longer needed in light of the EPA-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, the EPA promulgated a final rule known as the 
``California Toxics Rule'' (``CTR'') at 40 CFR 131.38. The CTR 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, the EPA developed its 
water quality standards program emphasizing State primacy. Although in 
the CTR the EPA promulgated toxic criteria for California, the Agency 
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 31682 (May 18, 
2000)), when California adopts, and the EPA approves, water quality 
criteria that meet the requirements of the CWA, the Agency will issue a 
rule amending the CTR to withdraw the Federal criteria applicable to 
California.
    On December 11, 2017, the EPA proposed the withdrawal of certain 
freshwater aquatic life (acute and chronic) water quality criteria and 
certain federally promulgated human health (water and organisms) water 
quality criteria, applicable in California (see 82 FR 58156, December 
11, 2017). The EPA received comments on the proposed rule and a listing 
of the comments, and the Agency's responses, are contained in the 
document ``Response to Comments for Water Quality Standards; Withdrawal 
of Certain Federal Water Quality Criteria Applicable to California: 
Lead, Chlorodibromomethane and Dichlorobromomethane,'' which can be 
accessed at OW docket number EPA-HQ-OW-2017-0303. Today, the EPA is 
taking final action on its proposal. The withdrawal of the federally 
promulgated criteria will enable California to implement its EPA-
approved water quality criteria for these parameters.

B. What are the applicable Federal water quality criteria that the EPA 
is withdrawing?

    As discussed in the proposal (see 82 FR 58156, December 11, 2017), 
this final rule amends the Federal regulations in the CTR to withdraw 
the following criteria: freshwater acute and chronic aquatic life 
criteria for lead for the Los Angeles River and its tributaries; and 
human health (water & organisms) criteria for chlorodibromomethane and 
dichlorobromomethane for a segment of New Alamo Creek and a segment of 
Ulatis Creek. The EPA approved the State's criteria for lead and for 
chlorodibromomethane and dichlorobromomethane for these waters because 
the Agency determined that the State's criteria were scientifically 
sound and protective of the designated uses for these certain waters 
and met the requirements of the CWA and the Agency's implementing 
regulations at 40 CFR part 131. The State calls these criteria site-
specific water quality objectives or site-specific objectives. More 
information on the EPA's actions which approved the California's site-
specific objectives can be accessed at OW docket number EPA-HQ-OW-2017-
0303.
    This final rule will result in the withdrawal of the federally 
promulgated criteria for these certain waters under the CTR. However, 
the criteria for lead, chlorodibromomethane, and dichlorobromomethane 
for other waters in California that are currently part of the CTR 
remain in the Federal promulgation.
    No changes to this final rule were made in response to the comments 
received on the proposed rule. The EPA received nine comments on the 
proposed rule through the public docket which are described in more 
detail in this section. Two anonymous comments and one environmental 
group opposed the proposed rule to withdraw certain Federal criteria 
because California's criteria are higher numerically than the Federal 
criteria. Regarding the State's aquatic life criteria for lead, the EPA 
indicated that the State has provided analyses that show the criteria 
are protective of aquatic life, and that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service agreed that the criteria would not likely adversely affect any 
listed threatened or endangered species or their critical habitat. 
Regarding the State's human health criteria for chlorodibromomethane 
and dichlorobromomethane, the EPA indicated in its response that, as 
described in Agency's Record of Decision supporting the approval of the 
state's criteria, 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 higher 
rates to no more than a 10-4 cancer risk. The EPA determined 
that these certain state criteria assure that cancer risk to the most 
highly exposed population would not exceed a 10-4 cancer 
risk level. In addition, the consumption of the water and fish/
shellfish from the affected waterbody segments does not currently 
occur, nor

[[Page 52165]]

is it expected to occur in the future. The Sanitation Districts of Los 
Angeles County supported the proposed rule. Four comments were outside 
the scope of the proposed rule; and, one comment's position was not 
clear. Two emails were sent directly to the EPA after the comment 
period closed for the proposed rule, inquiring about how water quality 
criteria under the CWA are determined compared to the Maximum 
Contaminant Levels (MCLs) under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA); the 
Agency's response, also included in the docket, stated that the CWA 
does not allow for consideration of costs and technological feasibility 
in the calculation of CWA water quality criteria, unlike SDWA MCLs. The 
EPA's ``Response to Comments for Water Quality Standards; Withdrawal of 
Certain Federal Water Quality Criteria Applicable to California: Lead, 
Chlorodibromomethane and Dichlorobromomethane'' can be accessed at OW 
docket number EPA-HQ-OW-2017-0303.

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 a deregulatory action under Executive Order 13771. 
This 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 at 40 CFR 
part 131 and has assigned OMB control number 2040-0286.

D. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) generally requires an agency 
to prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis of any rule 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 a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities. Small entities include small businesses, 
small organizations, and small governmental jurisdictions.
    For purposes of assessing the impacts of this rule on small 
entities, small entity is defined as: (1) A small business as defined 
by the Small Business Administration's (SBA) regulations at 13 CFR 
121.201; (2) a small governmental jurisdiction that is a government of 
a city, county, town, school district or special district with a 
population of less than 50,000; and (3) a small organization that is 
any not-for-profit enterprise which is independently owned and operated 
and is not dominant in its field.
    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.

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 withdraws 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 the EPA 
policy to promote communications between the Agency and state and local 
governments, the Agency specifically solicited comment on this 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 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 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). The 
EPA has previously determined, based on the most current science and 
the Agency's CWA Section 304(a) recommended criteria, that California's 
adopted and the Agency-approved criteria are protective of human 
health.

[[Page 52166]]

L. 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. The 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. A major rule cannot 
take effect until 60 days after it is published in the Federal 
Register. This action is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 
804(2). This rule will be effective November 15, 2018.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 131

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

    Dated: October 4, 2018.
Andrew R. Wheeler,
Acting Administrator.
    For the reasons set out in the preamble title 40, chapter I, part 
131 of the Code of Federal Regulation 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.


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     Criterion     Criterion     Criterion  ------------------------------------
                                                                maximum     continuous      maximum     continuous        Water and
                Number compound                   CAS No.       conc.d        conc.d        conc.d        conc.d      organisms ([mu]g/   Organisms only
                                                             ([mu]g/L) B1  ([mu]g/L) B2  ([mu]g/L) C1  ([mu]g/L) C2         L) D1          ([mu]g/L) D2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Antimony...................................      7440360  ............  ............  ............  ............              a s 14         a t 4300
2. Arsenic b..................................      7440382     i m w 340     i m w 150        i m 69        i m 36  ..................  ...............
3. Beryllium..................................      7440417  ............  ............  ............  ............                 (n)              (n)
4. Cadmium b..................................      7440439     e i m w x   e i m w 2.2        i m 42       i m 9.3                 (n)              (n)
                                                                      4.3
5a. Chromium (III)............................     16065831   e i m o 550   e i m o 180  ............  ............                 (n)              (n)
5b. Chromium (VI) b...........................     18540299      i m w 16      i m w 11      i m 1100        i m 50                 (n)              (n)
6. Copper b...................................      7440508  e i m w x 13   e i m w 9.0       i m 4.8       i m 3.1                1300  ...............
7. Lead b.....................................      7439921    e i m z 65   e i m z 2.5       i m 210       i m 8.1                 (n)              (n)
8. Mercury b..................................      7439976    [Reserved]    [Reserved]    [Reserved]    [Reserved]             a 0.050          a 0.051
9. Nickel b...................................      7440020   e i m w 470    e i m w 52        i m 74       i m 8.2               a 610           a 4600
10. Selenium b................................      7782492  p [Reserved]         q 5.0       i m 290        i m 71                 (n)              (n)
11. Silver b..................................      7440224     e i m 3.4  ............       i m 1.9  ............  ..................  ...............
12. Thallium..................................      7440280  ............  ............  ............  ............             a s 1.7          a t 6.3
13. Zinc b....................................      7440666     e i m w x   e i m w 120        i m 90        i m 81  ..................  ...............
                                                                      120
14. Cyanide b.................................        57125          o 22         o 5.2           r 1           r 1               a 700      a j 220,000
15. Asbestos..................................      1332214  ............  ............  ............  ............       k s 7,000,000  ...............
                                                                                                                               fibers/l
16. 2,3,7,8-TCDD (Dioxin).....................      1746016  ............  ............  ............  ............       c 0.000000013    c 0.000000014
17. Acrolein..................................       107028  ............  ............  ............  ............               s 320            t 780
18. Acrylonitrile.............................       107131  ............  ............  ............  ............         a c s 0.059       a c t 0.66
19. Benzene...................................        71432  ............  ............  ............  ............             a c 1.2           a c 71
20. Bromoform.................................        75252  ............  ............  ............  ............             a c 4.3          a c 360
21. Carbon Tetrachloride......................        56235  ............  ............  ............  ............          a c s 0.25        a c t 4.4
22. Chlorobenzene.............................       108907  ............  ............  ............  ............             a s 680     a j t 21,000
23. Chlorodibromomethane......................       124481  ............  ............  ............  ............          a c y 0.41           a c 34
24. Chloroethane..............................        75003  ............  ............  ............  ............  ..................  ...............
25. 2-Chloroethylvinyl Ether..................       110758  ............  ............  ............  ............  ..................  ...............
26. Chloroform................................        67663  ............  ............  ............  ............          [Reserved]       [Reserved]
27. Dichlorobromomethane......................        75274  ............  ............  ............  ............          a c y 0.56           a c 46
28. 1,1-Dichloroethane........................        75343  ............  ............  ............  ............  ..................  ...............
29. 1,2-Dichloroethane........................       107062  ............  ............  ............  ............          a c s 0.38         a c t 99
30. 1,1-Dichloroethylene......................        75354  ............  ............  ............  ............         a c s 0.057        a c t 3.2
31. 1,2-Dichloropropane.......................        78875  ............  ............  ............  ............              a 0.52             a 39
32. 1,3-Dichloropropylene.....................       542756  ............  ............  ............  ............              a s 10        a t 1,700
33. Ethylbenzene..............................       100414  ............  ............  ............  ............           a s 3,100       a t 29,000
34. Methyl Bromide............................        74839  ............  ............  ............  ............                a 48          a 4,000
35. Methyl Chloride...........................        74873  ............  ............  ............  ............                 (n)              (n)
36. Methylene Chloride........................        75092  ............  ............  ............  ............             a c 4.7        a c 1,600
37. 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane.................        79345  ............  ............  ............  ............          a c s 0.17         a c t 11
38. Tetrachloroethylene.......................       127184  ............  ............  ............  ............             c s 0.8         c t 8.85
39. Toluene...................................       108883  ............  ............  ............  ............             a 6,800        a 200,000
40. 1,2-Trans-Dichloroethylene................       156605  ............  ............  ............  ............               a 700        a 140,000
41. 1,1,1-Trichloroethane.....................        71556  ............  ............  ............  ............                 (n)              (n)
42. 1,1,2-Trichloroethane.....................        79005  ............  ............  ............  ............          a c s 0.60         a c t 42
43. Trichloroethylene.........................        79016  ............  ............  ............  ............             c s 2.7           c t 81
44. Vinyl Chloride............................        75014  ............  ............  ............  ............               c s 2          c t 525
45. 2-Chlorophenol............................        95578  ............  ............  ............  ............               a 120            a 400
46. 2,4-Dichlorophenol........................       120832  ............  ............  ............  ............              a s 93          a t 790
47. 2,4-Dimethylphenol........................       105679  ............  ............  ............  ............               a 540          a 2,300
48. 2-Methyl-4,6-Dinitrophenol................       534521  ............  ............  ............  ............              s 13.4            t 765
49. 2,4-Dinitrophenol.........................        51285  ............  ............  ............  ............              a s 70       a t 14,000
50. 2-Nitrophenol.............................        88755  ............  ............  ............  ............  ..................  ...............
51. 4-Nitrophenol.............................       100027  ............  ............  ............  ............  ..................  ...............

[[Page 52167]]

 
52. 3-Methyl-4-Chlorophenol...................        59507  ............  ............  ............  ............  ..................  ...............
53. Pentachlorophenol.........................        87865        f w 19        f w 15            13           7.9            a c 0.28        a c j 8.2
54. Phenol....................................       108952  ............  ............  ............  ............            a 21,000  a j t 4,600,000
55. 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol.....................        88062  ............  ............  ............  ............             a c 2.1          a c 6.5
56. Acenaphthene..............................        83329  ............  ............  ............  ............             a 1,200          a 2,700
57. Acenaphthylene............................       208968  ............  ............  ............  ............  ..................  ...............
58. Anthracene................................       120127  ............  ............  ............  ............             a 9,600        a 110,000
59. Benzidine.................................        92875  ............  ............  ............  ............       a c s 0.00012    a c t 0.00054
60. Benzo(a)Anthracene........................        56553  ............  ............  ............  ............          a c 0.0044        a c 0.049
61. Benzo(a)Pyrene............................        50328  ............  ............  ............  ............          a c 0.0044        a c 0.049
62. Benzo(b)Fluoranthene......................       205992  ............  ............  ............  ............          a c 0.0044        a c 0.049
63. Benzo(ghi)Perylene........................       191242  ............  ............  ............  ............  ..................  ...............
64. Benzo(k)Fluoranthene......................       207089  ............  ............  ............  ............          a c 0.0044        a c 0.049
65. Bis(2-Chloroethoxy)Methane................       111911  ............  ............  ............  ............  ..................  ...............
66. Bis(2-Chloroethyl)Ether...................       111444  ............  ............  ............  ............         a c s 0.031        a c t 1.4
67. Bis(2-Chloroisopropyl)Ether...............       108601  ............  ............  ............  ............             a 1,400      a t 170,000
68. Bis(2-Ethylhexyl)Phthalate................       117817  ............  ............  ............  ............           a c s 1.8        a c t 5.9
69. 4-Bromophenyl Phenyl Ether................       101553  ............  ............  ............  ............  ..................  ...............
70. Butylbenzyl Phthalate.....................        85687  ............  ............  ............  ............             a 3,000          a 5,200
71. 2-Chloronaphthalene.......................        91587  ............  ............  ............  ............             a 1,700          a 4,300
72. 4-Chlorophenyl Phenyl Ether...............      7005723  ............  ............  ............  ............  ..................  ...............
73. Chrysene..................................       218019  ............  ............  ............  ............          a c 0.0044        a c 0.049
74. Dibenzo(a,h)Anthracene....................        53703  ............  ............  ............  ............          a c 0.0044        a c 0.049
75. 1,2 Dichlorobenzene.......................        95501  ............  ............  ............  ............             a 2,700         a 17,000
76. 1,3 Dichlorobenzene.......................       541731  ............  ............  ............  ............                 400            2,600
77. 1,4 Dichlorobenzene.......................       106467  ............  ............  ............  ............                 400            2,600
78. 3,3'-Dichlorobenzidine....................        91941  ............  ............  ............  ............          a c s 0.04      a c t 0.077
79. Diethyl Phthalate.........................        84662  ............  ............  ............  ............          a s 23,000      a t 120,000
80. Dimethyl Phthalate........................       131113  ............  ............  ............  ............           s 313,000      t 2,900,000
81. Di-n-Butyl Phthalate......................        84742  ............  ............  ............  ............           a s 2,700       a t 12,000
82. 2,4-Dinitrotoluene........................       121142  ............  ............  ............  ............            c s 0.11          c t 9.1
83. 2,6-Dinitrotoluene........................       606202  ............  ............  ............  ............  ..................  ...............
84. Di-n-Octyl Phthalate......................       117840  ............  ............  ............  ............  ..................  ...............
85. 1,2-Diphenylhydrazine.....................       122667  ............  ............  ............  ............         a c s 0.040       a c t 0.54
86. Fluoranthene..............................       206440  ............  ............  ............  ............               a 300            a 370
87. Fluorene..................................        86737  ............  ............  ............  ............             a 1,300         a 14,000
88. Hexachlorobenzene.........................       118741  ............  ............  ............  ............         a c 0.00075      a c 0.00077
89. Hexachlorobutadiene.......................        87683  ............  ............  ............  ............          a c s 0.44         a c t 50
90. Hexachlorocyclopentadiene.................        77474  ............  ............  ............  ............             a s 240     a j t 17,000
91. Hexachloroethane..........................        67721  ............  ............  ............  ............           a c s 1.9        a c t 8.9
92. Indeno(1,2,3-cd) Pyrene...................       193395  ............  ............  ............  ............          a c 0.0044        a c 0.049
93. Isophorone................................        78591  ............  ............  ............  ............             c s 8.4          c t 600
94. Naphthalene...............................        91203  ............  ............  ............  ............  ..................  ...............
95. Nitrobenzene..............................        98953  ............  ............  ............  ............              a s 17      a j t 1,900
96. N-Nitrosodimethylamine....................        62759  ............  ............  ............  ............       a c s 0.00069        a c t 8.1
97. N-Nitrosodi-n-Propylamine.................       621647  ............  ............  ............  ............             a 0.005            a 1.4
98. N-Nitrosodiphenylamine....................        86306  ............  ............  ............  ............           a c s 5.0         a c t 16
99. Phenanthrene..............................        85018  ............  ............  ............  ............  ..................  ...............
100. Pyrene...................................       129000  ............  ............  ............  ............               a 960         a 11,000
101. 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene...................       120821  ............  ............  ............  ............  ..................  ...............
102. Aldrin...................................       309002           g 3  ............         g 1.3  ............         a c 0.00013      a c 0.00014
103. alpha-BHC................................       319846  ............  ............  ............  ............          a c 0.0039        a c 0.013
104. beta-BHC.................................       319857  ............  ............  ............  ............           a c 0.014        a c 0.046
105. gamma-BHC................................        58899        w 0.95  ............        g 0.16  ............             c 0.019          c 0.063
106. delta-BHC................................       319868  ............  ............  ............  ............  ..................  ...............
107. Chlordane................................        57749         g 2.4      g 0.0043        g 0.09       g 0.004         a c 0.00057      a c 0.00059
108. 4,4'-DDT.................................        50293         g 1.1       g 0.001        g 0.13       g 0.001         a c 0.00059      a c 0.00059
109. 4,4'-DDE.................................        72559  ............  ............  ............  ............         a c 0.00059      a c 0.00059
110. 4,4'-DDD.................................        72548  ............  ............  ............  ............         a c 0.00083      a c 0.00084
111. Dieldrin.................................        60571        w 0.24       w 0.056        g 0.71      g 0.0019         a c 0.00014      a c 0.00014
112. alpha-Endosulfan.........................       959988        g 0.22       g 0.056       g 0.034      g 0.0087               a 110            a 240
113. beta-Endosulfan..........................     33213659        g 0.22       g 0.056       g 0.034      g 0.0087               a 110            a 240
114. Endosulfan Sulfate.......................      1031078  ............  ............  ............  ............               a 110            a 240
115. Endrin...................................        72208       w 0.086       w 0.036       g 0.037      g 0.0023              a 0.76         a j 0.81
116. Endrin Aldehyde..........................      7421934  ............  ............  ............  ............              a 0.76         a j 0.81
117. Heptachlor...............................        76448        g 0.52      g 0.0038       g 0.053      g 0.0036         a c 0.00021      a c 0.00021
118. Heptachlor Epoxide.......................      1024573        g 0.52      g 0.0038       g 0.053      g 0.0036         a c 0.00010      a c 0.00011
119-125. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).....  ...........  ............       u 0.014  ............        u 0.03         c v 0.00017      c v 0.00017
126. Toxaphene................................      8001352          0.73        0.0002          0.21        0.0002         a c 0.00073      a c 0.00075
                                               ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    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.

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\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 the 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. The 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. [mu]g/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 Clean Water Act (CWA) 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.
\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 the EPA has developed criteria based on two valence states. In the
  matrix, the 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 the 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\ The 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 [mu]g/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 the 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 paragraph (c) of this section. The State of California adopted and the 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 the 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 the 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 the 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 the 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. The 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.


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[FR Doc. 2018-22170 Filed 10-15-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P