US. Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Management Report
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UJ
ay 1983
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UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
May 13, 1983
SUBJECT: Region 9's Final Environmental Management Report
FROM-. sonia F. Crow (J Acl
Regional Administrator
T0: Joseph A. Cannon, Associate Administrator for policy
and Resource Management (PM-219)
This memo transmits Region 9's Final Environmental
Management Report (EMR). A substantial amount of time and
staff effort has been channeled toward completing this
document. I intend to use this EMR as a regional management
tool; I hope you find it valuable as well.
It is also our intention to distribute the EMR to the
states within Region B. There has been a clear indication of
significant interest in the document at the state level.
If you have any questions regarding Region 9's EMR,
please contact Charles W. Murray, Jr., Assistant Regional
Administrator, at FTS 454-8024.
EPA FORM 1320-* (REV 3-76)
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Region 9
Environmental Management Report
Table of Contents
Part 1; Media Overview and Trends
Water 1
Hazardous Waste 3
Pesticides 4
Air 5
Radiation 8
Intermedia 9
Part 2; Significant Environmental Problems and Implications
for Agency Management
Part 2a; Significant Environmental Problems
Water 11
Hazardous Waste 11
Pesticides. 11
Air 12
Intermedia .12
Part 2b; Implications for Agency Management
Water 13
Hazardous Waste 19
Pesticides 21
Air 23
Intermedia 32
Attachment A; Media Overview and Trends (Documentation of Part 1)
Water 33
Hazardous Waste 58
Air 62
Radiation 70
Intermedia 73
Attachment B; Problem Analysis (Documentation of Part 2)
Water 75
Hazardous Waste 85
Pesticides 88
Air 90
Intermedia 95
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Part 1; Media Overview
Water
Surface Water Quality
The states that comprise Region 9 are fortunate to have many
surface waters of very high quality that provide for a wide
variety of beneficial uses. The thrust of water quality control
programs in these states is to maintain high quality waters
without significant degradation. Many streams, estuaries, and
marine bodies which were impaired by municipal and industrial
dischargers have been cleaned up through the efforts of Federal
and State water quality programs, leading to an overall steady
improvement in surface water quality.
Non-point pollution sources continue to be the primary contribu-
tion to impairment of beneficial uses in lakes and streams. This
is due in part to the generally slow pace of implementing Best
Management Practices. Erosion of land stripped of its natural
cover has increased the concentration of suspended solids in many
streams. Soil erosion, urban run-off, and the introduction of
nutrients for algal production continues to decrease the clarity
of Lake Tahoe, a unique and nationally significant lake. Heavy
metals originating from past and present mining activities also
represent a serious problem for a number of stream reaches.
Ground Water Quality
The most serious water quality problem facing the states in
Region 9 is the contamination of ground water resources. The
presence of toxic organic compounds heretofore not found in
ground water has concerned health officials throughout the
region, and has necessitated the closing of several municipal
water supply wells. The problem is serious because of the
reliance on ground water for municipal and agricultural water
supplies; furthermore, once contaminated, an aquifer may be
rendered unuseable for decades or more due to the very slow
movement and limited mixing characteristics of ground water.
Past practices of land disposal of waste and the substantial
usage of agricultural fertilizers and pesticides are the
major causes of these problems. Due to the substantial
delays in demonstrating cause and effect relations, trends
in this area are unclear at this point.
Salt water intrusion into fresh water aquifers caused by heavy
pumping is a problem along certain areas of the California
coastline. Intrusion of brackish water and the resulting degra-
dation of fresh water has also occurred due to withdrawal of
ground water for agricultural uses. The application of highly
saline surface waters for irrigation also threatens to impair
ground water quality in Central Arizona.
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Drinking Water Supplies
The majority of the population in Region 9 is served by public
water supplies that meet all of the requirements of the Safe
Drinking Water Act. A small percentage of the people are pro-
vided water by small systems that periodically violate sampling
or public notification requirements. The major thrust of the
Public Water Supply Supervision Program is to obtain compliance
by these small suppliers, and to focus attention on the persistent
violators. Generally, the compliance rate of public water sup-
plies in the Region has improved over the years since passage
of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Compliance with sampling and
reporting requirements is markedly better than it was five years
ago.
Since ground water provides 73% of the public water supplies,
serving 19% of the population of Region 9, protection of these
supplies is of major importance. As noted above, contamination
in certain aquifers has already occurred. Moreover, isolated
cases of excessive nitrate or heavy metal concentrations in
ground water occur in the region. Some instances are related
to the natural occurrence of these substances, while others
are introduced by man's activities.
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Hazardous Waste
Inactive Disposal Sites
There are approximately 1200 uncontrolled hazardous waste sites
in Region 9: 140 in Arizona, 849 in California, 72 in Hawaii,
113 in Nevada and 25 in the Insular Territories. Twenty-one of
these sites are on the proposed National Priority List (NPL):
11 in California, 6 in Arizona, 4 in the Insular Territories.
There are no NPL-sites in Hawaii or Nevada.
Active Disposal Sites
Of the estimated 41,000,000 wet metric tons of hazardous waste
generated in the U.S., approximately 2,800,000 or seven percent
is produced annually in Region 9.
In Region 9, 862 facilities treat, store or dispose of hazardous
waste and are now governed by the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act (RCRA) interim status requirements. Eighty-seven
percent of these facilities are located in California. Region
9 is focusing on compliance with two major aspects of the interim
status regulation: ground water monitoring and financial require-
ments (liability insurance and closure/post-closure financial
mechanisms). Of the systems evaluated to date for ground water
monitoring, compliance appears poor; well over fifty percent are
out of compliance. Compliance with financial requirements is
somewhat better; slightly less than 50 percent are out of
compliance with EPA requirements.
Interim status requirements will, over the next few years, be
replaced by site-specific permits. Region 9 has developed a
priority system for permit applications to ensure that the
facilities with the highest potential for environmental problems
are permitted first. Over eighty facilities have been requested
to furnish part B applications. Included in this total are the
forty land disposal sites considered to pose the greatest threat
to ground water in Region 9.
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Pesticides
All EPA Region 9 states have pesticide-use enforcement primacy
under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act.
State program development is accomplished through Region 9
technical assistance and cooperative agreements. Certification
programs for applicators using restricted-use pesticides are
administered by EPA-approved state programs.
California, a major producer of the Nation's agricultural pro-
ducts, uses approximately 15-20 percent of the total pesticides
used in the United States. Aerial applications of pesticides
can pose a nuisance and potential health problem to residents
living adjacent to agricultural areas because of pesticide drift.
Off-target damage to plants has been documented for grapes,
almonds, and pistachios. Improper/excessive use of pesticides can
cause water quality impairment either by direct runoff or infiltra-
tion to ground waters. Also the rinsing and disposal of pesticide
containers is a source of contamination. Extensive ground water
contamination by DBCP has occurred in the largely agricultural
San joaquin Valley.
Hawaii's pineapple industry has historically relied on the use
of DBCP to control nematodes which destroy the crop's root system.
Ground water contamination is now a concern in Hawaii due to the
identification of DBCP in a number of irrigation and potable
drinking water wells in various locations.
The misuse of pesticides, resulting in public complaints and
worker exposures and injuries, continues to play an important
role in Region 9's pesticide program.
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Air Quality
Ozone
Ozone (03) is the most serious air quality problem in
Region 9 based upon concentration levels, geographic extent
of areas exceeding the air quality standard, and population
exposed. Many areas experience violations of the National
Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) as well as concentrations
above the stage-one alert level. The South Coast Air Basin
violates the NAAQS more than 150 days per year, with concen-
trations reaching three to four times the 03 standard.
Most areas within Region 9 have experienced decreases in
ozone concentrations, which is significant given the population
growth. However, some areas currently attaining the NAAQS,
such as Tucson, are seeing slight increases in ozone levels
from one year to the next and may violate the NAAQS within
two to three years if additional controls are not instituted.
Four areas of Region 9: South Coast Air Basin, Fresno,
Ventura and Sacramento, are not expected to attain the 03
NAAQS by 1987, according to the 1982 SIP.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide (CO) is the second most serious air pollution
problem in Region 9. This ranking is based upon the spatial
distribution of CO and the concentration levels measured.
CO emissions are almost entirely automobile related. CO
concentrations are high near maximum emissions (i.e., high
traffic areas) and drop off rapidly as the source to receptor
distance increases. The population exposure to CO levels
above the NAAQS is serious in congested urban areas.
Many congested urban areas with high automotive emissions
experience violations of the NAAQS for CO. Since 1970, with
the implementation of automobile exhaust emission controls,
most areas have seen the steady decline in ambient levels of
CO. It is expected that all areas in Region 9, with the
exception of the South Coast Air Basin and Fresno, will
attain the NAAQS by 1987. Some areas which did not request
a CO extension of the attainment date did not attain in 1982
but are expected to attain by 1987.
There have been no reported violations of the NAAQS in San Diego
County since 1980. However, the quality assurance data
(precision and accuracy) for CO from sites with the highest
measurements (just below the standard) show a significant
negative bias. Actual CO violations may have occurred.
San Diego's current nonattainment designation will remain
unchanged at least until eight quarters of valid data are
obtained.
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With the implementation of I/M in Arizona in 1976 there has
been a significant drop in CO levels in the cities of Phoenix
and Tucson. As I/M is implemented in the other urban areas
of Region 9, we expect major reductions in CO emissions and
ambient CO levels.
Total Suspended Particulates
Total suspended particulates (TSP) is the most pervasive air
quality problem in Region 9, but is not generally considered
as serious a health problem as CO or 03. Many areas, includ-
ing populated urban areas and sparsely populated arid regions,
experience violation of the NAAQS. Much of the source for
these violations is fugitive and natural wind-blown dust.
After performing a statistical analysis on existing TSP
data, it appears that with promulgation of a PM^Q NAAQS,
many of the current nonattainment areas will become attainment
for particulate matter.
Little progress has been made in recent years in lowering
ambient TSP levels. This may be due to the expected change to
a fine particulate NAAQS and to the perception that most of
the TSP problems in the southwest are fugitive and wind
blown dust with little or no related health effects.
Secondary Aerosols; Sulfate and Nitrate Constituents of
Several areas in Region 9 experience sulfate levels above
25 ug/m3 (24 hour average) including the South Coast Air
Basin, Kern County, Trona in California and in the vicinity
of copper smelters in Arizona. Because of the significant
contributions of both sulfates and nitrates to the ambient
particulate burden in portions of Region 9, the promulgation
of a fine particle standard will raise important questions
about the development of appropriate control strategies.
Additional work is needed 1) to better define regional varia-
tions in the constituents of PM^Q, 2) to develop appropriate
air quality models that consider conversion of sulfur and
nitrogen gaseous compounds to secondary aerosols, and
3) to develop control requirements which are responsive to
the problems of specific nonattainment areas.
Acid Deposition
Related to the phenomenon of secondary aerosols of sulfate
and nitrate, acid deposition is occurring in Region 9. Recent
documentation indicates that wet deposition (acid fog, rainwater
and snow) is emerging as a potentially serious problem in
the southwestern regions. Low pH values and high ion concen-
trations have been measured in California, Arizona and Hawaii.
More work is needed to define the extent of the problem.
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Air Toxics
Airborne toxics is a growing concern to Region 9 and state
and local control agencies. This concern is developing
based on a limited knowledge of source emissions and the
emphasis EPA has placed on the hazardous waste problem nation-
ally. Additional work is needed to define the extent and
severity of the problem through ambient monitoring and emission
inventories. Much of this work is currently underway by the
State of California and by the larger local air pollution
control districts within the State.
Sulfur Dioxide
Sulfur dioxide (802) is a continuing problem in the seven
isolated rural areas in the vicinity of copper smelters in
Region 9. With the promulgation of the Multipoint Rollback
(MPR) regulations by Arizona and Nevada and approval by EPA,
attainment of the S02 NAAQS at these point sources is expected
in the near future/ with the exception of Magma, San Manuel,
AZ, and Phelps Dodge, Douglas, AZ which are expected to
apply for an NSO.
Nitrogen Dioxide
Nitrogen dioxide (N02) is a serious problem only in the
South Coast Air Basin. The annual NO2 NAAQS is violated
at many monitoring stations in the South Coast. While there
is currently no short-term NAAQS for NC«2 f there is a 24-hour
average "alert" (stage-one) level concentration that is
exceeded in all four counties of the South Coast Air Basin.
Several stations attain the NAAQS but have measured concentra-
tions above the alert level. This situation indicates a
need for EPA to re-evaluate the need for a short-term NAAQS
for NO2.
Because of the controversial relationship of NC>2 to the
photochemical 03 problem, significant reductions in NOX
emissions are not being achieved. The controversy is whether
reducing NOX/N02 emissions will require additional VOC
emission to attain the 03 NAAQS. Until this controversy
is resolved, little action may occur to control NOX emissions
and reduce ambient N02 levels in the South Coast Basin.
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Radiation
Radiation Monitoring
The EPA manages a national surveillance system called the
Environmental Radiation Ambient Monitoring System (ERAMS).
Air, milk, surface water and drinking water samples are
collected in each of Region 9's states. Region 9 coordinates
the station activities with the Eastern Environmental Radiation
Facility (EERF) in Montgomery, Alabama. In addition, EPA
participates with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of
the Department of Health and Human Services in a Market
Place - Fish Sampling Study.
Uranium Mill Tailings
EPA has now issued the standards for uranium mill tailings and
criteria for the inactive sites (January 1983). Active site
standards are being prepared. The management of these standards
at the inactive or abandoned sites is the responsibility of the
DOE, and the active site management is by the NRC or an Agreement
State. The inactive site program is underway and DOE has
prioritized the 24 sites in 10 western states and at
Canonsburg, PA. Costs of cleanup and remedial actions will
be borne by the Federal government (90%) and the affected
State (10%) with the exception that on Indian Lands, the
Federal Government will provide all of the funding. There
are four sites on the Navajo reservation and Region 9 has
lead coordination responsibility for the Navajo nation. Two
sites are located in Arizona.
Ocean Disposal of Low-Level Radioactive Waste
Proposed disposal of low-level radioactive waste in the ocean
is of growing public concern in Region 9. These concerns were
raised in the review of the U.S. Navy's Environmental Impact
Statement which addresses the disposal of defueled, decommis-
sioned nuclear submarines. The two viable alternatives being
considered are land and ocean disposal including one site
200-300 miles off the northern California coast. If the Navy
were to choose the ocean disposal option, a permit would be
required. EPA would have the responsibilities of designating
a disposal site and reviewing a permit application, if a per-
mit is indicated, the EPA would then request authority for
permit issuance from the Congress. At present, a two-year
moratorium imposed by Congress exists on any permitting
effective December 1982.
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Intermedia
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is renowned worldwide for its unique and numerous
environmental resources. Exceptionally clear waters, rugged
mountain scenery, outstanding recreational oppportunities,
and natural diversity all contribute to what has been termed
the "Tahoe experience." Preventing degradation of these
resources and maintaining beneficial uses in a reasonable
fashion has been and will continue to be a challenge, espec-
ially given the complex institutional structure and conflicting
values represented in the Tahoe Basin.
Studies have shown the Tahoe Basin to be an exceedingly com-
plex ecological unit; inter-relationships are often difficult
to delineate precisely. Nonetheless, overall trends indicate
a continuing environmental degradation. Implementing new
and remedial environmental controls as well as conducting
further studies to clarify problems and specify appropriate
control measures will be needed in the future.
Substantial air and water quality mitigation measures are
needed to reverse these trends. Also, further studies are
needed to clarify problems and refine appropriate environmen-
tal control measures.
Outer Continental Shelf Development
The development of the Outer Continental Shelf (DCS) for oil
and gas exploration and recovery in the coastal waters of
California has the potential to adversely impact the environ-
ment, creating or compounding problems of air quality as well
as wetlands protection.
There are several significant issues which arise with respect
to OCS development. First, the accelerated schedule for leasing
does not provide enough time for comprehensive studies of envi-
ronmental impacts prior to leasing of the OCS tracts which will
then be subject to exploration and development. The possible
environmental degradation is therefore not being adequately
considered since the full range of potential impacts will not
be known at the time of leasing.
The second significant issue is the impact of off-shore activi-
ties on air quality in the coastal Air Basins of Southern
California (Santa Barbara, South Coast, and San Diego) as well
as Northern and Central California. Off-shore activities may
significantly delay Reasonable Further Progress (RFP) toward
attainment of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
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in those areas presently designated as nonattainment. Emissions
resulting from operations in these lease tracts may contribute
to violations of both state and federal standards.
While primary impacts of OCS development should be monitored,
secondary impacts from increased population growth and on-shore
production-related activities should be considered as well. In
areas presently designated as nonattainment, any further dete-
rioration of air quality is undesirable.
The third major concern is the potential for water quality
impacts during the discharge of drilling muds and produced
waters. The rate of dilution of pollutant concentrations below
toxic levels is a key issue with respect to water quality and
the impacts on marine life.
Another significant concern with respect to OCS development is
the potential for water quality impacts resulting from oil
spills. This is a possible hazard, whether pipeline or barging
is used to transport oil from off-shore facilities to on-shore
production sites.
A last concern to be noted is the possibility of cumulative
impacts from multiple tract development along the California
coastline. On-shore impacts of such wide-ranging oil and gas
exploration and recovery operations have not been studied. The
potential for environmental degradation in the future remains
an issue to be carefully watched.
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Part 2; Significant Environmental Problems and Implications
for Agency Management
Part 2a; Significant Environmental Problems
Water
Public Health-Related
Truk Cholera Outbreak
Reno Giardiasis Outbreak
San Diego/Tijuana Border Sanitation
Small Public Water Supply Problems
Water Quality/Beneficial Use-Related
Southern California Sludge Disposal
Colorado River Salinity
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Water Quality
Ground Water Contamination
Hazardous Waste
Inactive Disposal Sites
Aerojet General Corporation
Stringfellow Quarry
Tucson Airport Area
Mountain View Mobile Home Estates
Active Disposal Sites
BMI
General Hazardous Waste Site Control
Pesticides
Exposure (Urban)
Food and Water Contamination
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Air Quality
03 - Southern California (all 4 air basins), San Joaquin Valley
CO - South Coast Air Basin, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Reno, Fresno
TSP - South Coast Air Basin, San Joaquin Valley, Phoenix,
Las Vegas, region-wide
Air Toxics - Emerging Problem
Secondary Aerosols - Emerging Problem (South Coast Air Basin,
(Sulfate & Nitrate) Southern San Joaquin Valley
Trona, Paul Spur, and copper smelter
areas in Arizona)
Acid Deposition - Emerging Problem (California, Arizona, and
Hawaii)
NC>2 - South Coast Air Basin
SO2 - Seven copper smelter areas of Arizona and Nevada
Intermed ia
Lake Tahoe
Excessive accumulation of nutrients
Carbon monoxide
Refinement of nutrient budget, especially atmospheric and
surface water nitrate component
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Part 2b; Implications for Agency Management
WATER
Public Health - Related
TRUK CHOLERA OUTBREAK
Barriers to solution include;
0 lack of sewerage infrastructure (hookups into system);
0 lack of basic sanitation devices and practices;
0 little or no operation and maintenance at existing water
and wastewater treatment facilities.
\
Requests of Headquarters;
0 allow the maximum amount of flexibility in dealing with
problems in the Insular Territories;
0 work with Region 9 in finding innovative ways to provide
assistance to the Insular Territories.
Benefits of Headquarters' actions;
0 provides the Region with the tools to deal with extraor-
dinary problems.
Region 9 actions;
0 combined funds from HUD and DOI with EPA assistance and
awarded a general sanitation grant for the construction of
household sanitary facilities;
0 provided liaison with the Center for Disease Control.
RENO GIARDIASIS OUTBREAK
Barriers to solution include;
0 water supply contamination due to facilities not adequately
protecting or treating drinking water.
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Requests of Headquarters;
0 no specific requests at this time.
Region 9 actions;
0 provided technical assistance to Nevada Department of Health;
0 orchestrated involvement of the Center for Disease Control.
SAN DIEGO/TIJUANA BORDER SANITATION
Barriers to solution include;
0 lack of an adequate and reliable sewage system in Tijuana;
0 multinational (U.S./Mexico) issue - ultimate solution to
problem is not as high a priority for Mexico as it is for
U.S.;
0 lack of money for the preferred ultimate solution - joint
San Diego/Tijuana treatment plant.
Requests of Headquarters;
0 continue to facilitate U.S.-Mexican negotiations in coop-
eration with the International Boundary and Water Commission;
0 given the uniqueness of the problem, support creative financing
of solution through existing channels or possible special
legislation.
Benefits of Headquarters' actions;
0 effect a permanent solution to a serious public health problem
and troublesome international issue.
Region 9 actions;
0 serve as communication link between the State of California
and San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board and the
International Boundary and Water Commission.
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SMALL PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY PROBLEMS
Barriers to solution include;
"large number of small systems;
0 large per capita cost for capital improvements to systems
and the burden of continuing operation;
0 often the small communities have only one source of drinking
water;
0 limited Federal financial assistance.
Request of Headquarters;
0 explore new sources of financial assistance for small commu-
nities.
Benefits of Headquarters' actions;
0 ensure that small communities can afford treatment required
for their water supplies to meet drinking water standards.
Region 9 actions;
0 require development of Small System Strategies by State water
supply programs;
0 emphasize small system compliance in delegation oversight
reviews.
Water Quality/Beneficial Use-Related
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SLUDGE DISPOSAL
Barriers to solution include;
0 indications of uncertain national policy on sludge dumping
and its relationship to municipal sludge discharges;
0 uncertainty of availability of future 201 appropriations to
sustain construction of facilities to correct problems.
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Requests of Headquarters;
0 draw careful distinctions between sludge dumping and sludge
discharge in policy statements, and in these statements
refer to the 1981 Clean Water Act Amendments precluding
301(h) permits for sludge discharge;
0 continue to support construction grants appropriations.
Benefits of Headquarters' actions;
0 supports stand of Region 9 on ocean disposal of sludge.
Region 9 actions;
0 provide construction grants for sludge treatment and disposal;
0 review State water quality standards contained in the Cali-
fornia Ocean Plan;
0 initiate compliance actions for permit violations involving
sludge disposal.
COLORADO RIVER SALINITY
Barriers to solution include;
0 non-resolution of water rights issues (quantity vs. quality);
0 state and inter-state water use and hydrological modification
problems.
Requests of Headquarters;
0 continue to promote the Basin-wide approach to water quality
standards;
0 continue to assist in relations with Mexico thru IBWC.
Region 9 actions;
0 active support and involvement in the Colorado River Salinity
Forum.
0 review of State water quality standards to ensure conformity
to Forum goals.
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SACRAMENTO-SAN JOAQUIN DELTA WATER QUALITY
Barriers to solution include;
8 application of state water quality standards to Federal water
resource projects;
0 non-resolution of water rights issues (quantity vs. quality);
0 state water use and hydrological modification problems;
0 need for more information and monitoring of Delta conditions
and the impact on San Francisco Bay.
Request of Headquarters;
0 provide liaison between EPA and DOI and Corps of Engineers on
the applicability of state water quality standards to Federal
project construction and operations.
Region 9 actions;
0 work closely with the State on the development of water quality
standards for the Delta.
GROUND WATER CONTAMINATION
Barriers to solution include;
0 lack of wide-spread monitoring to detect problems;
0 complexity of the mechanics of groundwater contamination;
0 lack of groundwater standards and policy;
0 difficulty of corrective actions.
Request of Headquarters;
0 finalize and issue National Ground Water Policy.
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Benefits of Headquarters' actions;
0 provides a goal and programmatic direction for all states.
Region 9 actions;
0 financial support of state control programs and special
ground water investigations.
0 promote delegation to states of the Underground Injection
Control Program.
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HAZARDOUS WASTE SITES
INACTIVE DISPOSAL SITES
Barriers to problem solutions differ from site to site, and
include;
0 lack of National policy and guidance, specifically whether
Superfund monies may be spent on mining waste sites (Mountain
View); whether Superfund monies may be spent at Federal
facilities (Tucson); what the cost share requirement is
for sites owned by the state or city (Tucson, Stringfellow);
0 centralization of all funding and enforcement decisions in
Headquarters; (All requests for funds from the Hazardous
Substance Response Fund must be approved by EPA Headquarters-
Assistant Administrator; all notice letters, administrative
orders and DOJ referrals must be approved by Headquarters.)
0 difficulty of inter- and intra-Agency coordination: OERR,
OWPE and OLEC; Region 9; state and local agencies; (Mountain
View, Stringfellow, Tucson, Aerojet);
0 lengthy procedural steps required before cleanup can begin
cleanup under state lead requires: Remedial Action Master
Plan (RAMP), Action Memo, allocation of funds, Record of
Decision (ROD), selection of the remedy, cooperative agree-
ment, obligation of funds, and finally, the letting of
contracts to actually do the work.
Requests of Headquarters;
0 an expeditious resolution of the mining waste and Federal
facilities issues; clarification of the method of assessing
degree of responsibility as it relates to the CERCLA §104
cost-share requirement;
0 delegation of authority to the regional level to make
funding decisions, to enter into cooperative agreements,
to issue enforcement actions, and to determine when enforce-
ment avenues are exhausted;
0 Headquarters should attempt further coordination internally
(OERR, OWPE, OLEC).
Benefits of Headquarters Actions;
0 more effective and timely site cleanup.
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Region 9 Actions;
0 work under existing guidelines to require responsible
parties to clean up sites or to access the Superfund, as
appropriate.
ACTIVE DISPOSAL SITES
Barriers to solution include;
0 lack of stability and comprehensiveness in EPA's regulatory
program;
0 lack of asssurance that EPA's technical permit standards
stable over the first round of RCRA permits.
Requests of Headquarters;
0 commence studies in regulatory development for explosive
burning and detonation;
0 develop regulations for underground tanks.
Region 9 Actions;
0 (BMI) continue negotiations and technical studies;
0 work under existing RCRA regulations and guidelines.
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PESTICIDES
DRIFT FROM AGRICULTURAL LAND TO DEVELOPING SUBURBAN AND URBAN
AREAS (ARIZONA)
Barriers to solution include;
0 lack of information concerning real health impacts associ-
ated with citizen complaints;
0 difficulty in enforcing generalized requirements.
Requests of Headquarters;
•° study health impacts associated with exposure to drift;
0 develop more specific label requirements.
Benefits of Headquarters' Actions;
0 provides better label instruction for health protection;
0 specific label requirements are enforceable.
Region 9 Actions;
0 support state enforcement actions/activities.
CONTAMINATION OF WATER AND FOOD DUE TO PESTICIDE USE
Barriers to solutions include;
0 lack of specific data on Hawaii's environmental conditions
prior to allowing use of otherwise cancelled pesticides.
Request of Headquarters;
0 adequate review of specific environmental data to insure
human health will not be adversely affected by continued
use of an otherwise cancelled pesticide.
Benefits of Headquarters' Action;
0 greater assurance of environmental and public health
protection.
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Region 9 Actions;
0 support state monitoring efforts;
0 provide states with financial and technical support to be
able to enforce both state and federal pesticide regulations,
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AIR QUALITY
OZONE
Barriers to achievement of the ozone standard by the statutory
1987 deadline include;
0 delays in the implementation of motor vehicle Inspection
and Maintenance (I/M) in the urban areas which is exacerbated
by State and local control agency uncertainty of future
EPA policy and CAA requirements for I/M;
0 growth of mobile, minor stationary and area sources, and
outer continental shelf emissions;
0 transport from upwind sources or nonattainment areas;
0 lack of additional cost-effective controls, or resources for
their development and implementation.
Requests of Headquarters;
0 provide the Regions with clear interim guidance regarding
required I/M implementation deadlines and required actions
to ensure timely implementation;
0 continue to work with the Department of Interior to establish
appropriate control requirements for OCS emissions;
0 OAQPS work with ORD to develop approaches for further
control of mobile, minor stationary and area source emissions
for State/regional use to attain the 03 standard by 1987;
0 OAQPS and ORD work to develop better techniques for quantify-
ing pollutant transport and establish interbasin control
requirements;
0 OAQPS and ORD reinstate efforts to develop NMHC instrumentation
and subsequently support air monitoring systems in order to
obtain reliable NMHC data.
0 ORD consider regional funding in future years to examine
measures in post '87 long range attainment plan for South
Coast Air Basin.
Benefits of Headquarters' actions;
0 accelerate efforts to minimize population exposure to
unhealthful ozone concentrations;
-23-
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0 eliminate local control agency uncertainty as a barrier to
expeditious I/M implementation and avoid unnecessary imposi-
tion of sanctions;
0 collection of reliable 03, NOX and NMHC data bases to better
understand their interrelationships for specific areas in
the U.S.
Region 9 Actions;
0 continue to work with State and local agencies to minimize
or eliminate further delays in I/M program implementation and
to insure that I/M programs are effective;
0 work with State and local agencies to ensure that growth
forecasts are consistently used for regional planning,
periodically updated and consistent with Federal regulations,
and continue to provide a reliable basis for air quality
planning;
0 provide assistance to State and local agencies in developing
controls for currently uncontrolled sources, where feasible
and effective;
0 work with the State and local agencies to insure agressive
enforcement of existing rules and regulations;
0 work with the State and local agencies to better quantify
the nature and extent of pollutant transport, and work
with upwind areas to reduce impacts on downwind areas;
0 continue to provide information from HQ and other sources on
additional control options for State and local consideration;
0 fulfill commitments under Regional Management Objective for
Reasonable Further Progress.
0 encourage public awareness programs to inform the general
public of the current ozone situation and its health hazards.
CARBON MONOXIDE
Barriers to achievement of the CO standard by the 1987 statutory
deadline include;
0 delays in the implementation of motor vehicle Inspection and
Maintenance (I/M) in the urban areas which is exacerbated
by State and local control agency uncertainty of future EPA
policy and CAA requirments for I/M;
0 growth of mobile sources;
0 lack of additional cost effective controls or resources
for their development and implementation;
-24-
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Requests of Headquarters;
0 Headquarters provide the regions with clear interim guidance
regarding required I/M implementation deadlines and required
actions to ensure timely implementation;
0 OAQPS work with ORD to develop approaches for further
controlling mobile, major, and minor CO source emissions for
state/regional use to attain the CO standard by 1987, including
CO hotspots.
Benefits of Headquarters* actions;
0 accelerate efforts to minimize population exposure to
unhealthful CO concentrations;
0 eliminate local control agency uncertainty as a barrier to
expeditious I/M implementation and avoid unnecessary
imposition of sanctions.
Region 9 Actions;
0 continue to work with State and local agencies to minimize
or eliminate further delays in I/M program implementation;
0 work with State and local agencies to ensure that growth
forecasts are consistently used for regional planning,
periodically updated and consistent with Federal regulations,
and continue to provide a reliable basis for air quality
planning;
0 continue to provide information from HQ and other sources
on additional control options for State and local con-
sideration;
0 define attainment areas and redesignate as expeditiously as
possible;
0 fulfill commitments under Regional Management Objective for
Reasonable Further Progress.
TOTAL SUSPENDED PARTICUIATES
Barriers to achievement of the TSP standard include;
0
reluctance to adopt more stringent TSP controls in anticipa-
tion of the PM^o standard;
-25-
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0 lack of definitive information on health effects of particu-
lates in the southwestern U.S.
Requests of Headquarters;
0 proceed expeditiously with promulgation of a PM^Q standard
which provides flexibility for regional problem identifica-
tion and control requirements;
0 ORD continue to support research activities to refine
understanding about health effects.
0 clarification of NSR cutoff limit when PM^o standard is
promulgated.
Benefits of Headquarters' actions;
0 eliminate uncertainties regarding control requirements and
reduce delays in addressing a fine particulate standard
which will give EPA a health related NAAQS for particulates.
Region 9 Actions;
0 work with State and local agencies to foster better awareness
of the significance of particulate air pollution problems;
0 provide assistance to State and local agencies in the col-
lection and analysis of area-specific data which differs
from national values;
0 work with State and local control agencies to determine new
and effective controls as appropriate.
AIR TOXICS
Barriers to development of an EPA strategy for controlling
toxic air pollutants include;
0 lack of sufficient data to identify, characterize and
quantify the extent and severity of toxic air pollution;
0 limited or uncertain authority for Federal regulation or
enforcement of toxic emissions and emission limits;
0 lack of clear statutory guidance on handling chronic expo-
sure and regulatory/control response;
0 lack of understanding of the relationship between toxic
pollutants and health effects (e.g., carcinogens or of the
existence of health effects in many cases).
-26-
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Requests of Headquarters;
0 provide interim guidance for toxic air pollution issues,
including health effects research (chronic and acute),
standard setting and regulatory authority;
0 Headquarters provide:
- ambient/emissions monitoring data and protocol for air
toxics monitoring;
- guidance for calculating estimated emissions from specific
sources, such as hazardous waste sites;
- health effects information concerning air toxics;
- increased funds for State/local research efforts;
0 Headquarters establish a system for actively incorporating
Regional concerns and ideas into the air toxics regulatory
process.
Benefits of Headquarters' actions;
0 organize a systematic information gathering and dissemination
effort and establish a basis for initial toxic air pollution
control programs.
Region 9 Actions;
0 provide support to State and local air and health services
agencies to identify and better quantify potential new data
sources as well as more effectively use existing data sources;
0 provide available financial and technical assistance to
support the development of air toxics monitoring systems
and improved enforcement and regulatory activity at the
State and local levels;
0 as appropriate, provide input to Headquarters Air Toxics
Policy and develop regional strategy for implementation;
0 act as a conduit for providing additional information from
Headquarters and other sources on the relationships between
toxic air pollutants and health effects.
-27-
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ACID DEPOSITION
Barriers to effectively address the problems of acid deposition
include;
0 lack of adequate understanding of physio-chemical processes
involved in the formation and transport of acidic atmospheric
constituents;
0 lack of adequate understanding of health effects and eco-
system impacts of acid deposition;
0 lack of policy guidance on pollution control requirements
for the reduction of acid deposition;
0 perception that acid deposition is strictly a northeastern
phenomenon.
Requests of Headquarters;
0 provide Regions with interim guidance on addressing issues
of atmospheric processes, health effects and necessary
controls;
0 support additional research in formation, transport and
health effects of acidic constituents.
Benefits of Headquarters' actions;
0 establish a sound and systematic basis for initital acid
deposition quantification and control effort.
Region 9 Actions;
0 work with Headquarters and States to improve the awareness
of acid deposition as an issue in Region 9;
0 provide technical and financial assistance to States for
the development of acid deposition monitoring systems;
0 assist EMSL with semiannual Acid Rain Performance Survey for
Laboratory Quality Assurance;
0 provide input as appropriate to Headquarters acid deposition
policy decisions;
0 work with State and local agencies to improve monitoring,
data collection and analysis;
0 provide information to Headquarters on State and local
research and findings.
-28-
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SECONDARY AEROSOLS
Barriers to effectively address the problems surrounding
secondary aerosols and inhalable particulates include;
0 inadequate understanding of the constituents of PM^g
regional variations therein;
0 uncertainties about appropriate control requirements and
policies regarding them, specifically with respect to
gaseous precursors;
0 lack of PM^Q data showing the extent and severity of the
problem.
Requests of Headquarters;
0 support additional research to develop better understanding
of relationships among PM^g constituents, their formation,
transport, and gaseous to particulate air quality transfor-
mation;
0 work with ORD to identify additional feasible controls
for both primary emissions and precursor gases;
0 provide Regions with policy guidance addressing control
requirements for secondary aerosols as part of the PM^Q
program;
0 work with ORD to define the relationship between secondary
aerosols and acid deposition.
Benefits of Headquarters' actions;
0 establish more effective and efficient control of particulate
matter and acid deposition with reduced interprogrammatic
conflicts and duplication of effort.
Region 9 Actions;
0 work with State and local agencies to improve monitoring,
data collection and analysis;
0 continue to evaluate existing data in order to define
problems on a more area-specific basis.
-29-
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NITROGEN DIOXIDE
Barriers toward attainment of the NO? standard include;
0 lack of additional cost effective controls on stationary
and mobile sources;
0 lack of control of OCS emissions;
0 speculation that additional N02 control may exacerbate 03
problems, or will require significant additional volatile
organic compound (VOC) emission reductions that may not
realistically be achieved in the South Coast Air Basin;
0 lack of definitive understanding of the interrelationship
of ambient NOX and VOC on resulting 03 concentrations.
Requests of Headquarters;
0 OAQPS work with ORD to develop better information concerning
the role of NOX in 03 formation and control;
0 OAQPS work with ORD to develop additional control techniques
for controlling NOX emissions from mobile and stationary
sources;
0 Headquarters continue to work with the Department of
Interior to establish appropriate control requirements for
OCS emissions, and develop modeling capabilities which
demonstrate OCS impacts onshore;
0 OAQPS re-evaluate need for short-term NO-2 NAAQS.
Benefits of Headquarters' actions;
0 Reduce inefficiencies in reducing 03 concentrations
through NOX and VOC control refinement;
0 accelerate efforts to minimize population exposure to
unhealthful N02 concentrations.
Region 9 Actions;
0 continue to provide information from Headquarters and
other sources on additional control options for State and
local consideration;
-30-
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0 support the development of a policy which recognizes and
addresses the significance of OCS emissions by meeting
commitments in the Regional Management Objective for OCS;
0 work with Headquarters and State and local agencies to
better quantify the relationship between N02 and VOC in
the formation of 03.
0 work with State and local agencies to insure aggressive
enforcement of existing rules and regulations.
SULFUR DIOXIDE
Barriers to achievement of the SO? standard include;
0 acceptance of appropriate techniques for modeling violations
and attainment demonstrations;
0 historical pattern of recalcitrance among most smelters to
install effective controls for stack and fugitive emissions.
Request of Headquarters;
0 expeditious processing of the Federal Register notices
approving Multipoint Rollback.
Benefits of Headquarters' actions:
0 eliminate the existing climate of uncertainty regarding
the adequacy of S02 attainment demonstrations and control
requirements;
0 minimize population exposure to unhealthful SO2 concentrations.
Region 9 Actions;
0 work with State and local agencies to develop and maintain
data handling systems and compliance information;
0 track continuous emission monitoring activities;
0 work with Headquarters and the State of Nevada to expedite
Multipoint Rollback Federal Register;
0 ensure that State (or Federal) enforcement action is taken
in cases of noncompliance with the Arizona MPR and the
Nevada MPR when promulgated as SIP revision.
-31-
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Intermedia
LAKE TAHOE
Barriers to maintaining and improving Tahoe's environmental
quality include;
0 adequate resources to implement erosion control measures;
0 conflict between values of economic development
and environmental protection;
0 institutional constraints posed by numerous governmental
entities.
Requests of Headquarters;
0 that HQ provide financial support for atmospheric nitrate
deposition study.
0 coordinate and relay any studies related to the analysis and
development of ambient CO standards for high altitude areas.
Benefits of Headquarters' actions; .
8 results of nitrate deposition study will help direct regula-
tory efforts of TRPA and local governments;
0 high altitude CO studies will assist TRPA and both states to
determine whether the States' CO standard of 6 ppm should be
kept.
Region 9 actions;
0 continue to participate in the TRPA Regional Plan development
process;
0 update Tahoe 208 plan and basin plans following Regional Plan
adoption;
0 monitor progress of Tahoe air quality plan;
0 participate in construction grants process for South Tahoe
PUD and other facilities in the basin;
0 provide guidance to TRPA and other agencies regarding status
of EPA grants/ regulatory changes, and technical pollution
control information.
-32-
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Attachment A: Media Overview and Trends (Documentation of Part 1)
Water
I. Introduction
The four States and the Insular Territories which comprise Region
9 vary greatly in climate, topography, hydrology and cultural
influences. As such, the water quality problems and trends in
each state run the full spectrum, from severe public health impacts
to the preservation of pristine waters. Water quality priorities
also vary somewhat from state to state; however, the prime focus
is on the protection of public health.
The following state-by-state water quality overview (Section II)
provides a general sense of the status of each state's surface,
ground and (where applicable) marine waters. Where generic
problems, such as toxics in ground water or nutrients in surface
waters are of special concern, brief descriptions and examples
of the problems are contained in the narrative. Often these
problems are unique to each State.
A general overview of small public water supply systems in the
Region is provided in Section III. Section IV describes three
"institutional" issues which have a substantial impact on both
water quality and the utilization of Region 9 resources.
These are included to highlight the fact that the attainment
and maintenance of desirable water quality is not limited to
the solution of specific problems. The integrity of water
quality programs, such as compliance, is essential to the overall
picture.
II. State Water Quality Overview
A. California
Natural freshwater supplies in the State of California are
unevenly distributed in relationship to municipal and agricultural
demands, both geographically and seasonally. This phenomenon has
led to a water picture in California characterized by intensive
consumptive uses of streams, lakes and ground waters coupled with
a complex system of man-made water distribution projects. The
State, however, has recognized for many years the interdependence
of water quantity and water quality, and State water laws have
incorporated the two factors into a comprehensive approach to
water management and regulation.
The preservation of high quality waters is an extremely high
priority in California. Many State resources are devoted to
monitoring, planning, and regulatory activities designed to
-33-
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protect unspoiled surface, ground and marine waters that the
citizens of California treasure. Protection of beneficial uses,
including "instream" protection of fish and wildlife, and a
basic anti-degradation policy drive many of the water quality
decisions made by the State.
The emerging problem of groundwater contamination by toxic
chemicals is rapidly becoming one of the most serious water
pollution problems in California. It is also one of the most
difficult and resource-intensive to correct. Tracking down
sources of pollution, and trying to clean up a contaminated
aquifer can be almost impossible tasks. Yet the direct impact
on drinking water supplies requires action to protect public
health. More and more State resources are going into the
prevention and abatement of groundwater contamination.
Toxics in Surface Waters
Contamination of surface waters by toxic chemicals can be traced
to a variety of point and non-point sources, primarily pesti-
cides from agricultural runoff and heavy metals/acid waters from
abandoned mine drainage. High levels of toxics can severely
impair the beneficial uses of streams, causing fish kills and
eliminating their use for domestic drinking water. However, low
level contamination by pesticides and organic chemicals can
also affect aquatic organisms over a period of time, since many
of these chemical accumulate in tissue.
Agricultural chemicals applied to flooded rice fields have been
detected in the Sacramento River and drains in the Central Valley.
Fish kills have occurred at the times of peak chemical use, and
there is some concern that municipal water supplies could be
affected. The Regional Water Quality Control Board is initiating
a cooperative effort with the rice industry, chemical companies
and appropriate State agencies to develop and implement Best
Management Practices to minimize chemical residues in rice
irrigation return flows.
Acid waters and heavy metals (typically copper and zinc) from
mine drainage are major sources of toxic contamination in the
streams of the Sierra and Northern California Mountain ranges.
Often the result is an essentially sterile condition downstream
of the source, with aquatic life eliminated. In the Lake Shasta
area, periodic fish kills have occurred in the Lake and elevated
heavy metal concentrations have been detected downstream in the
Sacramento River. The Regional Water Quality Control Board
conducted a §208 funded study on drainage problems from the
Walker Mine (Feather River watershed) and is implementing the
study's recommendations. Similar studies are planned or
ongoing for other mines, including Iron Mountain Mine in the
Sacramento River watershed and Leviathan Mine in the eastern
Sierra.
-34-
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Sediments
Sedimentation in surface waters can be attributed to logging
practices, urban and rural land development, agriculture and
roadbuild ing. Sedimentation is directly related to seasonal
runoff from surrounding land. Innovative projects funded by
EPA §208 grants have developed maps, handbooks and training
programs, obtained commitments to implement ordinances, and
have developed statutory and regulatory proposals for control
of erosion and sedimentation.
North Coast rivers and streams (Eel River, Plate W-l) experi-
ence accelerated erosion/ sedimentation because of improper
logging practices. Fisheries are impaired by sediments which
cover spawning gravels and create turbidity during high flows
in streams. Two projects are underway to aid in sediment
control: (1) recommendations by California Board of Forestry
for legislative changes in the Forest Practice Act and revised
Forest Practice Rules and (2) watershed mapping to provide
erosion hazard maps.
Erosion/sedimentation generated by land development impairs
fisheries, recreation and aesthetic uses of San Francisco Bay.
Siltation of the Bay makes periodic dredging necessary, con-
tributing to turbidity. Control of the problem has been
addressed by the Association of Bay Area Governments. The
Association has developed two model ordinances for erosion
control, established an erosion control training class for
developers and assisted participating counties in preparing
erosion control plans.
Upper Newport Bay, which is a part of the Pacific flyway and
an ecological preserve, is impacted by sediments generated from
land development. Recreation and aesthetic uses are greatly
impaired. Protection for the Bay was included in planning by
the Southern California Association of Governments and resulted
in the construction of two upstream sediment basins.
Monterey Bay and its tributary rivers (Salinas River, Plate W-2)
are impacted by sediments originating from land development,
agriculture and road building. Fisheries and recreation uses
are impaired. Santa Cruz County inventoried and ranked erosion
areas, established pilot control programs in high priority areas,
and developed an erosion control ordinance which was adopted
September 2, 1980. The County also prepared an erosion control
training program for local developers, and compiled brochures
and manuals on erosion control measures for public distribution.
County roads were addressed in an implementation plan prepared
by Monterey County. Problem areas were identified, stabilization
measures devised, tested and used throughout the county.
-35-
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PLATE W-l
EEL RIVER
TURBIDITY
WORST THREE MONTHS WQI - FY 1980
MAJOR DISCHARGERS
O MUNICIPAL
A NON-MUNICIPAL
J*
NO VIOLATIONS OF
FEDERAL WATER QUALITY
CRITERIA
MINOR VIOLATIONS OF
FEDERAL WATER QUALITY
CRITERIA
MAJOR VIOLATIONS OF
FEDERAL WATER QUALITY
CRITERIA
INSUFFICIENT DATA
TOWNS
-------
PLATE-W-2
SALINAS RIVER
SUSPENDED SOLIDS
WORST THREE MONTHS WQI - FY 1981
NO VIOLATIONS OF
FEDERAL WATER QUALITY
CRITERIA
MINOR VIOLATIONS OF
FEDERAL WATER QUALITY
CRITERIA
MAJOR VIOLATIONS OF
FEDERAL WATER QUALITY
CRITERIA
INSUFFICIENT DATA
MAJOR DISCHARGERS
O MUNICIPAL
A NON-MUNICIPAL
•'.j CITIES
-------
Nutrients
The presence of excess nutrients, such as nitrogen and in some
cases phosphorus, in surface waters can lead to algal growth
stimulation which lowers dissolved oxygen levels necessary for
the well being or survival of aquatic organisms. The resulting
poor quality water may also necessitate considerable treatment
prior to its use for domestic purposes. Excessive nutrients can
be added to streams by such non-point sources as agricultural
return flows, nitrate-laden groundwater, dairy farms and feed
lots, and failing septic tank systems. In addition, point sources
of waste treatment plant effluent may contribute to the problem.
Humboldt Bay on the North Coast experiences impairment from
nutrients generated by treatment plant effluent and agricultural
runoff. The commercial harvest of shellfish and recreational
shellfishing must be curtailed during periods of high rainfall
due to increased runoff from the surrounding land. An extensive
study being conducted by the Regional Water Quality Control
Board with 208 funding has identified non-point sources of
pollution and is developing Best Management Practices (BMPs)
for local implementation to help mitigate or eliminate the
impacts of non-point sources.
The water supply use of the Russian River (Plate W-3) has been
impaired from point and non-point sources. New requirements
of sewage treatment plants allowing discharges to the River
only during high flow periods has resulted in marked improvement
of the water quality. The elimination of septic systems near
the River has also contributed to the overall improvement.
The shallow extremities of San Francisco Bay which include
the South San Francisco Bay, the Napa and Petaluma Rivers and
numerous shallow deadend sloughs experience low dissolved
oxygen and high nutrient levels resulting in impairment to
fisheries. To correct the high nutrient levels, new and/or
expanded treatment facilities have been built by municipalities
discharging to the Bay and tributary streams. Discharges to
the Petaluma River will be eliminated and all dry weather
discharge to the Napa River prohibited.
The Salinas River (Plate W-4) downstream from the City of Salinas
experiences high nutrient concentrations which has resulted in
the increased eutrophication of Salinas Lagoon. Agricultural
runoff and on-site sewage systems contribute to the problem.
Construction of centralized wastewater treatment plants and regu-
lations on individual septic systems are being used for control.
Agricultural return flows from the Central Valley into the Sacra-
mento and San Joaquin Rivers (Plate W-5) are factors in the
impariment of the Delta. The downstream portions of the San
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PLATE W-3
RUSSIAN RIVER
NUTRIENTS
WORST THREE MONTHS WQI - FY 1981
V
NI3t
NM4
Cloverdale
Geyserville
NO VIOLATIONS OF
FEDERAL WATER QUALITY
CRITERIA
MINOR VIOLATIONS OF
FEDERAL WATER QUALITY
CRITERIA
MAJOR VIOLATIONS OF
FEDERAL WATER QUALITY
CRITERIA
INSUFFICIENT DATA
TOWNS AND CITIES
MAJOR DISCHARGERS
O MUNICIPAL
A NON-MUNICIPAL
-------
PLATE W-4
SALINAS RIVER
NUTRIENTS
WORST THREE MONTHS WQI - FY 1981
NO VIOLATIONS OF
FEDERAL WATER QUALITY
CRITERIA
MINOR VIOLATIONS OF
FEDERAL WATER QUALITY
CRITERIA
MAJOR VIOLATIONS OF
FEDERAL WATER QUALITY
CRITERIA
INSUFFICIENT DATA
G CITIES
MAJOR DISCHARGERS
O MUNICIPAL
A NON-MUNICIPAL
-------
PLATE W-5
SACRAMENTO AND SAN JOAQUIN RIVERS
NUTRIENTS
WORST THREE MONTHS WQI - FY 1981
INSUFFICIENT DATA
NO VIOLATIONS OF
FEDERAL WATER QUALITY
CRITERIA
MINOR VIOLATIONS OF
FEDERAL WATER QUALITY
CRITERIA
MAJOR VIOLATIONS OF
FEDERAL WATER QUALITY
CRITERIA
FLOW DIRECTION
i"j CITIES
• TOWNS
MAJOR DISCHARGERS
O MUNICIPAL
A NON-MUNICIPAL
NM29
••XvNl2V7
.. Stockton
B36 .
STANISLAUS R.
T1JOLUMNE R.
O CM23
-------
Joaquin River are considered to be the most impacted and are
unsuitable for agricultural, domestic and fisheries uses. The
most common BMPs to reduce pollution loads are tailwater recovery
systems and backflow preventive devices.
Other water bodies impacted by high nutrient loadings are the
Alamo, Santa Margarita and New Rivers and the Salton Sea (Plate
W-6).
Municipal Wastewater Ocean Discharges
California discharges 44 percent of its total municipal wastewater
volume to the ocean. Because of a State policy to fund only to
a treatment level specified in the California Ocean Plan (75%
removal of suspended solids), most of these dischargers treat to
a level below secondary treatment standards. Since 1972, approx-
imately $735 million of Federal funds have been obligated to
ocean dischargers. An additional $365 million' are targeted on the
State priority list to ocean dischargers from 1983 to 1987. A
part of this ($40 million) is for the City of Los Angeles sludge
treatment project, which is discussed in Attachment B. The State
has estimated that a savings of over $2 billion would accrue from
only funding to Ocean Plan treatment levels instead of secondary
treatment. Any savings anticipated from 301(h) waivers will have
already been realized for the most part by the State's policy.
Municipal Wastewater Bays and Estuaries Dischargers
Approximately 18 percent of California wastewater discharges go
into enclosed bays and estuaries. Since 1972 approximately $635
million have been obligated to construction grant projects asso-
ciated with bays and estuaries dischargers. The State priority
list targets an additional $427 million to these dischargers from
1983 to 1987. The large amount of funds for a relatively small
percentage of flows reflects the sensitivity of the receiving
waters which require dischargers to provide secondary treatment
or greater. These efforts and the subsequent improvement in
wastewater treatment have enabled commercial shellfishing to
continue in Humboldt Bay and have resulted in the opening of
recreational shellfishing beds in South San Francisco Bay for
the first time in 30 years.
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PLATE W-6
NEW AND ALAMO RIVERS
NUTRIENTS
WORST THREE MONTHS WQI - FY 1981
NO VIOLATIONS OF
FEDERAL WATER QUALITY
CRITERIA
MINOR VIOLATIONS OF
FEDERAL WATER QUALITY
CRITERIA
MAJOR VIOLATIONS
OF FEDERAL WATER QUALITY
CRITERIA
INSUFFICIENT DATA
TOWNS AND CITIES
MAJOR DISCHARGERS
O MUNICIPAL
A NON-MUNICIPAL
Holtville
SI32
MEXICO
SM44
-------
The San Francisco Bay system is the most extensive and signifi-
cant estuary remaining on the California coast. The system's
deepwater channels, tidelands, marshlands/ freshwater streams
and rivers provide a variety of fish and wildlife habitats.
These habitats have several species (including anadromous fish
and migratory birds) as other coastal estuaries have been
reduced in size or lost to development.
In addition, the San Francisco Bay area has attracted major metro-
politan and economic development resulting in numerous municipal
and industrial discharges to the bay. During the past decade
many of these discharges have been consolidated and wastewater
treatment has been improved and expanded , resulting in significant
water quality improvements.
A comprehensive water quality control program has been designed
and is being implemenbted to further protect the beneficial
uses and water quality of the bay. This program includes, among
other studies, the Aquatic Habitat Program (AHP) which is designed
to assess the health of the aquatic biota and other beneficial
uses in the bay caused by the effects of all pollutant sources.
The AHP has been organized to get the maximum use of funds by
coordinating activities of the program with all other existing
and proposed monitoring and research activities in the bay.
Failing Septic Tank Systems
Failing septic tank systems are a threat to water quality and
human health in locations across the State of California.
Problems such as surfacing effluent, and contamination of
surface waters and wells that are used as a source of drinking
water are caused or aggravated by failing systems. On the
State of California's FY 1983 priority list for construction
grants, over $37 million has been allocated for funding in FY
1983 to provide collection and treatment for unsewered areas
or the rehabilitation of septic tanks. The projects are
priority Class A, the highest priority for funding, and are
necessary to solve public health problems. Almost $43 million
in priority Class B projects to solve the problem of failing
septic tank systems is scheduled for award in FY 1986. Class
B designates those projects necessary to solve water quality
problems.
Seawater Intrusion
Unlike surface waters, there is no administrative water rights
system for groundwater. Generally, an overlying owner may
take as much groundwater as needed. Because basins usually
underlie many parcels of land, water rights must be adjudicated
-38-
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INJECTION WELLS
Reclaimed Water
DOMESTIC WATER WELL^
Freshwater
^K^v:*^^.
Figure W - I
SEAWATER INTRUSION BARRIER
-------
when competing pumpers challenge use levels. Under current
law, limits on groundwater users result from resolution of
conflicts with other users of the same basin. The State Water
Resources Control Board can initiate an adjudication when
overpumping affects water quality.
Groundwater overdraft in coastal areas is intricately linked
to the problem of seawater intrusion. Areas within Monterey,
Ventura, and Orange Counties are the primary concerns in
California.
There is severe seawater intrusion in the Salinas Basin, Monterey
County, ranging 15 miles along the coast and extending from 1/2
to 5 miles inland. The intrusion affects two aquifers. One
aquifer involves 10,000 acres of land, and the other involves
2,500 acres. Section 205{j) project proposals have been submitted
to the State addressing the possibility of setting up adjudi-
cation.
Over one-fourth of the groundwater under the 50,000 acre Oxnard
Plain is unusable because seawater has replaced fresh water. This
affects 20 square miles of prime farmland. Planning efforts under
Section 208 have resulted in the planned diversion of the Ventura
River at Saticoy to provide fresh water to the Oxnard Plain. In
addition, a county ordinance has halted pumping and the drilling
of new wells in order to stop further encroachment.
In Orange County, the Talbert Gap is an area of extensive seawater
intrusion. Formerly, the intrusion affected a surface area of 8
square miles, extending inland 3 1/2 miles between two mesa forma-
tions. The problem has been mitigated with the use of a barrier
system, consisting of a series of injection wells which deliver
a blend of reclaimed wastewater and fresh water to underground
aquifers to create a hydraulic gradient which blocks the passage
of seawater, and a series of extraction wells which intercepts
brackish water and returns it to the ocean. The reclaimed
wastewater is produced by the Orange County Water District's
Water Factory 21.
Toxics in Groundwater
Improper waste disposal, illegal pesticide applications, leaking
chemical storage tanks, and unexpected persistance are among the
possible reasons for the presence of toxic substances in ground-
water and the impairment of its beneficial uses. The presence of
toxics in groundwater, particularly organic substances, has
been a concern of the State even before the detection of dibromo-
chloropropane (DBCP) in drinking water wells in the San Joaquin
-39-
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Valley and trichloroethylene (TCE) in drinking water wells in
the San Gabriel Valley, California. Typical actions following
such discoveries include an investigation into the extent of
the problem, a determination of what constitutes.a significant
concentration, and development of short term solutions.
Generally, no Federal standards exist for the discovered sub-
stances so health advisory opinions issued by EPA are used as
a basis for significant concentration determinations and
appropriate short-term solutions.
Trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, and carbon tetrachloride
are organic solvents which have been detected in the groundwater
in San Gabriel Valley in California. An investigation of the
area's domestic water supply wells reveal that 107 of 349 wells
supplying 24 community water systems which serve an estimated
4,564,700 people have significant levels of one or more of these
organic substances. Of these 24 systems, 12 serve water with
an organic substance in excess of a state established "Action
Level" sometime during the year. The action levels are:
Trichloroethylene 5 ppb (parts per billion)
Tetrachloroethylene 4 ppb
Carbon Tetrachloride 5 ppb
The State has implemented a policy restricting the use of con-
taminated wells. EPA will be proposing Federal standards for
these three and seven other organic substances during Fiscal
Year 1983.
The nematocide, DBCP, a suspected carcinogen, has been
linked to sterility in the workers at a DBCP manufacturing
plant in Lathrop, California. DBCP use has been suspended and .
cancelled by EPA (except in Hawaii). With the State action
level established at 1 ppb, more than 2000 wells, providing
water for a variety of uses throughout the San Joaquin Valley
in California, have excessive levels of DBCP. Over 20 community
water systems have at least one well which exceeds the State's
action level. To the extent possible, the State has implemented
a policy restricting the use of such drinking water wells. A
health advisory opinion has been issued by EPA but no Federal
standard is expected.
Water Reclamation and Reuse
The Southern California coastal area between Ventura and San
Diego has a population of over twelve million, and is continuing
to attract more people at a rapid rate. Yet the ground waters
of this semi-arid region can support only a third of the present
population. Two-thirds of the area's annual water supply is
imported through three separate aqueduct systems that extend
between 200 and 500 miles away.
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Most of the streams in Southern California are ephemeral and
normally dependent on rainfall for major flows. Dry weather
flows are usually a result of rising groundwater, irrigation
return flow, urban water drainage or sewage treatment plant
effluent. The flows in many of the streams and rivers are
very low in late summer and early fall. This limits.benefi-
cial uses to an intermittent status, although the water quality
objectives are constant throughout the year. Localized and
intermittent water quality problems occur including high
nutrient concentrations, high total dissolved solids, heavy
metals and grease/oil from urban runoff, siltation, and high
bacteria counts.
Groundwater in the South Coast area is used for municipal and
domestic supply, agricultural and industrial activities and
replenishment waters. The current demand for water is four to
five times the volume of groundwater that can be safely extracted
to meet the demand. Groundwater basins are recharged by flood-
waters, irrigation water and by treated wastewaters.
In mid-1978, in the wake of a statewide drought, the Orange and
Los Angeles Counties (OLAC) Water Reuse Study was initiated by
the major water and wastewater utilities serving Southern Cali-
fornia to develop proposed construction projects for an expanded
water reuse program. A major component of the OLAC project were
studies that evaluated the health effects related to groundwater
recharge of reclaimed water. These included an epidemiological
study that compared the health records of populations which
have used groundwater containing up to 23 percent reclaimed
water with those whose potable water has not been influenced
by a recharge program. Currently these studies are inconclusive,
but not without cautions.
The conclusions of the 4-year OLAC study called for legally
enforced stringent water reclamation standards based on
criteria established by the State and County health departments;
and the incorporation of solutions to the environmental and
health concerns into the design of the reuse projects to meet
the State's highest health requirements.
An expanded water reuse program, improved water conservation
measures, and storage of surplus wet-weather runoff in under-
ground aquifers or surface reservoirs have the potential to
extend the available fresh water supplies for Southern Cali-
fornia.
B. Arizona
Many current water quality problems in Arizona have resulted
from past activities. While overall surface water quality in
the State remains good in spite of local pollution, groundwater
problems now threaten public water supplies that serve major
metropolitan areas. While new problems have been discovered,
-41-
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others have been resolved or are in the process of being resolved.
Non-point sources (surface mining and recreation) need to be
dealt with vigorously and systematically before major improvements
will be seen. Overall, State surface water quality has remained
relatively constant since 1979.
Several major groundwater problems have been discovered in Arizona
since the late 1970s. Most of these problems are associated with
historic raining activities. Nonetheless, their recent discovery
has restricted groundwater availability to major metropolitan
areas dependent upon this water source. Arizona has encountered
difficulty in quantifying the magnitude and extent of groundwater
pollution. Many aquifers in Arizona are deep O5001); cleanup
of deep groundwater and the potential for massive aquifer contami-
nation in some areas are considered to be the most serious water
quality problems in Arizona.
The 1983 goal under the Federal Clean Water Act promotes the
attainment of water quality for the protection of aquatic life
and wildlife, and for recreation. In.Arizona, natural conditions
preclude many in-stream uses throughout the year. Precipitation
extremes cause many unregulated streams to be dry or running
full with flood flows. The presence of flood flows and the
absence of perennial base flows in many of Arizona's watercourses
do not provide for the opportunity to utilize surface waters
for some of the uses protected under the 1983 goals.
Toxics in Surface Waters
Mine wastes from either abandoned or operating mines are the
major environmental problem for surface waters in Arizona. Mine
wastes from historic operations release acid and heavy metals to
a number of small Arizona streams, including Bitter Creek,
Harshaw Creek, Lynx Creek and Boulder Creek. Mitigation in most
cases will prove difficult.
Some operating mines, notably Cyprus-Bagdad and the Cananea Mine,
have taken action to clean up previous water quality problems
caused by their operations. Such actions have apparently been
effective in restoring stream quality. Both abandoned and operating
mines on the Final Creek watershed near Globe-Miami appear to be
major contributors to pollution of the basin. Arizona Department
of Health Services studies in the area are ongoing. The severe
contamination of surface and groundwater threatens current
and future use of the Final Creek drainage and may be a source
of heavy metal contamination of downstream impoundments on the
Salt River (Plate W-7).
The designated uses of many small streams in Arizona have been
compromised by the presence of historic copper mining along their
courses. The weathering of copper mine tailings causes the release
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PLATE W-7
GILA AND SALT RIVERS FROM PHOENIX, AZ TO NEW MEXICO
HEAVY METALS
WORST THREE MONTHS WQI - FY 1981
NO VIOLATIONS OF
FEDERAL WATER QUALITY
CRITERIA
MINOR VIOLATIONS OF
FEDERAL WATER QUALITY
CRITERIA
INSUFFICIENT DATA
MAJOR VIOLATIONS OF
FEDERAL WATER QUALITY
CRITERIA
MAJOR DISCHARGERS
O MUNICIPAL
A NON-MUNICIPAL
• TOWNS
f~~! MAJOR CITIES
-------
of acid and heavy metals in these streams, poisoning the aquatic
community. The potential for chronic contamination of major down-
stream catchments by metals released from abandoned mines is as
yet undetermined. Mitigation of damage caused by historic mining
is in many cases impractical. Mine waste pollution from defunct
operations poses the single most intractable barrier toward attain-
ment of the 1983 goal specified in the Clean Water Act.
In spite of ADHS and EPA investigations, the continuing water
quality impacts of the 1979 United Nuclear tailings spills are
unknown. While contamination of local groundwater has not been
observed in Arizona, all surface samples taken from the Puerco
River in May 1981 exceeded State surface water quality standards
for radioactivity. Adverse human and environmental health effects
have not been documented, although local residents have suffered
economically as a result of the spills.
The Phoenix area and especially the 91st Avenue, Phoenix POTW
experience problems with meeting NPDES limits for heavy metals,
particularly cadmium and copper limits. At present, pretreatment
program solutions to the heavy metals problem are being explored
in the Region. This program offers the greatest possibility of
solution to the Phoenix area's violations of heavy metals limits.
The violations are presently affecting the Salt River, however,
there is also a potential groundwater contamination problem.
Bacterial and Fecal Contamination of Surface and Groundwaters
Unacceptably high bacterial levels have resulted from recreational
development around many Arizona waters (Gila and Salt Rivers,
Plate W-8). A particularly severe problem exists in the Pinetop
area, where sewage has contaminated shallow groundwater. Evidence
exists to implicate recreational development in nutrient addition
to ambient waters and the resulting accelerated eutrophication of
impoundments, especially in the White Mountains. ADHS is concerned
that viral contamination of water may result from heavy recreational
use, although very little information has been gathered to substan-
tiate this concern.
The water quality problems associated with recreation include
increased levels of bacteria from human and domestic animal
wastes. While many of these bacteria are relatively harmless,
increases in the numbers of these organisms are strongly correlated
with increases in water-borne diseases, such as salmonellosis and
typhoid fever.
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PLATE W-8
GILA AND SALT RIVERS FROM PHOENIX, AZ TO NEW MEKICO
FECAL COLIFORM
WORST THREE MONTHS WQI - FY 1981
NO VIOLATIONS OF
FEDERAL WATER QUALITY
CRITERIA
MINOR VIOLATIONS OF
FEDERAL WATER QUALITY
CRITERIA
INSUFFICIENT DATA
s
MAJOR VIOLATIONS OF
FEDERAL WATER QUALITY
CRITERIA
MAJOR DISCHARGERS
O MUNICIPAL
A NON-MUNICIPAL
TOWNS
!MAJOR CITIES
-------
No simple solution is available to mitigate the effects of water-
based recreation. Certain sensitive and valuable areas, such as
Aravaiipa Creek, are strictly regulated as to the number of
visitors they receive. Such a solution cannot find wide applica-
bility in Arizona. Public education in proper methods of human
and animal waste disposal may be helpful, as would construction
of more and better facilities in heavily used areas. Throughout
Arizona, county health departments must strictly enforce regulations
concerning the construction and placement of public and private
sewage systems. Such enforcement has often been lacking.
The inflow of sewage to Nogales, Arizona from Nogales, Sonora has
posed a potential public health problem for many years, though the
situation is probably most objectionable from an aesthetic
standpoint. Extremely high fecal coliform levels in the effluent
are probably indicative of the presence of pathogenic organisms.
The difficulties of international coordination are in part
responsible for the continuation of this water quality problem.
Salinity
Salinity has increased steadily in the Colorado River due to
increased usage, and will likely continue to increase unless miti-
gation measures are implemented. Presently, the situation does not
represent a public health threat, but may force future municipal
users to reduce salinity of Colorado River water prior to delivery.
Costs to individual consumers may thereby increase. The problem
of salinity in Colorado River water will take on added importance
with the advent of the Central Arizona Project, which will make
Colorado River water available to users in central and southern
Arizona.
Toxics Contamination of Groundwater
Trichloroethylene (TCE) contamination of groundwater was found in
Tucson and the greater Phoenix area. Tucson's situation is
especially severe, since the city is solely dependent upon
groundwater for its municipal supply. Levels of TCE in some
Tucson and Phoenix area wells are above levels (200 ppb) that
would pose a chronic health threat if the wells were used as a
drinking water supply. Additionally there is potential for
spread of contamination.
The intensity and extent of TCE contamination in Phoenix is not
as great as in Tucson, and Phoenix is less dependent upon ground-
water. Nonetheless, the population served by the contaminated
aquifer is large (>100,000), and wells in the Phoenix area have
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been closed for other reasons (e.g., nitrates, DBCP), restricting
groundwater supplies. The potential for large-scale public
health threat resulting from TCE contamination in Phoenix is as
yet remote, but ADHS is concerned that municipal water supplies
may be reduced as a result.
Extremely high nitrate concentrations in surface and groundwaters
in the San Pedro basin near St. David have not yet endangered
public drinking water supplies. Some private drinking water
wells already contain unacceptable nitrate levels. Nitrate is a
stable, mobile compound when in solution, raising the possibility
of widespread contamination. ADHS suspects a non-natural
point source for nitrates in the area, and studies are being
undertaken to determine this source.
Most public wells containing dibromochloropropane (DBCP) have been
shut down. The public has been warned of the dangers posed by
this chemical, and this warning has hopefully curtailed domestic
use of private wells in the afflicted areas. DBCP is no longer
used extensively by Arizona citrus growers. Still, large
quantities of groundwater remain unusable due to historic
contamination, and no mitigation measures other than the abandon-
ment of tainted wells is contemplated.
Quantity/Quality Relationship of Groundwater
Groundwater is relied upon for over sixty percent of Arizona's
drinking water supply. Because the soils are highly porous
and allow rapid percolation, groundwater sources of drinking
water are very susceptible to contamination from surface
sources such as wastewater discharges, solid hazardous waste
storage or disposal operations, and mining runoff. The State
of Arizona also consumes eight times more groundwater than is
naturally replenished each year, and has an annual over-draft
of 2.2 million acre feet. Most of the subsurface water supplies
in Arizona do not need to treat their supply at the present
time. However, potential contamination could require treatment
and, therefore, substantially increase water supply costs.
Central Arizona' Project (CAP) Impact on Groundwater
The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) is preparing a
proposal to conduct an evaluation of water quality impacts from
imported water in Central Arizona. The Central Arizona Project
will import water from the Colorado River with approximately one
ton of salt per acre foot, bringing more than two million tons
of salt per year into Central Arizona. The proposed ADHS study
will be conducted in conjunction with the Arizona Department
of Water Resources (DWR), and represents the first attempt to
systematically evaluate the effects of the CAP project on
water quality in Arizona. The study report which would identify
impacts and propose potential mitigation measures has not yet
been funded.
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In 1968, the Colorado River Basin Project Act was signed into law,
with the CAP being its major element. Water deliveries to Phoenix
and Tucson are targeted for 1985 and 1987 respectively as part of
statewide CAP deliveries of approximately 2 million acre feet of.
water per year. Construction is nearing completion on the Colo-
rado River-to-Phoenix portion of the project, while construction
of the aqueduct south of Phoenix is underway. The Tucson segments
are still in the planning stages. Total project cost estimates
range between $1.5 and $3 billion. Agriculture will receive
approximately half of the CAP water. EPA's proposal for designa-
tion of Upper Santa Cruz and Avra/Altar Valleys in Pima County
(Tucson) as a sole source aquifer has caused the Bureau of
Reclamation to ask Region 9 to clarify what effect such designa-
tion would have on EPA's review of the CAP project.
Sole Source Aquifer Designations
Southwest Environmental Service of Tucson, Arizona, has petitioned
the EPA Administrator to designate the Upper Santa Cruz and the
Avra-Altar aquifers to be the sole or principal source of drinking
water for the Tucson Active Management Area. The petition was
submitted under Section 1424(e) of the Safe Drinking Water Act
which provides for such a designation if the Administrator deter-
mines that an area has an aquifer which is the sole or principal
source of drinking water, and which, if contaminated, would
present a significant hazard to public health. After an area
has been designated, no Federal assistance may be provided for
any project which the Administrator determines may contaminate
the aquifer so as to cause a hazard to public health.
In response to the petition, Region 9 prepared a study of the
aquifers and concluded that they are the sole source of drinking
water for the area. After a public hearing and written response
to the comments that were received, Region 9 forwarded to the
Administrator a recommendation for approval of the designation
as petitioned.
C. Nev ad a
The principal surface water quality parameters identified which
have a significant adverse impact on the attainment of water
quality to sustain beneficial uses are: phosphorous and nitrogen
from wastewater discharges; temperature due to channelization and
low river flows; turbidity and siltation due to gravel operations,
erosion, and channelization; sediments, heavy metals and organic
loads from urban, agriculture, mining, and rangeland non-point
sources. The public health problem of the Giardiasis outbreak in
Reno is also of immediate concern.
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The construction of sewerage projects proposed by the priority
list through FY87 totals approximately $62 million in EPA
assistance. With the majority of the projects will be utilizing
some form of land application, along with implementation of
best management practices for new and existing developments as
well as agricultural activities, an improvement of the Truckee,
Carson, Humboldt and Colorado River systems, and other minor
river systems should occur. The resulting improvement in water
quality will provide for a high degree of protection and propa-
gation of fish and wildlife and allow recreational activities
in and on the waters.
The non-point source problems caused by existing on-site disposal
of wastewater will be resolved by implementation of sewerage
projects which eliminate failing septic tank systems. Strict
enforcement of regulations for on-site disposal and permitting
of subsurface disposal systems will prevent such activities
from causing future groundwater pollution or non-point source
problems.
Agriculture and rangeland non-point sources are contributing
large sediment loads to waters of the State. Those non-point
sources contributing nutrients, heavy metals and organic loads,
are urban drainage systems. The implementation of the State's
non-point source control law and best management practices are
necessary to achieve reductions of non-point source loads.
Groundwater is used as a source of drinking water in Nevada for
approximately 15 percent of the population, and generally is not
threatened by man-made contamination. The most significant case
of groundwater contamination involves organic chemicals and
occurs in the Southeast Las Vegas Valley. Other groundwater
problems impacting drinking water supplies include excessive
concentrations of arsenic, iron, manganese, fluorides, nitrates,
sulfates, and total dissolved solids.
Giardia Contamination of Surface/Drinking Water
The major public health hazard in Nevada is the Giardiasis out-
break in Reno. Giardia is a protozoan which can live in surface
water and in a small animal's intestine. Wildlife (deer, skunks
and especially muskrats) contaminate the water. Persons drinking
this water will receive the giardia in its harmful form as it
emerges from the cysts, and it will multiply in the small
intestine. Symptoms of giardiasis include diarrhea, nausea,
bloating, chills and weakness, which may persist for months.
There are no recorded deaths in North America from giardiasis.
An increase in cases of giardiasis in Reno was detected in
October 1982. As of December 6, 1982, 279 cases have been
identified. The most common factor is that the location of
occurrence is within the service area of the Sierra Pacific
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Power Company, water system. The hypothesis is that the outbreak
is water-borne. The Reno-Sparks area water supply is obtained
from the Truckee River. The water is treated by coagulation
and sedimentation and then chlorinated, a method which is generally
insufficient to remove the giardia cysts. After a modification
of chlorine contact time and dosage, the number of new cases has
declined significantly to 10 in January and only 2 in February.
Nutrients in Surface Waters
The presence of excessive concentrations of phosphates is a wide-
spread water quality problem in Nevada. Violations of phosphate
standards occur in most of the major water courses in the State
(Truckee and Carson Rivers, Plate W-9). The greatest violations
of standards occur during the summer months of low flow when
wastewater effluent becomes a significant portion of the flow
in the streams. Generally, stream reaches above the treatment
plants are of suitable quality for most beneficial uses. Reaches
below the treatment plants have high nutrient values which affect
the suitability of the rivers for aquatic life, aesthetics and
recreation. Several treatment plants have initiated phosphate
removal loadings to the rivers, reducing the loadings from 70
percent (Reno/Sparks) to 90 percent (Las Vegas). As a result,
there will be significant improvement in meeting water quality
standards.
Nevada has established stringent water quality standards for
nutrients. These standards have become controversial because
they require expensive AWT facilities. Due to several suits,
the State is determining the beneficial uses of the streams and
reviewing the water quality standards for all the major surface
water bodies in the State.
Total Dissolved Solids in Surface Waters
The high levels of total dissolved solids in Colorado River
continue to be of concern. Present standards have been met
recently. However, these levels, while not impinging on life-
support or recreation-support uses, do interfere with agricultural
and municipal uses.
Temperature/Turbidity/Siltation in Surface Waters
Temperature values at downstream control points of Reno and the
Humboldt River Basin approach the maximum tolerable temperature
to support fisheries. Turbidity and siltation also threaten
stream's ability to support aquatic life and recreational needs.
These problems, with the temperature problem, are traceable to
gravel operations, channelization, watershed erosion, low flows,
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PLATE W-9
TRUCKEE AND CARSON RIVERS
NUTRIENTS
WORST THREE MONTHS WQI - FY 1981
Pyramid L.
Tahoe
O
Pallon STP
MAJOR DISHARGERS
MUNICIPAL O
NON-MUNICIPAL A
NO VIOLATIONS OF
FEDERAL WATER QUALITY
CRITERIA
MINOR VIOLATIONS OF
FEDERAL WATER QUALITY
CRITERIA
MAJOR VIOLATIONS OF
FEDERAL WATER QUALITY
CRITERIA
INSUFFICIENT DATA
-------
and streambank vegetation removal. Rectification of these situ-
ations, however, would still leave problems in the Reno-Sparks
area where urban runoff could still threaten realization of the
1983 goals. Reasons include the presence of oils (road, furnace/
and diesel), and toxic materials (chlorine, cyanide, copper,
cadmium, zinc, detergents, cleaning solvents and ammonia nitrogen).
Turbidity also contributes to the Carson River's inability to
fully meet recreation and life support needs. The non-point
source problems caused by existing on-site disposal of wastewater
will be resolved by implementation of sewerage projects elimi-
nating on-lot disposal. Strict enforcement of regulations for
site disposal and permitting of subsurface disposal systems
will prevent such disposal methods for new development from
causing ground water pollution or non-point source problems.
Agriculture and rangeland non-point sources are contributing the
large sediment loads to waters of the State. Those non-point
sources contributing nutrients, heavy metals and organic loads
are urban drainage systems. The implementation of the State's
non-point source control law and best management practices are
necessary to achieve reductions of non-point source loads.
Mining Wastes in Surface Waters
Emissions from new and historic mining ventures represent a
multi-media issue that is difficult to resolve. Discharges
from mining operations could potentially threaten the State's
ground and surface waters, its most precious resource. For
example, mercury recovery operations on the Carson River could
result in resuspension of mercury. The resuspension of mercury
into the river will impact downstream fisheries and agriculture.
Toxics in Groundwater
BMI was a magnesium extraction facility operated by the Federal
Government during World War II. Since then, the companies at
the BMI site, including Stauffer Chemical Company, Montrose
Chemical of California, Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation, Titanium
Metals Corporation of America (TIMET), Genstar Corporation (a.k.a.
Flintkote Lime Company), State Industries, Inc. and Jones
Chemicals, Inc. have owned and operated a variety of manufacturing
facilities, some of which produced pesticides. Large quantities
of wastes were disposed of on-site and in unlined ponds until
1980.
Groundwater contamination by organics, including benzene and
chloroform, has been documented in the area of the BMI complex
and in the northwest corner of the Pittman residential area.
There is no current use of the groundwater by Pittman residents,
but one radio station is reported to use groundwater in its
cooling system. Groundwater does discharge into the Las Vegas
Wash, three miles from the BMI complex.
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The extent to which contaminated groundwater has migrated from
the BMI site toward Las Vegas Wash, a tributary of Lake Mead,
is unknown. In addition, the potential for exposure of Pittman
residents to the contaminated ground water is unknown.
D. Hawaii
Water quality in Hawaii is generally excellent for both surface
and groundwater supplies. Water quality problems have occurred
as a result of human activities related to agriculture and urban
development. These activities have had serious impacts on both
groundwater and surface water supplies in developed areas of the
islands.
Hawaii has an abundance of high quality groundwater which serves
as the primary source for meeting its water needs. Over 90 percent
of the population relies on groundwater for drinking water supplies.
Threats to groundwater include surface impoundments for waste
storage and treatment, underground injection of sewage effluents
and other wastes, and agricultural chemicals including fertili-
zers and pesticides.
To prevent degradation of usable groundwater supplies, the State
has developed a "no-pass line" which circles each island. Because
of the hydrogeological characteristics of islands, groundwater
tends to move outward, beneath the ocean. The "no-pass line" is
drawn around the island separating saline groundwater from fresh
groundwater. Injection of wastes is prohibited on the freshwater
"no-pass" side of the line. Injection of non-hazardous waste is
allowed on the "pass" side of the line, from which the wastes
gradually move outward, towards the ocean. The non-pass line
is being revised as part of the State's Underground Injection
Control Program.
Surface waters in Hawaii include rivers and the coastal zones.
Because watershed areas are relatively small on the islands,
there are few perennial rivers. Rivers generally flow for brief
periods following precipitation, and are turbid due to natural
erosion and erosion from agricultural and urban development.
Erosion/Sedimentation in Surface Waters
As stated before, Hawaii does not have significant surface water
quality problems. Non-point source of pollution associated with
natural and man-related activities are the major contributors to
water quality deterioration. The 208 Water Quality Management
Plans prepared by the Hawaii Department of Health recommend best
management practices to control erosion and sediment transport.
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The State-identified priority water bodies include bays in
developed areas of the island. These bays are subject to con-
tamination from urban development including industrial and
municipal waste discharges and urban runoff. The bays are also
frequently turbid following storm events due to high levels of
sediments transported by rivers.
Raw Sewage Contamination of Surface Waters
The NPDES permit program regulates industrial and municipal waste
discharge to the bays. The EPA construction grants program has
resulted in water quality improvement by funding the construction
of facilities to treat or remove municipal waste discharges to
the bays. This has significantly enhanced water quality and
reduced public health hazards in the bays and at the beaches.
Continued compliance efforts with emphasis on operation and
maintenance activities will assure further progress.
The only municipal raw sewage discharge is located in Paia, Maui
County. This is a potential health hazard for the users of the
beach near the outfall. The county has lagged in their construc-
tion schedule to divert the effluent and has been discharging raw
sewage without a permit since April 30, 1980. The State has
ordered the county to cease and desist the discharge.
E. Insular Territories
Surface Waters
Surface waters in the Insular Territories are of varying quality.
Generally, the upper reaches of rivers and streams are of good
quality, while the lower reaches often display the impacts of
human habitation. Erosion and siltation in many areas often
occur during periods of rain. Land disbursing activities such
as construction, small scale farming, brush and grass fires, etc.,
contribute to increased sediment loads during precipitation.
Sediment loads carried by streams adversely impact the reef and
estuaries communities at the point of discharge. Surface waters
are influenced by poor waste disposal practices. Bacterial
contamination frequently occurs during rainfall and is largely
attributed to individual waste systems which have failed or
which discharge directly into the waters. Poor livestock manage-
ment also contributes to this problem. In many areas the common
practice is to locate animal pens directly over a stream.
The solution to these problems is relatively basic. Progress is
being made in improving waste disposal practices. In areas with
sufficient population densities, sewers are being constructed or
planned. Other more rural areas are being considered for a
variety of individual waste systems. Public education in both
waste disposal and livestock management is also an important
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part of the solution. The results of these efforts can become
evident in relatively short periods of time. In Guam, for
example, a 10 percent decrease in the number of bacterial
water quality standard violations at beaches with river mouths
was observed from 1980 to 1981.
Groundwater
Groundwater is a most important resource to the Insular Terri-
tories. In many areas it is the principal source of drinking
water and its protection is a high priority. The quality of
groundwater in the Insular Territories is generally very good.
However, some locations have experienced salinity intrusion due
to overpumping and in some of the shallower aquifers, some
bacterial contamination has been noted. Thus far, there have
been no serious incidents of chemical contamination of ground-
water. Guam recently completed an exhaustive study of their
principal aquifer. The study concluded that groundwater is of
excellent quality and with proper management, it will continue
to be an excellent source of drinking water for decades.
American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands are also in various stages of developing management
plans for their groundwater resources.
Fortunately, the groundwater resources of the Insular Territories
have not been permanently rendered useless as a water resource.
The problems that impact groundwater quality lend themselves to
basic solutions. The problems associated with salinity intrusion
are correctable through improved pumping management. The aquifers
which have salinity intrusion problems are mostly in limestone
formations which have an ability to quickly stabilize and adjust
to proper pumping management. Bacterial contamination problems
can be corrected through sewering and the installation of more
effective individual waste systems. The long-term protection of
groundwater resources will come through the development and imple-
mentation of comprehensive resource management plans which include
land use management as well as regulatory activities such as the
UIC program.
Marine Waters
Marine water quality in the Insular Territories varies from some
of the most productive and pristine reef communities in the world
to areas where the pressures of development have greatly detracted
from the beauty and vitality of the natural environment. Areas
which have experienced degradation are usually restricted to near-
shore reef areas where adjacent activities on land are the problem
causes. Sediment loadings originating from dredging, overland
runoff, river discharges and, in some areas on Guam, storm dis-
charges are, by far, the most significant problems. Coral
communities have little resistance to excess sediment loads and
soon die if exposed to excess siltation over a period of time.
Bacterial contamination has been noted in many reef and beach
areas, particularly those near a river or stream outlet. Inade-
quate human waste and livestock management practices are the
sources of this bacterial contamination.
-52-
-------
Point source discharges have not proven to be a major source of
contamination except in a few cases. In Pago Pago Harbor of
American Samoa, two tuna canneries discharge into the inner
harbor. On Guam, some adverse impacts to the coral reef have
been observed, from the thermal discharge from one power plant.
In conclusion, the marine water quality in the Insular Territories
is very good. What problems do exist are in areas where develop-
ment and human habitation have resulted in sediment loadings and
bacterial contamination.
These areas represent a relatively small proportion of the marine
waters of the Insular Territories. Efforts are being made by
the Territories to improve waste management practices and land
management practices to reduce or eliminate any adverse impacts
which are now occurring. With respect to the tuna canneries in
American Samoa, a comprehensive oceanographic and water quality
study of Pago Pago Harbor has been initiated. The results of
the study will be specific recommendations on mitigating the
impacts of the discharges. These recommendations are to be adopted
by American Samoa. On Guam, revised water quality standards have
been adopted and approved by EPA to prevent any further degrada-
tion to the coral reef.
III.Public Water Supply Small Systems
Regional Overview
Figures W-II through W-X provide pertinent inventory and micro-
biological compliance information on public water supply (PWS)
systems in Region 9. The source data used to compile these
charts and graphs is contained in the Federal Reporting Data
System (FRDS). FY81 is depicted unless otherwise noted. The
FY82 data base is incomplete at the time of this writing.
Of the 12,615 PWSs in FY81, 46 percent (5,741) are community
water supplies (CWSs) and 54 percent are non-community water
supply (NCWS) systems. About three-quarters of both CWSs and
NCWSs have ground water sources.
Considering only CWSs, it is observed that 72 percent of all
CWSs serve populations between 25 and 500 persons. An additional
15 percent serve populations between 501 and 3300. Together
these small and very small systems comprise 87 percent of the
community water supplies in Region 9. According to additional
data contained in FRDS, these same systems serve fewer than
10 percent of the retail population at all CWSs in the region.
The significance of this is exemplified by the financial realities
that: (1) a relatively small and widely dispersed portion of
the Region's population requires a relatively large chunk of
both Federal and State resources to drive PWS supervision
programs; and (2) that same population must itself bear the
cost of relatively expensive construction, O&M, treatment, and
monitoring.
-53-
-------
Figure W - II
PUBLIC WflTER SUPPLIES IN REGION IX
TOTAL PUBLIC
WATER SUPPLY
(12,615)
COMMUNITY PWS
5,741 (45,52)
NON-COMMUNITY PVIS
6,874 (54,5%)
SURFACE WATER
1,544 (26.9%)
GROUND VATER
4,197 (73,17.)
SURFACE WATER
1,318 (19,2%)
GROUND WATER
5,555 (30,8%)
FY81
-------
Figure W - III
SYSTEM SIZE CATEGORIES
SIZE POPULATION SERVED
VERY SMALL 25 - 500
SMALL 501 - 3,300
MEDIUM 3.301 - 10.000
LARGE 10.001 - 100.000
VERY LARGE GREATER THAN 100.000
-------
Figure W - IV
COMMUNITY WATER SUPPLIES IN STATES
STATE
AS
AZ
CA
NMI
GU
HI
NV
TT
REG IX
V. IN REG
SIZE CATEGORY
V-S
38
606
3023
2
1
59
243
133
4131
71.96
B
9
134
361
7
4
49
61
17
B62
13. Ol
n
O
- 36
26S
2
2
14
12
3
336
3.83
L
1
26
316
O
3
9
6
O
361
6.29
V-L
O
4
42
O
O
2
3
O
51
O.B9
TOTAL
48
826
4209
tl
10
133
327
177
5741
1OO.OO
p 1
SOURCE TYPE
SURFACE
34
43
1228
O
4-
47
48
140
1344
26.89
GROUND
14
783
2981
11
6
86
279
37
4197
73.11
FY81
-------
Figure W -.
STflTE DISTRIBUTION OF CWS'5 IN REGION
5QQO
'1000.
tu
3000.
in-
§2QOO__
fe
o
1000
STATE:
0
REGIONAL TOTAL = 5,
•m
SURFACE WATER
GROUND WATER
QJ
HI
NV
TT
NO OF CWS S
826 4209 11
10
133 327
177
-------
Figure W - VI
5TRTE DISTRIBUTION OF NCWS'S
6000
51G7 REGIONAL TOTAL = 6,87
-------
Figure W - VII
DISTRIBUTION OF THE MICROBIOLOGICAL VIOLATIONS IN STATES
STATE
AS
AZ
CA
NMI
GU
HI
NV
TT
TOTAL *
OF CWS'B
48
826
4209
11
10
133
327
177
MCL
SYSTEMS
43
233
66
9
3
33
42
13
7.
93.75
28.43
1.37
81.82
30.00
26.32
12.84
7.34
M/R
SYSTEMS
42
546
47
O
O
4
149
167
7.
87.3
66. 1O
1.12
O.OO
O.OO
3.01
43.57
94.33
TOTAL
SYSTEMS
47
573
HO
9
3
36
133
177
%
97.92
69.61
2.61
81.82
3O.OO
27. O7
46.79
100. OO
REGIONAL
3741
448
7. BO
955
16.63
1110
19.33
TOTAL
NATIONAL AVERAGE:
8.477. (MCL)
25.647. (M/R)
29.76% (TOTAL)
FY81
-------
Figure W - VIII
MICROBIQLQGICRL VIOLRTION5. IN FY81
STATE
No OF CWS's
0
-------
figure w - IX
COMPflRISON OF MICRO-M/R VIOLflTIONS
-------
Figure W - X
0
COMPRRI50N OF MICRO-MCL VIOLRTIONS
TT
1981
-------
Regional FY81 compliance records for microbiological standards
indicate that only 19 percent of all CWSs violated one or more
bacteriological MCL and/or reporting requirement(s) during
the year. However, it must be noted that the State of California
reported only a small fraction of such violations in FY81 for
small and very small systems. California contains 73 percent
of all CWSs in Region 9. If data for the State of California
is deleted and overall microbiological compliance is determined
using only data from the rest of the region, the figure rises
to 65 percent of all CWSs in violation. Further, large and
very large systems are rarely in violation.
Clearly, the nationally recognized problems associated with small
CWS systems compliance are easily identified in Region 9. Given
the trend of shrinking resources at both Federal and State levels
and the fact that California is reporting FY82 violations to
FRDS, it is realistic to conclude that the PWS microbiological
violation status generated from FRDS will show an increase when
FY82 data is processed.
Insular Territories
The quality and quantity of drinking water in the Insular Terri-
tories varies significantly between each territory and the system
size. Generally, the larger (>1,000) government-generated systems
provide more reliable and safer drinking water than the smaller
village-operated systems. However, the dependability of these
larger supplies varies among the territories. Guam and American
Samoa have relatively dependable larger systems, but overall
improvement in operations and maintenance are needed. The CNMI
has made substantial progress in the past two years in improving
the quantity of water supplied by the government system; however,
the system is still plagued by salinity intrusion, operation and
maintenance difficulties and localized coliform violations.
Many citizens in the CNMI have installed individual water catch-
ments to use for drinking water and rely on the government system
for washing and other household water needs. The larger government
systems in the Trust Territory have a multitude of problems. Many
of the islands do not have adequate raw water supplies for the
full year. Water hours and the corresponding coliform violations
from infiltration are common. As with most of the infrastructure
in the Trust Territory, substantial improvement in operations
and maintenance is needed.
The smaller, typically village-operated systems in the Insular
Territories pose unusual problems not found in the mainland
states: they are often quite remote, making regular monitoring
infeasible. Ownership is often governed by traditional leadership,
and there are no methods for generation, operating or capital
-54-
-------
improvement revenues, other than through grant programs. However,
public education and technical assistance have had some success
in improving these small systems. In American Samoa, for example,
the village chiefs have devoted much of HUD community development
grant funds available to them for water supply improvements.
Indian Lands
The largest single category of environmental problems on Indian
Lands in Region 9 is addressed from within the Public Water
System Supervision .(PWSS) Program. Virtually all Reservations
and Rancherias in Arizona, California, and Nevada are impacted
by Federal drinking water regulations administered directly by
this Regional Office. Specific problems include: (1) intermittent
and persistent microbiological contamination of water supply
systems and occasional water-borne disease outbreaks; (2)
intermittent and persistent failure to routinely monitor and
report microbiological water quality; (3) insufficient numbers
of trained personnel to operate and maintain systems and
treatment facilities; (4) failure to provide public notification
when maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) are exceeded; and (5)
naturally occuring chemical or radiochemical contamination at
several systems.
Problems number 1 and 2 above have been quantified from data
available in the Regional office. . Figure W-X displays the
magnitude of microbiological monitoring and MCL problems along
with fundamental inventory information. The height of the first
bar shows the 92 percent of the total 494 public water supplies
are community systems. Virtually all of these serve populations
under 1,000 with the majority serving fewer than 500. The
remaining 8 percent are noncommunity systems and typically serve
schools, restaurants, campgrounds, service stations, etc.
The second bar depicts persistent, intermittent, and no microbio-
logical monitoring violations at community water supplies
(noncommunity water supplies are excluded from this bar because
their monitoring requirement differ). A system which fails to
monitor for four or more months is considered a persistent
violator. A system which fails to monitor for one to three months
is considered an intermittent violator. From the bar graph
it is observed that 55 percent (250 CWSs) of the Indian Lands
systems in Region 9 persistently failed to provide required
microbiological monitoring during FY82.
The final bar depicts a similar format for FY82 Bact MCL
compliance data. Because MCL violations are a function of
monitoring compliance, one must immediately recognize the
implications of the 250 persistent monitoring violators. With
this in mind it is reasonable to expect that more than 30 public
water supplies out of 494 experienced persistent microbiological
contamination in FY82 (i.e., did or would have exceeded the
Bact MCL 2, 3, or 4 quarters out of the year).
-55-
-------
IV Institutional Issues
Compliance
EPA Region 9 staff resources are committed to inspections, eval-
uations and compliance oriented activities which are aimed at
major wastewater treatment facilities in "Significant Non-Compliance1
Region 9 is in the process of drafting a proposed State compliance
strategy, which calls for placing additional emphasis on compliance
activities by the States and more comprehensive reporting of
facilities in Significant Non-Compliance. Regional staff also is
proceeding with implementing the Permit Compliance System (PCS),
a computer-based discharger self-monitoring reporting system that
will provide a more rapid and efficient report on compliance
statistics.
California has a unique problem in that most of the programs,
particularly inspections and compliance activities, are done
by nine semi-autonomous Regional Water Quality Control Boards,
while the 106 grant is given to the State Water Resources Control
Board. This has resulted in administrative control problems.
The State Board, at the urging of EPA, is considering increasing
its administrative overview of Regional Boards' NPDES activities.
Operation and Maintenance (O&M)
The vast majority of all dischargers in Region 9 now have on-line
the facilities necessary to comply with the Federal Water Pollu-
tion Control Act and similar State requirements. These recently
constructed wastewater treatment facilities are more complex,
more expensive to operate and produce a much higher quality effluent
than the simple plants of the past. ' The attainment and maintenance
of water quality standards and beneficial uses in receiving waters
is highly dependent on the reliable operation of treatment plants
at the efficiency levels to which they were designed.
Region 9 in concert with the States is placing increasing empha-
sis on ensuring that these complex plants are operated and
maintained at optimum performance. Region 9 O&M functions are
intended to complement and extend state agency capabilities for
improving plant operations and efficiency. To this end, Regional
resources are devoted to activities to achieve the following
objectives:
1. Assist the States in the development of a coordinated O&M and
NPDES inspection program through the provision of technical
assistance, policy clarification and coordination activities.
2. Obtain commitments from state water pollution control agencies
to assume an expanded role in all phases of the operation and
maintenance program.
-56-
-------
3. Maintain an overview of the States' programs. First priority
will be the development of a tracking and evaluation system
for those facilities constructed under the federally-financed
construction grant program. The States will be required to
determine compliance with Federal construction grant conditions,
4. Develop and demonstrate improved procedures for identifying
and correcting operational deficiencies at municipal wastewater
treatment plants.
5. Assist in providing necessary training via state water pollu-
tion control agencies to wastewater treatment plant operators
and State personnel.
-57-
-------
Hazardous Waste
Inactive Disposal Sites
Following are the site names, locations, and hazard ranking
score (in parenthesis) for the 21 sites on the NPL listed
alphabetically by State.
Arizona:
0 Indian Bend Wash, Scottsdale, Maricopa County, (40.02)
0 Kingman Airport Industrial Area, Kingman, Mohave County,
(40.02)
0 Litchfield Airport Area, Goodyear, Maricopa County, (45.91)
0 Mountain View Mobile Home Estates, Globe, Gila County,
(26.46)
* Tucson Airport Area, Tucson, Pima County, (57.80)
0 19th Avenue, Phoenix, Maricopa County, (54.27)
California:
0 Aerojet General Corporation, Rancho Cordova, Sacramento
County, (54.63)
0 Celtor Chemical Company, Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation
Huraboldt County, (30.01)
0 Coast Wood Preserving, Inc., Ukiah, Humboldt County, (42.02)
0 Iron Mountain Mine, Redding Area, Shasta County, (56.16)
0 Jibboom Junkyard, Sacramento, Sacramento County, (28.94)
0 Liquid Gold Oil Corporation, Richmond, Contra Costa County,
(43.32)
0 McColl Area Sites, Fullerton, Orange County, (41.77)
0 MGM Brakes, Cloverdale, Sonoma County, (34.52)
0 Purity Oil Sales, Inc., Malaga, Fresno County, (43.27)
0 Selma Pressure Treating Co., Selma, Fresno County, (41.17)
0 Stringfellow Quarry, Glen Avon, Riverside County, (61.40)
-58-
-------
Insular Territories:
0 Taputimu Farm, Tutuila Island, American Samoa, (28.62)
0 PCB Warehouse, Saipan, Northern Marianas, (0)
0 Ordot Disposal Site, Agana, Guam, (15.7)
0 Trust Territories PCB's, Trust Territories, (32.60)
Twenty of the NPL sites are located in urban areas or sensitive
non-urban areas where the potential exists for contamination
of an aquifer or surface water. Observed or potential contami-
nation of groundwater exists at 19 sites, of surface water at
13 sites, of air at 4 sites. At 9 sites there is the potential
for the public to come into direct contact with hazardous
materials. Remedial action is occurring at twenty of the sites
(14 remedial investigation/feasibility study, 1 design, 5
implementation). Federal or State enforcement actions to
identify responsible parties and require them to finance the
cleanup of the sites is underway on 14 sites. Superfund money
has been allocated for three of the sites: Tucson - $805,500,
Mountain View Mobile Home Estates - $190,000, Insular Terri-
tories - $140,000.
The total Region 9 CERCLA inventory and the general problems
at the NPL sites and the state of remedial action are described
in the attached map and bar graphs (T-l thru T-6), including:
(T-l) Region 9 CERCLA Inventory (state site locations)
(T-2) Region 9 CERCLA Inventory (percentage of sites/state)
(T-3) Observed and Potential Pathways of Contamination (NPL sites)
(T-4) Urbanization of Site Vicinity (NPL sites)
(T-5) Remedial Action Stages (NPL sites)
(T-6) Enforcement Profile (NPL sites)
Active Disposal Sites
EPA's deadline of November 19, 1980, for submission of permit
applications by active hazardous waste treatment, storage and
disposal sites generated 1406 Part A applications in Region 9.
Many of the sites filed applications for protective purposes,
since they were unsure if RCRA hazardous waste regulations
applied to them at that time, or would apply in the future.
-59-
-------
REGION 9 CERCLA INVENTORY
LEGEND
> 100 sites
51-100 sites
11-50 sites
10 sites
10,000
1,000-10,000
1,000
NPL sites
Population affected
T-l
-------
REGION 9 CERCLA INVENTORY
1200 SITES
Territories
2.0%
(T-2)
-------
REGION 9 NPL SITES
Potential and Observed Pathways of Contamination
Legend
K3 Potential
CZ2 Observed
Pathways of Contamination
(T-3)
-------
(A
_0)
(75
"o
V.
0)
_a
E
REGION 9 NPL SITES
Urbanization of Site Vicinity
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0-
Legend
Non-urban - population <1O,OO<
Urban - population > 10,000
ODD Remote - no permanent resident;
Vicinity
(T-4)
-------
C/)
()
H—
o
L_
0)
_Q
E
21
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10-
9-
8-
7-
6-
5-
4-
3-
2-
1-
0-
REGION 9 NPL SITES
Remedial Action Stage
Stage of Remedial Action
(T-5)
-------
-0)
(7)
M—
o
L_
0)
_Q
E
21
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10-
9-
8-
7-
6-
5-
4-
3-
2-
1-
0
REGION 9 NPL SITES
Enforcement Profile
Type of Enforcement Action
(T-6)
-------
Another large group of applications were received from facilities
which either were not required to obtain hazardous waste permits
(such as those storing wastes for less than ninety days) or were
not handling wastes regulated by EPA. One of the first tasks to
confront the regional permit staff was the elimination of these
non-regulated facilities, so that rational assumptions could be
made regarding workload in future years. At the same time, the
Region recognized the need to assess the potential environmental
and health impacts of existing sites. Such an assessment was
necessary to provide a consistent framework for establishment
of permit and inspection priority lists.
In 1981, regional permit engineers reviewed all Part A applica-
tions which had been submitted, with the dual purpose of assigning
a rating to the facility and culling out applications from
unregulated facilities. Six factors were considered in assign-
ing a numerical rating to each application: the age of the
facility, the process design capacity, the process or processes
used, the types of waste handled, the location of the facility,
and an engineering judgment as to the hazards presented by the
operation. The composite scores were entered into a regional
data system, including process codes and other information to
allow retrieval of "priority lists" for all facilities or for
a specific type of facility.
The first thrust of this effort, elimination of unregulated
facilities, was responsible for returning several hundred appli-
cations. Over the past two years it has also become evident
to industry that they could avoid many costly requirements
(e.g., financial assurances) by implementing procedures which
would diminish the potential for environmental effects from
the facility. In particular, many facilities have chosen to
store wastes for only short periods of time, and avoid the
need for a RCRA permit. The result of these influences has
been the reduction of the (assumed) permit workload from 1406
existing facilities to 862, a reduction of nearly forty -percent.
Region 9 assumes that withdrawals will continue to occur,
particularly in response to Part B application requests, and
that less than 700 permits will ultimately need to be written.
When EPA's land disposal regulations went into effect on
January 26, 1983, Region 9, as a result of earlier evaluation
of all applications, was able to quickly select the top sites
in the region for Part B request and commence of the per-
mitting effort. Forty Part B's were immediately requested.
The location of these "top forty" sites is shown on the
attached map (T-7). These forty have also been subject to
close scrutiny during interim status, and will have their
interim status plans and procedures reviewed prior to the
August 1, 1983, the due date for the Part B.
-60-
-------
REGION 9 HAZARDOUS WASTE INVENTORY
* •••V':: v ••••' ••-.•• :j-.s
LEGEND
100 TSDs
50-100 TSDs
10-50 TSDs
Priority Disposal Sites
T-7
-------
Since 87 percent of the facilities that require permits in
Region 9 are located in California, as shown in the attached
chart (T-8), the authorization of the California Department
of Health Services for Phase IIA (issuance of tank, container
and waste pile permits) has a profound influence on the
region's operations. A total of 563 active permit applications
are covered by this authorization, as shown in the attached
chart (T-9). The State is now actively engaged in permitting
these sites.
The generation of hazardous waste in California overshadows that
in the rest of the region, as shown in the attached map (T-10).
This map is based on best available data for 1981. Also shown
on this map is the number of hazardous waste generators in each
county. These graphics indicate the critical importance of
California in the Region's hazardous waste programs.
-61-
-------
REGION 9 TSD'S
(T-8)
-------
REGION 9 TSD'S
**.
CA - HA
563
65.5%
(T-9)
-------
REGION 9 HAZARDOUS WASTE INVENTORY
LEGEND
1,000 Generators
100-1,000 Generators
50-100 Generators
T-10
-------
Air Quality
Ozone (0-3) ;
The most serious air quality problem in Region 9 is ozone.
All six of the major urban areas and several rural areas in
California, as well as Phoenix and Las Vegas continue to
experience violations of the ozone NAAQS.
Figure A-l shows the geographic portion of Region 9 that is
currently not attaining the ozone NAAQS. The shaded area
exceeds the ozone standard more than one day per year based
on ambient data from 1979 through 1981. The darkened areas
show where the Stage 1 (alert) level of 0.20 ppm has been
reached.
Figure A-2 shows (shaded area) the four most serious ozone
problem areas in Region 9. These areas are - from north to
south - Sacramento, Fresno, Bakersfield, and Southern
California. The Southern California ozone problem includes
parts of four air basins: South Coast (Los Angeles area),
South Central Coast (Ventura and Santa Barbara), San Diego,
and the Southeast Desert. The shaded areas indicate violation
of the ozone NAAQS 17 or more days per year.
The darkened area of Figure A-2 shows the most severe ozone
problem area in Region 9. This area is the portion of the
South Coast Air Basin that violates the ozone NAAQS 80 days
or more per year. In fact, within this area some stations
record ozone concentrations 3 to 4 times the NAAQS of 0.12
ppm.
Table A-I ranks the severity of the ozone problems in areas of
Region 9. The ranking is based on the average number of days
per year that the ozone NAAQS is violated in each area. For
the Region as a whole, over 22 million people are exposed to
unhealthful ozone concentrations at least one day per year.
The South Coast Air Basin is by far the most serious ozone
problem area with an average of 182 days per year above the
NAAQS (i.e., one or more monitoring stations in the air basin
showed an ozone violation, on average, 182 days per year
during the three year period 1979-81). Of greater concern,
the South Coast reached (or exceeded) the Stage 1 (alert)
level 110 days per year.
-62-
-------
REGION 9 Af.R QUALITY
OZONE
AREA .EXCEEDS NAAQS
MORE THAN 1 DAY PER YEAR
0.12 PPM (1-HOUR)
f'J ALERT LEVEL REACHED
0.20 PPM (1-HOUR)
+ = MONITORING STATION
BASED ON 1979-81 DATA
-------
REGION 9 AIR QUALITY
OZONE
AREA EXCKEDS NAAQS
MORE THAN 17 DAYS PER YEAR
AREA EXCEEDS NAAQS
MORE THAN 80 DAYS PER YEAR
+ = MONITORING STATION
BASED ON 1979-81 DATA
-------
Table A - I
OZONE
RANKING THE 03 PROBLEMS IN REGION 9:
- Areas ranked by number of days/year -above
NAAQS (0.12 pern) and Stage-1 (0.20 ppm) level.
AIR BASIN or AREA
South Coast
Southeast Desert
San Diego
South. Central Coast
San Joaquin Valley
Sacramento Valley
S.F. Bay Area
Mountain Counties
Phoenix, AZ
Las Vegas, NV
North Central Coast
A
POPULATION
Within Basin
Exposed to
Ozone
Cone.
Above NAAQS
10,502,000
609,000
1,862,000
700,000
1,999,000
1,271,000
3,056,000
340,000
1,421,000
433,000
25,000
22,218,000
B
Days Above
NAAQS
Cone.
(days/year)
182
115
77
*
73
64
18
14
9.3
5.0
2.0
1.3
C
Estimated
POPULATION
EXPOSURE TO
Cone. Above
NAAQS
A x B
(person-days
x 1,000,000)
1,911
70
143
51
128
23
43
3.2
7.1
0.9
0.03
D
Days >
Stage 1
Cone.
(days/year)
110
22
6.7
2.0
0.7
0.3
0.3
0
0
0
0
E
Estimated
POPULATION
EXPOSURE
to Stage 1
Cone.
A x D
(oerson-days
x 1,000,000)
1,155
13
12
1.4
1.4
0.4
0.9
0
0
0
0
Notes: Population figures from 1980 census. Figures are estimates of the portion of
the population exposed to 03 concentrations above the NAAQS more thsa 1 day per ye.
"Days Above NAAQS" and "Days _> Stage 1" are average basin-wide days/year for thr-c =
years - 1979-31.
"POPULATION EXPOSURE" estimates are intended only to indicate the r.°le'.v.iv3 -i^ni':.;
of the ozone problem among air basins.
Sources: AZ, CA, *?/ state air,quality arnual reports.
-------
The next three worst ozone problems are the South Coast Air
Basin's immediate neighbors: the Southeast Desert, San Diego,
and the South Central Coast Air Basins. Each, to a greater
or lesser degree, is affected by ozone transport from the
South Coast as well as from its own internally generated
precursors and OCS offshore emissions.
The fifth worst ozone problem is the San Joaquin Valley Air
Basin which exceeds the NAAQS 64 days per year. Stage 1
concentrations are few (2 in 3 years).
The last six ozone areas are much less serious problems when
compared to the preceeding five. They are: four air basins
in Northern California plus Phoenix and Las Vegas. Days per
year over the NAAQS range from about 1 to 18 and Stage 1
levels range from 0 to 1 in three years.
Table A-I also includes a rough estimate of the relative
"population exposure" among the air basins. The actual
numerical values are not as important as the comparison of
the relative size of the numbers among the air basins. In
terms of this "population exposure" estimate, the South
Coast Air Basin has by far the most severe ozone public health
problem. San Diego and the San Joaquin Valley are a distant
second and third.
While improvement in ozone levels has occurred as a result of
HC emission controls on new motor vehicles and VOC controls
on many categories of stationary sources, South Coast Air
Basin, Fresno, Ventura and Sacramento do not expect to meet
the standard by 1987, and several other areas will only do
so with difficulty. While the CAA requires that these areas
implement I/M for motor vehicles by January 1, 1983, implemen-
tation has been postponed in California and Nevada until 1984.
Carbon Monoxide (CO);
Figure A-3 shows the significance of the CO problem in Region
9. Table A-II ranks the CO problems in Region 9 in order of
the number of days per year that the 8-hour NAAQS (10 mg/m3)
is exceeded. The South Coast Air Basin is the worst CO problem
with 87 days per year above the NAAQS followed by Las Vegas
and Phoenix with 76 and 45 days, respectively. These three
areas also experience the most Stage 1 (alert) level days with
South Coast at 26 days per year being the highest. South Lake
Tahoe ranks fourth in seriousness of CO problems with 28 days
per year above the NAAQS and alert levels being reached 1.5
day per year on average.
-63-
-------
REGION 9 AIR QUALITY
CARBON MONOXIDE
NAAQS VIOLATION
9.2 PPM (8-HR AVG)
•/3 ALERT LEVEL REACHED
15 PPM (8-HR AVG)
+ = MONITORING STATION
BASED ON 1980-81 DATA
-------
Table A - II
CARBON MONOXIDS
RANKING THE CO PROBLEMS IN REGION 9:
- Areas ranked by number of days/year above NAAQS
(10 rrg/m3 3-Hour Avg.)
AREA
South Coast Air Basin
Las Vegas, NV
Phoenix, AZ
South Lake Tahoe, CA
Reno, NV
Fresno
San Jose
Sacramento
Tucson, AZ
Bakersfield
Santa Barbara
Vallejo
POPULATION
10,502,000
433,000
1,421,000
27,000
162,000
332,000
1,244,000
796,000
487,000
222,000
150,000
98,000
' Days Above
. NAAQS
(days/year)
(
87
76
45
28
23
18
9.5
7.0
3.5
3.0
3.0
1.0
Days >
Stage 1
[17mq/m3
8-Hr Avg.]
(days/year)
. 26
8
13
1.5
0.5
0.5
1.0
0
0
0
0
0
Notes: 1980 census data - urbanized area population in most cases.
"Days over NAAQS" and "Days >_ Stage i" are area-wide number of
days/year averaged for the two years 1980-81.
Sources: SAROAD and AZ, CA, NV state air quality annual reports.
-------
There have been no reported violations of the NAAQS in
San Diego County since 1980. However, the quality assurance
data (precision and accuracy) for CO from the sites with the
highest reported values (just below the standard) show a
significant negative bias. Actual CO violations may have
occured. The nonattainment designation will be maintained
until eight quarters of reliable data are obtained.
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO?);
Figure A-4 shows the geographic extent and severity of the
N02 problem in Region 9. The South Coast Air Basin is the
only N02 problem area. The Los Angeles and Orange County
portions of the South Coast violate the annual N©2 NAAQS
by a wide margin with some sites 40% to 50% above the annual
standard. See Table A-III.
While there currently is no short-term NAAQS for NO2» there
are Federal 24-hour "alert," "warning," and "emergency"
episode concentrations for N02« The "alert" level is exceeded
in all four counties of the South Coast Air Basin. Five
stations exceed the alert but do not violate the annual
standard. Burbank, the station with the highest NO2 annual
concentration, reaches the alert level about 16 days per
year.
The N02 problem in the South Coast also contributes to the
fine particle loading, acid precipitation and acid fog problems
in Southern California when the oxides of nitrogen are converted
to nitrate and nitric/nitrous acids. It also contributes to
the ozone problem.
Sulfur Dioxide (SO?):
Figure A-5 shows the geographic areas and severity of the SO2
problems in Region 9. Six rural areas of Arizona, in the
vicinity of copper smelters show violations of the SO2
NAAQS. See Table A-IV. One area, Miami, has reached the
alert level concentration for SC>2 during the 1980-81 period.
It should be noted that these violations occurred despite
the use of supplemental control systems (SCS).
In addition, the area near the copper smelter at McGill, NV
has shown violations of the S02 NAAQS in past years. Insuf-
ficient data from McGill during 1980-81 make it impossible
to establish the current attainment status with respect to
the NAAQS. Nonattainment designation will be maintained
since SCS is used and pre-1980 data showed NAAQS violations.
-64-
-------
REGION 9 AIR QUALITY
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
VIOLATION (0.05 PPM ANN AVG)
*MB ALERT LEVEL REACHED (0.15 PPM
24-HR AVG)
O ALERT LEVEL REACHED
BUT NO MAAQS VIOLATION
4- = MONITORING STATION
BASED ON 1980-81 DATA
-------
Table A - III
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
Ranking of N02 Problems in Reqion 9
- Stations ranked by: 1. annual mean concentration (NAAQS = 0.05ppm)
2. number of Stage 1 (alert) days (0.15 ppni 24-HR avg)
STATION
Burbank
Los Anqeles
Pico Rivera
Lennox
West Los Angeles
Pasadena
Lynwood
Anaheim
Whittier
North Long Beach
Pomona
La Habra
Reseda
San Bernardino
Costa Mesa
Riverside - UCR
Azusa
COUNTY
Los Anqeles
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Orange
Los Anqeles
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Orange
Los Angeles
San Bernardino
Orange
Riverside
Los Angeles
• Annual
Mean
Concentration
(ppm)
.071
.067
.061
.059
.058
.058
.057
.055
.054
.054
.053
.051
*
*
*
*
*
Averaae
Number of
Days Stage 1
Concentration
reached
(days/year)
16.5
13.5
8.5
5.0
7.5
2.0
2.5
10.0
8.5
2.0
1.5
4.0
1.5
1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
* Concentration below NAAQS (0.05 ppm AAM).
Note: All stations are in the South Coast Air Basin (population 10,502,000)
Stage 1 days are the average number of alert days per year for the
two year period 1980-81. Mean concentration is higher of 1980 or
1981 value.
Source: CA state annual air quality surnmary.
-------
REGION 9 AIR QUALITY
SULFUR DIOXIDE
NAAQS VIOLATION (PRIMARY)
365 UG/M3 (24-HR AVG)
80 UG/M3 (ANN AVG)
j (f.) ALERT LEVEL REACHED
800 UG/M3 (24-HR AVG)
+ = MONITORING STATION
BASED ON 1980-81 DATA
-- INSUFFICIENT S02 DATA NEAR COPI'EH SMKLTEK (MCGILL, NV)
-------
Table A - IV
SULFUR DIOXIDE
Ranking the S02 Problems in Region 9
- Areas ranked by number of short-term primary NAAQS exceedances.
Area
Morenci
Hayden
Miami
Ajo
Douglas
San Manuel
McGill, NV
• POPULATION
1,000
1,000
3,000
6,000
13,000
5,000
1,500
Number of
Primary NAAQS
exceed ances
[365 uq/m3
24-HR avqj
(Number/Year)
19
9
9
2
1
0
*
Number of
Second ay NAAQS
exceed ances
[1300 ug/m3
3-HR avq]
(Numb3r/Year)
43
13
22
5
7
2
*
Annual
Geometric
'lean
[NAAQS = •
80 ug/m3]
(ug/m3)
138
132
76
41
62
66
*
* Insufficient data from 1980-81. Data from earlier years showed SO2
violations.
Note: Data is hiqher of values from 1980 or 1981. The station with
highest number of days/year was used if there were two or more
stations in an area.
Source: SAROAD and "Air Quality Control for Arizona" 1980 and 1931.
-------
Total Suspended Particulates (TSP);
TSP is the most pervasive air quality problem in Region 9.
Figure A-6 shows the geographic extent and severity of the
TSP problem. Every station in the San Joaquin Valley and
almost every station in the South Coast Air Basin violates the
primary NAAQS. Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas, Reno and many
other areas also violate the primary NAAQS. Table A-V ranks
the 14 most serious TSP areas in Region 9 in the order of
annual geometric mean concentration from the monitoring
station in each area with the highest AGM.
When the current TSP NAAQS is replaced with a fine particulate
standard, it is expected that many current nonattainment TSP
areas will become attainment. Using a procedure developed by
OAQPS, the probability of a TSP monitoring station to violate
an assumed PMiQ NAAQS (70 ug/m3 AGM, 200 ug/m3 24-hr) was
calculated. using a criteria of greater than 10% probability
for nonattainment, monitoring stations that are expected to
show nonattainment are presented in Figure A-7 and listed in
Table A-VI.
Emerging Issue; Air Toxics
The issue of toxic air contaminants, while not historically a
focal point of EPA's air programs, is receiving increasing
attention in Region 9. State and local air pollution and
health authorities are devoting significantly more effort to
investigating the extent and severity to which toxic compounds
contaminate the air. The California Air Resources Board
(ARE) in particular has undertaken several air toxics-related
projects in the past five years. These projects include:
ambient monitoring for air toxics in the Los Angeles basin;
setting up an ad hoc carcinogen advisory panel; and, establish-
ing a statewide ambient vinyl chloride standard. These
projects culminated in the 1982 establishment by the ARB of
a framework outlining State procedures for designating and
regulating toxic air contaminants.
The monitoring and analytical techniques necessary to document
ambient or emission levels of air toxics are technologically
sophisticated, generally expensive, and far from standardized.
As such, few ambient or emissions data are presently available,
making it difficult to assess the magnitude of pollution by air
toxics. However, limited monitoring data have been collected
under an EPA grant for several cities nationwide, including
several cities in Region 9 (Table A-VII). While these data
are very limited, spatially and temporally, they illuminate
several points:
-65-
-------
REGION 9 AIR QUALITY
TOTAL SUSPENDED
P ARTICULATE
/\ NAAQS VIOLATION ( SECONDARY )
150 L1G/M3 (24-HR AVG)
NAAQS VIOLATION (PRIMARY)
260 UG/M3 (24-HR AVG)
75 UG/M3 (AGM)
ALERT LEVEL REACHED
375 UG/M3 (24-HR AVG)
= MONITORING STATION
BASED ON 1900-01 DATA
-------
Table A - V
AIR BASIN or AREA
TOTAL SUSPENDED PARTICULATES
Ranking the TSP problems in Region 9:
- Areas ranked by AGM concentration
STATION
WITH
HIGHEST
POPULATION AGM
ANNUAL
GEOMETRIC
MEAN*
Paul Spur, A2
Hayden, AZ
Southeast Desert Air Basin
San Joaquin Valley Air Basin
South Coast Air Basin
Phoenix, AZ
Nogales, AZ
Great Basin Valley Air Basin
Battle fountain, NV
Douglas, AZ
Las Vegas, NV
Henderson, NV
South Central Coast Air Basin
Yuma, AZ
100 est
1,000
609,000
1,Q99,OQO
10,502,000
1,421,000
16,000
28,000
3,000
13,000
433,000
24,000
983,000
42,000
Paul Spur
Hayden-Jail
Calexico
Oildale-Manor St.
Ontario
Fhoenix-S. Central
Kogales
Mairmoth Lakes
Battle Mountain
Douglas-City Park
Las Vegas-Gas Co.
Henderson
Piru, Ventura Co.
Yuma
381
287
203
202
187
175
147
146
141
136
131
123
126
1 26
Note: Only stations with AGM >^ 125 uq/m^ included. Many other
stations also violate the NAAQS of 75 ug/m^ (AGM) as well
as the 24-hour NAAQS.
* AGM concentration is higher of 1980 or 1981 value.
Source: AZ, CA, NV state annual air quality reports.
-------
REGION 9 AIR QUALITY
FINE PARTICULATE ( PM10 )
^PROBABILITY > 10S STATION WILL
EXCEED ASSUMED PMl0 STANDARD*
( 70 UG/M3 AGM
AMD/OK
200 UG/M3 24-HOUR )
* TECHNIQUE DEVELOPED BY
OAQPS TOR TSP DATA
+ = TSP MONITORING STATION
BASED ON 1980-81 TSP DATA
-------
Table A - vi
FINE PAKITCULAT3
Areas with Greater than a 10% Probability of
Exceeding the Assumed** PM Standard
ARIZONA CALIFORNIA
*Phoenix. Azusa
Tucson Pico Rivera
*Paul Spur San Bernardino
*Douglas Fontana
*Hayden *0ntario
Safford Riverside
*Nogales *Rubidoux
*Clarkdale Sacrarnanto
Yuma Five Points
Bakersfiald
NEVADA Trona
Borcn
Henderson *3rav;ley
Battle Mountain *Calexico
* Probability greater than 90% of exceeding assumed PM Standard.
** 70 ug/m3 (AGM) and/or 200 ug/ra3 (24-hour avg)
-------
Table A - VII
Ambient Air Concentrations* of Selected Potentially Toxic Co-pounds
in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Oakland, CA !
Chemical
Group & Compound
Halorr.ethanes
Methy.lene
chloride
Chloroform
Carbon
tetrachloride
Fluorocarbons
Trichloro-
trifluorce thane
Haloe thanes
1 ,1 , 1-trichloro-
ethane
Chloroethylenes
Trichloro-
ethylene
Tetrachloro-
ethylene
Aromatic hvdrocarbc
Benzene
Toluene
Secondary orcanics
PAN
LOS ANGELES
Mean
+s.d.
3751.1
+2620.3
88.2
+39.9
215.1
+107.0
304.8
+667 . 1
1028.1
+646.3
399.1
+302.1
1479.7
+444.5
>ns (ppb)
6.04
+4.58
11.72
+9.07
4977.3
+4432.7
Max .
12028.8
223.5
994.8
4160.1
5143.7
1702.2
2065.3
27.87
53.38
1 £820.0
Min.
601.4
24.3
96.8
48.8
224.2
36.3
173.5
0.72
1.14
30.0
PHOENIX
Mean
+s.d.
893.6
+988.6
111.4
+106.0
276.5
+114.2
151.3
+224.7
823.5
+_597.4
483.5
+586.9
993.8
+715.5
4.74
+6.75
8.63
+ 9.09
77P.9
+757 . 1
Max .
5155.2
514.0
855.3
1251.3
2813.6
3069.6
3696.8
59.89
38.73
3720.0
Min.
85.9
27.1
130.5
12.2
197.8
11.7
129.1
0.39
0.54
<0.02
OAKLAND
Mean
+s.d.
4 15.5
+31*. <5
32.1
+ 12.1
158.5
+132.5
49.4
+59.1
290.9
+160.6
187.5
+269.7
308.4
+291.6
1.55
+ 1.22
3.11
+3.18
355.9
Max .
2405. S
60.1
986.6
308. 3
967.2
1552.2
1449.8
4.63
16.9^
1850.0
iiin .
85.9
13.1
?'-.3
15.3
142.9
14.1
53.4
0.0
0.1
' 50.-
+4? 1.5 i
* Parts per trillion (ppt) eycspt for arcr.atic hydrocarbons (?pb).
1 Siren, Hanwant B., Louis J. Salas, Albert 3. S:ni^h & Hsir.o Shiceishi, 1?31.
Meaji'jreiTsnts of: seme potentially hazardous chemicals in urban enviro.'-^nts.
-------
0 Urban levels of many potentially toxic organic compounds are
significantly elevated over concentrations in non-urban areas
(where concentrations are generally near zero).
0 Like those of the criteria pollutants, ambient concentrations
of air toxics often show large daily fluctuations.
8 A certain amount of variation is evident from one city to the
next.
Given the increasing frequency with which Regional staff are
being confronted with questions relating to air toxics, it is
apparent that EPA must channel more resources into air toxics
research and develop a data base to determine the potential
adverse health impact of air toxics.
Acid Deposition
Acid deposition has only recently been documented in Region 9,
but is emerging as a major concern. Low pH values have been
measured in both rainwater and fogwater throughout California.
Limited rainwater data from Arizona and Hawaii also indicate
low pH measurements.
In relation to those areas in Canada and the northeastern
U.S. that experience acid deposition problems, Region 9 has
very different emission source patterns, atmospheric processes
and ecosystems. Sulfur emissions are usually considered to
be the major anthropogenic source of acid deposition. By
contrast, fog water samples collected in and around Los Angeles
have shown that nitrates were a predominant source of acid,
most probably the result of nitrogen oxide emissions from
automobiles and major stationary sources. This data was
collected from November 1981 to January 1982 and revealed
pH values often below 3, with a low value of 2.2 (see
Table A-VIII). Concurrent analysis for ionic constituents
of the fog revealed high concentrations of nitrate and
sulfate, with nitrate levels from 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 times higher
than sulfate. Those acid fog events tend to occur after
periods of low visibility and are characterized by consistently
high concentrations of chemical components. Health effects
data for fogwater acidity is needed to assess significance
of this newly identified problem.
In Hawaii rainwater from a remote site on Kauai was recently
measured with an average pH of 4.79 and the values ranged
from pH 3.6 to 6.0. Arizona has several copper smelters with
large SOx emissions which contribute to acid precipitation.
Data from the NADP for Arizona shows volume-weighted average
sulfate concentrations for wet deposition as high as 3.4 ug/1,
in the southern portion of the State. This value is as high
as data from the midwestern United States. Yearly average
values of pH from the same stations is 5.6 to 5.8.
-66-
-------
Table V-III
Ranges in concentrations observed during fog events in the
Los Angeles area during 1981 and 1982. (Hoffman, et al.
"Pogwater Chemistry in an Urban Atmosphere," California
Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 9/82)
Location
Pasadena (LA Cty. )
Lennox (LA " )
»
Oildale (Kern Cty. )
Pasadena
Upland (San Bernardino
Cty.)
#
Samples
4
8
3
3
1
3
Date
11/23/81
12/7/81
12/18/81
1/14/82
1/17/82
5/14/82
PH
4.85-2.92
5.78-2.55
2.81-2.52
3.07-2.90
2.25
2.88-2.22
N03-(mgq/l)
1220-3250
820-4560
2070-3690
3140-5140
12000
4240-10660
S042~(meq/l)
481-944
540-2090
610-1970
2250-5000
5060
2760-4890
-------
In California, high summer ozone levels may enhance the
conversion of airborne sulfur and nitrogen oxides into acid -
forming species. In addition, recent evidence indicates the
oxidation of S02 to sulfate occur at a higher rate in water
droplets during night time fog episodes.
Secondary Aerosols
In December 1982 the California Air Resources Board (ARB)
approved a resolution to adopt a standard for particulate
matter of aerodynamic diameter less than 10 micrometers
(PM],Q). The concentration limits for the California standard
are:
PM10 50 ug/m^ 24-hour average
30 ug/m^ annual geometric mean (AGM)
In the near future EPA will also propose a standard for PMjg.
The fine, or inhalable, fraction of TSP is significant in
that it causes adverse health effects and should be limited
by a health-based standard. This fraction is also significant
in that it consists mainly of secondary aerosols, formed in
the atmosphere largely by chemical reactions involving gases.
Among these respirable secondary aerosols, sulfates and
nitrates are often found in high concentrations. Figure A-8
shows the geographic extent of the sulfate problem in Region 9
and Table A-IX ranks the severity of the sulfate problems.
The most serious problem is in the Bakersfield/Oildale area
of Kern County where the California standard is exceeded in
25% of the samples. The South Coast Air Basin is the second
most serious sulfate problem area where 8.9% of the samples
exceed the standard. This is probably the most serious
sulfate "population exposure" problem since more than 10
million people live and breath in the South Coast. If the
California sulfate standard were applied Region-wide, five
copper smelter areas in Arizona would be in violation as
well as Nogales, Arizona.
In the South Coast Air Basin of California, it has been noted
that high sulfate levels are attributable to the unusually
high rate at which SO? is converted to sulfate. *' Furthermore,
sulfate formation is induced to some extent by photochemical
reactions during smog formation. Sulfate levels can therefore
be reduced by controls on SC-2 emissions and by efforts to
reduce ozone concentrations.
I/Cass, G. R. (1978) "Methods for Sulfate Ion Air Quality
Management with Applications to Los Angeles," California
Institute of Technology.
-67-
-------
REGION 9 AIR QUALITY
SULFATF;
EXCKEDS CONCENTRATION OF
25 UG/M3 (24-HR AVG) AT
LEAST ONCE PER YEAR*
* CALIFORNIA STATE STANDARD
•f = MONITORING STATION
BASED ON 1979-81 DATA
-------
Table A - IX
SULFATE
Ranking of 804 Problems in Region 9
- Areas ranked by percent of Samples above 25 ug/ni3 (24-HR AVG}*
AREA
Bakersfield/Oildale
South Coast Air Basin
Trona, CA
Paul Spur, AZ
Miami, AZ
Hayden, AZ
Morenci, AZ
Nogales, AZ
San Manuel, AZ
Peculation
222,000
10,502,000
4,000
100 est.
3,000
1,000
1,000
16,000
5,000
Percent of
Samples
Above
25 ua/m3
(%)
25.0
8.9
8.3
6.9
4.9
4*9
2.6
2.0
1.9
* California State ambient air quality standard.
NOTE: If mere than 1 monitoring station in the area, the highest "h
among stations is used. Minimum sample size was 100 in three
years 1979-81. Stations with percentages less than 1.7% (one
sample in 60) not included. Population figures from 1980 census,
-------
It has been noted by the GARB that, under current conditions,
nitrates are an even more important contributor to the ambient
particulate burden than sulfates in California-. In 1981, the
maximum sulfate and nitrate levels reported for the state were,
respectively, 56.6 and 145 ug/m3. 2/
In the South Coast Air Basin episodes of sulfate concentrations
above 25 ug/m3 over 24 hours, observed in conjunction with
ozone levels greater than 0.20 ppm over 1 hour, are given
special attention. In the event of such "basin-day" episodes,
emergency measures can be taken to reduce pollutant emissions
and can include, for example, the use of carpools for employees
of large companies or switching fuel from oil to natural gas
at power plants. In recent years, the numbers of episodes
recorded in the South Coast are as follows: 1980 - 20,
1981 - 2, and 1982 - 1.
Figure A-9 shows the trends since 1967 of the annual av.erage
of sulfate, nitrate, N02» S02 and TSP at the Downtown
Los Angeles monitoring station. As can be seen TSP values
have been on the decrease since 1967 from an annual average
of 143 ug/rn^ to an annual average of 118 ug/m^ in 1980.
This reduction occurred even though the sulfate and nitrate
concentrations remained approximately constant. Using annual
average values, sulfate and nitrate constitute approximately
26 percent of the TSP concentrations. Since sulfate and
nitrate are predominately fine particles, we can assume that
sulfate and nitrate will be even more of a significant
contributor to the EPA PM^g NAAQS under consideration.
Therefore controls on not only sources of particulate matter
but also NOX and S02 will be required to attain any fine
particulate standard. Complicating the control strategy
development and attainment demonstration will be the need
for air quality models that account for the gaseous to aerosol
formation.
Figure A-9 also indicates that control of TSP has not affected
concentrations of sulfate or nitrate. In fact, as the SCAQMD
implemented controls of TSP with resulting decrease in TSP
concentrations, nitrate and sulfate have remained relatively
constant.
Table A-X shows the summary emissions inventory developed for
the SCAQMD '82 NAP for SOX and NOX. As can be seen for NOX
emissions, stationary sources account for 33% of the total
Air Basin emissions and mobile sources account for 67%.
Stationary sources account for 75% of the SOX emissions
with mobile sources accounting for 25%.
2/ Air Resources Board (1982), "Cal Air Quality: Summary of
1981 Air Quality Data for Gaseous and Particulate Pollutants,"
Technical Services Division, Sacramento.
-68-
-------
Figure A9
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES
3 YEAR RUNNING AVERAGE OF AGM
ISO-,
140-
120 -
100-
cv>
Legend
X
X ^^..il^d.I-i1:1.;1.1:''^,' _
) '. SULfATt 3-VH r !»;i AVt
>-• [ijTPATt 5-Yft ;U)ii AVt
-------
TABLE A-X
1979 Emissions Summary South Coast
Air Quality Management District
(Average Annual Day - Tons/Day)
NOy SO?
Stationary Sources 406 (33%) 201 (75%)
Mobile Sources 837 (67%) 73 (25%)
Total 1243 (100%) 274 (100%)
The deposition of atmospheric inorganic nitrogen compounds
is a topic of special concern in one specific area of Region 9,
the Lake Tahoe Basin. Lake Tahoe has a very low background
concentration of nutrients to support algae growth, resulting
in exceptional water clarity. Inorganic nitrogen is currently
limiting the growth of algae in Lake Tahoe in most locations.
Wastewater generated in the Basin is pumped out of the Basin
for treatment and disposal, and efforts have been made to
control nutrient-rich runoff in the vicinity of the Lake.
It has been postulated, however, that atmospheric inputs of
inorganic nitrogen to the Basin are substantial, and consider-
ably more research is needed to determine the nature and
magnitude of this input. An extensive study has recently
been formulated by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, and
would include the participation of EPA's Environmental Monitor-
ing Systems Laboratory (EMSL), the U.S. Geological Survey,
the Desert Research Institute and the Tahoe Research Group.
Most of the funding necessary for the proposed study is
still to be obtained, however.
It should be noted that the adoption and subsequent achievement
of a PM^Q standard would trigger a substantial departure from
current approaches to particle control strategies. Depending
on the relative fine particle composition for a given locality,
regional controls for sulfate and/or nitrates might be needed
to reduce fine particle levels. Such control strategies
would probably also ameliorate problems of visibility and
acid deposition. Fine particle control may thus be an
effective mechanism for addressing several problems. Monitor-
ing data for PMjg anc* ifcs constituents is only now being
gathered and will prove crucial for planning future control
strategies.
-69-
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Rad iation
-------
Table I
Radiation Facilities in Region 9
Radiation Facility
Location
Regulator
Managing
Utility/Company/Agency
Garment
Diablo Canyon Nuclear
Generating Station
Humboldt Bay Nuclear
Generating Station
Palo Verde Nuclear
Generating Station
Rancho Seco Nuclear
Generating Station
San Gnofre Nuclear
Generating Station
Vallecitos Research
and Test Reactor
General Atcmics
(Triga Research and
Test Reactors)
Research Reactors
Santa Susanna Facility
Lawrence Livermore
Nat'l Lab (LLNL)
Lawrence Berkeley
Nat'l. Lab (LLBL)
San Luis Obispo, CA
Eureka (Humboldt
Bay), CA
Buckeye, AZ
( 50 mi W of Phoenix )
Clay Station, CA
(S of Sacramento)
San Clemente, CA
Pleasanton, CA
San Diego, CA
Canoga Park, CA
Livermore, CA
Berkeley, CA
(DC-Berkeley Campus)
USNRC
USNRC
USNRC
USNRC
USNRC
USNRC
State of CA
USNRC
DOE
DOE
DOE
DOE
Pacific Gas & Electric
Company (PG&E)
PG&E
Arizona Public Service
Company (APS)
Sacramento Municipal
Utility District (SMUD)
Southern California
Etiison Company (SCE)
General Electric
Company
General Atomics
Rockwell International
University of CA
University of CA
Unit 1 under
construction
Off-line (cold
shut down for
seismic concerns)
Units 1,2 & 3
under construction
Unit 1
On-line
Unit 1 On-line
Units 2 & 3 under
construction
Off-line pending
seismic determina-
tions
Prime contractor
DOE (Provide DOE
emerg. resp. team)
Prime contractor
DOE (Provide DOE
emerg. resp. team)
Research and
Testing Lab
Research and
Testing Lab
I
-J
o
I
-------
Table I (Continued)
Radiation Facility
Location
Regulator
Managing
Ut i1ity/Company/Agency
Comment
Rad iophantiaceutical Co
San Diego, CA
Stanford Linear
Accelerator (SIAC)
Test & Research
Reactor
Test & Research
Reactor
Mare Island
A lamed a Naval Base
San Diego Naval Base
Guam Naval Base
Pearl Harbor
Naval Base
Port Hueneme
Naval Base
Nevada Test Site
San Diego, CA
Palo Alto, CA
Los Angeles, CA
San Luis Obispo, CA
Vallejo, CA
Alameda, CA
San Diego, CA
Agana, Guam
Honolulu, HI
Port Hueneme, CA
Mercury, NV (60 mi
N of Las Vegas)
State of CA
State of CA
U3NRC
USNRC
IB Navy
US Navy
US Navy
US Navy
US Navy
US Navy
DOE
Private Company
Stanford University
UCLA
CA Polytechnic Univ.
US Navy
US Navy
US Navy
US Navy
US Navy
US Navy
Nevada Operations
Office (NVOO) DOE
Las Vegas, NV
Active
Active research
and testing
program
Being Dismantled
Nuclear Submarine
Maint. storage of
deact./decon. subs
Nuclear Sub-
marines docking
Nuclear Sub-
marines docking
Nuclear Sub-
marines docking
Nuclear Sub-
marines docking
Contaminated
soil from Ant-
arctic Research
& testing LLW
site HLW develop.
Nuclear weapons •
testing 1.1. wastes
& nuclear w. res.
-------
Table I (Continued)
Radiation Facility
Location
Managing
Regulator Ut i 1 i ty/Conipany/Agency
Garment
Monument Valley
Uranium Mill
Tuba City Uranium
Mill
Mexican Hat Uranium
Mill
Shiprock uranium mill
(Ore buying and
transfer station)
Cameron Uranium
Concentrator
Uranium Ore Buying &
Transfer Station
Inactive Uranium Mines
Zirconium
Mining, Beneficia-
tion and milling
Monument Valley, AZ
(Cane Springs Wash)
Tuba City, AZ
Mexican Hat, UT
Shiprock, NM
Cameron, AZ
Globe, AZ
Globe, AZ
Henderson, NV
None
None
None
None
None
None
States
and /or
DOL
Navajo Nation/Land Owner
Prev. Op. - A-Z Minerals
Navajo Nation/Land Owner
Prev . Op. - El Paso
Natural Gas
Navajo Nation/Land Owner
(Operate bldgs. on site)
(VGA previous owner)
Navajo Nation/Land Owner
(Operates bldgs. on site)
(VGA previous owner)
Navajo Nation/Land Owner
(Discovered after UMTECA
list formulated)
Property previously cleaned
up by the DOE
Various
(Occupational exposures are
regulated, but environmen-
tal exposures from mining
or mine waste not regulated
TIMET
DOE to provide
cleanup
DOE to provide
cleanup
DOE to provide
cleanup
DOE to provide
cleanup
No cleanup
proposed
Current criteria
may not be met
EPA is evalua-
ting the mine
waste problem
Radioactivity in
chlorination
sludge
-------
Intermedia
Lake Tahoe
Water Quality
Only a few lakes in the world can rival Tahoe's clarity including
Crater Lake in Oregon and Lake Baikal in Russia. Lake Tahoe is
"ultraoligotrophic", meaning that it is extremely clear with low
concentrations of nutrients; it exhibits relatively little algal
growth and high oxygen levels.
In general, there is a downward trend in water quality in Lake
Tahoe and its tributaries. This trend is the result of acce-
lerated eutrophication due to a steady increase in nutrient
loading.
Clarity has decreased in the pelagic zone from an annual average
Secci depth of 31.2 meters in 1968 to 27.6 meters in 1981.
Winter clarity has also decreased significantly.
Algal productivity (i.e., primary productivity) has increased
110 percent from 1959 to 1980, an average of 5.2 percent per
year. One of the most dramatic examples of changing water
quality is the growth of attached algae (periphyton) in the
littoral or nearshore zone.
The pool of nutrients already in the Lake, which appears to be
increasing each year, strongly influences the trends of algal
production. The amount of nitrogen available to algae in the
euphotic zone each year depends as much on the depth of mixing
in the Lake as on runoff quantity or quality. Over the long
run, clarity in Lake Tahoe will not increase and primary pro-
duction will not decrease, as long as the accumulated load or
storage of nutrients in the Lake increases.
The long-term trend in surface runoff quality from developed
areas in the Basin is downward. Sediment and nutrient yields
increase with increasing levels of disturbance and the decreasing
capability of land to support development. Because of these
trends in runoff quality, the water quality of the tributaries
also show degradation.
Trends in groundwater quality are not known, although ground-
water may carry a nutrient load to the Lake of the same order
of magnitude as the load from surface runoff.
Though a preliminary nutrient budget has been developed for the
Lake, major uncertainties remain. One unknown is what portion
of the nutrients are permanently lost to the sediments.
-73-
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Another significant question is how much inorganic nitrogen is
deposited in the Lake directly from the atmosphere. Based on
very limited data, the recent Environmental Thresholds study
estimated that this source could account for up to fifty percent
of the nitrate inputs. Since the Lake is nitrate-limited, this
question has major regulatory ramifications.
Soluble phosphorus and plankton are two parameters consistently
in violation of standards. While these parameters indicate
decreasing water quality, the violations do not interfere with
Lake Tahoe's ability to support fish and wildlife, and recrea-
tion needs.
Lake Tahoe presents a case where the existing water quality
standards are more stringent than necessary to protect the 1983
goal. They are set to protect the pristine quality of the Lake,
Air Quality
The clean alpine air of the Lake Tahoe Basin contributes to its
uniqueness. The ability to see from rim-to-rim across a large
expanse of water and to breath clean air are a part of the
"Tahoe Experience". Concern is being expressed about the
"cleanliness" of the air as one sees haze forming more often
with extended periods of reduced visibility. Causes include
auto emissions, wood smoke and turbine-emitted particles.
Violations of the 8-hour Federal standard for carbon monoxide
(CO) have consistently occurred in the Basin. The highest
monitored value in 1980 was 19 ppm. The primary source of
CO is the incomplete burning of gasoline in automobiles.
All of the violations are found at "hotspots", where traffic
congestion is the greatest.
Initial 1982 data indicates that CO concentrations were lower
at some monitoring sites. California and Nevada have adopted
a high altitude ambient CO standard to address the adverse
health impacts to visitors and residents in this high Sierra
Basin. California, Nevada, and the Tahoe Regional Planning
Agency are currently reanalyzing what standard would be the
most appropriate for the region.
The Basin's bowl-like topography traps ozone, and daily wind
conditions move the pollutant back and forth within the Basin.
However, there have been no recent violations of the Federal
ozone standard and the general trend is towards a decrease in
concentrations. The highest ozone reading in 1980 was 0.08 ppm.
Improvements in both CO and ozone concentrations are probably
the result of the decrease in automobile emissions and a
leveling off in the number of vehicle miles traveled in the
Basin.
-74-
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Attachment B; Problem Analysis (Documentation of Part 2)
Truk Cholera Outbreak
PROBLEM DESCRIPTION
The problem is that basic sanitation facilities in the Trust Ter-
ritory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI) need improvement. The
programs that EPA administers are not designed to address the
fundamental needs in the TTPI. The needs in the TTPI have
recently been brought into sharp focus because of the cholera
outbreak on Truk.
The cholera outbreak began in late August or early September 1982
and spread rapidly throughout Truk State. New cases per week
continued to increase until late November and early December when
they began to decrease. For the week ending December 31, 1982,
27 new cases were reported. This is down considerably from a
high of 285 cases per week in early November. Although the out-
break appears to be on the decline, cholera will remain in Truk
for some time. Complete control can only come though improvement
of basic sanitation.
The Communicable Disease Control Center in Atlanta has been
involved in the Truk outbreak. At this time the origin of the
outbreak is not known, however, there is speculation that cholera
was introduced by an outside source and that it was initially
spread by food contamination at a traditional funeral. Once
introduced, cholera quickly spread because of the lack of basic
sanitation. Preliminary data clearly indicates that households
without adequate waste disposal and water supply are most vulner-
able to cholera. (Figure W-XI)
ACTIONS TAKEN
The TTPI applied for and was awarded $550,000 in construction
grant funds to assist in the construction of basic sanitation
facilities. Because of the nature of the facilities to be
built, there are eligibility difficulties if only construction
grant funds are used. This difficulty has been overcome by
consolidating EPA funds with those of another agency and
utilizing the provisions of the Omnibus Territories Act (PL95-
134). The Department of Interior has made some funding available
to EPA for consolidation. A separate grant from HUD already
contributes $250,000 to the project.
Region 9 will be working with the TTPI to develop a comprehensive
program for improving basic sanitation in the TTPI. Headquarters
assistance in this endeavor may be needed.
-75-
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RENQ-GIARDIASIS
The number of cases of giardiasis has been on the increase in
the Reno area since May 1982, with the highest number of cases
in November 1982. A limited number of Giardiasis is normally
detected in the area due to exposure in day-care centers and in
the watershed by hikers and campers. However, after field
investigation and statistical analysis, the increase in cases
in October and November appears to be attributable to the
municipal water supply which receives the majority of its water
from the Truckee River. The water is treated by coagulation,
sedimentation and then chlorination. Only one of the four
plants has filtration. The supplier has taken several measures
to reduce the number of giardiasis, i.e., increase chlorine
dose and contact time, drain and disinfect two storage reservoirs.
After a change in chlorine contact time and dosage, the number
of cases has declined significantly. The supplier has contracted
with a consulting firm to study the adequacy of the present
treatment system and any needed modifications.
The Organism. Giardia is a protozoan, microscopic in size. It
has two stages in its life cycle: an egg-shaped cyst, protected
by hard walls as it moves in surface water; and a trophozoite,
which is the harmful form which emerges from the cyst in an
animal's small intestine. The cyst is generally 9-12 microns
long and 6-9 microns wide. The small size and relative strength
of the cyst account for the difficulties in detection as well
as removal from water.
Detection. EPA has a standard method of detection developed in 1976,
The apparatus is easily portable and capable of sampling a large
volume of water, but it is not very efficient: 6-15% recovery
of cysts. It consists of a yarn-wound orlon filter with a
nominal porosity of 7 microns, which means that a minor percentage
of the filter's pores are as small as 7 microns. After water
is filtered through this, the filter is rinsed in a small volume
of distilled water and the filtrate is run through different
sized screens. The material left in the smallest screen is
examined microscopically for cysts.
Treatment and Removal. Chlorine concentrations and contact
times which are typically used by public water systems cannot
inactivate Giardia cysts. Coagulation, sedimentation, and
filtration must be used. EPA-funded research into the efficiency
of slow sand filters has shown, at this date, 16 straight months
of 99 percent cyst removal. In an emergency, or in a field situa-
tion, cysts can be inactivated in 1 second by exposure to boiling
water.
-76-
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The Disease. All kind of wildlife.(deer, skunks, and especially
muskrats and beavers) harbor cysts in their intestines. Defeca-
tion into a Waterway and transport of cysts downstream can
contaminate drinking water. Persons drinking this water can
contract Giardia trophozoites emerging from the cysts which will
multiply in a person's small intestine. Symptoms include diarrhea,
nausea, bloating, chills and weakness, which may persist for months,
There are no recorded deaths in North America from this.
San Diego/Tijuana Border Sanitation Problem
Tijuana, Baja California (Mexico), has a population of over one
million and is growing rapidly. The city is currently about
45% sewered and progress in sewering the remaining portions is
also proceeding rapidly. There are no treatment facilities for
the 15-20 mgd of raw sewage that is now collected; instead,
about 3-5 mgd are pumped over a hill and discharged to the
Pacific Ocean surf about 5 miles south of the International
Border (I.B.). The remaining 12-15 mgd are routed, on a
continuous basis, through an "Emergency Connection" to the City
of San Diego's Point Loraa treatment plant. Raw sewage often
reaches the Tia Juana River through illegal discharges and pipe
ruptures.
Public health threats stem from two sources: (1) ocean currents
periodically carry sewage north from the 3-mile discharge point
(and from the one-mgd Playas de Tijuana plant one mile south of
the I.B.) and onto beaches in San Diego County. (2) Raw sewage
contamination of the Tia Juana River creates a health hazard
both in Tijuana, where the river channel is used for recreation
and bathing, and downstream in San Diego County, where crops and
public beaches are contaminated. In 1980, beaches in southern
San Diego County were quarantined for approximately 10 months
after the Emergency Connection was ruptured during the February
floods.
In January 1982, a pipeline rupture in the hills above Tijuana
spilled raw sewage into a creek leading to the Tia Juana River,
again forcing closure of beaches near the mouth of the river.
In the summer of 1982, unchlorinated effluent from Playas de
Tijuana washed onto beach north of the I.B.
Sewage flow from Tijuana could quadruple in the next 20 years,
and as San Diego grows, Tijuana's continuing use of the Emergency
Connection is becoming an increasing burden on San Diego's sewage
treatment capacity. Hopefully the problem will be temporarily
alleviated when Mexico completes construction of new conveyance
facilities, which are designed to carry 60 mgd of raw sewage to
an ocean discharge point six miles south of the I.B. However,
it is generally agreed by both countries that a more permanent
-77-
-------
solution is necessary. This solution will most likely involve
a joint U.S./Mexico treatment plant and ocean outfall. The
City of San Diego made a proposal to complete facilities plans
for this project in October 1982, and is currently refining its
proposal. Negotiation efforts towards a final resolution are
continuing between the concerned agencies, but it is a slow
process due to the international sensitivities surrounding the
problem.
Small Public Water Supply System Problems
Persistent violation of microbiological regulations occurs at many
small and very small Community Water Systems (CWS's) in Region 9.
Protection of the public's health is compromised because of this.
The following graphs illustrate the magnitude of the problem on a
state-by-state basis throughout the Region.
In the graphs, the two levels of violation represent intermittent
and persistent violation of the microbiological standards. One
to three bacteriological MCL and/or reporting violations per
year at a CWS is considered to be intermittent. Greater than
three (four or more) such violations is considered to be
persistent. Turbidity violations are not included because data
is essentially unavailable to obtain meaningful results.
Upon reviewing Figures W-XII through W-XVII a typical pattern is
observed in all but California's data. The largest number of
intermittent and persistent microbiological violations occur in
small and very small systems. California's data do not reflect
this because, until FY82, the State of California reported only
a small fraction of actual violations occurring in small and
very small CWS systems.
The fact that the large majority of persistent and intermittent
micro violations occur in the smaller systems can be accounted
for in a number of ways:
1. Since 87 percent of all Region 9 CWS's serve small and very
small populations, it is problematic to expect the majority of
violations here.
2. The level of technical expertise at the smaller systems
tends to be less well equipped to perform monitoring and
d isinfection.
3. State authorities commonly prioritize compliance activities
upon populations served and these population groups
traditionally receive lower priorities.
Because of diminishing resources at both State and Federal levels,
it is unrealistic to expect additional funding in the near future
to deal with small system compliance problems. Existing programs
-78-
-------
must be managed so as to become more efficient as opportunities
arise. Clearly one cornerstone of wise resource allocation is
accurate and timely knowledge of small system compliance.
The State of Arizona has used a technique of identifying
persistent violators and initiating a series of compliance
letters to those specific systems. In this way, the total
numbers of persistent violators were reduced with relatively
small resource costs. In part, the technique has been effective
because specific systems could be accurately identified in a
timely manner. Arizona compliance statistics are summarized
below:
Percent of CWS's In Arizona Having
Year 0 Viols 1-3 Viols >3 Viols
FY80 18 32 50
FY81 31 33 36
FY82 39 32 26
Note the trends of decreasing persistent violators and increasing
zero violations, while intermittent violators remain nearly the
same in number.
One way in which the EPA might assist PWS primacy agencies in
reducing the numbers of persistent violators involves fostering
the increased use of the Federal Reporting Data System (FRDS)
as a management tool at the State level, to quickly identify
specific problem systems. New "user-friendly" interactive
software now available on FRDS can be used to quickly select and
sort large quantities of inventory, violation, and compliance data
to fulfill user defined information needs. (For example, graphic
portions of this section were generated mostly from interactive
FRDS.)
Presently, the FRDS is used primarily to collect and process PWS
violation and inventory data for regional and national uses.
PWS primacy agencies in Region 9 could benefit greatly by access-
ing data directly on an interactive basis, data which they
already are required to report. For example, the compliance
letter technique successfully used in Arizona could be facilitated
in other states.
-79-
-------
SYSTEM SIZE CATEGORIES
SIZE
VERY SHALL
SMALL
MEDIUM
LARGE
VERY LARGE
POPULATION SERVED
25-500
501 - 3,300
3,301 - 10,000
10,001 - 100,000
GREATER THAN 100,000
Figure W-XII
-------
W-XIII
DISTRIBUTION OF MICROBIOLOGICAL
VIOLATIONS IN CWS SYSTEMS BY
POPULATION CATAGORIE5: ARIZONA FY82
•i 1-4 VIOL
CHOVJOL
TOTAL
-------
W-XIV
DISTWBUT10N OF MICROOOLDOCAL
VIOLATIONS IN CWS SYSTEMS BY
POPULATION CATAGORES: CALIFORNIA FYB1
CBOVIOt
TOW. VI
VL
4099 2939 524 244 300 42
107 33 37 21 16 0
330000
Actual;
0 violations
1-3 violations
> 3 violations
-------
w-xv
OF MICROBJOLOOCAL
VIOLAITONS IN CWS SYSTEMS BY
POPULATION CAIAGOfRlES: HAWAII FY81
Ml-* VIOL
caovwc
TOOL
96
21
16
39
8
12
39
9
1
7
2
0
2
0
0
Actual;
0 violations
1-3 violations
>3 violations
-------
W-XVI
OF MJCROaOUDOCAL
VIOLATIONS M CWS SYSTEMS SY
POPULATION CATACORES NEVADA FY81
Ugtnd
>«vm.
CTOVWC
IDEM.
VS
VL
174
106
47
125
83
37
34
20
7
9
1
2
3
2
1
3
0
0
Actual:
3 violations
1-3 violations
violations
-------
W-XVII
DISTRIBUTION OF MICROBIOLOGICAL
V10LAHONS N CWS SYSTEMS BY
PORJUTON CATAGORE& GU, AS, TT, * CNM1 FY51
i-
t.
csovm.
TDIW.
VL
10
16
220
2
9
185
3
6
28
1
1
7
4
0
0
0
0
0
Actual;
0 violations
1-3 violations
>3 violations
-------
Sludge Disposal - Southern California
The largest entities discharging wastewater to the Southern Califor-
nia Bight are the City of Los Angeles, County Sanitation Districts
of Los Angeles County and the County Sanitation Districts of Orange
County. Together, these agencies generate over 600 dry tons of
municipal sludge daily. The historic discharge of sludge to the
ocean and the current City of Los Angeles discharge of sewage sludge
to the ocean is a water quality concern and is prohibited by the
Water Quality Control plan for Ocean Waters of California (California
Ocean Plan) of 1972 and 1978 and the permitting of such discharges
is prohibited by Section 22 of the Clean Water Act Amendments of
1981.
In 1974, these agencies formed a regional study group to find
an environmentally sound method for disposal of sludge, which
contains toxic chemicals and metals. The EIS/EIR for the
regional .study identified adverse impacts of ocean disposal of
sludge, including high concentrations of heavy metals and trace
organics (DDT and PCB) in bottom sediments and potential health
concern to consumers of seafood containing trace organics taken
from the outfall areas. The EIS concluded that land based
alternatives were available and preferable to ocean disposal.
The City of Los Angeles sludge discharge was subject to EPA
enforcement in 1977. An agreement was reached with the City of
Los Angeles in mid-1980 resolving the litigation. This Consent
Decree requires the City of Los Angeles to construct and operate
facilities so as to terminate the current discharge of 164 dry
tons per day of sewage sludge to the ocean from the City's Hyperion
Treatment Plant by July 1, 1985. The City of Los Angeles selected
the Hyperion Energy Recovery System (HERS) during the regional
study as the best way to comply with the Consent Decree. To date,
the City has received over $50 million in EPA grant funds for
planning, design and construction.
The County Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County selected
a combination of three processes for solids handling:
dehydration/thermal processing, composting, and landfilling.
To date, the Sanitation Districts have received over $6 million
in EPA grant funds for continued planning and design of the
dehydration and thermal processing alternative.
The County Sanitation Districts of Orange County selected air
drying/composting at a site to be determined through a Supplemental
EIS/EIR. However, due to public controversy, the Supplemental
EIS/EIR will examine other alternatives as well. A draft will
be released for public comment in June 1983.
As part of its Triennial Review of water quality standards, in
January 1983 the State Water Resources Control Board proposed
amendments to the California Ocean Plan and releasedaa Draft EIR
on their proposal. The state has proposed the continuation of
the prohibition of ocean disposal of sewage sludge, but allows
the State to grant an interim permit for ocean disposal of sludge
-80-
-------
if: (1) Federal Law is changed to allow for sludge discharges,
and (2) EIR shows clearly that any available alternative disposal
method would result in greater adverse impact on the natural or
human environment than the proposed project and other conditions
to be published by the State of California. This proposal would
allow for consideration of ocean disposal of sludge while major
EPA actions on construction grants and permits are in progress.
Further, the proposal appears to shift responsibility for regu-
lating sludge disposal practices to EPA. The permitting of ocean
disposal of sewage sludge is currently prohibited by Section 22
of the Clean Water Act Amendments of 1981. Unless there are
statutory changes, EPA will consider these existing laws in
preparing EPA's water quality standards approval or disapproval
of the proposed amendments to the California Ocean Plan.
Salinity in the Colorado River
Geological and water use patterns of the Colorado River Basin
have resulted in a salinity problem greater than that for any
other river in the United States. Salt enters the River as a
product of natural weathering and decomposition of rock formations
and soil. The process is accelerated and the salts are
concentrated by irrigation, mining activities, poor land
management, evaporation from reservoirs, and the "exporting" of
the River's water to metropolitan areas outside the basin.
As the Colorado River flows downstream from its headwaters in
Wyoming, the salinity gradually worsens, creating problems for
the three lower Basin States—California, Nevada and Arizona.
Mexico has been even more seriously affected. Present Colorado
River salinity levels are marginally suitable for the River's
key beneficial uses, agriculture and domestic water supply.
The high salt concentrations cost California and Arizona millions
of dollars a year in lower crop yields and in additional
treatment costs for public drinking water supplies.
Studies have shown that high salinity of stream systems can
be alleviated. Man-caused salinity can be controlled by
improving irrigation, mining and land management practices.
Before an effective control program could be implemented,
Basin-wide uniform salinity standards were needed in the Colorado
River Basin. In response, in 1972, the seven Basin States joined
with EPA and other Federal agencies on a new salinity policy.
In 1973, the States established the Colorado River Basin Salinity
Control Forum, a mechanism to provide a Basin-wide coordinated
approach to controlling salinity in the River. This approach
depends upon numeric criteria in the lower main-stem to protect
water quality in the Basin.
-81-
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The Forum developed water quality criteria for salinity based
on flow-weighted average 1972 levels at three major control
points: below Hoover Dam, 723 mg/1; below Parker Dam, 747 mg/1;
and below Imperial Dam, 879 mg/1. These criteria along with a
plan of implementation for salinity control comprised the water
quality standards that were adopted by the seven Forum member
States in 1975 and approved by EPA in 1976.
As required by Section 303 of the Clean Water Act, these
standards were reviewed and revised in 1978. At the time, the
Forum did not recommend changes in the numeric criteria but did
recommend a number of additional Federal and non-Federal measures
designed to maintain the adopted salinity criteria.
The Forum again reviewed these standards in 1981. California,
Nevada and Arizona as well as the other Basin States have adopted
the revised standards, which did not change any criteria, but did
update the plan of implementation.
The 1974 Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act authorized
planning and construction activities to help curb salinity.
The Act also authorized programs to implement the agreed-upon
salinity control policy and to improve the quality of the water
reaching Mexico. Under this program, construction units were
established to implement salinity control measures such as a
desalination facility, irrigation efficiency improvements, and
lining of irrigation systems. EPA, the Forum States, the U.S.
Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior
all work together in these programs.
There has been progress in the correction of the salinity problem
in the Colorado River—much of it in water conservation. There
have also been successful irrigation demonstration projects, and
solutions to several runoff problems have been found. Improved
irrigation management has replaced less efficient practices, cut
water use and raised crop yields.
So far, the 1972 salinity levels have been maintained in the
lower Colorado. Programs to improve the quality of water going
into Mexico are proceeding. The public has accepted as the first
priority the need for new irrigation practices to conserve water
and minimize pollution. That growing public acceptance is
perhaps the most important achievement of the Colorado salinity
control effort to date. However, the implementation of the salinity
control projects will be necessary to meet the salinity standards
in the future.
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Groundwater Contamination
The presence of both organic and inorganic chemicals in groundwater
has been detected in all of the states in Region 9, and has become
an increasingly alarming problem. It has long been recognized
that excessive concentrations of naturally occurring substances
exist in specific areas of the Region; arsenic is found in western
Nevada, fluorides in southern Arizona and elsewhere, and nitrates
in several geographic regions. However, the widespread detection
of synthetic organic compounds that originate from man's activi-
ties give rise to a much greater concern.
Drinking water supplies serving 4.5 million residents in the San
Gabriel Valley of California have been contaminated by the organic
solvents trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene, and carbon
tetrachloride. Twenty-four separate public water supplies have
been affected by the contamination, the source of which has yet
to be isolated.
The nematocide dibromochloropropane (DBCP) has been found at
levels exceeding 1 part per billion (the State action level) in
2000 wells throughout the San Joaquin Valley of California. Over
20 community water supply systems have been affected, and the
geographic extent of the contamination can be measured in hundreds
of square miles.
The episode involving the presence of TCE in water from municipal
wells serving the southern part of Tucson, Arizona received
national attention. The same chemical has also been identified
in groundwater underlying the Phoenix area, an aquifer that pro-
vides drinking water for a population of well over 100,000
people.
In Nevada, a variety of organic chemicals including benzene and
chloroform have migrated into groundwater under the BMI complex
in Henderson. The movement of the contamination is generally
in the direction of the Las Vegas Wash, a tributary to Lake Mead.
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Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
The California Water Plan, which provides for a water development
system to redistribute water from Northern to Southern California,
is being executed by the California Department of Water Resources
(DWR) in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USER).
TKo State and USER have constructed multi-billion dollar water
storage and delivery systems. The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
is the hub of this massive and complex water supply system as
upstream water is drawn southerly through Delta channels to
the water projects' pumps for export. A key proposed element
in the Water Plan is a cross-Delta transport facility, e.g.
the Peripheral Canal, designed to draw high quality northern
waters around the Delta directly to the project pumps. Thus,
the primary issue is the continued impact of water resources
development on the water quality of the Delta. In addition,
fresh water outflow from the Delta is important to the integrity
of water quality downstream in San Francisco Bay.
Beneficial uses of the Delta include fisheries, wildlife, recreation
and agricultural, municipal and industrial water supply. Upstream
diversions may adversely affect these uses by: a) increasing salt
water incursion into fresh inland waters; b) lowering flows which
lead to higher temperatures and increased nutrient-associated
problems; and c) reducing the Delta's ability to assimilate low
quality tributary flows such as irrigation return flows/drainage.
In August 1978, the State of California adopted revised water
quality standards (WQS) on salinity to protect the beneficial uses
of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. In August 1980, EPA approved
the revised WQS. A concern that the revised WQS for the Delta would
not afford adequate protection of the beneficial uses was formally
expressed in EPA's approval. The WQS were formulated to maintain
specific indices of striped bass, an important and well studied
species living and propagating in the Delta. Recent severe
declines in striped bass production have raised serious questions
about the adequacy of the existing WQS to provide the level of
protection predicted when the WQS were approved in 1978.
The Department of Water Resources has made a formal commitment
to meet State/Federal water quality standards. However, USER
is currently suing the State to avoid a requirement to maintain
flows to meet WQS in the Delta.
Current Status. In August 1981, the State scheduled a Triennial
Review which was to have been based on various studies of the
adequacy of the WQS to protect beneficial uses in the Delta. The
staff report recommended that the public hearing not be reopened
due to incomplete studies and insufficient data. Many agencies
and groups are currently conducting extensive research in the
Delta, much of which was mandated as part of the 1980 WQS approval.
Another Triennial Review is scheduled for 1984. The State and
applicable Federal agencies need to complete (and/or commit funds
necessary to complete) these studies to a level so that the WQS
can be reviewed and revised as necessary in 1984.
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Hazardous Waste
Inactive Disposal Sites
Of the 21 Region 9 sites on the National Priorites List, four
can be considered to present more significant problems than the
others. Two of these sites were designated as the highest
priority for cleanup by their respective States (Mountain View,
Arizona; Stringfellow, California). Three of the sites were
among the highest scoring in the Region: Stringfellow, Tucson,
and Aerojet. Mountain View's score was not as high because
only one pathway (air) is contaminated. However, this site is
significant because residents of a mobile home subdivision are
living directly on asbestos tailings, a known carcinogen.
0 Aerojet General Corporation; Aerojet General Corporation is
in the eastern portion of Sacramento County, California, adjacent
to Rancho Cordova (population 40,000), approximately 12 miles
east of the City of Sacramento. Since 1953, Aerojet and its
subsidiaries have disposed of unknown quantities of hazardous
waste on-site, including rocket propellants, herbicides, arsenic,
solvents, sewage wastes, and other organic and inorganic
compounds. Extensive sampling since 1979 has shown contamination
of soil on-site and of groundwater both on- and off-site. The
primary contaminant of concern, trichloroethylene (TCE), has
been detected in a numer of drinking water supply wells in the
Aerojet vicinity in concentrations up to 2,000 parts per billion
(ppb) (the drinking water standard is 5 ppb). EPA is assisting
the State of California with the development of a comprehensive
remedial program to clean up the site which will be incorporated
in a consent decree between Aerojet and the State. EPA's
assistance includes monitoring State clean-up efforts and
providing technical assistance to State enforcement actions.
0 Stringfellow Quarry; Stringfellow Quarry is five miles
northwest of Riverside, near the suburban town of Glen Avon, in
Riverside County, California. An estimated 32 million gallons
of liquid wastes, including acid and caustic wastes, solvents
and heavy metals were disposed of from 1956 to 1972 when
Stringfellow was operated as a licensed Class I disposal site.
Heavy rains caused holding lagoons on-site to overflow,
discharging contaminated surface water into a nearby drainage
channel, and causing significant soil and groundwater
contamination downstream. In March 1978, the State of California
commenced a cleanup which is over half completed. EPA and the
State of California have commenced negotiations with potential
responsible parties and the case has been referred to the
Department of Justice (DOJ).
0 Tucson Airport Area; The Tucson Airport Area site encompasses
approximately 24 square miles in the southwestern section of
Tucson, Pima County, Arizona. Groundwater at the site is
contaminated with organic and metallic compounds, primarily
trichloroethylene (TCE) and hexavalent chromium. The Tucson
-85-
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area (population 517,000) is totally dependent on groundwater
for its drinking water supply. Investigations by EPA, the
State of Arizona, and the City of Tucson indicate that ground-
water contamination in the southern part of the site is the
result of past waste disposal practices by Air Force .Plant #44,
owned by the Air Force and operated by Hughes Aircraft Company.
The Air Force has agreed to accept responsibility for the ground-
water contamination caused by Hughes. Investigation continues
as to the extent and sources of contamination in the northern
portion of the site.
0 Mountain View Mobile Home Estates; Mountain View Mobile Home
Estates is located 75 miles east of Phoenix in the City of
Globe, Arizona. The mobile home subdivision, built on graded
chrysotile asbestos tailings, houses 130 residents. The
residents are continually exposed to asbestos fibers by direct
contact with these tailings, as well as by wind dispersion of
fibers from tailings piles at adjacent mill sites. A U.S.
Public Health Service study conducted at the site concluded
that chrysotile asbestos is both fibrogenic and carcinogenic.
EPA has referred the case to DOJ for possible civil .action, and
is attempting to negotiate with potential responsible parties
to clean up the site.
Active Disposal Sites
0 BMI; This industrial complex, located in Henderson, Nevada,
presents a unique combination of environmental problems, cross-
cutting hazardous waste, surface water, groundwater, and air
pollution programs. Four facilities in the complex have active
hazardous waste management facilities, which deal in pesticide
production wastes, metal production wastes, and a variety of
production wastewaters, all of which are placed in surface impound-
ments. Groundwater in the area is directly connected to the
Las Vegas Wash, three miles from the complex. Pollution of
groundwater and the Wash are documented. However, it is not
yet possible to determine whether current disposal practices
are contributing to this pollution, or whether discontinued
operations are responsible. This is one of the few demonstrated
connections between land disposal and surface water contamination
in the Region. Studies are currently underway to determine the
extent and cause of the problem. In addition, the Part B
applications for all four facilities have, therefore, been
called, and the Region will focus on groundwater protection
standards when evaluating the submittals.
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0 General Hazardous Waste Site Control; Region 9 and its
authorized states expect to issue permits to more than 700
active hazardous waste sites in the next five years. Apart
from the administrative and logistical problems implicit in
such a massive undertaking, numerous 'technical obstacles must
be overcome before this effort is completed and effective
controls are in place at all sites. Two major areas of concern
to the Region, where interim status standards may be inadequate
and no permit standards exist, are underground tanks and open
burning/detonation. The present interim status standards for
underground tanks require periodic inspection to determine if
leakage is occurring. This is difficult and hazardous to
accomplish in many cases, and is not a foolproof method of leak
detection. No technical permit standards for underground tanks
without inspection access have been developed; so, no permits
can be written for such facilities. A variety of facilities
in the Region explode or burn highly reactive materials such as
ordinance and rocket fuels. Potential hazards, such as toxic
fumes from such practices, are not documented or fully
understood. Again, no technical standards have been written.
-87-
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Pesticides
0 Exposures (urban); Urban encroachment of agricultural areas
is increasing. This increasing close interface of urban and
agricultural areas has increased the potential that drift will
cause environmental problems.
In Arizona, approximately 80 percent of the agricultural production
occurs in Maricopa County. Cotton is the principal crop and
requires significant pesticide usage to provide effective pest
protection and good yields. A preponderance of agricultural
activity takes place on acreage, leased by Indian tribal groups
to non-Indian producers, which is adjacent to urban areas.
Even when pesticides are applied in accordance with registered
label directions, drift can, and does, occur raising potential
health impacts in the surrounding areas. In the 1978 season,
for example, over 800 pesticide complaints were received as a
result of cotton insecticide and defoliant applications in
Scottsdale, Maricopa County. The Arizona Board of Pesticide
Control was unable to effectively respond to the organized
citizen concerns. Additionally, two Scottsdale residents called
attention to the problems during Congressional testimony.
Subsequent State and EPA public hearings and field investigations
were undertaken to determine the scope and impact of the problem.
Investigation showed that the use of the pesticides resulted in
detectable drift one-half mile from the point of application
and health monitoring demonstrated human pesticide residues in
some residents.
Urban areas in Region 9 continue to be exposed to heavy pesticide
spraying involving ground applications as well. On July 14, 1981,
California's Santa Clara Valley residences, some 403,700 in
number, experienced the beginning of a planned six-week eradication
program to rid this Bay Area valley of a Mediterranean fruit fly
(Medfly) infestation through the aerial application of malathion.
With conflicting information available on the environmental
impacts of malathion sprayings and little quantitative character-
ization of the sprays needed to evaluate the potential health
effects, public anxiety, and governmental concern increased.
Spraying covered 250 square miles, including 476 public schools
and 78 hospitals and convalescent care facilities.
Results of the environmental monitoring efforts were generally
predictable with the major impacts of sequential aerial sprays
attributed to the direct mass fallout deposition. Rain water
runoff showed the highest concentrations of the pesticide.
Justifiable concern for aquatic biota in both fresh and salt
water environments is a result of the intensive monitoring
program.
-88-
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Now, with less than a year's period of time elapsed since the
Medfly eradication program began in the San Francisco Bay Area,
the California Department of Food and Agriculture will launch a
five-county campaign to rid the Bay Area of yet another pest -
the insidious gypsy moth.
The gypsy moth program will involve ground spraying (as opposed
to aerial spraying) of private property with Carbaryl. Controversy
surrounds this spray program,, again, because the spraying is
to be conducted in a highly urbanized area. However, a similar
spray program in the Santa Barbara area of California has been
conducted and environmental monitoring indicates very minimal
public exposure.
The attached map (T-ll) graphically displays Region 9 pesticide
incidents including: complaints; Medfly treatment areas; and,
DBCP contamination areas.
0 Food and Water Contamination; Region 9 represents a signifi-
cantly large percentage of the nation's agricultural activity.
California's leading industry is agriculture with $14 billion
worth of crops marketed each year. Forty-four major crops are
grown representing 40 percent of the nation's food. Pesticide
useage in California (approximatley 15-20 percent of the pesticides
used in the U.S.) poses a source of environmental contamination.
Monitoring efforts from various State agencies show that the
nematocide, DBCP, is present in areas of California's groundwater.
The use of DBCP in California was banned in 1977; however, signi-
ficant levels of DBCP were detected in the groundwater during the
spring of 1979. Since then, State investigations have discovered
25 community water systems in ten counties with one or more wells
providing drinking water with DBCP in excess of the State Action
Level of 1 ppb. The use of these wells has been restricted.
Hawaii uses heptachlor in both sugar plantations and pineapple
fields to control field ants. In January 1982, a sample of
milk from Oahu dairies exceeded the FDA action level of 0.3
parts per million (ppm) in butterfat. More samples were taken
to confirm the results, and following confirmation in March
1982, the State Department of Health ordered cows' milk to be
removed from sale in Oahu. The source of the contamination was
traced to the use of pineapple foliage (green chop) as cattle
feed. Upon completion of the misuse investigation, the Department
of Agriculture (DOA) found that heptachlor-treated pineapple
foliage was harvested earlier than the legal harvest date,
resulting in contamination of the milk cows. The DOA has the
primary responsibility of enforcing pesticide misuse cases in
Hawaii.
-89-
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REGION 9 PESTICIDE INCIDENTS
LEGEND
DIM 300 complaints
150-300 complaints
100-150 complaints
50-100 complaints
treated for Medfly
DBCP O.Olppb detected
T- 11
-------
Air Quality
Ozone - South Coast Air Basin (Los Angeles)
On the whole, ozone concentrations have declined over the
period of 1965 to 1981. Unfortunately, some areas in the
eastern portion of the basin have shown an increase. Peak
concentrations in all areas are currently well below the
historical highs. Figure A10 shows ozone trends for
Los Angeles, Azusa and San Bernardino from 1965 to 1981.
The peak (1-hour maximum) concentrations of the late 1960's
have decreased in Los Angeles and Azusa while San Bernardino's
peak concentration has increased slightly to the point where
it is higher than Los Angeles. The conclusion drawn is that
with the addition of VOC controls in the Western portion of
the Basin and increased population and VMT in the eastern
portion of the Basin, the peak 03 concentration is moving
inland to the east.
Figure All shows the mean daily maximum and 03 and N02 concen-
trations for the ozone season. Also shown is the ratio of
the 95 percentile NOy to the mean daily max of the non-methane
hydrocarbon (NMHC) for Downtown Los Angeles (DOLA). These
graphs show several interesting trends.
1. As NO2 increases in DOLA, NO2 decreases in San Bernardino,
2. As NO2 increases in DOLA, generally there is an increase
in 03 in San Bernardino.
3. As NOx/NMHC ratio in DOLA increases, 03 in San
Bernardino increases.
A reduction in hydrocarbon emissions of 85 percent is projected
to be necessary to attain the NAAQS by 1987 (based on the 1979
emission inventory). The 1982 revision to the State Implementa-
tion Plan contains a large number of both short and long
range measures to reduce emissions from a variety of sources
and will result in an improvement in Basin-wide ozone levels.
Despite these efforts, the Basin is only expected to meet 57
percent of its emission goal by 1987 and not attain the 03
NAAQS. The primary reason for the short fall of emission
reductions is the continuing uncontrolled growth of minor
stationary and area sources, and mobile sources due to popula-
tion growth. The current population is 10.3 millipn with
projected air basin population in year 2000 at 13.6 million.
Figure A12 shows both population and VMT trends over the past
several years.
-90-
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Figure A'10
GUTH COAST MAX 1 HOUR OZONE CONCENTRATION 3 YEAR RUNNING AVERAGES
70 n
40-
30-
O 2
i--i
O
to-
Bernardino
Los Angel eG-Downt:o'.vn
San Bernardino
South Coast Air Basin
'A
(•: H.; I-1?.".*_i \. iu^. ?..£'•!.'! 'A':.*-- -!
~»B f;-: A1",
"IIIIIII1iIIIII1TI
CO CC 67 G8 G9 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 20 B1 82
-------
Figure A11
MEAN DAILY MAX
Logend
A D?*'!tI9!:'/.rt !-A M02
_ A _ " ~ ~
^ O QL°*'Nr9wt4 LA. o-5 .
V SAM HLf!MANBi;n N02
'- l!0);/rls'l!
-------
Figure A12
O
§
1
Z)
il_
O
a.
16
14-
12-
a-J
4-
POPULATION AND VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED
SOUTH COAST AIR BASIN COUNTIES
1960-1980
1S65
r
1970
YEAR
1975
Legend
[,J POPULATION
O VEHICLE MJLES
-------
One of the' current controversies regarding attainment of the
ozone standard revolves around NOX controls. The Los Angeles
area is nonattainment for N02- The controversy is whether or
not reducing NOX emission exacerbates the ozone problem
and will require even greater VOC emissions reductions.
Recent data analysis conducted by ARE indicates (from limited
ambient data, OZIP modeling and smog chamber data) that
ambient ozone concentrations is linearly proportional to
[NMHC X NOj.]1'2. Figure All tends to indicate that
ozone levels correlate positively with N©2 levels at downtown
Los Angeles, and that reducing NOX/N02 emissions will help
attain the 03 NAAQS. Additional scientific data is necessary
to adequately resolve this controversy.
Carbon Monoxide - South Coast Air Basin
CO levels in the South Coast Air Basin have declined somewhat
more significantly than ozone, with 80 days exceeding the.
standard in 1981 as opposed to 111 days in 1978. However,
for the same reasons as for ozone, substantial additional
controls are needed in order to attain the national standard.
Figure A13 shows CO trends of the 2nd maximum 8-hour average
for three stations in the South Coast Air Basin. Lennox and
Lynwood historically have been the stations with the highest
CO concentrations and Riverside is a microscale CO station
in the San Bernardino-Riverside Urban Area; there have been
significant reductions in peak 8-hour concentrations from
the middle 1960's to the present time. However, little
progress has been achieved since 1977. Motor vehicle emission
controls are responsible for this improvement in air quality.
However, additional emission reduction tactics will be required
to attain the CO NAAQS by 1987.
A 65 percent reduction in emissions is needed to attain the
8-hour standard (based on the 1979 emission inventory). The
1982 SIP revisions currently project that, while the 1987
attainment deadline will not be met, the standard will be
attained by the year 2000. Emission reductions are expected
from many of the controls adopted for ozone attainment, with
heavy reliance on motor vehicle emission standards, I/M and
transportation controls. Additional controls are being
developed for certain other mobile source categories including
marine vessels and aircraft, as well as for certain internal
combustion engines not currently subject to control. Their
implementation status at this time is uncertain.
While the following analysis is not scientifically "state-of-
the-art," it is interesting to compare the CO trends in
Phoenix, Arizona with trends in Los Angeles. I&M has been
in place in Phoenix since 1976. CO levels in Phoenix during
1974-1976 did not see the same general decrease as in
-91-
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Figure A13
O
0
Lennox
SOUTH COAST CO 8 HOUR 2ND MAX 3 YEAR RUNNING AVERAGE
50-i
45-
40-
35-
-N 30-
E! 2s
20-
15-
10-
Lynnv/ood
Riverside Legend
A
G4 65 GG 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 fll 82 83
Years
-------
previous years under the Federal automobile emission control
program. With the advent of I&M in 1976 there has been a 25%
drop in CO from 20 ppm to 15 ppm for the 2nd max 8-hour concen-
tration. Attributing a portion of this drop to the Federal
motor vehicle emission controls (say 5 to 10%), I&M could
account for 15 to 20% of the reduction of CO from 1976 to 1980.
Using the above discussion on effectiveness of I&M in Phoenix
and applying it to Los Angeles, we could predict similiar
results. That is, a 20% reduction in CO due to I&M in 5 years
would bring the 8-hour CO 2nd maximum concentration from
22 mg/m^ to 18 mg/m^ for Lennox. The NAAQS is 10 mg/m^. The
'82 SIP for CO in the SCAQMD projects a 1300 T/D (or 17%)
reduction in 1987 through implementation of I&M. Obviously,
differences in I&M program design between Phoenix and Los
Angeles will effect emission reductions, however, improvement
in air quality is expected through implementation of I&M in
the SCAQMD.
Additional actions are underway, as dicussed in the section
on Ozone - South Coast Air Basin, to foster timely implementa-
tion of adopted controls, to better quantify their effectiveness
and to identify additional feasible or potentially feasible
control options.
Carbon Monoxide - Las Vegas
Figure A14 shows the carbon monoxide (CO) trend in Las Vegas,
Nevada since 1973. Air quality data from the area of maximum
concentration, East Charleston has shown a decrease in the
2nd max 8-hour concentration of approximately 35% since 1976.
Also there has been a steady decline in the number of days
over the 8-hour CO standard since 1975. This improvement in
air quality is attributed almost entirely to the Federal motor
vehicle emission control program.
Analysis from the '82 NAP for Clark County indicates an addi-
tional 56% reduction of CO emissions is necessary to attain
the CO NAAQS by 1987. The control strategy of the '82 SIP
relies on Federal vehicle emission controls, I/M, and transpor-
tation controls to attain the NAAQS.
Carbon Monoxide - Phoenix
Phoenix has experienced a 63% reduction in 2nd maximum CO
concentrations from 1967 to 1981 at their Central Phoenix
station and a reduction in the number of days experiencing 8
hours CO violations from 96 in 1975 to 47 in 1981. Figure A15
shows the 2nd maximum concentration measured at their Central
Phoenix station from 1967 to 1981. Also included in that
figure is the 3 year running average of the 2nd maximum
-92-
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Figure A14
LAS VEGAS CO 8 HOUR 2ND MAX 3 YEAR RUNNING AVERAGE
«'•'')
f*
^...
25-
20-
O
U 15
10-
5-
East Charleston
• Casino Confer
'A
Lcrjond
A CASIMO CCMTEK 3 tS HUB
X C. CIIASLESTOM 3 Ytl Ri:M
74
75
76
77
YEAR
i
78
i
79
SO
01
82
-------
Figure A15
CENTRAL PHOENIX CO 8 HOUR 2ND MAX 3 YEAR RUNNING AVERAGE
50 n
40-
Q- 30-
CL
O
O
.'"X
Ci 20 -I
c-i
Legend
•^y
X 3j-yjl Run Avo
N:\AQS
0
;7 GB
70 71 72 73
74 75 76
Yeor
77 78 79
r_
80
81
"\—
82
83
-------
concentration. As can be seen from the graph, from the insti-
tution of Federal emission controls on automobile exhaust in
1967 to 1974 there is a fairly linear reduction in maximum CO
concentrations. In 1974 to 1976 the concentrations begin to
level off indicating the growth in population and VMT counter-
acting emission control effectiveness. In 1975 Arizona
initiated their I&M program, with full enforcement beginning
in 1976. CO concentrations again began a slight downward trend,
in 1976 leveling off in approximately 1978 at 15 ppm for a 25%
reduction.
Figure A16 shows the population growth for the City of
Phoenix. During the time frame of 1967 to 1981 the population
of Phoenix increased from approximately 500,000 to 800,000
(60%). Using population as a surrogate for increased automobile
usage and VMT, we see that both Federal exhaust emissions
controls and I&M have been effective in reducing CO concentra-
tions.
The 1982 SIP for attainment demonstration for Phoenix indicates
the need for emissions redactions from 911 tons/day 1979 base
year to 462 tons/day in 1987, a reduction of approximately 50%
-93-
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1000-
I.-. 1
O 300-1
"V~
0.1
600
X
v /•
Figure A16
PHOENIX POPULATION
40 OH
o-l —
(060
1DG5
j
1970
Legend
C' PROJECTtD
1^75
1980
1335
19SO
1905
1
2000
-------
TABLE XX
Phoenix, Arizona days over 9 ppm 8-hour average CO NAAQS
3 YEAR RUNNING AVERAGE
103
88
80
52
50
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
DAYS
96
84
128
52
. 60
43
47
TABLE XX
POPULATION
City of Phoenix
1960 435k
1965 500k
1970 550k
1975 700k
1980 790k
1985 830k (estimate)
1990 900k ( " )
1995 985k ( " )
2000 1,093k ( " )
-94-
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Intermed ia
Lake Tahoe
The effects of nutrient accumulation at Lake Tahoe are illustrated
in the following figures. Two graphs show the growth of primary
algal productivity (Figures 3 and 4). Two others illustrate the
consequent loss of clarity (Figures 1 and 2).
Carbon monoxide concentrations, another problem at Tahoe, are
shown at key locations (Figures 6 and 7).
Finally, the preliminary nutrient budget for the Lake is summarized
in Figure 5.
Water Quality
Figure 1 graph showing decline in clarity of pelagic zone
(annual Secchi depth 1968-1981).
Figure 2 graph showing decline in winter clarity of pelagic
zone (mean winter Secchi depth 1968-1981). ;
Figure 3 graph showing annual increases in algal productivity
(1958-1981) .
Figure 4 graph showing projected increase in primary
productivity.
Figure 5 schematic showing preliminary nitrate budget (1973-
1981) .
Air Quality
Figure 6 graphs showing 8-hour average carbon monoxide
concentrations (1977-1982).
Figure 7 graphs showing violations of 8-hour Federal carbon
monoxide standard (1977-1982).
-95-
-------
40
33 -
S0« 50.3-0.3J (YEAS)
UJ
- 30
5
o
o
IU
CO
25
63
72
74
78
Colo Sourew: 1968-1981, unpublished dctti of C.R.Goldman
78
80
Figure 1
Annual Sftcchi Otptft in th« Pelaijic Zone of Lak« Tahot,
1963-1981
-------
YEAR
Figure 2
Wlntv M«on S«ce*i Dtoth in ft*
-------
100
I I
90
80
u
i
70
60
SO
40
I _ 1 _ ! _ I __ i _ !
I ___ t
58 60 62646663707274767B808284868890
YEAR
DATA SOURCE' Inttraqency Toho* Meriting Pn»
-------
400
300
g 200
o
-------
PRECIPITATION & DRY FALLOUT
40-66
SURFACE RUNOFF
2-17
GROUNCVWTER
2-f7
SEDIMENTATION
20-50
TRUCXES RIVER
OUTFLOW
1-3
NOTS« UNTTS AflE TONNES/YEAR
Figure 5
Schematic N'rtrata Budget for LatM Tchoe, 1973-1981
-------
20-
18-
16-
14-
5 12-
1 io-
4)
^ 6-
4-
2-
0-
•
•••w
MMW
.--
'-
-::
?''
~-t
*~
•
=
;-•;;:•
-V
:i.>"'
"*"'.
-
IBMM
^M
-------
15-
50-
25-
20-
15-
10-
fl
rr
(o)
—r(o)
1977 1978 ' 1979 1980 1981 1982
Ounlop Station
1 1977 1978 1979 ' 1980 ' 1981 ' 1982 '
Statelint, California
35-
50-
25-
20-
15-
O-
5-
— 0-
(o) Jorwory — Maretw ,
_ r-r(a)
1977 ' 1978 ' 1979 ' 1980^981 ' 1982 '
Sorora Fir« Station
Figure 7
telQlioni of th« 3 Ho«r Fedarol Carbon Monoxida Standard Between 1977 ond 1982
(TRPA 1932 Dra£i. Annual Report).
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