United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water Mail Code 4?05 Washington, DC 20460 EPA-823-N-95-001 January 1995 &ERA Water Quality Criteria and Standards Newsletter EPA SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD TO REVIEW OW'S METHOD FOR ASSESSMENT OF METALS CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS On January 4 & 5, 1995, the EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) will be reviewing the Office of Water's and the Office of Research and Development's "Equilibrium Partitioning Approach to Predicting Metal Bioavailability in Sediments and the Derivation of Sediment Quality Criteria for Metals." The review will focus on the application of Equilibrium Partitioning Theory to five divalent cationic metals: lead, nickel, copper, cadmium, and zinc. The Equilibrium Partitioning Approach (Eq-P) was fffc originally developed and proposed to derive national jLJ sediment quality criteria (SQC) for non-ionic [ ' organic chemicals. The January review will present | the Eq-P model as it applies to metals, the field and laboratory experiments and assessment conducted to develop the approach and validate it, and several approaches to deriving SQC for these metals. The charge to the SAB is four fold: 1) Can metals concentrations on a dry weight basis be used to establish a plausible cause and effect relationship between metals concentrations and organism response? 2) Are the data presented (in the review) from lab, field, and colonization experiments sufficient to demonstrate a plausible cause and effect link between SEM-AVS and/or interstitial water metals concentrations to organism response? Racycted/nacydabte Printed on pq»r thai cortakw atltwt50%raoycMMMr ------- 3) Does the Subcommittee believe the technical basis for each of the four following approaches to derive sediment quality criteria for the five metals is sufficiently sound to proceed with criteria development? > AVS Criteria > Interstitial Water Criteria > AVS and Organic Carbon Criteria > AVS and Minimum Partition Coefficient Criteria 4) Are there chemical or physical characteristics, other than organic carbon, that significantly contribute to sediment metal bioavailability that should be considered in order to derive criteria that address both no effect and effect organism responses? Are there biological or ecological factors that significantly contribute to sediment metal bioavailability that should be considered in order to derive criteria that address both no effect and effect organism responses? The criteria that will be presented at the review are lower bound criteria. That is, they set the level below which no adverse effects will be seen but do not predict at what concentration effects will be seen. If the criteria are exceeded, then further study is needed to account for either the effects seen or the lack of effect. The criteria is lower bound because the initial solid phase criteria is based on the strongest binding phase, namely the Acid Volatile Sulfide (AVS) in the sediment. If sufficient AVS is present (that is, the total simultaneously extracted metal is equal to or less than the concentration of acid volatile sulfide), then no effects are expected. If the simultaneously extractable metal exceeds the AVS, then other binding phases become important. The next most important phase is organic carbon. A partitioning model has been suggested that can be used to develop criteria. It is analogous to the organic carbon normalized model used for the non-ionic organic chemicals SQCs. It is uncertain at present whether any other solid phases need to be considered. It is recommended that the AVS analysis be conducted in combination with an assessment of the sediments interstitial water. This is particularly true if AVS criteria are not exceeded yet effects are seen. An interstitial water analysis will reveal if the toxicity is due to something other than metals. Because interstitial water sampling is 2 ------- problematic it is not recommended to be used independently. In addition to the SEM-AVS method and the Interstitial Water analysis, the review will also present a combination of SEM-AVS and Organic Carbon normalization. After some additional development it is anticipated that this approach will allow prediction of those concentrations above which effects will be expected. The final approach presented uses an analysis of the lowest possible partitioning coefficients which screens out those sediments for which the metals concentrations would be too low to cause adverse effects. Again, this lower bounds approach needs further development. For further information, contact Mary Reiley, Health and Ecological Criteria Division, Mail Code 4304, 401 M St., S.W., Washington, DC 20460, (202) 260-9456, or FAX (202) 260- ACTING DIRECTOR, STANDARDS DIRECTOR, HEALTH & & APPLIED SCIENCE DIVISION ECOLOGICAL CRITERIA DIVISION 1036. ELIZABETH SOUTHERLAND MARGARET J. STASIKOWSKI 3 ------- WATER QUALITY STANDARDS DAVID SABOCK (202) 260-1315 NPR FOR NEW MEXICO On October 18, 1994, EPA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) for the State of New Mexico (59 Federal Register 52496). This NPR was developed to supersede an EPA disapproved provision in the State's water quality standards which allowed chemical-specific analyses for priority toxic pollutants to be superseded by biomonitoring results (i.e., whole effluent toxicity tests). Section 303(c)(2)(B) of the Clean Water Act requires the application of numeric criteria for priority toxic pollutants where those pollutants could be reasonably expected to interfere with the designated uses of State waters. On November 22, 1994, EPA held a public hearing in Santa Fe to receive comments on the proposed rule. New Mexico is currently preparing to adopt necessary revisions to address EPA's concerns. For further information, contact Karen Gourdine at (202) 260-1328). WATER QUALITY STANDARDS ACADEMY - 1995 Sessions of the "Water Quality Standards Academy" have been scheduled in various locations in FY 1995. The "Water Quality Standards Academy" is a basic introductory course designed for those with less than 6 months experience with the water quality standards and criteria programs. Others may also benefit including veterans of the water quality standards and criteria programs who may want a refresher course. This is a comprehensive and highly structured course, consisting of 21 modules taught over five days, that will introduce the student to all aspects of the water quality standards and criteria programs. This includes the interpretation and application of the water quality standards regulation (40 CFR Part 131), policies and program guidance, the development of water quality criteria and all other facets of the program. The target audience consists of State, Regional Office, Indian Tribal, academic, environmental, public interest, and industrial personnel. Locations and dates for this year's Academies are: Salt Lake City, Utah- January 23-27, 1995 Tampa, Florida- February 13-17, 1995 Schenectady, New York- March 27-31, 1995 Minneapolis, Minnesota- May 15-19, 1995 Potomac, Maryland- July 10-14, 1995 Two additional sessions are planned for Portland, Oregon and Washington, D.C. Dates will be determined shortly. Early registration is advised, but does not guarantee selection for participation because we do try to have representatives of all shareholder groups in each academy session. Registration information may be obtained from: Water Quality Standards Academy Coordinator at The Cadmus Group, Inc. (703) 931-8700 WATER QUALITY STANDARDS HANDBOOK UPDATED The 1993 Water Quality Standards 4 ------- Handbook, Second Edition was updated in FY 1994 to reflect EPA guidance that has been released by EPA since 1993. Major additions include: (1) guidance on the derivation of site-specific water quality criteria using the water effect ratio, (2) the Office of Water Policy Statement on metals, and (3) an interpretation of EPA's antidegradation policy as it relates to nonpoint sources. The 1994 Handbook is currently at the printers and is expected to be available in January 1995. The Handbook will be distributed directly to the EPA Regional offices, States and Tribes. When available, limited free copies will also be available from the EPA Resource Center at (202) 260- 7786. WATER QUALITY STANDARDS REGULATION REVISION CONTEMPLATED SASD is considering undertaking a revision of the water quality standards program regulation (40 CFR Part 131.) ^== \ The current V regulation was published in 1983 v— and has not been amended since, except for the addition of procedures for Indian Tribes to assume administration of the water quality standards program. Regional and State experience in implementation of the regulation has demonstrated several areas where additional details or modifications would be helpful to enable States and EPA to implement the program more effectively. We are currently planning discussions with senior management on potential areas to be addressed and what procedures we would follow in soliciting suggestions from the regulated community. If initiated, this project will take about three years to complete. For further information, contact Dave Sabock at (202) 260-1315. RISK ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT BRANCH THOMAS ARMIT AGE (202) 260-5388 NATIONAL SEDIMENT CONTAMINANT POINT SOURCE INVENTORY An integral component of the U.S. EPA's Office of Water's Contaminated Sediment Management Strategy is the identification of sources of sediment contaminants in the U.S. EPA has recently developed a national inventory of sediment contaminant discharges from municipal, federal, and industrial point sources and analyzed these releases to identify and rank chemicals, geographic areas, and industries of concern based on their potential to cause sediment contamination problems. Over 22,000 individual records of point source releases (TRI and PCS) of 118 different chemicals are included in the analysis. Approximately 930 individual watersheds and 46 distinct industrial categories are represented. With respect to loading, toxicity and fate characteristics (relative hazard or HAZREL), the results indicate that pesticides, metals, and halogenated organics have the most potential for impacting sediment quality nation-wide. Some sediment contaminants of concern, particularly metals, are released nation-wide, whereas others, such as chlordane and heptachlor, are released from relatively few facilities. The 5 ------- geographic regions receiving the greatest hazard-weighted point source releases are California, lower Mississippi, Mid- Atlantic, Great Lakes and Texas Gulf hydrologic regions. Watersheds in Regions 4 and 6 pose the greatest potential risk to human health and aquatic life from point source releases of sediment contaminants. The industrial categories producing the greatest volume of hazard-weighted releases include Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs), organic chemical manufacturers, pulp and paper mills, and metal and machinery products. The data from this study will be used in conjunction with sediment quality data from the National Sediment Inventory to identify the potential magnitude of contaminated sediment problems in the nation's freshwater and estuarine ecosystems, identifying locations for further sediment testing, selecting chemicals and industries that may require additional regulation, and selecting facilities for possible enforcement action. The next phase of the overall source inventory project will be an evaluation of non-point sources of sediment contaminants. The results of this effort are described in a report called "The National Sediment Contaminant Point Source Inventory: Analysis of Release Data for 1992." The information will be included in a WRDA mandated Report to Congress expected to be released in Spring 1995. For more information on the National Sediment Contaminant Point Source Inventory, contact Catherine Fox at (202) 260-1327. CRITFC EXPOSURE STUDY IHHl The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) Exposure Study is an multi-phase study being sponsored by EPA to assess exposure to environmental contaminants from fish consumption in four Native American Tribes (Nez Perce, Warm Springs, Umatilla, and Yakama). The first phase of the study was designed to determine fish consumption patterns among the four member tribes of CRITFC. This phase has been completed. The results of work conducted during the first phase are available in a technical report released in October 1994 entitled "A Fish Consumption Survey of the Umatilla, Nez Perce, Yakama, and Warm Springs Tribes of the Columbia River Basin." The second phase will involve collection of fish tissue at 13 sites for analysis of contaminants. Tissue will be collected from resident and anadromous fish species consumed by tribal members and caught from tribal fisheries in the Columbia River Basin. Planning for the second phase is underway. A conference was held in Portland, OR in October 1994 to design the sampling and analysis program for the second phase of the study. Thirty people representing 3 federal agencies (EPA, USF&WS, USGS), environmental and health agencies from 2 states (Oregon and Washington), and the tribes attended the conference. A study design was completed in early December that is available for distribution. For further information, contact Leanne Stahl at (202) 260-7055. 6 ------- REGIONAL TRAINING SESSIONS SASD conducted its first-ever training on our Guidance For Assessing Chemical Contaminant Data For Use in Fish Advisories. Each training session lasted a day and a half and covered EPA's recommendations contained in its first two guidance documents: Volume 1 : Sampling and Analysis and Volume 2: Risk Assessment and Fish Consumption Limits. To encourage greater state participation, each training session was scheduled at the end of the Multi-region Water Quality Standards/Criteria meetings . The first session was held in Seattle, Washington on December 1 and 2. Approximately fifty people attended from states, tribes, consultants, etc. The second session was held in Chicago on December 8 and 9 and was attended by approximately forty people (despite the snow and colder weather). Rick Hoffmann was in charge of the training and facilitated the discussions about the development of the guidance and EPA policy decisions. Our contractors, Pat Cunningham (RTI) and Julie Wormser (Abt) gave detailed presentations of Volumes 1 and 2, respectively. Many of the state representatives from both regions complimented the guidance and the training. Several attendees said that these are the types of "tools" that EPA should provide to state agencies. The sessions also generated valuable suggestions for future guidance "updates." For further information, contact Rick Hoffmann at (202) 260-0642. EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT BRANCH RUSSELL KINERSON (202) 260-1330 REGIONAL TMDL WORKSHOPS The Watershed Modeling Section of SASD, along with the Watershed Branch of OWOW, has just finished sponsoring a series of TMDL technical workshops throughout the country. These workshops were designed to provide technical and programmatic support for Regional, State, and local government personnel responsible for developing and implementing TMDLs. Topics included: hands-on computer modeling for point source, nonpoint source, and watershed loading, technical discussions of bioaccumulation, bioavailability of metals, monitoring in support of TMDLs; regional case studies; and highlights of the HQ technical support program's efforts to make TMDL models more user friendly. The workshops were very well received and should lead to a better understanding of the TMDL process and therefore to higher quality TMDLs. For further information, contact Marge Coombs at (202) 260-9821. ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT ROBERT APRIL (202) 260-0658 SEDIMENT CONTAMINANT BIOAVAILABILITY PROGRAM UPDATE Draft Sediment Quality Criteria for Non- ionic Organics: The public comments for 7 ------- the draft proposed criteria have been compiled, sorted, and are in the response to comments process. A comments responspe document is anticipated to be completed in the late Spring and revisions to the criteria documents themselves soon afterwards. User's Guide: A multi-program/multi- region work group has been formed to develop a one-stop-guide to user's of the criteria that will provide both sampling and technical guidance on using the criteria and direction on implementing the criteria in different programs. The participating programs include: Water, Superfund, RCRA, Dredging, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. Contact: Mary Reiley, Sediment Contaminant Bioavailability Program, Mail Code 4304, 401 M Street, S.W., Washington, DC, (202) 260-9546, FAX (202) 260-1036. x°/EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency (4305) Washington, DC 2Q460 Official Business Penalty for Private Use $300 FIRST CLASS MAIL Postage and Fees Paid EPA G-35 ------- |