&EPA
United States Office of Water EPA 821-F-02-016
Environmental Protection Mail Code 4303T August 2002
Agency
Fact Sheet
Proposed Effluent Guidelines for Aquatic
Animal Production
Summary
The Agency is proposing wastewater discharge regulations for the Concentrated Aquatic Animal
Production Industry. EPA is proposing these regulations, called effluent guidelines, to control
the discharge of Total Suspended Solids and also to limit the release of drugs, chemicals,
pathogens and non-native species. The proposed regulations are open for public comment.
Background on Effluent Guidelines
Effluent guidelines are national regulations that establish restrictions on the discharge of
pollutants to surface waters or to publicly owned treatment works by specific categories of
industries. EPA issues effluent guidelines for categories of existing sources and new sources
under Title III of the Clean Water Act. The requirements are based on the performance of
treatment and control technologies; they are not based on risk or impact on receiving waters.
Effluent guidelines are implemented through permits as part of the National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System.
Proposed Requirements for Concentrated Aquatic Animal Production
The proposed effluent guidelines address concerns about:
the recent rapid growth of this industry;
the use and potential for discharge of drugs and chemicals;
the possible release of non-native species or pathogens that might harm wild fish
populations.
Discharge standards will also reduce discharges of nutrients, Biochemical Oxygen Demand
(BOD) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS), which have been cited as leading causes of water
quality impairment.
The proposed regulations apply to facilities producing at least 100,000 pounds annually in any of
the following production systems: recirculating, flow through, or net pens. For the first two
systems, EPA proposes TSS limitations based on solids control. For net pens, which are located
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in open waters, EPA proposes feed monitoring. For all facilities, EPA proposes best
management practices to control the discharge of drugs, chemicals, non-native species, and
pathogens.
Costs and Benefits
EPA estimates that implementing this regulation will remove 4.1 million pounds of TSS that is
now discharged to waters of the U.S. Controlling the discharge of TSS will also reduce the
discharge of BOD and nutrients by about 8.7 million pounds a year. EPA expects these
reductions to improve the water quality of streams near the facilities, allowing for more
recreational use of those waters. EPA estimates that the annual benefits of the proposal will be
between $22,000 and $113,000. EPA estimates annual compliance costs to the industry of $1.5
million. The proposed requirements will affect 222 facilities.
How to Get Additional Information
You can get the technical development, economic and environmental analysis support and
guidance documents that support this proposal from the National Service Center for
Environmental Publications, P.O. Box 42419, Cincinnati, OH 45242-2419, (800) 490-9198 or
from EPA's Water Resource Center. You can also find these documents and the proposed
regulation on EPA's web site: www.epa.gov/guide/aquaculture. The entire record is available
for inspection in the EPA Water Docket in Room B135 of EPA West Building, 1301
Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20460, (202) 566-2426.
EPA will hold public meetings to discuss and answer questions about this proposal. We will
announce the location and dates for these meetings in a later Federal Register notice and on the
web site. The public meetings will be held across the country during the public comment period
to accommodate aquatic animal producers and others who may wish to attend.
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