Wyaconda Lake in Missouri Draft Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Summary of Comments and Responses


Wyaconda Lake in Missouri
Draft Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)
SUMMARY OF COMMENTS AND RESPONSES

Prepared by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 7
Water, Wetlands and Pesticides Division
December 2010

INTRODUCTION

EPA public noticed a draft TMDL for Wyaconda Lake (water body identification
M0 7009) from October 29, 2010 to December 1, 2010. EPA is establishing this TMDL to
meet the obligations of the 2001 Consent Decree, American Canoe Association, et al. v. EPA,
Consolidated Case No. 98-482-CV-W, (Consent Decree). This document summarizes and
paraphrases comments received, EPA's response to comments and changes made to the final
TMDL where appropriate. Included is a list of all commentors.

RESPONSE TO COMMENTS (EPA responses in bold)

1. Comment: The background section of the draft TMDL is in error regarding the reasons for
which Wyaconda Lake is no longer used as a public water supply. Missouri Department of
Natural Resources (MDNR) Fact Sheets clearly state that Wyaconda Lake is no longer used as a
public water supply because of multiple failures by the Community Water System (CWS) to
meet the MDNR and Federal Safe Drinking Water Act requirements. Atrazine levels have not
been mentioned in MDNR compliance and operation inspection reports for the Wyaconda CWS.
Should a TMDL for Wyaconda Lake be issued, the reasons for the CWS closure should be
accurately stated. No TMDL should be established because Wyaconda Lake is not used as a
drinking water source.

1. Response: EPA thanks the commentor for the information. Although Safe Drinking
Water Act Regulations (SDWA) are not used to calculate TMDLs that are written to meet
Clean Water Act (CWA) regulations, language has been added to the background section
of the TMDL stating that Wyaconda Lake has exceeded Missouri SDWA Regulations 10
CSR 60-4.050,10 CSR 60-4.090,10 CSR 60-7.010,10 CSR 60-8.010, and 10 CSR 60-14.010.
The MDNR report entitled, MDNR Public Drinking Water Branch Statement of Facts and
Compliance Schedule for Wyaconda, Missouri, Permit Number MO2010875, dated
February 9, 2009, is footnoted in the final TMDL.

However, please note that TMDLs are written to meet current surface water quality
standards (WQS) (40 CFR § 130.7(c)(l)(ii)), not SDWA guidelines. As such, the water
quality criteria used to model load allocations for Missouri TMDLs is found at 40 CFR §
130.7(c)(l)(ii). Wyaconda Lake currently has a drinking water supply beneficial use, found
at 10 CSR 20.7.031. Changing the designated use is beyond the scope of this public notice.
The TMDL is being written at this time to satisfy the requirements of the Consent Decree.
Should more data be made available, MDNR may then consider submitting a revised or
modified TMDL for this water at any time based on the newly obtained data.

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2. Comment: The MDNR Water Quality Standards (10 CSR 20-7.031) for drinking water only
apply at the "water supply withdrawal points" for substances which are rendered nontoxic by
transformation processes in the surface water (10 CSR 7.031 (B)(4)). By Missouri state statute,
the water quality standard for Atrazine only applies at the water supply withdrawal point.
However, the Draft TMDL notes that Wyaconda Lake is no longer used as a public water supply.
Federal regulations require that TMDLs be based on "applicable standards". [See, 40 CFR § 130]
The State's adopted standard explains where drinking water standards apply to surface waters.
The rules are clear that Drinking Water criteria only apply to surface water at the water supply
withdrawal point. Therefore, in accordance with the adopted state rules, the Atrazine water
quality standard does not apply in Lake Wyaconda and the TMDL is not necessary.

2. Response: The commentor is correct that TMDLs are written to meet current surface
WQS (40 CFR § 130.7(c)(l)(ii)). Although Wyaconda may not currently be used as a
drinking water source, the fact is that Wyaconda is listed for drinking water use in
Missouri's statutes and any TMDL written at this time for Wyaconda Lake must address
the use. Beneficial uses (designated uses) for Missouri streams are found in the WQS at 10
CSR 20-7.031(l)(c), (1)(F) and Table H. Criteria for designated uses are found in 10 CSR
20-7.031, Tables A and B. The TMDL is being written at this time to satisfy the
requirements of the Consent Decree. Should more data be made available, MDNR may
then consider submitting a revised or modified TMDL for this water at an time based on
the newly obtained data.

3. Comment: The draft TMDL claims that the drinking water criterion for Atrazine is assessed
as an instantaneous limit. Such an assessment is inconsistent with the manner in which the
criterion was developed and it is inconsistent with the corresponding Missouri Drinking Water
Act requirements for public water systems. The Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for
Atrazine in public water systems is 3 (J,g/L, and compliance with the MCL is evaluated as a
rolling annual average (10 CSR 60-4.040(5)(E)l). Thus, the "applicable standard" is a long term
average, not an instantaneous maximum. Therefore, the compliance period for this TMDL must
be based on annual averaging, not maximum day or quarterly averaging. As the TMDL was not
based on the correct averaging period, which is part of the adopted standard, the analyses must
be withdrawn and redone.

3. Response: TMDLs target CWA compliance, not the MCLs of the SWDA guidelines. As
such, the water quality criteria used to model load allocations for Missouri TMDLs is
found at (40 CFR § 130.7(c)(1)(H)). The methodology for calculating TMDLs is developed
for CWA purposes, as long as it is consistent with Missouri's EPA approved WQS. The
CWA does not necessarily follow SDWA guidelines.

4. Comment: Following the occurrence of unusually high Atrazine concentrations in Lake
Wyaconda (raw water) in 2005 to 2006, Syngenta implemented a watershed management plan to
reduce the concentrations of Atrazine in the lake. Monitoring data since the management plan
was implemented show that the Atrazine levels in the lake are significantly reduced and well
below a rolling annual average target of 3 (J,g/L. The draft TMDL, however, is based on the
historical atrazine levels and watershed loadings, not the most current water quality data. These

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data indicate that the watershed management plan was successful in achieving compliance with
the Atrazine drinking water supply criterion, and a TMDL for Atrazine is no longer necessary for
Lake Wyaconda. These more recent data confirm that the criterion is not being exceeded and the
draft TMDL is unnecessary. If these data are evaluated on an annual rolling-average basis
beginning in the fourth quarter of 2006, no impairment exists.

4. Response: EPA applauds the commentor for steps already taken to improve the
Wyaconda Lake watershed. Please note that a rolling annual average target of 3
micrograms per liter (jig/L) is not the appropriate target of the TMDL (see Response 3
above). The Wyaconda TMDL was written with the best available data at the time. If the
data suggested by the commentor is found to meet the Missouri Department of Natural
Resources (MDNR's) minimum level for data inclusion, MDNR may consider submitting a
revised or modified TMDL for this water at any time based on this or other data. The data
needs to be representative of instream conditions and meet the Quality Assurance/Quality
Control levels of Missouri's Listing Methodology document (10 CSR 20-7.031 and 10 CSR
20-7.050).

5. Comment: The draft TMDL makes the statement that "[s]ince 1993, atrazine's uses have
been greatly restricted because it was identified as being a possible human carcinogen." In fact,
atrazine was classified as not likely to cause cancer in humans approximately ten years ago. The
U.S. EPA's atrazine updates web site currently states: Based on the review of available
scientific studies, EPA determined in 2000 that atrazine is not likely to cause cancer in humans.
This determination was the result of a transparent process that invited public participation,
solicited development and submission of the best scientifically available data, and allowed
preeminent independent scientists to ensure that the Agency was using the highest quality data in
its regulatory decision-making process. This determination was based on results from the full
spectrum of animal test data that the Agency requires, as well as numerous research studies on
atrazine's mechanism of action. Should a TMDL for Wyaconda Lake be issued, it should be
accurately reported that Atrazine is classified by U.S. EPA as not likely to cause cancer in
humans and the statement regarding restrictions on atrazine use due to a cancer classification
must be removed.

5. Response: EPA appreciates the commentor's information for the final TMDL. The
language in the final TMDL is changed to reflect EPA's most recent information on
atrazine.

Based on the review of available scientific studies, EPA determined in 2000 that atrazine is
not likely to cause cancer in humans. In an abundance of caution, EPA is sponsoring
epidemiological studies through the National Cancer Institute to evaluate the potential for
any association between atrazine exposure to people and cancer, even though rigorously
conducted animal studies show that this result is unlikely. However, as discussed on EPA's
Web page and as indicated in the 2003 Atrazine Reregistration Eligibility Decision, EPA
plans to convene a Scientific Advisory Panel meeting concerning atrazine and its possible
association with carcinogenic effects in 2011.1

1 http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistration/atrazine/atrazine update.htm

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LIST OF COMMENTORS

1. Ronald W. Williams, Syngenta Crop Protection, 3/10/2010, Greensboro, North Carolina
END SUMMARY OF COMMENTS AND RESPONSES

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