SEPA—

United States
Environmental Protection
Agency

Electrical & Electronic Components
(40 CFR Part 469) Detailed Study Report

November 2022


-------
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK


-------
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water (4303T)
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20460

EPA-821-R-22-005
DCN 11197


-------
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK


-------
Contents

1.	Electrical and Electronic Components (40 CFR Part 469)	1

1.1	Overview of Existing E&EC Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards (ELGs)	1

1.1.1	Phase I: Semiconductors and Electronic Crystals	3

1.1.2	Phase II: Cathode Ray Tubes and Luminescent Materials	4

1.1.3	Wastewater Treatment Technology Bases for Pollutant Limitations in the E&EC
Category	5

1.1.4	Other Point Source Categories Related to E&EC	6

1.2	E&EC Industry Profile	7

1.2.1	Facilities and Wastewater Discharge Practices	7

1.2.2	1983 E&EC Process Operations	8

1.2.3	Current E&EC Process Operations	11

1.3	References	15

2.	Discharge Regulatory Framework	17

2.1	Indirect Dischargers Subject to the Pretreatment Standards Under the National

Pretreatment Program	17

2.1.1	Pretreatment Standards	17

2.1.2	Pretreatment Control Authorities	17

2.1.3	Local limits and other potentially applicable pretretment standards	18

2.2	Direct Dischargers Subject to NPDES Permitting	18

2.3	E&EC Facility Discharge Requirements	19

2.3.1	Indirect Dischargers	20

2.3.2	Direct Dischargers	21

2.3.3	Solvent Management Plans in Lieu of Monitoring	21

2.3.4	Data Quality and Limitations	22

2.4	References	22

3.	Wastewater Characterization	23

3.1	E&EC Wastewater Discharge Characterization and Identification of Parameters of Interest	23

3.1.1	E&EC Wastewater Discharge Characterization Data	23

3.1.2	Parameters of Interest	25

3.2	Wastewater Characterization Data Discussion	31

3.2.1	E&EC Wastestreams	31

3.2.2	Data Quality and Limitations	31

3.3	Additional E&EC Wastewater Characterization Review	32

3.4	E&EC Wastewater Treatment Technologies	33


-------
3.5 References	36

4. Potential Impacts from E&EC Wastewater Discharges	37

4.1	Waste Management and Wastewater Treatment Prior to Discharge	37

4.2	Potential Emerging Parameters of Interest	37

4.2.1	PFAS	38

4.2.2	Gallium and Germanium	39

4.3	Potential Impacts from Indirect Discharges of E&EC Wastewater	40

4.4	Potential Impacts from Direct Discharges of E&EC Wastewater	41

4.5	Summary of Findings from EPA's Review of the E&EC Category	41

4.6	References	43

Attachments

Attachment A : Summary of E&EC Permitting Information

Attachment B : Summary of E&EC Wastewater Discharge Characterization

Attachment C : Review of Potential Impacts from Indirect and Direct Discharges of E&EC

Wastewaters


-------
List of Figures

Figure 1. 1983 Silicon Integrated Circuit Production	9

Figure 2. Basic Manufacturing Processes for Electronic Crystals in 1983	10

Figure 3. Updated Silicon Integrated Circuit Production	13

List of Tables

Table 1. Regulated Pollutants for E&EC Category	2

Table 2. TTO Pollutants for Subpart A (Semiconductors) and Subpart B (Electronic Crystals)	4

Table 3. TTO Pollutants for Subpart C (CRTs)	4

Table 4. Wastewater Treatment Technology Bases for the E&EC Category	5

Table 5. Facility Information for 1983 Industry Profile	7

Table 6. Summary of Facility Contacts for the Semiconductor Industry	14

Table 7. E&EC Permitted Facilities in E&EC Study Permit Database	19

Table 8. Solvent Management Plans E&EC Permitted Facilities in E&EC Study Permit Database	21

Table 9. Data Collection by Point Source Category and E&EC Subcategory	24

Table 10. Data Collection by State	24

Table 11. Analytes by Pollutant Category	25

Table 12. E&EC Industry Parameters of Interest - Indirect Dischargers	27

Table 13. E&EC Industry Parameters of Interest - Direct Discharges	29

Table 14. Summary of Wastewater Treatment Technologies for Electrical and Electronic Components
Wastewater	35


-------
Abbreviations

BAT

Best Available Technology Economically Achievable

BCT

Best Conventional Pollutant Control Technology

BODs

five-day biological oxygen demand

BPT

Best Practicable Control Technology Currently Available

C4

controlled collapse chip connection

CFR

Code of Federal Regulations

ClUs

categorical industrial users

COD

chemical oxygen demand

CMP

chemical mechanical planarization

CP

chemical precipitation

CRTs

cathode ray tubes

CVD

chemical vapor deposition

DMR

discharge monitoring report

E&EC

Electrical & Electronic Components

ELG

effluent limitations guidelines and standards

EPA

Environmental Protection Agency

ERG

Eastern Research Group, Inc.

LCD

liquid crystal display

LED

light-emitting diode

MGD

million gallons per day

NACWA

National Association of Clean Water Agencies

NPDES

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System

NSPS

New Source Performance Standards

OLED

organic light-emitting diode

PFAS

per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances

PFBS

perfluorobutane sulfonic acid

PFOA

perfluorooctanoic acid

PFOS

perfluorooctane sulfonic acid

POTW

publicly owned treatment works

PSES

Pretreatment Standards for Existing Sources


-------
PSNS

Pretreatment Standards for New Sources

SIC

Standard Industrial Classification

TFT-LCD

thin-film transistor liquid crystal display

TRI

Toxics Release Inventory

TSS

Total Suspended Solids

V


-------
1. Electrical and Electronic Components (40 CFR Part 469)

As part of the 2015 Annual Review, EPA initiated a preliminary review of the Electrical and Electronic
Components (E&EC) Category in response to stakeholder comments received during a 2014 National
Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) conference regarding the applicability of the effluent
limitations guidelines and standards (ELGs) to the manufacture of sapphire crystals. Stakeholders
expressed concerns about potential new pollutants of concern in the wastewater discharges from the
manufacture of sapphire crystals (now commonly used in electronic devices), which they believe EPA did
not consider during the development of the E&EC ELGs.

While the E&EC ELGs do not specifically mention sapphire crystals, from the 2015 Annual Review EPA
determined that Subpart B - Electronic Crystals covers wastewater discharges generated from growing
sapphire crystals and producing sapphire crystal wafers. Sapphire crystals are a crystal or crystalline
material used in the manufacture of electronic devices because of their unique structural and electronic
properties, and therefore, meet the applicability requirements of Subpart B. Additionally, EPA determined
that sapphire-crystal wafer production likely generates wastewater in the form of slurries and acids and
confirmed that nanodiamonds (the manufacture of which could also be covered by this rule) are used in
sapphire crystal polishing slurries. In addition, EPA, at that time, identified several facilities in the U.S. that
are currently manufacturing sapphire crystals and wafers. Following these preliminary findings, EPA
determined that further review of the E&EC ELGs was appropriate.

EPA promulgated the E&EC ELGs (40 CFR part 469) in 1983. Given the age of the ELGs and the changes
that have occurred in the industry since their promulgation, EPA expanded the 2016 Annual Review to
include the entire E&EC Category, not just sapphire crystal manufacturing. The 1983 ELGs set limitations
for four subcategories: semiconductors, electronic crystals, cathode ray tubes (CRTs), and luminescent
materials. EPA further evaluated each of the four subcategories to:

•	Understand the current U.S. E&EC industry and the extent to which it has changed since the
promulgation of the ELGs.

•	Identify which E&EC manufacturers discharge wastewater, whether they discharge directly or
indirectly, what pollutants are discharged, and what electronics and electrical components they
manufacture.

•	Further understand and identify changes to the manufacturing steps associated with new E&EC
operations since the 1983 rulemaking that may impact wastewater characteristics or
management.

•	Evaluate advancements in wastewater treatment technologies employed by facilities in the E&EC
industry.

Section 1.1 provides details on the E&EC ELGs. Section 1.2 describes the industry profile, including facility
types, process operations, and wastewater discharge practices in 1983 and the present.

1.1 Overview of Existing E&EC Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards
(ELGs)

EPA promulgated the existing E&EC ELGs (40 CFR part 469) in 1983, which established the Best
Practicable Control Technology (BPT), Best Available Technology Economically Achievable (BAT), Best
Conventional Pollutant Control Technology (BCT), Pretreatment Standards for Existing Sources (PSES),
New Source Performance Standards (NSPS), and Pretreatment Standards for New Sources (PSNS) for the
E&EC industry. EPA divided the E&EC Industry into four subcategories based on manufacture of the
following products: semiconductors, electronic crystals, CRTs, and luminescent materials. EPA
promulgated the E&EC ELGs in two phases: Phase I, published in April 1983, contains the ELGs for
Subparts A (semiconductors) and B (electronic crystals) (U.S. EPA, 1983a); and Phase II, published in

1


-------
December 1983, contains the ELGs for Subparts C (CRTs) and D (luminescent materials) (U.S. EPA, 1983b).
Table 1 lists the regulated pollutants by subcategory for the 1983 E&EC ELGs.

Table 1. Regulated Pollutants for E&EC Category

Subpart

Subcategory

Total Toxic
Organics3

Antimony

Arsenicb

Cadmium

Chromium

Fluoride

Lead

T.
Q.

1/1
£

o
c

M

BPT (Best Practicable Control Technology)

A

Semiconductors

~













~





B

Electronic Crystals

~



~





~



~

~



BAT (Best Available Technology Economically Achievable)

A

Semiconductors

~









~









B

Electronic Crystals

~



~





~









BCT(Best Conventional Pollutant Control Technology)

A

Semiconductors















~





B

Electronic Crystals















~

~



PSES (Pretreatment Standards for Existing Sources)

A

Semiconductors

~



















B

Electronic Crystals

~



~















C

Cathode Ray
Tubes

~





~

~

~

~





~

NSPS (New Source Performance Standards)

A

Semiconductors

~









~



~





B

Electronic Crystals

~



~





~



~

~



C

Cathode Ray
Tubes

~





~

~

~

~

~

~

~

D

Luminescent
Materials



~



~



~



~

~

~

PSNS (Pretreatment Standards for New Sources)

A

Semiconductors





















B

Electronic Crystals





















2


-------
Table 1. Regulated Pollutants for E&EC Category

Subpart

Subcategory

Total Toxic
Organics3

Antimony

Arsenicb

Cadmium

Chromium

Fluoride

Lead

=C

CL

TSS

Zinc

C

Cathode Ray
Tubes





















D

Luminescent
Materials





















Sources: U.S. EPA, 1983a; U.S. EPA, 1983b.

TSS - Total Suspended Solids

a Total toxic organics (TTO) indicates the sum of the concentrations for each of the toxic organic compounds which are found in
the wastewater discharge at a concentration greater than 10 |ig/L. Table 2 and Table 3 provide the list of regulated toxic
organic compounds for Subparts A, B, and C.
b For Subpart B the arsenic limitation only applies for facilities manufacturing gallium-, or indium-arsenide crystals.

EPA established the E&EC ELGs specific to each subcategory based on their different raw materials, final
products, manufacturing processes, geographical location, plant-size and age, wastewater characteristics,
non-water quality environmental impacts, treatment costs, energy costs, and solid waste generation (U.S.
EPA, 1983a; U.S. EPA, 1983b). The following subsections describe the two phases of the E&EC ELG
development in more detail, the wastewater treatment technology bases for the ELGs, and other point
source categories related to E&EC.

1.1.1 Phase I: Semiconductors and Electronic Crystals

In April 1983, EPA promulgated the Phase I E&EC ELGs for Subpart A (Semiconductors) and Subpart B
(Electronic Crystals) (U.S. EPA, 1983a). As part of this rulemaking, EPA gathered industry analytical data to
characterize wastewater discharges from semiconductor and electronic crystal manufacturing facilities.
EPA excluded 95 pollutants from regulation because they were 1) non-detectable with 1983 EPA
analytical methods (82 pollutants), 2) present in concentrations too small to be effectively treated
(antimony, beryllium, cadmium, mercury, selenium, thallium, zinc, and cyanide), or 3) subject to Metal
Finishing ELGs (nickel, copper, chromium, and lead).1 In addition to the exclusion of the ninety-five
pollutants for both subparts, another toxic pollutant was excluded for the Semiconductor subpart only.
This pollutant was arsenic and was excluded as it was present in concentrations too small to be effectively
treated. EPA ultimately established limitations for fluoride (Subpart B only), toxic organics, arsenic
(Subpart B only), pH, and total suspended solids (subpart B only).2 Since semiconductor and electronic
crystal manufacturers use a wide variety of solvents, EPA identified several toxic organics that may be
present in the untreated wastewater. Therefore, EPA established limitations for total toxic organics (TTO).
EPA defined TTO, for Subparts A and B, as the sum of the concentrations of toxic organics listed in Table 2
with discharge concentrations greater than ten (10) micrograms per liter (|ag/L) per pollutant (U.S. EPA,
1983a).

1	See Section 1.1.4 for a discussion on the overlap between the E&EC and Metal Finishing ELGs.

2	The E&EC ELGs reference the regulated pollutants for each subpart as the only pollutants of concern identified
during the rulemaking (U.S. EPA 1983a; U.S. 1983b).

3


-------
Table 2. TTO Pollutants for Subpart A (Semiconductors) and Subpart B (Electronic Crystals)

List of TTO Pollutants for Semiconductors and Electronic Crystals

anthracene

1,3-dichlorobenzene

Isophorone

toluene

bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate

1,4-dichlorobenzene

methylene chloride

1,2,4-trichlorobenzene

butyl benzyl phthalate

Dichlorobromoethane

Naphthalene

1,1,1-trichloroethane

carbon tetrachloride

1,2-dichloroethane

2-nitrophenol

1,1,2-trichloroethane

chloroform

1,1-dichloroethylene

4-nitrophenol

trichloroethylene

2-chlorophenol

2,4-dichlorophenol

pentachlorophenol

2,4,6-trichlorophenol

di-n-butyl phthalate

1,2-diphenylhyd razine

Phenol

1,2-dichlorobenzene

ethyl benzene

tetrachloroethylene

Source: U.S. EPA, 1983a.

1.1.2 Phase II: Cathode Ray Tubes and Luminescent Materials

In December 1983, EPA promulgated the Phase II E&EC ELGs for Subpart C (CRTs) and Subpart D
(Luminescent Materials) (U.S. EPA, 1983b). EPA gathered industry analytical data to characterize
wastewater discharged from the manufacture of CRTs and luminescent materials. EPA originally divided
the Electron Tube subcategory into CRTs and Receiving and Transmitting Tubes (RTT) subcategories;
however, EPA determined RTT manufacturing operations do not discharge wastewaters and only
promulgated limitations for CRTs. Further, EPA did not establish limitations for existing source direct
dischargers in the CRT subcategory. Only one facility directly discharged, and it operated a chemical
precipitation plus filtration treatment system and the discharge of toxic pollutants was less than two
pounds per day after treatment. Similarly, EPA did not establish limitations or pretreatment standards for
existing dischargers in the Luminescent Materials subcategory due to the small number of facilities in the
subcategory (five) and because the amount of toxic metals discharged to surface water (less than one
pound per facility per day) and toxic pollutants introduced to publicly operated treatment works (POTWs)
was insignificant at the time of promulgation (U.S. EPA, 1983b).

For CRT manufacturing, EPA excluded 116 pollutants from regulation because they were either non-
detectable by 1983 EPA analytical methods (106 pollutants) or present in concentrations too small to be
effectively treated (antimony, arsenic, beryllium, copper, mercury, nickel, selenium, silver, thallium,
cyanide) (U.S. EPA, 1983b). EPA established limitations for cadmium, chromium, lead, zinc, TTO, fluoride,
pH, and total suspended solids for the CRT manufacturing subcategory. Similar to semiconductors and
electronic crystals, CRT manufacturers use a wide variety of solvents, and EPA identified several toxic
organics that may be present in the untreated wastewater. Therefore, EPA established limitations for
TTO. For the CRT subcategory, EPA defined TTO as the sum of the concentrations of the toxic organics
listed in Table 3 with concentrations greater than ten (10) micrograms per liter (|ag/L) per pollutant (U.S.
EPA, 1983b).

Table 3. TTO Pollutants for Subpart C (CRTs)

List of TTO Pollutants for CRTs

Chloroform

methylene chloride

1,1,1-trichloroethane

bis(2-ethylhexyl)pthalate

Toluene

trichloroethylene

Source: U.S. EPA, 1983b.

4


-------
For luminescent material manufacturing, EPA excluded 123 pollutants from regulation because they were
either non-detectable with 1983 EPA analytical methods (114 pollutants) or present in concentrations too
small to be effectively treated (arsenic, beryllium, copper, mercury, nickel, selenium, silver, thallium,
cyanide). EPA established limitations for cadmium, antimony, zinc, fluoride, pH, and total suspended
solids for the luminescent material subcategory (U.S. EPA, 1983b). No limitations were established for
TTO.

1.1.3 Wastewater Treatment Technology Bases for Pollutant Limitations in the E&EC Category

The E&EC ELGs established pollutant limitations for the E&EC Category generally based on solvent
management3 (to control TTO), neutralization, chemical precipitation with clarification (hydroxide), in-
process control for specific pollutants,4 and filtration. EPA only established limitations for CRT
manufacturing operations for PSES, NSPS, and PSNS. For luminescent materials manufacturing,
limitations were established for NSPS and PSNS. Table 4 presents the general wastewater treatment
technology basis by subcategory and level of control.

Table 4. Wastewater Treatment Technology Bases for the E&EC Category









Chemical

In Process



Subpart

Subcategory

Solvent
Management

Neutralization

Precipitation

with
Clarification3

Control for
Lead and
Chromium

Filtration

BPT (Best Practicable Control Technology)

A

Semiconductors











B

Electronic Crystals











BAT (Best Available Technology Economically Achievable)

A

Semiconductors











B

Electronic Crystals











BCT(Best Conventional Pollutant Control Technology)

A

Semiconductors











B

Electronic Crystals











PSES (Pretreatment Standards for Existing Sources)

A

Semiconductors











B

Electronic Crystals

s









C

Cathode RayTubes











3	In the E&EC ELGs, EPA defined solvent management as a practice of preventing spent solvent baths (containing
TTO) from entering other process wastewater. While the ELGs allow for some solvent bath contamination (e.g., drag
out), plants are required to transfer solvent baths to drums or tanks for disposal.

4	In-process control includes the collection of lead- and chromium- bearing wastes for resale, reuse, or disposal.

5


-------
Table 4. Wastewater Treatment Technology Bases for the E&EC Category

Subpart

Subcategory

Solvent
Management

Neutralization

Chemical
Precipitation

with
Clarification3

In-Process
Control for
Lead and
Chromium

Filtration

NSPS (New Source Performance Standards)

A

Semiconductors



S

S





B

Electronic Crystals

S

S

S





C

Cathode RayTubes



S

S





D

Luminescent
Materials



S

S





PSNS (Pretreatment Standards for New Sources)

A

Semiconductors











B

Electronic Crystals

S









C

Cathode RayTubes



S

S





D

Luminescent
Materials











Source: U.S. EPA 1983a; U.S. EPA, 1983b.

a EPA based all subparts on end-of-pipe or final effluent chemical precipitation with clarification except Subpart A
(Semiconductors), which was based on in-plant chemical precipitation and clarification of the concentrated fluoride stream. In
addition, contract hauling of the concentrated fluoride stream was considered an acceptable alternative for compliance.

1.1.4 Other Point Source Categories Related to E&EC

As stated previously, EPA promulgated the existing E&EC ELGs (40 CFR part 469) in 1983. EPA
promulgated the Electroplating ELGs in 1974 and amended them in 1977, 1979, 1981 and 1983 (40 CFR
part 413) and promulgated the Metal Finishing ELGs in 1983 (40 CFR part 433). During promulgation of
the E&EC and Metal Finishing ELGs and the amendments of the Electroplating ELGs, EPA considered that
some facilities may generate wastewater from metal finishing and/or electroplating operations as well as
E&EC operations; therefore, facilities may be covered under multiple ELGs.

The Metal Finishing ELGs apply to discharges resulting from six core process operations, and 40 additional
process operations for those facilities using at least one of the six core process operations (U.S. EPA,
1983c). The six core metal finishing process operations are electroplating, electroless plating, anodizing,
coating, etching and chemical milling, and printed circuit board manufacturing (U.S. EPA, 1983c).
Following the amendments of the Electroplating ELGs, EPA limited the applicability of the Electroplating
Category ELGs to facilities that apply metal coatings via electrodeposition that began operation before
July 15, 1983, and discharge wastes to POTWs. All other facilities performing electroplating operations
are subject to regulations under the Metal Finishing Category (U.S. EPA, 1983c).

Most semiconductor manufacturing facilities use one or more of the six core metal finishing operations
while processing silicon wafers. The Development Document for Effluent Limitations Guidelines and New
Source Performance Standards for the Metal Finishing Point Source Category states that the ELGs for the
Metal Finishing Category, the Electroplating Category, and/or the E&EC Category cover all industries

6


-------
listed under SIC Major Group 36.5 Specifically, the E&EC ELGs cover processes unique to electronics
manufacturing (e.g., semiconductor manufacturing, electronic crystal production), while the Metal
Finishing and Electroplating ELGs cover the remaining processes used to manufacture the products in SIC
Major Group 36 (U.S. EPA, 1983c).

As described in the Development Document for Effluent Limitations Guidelines and New Source
Performance Standards for the Metal Finishing Point Source Category, when overlap occurs between the
Metal Finishing or Electroplating ELGs and E&EC ELGs, the Metal Finishing ELGs apply for the discharge of
four pollutants (nickel, copper, chromium, and lead) (U.S. EPA, 1983c). For example, for a semiconductor
manufacturing facility generating electroplating wastewater, the subpart A E&EC ELGs would apply for
pollutants provided in Table land the Metal Finishing ELGs would apply for four pollutants associated
with metal finishing processes (nickel, copper, chromium, and lead).

1.2 E&EC Industry Profile

As part of the 2016 Annual Review, EPA reviewed the 1983 E&EC industry profile and updated the
characteristics of the current E&EC industry. This section presents the facility type, wastewater discharge
practices, and process operations for E&EC facilities in 1983 and currently.

EPA developed an industry profile for the E&EC industry as part of the development of the Phase I and
Phase II E&EC ELGs in 1983. To complete the industry profile, EPA gathered information through
literature searches, EPA regional office contacts, wastewater treatment technology vendors, and plant
surveys and evaluations. This section describes the 1983 facility information EPA gained from its data
collection efforts.

1.2.1 Facilities and Wastewater Discharge Practices

During the 1983 E&EC rulemaking, EPA determined that the majority of facilities under the E&EC
Category manufactured semiconductors (Subpart A) (approximately 72 percent). EPA estimated that
about 20 percent of facilities within the E&EC Category manufactured electronic crystals (Subpart B),
leaving the remaining 8 percent of facilities under the combined totals for Subparts C (CRTs) and D
(luminescent materials). Table 5 provides the facility count and discharge type determined during the
1983 E&EC rulemaking.

Table 5. Facility Information for 1983 Industry Profile

Subpart

Manufacturing Process

Facility Count3

Dischargers

Direct

Indirect

A

Semiconductor Manufacturing

257

11

180

B

Electronic Crystals

70

6

64

C

Cathode Ray Tubes

24

1

23

5 SIC Major Group 36 includes Semiconductor and Related Manufacturing (SIC code 3674), Electron Tube
Manufacturing (SIC code 3671), and Electronic Component Manufacturing (SIC code 3679).

7


-------
Table 5. Facility Information for 1983 Industry Profile

Subpart

Manufacturing Process

Facility Count3

Dischargers

Direct

Indirect

D

Luminescent Materials

5b

2

2

Total

356

86

269

Source: U.S. EPA, 1983a; U.S. EPA, 1983b

a EPA determined the number of facilities using a Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) listing of plants involved in

manufacturing semiconductor products in August 1979.
b EPA identified one facility with zero discharges.

As shown in Table 5, in 1983, 76 percent of all facilities in the E&EC industry discharged to POTWs,
including 70 percent of semiconductor manufacturing facilities, 91 percent of electronic crystal
manufacturers, and 96 percent of CRT manufacturing facilities. EPA only reviewed five luminescent
materials manufacturers, where 40 percent discharged to surface waters and 40 percent discharged to
POTWs, while 20 percent achieved zero discharge (U.S. EPA, 1983a; U.S. EPA, 1983b).

1.2.2 1983 E&EC Process Operations

EPA reviewed information on the process operations for the four subcategories established in 1983:
semiconductor manufacturing, electronic crystal manufacturing, cathode ray tube manufacturing, and
luminescent materials manufacturing. The following sections summarize EPA's findings by subcategory.

1.2.2.1 Semiconductor Manufacturing

In general, semiconductor manufacturing facilities coat and chemically etch/pattern silicon (or other
semiconducting materials) wafers for the desired E&EC products. In 1983, semiconductor manufacturing
involved a series of processes, possibly repeated two to 20 times, starting from a raw silicon wafer (silicon
was the primary wafer type, although other composition wafers were used) and ending in a microchip
designed for assembly in a specific electronic product. Figure 1 presents the sequence of process
operations for manufacturing silicon integrated circuits (a semiconductor type), as identified in 1983.

8


-------
Source: Adapted from U.S. EPA 1983a and ERG, 2016a.

Figure 1.1983 Silicon Integrated Circuit Production

9


-------
1.2.2.2 Electronic Crystals Manufacturing

As part of the 1983 regulations EPA defined electronic crystal manufacturing as "the growing of crystals
and/or production of crystal wafers for use in the manufacture of electronic devices". In general,
electronic crystal manufacturing involves forming a crystalline boule and then slicing, rinsing, lapping
(e.g., grinding), polishing, etching, and cleaning the crystal prior to shipping to a semiconductor
manufacturer or other electronics customers. Figure 2 shows diagrams of typical manufacturing process
flows in 1983 for the manufacture of quartz crystals (a type of piezoelectric crystal), and three types of
semiconducting crystals: silicon, gallium arsenide, and gallium phosphide. EPA only identified one
sapphire crystal producer in 1983; therefore, sapphire crystal manufacturing was not a focus of the
rulemaking. EPA reviewed sapphire crystal manufacturing as part of the 2015 Annual Review. That review
suggested that sapphire crystals are currently a common type of electronic crystal manufactured and
used in the E&EC industry (U.S. EPA, 1983a, U.S. EPA, 2016a).

Quartz Crystal
Manufacturing

Silicon, Gallium Arsenide,
and Gallium Phosphide
Crystal Manufacturing

Abrasive Slurry Waste
(Water and Oil Based):
Powder from Crystal Material

Alumina + Ethylene
Glycol Abrasant

Various Acids, Bases,
and Solvents

Source: Adapted from U.S. EPA, 1983a.

Figure 2. Basic Manufacturing Processes for Electronic Crystals in 1983

10


-------
1.2.2.3 Cathode Ray Tubes and Luminescent Materials Manufacturing

In 1983, CRT manufacturing operations differed depending on the type of CRT (e.g., color television (TV)
tubes, single phosphor tubes) being manufactured. The manufacture of each type of CRT was highly
complex and often automated (U.S. EPA, 1983b). The 1983 E&EC ELGs define luminescent materials as
"those that emit electromagnetic radiation (light) upon excitation by such energy sources as photons,
electrons, applied voltage, chemical reactions, or mechanical energy. These luminescent materials are
used for a variety of applications, including fluorescent lamps, high-pressure mercury vapor lamps, color
TV picture tubes and single phosphor tubes, lasers, instrument panels, postage stamps, laundry
whiteners, and specialty paints" (U.S. EPA, 1983b). EPA based its 1983 analyses related to these two
subcategories on those materials used as coatings in fluorescent lamps and color TV picture tubes and
single phosphor tubes (U.S. EPA, 1983b).

1.2.3 Current E&EC Process Operations

Since 1983, EPA has observed changes in E&EC process operations in all four subcategories. EPA
evaluated economic census data, analyzed DMR and TRI data, performed a literature search, searched for
available NPDES reports, reviewed IBISWorld reports, met with industry trade associations and NACWA
members, contacted individual facilities, and attended industry conferences, to determine the nature of
current E&EC process operations. The following sections summarize EPA's findings by subcategory.

1.2.3.1 Semiconductor Manufacturing

Discussion with the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) indicated that while the semiconductor
manufacturing (Subpart A) process sequence in general has not changed significantly, semiconductor
manufacturing facilities (the semiconductor manufacturing industry refers to these facilities as fabrication
plants or "fabs") have added several process steps over the past 30 years to optimize semiconductor
manufacturing, incorporate newer technologies, and achieve smaller node size. The node size, which
indicates how densely individual transistors can be packed on a chip, has decreased roughly three orders
of magnitude since 1970, to the point where the industry can produce microchips with over one-billion
transistors per square centimeter. When the number of transistors on a chip increases, the
computational capabilities increase, speed increases, and energy consumption decreases. Since 2010, the
node size decreased from 32 nanometers (nm) to less than 3 nm (estimated for 2022 operations) (ERG,
2016a; ERG, 2016b).

In addition to the node size decreasing, the semiconductor industry has increased the silicon wafer size
over the past 30 years, from a diameter of 125 millimeters (mm) to 300mm (ERG, 2016a; ERG, 2016b).
Furthermore, as the technology advances (smaller nodes, larger wafers), semiconductor manufacturing
facilities must replace machines, tools, and monitoring systems to support new processes.

More specifically, to increase the number of microprocessors obtainable from a single wafer over the
past 30 years, semiconductor manufacturing facilities have integrated new steps within the
semiconductor manufacturing process sequence including dry etching, metal deposition processes (e.g.,
plating, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), copper metallization), chemical mechanical planarization
(CMP), and controlled collapse chip connection (C4) bump. SIA indicated that wastewater is generated
from these new processes but did not provide further details. In addition to new process steps, SIA stated
that the existing semiconductor process sequence could be repeated up to 90 times, whereas in 1983 the
sequence was repeated only up to 20 times. Figure 3 provides the 1983 process flow diagram from the
E&EC ELGs with updated semiconductor manufacturing operations based on EPA's discussions with SIA
(ERG, 2016a; U.S. EPA, 1998; U.S. EPA 1983a).

To further understand existing processes, EPA contacted six semiconductor facilities with significant
discharges based on reported 2014 DMR and TRI data. EPA inquired about the facility's age, size,
manufacturing processes, end-products, process chemistries, wastewater generation, and wastewater
treatment technologies. Table 6 presents a summary of information EPA obtained from these facility
contacts. The facility contacts generally stated that the final products in semiconductor manufacturing

11


-------
have continued to shrink in size causing some fabrication processes to change (e.g., tooling, lithography
patterns, new coating layers, CVD) (McCoy, 2016; Heironimus, 2016; Aldrich, 2016). Most of the contacts
indicated that process chemistries (i.e., chemicals used in E&EC processes) have not changed substantially
over the past 30 years; however, one facility stated that the chemistry changes would likely involve
trading out one acid for another acid (McCoy, 2016).

12


-------
Source: Adapted from ERG, 2016a.

Note: Process steps in black writing and grey boxes represent the 1983 semiconductor manufacturing operations and process steps in white/red writing and red boxes represent
updated semiconductor manufacturing operations since 1983.

Figure 3. Updated Silicon integrated Circuit Production

13


-------
Table 6. Summary of Facility Contacts for the Semiconductor Industry

Facility Name

Location

Manufacturing
Process

Year

Size3

Type

Wastewater Generation
Processes

Wastewater T reatmentb

East Fishkill
Facility

Hopewell
Junction, NY

Semiconductor
300 mm fab

1963

40 MGD
168,000
wafers/yr

Direct

•	Ultrapure water reject

•	Photolithography (i.e.,
solvents, rinses)

•	Polishing

•	Clarifiers

•	CP (polymer)

•	Microfiltration

•	Acid base slurry treatment

•	Calcium hydroxide precipitation (Fluoride
treatment)

•	Recycle 10 to 11 million gal/month (i.e., for
use in 2nd/3rd rinses)

Powerex, Inc.

Youngwood,
PA

Semiconductor

1965

0.1 MGD

Indirect

•	Rinsing after etching

•	Cleaning products
throughout process

• Contact did not provide wastewater
treatment information.

Micron

Technology, Inc.

Manassas,
VA

Semiconductor
300 mm fab

1997

5 MGD

Indirect

• Throughout
manufacturing process
(rinse water)

•	Clarifiers

•	pH adjustment

•	Chloride treatment

•	Lime addition with filter tank

Samsung Austin
Semiconductor

Austin, TX

Semiconductor

1996

1.3 billion
gal/yr

Indirect

•	Ultrapure water reject

•	Rinsing after etching

•	Cleaning products
throughout process

•	Clarifiers

•	CP (sodium hydroxide, lime, caustic, sulfuric
acid, ferric chloride)

•	Filter presses

•	Future Wastewater Treatment: Ion Exchange
(Cu Treatment)0

Freescale
Semiconductor -
Oak Hill Facility

Austin, TX

Semiconductor

1991

240,000
wafers/yr

Indirect

•	Ultrapure water reject

•	Rinsing after etching

•	pH adjustment

•	Recycle a portion of rinse water (i.e., for use
in cooling tower, scrubber)

Intel Corporation

Chandler, AZ

Semiconductor
12 in wafer

1994

5.4 MGD

Indirect

•	Wet edging

•	Abatement technologies

•	Rinsing after etching

•	Cleaning products
throughout process

•	Fluoride Treatment (i.e., creates calcium
fluoride cake)

•	Stripper scrubber (NHs Treatment)

•	Zeolite resin (NH3 Treatment)

•	Electrowinning System (Cu Treatment)

Source: Aldrich, 2016; Heironimus, 2016; Kang, 2016; Marone, 2016; McCoy, 2016; Wasielewski, 2016.
a MGD- million gallons per day discharged; Production rate (i.e., number of wafers).
b CP-Chemical Precipitation.

c Future Wastewater Treatment - The facility is considering installing ion exchange for copper treatment in effluent (i.e., performing pilot studies).

14


-------
1.2.3.2	Electronic Crystals Manufacturing

EPA reviewed electronic crystal manufacturing as part of the 2015 Annual Review and determined
sapphire crystal manufacturing has likely increased in the U.S. since the 1983 E&EC rulemaking. EPA also
determined that sapphire crystal wafer production generates wastewater in the form of slurries and acids
from processing steps including wafer lapping, wafer grinding, and polishing similar to the processing
steps for the production of other types of electronic crystals. Wafer lapping involves using an abrasive
liquid slurry mixture to form a smooth, polished surface, while wafer grinding uses oil- or water-based
slurries for coarse removal of material. Polishing slurries are used for surface polishing and removing
abrasives; however, these slurries may introduce water, oil, and acid-based additives, as well as harsh
chemicals, to the process wastewater. However, EPA's information on the wastewater constituents
associated with sapphire crystal manufacturing is limited as the chemicals used in the preparation of
sapphire wafers have not been thoroughly studied (U.S. EPA, 2016a).

For its 2016 Annual Review, EPA conducted a targeted literature review using the keyword list (U.S. EPA,
2018), and did not identify any further information with regards sapphire crystal manufacturing.

However, EPA identified one paper with specific information regarding treatment of wastewater from
electronic crystal polishing (Sturgill, 2000). Sturgill primarily discusses pollution prevention and recycling
of gallium and arsenic from gallium arsenide (GaAs) polishing wastes, but the introduction provides a
general description of GaAs crystal manufacturing. Sturgill states that boules (i.e., ingots of crystalline
GaAs) are cut into wafers, and then the wafers are etched, lapped, and polished (Sturgill, 2000). Sturgill's
GaAs crystal manufacturing process steps are similar to electronic crystal manufacturing process steps
depicted in Figure 2 identified during the 1983 rulemaking. This information suggests the electronic
crystal manufacturing process steps have not changed substantially over the past 30 years; however, as
identified during the 2015 Annual Review, sapphire crystal manufacturing has likely increased.

1.2.3.3	Cathode Ray Tubes and Luminescent Materials Manufacturing

EPA reviewed existing manufacturing operations for Subpart C, CRTs, and Subpart D, luminescent
materials, through internet searches and the literature review. The research indicates that CRT
manufacturing has decreased dramatically due to their replacement with newer technologies, such as
liquid crystal display (LCD), thin-film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD), plasma display, and organic
light-emitting diode (OLED) for TV and other electronic applications (IBISWorld, 2016; Sood, 2005).
Similarly, luminescent materials consisted of fluorescent lamp phosphors in 1983 (i.e., used in TV, video
game displays, and lamp applications); however, most of these applications have been replaced with
other technologies, such as light-emitting diode (LED) lamps and the CRT replacement technologies listed
previously (IBISWorld, 2016; ERG, 2016a; Sood, 2005). In addition, NACWA members confirmed that CRT
and luminescent materials are phasing out of production (U.S. EPA, 2016b).

1.3 References

1.	Aldrich, Sean. 2016. Telephone communication with Sean Aldrich, Intel Corporation, and
Anna Dimling, ERG. (April 5). EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0665-0330.

2.	ERG. 2016a. Eastern Research Group, Inc. Notes from Meeting with the Semiconductor
Industry Association (SIA). Chantilly, VA. (July). EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0665-0333.

3.	ERG. 2016b. Eastern Research Group, Inc. Memorandum from Anna Dimling, ERG, to
Jezebele Alicea, U.S. EPA. Re: Summary of Semiconductor Presentations and Posters at
2016 ASMC SEMI Conference, Saratoga Springs, NY. Chantilly, VA. (June 13). EPA-HQ-OW-
2015-0665-0332.

4.	Heironimus, Jason. 2016. Telephone communication with Jason Heironimus, Freescale
Semiconductor Oak Hill Facility, and Anna Dimling, ERG. (April 7). EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0665-
0334.

15


-------
5.	IBISWorld. 2016. IBISWorld Industry Report 33441b: Circuit Board & Electronic Component
Manufacturing in the US. (June). EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0665. DCN 08342.

6.	Kang, Josh. 2016. Telephone communication with Josh Kang, Samsung Austin
Semiconductor, and Anna Dimling, ERG. (March 24). EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0665. DCN 08344.

7.	Marone, Gary. 2016. Telephone communication with Gary Marone, Global Foundries East
Fishkill Facility, and Anna Dimling, ERG. (March 24). EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0665-0343.

8.	McCoy, John. 2016. Telephone communication with John McCoy, Micron Technology Inc.,
and Anna Dimling, ERG. (March 24). EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0665-0344.

9.	Sood, A. and Tellis, G. 2005. Technical Evolution and Radical Innovation. Journal of
Marketing. 69: 152-168. (July). EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0665-0347.

10.	Sturgill, J.A., Swartzbaugh, J.T., and Randall, P.M. 2000. Pollution Prevention in the
Semiconductor Industry through Recovery and Recycling of Gallium and Arsenic from GaAs
Polishing Wastes. Clean Products and Processes. 2: 18-27. EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0665-0348

11.	U.S. Census Bureau. 2016a. United States Census Bureau: 2007 NAICS Definition for 334411
Electron Tube Manufacturing. EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0665-0350.

12.	U.S. Census Bureau 2016b. United States Census Bureau. Economic Census. EPA-HQ-OW-
2015-0665-0351.

13.	U.S. EPA. 1983a. Development Document for Effluent Limitations Guidelines for the
Electrical and Electronic Components Point Source Category- Phase I. Washington, D.C.
(April). EPA Report Number 440/1-84/075. EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0665-0268.

14.	U.S. EPA. 1983b. Development Document for Effluent Limitations Guidelines for the
Electrical and Electronic Components Point Source Category- Phase II. Washington, D.C.
(December). EPA 440/1-84/075. EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0665-0352.

15.	U.S. EPA. 1983c. Development Document for Effluent Limitations Guidelines and New
Source Performance Standards for the Metal Finishing Point Source Category. Washington,
D.C. EPA-HQ-OW-2004-0032-0110.

16.	U.S. EPA. 1998. Permitting Guidance for Semiconductor Manufacturing Facilities. EPA-821-
R-09-007. Washington, DC. (April). EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0665-0353.

17.	U.S. EPA. 2016a. The 2015 Annual Effluent Guidelines Review Report. Washington, D.C.
(June). EPA-821-R-16-002. EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0665-0299.

18.	U.S. EPA. 2016b. Summary Notes from EPA's Meeting with the National Association of Clean
Water Agencies (NACWA). (December). EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0665-0355.

19.	U.S. EPA. 2018. Effluent Guidelines Planning Review Report Supporting the Final 2016
Effluent Guidelines Program Plan. (April). EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0665-1056.

20.	Wasielewski, Ryan. 2016. Telephone communication with Ryan Wasielewski, Powerex Inc.,
and Anna Dimling, ERG. (April 4). EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0665-0354.

16


-------
2. Discharge Regulatory Framework

E&EC facilities commonly are indirect dischargers (i.e., they discharge their wastewater to a POTW) but
some are direct dischargers (i.e., they discharge treated wastewater to waters of the US. The regulatory
framework applicable to each type of discharger is described below.

2.1 Indirect Dischargers Subject to the Pretreatment Standards Under the
National Pretreatment Program

The majority of facilities are indirect dischargers that discharge their wastewater to a local or regional
publicly owned treatment works (POTW). These facilities are subject to the national pretreatment
program in 40 CFR Part 403. The national pretreatment program is a component of the NPDES program. It
is a cooperative effort of federal, state, and local environmental regulatory agencies established to
protect water quality. Similar to how EPA authorizes the NPDES permit program to state, tribal, and
territorial governments to perform permitting, administrative, and enforcement tasks for discharges to
surface waters (NPDES program), EPA and authorized NPDES state pretreatment programs approve local
municipalities to perform permitting, administrative, and enforcement tasks for discharges into the
municipalities' POTWs.

The national pretreatment program is designed to protect POTWs infrastructure and reduce conventional
and toxic pollutant levels discharged by industries and other nondomestic wastewater sources into
municipal sewer systems and into the environment.

2.1.1	Pretreatment Standards

Pretreatment standards are pollutant discharge limits which apply to industrial users (Ills). Pretreatment
requirements are substantive or procedural requirements applied to Ills. ELGs are uniform national
standards developed by EPA for specific industrial categories. The standards applicable to indirect
dischargers (also called categorical pretreatment standards) are listed under each ELG as pretreatment
standards for existing sources (PSES) and pretreatment standards for new sources (PSNS). The E&EC ELG
establishes PSES and PSNS for the E&EC industrial category. These technology-based standards apply
regardless of whether or not the POTW has an approved pretreatment program or whether or not the
nondomestic discharger has been issued a control mechanism or permit. Nondomestic dischargers
subject to categorical pretreatment standards are categorical industrial users (ClUs). Thus, all indirect
discharging E&EC facilities are ClUs.

2.1.2	Pretreatment Control Authorities

Where a POTW has an approved local pretreatment program, the POTW is the control authority. Where a
POTW has not received approval, the control authority is the approved state or, in unapproved states, the
EPA.

The control authorities:

•	Develop legal authority for their jurisdiction, local limits, standard operating procedures, and an
enforcement response plan to establish and maintain an approved pretreatment program.

•	Regulate Ills by:

¦	issuing control mechanisms,

¦	conducting monitoring and inspections,

¦	receiving and reviewing reports and notifications,

¦	reviewing requests for net/gross variances,

17


-------
¦	evaluating compliance with program requirements, and taking enforcement as
appropriate, and

¦	submitting regular reports to approval authorities to describe the implementation of
their pretreatment program.

The control authority is responsible for administering and enforcing pretreatment standards and
requirements. The control authority's primary goals are: to prevent the discharge of pollutants into the
POTW that would result in interference and pass through at the POTW's wastewater treatment plant; and
to ensure that Ills comply with all applicable pretreatment program requirements.

2.1.3 Local limits and other potentially applicable pretretment standards

The federal regulations in 40 CFR 403.5(c)(1) require POTWs with approved pretreatment programs or
POTWs developing a pretreatment program to develop local limits that enforce the general and specific
prohibitions in 40 CFR 403.5 (a)(1) and (b). Additionally, some states and EPA Regions may have additional
requirements for the development of local limits for specific parameters. EPA's Local Limits Development
Guidance (U.S. EPA, 2004) provides a detailed outline of the process for developing local limits.
Additionally, some states may have additional requirements for the development of local limits for
specific parameters.

While 40 CFR Part 469 does not have a pH limit for indirect dischargers, many POTWs do include pH
requirements in their permits for indirect dischargers. The federal regulations in 40 CFR 403.5(b)(2)
prohibits indirects dischargers from discharging "pollutants which will cause corrosive structural damage
to the POTW, but in no case Discharges with pH lower than 5.0, unless the works is specifically designed
to accommodate such Discharge." Note that if the POTW's collection system is designed to handle a
lower pH, the control authortity may accept wastewater with a pH less than 5.0 as long as the control
authority has an approved and adopted local limit for the lower pH. Additionally, 40 CFR Part 403 does
not contain an upper pH limit; however, discharges with a pH greater than 12.5 will require the industrial
user to meet the hazardous waste reporting requirements in 40 CFR 403.12(p). As a result, most control
authorities set their upper pH limit below 12.5.

E&EC indirect dischargers are required to conduct self-monitoring and submit monitoring reports to the
pretreatment control authority. The federal regulations in 40 CFR 403.12(g)(1) require self-monitoring to
be performed at least twice a year, but more frequent monitoring may be required by the control
authority.

2.2 Direct Dischargers Subject to NPDES Permitting

Any E&EC facility that directly discharges pollutants from a point source to a water of the US is subject to
the NPDES permit program. NPDES permits are issued by the EPA or authorized states. Most NPDES
permits are issued by the authorized state. These permits must include applicable technology-based
effluent limits from the E&EC ELG (40 CFR part 469) based on Best Practicable Control Technology (BPT),
Best Available Technology Economically Achievable (BAT), Best Conventional Pollutant Control
Technology (BCT), or New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for the E&EC industrial subcategory.

Additionally, the NPDES permit is required to include permit limits and conditions where necessary that
protect water quality in the receiving stream. As a result, more stringent water quality-based effluent
limitations and/or limits for additional pollutants and/or other requirements may be included in the
NPDES permit compared to the requirements in the ELG.

E&EC direct dischargers must submit DMRs to the permitting authority in compliance with the NPDES
permit.

18


-------
2.3 E&EC Facility Discharge Requirements

EPA contacted permitting agencies (states, EPA regions, and pretreatment control authorities) to better
understand permits and pretreatment requirements applicable for direct and indirect discharging E&EC
facilities. As a follow-up to these conversations, the permitting agencies and control authorities provided
copies of the permits and associated documents, including the permit applications, fact sheets, and
solvent management plans. Additionally, EPA reviewed public databases for copies of this information.
EPA developed a permit summary database to track the various permit conditions included in E&EC
permits, implementing the quality control procedures described in Section 2.3.4 to ensure data were
transcribed accurately. While the database is not a census of all permitted E&EC facilities, it is a robust
representation of the E&EC industry. All collected documents as well as the final permit database are
available in the supporting docket.6

Table 7 shows the number of direct and indirect permitted facilities in the E&EC permit database by E&EC
subcategory, includings those facilities that are subject to multiple subcategories or are also permitted
under additional ELGs (i.e., 40 CFR part 433 and/or 40 CFR part 471). This distribution shows that the
E&EC industry is comprised primarily of indirect dischargers (97%) and a few direct dischargers (3%).
E&EC facilities are also predominantly semiconductor manufacturers (65%), followed by crystal
manufacturers (10%), and several integrated plants manufacturing both electronic crystals and
semiconductors or performing both E&EC and other manufacturing operations (24%). EPA did not collect
any permits from any cathode ray tube manufacturing facilities and collected permits from only two
luminescent materials manufacturing facilities; this is consistent with the decline in the cathode ray tube
and fluorescent lamps industries since the early 1980s when the E&EC regulations were promulgated.

Table 7. E&EC Permitted Facilities in E&EC Study Permit Database

Point Source Category and

Number of Facilities Permitted

Subcategory

Existing Source

New Source

Unknown

Indirect Dischargers

469 A

6

58

9

469 B

3

6

2

469 D

0

2

0

469 A, 469 B

0

4

2

469 A, 433

4

11

0

469 B, 433

1

1

0

469 A, 469 B, 433

0

1

0

469 B, 433, 471

0

1

0

Research and Development Facility

0

0

1

Total

14

84

14

Direct Dischargers

469 A

0

1

1

6 https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EPA-HQ-QW-2021-0547

19


-------
Table 7. E&EC Permitted Facilities in E&EC Study Permit Database

Point Source Category and

Number of Facilities Permitted

Subcategory

Existing Source

New Source

Unknown

469 B

1

0

0

469 A, 433

0

1

0

Total

1

2

1

40 CFR 469 A - E&EC Semiconductor Subcategory
40 CFR 469 B - E&EC Electronic Crystals Subcategory
40 CFR 469 D - E&EC Luminescent Materials Subcategory
40 CFR 433 - Metal Finishing Point Source Category

40 CFR 471 - Nonferrous Metals Forming and Metal Powders Point Source Category

For each E&EC permit reviewed, the study database also captured the list of pollutants included in the
permit, the limit for each pollutant, and the monitoring frequency for each pollutant. Where either stated
in the permit, stated in the fact sheet, or otherwise determined by reviewing the permit documents, the
basis of the permit limits (ELG, local limits, or water quality criteria) was also noted in the permit
database. A summary of the pollutants listed in E&EC permits is included in Table A-l through Table A-4
of Attachment A.

2.3.1 Indirect Dischargers

Table A-l and Table A-2 in Attachment A summarize permit information for E&EC indirect discharge
facilities that are permitted either solely under the ELG at 40 CFR part 469 or under both 40 CFR part 469
and 40 CFR part 433, respectively. Some observations on the data are described below.

With respect to inclusion of the E&EC ELGs, all indirect discharge permits included limits for the
pollutants regulated at 40 CFR part 469 where applicable (i.e., arsenic for certain 40 CFR Subpart B
facilities and additional metals for 40 CFR Subpart C and D facilities) with one exception. All of the indirect
discharge permits EPA reviewed, that should contain a limit for TTO (40 CFR 469 Subparts A, B, and C
facilities), had a limit except for one. The one permit that did not include a TTO limit was for a facility that
submitted a solvent management plan and was submitting certification statements in lieu of monitoring
for TTO. Note that the TTO limit should have been included in the permit for this facility because the
facility was still subject to the limit in the event a sample was collected by either the facility or the Control
Authority.

Most of the permits for indirect discharge facilities contain limits for parameters in addition to those
required in 40 CFR Part 469. For those facilities that are subject to multiple ELGs (Table A-2), permit
writers included limits for all pollutants in each of the ELGs. In some cases, the permit writer adjusted the
limit using the combined wastestream formula to account for the comingling of wastestreams prior to
treatment and discharge.

In addition, as discussed in Section 2.1 above, Control Authorities are required to calculate local limits to
protect the POTW and collection system. Because the calculations are based on site specific conditions,
the pollutants regulated by local limits varies by Control Authority. As a result, permit writers may use
local limits to control discharges from indirect dischargers when the ELG(s) does not include a limit for the
pollutant.

Several of the indirect discharging facilities have local limits for TTO in their permits, and six of these
facilities are subject to a TTO local limit that is more stringent that the TTO limit in 40 CFR Part 469. Using

20


-------
the criteria outlined in Section 2.1 above, Control Authorities may develop TTO local limits as needed to
protect their POTWs and collection systems from all industrial discharges.

Of the 112 indirect discharge permits EPA reviewed, 105 included a local limit for pH. The pH limits
ranged from a lower limit of 5.0 S.U. to an upper limit of 12.5 S.U. As discussed in Section 2.1, these pH
limits are consistent with both Federal pretreatment program requirements and local limits developed by
Control Authorities.

Additionally, the permit writer for each Control Authority may use best professional judgement when
determining the monitoring frequency for each pollutant. The federal regulations at 40 CFR 403.12(h)
require indirect dischargers to monitor for pollutants regulated in the ELG at least once every six months.
Permit writers may use best professional judgement to place a more frequent monitoring frequency in
the permit. Additionally, permit writers may require "monitoring only" of some parameters. This is usually
done when the permit writer wants to gather additional information about the industrial user's discharge,
for example to characterize a new or changed operation, gather additional data for calculating limits in
the future, or verify that a pollutant is not present in an industrial user's discharge.

2.3.2	Direct Dischargers

Table A-3 and Table A-4 of Attachment A include information about the parameters included in the
permits for direct dischargers. As discussed in more detail in Section 4 of this report, the parameters
included in these permits are site specific and are often based on water quality criteria.

2.3.3	Solvent Management Plans in Lieu of Monitoring

The E&EC regulations allow a facility to submit a solvent management plan and submit certification
statements in lieu of monitoring for TTO. However, this option must be included as a permit condition.
Based on the documents reviewed, 77 of the 112 indirect discharging facilitities have submitted a solvent
management plan. Additionally, one of the the four direct discharging facilities has submitted a solvent
management plan. A summary of the solvent management plans by E&EC subcategory is provided in
Table 8. As noted in Table 8, 23 of the solvent managent plans reviewed by EPA covered the disposal of all
toxic organics and not just the toxic organics listed in the ELG.

Table 8. Solvent Management Plans E&EC Permitted Facilities in E&EC Study Permit Database

Point Source Category and
Subcategory

Number of Facilities
Submitting Solvent
Management Plans

Number of Solvent Management
Plans Covering all Toxic Organics

Indirect Dischargers

469 A

51

13

469 B

7

3

469 D

1

1

469 A, 469 B

4

0

469 A, 433

10

4

469 B, 433

2

2

469 A, 469 B, 433

0

0

469 B, 433, 471

1

0

Research and Development Facility

1

1

Total

77

23

21


-------
Table 8. Solvent Management Plans E&EC Permitted Facilities in E&EC Study Permit Database

Point Source Category and
Subcategory

Number of Facilities
Submitting Solvent
Management Plans

Number of Solvent Management
Plans Covering all Toxic Organics

Direct Dischargers

469 A

1

0

469 B

0

0

469 A, 433

0

0

Total

1

0

40 CFR 469 A- E&EC Semiconductor Subcategory
40 CFR 469 B - E&EC Electronic Crystals Subcategory
40 CFR 469 D - E&EC Luminescent Materials Subcategory
40 CFR 433 - Metal Finishing Point Source Category

40 CFR 471 - Nonferrous Metals Forming and Metal Powders Point Source Category

2.3.4 Data Quality and Limitations

All data sources used to develop the E&EC permit database were provided by control authorities (states,
EPA regions, and pretreatment control authorities), E&EC facilities and EPA websites, which are assumed
to be accurate, reliable, and fit for use. After confirming a data source met these data acceptance criteria,
EPA imported the permit information directly into the database or did manual data entry depending on
the source's formatting. Once a data source was entered into the database, a second person confirmed
the data acceptance criteria and checked the entries for accuracy and completeness.

EPA encountered several limitations when assessing permitting information for this study. EPA was not
able to identify or review any permitting information from facilities permitted under 40 CFR 469
Subcategory C and only reviewed permitting data from one facility permitted under Subcategory D.

2.4 References

1. U.S. EPA. 2004. Local Limits Development Guidance. (July). EPA-HQ-OW-2021-0547. DCN
EEC0600.

22


-------
3. Wastewater Characterization

EPA collected wastewater discharge characterization data from 98 indirect and four direct discharging
facilities permitted under 40 CFR 469, resulting in a dataset of approximately 84,000 records for 291
analytes. EPA obtained discharge data for most of these E&EC facilities by reaching out to their permitting
authorities. EPA gathered additional data from state permitting databases, EPA's Enforcement and
Compliance History Online (ECHO) website, and by directly contacting E&EC dischargers. EPA requested a
minimum of one year's sampling data from permitting authorities and dischargers. While the database is
not a census of all indirect discharging E&EC facilities in the U.S., it is a robust representation of the E&EC
industry. EPA is not aware of any additional direct discharging E&EC facilities.

EPA stored the wastewater characterization data in an Access database, implementing the quality control
procedures described in Section 2.3.4 to ensure data were transcribed accurately and that sources were
representative of the E&EC industry. All original sampling documents as well as the final access database
are available in the supporting docket.7

This section describes EPA's analysis and discussion of the E&EC wastewater discharge characterization
data.

3.1 E&EC Wastewater Discharge Characterization and Identification of
Parameters of Interest

This section provides summary statistics for EPA's wastewater characterization database and describes
the Agency's analysis to identify E&EC industry "parameters of interest" that warrant additional analysis
in Section 4 of this report.

3.1.1 E&EC Wastewater Discharge Characterization Data

EPA compiled a series of summary statistics tables (Table 9 through Table 11) to describe the E&EC
wastewater discharge characterization database. Table 9 provides the distribution of wastewater
characterization data by discharge status and by point source category and subcategory. This distribution
is comprised of 102 facilities, predominantly indirect dischargers (96%) and a few direct dischargers (4
percent). Facilities identified by permitting authorities as semiconductor manufacturers comprise the
majority of E&EC facilities (67%), followed by electronic crystal manufacturers (9%), and several
integrated plants manufacturing both electronic crystals and semiconductors or performing both E&EC
and metal finishing operations (22%). EPA did not collect wastewater characterization data from any
cathode ray tube manufacturing facilities and collected data from only two luminescent materials
manufacturing facilities; this is consistent with the decline in the cathode ray tube and fluorescent lamps
industries since the early 1980s when the E&EC regulations were promulgated. Table 9 also shows that
most records are non-detected results (approximately 77 percent).

7 https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EPA-HQ-QW-2021-0547

23


-------
Table 9. Data Collection by Point Source Category and E&EC Subcategory

Point Source Category
and Subcategory

Number of Facilities

Number of Records
(Total)

Number of Records
(Detected)

Indirect Dischargers

469 A

67

41,556

11,464

469 A, 433

15

20,380

2,954

469 A, 469 B

3

361

146

469 A, 469 B, 433

1

196

37

469 B

8

1,550

522

469 B, 433

2

14,526

1,173

469 D

2

1,931

825

Total

98

80,500

17,121

Direct Dischargers

469 A

1

182

182

469 A, 433

2

2,711

1,634

469 B

1

529

523

Total

4

3,422

2,339

40 CFR 469 A - E&EC Semiconductor Subcategory
40 CFR 469 B - E&EC Electronic Crystals Subcategory
40 CFR 469 D - E&EC Luminescent Materials Subcategory
40 CFR 433 - Metal Finishing Point Source Category

EPA focused on identifying and acquiring data from facilities located in regions with high concentrations
of E&EC dischargers (e.g., California, Pacific Northwest, Texas) (Table 10). EPA also collected data from
other regions of the U.S. and believes the current data set is representative of the national industry. EPA
is not aware of any additional 40 CFR 469 direct discharging facilities beyond the four already identified.

Table 10. Data Collection by State

State

Number of Facilities

Number of Records
(Total)

Indirect Dischargers

CA

61

15,835

IL

1

39

Ml

1

250

MN

1

275

MO

1

242

NC

4

380

NY

2

1,304

OR

8

2,418

PA

2

47

TX

10

54,488

VA

2

3,575

WA

5

1,647

Total

98

80,500

Direct Dischargers

NY

1

1,651

24


-------
Table 10. Data Collection by State

State

Number of Facilities

Number of Records
(Total)

OR

1

529

TX

1

182

VT

1

1,060

Total

4

3,422

EPA received data for 122 unique analytes detected in E&EC wastewater (Table 11). Approximately 170
additional analytes, consisting of organic compounds and a few metals, were never detected in routine
pollutant scans conducted at E&EC facilities.

Table 11. Analytes by Pollutant Category

Pollutant Category

Number of Analytes with at Least
One Detected Result

Number of Analytes with no
Detected Results

Indirect Dischargers

Anions

8

0

Classical Wet Chemistry

22

0

Metals

32

5

Organic Compounds

53

163

Direct Dischargers

Anions

2

0

Classical Wet Chemistry

10

0

Metals

14

8

Organic Compounds

8

8

3.1.2 Parameters of Interest

This section describes the approach EPA used to identify parameters of interest for the E&EC Study. In
this analysis, "parameters of interest" refer to analytes that warrant additional analysis in Section 4 of this
report. In the first step of this analysis, EPA identified pollutants detected in E&EC wastewater discharges.
Table B-l and Table B-2 of Attachment B present summary statistics for analytes detected at least once in
wastewater discharges from indirect and direct discharging E&EC facilities, respectively. In the second
step, EPA applied the following criteria to identify the subset of parameters of interest:

1. Pollutants currently regulated under 40 CFR 469.

•	Indirect dischargers: total toxic organics, arsenic, cadmium, antimony, zinc, fluoride, chromium,
lead (40 CFR 469 A, B, C, and D).

•	Direct dischargers: total toxic organics, arsenic, pH, fluoride, total suspended solids (40 CFR 469 A
and B).

25


-------
2. Parameters that are frequently detected and that are either (1) nutrients or (2) have a relatively high
toxic weighting factor8.

•	Frequency of detection:

¦	Parameters detected in at least 25 percent of facilities measuring for the pollutant, AND

¦	Parameters detected in at least 25 percent of results.

•	Potential environmental concern:

¦	Parameters with a toxic weighting factor of at least 0.001, OR

¦	Parameters that are nutrients (phosphates, ammonia, phosphorus, nitrates, nitrites,
nitrogen, total Kjeldahl nitrogen).

Table B-3 and Table B-4 in Attachment B list the detected parameters and the results of the selection
criteria for indirect and direct dischargers, respectively. Table 12 and Table 13 lists the parameters of
interest for indirect and direct dischargers.

In addition to the parameters of interest listed in Table 12 and Table 13, EPA identified per- and
polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for review. PFAS in E&EC discharges were identified in EPA's PFAS
Strategic Roadmap, which summarizes its review of and plan to address potential industrial sources. See
Section 4.2.1 for more information.

8 Toxic weighting factors are derived from chronic aquatic life criteria and human health criteria established for the
consumption of fish; they are used to compare the toxicity of one pollutant relative to another and are normalized
based on the toxicity of copper (ERG, 2007).

26


-------
Table 12. E&EC Industry Parameters of Interest - Indirect Dischargers

Pollutant

Units

Number of
Facilities
Measuring

Number of
Facilities
with Detects

Number of
Results

Number of
Detects

Toxic Weighting
Factora

Minimum
Detected
Concentration

Maximum
Detected
Concentration

Mean
Detected
Concentration

Median
Detected
Concentration

Total Toxic Organics

Total Toxic
Organics

mg/L

57

27

836

182

N/A

0.00092

0.957

0.0752

0.01675

Classical Wet Chemistry

Ammonia

mg/L

30

30

618

607

0.00111

0.05

1,300

87.9

36.1

Nitrogen, Total

mg/L

3

3

12

12

N/A

9.14

25.3

16.6

17.4

Phosphorus, Total

mg/L

18

17

142

139

N/A

0.102

202

6.35

1.72

Total Kjeldahl
Nitrogen

mg/L

8

8

133

131

N/A

0.28

274

76.8

58.5

Anions

Fluoride, Total

mg/L

36

27

907

783

0.03

0.00054

114

9.02

6.8

Nitrates

mg/L

6

6

40

40

0.000747

0.16

12.3

4.56

4.28

Nitrates/Nitrites

mg/L

9

9

52

51

N/A

0.5

12.44

4.38

4.37

Nitrites

mg/L

6

6

40

38

0.0032

0.026

4.19

0.455

0.265

Metals

Aluminum, Total

mg/L

10

9

26

20

0.06

0.0215

0.434

0.119

0.0755

Antimony, Total

mg/L

18

7

161

17

0.01

0.0000951

0.129

0.0186

0.009

Arsenic, Total

mg/L

53

35

1,159

482

3.47

0.000063

6.16

0.192

0.062

Barium, Total

mg/L

11

10

26

25

0.00199

0.000723

0.039

0.0131

0.0127

Boron, Total

mg/L

8

7

228

218

0.00834

0.047

5

0.311

0.27

Cadmium, Total

mg/L

64

17

1,072

157

22.8

0.0000116

0.1928

0.00522

0.002

Chromium, Total

mg/L

68

42

1,211

280

0.07

0.0000133

0.82

0.0192

0.005

27


-------
Table 12. E&EC Industry Parameters of Interest - Indirect Dischargers

Pollutant

Units



Number of
Facilities
Measuring

Number of
Facilities
with Detects



Number of
Results

Number of
Detects

Toxic Weighting
Factora

Minimum
Detected
Concentration

Maximum
Detected
Concentration

Mean
Detected
Concentration

Median
Detected
Concentration

Copper, Total

mg/L

67

57

1,309

996

0.623

0.00015

5.64

0.213

0.05

Gallium, Total

mg/L

1

1

3

2

0.13

0.025

0.269

0.147

0.147

Iron, Total

mg/L

7

7

33

16

0.0056

0.00684

1.91

0.208

0.0671

Lead, Total

mg/L

66

33

1,062

199

2.24

0.00002

0.44

0.0200

0.005

Manganese, Total

mg/L

9

8

22

21

0.103

0.000599

0.0337

0.0103

0.00431

Molybdenum,
Total

mg/L

36

25

169

76

0.2

0.00014

3.74

0.0921

0.00793

Nickel, Total

mg/L

69

48

1,170

753

0.1

0.000154

2.99

0.118

0.01

Potassium, Total

mg/L

4

4

401

401

0.00105

0.754

181

36.7

35.6

Selenium, Total

mg/L

42

19

441

116

1.12

0.00008

0.6

0.0181

0.006

Tellurium, Total

mg/L

1

1

14

14

0.04

0.053

0.624

0.234

0.157

Titanium, Total

mg/L

3

3

3

3

0.02

0.001

0.00504

0.0025

0.00146

Zinc, Total

mg/L

67

60

1,284

1,009

0.04

0.000751

22

0.112

0.03

a Toxic weighting factors are derived from chronic aquatic life criteria and human health criteria established for the consumption of fish; they are used to compare the toxicity of

one pollutant relative to another and are normalized based on the toxicity of copper (ERG, 2007).

N/A- Not Available

28


-------
Table 13. E&EC Industry Parameters of Interest - Direct Discharges

Pollutant

Units

Number of
Facilities
Measuring

Number of
Facilities
with Detects

Number
Results

Number
Detects

Toxic
Weightin
g Factor3

Minimum
Detected
Concentration

Maximum
Detected
Concentration

Mean
Detected
Concentration

Median
Detected
Concentration









Total Toxic Organics









Total Toxic Organics

mg/L

2

2

60

54

N/A

0.00013

0.02

0.00657

0.00378

Classical Wet Chemistry

Ammonia

mg/L

2

2

180

105

0.00111

0.01

13

4.784

5.3

Cyanide, Total

mg/L

2

2

73

29

1.11

0.004

0.16

0.0190

0.01

Phosphorus, Total

mg/L

1

1

45

45

N/A

0.077

0.248

0.148

0.141

Total suspended solids

mg/L

3

3

224

224

N/A

1.08

61

7.29

5.15

Anions

Fluoride, Total

mg/L

4

4

227

227

0.03

0.17

19

9.74

10

Phosphates

mg/L

1

1

30

30

N/A

0.01

0.12

0.0488

0.04

Metals

Aluminum, Total

mg/L

1

1

45

39

0.06

0.1

0.9

0.179

0.1

Cadmium, Total

mg/L

1

1

28

28

22.8

0.0002

0.056

0.00521

0.002

Chromium, Total

mg/L

3

2

165

120

0.07

0.00011

0.56

0.0126

0.00107

Copper, Total

mg/L

2

2

105

102

0.623

0.013

0.092

0.0284

0.0255

Iron, Total

mg/L

2

2

105

94

0.0056

0.044

0.345

0.114

0.104

Lead, Total

mg/L

2

2

135

91

2.24

0.001

0.05

0.00155

0.001

Nickel, Total

mg/L

2

1

105

90

0.1

0.008

0.186

0.0274

0.0215

Silver, Total

mg/L

2

1

45

30

16.5

0.01

0.02

0.0147

0.01

Tungsten, Total

mg/L

1

1

45

26

0.00525

0.11

0.21

0.145

0.135

Zinc, Total

mg/L

2

2

150

106

0.04

0.008

0.05

0.0181

0.02

29


-------
Table 13. E&EC Industry Parameters of Interest - Direct Discharges

Pollutant

Units

Number of
Facilities
Measuring

Number of
Facilities
with Detects

Number Number T°f.

Weightin

Results Detects

g Factor3
Organic Compounds

Minimum
Detected
Concentration

Maximum
Detected
Concentration

Mean
Detected
Concentration

Median
Detected
Concentration

Bromodichloromethane

mg/L

1

1

15

10

0.03

0.001

0.003

0.00163

0.00165

Bromoform

mg/L

1

1

15

15

0.00457

0.005

0.022

0.0119

0.01

Chloroform

mg/L

1

1

15

10

0.00208

0.001

0.002

0.00141

0.00105

PH

PH

SU

4

4

364

364

N/A

3.37

10.91

7.22

7.2

a Toxic weighting factors are derived from chronic aquatic life criteria and human health criteria established for the consumption of fish; they are used to compare the toxicity of

one pollutant relative to another and are normalized based on the toxicity of copper (ERG, 2007).

N/A- Not Available

30


-------
3.2 Wastewater Characterization Data Discussion

Section 3.2 discusses E&EC industry wastewaters (wastestream generation, composition, exceedances)
and the data quality and limitations of the E&EC wastewater characterization database.

3.2.1	E&EC Wastestreams

EPA compared wastewater discharge characteristics from indirect and direct dischargers and found that
direct dischargers generally had lower effluent concentrations of pollutants than indirect dischargers
(e.g., total toxic organics, fluoride, cadmium, zinc; see Table 13 and Table 14). Direct dischargers have
additional wastewater treatments in place which would result in lower discharge concentrations (SIA,
2016).

EPA collected wastewater discharge characterization data from 40 CFR 469 B (electronic crystals) and 469
D (luminescent materials) facilities but was unable to contact manufacturers or industry trade
associations to discuss modern wastestreams generated by these facilities. According to EPA's 1983
Development Document for Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the E&EC Point Source
Category (Phase One) the major source of wastewater from electronic crystal manufacturing is from
rinses associated with crystal fabrication. Fabrication steps generating wastewater include slicing, lapping,
grinding, polishing, etching, and cleaning. Wastewater may also be generated from crystal growth
operations. The major pollutants of concern in the 1983 development document were total toxic
organics, fluoride, arsenic, total suspended solids, and pH (U.S. EPA, 1983).

EPA's 1984 Development Document for the E&EC Point Source Category (Phase Two) states that most
luminescent material wastewater is from various crystallization, washing, and filtration steps associated
with production of intermediate and final product powders. The major pollutants of concern for
luminescent materials manufacturers were pH, total suspended solids, antimony, cadmium, and zinc. EPA
did not obtain wastewater discharge characterization data for cathode ray tube manufacturers; the 1984
development document discusses that most cathode ray tube manufacturing wastewater is from wash
and rinse operations. Hydrofluoric acid was commonly cited in both the 1983 and 1984 development
documents as a fluoride source for cathode ray tube and luminescent materials subcategories (U.S. EPA,
1984).

Figure B-l and Figure B-2 in Attachment B provide box and whisker plots for indirect and direct discharge
parameters of interest, respectively, to better visualize the distribution of detected concentrations. For
pollutants regulated under 40 CFR 469, EPA found that the upper quartile values for detected
concentrations were consistently below the most stringent daily maximum effluent limitations for both
indirect and direct dischargers. While there are a few instances of detected concentrations that exceed
the daily maximum effluent limitations (arsenic, antimony, chromium, fluoride, and zinc for indirect
dischargers, and pH for direct dischargers), these are infrequent, site-specific instances of treated effluent
excursions and exceedances.

3.2.2	Data Quality and Limitations

EPA required wastewater characterization presented in Section 3 to meet three criteria for inclusion in
the database:

1.	Wastewater (outfall) represents E&EC process wastewater discharge

2.	Analytes identified and units included in the data source

3.	Wastewater characterization data provided by control authorities, E&EC facilities, and EPA
websites are assumed to be accurate and reliable, all other sources should be investigated

After confirming a data source met these data acceptance criteria, EPA imported the wastewater
discharge results directly into the database or did manual data entry depending on the source's
formatting. Once a data source was entered into the database, a second person confirmed the data

31


-------
acceptance criteria and checked the entries for accuracy and completeness. After quality control, EPA
moved mass-based sampling data along with temperature and flow data into an "excluded from analysis"
table as such results, while acceptable, were not used for analysis. EPA consolidated similar pollutant
names (e.g., nickel vs. nickel, total), units (e.g., ng/l to mg/l), and populated supplemental fields (used for
analysis queries) such as "pollutant category" and "toxic weighting factor" before finalizing the database.

EPA encountered several limitations when assessing wastewater characterization data for this study. EPA
was not able to collect any wastewater characterization data from facilities permitted under 40 CFR 469
Subcategory C and collected data from only two facilities permitted under Subcategory D. EPA is also
interested in PFAS wastewater characteristics for the E&EC industry but was able to collect data from only
one facility (see Table B-l). EPA inquired on PFAS discharges when possible but was unable to secure a
larger PFAS monitoring data set.

3.3 Additional E&EC Wastewater Characterization Review

To further understand current E&EC wastewater characteristics, EPA conducted a literature review,
attended industry conferences, and contacted several facilities, trade associations, and NACWA
members.

SIA has indicated that as the industry has evolved it has adapted new tools, chemicals, materials, and
operations. Since the 1980s, the semiconductor industry has incorporated up to 49 additional chemical
elements into semiconductor manufacturing operations (ERG, 2016). EPA's research confirmed that new
manufacturing processes, operation practices, and chemicals adopted by the E&EC industry that may
result in discharges of some of the pollutants listed in Table 7 For instance, some semiconductor
manufacturing facilities use copper metallization, which was introduced in the 1990s and is an alternative
to aluminum interconnects (ERG, 2016). Similarly, a presentation at the ASMC SEMI Conference discussed
a semiconductor manufacturing facility, which uses copper metallization for their Through-Silicon Via
(TSV) process (Gopalakrishnan, 2016). Therefore, semiconductor facilities, which have incorporated
copper metallization into manufacturing processes since the 1983 E&EC ELGs, may discharge copper in
their wastewater because of this operational change (see Table 7). In addition, SIA provided information
on the abatement of fluorinated greenhouse gases (used in chamber cleaning) resulting in fluoride in
semiconductor wastewaters via wet scrubbers (ERG, 2016).

EPA's research also identified that the semiconductor industry has developed several new process
chemistries for photolithography over the past 30 years. Photolithography patterns a wafer using the
steps illustrated in Figure 3. For example, industry uses new solvent systems, such as ethyl lactate and
propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (PGMEA). Also, semiconductor manufacturing facilities
commonly use aqueous developers for photoresists, which contain tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide
(TMAH). CMP slurries, used to chemically and physically polish the wafer surface, typically contain low
concentrations of engineered nanomaterials.

In addition, some chemically amplified photoresists and antireflective coatings can contain perfluoroalkyl
substances (e.g., PFAS). A study on treatment of PFAS in semiconductor wastewater points out that PFAS
is primarily used in photolithography because of its unique properties, including optical characteristics
and acid-generating efficiency (Tang, 2006). A study in the European Union indicated that for
photolithography the semiconductor industry uses PFAS in photoresist (0.02 percent to 0.1 percent PFAS
concentration), antireflective coating (0.1 percent PFAS concentration), and developer solutions (0.01
percent to 1.0 percent PFAS concentration) (Brooke, 2004). While most photolithography waste is
handled as solvent and incinerated, Brooke indicates that some facilities send approximately 40 percent
of waste antireflective coating (containing PFAS) to wastewater treatment.

Despite rapid advances within the industry and changing operations and process chemistries, SIA
indicated that semiconductor manufacturing requires specialized chemicals that operate precisely with
advanced equipment and materials, and that offer distinctive functionality to accomplish high yield, high
volume manufacturing. SIA asserted that chemical alternatives may not be available (or known) for use

32


-------
within the industry for certain operations. SIA indicated that researching chemical alternatives and
incorporating them into a semiconductor manufacturing process might take 10 to 15 years.

Through facilities contacted as part of the 2016 Annual Review EPA learned that some of the chemicals
previously used in semiconductor manufacturing operations have been replaced. For instance, one facility
noted that trichloroethylene had been phased out of operations 20 years ago (Wasielewski, 2016).
Although some hazardous chemicals, PFAS for example, are difficult to replace in certain semiconductor
manufacturing process steps. SIA stated that organic chemicals currently identified as TTO have been
eliminated from lithography and the industry has tried to eliminate or minimize other constituents of
concern in specific process steps (e.g., organic solvents, ozone depleting substances, lead from assembly
or packaging) (ERG, 2016).

NACWA members stated that pollutants such as ammonia, nitrogen, sulfate, fluoride, and copper are
becoming more prevalent in discharges from E&EC facilities. Additionally, due to water conservation
programs, E&EC facilities are using less water; therefore, increasing the relative concentration of
pollutants in the water discharged to POTWs (U.S. EPA, 2016).

In summary, through various data sources described previously, EPA determined that E&EC wastewater
characteristics have changed since 1983. Research indicates that the industry may be discharging several
new pollutants not considered at the time of the 1983 rulemaking, and that are not reported to DMR or
TRI, including some toxic pollutants (e.g., TMAH, PFAS) that are used in various semiconductor
manufacturing processes. In addition, industry may be discharging more substantial quantities of certain
previously considered and/or regulated pollutants including copper and fluoride due to manufacturing
process changes. Additionally, as indicated by SIA, some facilities may have phased out the use of other
pollutants regulated as part of the 1983 ELGs, such as organic chemicals currently identified as TTO.

3.4 E&EC Wastewater Treatment Technologies

The E&EC ELGs established limitations for the E&EC Category generally based on solvent management to
control TTO, neutralization, chemical precipitation (hydroxide) with clarification, in-process control for
specific pollutants, and filtration. See Section 1.1.3 for further details on the wastewater treatment
technologies used to establish the E&EC ELGs.

To understand current wastewater treatment technologies and practices, EPA contacted several facilities
and trade associations, conducted a literature review, and reviewed information available in EPA's
Industrial Wastewater Treatment Technologies (IWTT) database. For the facility contacts, EPA compiled a
summary of the facility type, wastewater generation processes, and wastewater treatment technologies
employed. Most of the facilities contacted use the wastewater treatment technologies established in the
E&EC ELGs; however, some facilities employ, or plan to employ, more advanced wastewater treatment.
Biological treatment, ion exchange, electrowinning, and zeolite resin systems are examples of such
advanced wastewater treatments. Table 6 provides a summary of the wastewater treatment information
obtained from the facility contacts. While some of the facilities contacted are direct dischargers, SIA
indicated that the vast majority of semiconductor manufacturing facilities pretreat semiconductor
wastewater, through processes such as pH adjustment or neutralization, prior to discharging to a POTW,
and use dedicated solvent waste drains and collection systems (ERG, 2016). Most E&EC facilities also
implement a solvent management plan which is designed to prevent most organic contaminants from
entering the wastewater prior to discharge to the POTW. Some facilities will recover organic solvents for
reuse or resale (e.g., isopropyl alcohol, n-methyl pyrrolidone) (ERG, 2016). SIA explained that some
semiconductor manufacturing plants have implemented water reuse practices, such as using RO reject
water in other process operations (e.g., scrubbers, cooling towers); however, no zero discharge
semiconductor facilities exist in the U.S. to their knowledge (ERG, 2016). Similarly, NACWA stated that
they were not aware of any E&EC zero discharge facilities (U.S. EPA, 2016).

EPA also performed a targeted literature search and identified several wastewater treatment studies
specific to the E&EC industry.

33


-------
One semiconductor manufacturing facility, the East Fishkill Facility in Hopewell Junction, New York,
provided specific details on a heavy metal wastewater treatment plant it employs on site (Marone, 2016).
The heavy metal wastewater treatment plant consists of calcium hydroxide precipitation (to remove
fluoride and other metals), microfiltration, polymer flocculation, an acid/base slurry treatment step, and
clarification. In addition, the facility operates an ammonia treatment plant for segregated industrial
wastewater streams, where ammonia is removed, distilled, and marketed to another party (Marone,
2016).

To identify additional emerging technologies that are being evaluated and/or implemented by the E&EC
industry, EPA reviewed recent literature compiled in the IWTT database.9 EPA queried the IWTT database
for treatment of E&EC wastewater, which produced five articles with pollutant removal data (Mehta,
2014; Kim, 2012; Kim, 2011; Huang, 2011; Ryu, 2008). Table 14 presents the parameter effluent
concentration and percent removal data for all five articles. All but one of the studies were pilot scale
(Ryu, 2008). However, EPA identified two studies that evaluated the performance of traditional chemical
precipitation systems used by the industry, and three studies focused on more advanced technologies for
the industry, including biological treatment or filtration technologies. In addition, most of the studies
evaluated removal efficiency of pollutants that do not currently have E&EC ELGs, including ammonium-
nitrogen, TOC, COD, and TMAH (Mehta, 2014; Kim, 2012; Kim, 2011; Huang, 2011; Ryu, 2008).

9 For more information on the IWTT database, go to https://www.epa.gov/eg/industrial-wastewater-treatment-
technology-database-iwtt.

34


-------
Table 14. Summary of Wastewater Treatment Technologies for Electrical and Electronic Components Wastewater

Wastewater Treatment Technology
(Order of Unit Processes)

Treatment
Scale

Parameter

Effluent
Concentration

Percent
Removal

Reference

Anaerobic Suspended Growth, Aerobic Suspended
Growth, Clarification, Advanced Oxidation
Processes (NEC), Anaerobic Suspended Growth,
and Clarification

Pilot

Ammonium-nitrogen (NH4-N)

3

78.57%

Mehta,
2014

Chemical oxygen demand

NR

98.00%

Nitrogen, Kjeldahl total (TKN)

27

83.64%

Tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide (TMAH)

NR

80.00%

Total organic carbon (TOC)

NR

98.00%

Aerobic Suspended Growth, Clarification, Advanced
Oxidation Processes (NEC), Anaerobic Suspended
Growth, and Clarification

Pilot

Ammonium-nitrogen (NH4-N)

6.4

8.57%

Nitrogen, Kjeldahl total (TKN)

26

96.53%

Tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide (TMAH)

NR

99.00%

Total organic carbon (TOC)

NR

98.00%

Electrocoagulation

Pilot

Copper

NR

95.00%

Kim, 2012

Chemical Precipitation, Controlled Hydrodynamic
Cavitation, and Clarification

Pilot

Calcium

23.4

90.71%

Kim, 2011

Granular-Media Filtration, Membrane Filtration,
and Reverse Osmosis

Pilot

Alkalinity (as CaC03)

< 1.5

> 97.69%

Huang,
2011

Ammonium-nitrogen (NH4-N)

1.62

84.57%

Chemical oxygen demand

4.9

93.57%

Chloride

21.1

92.19%

Conductivity

69.2

97.35%

Hardness (as CaC03)

< 1.5

>99.12%

Nitrate (as N)

0.73

51.33%

0.06

71.43%

Silicate (Si04-2 as Si02)

0.98

88.28%

Sulfate (as S04)

0.34

99.87%

Suspended solids

1

97.50%

Total dissolved solids (TDS)

53.5

95.18%

Total organic carbon (TOC)

1.3

76.79%

Turbidity

0.06

99.80%

Chemical Precipitation and Clarification

Full

Ammonium-nitrogen (NH4-N)

17

88.96%

Ryu, 2008

NR - Not Reported

35


-------
3.5 References

1.	Brooke, D., Footitt, A., Nwaogu, T. A. 2004. Environmental Risk Evaluation Report:
Perfluorooctanesulphonate (PFOS). Environment Agency. EPA-HQ-OW-2021-0547. DCN
11130.

2.	ERG. 2007. Eastern Research Group, Inc. Toxic Weighting Factors. (7 September). EPA-
HQ-OW-2021-0547. DCN EEC0595

3.	ERG. 2016. Eastern Research Group, Inc. Notes from Meeting with the Semiconductor
Industry Association (SIA). Chantilly, VA. (July). EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0665-0333.

4.	Gopalakrishnan, K., Peddaiahgari, A., Smith, D., Zhang, D., and England, L. 2016. Process
Development and Optimization for High-Aspect Ration Through-Silicon Via (TSV) Etch.
ASMC. 460 - 465. EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0665. DCN 08338.

5.	Huang, C. J., Yang, B.M., Chen, K.S., Chang, C.C., and Kao, C.M. 2011. Application of
Membrane Technology on Semiconductor Wastewater Reclamation: A Pilot-Scale Study.
Desalination 278: 203- 210. EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0665-0336.

6.	Kim, S., Park, J-Y., Lee, Y-W., Lee, J-J., Choi, Y-K., Hwang, K-W, Vella, P., Lee, W-K. 2011.
Pretreatment of Electronics Wastewater for Reuse: Removal of Calcium Using Controlled
Hydrodynamic Cavitation. WEFTEC. EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0665-0341.

7.	Kim, K., Cui, F., Yoon, H., and Kim, M. 2012. Treatment of Copper Wastewater Using
Optimal Current Electrochemical-Coagulation. Environmental Technology. 34(3): 343-
350. (May). EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0665-0342.

8.	Marone, Gary. 2016. Telephone communication with Gary Marone, Global Foundries East
Fishkill Facility, and Anna Dimling, ERG. (March 24). EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0665-0343.

9.	Mehta, S., Chowdhury, N., Horner, D., Lau, A., and Schilling, B. 2014. A Combined
Biological and Advanced Oxidation Process for the Treatment of Wastewaters from the
Microelectronics Industry. WEFTEC. EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0665-0345.

10.	Ryu, H. D., Daekeun, K., Lee, S. I. 2008. Application of Struvite Precipitation in Treating
Ammonium Nitrogen from Semiconductor Wastewater. Journal of Hazardous Materials.
156: 163-169. EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0665-0346.

11.	SIA. 2016. Semiconductor Industry Association. SIA Overview and Responses to EPA
Water Office. (7 July). EPA-HQ-OW-2021-0547. DCN EEC0012.

12.	Tang, C. Y., Shiang Fu., Q., Robertson, A.P., Criddle, C., Leckie, J. 2006. Use of Reverse
Osmosis Membranes to Remove Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFAS) from Semiconductor
Wastewater. Environmental Science & Technology. 40: 23 (7343 - 7349). EPA-HQ-OW-
2015-0665-0349.

13.	U.S. EPA. 1983. Development Documents for Effluent Limitations Guidelines and
Standards for the Electrical and Electronic Components Point Source Category Phase I.
(March). EPA 440/1-83/075. EEC0597.

14.	U.S. EPA. 1984. Development Documents for Effluent Limitations Guidelines and
Standards for the Electrical and Electronic Components Point Source Category Phase II.
(Feburary). EPA 440/1-84/075. EEC0598.

15.	U.S. EPA. 2016. Summary Notes from EPA's Meeting with the National Association of
Clean Water Agencies (NACWA). (December). EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0665-0355.

16.	Wasielewski, Ryan. 2016. Telephone communication with Ryan Wasielewski, Powerex
Inc., and Anna Dimling, ERG. (April 4). EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0665-0354.

36


-------
4. Potential Impacts from E&EC Wastewater Discharges

As discussed in Section 3, E&EC process wastewater contains a variety of pollutants including nutrients,
fluorine, and metals. E&EC manufacturing processes continue to evolve, impacting their waste
management practices and discharge concerns. Permit writers monitoring changes within the industry
have identified a few industry-wide potential emerging parameters of interest, but largely have
determined that the environmental impacts are limited to site-specific concerns with a particular publicly
owned treatment works (POTWs) or receiving water. The following sections present a summary of the
wastewater management practices used at E&EC facilities prior to discharge, an overview of potential
emerging pollutants within the industry, and a discussion of the potential concerns associated with E&EC
indirect discharges to POTWs and direct discharges to receiving waters.

4.1	Waste Management and Wastewater Treatment Prior to Discharge

E&EC facilities use a number of management practices to control their toxic wastes. These management
practices include solvent management plans, segregation of wastes, and waste disposal alternatives.

E&EC facilities may choose to develop a solvent management plan in lieu of monitoring for TTO if allowed
by the permitting or control authority. These plans must meet the requirements in 40 CFR 469.13. The
plan must specify "the toxic organic compounds used; the method of disposal used instead of dumping,
such as reclamation, contract hauling, or incineration; and procedures for assuring that toxic organics do
not routinely spill or leak into the wastewater." [40 CFR 469.13(b and d)]. Based on conversations with
permitting agencies, EPA noted that E&EC facilities may no longer use the listed toxic organic compounds
in their production process. For example, representatives from the City of Dallas noted that E&EC
facilities that discharge to the City of Dallas do not use organics included on the list of TTOs in 40 CFR 469.
Therefore, the city allows these facilities to develop solvent management plans and submit certification
statements in lieu of monitoring for TTO. (ERG, 2020b).

E&EC facilities may also choose to segregate their wastes. Segregation of waste allows facilities to treat,
dispose, or reclaim wastes in more cost-effective manners. Examples of waste segregation commonly
seen at E&EC facilities include keeping wastewaters with different wastes separate prior to treatment
(e.g., segregated treatment of acid and fluoride-containing wastes) and segregating solvents-containing
wastes for disposal.

E&EC facilities typically manage their wastewater by either discharging to a POTW or direct discharging to
a receiving stream. However, E&EC facilities may choose alternative disposal methods for some
wastestreams. Materials that are classified as a hazardous waste may be hauled off-site for disposal in a
hazardous waste landfill or treated by incineration. Solvents and acids may be segregated for reclamation
as an alternative to discharge.

EPA found that many E&EC facilities have worked to reduce, remove, or replace chemicals in their
process. This has resulted in fewer toxic organic compounds in their wastewater. The replacement of
chemicals at these facilities may be due to either production requirements or to comply with discharge
permit requirements. One example of the facility changing chemicals used in their processes is Micron
Technology, Inc. (Micron) in Manassas, VA. According to Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
representatives, Micron was issued a sodium effluent discharge limit based on water quality limits
needed to protect the drinking water use of the receiving stream. Micron switched from using sodium
hydroxide to potassium hydroxide to meet a sodium discharge limit (ERG, 2020d).

4.2	Potential Emerging Parameters of Interest

As the semiconductor industry continues to rapidly change, permitting and control authorities express
concern that they are often reacting to control new pollutant discharges rather than proactively

37


-------
regulating new pollutants (ERG, 2020a). A few emerging pollutants, however, are beginning to gain the
attention of permitting and control authorities as potential parameters of interest across the industry.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and elements, such as germanium and gallium, with emerging
increased usage within the industry represent examples of parameters that may merit further
investigation in the future.

4.2.1 PFAS

Interest in PFAS, driven largely by EPA's review of potential industrial sources for PFAS, is one example of
an emerging pollutant within the semiconductor industry. PFAS are a family of thousands of synthetic
organic chemicals that contain a chain of carbon-fluorine bonds, one of the strongest chemical bonds.
Many PFAS are highly stable, water- and oil-resistant, and exhibit other properties that make them useful
in a variety of consumer products and industrial processes. Due to these properties, PFAS do not easily
degrade by natural processes and thus accumulate over time. According to the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the environmental
persistence and mobility of some PFAS, combined with decades of widespread use, have resulted in their
global presence in surface water, groundwater, drinking water, rainwater, soil, sediment, ice caps,
outdoor and indoor air, plants, animal tissue, and human blood serum (ATSDR, 2021). Certain PFAS can
accumulate in the environment and human body over time and can lead to adverse human health
impacts.

The regulatory community has historically been interested in two groups of PFAS: (1) long-chain
perfluoroalkane sulfonic acids (PFSAs), including perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS); and (2) long-chain
perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs), including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Long-chain PFAS,
including PFOA and PFOS, were manufactured and used in the U.S. for many decades. Due to evidence of
long-term persistence and adverse health outcomes with long-chain PFAS, EPA implemented restrictions
on the manufacture, use, and import of certain long-chain PFAS in the U.S. and some manufacturers have
voluntarily phased out these chemicals.10 More recently, manufacturers have developed, and industries
have adopted alternative short-chain PFAS chemistries to replace long-chain PFAS. Many short-chain
PFAS are structurally similar to their long-chain predecessors and manufactured by the same companies.
Publicly available health, toxicity, and hazard assessments are limited to only a small fraction of alternate
short-chain PFAS chemistries.

Historically, photolithography processes in semiconductor manufacturing generated wastewater that
could potentially contain elevated levels of PFOS (Tang, 2006). Due to its stability, integration with
manufacturing tools, and unique functionality, PFOS was considered a critical ingredient in leading edge
photoresists and antireflective coatings used in the photolithographic process for imprinting circuitry on
silicon wafers (ERG, 2019). In May of 2017, the World Semiconductor Council (WSC) provided a joint
statement detailing the elimination of the remaining uses of PFOS in the semiconductor manufacturing
processes by its member companies. The WSC acknowledged that non-member companies may still be
using PFOS (World Semiconductor Council Joint Statement, 2017). Then in February 2018 WSC released a
statement to the United Nations Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants Review
Committee, announcing that the phase-out of the use of PFOS had been completed and the industry no
longer required the exemptions that had been granted for their use (World Semiconductor Council,
2018). Although the industry has largely, if not completely, eliminated the use of PFOS, it continues to use
long chain fluorinated carbon (FC) compounds, including PFOA, while some member companies within
the WSC and Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) are transitioning to short chain FC compounds.
The member companies that comprise the WSC have committed to phasing out the use of PFOA by 2025
(World Semiconductor Council and Semiconductor Industry Associations, 2019). The toxicity of these

10 See: https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/fact-sheet-20102015-pfoa-stewardship-
program for more information.

38


-------
short chain replacement PFAS compounds are not well understood, and ongoing studies continue to
investigate the potential environmental and health effects they may pose.

Data on specific PFAS chemicals used, concentrations in discharges, and if PFAS discharges are controlled
by solvent management plans is limited. Some permitting and control authorities are beginning to include
PFAS monitoring requirements in permits; however, monitoring efforts have been limited by the lack of
analytical methods for monitoring PFAS in wastewater discharges (ERG, 2020e). North Carolina is one
region were PFAS monitoring requirements are beginning to become more prevalent. POTWs in North
Carolina are required to monitor their influent for PFAS. To further understand the potential sources for
PFAS in their influent, Durham County, NC surveyed their industrial dischargers on PFAS use and disposal
practices. Survey results among E&EC dischargers in Durham County determined that two out of the
three E&EC facilities had PFAS chemicals onsite and chose to manage their PFAS waste by hauling it
offsite for disposal (ERG, 2020c and Cree, 2019). Another control authority, Clean Water Services in
Hillsboro, OR, established quarterly sampling for PFAS by their industrial dischargers. Initial sampling
results demonstrated a correlation between the PFAS in the influent at the POTW and the PFAS being
discharged by one of their E&EC facilities. Subsequent sampling at the E&EC facility confirmed that that
the PFAS source was process wastewater and not source water contamination (ERG, 2020a). EPA
identified one direct discharge E&EC permit with PFAS monitoring requirements. GLOBALFOUNDRIES
Essex Junction NPDES permit, issued on July 1, 2021, includes quarterly monitoring requirements for PFAS
for the first year of the permit and annual monitoring beginning in 2022 (Vermont Department of
Environmental Conservation, 2021a). Currently, EPA has not established ELG requirements on PFAS
discharges and there are multiple ongoing studies regarding PFAS wastewater discharges from specific
industrial categories. EPA is working across the Agency to better understand the potential impacts of
these compounds.

4.2.2 Gallium and Germanium

The use of new elements in the semiconductor manufacturing process continues to expand as the
industry develops new technologies. Over the years, the semiconductor industry has grown from using
approximately 11 elements in the 1980s, when the ELG was first developed, to currently using over 60
different elements during the semiconductor production process across the industry (Semiconductor
Industry Association, 2016). No single facility uses anywhere near this many elements within a given
process. Permitting and control authorities have expressed concern that as the industry continues to add
novel constituents to production processes, they are required to make permitting decisions with limited
guidance and information on how to determine appropriate levels of control prior to discharge (ERG,
2020a and Rydberg, 2021). As an example, gallium and germanium were mentioned as potential
emerging elements of interest during EPA discussions with the state of New York. Gallium is used in
photovoltaic applications, as integrated circuits, and in newer (3G, 4G, and 5G) cell phone technologies in
greater quantities than previous generations (Foley et. a I, 2017). Gallium is set to surpass the use of
silicon as the primary element used in power switching technologies as greater demands are placed on
the need for higher power density and efficiency requirements (Rydberg, 2021). Germanium was used in
some of the first transistors within the semiconductor industry. Today, germanium is primarily used
during production of semiconductors for power transfer and power systems. Both gallium and
germanium are considered technology critical elements which are defined as elements critical to
emerging technologies (e.g., information and telecommunications technology, semiconductors, electronic
displays, optic/photonic or energy-related technologies) whose use is rapidly increasing (Cobelo-Garcia,
2015).

Minimal guidance is readily available to permitting and control authorities trying to evaluate the potential
impacts these increased discharges of gallium and germanium may cause to POTWs or surfaces waters.
There are no federal pretreatment standards, national recommended water quality criteria, or state
water quality standards to follow for establishing gallium and germanium limits.

Gallium ecological effects studies are limited; however, one acute toxicity study determined a mean LC5o
value (the concentration value when 50 percent of specimens die) of 95.6 ± 14.3 mg/L after 96 hours of

39


-------
exposure for carp (Cyprinus Carpio Linnaeus) (Betoulle et al., 2002). Chronic mean LC5o values for
developing rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were 3.5 mg/L after 28 days of exposure (Birge et al.,
1980). Human health studies on gallium exposure have largely focused on inhalation of synthetic gallium
arsenide (GaAs) by workers in the semiconductor industry. Human health concerns from long-term
gallium exposure in drinking water or soils are largely unknown; however, gallium health effects and
ecological effects are likely similar to those observed from aluminum given their similar chemical
characteristics (Foley et al., 2017).

There are limited ecological and human health effects studies on germanium. Mean LC5o values for
chronic toxicity from germanium on developing rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) are reported at
0.05 mg/L after 28 days of exposure (Birge et al., 1980). Germanium is considered nonessential as it has
no known physiological role in human biochemical functions. Germanium does not appear to be
carcinogenic and presents a low toxicity risk (Shanks et al., 2017).

Although the increased use of gallium and germanium within the industry is known, there is minimal data
available on process wastewater effluent concentrations. In wastewater characterization data compiled
in support of this study, EPA identified only two facilities that were monitoring their discharges for gallium
or germanium. GLOBALFOUNDRIES in Malta, NY detected gallium in two out of three indirect discharge
samples and reported gallium concentrations ranging from 0.025 to 0.269 mg/L. GLOBALFOUNDRIES
Hopewell Junction monitoring data did not detect germanium in any of the 15 samples reported between
2016 and 2019. Although monitoring data is limited, the use of gallium and germanium is likely to
continue to increase and may merit further assessment in the future as potential emerging parameters of
interest within the E&EC industry.

4.3 Potential Impacts from Indirect Discharges of E&EC Wastewater

As discussed in Section 2, a limited number of pollutants are regulated under 40 CFR 469 for indirect
dischargers. Regulated pollutants differ among the different subparts and include TTO, total fluoride,
total antimony, total arsenic, total cadmium, total chromium, total lead, and total zinc. TTO, the only
pollutant regulated in three out of four subparts within the E&EC ELG, is largely no longer a concern
within the industry as the use and management of these chemicals and solvents have changed over time
(ERG, 2020a). Across the industry, E&EC facilities have either phased out the use of TTO chemicals or
manage TTO concerns through the use of solvent management plans which typically involve the transport
of toxic organic wastes offsite for disposal (ERG, 2020b and ERG, 2020d). TTO concentrations reported in
indirect discharges are well below ELG limits with 100 percent of detected concentrations below the 1.37
mg/L daily maximum ELG limit and 78 percent (142 out of 182) of detected concentrations at least two
orders of magnitude lower.

In addition to ELG limits, E&EC indirect permits also include local limits based on site-specific restrictions
for the POTW or its receiving water (see Section 2). Common local limits in E&EC indirect permits include
pH, oil and grease, total arsenic, total cadmium, total chromium, total copper, total cyanide, total lead,
total mercury, total nickel, total silver, and total zinc. As part of this study, EPA reviewed 13 annual
pretreatment reports from 2018 and 2019 and contacted multiple control authorities, E&EC facilities, and
local and state regulatory entities to identify potential industry-wide concerns. During this review, EPA did
not find any evidence that E&EC facilities have caused or contributed to consistent performance issues at
POTWs that received E&EC wastewater. Pollutants highlighted by control authorities as potential
parameters of interest included: ammonia, total copper, chloride, and sulfate. Pollutant-specific concerns
were site-specific in nature and addressed by more restrictive local limits or site-specific treatment
options.

Table C-l presents the potential parameters of interest identified in indirect E&EC discharges and
summarizes the concerns associated with their discharge to POTWs. Table C-l also highlights the range of
local limits values included in the indirect discharge permits and summarizes the permit violations
documented in EPA's review of the 2018 and 2019 pretreatment annual reports. EPA focused their
review on local limits to highlight where control authorities felt additional or more stringent limits than

40


-------
those at 40 CFR 469 were needed to address site-specific concerns at the POTW. The range of local limits
reported in indirect discharge permits provides an assessment of the level of control determined among
control authorities necessary to mitigate any concerns that may lead to interference, upset or pass
through at the POTW. Pollutants were selected for Table C-l based on the parameters of interest analysis
described in Section 3, documented permit violations, or a specific interest in the pollutant identified
during discussions with control authorities.

4.4	Potential Impacts from Direct Discharges of E&EC Wastewater

Regulated pollutants for direct dischargers vary among the different subparts of 40 CFR 469 and include
TTO, total fluoride, pH, TSS, total antimony, total arsenic, total cadmium, total chromium, total lead, and
total zinc. Direct dischargers identified in the detailed study were regulated under either Subparts A or B
which include limits for TTO, total fluoride, and pH. Similar to indirect dischargers, TTO is no longer a
concern among direct dischargers with only three out of the four E&EC NPDES permits including a TTO
limit and the maximum concentration detected among direct dischargers reported at 0.02 mg/L, well
below the ELG daily maximum limit of 1.37 mg/L. Additional pollutants limits identified in the direct
discharge permits were technology-based limits for 40 CFR 433 or site-specific receiving water quality
concerns.

Table C-2 presents the parameters of interest identified in direct E&EC discharges, the range of effluent
limits reported in E&EC NPDES permits, and summarizes the potential environmental concerns associated
with their discharge to surface waters. EPA focused their review on facility effluent limits beyond
pollutants and concentrations regulated by the existing 40 CFR 469 ELG to highlight where permitting
authorities felt additional and or stricter limits than those required under 40 CFR 469 were needed to
address site-specific concerns in the receiving water. The range of effluent limits reported in direct
discharge permits provides an assessment of the level of control determined among regulatory
authorities necessary to mitigate any environmental concerns within receiving waters. Parameters were
selected for Table C-2 based on the parameters of interest analysis described in Section 3.

4.5	Summary of Findings from EPA's Review of the E&EC Category

As part of the 2016 Annual Review, EPA expanded the scope of its review beyond sapphire crystal
manufacturing, considered in the 2015 Annual Review, to include the entire E&EC Category. Furthermore,
EPA studied the E&EC industry to understand how the industry profile, wastewater discharges, and
wastewater treatment have changed since promulgation of the ELGs in 1983. EPA analyzed all four
subparts of the 1983 E&EC ELGs, with a specific emphasis on Subpart A, semiconductor manufacturing.
EPA evaluated several publicly available data sources including DMR and TRI data, IBISWorld industry
market reports, economic census data, and peer-reviewed journal articles (from the literature review and
IWTT database). In addition, EPA contacted facilities, met with SIA, and attended industry conferences
(e.g., 2016 ASMC SEMI conference, 2016 SEMICON West).

From these data collection efforts, EPA determined that the majority of E&EC facilities are indirect
dischargers (discharge to POTWs). They have implemented several new process operations using new
chemicals and the resulting wastewater characteristics have likely changed over time. Further, the
industry may also be phasing out the use of some currently regulated pollutants, including TTO.

Specifically, relating to all four of the existing E&EC subcategories, from the 2016 Annual Review EPA
determined:

• Subpart A - Semiconductor Manufacturing.

¦ Over the past 30 years, discharge practices have not changed dramatically. Most

semiconductor manufacturing facilities continue to discharge to POTWs. SIA and NACWA
members stated they were not aware of any zero-discharge semiconductor
manufacturing facilities (ERG, 2016, U.S. EPA, 2016).

41


-------
¦	EPA did not identify significant changes in the overall semiconductor manufacturing
process operation sequence, though semiconductor manufacturers have added updated
processes (e.g., plating, CVS, copper metallization, CMP, C4 bump) and increased
repetition of the sequence (from up to 20 times in 1983 to 90 times in 2016).

¦	EPA confirmed that updated manufacturing processes introduce new pollutants in the
wastewater, due to new materials, lithography process chemistries, and advancement of
tools required to keep up with rapidly changing technology demands. Most noteworthy
of the new pollutants are PFAS and TMAH, which are toxic, persistent, and
bioaccumulative (Tang, 2006; ERG, 2016). NACWA members also expressed concerns
with higher concentrations of ammonia, nitrogen, sulfate, fluoride, and copper
discharged from E&EC facilities (U.S. EPA, 2016).

¦	EPA's review of wastewater treatment technologies shows that the industry continues to
rely on the traditional technologies identified at the time of the 1983 ELG rulemaking.
However, the industry is actively evaluating new technologies (e.g., biological, ion
exchange, reverse osmosis, electrowinning) and wastewater management practices (e.g.,
rinse recycle, RO reject recycle) aimed at treating some of the newer pollutants and
conserving water.

•	Subpart B - Electronic Crystal Manufacturing.

¦	During the 2015 Annual Review, EPA determined that sapphire crystal manufacturing is a
growing sector of the electronic crystal manufacturing industry and that the E&EC ELGs
apply to this sector. Though EPA did not specifically focus on electronic crystals
manufacturing during the 2016 Annual Review, EPA found at least one source that
suggests that GaAs and sapphire crystal manufacturing process steps are similar in
nature, and that the manufacturing process operation sequence has not changed
substantially since 1983.

¦	EPA has not thoroughly investigated the processes, wastewater characteristics,
discharges, or treatment associated with existing electronic crystal manufacturing.

•	Subpart C - CRT Manufacturing.

¦	EPA's research indicates that CRTs have mostly been replaced by newer technologies
(e.g., LCD, OLED, plasma display) for TV applications (Robertson, 2018). The market for
electron tube manufacturing has decreased significantly since 1983. In addition, several
regulations and other efforts have been established for recycling CRTs, suggesting their
accelerated phase out.

¦	While EPA has identified replacement technologies for CRTs, EPA has not evaluated
current processes, wastewater generation, or treatment technologies.

•	Subpart D - Luminescent Materials Manufacturing.

¦	Luminescent materials consisted of fluorescent lamp phosphors in 1983 (applied, e.g., in
TVs, video game displays, and lamps); however, most of these applications have been
replaced with newer technologies, such as LEDs.

¦	While EPA has identified replacement technologies for luminescent materials, EPA has
not evaluated current processes, wastewater generation, or treatment technologies.

As part of its additional review of the E&EC Category, EPA did not identify any industry-wide concerns
regarding accepting E&EC discharges at POTWs or in discharging E&EC process wastewater to surface
waters. Pollutant issues identified by permit writers were site-specific in nature and did not appear to be
representative of broader issues within the industry. E&EC facilities are known for their willingness to
explore alternative "greener" chemicals when a potential issue is identified. Most pollutants detected in
screening data used for permit development were observed at concentrations that did not pose a threat
to cause interference or upset at the POTW or were at concentrations lower than local water quality
standards. Permit violations documented among indirect and direct E&EC dischargers were rare, isolated

42


-------
exceedances that did not represent consistent issues at the facility or across the industry. The industry
continues to rapidly change as new technologies are developed and new chemicals used in E&EC process.
A few facilities are beginning to track and monitor potential emerging pollutants (e.g., PFAS and gallium),
to the extent that they are able, but to date have not identified any new industry-wide potential
parameters of concern for E&EC dischargers.

4.6 References

1.	ATSDR. 2021. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Toxic Substances
and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for Perfluoroalkyls. (May 2021). DOI:
10.15620/cdc:59198. Available online at https://www.atsdr.cdc.Rov/toxprofiles/tp200.pdf.
EPA-HQ-OW-2021-0547. DCN EEC0601.

2.	Betoulle, S., Etienne, J.C., and Vernet, G.. 2002. Acute immunotoxicity of gallium to carp
(Cyprinus carpio L.) Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, v. 68, no. 6, p.
817-823. Available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00128-002-0Q28-3. EPA-HQ-OW-
2021-0547. DCN EEC0602.

3.	Birge, W.J., Black, J.A., Westerman, A.G., and Hudson, J.E. 1980. Aquatic toxicity tests on
inorganic elements occurring in oil shale, in Gale, Charles, ed., Oil shale symposium-
Sampling analysis and quality assurance, March 1979, Proceedings: Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, EPA-600/9-80-022, p. 519-534. Available online at
http://babel.hathitrust.orR/cRi/pt?id=coo.31924004323303;view=lup;seq=531. EPA-HQ-
OW-2021-0547. DCN EEC0603.

4.	Cree. 2019. Durham County Perfluorinated Chemicals (PFCs) Certification. (9 July). EPA-HQ-
OW-2021-0547. DCN EEC0550.

5.	Cobelo-Garcia, A.; Filella, M.; Croot, P.; Frazzoli, C.; Du Laing, G.; Ospina-Alvarez, N.; Rauch,
S.; Salaun, P.; Schafer, J. 2015. COST action TD1407: network on technology-critical elements
(NOTICE)—from environmental processes to human health threats. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res.
22 (19): 15188-15194. EPA-HQ-OW-2021-0547. DCN EEC0604.

6.	ERG. 2016. Eastern Research Group, Inc. Notes from Meeting with the Semiconductor
Industry Association (SIA). Chantilly, VA. (July). EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0665-0333.

7.	ERG. 2019. Review of the Use, Treatment, and Discharge of PFAS by the Semiconductor
Industry for the Electrical and Electronic Components (E&EC) Category Detailed Study. (15
April). EPA-HQ-OW-2021-0547. DCN EEC0606.

8.	ERG. 2020a. Eastern Research Group, Inc. Clean Water Services (CWS) Call Notes. (25
Feburary). EPA-HQ-OW-2021-0547. DCN EEC0408.

9.	ERG. 2020b. Eastern Research Group, Inc. City of Dallas, TX Call Notes. (26 Feburary). EPA-
HQ-OW-2021-0547. DCN EEC0409.

10.	ERG. 2020c. Eastern Research Group, Inc. Durham County, NC Call Notes. (25 March). EPA-
HQ-OW-2021-0547. DCN EEC0472.

11.	ERG. 2020d. Eastern Research Group, Inc. State of Virginia Call Notes. (30 April). EPA-HQ-
OW-2021-0547. DCN EEC0491.

12.	ERG. 2020e. Eastern Research Group, Inc. Upper Occoquan Service Authority (UOSA), VA
Call Notes. (16 November). EPA-HQ-OW-2021-0547. DCN EEC0529.

13.	Foley, N.K., Jaskula, B.W., Kimball, B.E., and Schulte, R.F., 2017, Gallium, chap. H of Schulz,
K.J., DeYoung, J.H., Jr., Seal, R.R., II, and Bradley, D.C., eds., Critical mineral resources of the
United States—Economic and environmental geology and prospects for future supply: U.S.
Geological Survey Professional Paper 1802, p. HI- H35. Available online at
https://doi.org/10.3133/ppl802H. EPA-HQ-OW-2021-0547. DCN EEC0607.

43


-------
14.	Robertson, A. 2018. The Last Scan: Inside the desperate fight to keep old TVs alive. The
Verge. Available online at https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/6/16973914/tvs-crt-
restoration-led-gaming-vintage. EPA-HQ-OW-2021-0547. DCN 11129.

15.	Rydberg, K. 2021. Albany County Sewer District Wastewater Discharge Permit No. 7 Gallium
Discharge. Received by Craig Hurteau. (23 March). EPA-HQ-OW-2021-0547. DCN EEC0582.

16.	Shanks, W.C.P., III, Kimball, B.E., Tolcin, A.C., and Guberman, D.E. 2017. Germanium and
indium, chap. I of Schulz, K.J., DeYoung, J.H., Jr., Seal, R.R., II, and Bradley, D.C., eds., Critical
mineral resources of the United States—Economic and environmental geology and prospects
for future supply: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1802, p. II- 127,
https://doi.org/10.3133/ppl802l. EPA-HQ-OW-2021-0547. DCN EEC0610.

17.	Semiconductor Industry Association. 2016. SIA Overview and Responses to EPA Water
Office. (7 July). EPA-HQ-OW-2021-0547. DCN EEC0012.

18.	Tang, C.Y., et al. 2006. Use of Reverse Osmosis Membranes to Remove Perfluorooctane
Sulfonate (PFOS) from Semiconductor Wastewater. Environmental Science & Technology.
EEC0612.

19.	U.S. EPA. 1983. Development Documents for Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards
for the Electrical and Electronic Components Point Source Category Phase I. (March). EPA-
HQ-0W-2021-0547. DCN EEC0597.

20.	U.S. EPA. 1984. Development Documents for Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards
for the Electrical and Electronic Components Point Source Category Phase II. (Feburary). EPA-
HQ-0W-2021-0547. DCN EEC0598.

21.	U.S. EPA. 2004. Local Limits Development Guidance. (July). EPA-HQ-OW-2021-0547. DCN
EEC0600.

22.	U.S. EPA. 2008. Municipal Nutrient Removal Technologies Reference Document.
(September). EPA-HQ-OW-2021-0547. DCN EEC0614.

23.	U.S. EPA. 2016. Summary Notes from EPA's Meeting with the National Association of Clean
Water Agencies (NACWA). (December). EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0665-0355.

24.	Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation. 2021a. Final Discharge Permit for
GLOBALFOUNDRIES Essex Junction NPDES No. VT0000400. (24 June). EPA-HQ-
OW-2021-0547. DCN EEC0591.

25.	Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation. 2021b. Fact Sheet for Final Permit for
GLOBALFOUN DRIES Essex Junction NPDES No. VT0000400. (June). EPA-HQ-OW-2021-0547.
DCN EEC0592.

26.	World Semiconductor Council. 2017. Joint Statement of the 21st Meeting of World
Semiconductor Council. (18 May). EPA-HQ-OW-2021-0547. DCN EEC0618.

27.	World Semiconductor Council. 2018. Semiconductor Industry Statement to the UN
Stockholm Convention POP-Review Committee on Phase-Out of PFOS. (15 February). EPA-
H Q-0 W-2021-0547. DCN EEC0611.

28.	World Semiconductor Council and Semiconductor Industry Associations. 2019. Comments of
the Associations of the World Semiconductor Council (WSC) on the Consultation Document
on Proposed Amendments to the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 212
from PFOS, PFOA, LC-PFCAs, PBDEs, DP and DBDPE (18 February). EPA-HQ-OW-2021-0547.
DCN EEC0619.

44


-------
Attachment A: Summary of E&EC Permitting Information


-------
Table A-l and Table A-2 summarize permit information for E&EC indirect discharge facilities that are
permitted either solely under the ELGs at 40 CFR 469 and under 40 CFR 469 and a combination of 40 CFR
433 and 40 CFR 471, respectively. For each parameter, the tables provide counts of facilities whose
permits list each parameter (either for limitations or for monitoring only) as well as the basis of any
limitations. For permits that include local limits, the tables list the minimum, maximum, and mean
concentrations of those local limits. Note that the local limits include a variety of durations and
frequencies including but not limited to daily maximum, monthly average, and instantaneous maximum
limits. Parameters highlighted in yellow are pollutants regulated at 40 CFR 469; for Table A-l these
include pollutants regulated at Subparts A, B, and D, and for Table A-2 these include pollutants regulated
at Subparts A and B. Parameters highlighted in orange in Table A-2 are pollutants regulated at 40 CFR
433.

A-l


-------
Table A-l. Permit Information for E&EC Indirect Discharge Facilities Permitted Solely Under 40 CFR 469





Count of Facilities with Permit Limits

Local Limits

Parameter

Count of Facilities
with Parameter
(N 92 permits)

40 CFR 469
ELG Limits

Local
Limits

Local Limits More Stringent
than ELG Limits

Minimum

Maximum

Mean

Units

1,2-Dichloroethane

2

N/A

2

N/A

0.5

0.5

0.5

mg/l

1,4-Dioxane

5

N/A

5

N/A

1

1

1

mg/l

2,4-Dinitrotoluene

2

N/A

2

N/A

0.13

0.13

0.13

mg/l

Acrylonitrile

2

N/A

2

N/A

1

1

1

mg/l

Aldrin

7

N/A

7

N/A

0.01

0.01

0.01

mg/l

Alkalinity

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Aluminum

1

N/A

1

N/A

9.4

9.4

9.4

mg/l

Ammonia

19

N/A

16

N/A

40

662

348

mg/l

Antimony, Total

17

2

15

0

5

5

5

mg/l

Arsenic, Total

74

7

71

6

0.047

15

1.21

mg/l

Barium, Total

2

N/A

2

N/A

5

5

5

mg/l

Beryllium

18

N/A

18

N/A

0.01

1

0.737

mg/l

BOD5

13

N/A

10

N/A

240

1,880

1,144

mg/l

Boron, Total

5

N/A

5

N/A

1

20

5.6

mg/l

Bromide

1

N/A

1

N/A

0.1

0.1

0.1

mg/l

BTEX

1

N/A

1

N/A

2.6

2.6

2.6

mg/l

Cadmium, Total

71

2

71

1

0.01

15

1.8

mg/l

A-2


-------
Table A-l. Permit Information for E&EC Indirect Discharge Facilities Permitted Solely Under 40 CFR 469





Count of Facilities with Permit Limits

Local Limits

Parameter

Count of Facilities
with Parameter
(N 92 permits)

40 CFR 469
ELG Limits

Local
Limits

Local Limits More Stringent
than ELG Limits

Minimum

Maximum

Mean

Units

Chlordane

9

N/A

9

N/A

0.01

0.03

0.0144

mg/l

Chloride

12

N/A

6

N/A

175

880

404

mg/l

Chlorinated Phenolics

1

N/A

1

N/A

0.189

0.189

0.189

mg/L

Chlorine Demand

2

N/A

2

N/A

50

50

50

mg/l

Chlorobenzene

2

N/A

2

N/A

0.2

0.2

0.2

mg/l

Chloroform

2

N/A

2

N/A

0.2

0.2

0.2

mg/l

Chromium, Hexavalent

1

N/A

1

N/A

10

10

10

mg/l

Chromium, Total

71

N/A

71

N/A

0.5

25

5.77

mg/l

Chronic pH Excursions

2

N/A

2

N/A

0

60

30

minutes

COD

11

N/A

3

N/A

420

3,000

1,604

mg/l

Copper, Total

73

N/A

73

N/A

0.13

17

3.59

mg/l

Cyanide, Total

71

N/A

71

N/A

0.01

10

2.37

mg/l

Dieldrin

7

N/A

7

N/A

0.01

0.01

0.01

mg/l

Electrical Conductivity

1

N/A

1

N/A

712

712

712

umhos/cm

Endosulfan

1

N/A

1

N/A

0.0013

0.0013

0.0013

mg/l

Endrin

8

N/A

8

N/A

0.0006

0.01

0.00883

mg/l

Fixed Dissolved Solids

1

N/A

1

N/A

4,270

4,270

4,270

mg/l

A-3


-------
Table A-l. Permit Information for E&EC Indirect Discharge Facilities Permitted Solely Under 40 CFR 469





Count of Facilities with Permit Limits

Local Limits

Parameter

Count of Facilities
with Parameter
(N 92 permits)

40 CFR 469
ELG Limits

Local
Limits

Local Limits More Stringent
than ELG Limits

Minimum

Maximum

Mean

Units

Flash Cup

2

N/A

2

N/A

60

60

60

°C

Flash Point

7

N/A

7

N/A

60

60

60

°C

Flow

32

N/A

24

N/A

0.329

4,824,000

403,236

GPD

Fluoride, Total

26

2

23

0

3

180

39.2

mg/l

Formaldehyde

7

N/A

7

N/A

50

50

50

mg/l

Hexachlorocyclohexane

8

N/A

8

N/A

0.0007

0.01

0.00884

mg/l

Iron, Total

4

N/A

4

N/A

5

250

69.5

mg/l

Lead, Total

70

N/A

70

N/A

0.04

40

4.6

mg/l

Manganese, Total

8

N/A

8

N/A

0.5

6.1

4.08

mg/l

Mercury, Total

75

N/A

75

N/A

0.000142

142

1.88

mg/l

Molybdenum, Total

23

N/A

17

N/A

0.15

2.3

1.54

mg/l

Nickel, Total

72

N/A

72

N/A

0.31

22

4.04

mg/l

Nitrate

1

N/A

1

N/A

No concentration-based limits

Nitrobenzene

2

N/A

2

N/A

2

2

2

mg/l

Oil and Grease

64

N/A

64

N/A

50

600

160

mg/l

Organophosphate

2

N/A

2

N/A

1

1

1

mg/l

PCBs

14

N/A

14

N/A

0.01

0.222

0.0212

mg/l

A-4


-------
Table A-l. Permit Information for E&EC Indirect Discharge Facilities Permitted Solely Under 40 CFR 469





Count of Facilities with Permit Limits

Local Limits

Parameter

Count of Facilities
with Parameter
(N 92 permits)

40 CFR 469
ELG Limits

Local
Limits

Local Limits More Stringent
than ELG Limits

Minimum

Maximum

Mean

Units

Pentachlorophenol

2

N/A

2

N/A

0.04

0.04

0.04

mg/l

Pesticides

6

N/A

6

N/A

0.01

0.01

0.01

mg/l

PH

90

N/A

90

N/A

5

12.5

NC

SU

Phenolics

8

N/A

8

N/A

5

30

8.13

mg/l

Phenols

19

N/A

19

N/A

1

500

50.8

mg/l

Phosphorus, Total

2

N/A

2

N/A

9

9

9

mg/l

Priority Pollutants

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Selenium, Total

44

N/A

43

N/A

0.006

9.37

1.68

mg/l

Silver, Total

64

N/A

64

N/A

0.04

15

3.22

mg/l

Sodium

1

N/A

1

N/A

140

140

140

mg/l

Sulfate

6

N/A

6

N/A

400

3,660

1,365

mg/l

Sulfides

18

N/A

17

N/A

0.1

10

2.38

mg/l

TDS

14

N/A

6

N/A

1,000

4,270

1,809

mg/l

Temperature

20

N/A

20

N/A

40

66

61.1

°C

Total Detectable DDT

7

N/A

7

N/A

0.01

0.01

0.01

mg/l

Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen

2

N/A

2

N/A

75

75

75

mg/l

A-5


-------
Table A-l. Permit Information for E&EC Indirect Discharge Facilities Permitted Solely Under 40 CFR 469





Count of Facilities with Permit Limits

Local Limits

Parameter

Count of Facilities
with Parameter
(N 92 permits)

40 CFR 469
ELG Limits

Local
Limits

Local Limits More Stringent
than ELG Limits

Minimum

Maximum

Mean

Units

Total Petroleum
Hydrocarbon

1

N/A

1

N/A

100

100

100

mg/l

Toxaphene

7

N/A

7

N/A

0.01

0.01

0.01

mg/l

Trichloroethylene

2

N/A

2

N/A

0.2

0.2

0.2

mg/l

TSS

23

N/A

13

N/A

175

2,031

959

mg/l

TTO

90

88

23

5

0.5

2.13

1.65

mg/l

Zinc, Total

73

2

72

0

0.16

25

6.23

mg/l

N/A - Not Applicable
NC - Not Calculated

A-6


-------
Table A-2. Permit Information for E&EC Indirect Discharge Facilities Permitted Under Both 40 CFR 469 and 40 CFR 433

Parameter

Count of
Facilities with
Parameter
(N 19
permits)

Count of Facilities with Permit Limits

Local Limits More
40 CFR 469 Local Stringent than ELG
ELG Limits Limits Limits

Minimum

Local Limits
Maximum Mean

Units

1,2,4-Triazole

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Aldrin

2

N/A

2

N/A

0

0.01

0.005

mg/l

Ammonia

5

N/A

4

N/A

25

150

66.3

mg/l

Antimony, Total

3

N/A

3

N/A

5

5

5

mg/l

Arsenic, Total

13

2

13

3

0.06

3

1.01

mg/l

Benzene

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Beryllium

3

N/A

3

N/A

0.75

0.75

0.75

mg/l

BOD5

3

N/A

2

N/A

230

240

235

mg/l

Bromine, Iodine, Chlorine

1

N/A

1

N/A

100

100

100

mg/l

Cadmium, Total

19

N/A

13

N/A

0.14

15

2.7

mg/l

Cerium, Total

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Chlordane

2

N/A

2

N/A

0

0.01

0.005

mg/l

Chloride

2

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Choline Hydroxide

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Chromium, Total

19

N/A

12

N/A

0.62

10

3.12

mg/l

Cobalt, Total

1

N/A

1

N/A

0.012

0.02

0.016

mg/l

COD

3

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Copper, Total

19

N/A

12

N/A

0.208

15

4.09

mg/l

Cyanate

1

N/A

1

N/A

10

10

10

mg/l

Cyanide, Total

19

N/A

12

N/A

0.04

10

2.09

mg/l

Dieldrin

2

N/A

2

N/A

0

0.01

0.005

mg/l

Endrin

2

N/A

2

N/A

0

0.01

0.005

mg/l

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic
acid

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

A-7


-------
Table A-2. Permit Information for E&EC Indirect Discharge Facilities Permitted Under Both 40 CFR 469 and 40 CFR 433

Parameter

Count of
Facilities with
Parameter
(N 19
permits)

Count of Facilities with Permit Limits

Local Limits More
40 CFR 469 Local Stringent than ELG
ELG Limits Limits Limits

Minimum

Local Limits
Maximum Mean

Units

Flash Point

3

N/A

3

N/A

60

60

60

°C

Flow

6

N/A

4

N/A

2,230

8,100,000

2,945,664

GPD

Fluoride, Total

5

N/A

4

N/A

10

48

29

mg/l

Formaldehyde

1

N/A

1

N/A

50

50

50

mg/l

Gallium

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Hafnium

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Hexachlorocyclohexane

2

N/A

2

N/A

0

0.01

0.005

mg/l

Hydrogen Peroxide

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Langelier Saturation Index

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Lead, Total

19

N/A

14

N/A

0.039

40

6.2

mg/l

Mercuric Chloride

1

N/A

1

N/A

1

1

1

mg/l

Mercury, Total

13

N/A

13

N/A

0.0002

2

0.328

mg/l

Molybdenum, Total

3

N/A

3

N/A

3.7

6.58

5.62

mg/l

Nickel, Total

18

N/A

12

N/A

0.2

12

3.25

mg/l

Oil and Grease

10

N/A

10

N/A

100

300

154

mg/l

PCBs

2

N/A

2

N/A

0

0.01

0.005

mg/l

PH

15

N/A

15

N/A

5

12.5

NC

SU

Phenolics

2

N/A

2

N/A

5

30

17.5

mg/l

Phenols

2

N/A

2

N/A

30

30

30

mg/l

Phosphorus, Total

2

N/A

1

N/A

4.9

4.9

4.9

mg/l

Ruthenium, Total

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Selenium, Total

9

N/A

9

N/A

0.2

4.48

1.54

mg/l

Silver, Total

19

N/A

12

N/A

0.05

5

1.18

mg/l

Sulfides

3

N/A

3

N/A

0.1

10

3.4

mg/l

A-8


-------
Table A-2. Permit Information for E&EC Indirect Discharge Facilities Permitted Under Both 40 CFR 469 and 40 CFR 433

Parameter

Count of
Facilities with
Parameter
(N 19
permits)

Count of Facilities with Permit Limits

Local Limits More
40 CFR 469 Local Stringent than ELG
ELG Limits Limits Limits

Minimum

Local Limits
Maximum Mean

Units

TDS

3

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Temperature

4

N/A

4

N/A

40

65.6

56.4

°C

Tetrachloroethylene

1

N/A

1

N/A

0.031

0.031

0.031

mg/l

Tin, Total

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Total Detectable DDT

2

N/A

2

N/A

0

0.01

0.005

mg/l

Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Toxaphene

2

N/A

2

N/A

0

0.01

0.005

mg/l

Trichloroethylene

1

N/A

1

N/A

0.026

0.026

0.026

mg/l

Tritium

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

TSS

5

N/A

2

N/A

150

300

225

mg/l

TTO

18

18

2

1

1

2.13

1.57

mg/l

Zinc, Total

19

N/A

12

N/A

2.55

25

6.57

mg/l

Zirconium, Total

1

N/A

1

N/A

10

10

10

mg/l

N/A - Not Applicable
NC - Not Calculated

A-9


-------
Table A-3 and Table A-4 summarize permit information for E&EC direct discharge facilities that are
permitted either solely under the ELGs at 40 CFR 469 and under both 40 CFR 469 and 40 CFR 433,
respectively. For each parameter, the tables provide counts of facilities whose permits list each
parameter (either for limitations or for monitoring only) as well as the basis of any limitations. For permits
that include local limits, the tables list the minimum, maximum, and mean concentrations of those local
limits. Note that the local limits include a variety of durations and frequencies including but not limited to
daily maximum, monthly average, and instantaneous maximum limits. Parameters highlighted in yellow
are pollutants regulated at 40 CFR 469; for Table A-3 these include pollutants regulated at Subparts A and
Band for Table A-4 these include pollutants regulated at Subpart A. Parameters highlighted in orange in
Table A-4 are pollutants regulated at 40 CFR 433.

A-10


-------
Table A-3. Permit Information for E&EC Direct Discharge Facilities Permitted Solely Under 40 CFR 469



Count of

Count of Facilities with Permit Limits

Local Limits

Parameter

Facilities with

Parameter
(N 3 permits)

40 CFR 469
ELG Limits

Local
Limits

Local Limits More
Stringent than ELG Limits

Minimum

Maximum

Mean

Units

Acetone

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Aluminum

1

N/A

1

N/A

1

1

1

mg/l

Ammonia

1

N/A

1

N/A

1.3

2.7

2

mg/l

Arsenic, Total

1

0

1

0

0.1

0.1

0.1

mg/l

BOD5

1

N/A

1

N/A

15

30

22.5

mg/l

Bromine, Total

1

N/A

1

N/A

0.2

0.5

0.35

mg/l

Bromobenzene

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Bromoform

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

CBOD

1

N/A

1

N/A

8

8

8

mg/l

Chlorine, Total Residual

1

N/A

1

N/A

0.1

0.5

0.3

mg/l

Chloroform

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Chromium, Hexavalent

1

N/A

1

N/A

0.013

0.013

0.013

mg/l

Chromium, Total



N/A

2

N/A

0.02

0.5

0.19

mg/l

cis-1,2 Dichloroethylene

1

N/A

1

N/A

0.01

0.01

0.01

mg/l

Cobalt, Total

1

N/A

1

N/A

0.006

0.006

0.006

mg/l

Copper, Total

1

N/A

1

N/A

No concentration-based limits

Cyanide, Total

1

N/A

1

N/A

0.06

0.06

0.06

mg/l

Dichlorobromomethane

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Dichlorodifluoromethane

1

N/A

1

N/A

0.01

0.01

0.01

mg/l

Dissolved Oxygen

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Ethylbenzene

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Fecal Coliform

1

N/A

1

N/A

200

400

300

MP N/100 ml

Flow

2

N/A

2

N/A

520,000

6,000,000

2,406,667

GPD

Fluoride, Total

3

2

2

1

7.3

7.3

7.3

mg/l

Free Available Chlorine

1

N/A

1

N/A

0.2

0.5

0.35

mg/l

A-ll


-------
Table A-3. Permit Information for E&EC Direct Discharge Facilities Permitted Solely Under 40 CFR 469

Parameter

Count of
Facilities with

Parameter
(N 3 permits)

Count of Facilities with Permit Limits

Local Limits

40 CFR 469
ELG Limits

Local
Limits

Local Limits More
Stringent than ELG Limits

Minimum

Maximum

Mean

Units

Germanium, Total

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Hafnium

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Iron, Total

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Lead, Total

1

N/A

1

N/A

0.08

0.08

0.08

mg/l

Methyl Tert Butyl Ether

1

N/A

1

N/A

0.01

0.01

0.01

mg/l

Molybdenum, Total

1

N/A

1

N/A

3.75

3.75

3.75

mg/l

Nickel, Total

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone

1

N/A

1

N/A

0.02

0.02

0.02

mg/l

Palladium, Total

1

N/A

1

N/A

0.1

0.1

0.1

mg/l

PH



2

1

1

6.5

8.5

NC

SU

Phosphate, Total

1

N/A

1

N/A

10

15

12.5

mg/l

Rhenium, Total

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Ruthenium, Total

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Silver, Total

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Solids, Settleable

1

N/A

1

N/A

0.1

0.1

0.1

mg/l

Tantalum, Total

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

TDS

1

N/A

1

N/A

1,628

4,884

3,318

mg/l

Tetrachloroethylene

1

N/A

1

N/A

0.0012

0.0012

0.0012

mg/l

Tin, Total

1

N/A

1

N/A

2

2

2

mg/l

Titanium, Total

1

N/A

1

N/A

0.53

0.53

0.53

mg/l

Toluene

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Trichloroethylene

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

TSS

2

1

2

0

25

40

32.5

mg/l

TTO

2

2

1

0

2.74

2.74

2.74

mg/l

Tungsten, Total

1

N/A

1

N/A

3.75

3.75

3.75

mg/l

A-12


-------
Table A-3. Permit Information for E&EC Direct Discharge Facilities Permitted Solely Under 40 CFR 469



Count of

Count of Facilities with Permit Limits

Local Limits



Facilities with

















Parameter

40 CFR 469

Local

Local Limits More









Parameter

(N 3 permits)

ELG Limits

Limits

Stringent than ELG Limits

Minimum

Maximum

Mean

Units

Vinyl chloride

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Xylene

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Zinc, Total

1

N/A

1

N/A

0.36

0.36

0.36

mg/l

N/A - Not Applicable
NC - Not Calculated

A-13


-------
Table A-4. Permit Information for E&EC Direct Discharge Facilities Permitted Under Both 40 CFR 469 and 40 CFR 433

Count of Facilities

Count of Facilities with Permit Limits

Local Limits

Parameter

with Parameter
(N 1 permit)

40 CFR 469
ELG Limits

Local
Limits

Local Limits More
Stringent than ELG Limits

Minimum

Maximum

Mean

Units

Ammonia

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

BOD5

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Cadmium, Total

1

N/A

1

N/A

No concentration-based limits

Chromium, Trivalent

1

N/A

1

N/A

No concentration-based limits

Copper, Total

1

N/A

1

N/A

No concentration-based limits

Cyanide, Free

1

N/A

1

N/A

0.65

1.2

0.925

mg/l

Dichloroethene

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

E. Coli

1

N/A

1

N/A

77

77

77

#/100 ml

Ethyl Benzene

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Flow

1

N/A

1

N/A

8,000,000

8,000,000

8,000,000

GPD

Fluoride, Total

1

1

1

1

28

28

28

mg/l

Hydrogen Peroxide

1

N/A

1

N/A

10

15

12.5

mg/l

Iron, Total

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Lead, Total

1

N/A

1

N/A

No concentration-based limits

Nickel, Total

1

N/A

1

N/A

No concentration-based limits

Nitrite plus Nitrate

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Nitrogen, Total

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Oil and Grease

1

N/A

1

N/A

No concentration-based limits

PFHpA

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

PFHxS

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

PFNA

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

PFOA

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

PFOS

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

PH

1

0

1

1

6.5

8.5

NC

SU

Phosphorus, Total

1

N/A

1

N/A

0.8

0.8

0.8

mg/l

A-14


-------
Table A-4. Permit Information for E&EC Direct Discharge Facilities Permitted Under Both 40 CFR 469 and 40 CFR 433



Count of Facilities

Count of Facilities with Permit Limits

Local Limits

















with Parameter

40 CFR 469

Local

Local Limits More





Parameter

(N 1 permit)

ELG Limits

Limits

Stringent than ELG Limits

Minimum Maximum Mean

Units

Silver, Total

1

N/A

1

N/A

No concentration-based limits

Tetrachloroethylene

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Trichloroethylene

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

TSS

1

N/A

1

N/A

10.5

10.5

10.5

mg/l

TTO

1

1

0

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Ultimate Oxygen Demand

1

N/A

1

N/A

No concentration-based limits

Vinyl Chloride

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Whole Effluent Toxicity

1

N/A

1

N/A

7

7

7

%

Xylene

1

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Zinc, Total

1

N/A

1

N/A

No concentration-based limits

N/A - Not Applicable
NC - Not Calculated

A-15


-------
Attachment B: Summary of E&EC Wastewater Discharge Characterization


-------
Table B-l and Table B-2 provide summary statistics for all pollutants detected in wastewater discharges
from E&EC indirect and direct discharge facilities. The tables include counts of facilities, counts of results,
and statistics for detected concentrations (minimum, maximum, mean, and median concentrations).
Detected concentrations are rounded to no more than 3 significant digits. The tables also present toxic
weighting factors for pollutants where available. Toxic weighting factors are derived from chronic aquatic
life criteria and human health criteria established for the consumption offish; they are used to compare
the toxicity of one pollutant relative to another and are normalized based on the toxicity of copper (ERG,
2007). All columns are queried from the E&EC wastewater characterization Access database except for
median concentration which was calculated in Excel.

B-l


-------
Table B-l. Summary Statistics for Pollutants Detected in Wastewater Discharges from E&EC Indirect Discharge Facilities

Pollutant

Units

Number
of

Facilities
Measuring

Number ol
Facilities

with
Detects



Number

of
Results

Number

of
Detects

Toxic
Weighting
Factora

Minimum
Detected
Concentration

Maximum
Detected
Concentration

Mean Detected
Concentration

Median
Detected
Concentration

Total Toxic Organics

mg/L

57

27

836

182

N/A

0.00092

0.957

0.0752

0.01675

Classical Wet Chemistry

Acidity, Total

mg/L

1

1

40

36

N/A

16

56

35.4

38

Alkalinity

mg/L

2

2

93

93

N/A

56

240

134

130

Ammonia

mg/L

30

30

618

607

0.00111

0.05

1,300

87.9

36.1

BOD5

mg/L

28

25

750

690

N/A

0.3

4,178

86.6

46.85

Calcium hardness

mg/L

1

1

5

5

N/A

696

828

768

784

Carbon dioxide, free

mg/L

1

1

40

39

N/A

0.6

2.78

1.20

1.1

CBOD

mg/L

1

1

4

3

N/A

14

18

16.3

17

COD

mg/L

16

16

191

178

N/A

7

923

158

144.5

Conductivity

umhos/cm

6

6

694

694

N/A

9.05

5,850

2,731

3,264.5

Cyanide, Total

mg/L

51

22

933

111

1.11

0.0014

4.2

0.0756

0.025

Dissolved oxygen

mg/L

1

1

40

40

N/A

12.21

39.4

23.4

24.49

Fixed dissolved solids

mg/L

1

1

9

9

N/A

230

3,540

2,060

2,064

Hydrogen peroxide

mg/L

1

1

79

79

N/A

3.8

780

488

500

Nitrogen, Total

mg/L

3

3

12

12

N/A

9.14

25.3

16.6

17.4

Oil & Grease

mg/L

24

12

291

161

N/A

0.2

2,701.7

29.7

4.8

Oil & Grease, non-polar

mg/L

1

1

9

3

N/A

1.05

7.4

4.15

4

Oil & Grease, polar

mg/L

1

1

9

5

N/A

1.2

10.6

3.53

2.1

Phosphorus, Total

mg/L

18

17

142

139

N/A

0.102

202

6.35

1.72

B-2


-------
Table B-l. Summary Statistics for Pollutants Detected in Wastewater Discharges from E&EC Indirect Discharge Facilities

Pollutant

Units

Number
of

Facilities
Measuring

Number ol
Facilities

with
Detects



Number

of
Results

Number

of
Detects

Toxic
Weighting
Factora

Minimum
Detected
Concentration

Maximum
Detected
Concentration

Mean Detected
Concentration

Median
Detected
Concentration

Total dissolved solids

mg/L

28

27

393

392

N/A

58

13,800

872

566

Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen

mg/L

8

8

133

131

N/A

0.28

274

76.8

58.5

Total petroleum
hydrocarbons

mg/L

3

2

20

4

0.1

1.8

3.6

2.92

3.145

Total suspended solids

mg/L

46

42

936

808

N/A

0.4

7,760

71.2

23

Anions

Bromide

mg/L

2

2

430

428

N/A

0.01

24

0.107

0.05

Chloride

mg/L

28

27

419

418

0.0000243

1

7,090

222

138

Fluoride, Total (excluding
Skorpios continuous
monitoring data)

mg/L

36

27

907

783

0.03

0.00054

114

9.02

6.8

Fluoride, Total (Skorpios
continuous monitoring
data)

mg/L

1

1

96,160

96,160

0.03

0.92

100

14.4

17.92

Nitrates

mg/L

6

6

40

40

0.000747

0.16

12.3

4.56

4.28

Nitrates/Nitrites

mg/L

9

9

52

51

N/A

0.5

12.44

4.38

4.37

Nitrites

mg/L

6

6

40

38

0.0032

0.026

4.19

0.455

0.265

Sulfates

mg/L

11

11

169

169

0.0000056

5.9

3,470

698

599

Sulfides

mg/L

11

4

144

21

N/A

0.027

0.92

0.237

0.19

Metals

Aluminum, Total

mg/L

10

9

26

20

0.06

0.0215

0.434

0.119

0.0755

Antimony, Total

mg/L

18

7

161

17

0.01

0.0000951

0.129

0.0186

0.009

Arsenic, Total

mg/L

53

35

1,159

482

3.47

0.000063

6.16

0.192

0.062

B-3


-------
Table B-l. Summary Statistics for Pollutants Detected in Wastewater Discharges from E&EC Indirect Discharge Facilities

Pollutant

Units

Number
of

Facilities
Measuring

Number ol
Facilities

with
Detects



Number

of
Results

Number

of
Detects

Toxic
Weighting
Factora

Minimum
Detected
Concentration

Maximum
Detected
Concentration

Mean Detected
Concentration

Median
Detected
Concentration

Barium, Total

mg/L

11

10

26

25

0.00199

0.000723

0.039

0.0131

0.0127

Beryllium, Total

mg/L

14

3

35

3

1.05

0.000000025

0.00072

0.000297

0.00017

Bismuth, Total

mg/L

1

1

14

13

N/A

0.03

0.308

0.0967

0.066

Boron, Total

mg/L

8

7

228

218

0.00834

0.047

5

0.311

0.27

Cadmium, Total

mg/L

64

17

1,072

157

22.8

0.0000116

0.1928

0.00522

0.002

Calcium, Total

mg/L

3

3

42

42

0.000028

1.49

481

274

279

Cerium, Total

mg/L

1

1

40

38

N/A

0.051

0.846

0.232

0.1465

Chromium, Total

mg/L

68

42

1,211

280

0.07

0.0000133

0.82

0.0192

0.005

Cobalt, Total

mg/L

10

6

62

9

0.11

0.0000218

0.0139

0.00253

0.000625

Copper, Total

mg/L

67

57

1,309

996

0.623

0.00015

5.64

0.213

0.05

Gallium, Total

mg/L

1

1

3

2

0.13

0.025

0.269

0.147

0.147

Iron, Total

mg/L

7

7

33

16

0.0056

0.00684

1.91

0.208

0.0671

Lead, Total

mg/L

66

33

1,062

199

2.24

0.00002

0.44

0.0200

0.005

Magnesium, Total

mg/L

2

2

2

2

0.000866

0.895

1.16

1.03

1.0275

Manganese, Total

mg/L

9

8

22

21

0.103

0.000599

0.0337

0.0103

0.00431

Mercury, Total

mg/L

45

24

592

111

110

0.000001

0.02

0.000953

0.00007

Molybdenum, Total

mg/L

36

25

169

76

0.2

0.00014

3.74

0.0921

0.00793

Nickel, Total

mg/L

69

48

1,170

753

0.1

0.000154

2.99

0.118

0.01

Potassium, Total

mg/L

4

4

401

401

0.00105

0.754

181

36.7

35.6

Selenium, Total

mg/L

42

19

441

116

1.12

0.00008

0.6

0.0181

0.006

Silver, Total

mg/L

64

24

1,028

211

16.5

0.000026

0.4

0.00771

0.002

B-4


-------
Table B-l. Summary Statistics for Pollutants Detected in Wastewater Discharges from E&EC Indirect Discharge Facilities

Pollutant

Units

Number
of

Facilities
Measuring

Number of
Facilities

with
Detects

Number

of
Results

Number

of
Detects

Toxic
Weighting
Factora

Minimum
Detected
Concentration

Maximum
Detected
Concentration

Mean Detected
Concentration

Median
Detected
Concentration

Sodium, Total

mg/L

4

4

401

401

0.00000549

26.2

207

118

119

Tellurium, Total

mg/L

1

1

14

14

0.04

0.053

0.624

0.234

0.157

Tin, Total

mg/L

9

4

22

4

0.3

0.000187

0.00565

0.00315

0.003385

Titanium, Total

mg/L

3

3

3

3

0.02

0.001

0.00504

0.0025

0.00146

Total metals

mg/L

3

2

22

5

N/A

0.00109

0.03813

0.00911

0.00212

Vanadium, Total

mg/L

4

2

10

2

0.28

0.00337

0.00514

0.00426

0.004255

Zinc, Total

mg/L

67

60

1,284

1,009

0.04

0.000751

22

0.112

0.03

Zirconium, Total

mg/L

2

1

41

2

0.54

0.005

0.006

0.0055

0.0055

Organic Compounds

1,1,2-Trichloroethane

mg/L

33

1

647

1

0.03

0.00274

0.00274

0.00274

0.00274

1,1-Dichloroethane

mg/L

24

2

590

3

0.000514

0.00038

0.0006

0.000457

0.00039

1,1-Dichloroethene

mg/L

32

1

646

2

0.47

0.0004

0.00115

0.000775

0.000775

1,2,4-Triazole

mg/L

1

1

2

2

N/A

1

1.2

1.1

1.1

1,2-Dichlorobenzene

mg/L

35

2

683

3

0.01

0.00104

0.0065

0.00457

0.00618

1,2-Dichloroethane

mg/L

33

2

647

2

0.01

0.00082

0.00199

0.00141

0.001405

1,3-Dichlorobenzene

mg/L

34

2

696

2

0.01

0.00559

0.00582

0.00571

0.005705

1,4-Dichlorobenzene

mg/L

34

1

696

1

0.07

0.00602

0.00602

0.00602

0.00602

2,4-Dimethylphenol

mg/L

21

1

545

2

0.00941

0.044

0.044

0.044

0.044

2-Hexanone

mg/L

12

1

43

1

0.000375

0.00137

0.00137

0.00137

0.00137

2-Nitrophenol

mg/L

31

1

594

1

0.00162

0.00041

0.00041

0.00041

0.00041

B-5


-------
Table B-l. Summary Statistics for Pollutants Detected in Wastewater Discharges from E&EC Indirect Discharge Facilities

Pollutant

Units

Number
of

Facilities
Measuring

Number ol
Facilities

with
Detects



Number

of
Results

Number

of
Detects

Toxic
Weighting
Factora

Minimum
Detected
Concentration

Maximum
Detected
Concentration

Mean Detected
Concentration

Median
Detected
Concentration

4-Bromophenyl phenyl
ether

mg/L

21

1

542

1

0.13

0.0013

0.0013

0.0013

0.0013

624 Volatiles

mg/L

30

5

101

12

N/A

0.0025

12.1

1.12

0.02045

625 Semi Volatiles

mg/L

26

1

83

1

N/A

0.0325

0.0325

0.0325

0.0325

Acetone

mg/L

22

18

101

45

0.00000846

0.0091

37.7

2.71

0.182

Acrolein

mg/L

26

1

582

3

0.98

0.00213

0.0305

0.0133

0.0074

Benzene

mg/L

27

3

717

8

0.03

0.00107

0.00232

0.00149

0.00114

Benzidine

mg/L

22

1

546

1

2818

0.0073

0.0073

0.0073

0.0073

Benzyl butyl phthalate

mg/L

31

3

595

3

0.02

0.0013

0.009204

0.00410

0.0018

Bis(2-chloroisopropyl)
ether

mg/L

21

1

544

1

0.02

0.02797

0.02797

0.0280

0.02797

Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

mg/L

34

18

605

86

0.25

0.000543

0.201

0.0375

0.0093

Bromodichloromethane

mg/L

35

15

651

59

0.03

0.00016

0.0107

0.00233

0.002

Bromoform

mg/L

25

7

590

32

0.00457

0.0004

0.00825

0.00168

0.00145

Bromomethane

mg/L

25

2

591

3

0.05

0.00057

0.00103

0.000737

0.00061

Butanone

mg/L

16

1

83

1

0.0000263

0.00485

0.00485

0.00485

0.00485

Carbon disulfide

mg/L

12

3

39

6

2.8

0.000863

0.00487

0.00313

0.003635

Chlorobenzene

mg/L

26

1

593

1

0.00293

0.00269

0.00269

0.00269

0.00269

Chloroform

mg/L

37

24

658

93

0.00208

0.000207

0.75

0.0116

0.00238

Chloromethane

mg/L

25

3

588

6

0.00536

0.00052

0.00439

0.00225

0.00217

Choline hydroxide

mg/L

1

1

2

1

N/A

0.9

0.9

0.9

0.9

Dibromochloromethane

mg/L

26

7

591

34

0.04

0.00062

0.0184

0.00200

0.00135

B-6


-------
Table B-l. Summary Statistics for Pollutants Detected in Wastewater Discharges from E&EC Indirect Discharge Facilities

Pollutant

Units

Number
of

Facilities
Measuring

Number ol
Facilities

with
Detects



Number

of
Results

Number

of
Detects

Toxic
Weighting
Factora

Minimum
Detected
Concentration

Maximum
Detected
Concentration

Mean Detected
Concentration

Median
Detected
Concentration

Dibutyl phthalate

mg/L

32

6

595

12

0.01

0.000371

0.00797

0.00237

0.0015

Dichloromethane

mg/L

36

8

775

15

0.00101

0.0004

0.176

0.0225

0.00225

Diethyl phthalate

mg/L

24

8

552

17

0.000688

0.000342

0.0132

0.00315

0.0017

Dimethyl phthalate

mg/L

21

2

545

2

0.00329

0.005051

0.0083

0.00668

0.0066755

Dioctyl phthalate

mg/L

22

2

562

2

0.46

0.0019

0.002

0.00195

0.00195

Ethyl benzene

mg/L

33

3

767

4

0.00141

0.00111

0.003

0.00192

0.00179

Isopropyl alcohol

mg/L

3

1

39

3

N/A

2.6

12.1

7.12

6.66

Naphthalene

mg/L

34

2

628

4

0.01

0.0013

0.008606

0.00418

0.0034

N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone

mg/L

2

1

106

87

N/A

0.32

5,000

103

9.4

N-Nitrosodipropylamine

mg/L

19

1

542

1

1.1

0.0086

0.0086

0.0086

0.0086

Pentachlorophenol

mg/L

31

1

593

1

0.55

0.005439

0.005439

0.00544

0.005439

PFOA

mg/L

1

1

1

1

N/A

0.0000229

0.0000229

0.0000229

0.0000229

PFOS

mg/L

1

1

1

1

N/A

0.00001

0.00001

0.00001

0.00001

Phenol

mg/L

41

15

736

53

0.02

0.0000045

2.4

0.128

0.0027

Pyridine

mg/L

4

1

9

1

0.00302

0.00357

0.00357

0.00357

0.00357

Tetrachloroethylene

mg/L

34

2

651

7

0.23

0.00102

0.02376

0.00665

0.00196

Toluene

mg/L

36

5

772

9

0.00563

0.00065

0.01023

0.00358

0.00208

Toxaphene

mg/L

12

1

101

1

30017

0.000002

0.000002

0.000002

0.000002

Trichloroethylene

mg/L

34

4

633

14

0.01

0.00044

0.21

0.0174

0.0017

Vinyl chloride

mg/L

25

1

591

2

0.22

0.00076

0.00289

0.00183

0.001825

Xylenes, Total

mg/L

18

1

194

1

0.00432

0.02

0.02

0.02

0.02

B-7


-------
Table B-l. Summary Statistics for Pollutants Detected in Wastewater Discharges from E&EC Indirect Discharge Facilities

Pollutant

Units

Number
of

Facilities
Measuring

Number of
Facilities

with
Detects

Number

of
Results

Number

of
Detects

Toxic
Weighting
Factora

Minimum
Detected
Concentration

Maximum
Detected
Concentration

Mean Detected
Concentration

Median
Detected
Concentration

PH

PH

SU

86

86

4,449

4,449

N/A

2

13

7.65

7.46

a Toxic weighting factors are derived from chronic aquatic life criteria and human health criteria established for the consumption offish; they are used to compare the toxicity
of one pollutant relative to another and are normalized based on the the toxicity of copper (ERG, 2007).

N/A- Not Available


-------
Table B-2. Summary Statistics for Pollutants Detected in Wastewater Discharges from E&EC Direct Discharge Facilities

Pollutant

Units

Number of
Facilities
Measuring

Number of
Facilities

with
Detects

Number of
Results

Number of
Detects

Toxic
Weighting
Factora

Minimum
Detected
Concentration

Maximum
Detected
Concentration

Mean Detected
Concentration

Median
Detected
Concentration

Total Toxic Organics

mg/L

2

2

60

54

N/A

0.00013

0.02

0.00657

0.00378

Classical Wet Chemistry

Ammonia

mg/L

2

2

180

105

0.00111

0.01

13

4.78

5.3

BOD5

mg/L

2

2

135

132

N/A

2

8.9

5.18

5.3

Cyanide, Total

mg/L

2

2

73

29

1.11

0.004

0.16

0.0190

0.01

Dissolved oxygen

mg/L

1

1

135

135

N/A

6

8.9

7.11

7.1

Hydrogen peroxide

mg/L

1

1

90

90

N/A

0.15

3.41

0.677

0.5

Oil & Grease

mg/L

1

1

30

30

N/A

2

3

2.09

2

Phosphorus, Total

mg/L

1

1

45

45

N/A

0.077

0.248

0.148

0.141

Total dissolved
solids

mg/L

1

1

90

90

N/A

833

1,430

1,116

1,108

Total residual
chlorine

mg/L

1

1

45

1

0.5

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

Total suspended
solids

mg/L

3

3

224

224

N/A

1.08

61

7.29

5.15

Anions

Fluoride, Total

mg/L

4

4

227

227

0.03

0.17

19

9.74

10

Phosphates

mg/L

1

1

30

30

N/A

0.01

0.12

0.0488

0.04

Metals

Aluminum, Total

mg/L

1

1

45

39

0.06

0.1

0.9

0.179

0.1

Cadmium, Total

mg/L

1

1

28

28

22.8

0.0002

0.056

0.00521

0.002

B-9


-------
Table B-2. Summary Statistics for Pollutants Detected in Wastewater Discharges from E&EC Direct Discharge Facilities

Pollutant

Units

Number of
Facilities
Measuring

Number of
Facilities

with
Detects

Number of
Results

Number of
Detects

Toxic
Weighting
Factora

Minimum
Detected
Concentration

Maximum
Detected
Concentration

Mean Detected
Concentration

Median
Detected
Concentration

Chromium,
Hexavalent, Total

mg/L

1

1

46

3

0.51

0.011

0.014

0.013

0.014

Chromium, Total

mg/L

3

2

165

120

0.07

0.00011

0.56

0.0126

0.00107

Cobalt, Total

mg/L

1

1

45

1

0.11

0.006

0.006

0.006

0.006

Copper, Total

mg/L

2

2

105

102

0.623

0.013

0.092

0.0284

0.0255

Iron, Total

mg/L

2

2

105

94

0.0056

0.044

0.345

0.114

0.104

Lead, Total

mg/L

2

2

135

91

2.24

0.001

0.05

0.00155

0.001

Molybdenum, Total

mg/L

1

1

45

10

0.2

0.03

0.07

0.039

0.03

Nickel, Total

mg/L

2

1

105

90

0.1

0.008

0.186

0.0274

0.0215

Ruthenium, Total

mg/L

1

1

15

1

N/A

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

Silver, Total

mg/L

2

1

45

30

16.5

0.01

0.02

0.0147

0.01

Tungsten, Total

mg/L

1

1

45

26

0.00525

0.11

0.21

0.145

0.135

Zinc, Total

mg/L

2

2

150

106

0.04

0.008

0.05

0.0181

0.02

Organic Compounds

Acetone

mg/L

1

1

15

2

0.00000846

0.006

0.007

0.0065

0.0065

Bromodichlorometh

mg/L

1

1

15

10

0.03

0.001

0.003

0.00163

0.00165

ane





















Bromoform

mg/L

1

1

15

15

0.00457

0.005

0.022

0.0119

0.01

Chloroform

mg/L

1

1

15

10

0.00208

0.001

0.002

0.00141

0.00105

Dichlorodifluoromet
hane

mg/L

1

1

45

1

0.000593

0.001

0.001

0.001

0.001

B-10


-------
Table B-2. Summary Statistics for Pollutants Detected in Wastewater Discharges from E&EC Direct Discharge Facilities

Pollutant

Units

Number of
Facilities
Measuring

Number of
Facilities

with
Detects

Number of
Results

Number of
Detects

Toxic
Weighting
Factora

Minimum
Detected
Concentration

Maximum
Detected
Concentration

Mean Detected
Concentration

Median
Detected
Concentration

N-Methyl-2-
pyrrolidone

mg/L

1

1

45

2

N/A

0.02

0.07

0.045

0.045

Toluene

mg/L

1

1

15

2

0.00563

0.003

0.003

0.003

0.003

PH

PH

SU

4

4

364

364

N/A

3.37

10.91

7.22

7.2

a Toxic weighting factors are derived from chronic aquatic life criteria and human health criteria established for the consumption of fish; they are used to compare the toxicity

of one pollutant relative to another and are normalized based on the toxicity of copper (ERG, 2007).

N/A - Not Available

B-ll


-------
Table B-3 and Table B-4 provide the results of the E&EC "parameters of interest" selection criteria for
indirect and direct dischargers, respectively. To be selected as a "parameter of interest," a detected
analyte must meet either Criteria 1 or Criteria 2.1/2.2.

B-12


-------
Table B-3. "Parameters of Interest" Selection Criteria Results for E&EC Indirect Discharge Facilities

Parameter

Criteria 1
40 CFR 469
Regulated
Pollutant
(Y/N)

Criteria 2

Pollutant of Interest?
(Y/N)

Criteria 2.1 Frequency of Detection

Criteria 2.2 Potential Environmental
Concern

> 25% of Facilities
(Y/N)

> 25% of Results
(Y/N)

Toxic Weighting
Factor > 0.001
(Y/N)

Nutrient
(Y/N)

Total Toxic Organics

Total Toxic Organics

Y

Y

N

N

N

Y

Classical Wet Chemistry

Acidity, Total

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

Alkalinity

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

Ammonia

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

BOD5

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

Calcium hardness

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

Carbon dioxide, free

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

CBOD

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

COD

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

Conductivity

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

Cyanide, Total

N

Y

N

Y

N

N

Dissolved oxygen

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

Fixed dissolved solids

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

Hydrogen peroxide

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

Nitrogen, Total

N

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

Oil & Grease

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

Oil & Grease, non-polar

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

Oil & Grease, polar

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

Phosphorus, Total

N

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

Total dissolved solids

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

B-13


-------
Table B-3. "Parameters of Interest" Selection Criteria Results for E&EC Indirect Discharge Facilities

Parameter

Criteria 1
40 CFR 469
Regulated
Pollutant
(Y/N)

Criteria 2

Pollutant of Interest?
(Y/N)

Criteria 2.1 Frequency of Detection

Criteria 2.2 Potential Environmental
Concern

> 25% of Facilities
(Y/N)

> 25% of Results
(Y/N)

Toxic Weighting
Factor > 0.001
(Y/N)

Nutrient
(Y/N)

Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen

N

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

Total petroleum
hydrocarbons

N

Y

N

Y

N

N

Total suspended solids

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

Anions

Bromide

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

Chloride

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

Fluoride, Total

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Nitrates

N

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

Nitrates/Nitrites

N

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

Nitrites

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Sulfates

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

Sulfides

N

Y

N

N

N

N

Metals

Aluminum, Total

N

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Antimony, Total

Y

Y

N

Y

N

Y

Arsenic, Total

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Barium, Total

N

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Beryllium, Total

N

N

N

Y

N

N

Bismuth, Total

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

Boron, Total

N

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Cadmium, Total

Y

Y

N

Y

N

Y

B-14


-------
Table B-3. "Parameters of Interest" Selection Criteria Results for E&EC Indirect Discharge Facilities

Parameter

Criteria 1
40 CFR 469
Regulated
Pollutant
(Y/N)

Criteria 2

Pollutant of Interest?
(Y/N)

Criteria 2.1 Frequency of Detection

Criteria 2.2 Potential Environmental
Concern

> 25% of Facilities
(Y/N)

> 25% of Results
(Y/N)

Toxic Weighting
Factor > 0.001
(Y/N)

Nutrient
(Y/N)

Calcium, Total

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

Cerium, Total

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

Chromium, Total

Y

Y

N

Y

N

Y

Cobalt, Total

N

Y

N

Y

N

N

Copper, Total

N

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Gallium, Total

N

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Iron, Total

N

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Lead, Total

Y

Y

N

Y

N

Y

Magnesium, Total

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

Manganese, Total

N

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Mercury, Total

N

Y

N

Y

N

N

Molybdenum, Total

N

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Nickel, Total

N

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Potassium, Total

N

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Selenium, Total

N

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Silver, Total

N

Y

N

Y

N

N

Sodium, Total

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

Tellurium, Total

N

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Tin, Total

N

Y

N

Y

N

N

Titanium, Total

N

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Total metals

N

Y

N

N

N

N

Vanadium, Total

N

Y

N

Y

N

N

B-15


-------
Table B-3. "Parameters of Interest" Selection Criteria Results for E&EC Indirect Discharge Facilities

Parameter

Criteria 1
40 CFR 469
Regulated
Pollutant
(Y/N)

Criteria 2

Pollutant of Interest?
(Y/N)

Criteria 2.1 Frequency of Detection

Criteria 2.2 Potential Environmental
Concern

> 25% of Facilities
(Y/N)

> 25% of Results
(Y/N)

Toxic Weighting
Factor > 0.001
(Y/N)

Nutrient
(Y/N)

Zinc, Total

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Zirconium, Total

N

Y

N

Y

N

N

0

rganic Compounds

1,1,2-Trichloroethane

N

N

N

Y

N

N

1,1-Dichloroethane

N

N

N

N

N

N

1,1-Dichloroethene

N

N

N

Y

N

N

1,2,4-Triazole

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

1,2-Dichlorobenzene

N

N

N

Y

N

N

1,2-Dichloroethane

N

N

N

Y

N

N

1,3-Dichlorobenzene

N

N

N

Y

N

N

1,4-Dichlorobenzene

N

N

N

Y

N

N

2,4-Dimethylphenol

N

N

N

Y

N

N

2-Hexanone

N

N

N

N

N

N

2-Nitrophenol

N

N

N

Y

N

N

4-Bromophenyl phenyl ether

N

N

N

Y

N

N

624 Volatiles

N

N

N

N

N

N

625 Semi Volatiles

N

N

N

N

N

N

Acetone

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

Acrolein

N

N

N

Y

N

N

Benzene

N

N

N

Y

N

N

Benzidine

N

N

N

Y

N

N

Benzyl butyl phthalate

N

N

N

Y

N

N

B-16


-------
Table B-3. "Parameters of Interest" Selection Criteria Results for E&EC Indirect Discharge Facilities

Parameter

Criteria 1
40 CFR 469
Regulated
Pollutant
(Y/N)

Criteria 2

Pollutant of Interest?
(Y/N)

Criteria 2.1 Frequency of Detection

Criteria 2.2 Potential Environmental
Concern

> 25% of Facilities
(Y/N)

> 25% of Results
(Y/N)

Toxic Weighting
Factor > 0.001
(Y/N)

Nutrient
(Y/N)

Bis(2-chloroisopropyl) ether

N

N

N

Y

N

N

Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

N

Y

N

Y

N

N

Bromodichloromethane

N

Y

N

Y

N

N

Bromoform

N

Y

N

Y

N

N

Bromomethane

N

N

N

Y

N

N

Butanone

N

N

N

N

N

N

Carbon disulfide

N

Y

N

Y

N

N

Chlorobenzene

N

N

N

Y

N

N

Chloroform

N

Y

N

Y

N

N

Chloromethane

N

N

N

Y

N

N

Choline hydroxide

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

Dibromochloromethane

N

Y

N

Y

N

N

Dibutyl phthalate

N

N

N

Y

N

N

Dichloromethane

N

N

N

Y

N

N

Diethyl phthalate

N

Y

N

N

N

N

Dimethyl phthalate

N

N

N

Y

N

N

Dioctyl phthalate

N

N

N

Y

N

N

Ethylbenzene

N

N

N

Y

N

N

Isopropyl alcohol

N

Y

N

N

N

N

Naphthalene

N

N

N

Y

N

N

N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

N-Nitrosodipropylamine

N

N

N

Y

N

N

B-17


-------
Table B-3. "Parameters of Interest" Selection Criteria Results for E&EC Indirect Discharge Facilities

Parameter

Criteria 1
40 CFR 469
Regulated
Pollutant
(Y/N)

Criteria 2

Pollutant of Interest?
(Y/N)

Criteria 2.1 Frequency of Detection

Criteria 2.2 Potential Environmental
Concern

> 25% of Facilities
(Y/N)

> 25% of Results
(Y/N)

Toxic Weighting
Factor > 0.001
(Y/N)

Nutrient
(Y/N)

Pentachlorophenol

N

N

N

Y

N

N

PFOA

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

PFOS

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

Phenol

N

Y

N

Y

N

N

Pyridine

N

Y

N

Y

N

N

Tetrachloroethylene

N

N

N

Y

N

N

Toluene

N

N

N

Y

N

N

Toxaphene

N

N

N

Y

N

N

Trichloroethylene

N

N

N

Y

N

N

Vinyl chloride

N

N

N

Y

N

N

Xylenes, Total

N

N

N

Y

N

N

PH

PH

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

B-18


-------
Table B-4. "Parameters of Interest" Selection Criteria Results for E&EC Direct Discharge Facilities





Criteria 2





Criteria 1
40 CFR 469

Criteria 2.1 Frequency of Detection

Criteria 2.2 Potential Environmental
Concern



Parameter

Regulated
Pollutant
(Y/N)

> 25% of Facilities
(Y/N)

> 25% of Results
(Y/N)

Toxic Weighting
Factor > 0.001
(Y/N)

Nutrient
(Y/N)

Pollutant of Interest?
(Y/N)





Total Toxic Organics







Total Toxic Organics

Y

Y

Y

N

N

Y

Classical Wet Chemistry

Ammonia

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

BOD5

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

Cyanide, Total

N

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Dissolved oxygen

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

Hydrogen peroxide

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

Oil & Grease

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

Phosphorus, Total

N

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

Total dissolved solids

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

Total residual chlorine

N

Y

N

Y

N

N

Total suspended solids

Y

Y

Y

N

N

Y

Anions

Fluoride, Total

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Phosphates

N

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

B-19


-------
Table B-4. "Parameters of Interest" Selection Criteria Results for E&EC Direct Discharge Facilities





Criteria 2





Criteria 1
40 CFR 469

Criteria 2.1 Frequency of Detection

Criteria 2.2 Potential Environmental
Concern



Parameter

Regulated
Pollutant
(Y/N)

> 25% of Facilities
(Y/N)

> 25% of Results
(Y/N)

Metals

Toxic Weighting
Factor > 0.001
(Y/N)

Nutrient
(Y/N)

Pollutant of Interest?
(Y/N)

Aluminum, Total

N

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Cadmium, Total

N

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Chromium, Hexavalent,
Total

N

Y

N

Y

N

N

Chromium, Total

N

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Cobalt, Total

N

Y

N

Y

N

N

Copper, Total

N

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Iron, Total

N

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Lead, Total

N

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Molybdenum, Total

N

Y

N

Y

N

N

Nickel, Total

N

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Ruthenium, Total

N

Y

N

N

N

N

Silver, Total

N

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Tungsten, Total

N

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Zinc, Total

N

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

B-20


-------
Table B-4. "Parameters of Interest" Selection Criteria Results for E&EC Direct Discharge Facilities





Criteria 2





Criteria 1
40 CFR 469

Criteria 2.1 Frequency of Detection

Criteria 2.2 Potential Environmental
Concern



Parameter

Regulated
Pollutant
(Y/N)

> 25% of Facilities
(Y/N)

> 25% of Results
(Y/N)

Toxic Weighting
Factor > 0.001
(Y/N)

Nutrient
(Y/N)

Pollutant of Interest?
(Y/N)





Organic Compound:







Acetone

N

Y

N

N

N

N

Bromodichloromethane

N

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Bromoform

N

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Chloroform

N

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Dichlorodifluoromethane

N

Y

N

N

N

N

N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone

N

Y

N

N

N

N

Toluene

N

Y

N

Y

N

N

PH

PH

Y

Y

Y

N

N

Y

B-21


-------
Table B-l and Table B-2 are box and whisker plots for detected concentrations for indirect and direct
discharger parameters of interest, respectively. All plots were done in Excel and are grouped based on
maximum concentration to ensure that box and whisker plots with larger maximum concentrations do
not make plots with lower maximum concentrations unreadable. For box plots, the bottom and top of the
box displays the 25th and 75th percentile concentrations defined as the interquartile range (IQR). The
median is displayed as the horizontal line within the box. The whiskers show the relative distribution of
data points outside of the IQR and represent 1.5 times the IQR. All points outside the whisker range are
plotted individually. Red lines indicate the most stringent daily maximum limitations for 40 CFR 469
regulated pollutants.

B-22


-------
300

250

oo 200
£

150

100

50

Phosphorus, Total	Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen

Fluoride. Total	Potassium, Total

30



ZD



_

1

£_

c
o







TO 15

c

o»
u

:

1



u

4" ±



•

0



•
•

Nitrates Nitrates/Nitrites Nitrogen, Total Zinc, Total

£ 3

•

•
•

•



•

:





•
•



•
«
•





8

•

•

•

•

j —

•

•
!

j-



Arsenic, Total

Boron, Total

Copper, Total

Figure B-l. Indirect Discharger "Parameters of Interest" Box and Whisker Plot

B-23


-------
4.5
4

3.5
«5 3

I 25

to

c 2

Ol

u

o 1.5
u

1
0.5
0

t

±

Iron, Total

Molybdenum, Total Nickel, Total

Nitrites

1.4
1.2

— 1
£

c 0.8

0

03

1	0.6

O
C

o

u 0.4
0.2

Chromium, Total Selenium, Total

Tellurium, Total

TTO

0.7
0.6

1 °-5
£

| 0.4
re

§ 0.3

0.2

0.1

*

I

Aluminum, Total Antimony, Total Cadmium, Total Gallium, Total Lead, Total

0.045
0.04

0.035

"a o.o3
B

| 0.025
m

S 0.02

(U

u

o 0.015
u

0.01
0.005
0

Barium, Total

Manganese, Total

Titanium, Total

Figure B-l, (continued).

B-24


-------
70

60

50

E,

c 40

£ 30

20
10

Ammonia

Fluoride, Total

Total suspended solids

1.4

1.2

E,

c 0.8

£ 0.6

0.4
0.2

Aluminum, Total Chromium, Total

TTO

Iron, Total

0.3

0.25

oS 0.2
E

% 0.15

0.1

0.05

i. i

t *

Nickel, Total	Phosphorus, Total

Cyanide, Total	Phosphates	Tungsten, Total

0.1
0.09
0.08
0.07

00

— 0.06

C
o

s 0.05

§ 0.04
c

° 0.03
0.02
0.01
0

•

•
•

•

•

•



¦1

•

-

1 ¦ 1

¦

Bromoform Cadmium, Total Copper, Total Silver, Total Zinc, Total

Figure B-2, Direct Discharger "Parameters of Interest" Box and Whisker Plots

B-25


-------
0.0005

Bromodichloromethane

Chloroform

Figure B-2. (Continued)

B-26

4-

pH


-------
Attachment C: Review of Potential Impacts from Indirect and
Direct Discharges of E&EC Wastewaters


-------
Table C-l. Parameters of Interest for E&EC Indirect Dischargers

Parameter

Indirect
Discharge
Parameter
of Interest

Identified

by
Control
Authority

Local
Limit
Permit
Range3
(mg/L)

Number of

Permit
Violations'3

Potential Concern

Fluoride, Total

X



3 to 180

2

•	Total Fluoride is regulated under 40 CFR 469 Subparts C and D for indirect
dischargers.

•	Total Fluoride present in E&EC wastewater is from the use of hydrofluoric
acid or ammonium bifluoride as an etchant or cleaning agent or as an
intermediate powder in lamp phosphor production during the
manufacturing process (U.S. EPA, 1983 and U.S. EPA, 1984).

•	There is no significant removal of fluoride by typical POTW treatment
systems; therefore, pass-through of fluoride does occur (U.S. EPA, 1984).
For Subparts A and B, in spite of pass-through, EPA determined that there
is little likelihood of health or environmental effects from the introduction
of fluoride into a POTW at the flows and concentrations observed from
these industries (U.S. EPA, 1983).

•	Fluoride can be toxic to livestock and plants and can cause tooth mottling
in humans (U.S. EPA, 1984).

•	Total fluoride concentrations in treated process water are typically below
the daily maximum ELG limit of 35 mg/L. In EPA's wastewater
characterization database, 97 percent (757/783 detected values) of total
fluoride detected concentrations were less than 35 mg/L.

•	Both permit violations identified in the pretreatment annual reports were
for one-time exceedances of the daily maximum value and were the result
of equipment malfunctions and/or human error (Union Sanitary District,
2017 and City of Sunnyvale Environmental Services Department, 2019).

•	Control authorities did not identify total fluoride as a pollutant for further
control or study.

Ammonia

X

X

25 to
662

0

•	Ammonia is a "conditional" pollutant of concern for POTW pretreatment
evaluations due to the potential to cause toxicity issues in POTW effluent
(U.S. EPA, 2004).

•	Uncontrolled loadings of ammonia can cause pass-through and
interference problems at the POTW (U.S. EPA, 2004).

C-l


-------
Table C-l. Parameters of Interest for E&EC Indirect Dischargers

Parameter

Indirect
Discharge
Parameter
of Interest

Identified

by
Control
Authority

Local
Limit
Permit
Range3
(mg/L)

Number of

Permit
Violations'3

Potential Concern











•	Elevated ammonia concentrations in POTW influent can increase the
amount of alkalinity consumed during nitrification processes within the
POTW (U.S. EPA, 2004).

•	Detected ammonia concentrations in indirect E&EC discharges are
generally within or less than the range of typical untreated domestic
wastewater (i.e., 85 percent of detected ammonia concentrations are less
than 50 mg/L)c.

•	Site-specific concerns for ammonia may be identified due to elevated
ammonia concentrations (i.e., greater than 50 mg/L) in E&EC discharges or
nutrient issues within the receiving water for the POTW effluent. Site-
specific ammonia concerns are addressed through local limits and
ammonia surcharges. For example, Micron, a semiconductor
manufacturing facility who discharges to the Upper Occoquan Service
Authority (UOSA), has a local limit for ammonia but, pays an ammonia
surcharge to address excess ammonia loads (ERG, 2020e).

•	20 indirect discharge permits included a local limit for ammonia.

•	No control authorities reported issues of interference or pass-through
associated with ammonia.

Nitrates

X



NLL

0

•	Nutrients other than Ammonia

•	Nutrient loads in POTW influent can place a burden on POTWs to meet
their nutrient discharge limits. Biological treatment processes designed to
meet secondary treatment effluent standards

•	frequently do not remove total nitrogen or total phosphorus to levels low
enough to protect certain receiving waters. Enhanced treatment may be
required through either retrofitting the POTW to improve the biological
treatment processes or to include additional chemical treatments to
further precipitate phosphorus prior to discharge to surface waters (U.S.
EPA, 2008).

Nitrates/Nitrites

X



NLL

0

Nitrites

X



NLL

0

Nitrogen, Total

X



NLL

0

Phosphorus,
Total

X



4.9 to 9

0

Total Kjeldahl
Nitrogen

X



75

0

C-2


-------
Table C-l. Parameters of Interest for E&EC Indirect Dischargers

Parameter

Indirect
Discharge
Parameter
of Interest

Identified

by
Control
Authority

Local
Limit
Permit
Range3
(mg/L)

Number of

Permit
Violations'3

Potential Concern











•	Nutrient concerns from E&EC effluent are site-specific and are addressed
through local limits at POTWs.

•	3 indirect permits included local limits for nutrients other than ammonia.

Aluminum,
Total

X



9.4

0

•	Metals

•	Several metals are regulated for indirect dischargers under 40 CFR 469
Subpart C including total cadmium, total chromium, total lead, and total
zinc.

•	Total cadmium and total zinc are also regulated under 40 CFR 469 Subpart
D for indirect dischargers as well as total antimony.

•	Local limits for metals are often based on water quality concerns within the
POTWs' receiving water. Local limits for metals are site-specific as several
water quality standards and criteria for metals depend on the hardness,
pH, and temperature of the receiving water (U.S. EPA, 2004).

•	Metals assigned local limits at greater than 90 indirect facilities include
total arsenic, total cadmium, total chromium, total copper, total lead, total
nickel, and total zinc.

•	Copper was the only metal specifically identified in EPA's discussions with
control authorities as a potential industry-wide pollutant of interest (ERG,
2019b).

•	Total arsenic and total copper permit violations identified in the 2018 and
2019 pretreatment annual reports were isolated exceedances of the
maximum allowable limits that were then resolved at the facilities (San
Jose-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility, 2019 and City of Sunnyvale,
2019).

•	The facility with the total zinc permit limit violation was unable to identify
the source; this facility closed in 2018 (City of Sunnyvale, 2019).

Antimony, Total

X



0.04 to 5

0

Arsenic, Total

X



0.047 to
15

1

Barium, Total

X



5

0

Boron, Total

X



1 to 20

0

Cadmium, Total

X



0.01 to 15

0

Chromium,
Total

X



0.26 to 25

0

Copper, Total

X

X

0.13 to 17

1

Gallium, Total

X



NLL

0

Iron, Total

X



5 to 250

0

Lead, Total

X



0.039 to
40

0

Manganese,
Total

X



0.5 to 6.1

0

Molybdenum,
Total

X



0.15 to
6.58

0

Nickel, Total

X



0.2 to 22

0

Potassium,
Total

X



NLL

0

Selenium, Total

X



0.006 to
9.37

0

Tellurium, Total

X



NLL

0

Titanium, Total

X



NLL

0

C-3


-------
Table C-l. Parameters of Interest for E&EC Indirect Dischargers

Parameter

Indirect
Discharge
Parameter
of Interest

Identified

by
Control
Authority

Local
Limit
Permit
Range3
(mg/L)

Number of

Permit
Violations'3

Potential Concern

Zinc, Total

X



0.16 to 25

1



Total Toxic
Organics

X



0.5 to
2.13

0

•	TTO is regulated under 40 CFR 469 Subparts A, B, and C for indirect
dischargers.

•	Meeting TTO permit limits are not a concern as TTO chemicals are no
longer in use or many facilities manage toxic organics through solvent
management plans.

•	77 out of 112 indirect permits reported having solvent management plans.

•	TTO was only detected in 22 percent of indirect samples (182/836 detected
values). When TTO was detected, it was at least 1 order of magnitude
lower than the 1.37 mg/L daily maximum limit listed in 40 CFR 469 Subparts
A and B.

Chloride



X

175 to
880

1

•	Chloride in POTW influent can decay or prevent the formation of inorganic
films and precipitates that protect sewer walls from chemical corrosion
(U.S. EPA, 2004).

•	Chloride ions are used in copper electroplating baths to inhibit plating on
areas where a reduced plating rate is desired (Dupont, 2016). Chloride ions
may also be present from purchased or potable water used during
manufacturing.

•	The Thousand Oaks City wastewater control authority, which permits
discharges from two Skyworks semiconductor manufacturing facilities,
stated that E&EC facilities have not had compliance issues except for slight
chloride hits during droughts when water is imported (ERG, 2019b).

•	The City of Lompoc Regional Wastewater Reclamation Plant reported a
permit violation for chloride from Raytheon in their 2018 Annual
Pretreatment Report, but found no significant findings during inspection.
Raytheon is reported as consistently achieving compliance (City of Lompoc,
2019).

•	Local limits are used to address site-specific concerns with chloride. For
example, UOSA is concerned with the addition of salts, such as chloride, to

C-4


-------
Table C-l. Parameters of Interest for E&EC Indirect Dischargers

Parameter

Indirect
Discharge
Parameter
of Interest

Identified

by
Control
Authority

Local
Limit
Permit
Range3
(mg/L)

Number of

Permit
Violations'3

Potential Concern











its receiving water which is used as a drinking water source for Fairfax
County. UOSA implemented local limits to manage salt loading into the
reservoir (ERG, 2020e).

• 6 indirect E&EC permits have local limits for chloride.

Sulfate



X

400 to
3,660

0

•	Sulfate concentrations in POTW influent can form hydrogen sulfide within
collection systems through anaerobic degradation when wastewater is
allowed to stagnate. The formation of hydrogen sulfide can corrode metals
(e.g., iron, copper, lead, and zinc) within the treatment system. Sulfate can
also corrode and crack concrete through the formation of calcium sulfate
(U.S. EPA, 2004).

•	Sulfate in E&EC wastewater is often from copper sulfate used in copper
electroplating baths (Dupont, 2016).

•	Austin Water noted in their discussions with EPA that they are continuing
to the watch sulfate concentrations from the five E&EC facilities within
their system due to potential aquatic wildlife health concerns in their
receiving waters. A sulfate limit has been discussed, but not implemented
as a study is currently underway to reevaluate the issue (U.S. EPA, 2019).

•	5 indirect permits have local limits for sulfate.

C-5


-------
Table C-l. Parameters of Interest for E&EC Indirect Dischargers

Parameter

Indirect
Discharge
Parameter
of Interest

Identified

by
Control
Authority

Local
Limit
Permit
Range3
(mg/L)

Number of

Permit
Violations'3

Potential Concern

PH





5 to 12.5
S.U.

6

•	Discharges with a pH lower than 5.0 are prohibited under the General
Pretreatment Regulations unless the POTW is specifically designed to
accommodate such discharges. Upper pH limits are established by the
POTW at a level that is both protective of the facility and avoids
characterization of the discharge as hazardous waste (i.e., pH > 12.5) (U.S.
EPA, 2004).

•	POTWs that accept Industrial wastewater with high pH values may observe
a reduction in odor emissions, aid in nitrification, improved precipitation in
clarifiers, and reduction in chloride and sulfate ions in influent to the
POTWs system (U.S. EPA, 2004).

•	pH was the most frequent parameter reported for permit limit violations in
EPA's review of the 2018 and 2019 pretreatment annual reports. Durations
of pH permit limit violations from E&EC facilities were often brief (e.g., 2
minutes to less than 5 hours) and then brought back within compliance.

NLL- No local limit. No indirect permits were identified with a local limit expressed as a concentration value. Some permits may contain a limit expressed as a load.

a.	Permit limits presented only include parameter concentration limits based on local limits. Local limits presented include a variety of durations and frequencies
including but not limited to daily maximum, monthly average, and instantaneous maximum limits. Limits reported as loads, based on other regulations (i.e., 40 CFR
433), or listed as specific prohibitions are not presented.

b.	EPA identified permit limit violations for indirect E&EC dischargers by reviewing annual pretreatment reports from 2018 and 2019 from 13 wastewater control
authorities.

c.	Ammonia concentrations in untreated domestic wastewater typically range from 10 to 50 mg/L (U.S. EPA, 2004).

C-6


-------
Table C-2. Parameters of Interest for E&EC Direct Discharges

Parameter	NPDES Permit Number of	Potential Concerns

Limit Range3	Permit

(mg/L)	Violationsb

Fluoride, Total

7.3 to 28

0

•	Total fluoride is regulated under 40 CFR 469 Subparts A, B, C, and D for direct
dischargers.

•	There are no national recommended water quality criteria (NRWQC) for total fluoride;
however, EPA has established a drinking water maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 4
mg/L to be protective against bone disease and a secondary non-enforceable level of 2
mg/L for tooth mottling in children.

•	Fluoride can be toxic to livestock in drinking water at levels greater than 2 mg/L and
toxic to plants in irrigation water at concentrations greater than 1 mg/L (U.S. EPA,
1984).

•	Texas and New York both have water quality standards for total fluoride.

o Texas state water quality standard for human health for the consumption of
water and organisms for total fluoride is 4 mg/L. The maximum concentration of
total fluoride detected in NXP Ed Bluestein was 0.24 mg/L.

o New York state water quality guidance limit for human health in freshwater for
total fluoride is 1.5 mg/L with aquatic life guidance concentrations based on site-
specific determinations using hardness values in receiving waters.

o The permit for GLOBALFOUNDRIES Flopewell Junction included a site-specific
daily maximum limit for total fluoride of 7.3 mg/L. The maximum concentration
observed in effluent from GLOBALFOUNDRIES Flopewell Junction was 7 mg/L.

•	Total fluoride concentrations in direct discharges ranged from 0.17 mg/L to 19 mg/L,
well below the daily maximum concentration of 32 mg/L required under 40 CRF 469
Subparts A and B.

Ammonia

1.3 to 2.7

2

•	Ammonia in surface waters can be toxic to aquatic organisms due to the potential for
toxic buildup of ammonia in internal tissues and blood which can lead to death (U.S.
EPA, 2013). Environmental factors such as pH and temperature can affect ammonia
toxicity by altering the ability of aquatic organisms to excrete ammonia from their
systems (U.S. EPA, 2013).

•	Ammonia concentrations in surface water also contribute to total nitrogen loads within
a waterbody which can lead to problems with nutrient over-enrichment and cause
indirect effects on aquatic life (U.S. EPA, 2013).

C-7


-------
Table C-2. Parameters of Interest for E&EC Direct Discharges

Parameter

NPDES Permit

Number of

Potential Concerns



Limit Range3

Permit





(mg/L)

Violationsb









•	Ammonia NRWQC are site-specific based on pH, temperature, and dependent on the
life-stages of aquatic life present in the receiving water.

•	GLOBALFOUNDRIES Hopewell Junction's permit included water quality-based limits for
seasonal monthly average ammonia concentrations of 1.3 mg/L (April to October) and
2.7 mg/L (November to March).

•	Ammonia was detected in 15 out of 90 samplesfrom GLOBALFOUNDRIES Hopewell
Junction. Where 80 percent of detected values were less than 0.5 mg/L.

•	GLOBALFOUNDRIES Hopewell Junction reported two permit violations that exceeded
the seasonal average monthly limit of 2.7 and 1.3 mg/L in March and April of 2021.

•	Ammonia monitoring is required in GLOBALFOUNDRIES Essex Junction' permit to
support nutrients monitoring for the Lake Champaign Phosphorus TMDL.

Phosphorus, Total

0.8

0

Total Phosphorus and Phosphates

•	Total phosphorus is an essential nutrient for plants and organisms; however, over-
enrichment of phosphorus loads in surface waters can cause adverse effects such as
algae blooms, accelerated plant growth, and problems with low dissolved oxygen
concentrations in surface waters.

•	There are no NRWQC for total phosphorus or phosphates; however, EPA has developed
multiple ecoregional criteria for total phosphorus based on site-specific criteria.

•	GLOBALFOUNDRIES Essex Junction has a site-specific limit for total phosphorus based
on the WLA set for the wastewater treatment facility onsite in support of the Lake
Chaplain PhosphorusTMDL.

•	Siltronic Corporation has daily and monthly limits for total phosphates; however
effluent concentrations are historically well below the permit limit. In the permit
renewal data for the past five years, the long term daily maximum concentration of total
phosphate was less than 1.1 mg/L. (Oregon Department of Environmental Quality,
2009b).

Phosphates

10 to 15

0

C-8


-------
Table C-2. Parameters of Interest for E&EC Direct Discharges

Parameter

NPDES Permit
Limit Range3

(mg/L)

Number of

Permit
Violationsb

Potential Concerns

TSS

10.5 to 40

2

•	TSS is regulated under 40 CFR 469 Subparts B, C, and D for direct dischargers.

•	NRWQC for total suspended solids is expressed as a narrative criterion that states TSS
should not lower the compensation point for photosynthetic activity by more than 10
percent in surface waters (U.S. EPA, 1986).

•	Site-specific limits for TSS were set for 2 of 4 the direct discharge facilities.

Cyanide, Total

0.06

0

•	Total cyanide is regulated under 40 CFR 433 for metal finishing processing facilities.

•	EPA has issued NRWQC for cyanide for both aquatic life and human health. Aquatic life
NRWQC for freshwater are expressed as free cyanide with acute criteria set at 0.022
mg/L and chronic criteria at 0.0052 mg/L. The NRWQC for total cyanide for human
health for the consumption of water and organisms is 0.004 mg/L and water only is 0.4
mg/L.

•	1 direct discharge facility has a water quality-based permit limit for total cyanide.

•	1 direct discharge facility has water quality-based permit limits for free cyanide ranging
from 0.65 mg/L to 1.2 mg/L.

•	Total cyanide was detected in 29 out of 73 samples with 28 detects coming from
GLOBALFOUNDRIES Essex Junction who is regulated under both 40 CFR 433 and 40 CFR
469 Subpart B.

•	Detected values ranged from 0.004 mg/L to 0.16 mg/L with 27 out of 29 detected values
reported at concentrations equal to or lower than 0.01 mg/L.

Arsenic, Total

0.1

0

Metals

•	No metals are regulated under 40 CFR 469 Subpart A

•	Total arsenic is regulated under 40 CFR 469 Subpart B for discharges from gallium or
indium arsenide crystal manufacturing facilities.

•	Total cadmium and total zinc are both regulated under 40 CFR 469 Subparts C and D for
direct dischargers.

•	Total chromium and total lead are both regulated under 40 CFR 469 Subparts C for
direct dischargers.

•	Multiple metals in E&EC direct discharges have NRWQC for aquatic life and human
health. NRWQC for metals are often presented as the dissolved concentration and are

Aluminum, Total

1

0

Cadmium, Total

NL

0

Chromium, Total

0.02 to 0.5

0

Copper, Total

NL

0

Iron, Total

NL

0

Lead, Total

0.08

0

Nickel, Total

NL

0

Silver, Total

NL

0

Tungsten, Total

3.75

0

Zinc, Total

0.36

0

C-9


-------
Table C-2. Parameters of Interest for E&EC Direct Discharges

Parameter

NPDES Permit
Limit Range3

(mg/L)

Number of

Permit
Violationsb

Potential Concerns







calculated based on site-specific environmental parameters such as the pH and or
hardness of the surface water.

•	3 out of the 4 direct dischargers included at least 1 or more water quality-based limits
for a metal.

•	Detected concentrations for metals were below water quality-based limits identified in
the permits with the following maximum concentrations detected for total metals:
aluminum (0.9 mg/L), cadmium (0.056 mg/L), chromium (0.56 mg/L), lead (0.05mg/L),
and zinc (0.05 mg/L).

•	Total arsenic was not detected in any of the 45 direct discharge samples in the
wastewater characterization database.

Total Toxic Organics

2.74

0

•	TTO is regulated under 40 CFR 469 Subparts A, B, and C for direct dischargers.

•	There are no NRWQC for TTO.

•	1 facility included a limit for TTO of 2.74 mg/L for a single grab sample.

•	1 direct discharge E&EC facility has a solvent management plan to manage TTO
discharges.

•	The maximum detected concentration of TTO in direct discharges was 0.02 mg/L.

Bromodichloromethane

NL

0

Disinfection byproducts: bromodichloromethane, bromoform, and chloroform

•	GLOBALFOUNDRIES Hopewell Junction's NPDES permit included monitoring action
levels limits which require additional monitoring if the limits are exceeded within
specified consecutive sampling events.

•	E&EC process wastewater at GLOBALFOUNDRIES Hopewell Junction is comingled with
treated sanitary and groundwater. Due to the comingling of wastewaters, the exact
source of chloroform is unknown.

Bromoform

NL

0

Chloroform

NL

0

c-io


-------
Table C-2. Parameters of Interest for E&EC Direct Discharges

Parameter

NPDES Permit
Limit Range3
(mg/L)

Number of

Permit
Violationsb

Potential Concerns

PH

6.5 to 8.5 S.U.

1

•	In surface waters, pH plays a critical role in many chemical and biological processes. For
example, the dissolved concentration of metals, and the resulting level of toxicity, are
often controlled by the pH in surface waters (U.S. EPA, 1986).

•	The NRWQC for freshwater aquatic life is 6.5 to 9 S.U.

•	2 facilities included site-specific limits for pH that were more restrictive than the limits
required under 40 CFR 469.

•	GLOBALFOUNDRIES Essex Junction reported 1 exceedance of the daily pH maximum
value of 8.5 in May 2021 with a daily pH value of 8.8.

NL- No site-specific limit. No direct permits were identified with a site-specific limit expressed as a concentration value. Some permits may contain a limit expressed as a load.
NPDES permit limit ranges presented exclude limits from 40 CFR 469.

Permit limit violations were identified by reviewing discharge monitoring data available in ECHO from 1/1/2018 to 5/31/2021.

C-ll


-------