Update on Federal Actions Related to Copper in Water -- 2005

Jim Pendergast

USEPA -- HQ

WQS Program

Topics for Today

• National extent of copper impairments

• National copper water quality criterion

• California Toxics Rule

Number of Copper Impairments by State(from 2002 303(d) lists)

Undefined metals identified

1-5

6-20

21-50

More than 50Source: EPA TMDL web site

Top 10 States: Number of Copper Impairments(from 2002 303(d) lists)

(total of 681 from 59,783 reports)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

KS VA MT LA CA NJ IL PR WA FL

Source: EPA TMDL web site

National 2003 Draft Marine Copper Criteria

Previous 2004 Update

Acute*

(24 hr avg)

4.8 ug/l 3.1 ug/l

Chronic*

(4 day avg)

3.1 ug/l 1.9 ug/l

*Not to be exceeded more than once every three years

National 2003 Draft Marine Copper Criteria

• Why the change?– New data from literature search (mostly Mytilus spp., a

mollusk)

– Halved Final Acute Value to account for commercially and recreationally important mussels

• Why not use the Biotic Ligand Model?– Only developed for fresh water

• When will the draft be finalized?– Projected for early 2006

Changes to CA Toxics Rule

• California Toxics Rule (CTR) published by EPA in May 2000– Sets marine acute criterion of 4.8 ug/l and chronic

criterion of 3.1 ug/l, as modified by water effect ratio

• EPA withdrew rule for south SFB in Nov. 2003– CA site specific objectives of 10.8 ug/l acute and 6.9

ug/l chronic now apply

• EPA now revising CTR for mercury and cadmium– But no plans to update for copper yet