Document 5LzQgnE90rYGrD43dyapn7J8N

700 medium with minimum requirements of water quality. The major consideration is that the water acidity be relatively low to prevent corrosion of equipment. However, many operations require use of Urge quan tities of water with quality requirements relating to impurity, type, and level. These operettons are froth flotation, mine dump leaching, and secondary oil re covery. Water quality requirements needed for the manufacture of cement tie minimal, the document said. The major consideration is the alkali content of process water. Wtter Resources NAS SAYS KNOWLEDGE OF LOCALITIES ESSENTIAL TO APPLICATION OF STANDARDS 11 Knowledge of local environmental conditions is <$ / burial prior to application of any water quality recom- fmendstions for marine aquatic life and wildlife, according ///to a National Academy of Sciences' draft of `'Water 7 Quality Criteria - 1972" (Environment Reporter, August 10, p. 588 and August 17, p. 669). The NAS document dealt with maintenance of the marine ecosystem, fisheries, aquaculture, wildlife pro tection, and waste disposal. In developing recommenda tions, NAS also considered the effects of transportation, harbor development, dredging, and dumping of spoils. NAS said application of recommendations to a local Situation is unique, because _il_iequire an understanding of the circulation of water and the resultant mixing and dilution of pollutants, s knowiedye-oThiological species. nH t}t the wink! tendrive d an evaluation of the transport of materials throughTheTood, web. ~ " Water Quality Change The introduction of a chemical compound or a change in the physical environment can affect a natural marine ecosystem in several ways, the report said. These changes include a reduction in the input of solat energy into the ecosystem, an increase in (he input of organic matter and nutrients that might stimulate growth of undesirable species, and a reduction in the availability of nutrients by increased sorption end sedimentation. Changes also can create intolerable physical extremes for some organisms, kill or Tcduce the success of in dividual organisms, eliminate species, reduce species diver sity, decrease biomass, or increase biomass. Fisheries General requirements for water quality in relation to successful fisheries include favorable environmental con ditions at every location, which is required In the life history of each species; freedom from tainting substances; absence of toxic conditions or substances; and absence of subicthal deleterious conditions. Further, there should be water sufficient to maintain the health of (he biological systems, which support useful species, and absence of environmental conditions, which are exceptionally favorable to parasites, predaton, and competitors of useful species. u>- ^ ENVIRONMENT REPORTER Aquaculture Aquaculture is heavily dependent on high water quali ty, according to the NAS report. General recommendations for the quality of water for use in culture include continuously adequate control of those materials and conditions, which are required for good health and efficient production of the species and absence of deleterious chemical and physical conditions. Other recommendations included environmental stabili ty and prevention of introduction of diseases. NAS said specific requirements for each culture effort mutt he with reference to the species involved, the densities desired, and the operational design of the culture system. NAS said it Is difficult to assess the potential yield from marine aquaculture, dependent as it is on a primitive art undergoing rapid technological development. However, introduction of present methods into new, undeveloped parts of the world could at least double the present harvest within the next 10 years, the report Mid. Marina Wildlife NAS said its recommendations for marine wildlife include all criteria formulated to protect fish, inver tebrate, and plant communities because wildlife can only be. adequately protected, if the diversity and integrity of food webs ire maintained. Further, these recommenda tions must protect wildlife from pollutants that are relatively persistent in the environment, trensported by wind or water currents, and concentrated or recycled In food webs. The report said the recommendations to protect wild life dependent on fresh water ecosystems also may apply to estuaries. lS said it is not practical to make recommendations for* the relatively persistent organic ponuiirils~6aed on ater concentrations, especially when partition coef ficients am unitnnwn^ Therefore, recommendetions for the 'toxic organic compounds that are trophically accumulated by marine wildlife are based on concentrations in fish. NAS recommendatiems for marine wildlife ere as fol lows: In the absence of data Indicating that radionuclides released by human activities are accumulated by wildlife species, recommendations established for marine fish aod invertebrates also should apply to wildlife. In the absence of data indicating that heavy metals are present in marine wildlife in concentrations above natural levels, recommendations formulated to protect other marine organisms should apply. Polychlorinated biphenvl concentrations in any sample consisting of a homogenate of 25 or more whole fish of any species that is consumed by fish-eating birds and mammals, within the same size range as the fish con sumed, should be no greater than .5 milligram per kilo gram (mg/kg) of the wet weight. DDT concentrations in any sample consisting of a homogenate of 2S or more ftsh of any species that is consumed by fish-eating birds and mrenmals, within the same size range as the ftsh consumed, #>oold be no greater than 50 mlcrograms/kg of the wet weight The turn of the concentrations of tidrin, dkldrin, Environment Ropottoi MONS 082343 CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS 701 O end fin, and hcptachlor in any sample consisting of a homogenate of 25 or more whole fish of wy species that is consumed by fish-eating birds and mammals, within the size range consumed by any bird or mammal, should be no greater than five mkrogrami/kg of the wet weight. The concentration of any chlorinated hydrocarbons, Including lindane, chlordane, endotulfan, methoxychlor, mlrex, toxaphene, and hexachlorobenzcne. in any sample consisting of a homogenate of 25 or more whole fish of any species that is consumed by fish-eating birds and mammals, within the site range that is consumed by any bird or mammal, should be no greater than SO micro* grama/kg oftht wet weight. To reduce the incidence of lead poisoning fresh water and marine waterfowl, NAS recommended that nontoxic shot be used or that no further lead shot be Introduced into zones of shot deposition if lead shot concentrations exceed one shot per four square feet in the top two inches of sediment. NAS said the characteristics of a receiving body of water must be considered when evaluating the effects of any pollutant upon (he environment. Mixing Zonal "7 3 t The report said that mixing zones should be considered Ion a case-by-casc basis, because each proposed site in* 'volvet a unique set of pertinent considerations. These include the nature, quantity, and concentration of ef* fluent material; the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the mixing area and receiving waters; and the desired uses of the waters. However, the academy's general recommendation was that the total time*toxicity exposure history should not cause deleterious effects In affected populations of bn* portant species, including the post-exposure effects. Categories of Pollutants . .. For temperature, NAS said the recommendations in cluded in the report on fresh water appear to be valid for estuarine and marine waters as well. However, additional studies are needed on the temperature tolerances of species directly involved. Inorganics The NAS recommendations for inorganic chemicals, Including heavy metals and pH are as follows: The normal range of pH in either direction should not be extended by more than .2 units. Within the normal range, the pH should not vary by more than .5 unit. Addition of foreign material should not drop the pH below 6.5 or raise it above 8,5. An application factor of .Ot should be applied to marine 96-hour lethal concentration (LC,0. median) data for the appropriate organisms most sensitive to aluminum. Concentrations of aluminum exceeding 1.5 milligrams per liter (mg/I) constitute a hazard and concentrations less than .2 mg/I present minimal risk of deleterious effects. An application factor of .1 should be applied to marine 96-hour LC>0 data for the appropriate organisms moat aensitive to ammonia. Concentration! of un-ioned am monia equal to or exceeding .4 mg/I constitute a hazard and concentrations less than .01 mg/I present minimal risk of deleterious effects. An application factor of .02 should be applied to marine 96-hour LC*# data for the appropriate organisms most sensitive to antimony. Concentrations of antimony equal to or exceeding .2 mg/I constitute a hai.ard. Data re not available for recommending a concentration which would present minimal risk of deleterious effects. An application factor of .01 should be applied lo marine .96-hour LCjq data for the appropriate organisms most sensitive to arsenic. Concentrations of arsenic equal to or exceeding .05 mg/I constitute a hazard and concern trations less than .01 mg/I present minimal risk of deleter ious effects. An application feclor of 4)5 riiould b* applied in marine 96-hour LCj* data for the appropriate organisms most sensitive to barium. Concentrajions of barium equal to or exceeding one mg/I constitute a hazard and concen trations less than .5 mg/I preaent minimal risk of deleter ious effects. An application factor of .01 should be applied to marine 96*hour LC*# data for the appropriate organisms most sensitive to beryllium. Concentrations of beryllium aqua) to or exceeding 1.5 mg/I constitute a hazard and concentrations less than .1 mg/1 present minimal risk of deleterious effects. Concentrations of boron equal to or exceeding five mg/I constitute a hazard and concentrations less than five mg/I present minimal risk of deleterious effects. An application factor of .1 was recommended for boron compounds applied to marine 96*hour LCJ0 data for sea water. Free bromine in the marine environment should not exceed .1 mg/1 and ionic bromine in the form of bromate should not exceed 100 mg/I. An application factor of .01 should be applied lo marine 96-hour LC(0 data for appropriate organisms most sensitive to cadmium. Concentrations of cadmium equal to or exceeding .01 mg/I constitute hazard and concen trations less than .2 microgram per liter present minimal risk of deleterious effects. In the presence of copper and/or zinc at one mg/1, the application factor for cadmium should be lower by at least one oider of magnitude. Cadmium criteria for aquatic life should also apply to wildlife. An application factor of .1 should be applied lo marine, 96-hour LC$o data from sea water bioassays for the most sensitive species to be protected from chlorine. Free residual chlorine in set water in excess of .01 mg/t can be hazardous to marine life. However, in the absence of dsts, it is premature to advance recommendations. An application factor of .01 should be applied to marine 96-hour LCS0 data for the appropriate organisms most sensitive to chromium. Concentrations of chromium equal to or exceeding .1 mg/I constitute a hazard and concentrations less than .05 mg/I present minimal risk of deleterious effects. In oyster areas, concentrations should be maintained at teas than .01 mg/I. An ^plication factor of .01 should be applied to marine 96-hour LC* data for the appropriate organisms most aensitive to copper. Concentrations of copper equal to or exceeding .05 mg/I constitute a hazard and concen trations less than .01 micrograms per liter present minimal risk of deleterious effects. Copyright e tf73 by Th* Buriau ( Notional Affair*. Inc. MGNS 082344 702 Cy<nW*i An Application factor of .1 should be applied to marine 96-hour LTt* data for the Appropriate organism* most sensitive to cyanide. Concent rations of cyanide equal to or exceeding .01 mg/1 constitute a hazard and concertin' lions less than .005 mg/I present minimal risk of deleter ious effects. An epplication factor of .1 should be applied to marine 96-hour LCio data Tor the appropriate organisms most sensitive to fluoride. Concentrations of fluoride equal to or exceeding I.S mg/I constitute a hazard and concentra tions leu than .S mg/I present minimal risk of deleterious affectr. Concentrations qf iron equal to or exceeding .3 mg/I constitute a hazard and concentrations leu than .0$ present minimal risk of deleterious effects. Concentration! of lead In sea water should not exceed' .02 of the 96-hour LCjo for the most sensitive species and the 24-hour average concentration should not exceed ,01 or the 96-hour LCj<>. Concentrations of lead equal to or exceeding .05 mg/I constitute a hazard and concentra tions less than .01 mg/I present minimal riak of deleteri ous effects. Special efforts should be made to reduce lead concentrations even further in oyster-growing areas. An application factor of .02 of the 96-hour LC*0 for the organisms most sensitive to manganese was recom mended. Concentrations of .1 mg/I may constitute a hazard and concentrations of leu thin .02 mg/I present minimal risk. Concentrations of mercury equel to or exceeding .10 micrograms per liter constitute e hazard. Recommenda tions established to protect aquatic life and public water supplies also should apply to wildlife. Concentrations of molybdenum in sea water should not exceed .OS of the 96-hour LC for the most sensitive species and the 24-hour average should not exceed .02 of the 96-hour LC. An application factor of .02 should be applied to 96-hour LCio data on the organisms most sensitive to nickel. Concentrations of nickel in exccu of .1 mg/1 would pose hazard and concentrations of .002 mg/1 would pose minimal risk. An application factor of .01 should be applied to marine 96-hour LC data for the appropriate organisms most sensitive to elemental phosphorus. Concentrations equal to or exceeding one microgram per litci constitute a hazard. _ An application factor of .01 should be applied to marine 96-hour LC* data lorappropriateorganisms most sensitive to selenium. Concentrations equal to or exceed ing .01 mg/l constitute a hazard and concentration* less than .005 mg/i present minimal risk of deleterious effects. Concentrations of silver in marine water should not exceed .05 of the 96-hour LCo for the moat sensitive species. Concentrations equal (o or exceeding five micro grams per liter constitute a hazard and concentrations leaa than one microgram per liter present minimal risk. An application factor of .I should be applied to marine 96-hour U'so data for the appropriate otganhms moat sensitive to sulfide. Concentrations equal to or exceeding .01 mg/t constitute a hazard and concentrations lets than ENVIRONMENT REPORTER .005 mg/l present minimal risk, If the pH is maintained within a range of 6.5 to 8.5. Because of the chronic effect oflong-term exposure of fish to thallium, tests should be conducted for at least 20 days on sensitive species. Techniques should measure circulatory disturbances and other sublethal effects. Con centrations equal to or exceeding .! mg/l constitute a hazard and concentrations less than 05 mg/l present minimal risk. An application factor of .01 should be applied to marine 96-hour LCSo date for the appropriate organisms most sensitive to uranium. Concentrations equal to or exceeding .5 mg/l constitute a hazard and concentrations less than .1 mg/l present minimal risk. Concentrations of vanadium in sea water should not exceed .05 of the 96-hour LCo for the most sensitive species. An application factor of .01 should be applied to marine 96-hour LCj date for the appropriate organisms most sensitive to zinc. Concentrations equal to or exceed ing .1 mg/l constitute a hazard and concentrations less than .02 mg/l present minimal risk. Oil in See Water NAS said no oil or petroleum products that can be detected as a visible film, sheen, or discoloration of the surface, that can be detected by odor, that can cause tainting of flth or edible Invertebrates or dsnage the biota, or that can form an oil deposit on the shores or bottom of the receiving body of water should be dis charged into estuarine or coastal waters. Accidental releases of oil to the marine environment rftould be reclaimed or treated as expeditiously as possible using procedures at least equivalent to thoee provided in the 1970 National Contingency Plan. To protect marine wildlife, a monitoring program should follow long-term trends in petroleum ter accumula tion in selected areas of the oceans, no oH exploration or drilling should be permitted within existing or proposed sanctuaries, parks, reserves or other protected areas, and oil exploration or drilling should not be conducted in a manner which could deleteriously affect special subject to interstate or international agreements. To minimize damage to the marine biota, oil on the sea surface should be contained by booms and recovered by use of surface skimmers or similar techniques and oil on beaches should be mechanically removed using straw, peat moss, or other appropriate techniques that wilt produce minimal adverse effects on the biota. In the event of a tanker wreck, oil remaining in the hulk should be off loaded. Failing recovery of oil from the sea surface or from a wrecked tanker, efforts should be made to bum it in plaoe. Dispersants of minimal possible toxicity should be used only when necessary to avoid even greater hazaid to the environment. NAS did not recommend sinking of oil. NAS said the concentration of radioisotopes in see water shtmld be low enough so that the concentration in any marine species will not exceed the Federal Radiation Council's radiation protection guides lor organism har vested for use re human food. This recommendation is based on the resumption that radiation concentrations. EnvUftfMnt MQNS 082345 CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS m which arc acceptable ai human food, will not Injun aquatic organisms, including wildlife. . Sewage and Nutrients Water Reaouroes NAt REPORT URGES STRINGENT MCTHOOS TO CONTROL WASTE INPUTS, LAND DRAINAGE NAS said untreated or treated municipal sewage dis charge* should be recognised as a major source of toxic substances. Recommendations for these pollutants will limit (he amount of sewage effluent that can be dispersed Into estuaries. Reduced degradation rates of highly dis persed materials should be considered If the effluent contains refractory organic material. NAS said that while undegradable synthetic organic compounds do not causa oxygen depletion, they ean adversely affect an ecosystem. Specific quantitative analyses should be done to identity and assets the abundance of these compounds. The addition of any organic waste to the marine environment should be controlled to avoid decomposition which would reduce the oxygen content of the water below limits recommended for oxygen. Further, neither organic matter nor fertilizers should be added that will induce production of organic matter by normal biota to an extent causing an increase in the size of any nslurN anoxic zone in the deeper waters of an estuary. NAS said the natural ratios of available nitrogen to total phosphorus should be evaluated unde* each condi tion and the element actually limiting plant production should be determined. Disposal of sludge Into coastal waters should be recognized as a temporary practice, because such dumping can adversely affect aquatic organisms. NAS said disposal of organic wastes into the deep sea is not recommended until further studies on their fate, on their effect on fauna, and on the controllability of such a procedure turn been conducted. The study said that disposal of waste materials at sea should be controlled. Disposal should be permitted only when reasonable evidence is presented that ths proposed action will not seriously damage the marine biota, inter fere with fisheries operations or other uses of the marine environment, or cause hazards to human health and welfare. , Dredging In connection with dredging operations or other physical modification of harbors and estuaries which would increase the suspended sediment load, NAS made several recommendations. These included evaluation of More stringent methods to control and/or treat waste inputs tnd land drainage should be applied to Improve water quality as demand for use Increases, according to the National Academy of Sciences' draft of "Water Quali ty Criteria - 1972." NAS said that another general recommendation, which wmrid apply to a wide variety of receiving systems and pollutants. Is that consideration should be given to provtd* trig reserve capacity tn recognition of the HmHatiom of srater quality management programs. Further, biosssays and other appropriate tests should be made to obtain scientific evidence on the effect of waste water discharges on the environment and a survey of receiving systems should be made on a regular basis to assess the impact of discharges on the blolo^cil com munity. Fresh Water Life NAS said that in essential objective of fresh water quality is the protection of fish and other aquatic organ isms for sport or commercial harvesting. Although water quality characteristics in mixing zones can differ from those in receiving systems, to protect uses tn both tegions mixing zones should be free of matertali which form objectionable depodts; floating debris, scum, 08 and other matter; substances producing objectionable color, odor, taste, or turbidity, and conditions which produce objectionable growth of nuisance plants and animals. NAS said mixing zone characteristics should be defined on a case-by-case bads to avoid potential bfolo^cal damage or Interference with other uses of a receiving system. This action should be taken only after determina tion that the assimilative capacity of the receiving system can safely accommodate the dbcharget. To protect populations of rtonmobile benthic and \ sessile, organisms in mixing zones, NAS recommended thit the area of their habitat exposed to water quality poorer than recommanded receiving system qualify be minimized by discharge design. An alternative would be to define Intermittent time exposure history relationships for the organltmt' well-being. To protect drifting and both weak and strong swim ming organisms In mixing zones, NAS recommended that the range and types of particles to be resuspended and transported, where they will settle, and what substratum scientifically valid data be developed to demonstrate that the organisms can survive the integrated time exposure changes or modifications could be created by proposed history based on maximum expected residence time. activities in both the dredged and disposal areas. NAS said application factors should be incorporated NAS also recommended determination of the biological activity of the water column, the sediment-water Inter face, and the substrate material to depths which contain burrowing organisms; estimation of the potential release Into bloaisay extrapolation procedures to provide an adequate margin of safety when summations of shoit-term exposure are developed. When two plumes are contiguous or overlap and syn- I Into the water column of sediments; and establfahment of the expected relationship between properties or the sue* pended load and the permanent resident specie! of the area and their ability to repopulate the area and the transitory species which use the erea only at certain Mesons of the year. tergiitic effects do not occur, NAS said aquatic life rfiould be protected if the sum of the fractions of integrated time exposure effects for each plume If the total Is equal to or lew than .5. Alternatively, protection should be provided If the sum of the fractions for both plumes is equal to or fen than one. Copyright t 197) by The bureau ef Natlenet Affelrt, Inc. MUNS 082346