Document MG77q4Z3Ek3zGwdepk18dpp2V

700 medium with minimum requirements of water quality. The major consideration It that the water acidity be relatively low to prevent corrosion of equipment. However, many operations require use of large quan tities of water with quality requirements relating to Impurity, type, and level. These operations are froth flotation, mine dump leaching, and secondary oil re covery, Water quality requirements needed for the manufacture of cement are minimal, the document said. The major consideration is the alkali content of process water. Water Resources NAS SAYS KNOWLEDGE OF LOCALITIES ESSENTIAL TO APPLICATION OF STANDARDS Knowledge of local environmental conditions is es sential prior to application of any water quality recom mendations for marine aquatic life and wildlife, according to a National Academy of Sciences' draft of "Water Quality Criteria - 1972" (Environment Reporter, August 10. p. 588 and August 17, p. 669). The NAS document dealt with maintenance of the marine ecosystem, ftsherier, 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 it requires an understanding of the circulation of water end the resultant mixing and dilution of pollutants, a knowledge of biological species, and determination of the mosl sensitive species, and an evaluation of the transport of materials through the food web. Water Quality Change The introduction of t chemical compound or a change in the physical environment can affect a natural marine ecosystem in several ways, (he report said. These changes include a reduction in the input of tolar energy Into the ecosystem, an increase in the input of organic matter and nutrients that might stimulate growth of undesirable species, and a reduction in the availability of nutrients by increased sorption and sedimentation. Changes also can create intolerable physical extremes for some organisms, kill or reduce the success of in dividual organisms, eliminate species, reduce species diver sity, decrease biomass, or increase biomass. Fish tries General requirements for water quality in relation to successful fisheries include favorable environmental con ditions at every location, which is required in the life histoiy of each species; freedom from tainting substances; absence of toxic conditions or substances; and absence of subtethal deleterious conditions. Further, (here should be water sufficient to maintain the health of the biological systems, which support useful species, and absence of environmental conditions, which re exceptionally favorable to parasites, predators, and competiton of uaeful species. V- //; ENVIRONMENT REPORTER Aquaculture Aquaculture is heavily dependent on high water quali ty. according to the NAS report. General recommendatious for the quality of water for use in culture include continuously adequate control of those materials and conditions, which are required Tor good health and efficient production of (he species and atosence of deleterious chemical and physical conditions. Other recommendations included environmental stabili ty and prevention of introduction of diseases. NAS sard specific requirements for each culture effort must he with reference to the species involved, the densities desired, and the operational design of the culture system. NAS laid it is difficult to sssess the potential yield from marine aquaculture, dependent as it is on a pnmilivc 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 (he next 1C years, the report said. Marina WUdlifa 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 are maintained. Further, these recommenda tions must protect wildlife from pollutants that are relatively persistent in the environment, transported 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 dso may apply to estuaries. NAS said it is not practical to make recommendations for the relatively persistent organic pollutants based on water concentrations, especially when partition coef ficients are unknown. Therefore, recommendations for the toxic organic compounds that are trophically accumulated by marine wildlife are based on concentrations in fidv NAS recommendations for marine wildlife are m fel lows: In the absence of data indicating (hat 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 prolect other marine organisms should apply. Polychlorinated biphenyl 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 25 or more fish of any species thsl is consumed by fhh-eating birds and mammals, within (he same size range as the fish consumed, rftould be no greater than 50 mkrograms/kg of the wet weight. The sum of the concentrations of aldrin, dteldrin, Environment Kvportvr OSW 032906 STLCOPCB4016868 CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS endrin, and heptachlor in any sample coniting of a homogenate of 25 or morz whole firii of any species that It consumed by fish-eating bird* and mammals, within the size range consumed* by any bird or mammal, should be no greater than five mfcrograms/kg of the wet weight. The concentration of any chlorinated hydrocarbons, including Hndane, chlordane, endotulfan, methoxychlor, mJrvx, toxaphene, and hexachlorobenzene, in any sample consisting of a homogenate of 25 or more whole Ash of any species that is consumed by fish-eating birds and mammals, within the site range that is coniumed by any bird ot mammal, should be no greater than SO micro* grams/kg of the wet weight. To reduce the incidence of lead poisoning fresh water and marine waterfowl, NAS recommended that nontoxic ahot be uied or that no further lead diot 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 the environment. Mixing Zones The report said that miring zones should be considered on a case-by-cue basis, because each proposed site in volves a unique aet 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 (he desired uaes 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 im 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 materia! should not drop the pH below 6.5 or raise it above 8.5. An application factor of .01 should be applied to marine 96-hour lethal concentration (1uCo. median) dat a for the appropriate organisms most sensitive to aluminum. Concentrations of aluminum exceeding 1.5 milligrams per liter (mg/i) constitute a hazard and concentrations leu than .2 mg/1 present minimal risk of deleterious effects. An application factor of .1 should be applied to marine 96-hotir LC(0 data for the appropriate organisms most sensitive to ammonia. Concentrations of un-ioned am monia equal to or exceeding .4 mg/I conatitute a hazard and concentrations less than .01 mg/I present minimal risk of deleterioui effects. An ^>pilctlon factor of .02 should be applied to 701 marine 96-hour LC(a data for the appropriate organisms moat aensftive to antimony. Concentrations of antimony equal to or exceeding .2 mg/I constitute a hazard Data are not available for recommending a concentration which would present minimal risk of deleterious effects. An application factor of .01 should be qrplied to marine .96-hour LC|# data for the appropriate organisms most sensitive to arsenic. Concentrations of arsenic equal to or exceeding .05 mg/I constitute a hazard and concen trations lets than .01 mg/I present minimal risk of deleter ious effects. An application fee lor of .05 should be applied to marine 96-hour LC* data for (he appropriate organisms most sensitive to barium. Concentrations of barium equri to or exceeding one mg/I constituted hazard and concen trations less than .5 mg/I present minimtl risk of deleter ious effects. An application factor of .01 should be applied to marine 96-hour LC}0 data for the appropriate organisms most sensitive to beryllium. Concentrations of beryllium equal to or exceeding 1.5 mg/1 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 LC,0 data for sea water. Free bromine in the marine environment should not exceed .1 mg/1 and ionic bromine In the form of bromite should not exceed 100 mg/ >. An application factor of .01 should be applied to marine 96-hour LC*o data for appropriate organisms most sensitive to cadmium. Concentrations of cadmium equal to or exceeding O' mg/I constitute a 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/I, the application factor for cadmium should be lower by at least one older of magnitude. Cadmium criteria for aquatic life should also apply to wildlife. An application factor of .1 should be applied to marine 96-hour LCJ0 data from sea water bioassays for the most sensitive species to be protected from chlorine. Free residual chlorine in sea water in excess of .01 mg/I can be hazardous to marine life. However, in the absence of data, it is premature to advance recommendations An application factor of .01 should be applied to marine 96-hour LC,0 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 less than .01 mg/I. An application factor of .01 should be applied to marine 96-hour LC|0 data for the appropriate organisms most sensitive to copper. Concentrations of copper equal to or exceeding .05 mg/l constitute a hazard and concen trations less than .01 micrograms per liter present minimal risk of delete rioos effect*. DSW 0 3 2 9 0 7 STLCOPCB4016869 r 702 CyanMet An application factor of .1 should be applied to marine 96-hour LC, data for the appropriate organisms moat teniitive to cyanide. Concentration! of cyanide equal to or exceeding .01 mg/I consti'ute a hazard and concentra tion! ten than .005 mg/I present minimal risk of deleter ious effects. An application factor cf .1 should be applied to marine 96-hour LC|| data for the appropriate organisms most sensitive to fluoride. Concentrations of fluoride equal to or exceeding I.S mg/I constitute a hazard and concentra tions less than .5 mg/I present minimal risk of deleterious effects. Concentrations Qf iron equnl to or exceeding J mg/I constitute a hazard and concentrations less than .05 present minimal risk of deleterious effects. Concentrations of lead in sea water should not exceed .02 of the 96-hour LC, 0 fo- the most sensitive species and the 24-hour average concentration should not exceed .01 or the 96-hour LC,0. Concentrations of lead equal to or exceeding .05 mg/I constitute a hazard and concentra tions lets than .0) mg/I present minimal risk 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 than .02 mg/I present minimal risk. Concentrations of mercury equal to or exceeding .10 micrograms per liter constitute a hazard. Recommenda tions established to protect aquatic life and public water supplies also riiould apply to wildlife. Concentrations of molybdenum in sea water should not exceed .05 of the 96-hour LC,0 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 LC(0 data on the o^animi most sensitive to nickel. Concentrations of nickel in excess of .1 mg/I would pose a hazard and concentrations of .002 mg/I would pose minimal risk. An application factor of .01 should be applied to marine 96-hour LC,0 data fo. the appropriate organisms most sensitive to elemental phosphoms. Concentrations equal to or exceeding one microgram per liter constitute a hazard. An application factor of .91 should be applied to marine 96-hour LC, 0 data for appropriateorganisms most sensitive to selenium. Concentrations equal to or exceed ing .01 mg/1 constitute a hazard and concentrations leu than .005 mg/I present minims] risk of deleterious effects. Concentrations of silver in marine water should not exceed .05 of the 96-hour LC,* for the most sensitive species. Concentrations equal to or exceeding five micro grams pei liter constitute a hazard and concentrations leu than one microgram per titer pesent minimal risk. An application factor of .1 sh'iuld be applied to marine 96-hour LC, data for the appropriate organisms most sensitive to suiftde. Concentrations equal to or exceeding .01 mg/1 constitute a hazard and concentrations lest than ENVIRONMENT REPORTER 005 mg/I present minimal risk, if the pH is maintained within a range of 6.5 to 8.5. Because of the chronic effect of long-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 .1 mg/I constitute a hazard and concentrations less than .OS mg/I present minimal risk. An application factor of ,01 should be applied to marine 96-hour LC,e data for the appropriate organisms most sensitive to uranium. Concentrations equal to or exceeding .5 mg/I constitute hazerd and concentrations leu than .1 mg/I present minimal risk. Concentrations of vinadium In sea water should not exceed .05 of the 96-hour LC, for the most sensitive species. An application facior of .01 should be applied to marine 96-hour LC,o data for the appropriate organisms most sensitive to zinc. Concentrations equal to or exceed ing .1 mg/1 constitute a hazard and concentrations leu than .02 mg/I present minima) risk. Oil In Sts Water NAS said no oil or petroleum products that can be detected as a visible film, rheen, or discoloration of (he surface, that can be detected by odor, that can cause tainting of fish or edible Invertebrates or damage 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 should be reclaimed or treated as expeditiously as possible using procedures at least equivalent to those provided in the 1970 National Contingency Plan. To protect marine wildlife, a monitoring program should follow long-term t>endt in petroleum tar accumula tion in (elected areas of the oceans, no oil 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 s manner which could deleteriously affect species subject to interstate or international agreements. To minimize damage to the marine biota, oil on (he sea surface should be contained by booms and recovered by uae of surface skimmers or similar techniques and oil on beaches should be mechanically removed using straw, peat moss, or other appropriate techniques that will 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 place. Dispersants of minimal possible toxicity should be used only when necessary to avoid even greater hazard to the environment. NAS did not recommend sinking of oil NAS said the concentration of radioisotopes in sea water rfiould be low enough so that the concentration in any marine species will not exceed the Federal Radiation Council's radiation protection guides for organisms har vested for uae as human food. This recommendation is bsued on the mumption that radiation concentrations. E hvi .hi Rma co o 0 oj m a je V) Q STLCOPCB4016870 CURRENT DEVELOPMENT which tic acceptable n human (bod, will not injure aquatic organisms, including wildlife. Sawape and Nutrient* NAS aaid untreated or treated municipal aewage dis charge* should be recognized at a major source of toxic substances. Recommendations for these pollutants will limit the 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 cause oxygen depletion, they can advereely affect an aeoayrtam. Specific quantitative analyses should be done to identify and assess the abundance of there compounds. The addition of ar.y organic waste to the marine environment should be controlled to avoid decomposition which would reduez the oxygen content of the water below limits recommended for oxygen. Further, neither oiganic matter nor fertilizers should be added that will induce production of organic matter by normal biota to in extent causing sn increase in the size of any naturil anoxic zone in the deeper waters of an estuary. NAS said the natural ratios of available nitrogen to total phosphomi should be evaluated under each condi tion md the element actually limiting (riant production tfiould be determined. Disposri of sludge into coastal waters should be recognized as a temporary practice, because such dumping can advereely affect aquatic otganismi. NAS said disposal of oiganic wastes into the deep set is not recommended until ftirther studies or their fete, on their effect on ftuna, and on (he controllability of such a procedure have been conducted. The study said that disposal of waste materials at sea should be controlled. Disposal rfiould be permitted only when reasonable evidence it presented that the proposed action will not seriously damage the marine biota, inter fere with fisheries operations or other uses of the marine environment, or mile 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 the range and types of particles to be resuspended and transported, where they will settle, and what substratum changes or modifications could be created by proposed activities in both the dredged and disposal areas. NAS alao recommended determination of the biological activity of the water column, the sediment-water inter face, and the substrate materia] to depths which contain burrowing organisms; es'lmation of the potential release Into the water column of sediments; and ettablbhment of the expected relationship between properties of the sus pended load and the permanent resident species of the area md their dbility to repopulate the area and the transitory specie* which use the area only at certain seeaons of the year. TO Water Resource* NAS REPORT URGES STRINGENT METMOOS TO CONTROL WASTE INPUTS, LAND DRAINAGE More stringent methods to control and/or treat waste inputs and 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 would apply to * wide variety of receiving systems and pollutanti, ia that consideration ihoidd be given to provid ing reserve capacity in recognition of the limitations of water quality management programs. Further, bioassays and other appropriate tests should be made to obtain scientific evidence on the effect of waste water discharges an the environment and a survey of receiving systems should be made on a regular basis to mess the impact of discharges on the biological com munity. Fresh Water Lila NAS said that ar. 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 in both regions mixing zones should be free of materials which form objectionable deposits; floating debris, scum, ofl 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 basis to avoid potential biological damage or interference with othei 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 discharges. To protect populations of nonmobile benthic and sessile organisms in mixing zones, NAS recommended that the area of their habitat exposed to water quality poorer than recommended receiving system qualify be minimized by discharge design. An alternative would be to define intermittent time exposure history relationships for the organisms' well-being. To protect drifting and both weak and strong swim ming organisms In mixing zones, NAS recommended that scientifically valid data be developed to demonstrate that the organisms can survive the integrated time exposure history based on maximum expected residence time. NAS said application factors should be incorporated into bioassay extrapolation procedures to provide an adequate margin of safety when summations of short-term exposure are developed. Uhen two plumes are contiguous or overlap and ayntergiatic effects do not occur, NAS said aquatic life rftotid be protected if the sum of the fractions of Integrated time exposure effects for each plume if the total is equal to or leaa than .5. Alternatively, protection should be provided if the sum of the fractions for both plume* la equal to or leaa than one. Capyrlght Iff) by THa Bvmv at Naftanal Affair*, Inc. DSW 032909 STLCOPCB4016871