MEMORANDUM 

TO: Steam Electric ELG Rulemaking Record 

 

FROM: Lydia Lambert, ERG 

DATE: April 19, 2013 

 

SUBJECT: Supporting Documentation for Summarization of Environmental Assessment 

(EA) Analyses (DCN SE03892) 

1.0 SUMMARY OF SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

ERG is providing technical support to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 

for development of revised effluent limitations guidelines and standards (ELGs) for the Steam 

Electric Power Generating Point Source Category. In support of the development of revised 

ELGs, ERG developed resources to summarize results of the following Environmental 

Assessment (EA) analyses: 

 Quantitative assessment of water quality impacts and potential impacts to wildlife and 

human receptors; and 

 Literature review, including documentation of environmental impacts from steam 

electric wastewater discharges and summary of damage cases. 

1.1 Quantitative Assessment

 The quantitative analyses are summarized by utilizing raw data files generated from 

resources documented in the following memoranda: 

 Pollutant Loadings Supporting Documentation Memorandum (DCN SE03887) – This 

memorandum identifies the supporting documentation used to calculate the pollutant 

loadings evaluated in the water quality model. 

 Water Quality Model Supporting Documentation Memorandum (DCN SE03888) – 

This memorandum identifies the supporting documentation used to calculate pollutant 

concentrations in the water column and sediment of the immediate receiving water 

and evaluate the impacts that receiving water concentrations pose to aquatic life and 

human health. 

 Wildlife and Human Health Models Supporting Documentation Memorandum (DCN 

SE03889) – This memorandum identifies the supporting documentation used to 

calculate pollutant concentrations in exposed fish populations, evaluate the potential 
Memorandum 

April 19, 2013 

Page 2 

adverse effects to minks and eagles from the consumption of fish, and calculate noncancer and cancer risks to human populations from the consumption of fish. 

 The summary results of the quantitative analyses under the current profile are presented 

in the Preamble and the following sections of the Final Environmental Assessment for the 

Proposed Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Steam Electric Power 

Generating Point Source Category (EA Report) (DCN SE01995): 

 Section 3.4 (Discharge to Sensitive Environments); 

 Section 4.1.1 (Factors Controlling Environmental Impacts in Surface Waters); 

 Section 6.2 (Key Environmental Improvements); 

 Section 6.3 (Pollutant-Specific Improvements); and 

 Section 6.4 (Improvements to Sensitive Environments and Watersheds). 

 A comprehensive listing of the quantitative summary documentation for the current 

profile is presented in Table 1-1 below. This table provides the document control number (DCN), 

title, and abstract of each record item, and identifies whether the record item contains 

Confidential Business Information (CBI). 

Table 1-1. Quantitative Summary Record Items 

DCN Title Abstract CBIa

SE03551 Preamble Data Calculations 

Database (082812) 

Database used to calculate a portion of the data presented in 

the Environmental Assessment Section of the Preamble. 

Yes

SE03552 EA Report Calculations 

Database (083012) 

Database used to calculate a portion of the data presented in 

the Final Environmental Assessment for the Proposed 

Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Steam 

Electric Power Generating Point Source Category Report. 

Yes

SE03553 General Environmental 

Improvements - Current 

Profile (082812) 

Spreadsheet that summarizes the general results from the 

Water Quality Model, Wildlife Model, and Human Health 

Model for baseline and options under the current profile. 

No 

SE03554 Pollutant Environmental 

Improvements - Current 

Profile (082812) 

Spreadsheet that summarizes the results for a specific 

pollutant from the Water Quality Model, Wildlife Model, 

and Human Health Model for baseline and options under the 

current profile. 

No

a – Record items containing CBI have been removed from the public record. 

1.2 Literature Review

The methodology of the literature review is presented in Appendix A (Literature Review 

Methodology and Results) of the EA Report. The summary results of the literature review are 

presented in the following sections of the EA Report: 

 Section 5.3.1 (Water Quality Impacts); 

 Section 6.2 (Key Environmental Improvements); 

 Section 6.3 (Pollutant-Specific Improvements); and 
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April 19, 2013 

Page 3 

 Section 7 (Conclusions). 

 A comprehensive listing of the literature review summary documentation is presented in 

Table 1-2 below. 

Table 1-2. Literature Review Summary Record Items 

DCN Title Abstract CBIa

SE01966 Final Determination of 

Identified Proven Damage 

and Recently Alleged 

Damage Cases 

Spreadsheet contains a full listing of the identified damage 

cases and EPA's designation (i.e., proven, potential, or 

rejected) as of September 18, 2012. Note that this file doesn't 

address the 19 damage cases identified in the EIP's 

December 2011 Report (Risky Business: Coal Ash Threatens 

America’s Groundwater Resources at 19 More Sites). These 

alleged damage cases have not been reviewed or confirmed 

by EPA. 

No

SE02156 Impact Case Study Analysis 

Database 

Database that contains a full listing of the potential and 

proven damage cases according to EPA's determination 

provided on September 18, 2012 and impact case studies 

identified in literature. Also contains queries that generate 

the counts and listings presented in Appendix A (Literature 

Review Methodology and Results) of the Final 

Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Effluent 

Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Steam Electric 

Power Generating Point Source Category Report. 

No

SE01962 Literature Search Database Database that contains a full listing of the resources EPA 

collected and/or reviewed over the course of the 

Environmental Assessment analysis. Also contains queries 

that generate the counts and listings presented in Appendix A 

(Literature Review Methodology and Results) and Section 

3.5 (Documented Environmental Impacts) of the Final 

Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Effluent 

Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Steam Electric 

Power Generating Point Source Category Report. 

No 

a – Record items containing CBI have been removed from the public record.