Effluent Quality Assessment 

Chevron Port Tampa Terminal 

Hillsborough County 

NPDES #FL0035921 

Sampled August 25, 2008 

February 2009

Biology Section 

Bureau of Laboratories 

Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration 

Quality Manual No. 870346G 

NELAC Certification No. E31780
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Chevron Port Tampa Terminal, 550 Commerce Street, Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida, 33616. 

NPDES #FL0035921. Effluent samples for this facility were collected on August 25, 2008. 

Introduction 

Chevron Port Tampa Terminal is a petroleum products bulk storage facility. The effluent discharge is 

intermittent and rainfall dependent and consists of contact and non-contact stormwater and hydrostatic 

test water. Discharges range between 2,000 and 100, 000 gallons per day on an as needed basis. 

Effluent is discharged via emergency Outfall D-003 and Outfall D-004 to the Class II marine waters of 

Picnic Island Creek and thence to Tampa Bay. The points of discharge for Outfall D-003 and Outfall D004 are located approximately at latitude 27o 51’ 24” N, longitude 82o 32’ 13” W, and latitude 27o 51’ 29” 

N, longitude 82o 32’ 17” W, respectively. The facility does not have a design flow. The average annual 

daily flow through Outfall D-004 from August 2007 through July 2008 was 0.012 million gallons per day. 

Hydrostatic test water is potable city water that is used to fill a storage tank after completion of 

modifications or repairs to the tank. The terminal does not discharge any process wastewater. All process 

water is delivered to a petroleum recycler. Load-rack spills and precipitate from storage racks are routed 

to an underground storage tank for subsequent off-site disposal. 

The facility has no Administrative Orders, Consent Orders or mixing zones. A review of Discharge 

Monitoring Report Data for the past year revealed no permit violations. (Facility information provided by 

Jason Cohen FDEP Southwest District.) 

Methods 

Samples were collected from the EFF-4 NPDES sampling point for Outfall D-004 by Jason Cohen and 

Peter Wenner (FDEP Southwest District) following DEP-SOP-001/01 FS 2400 Wastewater Sampling. All 

DEP SOPs are available on the web at: http://www.floridadep.org/labs/qa/sops.htm. 

See Appendix A for the completed chain of custody form. 

The 48-hour acute screening toxicity tests and algal growth potential test were performed following 

internal DEP SOPs TA07_01, TA07_02, and TA08_01 through TA08_09. All internal DEP SOPs are 

available on the web at: http://www.floridadep.org/labs/cgi-bin/sop/biosop.asp. 

Although the 48-hour acute screening toxicity test does not reflect the required permit conditions, passing 

test results provide confidence that the required permit conditions would likely be met. 

Prior to test initiation, bioassay samples were aerated for 30 minutes at approximately 100 bubbles per 

minute, to decrease the dissolved oxygen concentration from 11.2 mg/L to 8.2 mg/L. 

An aliquot of the AGP sample was salinity adjusted to meet the minimum salinity requirements of the test 

species. Both a freshwater and a marine AGP test were performed. 

Toxicity Test Results 

Tests were performed August 26 - 28, 2008. 

Ceriodaphnia dubia 48-hour acute screening bioassay – LC50 > 100%, 0% mortality* in 100% sample at 

 48 hours 

Cyprinella leedsi 48-hour acute screening bioassay – LC50 > 100%, 5% mortality* in 100% sample at 

 48 hours 

The bioassay samples were not acutely toxic to the test organisms. 
2

See Appendix B for bioassay bench sheets. See Appendix C for results of the last 20 standard reference 

toxicant (SRT) tests and the bench sheets and statistical analyses of the SRT tests that correspond to 

these facility tests. See Appendix D for test organism receipts. 

*NOTE: In a 48-hour acute screening test of 100% effluent, mortality of <20% provides confidence that 

the effluent meets the acute toxicity criterion of Florida’s Surface Water Quality Standards (Rule 62-

302.500 (1)(a)4, F.A.C.). Mortality between 20-50% indicates low to moderate levels of toxicity, and 

further action may be required. Mortality of >50% indicates that the effluent fails to meet the minimum 

requirement to discharge to waters of the state (Rule 62-4.244(3)(a), F.A.C.). 

Algal Growth Potential 

The effluent Algal Growth Potential (AGP) was 19.4 mg dry wt/L of the unicellular green alga, 

Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, formerly known as Selenastrum capricornutum. Raschke and Shultz 

(1987) found that AGP values above 5.0 mg dry weight/L represent a “problem” threshold for fresh 

receiving waters, implying nutrient enrichment. The analytical chemistry suggests that the effluent is 

nitrogen-limited. The predicted AGPs based on inorganic nitrogen and total nitrogen concentrations were 

1.5 (±20%) mg dry wt/L and 76.2 (±20%) mg dry wt/L, respectively (Table 1; Miller et al. 1978). 

The salinity-adjusted effluent AGP was 3.0 U (U - Material was analyzed for but not detected; the report 

value is the minimum detection limit) mg dry wt/L of the saltwater species Dunaliella tertiolecta. Raschke 

and Shultz found that AGP values above 10.0 mg dry weight/L represent a “problem” threshold for marine 

receiving waters, implying nutrient enrichment (personal communication, Marshall Faircloth, et. al. FDEP, 

with Ron Raschke USEPA Region 4 1987). One potential reason for the lack of growth in the salinityadjusted sample is precipitation of enough orthophosphate by the added salts that the sample became 

extremely phosphorus-limited (Manahan 1994). 

See Table 1 for AGP results. 

Chemistry Results 

Total residual chlorine and total ammonia were not detected in the bioassay sample in the laboratory. The 

total ammonia concentration in the sample collected and preserved for chemical analysis was 0.034 

mg/L. Based on the pH, salinity, and temperature of the effluent as collected, the calculated unionized 

ammonia concentration was < 0.02 mg/L. 

Chemical substances of concern were not detected in the effluent at levels that did not comply with Class 

II marine water quality criteria (62-302.530, F.A.C.) or permit conditions. It should be noted that due to a 

priority Central Laboratory project, samples for metal and organic constituent analyses were not collected. 

The effluent’s fecal coliform bacteria concentration (590 colony forming units per 100 ml (CFU)) exceeded 

the water quality standard for fecal coliform bacteria in Class III marine waters (≤ 400 CFU/100 ml; 62-

302.530(6), F.A.C.) 

See Table 2 for results of analytes detected in the effluent, and corresponding limits. See Appendix E for 

a complete list of chemical analyses performed. See Appendix F for bioassay lab equipment. 

Conclusion 

The effluent sample collected from the NPDES sampling point for Outfall D-004 for this facility on August 

25, 2008, was not acutely toxic to either test species during the 48-hour acute screening bioassays. 

Although the marine AGP result was less that the method detection limit (likely due to nutrient removal by 

the salts added during salinity adjustment), the effluent AGP result exceeded the "problem” threshold for 

fresh receiving waters suggesting that nutrient enrichment may be an issue. The effluent’s fecal coliform 
3

bacteria concentration (590 CFU/100 ml) exceeded the water quality standard for fecal coliform bacteria 

in Class III marine waters (≤ 400 CFU/100 ml; 62-302.530(6), F.A.C.). Additional effluent water quality 

samples (not including metals or organic constituents) did not exceed any applicable water quality 

standards or violate any permit conditions. 

Literature Cited 

Miller, W. E., T. E. Maloney, and J. C. Greene. 1978. The Selenastrum capricornutum Printz algal 

assay bottle test. EPA-600/9-78-018. U. S. EPA, Cincinnati, Ohio. 126 p. 

Manahan, S. E. 1994. Environmental Chemistry, 6th edition. Lewis Publishers, USA. 811 pp 

Raschke, R. L. and D. A. Schultz. 1987. The use of the algal growth potential test for data assessment. 

J. Wat. Poll. Cont. Fed. 59(4): 222-227. 
4

Chevron Port Tampa Terminal

Inorganic Total

Location N:P ratio N:P ratio

Effluent 19.4 1.5 ± 0.3 24.5 ± 4.9 76.2 ± 15.2 94.6 ± 18.9 0.7 9.1

Predicted AGP

(TP) ± 20%

Table 1a. Measured and predicted algal growth potential (AGP; mg dry weight/L) for total soluble inorganic nitrogen 

(TSIN), orthophosphate (OP), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) limitation of the freshwater species 

Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata for samples collected from the Chevron Port Tampa Terminal on August 25, 2008.

AGP

(measured)

Predicted AGP

(TSIN) ± 20%

Predicted AGP

(OP) ± 20%

Predicted AGP

(TN) ± 20%

Chevron Port Tampa Terminal

Inorganic Total

Location N:P ratio N:P ratio

Effluent* 3.0 U 0.7 9.1

* - sample salinity adjusted to 7ppt

U - Material analyzed for but not detected; value reported is the method detection limit

Table 1b. Measured algal growth potential (AGP; mg dry weight/L) of 

the saltwater species Dunaliella tertiolecta and ratios of nitrogen to 

phosphorus for samples collected from the Chevron Port Tampa 

Terminal on August 25, 2008.

AGP

(measured)
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Chevron Port Tampa Terminal 

NPDES# FL0035921

Class III 

Criteria

Effluent 

Limits

Not Collected* - -

Aluminum ≤ 1,500 - -

Arsenic ≤ 50 - -

Cadmium ≤ 8.8 - -

Copper ≤ 3.7 Report -

Iron ≤ 300 Report -

Lead ≤ 8.5 Report -

Mercury ≤ 0.025 Report -

Nickel ≤ 8.3 - -

Selenium ≤ 71 - -

Silver ≤ 2.3 - -

Zinc ≤ 86 - -

Ortho-phosphate - - 0.057

Total Phosphorus - - 0.22

Total Ammonia - - 0.034

Un-ionized Ammonia - - ≤ 0.02 c

Nitrate and Nitrite - - 0.006 I

Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen - - 2

Organic Nitrogen - - 1.966 c

Total Nitrogen - - 2.006 c

Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) ≥ 4.0 s - 8.0

pH (SU) 6.5 - 8.5 s 6.5 - 8.5 s 8.3

Conductivity (μmhos/cm) - - 416

Temperature °C - - 32.4

Total Residual Chlorine (mg/L) ≤ 0.01 - 0.03 UQ£

Chlorophyll a (μg/L) - Corrected - - 26

Phaeophytin (μg/L) - - 6

Turbidity (NTU) < 29 t 12

CBOD, 5 day (mg/L), N - inhibited - - 5.9

Flow (MGD) - - 0.012 a

Cyanide (μg/L) ≤ 1.0 Report 0.005 U

Hardness (mg CaCO3) - - 119 £

Fecal Coliforms ≤ 400s # - 590

Value exceeds the Class III Water Quality Criteria or permit limits

a - Annual average

c - Value is calculated

s - Single sample

t - Shall not exceed 29 NTUs above background

I - The reported value is between the laboratory method detection limit and the laboratory practical quantitation limit

Q - Sample held beyond normal holding time

U - Material analyzed for but not detected; value reported is the method detection limit

£ - Bioassay laboratory measurement

* - Samples not collected due to priority event in Central Laboratroy

 # - If 10 or fewer samples are taken within a month, the single sample limit is 400 CFU (62-302.530(6), F.A.C.)

Nutrients (mg/L)

General Physical and Chemical Parameters

Microbiology (Number of colony forming units/100ml)

Table 2. Effluent limits, Class III Criteria for predominantly marine waters and chemical 

data for samples collected from the Chevron Port Tampa Terminal on August 25, 2008.

Effluent

Organic Constituents (μg/L)

Metals (μg/L unless otherwise noted) Not Collected*

-
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Appendix A. Chain of Custody Form 
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Appendix B. Bench Sheets 
8

Appendix B. (continued) 
9

Appendix B. (continued) 
10

Appendix B. (continued) 
11

Appendix B. (continued) 
12

Appendix B. (continued) 
13

Appendix C. SRT Bench Sheets and Statistical Analysis 

Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Bureau of Laboratories

Standard Reference Toxicant (SRT) Test Data - 48-hour Acute Toxicity

Ceriodaphnia dubia (water flea) - Sodium Chloride (NaCl)

Date LC50 Mean LC50 Std Dev Lower Control Limit Upper Control Limit

02/13/07 2.39 2.39 0.17 2.05 2.54

03/13/07 1.92 2.18 0.18 1.82 2.55

04/03/07 2.37 2.20 0.18 1.83 2.57

05/08/07 1.78 2.18 0.21 1.77 2.59

05/29/07 1.69 2.03 0.23 1.70 2.60

06/06/07 2.28 2.16 0.22 1.71 2.60

07/03/07 1.99 2.14 0.22 1.70 2.58

07/31/07 1.94 2.14 0.22 1.71 2.58

09/04/07 1.95 2.13 0.22 1.70 2.57

10/02/07 2.04 2.11 0.21 1.68 2.53

10/30/07 2.35 2.11 0.21 1.68 2.54

12/04/07 2.13 2.09 0.20 1.67 2.51

01/22/08 1.92 2.08 0.20 1.66 2.50

02/05/08 2.25 2.08 0.20 1.68 2.48

03/04/08 2.15 2.08 0.20 1.68 2.49

04/01/08 2.50 2.11 0.22 1.68 2.55

05/06/08 2.19 2.11 0.22 1.68 2.55

06/03/08 1.91 2.10 0.22 1.66 2.54

07/08/08 2.21 2.11 0.22 1.67 2.55

08/05/08 2.07 2.10 0.22 1.67 2.54

Means are of the last 20 SRT tests.

Lower Control Limit = mean - 2 * Std Dev CV = 10.32

Upper Control Limit = mean + 2 * Std Dev EPA reference 75th quartile CV = 29%

Standard Reference Toxicant Data 

Ceriodaphnia dubia 48 hour LC50

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

02/13/0703/13/0704/03/0705/08/0705/29/0706/06/0707/03/0707/31/0709/04/0710/02/0710/30/0712/04/0701/22/0802/05/0803/04/0804/01/0805/06/0806/03/0807/08/0808/05/08

Test Date

g/L NaCl

LC50 Mean LC50 Lower Control Limit Upper Control Limit
14

Appendix C. (continued) 

Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Bureau of Laboratories

Standard Reference Toxicant (SRT) Test Data - 48-hour Acute Toxicity

Cyprinella leedsi (bannerfin shiner) - Sodium Chloride (NaCl)

Date LC50 Mean LC50 Std Dev Lower Control Limit Upper Control Limit

02/14/07 8.92 8.92 0.49 7.12 9.10

03/14/07 7.75 8.34 0.48 7.16 9.09

04/03/07 8.50 8.39 0.48 7.19 9.12

05/08/07 9.07 8.22 0.52 7.18 9.25

05/30/07 8.85 8.62 0.53 7.23 9.32

07/03/07 8.67 8.33 0.50 7.34 9.32

07/10/07 8.52 8.36 0.49 7.38 9.34

08/01/07 7.7 8.31 0.51 7.29 9.34

09/05/07 9.06 8.34 0.54 7.26 9.42

10/02/07 8.55 8.43 0.47 7.45 9.35

10/30/07 8.72 8.43 0.47 7.48 9.37

12/04/07 7.71 8.36 0.47 7.41 9.31

01/08/08 8.7 8.35 0.47 7.41 9.30

02/05/08 8.92 8.42 0.46 7.50 9.33

03/04/08 7.89 8.42 0.46 7.50 9.33

04/01/08 8.24 8.42 0.45 7.51 9.33

05/15/08 8.1 8.39 0.51 7.36 9.41

06/03/08 8.21 8.37 0.51 7.34 9.40

07/08/08 8.04 8.33 0.50 7.32 9.33

08/05/08 7.76 8.33 0.50 7.33 9.33

Means are of the last 20 SRT tests.

Lower Confidence Limit = mean - 2 * Std Dev CV = 6.02

Upper Confidence Limit = mean + 2 * Std Dev EPA reference 75th quartile CV = 19%

Standard Reference Toxicant Data 

Cyprinella leedsi 48-hour LC50

4

6

8

10

02/14/0703/14/0704/03/0705/08/0705/30/0707/03/0707/10/0708/01/0709/05/0710/02/0710/30/0712/04/0701/08/0802/05/0803/04/0804/01/0805/15/0806/03/0807/08/0808/05/08

Test Date

g/L NaCl

LC50 Mean LC50 Lower Control Limit Upper Control Limit
15

Appendix C. (continued) 
16

Appendix C. (continued) 
17

Appendix C. (continued) 
18

Appendix C. (continued) 
19

Appendix C. (continued) 

Ceriodaphnia dubia Acute Standard Reference Toxicant Test 

DATE: 8-5-08 DURATION: 48 hr TOXICANT : NaCl 

SPECIES: Ceriodaphnia dubia

RAW DATA: Concentration Number Mortalities 

 (g/L) Exposed 

 .00 20 0 

 1.50 20 1 

 2.00 20 6 

 2.50 20 20 

 3.00 20 20 

 4.00 20 20 

 SPEARMAN-KARBER TRIM: 5.00% 

 SPEARMAN-KARBER ESTIMATES: LC50: 2.07

 95% LOWER CONFIDENCE: 1.95 

 95% UPPER CONFIDENCE: 2.20 

__________________________________________________________ 

Cyprinella leedsi Acute Standard Reference Toxicant Test 

DATE: 8-5-08 DURATION: 48 hr TOXICANT : NaCl 

SPECIES: Cyprinella leedsi 

 RAW DATA: Concentration Number Mortalities 

 (g/L) Exposed 

 .00 20 0 

 6.00 20 0 

 7.00 20 1 

 8.00 20 13 

 9.00 20 20 

 10.00 20 20 

 SPEARMAN-KARBER TRIM: .00% 

 SPEARMAN-KARBER ESTIMATES: LC50: 7.76

 95% LOWER CONFIDENCE: 7.53 

 95% UPPER CONFIDENCE: 8.00 
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Appendix D. Test Organism Receipt(s) 
21

Appendix D. (continued) 
22

Appendix E. Chemical Analyses performed on the effluent from the Chevron Port Tampa Termi

sampled on August 25, 2008.

Date Sampled Field ID Analyses Component Result Remark Units MDL 

8/25/2008 14:10 Effluent AGP/LN Algal Growth Potential 19.4 mg DryWt/L 0.3 8/25/2008 14:10 Effluent AGP/LN Algal Growth Potential-Salinity Adjusted 3 U mg DryWt/L 3 8/25/2008 14:10 Effluent Chlorophyll/Grain Size/BOD Chlorophyll-a, Corrected 26 ug/L 0.73 8/25/2008 14:10 Effluent Chlorophyll/Grain Size/BOD Biochemical Oxygen Demand-5 Day,N-Inhib 5.9 mg/L 0.2 8/25/2008 14:10 Effluent Chlorophyll/Grain Size/BOD Phaeophytin-a 6 ug/L 0.32 8/25/2008 14:10 Effluent Overflow Fecal Coliforms-Membrane Filter 590 #/100 mL 10 8/25/2008 14:10 Effluent Toxicology Bioassay-Acute-Screen-FW-C.dubia, LC50 100 L LC50 8/25/2008 14:10 Effluent Toxicology Bioassay-Acute-Screen-FW-Fish, LC50 100 L LC50 8/25/2008 14:10 Effluent Nutrients NO2NO3-N 0.006 I mg N/L 0.004 8/25/2008 14:10 Effluent Nutrients Kjeldahl Nitrogen 2 mg N/L 0.08 8/25/2008 14:10 Effluent Nutrients O-Phosphate-P 0.057 mg P/L 0.004 8/25/2008 14:10 Effluent Nutrients Total-P 0.22 mg P/L 0.02 8/25/2008 14:10 Effluent Nutrients Ammonia-N 0.034 mg N/L 0.01 8/25/2008 14:10 Effluent Nutrients Cyanide 0.005 U mg CN/L 0.005 8/25/2008 14:10 Effluent Nutrients Turbidity 12 NTU 0.1 8/25/2008 14:10 Effluent Field Parameter Specific Conductance 416 umhos/cm 8/25/2008 14:10 Effluent Field Parameter Sample Depth 0.2 m 8/25/2008 14:10 Effluent Field Parameter Temperature 32.42 C 8/25/2008 14:10 Effluent Field Parameter Dissolved Oxygen 7.97 mg/L 8/25/2008 14:10 Effluent Field Parameter pH 8.33 8/25/2008 13:55 Field Blank Chlorophyll/Grain Size/BOD Biochemical Oxygen Demand-5 Day,N-Inhib 0.2 U mg/L 0.2 8/25/2008 13:55 Field Blank Nutrients Kjeldahl Nitrogen 0.08 U mg N/L 0.08 8/25/2008 13:55 Field Blank Nutrients Ammonia-N 0.01 U mg N/L 0.01 8/25/2008 13:55 Field Blank Nutrients Total-P 0.02 U mg P/L 0.02 8/25/2008 13:55 Field Blank Nutrients Cyanide 0.005 U mg CN/L 0.005 8/25/2008 13:55 Field Blank Nutrients O-Phosphate-P 0.004 U mg P/L 0.004 8/25/2008 13:55 Field Blank Nutrients NO2NO3-N 0.004 U mg N/L 0.004 
23

Transaction Code NPDES NUMBER YR/MO/DA Insp Type Inspector Fac Type

1 N 2 5 3 F L 0 0 3 5 9 2 1 11 12 0 8 2 5 0 8 18 B 19 S 20 2

66

Transaction Code NPDES NUMBER YR/MO/DA Insp Type Inspector Fac Type

1 N 2 5 3 F L 0 0 3 5 9 2 1 11 12 0 8 2 5 0 8 18 X 19 S 20 2

66

Transaction Code NPDES NUMBER YR/MO/DA Insp Type Inspector Fac Type

1 N 2 5 3 F L 0 0 3 5 9 2 1 11 12 0 8 2 5 0 8 18 S 19 S 20 2

66

The Bioassay of the Chevron Port Tampa Terminal effluent 

sampled on August 25, 2008. NPDES #FL0035921.

Fill Out This Section For All Surface Water Discharger Inspections(CEI, CSI, CBI, PAI, XSI-RI Optional)

Remarks

The Priority Pollutants Analysis of the Chevron Port Tampa 

Terminal effluent sampled on August 25, 2008. NPDES 

#FL0035921.

Biological Analyses of the Chevron Port Tampa Terminal effluent 

sampled on August 25, 2008. NPDES #FL0035921.

Fill Out This Section For All Surface Water Discharger Inspections(CEI, CSI, CBI, PAI, XSI-RI Optional)

Remarks

Fill Out This Section For All Surface Water Discharger Inspections(CEI, CSI, CBI, PAI, XSI-RI Optional)

Remarks