July 2, 2012 Documentation for Survey Design Values Spreadsheet | pg 1 Date July 2, 2012
To The Section 316(b) Existing Facilities Rule Record
From Erik Helm, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Subject 316(b) Stated Preference (SP) Survey – Documentation for Survey Design Values S p readsheet Methods used to calculate baseline and changes to a ttribute values in the 316(b) stated preference (SP) survey were described in a previous memorandum (“ Attribute Calculations within the 316(b) Stated Preference (SP) Survey”, DCN 11-4533). In this brief memo, we point to locations in summary calculation spreadsheets (“316(b) Survey design values”, DCN 11-4523) where baseline values are presented, and briefly describe any calculations th at occur within these sh eets. The following four sections address the four environmental attributes included in the SP survey: (1) commercial fish populations, (2) fish populations (all fish), (3) fi sh saved, and (4) condition of aquatic ecosystems. 

### 1 Commercial Fish Populations All values used to calculate baseline commercial fi sh population attributes for marine stocks were obtained from Appendix 4 of NMFS (2010). These values, separated by stock, are presented in the worksheet “Q4.2010.Fish”. Each stock received a sco re of 0 or 1 using the FSSI criteria that stock biomass is at or above 80% of the biomass that produces maximum sustainable yield (column “Sustainable”). Stocks were grouped into survey regions prior to calc ulating regional attribute values. Grouped values are found in the ‘Calculations for “Commercial Fish Populations’” box. Although inland fish stock values came from a wide r variety of sources, all data are found in the worksheet “Inland Fish”. For each data source (e.g., elect rofishing, catch per unit effort, seining, etc.), the average ratio of the most recent year of data to the maximum observed catch was calculated (see columns titled “2007/max” and “Ratio”) for commercially targ eted species. These averag e values were themselves averaged for water bodies inside and outside th e Great Lakes (See boxes “Combined Averages, 316b Inland” and “Combined Averages, Great Lakes”) fo r commercial species. An overall average value (box “Combined Averages, Survey Inland ”) was calculated as the average for the Great Lakes and non-Great Lakes regions. Preliminary scoping exercises used to estimate maxi mum changes for the commercial fish populations attribute are described in a separate memorandum to the 316(b) rulemaking record (“316(b) Stated Preference (SP) Survey – Overview of Preliminary Modeling Exercises for Attribute Values”, DCN 11- 4534). 

### 2 Fish Populations (All Fish) All values used to calculate baseline Fish Population (All Fish) attributes for marine stocks are presented in the worksheet “Q4.2010.Fish”. Values from the colu mn “Numeric B/Bmsy” were averaged by survey region. These averages are presented in the box en titled ‘Calculations fo r “Fish Populations.’” Similarly to Commercial Fish Populations, baseline va lues for the fish population (all fish) attribute for freshwater species are found in the “Inland Fish” work sheet. Calculations for this attribute proceeded identically to those for the commercial fish populations attribute, with the exception that values for all species were included in calculation. Final attribute values are found in the “Combined Averages, Survey Inland” box. Preliminary scoping exercises used to estimate maxi mum changes for the fish populations (all fish) attribute are described in a separate memorandum to the 316(b) rulemaking record (“316(b) StatedJuly 2, 2012 316(b) SP Survey -Documentation for Survey Design Values Spreadsheet | pg 2 Preference (SP) Survey – Overview of Preliminary Modeling Exercises for Attribute Values”, DCN 11- 4534). 

### 3 Fish Saved Values used to estimate the fish saved attribute ar e presented in the worksheet “I&E Losses”. Raw model output is provided for all four pr oposed options, initially separated by losses at manufacturing facilities (e.g., option.mn1) and generating f acilities (e.g., option.t1). EPA generated preliminary estimates of baseline age-1 equivalent (A1E) losses and A1E reduc tions for each SP survey region by aggregating estimates from those benefits regions presented in th e Environmental and Economic Benefits Analysis (EEBA) for the proposed rule (USEPA 2011) as follows: Table 1—Matching of EEBA Benefits Regions to SP Survey Regions EEBA Benefits Region SP Survey Region
California Pacific
Great Lakes Inland
Inland Inland
Gulf of Mexico Southeast
South Atlantic Southeast
Mid-Atlantic Northeast
North Atlantic Northeast All Benefits Regions National Following this first round of aggregation to SP su rvey regions, separate values for manufacturing and generating facilities were combined for each regul atory option. EPA then calculated minimum and maximum percent fish saved values by comparing redu ctions under regulatory op tions to baseline losses. 

### 4 Condition of Aquatic Ecosystems All values used to calculate base line attribute values for the Condition of Aquatic Ecosystems are found in the worksheet “Ecosystem Condition”. In this sheet, aquatic ecosystem condition values are presented by reference in separate boxes. In each reference-sp ecific box, scores from all data points collected are presented. The number of sites from which data are presented, the average score, and maximum score are summarized (by region) in the columns “Sites”, “Avg. Sc ore”, “Max”, and “Percent”. Within each survey region, the presented baseline values are the average va lue for all identified references. For the national survey region, the baseline value represents th e average of all regional baseline values. Preliminary scoping exercises used to estimate maximu m changes in the condition of aquatic ecosystem attribute are described in a separate memorandum to the 316(b) rulemaking record (“316(b) Stated Preference (SP) Survey – Overview of Preliminary Modeling Exercises for Attribute Values”, DCN 11- 4534). 

### 5 References National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). 2010. Annual Report to Congress on the Status of U.S. Fisheries - 2009. Silver Spring, MD.July 2, 2012 316(b) SP Survey -Documentation for Survey Design Values Spreadsheet | pg 3 USEPA, 2011. Environmental and Econ omic Benefits Analysis for the Proposed Section 316(b) Existing Facilities Rule. Office of Science and Technology, Engineering and Analysis Division. EPA 821-
R-11-002.