## MEMORANDUM

TO: Steam Electric Point Source Category ELG Rulemaking Record

FROM: Patrick Goodwin, ERG

DATE: September 30, 2015

SUBJECT: Fish Tissue Validation and Calibration (DCN SE06441)

This memorandum summarizes the result s of the validation a nd calibration efforts performed on the fish tissue concentr ations used in development of EPA’s Benefits and Cost Analysis for the Effluent Limitations Guide lines and Standards for the Steam Electric Power Generating Point Source Category (BCA Report), Document No. EPA-821-R-15-005.

Fish tissue validation and calibration efforts were performed by applying the Downstream Fish Tissue Validation and Calibra tion Model (DCN SE05596) to the calculated fish tissue concentrations for arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and assigning correction factors where the modeled fish tissue concentrations ex ceeded concentrations found in EPA’s National Lake Fish Study (NLFS) database 1 

### and EPA’s National Listing of Fish Advisories (NLFA) database. 2 

### EPA calibrated the fish tissue concentrations following the same order-of-magnitude adjustment methodology described in the memo randum “EA Model Validation and Calibration” (DCN SE01986).

EPA performed this analysis on two se parate industry baseline scopes:

1. The “With CCR” scope accounts for the Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) rulemaking and includes 188 steam elect ric power plants and 77,413 downstream COMIDs.

2. The “With CCR and CPP” scope accounts for both the CCR rulemaking and the Clean Power Plan [Clean Air Act Secti on 111(d)] and includes 143 steam electric power plants and 76,610 downstream COMIDs.

Tables 1 and 2 summarize the number of receiving water reaches (COMIDs) for each order of magnitude calibration factor for the “With CCR” and “With CCR and CPP” scopes,

1 This database presents the raw results from EPA’s lake fish study conducted between 2000 and 2003. EPA collected fish tissue samples from 500 lakes and reservoi rs selected randomly from the estimated 147,000 target lakes and reservoirs in the lower 48 states. For further information on EPA’s lake study see http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/fishstudies/lakefishtissue_index.cfm

. 2 This database presents the raw sampling data for lake s and rivers from EPA’s NLFA database collected between 1967 and 2007. For further information on EPA’s NLFA see: http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/fishshellfish/fishadvisories/index.cfm

.

### Memorandum September 30, 2015 Page 2

respectively. Attachment A presents the calibra tion factors assigned to the downstream waters by COMID.

Table 1. Number of COMIDs from Downstrea m Receiving Water Model by Fish Tissue Calibration Factor (with CCR)

Calibration Factor Number of COMIDs from Downstream Receiving Water Model (Percent of Total COMIDs in Model) As Cd Hg Pb 10,000 -- -- -- -- 1,000 1 (<1%) -- 1 (<1%) -- 100 4 (<1%) -- 32 (<1%) -- 10 -- 13 (<1%) 91 (<1%) 4 (<1%) Total COMIDs Adjusted 5 (<1%) 13 (<1%) 124 (<1%) 4 (<1%)



### Table 2. Number of COMIDs from Downstrea m Receiving Water Model by Fish Tissue Calibration Factor (with CCR and CPP)

Calibration Factor Number of COMIDs from Downstream Receiving Water Model (Percent of Total COMIDs in Model) As Cd Hg Pb 10,000 -- -- -- -- 1,000 1 (<1%) -- -- -- 100 4 (<1%) -- 25 (<1%) -- 10 -- 13 (<1%) 85 (<1%) 4 (<1%) Total COMIDs Adjusted 5 (<1%) 13 (<1%) 110 (<1%) 4 (<1%)

### Attachment A September 30, 2015 Page A-1

Table A-1. Arsenic Fish Tissue Calibration Factors for Downstream Receiving Water Model Results (with CCR)

COMID Unadjusted Modeled Fish Concentration (mg/kg) Calibration Factor Reason for Calibration Factor

[CBI has been removed from this document] 3,818.89 1,000

[CBI has been removed from this document] 215.02 100 189.10 100 268.61 100 443.99 100



### Table A-2. Cadmium Fish Tissue Calibration Factors for Downstream Receiving Water Model Results (with CCR)

COMID Unadjusted Modeled Fish Concentration (mg/kg) Calibration Factor Reason for Calibration Factor

[CBI has been removed from this document] 20.48 10

[CBI has been removed from this document] 20.82 10 8.87 10 37.86 10 15.52 10 31.91 10 33.92 10 19.03 10 18.91 10 13.55 10 16.16 10 20.96 10 12.44 10

### Attachment A September 30, 2015 Page A-2

Table A-3. Mercury Fish Tissue Calibration Factors for Downstream Receiving Water Model Results (with CCR)

COMID Unadjusted Modeled Fish Concentration (mg/kg) Calibration Factor Reason for Calibration Factor

[CBI has been removed from this document] 1,030.66 1,000

[CBI has been removed from this document] 134.43 100 317.52 100 322.38 100 154.78 100 295.91 100 164.29 100 145.86 100 172.08 100 522.76 100 207.13 100 202.72 100 178.09 100 170.32 100 145.98 100 143.77 100 137.20 100 923.65 100 962.13 100 148.87 100 133.75 100 367.30 100 375.04 100 372.87 100 464.34 100 838.23 100 840.95 100 850.02 100 518.90 100 326.30 100 199.61 100 154.97 100 287.14 100 100.30 10 129.87 10 35.64 10 19.59 10 35.64 10 97.36 10 16.82 10 15.25 10 27.91 10 130.43 10 74.33 10 49.56 10 46.45 10 38.69 10 36.65 10

### Attachment A September 30, 2015 Page A-3

Table A-3. Mercury Fish Tissue Calibration Factors for Downstream Receiving Water Model Results (with CCR)

COMID Unadjusted Modeled Fish Concentration (mg/kg) Calibration Factor Reason for Calibration Factor

[CBI has been removed from this document] 33.82 10

[CBI has been removed from this document] 24.54 10 89.30 10 22.72 10 23.41 10 23.48 10 23.36 10 22.72 10 85.80 10 100.82 10 85.38 10 62.36 10 21.50 10 29.28 10 26.78 10 29.24 10 19.41 10 19.04 10 26.78 10 18.25 10 18.25 10 111.06 10 108.02 10 107.07 10 27.12 10 23.09 10 23.09 10 56.68 10 55.65 10 56.51 10 16.17 10 16.16 10 14.57 10 17.35 10 38.22 10 37.23 10 36.98 10 30.59 10 36.98 10 30.60 10 29.85 10 29.37 10 28.98 10 28.17 10 27.24 10 26.60 10 32.54 10 40.74 10

### Attachment A September 30, 2015 Page A-4

Table A-3. Mercury Fish Tissue Calibration Factors for Downstream Receiving Water Model Results (with CCR)

COMID Unadjusted Modeled Fish Concentration (mg/kg) Calibration Factor Reason for Calibration Factor

[CBI has been removed from this document] 34.02 10

[CBI has been removed from this document] 32.53 10 76.45 10 89.18 10 56.95 10 57.18 10 57.19 10 14.38 10 13.40 10 21.02 10 16.81 10 16.36 10 19.14 10 16.43 10 13.56 10 44.22 10 44.29 10 15.69 10 15.68 10 15.69 10 24.92 10 24.58 10 63.28 10 124.77 10 23.97 10 23.97 10 98.63 10 124.59 10



### Table A-4. Lead Fish Tissue Calibration Fa ctors for Downstream Receiving Water Model Results (with CCR)

COMID Unadjusted Modeled Fish Concentration (mg/kg) Calibration Factor Reason for Calibration Factor

[CBI has been removed from this document] 275.56 10 [CBI has been removed from this document] 121.54 10 389.87 10 108.67 10

### Attachment A September 30, 2015 Page A-5

Table A-5. Arsenic Fish Tissue Calibration Factors for Downstream Receiving Water Model Results (with CCR and CPP)

COMID Unadjusted Modeled Fish Concentration (mg/kg) Calibration Factor Reason for Calibration Factor

[CBI has been removed from this document] 3,818.89 1,000

[CBI has been removed from this document] 215.02 100 189.10 100 268.61 100 443.99 100



### Table A-6. Cadmium Fish Tissue Calibration Factors for Downstream Receiving Water Model Results (with CCR and CPP)

COMID Unadjusted Modeled Fish Concentration (mg/kg) Calibration Factor Reason for Calibration Factor

[CBI has been removed from this document] 20.48 10

[CBI has been removed from this document] 20.82 10 8.87 10 26.47 10 10.85 10 22.31 10 23.72 10 19.03 10 18.91 10 13.55 10 16.16 10 20.96 10 12.44 10

### Attachment A September 30, 2015 Page A-6

Table A-7. Mercury Fish Tissue Calibration Factors for Downstream Receiving Water Model Results (with CCR and CPP)

COMID Unadjusted Modeled Fish Concentration (mg/kg) Calibration Factor Reason for Calibration Factor

[CBI has been removed from this document] 134.43 100

[CBI has been removed from this document] 317.52 100 322.38 100 154.78 100 295.91 100 807.96 100 380.19 100 146.80 100 143.63 100 707.85 100 742.83 100 148.87 100 133.75 100 367.30 100 375.04 100 372.87 100 464.34 100 838.23 100 840.95 100 850.02 100 518.90 100 326.30 100 199.61 100 154.97 100 287.14 100 100.30 10 129.87 10 35.64 10 19.59 10 35.64 10 97.36 10 16.82 10 15.25 10 27.91 10 130.43 10 74.33 10 49.56 10 46.45 10 38.69 10 36.65 10 33.82 10 24.54 10 89.30 10 22.72 10 23.41 10 23.48 10 23.36 10 22.72 10

### Attachment A September 30, 2015 Page A-7

Table A-7. Mercury Fish Tissue Calibration Factors for Downstream Receiving Water Model Results (with CCR and CPP)

COMID Unadjusted Modeled Fish Concentration (mg/kg) Calibration Factor Reason for Calibration Factor

[CBI has been removed from this document] 85.80 10

[CBI has been removed from this document] 100.82 10 85.38 10 125.97 10 120.41 10 103.03 10 101.46 10 96.78 10 78.21 10 76.05 10 75.38 10 27.12 10 23.09 10 23.09 10 56.68 10 55.65 10 56.51 10 16.17 10 16.16 10 14.57 10 15.52 10 38.22 10 37.23 10 36.98 10 30.59 10 36.98 10 30.60 10 29.85 10 29.37 10 28.98 10 28.17 10 27.24 10 26.60 10 32.54 10 40.74 10 34.02 10 32.53 10 76.45 10 89.18 10 56.95 10 57.18 10 57.19 10 14.38 10 21.02 10 16.81 10 16.36 10 19.14 10 16.43 10

### Attachment A September 30, 2015 Page A-8

Table A-7. Mercury Fish Tissue Calibration Factors for Downstream Receiving Water Model Results (with CCR and CPP)

COMID Unadjusted Modeled Fish Concentration (mg/kg) Calibration Factor Reason for Calibration Factor

[CBI has been removed from this document] 13.56 10

[CBI has been removed from this document] 44.22 10 44.29 10 15.69 10 15.68 10 15.69 10 24.92 10 24.58 10 63.28 10 124.77 10 23.97 10 23.97 10 98.63 10 124.59 10



### Table A-8. Lead Fish Tissue Calibration Fa ctors for Downstream Receiving Water Model Results (with CCR and CPP)

COMID Unadjusted Modeled Fish Concentration (mg/kg) Calibration Factor Reason for Calibration Factor

[CBI has been removed from this document] 275.56 10 [CBI has been removed from this document] 121.54 10 389.87 10 108.67 10