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 results of the validation and calibration efforts 

performed on the fish tissue concentrations used in development of EPA’s Benefits and Cost 

Analysis for the Effluent Limitations Guidelines 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 Calibration Model (DCN SE05596) to the calculated 

fish tissue concentrations for arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and assigning correction factors 

where the modeled fish tissue concentrations exceeded concentrations found in EPA’s National 

Lake Fish Study (NLFS) database1

 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 memorandum “EA Model Validation and Calibration” 

(DCN SE01986). 

EPA performed this analysis on two separate industry baseline scopes: 

1. The “With CCR” scope accounts for the Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) 

rulemaking and includes 188 steam electric 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 Section 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 reservoirs 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 lakes 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 calibration factors assigned to the downstream waters by 

COMID.

Table 1. Number of COMIDs from Downstream 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 Downstream 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 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] 

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 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] 

275.56 10 

[CBI has been removed 

from this document] 

121.54 10 

389.87 10 

108.67 10