## MEMORANDUM

TO: Steam Electric Point Source Category ELG Rulemaking Record

FROM: Jill Lucy , ERG

DATE: September 29, 2015

SUBJECT: DRAFT Wildlife and Human Health Module s Supporting Documentation

( DCN SE 0 4 4 52 )

1.0 S UMMARY OF 

### S UPPORTING 

### D OCUMENTATION


### ERG supported t he U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the development of final effluent limitations guidelines and standards (ELGs) for the Steam Electric Power Generating Point Source Category (40 CFR Part 423). ERG developed the following resources to evaluate the impact that sediment concentrations pose to aquatic life; calculate pollutant concentrations in exposed fish populations; evaluate the potential adverse effects to minks and eagles from the consumption of fish; and calculate non

- cancer and cancer risks to human populations from the consumption of fish under current ( i.e.
, baseline) discharge practices and potential improvement s associated with the r egulatory options (Options A, B, C, D, and E) : 1



###  Immediate Receiving Water (IRW) Model: Wildlife and Human Mod ule s

.

 IRW Model: Wildlife and Human Modules Comparisons Database.

 I RW Model: Fish Tissue Screening Level Database.

 IRW Model: Wildlife and Human Modules Summary Tables Database

.

 IRW Model: Wildlife and Human Modules Summary Tables Spreadsheet.

The results of these analyses are presented in the Environmental Assessment fo r the Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Steam Electric Power Generating Point Source Category (EA Report), Document No. EPA

- 821

- R

- 15

- 006 (DCN SE04527)

. The methodology of the IRW model: wildlife and human health module s is presented in the following documentation:

 Fish Consumption Rates Used in the Environmental Assessment Human Health Module (DCN SE0 4482)

– This memorandum documents the selection of the fish consumption rates used for human receptors (cohorts) in the human health mo dule.

1 During development of the final rule, EPA decided not to base the final rule on Option F for existing sources due primarily to the high cost of that Option, particularly in light of the costs associated with other rulemakings expected to impact the steam electric power generati ng industry (see Section VIII.C.1 of the preamble). As a result, EPA chose not to conduct particular analyses for Option F to the same extent that it did for some of the other options considered.

### Mem

orandum September 29, 2015 Page 2

 Water Quality Module Supporting Documentation (DCN SE04451)

– This

memorandum identifies the supporting documentation used to calculate the total and dissolved pollutant concentrations in the water column and total pollutant concentration in the sed iment, which are used as inputs in the wildlife and human health modules.

 EA Report, Section 5.1.2 (Wildlife Module) and Section 5.1.3 (Human Health Module)

– These sections of the EA Report provide overview s of the wildlife and human health module s.

 EA Report, Appendix D (Wildlife Module Methodology) and Appendix E (Human Health Module Methodology)

– These appendices present the module equations, input values, pollutant benchmarks, and methodology limitations/assumptions.

ERG completed modeling under t wo separate industry baseline scopes:

1. The “With CCR ” scope accounts for the Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) rulemaking. See the EA Report for the results of the analyses under this scope: 209 immediate receiving waters included in the IRW model used for the EA ( 188 steam electric power plants).
2. The “With CCR and CPP” scope accounts for both the CCR rulemaking and the Clean Power Plan [Clean Air Act Section 111(d)]. See Appendix I of the EA Report for the results of the analyses under this scope: 163 immediate receiving waters included in the IRW model used for the EA (143 steam electric power plants)

.
The results of the IRW model: wildlife and human health mod ule s are presented in the following sections of the EA Report :

 Section 6.2 ( Wildlife Impacts)

.

 Section 6.3 (Human Health Impacts).

 Section 7 .2 (Key Environmental Improvements)

.

 Section 7 .3 (Pollutant

- Specific Improvements)

.

 Section 9 (Conclusions)

.

 Appendix H ( Additional Model Results).

 Appendix I (Analysis for Alternate Scenario with Clean Power Plan).

Table 1 presents a comprehensive listing of the IRW model: wildlife and human health module s supporting documentation for the “With CCR” scope

. Table 2 presents a comprehensive listing of the IRW model: wildlife and human health module s supporting documentation for the “With CCR and CPP” scope. Th e table s provide the doc ument control number (DCN), title, and description of each record item, and identify wh ether the record item contains C onfidential Business Information (CBI).

### Mem

orandum September 29, 2015 Page 3

Table 1

. IRW Model: Wildlife and Human Health Module s Record Items

– With CCR

DCN Title (Date) Description CBI a
SE04555 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Human Health Module

- Baseline (CCR) (050815) Database used to quantify potential impacts to aquatic life, wildlife, and human health in the immediate discharge zone under baseline conditions. Generates inputs for the Fish Tissue Screening Level Database. This version accounts for the CCR rulemaking. Yes

SE04555 A1 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Human Health Module

- Option A (CCR) (050815) Database used to quantify potential impacts to aquatic life, wildlife, and human health in the immediate discharge zone under Option A. Generates inputs for the Fish Tissue Screening Level Database. This version accounts for the CCR rulemaking. Yes

SE04555 A2 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife an d Human Health Module

- Option B (CCR) (050815) Database used to quantify potential impacts to aquatic life, wildlife, and human health in the immediate discharge zone under Option B . Generates inputs for the Fish Tissue Screening Level Database. This version accounts for the CCR rulemaking. Yes

SE04555 A3 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife an d Human Health Module

- Option C (CCR) (050815) Database used to quantify potential impacts to aquatic life, wildlife, and human health in the immediate discharge zone under Option C . Generates inputs for the Fish Tissue Screening Level Database. This version accounts for the CCR rulemaking. Yes

SE0455 5 A4 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife an d Human Health Module

- Option D (CCR) (050815) Database used to quantify potential impacts to aquatic life, wildlife, and human health in the immediate discharge zone under Option D . Generates inputs for the Fish Tissue Screening Level Database. This version accounts for the CCR rulemaking. Yes

SE04555 A5 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife an d Human Health Module

- Option E (CCR) (050815) Database used to quantify potential impacts to aquatic life, wildlife, and h uman health in the immediate discharge zone under Option E . Generates inputs for the Fish Tissue Screening Level Database. This version accounts for the CCR rulemaking. Yes

SE04556A1 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Human Health Module

- Comparison Database

- Option A (CCR) (052715) Database used to compare the wildlife and human health module results between baseline and Option A. Generates inputs for the Wildlife Summary Table Generator and the Human Health Summary Table Generator. This version ac counts for the CCR rulemaking. Yes

SE04556A2 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Human Health Module

- Comparison Database

- Option B (CCR) (052715) Database used to compare the wildlife and human health module

resu lts between baseline and Option B . G enerates inputs for the Wildlife Summary Table Generator and the Human Health Summary Table Generator. This version accounts for the CCR rulemaking. Yes

SE04556A3 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Human Health Module

- Comparison Database

- Option C (CCR) (052715) Database used to compare the wildlife and human health module resul ts between baseline and Option C . Generates inputs for the Wildlife Summary Table Generator and the Human Health Summary Table Generator. This version accounts for the CCR

r ulemaking. Yes

SE04556A4 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Human Health Module

- Comparison Database

- Option D (CCR) (052715) Database used to compare the wildlife and human health module resul ts between baseline and Option D . Generates inputs for the Wildlife Summary Table Generator and the Human Health Summary Table Generator. This version accounts for the CCR rulemaking. Yes

### Mem

orandum September 29, 2015 Page 4

Table 1

. IRW Model: Wildlife and Human Health Module s Record Items

– With CCR

DCN Title (Date) Description CBI a
SE04556A5 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Human Health Module

- Comparison Database

- Option E (CCR) (052715) Database used to compare the wildlife and human health module resul ts between baseline and Option E . Generates inputs for the Wildlife Summary Table Generator and the Human Health Summary Table Generator. This version accounts for the CCR rulemaking. Yes

SE04557 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Human Health Module

- Fish Tissue Screening Level Database

- Baseline (CCR) (051915) Database used to compare fish advisory screening levels to the fish tissue concentrations calculated in the wildlife and hu man health module under baseline conditions. Generates inputs for the Wildlife Summary Table Generator and the Human Health Summary Table Generator. This version accounts for the CCR rulemaking. Yes

SE04557A1 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Human Health Module

- Fish Tissue Screening Level Database

- Option A (CCR) (051915) Database used to compare fish advisory screening levels to the fish tissue concentrations calculated in the wildlife and human health module under Option A. Generates inputs for the Wildlife Summary Table Generator and the Human Health Summary Table Generator. This version accounts for the CCR rulemaking. Yes

SE04557A2 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Human Health Module

- Fish Tissue Scr eening Level Database

- Option B (CCR) (051915) Database used to compare fish advisory screening levels to the fish tissue concentrations calculated in the wildlife and hu man health module under Option B . Generates inputs for the Wildlife Summary Table Generator and the Human Health Summ ary Table Generator. This version accounts for the CCR rulemaking. Yes

SE04557A3 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Human Health Module

- Fish Tissue Scr eening Level Database

- Option C (CCR) (051915) Database used to compare fish advisory screening levels to the fish tissue concentrations calculated in the wildlife and hu man health module under Option C . Generates inputs for the Wildlife Summary Table Generator and the Human Health Summary Table Generator. This version accounts for the CCR rulemaking

. Yes

SE04557A4 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Human Health Module

- Fish Tissue Scr eening Level Database

- Option D (CCR) (051915) Database used to compare fish advisory screening levels to the fish tissue concentrations calculated in the wildlife and hu man health module under Option D . Generates inputs for the Wildlife Summary Table Generator and the Human Health Summary Table Generator. This version accounts for the CCR rulemaking. Yes

SE04557A5 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Hu man Health Module

- Fish Tissue Scr eening Level Database

- Option E (CCR) (051915) Database used to compare fish advisory screening levels to the fish tissue concentrations calculated in the wildlife and hu man health module under Option E . Generates inputs for the Wildlife Summary Table Generator and the Human Health Summary Table Generator. This version accounts for the CCR rulemaking. Yes

SE04558A1 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Human Health Module

- Wildlife Summary Table Generator (CCR) (051915) Database used to summarize the wildlife modeling results for baseline and regulatory options. Generates the Wildlife Summary Tables spreadsheet. This version accounts for the CCR rulemaking. No

### Mem

orandum September 29, 2015 Page 5

Table 1

. IRW Model: Wildlife and Human Health Module s Record Items

– With CCR

DCN Title (Date) Description CBI a
SE04558A2 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and H uman Health Module

- Wildlife Summary Tables (CCR) (051915) Spreadsheet that summarizes the wildlife modeling results for baseline and regulatory options. This version accounts for the CCR rulemaking. No

SE0455 9 A1 F inal Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Human Health Module

- Human Health Summary Table Generator (CCR) (051915) Database used to summarize the human health modeling results for baseline and regulatory options. Generates the Human Health Summary Tables spr eadsheet. This version accounts for the CCR rulemaking. No

SE04559A2 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Human Health Module

- Human Health Summary Tables (CCR) (051915) Spreadsheet that summarizes the human health modeling results for baseline and re gulatory options. This version accounts for the CCR rulemaking. No

a

– Record items containing CBI have b een removed from the public re cord

.



### Table 2

. IRW Model: Wildlife and Human Health Module Record Items

– With CCR and CPP

DCN Title (Date) Description CBI a
SE04571 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Human Health Module

- Baseline (CPP) (061815) Database used to quantify potential impacts to aquatic life, wildlife, and human health in the immediate discharge zone under baseline conditions. Generates inputs for the Fish Tissue Screening Level Database. This version accounts for the CCR and CPP rulemakings. Yes

SE04571A1 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Human Health Module

- Option A (CPP) (061815) Database used to quantify potential impacts to aquatic life, wildlife, and human health in the immediate discharge zone under Option A. Generates inputs for the Fish Tissue Screening Level Database. This version accounts for the CCR and CPP rulemakings. Yes

SE04571A2 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Huma n Health Module

- Option B (CPP) (061815) Database used to quantify potential impacts to aquatic life, wildlife, and human health in the immedia te discharge zone under Option B . Generates inputs for the Fish Tissue Screening Level Database. This version accounts for the CCR and CPP rulemakings. Yes

SE04571A3 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Human Health Module

- Option C (CPP) (061815) Database used to quantify potential impacts to aquatic life, wildlife, and human health in the immediate discharge zone under Option C . Generates inputs for the Fish Tissue Screening Level Database. This version accounts for the CCR and CPP rulemakings. Ye s

### Mem

orandum September 29, 2015 Page 6

Table 2

. IRW Model: Wildlife and Human Health Module Record Items

– With CCR and CPP

DCN Title (Date) Description CBI a
SE04571A4 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Huma n Health Module

- Option D (CPP) (061815) Database used to quantify potential impacts to aquatic life, wildlife, and human health in the immediate discharge zone under Option D . Generates inputs for the Fish Tissue Screening Level Database. This version accounts for the CCR and CPP rulemakings. Yes

SE04571A5 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Huma n Health Module

- Option E (CPP) (061815) Database used to quantify potential impacts to aquatic life, wildlife, and human health in the immediate discharge zone under Option E . Generates inputs for the Fish Tissue Screening Level Database. This version accounts for the CCR and CPP rulemakings. Ye s

SE04572A1 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Human Health Module

- Comparison Database

- Option A (CPP) (061815) Database used to compare the wildlife and human health module results between baseline and Option A. Generates inputs for the Wildlife Summary Table Generator and the Human Health Summary Table Generator. This version accounts for the CCR and CPP rulemakings. Yes

SE04572A2 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Human Health Module

- Comparison Database

- Option B (CPP) (061815) Database used to compare the wildlife and human health module results between baseline and Option B . Generates inputs for the Wildlife Summary Table Generator and the Human Health Summary Table Generator. This version accounts for the CCR and CPP rulemakings. Yes

SE04572A3 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Human Health Module

- Comparison Database

- Option C (CPP) (061815) Database used to compare the wildlife and human health module results between basel ine and Option C . Generates inputs for the Wildlife Su mmary Table Generator and the Human Health Summary Table Generator. This version accounts for the CCR and CPP rulemakings. Yes

SE04572A4 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Human Health Module

- Comparison Database

- Option D (CPP) (061815) Database used to compare the wildlife and human health module results between ba seline and Option D . Generates inputs for the Wildlife Summary Table Generator and the Human Health Summary Table Generator. This version accounts for the CCR and CPP rulemakings. Yes

SE04572A5 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Human Health Module

- Comparison Database

- Option E (CPP) (061815) Database used to compare the wildlife and human health module results between baseline and Option E . Generates inputs for the Wildlife Su mmary Table Generator and the Human Health Summary Table Generator. This version accounts for the CCR and CPP rulemakings. Yes

SE04573 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Human Health Module

- Fish Tissue Screening Level Database

- Baseline (CPP) (061815) Database used to compare fish advisory screening levels to the fish tissue concentrations calculated in the wildlife and human health module under baseline conditions. Generates inputs for the Wildlife Summary Table Generator and the Human Health Summary Table Generator. This version accounts for the CCR and CPP rulemakings. Yes

### Mem

orandum September 29, 2015 Page 7

Table 2

. IRW Model: Wildlife and Human Health Module Record Items

– With CCR and CPP

DCN Title (Date) Description CBI a
SE04573A1 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Human Health Module

- Fish Tissue Screening Level Database

- Option A (CPP) (061815) Database used to compare fish advis ory screening levels to the fish tissue concentrations calculated in the wildlife and human health module under Option A. Generates inputs for the Wildlife Summary Table Generator and the Human Health Summary Table Generator. This version accounts for the CCR and CPP rulemakings. Yes

SE04573A2 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Human Health Module

- Fish Tissue Scr eening Level Database

- Option B (CPP) (061815) Database used to compare fish advisory screening levels to the fish tissue concentrations c alculated in the wildlife and human health module under Option B . Generates inputs for the Wildlife Summary Table Generator and the Human Health Summary Table Generator. This version accounts for the CCR and CPP rulemakings. Yes

SE04573A3 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Human Health Module

- Fish Tissue Scr eening Level Database

- Option C (CPP) (061815) Database used to compare fish advisory screening levels to the fish tissue concentrations calculated in the wildlife and hu man health module under Option C . Generates inputs for the Wildlife Summary Table Generator and the Human Health Summary Table Generator. This version accounts for the CCR and CPP rulemakings. Yes

SE04573A4 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Human Health Module

- Fish Tissue Scr eening Level Database

- Option D (CPP) (061815) Database used to compare fish advisory screening levels to the fish tissue concentrations calculated in the wildlife and hu man health module under Option D. Generates inputs for the Wildlife Summary Table Generator and the Human Health Summary Table Generator. This version accounts for the CCR and CPP rulemakings. Yes

SE04573A5 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Human Health Module

- Fish Tissue Scr eening Level Database

- Option E (CPP) (061815) Database used to compare fish advisory screening levels to the fish tissue concentrations calculated in the wildlife and hu man health module under Option E . Generates inputs for the Wildlife Summary Table Generator and the Human Health Summary Ta ble Generator. This version accounts for the CCR and CPP rulemakings. Yes

SE04574A1 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Human Health Module

- Wildlife Summ ary Table Generator (CPP) (061815) Database used to summarize the wildlife modeling results for baseline and regulatory options. Generates the Wildlife Summary Tables spreadsheet. This version accounts for the CCR and CPP rulemakings. No

SE04574A2 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Human Health Module

- Wildlife Summary Tables (CPP) (061815) Spreadsheet that summarizes the wildlife modeling results for baseline and regulatory options. This version accounts for the CCR and CPP rulemakings. No

SE04575A1 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Human Health Module

- Human Health Summary Table Gen erator (CPP) (061815) Database used to summarize the human health modeling results for baseline and regulatory options. Generates the Human Health Summary Tables spreadsheet. This version accounts for the CCR and CPP rulemakings. No

### Mem

orandum September 29, 2015 Page 8

Table 2

. IRW Model: Wildlife and Human Health Module Record Items

– With CCR and CPP

DCN Title (Date) Description CBI a
SE04575A2 Final Steam EA IRW

Model

- Wildlife and Human Health Module

- Human Health Summary Tables (CPP) (061815) Spreadsheet that summarizes the human health modeling results for baseline and regulatory options. This version accounts for the CCR and CPP rulemakings. No

a

– Record items containing CBI have b een removed from the public re cord.



### 2.0 C ORRECTIONS TO THE 

### IRW M ODEL 

### : W ILDLIFE AND 

### H UMAN 

### H EALTH 

### M ODULES


### As an outcome from the public review and comment process, ERG incorporate d the following correction to the IRW model: wildlife and human health module s :

 ERG revised the bioconcentration factor (BCF) for copper used in the wildlife module. At proposal, the wildlife module used a BCF of 0 for copper ( i.e., assumed no copper present in fish tissue). The BCF was based on a si ngle source

, [Benoit, 197 5 ] that reported a BCF of 0 in muscles of bluegills [ as listed in Stephan, 1993]. However, U.S. EPA water quality criteria guidance r ecommends using a BCF of 36 for "the edible portion of all freshwater and estuarine aquatic organi sms consumed by Americans ." The BCF developed by EPA was based on multiple studies, including the 1975 Benoit study. The BCF for shellfish ( scallops, oysters, clams, and mussels ) is even higher, with a geometric mean BCF of 290 [U.S. EPA, 1980; U.S. EPA, 2 002]

. ERG revised the wildlife module and set the BCF for copper equal to 36 for both trophic level 3 and trophic level 4 fish.

3.0 R EFERENCES


### Benoit, D.A. 1975. Chronic effects of copper on survival, growth, and reproduction of the bluegill (Lepomis macrochiu rs). Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 104: 353. (As cited in Stephan, 1993)

. ERG. 2015. “ Fish Consumption Rates used in the Environmental Assessment Human Health Module. ” (September 2 1 ). DCN SE04482. Stephan, C.E. 1993. Derivation of Proposed Human Health and Wildlife Bioaccumulation Factors for the Great Lakes Initiative (Draft). PB93

- 154672. Environmental Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, Duluth, MN. ( March )

. DCN SE01938.
U.S. EPA. 1980. Ambi e n t Water Quality Criteria for Copper (EPA

- 44 0

- 5

- 80

- 036). Washington, DC. (October). DCN SE04487. U.S. EPA. 2002a. National Recommended Water Quality Criteria: 2002. Human Health Criteria Calculation Matrix (EPA

- 822

- R

- 02

- 012). Office of Water. ( November) . DCN SE04485.