MEMORANDUM

TO: Steam Electric Point Source Category ELG Rulemaking Record

FROM: Jill Lucy, ERG

DATE: September 29, 2015

SUBJECT: DRAFT Wildlife and Human Health Modules Supporting Documentation

(DCN SE04452)

1.0 SUMMARY OF SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

ERG supported the 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 improvements associated with the regulatory options (Options A, B, C, D, and E):

1

 Immediate Receiving Water (IRW) Model: Wildlife and Human Modules.

 IRW Model: Wildlife and Human Modules Comparisons Database.

 IRW 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 for 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 modules is presented in the 

following documentation:

 Fish Consumption Rates Used in the Environmental Assessment Human Health 

Module (DCN SE04482) – This memorandum documents the selection of the fish 

consumption rates used for human receptors (cohorts) in the human health module.

 

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 generating 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.
Memorandum

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 sediment, 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 overviews of the wildlife and 

human health modules. 

 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 two 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 modules 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

modules supporting documentation for the “With CCR” scope. Table 2 presents a comprehensive 

listing of the IRW model: wildlife and human health modules supporting documentation for the 

“With CCR and CPP” scope. The tables provide the document control number (DCN), title, and 

description of each record item, and identify whether the record item contains Confidential 

Business Information (CBI).
Memorandum

September 29, 2015

Page 3

Table 1. IRW Model: Wildlife and Human Health Modules Record Items – With CCR

DCN Title (Date) Description CBIa

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

SE04555A1 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

SE04555A2 Final Steam EA IRW 

Model - Wildlife and 

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

SE04555A3 Final Steam EA IRW 

Model - Wildlife and 

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

SE04555A4 Final Steam EA IRW 

Model - Wildlife and 

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

SE04555A5 Final Steam EA IRW 

Model - Wildlife and 

Human Health Module -

Option E (CCR) (050815)

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 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 accounts 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 

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 

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 

results 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 

rulemaking.

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 

results 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
Memorandum

September 29, 2015

Page 4

Table 1. IRW Model: Wildlife and Human Health Modules Record Items – With CCR

DCN Title (Date) Description CBIa

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 

results 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 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 

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 Screening 

Level Database - Option B

(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 B. Generates inputs for the Wildlife 

Summary Table Generator and the Human Health Summary 

Table Generator. This version accounts for the CCR rulemaking.

Yes

SE04557A3 Final Steam EA IRW 

Model - Wildlife and 

Human Health Module -

Fish Tissue Screening 

Level Database - Option C

(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 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 Screening 

Level Database - Option D

(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 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 

Human Health Module -

Fish Tissue Screening 

Level Database - Option E

(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 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
Memorandum

September 29, 2015

Page 5

Table 1. IRW Model: Wildlife and Human Health Modules Record Items – With CCR

DCN Title (Date) Description CBIa

SE04558A2 Final Steam EA IRW 

Model - Wildlife and 

Human 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

SE04559A1 Final 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 spreadsheet. 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 regulatory options. This version accounts for 

the CCR rulemaking.

No

a – Record items containing CBI have been removed from the public record.

Table 2. IRW Model: Wildlife and Human Health Module Record Items – With CCR and 

CPP

DCN Title (Date) Description CBIa

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 

Human Health Module -

Option B (CPP) (061815)

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 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.

Yes
Memorandum

September 29, 2015

Page 6

Table 2. IRW Model: Wildlife and Human Health Module Record Items – With CCR and 

CPP

DCN Title (Date) Description CBIa

SE04571A4 Final Steam EA IRW 

Model - Wildlife and 

Human 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 

Human 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.

Yes

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 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 

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 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 

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 Summary 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
Memorandum

September 29, 2015

Page 7

Table 2. IRW Model: Wildlife and Human Health Module Record Items – With CCR and 

CPP

DCN Title (Date) Description CBIa

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 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 and CPP 

rulemakings.

Yes

SE04573A2 Final Steam EA IRW 

Model - Wildlife and 

Human Health Module -

Fish Tissue Screening 

Level Database - Option B

(CPP) (061815)

Database used to compare fish advisory screening levels to the 

fish tissue concentrations calculated 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 Screening 

Level Database - Option C

(CPP) (061815)

Database used to compare fish advisory screening levels to the 

fish tissue concentrations calculated in the wildlife and human 

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 Screening 

Level Database - Option D

(CPP) (061815)

Database used to compare fish advisory screening levels to the 

fish tissue concentrations calculated in the wildlife and human 

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 Screening 

Level Database - Option E

(CPP) (061815)

Database used to compare fish advisory screening levels to the 

fish tissue concentrations calculated in the wildlife and human 

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 and CPP 

rulemakings.

Yes

SE04574A1 Final Steam EA IRW 

Model - Wildlife and 

Human Health Module -

Wildlife Summary 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 Generator (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
Memorandum

September 29, 2015

Page 8

Table 2. IRW Model: Wildlife and Human Health Module Record Items – With CCR and 

CPP

DCN Title (Date) Description CBIa

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 been removed from the public record.

2.0 CORRECTIONS TO THE IRW MODEL: WILDLIFE AND HUMAN HEALTH MODULES

As an outcome from the public review and comment process, ERG incorporated the 

following correction to the IRW model: wildlife and human health modules:

 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 single source, [Benoit, 1975] that 

reported a BCF of 0 in muscles of bluegills [as listed in Stephan, 1993]. However, U.S. 

EPA water quality criteria guidance recommends using a BCF of 36 for "the edible 

portion of all freshwater and estuarine aquatic organisms 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, 2002]. 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 REFERENCES

Benoit, D.A. 1975. Chronic effects of copper on survival, growth, and reproduction of the 

bluegill (Lepomis macrochiurs). 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 21). 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. Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Copper (EPA-440-5-80-036). 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.