MEMORANDUM 

TO: Steam Electric ELG Rulemaking Record 

FROM: Lydia Lambert, ERG 

DATE: April 19, 2013 

 

SUBJECT: Fish Tissue Comparison Supporting Documentation (DCN SE03890) 

ERG is providing technical support to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 

for development of revised effluent limitations guidelines and standards (ELGs) for the Steam 

Electric Power Generating Point Source Category. In support of the development of revised 

ELGs, ERG developed a fish tissue comparison database to compare modeled selenium 

concentrations in fish tissue under the current profile1

 for the baseline and five regulatory options 

(Options 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5) to concentrations documented in literature as causing reduced 

reproductive success and histopathological effects in fish. 

 The modeled selenium concentrations in fish tissue were calculated under the current 

profile and future profile using the wildlife model supporting documentation, which is presented 

in more detail in the Wildlife and Human Health Models Supporting Documentation 

Memorandum (DCN SE03889). 

 ERG did not calculate selenium concentrations in the fish tissue for Options 3a, 3b, or 4a 

using the wildlife supporting documentation described above. The methodology used for these 

three regulatory options is presented in Appendix G (Methodology for Non-Modeled Options) of 

the Final Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Effluent Limitations Guidelines and 

Standards for the Steam Electric Power Generating Point Source Category (EA Report) (DCN 

SE01995).

The results of the fish tissue comparison database under the current profile are presented 

in the following sections of the EA Report: 

 Section 5.3.2 (Wildlife Impacts); and 

 Section 6.3 (Pollutant-Specific Improvements). 

 A comprehensive listing of the fish tissue comparison supporting documentation for the 

current profile is presented in Table 1-1 below. This table provides the document control number 

(DCN), title, and abstract of each record item, and identifies whether the record item contains 

 

1

 Current profile includes waste streams generated by air pollution controls that will likely be in operation at steam 

electric plants at the time EPA takes final action on this rulemaking. 
Memorandum 

April 19, 2013 

Page 2 

Confidential Business Information (CBI). ERG did not compare modeled fish tissue 

concentrations to literature for the future profile2. 

Table 1-1. Current Profile Fish Tissue Comparison Record Items 

DCN Title (Date) Abstract CBIa

SE03522 Fish Tissue Comparisons 

Database - Current Profile - 

Baseline (082712) 

Database used to compare fish tissue concentrations 

documented in literature to fish tissue concentrations 

calculated in the Wildlife and Human Health Models under 

baseline current profile. Generates inputs for Wildlife Model 

Summary Tables Database and Human Health Model 

Summary Tables Database. 

Yes 

SE03523 Fish Tissue Comparisons 

Database - Current Profile - 

Option 1 (082712) 

Database used to compare fish tissue concentrations 

documented in literature to fish tissue concentrations 

calculated in the Wildlife and Human Health Models under 

Option 1 current profile. Generates inputs for Wildlife Model 

Summary Tables Database and Human Health Model 

Summary Tables Databases. 

Yes 

SE03524 Fish Tissue Comparisons 

Database - Current Profile - 

Option 2 (082712) 

Database used to compare fish tissue concentrations 

documented in literature to fish tissue concentrations 

calculated in the Wildlife and Human Health Models under 

Option 2 current profile. Generates inputs for Wildlife Model 

Summary Tables Database and Human Health Model 

Summary Tables Databases. 

Yes 

SE03525 Fish Tissue Comparisons 

Database - Current Profile - 

Option 3 (082712) 

Database used to compare fish tissue concentrations 

documented in literature to fish tissue concentrations 

calculated in the Wildlife and Human Health Models under 

Option 3 current profile. Generates inputs for Wildlife Model 

Summary Tables Database and Human Health Model 

Summary Tables Databases. 

Yes 

SE03526 Fish Tissue Comparisons 

Database - Current Profile - 

Option 4 (082712) 

Database used to compare fish tissue concentrations 

documented in literature to fish tissue concentrations 

calculated in the Wildlife and Human Health Models under 

Option 4 current profile. Generates inputs for Wildlife Model 

Summary Tables Database and Human Health Model 

Summary Tables Databases. 

Yes 

SE03527 Fish Tissue Comparisons 

Database - Current Profile - 

Option 5 (082712) 

Database used to compare fish tissue concentrations 

documented in literature to fish tissue concentrations 

calculated in the Wildlife and Human Health Models under 

Option 5 current profile. Generates inputs for Wildlife Model 

Summary Tables Database and Human Health Model 

Summary Tables Databases. 

Yes 

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

 

2

 Future profile includes waste streams generated by future installations of air pollution controls at steam electric 

power plants that may result from some recently promulgated Clean Air Act requirements.