Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2013C00288:reg:20:p3
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2013C00288
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 20 (pt 3/10)
Character Range: 1656820–1660266

(EC50) data for fresh copper (Cu) contamination that should theoretically provide the appropriate level of protection (that is, 99, 80 or 60% of species) to soil processes, soil invertebrate species and plant species in soils with a pH ranging from 4.5 to 8 and a cation exchange capacity (CEC) ranging from 5 to 60 cmolc/kg for various land uses. The lower of the CEC- or the pH-derived ACLs for a particular land use that apply to a soil is the ACL(EC50) to be used.
Areas of ecological significance land use
Type of ACL                                   CEC (cmolc/kg)
                                              5               10   20   30   40   60
CEC-based ACLs                                35              75   85   85   90   95
                                              pH
                                              4.5             5.5  6    6.5  7.5  8.0
pH-based ACLs                                 25              50   75   110  230  320
Urban residential/public open space land use
Type of ACL                                   CEC
                                              5               10   20   30   40   60
CEC-based ACLs                                85              170  190  200  200  210
                                              pH
                                              4.5             5.5  6    6.5  7.5  8.0
pH-based ACLs                                 50              120  170  250  510  730
Commercial/industrial land use
Type of ACL                                   CEC (cmolc/kg)
                                              5               10   20   30   40   60
CEC-based ACLs                                125             260  280  290  310  320
                                              pH
                                              4.5             5.5  6    6.5  7.5  8.0
pH-based ACLs                                 80              180  260  380  770  1100

7.6.2.2         Calculation of ambient background concentration values
The ABC values were calculated using the method described earlier and the values presented in Table 54.

7.6.2.3         Examples of soil quality guidelines for fresh copper contamination in Australian soils based on lowest observed effect concentration and 30% effect concentration toxicity data, and on 50% effect concentration data.
As the ACL and ABC values are both soil-specific it is not possible to generate a single set of SQGs. Example SQGs that represent values that at the upper and lower end of the range of values that would be encountered in urban situations are presented. Two examples are presented for SQGs based on LOEC and EC30 data and two examples based on EC50 data.

SQG(LOEC & EC30)—Example 1
Site descriptors  urban residential/public open space land use in a new suburb.
Soil descriptors – a sandy acidic soil (pH 5.5, CEC 10) with 1% iron content.
The resulting ACL(LOEC & EC30), ABC and SQG(LOEC & EC30) values are:
ACL(LOEC & EC30) CEC-based:  100 mg/kg
ACL(LOEC & EC30) pH-based: 70 mg/kg
ACL(NOEC & EC10):   70 mg/kg (the lower of the two ACLs that apply to this soil)
ABC:     6 mg/kg
SQG(LOEC & EC30):    76 mg/kg, which would be rounded off to 75 mg/kg.

SQG(LOEC & EC30)—Example 2
Site descriptors  commercial/industrial land use in a new suburb.
Soil descriptors – an alkaline clay soil (pH 7.5, CEC 40) with a 10% iron content.
The resulting ACL(LOEC & EC30), ABC and SQG(LOEC & EC30) values are: