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Main Title Field-Based Aquatic Life Benchmark for Conductivity in Central Appalachian Streams.
Author S. M. Cormier; G. W. Suter; L. L. Yuan; L. Zheng
CORP Author Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH. National Center for Environmental Assessment.
Year Published 2011
Report Number EPA/600/R-10/023F
Stock Number PB2011-110186
Subjects Aquatic biology; Water quality; Streams; Benchmarks; Field tests; Tables (Data); Figures; Data sets; Considerations; Water pollution monitoring; Aquatic ecosystems; Habitats; Biodiversity; Benthic macroinvertebrates; Methods; Aquatic life benchmarks; Central Appalachian Streams
Holdings
Library   Call Number Additional Info Location Date Modified
NTIS PB2011-110186 Most EPA libraries have a fiche copy filed under the call number shown. Check with individual libraries about paper copy. NTIS 11/09/2011
Collation 276p
Abstract At the request of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Water and Regions, the EPA Office of Research and Development has developed an aquatic life benchmark for conductivity for the Appalachian Region. The benchmark is applicable to mixtures of ions dominated by salts of Ca(Sup 2+), Mg(sup 2+), SO(sub 4)(sup 2-) and HCO(sub 3)(sup -) at a circum-neutral to alkaline pH. The impetus for the benchmark is the observation that high conductivities in streams below surface coal mining operations, especially mountaintop mining and valley fills, are associated with impairment of aquatic life. However, application of the benchmark is not limited to that source. The benchmark was derived by a method modeled on the EPA's 1985 methodology for deriving ambient water-quality criteria for the protection of aquatic life. The methodology was adapted for use of field data, by substituting the extirpation of stream macroinvertebrates for laboratory toxicity data. The methodology and derivation of the benchmark were reviewed by internal reviewers, external reviewers, and a review panel of the EPA's Science Advisory Board (SAB). The SAB panel's review was in turn reviewed by the Chartered SAB. The SAB concluded that the benchmark is applicable to the regions in which it was derived and the benchmark and the methodology may be applicable to other states and regions with appropriate validation. In addition, hundreds of public commenters provided their views. Comments from all of these sources were considered and used to improve the clarity and scientific rigor of the document.
Availability Notes Order this product from NTIS by: phone at 1-800-553-NTIS (U.S. customers); (703)605-6000 (other countries); fax at (703)605-6900; and email at orders@ntis.gov. NTIS is located at 5301 Shawnee Road, Alexandria, VA, 22312, USA.
PUB Date Free Form Mar 2011
Category Codes 48B; 48G; 68D; 43F; 91A
NTIS Prices PC A14
Document Type NT
Control Number 119203230
Cataloging Source NTIS/MT
Origin NTIS
Type CAT

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