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A Field-Based Aquatic Life Benchmark for Conductivity in Central Appalachian Streams (2010) (External Review Draft)
EPA is announcing the release of the report, A Field-based Aquatic Life Benchmark for Conductivity in Central Appalachian Streams (External Review Draft), for public review and comment as announced in an April 12, 2010 Federal Register Notice. In addition, the sample data and metrics used to develop the conductivity benchmark is available under "downloads".
The deadline for comments closed on September 3, 2010.
Citation:
U.S. EPA. A Field-Based Aquatic Life Benchmark for Conductivity in Central Appalachian Streams (2010) (External Review Draft). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-10/023A, 2010.
Impact/Purpose:
This report provides scientific evidence for a conductivity benchmark in a specific region rather than for the entire United States.
Description:
This report adapts the standard U.S. EPA methodology for deriving ambient water quality criteria. Rather than use toxicity test results, the adaptation uses field data to determine the loss of 5% of genera from streams. The method is applied to derive effect benchmarks for dissolved salts as measured by conductivity in Central Appalachian streams using data from West Virginia and Kentucky.
URLs/Downloads:
A Field-based Aquatic Life Benchmark for Conductivity in Central Appalachian Streams (External Review Draft) (PDF, 193 pp, 7280 KB, about PDF)West Virginia Species: macroinvertebrate taxonomic composition information for Samples (5 MB, 1922 pp, Text File)
West Virginia Species: macroinvertebrate taxonomic composition information for Samples (6.9 MB, Excel File)
West Virginia Benthic Metrics and Samples (20 Mb Excel File)
West Virginia WAB Database
Kentucky Stream Data Headings (PDF, 1 pp, 45 KB, about PDF)
Kentucky Stream Data : Macroinvertebrates (6.26 Mb, Excel File)
Kentucky Stream Data : Environmental Variables (211 Kb, Excel File)
SAB Advisory Committee Activities on Interim Water Quality Advisory Methodology for Estimating Conductivity
Surface Coal Mining Activities under Clean Water Act Section 404
FR Notice: Aug 18, 2010
FR Notice: Jul 13, 2010
FR Notice: Apr 12, 2010
Press Release: Apr 1, 2010
Review of Field-Based Aquatic Life Benchmark for Conductivity in Central Appalachian Streams (Sept. 28, 2010 draft)
Review of Field-Based Aquatic Life Benchmark for Conductivity in Central Appalachian Streams (Dec. 28, 2010 draft)
SAB Peer review report (PDF, NA pp, 20 KB, about PDF)
SAB Agency response (PDF, NA pp, 20 KB, about PDF)