1. Update on Federal Actions Related to Copper in Water -- 2005 Jim Pendergast USEPA -- HQ WQS Program

2. Topics for Today National extent of copper impairments National copper water quality criterion California Toxics Rule

3. Number of Copper Impairments by State (from 2002 303(d) lists) Undefined metals identified 1-5 6-20 21-50 More than 50 Source: EPA TMDL web site

4. Top 10 States: Number of Copper Impairments (from 2002 303(d) lists) (total of 681 from 59,783 reports) Source: EPA TMDL web site

5. National 2003 Draft Marine Copper Criteria Previous2004 Update Acute* (24 hr avg) 4.8 ug/l3.1 ug/l Chronic* (4 day avg) 3.1 ug/l1.9 ug/l *Not to be exceeded more than once every three years

6. National 2003 Draft Marine Copper Criteria Why the change? –New data from literature search (mostly Mytilus spp., a mollusk) –Halved Final Acute Value to account for commercially and recreationally important mussels Why not use the Biotic Ligand Model? –Only developed for fresh water When will the draft be finalized? –Projected for early 2006

7. Changes to CA Toxics Rule California Toxics Rule (CTR) published by EPA in May 2000 –Sets marine acute criterion of 4.8 ug/l and chronic criterion of 3.1 ug/l, as modified by water effect ratio EPA withdrew rule for south SFB in Nov. 2003 –CA site specific objectives of 10.8 ug/l acute and 6.9 ug/l chronic now apply EPA now revising CTR for mercury and cadmium –But no plans to update for copper yet