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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 09-929

STATEMENTS OF POLICY

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

[25 PA. CODE CH. 16]

Request for Scientific Information; Resorcinol and Sulfonates; Statement of Policy

[39 Pa.B. 2594]
[Saturday, May 23, 2009]

   The Department of Environmental Protection (Department) is seeking analytical test methods, data and pertinent scientific information for Benzene Metadisulfonic Acid (BDSA), Benzene Monosulfonic Acid (BSA), p-Phenol Sulfonic Acid (p-PSA), (collectively referred to as the sulfonates) and Resorcinol.

   The Department plans to propose amendments to Chapter 16, Appendix A, Table 1A (relating to water quality criteria for toxic substances). The revision to Table 1A will incorporate site-specific ambient water quality criteria for BDSA, BSA, p-PSA and Resorcinol, which were requested by AMEC Earth & Environmental (AMEC), a consultant to Beazer East, Inc. (Beazer East). Documentation to support the request was submitted to the Department on April 11, 2008, by Babst, Calland, Clements and Zomnir, on behalf of Beazer East.

   For further information contact Richard H. Shertzer, Chief, Division of Water Quality Standards, Bureau of Water Standards and Facility Regulation, 11th Floor, Rachel Carson State Office Building, P. O. Box 8467, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8467, (717) 787-9637 or Michelle Moses, Assistant Counsel, Bureau of Regulatory Counsel, 9th Floor, Rachel Carson State Office Building, P. O. Box 8464, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8464, (717) 787-7060. Persons with a disability may use the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at (800) 654-5984 (TDD user) or (800) 654-5988 (voice users).

   Beazer East has implemented environmental investigations and remediation at sites in Butler and Armstrong Counties, in cooperation with the Department and United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These sites are located within an area approximately 60 square miles in size that has been designated by the Department under the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act (HSCA) as the ''Bear Creek Area Chemical Site'' (BCACS). The Department has determined that environmental media (such as, soil and groundwater) within the BCACS have been impacted by the sulfonates and resorcinol. Currently, with respect to surface water, there are no ambient water quality criteria in Chapter 16 for the sulfonates or resorcinol.

   Because water quality criteria have not been developed for the sulfonates or resorcinol by either the Department or the EPA, AMEC used the EPA's National guidelines to develop water quality criteria as stated in 25 Pa. Code § 16.22 (relating to criteria development).

   The Department reviewed materials presented during a March 7, 2007, meeting with representatives of Beazer East, AMEC, Babst, Calland, Clements and Zomnir and draft reports prepared on behalf of Beazer East. The EPA performed an informal review of this documentation and the process used by AMEC. Based on comments forwarded to the Department from the EPA's Health and Ecological Criteria Division in the EPA Office of Science and Technology, it was determined that AMEC followed the EPA National Guidelines on toxicity testing and criteria development. However, based on a more thorough review of the calculations and data tables, the EPA provided additional recommendations to correct errors found in some reported values. AMEC revised its ambient water quality report at the request of Beazer East, and updated the report titled ''Development of Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Benzene Metadisulfonic Acid, Benzene Monosulfonic Acid, p-Phenol Sulfonic Acid and Resorcinol.'' This report, dated April 3, 2008, incorporates revisions provided by the EPA and the Department.

   Based on the results of studies presented by AMEC on behalf of Beazer East, using established EPA protocols, the Department plans to propose the following site- specific ambient water quality criteria for Sulfonates and Resorcinol. These criteria will apply to the BCACS located within Bear Creek basin (§ 93.9s), in Armstrong and Butler Counties.


Acute AWQCChronic AWQC
CASCriterion MaximumCriterion Continuous
Compound NumberConcentration (ug/l)Concentration (ug/l)
Benzene Metadisulfonic Acid 00098486 2592000 1620000
Benzene Monosulfonic Acid00098113 1956000 1151000
p-Phenol Sulfonic Acid 00098679 3476000 1363000
Resorcinol 01084603 28000 7180

   Analytical test methods, data and pertinent scientific information should be submitted to Richard H. Shertzer at the previous address, or may be submitted electronically by e-mail to RA-WQS@state.pa.us. A subject heading of ''Request for Information--Resorcinol,'' and return name and address must be included in each transmission. Comments and scientific information must be received by June 22, 2009, to be considered in the development of the final criteria for Metadisulfonic Acid, Benzene Monosulfonic Acid, p-Phenol Sulfonic Acid and Resorcinol. Comments received by facsimile will not be accepted. Persons with a disability may use the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at (800) 654-5984 (TDD user) or (800) 654-5988 (voice users).

JOHN HANGER,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 09-929. Filed for public inspection May 22, 2009, 9:00 a.m.]


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