The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutDERR-2024-007801Great Salt Lake Water Quality Initiative Developing a Selenium Standard for the Open Waters of the Great Salt Lake Utah Division of Water Quality Salt Lake City, Utah Zone A Zone B Please note that the Zone B RO reject water discharge to the tailings impound ment goes into the North Expansion Impound ment Response to Selenium Concern In response to the selenium concern, DWQ recognized the need to develop numerical standards to protect the beneficial uses of the GSL. The proposing parties (mid-2004) recognized the need to involve interested parties to address the questions about selenium fate and transport. Establish the Great Salt Lake Water Quality Steering Committee to study the water quality of the Lake and make recommendations to the Division of Water Quality regarding a numeric water quality standard for Selenium for the open waters of the Lake. Organizational Chart Water Qualit y Board EPA Divisio n o f WQ Director DWQ/ Steering Co mm. Chair. GSL Selenium Study Farmington Bay Study Stakeho lders Science Panel Project Manager Project Manager Stakeho lders Science Panel Contractors Other Studies Contractors Steering Committee Science Panel Steering Committee DWQ Private Contractors Science Panel Steering Committee DWQ DWQ Board EPA Ad Hoc Committee Dev elops overall objectives Dev elops process Create Steering Comm. Main Process Authority Manages Science Panel Prepares scope of work Determines methodology Identifies research needs Interprets literature Recommends standards Standard Setting Process Evaluates SP Recommendations Contracts w/ consultants Reports to SP Performs research Recommends numeric standard Makes recommendation To the Division of WQ Prepares rule for presentation To the WQB Initiates Rulemaking Approves final standard Steering Committee Purpose Create a partnership among stakeholders Conduct a transparent public process Establish a Science Panel Sponsor and guide scientific research Help secure funding Adhere to state & federal laws & regulations Make recommendations to the Division of WQ Steering Committee Make-up 1. Forestry & State Lands 2. Wildlife Resources 3. EPA Region VIII 4. US Fish & Wildlife 5. Brine Shrimp Industry 6. Mineral Extractors 7. US Geological Survey 8. Kennecott Utah Copper 9. Jordan Valley WCD 10. POTWs 11. GSL Alliance 12. GSL Alliance 13. Duck Clubs 14. Wasatch Front RC 15. DEQ 16. DWQ Decision-making Process A quorum is defined as 3/4 of the Steering Committee Consensus (unanimity) is sought in all decisions For procedural actions a supermajority (3/4) is needed If consensus cannot be reached on substantive matters, all positions will be forwarded Miscellaneous The goal is to have the Steering Committee make a recommendation for a Selenium standard to DWQ by August 2007 Local, state and federal funds are pledged to this effort The Steering Committee may be maintained to develop other standards for the GSL Science Panel William Adams, Ph.D., Rio Tinto Anne Fairbrother, Ph.D., EPA Don Hayes, Ph.D., University of Utah Theron Miller, Ph.D., DWQ William Moellmer, Ph.D. Division of Water Quality Brad Marden, Utah Artemia Assoc. Terresa Presser, Ph.D. US Geological Survey Joseph Skorupa, Ph.D. US Fish & Wildlife William Wuerthele, EPA Presentations from Steering Committee Members Richard Bay, JVWCD Duties and charges to Science Panel Need to identify gaps and scope of work Requested need to move forward quickly. Mansuel Pearce Need for good science in an efficient and planned way. Presentations from Steering Committee Members (cont‛d) Leland Myers Need to include impairment of the beneficial uses as a part of the study. “Time doesn‛t drive science but science can drive time.” Laboratory “Round Robin” Reason for Round Robin Identify best analytical technique Resolve variability of data currently available. Determine ability of laboratories Splitting Samples Environmental Resource Associates, Arvada, Colorado Pulling the Samples Depth 1 meter 7 meters GSL Sampling Protocol Needs to be compiled and re-written Lynn Hutchinsen, Kennecott Dave Naftz, USGS We will filter in the field Do not acidify in the field [ERM] 4 ml Ultra Pure Nitric Acid per Liter Round Robin Statistical Design Two Sample Locations 1 Meter and 7 meters Triplicate Samples from each location Four Spike levels for each location 0.1 – 1.0; 1.0 – 5.0; 1050; 50100 ug/l Se Triplicates for each spike level Spiking Levels Created by Random Generator Paper Presentation: William Adams, Ph.D. “Derivation of a Chronic Site-specific Water Quality Standard for Selenium in the Great Salt Lake, Utah” Conc. of Selenium in Kennecott outfall and Brine Shrimp decreases as a function of distance from the Kennecott outfall. Evaluate the concentration of selenium in the brine shrimp (food source) where impairment to bird embryo begins. Where does the concentration of the outfall equal that value and set that value as the chronic standard. Presentation by EPA William Wuerthele Specific criteria will be derived by adjusting national criteria by including a data set on indigenous species (Brine shrimp and brine flies) Key issue: Tissue value will need to be translated to a water column value. Discussion: Whole body or reproductive organs. Assignments to Science Panel Members Skorupa: Data on brine fly and brine shrimp in California evaporation ponds. Adams: Data on some of the species collected in the Great Salt Lake Marden: Put together a “workshop” of experts to discuss on the life cycle and biology of the target species of Artemia and Ephydra. Avian diet, behavior seasonal occurrences. Assignments, cont‛d Moellmer: Finalize participating labs and ERA for commitment to participate and costs. Letters & Contract USGS and Kennecott are putting together the protocol for sampling waters from the Great Salt Lake. Fairbrother: Will further discussion of toxic reference values. Skorupa: Will discuss uncertainty in various approaches to toxic reference values. For the Next Meeting Two day meeting: March 16-17, 2005 [Meeting will probably be changed to March 15-16, 2005) Presentations by panel members Fairbrother, Skorupa, & Adams GSL Biology 101 Don Paul Gary Belovsky (Notre Dame) Wayne Wurtsbaugh, et.al. For the Next Meeting, cont‛d Approve sampling protocols Approve initiation of round robin Discussions: What are we trying to protect Do we now understand the dynamics of the biology and chemistry of the lake. Define the boundaries of the lake. High Water Line Wetted Perimeter Project Expenditures EPA $15,000 Grant Laptop Computer: $1650 Carboys Sampling Flasks: $350 Science Panel $25,000 Travel: $492.94 Sundries: $17.48