Alapaha River Mercury TMDL Report
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Total Maximum Daily Load for Total Mercury in the Alapaha Watershed, GA February 28, 2002 TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD (TMDL) DEVELOPMENT For Total Mercury in the Alapaha Watershed Including Listed Segments of the Alapaha River: Alapaha River: Sand Creek to US Highway 129 Alapaha River: US Highway 129/GA Highway 11 to Stateline Double Run Creek Alapahoochee River Total Maximum Daily Load for Total Mercury in the Alapaha Watershed, GA February 28, 2002 TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD (TMDL) Total Mercury in Fish Tissue Residue In the In the Alapaha River Watershed Under the authority of Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq., as amended by the Water Quality Act of 1987, P.L. 100-4, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is hereby establishing a TMDL for total mercury for the protection of public health associated with the consumption of fish taken from the following segments of the Alapaha River in Georgia: Alapaha River: Sand Creek to US Highway 129 Alapaha River: US Highway 129/GA Highway 11 to Stateline Double Run Creek Alapahoochee River The calculated allowable load of mercury that may come into the identified segments of the Alapaha River without exceeding the applicable water quality standard is 2.62 kilograms per year. The applicable water quality standard is the State of Georgia’s numeric interpretation of their narrative water quality standard for protection of human health from toxic substances. This interpretation indicates that the consumption of fish by the general population is not to exceed 0.3 mg/kg mercury in fish tissue. Based on a current estimated loading of 7.27 kilograms per year, an estimated 64% reduction in mercury loading is needed for the identified sections of the Alapaha River to meet the applicable water quality standard of 4.9 nanograms per liter (ng/l). EPA expects that a combination of ongoing and future activities under the Clean Air Act will achieve reductions in air deposition of mercury that will enable achievement of water quality standards. These activities include promulgated Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) standards, MACT standards under development, and new legislation to control multiple air pollutants from electric utilities. Two facilities permitted by the State of Georgia under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Program are provided wasteload allocations in this TMDL. This TMDL shall become effective immediately, and is incorporated into the Continuing Planning Process for the State of Georgia under Sections 303(d)(2) and 303(e) of the Clean Water Act. Signed this _________ day of___________, 2002. _____________________________ Beverly H. Banister, Director Water Management Division Total Maximum Daily Load for Total Mercury in the Alapaha Watershed, GA February 28, 2002 Table of Contents 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 1 2. Phased Approach to the TMDL .............................................................................................. 1 2.1. Phased Approach to Atmospheric Sources ..................................................................... 2 2.2. Phased Approach to Water Point Sources ...................................................................... 3 3. Problem Definition.................................................................................................................. 4 4. Applicable Water Quality Standard ........................................................................................ 5 5. TMDL Target .......................................................................................................................... 6 6. Background ............................................................................................................................. 7 6.1. Source Assessment.......................................................................................................... 9 6.2. Watershed Background Load ........................................................................................ 10 6.2.1. RELMAP Mercury Deposition Rates ..................................................................10 6.2.2. Mercury Deposition Network ..............................................................................11 6.3. Available Monitoring Data ........................................................................................... 12 6.3.1. EPA Region 4 Data ..............................................................................................13 6.3.2. Water Column Data .............................................................................................13 6.3.3. Sediment/Soil Data ..............................................................................................14 6.3.4. Fish Tissue Data...................................................................................................14 7. Numeric Targets and Sources - Model Development ........................................................... 15 7.1. Watershed Hydrologic and Sediment Loading Model .................................................. 15 7.2. Water Quality Fate and Transport Model ..................................................................... 16 8. Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)................................................................................... 17 8.1. Critical Condition Determination ................................................................................. 17 8.2. Seasonal Variation ........................................................................................................ 17 8.3. Margin of Safety ........................................................................................................... 17 9. TMDL Development............................................................................................................. 18 9.1. Model Results ............................................................................................................... 18 9.1.1. Nonpoint Source ..................................................................................................18 9.1.2. Water Quality Model ...........................................................................................20 ii Total Maximum Daily Load for Total Mercury in the Alapaha Watershed, GA February 28, 2002 9.2. TMDL Determination ................................................................................................... 22 10. Allocation of Loads........................................................................................................... 23 10.1. Atmospheric Reductions ........................................................................................... 24 10.2. Allocation to NPDES Point Sources......................................................................... 24 10.3. Implementation ..........................................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 10.4. State and Federal Responsibility................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 11. References......................................................................................................................... 31 12. Appendix A. Analysis of Atmospheric Deposition of Mercury........................................ 32 iii Total Maximum Daily Load for Total Mercury in the Alapaha Watershed, GA February 28, 2002 Table of Figures Figure 1 Alapaha Watershed........................................................................................................... 7 Figure 2 Alapaha Watershed Delineation ....................................................................................... 8 Figure 3 Alapaha Watershed Landuses........................................................................................... 9 Figure 4 Mercury Dry Deposition Rates as Reported in the Mercury Report to Congress........... 11 Figure 5 Mercury Wet Deposition Rates as Reported in the Mercury Report to Congress .......... 11 Figure 6 Mercury Deposition Network Sampling Locations ........................................................ 12 Figure 7 Alapaha Watershed Sample Locations ........................................................................... 13 Figure 8 Mercury Load Distribution ............................................................................................. 19 iv Total Maximum Daily Load for Total Mercury in the Alapaha Watershed, GA February 28, 2002 Table of Tables Table 1 Georgia Department of Natural Resources Fish Consumption Guideline ......................... 4 Table 2 Permitted Facilities in Alapaha Watershed...................................................................... 10 Table 3 Water Column Mercury Concentrations .......................................................................... 14 Table 4 Sediment/Soil Mercury Concentrations ........................................................................... 14 Table 5 Fish Tissue Mercury Data ................................................................................................ 15 Table 6 Annual Average Total Mercury Load from each Sub Basin............................................ 19 Table 7 Specified and Calculated Reaction Rates and Coefficients ............................................. 21 Table 8 Flows, Depths, Velocities and Volumes used in WASP Model ...................................... 21 Table 10 Predicted and Observed Mercury Concentrations under Annual Average Load and Flow22 Table 11 NPDES Permitted