Region 3 Guidance Documents
This page displays a list of all guidance documents
Guidance DocumentsAgency statements of general applicability, intended to have future effects on the behavior of regulated parties, that set forth a policy on a statutory, regulatory, or technical issue, or an interpretation of a statute or regulation, with some exceptions as detailed in E.O. 13891, Section 2(b). managed by EPA's Region 3 office. EPA's guidance documents lack the force and effect of law, unless expressly authorized by statute or incorporated into a contract. The agency may not cite, use, or rely on any guidance that is not posted on this website, except to establish historical facts.
Region 3 - Philadelphia (serving Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia)
Provides default recommendations for dermal absorption factors (soil) for Superfund human health risk assessments in Region III. This guidance was amended but not wholly replaced by the "Updated Dermal Exposure Assessment Guidance."
| Document Name (Click on link to view) | Original Issue Date | Date Added to this List | Identifier | Topic | Description/Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Get the Lead Out: EPA Region III Guidance for Preparing Lead-Monitoring Project Plans | 1999-05-01 | 2020-07-29 | EPA 903-B-99-006 | Guidance for preparing lead monitoring quality assurance project plans | Region 3 guidance document prepared to assist investigators in preparing quality assurance project plans for projects pertaining to the analysis of lead in paint or other media. |
| EPA Region III Interim Guidelines for the Validation of Data Generated Using Method 1668 PCB Congener Data | 2004-04-01 | 2020-07-29 | EPA 903-B-04-001 | Procedures for validating PCB data | Procedures developed by Region 3 to assess the quality of PCB congeners in a variety of matrices. |
| 2019 Chesapeake Bay Program Grant Guidance (PDF) | 2018-12-20 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-R-19-001 | Chesapeake Bay Program, Grant Guidance | Guidance for grants issued under Clean Water Act Section 117. |
| Trading and Offsets in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed | 2010-10-29 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-R-09-042 | Trading and offsets in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. | Website to assist the Bay jurisdiction in strengthening their trading and offset programs. The website has multiple subsections related to an overview of trading and offsets, technical memoranda, links to state programs, and additional resources. |
| Federal expectations (PDF) | 2018-08-16 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-R-18-001 | Chesapeake Bay Watershed Jurisdictions' implementation Plans. | EPA's expectations for federal lands and facilities regarding federal agency participation in the Chesapeake Bay TMDL Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan. |
| Chesapeake Bay Accountability Framework letter dated 12/29/09 (PDF) | 2009-12-29 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-F-09-052 | Signed letter to the Honorable L. Preston Bryant. | This letter provides an overview of EPS's Chesapeake Bay Accountability Framework and expected deliverables and triggers for federal action. |
| Final Jurisdiction Expectations for Phase III WIPs (PDF) | 2018-06-19 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-R-18-002 | EPA's expectations for the Phase III Watershed Implementation Plans. | This documents provides a detailed framework of what the expectations are for the Watershed Implementation Plan and what adjustments the EPA is looking for. |
| Final Pennsylvania Expectations for Phase III WIPs (PDF) | 2017-04-27 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-R-17-004 | EPA's expectations for Pennsylvania's Phase III Watershed Implementation Plans. | This document provides a detailed framework of what the expectations are for Pennsylvania's Watershed Implementation Plan and the guideline for EPA's oversight. |
| Milestone Guide (PDF) | 2011-07-06 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-B-11-003 | Guidance for the Chesapeake Bay Water Quality 2-year milestones. | This document provides an accountability framework for the Chesapeake Bay TMDL, to ensure the long term success of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed goals. |
| Guide for Federal Lands and Facilities in the Phase II WIPs (PDF) | 2011-04-29 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-B-11-002 | Guidance for the role of federal lands and facilities regarding the Phase II Watershed Implementation Plans. | This guidance provides clarity on EPA's expectations regarding federal agency participation in the Chesapeake Bay TMDL Phase II Watershed Implementation Plans that will developed by Region 3. |
| Guide for Phase II WIP development (PDF) | 2015-07-01 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-B-11-001 | Guidance for Chesapeake Bay Jurisdictions for the Development of Phase II Watershed Implementation Plans. | This guidance document addresses the development and review of the Chesapeake Bay TMDL Phase II Watershed Implementation Plans (WIPs) to be submitted by Region 3. |
| Guide for Phase I WIP Development (PDF) | 2010-04-02 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-B-10-001 | Evaluation of Phase I WIPs | This document outlines the 8 elements for which Phase I WIPs will be evaluated: Appendix with detailed targets and schedule, contingencies for slow or incomplete implementation, tracking and reporting protocols, commitment and strategy to fill gaps, gap analysis, account for growth, current loading baseline and program capacity, and interim and final target loads. |
| Expectations for TMDL Implementation (letter) (PDF) | 2009-11-04 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-R-09-041 | Signed EPA Letter regarding background and overview of Watershed Implementation Plans. | This letter provides the Chesapeake Bay Program's Principals' Staff Committee with the EPA's expectations for the Watershed Implementation Plans. |
| EO 13508 Strategy for Protecting and Restoring the Chesapeake Bay Watershed (PDF) | 2010-05-12 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-R-10-003 | Strategy for Protecting and Restoring the Chesapeake Bay Watershed - 2010. | Strategy called for under EO 13508 to provide federal leadership in restoring and protecting the Chesapeake Bay watershed. |
| Development of Nutrient Endpoints for Allegheny Plateau and Ridge and Valley Ecoregions of Pennsylvania: TMDL Application | 2008-06-24 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-R-08-014 | PA Nutrient TMDL Endpoint Development. | Provides guidance on developing Nutrient TMDL endpoints to address aquatic life impairments in the Allegheny Plateau and Ridge and Valley ecoregions of PA. |
| Development of Nutrient Endpoints for the Northern Piedmont Ecoregion of Pennsylvania: TMDL Application (PDF) | 2007-11-20 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-R-07-011 | PA Nutrient TMDL Endpoint Development. | Provides guidance on developing Nutrient TMDL endpoints to address aquatic life impairments in the Northern Piedmont ecoregion of PA. |
| Development of Nutrient Endpoints for the Northern Piedmont Ecoregion of Pennsylvania: TMDL Application Follow-up Analysis (PDF) | 2012-07-18 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-R-12-003 | PA Nutrient TMDL Endpoint Development. | Provides guidance on developing Nutrient TMDL endpoints to address aquatic life impairments in the Northern Piedmont ecoregion of PA. |
| Guidance for Federal Land Management in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed | 2010-12-01 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 841-R-10-002 | Chesapeake Bay Watershed, Nonpoint Source. | Implementation measures to control nonpoint source nutrient and sediment pollution to control nonpoint source nutrient and sediment pollution and protect water quality. |
| Draft final open burning/open detonation permitting guidelines February 2002 (PDF) | 2002-02-01 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-D-02-001 | Guidance for permitting, corrective action and closure of open burning and open detonation. | This document provides guidance for use by facility owner/operators to prepare, complete and technically adequate permit application as well as closure plans and corrective action plans for OB/OD units. |
| RCRA Institutional and Engineering Controls Mapping. (PDF) | 2017-01-23 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-R-17-003 | Mapping of Institutional and Engineering Controls in RCRA Corrective Action. | This document provides guidance on how to map institutional and engineering controls. This will effectively communicate to people what the restrictions are and where they apply in respect to the institutional control. |
| Questions and Answers on the Establishment of Site-Specific Freshwater Criteria using the Copper Biotic Ligand Model | 2018-06-22 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-F-18-003 | How to establish SSC using the copper BLM. | This document answers common questions on how to establish site-specific criteria using the copper biotic ligand model. |
| Chesapeake Bay TMDL website FAQs | 2019-08-19 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-B-10-002 | Chesapeake Bay TMDL FAQs. | Provides answers for frequently asked questions regarding the Chesapeake Bay TMDL development, accountability, WIPs, and litigation. |
| EPA Bay TMDL Draft Sediment Allocations (PDF) | 2010-08-13 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-F-10-002 | Chesapeake Bay TMDL sediment allocations. | EPA letter providing draft Chesapeake Bay sediment allocations to states. |
| EPA Bay TMDL Draft Nitrogen and Phosphorus Allocations (PDF) | 2010-07-01 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-D-10-001 | Chesapeake Bay TMDL nitrogen and phosphorus allocations. | EPA letter providing draft Chesapeake Bay nitrogen and phosphorus allocations to states. |
| EPA Letter to PSC Outlining the Schedule for TMDL Implementation (PDF) | 2010-06-11 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-F-10-003 | Chesapeake Bay TMDL implementation. | EPA letter to PSC providing the schedule for TMDL development and Phase I, II and III watershed implementation plans (WIPs). |
| EPA Bay TMDL Preliminary Basinwide Target Loads for Nitrogen and Phosphorus (PDF) | 2009-11-03 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-F-09-053 | Chesapeake Bay TMDL nitrogen and phosphorus basinwide targets. | EPA letter providing preliminary Chesapeake Bay basinwide nitrogen and phosphorus targets. |
| EPA Letter to PSC on Chesapeake Bay TMDL Development (PDF) | 2008-09-11 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-F-08-003 | Chesapeake Bay TMDL development. | EPA letter providing EPA expectations for the Chesapeake Bay TMDL development including reasonable assurance. |
| Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Dissolved Oxygen, Water Clarity and Chlorophyll a for the Chesapeake Bay and Its Tidal Tributaries 2017 Technical Addendum (PDF) Exit | 2017-11-01 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-R-17-002 | Water quality standards, assessment, dissolved oxygen, water clarity, chlorophyll a. | The Chesapeake Bay water quality criteria addendum provides previously undocumented features of the present procedures as well as refinements and clarifications to the previously published Chesapeake Bay water quality criteria assessment procedures (U.S. EPA 2004a, 2007a, 2007b, 2008, 2010). |
| Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Dissolved Oxygen, Water Clarity and Chlorophyll a for the Chesapeake Bay and Its Tidal Tributaries (PDF) Exit | 2003-04-01 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-R-03-002 | Water quality standards, assessment, dissolved oxygen, water clarity, chlorophyll a. | Provides details of Chesapeake Bay water quality criteria for dissolved oxygen, water clarity, and chlorophyll. and recommended implementation procedures for monitoring and assessment. Details on designated uses are also provided. |
| Technical Support Document for Identification of Chesapeake Bay Designated Uses and Attainability (PDF) Exit | 2003-10-01 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-R-03-004 | Identification of Chesapeake Bay designated uses (DUs) for DO, clarity, and chlorophyll and the attainability of the criteria in the DUs. | Provides technical background information for the Bay jurisdictions to use in their own Use Attainability Analyses (UAAs) and explains and documents why it appears that the current designated uses for aquatic life protection cannot be attained in all parts of the Chesapeake Bay. |
| Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Dissolved Oxygen, Water Clarity and Chlorophyll a for the Chesapeake Bay and Its Tidal Tributaries 2004 Addendum (PDF) Exit | 2004-10-01 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-R-03-002 | Water quality standards, assessment, dissolved oxygen, water clarity, chlorophyll a. | Guidance to the jurisdictions on where and when to apply the temperature-based open-water 4.3 mg liter–1 instantaneous minimum dissolved oxygen criteria required to protect the endangered shortnose sturgeon as well as further guidance on dissolved oxygen, water clarity, and chlorophyll water quality standards. |
| Technical Support Document for Identification of Chesapeake Bay Designated Uses and Attainability 2004 Addendum (PDF) Exit | 2004-10-01 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-R-04-016 | Additional guidance on Chesapeake Bay designated uses (DUs) and submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) restoration goals and shallow-water acreages. | Documentation on refinements to Chesapeake Bay tidal water designated use boundaries for the western lower Chesapeake Bay, Rappahannock River, Elizabeth River and Patapsco River and the Chesapeake Bay Program segmentation scheme boundary delineations and expanded documentation on the Chesapeake Bay submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) restoration goals, shallow-water habitat and shallow-water existing use acreages. |
| Chesapeake Bay Program Analytical Segmentation Scheme Revisions, Decisions and Rationales 1983–2003 (PDF) Exit | 2004-10-01 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-R-04-008 | Chesapeake Bay segmentation scheme to group similar regions, range of water quality and resource objectives, and target specific actions. | For the last 20 years, the Chesapeake Bay Program has used a basic segmentation scheme to organize the collection, analysis and presentation of environmental data. the document provides documentation on the development of the spatial segmentation scheme of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries over the two decade period. |
| Chesapeake Bay Program Analytical Segmentation Scheme Revisions, Decisions and Rationales 1983–2003 2005 Addendum (PDF) Exit | 2005-12-01 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-R-05-004 | Further detail on the Chesapeake Bay segmentation scheme grouping similar regions and associated range of water quality and resource objectives. | A direct addendum to the Chesapeake Bay Program Analytical Segmentation Scheme Revisions, Decisions and Rationales 1983–2003 (previous entry) that was published in 2004. |
| Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Dissolved Oxygen, Water Clarity and Chlorophyll a for the Chesapeake Bay and Its Tidal Tributaries 2007 Addendum (PDF) Exit | 2007-07-01 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-R-07-003 | Refinements of water quality criteria for dissolved oxygen, water clarity, and chlorophyll for Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries. | Refinements to the Chesapeake Bay water quality criteria assessment methodology and procedures for all water quality criteria (DO, clarity, and chlorophyll). |
| Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Dissolved Oxygen, Water Clarity and Chlorophyll a for the Chesapeake Bay and Its Tidal Tributaries 2007 Chlorophyll Criteria Addendum (PDF) | 2007-10-01 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-R-07-005 | A detailed 2007 addendum to the Chesapeake Bay chlorophyll criteria. | Documents 1) the scientific basis for numerical chlorophyll a criteria, 2) historical chlorophyll a reference concentrations, 3) chlorophyll relationship to dissolved oxygen impairments, 4) chlorophyll contribution to water clarity impairments, 5) chlorophyll concentrations characteristic of addressing impairments by harmful algal blooms, 6) the recommended Chesapeake Bay chlorophyll criteria, and 7) recommended procedures for assessing attainment of numerical chlorophyll criteria. |
| Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Dissolved Oxygen, Water Clarity and Chlorophyll a for the Chesapeake Bay and Its Tidal Tributaries 2008 Technical Support for Criteria Assessment Protocols Addendum (PDF) | 2008-09-01 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-R-08-001 | Refined technical support for criteria assessment protocols of dissolved oxygen, water clarity, and chlorophyll. | The development and application of procedures that incorporate advanced, magnitude, frequency, duration, space and time considerations with biologically-based reference conditions and cumulative frequency distributions. |
| Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Dissolved Oxygen, Water Clarity and Chlorophyll a for the Chesapeake Bay and Its Tidal Tributaries: 2010 Technical Support for Criteria Assessment Protocols Addendum (PDF) | 2010-05-01 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-R-10-002 | Additional technical support for criteria assessment protocols of dissolved oxygen (DO), water clarity, and chlorophyll. | Documents 1) refinements to procedures defining Chesapeake Bay designated uses , 2) refinements and additions to the previously published procedures for deriving biologically-based reference curves and recommendations for dissolved oxygen criteria assessments, and 3) provides recommendations for the procedures assessing previously published numerical Chesapeake Bay chlorophyll criteria. |
| Freshwater Screening Benchmarks | 2006-07-01 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-R-06-017 | Freshwater ecological screening references. | This document is used in the evaluation of contaminants in a Superfund ecological risk assessment. The values included are reference screening values for freshwater. |
| Freshwater Sediment Screening Benchmarks | 2006-08-01 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-R-06-016 | Freshwater ecological sediment screening references. | This document is used in the evaluation of contaminants in a Superfund ecological risk assessment. The values included are reference screening values for freshwater sediments. |
| Marine Screening Benchmarks | 2006-07-01 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-R-06-018 | Marine ecological screening references. | This document is used in the evaluation of contaminants in a Superfund ecological risk assessment. The values included are reference screening values for marine environments. |
| Marine Sediment Screening Benchmarks | 2006-07-01 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-R-06-019 | Marine sediment ecological screening references. | This document is used in the evaluation of contaminants in a Superfund ecological risk assessment. The values included are reference screening values for marine sediments. |
| BTAG Frequently Asked Questions (PDF) | 2015-09-01 | 2020-02-28 | EPA 903-B-15-001 | FAQ on ecological screening and risk assessment | This reference document supplies information on the frequently asked questions that Region 3's Biological Technical Assistance Group receives in relation to ecological risk screening and assessment. |
| Updated Dermal Exposure Assessment Guidance | 2014-02-01 | 2020-06-03 | EPA-903-B-14-002 | CERCLA-Superfund Dermal Exposure | Updates and amends the 1995 "Assessing Dermal Exposure from Soil", describes the use of RAGS Volume I Part E in Region III Superfund human health risk assessments, and provides regional dermal default factors in the absence of national defaults. |
| Assessing Dermal Exposure From Soil | 1995-12-01 | 2020-06-03 | EPA-903-K-95-003 | CERCLA-Superfund Dermal Exposure | Provides default recommendations for dermal absorption factors (soil) for Superfund human health risk assessments in Region III. This guidance was amended but not wholly replaced by the “Updated Dermal Exposure Assessment Guidance.” |
| Selecting Exposure Routes and Contaminants of Concern By Risk-Based Screenings | 1993-01-01 | 2020-06-03 | EPA-903-R-93-001 | CERCLA- Superfund, risk assessment, risk-based screening, data evaluation, chemicals of potential concern, COPCs, contaminants of potential concern, human health | Describes the Region III risk-based screening process for the selection of Chemicals of Potential Concern in the data evaluation step of Superfund human health risk assessments. Provides specific details related to general concepts described in RAGS Volume I Part A. |