Summary

On November 29, 2018, EPA Acting Administrator Wheeler signed a proposed rule to revise the current federal Clean Water Act selenium water quality criterion applicable to certain fresh waters of California. This rule, Establishment of a Numeric Criterion for Selenium for the State of California, is being proposed to ensure that the criterion is set at a level that protects aquatic life and aquatic-dependent wildlife. EPA promulgated California’s existing selenium criterion for certain fresh waters in 2000 as part of the California Toxics Rule, using EPA’s recommended aquatic life chronic freshwater criterion value at the time. However, the latest science indicates that the existing criterion may not be protective of aquatic life and aquatic-dependent wildlife. 

• Federal Register Notice: Extension of Public Comment Period for Water Quality Standards; Establishment of a Numeric Criterion for Selenium for the State of
  California (February 12, 2019)
• Federal Register Notice: Proposed Rule for Water Quality Standards; Establishment of a Numeric Criterion for Selenium for the State of California (December 13, 2018)
• [See Fact Sheet: Proposed Aquatic Life and Aquatic-Dependent Wildlife Selenium Criterion for California Fresh Waters ]
• Establishment of a Numeric Criterion for Selenium for the State of California
  • [See Draft Translation of Selenium Tissue Criterion Elements to Site-Specific Water Column Criterion Elements for California ]
  • [See Technical Support Document: DRAFT Aquatic Life and Aquatic-Dependent Wildlife Selenium Water Quality Criterion for Freshwaters of California ]

Public Hearings

• Transcript for Online Public Hearing: March 19, 2019
• Transcript for Online Public Hearing: March 20, 2019

Comments on the Proposal

The comment period for this proposal opened on December 13, 2018 and closed on March 28, 2019.

• Fact Sheet: Proposed Aquatic Life and Aquatic-Dependent Wildlife Selenium Criterion for California Fresh Waters (PDF)(2 pp, 517 K, January 2019, EPA 823-F-18-003)
• Draft Translation of Selenium Tissue Criterion Elements to Site-Specific Water Column Criterion Elements for California (PDF)(35 pp, 465 K, August 8, 2018)
• Technical Support Document: DRAFT Aquatic Life and Aquatic-Dependent Wildlife Selenium Water Quality Criterion for Freshwaters of California (PDF)(227 pp, 3 MB, November 2018)