Status of the WET Program William Telliard Director, Analytical Methods USEPA Office of Science &...
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Transcript of Status of the WET Program William Telliard Director, Analytical Methods USEPA Office of Science &...
Status of the WET Program
William TelliardDirector, Analytical Methods
USEPA Office of Science & Technology
Office of Water
Office of Water
What is WET?
Whole effluent toxicity (or WET) is defined as the combined toxic effect of an effluent measured directly by an aquatic toxicity test
WET is one of three components of EPA’s integrated approach to water quality-based toxics control
17 WET test procedures using plants, fish, and invertebrates are promulgated at 40 CFR Part 136
EPA's Water Quality-Based Toxics Control Strategy
WET Controls
Chemical Controls
Bioassess-ments
Office of Water
Background
WET Methods Rule Promulgated - Whole effluent toxicity (WET) test methods were promulgated at 40 CFR Part 136 on 10/26/95 for use in monitoring water quality, controlling toxic discharges, and protecting aquatic life in receiving waters (60 FR 53529)
WET Methods Rule Challenged - 6 different litigants sued EPA in 5 different courts of appeal
Resulted in Settlement Agreements - Law suits were settled by 3 different settlement agreements
United Water Florida, City of Washington, City of San Bernadino
Lone Star Steel
Edison Electric Institute, Western Coalition of Arid States, et al. (EEI/WestCAS)
Office of Water
Settlement Agreement Requirements
In a 7/24/98 settlement agreement with Edison Electric Institute, et al., EPA agreed to: Publish technical correction notice (completed 2/99) Publish analytical variability guidance (completed 6/00) Publish method guidance document (completed 7/00) Conduct WET Interlaboratory Variability Study (the WET Study)
(completed 4/00) Publish table of method variability measurements (CVs)
(completed 9/01) Propose method changes (proposed 9/01; final rule to be
completed by 11/08/02) Propose to ratify or withdraw methods (proposed 9/01; final rule
to be completed by 11/08/02)
Office of Water
Technical Correction Notice
Errata for the Effluent and Receiving Water Toxicity Testing Manuals - EPA 600/R-98/182
Corrects technical errors and omissions in WET method manuals Available at:
http//www.epa.gov/waterscience/WET This errata will soon be unnecessary,
when EPA publishes new method
manual editions in November
Office of Water
Guidance Documents
Method Guidance Document Method Guidance and Recommendations for Whole Effluent
Toxicity (WET) Testing (40 CFR Part 136) – EPA 821/B-00/004 Provides Guidance on:
Nominal error rates Confidence intervals Concentration-response relationships Dilution series selection Dilution waters
Available at: http//www.epa.gov/waterscience/WET
Office of Water
Guidance Documents
Variability Guidance Document Understanding and Accounting for Method Variability in Whole
Effluent Toxicity Applications Under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Program – EPA 833/R-00/003
Provides guidance to regulatory authorities,
permittees, and testing labs on how to
understand and account for measurement
variability in WET testing Available at:
http//www.epa.gov/waterscience/WET
Office of Water
September 28, 2001 Proposed Rule
On September 28, 2001, EPA published a proposed rule to revise and ratify WET test methods
Proposed rule fulfills requirements of two WET settlement agreements
Summary of proposed rule Method revisions - incorporates revisions to address specific
stakeholder concerns Interlaboratory Variability Study - summarizes results from EPA’s
WET Interlaboratory Variability Study Ratification/withdrawal - ratifies or withdraws WET test methods
based on results from the WET Interlaboratory Variability Study
Office of Water
Method Revisions
Correct minor technical errors Update methods with newly collected method precision data Address specific stakeholder concerns
blocking by known parentage pH drift concentration-response relationships dilution series dilution waters pathogen interference
Office of Water
WET Interlaboratory Variability Study
Largest most comprehensive study of whole effluent toxicity test methods to date
Test methods -12 of the 17 approved WET test methods evaluated in the study
Laboratories - 56 different laboratories involved, each in an average of 3 methods
Samples - over 700 samples analyzed
Sample types - effluents, receiving waters, blanks, and reference toxicants
Study data summarized in proposed rule to support ratification of WET methods
Office of Water
Ratification/Withdrawal
11 of 12 methods evaluated in the WET Study were proposed for ratification
Ratification means that EPA reaffirms its previous approval of these methods for use in National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) monitoring and compliance
1 method (Holmesimysis costata acute method) was proposed for withdrawal and reproposal
WET Study results revealed that this test procedure, which was designed for a related species (Mysidopsis bahia), is inadequate for the Holmesimysis costata test species
Office of Water
Current Status
EPA received public comment on the proposed rule through January 11, 2002
EPA received 38 comment packages from the following groups:– Laboratories; POTWs; Regulatory authorities; Industries; Industry or
trade associations; Environmental companies representing POTWs or industry
EPA plans to take final action on the proposed rule by November 2002
New editions of each of the 3 WET method manuals are expected by November 2002