R 323.1209
R 323.1209 Development of wasteload allocations for toxic substances.
Cite as Mich. Admin. Code R 323.1209
Rule 1209. (1) In the absence of a total maximum daily load (TMDL) established under R
323.1207, or where consistent with a TMDL, the following procedure shall be used to
calculate individual point source wasteload allocations (WLAs) for aquatic life, human health,
and wildlife values consistent with the requirements of R 323.1211(2):
(a) Chronic WLAs for discharges to lotic waters shall be developed for the toxic substance as
follows:
WLA = Zt (Qe + Qr) - (Qr)(Cr) Qe
or
Where:
WLA = (Zd)(T) (Qe + Qr) - (Qr)(Cr) Qe
Zt = water quality value developed for the toxic substance expressed as total or total
recoverable.
Zd = water quality value for aquatic life expressed as dissolved metal. Values expressed
as dissolved, but for which a translator (T) is not available, shall be expressed as total or
total recoverable for purposes of this subdivision.
T = dissolved to total metal translator for aquatic life wasteload allocations. For the
metals in table 2, T equals the given value or one derived from site- specific data. For
metals not listed in table 2, T is equal to a translator derived by the department when
sufficient information is available or from site-specific data.
Qe = effluent design flow, which is the annual average design flow for municipalities
and maximum authorized flow for other facilities, unless it can be demonstrated to the
department that an alternate design flow is appropriate.
Qr = flow of the receiving water allocated for mixing under R 323.1082. If a discharger
has an intake upstream of the point of discharge, then Qr shall reflect the reduction in the
design flow volume attributable to the intake.
Cr = receiving water background concentration of the toxic substance developed
under
R 323.1207(1)(g).
The lowest of the WLAs developed under this subdivision for the chronic aquatic life,
human health, or wildlife values for each toxic substance shall be the basis for the water
quality-based effluent limit (WQBEL) as specified in R 323.1211(4)(a).
T
a
b
l
e
2
.
Dissolved to total metal translators for aquatic life wasteload allocations.
Toxic Substance
Translator (T)
Cadmium...................................................2.1
Chromium..................................................1.5
Copper.......................................................1.5
Lead..........................................................4.5
Nickel........................................................1.1
Zinc...........................................................2.1
(b) Chronic WLAs for discharges to the Great Lakes and inland lakes shall be developed
for a toxic substance as follows:
WLA = (Zt)(1 + Q) - (Cr)(Q)
or
WLA = (Zd)(T)(1 + Q) -
(Cr)(Q) Where:
Zt = the lowest water quality value developed for the toxic substance expressed
as total or total recoverable.
Zd = water quality value for aquatic life expressed as dissolved metal. Values expressed
as dissolved, but for which a translator (T) is not available, shall be expressed as total or
total recoverable for purposes of this subdivision.
T = dissolved to total translator for aquatic life wasteload allocations. For the metals
in table 2, T equals the given value or one derived from site- specific data. For the
metals not listed in table 2, T is equal to a translator derived by the department when
sufficient information is available or from site-specific data.
Q = number of parts receiving water allocated for mixing under R 323.1082(5).
Cr = receiving water background concentration of the toxic substance developed
under R 323.1207(1)(g).
The lowest of the WLAs developed under this subdivision for the chronic aquatic
life, human health, or wildlife values for each toxic substance shall be the basis for the
WQBEL as specified in R 323.1211(4)(a).
(2) If the receiving water background concentration (Cr) of a toxic substance exceeds the
most stringent applicable water quality value for that substance, then the WLA shall be
established equal to the most stringent water quality values, unless the provisions of R
323.1211(7)(d) allow for a different approach.
(3) WLAs based upon acute aquatic life protection shall not exceed the following acute
WLA, unless it can be demonstrated to the department that a higher level is acceptable
under R 323.1082(1). :
WLA = (At)
or
WLA = (Ad)(T)
Where:
At = the final acute value developed for the toxic substance under R 323.1057
expressed as total or total recoverable.
Ad = final acute value for aquatic life expressed as dissolved metal under R
323.1057. Values expressed as dissolved, but for which a translator (T) is not available,
shall be expressed as total or total recoverable for purposes of this subdivision.
T= dissolved to total translator for aquatic life wasteload allocations. For the
metals in table 2, T equals the given value or one derived from site- specific data. For
the metals not listed in table 2, T is equal to a translator derived by the department
when sufficient information is available or from site-specific data.
(4) When establishing WLAs based on human health values for individual point source
discharges, the potential interaction between multiple toxic substances in the effluent
shall be addressed by the following provisions:
(a) If an effluent contains carcinogens for which available scientific information supports
a reasonable assumption that the toxic substances produce the same type of cancer through
the same mechanism of action and for which WQBELs are required pursuant to R 323.1211
on an individual basis, then the total incremental risk created by the effluent in the surface
waters of the state after mixing with the allowable receiving water body volume specified
in R 323.1082 shall not exceed 1 X 10-5for individual carcinogens and 1 X 10-4for the total
effluent. This additivity provision shall be implemented on a case-by-case basis and shall
be evaluated at each facility independent of other carcinogens that may be present in the
receiving water.
(b) If an effluent contains 2 or more noncarcinogens for which available scientific
information supports a reasonable assumption that the toxic substances produce the same
adverse effects through the same mechanisms of action and for which WQBELs are
required under R 323.1211 on an individual basis, then the noncarcinogenic effects of the
chemicals may be assumed additive and considered by the department when calculating
WLAs protective of human health. This subdivision shall be implemented on a case-by-
case basis and shall be evaluated at each facility independent of other noncarcinogens that
may be present in the receiving stream.
(c) Notwithstanding the requirements in subdivisions (a) and (b) of this subrule,
human health-based WLAs for the chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (CDDs) and
chlorinated dibenzofurans (CDFs) listed in table 2 shall be calculated using the
following procedures:
(i) The human cancer value and human noncancer value for 2,3,7,8-TCDD shall be used
consistent with the procedures in subrules (1) and (2) of this rule to calculate total 2,3,7,8-
TCDD toxicity equivalence WLAs for effluents.
(ii) The toxicity equivalency factors (TEFs) and bioaccumulation equivalency factors
(BEFs) in table 2 3 shall be used to calculate a 2,3,7,8- TCDD toxicity equivalence
concentration for an effluent when implementing the WLAs derived in paragraph (i) of
this subdivision. The equation for calculating the 2,3,7,8-TCDD toxicity equivalence
concentration in an effluent is as follows:
(TEC)TCDD = Σ(C)x(TEF)x(BEF)x
Where:
(TEC)TCDD = 2,3,7,8-TCDD toxicity equivalence concentration in the
discharge.
(C)x = the concentration of congener x in the discharge.
(TEF)x = toxicity equivalency factor for congener x.
(BEF)x = bioaccumulation equivalency factor for congener x.
Table 3. Toxicity equivalency factors and BEFs for CDDs and CDFs.
Congener
TEF
BEF
2,3,7,8-TCDD
1.0
1.0
1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD
0.5
0.9
1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDD
0.1
0.3
1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDD
0.1
0.1
1,2,3,7,8,9-HxCDD
0.1
0.1
1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD
0.01
0.05
OCDD
0.001
0.01
2,3,7,8-TCDF
0.1
0.8
1,2,3,7,8-PeCDF
0.05
0.2
2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF
0.5
1.6
1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDF
0.1
0.08
1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDF
0.1
0.2
2,3,4,6,7,8-HxCDF
0.1
0.7
1,2,3,7,8,9-HxCDF
0.1
0.6
1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDF
0.01
0.01
1,2,3,4,7,8,9-HpCDF
0.01
0.4
OCDF
0.001
0.02