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EPA/WATER RIN: 2040-AF23 Publication ID: Fall 2010 
Title: ●Withdrawal of Certain Federal Aquatic Life Water Quality Criteria Applicable to Wisconsin 
Abstract: In 1997, Wisconsin developed revised water quality criteria to comply with the 1995 Great Lakes Initiative, a multi-state comprehensive plan to restore the health of the Great Lakes Basin. In 2000, EPA disapproved a subset of Wisconsin’s criteria, including its chronic and acute aquatic life criteria for copper and nickel, and chronic aquatic life criteria for endrin and selenium. As a result of the disapproval, EPA promulgated standards in 2000 to address chronic and acute aquatic life criteria for copper and nickel (40 CFR section 132.6(f)) and chronic aquatic life criteria for endrin and selenium (40 CFR section 132.6(g)) to apply to the waters of the Great Lakes System in the State of Wisconsin. Wisconsin began rulemaking in January 2008 to address the six aquatic life criteria for these four pollutants and in December 2008, the State finalized its criteria. EPA approved Wisconsin’s aquatic life water quality criteria on July 1, 2009, with the exception of the chronic aquatic life criterion for selenium for waters designated by Wisconsin as “Limited Forage Fish” aquatic life use. EPA is proposing to withdraw its aquatic life criteria for chronic and acute copper and nickel (40 CFR section 132.6(f)) and chronic endrin (40 CFR section 132.6(g)) in all surface waters of Wisconsin. EPA is also proposing to revise the chronic aquatic life criterion for selenium (40 CFR section 132.6(g)) to apply exclusively to areas designated by Wisconsin as “Limited Forage Fish” aquatic life use. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has adequately demonstrated that its aquatic life water quality criteria for copper (acute and chronic), nickel (acute and chronic), endrin (chronic), and selenium (chronic) protect all waters of the state at a level consistent with the federal requirements under the Clean Water Act, with the exception of selenium (chronic) in Limited Forage Fish” waters. The proposed federal regulation withdrawal will enable Wisconsin to implement its EPA-approved aquatic life criteria in all marine waters of the State. 
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)  Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant 
RIN Status: First time published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Proposed Rule Stage 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: Undetermined 
CFR Citation: 40 CFR 132.6(f)    40 CFR 132.6(g)   
Legal Authority: 33 USC 1751 et seq   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  12/00/2010    
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No  Government Levels Affected: None 
Small Entities Affected: No  Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Agency Contact:
Claudia Fabiano
Environmental Protection Agency
Water
4305T,
Washington, DC 20460
Phone:202 566-0446
Email: Fabiano.Claudia@epamail.epa.gov

Francine Norling
Environmental Protection Agency
Water
WQ-16J,
Chicago, IL 60604
Phone:312 886-0271
Email: Norling.Francine@epamail.epa.gov