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En%AronmentallTeduvcal Suppcxt Unit-(916)255-3015:Gies ed:Tuesday,13 June1995 4:17 PM- Page t of 3 <br /> - , ------------------ ------------------- -------- ---------------------------- <br /> M E M 0 R A <br /> ------------------------------MEM0RA 4 D U M D �� <br /> CALIFORNIA REGIONAL WATER QUALITY CONTR 1. BOARD - CE!WL ALLE1 N <br /> 3443 Routier Rcad, Suite A JTW=�� <br /> Sacramento, Califbmia 95827-3098 <br /> ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH <br /> To: Technical Staff FROM: Jon B. Marshack PERMIT/SERVICES <br /> Fresno, Redding and Senior Environmental Specialist <br /> Sacramento Offices Environmental/Technical Support Unit <br /> DATE: 17 May 1995 SIGN R - - <br /> (updates and replaces memoranda <br /> dated 3/26190, 1/14191, 716192, 5113193, and 1 18195) <br /> S116,lECT: BENEFICIAL USE-PROTECTIVE WAXER QUALITY LIMITS FOR <br /> COMPONENTS OF PETROLEUM-BAS ED FUELS <br /> A significant amount of our work involves the assessment and mitigation of petroleum-based fuel <br /> spills into soil and water. Various water quality criteria have been cited by staff in determining <br /> whether beneficial uses have been impaired or threatened by such spills. In an effort to achieve <br /> uniformity in the use of numerical water quality limits for this purpose and to bring to your <br /> attention the wide range of available and relevant crit ria, I offer the list on the back of this <br /> memorandum. These values come from the staff report A Compilation of Water Quality Goals, <br /> May 1993 edition, updated with more recent information. These limits are intended to be <br /> applicable to the protection of existing or potentialsources of drinking water. Sources of drinking <br /> water are surface and ground waters which have the neficial use of municipal and domestic <br /> supply (MUN), as designated in the applicable Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan)or the <br /> State Water Board's"Sources of Drinking Water"Policy, Resolution No. 88-63• <br /> Several of the recommended values are based on the tasw and odor which these chemicals can <br /> impart to water. For these chemicals, impacts on the palatability of the water occurs at lower <br /> concentrations than those which cause health effects. Taste-and odor-related criteria are <br /> applicable, since both health effects and palatability are relevant to the assessment of beneficial <br /> use protection. Specifically, the Basin Plans contain water quality objectives prohibiting adverse <br /> tastes or odors in ground or surface waters that have the "MUM'beneficial use designation. <br /> You will notice that certain of the recommended limi are lower than applicable analytical <br /> detection limits in water. in these cases, the detection of any amount of these constituents in'water <br /> indicates that beneficial uses have been impaired. <br /> In addition, an assessment of existing and potential ater quality impacts trust take into account <br /> State Water Board Resolution Nos. 68-15, Statement of Policy With Respect to Maintaining High <br /> Quality of Waters in California, and 92-49, Policies and Procedures for Investigation and Cleanup <br /> and Abatement of Discharges Under Water Code Section 13304. Requiring cleanup to <br /> technologically and economically achievable levels which are lower than beneficial use-protective <br /> limits, would be consistent with these policies for water quality control. .9 <br />