Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
urine. This product was not previously Environmental Assessment, OEA–095, outlined in an EPA publication titled:
registered. Environmental Protection Agency, ‘‘Draft Support Document for the Sole
The application was approved on Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, Source Aquifer Designation of the
March 28, 2006, as Shake-Away Deer Washington 98101, 206–553–1593. Troutdale Aquifer System’’. After a
Repellent Granules (EPA Registration SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: technical peer review and public
VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:40 Sep 05, 2006 Jkt 208001 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\06SEN1.SGM 06SEN1
52542 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 172 / Wednesday, September 6, 2006 / Notices
comment period, a final publication was aquifers. The Washington Department of and its tributaries. These alluvial lands
compiled titled: ‘‘Final Support Ecology (WDOE) currently lists 204 are interrupted by low, rolling hills and/
Document for the Sole Source Aquifer active cleanup and 12 Federal or buttes with benches and hilly areas
Designation of the Troutdale Aquifer Superfund sites in the proposed aquifer that rise to meet the foothills of the
System’’. service area. These sites are known to Cascade Range to the east and the
have been contaminated and are northeast. The altitude of the land
II. Basis for Determination
undergoing cleanup. Many of these sites surface ranges from approximately 10
Among the factors to be considered by include plumes of groundwater feet along the Columbia River to about
EPA in connection with the designation contamination. WDOE also lists 625 3,000 feet in the foothill of the Cascade
of an area under Section 1424(e) are: (1) hazardous waste generators, and 609 Range. The Columbia River flows
Whether the aquifer is the area’s sole or underground storage tanks in this area. westward out of the Columbia River
principal source of drinking water, and • Superfund sites—12 Gorge, past the City of Vancouver,
(2) whether contamination of the aquifer • Active state cleanup sites—90 Washington, where it flows northward.
would create a significant hazard to • Active voluntary and independent The tributaries to the Columbia River
public health. cleanup sites—114 that drain Clark County include the
EPA Region 10 follows EPA guidance • LUST sites—185 North and East Forks of the Lewis, Little
which interprets the statutory language • Hazardous waste sites—625 Washougal, Washougal, and Lake
of ‘‘sole or principal’’ as meaning that • UST sites—609 Rivers. Major creeks are Cedar, Salmon,
the aquifer must supply at least 50 Other sources of contamination Burnt Bridge, and Lacamas Creeks.
percent of the drinking water for the include untreated or poorly treated The geologic units of the Troutdale
area. Furthermore, there should be no storm water and septic systems. There aquifer system are all lacustrine and
alternate drinking water source(s) which are about 7,000 septic systems within fluvial sediments of the upper and
can physically, legally, and the City of Vancouver’s sewer service lower members of the Troutdale
economically supply all those who area. There are tens of thousands of Formation, other consolidated sand and
depend upon the aquifer for drinking additional septic systems outside the gravel aquifer units, and overlying
water, should it become contaminated. city discharging to the aquifer. The unconsolidated alluvium and flood
In addition, aquifer boundaries should county is experiencing rapid growth deposits. These aquifer system units
be delineated based on sound which increases the threat to the quality overlie volcanic and marine
hydrogeologic principles and the best of the aquifer as well as increases the sedimentary rocks that are commonly
available scientific information. demand for potable water. known as the ‘‘older rocks’’ unit. The
Although designation determinations Because the aquifer system is older rocks unit is minimally productive
are largely based on science-based vulnerable to contamination and as an aquifer and is therefore not
criteria, the Regional Administrator may restoring groundwater quality can be included in the aquifer system being
also consider the overall public interest difficult or even impossible; and considered for sole source designation.
and net environmental and public because the aquifer system is the Sedimentary units of the aquifer
health benefits in making a sole source principal source of drinking water for system include eight hydrogeologic
aquifer determination. the area and there are no other sources units comprising the Portland Basin
On the basis of information available which can economically supply all aquifer system. From youngest to oldest,
to this Agency, the Region 10 those who depend upon it for drinking these hydrogeologic units are (1) The
Administrator has made the following water; EPA believes that contamination unconsolidated sedimentary aquifer, (2)
findings: of the aquifer system would pose a the Troutdale gravel aquifer in the
(1) The aquifer system is the principal significant hazard to public health. Troutdale Formation, (3) confining unit
source of drinking water (approximately These findings are based on 1, (4) the Troutdale sandstone aquifer in
99.4%) for the people in the Troutdale information from various sources the Troutdale Formation, (5) confining
aquifer system area and there are no including the petition, EPA guidance, unit 2, (6) the sand and gravel aquifer,
alternate sources which can physically, U.S. Geological Survey reports, and and (7) older rocks. The eighth unit is
legally, and economically supply all public comments. an undifferentiated fine-grained
those who depend upon the aquifer for sediment deposit that occurs in the
drinking water, should it become III. Description of the Troutdale
basin where the Troutdale sandstone
contaminated. Potential alternate Aquifer System and the sand and gravel aquifer are
sources considered include surface The following is a summary of absent or where there is insufficient
water, alternative aquifers, and an information from the Support Document information to characterize the aquifer
intertie with the Portland Water Bureau. available upon request from EPA Region units within the lower Troutdale
None of these drinking water sources 10, or from the EPA Web site. Much of member.
are considered by EPA to be feasible the hydrogeological information in the The quality of groundwater in the
replacements for the entire aquifer Support Document is taken from the proposed aquifer service area is
system due to economic barriers or petition and from ‘‘Description of the generally good with some exceptions.
because these sources are not consumed Groundwater Flow System in the Dissolved-solids concentrations ranged
or utilized for domestic purposes in Portland Basin, Oregon and from 12 to 245 milligrams per liter, with
significant quantities. Washington’’, U.S. Geological Survey a median concentration of 132
(2) Contamination of the aquifer (USGS) Water Supply Paper 2470–A, by milligrams per liter. Most waters can be
system would create a significant hazard McFarland, William D. and David S. characterized as soft to moderately hard.
to public health. The aquifer system is Morgan, 1996A. Concentrations of nitrate as nitrogen
vulnerable to contamination because The petitioned area is within Clark exceeded 1.0 milligram per liter
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
recharge occurs essentially over the County, Washington, which is a part of throughout the Vancouver urban area,
entire area, the aquifer is highly the southernmost boundary of the state, and were as large as 6.7 milligrams per
permeable, and there are many human along the Columbia River. The liter (Maximum Contaminant Level
activities that have released, or have the geography is characterized by flat-lying (MCL) is 10 milligrams per liter).
potential to release, contaminants to the alluvial lands along the Columbia River Potential nitrate sources are septic
VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:44 Sep 05, 2006 Jkt 208001 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\06SEN1.SGM 06SEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 172 / Wednesday, September 6, 2006 / Notices 52543
systems and fertilizers. According to the Federal financially-assisted projects Board questions the need for the
1990 Census, there are more than 31,000 which have the potential to contaminate designation and requests a written
septic systems in Clark County. An a designated SSA. Federal assistance guarantee that EPA will only address
analysis of limited historical data may be denied if EPA determines that technical aspects of federally-funded
indicates that nitrate concentrations a project may contaminate the SSA projects in the area, and not involve
may be decreasing in the southwestern through its recharge zone so as to create itself in local land use issues. A letter
part of the county around the Vancouver a significant hazard to public health. from the City of Vancouver questioned
urban area. A slight increase in nitrate Outright denial of Federal funding is the need for the designation, and
concentrations was noted in rural areas. rare as most projects pose limited risk questioned the validity of the alternative
Nitrate concentrations correlated with to ground water quality or can be source evaluation. There were no letters
sulfate concentrations (r = 0.61), feasibly modified to prevent ground expressing strong opposition to the
indicating similar sources for the two. water contamination. Proposed projects designation.
Volatile organic compounds have been that are funded entirely by state, local, The primary reason given for
detected in wells in the Vancouver or private concerns are not subject to supporting the proposed action was a
urban area. Compounds identified SSA review by EPA. belief that designation would increase
included tetrachloroethene, 1,1,1- EPA does not review all possible protection of the area’s ground water.
trichloroethane, and other solvents. Federal financially-assisted projects, but Many people cited concerns regarding
Atrazine and 2,4-D have also been tries to focus on those projects which historical and current ground water
detected in well water. Trace elements pose the greatest risk to public health. contamination of the aquifer system,
and radiochemical constituents were Memorandums of Understanding have indicating the high degree of aquifer
present only at small levels, indicating been developed between EPA and vulnerability. Many cited the
natural sources for these constituents. various Federal funding agencies to help educational benefit that SSA status
The Troutdale aquifer system identify, coordinate, and evaluate would have on the area’s residents and
boundaries are represented by rivers projects. EPA relies to the maximum on Clark County government on the
and the geologic boundary between the extent possible on existing local and source of the area’s drinking water, and
aquifer system units and the older rocks state mechanisms to protect SSAs from its value and the need for protection and
unit. The Columbia River forms the contamination. Whenever feasible, EPA conservation. Some people commented
southern and western boundaries of the coordinates project reviews with local that protection of the area’s ground
proposed Troutdale aquifer system. The and state agencies that have a water was important because there are
northern boundary follows the North responsibility for ground water no feasible alternate sources of drinking
Fork of the Lewis River from its protection. Their comments are given water.
confluence with the Columbia River, full consideration in the Federal review Two local governmental agencies
east to the confluence of Cedar Creek. process. questioned the need for the sole source,
Cedar Creek is used as the northeast citing other ground water protection
V. Public Participation and Response to laws that are currently in effect. In
boundary because its location is the
Comments response, there is no program in the
closest geographic representation of the
geologic boundary between the The following is a summary of the State of Washington that designates an
Troutdale unit and the older rocks unit, information from the ‘‘EPA Response to entire aquifer boundary for protection
and the creek also most likely acts as a Public Comments Submitted on the efforts. EPA has authority to review, and
local ground water divide for the upper Draft Support Document for the Sole recommend mitigating measures to any
parts of the aquifer system. The aquifer Source Aquifer Designation of the federally-financially assisted project
boundary follows Cedar Creek east Troutdale Aquifer System’’, which is that is determined to be a risk to the
where the boundary turns southeast and available on the EPA Region 10 Sole ground water. No such review exists
follows the mapped geologic contact Source Aquifer Web site. through any other program.
between the Troutdale Formation and EPA used various methods to notify One governmental agency expressed
the older rocks unit. The eastern and involve the public and others in the concern that special interests would
boundary follows the geologic contact Troutdale Aquifer System SSA exploit the designation which would
south to the Little Washougal River, and designation process. The outreach effort lead to unnecessary project delays and
then follows the Little Washougal River included briefings to local and State the advancement of other agendas. In
to its confluence with the Washougal government, distribution of EPA facts response, EPA’s role, after designation,
River. The boundary then follows the sheets, placing information in local is to review federally-financially
Washougal River south to Woodburn libraries, a public advertisement in the assisted projects proposed in the area, to
Hill, where it turns northwest and local newspaper, and posting all make sure that they will not
follows the geologic contact along a designation information on the EPA contaminate the aquifer. Project delays
small outcrop of the older rocks unit. Region 10 Sole Source Aquifer Web site. would only occur if it became necessary
The boundary follows the geologic A public comment period was in to incorporate mitigating measures to
contact through the City of Camas, and effect from March 1, 2006 to May 1, assure that the public’s drinking water
meets the Columbia River. In the 2006. EPA received 26 letters of support would be protected.
northern part of the area, the aquifer for the designation from a combination One government agency believes that
system boundary is drawn around Bald of individuals, public interest groups, there are feasible alternative sources of
Mountain, which is excluded from the Indian tribes, and public utilities. A drinking water for the area. In response,
aquifer system because it is composed of letter from the City of Portland Bureau EPA considered and evaluated the
the older rocks unit. Please see the of Water Works suggested corrections to potential costs of supplying the aquifer
Support Document for a more detailed the Support Document regarding population with water from various
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
hydrogeologic description. accurate wording of information about rivers, Lake Vancouver, etc. * * *
the Bureau of Water Works. A letter individually. We did not consider them
IV. Project Reviews from the Board of Clark County collectively because if they were not
The Safe Drinking Water Act Commissioners listed 7 questions for feasible individually, then they would
authorizes EPA to review proposed EPA to answer. In a follow-up letter, the certainly not be economically feasible
VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:44 Sep 05, 2006 Jkt 208001 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\06SEN1.SGM 06SEN1
52544 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 172 / Wednesday, September 6, 2006 / Notices
VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:44 Sep 05, 2006 Jkt 208001 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\06SEN1.SGM 06SEN1