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A procedure for setting environmentally safe total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for selenium.

A Dennis Lemly1

  • 1Coldwater Fisheries Research Unit, Southern Research Station, U.S. Forest Service, 1650 Ramble Road, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA. dlemly@vt.edu

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
|June 14, 2002
PubMed
Summary

This guide outlines a seven-step procedure for creating safe total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for selenium, addressing a gap in EPA guidance for protecting aquatic life and wildlife from selenium contamination.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Ecotoxicology
  • Water Quality Management

Background:

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) actions may necessitate total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for selenium.
  • Lack of specific technical guidance for selenium TMDLs hinders effective management.
  • Selenium contamination poses risks to fish and aquatic bird reproduction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a seven-step procedure for developing environmentally safe selenium TMDLs.
  • To bridge the gap between EPA's general TMDL framework and selenium-specific requirements.
  • To offer tools for biologists and environmental contaminant specialists.

Main Methods:

  • Delineation and characterization of hydrological units (HUs).
  • Assessment of selenium concentrations and biological hazards.

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  • Identification of selenium sources, loads, and estimation of HU retention capacity.
  • Calculation of total allowable selenium load and necessary reductions.
  • Allocation of loads among sources and monitoring for effectiveness.

    • Main Results:

    • A comprehensive seven-step procedure for selenium TMDL development.
    • Integration of EPA's TMDL process with selenium-specific data needs.
    • Methodology ensures selenium levels are below thresholds harmful to reproduction.

    Conclusions:

    • The proposed procedure ensures compliance with EPA regulations.
    • Effective selenium load reduction protects fish and wildlife resources.
    • This guidance supports informed water quality management for selenium.