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401 KAR 10:031. Surface water standards


Published: 2015

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      401 KAR 10:031. Surface water standards.

 

      RELATES TO: KRS 146.200-146.360,

146.410-146.535, 146.550-146.570, 146.600-146.619, 146.990, 224.01-010,

224.01-400, 224.16-050, 224.16-070, 224.70-100-224.70-140,

224.71-100-224.71-145, 224.73-100-224.73-120,

      STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 146.220,

146.241, 146.270, 146.410, 146.450, 146.460, 146.465, 224.10-100, 224.16-050,

224.16-060, 224.70-100, 224.70-110, 40 C.F.R. Part 131, 16 U.S.C. 1271-1287,

1531-1544, 33 U.S.C. 1311, 1313, 1314, 1341

      NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS

224.10-100 requires the cabinet to develop and conduct a comprehensive program

for the management of water resources and to provide for the prevention,

abatement, and control of water pollution. This administrative regulation and

401 KAR 10:001, 10:026, 10:029, and 10:030 establish procedures to protect the

surface waters of the Commonwealth, and thus protect water resources. This

administrative regulation establishes water quality standards that consist of

designated legitimate uses of the surface waters of the Commonwealth and the

associated water quality criteria necessary to protect those uses. These water

quality standards are minimum requirements that apply to all surface waters in

the Commonwealth of Kentucky in order to maintain and protect them for

designated uses. These water quality standards are subject to periodic review

and revision in accordance with the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1251-1387, 40

C.F.R. 131, and KRS Chapter 224.

 

      Section 1. Nutrients Criterion. Nutrients

shall not be elevated in a surface water to a level that results in a eutrophication

problem.

 

      Section 2. Minimum Criteria Applicable to

All Surface Waters. (1) The following minimum water quality criteria shall be

applicable to all surface waters including mixing zones, with the exception

that toxicity to aquatic life in mixing zones shall be subject to the provisions

of 401 KAR 10:029, Section 4. Surface waters shall not be aesthetically or

otherwise degraded by substances that:

      (a) Settle to form objectionable

deposits;

      (b) Float as debris, scum, oil, or other

matter to form a nuisance;

      (c) Produce objectionable color, odor,

taste, or turbidity;

      (d) Injure, are chronically or acutely

toxic to or produce adverse physiological or behavioral responses in humans,

animals, fish, and other aquatic life;

      (e) Produce undesirable aquatic life or

result in the dominance of nuisance species;

      (f)1. Cause fish flesh tainting.

      2. The concentration of phenol shall not

exceed 300 µg/L as an instream value.

      (2) The water quality criteria for the

protection of human health related to fish consumption in Table 1 of Section 6

of this administrative regulation are applicable to all surface water at the

edge of the assigned mixing zones except for those points where water is withdrawn

for domestic water supply use.

      (a) The criteria are established to

protect human health from the consumption of fish tissue, and shall not be

exceeded.

      (b) For those substances associated with

a cancer risk, an acceptable risk level of not more than one (1) additional

cancer case in a population of 1,000,000 people, or 1 x 10-6 shall

be utilized to establish the allowable concentration.

 

      Section 3. Use Designations and

Associated Criteria. (1) Surface waters may be designated as having one (1) or

more legitimate uses and associated criteria protective of those uses. Those

uses are listed in 401 KAR 10:026. Nothing in this administrative regulation

shall be construed to prohibit or impair the legitimate beneficial uses of

these waters. The criteria in Sections 2, 4, 6, and 7 of this administrative

regulation represent minimum conditions necessary to:

      (a) Protect surface waters for the

indicated use; and

      (b) Protect human health from fish

consumption.

      (2) On occasion, surface water quality

may be outside of the limits established to protect designated uses because of

natural conditions. If this occurs during periods when stream flows are below

the flow that is used by the cabinet to establish effluent limitations for

wastewater treatment facilities, a discharger shall not be considered a

contributor to instream violations of water quality standards, if treatment

results in compliance with permit requirements.

      (3) Stream flows for water quality-based

permits. The following stream flows shall be utilized if deriving KPDES permit

limitations to protect surface waters for the listed uses and purposes:

      (a) Aquatic life protection shall be 7Q10;

      (b) Water-based recreation protection

shall be 7Q10;

      (c) Domestic water supply protection

shall be determined at points of withdrawal as:

      1. The harmonic mean for cancer-linked

substances; and

      2. 7Q10 for noncancer-linked

substances;

      (d) Human health protection from fish

consumption and for changes in radionuclides shall be the harmonic mean; and

      (e) Protection of aesthetics shall be 7Q10.

 

      Section 4. Aquatic Life. (1) Warm water

aquatic habitat. The following parameters and associated criteria shall apply

for the protection of productive warm water aquatic communities, fowl, animal

wildlife, arboreous growth, agricultural, and industrial uses:

      (a) Natural alkalinity as CaCO3

shall not be reduced by more than twenty-five (25) percent.

      1. If natural alkalinity is below twenty

(20) mg/L CaCO3, there shall not be a reduction below the natural

level.

      2. Alkalinity shall not be reduced or

increased to a degree that may adversely affect the aquatic community;

      (b) pH shall not be less than six and

zero-tenths (6.0) nor more than nine and zero-tenths (9.0) and shall not

fluctuate more than one and zero-tenths (1.0) pH unit over a period of

twenty-four (24) hours;

      (c) Flow shall not be altered to a degree

that will adversely affect the aquatic community;

      (d) Temperature shall not exceed

thirty-one and seven-tenths (31.7) degrees Celsius (eighty-nine (89) degrees

Fahrenheit).

      1. The normal daily and seasonal

temperature fluctuations that existed before the addition of heat due to other

than natural causes shall be maintained.

      2. The cabinet may determine allowable

surface water temperatures on a site-specific basis utilizing available data

that shall be based on the effects of temperature on the aquatic biota that

utilize specific surface waters of the commonwealth and that may be affected by

person-induced temperature changes.

      a. Effects on downstream uses shall also

be considered in determining site-specific temperatures.

      b. Values in the following table are

guidelines for surface water temperature.



Month/Date





Period Average





Instantaneous Maximum







(°F)





(°C)





(°F)





(°C)







January 1-31





45





7





50





10







February 1-29





45





7





50





10







March 1-15





51





11





56





13







March 16-31





54





12





59





15







April 1-15





58





14





64





18







April 16-30





64





18





69





21







May 1-15





68





20





73





23







May 16-31





75





24





80





27







June 1-15





80





27





85





29







June 16-30





83





28





87





31







July 1-31





84





29





89





32







August 1-31





84





29





89





32







September 1-15





84





29





87





31







September 16-30





82





28





86





30







October 1-15





77





25





82





28







October 16-31





72





22





77





25







November 1-30





67





19





72





22







December 1-31





52





11





57





14







      3. A successful demonstration concerning

thermal discharge limits carried out pursuant to Section 316(a) of the Clean

Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1326, shall constitute compliance with the temperature

requirements of this subsection. A successful demonstration assures the

protection and propagation of a balanced indigenous population of shellfish,

fish, and wildlife in or on the water into which the discharge is made;

      (e) Dissolved oxygen.

      1. a. Dissolved oxygen shall be

maintained at a minimum concentration of five and zero-tenths (5.0) mg/L as a

twenty-four (24) hour average in water with WAH use;

      b. The instantaneous minimum shall not be

less than four and zero-tenths (4.0) mg/L in water with WAH use.

      2. The dissolved oxygen concentration

shall be measured at mid-depth in waters having a total depth of ten (10) feet

or less and at representative depths in other waters;

      (f) Total dissolved solids or specific

conductance. Total dissolved solids or specific conductance shall not be

changed to the extent that the indigenous aquatic community is adversely

affected;

      (g) Total suspended solids. Total

suspended solids shall not be changed to the extent that the indigenous aquatic

community is adversely affected;

      (h) Settleable solids. The addition of

settleable solids that may alter the stream bottom so as to adversely affect

productive aquatic communities shall be prohibited;

      (i) Ammonia. The concentration of the

un-ionized form shall not be greater than 0.05 mg/L at any time instream after

mixing. Un-ionized ammonia shall be determined from values for total ammonia-N,

in mg/L, pH and temperature, by means of the following equation:

      Y = 1.2 (Total ammonia-N)/(1 + 10pKa-pH)

      pka = 0.0902 + (2730/(273.2 +

Tc))

      Where:

      Tc = temperature, degrees

Celsius.

      Y = un-ionized ammonia (mg/L);

      (j) Toxics.

      1. The allowable instream concentration

of toxic substances, or whole effluents containing toxic substances, which are

noncumulative or nonpersistent with a half-life of less than ninety-six (96)

hours, shall not exceed:

      a. One-tenth (0.1) of the ninety-six (96)

hour median lethal concentration (LC50) of representative indigenous

or indicator aquatic organisms; or

      b. A chronic toxicity unit of 1.00

utilizing the twenty-five (25) percent inhibition concentration, or LC25.

      2. The allowable instream concentration

of toxic substances, or whole effluents containing toxic substances, which are

bioaccumulative or persistent, including pesticides, if not specified elsewhere

in this section, shall not exceed:

      a. 0.01 of the ninety-six (96) hour

median lethal concentration (LC50) of representative indigenous or

indicator aquatic organisms; or

      b. A chronic toxicity unit of 1.00

utilizing the IC25.

      3. In the absence of acute criteria for

pollutants listed in Table 1 of Section 6 of this administrative regulation,

for other substances known to be toxic but not listed in this administrative

regulation, or for whole effluents that are acutely toxic, the allowable

instream concentration shall not exceed the LC1 or one-third (1/3)

LC50 concentration derived from toxicity tests on representative

indigenous or indicator aquatic organisms or exceed three-tenths (0.3) acute toxicity

units.

      4. If specific application factors have

been determined for a toxic substance or whole effluent such as an acute to

chronic ratio or water effect ratio, they may be used instead of the one-tenth

(0.1) and 0.01 factors listed in this subsection upon demonstration by the applicant

that the application factors are scientifically defensible.

      5. Allowable instream concentrations for

specific pollutants for the protection of warm water aquatic habitat are listed

in Table 1 of Section 6 of this administrative regulation. These concentrations

are based on protecting aquatic life from acute and chronic toxicity and shall

not be exceeded; and

      (k) Total residual chlorine. Instream

concentrations for total residual chlorine shall not exceed an acute criteria

value of nineteen (19) µg/L or a chronic criteria value of eleven (11) µg/L.

      (2) Cold water aquatic habitat. The

following parameters and criteria are for the protection of productive cold

water aquatic communities and streams that support trout populations, whether

self-sustaining or reproducing, on a year-round basis. The criteria adopted for

the protection of warm water aquatic life also apply to the protection of cold

water habitats with the following additions:

      (a) Dissolved oxygen.

      1. A minimum concentration of six and

zero-tenths (6.0) mg/L as a twenty-four (24) hour average and five and

zero-tenths (5.0) mg/L as an instantaneous minimum shall be maintained.

      2. In lakes and reservoirs that support

trout, the concentration of dissolved oxygen in waters below the epilimnion

shall be kept consistent with natural water quality; and

      (b) Temperature. Water temperature shall

not be increased through human activities above the natural seasonal

temperatures.

 

      Section 5. Domestic Water Supply Use.

Maximum allowable in-stream concentrations for specific substances, to be

applicable at the point of withdrawal, as established in 401 KAR 10:026,

Section 5(2)(b), Table B, for use for domestic water supply from surface water

sources are specified in Table 1 of Section 6 of this administrative regulation

and shall not be exceeded.

 

      Section 6. Pollutants. (1) Allowable

instream concentrations of pollutants are listed in Table 1 of this section.



Table 1







Pollutant





CAS1 Number





Water Quality Criteria µg/L2







Human Health:





Warm Water Aquatic Habitat3:







DWS4





Fish5





Acute6





Chronic7







Acenaphthene





83329





670





990





-





-







Acrolein





107028





190





6





3





3







Acrylonitrile





107131





0.051





0.25





-





-







Aldrin





309002





0.000049





0.000050





3.0





-







alpha-BHC





319846





0.0026





0.0049





-





-







alpha-Endosulfan





959988





62





89





0.22





0.056







Anthracene





120127





8,300





40,000





-





-







Antimony





7440360





5.6





640





-





-







Arsenic





7440382





10.0





-





340





150







Asbestos





1332214





7 million fibers/L





-





-





-







Barium





7440393





1,000





-





-





-







Benzene





71432





2.2





51





-





-







Benzidine





92875





0.000086





0.00020





-





-







Benzo(a)anthracene





56553





0.0038





0.018





-





-







Benzo(a)pyrene





50328





0.0038





0.018





-





-







Benzo(b)fluoranthene





205992





0.0038





0.018





-





-







Benzo(k)fluoranthene





207089





0.0038





0.018





-





-







Beryllium





7440417





4





-





-





-







Beta-BHC





319857





0.0091





0.017





-





-







Beta-Endosulfan





33213659





62





89





0.22





0.056







bis(chloromethyl)ether





542881





0.00010





0.00029





-





-







bis(2-chloroethyl)ether





111444





0.030





0.53





-





-







bis(2-chloroisopropyl)ether





108601





1,400





65,000





-





-







bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate





117817





1.2





2.2





-





-







Bromoform





75252





4.3





140





-





-







Butylbenzyl phthalate





85687





1,500





1,900





-





-







Cadmium





7440439





5





-





e(1.0166 (ln Hard*)-3.924)





e(0.7409 (ln Hard*)-

4.719)







Carbon tetrachloride





56235





0.23





1.6





-





-







Chlordane





57749





0.00080





0.00081





2.4





0.0043







Chloride





16887006





250,000





-





1,200,000





600,000







Chlorobenzene





108907





130





1600





-





-







Chlorodibromomethane





124481





0.40





13





-





-







Chloroform





67663





5.7





470





-





-







Chloropyrifos





2921882





-





-





0.083





0.041







Chromium





N/A





100





-





-





-







Chromium (III)





16065831





-





-





e(0.8190 (ln Hard*)+

3.7256)





e(0.8190 (ln Hard*)+

0.6848)







Chromium (VI)





18540299





-





-





16





11







Chrysene





218019





0.0038





0.018





-





-







Color





N/A





75 Platinum Cobalt Units





-





-





-







Copper





7440508





1,300





-





e(0.9422 (ln Hard*)-

1.700)





e(0.8545 (ln Hard*)-

1.702)







Cyanide, Free





57125





140





140





22





5.2







Demeton





8065483





-





-





-





0.1







Diazinon





333415





 





 





0.17





0.17







Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene





53703





0.0038





0.018





-





-







Dichlorobromomethane





75274





0.55





17





-





-







Dieldrin





60571





0.000052





0.000054





0.24





0.056







Diethyl phthalate





84662





17,000





44,000





-





-







Dimethyl phthalate





131113





270,000





1,100,000





-





-







Di-n-butyl phthalate





84742





2,000





4,500





-





-







Dinitrophenols





25550587





69





5300





-





-







Endosulfan sulfate





1031078





62





89





-





-







Endrin





72208





0.059





0.060





0.086





0.036







Endrin aldehyde





7421934





0.29





0.30





-





-







Ethylbenzene





100414





530





2100





-





-







Fluoranthene





206440





130





140





-





-







Fluorene





86737





1,100





5,300





-





-







Fluoride





N/A





4,000





-





-





-







Guthion





86500





-





-





-





0.01







Heptachlor





76448





0.000079





0.000079





0.52





0.0038







Heptachlor epoxide





1024573





0.000039





0.000039





0.52





0.0038







Hexachlorobenzene





118741





0.00028





0.00029





-





-







Hexachlorobutadiene





87683





0.44





18





-





-







Hexachlorocyclo-hexane-Technical





319868





0.0123





0.0414





-





-







Hexachlorocyclopentadiene





77474





40





1100





-





-







Hexachloroethane





67721





1.4





3.3





-





-







Ideno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene





193395





0.0038





0.018





-





-







Iron8





7439896





300





-





4,000





1,000







Isophorone





78591





35.0





960





-





-







Lead





7439921





15





-





e(1.273 (ln Hard*)-

1.460)





e(1.273 (ln Hard*)-

4.705)







Lindane (gamma-BHC)





58899





0.98





1.8





0.95





 







Malathion





121755





-





-





-





0.1







Mercury





7439976





2.0





0.051





1.4





0.77







Methylmercury





22967926





 





0.3 mg/Kg





 





 







Methoxychlor





72435





100





-





-





0.03







Methylbromide





74839





47





1,500





-





-







Methylene Chloride





75092





4.6





590





-





-







Mirex





2385855





-





-





-





0.001







Nickel





7440020





610





4,600





e(0.8460 (ln Hard*)+

2.255)





e(0.8460

      (ln Hard*)+

0.0584)







Nitrate (as N)





14797558





10,000





-





-





-







Nitrobenzene





98953





17





690





-





-







Nitrosamines, Other





N/A





0.0008





1.24





-





-







N-Nitrosodibutylamine





924163





0.0063





0.22





-





-







N-Nitrosodiethylamine





55185





0.0008





1.24





-





-







N-Nitrosodimethylamine





62759





0.00069





3.0





-





-







N-Nitrosodi-n-Propylamine





621647





0.0050





0.51





-





-







N-Nitrosodiphenylamine





86306





3.3





6.0





-





-







N-Nitrosopyrrolidine





930552





0.016





34





-





-







Nonylphenol





1044051





 





 





28





6.6







Parathion





56382





-





-





0.065





0.013







Pentachlorobenzene





608935





1.4





1.5





-





-







Pentachlorophenol





87865





0.27





3.0





e(1.005

      (pH)-4.869)





e(1.005

      (pH)-5.134)







Phenol





108952





21,000





860,000





-





-







Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)





N/A





0.000064





0.000064





-





0.014







Pyrene





129000





830





4,000





-





-







Selenium





7782492





170





4,200





2589





8.610, 11

19.312







Silver





7440224





-





-





e(1.72 (ln Hard*)-6

.59)





-







Sulfate





N/A





250,000





-





-





-







Hydrogen Sulfide, Undissociated





7783064





-





-





-





2.0







Tetrachloroethylene





127184





0.69





3.3





-





-







Thallium





7440280





0.24





0.47





-





-







Toluene





108883





1300





15,000





-





-







Total Dissolved Solids





N/A





250,000





-





-





-







Toxaphene





8001352





0.00028





0.00028





0.73





0.0002







Tributyltin (TBT)





 





 





 





0.46





0.072







Trichloroethylene





79016





2.5





30





-





-







Vinyl Chloride





75014





0.025





2.4





-





-







Zinc





7440666





7,400





26,000





e(0.8473 (ln Hard*)+

0.884)





e(0.8473 (ln Hard*)+

0.884)







1,1-dichloroethylene





75354





330





7100





-





-







1,1,1-trichloroethane





71556





200





-





-





-







1,1,2-trichloroethane





79005





0.59





16





-





-







1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane





79345





0.17





4.0





-





-







1,2-dichlorobenzene





95501





420





1300





-





-







1,2-dichloroethane





107062





0.38





37





-





-







1,2-dichloropropane





78875





0.50





15





-





-







1,2-diphenylhydrazine





122667





0.036





0.20





-





-







1,2-trans-dichloroethylene





156605





140





10,000





-





-







1,2,4-trichlorobenzene





120821





35





70





-





-







1,2,4,5-tetrachlorobenzene





95943





0.97





1.1





-





-







1,3-dichlorobenzene





541731





320





960





-





-







1,3-dichloropropene





542756





0.34





21





-





-







1,4-dichlorobenzene





106467





63





190





-





-







2-chloronaphthalene





91587





1,000





1,600





-





-







2-chlorophenol





95578





81





150





-





-







2-methyl-4,6-dinitrophenol





534521





13





280





-





-







2,3,7,8-TCDD (Dioxin)





1746016





5.0 E - 9





5.1 E - 9





-





-







2,4-D





94757





100





-





-





-







2,4-dichlorophenol





120832





77





290





-





-







2,4-dimethylphenol





105679





380





850





-





-







2,4-dinitrophenol





51285





69





5,300





-





-







2,4-dinitrotoluene





121142





0.11





3.4





-





-







2,4,5-TP (Silvex)





93721





10





-





-





-







2,4,5-trichlorophenol





95954





1,800





3,600





-





-







2,4,6-trichlorophenol





88062





1.4





2.4





-





-







3,3’-dichlorobenzidine





91941





0.021





0.028





-





-







4,4’-DDD





72548





0.00031





0.00031





-





-







4,4’-DDE





72559





0.00022





0.00022





-





-







4,4’-DDT





50293





0.00022





0.00022





1.1





0.001





1CAS = Chemical Abstracts

Service.

2Water quality criteria

in µg/L unless reported in different units.

3Metal concentrations

shall be total recoverable metals to be measured in an unfiltered sample,

unless it can be demonstrated that a more appropriate analytical technique is

available that provides a measurement of that portion of the metal present

which causes toxicity to aquatic life.

4DWS = Domestic Water

Supply Source.

5Fish = Fish Consumption.

6Acute criteria =

protective of aquatic life based on one (1) hour exposure that does not exceed

the criterion for a given pollutant.

7Chronic = protective of

aquatic life based on ninety-six (96) hour exposure that does not exceed the

criterion of a given pollutant more than once every three (3) years on the

average.

8The chronic criterion

for iron shall not exceed three and five tenths (3.5) mg/L (thirty-five hundred

µg/L) if aquatic life has not been shown to be adversely affected.

9If the concentration of

sulfate is less than forty-four (44) mg/L, the alternate acute water quality

standard for selenium may be obtained by calculating the Criterion Maximum

Concentration (CMC) using the concentrations of selenite and selenate as follows:

      CMC = 1/, where

CMC1 is 258 µg/L for selenite and CMC2 is e(0.5812 + 3.357)µg/L for

selenate, and f1 is the fraction of total selenium that is selenite and f2 is

the fraction of total selenium that is selenate.

10This value is the

concentration in µg/g (dry weight) of whole fish tissue.

11 A concentration of five

and zero tenths (5.0) µg/L or greater selenium in the water column shall

trigger further sampling and analysis of whole-body fish tissue or alternately

of fish egg/ovary tissue.

12This value is the

concentration in µg/g (dry weight) of fish egg/ovary tissue.

*Hard = Hardness as mg/L

CaCO3.

 



      (2) The following additional criteria for

radionuclides shall apply for Domestic Water Supply use:

      (a) The gross total alpha particle

activity, including radium-226 but excluding radon and uranium, shall not

exceed fifteen (15) pCi/L;

      (b) Combined radium-226 and radium-228

shall not exceed five (5) pCi/L. Specific determinations of radium-226 and

radium-228 are not necessary if dissolved gross alpha particle activity does

not exceed five (5) pCi/L;

      (c) The concentration of total gross beta

particle activity shall not exceed fifty (50) pCi/L;

      (d) The concentration of tritium shall

not exceed 20,000 pCi/l;

      (e) The concentration of total

Strontium-90 shall not exceed eight (8) pCi/L; or

      (f) The concentration of uranium shall

not exceed thirty (30) µg/l.

 

      Section 7. Recreational Waters. (1) Primary

contact recreation water. The following criteria shall apply to waters

designated as primary contact recreation use during the primary contact

recreation season of May 1 through October 31:

      (a) Fecal coliform content or Escherichia

coli content shall not exceed 200 colonies per 100 ml or 130 colonies per 100

ml respectively as a geometric mean based on not less than five (5) samples

taken during a thirty (30) day period. Content also shall not exceed 400

colonies per 100 ml in twenty (20) percent or more of all samples taken during

a thirty (30) day period for fecal coliform or 240 colonies per 100 ml for

Escherichia coli. Fecal coliform criteria listed in subsection (2)(a) of this

section shall apply during the remainder of the year; and

      (b) pH shall be between six and

zero-tenths (6.0) to nine and zero-tenths (9.0) and shall not change more than

one and zero-tenths (1.0) pH unit within this range over a period of

twenty-four (24) hours.

      (2) Secondary contact recreation water.

The following criteria shall apply to waters designated for secondary contact

recreation use during the entire year:

      (a) Fecal coliform content shall not

exceed 1,000 colonies per 100 ml as a thirty (30) day geometric mean based on

not less than five (5) samples; nor exceed 2,000 colonies per 100 ml in twenty

(20) percent or more of all samples taken during a thirty (30) day period; and

      (b) pH shall be between six and

zero-tenths (6.0) to nine and zero-tenths (9.0) and shall not change more than

one and zero-tenths (1.0) pH unit within this range over a period of twenty-four

(24) hours.

 

      Section 8. Outstanding State Resource

Waters. This designation category includes certain unique waters of the commonwealth.

(1) Water for inclusion.

      (a) Automatic inclusion. The following

surface waters shall automatically be included in this category:

      1. Waters designated pursuant to the

Kentucky Wild Rivers Act, KRS 146.200-146.360;

      2. Waters designated pursuant to the

Federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, 16 U.S.C. 1271-1287;

      3. Waters that support federally

recognized endangered or threatened species pursuant to the Endangered Species

Act of 1973, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1531-1544.

      (b) Permissible consideration. Other

surface waters shall be considered for inclusion in this category if:

      1. The surface waters flow through or are

bounded by state or federal forest land, or are of exceptional aesthetic or

ecological value or are within the boundaries of national, state, or local

government parks, or are a part of a unique geological, natural, or historical

area recognized by state or federal designation; or

      2. The surface water is a component part

of an undisturbed or relatively undisturbed watershed that can provide basic

scientific data and possess outstanding water quality characteristics, or

fulfill two (2) of the following criteria:

      a. Support a diverse or unique native

aquatic flora or fauna;

      b. Possess physical or chemical

characteristics that provide an unusual and uncommon aquatic habitat; or

      c. Provide a unique aquatic environment

within a physiographic region.

      (2) Outstanding state resource waters

protection. The designation of certain waters as outstanding state resource

waters shall fairly and fully reflect those aspects of the waters for which the

designation is proposed. The cabinet shall determine water quality criteria for

these waters as follows:

      (a) At a minimum, the criteria of Section

2 and Table 1 of Section 6 of this administrative regulation and the

appropriate criteria associated with the stream use designation assignments in

401 KAR 10:026, shall be applicable to these waters.

      (b) Outstanding state resource waters

that are listed as Exceptional Waters in 401 KAR 10:030, Section 1(2) shall

have dissolved oxygen maintained at a minimum concentration of six and

zero-tenths (6.0) mg/L as a twenty-four (24) hour average and an instantaneous

minimum concentration of not less than five and zero-tenths (5.0) mg/L.

      (c)1. If the values identified for an

outstanding state resource water are dependent upon or related to instream

water quality, the cabinet shall review existing water quality criteria and

determine if additional criteria or more stringent criteria are necessary for

protection, and evaluate the need for the development of additional data upon

which to base the determination.

      2. Existing water quality and habitat

shall be maintained and protected in those waters designated as outstanding

state resource waters that support federally threatened and endangered species

of aquatic organisms, unless it can be demonstrated that lowering of water

quality or a habitat modification will not have a harmful effect on the

threatened or endangered species that the water supports.

      (d) Adoption of more protective criteria

in accordance with this section shall be listed with the respective stream

segment in 401 KAR 10:026.

      (3) Determination of designation.

      (a) A person may present a proposal to

designate certain waters pursuant to this section. Documentation requirements

in support of an outstanding state resource water proposal shall contain those

elements outlined in 401 KAR 10:026, Section 3(3)(a) through (h).

      (b)1. The cabinet shall review the

proposal and supporting documentation to determine if the proposed waters

qualify as outstanding state resource waters within the criteria established by

this administrative regulation.

      2. The cabinet shall document the

determination to deny or to propose redesignation, and a copy of the decision

shall be served upon the petitioner and other interested parties.

      (c) After considering all of the

pertinent data, a redesignation, if appropriate, shall be made pursuant to 401

KAR 10:026.

 

      Section 9. Water Quality Criteria for the

Main Stem of the Ohio River. (1) The following criteria apply to the main stem

of the Ohio River from its juncture with the Big Sandy River at River Mile

317.1 to its confluence with the Mississippi River, and shall not be exceeded.

      (2) These waters shall be subject to all

applicable provisions of 401 KAR 10:001, 10:026, 10:029, 10:030, and this

administrative regulation, except for those criteria in paragraphs (a) and (b)

of this subsection.

      (a) Dissolved oxygen. Instream concentrations

shall average at least five and zero-tenths (5.0) mg/L per calendar day and

shall not be less than four and zero-tenths (4.0) mg/L except during the April

15 - June 15 spawning season when a minimum of five and one-tenth (5.1) mg/L

shall be maintained.

      (b) Maximum allowable instream

concentrations for nitrite-nitrogen for the protection of human health shall be

one and zero-tenths (1.0) mg/L and shall be met at the edge of the assigned mixing

zone.

 

      Section 10. Exceptions to Criteria for

Specific Surface Waters. (1) The cabinet may grant exceptions to the criteria

contained in Sections 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of this administrative regulation

for specific surface water upon demonstration by an applicant that maintenance

of applicable water quality criteria is not attainable or scientifically valid

but the use designation is still appropriate.

      (2) The analysis shall show that the

water quality criteria cannot be reasonably achieved, either on a seasonal or

year-round basis due to natural conditions or site-specific factors differing

from the conditions used to derive criteria in Sections 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of

this administrative regulation.

      (a) Site-specific criteria shall be developed

by the applicant utilizing toxicity tests, indicator organisms, and application

factors that shall be consistent with those outlined in Chapter 3 of Water

Quality Standards Handbook, EPA, 1994.

      (b) In addition, an applicant shall

supply the documentation listed in 401 KAR 10:026, Section 3.

      (3) An exception to criteria listed in

Table 1 of Section 6 of this administrative regulation for the protection of

human health from the consumption of fish tissue may be granted if it is

demonstrated that natural, ephemeral, intermittent, or low flow conditions or

water levels preclude the year-round support of a fishery, unless these conditions

may be compensated for by the discharge of sufficient volume of effluent

discharges.

      (4) Before granting an exception to water

quality criteria, the cabinet shall ensure that the water quality standards of

downstream waters shall be attained and maintained.

      (5) All exceptions to water quality

criteria shall be subject to review at least every three (3) years.

      (6) Exceptions to water quality criteria

shall be adopted as an administrative regulation by listing them with the

respective surface water in 401 KAR 10:026.

 

      Section 11. Exceptions to Criteria for

Individual Dischargers. (1) An exception to criteria may be granted to an

individual discharger based on a demonstration by the discharger, that KPDES

permit compliance with existing instream criteria cannot be attained because of

factors specified in 401 KAR 10:026, Section 2(4)(a) through (f).

      (2) The demonstration shall include an

assessment of alternative pollution control strategies and biological

assessments that indicated designated uses are being met.

      (3) Before granting an exception, the

cabinet shall ensure that the water quality standards of downstream waters

shall be attained and maintained.

      (4) All exceptions shall be submitted to

the cabinet for review at least every three (3) years. Upon review, the

discharger shall demonstrate to the cabinet the effort the discharger made to

reduce the pollutants in the discharge to levels that would achieve existing applicable

water quality criteria.

      (5) The highest level of effluent quality

that can be economically and technologically achieved shall be ensured while

the exception is in effect.

      (6) The Kentucky Pollution Discharge

Elimination System permitting program shall be the mechanism for the review and

public notification of intentions to grant exceptions to criteria.

 

      Section 12. Incorporation by Reference.

(1) The following material is incorporated by reference:

      (a) "Water Quality Standards

Handbook-Chapter 3", EPA August 1994, Publication EPA-823-B-94-005a, U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Washington, D.C.; and

      (b) "Interim Economic Guidance for

Water Quality Standards Workbook", EPA March 1995, Publication

EPA-823-B-95-002, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water,

Washington, D.C.

      (2) This material may be inspected,

copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at the Division of

Water, 200 Fair Oaks Lane, Frankfort, Kentucky, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.

to 4:30 p.m.

(5 Ky.R. 829; Am. 6 Ky.R. 344; eff. 12-5-79; 11 Ky.R. 1144; 1384; eff. 4-9-85;

16 Ky.R. 838; 1370; 2666; eff. 5-31-90; 18 Ky.R. 1388; 2331; eff. 1-27-92; 26

Ky.R. 150; 824; 1148; eff. 12-8-99; 30 Ky.R. 1035; 1813; eff. 9-8-2004; TAm

eff. 8-9-2007, Recodified from 401 KAR 5:031; 2008; 35 Ky.R. 177; 930; 2723;

eff. 7-6-2009; 39 Ky.R. 596; 1188; 2167; eff. 5-31-2013.)