Withdrawal From Federal Regulations of Nineteen Acute Aquatic Life Water Quality Criteria Applicable to Alaska

In 1992, EPA promulgated federal regulations establishing water quality criteria for toxic pollutants for several states, including Alaska (40 CFR 131.36). Among the criteria promulgated for Alaska were acute aquatic life criteria for 24 pollutants. Recently, Alaska has clarified that certain criteria they have previously adopted are no less stringent than the acute aquatic life water quality criteria in the federal regulations. Based on the state's clarification, EPA is amending the federal regulations to withdraw acute aquatic life criteria for 19 pollutants applicable to waters of Alaska. EPA is withdrawing these criteria without a notice and comment rulemaking because the State's acute aquatic life criteria are no less stringent than the federal criteria. Federal aquatic life criteria for 5 pollutants continue to apply to Alaska as well as federal human health criteria for carcinogens.