Amendment of the Provisions To Eliminate and Phase-Out Mixing Zones for Bioaccumulative Chemicals of Concern and Amendment to Procedure 8.D. of Appendix F (Pollutant Minimization Program) for the Final Water Quality Guidance for the Great Lakes System

As a result of the decision in American Iron and Steel Institute, et al. v. EPA (AISI), 115 F.3d 979 (D.C. Cir. 1997), EPA today is amending the final Water Quality Guidance for the Great Lake System (Guidance) (40 CFR part 132) by removing the provisions to eliminate and phase-out mixing zones for bioaccumulative chemicals of concern (BCCs). Also in response to the AISI decision, EPA is today amending the Guidance by revising Procedure 8.D. of Appendix F to remove language in the Pollutant Minimization Program (PMP) provisions that might imply authorization for imposing water quality-based effluent limits (WQBELs) on internal waste streams or for requiring specific control measures to meet WQBELs.