Draft California 2024 Integrated Report (303(d) List/305(b) Report)

Supporting Information

Regional Board 4 - Los Angeles Region

Water Body Name: Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
Water Body ID: CAB4051800020000229113919
Water Body Type: Bay & Harbor
 
DECISION ID
136035
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
Pollutant: Benzo(a)anthracene
Final Listing Decision: Do Not Delist from 303(d) list (being addressed with USEPA approved TMDL)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: List on 303(d) list (being addressed by USEPA approved TMDL)(2018)
Revision Status Revised
Sources: A Source Unknown
TMDL Name: Dominguez, LA/LB Harbors, San Pedro Bay Metals (75 & 78), toxics(73a) and PAHs (74)
TMDL Project Code: 416
Date TMDL Approved by USEPA: 03/23/2012
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: This pollutant is being considered for removal on the CWA section 303(d) List under sections 2.2, 4.1 and 4.6 of the Listing Policy.

Four lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification against removing this water segment-pollutant combination from the CWA section 303(d) List. There is sufficient justification to place it in the Being Addressed portion of the CWA 303(d) List because a TMDL has been completed and approved by RWQCB and USEPA, and is expected to result in attainment of the standard.

This conclusion is based on the staff findings that:
1. The data used satisfies the data quality requirements of section 6.1.4 of the Policy.
2. The data used satisfies the data quantity requirements of section 6.1.5 of the Policy.
3. 8 of 12 samples exceeded the guideline for benzo(a)athracene in sediment and these exceed the allowable frequency listed in Table 4.1 of the Listing Policy. There is an associated sediment toxicity, with 3 of 7 sediment samples exhibiting toxicity.
4. The Dominguez Channel and Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors Toxics and Metals TMDL was approved by USEPA on 03/23/2012.
5. Pursuant to section 4.11 of the Listing Policy, no additional data and information are available indicating that standards are not met.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be removed from the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards for the pollutant are being exceeded.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation:
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136035, Benzo(a)anthracene
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 245613
 
Pollutant: Benzo(a)anthracene
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Southern California Bight Project 2018 data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 1 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Benz(a)anthracene .
Data Reference: WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for benz[a]anthrazene is the probable effect level (PEL) of 693 ug/Kg dry weight (MacDonald et al., 1996).
Guideline Reference: Development and evaluation of sediment quality guidelines for Florida coastal waters. Ecotoxicology 5: 253-278
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): B18-10103 (B18-10103).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: SWRCB. 2018. This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
QAPP Information Reference(s): This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136035, Benzo(a)anthracene
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 245761
 
Pollutant: Benzo(a)anthracene
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Benz(a)anthracene .
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for benz[a]anthrazene is the probable effect level (PEL) of 693 ug/Kg dry weight (MacDonald et al., 1996).
Guideline Reference: Development and evaluation of sediment quality guidelines for Florida coastal waters. Ecotoxicology 5: 253-278
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): FH-SS-07 (FH-SS-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136035, Benzo(a)anthracene
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 213
 
Pollutant: Sediment Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 7
Number of Exceedances: 3
 
Data and Information Type: Toxicity testing of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Overall, three of seven samples were toxic. This total was created from two different sediment studies within Fish Harbor. In one study, three of six samples were toxic (BPTCP). In the other, none of one sample was toxic (Bight, 1998) (LARWQCB & CCC, 2004).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: Samples were considered toxic if (1) there was a significant difference in mean organism response between the sample and the control, and (2) the mean organism response in the test, as a percent of the control, was less than the threshold based on the 90th percentile minimum significant difference value.
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: Seven sites were sampled throughout LA/LB Fish Harbor.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected in 1992, 1997 and 1998.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Contaminated Sediment Task Force (2005) and references therein (BPTCP QAPP, Bight 98 QAPP).
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136035, Benzo(a)anthracene
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 204
 
Pollutant: Benzo(a)anthracene
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 12
Number of Exceedances: 8
 
Data and Information Type: Chemical monitoring of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Of the 12 sediment core and grab samples, 8 measurements exceeded the sediment quality guideline (CSTF, 2002).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: A sediment quality guideline of 692.53 ng/g was used (MacDonald et al., 1996).
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were spread throughout the water body.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected in 1992 and 1999.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Bay Protection and Toxic Cleanup Program QAPP.
Quality assurance for other samples presented in the Contaminated Sediments Task Force Database.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136035, Benzo(a)anthracene
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 244483
 
Pollutant: Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: TOXICITY TESTING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: 0 of the 1 samples collected by Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor exhibited toxicity. A sample may have multiple toxicity test results, but will only be counted once. A sample is defined as being collected on the same day and the same location. The following organisms and parameters were utilized for the toxicity tests: Mytilus galloprovincialis for Normal Development, Eohaustorius estuarius for Survival.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The sample is toxic when the response of the organisms exposed to the sample is significantly different (worse) than the response of the organisms exposed to the laboratory control based on statistical hypothesis testing.  An exceedance is counted when the significant effect code is “Significant; Less Similarity,” which means that the sample result is significantly different than the control result, and the percent effect is greater than the evaluation threshold.  The default evaluation threshold is 20% unless otherwise stated.
Guideline Reference: Short-term Methods for Estimating the Chronic Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to Freshwater Organisms. Fourth Edition. Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Washington, D.C. EPA-821-R-02-013
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at monitoring site: FH-SS-07 ( FH-SS-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor ).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2018-08-12 and 2018-08-12.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
 
DECISION ID
136034
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
Pollutant: Benzo(a)pyrene
Final Listing Decision: Do Not Delist from 303(d) list (being addressed with USEPA approved TMDL)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: List on 303(d) list (being addressed by USEPA approved TMDL)(2018)
Revision Status Revised
Sources: A Source Unknown
TMDL Name: Dominguez, LA/LB Harbors, San Pedro Bay Metals (75 & 78), toxics(73a) and PAHs (74)
TMDL Project Code: 416
Date TMDL Approved by USEPA: 03/23/2012
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: This pollutant is being considered for removal on the CWA section 303(d) List under sections 2.2 and 4.6 of the Listing Policy.

Four lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification against removing this water segment-pollutant combination from the CWA section 303(d) List. There is sufficient justification to place it in the Being Addressed portion of the CWA 303(d) List because a TMDL has been completed and approved by RWQCB and USEPA, and is expected to result in attainment of the standard.

This conclusion is based on the staff findings that:
1. The data used satisfies the data quality requirements of section 6.1.4 of the Policy.
2. The data used satisfies the data quantity requirements of section 6.1.5 of the Policy.
3. 11 of 13 and 2 of 2 samples exceeded the guideline for benzo(a)pyrene in sediment and these exceed the allowable frequency listed in Table 4.1 of the Listing Policy. There is an associated sediment toxicity, with 3 of 7 sediment samples exhibiting toxicity.
4. The Dominguez Channel and Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors Toxics and Metals TMDL was approved by USEPA on 03/23/2012.
5. Pursuant to section 4.11 of the Listing Policy, no additional data and information are available indicating that standards are not met.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be removed from the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards for the pollutant are being exceeded.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation:
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136034, Benzo(a)pyrene
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 244483
 
Pollutant: Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: TOXICITY TESTING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: 0 of the 1 samples collected by Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor exhibited toxicity. A sample may have multiple toxicity test results, but will only be counted once. A sample is defined as being collected on the same day and the same location. The following organisms and parameters were utilized for the toxicity tests: Mytilus galloprovincialis for Normal Development, Eohaustorius estuarius for Survival.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The sample is toxic when the response of the organisms exposed to the sample is significantly different (worse) than the response of the organisms exposed to the laboratory control based on statistical hypothesis testing.  An exceedance is counted when the significant effect code is “Significant; Less Similarity,” which means that the sample result is significantly different than the control result, and the percent effect is greater than the evaluation threshold.  The default evaluation threshold is 20% unless otherwise stated.
Guideline Reference: Short-term Methods for Estimating the Chronic Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to Freshwater Organisms. Fourth Edition. Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Washington, D.C. EPA-821-R-02-013
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at monitoring site: FH-SS-07 ( FH-SS-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor ).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2018-08-12 and 2018-08-12.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136034, Benzo(a)pyrene
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 246288
 
Pollutant: Benzo(a)pyrene
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Southern California Bight Project 2018 data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 1 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Benzo(a)pyrene .
Data Reference: WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for benzo[a]pyrene is the probable effect level (PEL) of 763 ug/kg dry weight (MacDonald et al., 1996).
Guideline Reference: Development and evaluation of sediment quality guidelines for Florida coastal waters. Ecotoxicology 5: 253-278
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): B18-10103 (B18-10103).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: SWRCB. 2018. This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
QAPP Information Reference(s): This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136034, Benzo(a)pyrene
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 246092
 
Pollutant: Benzo(a)pyrene
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 1 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Benzo(a)pyrene .
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for benzo[a]pyrene is the probable effect level (PEL) of 763 ug/kg dry weight (MacDonald et al., 1996).
Guideline Reference: Development and evaluation of sediment quality guidelines for Florida coastal waters. Ecotoxicology 5: 253-278
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): FH-SS-07 (FH-SS-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136034, Benzo(a)pyrene
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 205
 
Pollutant: Benzo(a)pyrene
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 13
Number of Exceedances: 11
 
Data and Information Type: Chemical monitoring of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Of the 13 sediment core and grab samples, 11 measurements exceeded the sediment quality guideline (CSTF, 2003) (USEPA, 2007).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: A sediment quailty guideline of 763.22 ng/g was used (MacDonald et al., 1996).
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were spread throughout the water body.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected in 1992 and 1999.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Bay Protection and Toxic Cleanup Program QAPP.
Quality assurance for other samples presented in the Contaminated Sediments Task Force Database.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136034, Benzo(a)pyrene
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 213
 
Pollutant: Sediment Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 7
Number of Exceedances: 3
 
Data and Information Type: Toxicity testing of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Overall, three of seven samples were toxic. This total was created from two different sediment studies within Fish Harbor. In one study, three of six samples were toxic (BPTCP). In the other, none of one sample was toxic (Bight, 1998) (LARWQCB & CCC, 2004).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: Samples were considered toxic if (1) there was a significant difference in mean organism response between the sample and the control, and (2) the mean organism response in the test, as a percent of the control, was less than the threshold based on the 90th percentile minimum significant difference value.
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: Seven sites were sampled throughout LA/LB Fish Harbor.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected in 1992, 1997 and 1998.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Contaminated Sediment Task Force (2005) and references therein (BPTCP QAPP, Bight 98 QAPP).
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
 
DECISION ID
136037
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
Pollutant: Chlordane
Final Listing Decision: Do Not Delist from 303(d) list (being addressed with USEPA approved TMDL)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: List on 303(d) list (being addressed by USEPA approved TMDL)(2018)
Revision Status Revised
Sources: A Source Unknown
TMDL Name: Dominguez, LA/LB Harbors, San Pedro Bay Metals (75 & 78), toxics(73a) and PAHs (74)
TMDL Project Code: 416
Date TMDL Approved by USEPA: 03/23/2012
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: This pollutant is being considered for removal on the CWA section 303(d) List under sections 2.2 and 4.6 of the Listing Policy.

Six lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification against removing this water segment-pollutant combination from the CWA section 303(d) List. There is sufficient justification to place it in the Being Addressed portion of the CWA 303(d) List because a TMDL has been completed and approved by RWQCB and USEPA, and is expected to result in attainment of the standard.

This conclusion is based on the staff findings that:
1. The data used satisfies the data quality requirements of section 6.1.4 of the Policy.
2. The data used satisfies the data quantity requirements of section 6.1.5 of the Policy.
3. 4 of 6 samples exceeded the guideline for chlordane in sediment and these exceed the allowable frequency listed in Table 4.1 of the Listing Policy. There is an associated sediment toxicity, with 3 of 7 sediment samples exhibiting toxicity.
4. The Dominguez Channel and Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors Toxics and Metals TMDL was approved by USEPA on 03/23/2012.
5. Pursuant to section 4.11 of the Listing Policy, no additional data and information are available indicating that standards are not met.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be removed from the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards for the pollutant are being exceeded.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation:
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136037, Chlordane
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 196
 
Pollutant: Chlordane
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 6
Number of Exceedances: 4
 
Data and Information Type: Chemical monitoring of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Of the six sediment core samples, 4 exceeded sediment quality guideline (CSTF. 2002).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: An Effects Range-Median of 6 ng/g was used (Long and Morgan, 1990).
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were spread throughout the water body.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected in 1999.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Quality assurance for other samples presented in the Contaminated Sediments Task Force Database.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136037, Chlordane
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 213
 
Pollutant: Sediment Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 7
Number of Exceedances: 3
 
Data and Information Type: Toxicity testing of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Overall, three of seven samples were toxic. This total was created from two different sediment studies within Fish Harbor. In one study, three of six samples were toxic (BPTCP). In the other, none of one sample was toxic (Bight, 1998) (LARWQCB & CCC, 2004).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: Samples were considered toxic if (1) there was a significant difference in mean organism response between the sample and the control, and (2) the mean organism response in the test, as a percent of the control, was less than the threshold based on the 90th percentile minimum significant difference value.
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: Seven sites were sampled throughout LA/LB Fish Harbor.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected in 1992, 1997 and 1998.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Contaminated Sediment Task Force (2005) and references therein (BPTCP QAPP, Bight 98 QAPP).
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136037, Chlordane
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 267509
 
Pollutant: Chlordane
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish, or organisms
 
Number of Samples: 0
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support, and the results are as follows: 0 of the 0 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Total Chlordane. Although a total of 6 samples were collected, 6 of these samples were not included in the assessment because the laboratory data reporting limit(s) was above the water quality threshold and therefore the results could not be quantified with the level of certainty required by the Listing Policy Section 6.1.5.5.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The chlordane criterion for the protection of human health from consumption of organisms only is 0.00059 ug/L (California Toxics Rule, 2000).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Standards 2000. Establishment of numeric criteria for priority toxic pollutants for the State of California: Rules and regulations. Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 97. Washington, D.C.: Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: FH-RW-07 (FH-RW-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2017-09-05 to 2018-11-30
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136037, Chlordane
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 267345
 
Pollutant: Chlordane
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 6
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 6 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Total Chlordane.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The chlordane criterion continuous concentration (expressed as a 4-day average) to protect aquatic life in saline water is 0.004 ug/L (California Toxics Rule, 2000).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Standards 2000. Establishment of numeric criteria for priority toxic pollutants for the State of California: Rules and regulations. Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 97. Washington, D.C.: Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: FH-RW-07 (FH-RW-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2017-09-05 and 2018-11-30
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136037, Chlordane
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 246479
 
Pollutant: Chlordane
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Southern California Bight Project 2018 data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Chlordane .
Data Reference: WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: No individual pesticide or combination of pesticides shall be present in concentrations that adversely affect beneficial uses. There shall be no increase in pesticide concentrations found in bottom sediments or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for chlordane is the Effects Range Median (ERM) value of 6 ng/g dry weight (Long and Morgan, 1990).
Guideline Reference: The potential for biological effects of sediment-sorbed contaminants tested in the National Status of Trends Program. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS OMA 52. Seattle, WA: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): B18-10103 (B18-10103).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: SWRCB. 2018. This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
QAPP Information Reference(s): This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136037, Chlordane
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 246508
 
Pollutant: Chlordane
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Chlordane .
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: No individual pesticide or combination of pesticides shall be present in concentrations that adversely affect beneficial uses. There shall be no increase in pesticide concentrations found in bottom sediments or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for chlordane is the Effects Range Median (ERM) value of 6 ng/g dry weight (Long and Morgan, 1990).
Guideline Reference: The potential for biological effects of sediment-sorbed contaminants tested in the National Status of Trends Program. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS OMA 52. Seattle, WA: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): FH-SS-07 (FH-SS-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136037, Chlordane
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 244483
 
Pollutant: Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: TOXICITY TESTING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: 0 of the 1 samples collected by Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor exhibited toxicity. A sample may have multiple toxicity test results, but will only be counted once. A sample is defined as being collected on the same day and the same location. The following organisms and parameters were utilized for the toxicity tests: Mytilus galloprovincialis for Normal Development, Eohaustorius estuarius for Survival.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The sample is toxic when the response of the organisms exposed to the sample is significantly different (worse) than the response of the organisms exposed to the laboratory control based on statistical hypothesis testing.  An exceedance is counted when the significant effect code is “Significant; Less Similarity,” which means that the sample result is significantly different than the control result, and the percent effect is greater than the evaluation threshold.  The default evaluation threshold is 20% unless otherwise stated.
Guideline Reference: Short-term Methods for Estimating the Chronic Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to Freshwater Organisms. Fourth Edition. Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Washington, D.C. EPA-821-R-02-013
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at monitoring site: FH-SS-07 ( FH-SS-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor ).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2018-08-12 and 2018-08-12.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
 
DECISION ID
136038
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
Pollutant: Chrysene (C1-C4)
Final Listing Decision: Do Not Delist from 303(d) list (being addressed with USEPA approved TMDL)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: List on 303(d) list (being addressed by USEPA approved TMDL)(2018)
Revision Status Revised
Sources: A Source Unknown
TMDL Name: Dominguez, LA/LB Harbors, San Pedro Bay Metals (75 & 78), toxics(73a) and PAHs (74)
TMDL Project Code: 416
Date TMDL Approved by USEPA: 03/23/2012
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: This pollutant is being considered for removal on the CWA section 303(d) List under sections 2.2 and 4.6 of the Listing Policy.

Three lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification against removing this water segment-pollutant combination from the CWA section 303(d) List. There is sufficient justification to place it in the Being Addressed portion of the CWA 303(d) List because a TMDL has been completed and approved by RWQCB and USEPA, and is expected to result in attainment of the standard.

This conclusion is based on the staff findings that:
1. The data used satisfies the data quality requirements of section 6.1.4 of the Policy.
2. The data used satisfies the data quantity requirements of section 6.1.5 of the Policy.
3. 9 of 12 and 2 of 2 samples exceeded the guideline for chrysene in sediment and these exceed the allowable frequency listed in Table 4.1 of the Listing Policy. There is an associated sediment toxicity, with 3 of 7 sediment samples exhibiting toxicity.
4. The Dominguez Channel and Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors Toxics and Metals TMDL was approved by USEPA on 03/23/2012.
5. Pursuant to section 4.11 of the Listing Policy, no additional data and information are available indicating that standards are not met.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be removed from the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards for the pollutant are being exceeded.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation:
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136038, Chrysene (C1-C4)
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 206
 
Pollutant: Chrysene (C1-C4)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 12
Number of Exceedances: 9
 
Data and Information Type: Chemical monitoring of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Of the 12 sediment core and grab samples, 9 measurements exceeded the sediment quality guideline (CSTF, 2002).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: A sediment quality guideline of 845.98 ng/g was used (MacDonald et al., 1996).
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were spread throughout the water body.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected in 1992 and 1999.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Bay Protection and Toxic Cleanup Program QAPP.
Quality assurance for other samples presented in the Contaminated Sediments Task Force Database.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136038, Chrysene (C1-C4)
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 213
 
Pollutant: Sediment Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 7
Number of Exceedances: 3
 
Data and Information Type: Toxicity testing of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Overall, three of seven samples were toxic. This total was created from two different sediment studies within Fish Harbor. In one study, three of six samples were toxic (BPTCP). In the other, none of one sample was toxic (Bight, 1998) (LARWQCB & CCC, 2004).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: Samples were considered toxic if (1) there was a significant difference in mean organism response between the sample and the control, and (2) the mean organism response in the test, as a percent of the control, was less than the threshold based on the 90th percentile minimum significant difference value.
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: Seven sites were sampled throughout LA/LB Fish Harbor.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected in 1992, 1997 and 1998.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Contaminated Sediment Task Force (2005) and references therein (BPTCP QAPP, Bight 98 QAPP).
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136038, Chrysene (C1-C4)
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 247122
 
Pollutant: Chrysene (C1-C4)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 1 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Chrysene .
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for chrysene is the probable effect level (PEL) of 846 ng/g dry weight (MacDonald et al., 1996).
Guideline Reference: Development and evaluation of sediment quality guidelines for Florida coastal waters. Ecotoxicology 5: 253-278
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): FH-SS-07 (FH-SS-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136038, Chrysene (C1-C4)
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 247373
 
Pollutant: Chrysene (C1-C4)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Southern California Bight Project 2018 data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 1 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Chrysene .
Data Reference: WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for chrysene is the probable effect level (PEL) of 846 ng/g dry weight (MacDonald et al., 1996).
Guideline Reference: Development and evaluation of sediment quality guidelines for Florida coastal waters. Ecotoxicology 5: 253-278
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): B18-10103 (B18-10103).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: SWRCB. 2018. This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
QAPP Information Reference(s): This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
 
 
DECISION ID
136039
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
Pollutant: Copper
Final Listing Decision: Do Not Delist from 303(d) list (being addressed with USEPA approved TMDL)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: List on 303(d) list (being addressed by USEPA approved TMDL)(2018)
Revision Status Revised
Sources: See TMDL documentation
TMDL Name: Dominguez, LA/LB Harbors, San Pedro Bay Metals (75 & 78), toxics(73a) and PAHs (74)
TMDL Project Code: 416
Date TMDL Approved by USEPA: 03/23/2012
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: This pollutant is being considered for removal on the CWA section 303(d) List under sections 2.2, 4.1 and 4.6 of the Listing Policy.

Five lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification against removing this water segment-pollutant combination from the CWA section 303(d) List. There is sufficient justification to place it in the Being Addressed portion of the CWA 303(d) List because a TMDL has been completed and approved by RWQCB and USEPA, and is expected to result in attainment of the standard.

This conclusion is based on the staff findings that:
1. The data used satisfies the data quality requirements of section 6.1.4 of the Policy.
2. The data used satisfies the data quantity requirements of section 6.1.5 of the Policy.
3. 10 of 10 samples exceeded the guideline for copper in sediment and these exceed the allowable frequency listed in Table 4.1 of the Listing Policy. There is an associated sediment toxicity, with 4 of 7 sediment samples exhibiting toxicity.
4. The Dominguez Channel and Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors Toxics and Metals TMDL was approved by USEPA on 03/23/2012.
5. Pursuant to section 4.11 of the Listing Policy, no additional data and information are available indicating that standards are not met.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be removed from the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards for the pollutant are being exceeded.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation:
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136039, Copper
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 213
 
Pollutant: Sediment Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 7
Number of Exceedances: 3
 
Data and Information Type: Toxicity testing of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Overall, three of seven samples were toxic. This total was created from two different sediment studies within Fish Harbor. In one study, three of six samples were toxic (BPTCP). In the other, none of one sample was toxic (Bight, 1998) (LARWQCB & CCC, 2004).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: Samples were considered toxic if (1) there was a significant difference in mean organism response between the sample and the control, and (2) the mean organism response in the test, as a percent of the control, was less than the threshold based on the 90th percentile minimum significant difference value.
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: Seven sites were sampled throughout LA/LB Fish Harbor.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected in 1992, 1997 and 1998.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Contaminated Sediment Task Force (2005) and references therein (BPTCP QAPP, Bight 98 QAPP).
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136039, Copper
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 247676
 
Pollutant: Copper
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Southern California Bight Project 2018 data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 1 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Copper .
Data Reference: WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for copper is the effects range median (ERM) value of 270 PPM (ug/g) dry weight (Long et al., 1995).
Guideline Reference: Incidence of adverse biological effects within ranges of chemical concentrations in marine and estuary sediments. Environmental Management. 19, (1): 81-97
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): B18-10103 (B18-10103).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: SWRCB. 2018. This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
QAPP Information Reference(s): This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136039, Copper
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 247705
 
Pollutant: Copper
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 1 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Copper .
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for copper is the effects range median (ERM) value of 270 PPM (ug/g) dry weight (Long et al., 1995).
Guideline Reference: Incidence of adverse biological effects within ranges of chemical concentrations in marine and estuary sediments. Environmental Management. 19, (1): 81-97
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): FH-SS-07 (FH-SS-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136039, Copper
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 252118
 
Pollutant: Copper
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Dissolved
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 3
Number of Exceedances: 3
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed LA County MS4 data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 3 of 3 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Copper.
Data Reference: WQ data from the MS4 database assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The dissolved copper criterion continuous concentration (expressed as a 4-day average) to protect aquatic life in saline water is 3.1 ug/L (California Toxics Rule, 2000).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Standards 2000. Establishment of numeric criteria for priority toxic pollutants for the State of California: Rules and regulations. Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 97. Washington, D.C.: Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: FH-RW-07 (FH-RW-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2017-09-05 and 2018-02-27
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
QAPP Information Reference(s): Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136039, Copper
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 259046
 
Pollutant: Copper
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Dissolved
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 6
Number of Exceedances: 6
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 6 of 6 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Copper.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The dissolved copper criterion continuous concentration (expressed as a 4-day average) to protect aquatic life in saline water is 3.1 ug/L (California Toxics Rule, 2000).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Standards 2000. Establishment of numeric criteria for priority toxic pollutants for the State of California: Rules and regulations. Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 97. Washington, D.C.: Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: FH-RW-07 (FH-RW-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2017-09-05 and 2018-11-30
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136039, Copper
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 197
 
Pollutant: Copper
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 10
Number of Exceedances: 10
 
Data and Information Type: Chemical monitoring of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Of the 10 sediment core and grab samples, all measurements exceeded sediment quality guideline (CSTF, 2002).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: An Effects Range-Median of 270 ug/g was used (Long et al., 1995).
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were spread throughout the water body.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected in 1992 and 1999.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Bay Protection and Toxic Cleanup Program QAPP.
Quality assurance for other samples presented in the Contaminated Sediments Task Force Database.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136039, Copper
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 244483
 
Pollutant: Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: TOXICITY TESTING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: 0 of the 1 samples collected by Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor exhibited toxicity. A sample may have multiple toxicity test results, but will only be counted once. A sample is defined as being collected on the same day and the same location. The following organisms and parameters were utilized for the toxicity tests: Mytilus galloprovincialis for Normal Development, Eohaustorius estuarius for Survival.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The sample is toxic when the response of the organisms exposed to the sample is significantly different (worse) than the response of the organisms exposed to the laboratory control based on statistical hypothesis testing.  An exceedance is counted when the significant effect code is “Significant; Less Similarity,” which means that the sample result is significantly different than the control result, and the percent effect is greater than the evaluation threshold.  The default evaluation threshold is 20% unless otherwise stated.
Guideline Reference: Short-term Methods for Estimating the Chronic Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to Freshwater Organisms. Fourth Edition. Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Washington, D.C. EPA-821-R-02-013
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at monitoring site: FH-SS-07 ( FH-SS-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor ).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2018-08-12 and 2018-08-12.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
 
DECISION ID
149643
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
Pollutant: DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)
Final Listing Decision: Do Not Delist from 303(d) list (being addressed with USEPA approved TMDL)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: Do Not Delist from 303(d) list (being addressed with USEPA approved TMDL)(2018)
Revision Status Revised
Sources: A Source Unknown
TMDL Name: Dominguez, LA/LB Harbors, San Pedro Bay Metals (75 & 78), toxics(73a) and PAHs (74)
TMDL Project Code: 416
Date TMDL Approved by USEPA: 03/23/2012
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: This pollutant is being considered for removal from the CWA section 303(d) list under sections2.2, 4.4 and 4.6 of the Listing Policy.

Three lines of evidence (LOEs)are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. LOE 198 represents an OEHHA fish consumption advisory that is no longer in place at the time of this report. This LOE will not be used for assessment.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is insufficient justification for removing this water segment-pollutant combination from the CWA section 303(d) List. There is sufficient justification to place it in the Being Addressed portion of the CWA 303(d) List because a TMDL has been completed and approved by RWQCB and USEPA, and is expected to result in attainment of the standard.

This conclusion is based on the staff findings that:
1. The data used satisfies the data quality requirements of section 6.1.4 of the Policy.
2. The data used satisfies the data quantity requirements of section 6.1.5 of the Policy.
3. 0 of 0 and 0 of 0 sample exceeded the criteria for DDT in water and 0 of 0 sample exceeded the guideline for DDT in sediment and this is insufficient to determine beneficial use support for this waterbody-pollutant combination with the statistical power and confidence required by the Listing Policy. A minimum of 28 samples is needed to determine if a beneficial use is fully supported using table 4.1.
4. The Dominguez Channel and Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors Toxics and Metals TMDL was approved by USEPA on 03/23/2012.
5. Pursuant to section 4.11 of the Listing Policy, no additional data and information are available indicating that standards are not met.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be removed from the section 303(d) list because there was a previous listing and there are not enough data to determine beneficial use support for this waterbody-pollutant combination with the statistical power and confidence required by the Listing Policy.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation:
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 149643, DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 259850
 
Pollutant: DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 0
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support, and the results are as follows: 0 of the 0 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for DDT(p,p'). Although a total of 6 samples were collected, 6 of these samples were not included in the assessment because the laboratory data reporting limit(s) was above the water quality threshold and therefore the results could not be quantified with the level of certainty required by the Listing Policy Section 6.1.5.5.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The DDT(4,4') criterion continuous concentration (expressed as a 4-day average) to protect aquatic life in saline water is 0.001 ug/L (California Toxics Rule, 2000).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Standards 2000. Establishment of numeric criteria for priority toxic pollutants for the State of California: Rules and regulations. Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 97. Washington, D.C.: Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: FH-RW-07 (FH-RW-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2017-09-05 to 2018-11-30
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 149643, DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 259784
 
Pollutant: DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish, or organisms
 
Number of Samples: 0
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support, and the results are as follows: 0 of the 0 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for DDT(p,p'). Although a total of 6 samples were collected, 6 of these samples were not included in the assessment because the laboratory data reporting limit(s) was above the water quality threshold and therefore the results could not be quantified with the level of certainty required by the Listing Policy Section 6.1.5.5.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The DDT(4,4') criterion for the protection of human health from consumption of organisms only is 0.00059 ug/L (California Toxics Rule, 2000).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Standards 2000. Establishment of numeric criteria for priority toxic pollutants for the State of California: Rules and regulations. Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 97. Washington, D.C.: Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: FH-RW-07 (FH-RW-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2017-09-05 to 2018-11-30
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 149643, DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 198
 
Pollutant: DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)
LOE Subgroup: Health Advisories
Matrix: Not Specified
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish, or organisms
 
Number of Samples: 0
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: Not Specified
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: A fish consumption advisory has been established for the DDT in the Los Angeles/Long Beach Harbor area. The advisory was established by the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion:
Objective/Criterion Reference:
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation:
Temporal Representation:
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: QA Info Missing
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 149643, DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 213
 
Pollutant: Sediment Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 7
Number of Exceedances: 3
 
Data and Information Type: Toxicity testing of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Overall, three of seven samples were toxic. This total was created from two different sediment studies within Fish Harbor. In one study, three of six samples were toxic (BPTCP). In the other, none of one sample was toxic (Bight, 1998) (LARWQCB & CCC, 2004).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: Samples were considered toxic if (1) there was a significant difference in mean organism response between the sample and the control, and (2) the mean organism response in the test, as a percent of the control, was less than the threshold based on the 90th percentile minimum significant difference value.
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: Seven sites were sampled throughout LA/LB Fish Harbor.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected in 1992, 1997 and 1998.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Contaminated Sediment Task Force (2005) and references therein (BPTCP QAPP, Bight 98 QAPP).
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 149643, DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 199
 
Pollutant: DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 0
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: Chemical monitoring of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Twelve core and grab samples are available (LARWQCB and CCC, 2004).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: No sediment quality guideline is available that complies with the requirements of section 6.1.3 of the Listing Policy.
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: The samples are spread throughout the water body.
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected in 1992 and 1999.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Bay Protection and Toxic Cleanup Program QAPP.
Quality assurance for other samples presented in the Contaminated Sediments Task Force Database.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
 
DECISION ID
136040
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
Pollutant: Dibenz[a,h]anthracene
Final Listing Decision: Do Not Delist from 303(d) list (being addressed with USEPA approved TMDL)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: List on 303(d) list (being addressed by USEPA approved TMDL)(2018)
Revision Status Revised
Sources: A Source Unknown
TMDL Name: Dominguez, LA/LB Harbors, San Pedro Bay Metals (75 & 78), toxics(73a) and PAHs (74)
TMDL Project Code: 416
Date TMDL Approved by USEPA: 03/23/2012
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: This pollutant is being considered for removal on the CWA section 303(d) List under sections 2.2 and 4.6 of the Listing Policy.

Four lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification against removing this water segment-pollutant combination from the CWA section 303(d) List. There is sufficient justification to place it in the Being Addressed portion of the CWA 303(d) List because a TMDL has been completed and approved by RWQCB and USEPA, and is expected to result in attainment of the standard.

This conclusion is based on the staff findings that:
1. The data used satisfies the data quality requirements of section 6.1.4 of the Policy.
2. The data used satisfies the data quantity requirements of section 6.1.5 of the Policy.
3. 4 of 12 and 2 of 2 samples exceeded the guideline for dibenz[a,h]anthracene in sediment and these exceed the allowable frequency listed in Table 4.1 of the Listing Policy. There is an associated sediment toxicity, with 3 of 7 sediment samples exhibiting toxicity.
4. The Dominguez Channel and Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors Toxics and Metals TMDL was approved by USEPA on 03/23/2012.
5. Pursuant to section 4.11 of the Listing Policy, no additional data and information are available indicating that standards are not met.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be removed from the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards for the pollutant are being exceeded.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation:
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136040, Dibenz[a,h]anthracene
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 207
 
Pollutant: Dibenz[a,h]anthracene
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 12
Number of Exceedances: 4
 
Data and Information Type: Chemical monitoring of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Of the 12 sediment core and grab samples, 4 measurements exceeded the sediment quality guideline (CSTF, 2002).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: A sediment quality guideline of 260 ng/g was used (Long et al., 1995).
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were spread throughout the water body.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected in 1992 and 1999.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Bay Protection and Toxic Cleanup Program QAPP.
Quality assurance for other samples presented in the Contaminated Sediments Task Force Database.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136040, Dibenz[a,h]anthracene
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 248313
 
Pollutant: Dibenz[a,h]anthracene
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 1 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Dibenz(a,h)anthracene .
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for dibenz(a,h)anthracene is the Effects Range Median (ERM) value and is 260 PPB (ng/g) dry weight (Long et al., 1995).
Guideline Reference: Incidence of adverse biological effects within ranges of chemical concentrations in marine and estuary sediments. Environmental Management. 19, (1): 81-97
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): FH-SS-07 (FH-SS-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136040, Dibenz[a,h]anthracene
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 247766
 
Pollutant: Dibenz[a,h]anthracene
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Southern California Bight Project 2018 data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 1 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Dibenz(a,h)anthracene .
Data Reference: WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for dibenz(a,h)anthracene is the Effects Range Median (ERM) value and is 260 PPB (ng/g) dry weight (Long et al., 1995).
Guideline Reference: Incidence of adverse biological effects within ranges of chemical concentrations in marine and estuary sediments. Environmental Management. 19, (1): 81-97
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): B18-10103 (B18-10103).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: SWRCB. 2018. This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
QAPP Information Reference(s): This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136040, Dibenz[a,h]anthracene
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 213
 
Pollutant: Sediment Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 7
Number of Exceedances: 3
 
Data and Information Type: Toxicity testing of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Overall, three of seven samples were toxic. This total was created from two different sediment studies within Fish Harbor. In one study, three of six samples were toxic (BPTCP). In the other, none of one sample was toxic (Bight, 1998) (LARWQCB & CCC, 2004).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: Samples were considered toxic if (1) there was a significant difference in mean organism response between the sample and the control, and (2) the mean organism response in the test, as a percent of the control, was less than the threshold based on the 90th percentile minimum significant difference value.
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: Seven sites were sampled throughout LA/LB Fish Harbor.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected in 1992, 1997 and 1998.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Contaminated Sediment Task Force (2005) and references therein (BPTCP QAPP, Bight 98 QAPP).
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136040, Dibenz[a,h]anthracene
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 244483
 
Pollutant: Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: TOXICITY TESTING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: 0 of the 1 samples collected by Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor exhibited toxicity. A sample may have multiple toxicity test results, but will only be counted once. A sample is defined as being collected on the same day and the same location. The following organisms and parameters were utilized for the toxicity tests: Mytilus galloprovincialis for Normal Development, Eohaustorius estuarius for Survival.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The sample is toxic when the response of the organisms exposed to the sample is significantly different (worse) than the response of the organisms exposed to the laboratory control based on statistical hypothesis testing.  An exceedance is counted when the significant effect code is “Significant; Less Similarity,” which means that the sample result is significantly different than the control result, and the percent effect is greater than the evaluation threshold.  The default evaluation threshold is 20% unless otherwise stated.
Guideline Reference: Short-term Methods for Estimating the Chronic Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to Freshwater Organisms. Fourth Edition. Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Washington, D.C. EPA-821-R-02-013
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at monitoring site: FH-SS-07 ( FH-SS-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor ).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2018-08-12 and 2018-08-12.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
 
DECISION ID
136042
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
Pollutant: Lead
Final Listing Decision: Do Not Delist from 303(d) list (being addressed with USEPA approved TMDL)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: List on 303(d) list (being addressed by USEPA approved TMDL)(2018)
Revision Status Revised
Sources: A Source Unknown
TMDL Name: Dominguez, LA/LB Harbors, San Pedro Bay Metals (75 & 78), toxics(73a) and PAHs (74)
TMDL Project Code: 416
Date TMDL Approved by USEPA: 03/23/2016
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: This pollutant is being considered for removal on the CWA section 303(d) List under sections 2.2 and 4.6 of the Listing Policy.

Five lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification against removing this water segment-pollutant combination from the CWA section 303(d) List. There is sufficient justification to place it in the Being Addressed portion of the CWA 303(d) List because a TMDL has been completed and approved by RWQCB and USEPA, and is expected to result in attainment of the standard.

This conclusion is based on the staff findings that:
1. The data used satisfies the data quality requirements of section 6.1.4 of the Policy.
2. The data used satisfies the data quantity requirements of section 6.1.5 of the Policy.
3. 8 of 10 samples exceeded the guideline for lead in sediment and these exceed the allowable frequency listed in Table 4.1 of the Listing Policy. There is an associated sediment toxicity, with 3 of 7 sediment samples exhibiting toxicity.
4. The Dominguez Channel and Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors Toxics and Metals TMDL was approved by USEPA on 03/23/2012.
5. Pursuant to section 4.11 of the Listing Policy, no additional data and information are available indicating that standards are not met.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be removed from the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards for the pollutant are being exceeded.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation:
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136042, Lead
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 252670
 
Pollutant: Lead
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Dissolved
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 3
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed LA County MS4 data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 3 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Lead.
Data Reference: WQ data from the MS4 database assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The dissolved lead criterion continuous concentration (expressed as a 4-day average) to protect aquatic life in saline water is 8.1 ug/L (California Toxics Rule, 2000).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Standards 2000. Establishment of numeric criteria for priority toxic pollutants for the State of California: Rules and regulations. Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 97. Washington, D.C.: Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: FH-RW-07 (FH-RW-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2017-09-05 and 2018-02-27
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
QAPP Information Reference(s): Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136042, Lead
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 210
 
Pollutant: Lead
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 10
Number of Exceedances: 8
 
Data and Information Type: Chemical monitoring of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Of the 10 sediment core and grab samples, 8 measurements exceeded the sediment quality guideline (CSTF, 2002).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: A sediment quality guideline of 112.18 ug/g was used (MacDonald et al., 1996).
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were spread throughout the water body.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected in 1992 and 1999.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Bay Protection and Toxic Cleanup Program QAPP.
Quality assurance for other samples presented in the Contaminated Sediments Task Force Database.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136042, Lead
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 213
 
Pollutant: Sediment Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 7
Number of Exceedances: 3
 
Data and Information Type: Toxicity testing of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Overall, three of seven samples were toxic. This total was created from two different sediment studies within Fish Harbor. In one study, three of six samples were toxic (BPTCP). In the other, none of one sample was toxic (Bight, 1998) (LARWQCB & CCC, 2004).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: Samples were considered toxic if (1) there was a significant difference in mean organism response between the sample and the control, and (2) the mean organism response in the test, as a percent of the control, was less than the threshold based on the 90th percentile minimum significant difference value.
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: Seven sites were sampled throughout LA/LB Fish Harbor.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected in 1992, 1997 and 1998.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Contaminated Sediment Task Force (2005) and references therein (BPTCP QAPP, Bight 98 QAPP).
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136042, Lead
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 262948
 
Pollutant: Lead
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Dissolved
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 6
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 6 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Lead.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The dissolved lead criterion continuous concentration (expressed as a 4-day average) to protect aquatic life in saline water is 8.1 ug/L (California Toxics Rule, 2000).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Standards 2000. Establishment of numeric criteria for priority toxic pollutants for the State of California: Rules and regulations. Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 97. Washington, D.C.: Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: FH-RW-07 (FH-RW-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2017-09-05 and 2018-11-30
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136042, Lead
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 244483
 
Pollutant: Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: TOXICITY TESTING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: 0 of the 1 samples collected by Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor exhibited toxicity. A sample may have multiple toxicity test results, but will only be counted once. A sample is defined as being collected on the same day and the same location. The following organisms and parameters were utilized for the toxicity tests: Mytilus galloprovincialis for Normal Development, Eohaustorius estuarius for Survival.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The sample is toxic when the response of the organisms exposed to the sample is significantly different (worse) than the response of the organisms exposed to the laboratory control based on statistical hypothesis testing.  An exceedance is counted when the significant effect code is “Significant; Less Similarity,” which means that the sample result is significantly different than the control result, and the percent effect is greater than the evaluation threshold.  The default evaluation threshold is 20% unless otherwise stated.
Guideline Reference: Short-term Methods for Estimating the Chronic Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to Freshwater Organisms. Fourth Edition. Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Washington, D.C. EPA-821-R-02-013
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at monitoring site: FH-SS-07 ( FH-SS-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor ).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2018-08-12 and 2018-08-12.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136042, Lead
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 249057
 
Pollutant: Lead
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Lead .
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for lead is the probable effect level (PEL) of 112 mg/kg dry weight (MacDonald et al., 1996).
Guideline Reference: Development and evaluation of sediment quality guidelines for Florida coastal waters. Ecotoxicology 5: 253-278
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): FH-SS-07 (FH-SS-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136042, Lead
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 248827
 
Pollutant: Lead
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Southern California Bight Project 2018 data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Lead .
Data Reference: WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for lead is the probable effect level (PEL) of 112 mg/kg dry weight (MacDonald et al., 1996).
Guideline Reference: Development and evaluation of sediment quality guidelines for Florida coastal waters. Ecotoxicology 5: 253-278
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): B18-10103 (B18-10103).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: SWRCB. 2018. This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
QAPP Information Reference(s): This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
 
 
DECISION ID
149640
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
Pollutant: Mercury
Final Listing Decision: Do Not Delist from 303(d) list (being addressed with USEPA approved TMDL)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: List on 303(d) list (being addressed by USEPA approved TMDL)(2018)
Revision Status Revised
Sources: A Source Unknown
TMDL Name: Dominguez, LA/LB Harbors, San Pedro Bay Metals (75 & 78), toxics(73a) and PAHs (74)
TMDL Project Code: 416
Date TMDL Approved by USEPA: 03/23/2012
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: This pollutant is being considered for removal on the CWA section 303(d) List under sections 2.2 and 4.1 and 4.6 of the Listing Policy. Under 4.1 of the Policy, a minimum of one line of evidence is needed to assess listing status.

Seven lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant.
0 of 6 samples exceed the criteria.
0 of 7 samples exceed the criteria.
0 of 8 samples exceed the criteria.
7 of 10 samples exceed the guideline.
2 of 2 samples exceed the guideline.
3 of 7 samples exhibit sediment toxicity.
0 of 1 samples exhibit sediment toxicity.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification against removing this water segment-pollutant combination from the CWA section 303(d) List. There is sufficient justification to place it in the Being Addressed portion of the CWA 303(d) List because a TMDL has been completed and approved by RWQCB and USEPA, and is expected to result in attainment of the standard.

This conclusion is based on the staff findings that:
1. The data used satisfies the data quality requirements of section 6.1.4 of the Policy.
2. The data used satisfies the data quantity requirements of section 6.1.5 of the Policy.
3. 0 of 6, 0 of 7 and 0 of 8 samples exceeded the criteria for mercury in water and this sample size is insufficient to determine beneficial use support, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy. 7 of 10 and 2 of 2 samples exceeded the guideline for mercury in sediment and this exceeds the allowable frequency listed in Table 4.1 of the Listing Policy. There is an associated sediment toxicity.
4. The Dominguez Channel and Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors Toxics and Metals TMDL was approved by USEPA on 03/23/2012.
5. Pursuant to section 4.11 of the Listing Policy, no additional data and information are available indicating that standards are not met.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be removed from the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards for the pollutant are being exceeded.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation:
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 149640, Mercury
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 244483
 
Pollutant: Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: TOXICITY TESTING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: 0 of the 1 samples collected by Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor exhibited toxicity. A sample may have multiple toxicity test results, but will only be counted once. A sample is defined as being collected on the same day and the same location. The following organisms and parameters were utilized for the toxicity tests: Mytilus galloprovincialis for Normal Development, Eohaustorius estuarius for Survival.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The sample is toxic when the response of the organisms exposed to the sample is significantly different (worse) than the response of the organisms exposed to the laboratory control based on statistical hypothesis testing.  An exceedance is counted when the significant effect code is “Significant; Less Similarity,” which means that the sample result is significantly different than the control result, and the percent effect is greater than the evaluation threshold.  The default evaluation threshold is 20% unless otherwise stated.
Guideline Reference: Short-term Methods for Estimating the Chronic Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to Freshwater Organisms. Fourth Edition. Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Washington, D.C. EPA-821-R-02-013
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at monitoring site: FH-SS-07 ( FH-SS-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor ).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2018-08-12 and 2018-08-12.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 149640, Mercury
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 263206
 
Pollutant: Mercury
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 6
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 6 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Mercury.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The Water Quality Control Plan for the Los Angeles Region states that: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: National Recommended Water Quality Criteria Continuous Concentration (4-day average concentrations) for saltwater aquatic organisms exposure to total mercury is 0.94 ug/L.
Guideline Reference: National Recommended Water Quality Criteria. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Office of Water. Current as of 08/03/2016.
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: FH-RW-07 (FH-RW-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2017-09-05 and 2018-11-30
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 149640, Mercury
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 263723
 
Pollutant: Mercury
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Dissolved
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 6
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 6 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Mercury.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The Water Quality Control Plan for the Los Angeles Region states that: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: National Recommended Water Quality Criteria Continuous Concentration (4-day average concentrations) for saltwater aquatic organisms exposure to total mercury is 0.94 ug/L.
Guideline Reference: National Recommended Water Quality Criteria. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Office of Water. Current as of 08/03/2016.
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: FH-RW-07 (FH-RW-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2017-09-05 and 2018-11-30
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 149640, Mercury
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 263363
 
Pollutant: Mercury
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish, or organisms
 
Number of Samples: 5
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 5 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Mercury.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The mercury criterion for the protection of human health from consumption of organisms only is 0.051 ug/L (California Toxics Rule, 2000).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Standards 2000. Establishment of numeric criteria for priority toxic pollutants for the State of California: Rules and regulations. Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 97. Washington, D.C.: Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: FH-RW-07 (FH-RW-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2017-09-05 and 2018-11-30
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 149640, Mercury
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 252634
 
Pollutant: Mercury
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 3
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed LA County MS4 data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 3 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Mercury.
Data Reference: WQ data from the MS4 database assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The Water Quality Control Plan for the Los Angeles Region states that: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: National Recommended Water Quality Criteria Continuous Concentration (4-day average concentrations) for saltwater aquatic organisms exposure to total mercury is 0.94 ug/L.
Guideline Reference: National Recommended Water Quality Criteria. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Office of Water. Current as of 08/03/2016.
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: FH-RW-07 (FH-RW-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2017-09-05 and 2018-02-27
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
QAPP Information Reference(s): Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 149640, Mercury
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 252460
 
Pollutant: Mercury
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Dissolved
 
Beneficial Use: Commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish, or organisms
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed LA County MS4 data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 1 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Mercury.
Data Reference: WQ data from the MS4 database assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The mercury criterion for the protection of human health from consumption of organisms only is 0.051 ug/L (California Toxics Rule, 2000).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Standards 2000. Establishment of numeric criteria for priority toxic pollutants for the State of California: Rules and regulations. Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 97. Washington, D.C.: Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: FH-RW-07 (FH-RW-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2017-09-05 and 2017-09-05
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
QAPP Information Reference(s): Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 149640, Mercury
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 252512
 
Pollutant: Mercury
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish, or organisms
 
Number of Samples: 3
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed LA County MS4 data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 3 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Mercury.
Data Reference: WQ data from the MS4 database assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The mercury criterion for the protection of human health from consumption of organisms only is 0.051 ug/L (California Toxics Rule, 2000).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Standards 2000. Establishment of numeric criteria for priority toxic pollutants for the State of California: Rules and regulations. Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 97. Washington, D.C.: Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: FH-RW-07 (FH-RW-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2017-09-05 and 2018-02-27
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
QAPP Information Reference(s): Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 149640, Mercury
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 249592
 
Pollutant: Mercury
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Southern California Bight Project 2018 data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 1 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Mercury .
Data Reference: WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for mercury is 2.1 ug/g (PTI Environmental Services, 1991).
Guideline Reference: Pollutants of concern in Puget Sound. EPA 910/9-91-003. Seattle, WA: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): B18-10103 (B18-10103).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: SWRCB. 2018. This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
QAPP Information Reference(s): This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 149640, Mercury
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 249666
 
Pollutant: Mercury
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 1 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Mercury .
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for mercury is 2.1 ug/g (PTI Environmental Services, 1991).
Guideline Reference: Pollutants of concern in Puget Sound. EPA 910/9-91-003. Seattle, WA: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): FH-SS-07 (FH-SS-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 149640, Mercury
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 252511
 
Pollutant: Mercury
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Dissolved
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed LA County MS4 data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 1 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Mercury.
Data Reference: WQ data from the MS4 database assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The Water Quality Control Plan for the Los Angeles Region states that: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: National Recommended Water Quality Criteria Continuous Concentration (4-day average concentrations) for saltwater aquatic organisms exposure to total mercury is 0.94 ug/L.
Guideline Reference: National Recommended Water Quality Criteria. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Office of Water. Current as of 08/03/2016.
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: FH-RW-07 (FH-RW-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2017-09-05 and 2017-09-05
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
QAPP Information Reference(s): Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 149640, Mercury
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 263705
 
Pollutant: Mercury
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Dissolved
 
Beneficial Use: Commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish, or organisms
 
Number of Samples: 5
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 5 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Mercury.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The mercury criterion for the protection of human health from consumption of organisms only is 0.051 ug/L (California Toxics Rule, 2000).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Standards 2000. Establishment of numeric criteria for priority toxic pollutants for the State of California: Rules and regulations. Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 97. Washington, D.C.: Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: FH-RW-07 (FH-RW-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2017-09-05 and 2018-11-30
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 149640, Mercury
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 213
 
Pollutant: Sediment Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 7
Number of Exceedances: 3
 
Data and Information Type: Toxicity testing of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Overall, three of seven samples were toxic. This total was created from two different sediment studies within Fish Harbor. In one study, three of six samples were toxic (BPTCP). In the other, none of one sample was toxic (Bight, 1998) (LARWQCB & CCC, 2004).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: Samples were considered toxic if (1) there was a significant difference in mean organism response between the sample and the control, and (2) the mean organism response in the test, as a percent of the control, was less than the threshold based on the 90th percentile minimum significant difference value.
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: Seven sites were sampled throughout LA/LB Fish Harbor.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected in 1992, 1997 and 1998.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Contaminated Sediment Task Force (2005) and references therein (BPTCP QAPP, Bight 98 QAPP).
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 149640, Mercury
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 200
 
Pollutant: Mercury
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 10
Number of Exceedances: 7
 
Data and Information Type: Chemical monitoring of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Of the 10 sediment core and grab samples, 7 exceeded sediment quality guideline (CSTF, 2002).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: A sediment quality guideline of 2.1 ug/g was used (PTI Environmental Services, 1991).
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were spread throughout the water body.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected in 1992 and 1999.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Bay Protection and Toxic Cleanup Program QAPP.
Quality assurance for other samples presented in the Contaminated Sediments Task Force Database.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
 
DECISION ID
149639
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
Pollutant: PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons)
Final Listing Decision: Do Not Delist from 303(d) list (being addressed with USEPA approved TMDL)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: Do Not Delist from 303(d) list (being addressed with USEPA approved TMDL)(2018)
Revision Status Revised
Sources: A Source Unknown
TMDL Name: Dominguez, LA/LB Harbors, San Pedro Bay Metals (75 & 78), toxics(73a) and PAHs (74)
TMDL Project Code: 416
Date TMDL Approved by USEPA: 03/23/2012
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: This pollutant is being considered for delisting under sections 4.6 of the Listing Policy. Under section 4.6 two lines of evidence are necessary to assess listing status.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification in favor of not removing this water segment-pollutant combination from the section 303(d) list in the Water Quality Limited Segments category.

This conclusion is based on the staff findings that:
1. The sediment quality guideline used complies with the requirements of section 6.1.3 of the Policy.
2. The data used satisfies the data quality requirements of section 6.1.4 of the Policy.
3. The data used satisfies the data quantity requirements of section 6.1.5 of the Policy.
4. 11 of 12 and 6 of 12 samples exceeded the guideline and this exceeds the allowable frequency listed in Table 4.1 of the Listing Policy. Sediment toxicity is also observed in 3 of 7 and 0 of 1 samples.
5.Pursuant to section 4.11 of the Listing Policy, no additional data and information are available indicating that standards are met

There is sufficient justification to place this waterbody/pollutant in the Being Addressed portion of the CWA 303(d) List because a TMDL has been completed and approved by USEPA, and is expected to result in attainment of the standard.

This conclusion is based on the staff findings that:
1. The Dominguez Channel and Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors Toxics and Metals TMDL was approved by USEPA on 03/23/2012.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be removed from the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards for the pollutant are being exceeded.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation: After review of this Regional Board decision, SWRCB staff recommend the decision be approved by the State Board.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 149639, PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons)
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 249396
 
Pollutant: PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Low molecular weight PAHs .
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for low molecular weight PAHs is the probable effect level (PEL) of 1442 ug/kg dry weight (MacDonald et al., 1996).
Guideline Reference: Development and evaluation of sediment quality guidelines for Florida coastal waters. Ecotoxicology 5: 253-278
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): FH-SS-07 (FH-SS-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 149639, PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons)
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 202
 
Pollutant: PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 12
Number of Exceedances: 11
 
Data and Information Type: Chemical monitoring of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Of the 12 sediment core and grab samples: none exceeded the total PAH sediment quality guideline, 5 measurements exceeded the low molecular weight PAH guideline, and 6 measurements exceeded the high molecular weight PAH guideline (LARWQCB and CCC, 2004).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: Sediment quality guidelines were used as follows: 1,800 ug/g for total PAHs (Fairey et al., 2001), 1,442 ng/g for low molecular weight PAHs (MacDonald et al., 1996), and 9,600 ng/g for high molecular weight PAHs (Long et al., 1995).
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were spread throughout the water body.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected in 1992 and 1999.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Bay Protection and Toxic Cleanup Program QAPP.
Quality assurance for other samples presented in the Contaminated Sediments Task Force Database.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 149639, PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons)
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 249189
 
Pollutant: PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Southern California Bight Project 2018 data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 1 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Low molecular weight PAHs .
Data Reference: WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for low molecular weight PAHs is the probable effect level (PEL) of 1442 ug/kg dry weight (MacDonald et al., 1996).
Guideline Reference: Development and evaluation of sediment quality guidelines for Florida coastal waters. Ecotoxicology 5: 253-278
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): B18-10103 (B18-10103).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: SWRCB. 2018. This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
QAPP Information Reference(s): This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 149639, PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons)
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 249068
 
Pollutant: PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Southern California Bight Project 2018 data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 1 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for High molecular weight PAHs .
Data Reference: WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for high molecular weight PAH's is 9600 ng/g dry weight (Long et al., 1995).
Guideline Reference: Incidence of adverse biological effects within ranges of chemical concentrations in marine and estuary sediments. Environmental Management. 19, (1): 81-97
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): B18-10103 (B18-10103).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: SWRCB. 2018. This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
QAPP Information Reference(s): This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 149639, PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons)
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 213
 
Pollutant: Sediment Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 7
Number of Exceedances: 3
 
Data and Information Type: Toxicity testing of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Overall, three of seven samples were toxic. This total was created from two different sediment studies within Fish Harbor. In one study, three of six samples were toxic (BPTCP). In the other, none of one sample was toxic (Bight, 1998) (LARWQCB & CCC, 2004).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: Samples were considered toxic if (1) there was a significant difference in mean organism response between the sample and the control, and (2) the mean organism response in the test, as a percent of the control, was less than the threshold based on the 90th percentile minimum significant difference value.
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: Seven sites were sampled throughout LA/LB Fish Harbor.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected in 1992, 1997 and 1998.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Contaminated Sediment Task Force (2005) and references therein (BPTCP QAPP, Bight 98 QAPP).
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 149639, PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons)
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 250112
 
Pollutant: PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) .
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The sediment quality guideline for Total PAHs is 1800 ug/g organic carbon (Fairey et al., 2001).
Guideline Reference: An evaluation of methods for calculating mean sediment quality guideline quotients as indicators of contamination and acute toxicity to amphipods by chemical mixtures. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 20(10): 2276-2286
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): FH-SS-07 (FH-SS-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 149639, PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons)
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 248702
 
Pollutant: PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for High molecular weight PAHs .
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for high molecular weight PAH's is 9600 ng/g dry weight (Long et al., 1995).
Guideline Reference: Incidence of adverse biological effects within ranges of chemical concentrations in marine and estuary sediments. Environmental Management. 19, (1): 81-97
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): FH-SS-07 (FH-SS-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 149639, PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons)
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 244483
 
Pollutant: Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: TOXICITY TESTING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: 0 of the 1 samples collected by Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor exhibited toxicity. A sample may have multiple toxicity test results, but will only be counted once. A sample is defined as being collected on the same day and the same location. The following organisms and parameters were utilized for the toxicity tests: Mytilus galloprovincialis for Normal Development, Eohaustorius estuarius for Survival.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The sample is toxic when the response of the organisms exposed to the sample is significantly different (worse) than the response of the organisms exposed to the laboratory control based on statistical hypothesis testing.  An exceedance is counted when the significant effect code is “Significant; Less Similarity,” which means that the sample result is significantly different than the control result, and the percent effect is greater than the evaluation threshold.  The default evaluation threshold is 20% unless otherwise stated.
Guideline Reference: Short-term Methods for Estimating the Chronic Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to Freshwater Organisms. Fourth Edition. Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Washington, D.C. EPA-821-R-02-013
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at monitoring site: FH-SS-07 ( FH-SS-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor ).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2018-08-12 and 2018-08-12.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 149639, PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons)
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 249966
 
Pollutant: PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Southern California Bight Project 2018 data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) .
Data Reference: WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The sediment quality guideline for Total PAHs is 1800 ug/g organic carbon (Fairey et al., 2001).
Guideline Reference: An evaluation of methods for calculating mean sediment quality guideline quotients as indicators of contamination and acute toxicity to amphipods by chemical mixtures. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 20(10): 2276-2286
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): B18-10103 (B18-10103).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: SWRCB. 2018. This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
QAPP Information Reference(s): This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
 
 
DECISION ID
136046
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
Pollutant: PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls)
Final Listing Decision: Do Not Delist from 303(d) list (being addressed with USEPA approved TMDL)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: Do Not Delist from 303(d) list (being addressed with USEPA approved TMDL)(2018)
Revision Status Revised
Sources: A Source Unknown
TMDL Name: Dominguez, LA/LB Harbors, San Pedro Bay Metals (75 & 78), toxics(73a) and PAHs (74)
TMDL Project Code: 416
Date TMDL Approved by USEPA: 03/23/2012
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: This pollutant is being considered for removal on the CWA section 303(d) List under sections 2.2, 4.1 and 4.6 of the Listing Policy.

Seven lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification against removing this water segment-pollutant combination from the CWA section 303(d) List. There is sufficient justification to place it in the Being Addressed portion of the CWA 303(d) List because a TMDL has been completed and approved by RWQCB and USEPA, and is expected to result in attainment of the standard.

This conclusion is based on the staff findings that:
1. The data used satisfies the data quality requirements of section 6.1.4 of the Policy.
2. The data used satisfies the data quantity requirements of section 6.1.5 of the Policy.
3. 6 of 13 samples exceeded the guideline for PCBs in sediment and these exceed the allowable frequency listed in Table 4.1 of the Listing Policy. There is an associated sediment toxicity, with 3 of 7 and 0 of 1 sediment samples exhibiting toxicity.
4. The Dominguez Channel and Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors Toxics and Metals TMDL was approved by USEPA on 03/23/2012.
5. Pursuant to section 4.11 of the Listing Policy, no additional data and information are available indicating that standards are not met.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be removed from the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards for the pollutant are being exceeded.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation:
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136046, PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls)
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 211
 
Pollutant: PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls)
LOE Subgroup: Health Advisories
Matrix: Not Specified
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish, or organisms
 
Number of Samples: 0
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: Not Specified
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: A fish consumption advisory has been established for the PCB in the Los Angeles/Long Beach Harbor area. The advisory was established by the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion:
Objective/Criterion Reference:
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation:
Temporal Representation:
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: QA Info Missing
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136046, PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls)
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 212
 
Pollutant: PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 13
Number of Exceedances: 6
 
Data and Information Type: Chemical monitoring of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Of the 13 samples available, 6 measurements exceeded the sediment quality guideline (LARWQCB and CCC, 2004).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: A sediment quality guideline of 400 ng/g was used (MacDonald et al., 2000).
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: The samples are spread throughout the water body.
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected in 1992, 1995, and 1999. All of the exceedances occurred in 1999.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Bay Protection and Toxic Cleanup Program QAPP.
Quality assurance for other samples presented in the Contaminated Sediments Task Force Database.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136046, PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls)
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 213
 
Pollutant: Sediment Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 7
Number of Exceedances: 3
 
Data and Information Type: Toxicity testing of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Overall, three of seven samples were toxic. This total was created from two different sediment studies within Fish Harbor. In one study, three of six samples were toxic (BPTCP). In the other, none of one sample was toxic (Bight, 1998) (LARWQCB & CCC, 2004).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: Samples were considered toxic if (1) there was a significant difference in mean organism response between the sample and the control, and (2) the mean organism response in the test, as a percent of the control, was less than the threshold based on the 90th percentile minimum significant difference value.
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: Seven sites were sampled throughout LA/LB Fish Harbor.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected in 1992, 1997 and 1998.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Contaminated Sediment Task Force (2005) and references therein (BPTCP QAPP, Bight 98 QAPP).
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136046, PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls)
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 264458
 
Pollutant: PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish, or organisms
 
Number of Samples: 0
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support, and the results are as follows: 0 of the 0 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls). Although a total of 6 samples were collected, 6 of these samples were not included in the assessment because the laboratory data reporting limit(s) was above the water quality threshold and therefore the results could not be quantified with the level of certainty required by the Listing Policy Section 6.1.5.5.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The PCB criterion for the protection of human health from consumption of water and organisms is 0.00017 ug/L and is equal to the maximum of the sum of aroclors or congeners (California Toxics Rule, 2000).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Standards 2000. Establishment of numeric criteria for priority toxic pollutants for the State of California: Rules and regulations. Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 97. Washington, D.C.: Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: FH-RW-07 (FH-RW-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2017-09-05 to 2018-11-30
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136046, PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls)
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 250198
 
Pollutant: PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Southern California Bight Project 2018 data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 1 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls) .
Data Reference: WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The value used in this assessment comes from MacDonald et al., 2000b is the consensus based midrange effect concentration (MEC) value of 400 ng/g
Guideline Reference: Development and evaluation of consensus-based sediment effect concentrations for polychlorinated biphenyls. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 19(5): 1403-1413
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): B18-10103 (B18-10103).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: SWRCB. 2018. This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
QAPP Information Reference(s): This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136046, PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls)
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 250247
 
Pollutant: PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls) .
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The value used in this assessment comes from MacDonald et al., 2000b is the consensus based midrange effect concentration (MEC) value of 400 ng/g
Guideline Reference: Development and evaluation of consensus-based sediment effect concentrations for polychlorinated biphenyls. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 19(5): 1403-1413
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): FH-SS-07 (FH-SS-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136046, PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls)
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 264558
 
Pollutant: PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Shellfish Harvesting
 
Number of Samples: 0
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support, and the results are as follows: 0 of the 0 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls). Although a total of 6 samples were collected, 6 of these samples were not included in the assessment because the laboratory data reporting limit(s) was above the water quality threshold and therefore the results could not be quantified with the level of certainty required by the Listing Policy Section 6.1.5.5.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The PCB criterion for the protection of human health from consumption of water and organisms is 0.00017 ug/L and is equal to the maximum of the sum of aroclors or congeners (California Toxics Rule, 2000).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Standards 2000. Establishment of numeric criteria for priority toxic pollutants for the State of California: Rules and regulations. Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 97. Washington, D.C.: Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: FH-RW-07 (FH-RW-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2017-09-05 to 2018-11-30
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136046, PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls)
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 244483
 
Pollutant: Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: TOXICITY TESTING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: 0 of the 1 samples collected by Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor exhibited toxicity. A sample may have multiple toxicity test results, but will only be counted once. A sample is defined as being collected on the same day and the same location. The following organisms and parameters were utilized for the toxicity tests: Mytilus galloprovincialis for Normal Development, Eohaustorius estuarius for Survival.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The sample is toxic when the response of the organisms exposed to the sample is significantly different (worse) than the response of the organisms exposed to the laboratory control based on statistical hypothesis testing.  An exceedance is counted when the significant effect code is “Significant; Less Similarity,” which means that the sample result is significantly different than the control result, and the percent effect is greater than the evaluation threshold.  The default evaluation threshold is 20% unless otherwise stated.
Guideline Reference: Short-term Methods for Estimating the Chronic Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to Freshwater Organisms. Fourth Edition. Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Washington, D.C. EPA-821-R-02-013
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at monitoring site: FH-SS-07 ( FH-SS-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor ).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2018-08-12 and 2018-08-12.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
 
DECISION ID
136045
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
Pollutant: Phenanthrene
Final Listing Decision: Do Not Delist from 303(d) list (being addressed with USEPA approved TMDL)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: List on 303(d) list (being addressed by USEPA approved TMDL)(2018)
Revision Status Revised
Sources: A Source Unknown
TMDL Name: Dominguez, LA/LB Harbors, San Pedro Bay Metals (75 & 78), toxics(73a) and PAHs (74)
TMDL Project Code: 416
Date TMDL Approved by USEPA: 03/23/2012
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: This pollutant is being considered for removal from the Section 303(d) list under sections 4.2 and 4.6 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.6 two lines of evidence are necessary to assess listing status.

Four lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. Sediment toxicity is observed and a sufficient number of samples exceeded the sediment quality guideline. Under section 3.6 documented pollutant exceedances in sediment must be associated with observed toxicity before listing can occur.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification in favor of placing this water segment-pollutant combination on the section 303(d) list in the Water Quality Limited Segments category.

This conclusion is based on the staff findings that:
1. The data used satisfies the data quality requirements of section 6.1.4 of the Policy.
2. The data used satisfies the data quantity requirements of section 6.1.5 of the Policy.
3. Six of 12 samples and 0 of 2 samples exceeded the Phenanthrene sediment quality guideline and this exceeds the allowable frequency listed in Table 4.1 of the Listing Policy. There is an associated sediment toxicity, with 3 of 7 and 0 of 1 samples exhibiting toxicity.
4. Pursuant to section 3.11 of the Listing Policy, no additional data and information are available indicating that standards are met.

There is sufficient justification to place this waterbody/pollutant in the Being Addressed portion of the CWA 303(d) List because a TMDL has been completed and approved by USEPA, and is expected to result in attainment of the standard.

This conclusion is based on the staff findings that:
1. The Dominguez Channel and Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors Toxics and Metals TMDL was approved by USEPA on 03/23/2012.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be removed from the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards for the pollutant are being exceeded.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation:
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136045, Phenanthrene
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 213
 
Pollutant: Sediment Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 7
Number of Exceedances: 3
 
Data and Information Type: Toxicity testing of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Overall, three of seven samples were toxic. This total was created from two different sediment studies within Fish Harbor. In one study, three of six samples were toxic (BPTCP). In the other, none of one sample was toxic (Bight, 1998) (LARWQCB & CCC, 2004).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: Samples were considered toxic if (1) there was a significant difference in mean organism response between the sample and the control, and (2) the mean organism response in the test, as a percent of the control, was less than the threshold based on the 90th percentile minimum significant difference value.
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: Seven sites were sampled throughout LA/LB Fish Harbor.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected in 1992, 1997 and 1998.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Contaminated Sediment Task Force (2005) and references therein (BPTCP QAPP, Bight 98 QAPP).
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136045, Phenanthrene
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 250524
 
Pollutant: Phenanthrene
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Phenanthrene .
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for phenanthrene is the probable effect level (PEL) of 544 ng/g dry weight (MacDonald et al., 1996).
Guideline Reference: Development and evaluation of sediment quality guidelines for Florida coastal waters. Ecotoxicology 5: 253-278
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): FH-SS-07 (FH-SS-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136045, Phenanthrene
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 250749
 
Pollutant: Phenanthrene
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Southern California Bight Project 2018 data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Phenanthrene .
Data Reference: WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for phenanthrene is the probable effect level (PEL) of 544 ng/g dry weight (MacDonald et al., 1996).
Guideline Reference: Development and evaluation of sediment quality guidelines for Florida coastal waters. Ecotoxicology 5: 253-278
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): B18-10103 (B18-10103).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: SWRCB. 2018. This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
QAPP Information Reference(s): This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136045, Phenanthrene
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 244483
 
Pollutant: Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: TOXICITY TESTING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: 0 of the 1 samples collected by Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor exhibited toxicity. A sample may have multiple toxicity test results, but will only be counted once. A sample is defined as being collected on the same day and the same location. The following organisms and parameters were utilized for the toxicity tests: Mytilus galloprovincialis for Normal Development, Eohaustorius estuarius for Survival.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The sample is toxic when the response of the organisms exposed to the sample is significantly different (worse) than the response of the organisms exposed to the laboratory control based on statistical hypothesis testing.  An exceedance is counted when the significant effect code is “Significant; Less Similarity,” which means that the sample result is significantly different than the control result, and the percent effect is greater than the evaluation threshold.  The default evaluation threshold is 20% unless otherwise stated.
Guideline Reference: Short-term Methods for Estimating the Chronic Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to Freshwater Organisms. Fourth Edition. Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Washington, D.C. EPA-821-R-02-013
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at monitoring site: FH-SS-07 ( FH-SS-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor ).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2018-08-12 and 2018-08-12.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136045, Phenanthrene
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 208
 
Pollutant: Phenanthrene
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 12
Number of Exceedances: 6
 
Data and Information Type: Chemical monitoring of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Of the 12 sediment core and grab samples, 6 measurements exceeded the sediment quality guideline (CSTF, 2002).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: A sediment quality guideline of 543.53 ng/g was used (MacDonald et al., 1996).
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were spread throughout the water body.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected in 1992 and 1999.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Bay Protection and Toxic Cleanup Program QAPP.
Quality assurance for other samples presented in the Contaminated Sediments Task Force Database.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
 
DECISION ID
136047
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
Pollutant: Pyrene
Final Listing Decision: Do Not Delist from 303(d) list (being addressed with USEPA approved TMDL)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: List on 303(d) list (being addressed by USEPA approved TMDL)(2018)
Revision Status Revised
Sources: A Source Unknown
TMDL Name: Dominguez, LA/LB Harbors, San Pedro Bay Metals (75 & 78), toxics(73a) and PAHs (74)
TMDL Project Code: 416
Date TMDL Approved by USEPA: 03/23/2012
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: This pollutant is being considered for removal on the CWA section 303(d) List under sections 2.2 and 4.6 of the Listing Policy.

Four lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification against removing this water segment-pollutant combination from the CWA section 303(d) List. There is sufficient justification to place it in the Being Addressed portion of the CWA 303(d) List because a TMDL has been completed and approved by RWQCB and USEPA, and is expected to result in attainment of the standard.

This conclusion is based on the staff findings that:
1. The data used satisfies the data quality requirements of section 6.1.4 of the Policy.
2. The data used satisfies the data quantity requirements of section 6.1.5 of the Policy.
3. 10 of 12 samples exceeded the guideline for )pyrene in sediment and these exceed the allowable frequency listed in Table 4.1 of the Listing Policy. There is an associated sediment toxicity, with 3 of 7 sediment samples exhibiting toxicity.
4. The Dominguez Channel and Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors Toxics and Metals TMDL was approved by USEPA on 03/23/2012.
5. Pursuant to section 4.11 of the Listing Policy, no additional data and information are available indicating that standards are not met.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be removed from the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards for the pollutant are being exceeded.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation:
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136047, Pyrene
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 209
 
Pollutant: Pyrene
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 12
Number of Exceedances: 10
 
Data and Information Type: Chemical monitoring of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Of the 12 sediment core and grab samples, 10 measurements exceeded the sediment quality guideline (CSTF, 2002).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: A sediment quality guideline of 1,397.4 ng/g was used (MacDonald et al., 1996).
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were spread throughout the water body.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected in 1992 and 1999.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Bay Protection and Toxic Cleanup Program QAPP.
Quality assurance for other samples presented in the Contaminated Sediments Task Force Database.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136047, Pyrene
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 213
 
Pollutant: Sediment Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 7
Number of Exceedances: 3
 
Data and Information Type: Toxicity testing of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Overall, three of seven samples were toxic. This total was created from two different sediment studies within Fish Harbor. In one study, three of six samples were toxic (BPTCP). In the other, none of one sample was toxic (Bight, 1998) (LARWQCB & CCC, 2004).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: Samples were considered toxic if (1) there was a significant difference in mean organism response between the sample and the control, and (2) the mean organism response in the test, as a percent of the control, was less than the threshold based on the 90th percentile minimum significant difference value.
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: Seven sites were sampled throughout LA/LB Fish Harbor.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected in 1992, 1997 and 1998.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Contaminated Sediment Task Force (2005) and references therein (BPTCP QAPP, Bight 98 QAPP).
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136047, Pyrene
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 250510
 
Pollutant: Pyrene
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Pyrene .
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for pyrene is the probable effect level (PEL) of 1398 ug/kg dry weight (MacDonald et al., 1996).
Guideline Reference: Development and evaluation of sediment quality guidelines for Florida coastal waters. Ecotoxicology 5: 253-278
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): FH-SS-07 (FH-SS-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136047, Pyrene
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 251086
 
Pollutant: Pyrene
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Southern California Bight Project 2018 data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Pyrene .
Data Reference: WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for pyrene is the probable effect level (PEL) of 1398 ug/kg dry weight (MacDonald et al., 1996).
Guideline Reference: Development and evaluation of sediment quality guidelines for Florida coastal waters. Ecotoxicology 5: 253-278
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): B18-10103 (B18-10103).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: SWRCB. 2018. This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
QAPP Information Reference(s): This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136047, Pyrene
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 244483
 
Pollutant: Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: TOXICITY TESTING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: 0 of the 1 samples collected by Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor exhibited toxicity. A sample may have multiple toxicity test results, but will only be counted once. A sample is defined as being collected on the same day and the same location. The following organisms and parameters were utilized for the toxicity tests: Mytilus galloprovincialis for Normal Development, Eohaustorius estuarius for Survival.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The sample is toxic when the response of the organisms exposed to the sample is significantly different (worse) than the response of the organisms exposed to the laboratory control based on statistical hypothesis testing.  An exceedance is counted when the significant effect code is “Significant; Less Similarity,” which means that the sample result is significantly different than the control result, and the percent effect is greater than the evaluation threshold.  The default evaluation threshold is 20% unless otherwise stated.
Guideline Reference: Short-term Methods for Estimating the Chronic Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to Freshwater Organisms. Fourth Edition. Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Washington, D.C. EPA-821-R-02-013
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at monitoring site: FH-SS-07 ( FH-SS-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor ).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2018-08-12 and 2018-08-12.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
 
DECISION ID
136051
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
Pollutant: Toxicity
Final Listing Decision: Do Not Delist from 303(d) list (being addressed with USEPA approved TMDL)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: List on 303(d) list (being addressed by USEPA approved TMDL)(2018)
Revision Status Revised
Sources: A Source Unknown
TMDL Name: Dominguez, LA/LB Harbors, San Pedro Bay Metals (75 & 78), toxics(73a) and PAHs (74)
TMDL Project Code: 416
Date TMDL Approved by USEPA: 03/23/2013
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: This pollutant is being considered for removal from the section 303(d) list under sections 2.2 and 4.6 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.6 a water segment can be placed on the 303(d) list if the water segment exhibits significant toxicity and the observed toxicity is associated with a pollutant or pollutants. The water body segment may also be listed for toxicity alone.

Two lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant.
3 of 7 samples exhibit sediment toxicity.
0 of 1 sample exhibits sediment toxicity.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification against removing this water segment-pollutant combination on the section 303(d) list in the Water Quality Limited Segments category.

This conclusion is based on the staff findings that:
1. The data used satisfies the data quality requirements of section 6.1.4 of the Policy.
2. The data used satisfies the data quantity requirements of section 6.1.5 of the Policy.
3. Three of 7 samples and 0 of 1 exhibited significant toxicity and this exceeds the allowable frequency listed in Table 4.1 of the Listing Policy.


There is sufficient justification to place this waterbody/pollutant in the Being Addressed portion of the CWA 303(d) List because a TMDL has been completed and approved by USEPA, and is expected to result in attainment of the standard.

This conclusion is based on the staff findings that:
1. The Dominguez Channel and Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors Toxics and Metals TMDL was approved by USEPA on 03/23/2012.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be removed from the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards for the pollutant are being exceeded.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation:
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136051, Toxicity
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 213
 
Pollutant: Sediment Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 7
Number of Exceedances: 3
 
Data and Information Type: Toxicity testing of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Overall, three of seven samples were toxic. This total was created from two different sediment studies within Fish Harbor. In one study, three of six samples were toxic (BPTCP). In the other, none of one sample was toxic (Bight, 1998) (LARWQCB & CCC, 2004).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: Samples were considered toxic if (1) there was a significant difference in mean organism response between the sample and the control, and (2) the mean organism response in the test, as a percent of the control, was less than the threshold based on the 90th percentile minimum significant difference value.
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: Seven sites were sampled throughout LA/LB Fish Harbor.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected in 1992, 1997 and 1998.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Contaminated Sediment Task Force (2005) and references therein (BPTCP QAPP, Bight 98 QAPP).
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136051, Toxicity
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 244483
 
Pollutant: Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: TOXICITY TESTING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: 0 of the 1 samples collected by Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor exhibited toxicity. A sample may have multiple toxicity test results, but will only be counted once. A sample is defined as being collected on the same day and the same location. The following organisms and parameters were utilized for the toxicity tests: Mytilus galloprovincialis for Normal Development, Eohaustorius estuarius for Survival.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The sample is toxic when the response of the organisms exposed to the sample is significantly different (worse) than the response of the organisms exposed to the laboratory control based on statistical hypothesis testing.  An exceedance is counted when the significant effect code is “Significant; Less Similarity,” which means that the sample result is significantly different than the control result, and the percent effect is greater than the evaluation threshold.  The default evaluation threshold is 20% unless otherwise stated.
Guideline Reference: Short-term Methods for Estimating the Chronic Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to Freshwater Organisms. Fourth Edition. Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Washington, D.C. EPA-821-R-02-013
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at monitoring site: FH-SS-07 ( FH-SS-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor ).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2018-08-12 and 2018-08-12.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
 
DECISION ID
136052
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
Pollutant: Zinc
Final Listing Decision: Do Not Delist from 303(d) list (being addressed with USEPA approved TMDL)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: List on 303(d) list (being addressed by USEPA approved TMDL)(2018)
Revision Status Revised
Sources: A Source Unknown
TMDL Name: Dominguez, LA/LB Harbors, San Pedro Bay Metals (75 & 78), toxics(73a) and PAHs (74)
TMDL Project Code: 416
Date TMDL Approved by USEPA: 03/23/2012
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: This pollutant is being considered for removal on the CWA section 303(d) List under sections 2.2, 4.1 and 4.6 of the Listing Policy.

Five lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification against removing this water segment-pollutant combination from the CWA section 303(d) List. There is sufficient justification to place it in the Being Addressed portion of the CWA 303(d) List because a TMDL has been completed and approved by RWQCB and USEPA, and is expected to result in attainment of the standard.

This conclusion is based on the staff findings that:
1. The data used satisfies the data quality requirements of section 6.1.4 of the Policy.
2. The data used satisfies the data quantity requirements of section 6.1.5 of the Policy.
3. 10 of 10 samples exceeded the guideline for zinc in sediment and these exceed the allowable frequency listed in Table 4.1 of the Listing Policy. There is an associated sediment toxicity, with 3 of 7 sediment samples exhibiting toxicity.
4. The Dominguez Channel and Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors Toxics and Metals TMDL was approved by USEPA on 03/23/2012.
5. Pursuant to section 4.11 of the Listing Policy, no additional data and information are available indicating that standards are not met.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be removed from the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards for the pollutant are being exceeded.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation:
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136052, Zinc
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 252712
 
Pollutant: Zinc
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Dissolved
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 3
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed LA County MS4 data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 3 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Zinc.
Data Reference: WQ data from the MS4 database assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The dissolved zinc criterion continuous concentration (expressed as a 4-day average) to protect aquatic life in saline water is 81 ug/L (California Toxics Rule, 2000).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Standards 2000. Establishment of numeric criteria for priority toxic pollutants for the State of California: Rules and regulations. Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 97. Washington, D.C.: Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: FH-RW-07 (FH-RW-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2017-09-05 and 2018-02-27
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
QAPP Information Reference(s): Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136052, Zinc
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 251655
 
Pollutant: Zinc
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Southern California Bight Project 2018 data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Zinc .
Data Reference: WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for zinc is the effects range median value of 410 PPM (ug/g) dry weight (Long et al., 1995).
Guideline Reference: Development and evaluation of sediment quality guidelines for Florida coastal waters. Ecotoxicology 5: 253-278
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): B18-10103 (B18-10103).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: SWRCB. 2018. This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
QAPP Information Reference(s): This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136052, Zinc
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 268522
 
Pollutant: Zinc
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Dissolved
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 6
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 6 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Zinc.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The dissolved zinc criterion continuous concentration (expressed as a 4-day average) to protect aquatic life in saline water is 81 ug/L (California Toxics Rule, 2000).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Standards 2000. Establishment of numeric criteria for priority toxic pollutants for the State of California: Rules and regulations. Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 97. Washington, D.C.: Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: FH-RW-07 (FH-RW-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2017-09-05 and 2018-11-30
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136052, Zinc
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 244483
 
Pollutant: Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: TOXICITY TESTING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: 0 of the 1 samples collected by Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor exhibited toxicity. A sample may have multiple toxicity test results, but will only be counted once. A sample is defined as being collected on the same day and the same location. The following organisms and parameters were utilized for the toxicity tests: Mytilus galloprovincialis for Normal Development, Eohaustorius estuarius for Survival.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The sample is toxic when the response of the organisms exposed to the sample is significantly different (worse) than the response of the organisms exposed to the laboratory control based on statistical hypothesis testing.  An exceedance is counted when the significant effect code is “Significant; Less Similarity,” which means that the sample result is significantly different than the control result, and the percent effect is greater than the evaluation threshold.  The default evaluation threshold is 20% unless otherwise stated.
Guideline Reference: Short-term Methods for Estimating the Chronic Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to Freshwater Organisms. Fourth Edition. Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Washington, D.C. EPA-821-R-02-013
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at monitoring site: FH-SS-07 ( FH-SS-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor ).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2018-08-12 and 2018-08-12.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136052, Zinc
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 213
 
Pollutant: Sediment Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 7
Number of Exceedances: 3
 
Data and Information Type: Toxicity testing of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Overall, three of seven samples were toxic. This total was created from two different sediment studies within Fish Harbor. In one study, three of six samples were toxic (BPTCP). In the other, none of one sample was toxic (Bight, 1998) (LARWQCB & CCC, 2004).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: Samples were considered toxic if (1) there was a significant difference in mean organism response between the sample and the control, and (2) the mean organism response in the test, as a percent of the control, was less than the threshold based on the 90th percentile minimum significant difference value.
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: Seven sites were sampled throughout LA/LB Fish Harbor.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected in 1992, 1997 and 1998.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Contaminated Sediment Task Force (2005) and references therein (BPTCP QAPP, Bight 98 QAPP).
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136052, Zinc
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 215
 
Pollutant: Zinc
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 10
Number of Exceedances: 10
 
Data and Information Type: Chemical monitoring of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Of the 10 sediment core and grab samples, all of the measurements exceeded the sediment quality guideline (CSTF, 2002).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: A sediment quality guideline of 410 ug/g was used (Long et al., 1995).
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were spread throughout the water body.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected in 1992 and 1999.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Bay Protection and Toxic Cleanup Program QAPP.
Quality assurance for other samples presented in the Contaminated Sediments Task Force Database.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136052, Zinc
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 251618
 
Pollutant: Zinc
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Zinc .
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for zinc is the effects range median value of 410 PPM (ug/g) dry weight (Long et al., 1995).
Guideline Reference: Development and evaluation of sediment quality guidelines for Florida coastal waters. Ecotoxicology 5: 253-278
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): FH-SS-07 (FH-SS-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
 
DECISION ID
136049
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
Pollutant: 2-Methylnaphthalene
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)(2018)
Revision Status Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: This pollutant is being considered for placement on the section 303(d) list under section 3.6 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.6 two lines of evidence are necessary to assess listing status.

Three lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. Although sediment toxicity was observed, an insufficient number of samples exceeded the sediment quality guideline. Under section 3.6 documented pollutant exceedances in sediment must be associated with observed toxicity before listing can occur.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is insufficient justification in favor of placing this water segment-pollutant combination on the section 303(d) list in the Water Quality Limited Segments category.

This conclusion is based on the staff findings that:
1.The data used satisfies the data quality requirements of section 6.1.4 of the Policy.
2.The data used satisfies the data quantity requirements of section 6.1.5 of the Policy.
3. One of 9 and 0 of 2 samples exceed the guideline for 2-methylnaphthalene in sediment and this does not exceed the allowable frequency listed in Table 3.1 of the Listing Policy. Section 3.6 of the Listing Policy requires that the pollutant concentration in sediment be linked to observed toxicity before placing a water segment on the 303(d) list. Evidence of observed toxicity helps establish a connection between the pollutant in the sediment and toxicity impacts to the aquatic habitat in the water body segment.
4. Pursuant to section 3.11 of the Listing Policy, no additional data and information are available indicating that standards are not met.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation:
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136049, 2-Methylnaphthalene
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 203
 
Pollutant: 2-Methylnaphthalene
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 9
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: Chemical monitoring of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Of the 9 sediment core and grab samples, 1 measurement exceeded the sediment quality guideline (CSTF, 2002).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: A sediment quality guideline of 201.28 ng/g was used (MacDonald et al., 1996).
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were spread throughout the water body.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected in 1992 and 1999.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Bay Protection and Toxic Cleanup Program QAPP.
Quality assurance for other samples presented in the Contaminated Sediments Task Force Database.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136049, 2-Methylnaphthalene
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 249784
 
Pollutant: 2-Methylnaphthalene
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Methylnaphthalene, 2- .
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for 2-methyl-naphthalene is the probable effect level (PEL) of 201 ug/kg dry weight (MacDonald et al., 1996).
Guideline Reference: Development and evaluation of sediment quality guidelines for Florida coastal waters. Ecotoxicology 5: 253-278
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): FH-SS-07 (FH-SS-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136049, 2-Methylnaphthalene
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 249819
 
Pollutant: 2-Methylnaphthalene
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Southern California Bight Project 2018 data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Methylnaphthalene, 2- .
Data Reference: WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for 2-methyl-naphthalene is the probable effect level (PEL) of 201 ug/kg dry weight (MacDonald et al., 1996).
Guideline Reference: Development and evaluation of sediment quality guidelines for Florida coastal waters. Ecotoxicology 5: 253-278
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): B18-10103 (B18-10103).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: SWRCB. 2018. This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
QAPP Information Reference(s): This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136049, 2-Methylnaphthalene
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 213
 
Pollutant: Sediment Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 7
Number of Exceedances: 3
 
Data and Information Type: Toxicity testing of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Overall, three of seven samples were toxic. This total was created from two different sediment studies within Fish Harbor. In one study, three of six samples were toxic (BPTCP). In the other, none of one sample was toxic (Bight, 1998) (LARWQCB & CCC, 2004).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: Samples were considered toxic if (1) there was a significant difference in mean organism response between the sample and the control, and (2) the mean organism response in the test, as a percent of the control, was less than the threshold based on the 90th percentile minimum significant difference value.
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: Seven sites were sampled throughout LA/LB Fish Harbor.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected in 1992, 1997 and 1998.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Contaminated Sediment Task Force (2005) and references therein (BPTCP QAPP, Bight 98 QAPP).
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
 
DECISION ID
136032
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
Pollutant: Antimony
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: Insufficient information is available to determine beneficial use support for this waterbody-pollutant combination with the statistical power and confidence required by the Listing Policy. Beneficial use support will be reassessed in a future cycle, if more data are available.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list. The readily available data and information is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, SWRCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list because it cannot be determined if applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136032, Antimony
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 245429
 
Pollutant: Antimony
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Southern California Bight Project 2018 data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Antimony .
Data Reference: WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for antimony is the effects range median (ERM) value of 25 ug/g dry weight (Long and Morgan 1990).
Guideline Reference: The potential for biological effects of sediment-sorbed contaminants tested in the National Status of Trends Program. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS OMA 52. Seattle, WA: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): B18-10103 (B18-10103).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: SWRCB. 2018. This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
QAPP Information Reference(s): This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
 
 
DECISION ID
136033
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
Pollutant: Arsenic
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: Insufficient information is available to determine beneficial use support for this waterbody-pollutant combination with the statistical power and confidence required by the Listing Policy. Beneficial use support will be reassessed in a future cycle, if more data are available.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list. The readily available data and information is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, SWRCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list because it cannot be determined if applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136033, Arsenic
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 245460
 
Pollutant: Arsenic
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Southern California Bight Project 2018 data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Arsenic .
Data Reference: WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for arsenic is the effects range median (ERM) value of 70 ug/g dry weight (Long et al., 1995).
Guideline Reference: Incidence of adverse biological effects within ranges of chemical concentrations in marine and estuary sediments. Environmental Management. 19, (1): 81-97
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): B18-10103 (B18-10103).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: SWRCB. 2018. This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
QAPP Information Reference(s): This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
 
 
DECISION ID
136036
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
Pollutant: Cadmium
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: Insufficient information is available to determine beneficial use support for this waterbody-pollutant combination with the statistical power and confidence required by the Listing Policy. Beneficial use support will be reassessed in a future cycle, if more data are available
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list. The readily available data and information is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, SWRCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list because it cannot be determined if applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136036, Cadmium
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 251879
 
Pollutant: Cadmium
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Dissolved
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 3
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed LA County MS4 data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 3 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Cadmium.
Data Reference: WQ data from the MS4 database assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The dissolved cadmium criterion continuous concentration (expressed as a 4-day average) to protect aquatic life in saline water is 9.3 ug/L (California Toxics Rule, 2000).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Standards 2000. Establishment of numeric criteria for priority toxic pollutants for the State of California: Rules and regulations. Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 97. Washington, D.C.: Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: FH-RW-07 (FH-RW-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2017-09-05 and 2018-02-27
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
QAPP Information Reference(s): Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136036, Cadmium
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 246278
 
Pollutant: Cadmium
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Cadmium .
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for cadmium is the probable effect level (PEL) of 4.21 ug/g dry weight (MacDonald et al., 1996).
Guideline Reference: Development and evaluation of sediment quality guidelines for Florida coastal waters. Ecotoxicology 5: 253-278
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): FH-SS-07 (FH-SS-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136036, Cadmium
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 246394
 
Pollutant: Cadmium
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 0
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Southern California Bight Project 2018 data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support, and the results are as follows: 0 of the 0 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Cadmium. Although a total of 1 samples were collected, 1 of these samples were not included in the assessment because the laboratory data reporting limit(s) was above the objective and therefore the results could not be quantified with the level of certainty required by the Listing Policy Section 6.1.5.5.
Data Reference: WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for cadmium is the probable effect level (PEL) of 4.21 ug/g dry weight (MacDonald et al., 1996).
Guideline Reference: Development and evaluation of sediment quality guidelines for Florida coastal waters. Ecotoxicology 5: 253-278
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): B18-10103 (B18-10103).
Temporal Representation: Date for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: SWRCB. 2018. This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
QAPP Information Reference(s): This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136036, Cadmium
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 258204
 
Pollutant: Cadmium
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Dissolved
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 6
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 6 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Cadmium.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The dissolved cadmium criterion continuous concentration (expressed as a 4-day average) to protect aquatic life in saline water is 9.3 ug/L (California Toxics Rule, 2000).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Standards 2000. Establishment of numeric criteria for priority toxic pollutants for the State of California: Rules and regulations. Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 97. Washington, D.C.: Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: FH-RW-07 (FH-RW-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2017-09-05 and 2018-11-30
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
 
DECISION ID
136053
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
Pollutant: Chromium
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: Insufficient information is available to determine beneficial use support for this waterbody-pollutant combination with the statistical power and confidence required by the Listing Policy. Beneficial use support will be reassessed in a future cycle, if more data are available
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list. The readily available data and information is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, SWRCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list because it cannot be determined if applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136053, Chromium
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 247104
 
Pollutant: Chromium
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Southern California Bight Project 2018 data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Chromium .
Data Reference: WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for chromium is the effects range median (ERM) value of 370 PPM ug/g dry weight (Long et al., 1995)
Guideline Reference: Incidence of adverse biological effects within ranges of chemical concentrations in marine and estuary sediments. Environmental Management. 19, (1): 81-97
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): B18-10103 (B18-10103).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: SWRCB. 2018. This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
QAPP Information Reference(s): This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136053, Chromium
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 247006
 
Pollutant: Chromium
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Chromium .
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for chromium is the effects range median (ERM) value of 370 PPM ug/g dry weight (Long et al., 1995)
Guideline Reference: Incidence of adverse biological effects within ranges of chemical concentrations in marine and estuary sediments. Environmental Management. 19, (1): 81-97
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): FH-SS-07 (FH-SS-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
 
DECISION ID
149641
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
Pollutant: DDD (Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane)
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: Insufficient information is available to determine beneficial use support for this waterbody-pollutant combination with the statistical power and confidence required by the Listing Policy. Beneficial use support will be reassessed in a future cycle, if more data are available
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list. The readily available data and information is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, SWRCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list because it cannot be determined if applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 149641, DDD (Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane)
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 259574
 
Pollutant: DDD (Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish, or organisms
 
Number of Samples: 0
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support, and the results are as follows: 0 of the 0 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for DDD(p,p'). Although a total of 6 samples were collected, 6 of these samples were not included in the assessment because the laboratory data reporting limit(s) was above the water quality threshold and therefore the results could not be quantified with the level of certainty required by the Listing Policy Section 6.1.5.5.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The 4,4'-DDD criterion for the protection of human health from consumption of organisms only is 0.00084 ug/L (California Toxics Rule, 2000).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Standards 2000. Establishment of numeric criteria for priority toxic pollutants for the State of California: Rules and regulations. Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 97. Washington, D.C.: Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: FH-RW-07 (FH-RW-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2017-09-05 to 2018-11-30
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
 
DECISION ID
136041
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
Pollutant: Dieldrin
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: Insufficient information is available to determine beneficial use support for this waterbody-pollutant combination with the statistical power and confidence required by the Listing Policy. Beneficial use support will be reassessed in a future cycle, if more data are available
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list. The readily available data and information is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, SWRCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list because it cannot be determined if applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136041, Dieldrin
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 248219
 
Pollutant: Dieldrin
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 1 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Dieldrin .
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: No individual pesticide or combination of pesticides shall be present in concentrations that adversely affect beneficial uses. There shall be no increase in pesticide concentrations found in bottom sediments or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: In marine and estuarine sediments the effects range median (predictive of sediment toxicity for sediment-dwelling organisms) for Dieldrin is 8 ng/g dry weight (Long et al., 1995).
Guideline Reference: Development and evaluation of sediment quality guidelines for Florida coastal waters. Ecotoxicology 5: 253-278
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): FH-SS-07 (FH-SS-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136041, Dieldrin
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 260412
 
Pollutant: Dieldrin
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish, or organisms
 
Number of Samples: 0
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support, and the results are as follows: 0 of the 0 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Dieldrin. Although a total of 6 samples were collected, 6 of these samples were not included in the assessment because the laboratory data reporting limit(s) was above the water quality threshold and therefore the results could not be quantified with the level of certainty required by the Listing Policy Section 6.1.5.5.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The dieldrin criterion for the protection of human health from consumption of organisms only is 0.00014 ug/L (California Toxics Rule, 2000).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Standards 2000. Establishment of numeric criteria for priority toxic pollutants for the State of California: Rules and regulations. Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 97. Washington, D.C.: Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: FH-RW-07 (FH-RW-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2017-09-05 to 2018-11-30
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136041, Dieldrin
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 260466
 
Pollutant: Dieldrin
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 6
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 6 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Dieldrin.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The dieldrin criterion continuous concentration (expressed as a 4-day average) to protect aquatic life in saline water is 0.0019 ug/L (California Toxics Rule, 2000).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Standards 2000. Establishment of numeric criteria for priority toxic pollutants for the State of California: Rules and regulations. Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 97. Washington, D.C.: Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: FH-RW-07 (FH-RW-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2017-09-05 and 2018-11-30
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
 
DECISION ID
151876
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
Pollutant: Oxygen, Dissolved
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: Insufficient information is available to determine beneficial use support for this waterbody-pollutant combination with the statistical power and confidence required by the Listing Policy. Beneficial use support will be reassessed in a future cycle, if more data are available
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list. The readily available data and information is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, SWRCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list because it cannot be determined if applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 151876, Oxygen, Dissolved
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 308067
 
Pollutant: Oxygen, Dissolved
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 5
Number of Exceedances: 3
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 3 of 5 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Oxygen, Dissolved.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The Water Quality Control Plan for the Los Angeles Region (page 3-39) states that: At a minimum (see specifics below), the mean annual dissolved oxygen concentration of all waters shall be greater than 7 mg/L.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: FH-RW-07 (FH-RW-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2014-11-02 and 2018-11-30
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 151876, Oxygen, Dissolved
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 307870
 
Pollutant: Oxygen, Dissolved
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 12
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 1 of 12 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Oxygen, Dissolved.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The Water Quality Control Plan for the Los Angeles Region states that: At a minimum... no single determination shall be less than 5.0 mg/L.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: FH-RW-07 (FH-RW-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2014-09-30 and 2018-11-30
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
 
DECISION ID
136048
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
Pollutant: Silver
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: Insufficient information is available to determine beneficial use support for this waterbody-pollutant combination with the statistical power and confidence required by the Listing Policy. Beneficial use support will be reassessed in a future cycle, if more data are available.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list. The readily available data and information is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, SWRCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list because it cannot be determined if applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136048, Silver
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 251369
 
Pollutant: Silver
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 0
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Southern California Bight Project 2018 data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support, and the results are as follows: 0 of the 0 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Silver. Although a total of 1 samples were collected, 1 of these samples were not included in the assessment because the laboratory data reporting limit(s) was above the objective and therefore the results could not be quantified with the level of certainty required by the Listing Policy Section 6.1.5.5.
Data Reference: WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline: The evaluation guideline for silver is the probable effect level (PEL) of 1.77 ug/g dry weight (MacDonald et al., 1996).
Guideline Reference: Development and evaluation of sediment quality guidelines for Florida coastal waters. Ecotoxicology 5: 253-278
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): B18-10103 (B18-10103).
Temporal Representation: Date for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2018-08-12 to 2018-08-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: SWRCB. 2018. This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
QAPP Information Reference(s): This is a placeholder reference for data that was collected after QAPP requirements were developed, but exempt from the requirements.
 
 
DECISION ID
136050
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
Pollutant: Toxaphene
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: Insufficient information is available to determine beneficial use support for this waterbody-pollutant combination with the statistical power and confidence required by the Listing Policy. Beneficial use support will be reassessed in a future cycle, if more data are available.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list. The readily available data and information is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, SWRCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list because it cannot be determined if applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136050, Toxaphene
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 267919
 
Pollutant: Toxaphene
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 0
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support, and the results are as follows: 0 of the 0 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Toxaphene. Although a total of 6 samples were collected, 6 of these samples were not included in the assessment because the laboratory data reporting limit(s) was above the water quality threshold and therefore the results could not be quantified with the level of certainty required by the Listing Policy Section 6.1.5.5.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The toxaphene criterion continuous concentration (expressed as a 4-day average) to protect aquatic life in saline water is 0.0002 ug/L (California Toxics Rule, 2000).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Standards 2000. Establishment of numeric criteria for priority toxic pollutants for the State of California: Rules and regulations. Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 97. Washington, D.C.: Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: FH-RW-07 (FH-RW-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2017-09-05 to 2018-11-30
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136050, Toxaphene
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 267690
 
Pollutant: Toxaphene
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish, or organisms
 
Number of Samples: 0
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support, and the results are as follows: 0 of the 0 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for Toxaphene. Although a total of 6 samples were collected, 6 of these samples were not included in the assessment because the laboratory data reporting limit(s) was above the water quality threshold and therefore the results could not be quantified with the level of certainty required by the Listing Policy Section 6.1.5.5.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The toxaphene criterion for the protection of human health from consumption of organisms only is 0.00075 ug/L (California Toxics Rule, 2000).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Standards 2000. Establishment of numeric criteria for priority toxic pollutants for the State of California: Rules and regulations. Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 97. Washington, D.C.: Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: FH-RW-07 (FH-RW-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody were collected over the date range 2017-09-05 to 2018-11-30
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
 
DECISION ID
136044
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
Pollutant: pH
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: Insufficient information is available to determine beneficial use support for this waterbody-pollutant combination with the statistical power and confidence required by the Listing Policy. Beneficial use support will be reassessed in a future cycle, if more data are available
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list. The readily available data and information is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, SWRCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list because it cannot be determined if applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136044, pH
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 265089
 
Pollutant: pH
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 4
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 4 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for pH.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Water Quality Control Plan, Los Angeles Basin: the pH for inland surface waters, bays, or estuaries shall not be depressed below 6.5 or raised above 8.5 as a result of waste discharges.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: FH-RW-07 (FH-RW-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2014-09-30 and 2015-07-07
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 136044, pH
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 265142
 
Pollutant: pH
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 7
Number of Exceedances: 2
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 2 of 7 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for pH.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Water Quality Control Plan, Los Angeles Basin: the pH for inland surface waters, bays, or estuaries shall not be depressed below 6.5 or raised above 8.5 as a result of waste discharges.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: FH-RW-07 (FH-RW-07-Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2015-10-05 and 2018-11-30
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
 
DECISION ID
149642
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
Pollutant: DDE (Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene)
Final Listing Decision: List on 303(d) list (being addressed by USEPA approved TMDL)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Sources: A Source Unknown
TMDL Name: Dominguez, LA/LB Harbors, San Pedro Bay Metals (75 & 78), toxics(73a) and PAHs (74)
TMDL Project Code: 416
Date TMDL Approved by USEPA: 03/23/2012
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: This pollutant is also being considered for placement on the CWA section 303(d) List under sections 3.1 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.1 at least one line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status.

1 line of evidence is available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant.
2 of 2 sample exceeded the criteria.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification in favor of placing this water segment-pollutant combination on the section 303(d) list in the Water Quality Limited Segments category.

This conclusion is based on the staff findings that:
1. The data used satisfies the data quality requirements of section 6.1.4 of the Policy.
2. The data used satisfies the data quantity requirements of section 6.1.5 of the Policy.
3. 2 of 2 samples exceeded the criteria and this exceeds the allowable frequency listed in Table 3.1 of the Listing Policy.
4. Pursuant to section 3.11 of the Listing Policy, no additional data and information are available indicating that standards are met

There is sufficient justification to place this waterbody/pollutant in the Being Addressed portion of the CWA 303(d) List because a TMDL has been completed and approved by USEPA, and is expected to result in attainment of the standard.

This conclusion is based on the staff findings that:
1. The Dominguez Channel and Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors Toxics and Metals TMDL was approved by USEPA on 03/23/2012.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should be placed on the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards are exceeded and a pollutant contributes to or causes the problem.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation:
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 149642, DDE (Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene)
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 259932
 
Pollutant: DDE (Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish, or organisms
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Harbor Toxics TMDL Compliance Water Quality data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 1 of the 1 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for DDE(p,p'). Although a total of 6 samples were collected, 5 of these samples were not included in the assessment because the laboratory data reporting limit(s) was above the water quality threshold and therefore the results could not be quantified with the level of certainty required by the Listing Policy Section 6.1.5.5.
Data Reference: Field, Tissue, Toxicity, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The 4,4'-DDE [DDE(p,p')] criterion to protect human health from the consumption of organisms only is 0.00059 ug/L (California Toxics Rule, 2000).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Standards 2000. Establishment of numeric criteria for priority toxic pollutants for the State of California: Rules and regulations. Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 97. Washington, D.C.: Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site (FH-RW-07).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody was collected over the date range 2017-09-05 to 2018-11-30
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Anchor QEA, LLC. 2014. DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD.
QAPP Information Reference(s): DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND SPECIAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE HARBOR TOXICS TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 149642, DDE (Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene)
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 252124
 
Pollutant: DDE (Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish, or organisms
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed LA County MS4 data for Los Angeles Harbor Fish Harbor to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 1 of the 1 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for DDE(p,p'). Although a total of 2 samples were collected, 1 of these samples were not included in the assessment because the laboratory data reporting limit(s) was above the water quality threshold and therefore the results could not be quantified with the level of certainty required by the Listing Policy Section 6.1.5.5.
Data Reference: WQ data from the MS4 database assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 4.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The 4,4'-DDE [DDE(p,p')] criterion to protect human health from the consumption of organisms only is 0.00059 ug/L (California Toxics Rule, 2000).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Standards 2000. Establishment of numeric criteria for priority toxic pollutants for the State of California: Rules and regulations. Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 97. Washington, D.C.: Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site (FH-RW-07).
Temporal Representation: Data for this waterbody was collected over the date range 2017-09-05 to 2018-02-27
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
QAPP Information Reference(s): Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
 
 
DECISION ID
72174
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
Pollutant: Benthic Community Effects
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)(2016)
Revision Status Original
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: This pollutant is being considered for placement on the section 303(d) list under section 3.9 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.9 a water segment can be placed on the 303(d) list if the water segment exhibits significant degradation in biological populations and/or communities as compared to reference sites and is associated with water or sediment pollutant concentrations.

One line of evidence is available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. No bioassessment measurement was considered degraded.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is insufficient justification in favor of placing this water segment-pollutant combination on the section 303(d) list in the Water Quality Limited Segments category.

This conclusion is based on the staff findings that:
1.The data used satisfies the data quality requirements of section 6.1.4 of the Policy.
2.The data used satisfies the data quantity requirements of section 6.1.5 of the Policy.
3.One of 5 samples taken exhibited significant degradation and this sample size is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: This is a decision previously approved by the State Water Resources Control Board and the USEPA. No new data were assessed by the Regional Board for the current cycle. The decision has not changed.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation: After review of this Regional Board decision, SWRCB staff recommend the decision be approved by the State Board.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 72174, Benthic Community Effects
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 214
 
Pollutant: Estuarine Bioassessments
LOE Subgroup: Population/Community Degradation
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 5
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: Benthic macroinvertebrate surveys
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Of the 5 samples collected, no measurements were considered degraded (BPTCP, 1998).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: The relative benthic index (RBI) is based on toxicology and natural history considerations concerning responses of marine benthic communities to anthropogenic and natural disturbances. The community patterns used in the index include number of species; and the number of individuals of crustaceans, the number of individuals of selected species that are indicators of relatively disturbed benthic habitats, and the number of individuals of selected species that are indicators of relatively undisturbed benthic habitats. The RBI ranges from 0 to 1.0. Values less than 0.3 are considered degraded and values greater than 0.6 are not degraded.
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: Three samples were collected at the entrance to Fish Harbor.
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected in 1992.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Bay Protection and Toxic Cleanup Program QAPP.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
 
DECISION ID
77602
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
Pollutant: Nickel
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)(2016)
Revision Status Original
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: This pollutant is being considered for placement on the section 303(d) list under section 3.6 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.6 At least two lines of evidence are necessary to assess listing status. One line of evidence documents the presence of the pollutant. The other line of evidence documents non-significant sediment toxicity. Both lines of evidence must establish a connection between the water or sediment concentrations of pollutant(s) and toxicity.

In this case, there is no sediment guideline for this pollutant that meets the requirements of section 6.1.3 of the Listing Policy. Ten samples were taken in 1992 and 1999.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is insufficient information to justify placing this water segment-pollutant combination on the section 303(d) list in the Water Quality Limited Segments category.

This conclusion is based on the staff findings that there is no sediment guideline for this pollutant that meets the requirements of section 6.1.3 of the Listing Policy. It is not possible to determine any exceedances and there is no significant toxicity associated with this water body segment. Pursuant to section 3.11 of the Listing Policy, no additional data and information are available indicating that standards are not met.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: This is a decision previously approved by the State Water Resources Control Board and the USEPA. No new data were assessed by the Regional Board for the current cycle. The decision has not changed.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation: After review of this Regional Board decision, SWRCB staff recommend the decision be approved by the State Board.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 77602, Nickel
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 201
 
Pollutant: Nickel
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 0
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: Chemical monitoring of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Ten 10 sediment core and grab samples are available (CSTF, 2002).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: No sediment quality guideline is available that complies with the requirements of section 6.1.3 of the Listing Policy.
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were spread throughout the water body.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected in 1992 and 1999.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Bay Protection and Toxic Cleanup Program QAPP.
Quality assurance for other samples presented in the Contaminated Sediments Task Force Database.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 77602, Nickel
Region 4     
Los Angeles - Harbor Fish Harbor
 
LOE ID: 213
 
Pollutant: Sediment Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Marine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 7
Number of Exceedances: 3
 
Data and Information Type: Toxicity testing of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Overall, three of seven samples were toxic. This total was created from two different sediment studies within Fish Harbor. In one study, three of six samples were toxic (BPTCP). In the other, none of one sample was toxic (Bight, 1998) (LARWQCB & CCC, 2004).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Basin Plan: Surface waters shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in amounts that adversely affect any designated beneficial use.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: Samples were considered toxic if (1) there was a significant difference in mean organism response between the sample and the control, and (2) the mean organism response in the test, as a percent of the control, was less than the threshold based on the 90th percentile minimum significant difference value.
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: Seven sites were sampled throughout LA/LB Fish Harbor.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected in 1992, 1997 and 1998.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Contaminated Sediment Task Force (2005) and references therein (BPTCP QAPP, Bight 98 QAPP).
QAPP Information Reference(s):