State Water Quality Assessments Under the Clean Water Act
description
Transcript of State Water Quality Assessments Under the Clean Water Act
1
State Water Quality Assessments
Under the Clean Water ActCharles Spooner
Assessment and Watershed Protection Division
Monitoring Branch
Nat
iona
l Wat
er Q
ualit
y M
onito
ring
Coun
cil
2
303(d) Listing & TMDLs
• Objectives:– Present a brief overview of assessment
methodologies under Sections 303(d) and 305(b) of the CWA Discuss process of identifying impaired waters
– Describe State reporting & submission options
Mod
ule
Obje
ctiv
es
3
Adopt Water Quality Standards
Monitor and Assess Waters
List Impaired & Threatened Waters
Develop TMDLs(TMDL=WLA+LA+MOS)
Control Point SourcesVia NPDES Permits
Manage Nonpoint SourcesThrough Grants, Partnerships,
and Voluntary Programs
Trading
CWA
Fram
ewor
k
303(d) Program40 CFR 130.7
Defines the water quality goal
Compile data/information and assess waterbody condition
Implementation
4
WATER QUALITY STANDARDS….what we’re aiming for
DevelopTMDLs
ImplementTMDLs
MonitorResults
Monitoringand
Assessment
WQS
WritePermits
Report Water
Quality & Identify
ImpairedWaters
5
Regulations (40 CFR 130.7)Each State shall identify those water quality-limited segments still requiring TMDLs within its boundaries for which:
– Technology based effluent limitations– More stringent effluent limitations– Other pollution control requirements
Are not stringent enough to implement any water quality standards applicable to such watersRe
gula
tory
Req
uire
men
ts
6
Regulations (40 CFR 130.7)For waters identified in the 303(d) list:
– “TMDLs shall be established for all pollutants preventing or expected to prevent attainment of water quality standards…”
– “TMDLs shall be established at levels necessary to attain and maintain the applicable narrative and numerical WQS…”
Regu
lato
ry R
equi
rem
ents
7
Pollutant“Means dredged spoil, solid waste, incinerator residue, filter backwash, sewage sludge, munitions, chemical wastes, biological materials, (some) radioactive materials, heat, wrecked or discarded equipment, rock, sand, cellar dirt and industrial, municipal, and agricultural waste discharged into water.”
(CWA Sec. 502(6))
Regu
lato
ry R
equi
rem
ents
8
State Options for Reporting WQ Status
Separate 305(b) & 303(d) Integrated ReportA State’s Section 303(d) list is comprised of waters impaired or threatened by a pollutant, and needing a TMDL
A single state developed report that integrates the reporting requirements of CWA Sections 303(d), 305(b) and 314
States submit their 303(d) list to EPA for review/approval April 1, every 2 years (2006, 2008, etc).
EPA’s Integrated Report Guidance (IRG) developed for 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008 reporting cycles (www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/)
Repo
rting
Minimally Required by Regulations
Recommended Reporting
Format
47 States are using the Integrated Report format
9
Five Reporting CategoriesFor Each Assessment Unit
(Segment)Category Description
1 All designated uses (DU) met 2 Some, but not all, DUs met 3 Can not determine if any DUs met 4 Impaired/threatened –TMDL not needed
4a TMDL completed 4b TMDL alternative 4c Non-pollutant causes
5 Impaired/threatened by pollutant –TMDL needed
IRG
Guid
ance
Section 303(d) List
10
Segment start
Segment end
Conceptual Example: Multiple Categories
DesignatedUse 1Use 2Use 3
Use not supportedTMDL completedInsufficient information
Category 5Category 4aCategory 3
11
National Picture of Assessed and Impaired Waters
• Nationwide, % of waters assessed to see if water quality standards being met (2002 305(b) list): – 19% of rivers/stream miles– 37% Lakes/ponds/reservoirs acres– 35% Estuarine square miles:– 9% Great Lakes shoreline miles
• Assessed waters that are impaired, by waterbody type:– 45% Rivers/streams – 47% Lakes/ponds/reservoirs – 32% Estuaries– 91% Great Lakes shoreline
• Most of these waters will go on the 303(d) list
Listin
g Pr
oces
s
12
Listing of Impaired Waters• Over 38,000 listed segments, with one or more
impairments• Approximately 64,000 waterbody-pollutant
combinations reported – Indication of TMDLs that will need to be completed
• Top 5 causes of impairment (updated October, 2007)– Mercury: 13%– Pathogens: 13%– Sediment : 11 %– Metals (other than Mercury): 10%– Nutrients: 8% – Low dissolved oxygen: 7%
Sum
mar
y St
atist
icsSu
mm
ary
Stat
istics
13
TMDLs needed by pollutant type and number of TMDLs that have been
developed
Approx. 64,000 TMDLs needed; over 26,000 developed (10/2007)
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
9000
Mercury Pathogens Sediment Metals (otherthan Hg)
Nutrients OxygenDepletion
Causes of ImpairmentApproved TMDLs
14
Listing of Impaired Waters1. States identify waters not meeting WQS based on “all
existing and readily available information”2. States establish priorities for TMDLs on basis of the
use and severity of problem 3. States develop schedule of TMDLs to be developed
within 2 years 4. States provide long term plan – complete TMDLs 8 to
13 years from first listing5. EPA has 30 days to approve or disapprove list submitted
April 1st of each even year– If EPA disapproves State list, EPA has 30 days to
develop list for the State
Listin
g Pr
oces
s
State driven process
15
Any Questions?