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Regulatory - Alert (RA 99-8)

Member Pipeline - Regulatory - Alert (RA 99-8)

To:

Members, Affiliates & Water Quality Committee

From:

National Office

Date:

April 27, 1999

Subject:

Formation of AMSA Nutrient Workgroup

Reference:

RA 99-8

ACTION PLEASE BY: May 14, 1999

On June 18, 1998, EPA released a national strategy outlining the process and approach for the development of numeric criteria for nutrients and adoption of nutrient provisions of state water quality standards (see AMSA Regulatory Alert RA 98-13). Under the approach described in the nutrient strategy, EPA will develop nutrient guidance documents for various types of waterbodies (e.g. rivers, lakes, coastal waters, and wetlands) over the next several years. States will effectively be required to adopt numerical nutrient criteria into their water quality standards by 2003.

EPA has formed a National Nutrient Team to guide the nutrient criteria development process and has also formed Regional Nutrient Teams in each EPA region. EPA is currently collecting data from national databases (e.g., STORET, National Ambient Water Quality Assessment data) to determine reference nutrient conditions in various ecoregions. Regional nutrient teams are discussing the process for developing regional nutrient criteria based upon EPA's data collection effort. EPA is also planning a national stakeholders meeting for Spring 1999, and expects to release two of its planned guidance documents (lakes/reservoirs, and streams/rivers) in the first half of 1999. EPA has developed a website on the nutrient strategy activities at http://www.epa.gov/ost/standards/nutrient.cfml. Attached is a copy of peer review comments and responses to EPA's National Nutrients Strategy for your review.

Also attached, please find a draft AMSA position statement on EPA's nutrient strategy that is currently being reviewed by the Water Quality Committee. The final position statement will be approved for adoption at AMSA's National Environmental Policy Forum on May 22-26 in Washington, DC. As discussed in the position statement, EPA's current approach to nutrients has the potential to redefine treatment standards for POTWs and require costly nutrient removal processes. AMSA would like to respond to EPA's nutrient development approach with a coordinated effort by AMSA municipalities at both the regional and national level.

To advocate the position of municipalities, AMSA urges you to become involved in this significant effort by: 1) contacting your Regional Nutrient Coordinator (see attached for contact information) and determining how you can become involved at the Regional level; and, 2) signing up to participate in the new AMSA Nutrient Workgroup to be convened under the auspices of the AMSA Water Quality Committee.

The Nutrients Workgroup will track and coordinate developments of the Regional Nutrient Teams, advocate a more reasonable approach to nutrient control through EPA/State meetings, and coordinate other activities as appropriate. It is expected that the Nutrient Workgroup will meet during AMSA conferences and conduct bi-monthly teleconferences over the next year to 18 months. If you are an AMSA Member (public agency) and would like to become involved in the AMSA Nutrient Workgroup, please return the form on the following page no later than May 14, 1999 via fax to:

Mark Hoeke, AMSA, 202/833-4657

ATTACHMENT: