Watershed Management
Vice President Releases Clean Water Initiative Focusing on Nonpoint Source Pollution
Background: On October 18, the 25th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act, Vice President Al Gore issued a memorandum calling for a "comprehensive approach to water quality at all levels of government," and directed U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Dan Glickman and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Carol Browner, in consultation with all other affected agencies, to develop a "comprehensive Action Plan." The Plan is to provide "enhanced protection from public health threats posed by water pollution; more effective control of polluted runoff; and, promotion of water quality protection on a watershed basis" as its three major goals. In the November 7 Federal Register, EPA and USDA solicit comment on the Initiative by December 8, 1997.
Status: On October 24, AMSA sent a letter to Vice President Al Gore strongly supporting the Clean Water Initiatives memorandum and offered technical support in the development of the inter-Agency "Action Plan" On November 12, AMSA was briefed by senior officials from EPA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) who are leading the Initiative Ten interagency workgroups were given a December 1 deadline for writing well laid out and concrete actions that the federal agencies can do to expedite clean water programs, with a special emphasis on controlling polluted runoff. The recommendations must be within current budget resources and within current legislative authorities. The 10 workgroups and their lead agencies are: 1) Animal Feeding Operations Strategy (EPA); 2) Reducing Polluted Runoff (EPA); 3) Agricultural Initiatives to Reduce Polluted Runoff (USDA); 4) Wetlands (White House); 5) Coastal Pollution (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration); 6) Monitoring and Assessment (U.S. Geological Survey); 7) Criteria (EPA); 8) Smart Growth (Council on Environmental Quality); 9) Watershed (EPA/USDA); and 10) Public Health (EPA). AMSA is drafting its recommendations on the Action Plan and will submit these as part of its formal comment on the Initiative. National public meeetings to receive input from the public are being held in three locations (Atlanta, GA, Columbia, MO, and Sacramento, CA) starting on November 20, and will be led by EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Bob Perciasepe and USDA Under Secretary Jim Lyons. The EPA and USDA have also posted a joint web site on the Vice President’s Clean Water Initiative that includes a public comment section. The web site, at http://www.nhq.nrcs.usda.gov/cleanwater, also contains information on the public meetings and the full text of the Vice President’s Directive. CONTACT: Geoff Grubbs, EPA 202/260-7040 (grubbs.geoffrey@epamail.epa.gov) or Mark Hoeke, AMSA 202/833-9106.
EPA Releases Index of Watershed Indicators
Background: EPA’s Office of Water and its many public and private partners are using joint information to characterize the conditions of the 2,111 watersheds in the continental United States. According to EPA, the purpose of the project is fourfold: (1) characterize the condition and vulnerability to pollution of the watersheds of the United States, (2) to empower citizens to learn more about their watersheds and work to protect them, (3) provide a basis for dialogue among water managers and, (4) to measure progress towards a goal that all watersheds will be healthy and productive places. EPA stresses that the project is a general guide to watershed conditions, designed to open the door to further dialogue and obtain more detailed information. EPA stresses that NWAP is not a site-specific, detailed, high quality data source on which to base individual activities such as establishing permit limitations.
Status: On Oct. 2, EPA released its Index of Watershed Indicators (IWI), a comprehensive assessment of 2,111 watersheds nationwide. The study identifies 16% of our nation’s watersheds as having "good" water quality, 36% as having "moderate" water quality, and 21% are said to be in "serious" jeopardy. Information on specific watersheds can be found on the EPA web site at: http://www.epa.gov/surf/iwi. AMSA plans to conduct a formal data review of IWI later this month. Assessments are expected to be ongoing as new data are identified or added. CONTACT: Mark Hoeke, AMSA 202/833-9106 or Geoff Grubbs, EPA 202/260-7040.
EPA Releases Draft Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Strategy
Background: On October 14, 1997, EPA officially released a draft strategy titled, "Nonpoint Sources -- Picking up the Pace, EPA’s Draft Proposed Strategy for Strengthening Nonpoint Source Management." The strategy presents an overall vision that "all States and Tribes, with active assistance and participation of all stakeholders, are implementing dynamic and effective nonpoint source programs to achieve and maintain beneficial uses of water by the year 2013." The strategy describes a suite of programs and activities that EPA has or has proposed to initiate to help States in their efforts to control nonpoint source pollution. Highlights of some key programs and activities proposed include: 1) development of nutrient water quality standards; 2) strengthening EPA’s anti-degradation policy, 3) developing air deposition reduction strategies; 4) promotion of State enforcement tools; 4) strengthening NPDES regulations for animal waste discharges; 5) strengthening urban runoff controls (through implementation of Stormwater Phase II program); and 6) Revision of regulations or guidance regarding State certification for activities on Federal lands (Section 401). A copy of the draft nonpoint source control strategy was distributed to the membership via Regulatory Alert RA 97-25.
Status: EPA plans to finalize the strategy by the end of 1997. CONTACTS: Dov Weitman, EPA 202/260-7088, or Mark Hoeke, AMSA 202/833-9106.
EPA’s Draft Framework for Watershed Based Trading
Background: On June 10, 1996, EPA released a draft effluent trading framework document detailing information on the types of trading that can occur within a watershed, such as point-point source, intra-plant, pretreatment, point-nonpoint source and nonpoint-nonpoint source. It lays out the conditions necessary for allowable trading to ensure that waters receive the same or better levels of protection that would be attained without trading, stressing that "total pollutant reduction must be the same or greater than what would be achieved if no trade occurred." The document lists eight principles of effluent trading that pollutant sources must follow in order to meet water quality standards. For example, trades must be developed within a total maximum daily load process or other equivalent analytical and management framework.
Status: EPA has posted a summary of comments received on the effluent trading document on its Internet Web Site at http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/tradecom/tradecom.cfml. Comments from 46 organizations, including AMSA can be viewed or downloaded from the site. Though committed to finalizing the document, EPA has cited a lack of staff resources and shifting priorities as delaying its scheduled for release. EPA plans to solicit additional stakeholder input through public meetings. CONTACTS: Mark Hoeke, AMSA 202/ 833-9106, or Mahesh Podar, EPA 202/260-5387.
EPA Advisory Committee Discusses TMDL Listing Issues
Background: Due to the number of lawsuits being filed by environmental groups against EPA and states which have not met TMDL development/implementation requirements under CWA Section 303(d), EPA continues to develop a broad strategy to reinvent the TMDL process. Under CWA Section 303(d), states are required to identify waters in which technology-based effluent limitations are not sufficient to meet water quality-based standards, and requires states to develop TMDLs for these waters which will ensure that applicable water quality standards are met. EPA has formed a federal advisory committee of stakeholder interests to develop recommendations concerning needed changes to the agency’s TMDL program implementation strategy, as well as TMDL-related policies, guidance, regulations and priorities. Several workgroups of the Committee have been formed around major issues including: 1) listing criteria; 2) criteria for approval; 3) EPA management and oversight; and 4) science and tools.
Status: The Advisory Committee’s listing workgroup is attempting to craft recommendations to EPA for listing waters when there is insufficient data to determine impairment, or when a water is threatened. Two concepts have been discussed. One proposal, which was discussed at the last full meeting of the FACA group, was to create a "candidate list" of waters separate from the 303(d) list. This list would clearly identify those waters in need of more monitoring, but would not require development of a TMDL. The other proposal, which is currently detailed in an EPA discussion draft paper, would create two categories of 303(d) listing, one for those waters which are clearly impaired, and another for those waters with data gaps. The clearly impaired waters category would be subject to TMDL development requirements, but the second category of "high priority monitoring waters" would be subject to "stepped up" monitoring over the course of two to four years to ascertain whether the waters would remain on the list. Results of the monitoring efforts, and when a "high priority monitoring water" is moved to the "impaired category," or dropped from the 303(d) list remains an issue to be discussed. The next meeting of the Advisory Committee is scheduled for January 21-23, 1998 in Salt Lake City, Utah. CONTACT: Mark Hoeke, AMSA 202/833-9106 or Don Brady, EPA 202/260-5368
American Heritage Rivers Initiative
Background: During this year’s February 5th State of the Union address, President Clinton announced an initiative to designate American Heritage Rivers to help communities alongside them revitalize their waterfronts, and clean up pollution. Each community supporting a American Heritage River will be given resources to catalyze their community’s work on behalf of a restored, revitalized river. The President has committed to designating 10 American Heritage Rivers this year.
Status: Nomination packets are available by calling 1-888-40RIVER or by accessing the American Heritage Rivers Initiative homepage at http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/heritage/rivers.cfml. Nominations are due December 10, 1997. President Clinton will designate the first 10 rivers in January 1998. CONTACT: Karen Hobbs, Council of Environmental Quality 202/395-5750.