LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Region II Mason City, Iowa April 13, 2006

Major Topics  WQS SF 2363  WQS Funding SSB 3077  NPDES Fees  TDS – Chlorides  Bid Threshold  Eminent Domain  Watershed Funding – HF 2782 SF 2400

Major Topics, Cont.  NPDES Violation Posting SF 2302  SRF Changes  National Issues Wet weather – blending policy Nutrient standards CMOM CSO Watershed Permits Definition of waters of US

WQS & Funding SF 2363 SSB 3077  All Perennial Streams – Fishable & Swimmable Top down (IWPCA supported bottom – up)  UAA and Stream Designations Schedule for IDNR completion Approved by EPC, EPA, LRC  Allowances made for: Economic hardship Alternative technologies

WQS & Funding, Cont.  Other Key Points Water Quality Standards Group Watershed Trading Group  SSB 3077 – Funding $10 million 2007 $5 million 2008 and 2009 Watershed funding – lake projects $5 million 2007 and 2008 $10 million 2009

WQS & Funding, Cont.  Status SF 2363 Passed Unanimous in House Governor to sign  Work has begun on UAA; 3-5 year impact schedule

NPDES Fees – HF 2540  IDNR Appropriations Bill $400,000 included currently of $750,000 needed Passed out of House Permit fee formula developed through rulemaking

TDS - Chlorides  EPA/IDNR Sued by Sierra Club/IEC  Use EPA Recommendations 860 mg/l acute --- Chlorides Approximately 230 mg/l chronic --- Chlorides Drop 1000 mg/l TDS trigger  IDNR Data – 100 Cities Approximately 50% over the Chronic Standard  What to do?

Table 1. TDS/Chloride Study Results (Late Summer/Early Fall Low Flow) – City Tap Samples. Unit# of samples Min Value Percentiles Max Value 25th50th75th Bromideµg/L126<2000 Chloridemg/L Fluoridemg/L126< Nitrate as Nitrogenmg/L126< Nitrite as Nitrogenmg/L126< Phosphate ion (PO4)mg/L126<2 Sulfatemg/L ,110 Total Dissolved Solidsmg/L ,0982,060 µg/L = micrograms per liter (or parts per billion – ppb) mg/L = milligrams per liter (or parts per million - ppm)

Table 2. TDS/Chloride Study Results (Late Summer/Early Fall Low Flow) – Outfall Composite Samples. Unit# of samples Min Value Percentiles Max Value 25th50th75th Bromideµg/L114<2000 Chloridemg/L ,840 Fluoridemg/L114< Nitrate as Nitrogenmg/L114< Nitrite as Nitrogenmg/L114< Phosphate ion (PO4)mg/L114< Sulfatemg/L Total Dissolved Solidsmg/L ,3251,8953,840 µg/L = micrograms per liter (or parts per billion – ppb) mg/L = milligrams per liter (or parts per million - ppm)

Table 3. TDS/Chloride Study Results (Late Summer/Early Fall Low Flow) – Outfall Grab Samples. Unit# of samples Min Value Percentiles Max Value 25th50th75th Bromideµg/L135<2000 Calciummg/L134* Chloridemg/L ,800 Fluoridemg/L135< Magnesiummg/L134* Nitrate as Nitrogenmg/L135< Nitrite as Nitrogenmg/L135< Phosphate ion (PO4)mg/L135< Potassiummg/L134* Sodiummg/L134* ,280 Sulfatemg/L

Total Dissolved Solidsmg/L ,1501,84015,600 µg/L = micrograms per liter (or parts per billion – ppb) mg/L = milligrams per liter (or parts per million - ppm) * One city did not submit a cation sample

Table 4. TDS/Chloride Study Results (Late Summer/Early Fall Low Flow) – Upstream Samples. Unit # of samples Min Value Percentiles Max Value 25th50th75th Bromideµg/L119<2000 Chloridemg/L Fluoridemg/L119< Nitrate as Nitrogenmg/L119< Nitrite as Nitrogenmg/L119< Phosphate ion (PO4)mg/L119<2 32 Sulfatemg/L Total Dissolved Solidsmg/L ,860 µg/L = micrograms per liter (or parts per billion – ppb) mg/L = milligrams per liter (or parts per million - ppm)

Table 5. TDS/Chloride Study Results (Late Summer/Early Fall Low Flow) – Downstream Samples. Unit # of samples Min Value Percentiles Max Value 25th50th75th Bromideµg/L117<2000 Chloridemg/L Fluoridemg/L117< Nitrate as Nitrogenmg/L117< Nitrite as Nitrogenmg/L117< Phosphate ion (PO4)mg/L117< Sulfatemg/L Total Dissolved Solidsmg/L ,070 µg/L = micrograms per liter (or parts per billion – ppb) mg/L = milligrams per liter (or parts per million - ppm)

Bid Threshold  Signed by Governor 3/29/06  $100,000 > must be bid Larger cities  New Requirements for Public Notice Quote standards for smaller projects  Tied to City Size

Eminent Domain HF 2351  Restrict Use of Eminent Domain Economic growth City could use condemnation for airports, water supply, wastewater plants, trails Expected to pass

Watershed Funding SF 2400 HF 2782  $5 Million for Watershed Improvement Board  $5 Million for Infrastructure (Cities?)  $750,000 UAA  Passed House, Passed Senate Appropriations Back to Senate Governor sign?

NPDES Violation Posting SF 2302  Signage Required – All Discharge Points  3/27/06 Referred to Natural Resources Comm. Senate

SRF Changes  0% Loans Planning & Design  3% 20 Year 30 year may be possible by July  Refinancing Older Lower Interest Older than 10 years  Lower Interest for Disadvantaged Cities

SRF Changes, Cont.  Developing Better Relations with SHPO PA development Define each party’s duties  CDBG May Require Plans Before Submitting Application Better Defined Facility Planning

National Issues  WQS SF 2363  WQS Funding SSB 3077  NPDES Fees  TDS – Chlorides  Bid Threshold  Eminent Domain  Watershed Funding – HF 2782 SF 2400

National Issues, Cont.  NPDES Violation Posting SF 2302  SRF Changes  National Issues Wet weather – blending policy Nutrient standards CMOM CSO Watershed Permits Definition of waters of US