Maryland Association of Counties Conference August 12, 2009 Bob Koroncai USEPA Region III The Chesapeake Bay TMDL

What you will learn… Overview of Bay Water Quality Problems Basics of the Bay TMDL TMDL implementation Critical role of the Counties

It’s about water quality! Extensive low to no summer dissolved oxygen conditions persist throughout the Chesapeake Bay and its Tidal Tributaries Source:

What is a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)? Requirement of the Clean Water Act Identifies maximum load to the waterbody to achieve Water Quality Standards –Includes maximum point source loads –Includes maximum NPS loads In other words... a pollution budget

Myth The Bay TMDL will be another paper exercise resulting in limited implementation of nutrient and sediment controls.

Fact The Chesapeake Bay TMDL will be unlike any other, being part of a comprehensive framework for implementation.

Chesapeake Bay TMDL: The Basics Will establish a ‘pollution budget’ for N, P, and S Will establish load caps for all six Bay states and the District of Columbia Planned for completion by December 2010

The Bay science allows a local look… Phase 4 Watershed Model Phase 5 Watershed Model

Who will develop the TMDL? EPA Region 3 WPD establishes Bay Watershed TMDLs – Watershed states provide input and support on the Bay TMDL – A Stakeholder committee (WQGIT) under the CBP provides key input

The Allocation Process Identify Bay- wide target load EPA+ Identify basin- state target loads EPA+ Identify PS/ NPS target loads (Watershed Implementation Plans) States & local

Bay TMDL Schedule Fall 2009 Basin-jurisdiction target loads June 2010 Draft State Implementation Plans June 2010 Draft TMDL December 2010 Final TMDL Approved Fall 2009 TMDL public meetings June – August 2010 Public Comment Period for Final Draft TMDL (EPA) Potential State Meetings on Tributary Strategies

A TMDL is not enough! Biennial Milestones for closing identified program gaps Identify Gaps between needed controls and existing program capacity Effectiveness monitoring to assess implementation actions Contingencies are employed if effectiveness monitoring indicates that appropriate progress is not being made Chesapeake Bay TMDL: Set total nutrient and sediment caps Wasteload and load allocations Allocate at finer scales if feasible Reference other parts of package Develop Implementation plans Identifying the nutrient and sediment controls needed to meet the Basin caps Evaluate existing capacity (programmatic, funding, technical) to fully implement tributary strategies

So how do we get to a restored bay? Need to develop the NPS toolbox of the future Smarter development Don’t forget living resources Meaningful accountability

County participation is critical! TMDL –Local input on allocation, etc, provide local information Implementation Planning –Identify county level loading targets, controls, support needs from state/federal governments Implementation –Upgrade WWTP –Work with conservation districts –Adopt ordinances to reduce nutrients and sediment –Smart Growth –Public education

Further Information Chesapeake Bay TMDL website EPA Region 3 Contacts –Water Protection Division Bob Koroncai Jennifer Sincock –Chesapeake Bay Program Office Rich Batiuk