1. 1 State Water Quality Assessments Under the Clean Water Act Charles Spooner Assessment and Watershed Protection Division Monitoring Branch National Water Quality Monitoring Council

2. 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 Module Objectives

3. 3 CWA Framework 303(d) Program 40 CFR 130.7 Defines the water quality goal Compile data/information and assess waterbody condition Implementation

4. 4 WATER QUALITY STANDARDS ….what we’re aiming for Develop TMDLs Implement TMDLs Monitor Results Monitoring and Assessment WQS Write Permits Report Water Quality & Identify Impaired Waters

5. 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 waters Regulatory Requirements

6. 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…” Regulatory Requirements

7. 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)) Regulatory Requirements

8. 8 State Options for Reporting WQ Status Separate 305(b) & 303(d)Integrated Report A 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/)www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/ Reporting Minimally Required by Regulations Recommended Reporting Format 47 States are using the Integrated Report format

9. 9 Five Reporting Categories For Each Assessment Unit (Segment) CategoryDescription 1All designated uses (DU) met 2Some, but not all, DUs met 3Can not determine if any DUs met 4Impaired/threatened –TMDL not needed 4a TMDL completed 4b TMDL alternative 4c Non-pollutant causes 5Impaired/threatened by pollutant –TMDL needed IRG Guidance Section 303(d) List

10. 10 Segment start Segment end Conceptual Example: Multiple Categories Designated Use 1 Use 2 Use 3 Use not supported TMDL completed Insufficient information Category 5 Category 4a Category 3

11. 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 Listing Process

12. 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% Summary Statistics

13. 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)

14. 14 Listing of Impaired Waters 1. 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 listing 5. EPA has 30 days to approve or disapprove list submitted April 1 st of each even year –If EPA disapproves State list, EPA has 30 days to develop list for the State Listing Process State driven process

15. 15 Any Questions?