State Water Quality Assessments Under the Clean Water Act

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

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

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

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. 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. 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. State Options for Reporting WQ Status Minimally Required by Regulations Recommended Reporting Format Reporting 47 States are using the Integrated Report format

9. Section 303(d) List Five Reporting CategoriesFor Each Assessment Unit (Segment) IRG Guidance

10. Conceptual Example: Multiple Categories Segment start Segment end

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. 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 Summary Statistics

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. Listing of Impaired Waters State driven process 1. States identify watersnot meeting WQS based on “all existing and readily available information” 2. States establish prioritiesfor TMDLs on basis of the use and severity of problem 3. States develop scheduleof 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 1st of each even year • If EPA disapproves State list, EPA has 30 days to develop list for the State Listing Process

15. Any Questions?