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Nutrient Trading Update. State Directors Meeting June 7, 2007. Where Trading fits within the CWA:. WQS water body specific. Secondary Treatment Standards or Effluent Limitations Guidelines (ELGs). Designated Uses. WQC. Anti-degradation. TMDLs. WLA. WQBELS. TBELs. LA. Permit.
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Nutrient Trading Update State Directors Meeting June 7, 2007
Where Trading fits within the CWA: WQSwater body specific Secondary Treatment Standards or Effluent Limitations Guidelines(ELGs) Designated Uses WQC Anti-degradation TMDLs WLA WQBELS TBELs LA Permit
Formula for Water Quality Trading: • Trading is: • DRIVEN by regulation • MOTIVATED by economics • GOVERNED by local trading rules • BUILT on trust But….. TRADING MAY NOT BE VIABLE EVERYWHERE AND FOR EVERY SITUATION.
WQ Trading Keys to Success: • Transparency: • Keep the public informed at every step of the process. • Real Reductions: • Show pollutant reductions and water quality improvement. • Accountability: • Manage the program effectively. • Defensibility: • Base the program on sound science and protocol. • Enforceability: • Establish responsibility for meeting water quality standards.
Common Elements of a Credible Trading Program: • Legal Authority • Unit of trade • Timing of Credits • Managing Uncertainty • Compliance and Enforcement • Record-keeping • Certifications • Monitoring • Reporting • Inspections
Common Elements of a Credible Trading Program: • Public Participation • TMDL process • Permits process • Public website • Program Evaluations “However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.” Winston Churchill, 1874-1965
STATE TRADING PROGRAMS: • Point sources can buy and sell in all programs. • 8 out of 9 state programs include trades involving NPS. NPS as buyer & seller NPS as last resort NPS as seller PS only Connecticut Virginia Florida Idaho Michigan Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania Colorado
Regional Interstate WQ Trading Workgroup: • Purpose: “ …develop additional regional water quality trading options to meet CWA water quality requirements faster and more efficiently .”
Regional Interstate Trading Workgroup: • Membership • Products • CB Watershed states’ WQ Trading comparison chart. • draft Partnership Agreement among EPA, NRCS, PA, MD,VA, VW, DC and ICPRB. • draft Potomac River Basin Nutrient Trading: An Interstate Approach/ Work Plan.
Partnership Agreement Highlights: • Coordinate Partners’ policies and activities to promote WQ credit trading related to interstate trading. • Identify program and project activities to support the use of WQ credit trading within the context of watershed planning, including related natural resource issues. • Develop common definitions, common standards and measurement protocols related to interstate trading. • Explore barriers to WQ trading and develop solutions to over come them.
Next Steps/ Questions: • Continue cooperation and expand WQ Trading compatibility among the states. • Continue monthly workgroup calls. • Begin detailing out the common elements of the Potomac River Basin Nutrient Trading project.