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The 495/MetroWest Corridor Partnership January 21, 2009 Preliminary Residual Designation Decision

The 495/MetroWest Corridor Partnership January 21, 2009 Preliminary Residual Designation Decision. Define the general scope of the PRDD Phosphorus and resulting water quality problems in the Charles River Phosphorus sources particularly impervious surfaces Residual Designation Process.

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The 495/MetroWest Corridor Partnership January 21, 2009 Preliminary Residual Designation Decision

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  1. The 495/MetroWest Corridor PartnershipJanuary 21, 2009Preliminary Residual Designation Decision • Define the general scope of the PRDD • Phosphorus and resulting water quality problems in the Charles River • Phosphorus sources particularly impervious surfaces • Residual Designation Process

  2. Residual Designation of Designated Discharges to the Charles River in Bellingham, Franklin, and Milford, MA To Address severe water quality impairments in the Charles River caused by overloading of phosphorus (nutrient) which leads to excessive aquatic plant growth Blue-Green Algae Bloom in the Lower Charles River, August 2006 Photo: T. Faber, EPA

  3. Preliminary Residual Designation Decision • Area of coverage: Charles River watershed within Milford, Bellingham, and Franklin, MA • Designated Discharges for NPDES Permit Coverage: Large impervious surfaces > 2 acres • SubsequentNPDES Permit Objective: Reduce annual phosphorus load from designated discharges by 65% • Public Notice of PRDD: Forty-five (45) day comment period on PRDD document

  4. Charles River Watershed ~310 square miles 35 communities Flows from Hopkinton to Boston harbor Focus on headwater communities –Milford, Bellingham, and Franklin Charles River Watershed

  5. Water Quality Impacts from Cultural Eutrophication • Excessive amounts of algae and the presence of certain species contribute to a number of negative water quality impacts including: • Poor aesthetic quality • Undesirable shifts in algal species composition and the food web • Reduced water clarity • Low dissolved oxygen in the hypolimnion (bottom waters of a stratified impoundment or lake) • May contribute to bad odors and skin irritations • May cause toxic effects to fish, animals (e.g., dogs) and humans that come in contact with the water Blue-green algae bloom Lower Charles River, August 2006

  6. Blue Green Bloom – Lower Charles River, Cambridge and Boston, MA Lower Charles River Phosphorus TMDLLand Cover Phosphorus Loading and Reduction Assessment • TMDL Outlines ~ 54% reduction in Phosphorus Loading from the Entire Watershed which requires: • 65% reduction in P for land use areas with high percentages of impervious cover including: • Commercial, • Industrial • High and medium density residential

  7. Distribution of Land-Use Cover and Associated Annual Phosphorus Load Charles River Watershed

  8. RD Process • Preliminary RD signed Nov. 12, 2008 • Final RD will follow reflecting public comment • Draft General Permit in preparation • Will be noticed for public comment • Final General Permit will follow

  9. Basis for of RDA • Authority is 402(p) of the CWA, addresses stormwater • Phase I covered large municipalities and industrial sources known to be problems • Phase II covered smaller municipalities and smaller construction sites. Phases I and II based on national studies • Phase II also contained residual designation authority to address stormwater discharges identified as problems based on localized information

  10. What Properties? • Storm water discharges from two or more acres of impervious surfaces (single or aggregated) • Charles River Watershed in Milford, Franklin, and Bellingham

  11. Exemptions • Government (local, state, fed) units • Sporting/Recreation Camps • RV and mobile home parks • detached single-family homes located on individual lots • multi-family housing developments containing four or fewer units

  12. Notices for PRDD • Noticed in Federal Register on Dec. 23 • Listed in Newspapers on Jan. 9, 2009 • Milford Daily News • Metrowest Daily News • Boston Globe

  13. Comment Period for PRDD • Public comments strongly encouraged by February 6, 2009 • EPA will consider comments in any revisions needed to the RDA shortly after this time. • Comment period on RDA will remain open until close of comments on any permit issued under the RDA

  14. How to Comment on RDA • Preferred Method • Ability to provide anonymous comments • More secure • Go to www.regulations.gov • Search on Charles River or EPA-R01-OW-2008-0857 • Go to Primary Document (EPA-R01-OW-2008-0857-0001) by clicking on it • Click on “Add Comments”

  15. Other Options • Direct Email • Send email to beck.erik@epa.gov • US Mail • Erik Beck, USEPA • 1 Congress Street, Suite 1100-CWN • Boston, MA 02114-2023

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