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Bureau of Water

Water Program. Bureau of Water. Program Overview Local Government Interest. Legislative Updates . Water Program. TMDL regulation - 2005 Congaree National Park water reclass Shellfish regulation update WQ Standards – triennial review Isolated Wetlands bill. Wastewater (NPDES) permits .

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Bureau of Water

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  1. Water Program Bureau of Water Program Overview Local Government Interest

  2. Legislative Updates Water Program • TMDL regulation - 2005 • Congaree National Park water reclass • Shellfish regulation update • WQ Standards – triennial review • Isolated Wetlands bill

  3. Wastewater(NPDES) permits Water Program • Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) • Old WET Law (’04) • New WET Law (’05) • Implementation • EPA issued permits with State • WET protocol

  4. State Revolving Fund Water Program • Federal allotment cuts • CW: $ 13.5M, $ 11.0M, $ 9.3M • DW: Steady at $8.3M

  5. StormwaterGeneral Permits Water Program • Industrial • Construction • MS4

  6. Water Quality Monitoring Water Program • Updated monitoring strategy • 305(b)/303(d) integrated report (4/06)

  7. Water quality standards • State-adopted • EPA-approved • Apply to waterbodies, not pollution sources • Prescribe uses of waterbodies • Establish water quality criteria to protect • Include antidegradation policy

  8. Water quality standards Examples of Uses and Criteria • Use: swimming • Criteria: fecal coliform bacteria not to exceed 200 per 100 ml of water • Use: trout • Criteria: temperature not to vary from natural conditions

  9. Data Types • Water chemistry and fecal coliform bacteria • Most recent 5 years of data • Biological • Most recent data • Shellfish consumption • Most recent classifications • Fish consumption • Most recent advisories

  10. Section 303(d) Federal Clean Water Act (1972) • Requires states to submit list of sites not meeting state water quality standards to EPA every two years • Requires states to develop a Total Maximum Daily Load (“TMDL”) for each pollutant causing impairment • If states don’t develop list or TMDLs, EPA must do it !

  11. Determining Impairment • No sites with acute impacts on 303(d) list • Acute impacts to water quality dealt with immediately • List includespersistent impairments identified through water quality monitoring

  12. In other words… • Listing is based on results of measurements and sampling performed by DHEC or other acceptable sources.

  13. What is a TMDL? TotalMaximumDailyLoad • Maximum amount of apollutantthat a waterbody can receive from all sources, and still meet water quality standards • Maximum allowable amounts ofpointand nonpointsource contributions, plus amargin of safety

  14. TMDL Development Process • Identify suitable approach, based on • Pollutant(s) of concern • Available data • Watershed size, characteristics • EPA’s approval • Characterize existing pollutant loads • Determine percent reductionfrom each source so that instreamwater quality standards are met

  15. TMDL Facts • TMDL process includes public notice, comment period • All TMDLs must be approved by EPA • Final TMDL confers no additional regulatory authority to DHEC • TMDL implementation through existing regulatory and non-regulatory mechanisms

  16. TMDLs in South Carolina • 312 Approved TMDLs • 51 TMDLs being implemented • 17 primarily point sources • 34 primarily nonpoint sources • Check our web site for notices: www.scdhec.gov/water

  17. Know your watersheds! • Become familiar with 303(d) list • TMDLs will be developed forthese waters (unless WQ improves!) • If a TMDL has already beendeveloped for your watershed • Apply for a grant to implementvoluntary portion • If no TMDL has been developed • Develop it in cooperation w/DHEC & EPA

  18. Current Issues Water Program • Coastal septic tank study • 401 for Corps Nationwide permit • FERC relicensing • Thermal imaging in shellfish waters • Interstate issues

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