ADEM Update: Water Division

1. ADEM Update:Water Division Manufacture Alabama Environmental Conference November 18, 2009 adem.alabama.gov

2. Topics: What’s New? • Rule Changes • §303(d) List/TMDL Status • §316(b) Status • Coal Operations adem.alabama.gov

3. Water Quality Standards - 2009 • Triennial Review of Standards • Hearing on June 29, 2009 • Comment period from May 11 – June 29, 2009 • 63 comments received from 19 different individuals or organizations • Responses to comments are being drafted • Ongoing Revisions • Hearing 10/14/09 → to be considered by EMC 12/11/09 • Freshwater bacteria indicator change to E. coli (from fecal coliform) • Use classifications • Hurtsboro Creek – from A&I to F&W • Magnolia River – addition of OAW adem.alabama.gov

4. Proposed E. Coli Criteria Summer = June through September Winter = October through May adem.alabama.gov

5. Water Quality Standards - 2010 • Chlorophyll a Criteria for Reservoirs • Coosa River Basin: Neely Henry, Logan Martin, Lay, Mitchell, Jordan • Alabama River Basin: Woodruff • Escatawpa River Basin: Big Creek Lake • Tombigbee River Basin: Aliceville • Cahaba River Basin: Lake Purdy • Perdido/Escambia River Basin: Frank Jackson Lake adem.alabama.gov

6. TMDLs • Fourteen pathogen TMDLs approved on 9/23/09 • Coosa River Reservoirs – Nutrient and DO TMDLs approved on 10/28/08 • Implementation is ongoing • Weiss Lake Nutrient TMDL • Established by EPA 10/28/08 • Aliceville Lake DO TMDL • Established by EPA 10/28/08 • Includes nutrient reductions adem.alabama.gov

7. TMDLs – 2010 • 27 segments with 33 pollutants • TMDL segments are spread across the state: • Cahaba, Chipola, Choctawhatchee, Perdido-Escambia, Mobile, Upper Tombigbee, and Tennessee River Basins • Pollutants include: • Nutrients, OE/DO, Siltation, Pathogens, Pesticides, Metals, pH, and Nutrients adem.alabama.gov

8. 2010 303(d) List Development • Request for Data / Comments on Methodology • Comment period August 31 – September 30, 2009 • Draft List – February 2010 – Public Comment • Final List – April 1, 2010 adem.alabama.gov

9. Things to Watch • Escambia Bay TMDL – Florida • Nutrient TMDL with possible implications for Alabama point sources – Georgia Pacific • Florida Nutrient Criteria Development • Possible implications for other states • Possible implications for interstate waters • http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/wqssp/nutrients/index.htm adem.alabama.gov

10. 316(b) Requirements Section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act requires that facilities minimize adverse environmental impacts resulting from the operation of cooling water intake structures (CWIS) by using “best technology available” adem.alabama.gov

11. 316(b) Requirements EPA has promulgated 316(b) rules for three types of facilities: Phase 1 (40 CFR 125.80): New Facilities (>2 MGD) Phase 2 (40 CFR 125.90): Large, Existing Power Plants (> 50 MGD) Phase 3 (40 CFR 125.130): New Offshore Oil and Gas Extraction Facilities (>2 MGD) adem.alabama.gov

12. 316(b) Requirements • Large Universe of facilities which are not addressed by Phase 1, 2, or 3 rules: • New Facilities, including offshore oil and gas, with a CWIS design flow less than 2 MGD • Existing power plants with a CWIS design flow of less than 50 MGD • Existing manufacturing facilities such as existing steel mills, paper mills, etc., as well as existing offshore oil and natural gas facilities, with a surface water intake which uses at least a portion of the intake flow for cooling purposes. All these facilities, including those not specifically addressed by rules, must be evaluated for 316(b) compliance. A BTA determination must be made using Best Professional Judgment. adem.alabama.gov

13. 316(b) Requirements • ADEM has developed draft guidance with input from the regulated community for staff to utilize in making a BTA determination for facilities not covered under Phase 1, 2 or 3 of the Federal Rules. • EPA is currently reviewing the proposed guidance. • ADEM hopes to have the guidance finalized by January of 2010. adem.alabama.gov

14. Coal Mining Operations According to EPA, recent studies conducted in Appalachia (Pond, et al., 2008) associates mountain top mining and valley fill activities with downstream biological impairments. Nationwide review of NPDES coal mine permit process underway for Section 404, Section 402, and Section 401 activities. adem.alabama.gov adem.alabama.gov

15. Coal Mining Operations EPA Region 4 has proposed: In-stream data (e.g. metals, TDS) collection for applications Bioassessment (e.g. benthic macroinvertebrates) permit requirements for demonstration of compliance with narrative aquatic life criteria Additional parameters (e.g. specific conductivity, TDS, sulfates, chlorides) for permit effluent monitoring Addition of Whole Effluent Toxicity permit requirements Improved Best Management Practices implementation. adem.alabama.gov adem.alabama.gov

16. Coal Mining Operations Coal Summit Meeting was held with EPA Region 4 and Region 4 States on November 16th & 17th to discuss future coal permitting approaches for both Section 404, 402, and 401. adem.alabama.gov adem.alabama.gov

17. Organizational StructureNPDES Permit Branch adem.alabama.gov

18. Organizational StructureNPDES Enforcement Branch adem.alabama.gov

19. NPDES Permit Branch Glenda Dean 334-270-5602 gld@adem.state.al.us Eric Sanderson 334-271-7838 els@adem.state.al.us Daphne Smart 334-271-7801 ddy@adem.state.al.us Dale Mapp 334-394-4399 dpm@adem.state.al.us NPDES Enforcement Branch Chip Crockett 334-271-7974 vhc@adem.state.al.us Jimbo Carlson 334-271-7975 jhc@adem.state.al.us Jennifer Klepac 334-394-4313 jklepac@adem.state.al.us Lee Warren 334-271-7845 dlw@adem.state.al.us Water Quality Branch Lynn Sisk 334-271-7826 ls@adem.state.al.us Chris Johnson 334-271-7827 clj@adem.state.al.us Contact Information adem.alabama.gov