Iowa Impaired Waters Listing Approved By EPA

EPA has approved Iowa’s list of impaired waters, which removes 56 waters from the previous impaired waters list and adds 103 waters. The final approved 305(b) list brings the total number of impaired waters in the state to 474.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources submitted its impaired waters list to EPA for review and approval as required by the Clean Water Act. The Act requires EPA to review the state’s list of impaired waters to determine if the state reasonably considered available water quality-related data, and identifies waters to be listed. A water body is placed on the impaired waters list when monitoring finds that pollutant levels prevent the lake, river, or stream from attaining its beneficial uses. Beneficial uses in Iowa include human recreation, agricultural water supply, and maintaining healthy aquatic life.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address water quality standards, wastewater permitting and assessing potential impacts of chemicals in the aquatic environment.

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Identifying Waters Protected Under Clean Water Act Comment Period Extended

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have extended the public comment period by 30 days for the draft guidance on Identifying Waters Protected by the Clean Water Act. In response to requests from state and local officials, as well as other stakeholders, EPA and the Corps will take additional comment until July 31, 2011 on this draft guidance document. According to the agencies, this change in the public comment period will not impact the schedule for finalizing the guidance or alter the intent to proceed with a rulemaking.

The original 60-day public comment period was set to expire on July 1, 2011. The agencies will be publishing a notice of this 30-day extension in the Federal Register.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address water quality standards, wastewater permitting and assessing potential impacts of chemicals in the aquatic environment.

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Small Business Advisory Panel For Stream Electric Generator Rules

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is asking small businesses to nominate representatives to participate in a Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) Panel. This panel will advise the agency on the development of a proposed wastewater discharge regulations for nuclear-fueled and fossil-fueled steam electric power plants. The wastewater discharges to be addressed include flue gas desulfurization wastes from sulfur dioxide air pollution controls, coal ash pond discharges, leachate from ash ponds and landfills containing coal combustion residues, coal gasification wastewater, and other waste streams. The main pollutants of concern for these discharges include nitrogen, total dissolved solids, and toxic metals such as mercury, arsenic and selenium.

The Regulatory Flexibility Act requires EPA to establish an SBAR Panel for rules that may have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The panel will include federal representatives from the Small Business Administration, the Office of Management and Budget and EPA. The panel asks a selected group of small entities representatives (SER) to provide advice and recommendations on behalf of their company, community, or organization to inform the panel about the potential impacts of the proposed rule on small entities.

Self-nominations for the panel must be submitted to EPA by June 30, 2011. EPA seeks self-nominations directly from the small entities that may be subject to the rule requirements. Other representatives, such as trade associations, may also serve as SERs.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address water quality standards, wastewater permitting and assessing potential impacts of chemicals in the aquatic environment.

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South Dakota General Permit For Temporary Waste Water Discharge

The South Dakota Department of Environment & Natural Resources (SDDENR) has released its draft general NPDES permit to cover certain types of infrequent or on-time discharges of wastewater and/or stormwater. Under Federal Clean Water Act rules, these types of discharges can not occur unless covered under an NPDES permit. The types of discharges which would be allowed under the South Dakota permit, once finalized, include:

Construction dewatering,
Pump testing of water wells,
Discharges from swimming pools and similar structures,
Discharges of petroleum contaminated ground water from remediation sites,
Other types of short-term discharges meeting specific criteria.

In order to be covered under the general permit, dischargers will need to submit an application to the SDDENR.

The draft NPDES general permit specifies effluent limits and monitoring that must be conducted during the discharge. It also outlines specific Best Management Practices (BMP) that should be followed before, during and after the discharge occurs.

The draft general permit was placed on 30-day public comment, and will be finalized and available for use after comments are received and the permit modified, if necessary.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients in South Dakota and nationwide to address water quality standards, wastewater permitting and assessing potential impacts of chemicals in the aquatic environment.

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