Monday, June 25, 2012

Approval Of NDEQ New And Revised Water Quality Standards

EPA has completed its review of the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality’s new and revised water quality standards. EPA’s June 22, 2012, decision letter provides a more detailed description of EPA’s review. The Clean Water Act (CWA) requires states to review water quality standards every three years and submit new or revised standards to EPA for review and approval.

The approved standards include:
  • new and revised surface water criteria to protect aquatic life and human health;
  • new and revised public drinking water supply criteria;
  • numeric nutrient criteria for lakes; and
  • new use designations for four lakes.

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.

Caltha LLP Aquatic Toxicology / WQ Standards Services Website

EPA Public Meeting On CAFO Inspections In Nebraska

EPA Region 7 representatives will host a public informational meeting for livestock producers about the Agency’s inspection program for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) on Monday, July 2, in Lexington, Nebraska. EPA Region 7’s inspections are part of an increased national emphasis on reducing discharges of pollutants from CAFOs into rivers and streams.

Topics at the meeting include:
  • selection of CAFOs for inspection,
  • aerial overflights to assess CAFOs,
  • winter feeding areas,
  • manure stockpiling and
  • nutrient management plans.
There will be an opportunity for attendees to interact with EPA officials during a question-and-answer session.

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.

Caltha LLP Aquatic Toxicology / WQ Standards Services Website

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Reports Released On Condition of Minnesota Wetlands

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) jointly issued reports on into the prevalence and condition of Minnesota wetlands. The initial survey on wetland quality, which focused on depressional wetlands such as marshes and ponds, showed that the plant communities in nearly half of the wetlands were in poor condition, while aquatic macroinvertebrates (such as aquatic insects, leeches and snails) fared much better.

The two reports provide a comprehensive view of the current status of wetlands in Minnesota. In the northeastern region of the state, the majority of pre-settlement wetlands still exist, and a large percentage are in good condition. However, in the western and southern parts of the state, where many wetlands have been lost, those that remain are generally in poor condition.

Findings of the survey included:
  • Minnesota has 10.6 million acres of wetlands, which comprise 19.7 % of the state’s land cover, not counting deep lakes and rivers.
  • Plant communities are in good condition in only 29 % of Minnesota’s depressional wetlands, while 25 % are in fair condition and 46 percent are in poor condition.
  • Macroinvertebrate communities are in better condition with estimates of 47 % good, 33 % fair, and 20 % poor.
  • Forested wetlands make up 4.4 million acres and are the most common wetland type in Minnesota, followed by emergent wetlands (shallow marshes, wet meadows), shrub swamps, and deep marshes/ponds.

In 2006, the State started the wetland monitoring program to assess status and trends of both wetland quantity and quality. Sampling for both the wetland quantity and quality monitoring programs is done on a repeating, multi-year cycle.

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.

Caltha LLP Aquatic Toxicology / WQ Standards Services Website

Monday, June 18, 2012

Kansas KDHE Impaired Waters List Approved

In a June 5, 2012, decision letter, EPA has approved the Kansas list of impaired waters, which removes 561 waters from the previous impaired waters list and adds 121 waters. This decision brings the total number of impaired waters in the state to 1,330.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) 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 Kansas 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.

Caltha LLP Aquatic Toxicology / WQ Standards Services Website

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

MPCA and MDNR Share Pesticide Permit Requirements

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) will use the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) aquatic plant management permit to fulfill Clean Water Act requirements on application of aquatic pesticides to control aquatic plants. Both agencies are working together to make certain that pesticide discharges to waters are controlled to protect aquatic communities and water quality.
During permit writing, MPCA found that the Aquatic Plant Management (APM) program administered by the DNR is sufficient to control the discharge of pesticides to meet the conditions of the Clean Water Act and the MPCA’s NPDES/SDS Pesticide General Permit. Therefore, APM Permit Holders do not need to submit an eNOI or a permit fee, regardless of size of the activity. MPCA and DNR are working on an Interagency Agreement so Permit Holder information can be shared between agencies.

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.

Caltha LLP Aquatic Toxicology / WQ Standards Services Website

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Advisory Board For Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced the creation of an advisory board to support federal agencies with the implementation of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the updated Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. The new board will provide advice and recommendations to EPA Administrator as federal Interagency Task Force chair.

To form the board, EPA will consider candidates from a broad range of interests including environmental groups, businesses, agricultural groups, funders/foundations, environmental justice groups, youth groups, academia and state, local and tribal representatives as needed. Nominees will be solicited through a Federal Register notice. EPA anticipates that board will be established during summer 2012.

The Interagency Task Force is made up of 16 federal agencies and departments. In 2010 they developed an action plan to implement initiatives in five areas:
  1. Cleaning up toxics and toxic hot spot Areas of Concern.
  2. Combating invasive species.
  3. Promoting near-shore health by protecting watersheds from polluted runoff.
  4. Restoring wetlands and other habitats.
  5. Raising public awareness, tracking progress, and working with partners.
The plan also establishes annual benchmarks for success and progress.

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.

Caltha LLP Aquatic Toxicology / WQ Standards Services Website