Revision To Missouri NPDES Compliance Schedule Requirements

EPA Region 7 has approved Missouri's change to state water quality standards rules to provide greater flexibility in Missouri's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources submitted rule changes to EPA on Dec. 11, 2012, for review and approval. State regulations previously allowed no more than three years for a permittee to come into compliance with its NPDES permit. Due to the limits of current technology for controlling some pollutants, full compliance is not always possible within a three-year period. Therefore Missouri proposed new regulations that allow for a longer compliance period, in accordance with federal regulations.

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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Changes To Missouri Impaired Waters List

On Nov. 13, 2012 , US EPA Region 7 issued the final decision on the Missouri list of impaired waters. EPA restored eight water bodies to Missouri’s list and removed one water body due to an EPA-approved pollution reduction plan. The EPA decision brings the total number of impaired waters in the state to 258.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) submitted its impaired waters list to EPA for review and approval as required by the Clean Water Act (CWA). The EPA decision letter provides a more detailed description of EPA’s review and the basis for this action.

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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Missouri DNR Impaired Waters Listing Action

EPA Region 7 has released its proposed decision on Missouri’s 2012 list of impaired waters. EPA is approving Missouri’s listing of 253 waters as impaired, and the removal from the list of 66 water bodies. The Agency is requesting public comment on its proposed decision to restore a total of 10 water bodies and corresponding pollutants to Missouri’s 2012 impaired waters list. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) submitted its 2012 impaired waters list to EPA for review and approval. The Clean Water Act and federal regulations require EPA to review the state’s list to determine if the state reasonably considered existing and readily available water quality-related data and information, and reasonably identified waters to be listed.

EPA is proposing to restore several water bodies that were excluded from listing or removed from Missouri’s list. These proposed additions to the list include waters found to be impaired by sediment, bacteria, ammonia and other pollutants. The 60-day public comment period on EPA’s proposed decision begins today. The comment period ends September 12, 2012.

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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Missouri Department of Natural Resources Nutrient Water Quality Criteria

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) has begun the formal process of setting nutrient water quality criteria for streams and rivers in the State, as required under section 304(a) of the Clean Water Act. This is the second phase of a process approved by US EPA in 2005 to set water quality standards for specific nutrients in waters of the State. This process was detailed in the document "Nutrient Criteria Plan".

Nutrient criteria for lakes and reservoirs have already been drafted and are scheduled for submission into the rulemaking process as a part of revision to Water Quality Standards.

MDNR began conducting public meetings in February 2009 to solicit input into the development of nutrient criteria for streams and rivers.

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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Water Quality Standards on Mississippi - EPA Requirements for MDNR

In December 2008, US EPA informed the Missouri Department Natural Resources (MDNR) that new or revised water quality standards are necessary to protect portions of the Mississippi River in Missouri.

MDNR designated many stream segments and all of its lakes for recreational uses. However, Missouri did not assign the highest level of recreational use to a 195.5-mile segment of the Mississippi River that flows from St. Louis to the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. This EPA action directs the State to address approximately 160 miles of the Mississippi River to ensure that swimming, water-skiing and other recreational uses are protected. This will require MDNR to assign more stringent water quality criteria, which may in turn result in tighter wastewater discharge permit limits.

This action could impact many municipal and industrial NPDES permitted discharges in this reach of the Mississippi River, whether or not existing water quality data indicate that the river does/ does not currently meet recreational use standards.

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