adem update: water division

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ADEM Update:Water Division

Manufacture Alabama

Environmental Conference

November 18, 2009

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Topics: What’s New?Topics: What’s New?

• Rule Changes

• §303(d) List/TMDL Status

• §316(b) Status

• Coal Operations

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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

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Proposed E. Coli CriteriaProposed E. Coli Criteria

OAW1 S3 SH4 LWF6 A&I7

Summer Winter Summer WinterGeometric Mean,

cfu/100 ml126 126 548 126 NA 126 548 548 700

Single Sample Max, cfu/100 ml

235 487 2507 235 NA 487 2507 2507 3200

Illness Rate, per 1000

8 8 14 8 NA 8 14 14 15

F&W5

Designated UsePWS2

Summer = June through September Winter = October through May

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• 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

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TMDLsTMDLs

• 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

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TMDLs – 2010TMDLs – 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

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2010 303(d) List Development

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

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Things to WatchThings 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

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316(b) Requirements316(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”

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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)

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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.

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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.

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Coal Mining OperationsCoal 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.



• 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.



• 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.

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Organizational StructureNPDES Permit Branch

Organizational StructureNPDES Permit Branch

NPDES Permit Branch

Glenda Dean, Chief

Industrial/Mining Permit Section

Eric Sanderson, Chief

Municipal Permit Section

Daphne Smart, Chief

Const. SW/General Permit Section

Dale Mapp, Chief

Technical Staff:Seven Engineers

Technical Staff:Five Engineers

Technical Staff:Five Scientists

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Organizational StructureNPDES Enforcement Branch

Organizational StructureNPDES Enforcement Branch

NPDES Enforcement Branch

Chip Crockett, Chief

Compliance Coordination Section

Lee Warren, Chief

Wastewater and Mining Section

Jimbo Carlson, Chief

Stormwater SectionJennifer Klepac, Chief

Technical Staff:Four Scientists

Technical Staff:Five Engineers

Technical Staff:Five Scientists

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Contact InformationContact Information

• NPDES Permit Branch– Glenda Dean 334-270-5602 [email protected]– Eric Sanderson 334-271-7838 [email protected]– Daphne Smart 334-271-7801 [email protected]– Dale Mapp 334-394-4399 [email protected]

• NPDES Enforcement Branch– Chip Crockett 334-271-7974 [email protected]– Jimbo Carlson 334-271-7975 [email protected]– Jennifer Klepac 334-394-4313 [email protected]– Lee Warren 334-271-7845 [email protected]

• Water Quality Branch– Lynn Sisk 334-271-7826 [email protected]– Chris Johnson 334-271-7827 [email protected]

adem update: water division

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