©lloyd gosselink rochelle & townsend, p.c. presented by: lauren kalisek [email protected]...

©Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C.

Presented by: LAUREN KALISEK

[email protected]

(512) 322-5847

816 Congress Avenue Suite 1900

Austin, Texas 78701(512) 322-5800

(512) 472-0532 Faxwww.lglawfirm.com

WATER QUALITY UPDATE

TWCA 66TH ANNUAL CONVENTIONMarch 3, 2010


COVERED TOPICSI. Federal Caselaw and Programs

II. Texas Surface Water Quality Standards and Implementation Procedures

III. Pharmaceutical Disposal Advisory Group


I. Update on Federal Caselaw and Programs

A. Jurisdictional Determinations

B. Raw Water Transfer Rule

C. Construction Stormwater Rule

D. Pesticide General Permit

E. EPA Enforcement Program

F. EPA Nutrient Standards


I. Update on Federal Caselaw and ProgramsA. Jurisdictional Determinations

• Rapanos holding• Joint Corps/EPA

guidance• 5th Circuit

interpretations• Congressional action


I. Update on Federal Caselaw and ProgramsB. Raw Water Transfer Rule

• Promulgated by EPA in response to South Florida Water Management District v. Miccosukee Tribe, 541 U.S. 95 (2004) (holding that an NPDES permit is not needed if waterbodies subject to the transfer are “meaningfully distinct”).

• Rule effective August 12, 2008 and exempts raw water transfers that do not subject the water to an intervening use.

• Rule was upheld in Friends of the Everglades v. South Florida Water Management District 570 F3d 2010 (11th Cir. 2009).


I. Update on Federal Caselaw and ProgramsC. Construction Stormwater Rule

• Issued December 1, 2009 and effective February 1, 2010.

• Establishes nationally applicable effluent limitation guidelines and new source performance standards for construction activities including BMPs and numeric limits for turbidity.

• Will need to be incorporated into Texas general permit.


I. Update on Federal Caselaw and ProgramsD. Pesticide General Permit

• EPA 2006 rule exempting pesticide application from NPDES permitting is overturned in National Cotton Council v EPA.

• Court granted 2 year stay for EPA to develop general permit by April 9, 2011.

• General permit would also need to be adopted as part of TPDES program.


I. Update on Federal Caselaw and ProgramsE. EPA Enforcement Program

• EPA National Enforcement Initiative for 2011-2013.• “Keeping raw sewage and contaminated stormwater

out of our Nation’s waters.”• Focus on reducing discharges from CSOs, SSOs and

MS4s.


I. Update on Federal Caselaw and ProgramsF. EPA Nutrient Standards

• 1998 EPA determination that numeric nutrient criteria are needed.• Environmental groups sue EPA in 2008 over lack of numeric criteria

in Florida.• January 2009 EPA determines numeric criteria are needed for

Florida because current state program is not sufficiently protective of uses.

• January 2010 EPA proposes numeric nutrient criteria for Florida.• Under consent decree, EPA must promulgate complete final criteria

by October 15, 2010 unless Florida submits is own criteria before EPA takes final action.


II. Texas Surface Water Quality Standards and Implementation Procedures

A. Schedule and Comment ProcessB. Significant Revisions

1. Bacteria and Recreational Uses2. Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET)3. Nutrient Criteria and Screening


II. TSWQS and IPsA. Schedule and Comment Process

• Proposed TSWQS and IPs approved January 13, 2010.

• Public hearing scheduled for March 11, 2010 in Austin.

• Comments due March 17, 2010.• Target adoption date is July 14, 2010.


II. TSWQS and IPsB. Significant Revisions

1. Bacteria and Recreational Uses

• Current Standards do not provide enough distinctions for recreational uses.

• Proposed revisions would expand recreational use categories from 2 to 4 and revise associated criteria for E. coli, enterococci, and fecal coliform.



2. Whole Effluent Toxicity

• When does WET testing data demonstrate a “reasonable potential” for exceeding toxicity standards?

• Dispute over EPA approach as set out in the Technical Support Document.

• Move to impose WET limits based on sublethal test results.• Recent correspondence from EPA Region 6 addressing

backlog on 30 permits on WET limit issues.



3. Nutrient Criteria and Screening

• Under directive from EPA.• TCEQ is proposing to establish site-specific nutrient

criteria for certain lakes and reservoirs.• Criteria are to be specified in terms of concentrations of

chlorophyll a.• The criteria are proposed to be applicable at specified

monitoring sites in the main pool.



3. Nutrient Criteria and Screening

• IPs propose new screening procedures for determination of TP limits for discharges to streams and rivers.

• Screening factors include: size of discharge, dilution, type of bottom, depth, clarity, observations of vegetative growth, shading and sunlight, streamflow sustainability, impoundments and pools, consistency with other permits in area, and listings in 305(b) Report.


III. Pharmaceutical Disposal Advisory Group

• Implements SB 1757 from 2009 Legislative Session requiring the study of and recommendations on disposal methods for pharmaceuticals to prevent their entrance into wastewater systems.

• Report due by end of year.• Members represent state and federal agencies, local

governments, water utilities, pharmaceutical manufacturers, health care providers, solid waste managers, farmers and ranchers and consumers.

• For more information, see TCEQ website at: http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/permitting/water_supply/pdw/pdagroup

http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/permitting/water_supply/pdw/pdagroup


Thanks For Your Participation

LAUREN [email protected]

(512) 322-5847

QUESTIONS

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