update on chesapeake bay program developments briefing to the water resources technical committee...

Update on Update on Chesapeake Bay Chesapeake Bay Program Program DevelopmentsDevelopments

Briefing to theWater Resources Technical

CommitteeJanuary 8, 2009

Briefing to theWater Resources Technical

CommitteeJanuary 8, 2009

WRTC Meeting (1/9/09)WRTC Meeting (1/9/09) 22

Water Quality Steering Water Quality Steering CommitteeCommittee Bay TMDL DevelopmentBay TMDL Development

– Still on schedule overall (minor delays for Still on schedule overall (minor delays for some)some)

Draft major basin/state load allocations – April 2009Draft major basin/state load allocations – April 2009 Bay TMDL – Dec. 31, 2010Bay TMDL – Dec. 31, 2010

– 78 TMDLs (i.e., by river segments/Designated 78 TMDLs (i.e., by river segments/Designated Uses)Uses)

– Current Tributary Strategies Current Tributary Strategies notnot sufficient to sufficient to achieve DO standardachieve DO standard

– UAA ProcessUAA Process Next WQSC Discussion – Jan. 12thNext WQSC Discussion – Jan. 12th


Key Issues/ActivitiesKey Issues/Activities

Subdividing Allocations - Local AllocationsSubdividing Allocations - Local Allocations– MS4 Stormwater PermitsMS4 Stormwater Permits

How to Allocate in light of anticipated population growth?How to Allocate in light of anticipated population growth?

– 2010 Population Projections2010 Population Projections Compare versus 2003 cap load allocationsCompare versus 2003 cap load allocations

– Drinking Water Treatment PlantsDrinking Water Treatment Plants Evaluate withdrawals/discharges & implicationsEvaluate withdrawals/discharges & implications

– Define ‘Maximum Feasible’ ScenarioDefine ‘Maximum Feasible’ Scenario Define MS4 assumptionsDefine MS4 assumptions V/MAMWA Letter re: WWTP Model Load Assumptions (i.e., V/MAMWA Letter re: WWTP Model Load Assumptions (i.e.,

‘regulatory stability’)‘regulatory stability’) Define for Other Sectors?Define for Other Sectors?



Use Attainability Analysis (UAA)Use Attainability Analysis (UAA)– ““Game Plan” – Still to be definedGame Plan” – Still to be defined– Schedule – To be integrated into TMDL Schedule – To be integrated into TMDL

scheduleschedule– Work Group – Uncertain re: membership Work Group – Uncertain re: membership

& process (i.e., vs. previous effort)& process (i.e., vs. previous effort)– Implications – Uncertainty nowImplications – Uncertainty now

Will it just affect additional ~20% increase in Will it just affect additional ~20% increase in additional load reductions required?additional load reductions required?

Ability to address broader ‘feasibility’ issues?Ability to address broader ‘feasibility’ issues?

– Cost – Only 1 element of UAACost – Only 1 element of UAA



TMDL Communication/OutreachTMDL Communication/Outreach– EPA & State PlansEPA & State Plans

Local Role - AudienceLocal Role - Audience COG Region Needs?COG Region Needs?

– Relationship to Existing Tributary Relationship to Existing Tributary StrategiesStrategies Update or TMDL Implementation Plans?Update or TMDL Implementation Plans? Revisit Maximum Feasible?Revisit Maximum Feasible? Ability to Address Funding Availability?Ability to Address Funding Availability?


Policy Issues/Questions - Policy Issues/Questions - #1#1 Pressure for More Regulatory Pressure for More Regulatory

RequirementsRequirements– WWTPsWWTPs

Limit of technology permit limitsLimit of technology permit limits Loads cappedLoads capped

– StormwaterStormwater Additional MS4 permits requirementsAdditional MS4 permits requirements TMDL wasteload allocations reflected in permitsTMDL wasteload allocations reflected in permits Local governments required to develop TMDL Local governments required to develop TMDL

implementation plansimplementation plans Calls for stringent land use and development Calls for stringent land use and development

requirementsrequirements


Policy Issues/Questions - Policy Issues/Questions - #2#2 Funding for ImplementationFunding for Implementation

– Water and Wastewater InfrastructureWater and Wastewater Infrastructure Vital role in protecting public healthVital role in protecting public health WWTPs - Biggest success in Bay cleanupWWTPs - Biggest success in Bay cleanup Systems are aging and in need of attentionSystems are aging and in need of attention

– Stormwater Management InfrastructureStormwater Management Infrastructure Targeted as the biggest issue facing the BayTargeted as the biggest issue facing the Bay Virtually no state or federal fundingVirtually no state or federal funding Costs rival those of traditional water and wastewater Costs rival those of traditional water and wastewater

infrastructureinfrastructure How to prioritize given limited $ resources?How to prioritize given limited $ resources? How to prioritize given other infrastructure How to prioritize given other infrastructure

needs?needs? How will Bay cleanup be ‘accelerated’ given How will Bay cleanup be ‘accelerated’ given

competing priorities & limited $ resources?competing priorities & limited $ resources?


Policy Issues/Questions - Policy Issues/Questions - #3#3 Bay TMDL Waste Load Allocations - ‘Local’ Bay TMDL Waste Load Allocations - ‘Local’

AllocationsAllocations– What will the scale be?What will the scale be?– What will the scope of/elements be What will the scope of/elements be

included in the WLA? (i.e., non-MS4, air, included in the WLA? (i.e., non-MS4, air, WWTPs, etc.)WWTPs, etc.)

– Will there be source tracking (similar to Will there be source tracking (similar to bacteria TMDLs)?bacteria TMDLs)?

– How/will local governments have a say in How/will local governments have a say in how the TMDL allocations are developed?how the TMDL allocations are developed?

– How to maximize flexibility for local How to maximize flexibility for local governments to manage their own governments to manage their own growth/load allocations?growth/load allocations?


Proposed Actions – WRTC Proposed Actions – WRTC Recommendations to Recommendations to CBPCCBPC

1.1. Track/Report/Shape CBP’s WQSC, etc. on behalf of COG members.Track/Report/Shape CBP’s WQSC, etc. on behalf of COG members.2.2. Plan WRTC Work Session (3/12/09 WRTC meeting/other) for Plan WRTC Work Session (3/12/09 WRTC meeting/other) for

EPA/States to present proposed approaches for “Local Allocations.”EPA/States to present proposed approaches for “Local Allocations.”3.3. WRTC Volunteers - Work with COG staff on recommendations for WRTC Volunteers - Work with COG staff on recommendations for

WRTC/CBPC (& possibly COG Board) on following:WRTC/CBPC (& possibly COG Board) on following:a.a. Revise 4 COG “Policy Principles” (e.g. given that CBP continues to Revise 4 COG “Policy Principles” (e.g. given that CBP continues to

become increasingly regulatory);become increasingly regulatory);b.b. Input to CBP re: local wasteload allocations (i.e., scope, elements, Input to CBP re: local wasteload allocations (i.e., scope, elements,

WWTP and MS4 stormwater issues);WWTP and MS4 stormwater issues);c.c. Input to CBP Partners re: 2-year milestones (e.g., EC to adopt in May Input to CBP Partners re: 2-year milestones (e.g., EC to adopt in May

2009);2009);d.d. Input to States re: local allocations & revised Tributary Strategies &/or Input to States re: local allocations & revised Tributary Strategies &/or

TMDL Implementation Plans;TMDL Implementation Plans;e.e. Input to States re: implementation policies for urban mgmt. strategies Input to States re: implementation policies for urban mgmt. strategies

(i.e., funding, cost-effectiveness, permitting, flexibility); and(i.e., funding, cost-effectiveness, permitting, flexibility); andf.f. Input to CBP re: UAA process/assumptions.Input to CBP re: UAA process/assumptions.


Next StepsNext Steps

WRTC to endorse recommendations CBPC receives a briefing on January

16th

Need WRTC volunteers to help frame issues and develop recommended COG actions.

– Wastewater– Stormwater– Local governments– Utilities

update on chesapeake bay program developments briefing to the water resources technical committee...

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