maryland association of counties conference august 12, 2009 bob koroncai usepa region iii the...

Maryland Association of Counties Conference

August 12, 2009

Bob Koroncai

USEPA Region III

The Chesapeake Bay TMDL

What you will learn…

• Overview of Bay Water Quality Problems

• Basics of the Bay TMDL

• TMDL implementation

• Critical role of the Counties

It’s about water quality!

Extensive low to no summer dissolved oxygen conditions

persist throughout the Chesapeake Bay and its Tidal

Tributaries

Source: www.chesapeakebay.net/data

What is a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)?

• Requirement of the Clean Water Act

• Identifies maximum load to the waterbody to achieve Water Quality Standards– Includes maximum point source loads– Includes maximum NPS loads

In other words... a pollution budget

Myth

• The Bay TMDL will be another paper exercise resulting in limited implementation of nutrient and sediment controls.

Fact

• The Chesapeake Bay TMDL will be unlike any other, being part of a comprehensive framework for implementation.

Chesapeake Bay TMDL: The Basics

• Will establish a ‘pollution budget’ for N, P, and S

• Will establish load caps for all six Bay states and the District of Columbia

• Planned for completion by December 2010

The Bay science allows a local look…

Phase 4 Watershed Model Phase 5 Watershed Model

Who will develop the TMDL?

• EPA Region 3 WPD establishes Bay Watershed TMDLs – Watershed states provide input and support on the

Bay TMDL

– A Stakeholder committee (WQGIT) under the CBP

provides key input

The Allocation Process

Identify Bay-wide target

load

EPA+

Identify basin-state target

loads

EPA+

Identify PS/ NPS target loads (Watershed

Implementation Plans)

States & local

Bay TMDL Schedule

Fall 2009• Basin-jurisdiction target loads

June 2010• Draft State Implementation

Plans

June 2010• Draft TMDL

December 2010• Final TMDL Approved

Fall 2009• TMDL public meetings

June – August 2010• Public Comment Period

for Final Draft TMDL (EPA)

• Potential State Meetings on Tributary Strategies

A TMDL is not enough!

BiennialMilestonesfor closing identified program gaps

Identify Gaps between needed controls and existing program

capacity

Effectiveness monitoringto assess implementation actions

Contingencies are employed if effectiveness monitoring indicates that appropriate progress is not being made

ChesapeakeBay TMDL:•Set total nutrient and sediment caps•Wasteload and load allocations•Allocate at finer scales if feasible•Reference other parts of package

DevelopImplementation plansIdentifying the nutrient and sediment controls needed to meet the Basin caps

Evaluate existing capacity (programmatic, funding, technical) to fully implement tributary strategies

So how do we get to a restored bay?

• Need to develop the NPS toolbox of the future• Smarter development• Don’t forget living resources• Meaningful accountability

County participation is critical!

• TMDL– Local input on allocation, etc, provide local

information• Implementation Planning

– Identify county level loading targets, controls, support needs from state/federal governments

• Implementation– Upgrade WWTP– Work with conservation districts– Adopt ordinances to reduce nutrients and sediment– Smart Growth– Public education

Further Information

• Chesapeake Bay TMDL websitehttp:www.epa.gov/chesapeakebaytmdl

• EPA Region 3 Contacts– Water Protection Division

• Bob Koroncai (koroncai.robert@epa.gov)• Jennifer Sincock (sincock.jennifer@epa.gov)

– Chesapeake Bay Program Office• Rich Batiuk (batiuk.richard@epa.gov)