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ATTAINS: A ATTAINS: A Gateway to State-Gateway to State-Reported Water Reported Water

Quality Quality InformationInformation

Webcast Sponsored by EPA’s Watershed Academy

June 18, 2008, 11:30am-1:30pm EST

Shera Bender, USEPA’s Watershed Branch

Dwane Young, USEPA’s Monitoring Branch

Sarah Furtak, USEPA’s Watershed Branch

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IntroductionsIntroductions

Shera Bender, Environmental Scientist, Shera Bender, Environmental Scientist, U.S. EPA Watershed BranchU.S. EPA Watershed Branch

Dwane Young, IT Specialist, U.S. EPA Dwane Young, IT Specialist, U.S. EPA Monitoring BranchMonitoring Branch

Sarah Furtak, Environmental Protection Sarah Furtak, Environmental Protection Specialist, U.S. EPA Watershed BranchSpecialist, U.S. EPA Watershed Branch

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This presentation will This presentation will cover…cover…

Overview of water quality reporting Overview of water quality reporting under Clean Water Act sections under Clean Water Act sections 305(b) and 303(d) programs305(b) and 303(d) programs

Discussion of Integrated Reporting Discussion of Integrated Reporting (IR) (IR)

Introduction to the ATTAINS Introduction to the ATTAINS database and Web sitedatabase and Web site

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Adopt Water Quality Standards

Monitor & Assess Waters

List Impaired Waters

Develop Pollutant Budget (e.g. Total Maximum Daily Load)

Clean Water ActFramework for Restoring Polluted Waters

Implement Controls(Point Source/Nonpoint Source)

Clean Water A

ct

section

303(c)

305(b)

303(d)

303(d)

303(e)

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301(b)

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Clean Water Act Water Clean Water Act Water Quality ReportingQuality Reporting

Section 305(b)Section 305(b) A biennial assessment of the quality of A biennial assessment of the quality of

all navigable waters in each state all navigable waters in each state Assessment includes whether waters Assessment includes whether waters

support their designated uses (e.g. support their designated uses (e.g. swimming), and causes and sources of swimming), and causes and sources of impairment in those waters that do not impairment in those waters that do not support usessupport uses

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Clean Water Act Reporting Clean Water Act Reporting (cont’d)(cont’d)

States report assessment information to States report assessment information to EPAEPA

EPA summarizes state findings in a EPA summarizes state findings in a national report to Congress (section national report to Congress (section 305(b) report)305(b) report)

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Streamlined 305(b) Report Streamlined 305(b) Report to Congressto Congress

Narrative report provides national summary Narrative report provides national summary of site-specific water quality assessment of site-specific water quality assessment information provided in state 305(b) reports information provided in state 305(b) reports

Web site/database provides state summary Web site/database provides state summary and waterbody-specific assessment resultsand waterbody-specific assessment results

Narrative report and Web site are dual Narrative report and Web site are dual components of Report to Congresscomponents of Report to Congress

Reflects transition between traditional Reflects transition between traditional 305(b) reporting and 303(d)/305(b) 305(b) reporting and 303(d)/305(b) Integrated ReportingIntegrated Reporting

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Clean Water Act Water Clean Water Act Water Quality Reporting Quality Reporting

(continued)(continued) Section 303(d)Section 303(d)

List of waters impaired or threatened List of waters impaired or threatened by a pollutant, and needing a Total by a pollutant, and needing a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)

Submitted biennially to EPA for Submitted biennially to EPA for approvalapproval

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What is a TMDL?What is a TMDL?

A calculation of the maximum A calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a amount of a pollutant that a waterbody can receive and still waterbody can receive and still meet water quality standardsmeet water quality standards, and , and an allocation of that amount to the an allocation of that amount to the pollutant’s sources. pollutant’s sources.

* The TMDL comes in the form of a technical * The TMDL comes in the form of a technical document or plan.document or plan.

TM

DL D

efi

nit

ion

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Regulations (40 CFR Regulations (40 CFR 130.7)130.7)

Each state shall identify those water Each state shall identify those water quality-limited segments still requiring quality-limited segments still requiring TMDLs within its boundaries for which:TMDLs within its boundaries for which:

Technology-based effluent limitationsTechnology-based effluent limitations More stringent effluent limitationsMore stringent effluent limitations Other pollution control requirementsOther pollution control requirements

Are not stringent enough to implement Are not stringent enough to implement any water quality standards applicable to any water quality standards applicable to such waterssuch waters

Reg

ula

tory

R

eq

uir

em

en

ts

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Regulations (40 CFR Regulations (40 CFR 130.7)130.7)

For waters identified in the 303(d) list:For waters identified in the 303(d) list: ““TMDLs shall be established for all TMDLs shall be established for all pollutantspollutants

preventing or expected to prevent attainment of preventing or expected to prevent attainment of water quality standards…”water quality standards…”

““TMDLs shall be established at levels necessary TMDLs shall be established at levels necessary to attain and maintain the applicable narrative to attain and maintain the applicable narrative and numerical WQS…”and numerical WQS…”

No statutory or regulatory timeframe for No statutory or regulatory timeframe for TMDL TMDL developmentdevelopment

EPA guidance establishes 8-13 year time frame EPA guidance establishes 8-13 year time frame from time of initial listingfrom time of initial listing

Reg

ula

tory

R

eq

uir

em

en

ts

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Integrated Reporting Under Integrated Reporting Under the Clean Water Actthe Clean Water Act

Integrated Reporting (IR):Integrated Reporting (IR): Beginning Beginning with the 2002 reporting cycle, EPA has with the 2002 reporting cycle, EPA has encouraged states to submit integrated encouraged states to submit integrated reports that combine reporting under reports that combine reporting under sections 305(b) and 303(d)sections 305(b) and 303(d)

Purpose of integrating reporting Purpose of integrating reporting requirements:requirements: to increase data to increase data consistency, merge data from a variety of consistency, merge data from a variety of sources, provide a more informed sources, provide a more informed summary of the quality of state waterssummary of the quality of state waters

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State Options for State Options for Reporting WQ StatusReporting WQ Status

SeparateSeparate 305(b) & 305(b) & 303(d)303(d)

Integrated ReportIntegrated Report

The state’s section 303(d) The state’s section 303(d) list is comprised of waters list is comprised of waters impaired or threatened by a impaired or threatened by a pollutant, and needing a pollutant, and needing a TMDLTMDL

States submit a separate States submit a separate 305(b) report on the 305(b) report on the conditions of all watersconditions of all waters

A single state-developed report A single state-developed report that integrates the reporting that integrates the reporting requirements of CWA sections requirements of CWA sections 303(d), 305(b) and 314303(d), 305(b) and 314

EPA’s Integrated Report EPA’s Integrated Report Guidance (IRG) developed for Guidance (IRG) developed for 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008 reporting cycles reporting cycles (www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/)(www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/)

Both are due to EPA on April Both are due to EPA on April 1 of every even year. EPA 1 of every even year. EPA approves/disapproves 303(d) approves/disapproves 303(d) list, uses 305(b) information list, uses 305(b) information to prepare biennial report to to prepare biennial report to CongressCongress

EPA approves/disapproves EPA approves/disapproves Category 5 of the Integrated Category 5 of the Integrated Report, uses information to Report, uses information to satisfy requirements of satisfy requirements of 305(b)305(b)

In

teg

rate

d R

ep

ort

ing

Minimally Required by Regulations

Recommended Reporting

Format

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Integrated Report Integrated Report CategoriesCategories

1.1. Attaining standards Attaining standards

2.2. Attaining some designated uses, and Attaining some designated uses, and insufficient or no data and information to determine if insufficient or no data and information to determine if remaining uses are attainedremaining uses are attained

3.3. Insufficient or no data and information Insufficient or no data and information to determine if the standard is attainedto determine if the standard is attained

4. Impaired or threatened for one or more designated 4. Impaired or threatened for one or more designated uses but not needing a TMDLuses but not needing a TMDL

a.a. TMDL has been completedTMDL has been completed

b. b. Already required to meet Already required to meet standards standards

c. c. Not impaired by a pollutantNot impaired by a pollutant

5. Impaired or threatened by pollutant(s) for one 5. Impaired or threatened by pollutant(s) for one or more designated uses and requiring a TMDLor more designated uses and requiring a TMDL

305 (b)Report

303(d)List

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Questions?Questions?

Shera Bender, USEPA’s Watershed Branch

Sarah Furtak, USEPA’s Watershed Branch

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Waterbodies Criteria

pH

Copper

Temperature

Designated Uses

Pri. Contact Rec.

Aquatic Life

Sec. Contact Rec.

Drinking Water

Basic concepts from a Basic concepts from a Water Quality Standards Water Quality Standards

PerspectivePerspective

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These same concepts are incorporated into the Integrated Report

Assessment Units

Assessment Units relate to Water Quality Standards (WQS) Waterbodies

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Designated Uses are assigned to Assessment Units

Assessment Units

Designated Uses

Pri. Contact Rec.

Aquatic Life

Sec. Contact Rec.

Drinking Water

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Designated Uses

Physical/Chemical Assessment Performed

Dissolved Oxygen and Temperature do not meet the criteria specified in the Water Quality Standards (WQS)

Assessment Conclusion: Segment is

NOT SUPPORTING this designated use.

Aquatic Life

Designated Uses are assessed

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When Uses are not supporting, Causes of Impairments are assigned

Assessment Units

Causes of Impairment

Temperature

Dissolved Oxygen

Designated Uses

Pri. Contact Rec.

Aquatic Life

Sec. Contact Rec.

Drinking Water

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For causes identified, sources are assigned

Assessment Units

Causes of Impairment

Temperature

Dissolved Oxygen

Sources

Municipal Point Source Discharges

Designated Uses

Pri. Contact Rec.

Aquatic Life

Sec. Contact Rec.

Drinking Water

Grazing in Riparian or Shoreline

Zones

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Approved TMDLs are assigned to Waterbody/Impairment combinations

Assessment Units

Causes of Impairment

Temperature

Dissolved Oxygen

TMDL Completed!

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ATTAINSATTAINS

AAssessment ssessment TTMDL MDL TTracking racking AAnd nd IImplementatiomplementatioNN SSystemystem

A national database that integrates the A national database that integrates the data from data from the 305(b) program andthe 305(b) program and the 303(d) programthe 303(d) program

The current State Assessment Databases The current State Assessment Databases (ADB) feed ATTAINS(ADB) feed ATTAINS ATTAINS is the backbone of the National ATTAINS is the backbone of the National

Water Quality Inventory Report to CongressWater Quality Inventory Report to Congress

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ATTAINS Provides:ATTAINS Provides:

national summary informationnational summary information regional summary informationregional summary information state summary informationstate summary information watershed informationwatershed information waterbody specific informationwaterbody specific information

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Questions?Questions?

Dwane Young, USEPA’s Monitoring Branch

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Join Us on July 16th for:

A Watershed Academy Webcast on:

Clean Water Act State Revolving Fund

Visit: epa.gov/watershedwebcasts

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Questions?Questions?

Dwane Young, USEPA’s Monitoring Branch

Shera Bender, USEPA’s Watershed Branch

Sarah Furtak, USEPA’s Watershed Branch

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Want to find out more? Check out our Want to find out more? Check out our list of Additional Resources!list of Additional Resources!

Tell us what you thought of the Tell us what you thought of the Webcast! Fill out our Evaluation Webcast! Fill out our Evaluation Form!Form!

http://www.cluin.org/conf/tio/owATTAINS/resource.cfm

http://www.cluin.org/conf/tio/owATTAINS/feedback.cfm

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ResourcesResources

ATTAINS Web site: epa.gov/waters/irATTAINS Web site: epa.gov/waters/ir 305(b) National Report web site: 305(b) National Report web site:

epa.gov/305bepa.gov/305b 303(d) Web site: epa.gov/owow/tmdl303(d) Web site: epa.gov/owow/tmdl 2006 Integrated Reporting Guidance:2006 Integrated Reporting Guidance:

epa.gov/owow/tmdl/2006IRG/#documepa.gov/owow/tmdl/2006IRG/#documents?ents?