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Water Headlines for May 19, 2008Benjamin H. Grumbles Water Headlines is a weekly on-line publication that announces publications, policies, and activities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Water. In This Week’s Water Headlines:
EPA Proposes Stormwater Construction General PermitThe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to reissue its stormwater Construction General Permit for a two-year time period. The permit would apply where EPA is the permitting authority, which is in five states, most territories, and most Indian country lands. The draft permit uses the same terms and conditions as EPA's 2003 permit, which expires in July 2008. EPA is proposing the permit to coordinate with a second effort that is underway to establish national clean water standards, known as an effluent limitation guideline, for the construction and development industry. Upon finalization of the guideline, EPA plans to include its provisions into a new and improved Construction General Permit to be reissued no later than July 2010. "Construction-related runoff can threaten water quality and watershed health," said Benjamin H. Grumbles, Assistant Administrator for Water. "Our proposed general permit is an important part of a broader strategy to reduce stormwater pollution through new effluent standards which we're developing this year, and a national partnership on green infrastructure solutions, such as green roofs, rain gardens, and stormwater wetlands." EPA is also requesting comment on the criteria the agency will use to recognize local erosion and sediment control program requirements in this and future permits. EPA is inviting comments on the proposed permit for a period of 30 days. Information on the proposed permit, including instructions on submitting comments: http://www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/cgp New Water Quality Website ReleasedEPA released a new database/website for water quality assessment and total maximum daily loads information. The site, known as ATTAINS, combines two formerly separate databases: the National Assessment Database (for water quality assessment information reported by the states under Section 305(b)), and the National Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) Tracking System (for impaired waters information reported by the states under Section 303(d)). The site includes state-reported information on support of designated uses; identified causes and sources of impairment; identified impaired waters; and status of actions (TMDLs) to restore impaired waters. The website allows the user to view dynamic, continuously-updated tables and charts that summarize state-reported information for the nation as a whole, for individual states and waters, and for the 10 EPA regions. The new website is now online at http://www.epa.gov/waters/ir. Water Quality Standards Academy: New On-line Training CourseEPA has developed a multi-media, web-based training course for state and tribal employees and the general public on key aspects of the water quality standards program and other related Clean Water Act programs. This internet-based training program is an abbreviated version of the week-long, in-class Water Quality Standards Academy course, and includes the following modules: (1) Introduction to EPA and the Clean Water Act, (2) Waterbody Uses, (3) Water Quality Criteria, (4) Antidegradation, (5) Standards Submittal and Approval, and (6) Variances, Using Attainability Analyses, Mixing Zones and Other Flexibility Options. Each of the modules is designed to be completed in about 15 minutes. The modules present text-based information across a sequence of pages that include user interactions, links to further information and resources, brief video clips that expand on important points, and brief quizzes. The online training course is designed for people with little familiarity with the water quality standards program, but it can also serve as a good “refresher” for people with experience in this subject. To access the online training course, visit http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/standards/academy/. For more information, please contact Ibrahim (Bryan) Goodwin at 202-566-0762 or goodwin.bryan@epa.gov. EPA Releases 2007 DWSRF Annual Report and Performance DataEPA has released its annual report for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program (DWSRF), which highlights the achievements of the drinking water infrastructure assistance program in 2007 and over the 10-year history of the program. These successes include more than $14 billion in assistance made available to communities to finance important infrastructure needs and an additional $1.3 billion to support state and local drinking water programs through training, capacity development, and source water protection. The program has supported more than 5,500 projects needed to help public water systems achieve and maintain compliance with drinking water standards, including more than 1,400 projects for disadvantaged communities. Ensuring the long-term sustainability of our nation's drinking water infrastructure is a key challenge facing the nation, and the DWSRF offers multi-faceted support for meeting this challenge. EPA is also providing the 2007 update to its DWSRF National Information System Data. These data, which are collected annually, are the most comprehensive data about the performance and characteristics of the DWSRF. Finally, EPA is posting the DWSRF grant allocation amounts for the Fiscal Year 2008 appropriation of $829 million. The allocation of funding to state DWSRF programs, tribes and territories is based on state needs reported in the most recent 2003 Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey. The annual report, performance data, grant allotments and additional information about the program is available at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwsrf.html. Annual State Lakes Managers' Meeting Focuses on Improving Fisheries and Lake Water Quality Management
Each year for over two decades, state lake program managers have gathered in Chicago to discuss approaches for improving the states’ lake management programs. The April 29-May 2, 2008 program focused on the importance of fisheries in developing comprehensive lake management strategies. Over 150 lake water quality and fisheries specialists examined approaches for enhancing fisheries interactions with other lake management objectives, such as water quality, recreation, and overall ecosystem health. Conference sessions gave attendees insights into topics such as global climate change impacts to lakes and reservoir management amidst droughts. EPA gave a presentation on the Survey of the Nation’s Lakes, which included some preliminary results received from labs across the country. Initial findings on water clarity, enterococci and mycrocystins, and key biological indicators such as zooplankton, phytoplankton, and diatoms were discussed, along with an overview of physical habitat (see http://www.epa.gov/owow/lakes/lakessurvey/ for more information on the survey). The concluding session of the conference on Friday morning explored opportunities for more collaboration between lake water quality and fisheries managers. Copies of the conference agenda, as well as copies of the presentations, are available at: http://nalms.org/Conferences/2008Chicago/ Comment Period Extended on Draft Water Program Climate StrategyThe Office of Water has extended the comment period on the draft National Water Program Strategy: Response to Climate Change. The new date for the close of the comment period is June 10, 2008. More information on the water program climate strategy is available at www.epa.gov/water/climatechange/. Subscribe to Water HeadlinesPlease forward this message to your friends and colleagues who share an interest in water-related issues and would like to hear from EPA’s Office of Water. To subscribe to the Water Headlines listserve: Send an email message, leave the subject line blank, and address it to: In the body of the message write: Subscribe Water Headlines first name last name (Please leave one blank space between each word, do not include any other message, and use your actual name- i.e. Subscribe Water Headlines Robert Jones)
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