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Water Headlines for June 16, 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:
Action Plan to Reduce Nutrients to Mississippi River from 31 States ReleasedThe Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force today is releasing an Action Plan that involves state and federal partners in reducing hypoxia in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. The 2008 Action Plan for Reducing, Mitigating, and Controlling Hypoxia in the Northern Gulf of Mexico and Improving Water Quality in the Mississippi River Basin builds upon the 2001 plan by incorporating emerging issues, innovative approaches, and the latest science, including findings from EPA’s Science Advisory Board. "Our improved plan unites governments and citizens across the country to take action upstream and along the coast to reduce river nutrient pollution and increase Gulf of Mexico health,” said Assistant Administrator for Water Benjamin H. Grumbles. “Sound science, cooperative conservation, and innovation will accelerate environmental progress throughout the 31-state watershed and this plan puts us on a course to do just that." Improvements include more accountability through an Annual Operating Plan, better tracking of progress, state as well as federal nutrient reduction strategies, and a plan to increase awareness of the problem and implementation of solutions. The plan connects upstream and downstream problems to solutions in sustaining the Mississippi River Basin and its tributaries. Nutrients are important to the environment, but too much, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, can harm water quality by feeding algae blooms and creating oxygen-deprived "dead zones" where marine life can not survive. Pollution from the whole 31-state Mississippi River watershed is carried downstream to the Gulf of Mexico by the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers. Excess nutrients flowing downstream from agricultural and developed land, soil erosion, factory and wastewater treatment plant discharges, and even from the air trigger excessive algal growth that deplete the oxygen in the water when they die, sink to the bottom and decompose. The Task Force, made up of state and federal officials, leads efforts to promote and support nutrient management in the Mississippi/Atchafalaya River Basin and works to accelerate efforts to reduce the size of the zone through building strong partnerships, developing voluntary and regulatory approaches, and increasing national awareness. EPA is committed to the work of the Task Force and to meeting its ambitious goals through innovative approaches such as numeric nutrient standards in permits, restoring or creating wetlands for purifying runoff, and encouraging nutrient cap and trade systems for improved water quality. More information on the 2008 Action Plan: http://www.epa.gov/msbasin/ EPA Proposes Vessel Discharge PermitsThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing two general permits under the Clean Water Act that will cover discharges incidental to normal operation of commercial and recreational vessels. Based on agency estimates, as many as 91,000 commercial vessels and about 13 million recreational boats could be affected. "EPA is proposing a practical approach as we work with Congress on a longer-term, comprehensive solution," said Assistant Administrator for Water Benjamin H. Grumbles. "We believe it is good environmental policy and common sense to promote clean boating without imposing new permits on millions of boaters." As a result of a court ruling currently under appeal, vessel owners or operators whose discharges have previously been exempt from Clean Water Act requirements for the last 35 years will require a permit as of September 30, 2008. EPA is proposing control technologies and management practices that enhance environmental protection and are practical to implement. The commercial and large recreational vessel general permit (VGP) would cover all commercial vessels and recreational vessels 79 feet or longer. For vessels that carry ballast water, it would incorporate the Coast Guard mandatory ballast water management and exchange standards, and have supplemental ballast water requirements. The VGP would provide technology-based and water-quality-based effluent limits for other types of discharges including deck runoff, bilgewater, gray water and other types of pollutants. The permit also establishes specific corrective actions, inspections and monitoring requirements as well as recordkeeping and reporting requirements. Only a subset of the vessels potentially affected by this permit will have to submit a Notice of Intent for coverage; for all the other vessels their coverage would be automatic. The permit for smaller recreational vessels measuring less than 79 feet in length contains simpler provisions. These smaller vessels, which are substantially different in both size and operation from larger vessels, would need to comply with new and established best management practices. In addition, these smaller vessels would not be required to submit a Notice of Intent for coverage under the permit; their coverage would be automatic. EPA is inviting comments on both proposed permits for a period of 45 days. EPA will be holding public meetings and a hearing starting June 19.
June 19 - Washington, DC meeting Information on the permits and meetings: http://www.epa.gov/npdes/vessels 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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