Pat Bradley Permitting 071309

8/2/2019 Pat Bradley Permitting 071309

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NPDES Watershed-Based

Permitting

Patrick BradleyLimnoTech

July 13, 2009


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What Is Watershed-Based

Permitting (WBP)?An approach/process to NPDES

permitting that results in permits: Issued on a watershed basis

Focused on multiple pollutant sources

Targeted to achieve watershed goals Integrate permit development among monitoring,

water quality standards, TMDL, nonpoint sources,

source water protection and other programs


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Wet Weather Discharge

Control Programs

NPDES Program:Stormwater, CSOs,

SSOs, POTWs

Non-

PointSources

Endangered

Species Act

Safe

Drinking

Water Act

Others

like

CERCLA

TMDLsLocal

Regulations


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March4,2002 CWEA 5

Common Features of Local Programs

(Pre-Treatment, Stormwater, CSOs, SSOs)

Problem Assessment

Monitoring

Investigation

Alternatives Assessment

Priority Setting

Funding

Legal Authority

Setting Priorities

Technology and Water

Quality Components

Watershed Specific

Environmental Outcomes

Public Education


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Who Initiates a Watershed-Based

Permitting Approach?

Leadership can come from any level

Permitting authority

Point sources

Watershed organization

Requires support of Permitting

Authority and EPA Regional Office


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Step 1: Def ine theStep 1: Def ine t he

Watershed BoundariesWatershed Boundaries

Step 2: I dent ify and EngageStep 2: I dent ify and EngageStakeholdersStakeholders

Step 3: Analyze Wat ershedStep 3: Analyze Wat ershed

DataDataStep 4: Develop Perm itStep 4: Develop Perm it

ConditionsConditions

Step 5: I ssue WatershedStep 5: I ssue Watershed--Based NPDESBased NPDES Permit(sPermit(s))

Step 6: Measure andStep 6: Measure and

Report ProgressReport Progress

Basic Steps t o WBP


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Types of Watershed-Based

PermitsIndividual Permit for Multiple Permitees

Integrated Individual Permit

Coordinated Individual Permits(Synchronized Permits)

Watershed-based General Permits


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Case Studies Individual permits for multiple permittees

Long Island Sound Watershed, CT Neuse River, NC

Virginia Chesapeake Bay

Integrated Individual Permits Clean Water Services, OR

Coordinated Individual Permits

Lower Boise River watershed, IDWatershed-based General Permit

Big Darby Creek Watershed, OH

Michigan Statewide Watershed-based MS4 Stormwater GeneralPermit

Statewide approaches North Carolina Statewide Approach


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Connecticut Long Island Sound

2001 bi-state (CT and NY) nitrogen TMDL addressesseasonal hypoxia

64 percent reduction by 2014

Nitrogen trading as an option

2001 CT legislation established Nitrogen Credit Exchange

Program framework General permit for nitrogen

Focused on POTWs

Clean Water Fund Provides financial assistance for nitrogen removal projects


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Connecticut Long Island Sound (cont.)

Establishes annual discharge limits and equivalency factors for 79POTWs

CT DEP buys and sells credits to facilitate compliance

Permit limits ratchet down every year

Removed 14,921 equivalent pounds of TN/day from 29 facilities

by the end of 2006 Anticipated achievement of the TMDL reduction targets on

schedule

Limited availability of Clean Water Funds to support nitrogenremoval projects


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0.14

0.18

1.00

0.32

0.46

0.17

0.19

0.11

0.93


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Watershed Permitting and

Nutrient Trading

MikeTempletonMikeTempletonNorthCarolinaDivisionofWaterNorthCarolinaDivisionofWater

QualityQuality

US EPA2008 Permit Writers

Workshop

July9,2008NCTC,Shepherdstown,WV


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North Carolinas RiverNorth Carolinas River

BasinsBasins


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Neuse River Basin

Durham

Raleigh

Cary

Wilson

GoldsboroKinston

New Bern

Havelock

Falls Lake

Pamlico Sound

Smithfield


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Neuse Nutrient Mgmt Strategy

Goal: 30% TN Reduction by 2003

Riparian Area Protection (buffers)

Urban Stormwater

AgricultureNutrient (Fertilizer) Management

Wastewater Discharges (PSs)


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Individual Permits

Remain in effectMembers deemed in compliance with TN limits

Group PermitOverlay permit for Association and members

Governs nitrogen only

Group Compliance Approach


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Group Permit - Compliance

If Association meets its TN limit,

Association is in compliance, andall members are deemed in compliance

If Association exceeds its TN limit,Association is in violation of permit and must

make offset payment, and

members > individual allocations are in

violation


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NRCA Performance, 1995-2007

-

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

1.40

1.60

1.80

2.00

1

995

1

996

1

997

1

998

1

999

2

000

2

001

2

002

2

003

2

004

2

005

2

006

2

007

TN

toEstu

ary(MMl

b/yr

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

AverageDa

ilyFlows(MGD

Limit (lb/yr)

Flows (MGD)

Estuary Load (lb/yr)

Allocation (lb/yr)

74% reduction atestuary since 1995

41% of estuary

allocation, 2007


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Challenges

Legal Considerations

Communication of New Concepts

Basin-wide PerspectiveAllocation v. Limit

Reserve v. Active Allocation

Discharge v. Delivered

Limited Resources

Time and MoneyOptions for PS-NPS Trading

Tools To Predict and Track NPS Results


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Mass Limits

MassCap

Flow Conc.


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Clean Water Services, Oregon

4 WWTPs: 71 MGD dry weather capacity, total

Discharge can be 50% of receiving water (66% w/flowaugmentation) during low flow months

Own rights to stored water in Hagg Lake

Rock Creek

Durham

Forest Grove

Hillsboro


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DurhamNPDES

RCNPDES

HillsboroNPDES

FGNPDES 1200-C 1200-Z

MS4

Watershed-based,Integrated Municipal

NPDES Permit

Issued February 26, 2004(The 1st in the Nation !)

IGA w/

DEQ

CWSCWSs NPDES Permits NPDES Permit


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Temperature Reduction Options

Reduce influent wastewater temperature

Remove discharge from Tualatin River

Mechanical Cooling/Refrigeration of discharge

Trade Heat Load for Flow Augmentation and IncreasedShading


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Over the 5-year term of permit,

CWS will

1. Release 30 cfs/d stored water in July and August

2. Shade roughly 35 miles of tributary riparian area Shading requirement is based on a 2:1 trading ratio

To date, have over 9 miles planted


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Watershed Perspective

Tension between objectives

Enhancement of riparian corridors Increase in wildlife populations

Reduction in bacteria levels

DNA T ki S f


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Stream Bacteria Sources

All Sites

653 Isolates

Avian

47%

Rodent

16%

Canine

14%

Human

6%

Wildlife

7%

Feline

1%

Unknown

9%

DNA Tracking Sources of

Bacteria

DNA T ki S f B i i


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Stormwater Bacteria

Sources

All Sites

271 Isolates

Avian

58%

Rodent

17%

Canine10%

Wildlife

4%

Feline2%

Unknown

9%

DNA Tracking Sources of Bacteria in

Stormwater


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Watershed Approach

Provides a framework for evaluating water quality

related issues in a comprehensive, prioritized manner

Convergence of regulatory frameworks

CSO vs. SSO

3-4/yr vs. 0WWTF vs. MS4

Tech-based vs. BMP

Grey vs. Green Concrete & steel vs. plants

Cl W S i F


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Clean Water Services Future

Areas of InterestSupporting the efforts to expand WQ trading

activities to other watershedsSupporting the development and expansion of

conservation markets in Oregon

Supporting the concept of collaborativeconservation

Breaking down the institutional barriers thatcurrently are impeding progress

Th k h d


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The key watershed

messagesThink outside the conventional regulatory

framework

Look for non-traditional partnership

opportunities

Spend the resources where they do the greatestgood


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Ecosystem Services

Aquatic habitatintegrity/

productivity

Carbonsequestration

Terrestrialhabitat

integrity/productivity

Nutrient/urbanrun-off

treatment

Floodmanagement

Recreation

Air Purification

Property ValueIncrease

ThermalRegulation

Pollination

Species stabilityand diversity

GroundwaterRecharge

ErosionControl


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Conclusions

Integrated Water Resources Management

Water is Water

Prioritization

Comprehensive, Innovative Solutions


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Thank you

Patrick Bradley

Heather Bourne

LimnoTech

1705 DeSales Street, NW, Suite 600

Washington, D.C. 20036

Tel. [email protected]

[email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

Documents

Pat Bradley Permitting 071309