Lake Whatcom 303(d)
and TMDL
What it might mean for Water District 10
22 March 2002 Ecology WD 10 Discussion Slide 1
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The Impairment
- Criteria based determination
- Dissolved Oxygen - Lake Class
- Dissolved oxygen - no measurable decrease from natural conditions-
- Erickson, Pelletier - Basin One study
- EPA review
- public comments and support
- Beneficial use
- Antidegradation
22 March 2002 Ecology WD 10 Discussion Slide 2
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Paths to Remove a Waterbody from the 303(d) List
- Other pollution control method
40 CFR 130.7(b)(l)
- New information/new analysis
- TMDL
22 March 2002 Ecology WD 10 Discussion Slide 3
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Path 1: Other Pollution Control Method
- Targets
- Meet water quality standards
- Enforceable
- Permit, license, ordinance
- Schedule
- Identified and reasonable
- Monitoring
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Caveat:
Needs to be as
stringent as a
TMDL for removal
from the list.
Difficult to show
reasonable
targets, and
schedule without
an in depth study
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22 March 2002 Ecology WD 10 Discussion Slide 4
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Path 2: New Information/New Analysis
- More recent data
- Flaws in analysis
- More sophisticated analysis
Caveat
Difficult to show that natural conditions are being met
22 March 2002 Ecology WD 10 Discussion Slide 5
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Path 3: TMDL
- Some parts of lake not impaired
- Ensure loads compatible with other parts of the lake
- Loads with reserve for growth
- Impairment
- Ecology sets load and wasteload allocations
- City and county develop plans
- Stormwater regulations
- Land use regulations
22 March 2002 Ecology WD 10 Discussion Slide 6
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Summary
- All paths will require similar level of study
- All paths will only need to require reduction where it creates or increases impairment
- All paths require local decisions qn land use rules
- Ecology is pursuing the path that will minimize uncertainty and allow the greatest flexibility to local land use regulators
22 March 2002 Ecology WD 10 Discussion Slide 7
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