LimnoTech
The Chesapeake Bay EPA accountability and performance policy will require State partners to be accountable and provide assurance for the reductions required in the TMDL.
Chesapeake Bay Policy May Become National Model
EPA is testing new approaches to developing and implementing Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) to meet court-ordered mandates to clean up the Chesapeake Bay (see Expectations Letter dated Nov. 3, 2009). These approaches, which could be used for other large watersheds, require State partners to be held accountable and provide reasonable assurance for the reductions that will be required in the TMDL. This responsibility will be transferred from the states down to regulated dischargers, such as wastewater treatment plants, municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s), combined animal feeding operations (CAFOs), and unregulated nonpoint sources, such as agriculture.
The expectations letter outlines a new performance and accountability system that EPA will use to ensure that water quality standards are met in the Bay and its tidal tributaries by 2025. EPA has identified actions it may take if State and local dischargers fail to meet the required reductions. These actions could include assigning more stringent reductions to regulated dischargers, objecting to State-issued NPDES permits, limiting or prohibiting new or expanded discharges of nutrients and sediment, or withholding, conditioning, or reallocating federal grant funds.
LimnoTech is working for regulated parties to ensure that the Bay Program has up-to-date information on their discharges, and that they get credit for what they are already doing to mitigate impacts on the health of the Chesapeake Bay.
To discuss the information presented here and how it could be relevant to a TMDL near you, please contact Pat Bradley at 202-833-9140 or Adrienne Nemura at 734-332-1200.