LimnoTech
LimnoTech is helping the poultry industry provide input to TMDLs and Watershed Implementation Plans for the Chesapeake Bay watershed as these plans are developed.
Success Story
Support helps the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association Update the Country's Largest TMDL
EPA Region 3 must develop TMDLs to restore Chesapeake Bay’s water quality to satisfy two federal law suits. The six States in the 64,000-square-mile watershed are preparing Watershed Implementation Plans to accompany the TMDLs. EPA has identified “expectations” for those plans and possible federal “consequences” to provide “reasonable assurance” that water quality will be restored by 2025.
Problem
The National Turkey Federation, the National Chicken Council, and the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association have affiliations in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. They need expert assistance in reviewing the tools and data being using to develop nutrient and sediment Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). They also need technical and policy expertise to prepare comments on the TMDLs and associated Watershed Implementation Plans (WIPs).
Approach
LimnoTech is tracking EPA’s development of the TMDLs, reviewing and commenting on materials that EPA releases, assisting the poultry associations in discussions with the States, and will review the draft TMDLs. To accomplish this, we obtained documentation on the development and calibration of the watershed model, including the data used to quantify the watershed model inputs relating to the poultry and egg industry.
Result
LimnoTech drafted a list of questions for EPA, and provided EPA with accurate, up-to-date information on the industry. We also supported the Association in discussions with the States on how they plan to develop wasteload allocations (WLAs) for the poultry and egg industry. Discussions included how best to work with the States to ensure that the industry will be accurately represented, developing options for how to express the WLAs in the WIPs, and ascertaining and updating data each State has on the industry.