LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Region II

Mason City, Iowa

April 13, 2006

Major Topics

WQS SF 2363 WQS Funding SSB 3077 NPDES Fees TDS – Chlorides Bid Threshold Eminent Domain Watershed Funding – HF 2782 SF 2400

Major Topics, Cont.

NPDES Violation Posting SF 2302 SRF Changes National Issues

Wet weather – blending policy Nutrient standards CMOM CSO Watershed Permits Definition of waters of US

WQS & FundingSF 2363 SSB 3077

All Perennial Streams – Fishable & Swimmable Top down (IWPCA supported bottom – up)

UAA and Stream Designations Schedule for IDNR completion

Approved by EPC, EPA, LRC

Allowances made for: Economic hardship Alternative technologies

WQS & Funding, Cont.

Other Key Points Water Quality Standards Group Watershed Trading Group

SSB 3077 – Funding $10 million 2007 $5 million 2008 and 2009 Watershed funding – lake projects

$5 million 2007 and 2008 $10 million 2009

WQS & Funding, Cont.

Status SF 2363 Passed Unanimous in House Governor to sign

Work has begun on UAA; 3-5 year impact schedule

NPDES Fees – HF 2540

IDNR Appropriations Bill $400,000 included currently of $750,000 needed Passed out of House Permit fee formula developed through

rulemaking

TDS - Chlorides

EPA/IDNR Sued by Sierra Club/IEC Use EPA Recommendations

860 mg/l acute --- Chlorides Approximately 230 mg/l chronic --- Chlorides Drop 1000 mg/l TDS trigger

IDNR Data – 100 Cities Approximately 50% over the Chronic Standard

What to do?

Table 1. TDS/Chloride Study Results (Late Summer/Early Fall Low Flow) – City Tap Samples.

  Unit# of

samplesMin

Value

Percentiles

Max Value

25th 50th 75th

Bromide µg/L 126 <2000 <2000 <2000 <2000 <2000

Chloride mg/L 126 3 10.3 22.1 33.3 211

Fluoride mg/L 126 <0.5 0.57 0.75 0.97 2.2

Nitrate as Nitrogen mg/L 126 <1 <1 <1 1.3 6.1

Nitrite as Nitrogen mg/L 126 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 2.2

Phosphate ion (PO4) mg/L 126 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2

Sulfate mg/L 126 2.5 48.2 118 414 1,110

Total Dissolved Solids mg/L 126 156 397 561 1,098 2,060

µg/L = micrograms per liter (or parts per billion – ppb)mg/L = milligrams per liter (or parts per million - ppm)

Table 2. TDS/Chloride Study Results (Late Summer/Early Fall Low Flow) – Outfall Composite Samples.

  Unit# of

samplesMin

Value

Percentiles

Max Value

25th 50th 75th

Bromide µg/L 114 <2000 <2000 <2000 <2000 <2000

Chloride mg/L 114 46 182 376 627 1,840

Fluoride mg/L 114 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 4.10

Nitrate as Nitrogen mg/L 114 <1 <1 5.7 17.3 122

Nitrite as Nitrogen mg/L 114 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 6.4

Phosphate ion (PO4) mg/L 114 <2 2.6 3.6 5.2 36.3

Sulfate mg/L 114 26 65 173 351 801

Total Dissolved Solids mg/L 114 446 884 1,325 1,895 3,840

µg/L = micrograms per liter (or parts per billion – ppb)mg/L = milligrams per liter (or parts per million - ppm)

Table 3. TDS/Chloride Study Results (Late Summer/Early Fall Low Flow) – Outfall Grab Samples.

  Unit # of samplesMin

Value

Percentiles

Max Value

25th 50th 75th

Bromide µg/L 135 <2000 <2000 <2000 <2000 <2000

Calcium mg/L 134* 20.4 59.9 76.8 117 869

Chloride mg/L 135 28 153 348 541 8,800

Fluoride mg/L 135 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.53 7.7

Magnesium mg/L 134* 6.2 22.9 33.2 44.3 388

Nitrate as Nitrogen mg/L 135 <1 <1 1.9 12.2 125

Nitrite as Nitrogen mg/L 135 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 6.7

Phosphate ion (PO4) mg/L 135 <2 2.1 3.2 4.8 36.4

Potassium mg/L 134* 5 11.5 15.3 21.7 84.5

Sodium mg/L 134* 26.4 127 233 349 5,280

Sulfate mg/L 135 2.5 64.4 155 338 760

Total Dissolved Solids mg/L 135 392 835 1,150 1,840 15,600

µg/L = micrograms per liter (or parts per billion – ppb)mg/L = milligrams per liter (or parts per million - ppm)

* One city did not submit a cation sample

Table 4. TDS/Chloride Study Results (Late Summer/Early Fall Low Flow) – Upstream Samples.

  Unit# of

samplesMin

Value

Percentiles

Max Value

25th 50th 75th

Bromide µg/L 119 <2000 <2000 <2000 <2000 <2000

Chloride mg/L 119 2.4 20.8 26.8 39.9 521

Fluoride mg/L 119 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.99

Nitrate as Nitrogen mg/L 119 <1 <1 2.1 4.1 28.8

Nitrite as Nitrogen mg/L 119 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 1.2

Phosphate ion (PO4) mg/L 119 <2 <2 <2 <2 32

Sulfate mg/L 119 12.5 35.5 56.4 91.4 546

Total Dissolved Solids mg/L 119 224 371 472 623 1,860

µg/L = micrograms per liter (or parts per billion – ppb)mg/L = milligrams per liter (or parts per million - ppm)

Table 5. TDS/Chloride Study Results (Late Summer/Early Fall Low Flow) – Downstream Samples.

  Unit# of

samplesMin

Value

Percentiles

Max Value

25th 50th 75th

Bromide µg/L 117 <2000 <2000 <2000 <2000 <2000

Chloride mg/L 117 2.2 29.6 48.2 123 714

Fluoride mg/L 117 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 1.0

Nitrate as Nitrogen mg/L 117 <1 <1 2.1 4.9 63.8

Nitrite as Nitrogen mg/L 117 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.74

Phosphate ion (PO4) mg/L 117 <2 <2 <2 <2 16.0

Sulfate mg/L 117 11.6 45.7 68.1 123 521

Total Dissolved Solids mg/L 117 236 427 605 806 2,070

µg/L = micrograms per liter (or parts per billion – ppb)mg/L = milligrams per liter (or parts per million - ppm)

Bid Threshold

Signed by Governor 3/29/06 $100,000 > must be bid

Larger cities

New Requirements for Public Notice Quote standards for smaller projects

Tied to City Size

Eminent Domain HF 2351

Restrict Use of Eminent Domain Economic growth City could use condemnation for airports, water

supply, wastewater plants, trails Expected to pass

Watershed Funding SF 2400 HF 2782

$5 Million for Watershed Improvement Board

$5 Million for Infrastructure (Cities?) $750,000 UAA Passed House, Passed Senate Appropriations

Back to Senate Governor sign?

NPDES Violation Posting SF 2302

Signage Required – All Discharge Points 3/27/06 Referred to Natural Resources

Comm. Senate

SRF Changes

0% Loans Planning & Design 3% 20 Year

30 year may be possible by July

Refinancing Older Loans @ Lower Interest Older than 10 years

Lower Interest for Disadvantaged Cities

SRF Changes, Cont.

Developing Better Relations with SHPO PA development

Define each party’s duties

CDBG May Require Plans Before Submitting Application Better Defined Facility Planning

National Issues

WQS SF 2363 WQS Funding SSB 3077 NPDES Fees TDS – Chlorides Bid Threshold Eminent Domain Watershed Funding – HF 2782 SF 2400

National Issues, Cont.

NPDES Violation Posting SF 2302 SRF Changes National Issues

Wet weather – blending policy Nutrient standards CMOM CSO Watershed Permits Definition of waters of US