Transcript Sediment Guidance Workgroup

Sediment Guidance Workgroup
Update
January 26, 2004
Workgroup Milestones
Workgroup Reconvened January 2003
Discussed history of guidance, previous workgroup issues.
Questioned entities utilizing current guidance and discussed
issues with conducting the 2-part test.
Sediment Case Studies Conducted Using Provisional Guidance
(2) WQCD
BLM Study, Box Canyon
(2) USFS
Fraser River, Upper South Platte
Case Studies Presented to the Workgroup
List of major issues compiled.
Workgroup Milestones Cont.
Water Quality Control Commission Update
September 5, 2003
Current Activities
Division is working on developing some options/revisions to
the guidance to address the issues from the case studies.
 Intensive Literature Review
Major issues being addressed through other workgroups,
such as expected condition, Aquatic Life Workgroup, 309,
etc..
WQCD-BLM Phase II of Sediment Study
Federal Component
SABS (Suspended and Bedded Sediments)
Defined by EPA as particulate organic and inorganic matter that
suspend in or are carried by the water, and/or accumulate in a
loose, unconsolidated form on the bottom of natural water
bodies. This includes commonly used terms of clean sediment,
suspended sediment, total suspended solids, bedload, and
turbidity.
Federal Component Cont.
Clean sediment committee for the development of water quality
criteria for SABS
Team of EPA professionals has been assembled to work on suspended
and bedded sediment criteria.
Two documents:


Ecological and Toxicological Effects of Suspended and Bedded Sediments on
Aquatic Habitats, A concise Review for Developing Water Quality Criteria for
SABS
Developing Water Quality Criteria for Suspended and Bedded Sediments
(SABS), A US EPA Science Advisory Board Consultation
Federal Component Cont.
Office of Science and Technology
Strategy for Water Quality Standards and Criteria. Setting
Priorities to Strengthen the Foundation for Protecting and
Restoring the Nation’s Waters


Identifies the critical major program gaps. Nationally, sediment is one
of the top three.
The strategy describes and sets milestones for the ten strategic
actions of highest priority. Number three on the list is: Produce and
implement a strategy for the development of SABS
Issues
Means Literature
to
to
Address Consider
(Possible Fix)
Technique
Adjust
Current
Guidance
New Mexico Guidance
Step by step method of
determining sediment
impairment, include specific
SOPs
Yes, not a major shift
Sediment only approach
Idaho, Sediment Transport
Docs
Sediment benchmarks,
thresholds
Yes, major paradigm shift
Is the matrix too
conservative? Original
%s designed to be
conservative
Adjust the matrix
percentages
Case studies, sediment
TMDLs
Adjust %s based on sediment
studies in Colorado
Yes, not a major shift
Rewrite guidance to
remove “reference
condition” and replace
with “expected
condition”
Rewrite
Many states begin with
biological impairment,
then assess sediment
Reconfigure matrix to
allow for biological
assessment first
Other states guidance
Biological impairment must be
proven first, followed by
sediment impairment assessment
Yes, major paradigm shift
Defining, finding and
agreeing on Expected
Condition
Aquatic Life
Workgroup output
309 workgroup, Aquatic Life
workgroup
EPA TALU: HDG, BCG
Yes, update expected
condition language
Guidance too narrow
of scope;
Too conceptual
“Cookbook Approach”
2 part test burdensome
and difficult;
Yes, not a major shift