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2 EPA BAY STUDY • BAY GRASSES DECLINED BY 85% • FISHERIES IN SERIOUS DECLINE • EXCESS NUTRIENTS/SERIOUS WQ DECLINE • ELEVATED HEAVY METALS & TOXICS • ANOXIC WATERS INCREASED 15X • ALGAL OUTBREAKS THROUGHOUT BAY CHESAPEAKE BAY AGREEMENTS 1983 1987 2000 Maryland Virginia Pennsylvania District of Columbia EPA Executive Council Chesapeake Bay Commission 5 10-fold increase in Oysters Restore 2,010 miles of riparian forest buffers “Toxic-free Bay” Preserve 20% of Bay watershed Reduce rate of harmful sprawl by 30% Establish harvest targets & restore crab fishery Expand public access by 30% Meaningful watershed experience and… Remove Bay from impaired waters list by 2010 Over 90% of the Bay and its tidal rivers are impaired due to low dissolved oxygen levels and poor water clarity, all related to nutrient and sediment pollution. Triggered EPA authority to develop TMDLs since not removed from list by 2010. 8 POINT SOURCES: About 20% of total N, 22% of total P entering Bay Substantial drop since 1985; largest portion of reductions to date Nutrient Removal Technology at municipal WWTP, Phosphorus Detergent Bans, local efforts, WQIF support, manufacturing process changes at industrial dischargers NONPOINT SOURCES: About 80% of N & 78% of P into Bay All of the sediment loads come from NonPoint Sources Agriculture – Largest single source of N, P, Sediment Developed Lands/Stormwater Runoff: Only major source increasing On-Site Septics: 1.3 M systems; loads increased 21% (1985- & 2003) Air Deposits: Contributor of nitrogen; Airshed 14 states; 50% from us Lawns/Turf grass: Single largest crop in Bay region (1M acres VA portion) 9 Sources of Nitrogen from Virginia Sources of Phosphorus from Virginia WWTP WWTP 26% 18% Agriculture 38% Forest Agriculture 14% Forest 16% Developed 20% Developed 18% N and P values from 2008 Scenario of Phase 5.2 Watershed Model 50% WV 3% DE 3% VA 26% DC 1% WV 4% NY 6% Nitrogen* DC 1% MD 19% MD 20% PA 41% DE 2% NY 5% VA 45% PA 24% Phosphorus *EPA estimates a nitrogen load of 284 million lbs nitrogen in 2008. EPA assumes a reduction of 7 million lbs due to the Clean Air Act. This leaves 77 millions lbs to be addressed through the TMDL process. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO RESTORE THE BAY? How can we measure progress? 12 Establish Water Quality Standards to protect uses Monitor waters and assess condition Place Impaired Waters on 303(d) List due to violations of State WQ Standards Develop TMDL – “Total Maximum Daily Load” - for Impaired Waters Develop TMDL Implementation Plan Implement TMDL Plan Remove Waters from 303(d) List when monitoring shows WQ Standards achieved • EPA set a pollution diet to meet states’ Bay clean water standards • Caps on nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment loads for all 6 Bay states and DC • States set load caps for various pollution sources • Second phase focused on local segments – with local benefits too Largest, most complex ever 92 smaller TMDLS (39 in VA) Involves interstate waters (VA, MD, PA, NY, WVA, DE, DC) 64,000 sq. miles Impacts of 17M people, 80,000 farms, 483 major treatment plants, thousands of other sources Satisfies Consent Decree Presidential Executive Order 25% reduction in Nitrogen 24% reduction in Phosphorus 20% reduction in Sediment How is the Bay TMDL Different • New Clean-up Goal (practices in place 2025; 60% by 2017) • State Watershed Implementation Plans (roadmaps) • 2-Year Milestone Process • Relative Effectiveness of Nutrient Reductions • Accountability Measures •“Reasonable Assurance” • Federal Consequences Continues earlier restoration efforts Focused on Rivers Focused on Major Pollution Sources Baseline N Load (1985): 310 Million Lbs Progress - 2009 Loads: 247 Million Lbs/Year Tributary Strategy Goal: 191 Million Lbs/Year TMDL Target: 185 Million Lbs/Year How to make sure local waters benefit too? How to also protect healthy watersheds? Is there low-hanging fruit/cost effective practices? What motivates smaller (non-MS4) localities to participate? Are we relying too heavily on trading? How will trading and offsets affect local water quality? When will the public have input into local plans? Who pays? “Understanding the cost of clean Bay should n compromise our goals diminish our progress Chesapeake Bay Commission former Chairm Russ Fairc (R-P 20 THE END (not really)!!! Questions???