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North Dakota Environmental Program Funding Summary
Narrative
The first six grant applications (on the previous page) were
submitted by the State, July 28, 1980, for A-95 Review and to
EPA, Region VIII. No comments were received in the A-95
Review Process and the Letters of Clearance were submitted to
EPA, VIII, on September 5, 1980.
The Noise Control Program Grant (#7) application was submitted
to EPA headquarters in June 1980. Funds for the preliminary
work for Mirror Lake (£8) were awarded to the State Health
Department in July 1980, The 208 Water Quality Planning Grant
(#9) dollars are carryover funds from FY 78 Grant Award to the
State.
The State presently does not have the required State match for
the Underground Injection Control Program (#10). • No grant
money is received from EPA for the State's Radiation Control
Program (til).
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C. North Dakota State Department of Health -
"Wish List"
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The North Dakota State Department of Health was requested by EPA
to compile a "wish list" or a list of environmental projects or
activities the Department would pursue if additional funding were
available.
The Department has addressed some of the issues identified on the
"wish list"; however/ efforts have been severely restricted in the
extent to which these issues could be examined. The Department
will request funding for some of the projects from the 1981 Legisla-
ture and will also pursue funding from EPA and other Federal
agencies.
The Department's "wish list" is composed of projects included
under the headings of Air Quality, Waste Management and Water
Quality Projects on the following pages:
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Air Quality Projects
FY '81 .
1. Establish Visibility Monitoring Program.
Because of the far reaching implications of visibility
regulations proposed by EPA, it is important that the
State obtain experience with visibility monitoring
techniques and that gathering of background data in those
areas of the State most likely to be impacted by the
visibility regulations (Class I areas) begin. Purchase
equipment including a nephelometer, telephotometer,
associated photographic equipment, shelter, etc. and
install. Hire additional staff and train as needed.
2. Expand Acid Precipitation Monitoring Program.
Purchase five (5) additional acid precipitation monitors
to add to the existing one (1) monitor. Install across
State. Purchase additional laboratory equipment required
for analysis of precipitation samples (laminar flow
hood).
3. Expand Air Quality Monitoring System to Include Sampling
Sites Along all of the State's Borders.
Additional sampling sites are needed to monitor the
effects of out-of-State development on our air quality.
Special emphasis is needed near Montana and Canada
(Estevan-Boundary Dam Power Station).
4. Evaluate and determine the cause of elevated suspended
sulfate (SO ) levels being monitored across the State and
the effects of future energy development on SO levels.
Use computer dispersion modeling, soil sample analysis,
and aerosol analysis to determine the sources.
5. Evaluate the Fate of Trace Elements in the Combustion of
North Dakota Lignite Coal in Large Power Plants.
Stack sampling will be conducted to collect samples for
trace element analysis from various power plants with
various control devices such as ESP's, ESP's and wet
scrubbers, spray dryers and baghouses, etc. to determine
fate of trace elements and the optimum control strate-
gies .
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6. Study the effects of plant size, plant design, mete-
orology, and other factors on the- formation of nitrogen
dioxide color changes in power plant flue gas plumes.
Identify mitigating measures.
7. Evaluate the location and amount of energy development
that can occur in North Dakota before the air quality is
perceptibly affected.
A computer dispersion modeling study would be required.
8. Perform validity, accuracy and reliability evaluations
and studies of air quality computer dispersion models
used for PSD permit decisions.
9, Evaluate effects of energy development such as rainfall
acidity, trace elements, sulfur, radioactivity and other
air pollution related factors on agriculture to assure
that there will be no short- or long-term adverse impacts
on land, soil, vegetation, water and animals.
10. Evaluate and determine the cause of high ozone levels in
North Dakota during the summer months.
Determine whether they are naturally occurring or man-
made, and whether they originate locally or are trans-
ported into North Dakota from large metropolitan areas of
the country.
11. Establish respirable particulate monitoring samplers at
existing monitoring stations in the State to evaluate
respirable particulate levels in the State.
12. Evaluate the meteorological data needed for present and
future air quality computer dispersion models and the
existing data available.
Work to improve the meteorological data being collected
as appropriate.
13. Purchase a remote electronic portable opacity monitor for
the enforcement program.
14. Conduct a study of the levels of H S being experienced by
plants and animals in the oil fielcs in North Dakota and
determine the possible effects associated with such
levels.
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Waste Management Projects
PY ' 81
1. Arsenic Collection and Disposal
An inventory of amounts and locations of arsenic storage
throughout the State was conducted. Approximately 4,000
pounds of arsenic were identified and recorded. Technical
assistance by the Department was provided on proper storage
techniques for the arsenic. A proposal was developed for
the actual collection and out-of-State disposal of the
identified arsenic. The Department would like to have this
proposal funded by EPA.
2. Disposal Site Groundwater Monitoring
There are several landfill sites in North Dakota that
because of the geology, high permeability and assumed high
water table, have the potential for groundwater contamina-
tion. Most of these landfills are operated by small com-
munities that do not have any means of monitoring and
determining if their landfill may be contaminating local
groundwater. The North Dakota State Department of Health,
in cooperation with the North Dakota Geological Survey,
would initiate a program to study specific sites for ground-
water pollution.
3. Economic Analysis of Sanitary landfill Costs in North
Dakota
The purpose of this analysis would be to identify the costs
involved in the operation of the State's 88 sanitary land-
fills. The analysis is intended to be of use to municipal
and private personnel involved in the operation and owner-
ship of solid waste management facilities; city, county,
and regional council personnel; types of costs to be tabulated
would be operating costs, labor costs and ownership and
financing costs for each landfill operation.
4. Inventory of Garbage Collection Costs of Incorporated
Cities in North Dakota
This inventory would consist of surveying the 364 incorpora-
ted cities in the State. This inventory could be conducted
by telephone or mail and would be developed with the
assistance and input from all interested solid waste management
entities in the State. The inventory could assist in the
identification of economical alternatives for collection-
disposal services for communities not operating sites
meeting federal standards.
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Closure or Upgrading of State's Open Dumps
Financial assistance to either upgrade or close the State's
existing disposal sites not meeting federal landfill
operating standards. Such assistance was provided for
within the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976;
however, no federal dollars were ever allocated to the
rural states for this program.
Inspection and Enforcement Program - Special Dse Disposal
Sites
The Department must expand its present disposal site inspec-
tion and enforcement program to include the State's permit-
ted special use disposal sites.
FY'80 Level of Continued Funding for Subtitle D Activities
Continued funding for Subtitle D activities at levels at
least equal to FY'80 funds must be provided. If funding
falls below the FY'80 level and the State Legislature fails
to provide funds to continue the program/ the State Solid
Waste Program may be in jeopardy.
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Water Quality Projects
FY '81
1. Continuous monitoring equipment for stream quality data
collection.
One or two continuous monitoring stations would be of value
to the Department in its programs for stream water quality
management. Continuous monitoring stations, at select
locations, provide the advantage of continuous monitoring of
select parameters of quality and would reflect quality
changes during and following snow melt runoff and heavy
rainstorms. It would particularly facilitate studies on the
effects of nonpoint pollution runoff and would also be
useful in the energy development areas of the state.
2. G.C./Mass Spec, equipment for laboratory.
Requirements for chemical analysis of municipal water
supplies and wastewaters are increasing rapidly due to
federal requirements. New requirements for testing for
numerous toxic and other hazardous chemicals are expected to
continue to increase. This equipment will permit the
Department's chemical laboratory to more efficiently meet
the present testing demands as well as those additional
demands expected in the near future.
3. Weed harvesting equipment.
A number of local associations of cabin owners and others
are interested in improving the use of certain lakes and
reservoirs in the state. The Federal Clean Lakes Program has
limited funds and local monies are required to match, on a
50 percent basis, federal monies used for a lake restoration
project. Harvesting, or removing, the weeds from sections
of the lake or reservoirs with greatest use will allow more
extensive use of the waters during the recreation season.
This equipment would be made available to local entities to
use.
4. Computer.
The Department has in the past, and will continue to take
our responsibilities whenever possible for programs related
to water quality and water supplies which are federally
required as the Department firmly believes that the State
can operate such programs more efficiently and with less
problems than the federal agency. Programs such as the Safe
Drinking Water Program, the Construction Grants Program, the
Waste Discharge Permit Program, the Underground Injection
Control Program and other programs generate considerable
data. A computer would permit the Department to more economically
and effectively manage and analyze the data, coordinate the
programs and assist in better planning for future activities.
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5. Zeiss Microscope
The Department's Biological Stream Water Quality Monitoring
Program is handicapped by lack of satisfactory equipment
needed to be assured that the identification and classifica-
tion of biological specimens is correct. Present equipment
in use is of limited capability.
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D. FY '81 SEA Public Participation
Summary
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Public participation and involvement is considered an important
aspect of the State/EPA Agreement.
The draft Agreement was made available for public inspection
July 15, 1980, through August 25, 1980, during normal working
hours at the office of the North Dakota State Department of
Health, Division of Environmental Waste Management and Research,
Missouri Office Building, 1200 Missouri Avenue, Bismarck, North
Dakota 58505, and at the office of the North Dakota State
Department of Agriculture, Pesticide Division, 6th Floor, State
Capitol Building, Bismarck, North Dakota 58505.
Copies of the draft Agreement were also available from July 16,
1980, through August 25, 1980, at the following libraries:
Dickinson State College, Dickinson . .
Minot State College, Minot
University of North Dakota, Grand Forks
North Dakota State University, Fargo
State Historical Society, Bismarck
State Library, Bismarck
Copies of the draft Agreement were furnished at no charge to
the public upon request.
Legal notice of the public meeting scheduled for August 13,
1980, was given by one publication of the notice in ten of the
daily newspapers in the State on or before July 15, 1980. The
ten daily newspapers were: The Bismarck Tribune, the Devils
Lake Journal, the Wahpeton Daily News, the Willisten Herald,
the Valley City Times Record, the Jamestown Sun, the Dickinson
Press, the Minot Daily News, the Fargo Forum, and the Grand
Forks Herald.
A North Dakota State Department of Health press release was
sent to the radio and television stations, the Associated
Press, the United Press International, and the State's daily
and county newspapers on July 9, 1980, to explain the State/EPA
Agreement and to encourage public review and conment of the
draft Agreement. This release included information as to where
copies of the draft Agreement could be reviewed and obtained.
Information regarding the public meetings was also included.
A public service announcement and notice was developed (in
coordination with the Department's public information efforts)
by the North Dakota League of Women Voters. This announcement
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was distributed to over 400 individuals, news media, agencies
and organizations on August 1, 1980. .The announcement listed
the six priority issues identified in the State/EPA Agreement
for FY '81 and encouraged public comment and attendance at the
public meetings.
A two-part news story, published in the Minot Daily News on
August 12 and 13, summarized the draft Agreement and encouraged
public review and comment.
Public meetings on the draft Agreement were held on August 13,
1980, at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. in the large hearing room of
the State Capitol Building, Bismarck, North Dakota, to answer
questions and to receive testimony and comments. Written
testimony and comments were accepted through August 25, 1980.
Copies of the news release, legal notice and public service
announcement are on file at the North Dakota State Department
of Health, Division of Environmental Waste Management and
Research.
The draft Agreement was submitted to the State Intergovern-
mental Clearinghouse, Federal Aid Coordinator ' s Office, State
Capitol Building, Bismarck, North Dakota, 58505, on July 28,
1980, for A-95 review and clearance. No comments were received
in the A-95 review process.
Summary of State's/EPA Response to Public Comments
The North Dakota State Department of Health has prepared and
retained a complete record of the public and written comments.
Copies of the record of the meetings and written comments and
the Department's response will be furnished upon request.
Public
No testimony was received at the two meetings. The Chairman
explained the SEA, the State's and EPA's revisions to the draft
Agreement were presented and questions and comments were
directed to the following environmental activities:
1. Banning of 2, 4-D and Dioxin.
2. Mechanism for public participation.
3. Utility wastes.
4. Groundwater monitoring system for coal nines.
5. Air Monitoring of power plant emissions.
6. Ufaniferous coal.
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Written Comments
The following submitted written comments to the North Dakota
State Department of Health:
1. Dakota Resource Council
2. League of Women Voters
3. Montana-Dakota Utilities
4. Sierra Club
The following information provides a summary of the written
comments received and the North Dakota State Department of
Health's response:
1. Evelyn Newton, from the Dakota Resource Council (DRC),
stressed that the Department should "further address the
priority issue of environmental impacts and problems
associated with energy development in Western North
Dakota." The Department's response to this concern was
the inclusion of all the Department's environmental
programs in this priority issue strategy. In addition/
the Department will focus on four areas of concern in
Western North Dakota - the development of oil and natural
gas reserves, fly ash disposal, groundwater monitoring by
mining operations and the Underground Injection Control
Program.
The DRC believes that the following should be priority
items on the "wish list, " for which the Department should
pursue funding:
a. Evaluating the effects of energy development on
agricultural lands.
b. Evaluating trace elements dispersed from coal-fired
generation plants.
c. Defining the limits to energy development in North
Dakota.
These three projects will have a high priority by the Depart-
ment in pursuing both State and Federal funding.
2. The League of Women Voters of North Dakota focused its
questions and comments on a 'comparison of last year's
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3.
4.
Agreement and FY '80 priority issues to this year's Agree-
ment, its priority issues and accomplishments. The
League's comments as with all the written comments, were
forwarded to EPA. A response from EPA to some of the
League's questions will be requested by the Department.
Several of the League's questions and comments should be
incorporated into the planning stages for next year's
Agreement.
The League also directed questions and comments regarding
the strategies for Priority Issue No. 1, Environmental
Impacts, from Energy Development in Western North Dakota,
and Priority Issue No. 3, Development of a State Hazardous
Waste Management Program. See the first paragraph of No.
1 regarding the DRC's comments and the Department's
response to Priority Issue No. 1, which closely parallels
the League's concerns.
The league's comments to Priority Issue No. 3 included the
urging that a citizens' advisory group be established by
the Department and the suggestion that fly ash and sludge
disposal be addressed in No. 3. The fly ash disposal issue
is addressed in Priority Issue No. 1. See No. 1, first
paragraph of the DRC's comments and the Department's
response.
The Department incorporated the League's suggestion that
the Agreement include a list of initials for the terms and
phrases used throughout the Agreement.
In addition, questions and comments were directed to the
resource recovery, radiation, air and water environ-
mental programs and policies.
Written comments received from G.T. Badley, Montana Dakota
Utilities, expressed support to the Department in its
efforts to assume hazardous waste disposal permitting
authority under the Resource Conservation & Recovery Act.
Mr. Badley also recommended that the reference to an
"arsenic problem from the disposal of fly ash," on page 5
of the draft Agreement, be excluded in the Final Agree-
ment. As per this recommendation, this phrase was ex-
cluded in the Environmental Overview Element. A Depart-
ment commitment to work with state agencies and industry
to develop safe methods for disposing of fly ash and
sludge is included in the Priority Issue No. 1, Strategy,
Element D.
A request that individual members of the North Dakota
Sierra Club be placed on the Department's mailing list was
honored.
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June Thompson of the Sierra Club expressed an interest in
the Department's "wish list" of air quality projects and
questioned why there were no plans to ask the legislature
to fund these projects. The Department plans to pursue
both State and Federal funding for the "wish list" projects.
Ms. Thompson also expressed concern over the Department's
plans for public participation and questioned if anyone in
the Department was researching why there is so little
participation.
The State and EPA will evaluate the FY '80 and '81 SEA
public participation efforts and will use these results in
developing a strategy for public participation for next
year's Agreement.
All of the comments were considered in the revision of the
draft Agreement. Several of the League's comments should
be incorporated into the planning stages for the Agreement's
format and process in FY '82.
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E. FY '80 Program Accomplishments
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The Federal Fiscal Year 1980 (FY '80) is the time period
between October 1, 1979/ and September 30, 1980. The fol-
lowing is a summary of the North Dakota Environmental Program
Accomplishments in FY '80:
Air
The State Air Pollution Control Program is located in the
North Dakota State Department of Health, Environmental Control
Section, Division of Environmental Engineering.
1. The New Source Review Program (Permit to Construct) was
maintained to assure compliance with Prevention of Signi-
ficant Deterioration (PSD), Emission Offset and New
Source Performance Standards. A total of twenty (20)
permits to construct were issued during North Dakota's FY
'80.
2. The Permit to Operate Program was maintained. A total of
thirty-nine (39) permits to operate were issued during
the period of July 1, 1979, through June 30, 1980.
3. The State Implementation Plan for the Control of Air .
Pollution and the Air Pollution Control Regulations of
the State of North Dakota were revised to incorporate
changes resulting from the Clean Air Act Amendments of
1977 and changes in Federal regulations by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency. The revisions consisted
of the establishment of a Permit to Construct processing
fee regulation and amendment of the public participation
section of the Permit to Construct process so that public
participation is only required for Prevention of Signi-
ficant Deterioration of Air Quality Sources, New Source
Performance Standard Sources, Emission Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollutant Sources, sources determined by
the Department o have a major impact on air quality and
those sources for which a request for a public comment
period is received from the public. Also, the Federal
Ambient Air Quality Standard for lead was added to the
regulations and the standard for photochemical oxidants
was changed to be the same as the Federal standard for
ozone.
4. An Emissions Inventory System of pollutants emitted to
the ambient air was maintained.
5. Air Pollution Control Program staff observed performance
test results on several major air pollution sources, as
well as several minor air pollution sources, to insure
compliance with emission rate limitations imposed by the
Air Pollution Control Regulations of the State of North
Dakota. .
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6. Air Pollution Control Program staff conducted scheduled
and unscheduled inspections of all major air pollution
grant sources, as well as many minor air pollution sources,
operated in the State during FY '80.
7. A total of ten enforcement actions (consisting of either
Notices of Violation or emergency orders) were taken
during FY '80. Penalties totaling $42,000 were assessed
in five of the cases.
8. The state-wide ambient air quality monitoring network was
upgraded to include the addition of four permanent and
one portable continuous ambient air quality monitoring
site.
9. Staff of the Air Pollution Control Program continued to
develop a quality assurance audit program for both indus-
try and State ambient air quality monitoring networks.
10. Several industry owned and operated, source specific
ambient air quality networks, to supplement the State
network and satisfy permit requirements, were established
following review and approval by the Department.
11. Several problems associated with energy development in
Western North Dakota were identified and actions were
initiated to resolve the problems.
Noise
The State Noise Control Program is located in the North Dakota
State Department of Health, Environmental Control Section,
Division of Environmental Engineering.
1. Regulations to minimize and prevent hazards to health and
safety caused by excessive noise are in the process of
being drafted.
2. A program to assist local governments in their noise
control activities has been established. Technical
assistance, information, model noise control ordinances
and the loan of sound level monitoring equipment are
available to local governments as part of this program.
3. A physical survey of the noise levels within the State
has been initiated. Two cities, a power plant, and an
office area have been surveyed; two more city surveys are
scheduled for the present FY '80. The EPA Region VIII
Technical Assistance Center will cooperate on these
surveys.
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4. Noise complaints associated with refrigeration units on
! truck trailers, building ventilation systems, grain
i drying facilities, railroad switching operations, airport
operations and blow-down operations at coal-fired power
plants, have been investigated by Department personnel.
j 5. The following public participation/information activities
I have been initiated and will be ongoing:
a. The Noise Control Program has cooperated with the Health
I Education Division of the Department on a public aware-
ness campaign. A series of press releases, a number of
j - public service announcements, a slide presentation, a
brochure on agricultural noise and magazine articles
have been developed. A film was purchased and officials
' of the program participated in Earth Day - 80 activi-
ties. The program has a number of EPA informational
brochures on noise-related topics that it distributes to
interested parties.
b. A Noise Control Program entitled "Each Community Kelps
Others" • (ECHO) has been established to address noise
problems at the local level. As part of this program an
individual experienced in successful noise control
enters into an agreement with the State Department of
Health whereby he will pass on his expertise to communities
interested in establishing noise control ordinances.
Pesticides
The State Pesticides Program is located in the North Dakota
State Department of Agriculture.
1. Enforcement Program
a. Negotiated and signed a laboratory contract with the
Montana State Department of Agriculture.
b. Conducted over 200 dealer investigations.
' c. Conducted approximately 300 applicator investiga-
tions .
1 d. Conducted 20 use investigations.
e. Investigated approximately 15 pesticide complaints.
At this time {August 1980} no enforcement action has
been taken.
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2. Certification Program
a. Implemented the State's applicator certification
program with assistance from the North Dakota State
University Extension Service.
b. Provided quarterly progress reports of the United
States Department of Agriculture Applicator Training
Program to EPA.
3. Registration and Exemption Program
a. Issued five emergency exemptions in the State.
b. Provided copies of these exemptions to EPA.
Radiation
The Radiation Control Program is located in the North Dakota
State Department of Health, Environmental Control Section,
Division of Environmental Engineering.
1. Renewed registrations and/or issued new registrations for
192 X-ray facilities.
2. Inspected 69 X-ray facilities in which 84 X-ray machines
were evaluated.
3. Licensed 11 users of radioactive materials (includes
renewal of licenses).
4. Inspected 15 users of radioactive materials.
5. Evaluated radiation levels of 6 nonionizing radiation
sources, as requested.
6. Conducted field tests of 38 new X-ray machines certified
under Federal X-ray Performance Standards.
7. Maintained the DENT (Dental Exposure: Normalization
Technique) and BENT (Breast Exposure: Nationwide Trends)
programs. Performed 28 BENT evaluations under the BENT
program and evaluated 268 dental facilities under the
DENT program.
8. Continued to participate with the U.S. Environmental Pro-
tection Agency in the ERAMS (Environmental Radiation
Ambient Monitoring System).
9. Maintained the environmental radiation surveillance milk
sampling network on a standby alert basis.
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1
10. Participated with the U.S. Department of Energy in a
preliminary field investigation of former uraniferous
lignite processing sites near Belfield and Bowman, North
Dakota.
Solid Waste/Hazardous Waste/Toxic Substances
The State Solid Waste and Hazardous Waste Program is organized
within the North Dakota State Department of Health, Environ-
mental Control Section, Division of Environmental Waste Manage-
ment and Research.
Subtitle C—Hazardous Waste and Toxic Substances
Due to the four-month delay in the final promulgation of the
Hazardous Waste Regulations, projected FY'80 SEA work activi-
ties and timeframes were also delayed. The following activi-
ties, however, were accomplished:
1. The search for abandoned and/or existing hazardous waste
sites, initiated by the State and EPA in FY'79, identified
seven existing sites and two potential problem areas. An
inventory of amounts and locations of arsenic storage
throughout the State was also conducted.
2. Development of procedures for hazardous waste permit
issuance, denial, modification, revocation, suspension,
and renewal were initiated.
3. A Letter of Intent to obtain Interim Authorization
Status ,by the Department and the State's Interim Authoriza-
tion Phase I Application were submitted to EPA.
4. Approximately 25 requests for technical assistance were
received by the Department in FY'80. Requests for
assistance included storage and disposal information for
Class A explosive materials, agricultural pesticides,
asbestos-containing wastes, toxaphene contaminated
wastes, PCB-contaminated wastes and PCB's. Hazardous
waste inquiries were referred to out-of-State disposal
sites or advised on alternate storage procedures.
5. The Department is included in the State Emergency Response
System and Division personnel are available for supervision
and technical assistance for the disposal of spilled
hazardous wastes and materials.
6. Ihe following public information and participation
activities were conducted by the Department:
a. A mailing list for the Hazardous Waste Management
Program was compiled. Also compiled supplement to
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the EPA Hazardous Waste Notification mailing list,
identifying possible generators of hazardous waste
in North Dakota.
b. Co-sponsored and participated with EPA Region VIII,
Office of Toxic Substances, in a one-day PCS Seminar,
in Bismarck, North Dakota.
c. Co-sponsored a one-day EPA State Briefing on the
Final Hazardous Waste Regulations in Fargo, North
Dakota. The Department mailed 175 additional
brochures to individuals in the State on the Hazardous
Waste Program mailing list.
d. Department personnel assisted in the development of
a Technical Advisory Committee to address the
pesticide disposal problem in the State.
e. Provided technical assistance to the Environmental
Action Foundation and the National Wildlife Federa-
tion in the development of the State's Hazardous and
Solid Waste Management Program information for the
Regional Waste Alert! Conference.
f. Assisted the North Dakota League of Women Voters in
sponsoring a one-hour discussion on Prairie Public
Television on the State/EPA Agreement for FY'80.
Subtitle D—Solid Waste Management
1. Conducted Open Dump Inventory, including:
a. Approximately 370 ground and aerial inspections of
sanitary landfills and open dump sites were conducted.
b. As of August 1980, 48 open dumps existed in the
State. The Department will promote and encourage
the upgrading of these sites.
2. Developed and submitted a Draft State Solid Waste Management
Plan to EPA.
3. Three technical assistance proposals were developed,
submitted, and received approval through the Technical
Assistance Panels Program (T.A.P.P.), including:
a.
b.
"Development of a Native American Solid Waste
Management Strategy."
"Development of a Strategy for Disposal of Solid
Waste in Climatically Severe Areas."
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c. "North Dakota Resource Recovery Strategy Analysis."
Conducted the State's Resource Recovery Program, including
the following;
a. Two Abandoned Auto county projects were completed,
resulting in the removal of an additional 2,750 tons
of junked motor vehicles.
b. A Draft North Dakota Resource Recovery Strategy
Analysis was prepared by Fred C. Hart & Associates
and the Department.
c. Technical assistance, has been provided for a Statewide
oil recycling project (private firm).
The Department conducted the following public information/
participation solid waste management activities:
a. A mailing list for the Solid Waste Management
Program 'was compiled.
b. Required public participation activities in the
development of the State Solid Waste Management Plan
were implemented and, in addition to the specific
requirements, a Solid Waste Management Questionnaire
was developed and sent to the Regional Planning
Councils and health districts and departments in the
State.
c. Sponsored a one-day Utility Waste Seminar in Bismarck,
North Dakota.
Water
The State Water Programs are located in the North Dakota State
Department of Health, Environmental Control Section, Division
of Water Supply and Pollution Control.
Public Water Supervision Program
1. Activities of District Health Units, County Health
Departments, and the State Plumbing Board were coordinated
with those of the Department to meet the needs of the
water supply program.
2. During the year, 757 surveys and written reports were
made of public water systems. An additional 602 visita-
tions of public water systems were made by Department,
District Health Unit, and Plumbing Board personnel.
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3. Statutes and regulations require that plans and specifica-
tions be prepared for all water systems contemplated for
use by the public. Plans and specifications are approved
by the Department only when such plans and specifications
fully comply with existing statutes and regulations.
Approximately 155 sets of plans for new or revised water
systems were approved.
4. Eight microbiological laboratories are currently certified
by the Department.
The Department certifies laboratories to perform chemical
analysis of water samples for compliance with EPA and
state regulations. Two laboratories are certified for
analysis for some of the parameters for chemical contami-
nant levels; however, none have been certified for all
parameters as- specified under the Regulations.
5. The Department's laboratories completed all chemical and
microbiological analyses for compliance with current
Federal and state regulations.
6. Approximately 1,231 enforcement actions were handled by
the Department in FY '80, including the request for 169
public notices and issuance of 30 exemptions for exceeding
maximum contaminant levels.
7. The Federal Model State Information System has not been
usable and was abandoned with the exception of the maintenance
of the water system inventory for reporting to EPA.
8. Public Participation - An active training and certification
program was maintained for water system operators in FY
'80. Qn-the-job training, preparation of training
materials, two 4-day seminars and four 1-day seminars for
operators were conducted. Approximately 267 operators
have attended these sessions.
208 Water Quality Planning
1. Monitoring on One Mile Creek and the Srewer Lake drainage
was completed. A combined report on the effects of
cattle wintering operations and wetland drainage will be
available in September 1980.
2. A 314 Clean Lakes Grant Application was submitted for
Mirror Lake in Adams County. This Grant is presently in
the diagnostic feasibility study stage.
3. An application for Spiritwood Lake, located in Stutsman
County, is being prepared. Evaluations of alternatives
for restoration and a watershed assessment is underway.
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4. A nutrient assessment report was completed on the streams
in North Dakota, in cooperation with the Soil Conservation
Committee. This report is used by the Soil Conservation
Districts to determine the nonpoint source pollution
problem areas.
5. An assessment was made of 65 feedlot or wintering opera-
tions along the streams in North Dakota. The Department
is working with the problem operations to correct the
situation through cost share programs or relocation of
the feeding area.
6. The following public participation/information activities
were conducted:
a. A lakes conference was held in Devils Lake to inform
the public of the various programs and efforts
underway and available to restore lakes in the
State.
b. An on-site disposal seminar was held in Fargo by the
lake Agassiz Regional Council. The purpose of this
seminar was to inform developers, contractors,
engineering firms and State and local agencies of
the most modern methods of on-site waste disposal.
c. A ninety slide and taped narrative audiovisual set
was developed by the North Dakota Extension Service.
This set explains the nonpoint source pollution
problems in North Dakota and the available best
management practices to correct these problems.
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Water Pollution Control (106)
1. The Stream Water Quality Monitoring Program, coordinated
with the United States Geological Survey Program to provide
broad base water quality data and reduce overlapping and
duplication, is a continuous on-going program. The data
from the Department's 45 operating stations is routinely
placed into the STORET program.
2. The Department has always placed emphasis on the timely
issuance or reissuance of waste discharge permits under the
North Dakota Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Program.
With few minor exceptions, all permits have been reissued
without delay. New permits are issued on a timely basis and
within the 6 month time frame established for the Department
to act and complete the permit issuance.
3. The Department increased its activities in compliance
sampling of permittee discharges in FY '80. A total of 28
samples were picked up from municipal and non-municipal
discharges and analyzed in the Department's laboratory for
permit compliance checks. This activity involved 21 major
municipal and 7 major non-municipal discharges. In addition,
the North Dakota Public Service Commission, through agree-
ment with the Department, conducted compliance sampling on
10 coal mines in the State. As most municipal and industry
waste treatment systems utilize waste stabilization lagoons
with seasonal and short period discharges, all compliance
sampling activities are limited to those times of discharge.
4. A total of twelve enforcement actions were taken during FY
'80. These actions were primarily notices of violation of
permit conditions. Not included were the letters to permit-
tees reminding them that their monitoring reports were
overdue and requesting immediate submittal of these reports
to the Department. All monitoring reports are reviewed by
the permit section to determine if permit discharge limita-
tions were in compliance.
5. Inspection of public wastewater treatment facilities by
Department personnel serves several purposes; it provides an
opportunity for the local facilities operator and Department
personnel to review plant operations, work together toward
solving any problems that may exist, provide technical
assistance to the operator toward meeting discharge requirements,
if necessary, and it provides the State with current information
on the facility and its level of effective operation. In FY
'80, Department personnel carried out 296 inspections and
visitations of wastewater treatment facilities. Of this
number, 224 were inspections which resulted in 214 written
operation and maintenance inspection reports. District
Health Unit personnel, under contract with the Department,
made 220 visits to public wastewater collection and treat-
ment facilities.
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6. State law and Department regulations require that the plans
and specifications for all public wastewater collection
and/or treatment facilities, including all additions to such
systems be reviewed and approved .by the Department prior to
construction. In FY '80, the Department reviewed 156 sets
of plans related to the above. This number includes those
reviewed and approved through the Construction Grants
Program.
7. The Department conducted two 4-day training seminars and
four 1-day training classes for wastewater treatment plant
operators. Total attendance at these seminars and training
sessions totaled 214 operators and/or city officials responsi
ble for facility operations. State law requires all chief
operators of wastewater treatment facilities serving a
population equivalent of 500 or more be certified by the
Department.
Other Water Quality Programs
1. The Department initiated steps to incorporate the Pretreat-
ment Program into the Department's ongoing Construction
Grants and Permit Program. Primary responsibility has been
given to the construction grants section with coordinating
activities in the permits section.
2. The Department initiated preliminary action in the Under-
ground Injection Control Program (UIC). It expects that
these actions will result in eventual delegations, by EPA to
the State, of responsibilities for the Pprogram. The
Program is expected to involve the Department, the State
Water Commission and the Office of the State Geologist.
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