U.S. Environmental Pro
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FY2008
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Water Quality Protection Division
Region 6 «-
Protecting and preserving the aquatic ecosystems and
water resources of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico,
Oklahoma, Texas, and Tribal lands within Region 6
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EPA Region 6 has a diverse workforce dedicated to these collective values,
and we base our practices and decisions on them.
Workforce Diversity
We value a diverse workforce in which each person strengthens our ability to
achieve our goals.
We strive to hire, develop, and maintain a workforce that represents diverse
backgrounds.
We utilize cross-cultural skills in communication and problem-solving, and
promote open dialogue and education to perform successfully in our diverse
environment.
We interact with the constituencies we serve in a way that demonstrates an
understanding of their cultural values.
Environmental Stewardship
We carry out the public trust in protecting human health and the environment
We work as a team to clean the air, restore and protect water, recycle and
renew polluted land, and help protect the security of America.
We work in partnership with States, Tribes, local communities, and vulnerable
populations to carry out our mission.
We are committed to reducing our environmental footprint.
Character
We have integrity and exhibit ethical behavior in all that we do.
We are committed to making good decisions, even if it is not easy, expedient,
or popular.
We walk the talk and set a good example.
We are honest and trustworthy - we don't betray trust and confidentiality.
Accountability
We accept responsibility for all we do, both positive and negative.
We hold each other accountable, and give feedback to each other.
We take initiative to do what needs to be done, and step forward to lead when needed.
We learn from mistakes, problems, and other situations.
We communicate openly, invite feedback, and listen.
Respect
We treat each other with consideration and dignity.
We act without prejudice or favoritism.
We show respect regardless of level, title, position or agency.
We do not tolerate discrimination or demeaning remarks by others.
Excellence
We strive to be the best we can be, and are committed to continuous improve-
ment through innovation and sound science.
We lead by thinking strategically, communicating openly, and working collaboratively
both internally and with States, Tribes, local communities, and other partners.
We provide high-quality service to our internal and external customers.
We make the best of difficult situations, and avoid complaining and making excuses.
We support and are open to new ideas or concepts.
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.essage from the Director
ar Colleagues, Friends and Partners,
: gives me great pleasure to share with you our EPA Region 6 Water
Quality Protection Division's (WQPD) fiscal Year 2008 (FY08) Perfor-
mance Summary Report We made tremendous strides in several
significant areas and also maintained the national lead on the number
of permits current under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
I System (NPDES) program. The Region achieved and maintained a permit
1 | issuance rate of 97%, the highest in die nation, exceeding the national
goal of 90%.
Thanks to the talented and dedicated WQPD staff and the leadership
of our State partners in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, as well as our Tribal partners,
Region 6 achieved its best performance on record under the National Water Program Guidance (NWPG) for
FY08. This year's achievements placed Region 6 among the top four Regions in the nation.
The Region also tookgreat steps to continue building new and nurturing existing partnerships with academic
institutions, government agencies and community organizations to promote environmental stewardship,
accountability, excellence and workforce diversity. This report highlights many of the environmental initiatives
undertaken in collaboration with our partners.
Looking ahead, the Division has undertaken some new initiatives to position itself better to meet some of the
challenges we will face in the future primarily due to climate change impacts to water quality and quantity and
carbon sequestration. We will continue our collaborative efforts with our partners to improve core programs
and emphasize watershed approaches to water quality management.
If you would like to obtain an electronic copy of this report, you may download it at www.epa.gov/region6/water.
Miguel I. FlorCS, Director
Water Quality Protection Division, EPA Region 6
Contents
Mission and Vision
About the Water Quality Protection Division
Summary of Water Progi~3m Accomplishments
Financing Environmental Improvements
Watershed Restoration and Ecosystem Protection
Protecting Surface Water .
Strategic Placing and Community Outreach
Drinking Water and Source Water Protection .
Additional Division Highlights
Acknowledgements
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3
4
5
7
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15
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20
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W a ter Quality Protect Ion D I v I s i o n
FY08 Performance Su mmary Rep o r t
Region 6
Water Quality Protection Division
Mission and Vision
The mission of EPA is to protect human health and to
safeguard the natural environment - air, water, and land - upon which
life depends. Working in partnership with States, Tribes and other
stakeholders, EPA implements numerous statutory programs estab-
lished by Congress to protect and preserve our natural ecosystems
and the life they sustain. In particular, the Water Quality Protection
Division of EPA Region 6 focuses its resources on protecting and
preserving the aquatic ecosystems and water resources of Arkansas,
Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, as well as the Tribal
lands located within our Region.
EPA Region 6 serves the states of
Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and 65 tribes.
OUT Vision is to provide leadership
and assistance to support protection and
restoration efforts so that all waters in
Region 6 meet all designated uses, and all
citizens have access to safe drinking water.
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Environmental Protection Agency - Region 6
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Water Quality Protection Division
FY08 Performance Summary Report
About the Water Quality Protection Division
Organization and Leadership
Miguel I. Flores, Director
William K. (Bill) Honker, Deputy Director
The Water Quality Protection Division (WQPO) is staffed bymore than 160 employees.
The Division is managed by the Director, Deputy Director and five Associate Directors that provide oversight
of the water programs in Region 6. The WQPD communicates EPA's National and Regional operating guidance
to the States and Tribes and assists them in developing comprehensive water programs through Federal funding
and technical assistance. With these and other resources, States develop the capability to assume Federal
water programs through delegation agreements. Technical and financial assistance is also provided to local
agencies and Indian Tribes.
The regional water programs managed by the WQPD include water quality planning, public water supply,
groundwater protection, State revolving funds, wastewater infrastructure activities for the U.S.-Mexico Border
program and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) oversight, to name just a few. These
and other programs are managed by the following five branches:
Assistance Programs Branch
Susan Spalding, Associate Director
Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving
Fund (SRF) Programs, State and Tribal Water
Quality Grant Programs, Wetland Program Devel-
opment Grants, U.S.-Mexico Border Environmental
Infrastructure Fund (BEIF) Program, Performance
Partnership Agreements and Grants
Ecosystems Protection Branch
Jane Watson, Associate Director
Water Quality Standards, Monitoring and
Assessment, Nonpoint Source Program, Marine &
Wetlands Programs, Coastal and National Estuary
Programs, Ocean Dredged Material Disposal
Program
NPDES Permits & TMDLs Branch
Claudia Hosch, Associate Director
NPDES Permits Program, TMDLs Program,
Stormwater Program, Green Infrastructure
Planning and Analysis Branch
James R. Brown, Associate Director
Strategic Planning, Tracking of National Water
Program's Program Activity Measures, Partnerships and
Communications, Geographic Information Systems,
Climate Change, Water Conservation Initiatives
Source Water Protection Branch
Larry Wright, Associate Director
Public Water Supply Program, Underground Injection Control
(UIC) Program, Sole Source Aquifers, Tribal Drinking Water
and UIC Programs, Ground Water Center
US. Environmental Protection Agency Region 6
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Water Quality Protection Division
FY08 Performance Summary Report
Summary Of Water
Program Accomplishments
Performance Measurement Summary
The Water Quality Protection Division (WQPD) turned in its best performance on record under the National Water
Program Guidance (NWPG) during FY2008. Region 6 achieved its targets in 43 of 46 commitments for an overall
success rate of 93.5%. The FY2008 success rate improved upon last year's 90% performance, which also placed Region 6
among the top four Regions. This year we narrowly missed Strategic Target SP-I - the percent of community water
systems providing drinking water that meets all applicable health-based drinking water standards - by just 0.2% (87%
commitment; 86.8% result). Nevertheless, this fine performance is the result of the efforts of our State and Tribal
partners and the Division for which all managers and staff can take pride.
100.0%
80.0%
Percent of Commitments 60.0%
Achieved by EPA Regions 4Q Q0,
20.0%
FY06 through FY08
0.0%
DFY06
DFY07
FY08
4567
EPA Regions
8
10
Seven of the measures tracked under the NWPG
are known as Senior Management Measures. They
are considered to be the top echelon of measures
and used to gage the overall performance of Senior
Executives in EPA Regional Offices. WQPD met
or significantly exceeded all of its commitments
for the Senior Management Measures. To more
effectively track progress and measure results made
under grants to States, twenty-seven measures in
the NWPG were deemed "State grant template
measures" in FY08. The Public Water Supply
Supervision, DIG, Beaches, Nonpoint Source, and
Clean Water program grants report on these
measures at the end of each grant's performance
period to ensure federal assistance agreements to
States are aligned with the Agency's strategic goals
and objectives, and that measurable results can be
linked to State grant activities. All but two of the 27
State Grant Template Measures were met.
Wetland in Louisiana
Photo: Tina Hendon. EPA Region 6
US. Environmental Protection Agency - Region 6
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Water Quality Protection Division
FY08 Performance Summary Repo rt
Financing Environmental
Improvements
Assistance Programs Branch
Introduction
The Assistance Programs Branch annually
awards and manages over 80% of all the grant
dollars awarded by the Region to States,
tribes, local governments, non-profits, and
other partners to achieve environmental
goals. During this year, the Branch was
responsible for managing just under $2 billion
in over 500 assistance agreements. This
includes over $300 million in new funding
for FY 08. There were I 10 new assistance
agreements awarded; 147 were closed out,
and 212 amendments were processed.
Division Grant Actions in FY 2008 - Monthly Totals
Oct
N ew Aw aids
D ec
Feb
Apr
J u n
All Aw aids/Am en dm ents
A ii g
Close outs
Improving the Quality Assurance
Review Process
Expeditious review of Quality Assurance Project
Plans (QAPPs) is a top regional priority. EPA requires
any financial assistance recipient using awarded funds
for environmental monitoring to prepare QAPPs. In
response, EPA is committed to providing comments
on these plans within 30 days of receipt. This year the
Branch strengthened the review procedures through
the development of a reference document for Project
Officers, the QAPP Review Handbook, and through
enhancement of the Branch Reporting and Tracking
System (BRATS) which now includes additional data
fields for QAPP tracking. Tracking QAPP review
status in BRATS is an essential component of the
Water Quality Protection Division's efforts to meet
the Agency's timeliness commitments.
Reducing Unliquidated Obligations
The assistance programs which fund water and
wastewater infrastructure and nonpoint source
implementation have the largest number of
Unliquidated Obligations (ULOs) in the Region.
ULOs are Federal funds which EPA has awarded to
assistance recipients (typically States), but have not
yet been spent by those recipients. EPA's financial
management office has set ambitious Agency-wide
performance goals aimed at reducing ULO's.
The Branch is leading a very successful implementation
of the Water Quality Protection Division's ULO
Reduction Strategy. In FY 08, the Branch exceeded
ULO expenditure goals for the infrastructure and
nonpoint source programs by 27%. Total expenditures
in these programs exceeded $317 million.
319- Exceeded expenditure goal of $30M by disbursing $31.3M
SRFs - Exceeded expenditure goal of $ 175 by disbursing $236.6M
BEIF - Exceeded expenditure goal of $45M by disbursing $51.7M
U.S Environmental Protection Agency - Region 6
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Water Quality Protection Division
FY08 Performance Summary Report
Drinking Water and Wastewater Connections: Goal Exceeded on the U.S.-Mexico Border
The U.S.-Mexico Environmental Program
(Border 2012) is a collaboration between the
United States and Mexico to improve the
environment and protect the health of the
nearly 12 million people living along the
border. One of the program's goals is
to achieve a 25% increase from the 2003
baseline in the number of homes connected
to potable water supply and wastewater collection
and treatment systems by 201 2.
San Benito Wastewater Treatment Plant
Photos Jose Rodriguez. EPA Region 6
In FY08, the number of new wastewater connections completed
was 31,686. The U.S.-Mexico Border Program has currently
achieved 78% of its Border 2012 wastewater connections goal and will exceed the goal in FY09. The Program
also completed 5,162 new drinking water connections. With these connections, the Program has now exceeded
its Border 2012 goal of 24,629 drinking water connections by 17%.
Award Winning Improvements
in Indirect Procurement
In September 2008, EPA's Office of
Small Business Programs selected Region
6's State Revolving Fund (SRF) Team
to receive the Administrator's Award
for Outstanding Indirect Procurement
Program Achievement. The award honors
their proactive efforts toward improving
Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and
Women's Business Enterprise (WBE)
participation in Region 6 State SRF recipient
agencies. The award was announced
in FY08, but honored the FY07 record
accomplishment of $24 Million awarded
to MBE/WBE firms which represented
39% of the SRF grant awards for FY07, far
exceeding the agency goal of 8%.
photo. EPA
From left to right: Javier Balli, Dianne Sales, Margaret
Osbourne, Susan Spalding, Maurice Rawls, Miguel Flores,
Miriam Fisher-Hadley, Velma Smith and Susanne Mann
(not pictured: Tyrone Hoskins)
Clean Water State Revolving Fund
Roundtable Meeting
On June 24, 2008, Region 6 hosted one of the national "round-
table" workshops sponsored by EPA's Office of Wastewater
Management to promote creative approaches in using Clean
Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF) for enhanced watershed
management activities and additional focus on public health issues.
The Assistance Programs Branch's CWSRF Team worked with
HQ and its contractor to organize the Region 6 meeting. Over
forty people, representing a wide variety of EPA programs (such as
Superfund and National Estuary Programs), attended the workshop.
State representatives participated via teleconference.
Tribe Approved for Treatment As A State
The Citizen Potawatomi Nation's application for "Treatment as
a State" for the Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 106 Program
was approved on August 19, 2008. This approval gives the tribe
authority to receive Federal funding for activities supporting the
prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution.
Tribal Workshops For Improved Sampling Methods
The Osage Nation collaborated with Region 6 and the U.S.
Geological Survey in FY08 to provide three workshops entitled
"Introduction to Field Water Quality Methods for the Tribes
of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 6." The
workshops emphasized clean sampling protocols for metals
collection and analysis in surface water and also addressed field
preparation, water monitoring, integrated-flow techniques, and
discharge and field measurements. Practical knowledge and
hands-on experience gained at the workshop have enabled the
Tribal participants to utilize comparable and consistent sampling
methods, enhancing the quality assurance of their data.
6
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region 6
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Water Quality Protec tion Division
FY08 Performance Summary Report
Watershed Restoration and Ecosyste
Ecosystems Protection Branch
ction
Improving Water Quality
through Federal-State
Partnerships
Slow-moving waterbodies in Louisiana
have long raised concerns about
their naturally-occuring low levels of
dissolved oxygen. Efforts to address
this longstanding problem have been
stymied by differences between the
manner in which EPA and the Louisiana
Department of Environmental Quality
(LDEQ) developed water quality criteria
for these waterbodies in the past.
However, significant progress was made
beginning in July 2007 when EPA and
LDEQ partnered to develop a protocol
and timeline for state-wide, ecoregion-
based dissolved oxygen criteria. In
January 2008, months of intensive
planning culminated in the completion of
a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
which describes how least-disturbed
reference conditions are to be identified
and used to represent attainable water
quality in the state. As a result LDEQ
proposed new dissolved oxygen criteria
in October for portions of southern
Louisiana, the first project to be imple-
mented under the new MOA.
Swamp and canal along Grand River, Louisiana
photo Tina Hendon. EPA Region 6
Enforcement Action Leads to Restoration
While exceeding for the fourth
consecutive year its annual goal of 20
wetlands enforcement actions against
violators of the Clean Water Act (CWA)
Section 404, EPA succeeded in obtaining a
Consent Agreement and Final Order for
a significant violation against a sugarcane
operation in Iberia Parish, Louisiana.
The violation consisted of illegal land
clearing, leveling of tidally-influenced
wetlands, levee construction, and culvert
installation on 239 acres of wetlands.
The enforcement action compelled
the company to restore the 239 acres
of wetlands impacted by the illegal fill
activities and to pay a $ 150,000 fine, the
largest administrative penalty assessed
by Region 6 for a wetlands case. ph0tos M*. conn, John
Land Surveys. Inc., Lafayette, LA
Clean Water Act Jurisdiction Determinations after Rapanos
The CWA Section 404 requires permits
for the discharge of fill materials to
waterbodies protected by federal law.
In June 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court
issued a decision in the case of United
States v. Rapanos that wetlands and
streams that are not hydrologically
connected to navigable waters are not
subject to requirements of the CWA.
Implementation of this decision is
particularly challenging in arid areas such
as New Mexico where 90% of the stream miles flow intermittently
throughout the year. As a result of the Rapanos decision, EPA and the
Corps of Engineer's district office in Albuquerque stopped regulating
fill activities in dry arroyos lacking a connection to navigable waters.
However, the two agencies continued their practice of conducting an
analysis to determine connectivity by evaluating the ability of a wetland or
stream to carry and filter pollutants downstream and store floodwaters.
Mutual agreement on this approach has resulted in the protection of a
significant number of acres of wetlands and miles of stream corridors in
New Mexico's arid landscape.
Unauthorized fill in an unnamed tributary
to the Animas River, Aztec, NM
photo: Tom Nystrom, EPA Region 6
US Environmental Protection Agency - Region 6
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Water Qu a I
Protection Division
FY08 Performance Summary Report
Progress Through Innovation
Construction of the Lake Borgne Shoreline Protection project,
funded by the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and
Restoration Act (CWPPRA) and begun in October 2007, was
completed in December 2008. EPA worked in partnership
with Louisiana's Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration
to design and construct the $25 million project in St. Bernard
Parish to protect the fragile wetlands along the Mississippi River
Gulf Outlet and the rim of Lake Borgne from further erosion
over the next 20 years. The two major components of the
project include placement of
a unique, back-to-back steel
sheetpile structure (never
previously implemented in
CWPPRA projects) at Bayou
Dupre and a stone dike along
the lake's shoreline at Shell
Beach and near the bayou. A
seldom used technique referred to as "end-on" construction
Rock shoreline protection was utilized to Place a Portion
placed along Lake Borgne ^^ of the rock dike. The steel
sheetpile at Bayou Dupre
and most of the rock dike
performed well against the
high winds, waves, and water
of both hurricanes, Gustav
and Ike. These innovative
techniques could prove useful in the design and construction of
future CWPPRA projects to bolster protection and restoration
of coastal wetlands.
photos: Patricia Taylor. EPA Region 6
Steel sheetpile structure
placed at Bayou Dupre
Texas Beach Watch Program
helps EPA protect communities.
photo Barbara Keeler, EPA Region 6
EPA-State Action to
Protect Public Health
The Clean Water
Act requires that
states assess their
water quality data
every two years
to determine if
waterbodies are
safe for swimming
and recreation.
The states are
required to prepare a so-called "303(d) list" of
waters not meeting water quality standards for
their intended use. In Texas, EPA reviews that
list in coordination with the Texas Commission
on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). In its 2008
review, EPA asked that TCEQ consider bacteria
data collected by the Texas Beach Watch Program
administered by the Texas General Land Office
(GLO). The GLO routinely samples the water
at popular beaches in the state and notifies the
public when results indicate swimming may pose a
health risk. EPA and TCEQ analyzed GLO's data
and found that bacteria densities exceeded water
quality criteria at Cole Park and Ropes Park in
Corpus Christi. Based on this finding, EPA added
these beach areas to the state's 2008 list, which
will encourage the state and local governments to
take the necessary actions to reduce bacteria loads
at these beaches, reducing health risks associated
with swimming in those waters.
Ausrage time required for EPA action on State
section 303(d) lists of impaired waters.
Improvements in EPA-State Review Process Encourage Action on Contaminated Waterbodies
The CWA requires EPA to review and either approve or disapprove state 303(d) lists of impaired waterbodies
every two years. The law also specifies that the review process be completed within 30 days from the time a state
submits its list for EPA action, although historically, this process has taken much longer. Past delays were attributed
to insufficiently documented or non-standard State submittals, decisions that EPA found technically unacceptable or
inconsistent with standards, and surprises when draft reports
were not initially shared with EPA. Within EPA, delays were
attributed to competing priorities, lack of an automated
electronic review system, legal reviews, and management
concerns about final actions. Since 2005, EPA has worked
closely with its partners in the five states in Region 6 to
streamline and automate the process, significantly reducing
the time required for EPA actions from approximately 14
months in 2004 to less than three months in 2008. EPA and
the states are poised to continue making progress through
the next biennial reporting cycle in 2010. Reducing the time
required for EPA actions on the 303(d) lists enables states to
take more timely actions to correct water quality problems
through the regulatory framework and funding mechanisms
authorized by the CWA.
15
10
5
n
2004 2006 2008
Reporting Cycle
graph: Charlie Howell. EPA Region 6
8
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region 6
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Water Quality Protection Division
FY08 Performance Summary Report
Collaborative Efforts Restore
Beloved Louisiana River
For 20 years, the upper and lower reaches of the
Tangipahoa River in Louisiana remained contaminated
with high bacteria (fecal coliform) and sediment
loads, low dissolved oxygen, mercury, and other
agri-chemicals, threatening public health and the
environment. Cleanup of the 79-mile river that runs
through the state into Lake Pontchartrain eluded
government and non-government agencies throughout
the years because of the difficulty of controlling runoff
of wastes from the two major non-point sources of the
pollution, the numerous residential sewage systems and
the 250 dairy farms in the watershed. This prompted the
photo: Beverly Ethridge. EPA R«pon_6__ LDEQ in 2000 tO list the
two reaches of the river
on the state's 303(d) list
of impaired waterbodies.
In ensuing years, a broad
range of local, state,
and federal government
and non-governmental
agencies such as the
Lake Pontchartrain Basin
Foundation, worked
collaboratively with local
dairy and sewer operators
to design, fund, and
implement a long-term
watershed management
plan. Data has shown that the plan has been effective
in improving water quality in both the lower and upper
reaches of the river. As a result, LDEQ proposed
removing these segments of the river from the state's
2008 list for fecal coliform. The entire river now
safely supports its intended recreational, public uses.
This achievement has been recognized as one of the
Agency's success stories.
Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation
has worked to train sewer operators
to reduce discharges from lagoons
and small package plants.
National Estuary Programs Hold Back the Sea
Facing some of the highest rates of
coastal land loss in the country, the
three EPA National Estuary Programs
(NEPs) in Region 6 worked with
a host of partners to protect and
restore 3,600 acres of coastal habitat
at risk from development, subsidence,
erosion, and sea level rise. One of
the two NEPs located in Texas, the
Galveston Bay Estuary Program, and its
partners completed the North Deer
Island Restoration and Protection
Project, protecting tidal flats, lagoons,
and wetlands on an island used by
as many as 30,000 pairs of nesting
birds. The large team implementing
this project was the recipient of the
Gulf Guardian Partnership Award
for 2008. Further south along the
Texas coast, the Coastal Bend Bays
and Estuaries Program (CBBEP)
continued to increase its coastal land
holdings, receiving title to a 54-acre
barrier island wetland property on
Mustang Island. The Nueces Delta
Preserve, the gem of the CBBEP, is
made up of 5,000 acres of estuarine
land owned and managed by the NEP
for conservation. This year, another
75-acre property was added to the
Preserve. Finally, the Barataria-Terrebonne NEP in
Louisiana worked with an expansive group of business
and agency partners to provide technical assistance for
a diverse group of projects to create salt marsh habitat
with dredged material, protect shoreline habitat, and
rebuild barrier islands.
Federal-State-Local Partnership Yields Environmental and Public Health Benefits
Unsafe levels of polychlorinated biphenyls and the pesticides chlordane, DDT, and dieldrin in fish from Lake
Como near Ft. Worth, Texas led the state to ban the possession of fish from the lake in 1995. A year later, the
state noted the lake's impaired designated fish consumption use by adding it to the state's 303(d) list of impaired
waterbodies. Through a collaborative effort among EPA, the U.S. Geological Survey, TCEQ, Texas Department
of State Health Services (DSHS), the city's Environmental Management Department, and local citizens, best
management practices were designed, funded, and implemented to address the water quality problem which led
to the contamination of the fish in the lake. As a result of its fish tissue sampling efforts, DSHS adopted a revised
health risk assessment protocol to improve existing safeguards for public health. TCEQ has since determined that
Lake Como is in compliance with relevant federal water quality criteria for fish consumption use, prompting it
to remove the lake from the state's 2008 303(d) list. Restoration of Lake Como has also been featured by EPA
Headquarters as one of the Agency's success stories.
9
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region 6
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Water Quality Protection Division
FY08 Performance Summary Report
Protecting Surface Water
NPDES Permits and TMDLs Branch
Largest Percentage of Current Permits in the Nation
EPA Region 6 leads the country in the number of discharge permits
that are current. In FY08, the NPDES and TMDLs Branch achieved
and maintained a permit issuance rate of 97%, the highest in the
Nation, exceeding the National goal of 90%. Region 6 also regulates
the largest permitting universe in the Nation, with approximately
26,900 industrial and municipal wastewater discharges, which
represents 25% of the universe in the United States.
The importance of current permits...
The percentage of permits that are current is one of the critical
measures in assessing the success of the NPDES permitting
program. This goal is measured as the number of facilities
(major and minor) covered by individual and non-stormwater
general permits. Permits that are not issued in a timely
manner could result in the delay of necessary controls to
reduce the discharge of pollutants. As more facilities become
more complex, it has become crucial to implement revised or
newly adopted water quality standards and effluent national
guidelines into NPDES permits.
NPDES Permits Issued by Region 6 States (Percent Current)
100%,
96% j
1
National
Goal
ADEQ LDEQ OOEQ TCEQ
* liH'luiic-t P.l'A Issued Permits in New
photos: tPA
photo EPA
Bacteria Limits in Permits for
Domestic Wastewater Facilities in Texas
At the beginning of FY08, Texas was considering alternative
approaches for imposing bacteria effluent limits and monitoring
requirements in all domestic wastewater permits. Out of 649
Texas water body assessment units (AUs) listed as impaired on
Texas' 2008 303(d) list, 402 AUs or 62% are listed as impaired
for bacteria. Throughout the first several months of the year, the
Branch coordinated closely with TCEQ to refocus its surrogate
parameter-based approach to bacteria controls, and to ensure that
discharges from these facilities meet Texas' bacteria water quality
standards, which are especially important given the significant
number of Texas water bodies listed as impaired for bacteria.
In July 2008, TCEQ submitted its plan to make necessary revisions
to its procedures, and include appropriate bacteria limitations
and monitoring requirements in all domestic wastewater permits
by January I, 2010. TCEQ has begun implementing the interim
requirements for bacteria included in their plan.
10
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region
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Water Quality Protection Division
FY08 Performance Summary Report
Whole Effluent Toxicity
In 2005, Region 6 launched a whole effluent toxicity (WET)
initiative aimed at bringing NPDES permit requirements into
full compliance with existing federal regulations and State
water quality standards. The primary focus of this effort is for
States to determine whether discharges have the reasonable
potential to exceed a State water quality standard and, where
such potential is present, to include WET limits in permits
based on reasonable potential for either lethal or sub-lethal
toxic effects to the test organisms.
Region 6 developed a permitting procedure to address WET
requirements and in 2005 began issuing permits in New
Mexico under that procedure. In FY08, two of the remaining
four States in Region 6 also instituted appropriate WET
permitting procedures: Louisiana and Arkansas. Currently,
we are continuing to work with Oklahoma and Texas as they
consider changes of their procedures.
About WET testing...
Whole effluent toxicity (WET)
testing ensures that waste
water discharges from point sources
are not toxic to sensitive aquatic
life. This testing is required of all
major waste water dischargers with
/ permits issued under the NPDES
in EPA Region 6. Testing is usually
done for two aquatic species. If the
effluent does not demonstrate toxicity, a
reduction in
the testing frequency
may be granted
the permit.
in
Above: Daphnia mogna
(Water Flea)
Right: Pimphales prome/os
(Fathead Minnow)
Convening Stakeholders
24th Annual Region 6 Pretreatment Workshop
During FY08, in conjunction with the Region 6 Pretreatment Association, the Branch hosted the 24th Annual
Region 6 Pretreatment Workshop and continued its legacy of not only conveying important programmatic
information, but providing a venue for networking among Pretreatment personnel in the Region. This is
one of the most successful and longest running workshops of its kind in the Nation, and continues to draw
participants because of its nationally recognized speakers and commitment to addressing current issues
within the Pretreatment community.
I Oth Annual EPA Region 6 Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Operator's Conference
In partnership with the City of Waco, Texas, the Branch hosted its I Oth Annual EPA Region 6 Municipal Separate
Storm Sewer System (MS4) Operator's Conference in Waco, Texas. Region 6 is proud of this decade-old
tradition of bringing municipal, state, federal, and private storm water quality management professionals together
to share information and experiences. The primary purpose of the conference is to help foster more efficient
and effective storm water management programs, while avoiding the costs of re-inventing the wheel or repeating
mistakes others have already learned to prevent from experience. This well received forum attracts 250-300
attendees each year from not only Region 6 states, but from across the nation. In 2009, the conference will be
held on June 22-25 in Houston, Texas.
2008 National Section 303(d) Listing/Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Program Meeting
The NPDES Permits and TMDL Branch led the Region's efforts in hosting the 2008 National Section 303(d) Listing
/Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Program Meeting in Austin, Texas. A total of 80 people from the ten EPA
Regions and EPA Headquarters attended the workshop to develop practical and applied solutions to complex
TMDL and listing issues; exchange expertise; update technical/policy information; and facilitate coordination. This
was the first time for Region 6 to host this important national meeting.
International Partnership to Address Water Quality Concerns Along the U.S.-Mexico Border
During FY 08, Region 6 expanded its collaboration with TCEQ and with Mexican government officials to develop
plans for establishing a TMDL for segments of the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo River. The beginning of a multi-year
project, this effort may ultimately lead to the first bi-national TMDL in the Region.
11
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region 6
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Water Quality Protection Division
FY08 Performance Summary Report
Strategic Planning and
Community Outreach
Planning and Analysis Branch
In line with EPA's goal of promoting an ethic of improving water use practices to increase efficiency, eliminate waste and
conserve water resources, the Planning and Analysis Branch continues to provide leadership and innovation in several
regional and national initiatives by building partnerships and promoting stewardship opportunities.
Climate Change Strategies
The Planning and Analysis Branch played a key
role assisting the Office of Water in developing
the "National Water Program Strategy: Response
to Climate Change", an initial effort to describe
climate change impacts on water programs, define
goals and objectives for responding to climate
change, and identify a comprehensive package of
specific response actions.
The Branch was also instrumental in the
development of the Region 6 Clean Energy and
Climate Change Strategy. The States in Region 6 generate over 35% of the
nation's fossil fuel derived Carbon Dioxide (CO2) from industrial sources,
and also generate over 15% of the nation's fossil fuel derived CO2 from
both transportation and electric power
sources. To counter the amount of
greenhouse gases generated in Region 6,
there are vast and untapped sources of
renewable energy (solar and wind) in
our states. For example, Texas ranks
number one among states in solar
potential, and produces the most wind
power of any U.S. state.
pholo: EPA
Region 6
Climate Change Forum
The Branch helped organize and
host the first of-its-kind Climate
Change Forum between Region
6 States and EPA. Regional
Administrator Richard Greene
welcomed over 30 State officials
and representatives from Arkansas,
Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma,
and Texas to discuss state and federal
perspectives; better understand
individual and mutual concerns; and
identify follow-up needs. In addition
representatives from the British
Consulate-General shared lessons
learned from the United Kingdom's
climate change policies.
photo: EPA
photo: EPA
The Solution Is In Your Hands Exhibit
"Simple Yet Profound" - The exhibit won the praises of Region 6's Regional
Administrator during the unveiling and DVD presentation.
The Planning and Analysis Branch developed the exhibit through a Regional
Geographic Initiatives (RGI) grant, in line with EPA's goal of promoting an
ethic of improving water and energy use practices to increase efficiency,
eliminate waste and conserve water resources.
Audiences are expected to walk away with simple everyday ideas/steps that
can be applied in their lives and in their homes to save money and the earth
for future generations.
12
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region 6
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Water Quality Protection Division
F Y 0 8 Per f o r m a n ce Summary Report
.':'..:':.
Promoting an Ethic of Water Efficiency and Protection
Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) Social
Marketing Campaign for College and University Campuses
Several recent studies have detected PPCPs in treated wastewater effluent, and in rivers
and lakes that serve as sources of drinking water. One source of these contaminants
is the improper disposal of unused medicines down toilets and in drains. The presence
of these biologically active compounds in surface waters have raised concerns about
human health and the health of aquatic wildlife. EPA Region 6 seeks to reduce the occurrence of these compounds in
surface water and protect drinking water sources.
Working in partnership with the University of Dallas (UD) Graduate School of Management, the Partnerships and
Communications Team developed a Social Marketing Campaign for managing PPCPs on college campuses.
This successful partnership resulted in the development of a social marketing strategy and advertising campaign to
raise awareness of PPCPs issues on college and university campuses and foster behavior change to prevent unused
PPCPs from being flushed down toilets and poured in drains. The Team will continue to partner with the UD
Graduate School of Management to organize a campus unused drug "take back" program.
Tarrant County "Every Drop Counts" Campaign
The Partnerships and Communication Team launched the first county-wide water conservation initiative
with Tarrant County involving 1.7 million people, 33 cities, 4,000 employees, elected officials, city
facility managers, public works directors, independent school districts, and other large water users. A
public education program coined "Every Drop Counts" resulted in 900 county employees pledging
to reduce water use at work and home, and prompted several local newspaper articles promoting
water conservation tips. At the conclusion of the campaign, 23 Tarrant County buildings installed
automatic flush low flow toilets, 18 buildings installed automatic "hands free" water faucets, an out of
date cooling tower was replaced which netted a water savings of 40%, and the largest water user, the
Tarrant County Corrections Center realized a 50% reduction in water use by installing 3-minute timers on shower facilities.
WaterSense Program
The Planning and Analysis Branch developed a successful marketing strategy to promote
WaterSense, a voluntary partnership program launched in June 2006 as part of the
RA's 400-Day Plan commitment. The Program has been rapidly expanding and as a
AA/o^pf ^pll C p result in FY08, Region 6 enlisted 37 new WaterSense Partners. Under the WaterSense
program, interested stakeholders can join under any of five categories: Promotional,
Retailers and Distributors, Landscape Irrigation Professionals and Professional Certifying Organizations.
Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Urban Solutions Center, Dallas (Texas AgriLife), became an EPA Water Sense
partner in 2008. The Center works with water and utility districts, the North Central Texas Council of Governments
(NCTCOG), city and county governments, landscapers, Master Gardeners, irrigators, naturalists and individual
homeowners and landowners to provide the latest science-based information on water conservation.
North Texas Urban Irrigation Symposium
EPA Region 6 joined its new WaterSense partner, Texas AgriLife, in
planning and conducting an irrigation symposium on July 22, 2008. The
WQPD Director and Planning & Analysis Branch staff provided expertise
in panel discussions on current water issues affecting North Texas and the
new state of Texas irrigation guidelines. Other organizations
represented in the panel were Texas AgriLife, the Dallas
Irrigation Association, the TCEQ, the Texas Nursery and
Landscape Association, City of Fort Worth, City of Frisco,
City of Piano and NCTCOG.
Representatives
from EPA and
AgriLife
Research and
Extension Urban
Solutions Center
Photo: AgnLife Research and Extension Urban Solutions Center
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region
13
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Water Quality Prote ction Division
FY08 Performance Su mmary Repor t
I
EarthFest 2008
Dallas' Premier Earth Day Event
Each year the
Planning and
Analysis Branch
becomes the
center for one
of Region 6's
most visible
and energetic
community
outreach
activities.
EarthFest is a
downtown Dallas
celebration of
Earth Day that
draws thousands of people each year. It
includes music, food, entertainment, and
a wide variety of environmental exhibits,
as well as cleanup activities throughout the
downtown area by teams of employees from
downtown businesses.
Now entering
it's sixth year,
EarthFest is
made possible
through a
partnership
between EPA
Region 6, the
City of Dallas,
Downtown
Dallas, Inc. and
Keep Dallas
Beautiful. In addition, in 2008, the event
became an official part of an environmental
initiative of WFAA-TV which significantly
expanded media visibility for the event,
including several segments on WFAA-TV's
Good Morning Texas program.
Overall the coordination for EarthFest is
led by the Permits Processing Team and
involves the participation of staff throughout
the Region 6 office.
photos: EPA
GIS Analysis
In 2008, the Water Information and Analysis Team generated
geographical data and maps of priority watersheds for the five States
within Region 6 identifying nonpoint source projects as well as analyzing
stream flow and water quality trends. This information aids in water
program decision making. The additional geographic information
system support includes analyses and map generation of the US-Mexico
border area for the NPDES Permits Branch. This area is part of the
binational TMDL pilot project of the Rio Grande in Texas.
Graphic Design
The Water Information and Analysis Team assisted the Region 6 Office
of Environmental Justice and Tribal Affairs (OEJTA) by preparing EJ
reports for 59 sites in 2008. These reports show the environmental
impact that water related projects will have on the surrounding
communities and are used by state agencies as well as EPA employees
to evaluate these projects.
Other projects completed include scriptwriting for the Gulf of Mexico
20th Anniversary Video, Border 2012 fact sheets design, Agricultural
Committee annual report, and numerous displays and exhibits which
support a variety of program presentations.
Support of Permitting Programs
The Permit Processing Team implements regulatory and
policy requirements needed to support permitting programs
in the Water Quality Protection Division. For FY08, the
Team coordinated 31 actions for TMDL public notifications,
processed and reviewed 63 NPDES permit applications,
issued 23 NPDES permits, and took actions on 260 UIC
permits. The Team also coordinated two public hearings and
meetings held in New Mexico for the Buckman Diversion
and the Los Alamos National Lab permits.
Migration of NPDES Data to
Integrated Compliance Information System (ICIS)
The Permit Processing Team provides updates to
Headquarters on a regular basis and is currently involved
with the migration of NPDES data to ICIS. The state
environmental offices in New Mexico, Arkansas and
Oklahoma have migrated all aspects of their data into the
system. Texas and Louisiana plan to migrate in August 2009.
The Team continues to support Region 6 states to ensure a
smooth transition into ICIS.
Tribal Training DVD
In collaboration with the Region 6 Tribal Operations Committee (RTOC) and the Region 6 Office of Environmental
Justice and Tribal Affairs, the Branch produced a DVD which is designed to provide an introduction and basic
orientation to tribal environmental program management. The partnership between the RTOC and EPA Region 6
was instrumental in concept development, the creation of a script and ultimately the production of this DVD.
14
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region 6
-------
Water Quality Protection Division
FY08 Performance Summary Report
Assuring Safe Drinking Water
The Source Water Protection Branch (SWPB) demonstrated EPA's commitment to protect the health of citizens of Region 6 by
building State and Tribal capabilities through technical and program expertise. These efforts ensured safe drinking water
for Region 6 residents during FY08.
Building State and Tribal Capacity
The Branch continues
to invest resources in
building State and Tribal
capabilities to implement
drinking water and UIC
programs. It provided
numerous Safe Drinking
Water Information
System training sessions
throughout the Region which enabled the States to make
significant strides in data reporting and management.
Additionally, UIC technical assistance was provided to
State primacy agencies in Region 6 on topics such as Class I
hazardous and non-hazardous waste injection well pressure
fall-off tests, step rate tests, and UIC inspector training. In
December 2007, Region 6 conducted a pressure fall-off test
training course in Santa Fe, NM, well attended by EPA and
State UIC regulators.
CO2 Geosequestration
Region 6 is recognized
nationally as a leader
in the developing
program area of carbon
geosequestration using
deep well injection, and
in FY 2008, was the
most active Region in
the development of the
UIC geosequestration
proposed regulations.
Because of the SWPB's
expertise with deep well
injection technologies,
EPA HQ requested Region 6 involvement in several
workshops and conferences. Region 6 will continue to play a
key role in this promising approach to mitigating greenhouse
gas and it's effects on climate change.
Underground Injection Control (UIC)
In 2008 several notable actions occurred as a result
of the close cooperation between the Branch and
state UIC programs. UIC State oversight personnel
continued to work with the State of Oklahoma's
Class II UIC program to improve the State's ability
to protect underground sources of drinking water
(USDWs) through special projects providing
equipment and training designed to identify sources
of subsurface ground water contamination. Consul-
tation with the Louisiana UIC program resulted
in the State expanding its protection of USDWs
afforded by its program to include the injection of
drilling wastes into the annulus of production wells.
This action increased the State's UIC program
to include one of every five newly drilled oil and
gas exploratory wells in Louisiana. As a result of
oversight and a close working relationship with
the Texas Railroad Commission, new permitting
procedures were developed, reducing the risk to
USDWs from shallow injection of large volumes
of wastes generated from Barnett Shale gas field
production activities.
Sole Source Aquifer (SSA)
On January 10, 2008 the EPA Region 6
Administrator approved designation of the
Espanola Basin Aquifer System as a Sole
Source Aquifer. This New Mexico SSA is the
sixth in Region 6 and the first located in New
Mexico. During 2008, SWPB staff reviewed
and commented on over 200 Federal financial
assistance projects from the six Regional SSAs
to help prevent aquifer contamination.
15
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region 6
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Water Quality Protection Division
FY08 Performance Summary Report
..
Partnership with Region 6 Enforcement for Environmental Benefit
The Ground Water/UIC Section prioritized the review of an injection well no migration petition for a facility that
had released over 50 million gallons of acid to the Houston Ship Channel due to a breach in a retention pond. This
effort supported an enforcement consent order which was designed to prevent another release. In March of FY08,
the Ground Water/UIC Section confirmed the deep injection well operation was safe for human health and the
environment, and the facility was able to use the well to dispose of the acid waste and avoid another release.
Decentralized Waste Water Training
On June 26, 2008, the SWPB, in partnership with New Mexico State
University (NMSU), hosted several Tribal members from Pueblos in
New Mexico at the first one day training in the design, construction and
maintenance of on-site septic and decentralized waste water treatment
systems. The training was developed specifically for Tribes and Pueblos in
New Mexico and was held at an easily accessible location in Albuquerque.
Failing septic systems can cause contamination of domestic drinking water
wells as well as surface waters.
Decentralized Waste Water System
diagmm: EPA
Soil
Groundwatcr
Drinking Water
Early Implementation of the Stage 2 Disinfection Byproducts (Stage 2) and
Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment (LT2) Drinking Water Rules
The Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (Stage 2 DBPR) and the Long
Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2) will bolster existing regulations and
provide a higher level of protection to drinking water supplies. States have taken varying
approaches to implementing the Stage 2 and LT2 Rules for which they do not yet have
primacy. The Drinking Water Section provided assistance to most States on implementation
of the rules. In Oklahoma, EPA Region 6 has full responsibility for early implementation
activities. Approximately 34 training sessions were conducted in the States, and over 550
water system compliance plans have been evaluated. The Section mailed reminder letters
to help systems better understand the requirements, and provided on-site technical
assistance with electronic
photo EPA
data reporting to the
major laboratories in
Oklahoma, facilitating
automated compliance
determinations.
Source Water Protection Program (SWP)
As of June 30, 2008, the Region 6 states reported that
they have substantially implemented Source Water
Protection programs for 26% of their community
water systems (2,163) serving 50% of the population
(18,749,304). Source water assessments were also
conducted at 4 tribal public water systems in Oklahoma,
and SWP activities were conducted at 16 Tribes in New
Mexico. To date 81 % of tribal community water systems
(44 of 54) have achieved substantial implementation of
their source water protection plan, serving 95% of the
Region 6 tribal population (64,796 out of 68,506).
Tribal Drinking Water Program
The Tribal Drinking Water Program works with Tribes
to maintain compliance with drinking water regulations
through direct technical assistance. Radionuclides
sampling is complete for 100% of CWS and 92% of
CWS have met the requirements to be placed on
reduced monitoring schedules, saving thousands of
dollars on sampling and analysis. In addition, sampling
for all contaminate groups was completed, and sanitary
surveys were conducted such that goal numbers were
exceeded. Compliance with the arsenic rule is on track,
and the Region is currently working with five systems
to transition into the new arsenic requirements.
Numerous trainings and workshops were provided
to Tribal operators to help improve compliance, all of
which were well attended.
16
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region 6
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Water Q u a I ity Protection Division
FY08 Performance Summary Report
Area Wide Optimization Program (AWOP)
The AWOP has helped the States of Arkansas, Louisiana and
Oklahomadeal with compliance issues related to the Disinfection
By-ProductStage I Rule.Thenumberofsystemsinnoncompliance
was cut from about 60 in Arkansas to about 1 2 using operational
improvement techniques. Similar improvements are ongoing
in Oklahoma. Turbidity levels and disinfection by-product
concentration trends
have shown continued __ IIII>»-
improvement
partner states.
in the
Participants at a
Performance Based Training
session in DeSoto, Louisiana
analyze operational data.
photo: EPA
Drinking Water Compliance
Standard Operating
Procedure (SOP)
The Drinking Water Section worked with the
NMED Drinking Water Bureau to improve
drinking water compliance determination
and the procedures for documenting these
determinations into the SDWIS/STATE
database. Through this partnership, the
Drinking Water Section helped improve
NMED compliance determination with
drinking water regulations for public drinking
water systems. This was accomplished
by finalizing an NMED approved and
implemented SOP as the result of workshops
and conference calls over a two year period.
Sanitary Survey Training
In 2008, the Source Water Protection Branch conducted three sanitary
survey trainings for the states of Oklahoma, Colorado and in-house training
for EPA Region 6. Region 6 is one of the few EPA Regions with the capacity
to perform sanitary surveys on their own, and is recognized nationally for
its leadership and innovations in this area. The Region's sanitary survey
field experience has benefited our states in maintaining high compliance
rates with drinking water rules, and in responding to natural disasters such
as hurricanes. Sanitary survey training provided to our State partners is
utilized in maintaining the effectiveness of an operative drinking water
system to provide potable water to the public, and in assessing defects
when natural or man-made service disruptions shut down water systems.
Sanitary Survey trainer Andy Waite at a facility
in Oklahoma during Sanitary Survey Training
Photo: Kim Ngo EPA Region 6
Coliphage project supported by RGI funding
Escherichia coli (E. coli) have long been the standard indicator organism for fecal contamination in water supplies.
With the EPA Ground Water Rule, effective in 2009, another fecal indicator, coliphage, has come to the forefront.
Coliphage are viruses that specifically infect E. coli and are an excellent indicator of fecal contamination. Through
funding support from EPA Region 6's RGI and support from the Drinking Water Section, the coliphage detection
method has been modified for use in the field to make it more cost and time efficient for water systems. Virginia
Tech University tested E. coli growth conditions for coliphage at various temperatures, incubation periods, growth
media and removed certain steps to simplify the method. The method is ready for field testing and should save
time and eliminate the need for several pieces of expensive lab equipment. The project will provide water systems
an easier way to measure coliphage.
Ground Water Center Provides Training At Summer Girls Camp
On June 25th, July 2nd, and July 22nd, members of the Ground Water Center presented
a Ground Water model, a water flow experiment, and discussed the role of women in
science and engineering at three sessions of Girls Incorporated of Metropolitan Dallas "Camp
Smart." The organization has been in operation for 40 years. This year's camp theme was
"Journey of Earth: Going Green." Camp Smart is aimed at girls from economically challenged
neighborhoods entering the 5th and 6th grade.
photo Girts Inc of Metropolitan Dallas
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region 6
17
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Water Quality Protection Division
FY08 Performance Summary Report
2008 Hurricane Response
In 2008, hurricanes Gustav and Ike brought devas-
tation to large areas of both Texas and Louisiana.
m
Hurricane Gustav
Cameron Parish, LA
Lafourche Parish, LA
Hurricane Ike
Hurricane Gustav and Ike
Drinking Water and Wastewater Response
As a result of damaging hurricanes in previous years, Region 6 established a
water response team from several Divisions to assist States, when requested,
during emergencies involving water infrastructure.
In September 2008, in response to hurricanes Gustav and Ike in Louisiana,
Region 6 established drinking water assessment teams with Louisiana
Department of Health and Hospitals (LDHH) staff and wastewater
assessment teams with the Louisiana Department of Environmental
Quality (LDEQ) staff. Additionally, in response to hurricane Ike in Texas,
the Region established drinking water and wastewater teams with the
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) staff. Under a
mission assignment from FEMA, these teams conducted on-site assessments
of drinking water and wastewater systems to determine operational status,
emergency power and technical assistance needs, and risks to public
health. A total of 107 drinking water and 274 wastewater assessments
were conducted in Louisiana and 43 I drinking water and 227 wastewater
assessments were conducted in Texas.
Region 6 continues to coordinate with the States and other EPA Regions to
further define roles and responsibilities of the water response team and to
develop procedures for future emergencies. The Region has already conducted
multiple internal lessons learned meetings from the 2008 hurricane responses.
Total Assessments for Hurricanes Gustav and Ike:
538 drinking water and 501 wastewater assessments
Hurricane damage in Texas
photos: tPA
18
US. Environmental Protection Agency - Region 6
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Water Quality Protection Division
FY08 Performance Summary Report
Translation
Cultivating Hispanic Community Involvement
Beyond Translation - Best Practice
In FY08, The Director of the Water Quality Protection Division, Miguel Flores, continued his leadership of EPA's
Beyond Translation initiative to address long-standing environmental challenges and promote EPA's relevance
to Hispanic communities, one of the fastest growing communities in the region. The primary objective of this
new effort has been to encourage Hispanics to become active participants in the dialogue on the environmental
challenges facing the U.S. and to become part of the solution, especially with respect to those issues that most
impact their communities.
Through the establishment of new partnerships among EPA,
federal, state and local government organizations, academia, and
non-governmental organizations at the community level, EPA has
begun to promote meaningful collaboration with community leaders
in setting priorities and developing effective strategies to tackle a list
of the most pressing environmental problems in Region 6. Through
these new partnerships, leaders from EPA, Hispanic communities,
small business, and academia have begun to address environmental
health disparities, foster environmental education, and ensure
greater participation of ethnic minorities in EPA's regulatory and
contractual process.
The effectiveness of the new partnerships has been most apparent through the series of forums, co-sponsored by
Region 6 and leaders of Hispanic communities, in three key growth areas in Texas. Specifically, stakeholder forums
were held in 2006, 2007, and 2008 in the cities of San Antonio, Houston, and
McAllen, respectively. These meetings were so successful that other EPA
Regions adopted a similar outreach effort, which in turn, recently prompted
EPA to conduct a BT national forum in Washington, D.C.
The grassroots approach of the EPA Region 6 Beyond Translation initiative with
Hispanic communities now serves as a "Best Practice" model for the agency's
efforts to address unique challenges presented by other ethnic groups in the
United States, while enhancing environmental stewardship among the nation's
minority communities.
photos: EPA
UTEP & EPA Focus on Recruitment
The Beyond Translation Forums generated a number of recommendations,
one being EPA's participation in recruitment events at Hispanic Serving
Institutions (HSI) to increase the pool of applicants for EPA vacancies. In
2007, EPA signed an MOU with the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP),
the HSI graduating the largest number of Hispanic engineers. In FY08,
through the EPA/UTEP partnership, EPA reached out 4,000 students at
several recruitment events and conferences hosted by UTEP and its affiliates,
the Society for Hispanic Professional Engineers, and the Society of Mexican
American Engineers and Scientists.
U.S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
iilflll UTEP STUDENTS'
INFORMATION SESSION
GUEST SPEAKER-
Tuesday, September 2. 2008
Smiley Room 310, Union East
11:00 a.m. -12:30 p.m.
NOTE: Students, please bring your RESUME!
19
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region 6
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Water Quality Protection Division
FY08 Performance S umrnary Report
Miguel I. Flores Co-Chairs the
Four-State Regional Workgroup
which is made up of federal, state,
local governments, non-profit
organizations, academia, and
representation from the general
public. The Four-State Regional
Workgroup works together to
address the goals established under
Border 2012.
What is Border 2012?
The U.S.-Mexico Environ-
mental Program (Border 2012)
is a collaboration between
the United States and Mexico
to improve the environment
and protect the health of
the nearly 12 million people
living along the border. The
bi-national program focuses on
improving air quality, providing
safe drinking water, reducing
the risk of exposure to
hazardous waste, and ensuring
emergency preparedness along
the U.S.-Mexico border.
U.S.-MEXICO BORDER 2012
FOUR-STATE REGIONAL WORKGROUP
2008 Four-State Regional Workgroup Accomplishments
2008 saw a great deal of activity within the four-state region which
includes Texas, Taumaulipas, Coahuila, and Nuevo Leon.
In the water sector, funding from the Border Environmental
Infrastructure Fund (BEIF) is helping finance seventeen projects
that are currently under construction. With regard to air, EPA and
TCEQ are funding school bus retrofits. In waste, Nuevo Laredo
implemented the first
collection program for
household hazardous
waste in Mexico, and is
now being replicated in
Reynosa and Matamoros,
Tamaulipas. One major
accomplishment this
year is the closure of
the four illegal dump
sites in Reynosa.
Multiple environmental hazards exist in illegal dump sites.
Scrap tire management projects are underway in Piedras
Negras, Eagle Pass, Cd. Acuna, Nuevo Laredo, Reynosa, Laredo
. ;- - and Matamoros. This
year, more than one
million tires were sent to
cement kilns to be used as
alternative fuel.
The elimination and management
of scrap tires continues to be
a priority for the U.S-Mexico
border region.
The City of Laredo Environmental Services Department continues to work on
an initiative targeting pre-school through second grade children in Laredo, Texas,
as well as Laredo's sister city across the river - Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas,
Mexico. Phase I of the Los Dos Laredos Environmental Education Project
consists of producing new pre-K through 2nd grade environmental education
material and gathering other pre-existing and available materials, and presenting
the material by conducting several workshops on both sides of the Rio Grande,
which will include all private and government funded day care provider entities
and independent school districts.
The Laredo Health Department has developed a manual on toxics as well as an
easy-to-use reference for use by health professionals.
20
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region 6
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Water Quality Protection Division
FY08 Perfo r m a n c e S u m m a r y Report
Division Advisory Workgroup
The Division Advisory Workgroup (DAW) focuses on
employee matters by soliciting staff concerns with a goal of
improving employee satisfaction and retention. This year,
the DAW completed several projects that aid employees in
"getting to know" their co-workers.
Each Branch received a copy of the Division's New
Employee Manual, containing helpful information such
as organizational charts, administrative processes, EPA
web links and other information to assist new employees
navigate around the Division. The manual is also posted
on the Division Intranet.
New employee photographs were added to the Division
Photo Directory. These can be seen on the Division
Intranet to help introduce new staff to their colleagues.
Volunteers from the Division drafted a revision of the
Division's People Plan, a document which articulates the
overall strategy for managing, training and supporting
WQPD staff. New Region 6 employee programs were
added to the document.
Water Quality Protection Division
Training Council
The Division Training Council is comprised of WQPD
staff and management. Its mission is to develop and
implement a training program for employees that will
focus on maintaining the core competencies identified in
the Strategic Plan and identify training resources to meet
those needs.
Accomplishments during 2008 include:
identifying training needs through interviews with the
Associate Directors and by surveying Division staff.
developing an inventory of training materials in each
Branch.
organizing and conducting monthly training classes.
establishing a Water Quality Protection Training website.
Training classes included: watershed outreach, project
management, collaborative decision-making, basics of
groundwater, and the Blue Planet video. A total of 105
persons attended these training sessions.
The Training Council continues to organize monthly
training initiatives. Future efforts will also include use of
internet and Video-on-Demand training, and partnering
with the Regional Science Council.
Acknowledgements
The FY08 Performance Summary
Report was produced by the
Planning and Analysis Branch
under the direction of
James (Jim) R. Brown
Associate Director
Planning and Analysis Branch
Technical Advisor:
Olivia R. Balandran
Deputy Associate Director
Planning and Analysis Branch
Editor:
Terry L. Branch
Planning and Analysis Branch
Graphic Design:
John Stadelman
Planning and Analysis Branch
Special Thanks To Branch Contributors:
Angela Restivo
Source Water Protection Branch
Karen Young
Assistance Programs branch
Minerva Rojo
Ecosystems Protection Branch
Richard Wooster
NPDES Permits & TMDLs Branch
Rio Grande at Big Bend Ranch, Texas
Photo Tom Nystrom, EPA Region 6
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region
21
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United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6
Water Quality Protection Division (6WQ)
1445 Ross Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75202
For an electronic copy of this report, pleast visit
www.epa.gov/region6/water
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