208 bullet Number 10 WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT June 14, 1976 Agri culture and the Control of Water Pollution The role of the agricultural sector in controlling water pollution was the topic of a speech given in Hawaii by Eckardt C. Beck. Mr. Beck, EPA Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water Planning and Standards, spoke to the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD). Praising the extensive work done by local conservation districts, Beck noted the successful cooperative efforts of 40 State sediment control institutes. He added that NACD is developing a plan for manpower develop- ment and training to aid the Water Quality Management Program. "This study is well under- way ..." said Beck. Beck outlined other instances of cooperation. He said that several of the 208 areawide planning agencies have entered into a variety of con- tractual relationships with soil conservation districts or with a regional organization of conservation districts. "The Dane County Soil and Water Conservation District has a working program with the Dane County Council of Govern- ments within the 208 program," he said. "Other areawide agencies such as Suffolk County, New York; Lake County, Illinois; and Yellowstone Valley, Montana, have all initiated or completed planning agreements with soil and water districts or regional associations of districts." Several States have begun to develop formal relationships involving soil and water commissions, within the State water quality planning and management process for both'designated and non- designated areas,he added. Florida, Iowa, Wisconsin, Maine, Colorado, South Dakota, Mississippi, and Oklahoma are among these States . ------- Format!on an Urban Planning Task Force of -2- "In the future, we see the districts being involved in the 208 process in a variety of activities, for example, in the delineation of future sewer -service areas," he said. "We will need your assistance in deter- mining where there are nonpoint source problems, what their estimated magnitude is, and how to develop priorities for program solutions." Beck also said that the districts could expand their important role of Federal and State interagency coordination. He felt there would be an acce'l era ti on in the districts' concern and role in sediment control from roadsides, as well as from land being held for development and land being developed. "We see the districts, together with the Soil Conservation Service, expanding or reviewing their management practice systems to encompass best management practices for water quality needs." EPA's Office of Research and Development has formed an Urban Planning Task Force to provide a focal point to coordinate activities and provide assistance and technological support to the agency's 208 program. Located at the Municipal Research Labo- ratory in Cincinnati and directed by John M. Smith, this 6-member task force will act as liaison between EPA's Office of Air, Land and Water Use (OALWU) research program and the operating programs responsible for implementing Section 208 of PL 92-500. The task force will first summarize and accelerate the delivery of pertinent research results to the designated 208 agencies and related user communities. The task force recently completed a two-month survey of 208 planning needs which included agency visits, telephone interviews, ar)d discussions and meetings with Regional 208 coordinators, 208 contractors, and other agency personnel. As a result of this survey, along with a complete review of the OALWU related research programs, the task force will prepare an "Areawide Assessment Procedures ------- -3- Manual" (AAPM) to provide a critically needed technological guidance for areawide planners in a readily useable form. The AAPM will contain data base inventory and problem identi- fication, procedures for urban and non-urban pollutant source and load assessment, analysis of stream impacts, and evaluation and selection of control alternatives. In addition to this information, the AAPM will also contain twelve separate appendices including a model applica- bility summary, land use data bases and methods, monitoring requirements, best management practices and a major appendix summarizing structural cost information and methods. The AAPM will be published in three separate volumes Portions of the first two volumes will be available after July 15 and the third volume will be ready by September 15, 1976. 208 Official Mark Pisano, director of EPA's Water Encourages Planning Division, discussed implementation Implementation of 208-generated plans recently at a conference for local officials. Speaking to local officials and 208 members, he charged that the program is failing to develop a commitment to implementation. He said that most agencies are working at full speed developing detailed work plans, projecting population figures and land use, and developing alternatives. Agencies are doing what they have done for years Pisano pointed out; they are developing plans which may or may not be implemented. Pisano emphasized that the process of developing commitment must start the day someone begins to think about being designated. Once the funding grant is obtained, he said, implementation must become the number one priority. "Obviously the plan must be tech- nically sound," the EPA official commented. "But, as we all know, there are thousands of technically sound plans that have gone nowhere." Pisano listed a series of questions which must be addressed as a program for implementation is developed: 1) Who are the community, local and State leaders who will play a significant role in the success of the program? ------- -4- 2) Are their major interest environ- mental?. ..economic?...re-election? 3) Are their interests being met? 4) Are leaders and nonleaders partici- pating in plan development? Or are they being used as rubber stamps by the planning staff? 5) Have the program's supporters been identified? How about potential supporters? Is the support being strengthened? • 6) Does the developing plan allow for compromise and bargaining, especially with those who could block it? 7) Have Regional Planning Agencies and Councils of Government made concerted efforts to strengthen relationships with localities? 8) Are State Administrators and legislators being brought into the process now? Pisano pointed out that the answers to these questions are the deciding factors of a plan's implementation. "Developing a com- mitment to implementation is the most difficult task facing us," he said. "Unless we devote substantial resources to it and unless we begin working on it now, it will elude us... I firmly believe that it has to be our number one p r i o r i ty ." Urban Storm- The EPA Office of Research and Development water Impact through the Municipal Environmental Research Studies Laboratory in Cincinnati is attempting to locate potential sites for projects to determine the pollution effect in receiving waters from separate and combined sewer loadings. Priority will be given to sites within 208 planning areas and additional funding will be provided to support the collection of receiving water impact data. To qualify for consideration as a study site, the project location should have: * Receiving water conditions that will allow correlation between impact and pollution loads ------- -5- * Sources and receiving waters accessible for moni tori ng * Some evidence of pollution impact due to separate or combined discharges Other desirable characteristics of a site i nclude: * The potential for a dissolved oxygen sag to occur as a result of the inter- mi 11ant load * Cooperating organization that has need for the impact data * Receiving water conditions that will enable field verification of water quality prediction models The project is primarily a field study to collect real time urban stormw.ater and receiving water data over a one to two-year period. This will require storm related sampling to determine hydrographs and polluto- graphs for major discharges and the receiving water response to such loads. For additional information, call John English, NERL, Cincinnati (513) 684-7613. Innovative Innovative 208 meetings recently held Meetings in in Palm Beach and Dade County, Florida provided Florida an opportunity for local elected officials to meet with their Congressmen and discuss 208 planning objectives. EPA Region IV representatives on hand to field questions during the sessions were Frank Reed, Regional Congressional and Inter- governmental Affairs Officer and Scott P. Berdine, 208 Project Officer. The local 208 agencies coordinated with Congressional representatives in mailing invitations and acquiring meeting space. This cooperation helped generate attendance of local officials; more than half of the governmental units in each planning area were present and involved in the sessions. ------- Wastewater Faci1i ties/ Construct!on Grants Workshops Set Se Constru They wi Knoxvi1 July 21 August The wor being s a t i o n o and The -6- veral sess ction Gran 11 be held le, July 1 -22; Washi 26-27; and kshops , de ponsored j f Counties Internati ions on Wastewater Facilities/ ts are scheduled this summer. in Chicago, June 17-18; 6-17; Dallas/Ft. Worth, ngton, August 12-13; Atlanta, San Francisco, September 1-2. signed for local leaders, are ointly by the National Associ- , The National League of Cities, onal City Management Association The opening day sessions wil Washington perspective and the In perspective, and include a city-c and a feedback session. Planning Federal regulations, and EPA regi trative procedures are to be disc second day. For more information tration materials contact the Con Grants Project Manager at the nat quarters of any of the sponsoring 1 be on the tergovernmenta1 ounty dialogue , financing, onal adminis- ussed on the and rsgis- s truction ional head- associations . The relationship between the areawide plan and plans for individual facilities is funda- mental to the Water Quality Management Program. The 208 staff is responsible for working closely with local officials to see that the ongoing facility planning is consistent with the areawide program. Close coordi- nation developed early in the planning process is essential for implementation of sound programs. Break Print Into Change of Address You too can be a published author. The Bulletin staff is looking for 208 progress stories, information exchange, requests for advice or information, public participation suggestions, items relating 208 to other programs, etc. Send your material or inquiries to the 208 Bulletin. Are you receiving your 208 Bulletin at the correct address? If not, please let us know so that corrections can be made. Send changes to: 208 Bulletin, Water Planning Division (WH-554), US EPA, Washington, D.C. 20460. ------- Wciter Planning Division iWH 5541 U S Environmental Protection Agencv Washington 0 C 20460 OrrICIAL POSTAGE AND KEl'S PAID ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGLNCY EPA 335 THIRD CLASS BULK RATE FOP PRIVATE USE 5300 M^tiT tj0909 II 'A uoTbaa -os noi 0£Z -sw ADN39V ------- |