208 bulletin NUMBER 6 WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT JANUARY 31, 1976 State Role Defined Fjnal regulations for the preparation of State and designated areawide water qua!i ty management p1ans~T40 CFR 13'0~and 131 ) and regulations for obtaining grants for planning (40 CFR Parts 35~Subpart A) were "pTJEl i shed in the Federal Register on November 28, 1975^ These regulations require that the States assume responsibility for preparation of water quality management plans for the entire State--directly in nondesignated areas and indirectly in designated areas through coordination with areawide agencies. State involvement includes review and approval of grant apjpjjc_at_i.o_n_s , work plans, and progress reports. A preadoption_review of the areawide plan by the State is also required. Frequent communication between State and desig- nated areawide planning agencies should result in water quality management plans which both achieve the goals of the areawide agency and fulfill the State responsibility to prepare an approvable statewide plan. The regulati certain basic pla agency. These fu standards revisio daily waste loads The State may als non-point sources statewide basis. ons allow nning fun n c t i o n s i n, determ , and all o choose and r e s i The area these fu the State to ctions for the nclude water q ination of max ocation of was to plan for co dual wastes on wide agency is nctions in cas perform areawide u a 1 i ty imum te loads. ntrol of a expected es where to participate in . it has not been delegated full responsibility for them by the State. ------- -2- Services Available Obtaining all available water quality data for a 208 area is often a painstaking and time—consuming task, especially when several different agencies have been Storet involved in monitoring. EPA ’s computerized Computerized STORET system can be of great assistance in Water many 208 areas, since States as well as Quality numerous Federal and other agencies have Data been contributing data to STORET for up to 12 years . The EPA Regions and States have set up procedures to help 208 agencies obtain data from STORET. EPA headquarters is setting up a simple procedure by which 208 agencies can retrieve relevant data available in STORET. A letter will soon be sent to each 208 agency describing the necessary steps. 208 agencies may now use the EPA ST0R ET system by establishing direct contracts with Optimum Systems, Inc., an EPA computer time sharing contractor. The Regional Offices will base their approval of contracts on amount and frequency of data needs and the added training require- inents that would be called for by the new STORET users. For more information call the 208 Coordinator in your Regional Office. For those agencies interested in more advanced computer techniques , two alternatives are available: (1) STORET can provide data in a standard magnetic tape format for use on any IBM—compatible computer, and (2) arrange- ments can be made for obtaining a direct contract with EPA’s computer services Vendor, Optimum Systems, Inc. to use some of the more sophisticated STORET programs to manipulate and analyze data. Questions about these arrangements, or further questions about STORET, can be addressed to the STORET User Assistance Section (202)426-7792, EPA (WH—554), Washington, D.C. 20460. ------- -.3- ASCS The Agricultural Stabilization and Agricultural Conservation Service (ASGS) has relevant Data information for the control of non-point Relevant to pollution, and is willing to share it. That 208 information includes crop history data, aerial photography, data on installation of conserva- tion and pollution control measures, and a cost-sharing program for encouraging installa- tion and pollution control measures, and a cost-sharing program for encouraging installa- tion of non-point pollution control measures. ASCS will be conferring with State and designated agency officials, offering to serve on advisory committees, furnishing lists of available aerial photography, making known the names and addresses of ASCS State and county office personnel, and considering feasible management practices for the control of non—point pollution from farm lands. EPIC Some agencies are planning to use aerial Aerial photography and infrared scanning to aid in Photography the identification of land uses, pollution and Infrared sources, and receiving water effects . EPA Scanning has an Environmental Photogr phic Interpreta- tion Center in Warrenton, Va., which is operated through the Office of Research and Development and has the capability to assist agencies and States. The Center has access to a variety of existing imagery and has volunteered to assist the planning efforts by running an inventory of existing photographs upon request. A polygon of the area defined by latitude and longitude coordinates should be provided for this purpose. It is possible that three or four day seminars could be held on photographic interpretation or that over- flights can be coordinated with intensive water quality monitoring programs if sufficient interest is indicated. For further information contact: Mr. Gordon Howard, EPA P. 0. Box 1587 Vints Hills Farm Station t4arrenton, VA. 22186 (703)557—3110 ------- -4- NCIC The National Cartographic Information Center Cartographic will inform every 208 agency, upon request, of Mips all available cartographic maps . NCIC has on file more than 5 million frames of pictures of the earth. This Center was established so that users can make one phone call or write one letter to obtain all available cartographic data. EPA and NCIC are working together to establish a policy regarding 208 agency production of new cartographic maps and their inclusion in NCIC files. For further information, contact: NCIC U. S. Geological Survey 507. National Center Reston, VA. 22092 (703)860-6187 Public Participation Articles and information about public participation are going to be a regular feature in the 208 Bulletin. Your contri- butions are needed. Tell us what’s being done in your area or State, what help you would like, what information you need, what ideas you have, what things have worked and what haven’t. Send copies of your newsletter and comments to: 208 Bulletin EPA Areawide Management Branch (WH-554) WSME Rm. 811 401 M St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20460 Don’t forget citizens and local elected and non-elected officials when you’re develop- ing work plans . While opportunity exists to get them involved later, they should also be encouraged to participate in this first step, when the basic study direction is set and problems are identified. ------- —5— Aquarius Project Pubi ications Handbooks Reports The Pike’s Peak Area Council of Governments has named its 208 program the Aquarius Project, after the astrological water bearer. An intro- ductory pamphlet produced by the project informs citizens about Section 208, stressing its intent to achieve planning by local governments. Citizens are given specific information about how to become involved, and emphasis is placed upon the need for diverse elements to work together if complex water pollution problems are to be solved. EPA recently published the “Revised Grant Application and Work Plan Handbook.” The book goes beyond initial work plan preparation guidance and includes assistance in fulfilling other grant application requirements for desig- nated areawide agencies . Another handbook recently published is the “State Continuing Planning Process Handbook.” Several key decisions which States must make in revising their continuing planning process under the new regulations are covered . For copies, write to your Regional EPA office. A two volume set of companion reports entitled Resource Recovery Information for Municipal Officials is being prepared for publication. The reports present an overview of institutional, administrative, and technical solutions for recovery of useful elements from municipal solid wastes through a central processing facility and/or source separation approach . Volume I will be ready for dissemination during the first week of March. Please address all requests to: US EPA Attn: D. Neptune WH-554 Water Planning Division 401 M St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20460 ------- —6- Training Prog rams The EPA National Training Center in Cincinnati sponsored a Water Quality Monitor- ing course for 208 personnel during the week of December 8-12. The course was intended to support the administration of data programs, and covered the principles of sampling programs, sampling methods, laboratory requirements, and data presentation. In addition, there were sessions on EPA ’s data quality assurance program remote sensing, modeling and legal considerations. Additional courses will be offered if there is a future demand . A series of short courses is being planned for selected planners and other technical specialists in State and areawide agencies, local officials, and EPA Regional personnel. These two-day seminars will cover basic concepts and skills needed to design and, conduct a public participation program consistent with requirements of PL 92-500 and EPA regulations. Twelve sessions will be held in nine Regional cities this spring. Further information on this subject will be coming from the Regional Offices. Characters The New Castle County, Delaware, 208 Agency has three characters who appear regularly in their newsletter. Besides providing messages about pollution, Pete, Polly, and Sludge provide a graphic contrast to the necessary technical data, and liven up the newsletter. POLLY PURE is a crys- taiclear and clean drop of water. She is going to be pointing out to you some of the excel- lent water resources we have in New Castle County. Our Program is designed to help Polly have a good life and home in New Castle County and protect her from... PETE POLLUTION. This dirty little drop can be found just about any- where in New Castle County. Our Program will be pointing out particular areas where Pete’s around and the problems that he cre- ates. 208 SLUDGE SAYS: WITH AFFLUENCE COMES EFFLUENCE” ------- |