BOSQUE LISTENING SESSIONS BACKGROUND INFORMATION SCHEDULE TAB A LEGISLATORS' MEETING TAB B CITIES' MEETING TAB C ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS' MEETING TAB D DAIRYMEN' S MEETING TAB E TMDL INFORMATION TAB F ------- ------- j. ------- BOSQUE LISTENING SESSION SCHEDULE Texas Legislators Thursday, April 19 Austin, Texas William P Clements Building, Room 5 200 pm to 400 pm Affected Cities Tuesday, April 24 Dallas, Texas Regional Administrator’s Conference Room 900 am to 11 00 am Interested Environmental Groups Tuesday, April 24 Dallas, Texas Regional Administrator’s Conference Room 100pm to 3.00 pm Dairymen Wednesday, April 25 Dallas, Texas Regional Administrator’s Conference Room 900 am to 11 00 am ------- ------- ------- BOSQUE WATERShED ISSUES LISTENING MEETING STATE LEGISLATORS AN]) GREGG COOKE WILLIAM P. CLEMENTS BUILDING ROOM 5, 5 FLOOR 300 WEST 15 TH STREET AUSTIN April 19, 2001 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Senator David Sibley - District 22 801 Austin Ave., Suite 1020 Waco, TX 76701 Senator Troy Fraser - District 24 1920 North Main, Suite 101 Belton, TX 76513 Senator Steve Ogden - District 5 7607 Eastmark Drive, Suite 241 College Station, TX 77840 Representative Sid Miller - District 59 6407 South US Hwy. 377 Stephenville, TX 76401 Representative Arlene Wohigemuth - District 58 201 W Ellison, Suite 201 Burleson, TX 76028 Representative Kip Averitt - District 56 215 Maiy, Ste. 303 Waco, TX 76701 Representative Jim Dunnam - District 57 P0 Box 1962 Waco, TX 76703 ------- Bosque Area Legislative Activity LEGISLATOR: Party Affiliation: Area/District: Com mittees: Legislation: Senator David Sibley Republican District 22 — Counties of Bosque, Comanche, Eastland, Erath, Hamilton, Hill, Hood, Jack, Palo Pinto, Somervell, Wise, and parts of Denton, Johnson, McClennan, Parker, Tarrant. Business and Commerce (chair) Education Health and Human Services Bill Number Issue Status SB 325 . Relates to protection of water quality from certain animal feeding operations. Companion to HB 2699. In Senate Natural Resources Committee (3/15/01) SB 1655 Creates Middle Trinity Groundwater Conservation District for Bosque, Callahan, Coryell, Eastland, Erath, Somervell, Comanche and Hamilton counties. In Senate Natural Resources Committee (3/14/01). SB 1657 Relating to authority of Brazos River Authority to discover, develop, produce, and use groundwater in the Brazos River Basin. Companion to HB 2847. Referred to Senate Natural Resources Committee (3/14/01). ------- TDI WD 3IF3LE U ) 75th & 76th Legislature State Senate District 22 1997-2000 v.. . CI V S __) Nelergel _____________________________ .a , a.,, - G R 1 , 1 1 J o cr lecr .Øt oi .ir r L. L . . . . . . . inn - ‘ i,,,t , , A er M tcri,tr .vd Voile it C .i.a. •e t J A C K? . 377 8 . . Ridq . H A S E I L ‘ s - ii . T H Ii 0 C K 0 0 N ‘J\cr Y U N 0 ‘ ‘ aeo E N ‘ ‘ Proa er I L I N .1 , • rI ef rtcO l K HA. H a iw,ct .agrt,. ‘- - r . .y BJ PC .A oralJ Sfl Frigc . c in Lo Fr o,ii 11 U N Stfo-d ..> .rc . . fl 7 • ‘ ‘ “ A 189 Ii!d i i C A 1 “1he Colony Licas S J \ A l, , ,, j j ,Coddo N -. ) 287 cn amen Be la Nuepty 4I0 iiReni Ni. H I ulhlo out ddison ch3r no ach e S. r . - 4 - ;_.- . .. I _________ rIon . Rock. 4 md rile q A L L O u1ie . S U sal Wells .. or. H A C K E L 0 N D H. E N P A L 6 P I at P A R K E _____ or NsL,.4om-CbA i b o idge II II _______________— A ( I ’ ii orga N I Liureice S . . , I .e _a I P.aI s i ch inq e IA. r,Iq OI ONIVasI A he A . -r : _____onille I c On .. eogovile Posi as -: - . U A N • . . • . : . . L ancas Sirs.. Cnd .. 5 . .fl ) C V Ot en Kaufman Abilene /) rleson thi an’ L #, CALLAHAN ASTLAND - Ire,’ . Nib. -- JOHN ON i u s . . . . . I. Casb.. . 5 eburne Noypesri lI - S .? 8 jI5u II % • E N A T H . c i s. • Ard . n Bbe 1 Gasmi. S le M E V L L • Viii . i Cr. P1 is .g Star 0. ieorr Coaluissu 11 .17 ( m l . . , , lr.mdad L nbI, — c icrey Coo o . V. t u rte.; [ cost 9 ow. ..q Cra.. crs;cona A C 0 MA N CHE / Norq .. H I L a.. v I I sboo N A V A N r eta B 0 S U .E C i N i ‘ • - c4 .I nd olemon / Ab t oi l ‘ c i C 0 L E M N B R 0 N / — - Sheet... • Mao C H A M I T 0 N Cap !llos 0858 7 L ifO C•ii Ie oc o .ao F N E E S 0 N th .a It O, n a t o i i . S. M C I E N N A elIr’reo U I I I Ce .l.id Wc dIWg L I M E S 1 0 N E Caleovifle 1 / Co .sbeci [ set Lot s 7 0 1 • ob tns0 lb.n .tø B I c L_i C s ,_ G Ii I n c i 1 I ccc (My c. crlin — — ‘. L C H ukitcird Sprb . -- 1 Kos se Fall 8 inn - imil i L N P A A S Lot, ------- LEGISLATOR: Senator Troy Fraser Party Affiliation: Republican Area/District: District 24 — Counties of Bell, Brown, Burnet, Callahan, Coke, Coleman, Concho, Coryell, Lampasas, McCulloch, Menard, Mills, Mitchell, Nolan, Runnels, San Saba, Shackelford, Stephens, Young, and parts of Llano and Taylor. Committees: Busmess and Commerce (vice chair) Fmance State Affairs Veterans Affairs and Military Installations Legislation: Bill Number Issue Status SB 182 Requires TX Dept of Health referred to Senate Natural to regulate the water supply Resources Committee at a hcensed and approved (1/11/01). youth camp. Rules adopted must comply with Safe Drinking Water Act. ------- TkOy F121 S (Pi 75th & 76th Legislature State Senate District 24 1997-2000 i (i. - 1i4 1 0I oi e , \ / -. Rochostor m Alnord o ‘ 7 A JsyI .n c. . E WAL H A S K £ L L G A “‘ ,cob,’ EN T e p ,oekm r I iBO. IPO’ 2 SIsslerd nn krAe ood ; , r N led p S C N R V r i & -.E N - :• o i o i. r - yder J ES ICE t (OR C) - .e PALO P1 N46 ARKE R ‘o srF’T’HENS i: -:Y e -•p 0u1,y mer It o MQfl Ofl Stroun Cordoc Aar s’el ( Sor9 Cr ye ’ Uc , gf De I o ° e’ C MII I IJS Upon udeson Ile ohis r I R i 0 r S’ Ok I Ihi Ced 00 1 H WA N b 00 0 : -‘ ‘- id t Cr c or , ‘° ‘° nilø 0 Lid P C I I N 0 1 A N P Co O’O er.c 0 cxoscc C gSprinq 1Av 1 i• f. .ALLAHAN E STL ’NO JoH oN EL Carbon N.ype I F N A •.‘o o. fl( osdeico Oord. ,I r.r100 C M6e S 0 PA F 4 11 E I L Rio Vi Io B lock;eU_J “ :— oi L,a , v Ca j OCI 111: 1? lin C n Corner front Woteut Springo / Ue iteM ‘c c 0 PA A N . i F W nrqon) H I I F (0 lr,d.l4 It b ro S T F I N (. obert Lr -0 Whitney %,IIW O - N UN N E L S B OS 0 Mt ti on M olone jlemcjn Abbilt COLE AN BROt°’ -.- --, ‘° ord • 0 —I — .st nI Au. C iOnfiti G •çhtton 00 ( omtC olm lies Cholson — 5- YçBey lOiNs OI IjI C -\ - - e li . i ni Rc k MCI BEAGAN I RI ON 0 T N Co CHO PAIL I; Co Gü it zoo ‘ / GoU bd /1 N CC U L.O C H Sprioqo - situ Moody uciv ,Il , Eddy L S I A P A AS Las Cove it court SAN SABA , eto4g ., - O iflpO L err-p c, rhud £ C H I. I C H F N u ç -, L_ - ,. •He’i POH-AC COf or — N 0 C K E T I - ‘S-i--- ’ — It r e ic i HMId ckhwto cme n • . -‘ ‘ - ‘ —. PA LI A 0 N - B U P4 E r ‘tktt A N nit ‘t’ Wiir Cruiqe 000(0 / i. L I A PA 6 0 N (. . . . -P’ ale & U T N S se ch VdIoqe ,, :: 0 ’ T lo G I P I E #A I L I ________ ------- LEGISLATOR: Senator Steve Ogden Party Affiliation: ArealDistrict: Committees: Legislation: Republican Distnct 5 - Counties of Brazos, Burleson, Falls, Freestone, Gnmes, Houston, Lee, Leon, Limestone, Madison, Milam, Navarro, Robertson, Trinity, Walker, Wailer, Washington, and parts of McClennan and Williamson. Administration (vice chair) Criminal Justice Finance Bill Number Issue Status SB 1339 Referred to Senate Natural Resources Committee (3/13/01); substitute passed committee (4/9/0 1); placed on intent calendar (4/11/01); scheduled for vote in the Senate (4/17/01). Would require poultry growers to implement and maintain a water quality management plan certified by the State Soil and Water Conservation Board Now, most growers are considered AFOs, not CAFOs, and not req’d to have a permit from TNRCC; bill also prohibits poultry operation from being designated a point source of pollution and subject to TNRCC regulations, unless the operation meets certain critena. Bill makes no appropriation, but could provide the legal basis for appropnation of funds to implement provisions of bill ------- Authorizes TX Dept of Transportation to pay a fee to appropriate public agency or pnvate entity to meet federally-mandated environmental mitigation standards instead of acquiring and developing mitigation sites (wetlands). SB 416 has been considered in lieu of companion bill HB 913. Passed Senate (2/21/01); sent to House Transportation Committee (2/26/01); passed committee (3/27/01); sent to House Calendars (4/2/01). SB 416 SB 748 Companion bill, HB 1784 passed House Natural Resources Committee (3/23/01). Both bills create several groundwater conservation distncts (mostly around Houston area) and provide for a coordinating council. in Natural Resources Committee (2/19/01). SB 1338 Provides Texas Railroad Commission with sole authority to regulate and issue licenses, permits, and orders for the disposal of oil and gas NORM (naturally occuring radioactive materials) waste passed Senate (4/5/01); referred to House Environmental Regulation Committee ------- STEVE OGoEr J - 75th & 76th Legislature State Senate District 5 1997-2000 E N WI)L\ I5 if GQ k )M:(4 \ c.,c H \N - 1 t’..’a. C O.ftoø 1 LII A S C j’ a,v..i • J) VcIvy I, H A M).LTO N F PlOW WACO DOCHES LI MESTONE - G9 c 5 S. -S. p S _i A . . - L •• I dy I O J 1 TO N I I . + A A cnauas cove v\ & \ •... T R I N T v T I vi e POLK .:‘ N r*øc, / t OI U - • ‘1 / ‘ Sii i kit, • . i / ç ii iiiSV’ •_ -f-- I LI AMSON:. __/_ WAL Stitio s I ‘ ‘J•” loylue 0 P I PA E & I d%p B U P L 1 L .S 0 N \S S\\ A N J A C I 0 S M I,. i lirn - Pib.t t S t._. I / .•_ / 5 ‘ L E - N SOa uu e1 H A P D I cv, k co WASHI NOT ON “ ‘ - : P renhom I ’ ‘i JI 11 H A Y $ C m N mbo l l I I ! F i v T V 11. 50 ,. 0 y. ‘ ‘ \ ‘ e — v - v ,, , . “C 5 Id ‘ $ P i e , -. . a umtt -f-•AYE)TTE s ” ______ C A 1 0 WE i. i r. ,ss ,Vil , A U S T I N - A I ‘ Pd P S C 0 PA A L Son M ijg3 oc hort ( \•. g Se ’ o ton ‘Put 0 ’S S I toe i s a ‘ L 5 I SJ ___ _ _ _ S fl hub e Brourfeli - ° . - C II A P Ppl*( Li AD A 1 U P E ___ C 0 L 0 South No $lo o rv e _____ ------- LEGISLATOR: Representative Sid Miller Party Affiliation: Republican Area/District: District 59 — Counties of Comanche, Coryell, Erath and Hamilton. Committees: Agriculture and Livestock State, Federal and International Relations Legislation: Bill Number Issue Status HB 3665 Creates Cross Timbers Passed House Natural Groundwater Conservation Resources Committee; on Distnct in Bosque, Callahan, Local & Consent calendar m Comanche, Coryell, Eastland, House (4/10/01). Erath and Somervell counties. ------- House District 59 ------- LEGISLATOR: Representative Arlene Wohigemuth Party Affiliation: Republican Area/District: District 58 — Counties of Bosque, Johnson, Somervell Committees: Human Services Public Health Legislation: None related to water quality in Bosque area ------- House District 58 ------- LEGISLATOR: Representative Kip Averitt Party Affiliation: Area/District: Committees: Legislation: Republican District 56 — Counties of Falls, Limestone, and parts of McClennan Financial Institutions (chair) Insurance Bill Number Issue Status HB 2699 Water quality, permitting in animal feeding operation- impaired watersheds Companion bill SB 325, in Senate’s Natural Resources Committee (3/1 5/01) Sent to House Natural Resources Committee, referred to subcommittee, Out of committee, substitute adopted (4/4/0 1) HB 2847 Relating to authority of Brazos River Authority to discover, develop, produce, and use groundwater in the Brazos River Basin Companion to SB 1657 Referred to House Natural Resources Committee, Committee substitute adopted (3/28/0 1), sent to Calendars (4/9/01) ------- House District 56 ------- LEGISLATOR: Representative Jim Dunnam Party Affiliation: Democrat Area/District: Committees: Legislation: Distnct 57 — Parts of McClennan county. Criminal Jurisprudence (vice chair) Public Education Redistricting Bill Number Issue Status HB 3562 Authority of a municipality House Natural Resources (probably Waco) to enforce Committee (3/15/01); sent to laws protectmg water quality. subcommittee (3/21/01); members named: Robby Cook, chair, Ruben Hope, Jr.; Ron Lewis. ------- House District 57 1 999 2OOO Hallsbii’q ------- Other Pertinent Legislative Activity Bill Number & Author Why It’s Pertinent Status HB 3023, by Warren Chisum Relates to water quality House Natural Resources (R), and David Counts permit applications for certain concentrated animal feedmg operations located near a sole-source drmking water supply. Committee substitute adopted (4/4/01); recommended be sent to Local & Consent Calendars (4/4/01). ------- Texas Legislative Committee Structure House of Representatives Environmental Regulation Committee Warren Chisum, (R), Chair Dennis Bonnen, (R), Vice Chair Fred M. Bosse Dawnna Dukes Charlie Geren (R) Charlie Howard (R) Edmund Kuempel (R) D.R. ‘Tom’ Uher Zeb Zbranek Transportation Committee Clyde Alexander, Chair Judy Hawley, Vice Chair Yvonne Davis Al Edwards Peggy Hamric (R) Fred Hill (R) ‘Rick’ Noriega ‘Joe’ Pickett David Swinford (R) Senate Natural Resources Committee David Counts, Chair Tracy 0. King, Vice Chair ‘Robby’ Cook Frank J. Corte, Jr. (R) Harvey Hilderbran, (R) Ruben Hope, Jr. (R) Ron E. Lewis Robert Puente Gary L. Walker (R) Natural Resources J.E. ‘Buster’ Brown, (R), Chair Robert Duncan, (R), Vice Chair Gonzalo Barrientos David Bernsen Tee! Bivms (R) Tom Haywood (R) ‘Eddie’ Lucio, Jr. ------- ------- Notes ------- BOSQUE WATERSEIED iSSuES LISTENING MEETING MUNICIIPALITWS AND GREGG COOKE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR’S CONFERENCE ROOM APRIL 24, 2001 9-11 am Honorable Linda Ethridge Mayor of Waco City of Waco P0 Box 2570 Waco, TX 76702-2570 Honorable John Moser Mayor of Stephenville City of Stephenville 298 West Washington Stephenville, TX 76401-4257 Honorable Mervin Spitzer Mayor of Meridian City of Meridian PU Box 205 Meridian, TX 76665 Honorable Stan Bundy Mayor of Hico City of Flico P0 Box 533 Hico, TX 76457 Honorable A. D. Woody, Jr Mayor of bedel City of Iredel RIl, Box 168 Iredel,TX 76649 Honorable Truman 0 Blum Mayor of Clifton Cityof Clifton P0 Box 231 Clifton, TX 76634 ------- Honorable Donald (Don) J Baker Mayor of Woodway City of Woodway 924 Estates Drive Woodway, TX 7612-3432 Honorable Dennis Cogliati Mayor of Lacy Lakeview City of Lacy Lakeview P0 Drawer 154549 Waco, TX 76715-4549 ------- SUMMARY/HIGHLIGHTS OF COMMENTS ON TWO TMDLs FOR PHOSPHORUS IN THE NORTH BOSQIJE RIVER City of Clifton • Waste water treatment plants (WWTPs) are no more a “major source” than rural sources • WWTPs contribute 10% which is almost identical to that contributed by row crop and the decision to regulate one verses the other is a regulatory agency decision • Not consensus that Stakeholder Group (BRAC?) agreed that controllable sources are limited to Waste Application Fields (WAFs) and WWTPs They did become the focus and consumed the Group’s activities, but not based on consensus • Clifton’s expansion permit was granted w/add’l flow but w/provision that no add’l phosphorous be discharged • Freezing the phosphorus discharged would reward existing poor performer and set up a situation that future growth could not be accommodated. • Little evidence that TNRCC has regulated the application of manure to WAFs through the CAFO permitting process (Section 26 027(a)) in a manner responsible to the environment • Discontinue issuance of add’l permits to increase herd size unless provision that ii manure generated by increase is hauled out of watershed City of Lacy Lakeview • Concern about the quantity of controllable parts of phosphorus making its way down the North Bosque into Lake Waco • Control CAFOs and WAFs in Erath County • TNRCC should take steps now to define a specific criteria, pass rules and enforce compliance of a TMDL for phosphorus in the North Bosque Mrs Morris Russell (landowner) • Cow nutrient in the water, killed most of the fish • Nutnent should not be put in the River City of Meridian • TMDL is necessary for protection of the North Bosque River • Does not think WWTPs are a MAJOR controllable source, as they only contribute 10% of the total phosphorus • TMDL identifies CAFOs as a primary contributor with 5 times more loading than WWTPs • Enforce regulations that regulate application of manure to WAFs • Discontinue issuance of add’l permits to increase herd size unless they contain provisions that ll manure generated by increase will be hauled out of the watershed • Numeric standard is necessary ------- • A 50% percentage reduction puts undue burden on the WWTPs. City of Stephenville • Problem in the Bosque River or Lake Waco cannot reasonably be attributed to Stephenville • Establishing a I mg/ltr restriction will not solve problem, but may cost taxpayers about $90,000 per year to implement • Scientific data does not support imposition of a TMIDL of I mg/ltr on W’WTPs • Other contributors to problem must be treated same as the cities City of Temple • Recommends a quantitative numerical standard instead of the narrative standard in the draft TMDL • Control the size of dairy herds in Erath, Comanche and Hamilton counties • Establish upper limits on herd size • Supports voluntary compliance of standards by the dairy industry which results in substantive and measurable results • Encourages enforcement of current TMDL limits by TNRCC • Endorses the plan for regional composting outlined by TNRCC City of Woodway • Support City of Waco’s efforts • Concern over a narrative nutrient standard. • Establish a numerical standard • Daily average or grab sample preferred over proposed annual average sampling • Consider appropriate peer review City of Waco • More info needed regarding nature and extent of problem • Provide documentation that proposed actions will improve water quality • Numerical criteria instead of narrative • 30 ppb more justifiable than a 50 ppb. • Single most significant source of phosphorus is runoff from WAFs • Runoff from WAFs is regulated by CAFO permit and any runoff of excessively applied nutrients is a point source discharge • No info on how SWAT model was calibrated or verified • TMDL should include documentation of SWAT modeling exercises • Provide documentation of technical work that directly suports the TMDL • TMIDL not actually submitted to peer review ------- Virginia DuPuy - Chainnan of the Board, Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce • Expand designated uses to include swimming and fishing in North Bosque • Commit that the proposed I’MDL will restore water quality at a level equal to that of 10- 20 years ago • Quantifiable measurement demonstrated w/scientific accuracy of compliance • Voluntary compliance should be measured for accountability and enforced ------- ------- Notes ------- BOSQUE WATERSHED ISSUES LISTENING SESSION ENVIRONMENTAL INTERESTS AND GREGG COOKE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR’S CONFERENCE ROOM APRIL 24, 2001 lTO3pm Dr Bruce W Allen President Two Rivers Sierra Club 8924 Gladedale Waco, TX 76712 Mr Myron J Hess Counsel National Wildlife Federation Gulf States Natural Resource Center 44 East Avenue Suite 200 Austin, TX 78701 Mr Andrew Sansom Executive Director Texas Parks and Wildlife 4200 Smith School Road Austin, TX 78744-3291 Mr J TomRay,PE Deputy General Manager Brazos River Authority P0 Box 7555 Waco, TX 76714-7555 ------- SUMMARY [ LHGHLIGHTS OF COMMENTS ON TWO TMDLs FOR PHOSPHORUS IN THE NORTH BOSQUE RWER Brazos River Authority Narrative standard for phosphorus reduction uses non-quantitative values and is elusive and subjective - numeric value must be established • At the same time TMDL target water quality measurements are taken, based upon existing conditions, the loading in the watershed will be transient due to increased wastewater treatment plant discharges or dairy herd size increases. • Data indicates that SRP (soluble reactive phosphorus) will increase in the North Bosque river even with the proposed TMDL • Future conditions will result in exceedance of the 50 percent reduction of the SRP TMIDL goal as defined by TNRCC • Explore possibility of forming a Committee made up of watershed stakeholders to oversee implementation of the proposed TMDL Texas Parks and Wildlife • Concerned about nutrient levels statewide • Aquatic life is stressed by nutrient loading • Field observations indicate increasing number of fish kills and pollution complamts are related to growth of the dairy industry and associated nutrient and biochemical oxygen demand impacts • TNRCC has significantly narrowed the scope of the TMDLs • Urges TNRCC to consider nutrient impacts in Lake Waco • Find allocations and solutions that work to protect water quality in the entire watershed, including Lake Waco • TMDLs alone do not result in compliance, implementation must occur • The public should have these management measures available for public comment concurrently with the load allocation • Support a thorough monitoring plan as part of TMDL implementation to insure reasonable concentrations are achieved Two Rivers Sierra Club (Regional Group of the Lone Star Chapter) • Reasonable measures should be taken to insure that municipalities, farming and industrial activities within the watershed should be monitored and regulated • Principle source of pollution is CAFOs in Erath County • Take steps necessary to reduce pollution caused by these operations (limit herd density, haul oft site, manure recycling programs, wetland projects, etc) • Allow adequate time for public comment on specifics ------- National Wildlife Federation • Failure of TNRCC to publish a proposed implementation plan for review and comment concurrently with the TMDLs. • Not possible to evaluate many of the assumptions in the TMDLs without information about proposed implementation o If adequate mechanisms are not available for ensuring nonpoint source contributions are limited to the allocated loading, TMDLs are dooomed to failure • This also results in failure by TNRCC to comply w/federal public comment requirements. • No calculation of the total amount of loading that could be assimilated and still achieve compliance w/water quality standards • TMDLs fail to establish a target of compliance with applicable water quality standards • TMDLs fail to account for discharges from CAFO lagoons in the point source loading allocation • No showing that the TMDLs would result in lowering algal levels • No Margin of Safety (MOS) has been included • TMDLs do not assess seasonal compliance • Document does not include a clear statement about limitations on additional loadings from CAFOs ------- ------- Notes___ ------- BOSQUE WATERSHED ISSUES LISTENING MEETING DAIRY REPRESENTATIVES AND GREGG COOKE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR’S CONFERENCE ROOM APRIL 25, 2001 9T0 11am Mr James Terrell Executive Director Texas Association of Dairymen 1300 Guadalupe, Suite 209 Austin, TX 78701 Mr John Cowan Membership and Legislative Environmental Manager Dairy Farmers of America 3500 William D Tate Ave. Grapevine, TX 76051 Mr Ned Meister Director of Commodity and Regulatory Activities Texas Farm Bureau P0. Box 2689 Waco, TX 76702-2689 Mr Darrenlurley 2951 Highway 1496 Dublin, TX 76446 Mr. Jerry Dipple 4519 CR 340 Dublin, TX 76446 ------- SIJMMARYIIILGIIUGHTS OF COMMENTS ON TWO TMDLs FOR PHOSPHORUS IN THE NORTH BOSQUE RWER Texas Association of Dairymen and Dairy Farmers of America • Targets not attainable (30 ppb is not attainable). • Support finding more voluntary BMPs • Phosphorus does not cause the type of algae bloom that causes taste and odor problems in Lake Waco drinking water • TMDL based on political and social considerations, premature, promulgated in violation of federal/state laws, not science-based • TMDL fails to use current data, public input essential • TMDL process should be postponed until the effects of changes (11999 rule changes) can be measured • Science does not identify impairment from phosphorus • Numeric instream criteria is inappropriate • Background level should be determined for each basin prior to TMDL development • Consider implementation separately from TMDL, precede it with adequate notice and opportumty to comment • Strategy - “load allocation now, implementation later” - will create problems • Project goal changed after much work was performed (Lake Waco not included) • No peer review on data and biological • No protection against an arbitrary action of a third party • No controls and legal standards in developing Th’IDLs which may prejudice the rights of TAD and DFA Potts & Reilly - L L P (law firm for TAD) • Findings not complete • Deficiencies in the SWAT Model and the TMDL approach • Per BRC’s own admission, municipal wastewater treatment plant effluent offers the single controllable source of problem • Implementation of TMDL for Segments 1226 and 1255 would be premature • Imposition of add’l management practices on dairy industry, at this time, will not produce desired results of reducing algae blooms in the Bosque River ------- Rangeland Consultants (for Potts & Reilly) • Phosphorus has no known direct toxic effects on humans or animals • 3oppb seems to be an arbitrary value • Target range for phosphorus values does not appear to be denved from scientific research • Question - “How much water actually runs off of the dairy farms within the North Bosque watershed 9 ” • Removal of 50% of biosolids is not likely to reduce phosphorus loads by 50% • Model used in developing TMDL and to direct implementation is flawed ------- Notes____ ------- |