Environmental Protection
Agency
Oltice of Water
Protection
401 M Street, SW.
Washington, D C. 20460
"Ye
fcKA/5o2/M-68-001
&EPA
Ground-Water
Protection Update
WELLHEAD
PROTECTION
PROGRAM (
ADVANCES V	)
NATIONWIDE
Across the Nation
A major EPA/State partner-
ship to protect the nation's
ground-water supplies will take
a significant stride forward in
the coming months as States
develop their Wellhead Protec-
tion (WHP)' Programs and
submit them to EPA. Well-
head protection is essential for
preventing contamination of
vital drinking water supplies.
Without such specific protec-
tion programs, there is a great-
ly increased potential for pollu-
tants to enter and to contami-
nate drinking water supplies
derived from ground water.
Safe Drinking Water Act
Wellhead protection is a cen-
tral component of the amend-
ments to the 1986 Safe Drink-
ing Water Act (SDWA). The
Act calls for States to develop
WHP Programs and to submit
them to EPA Regional Admin-
istrators for approval by June
19, 1989. The Act requires
States to make every reason-
able effort to implement the
program within two years after
submitting it to EPA. "There
are no EPA sanctions if States
miss this deadline," notes
Marian Mlay, Director of
EPA's Office of Ground-Water
Protection (OGWP) "How-
ever, this is an important pro-
gram for protecting public
health Both EPA and the
States have shown serious in-
tentions to make it work."
States Play the Central Role
The SDWA designates States
to play a central role in the
implementation of WHP. This
recognizes the diverse hydro-
geologic conditions and sources
of contamination that exist, as
well as State/local primacy in
land use and water allocation
law. Although each State pro-
gram must contain specified
elements outlined in the
SDWA, EPA officials antici-
pate that the States will imple-
ment these elements using a
diverse array of WHP Pro-
National Wellhead
Protection
Conference
December 6-8,1988
New Orleans
Clarion Hotel
The upcoming conference
will offer ground-water
managers the chance to
forge new alliances and
strengthen existing partner-
ships. It mil feature many
timely presentations on Im-
portant technical and
management issues.
grams. "We're looking forward
to States and localities devel-
oping some good, creative re-
sponses that reflect the States'
unique problems and various
institutional designs and con-
straints," believes Ms. Mlay.
"A number of States have al-
ready made significant progress
in developing their wellhead
programs"
EPA Focus on
Technical Assistance
EPA Headquarters and the
Regions have provided States
with technical assistance and
assisted in accelerating infor-
mation transfer and exchang&t
among States and localities.
Also, OGWP has already
developed and is continuing to
develop Technical Assistance
Documents on the manage-
ment and hydrogeologic as-
pects of the program. In a
related effort, EPA is working
with a number of States to
learn how they are developing
local contingency plans for
replacing water supplies that
become contaminated despite
operative WHP Programs. This
work will serve as a basis for
developing guidance for use by
other States.
Training Programs
The Agency recently conducted
several Regional training ses-
sions to help explain the con-
cepts involved in the program.
Because of the interest shown
to date, OGWP is now plan-
ning additional training ses-
sions to provide "hands on" ex-
perience in the methods used
to delineate Wellhead Protec-
tion Areas (WHPAs). The
Agency is also developing
training sessions on the use of
data management systems and
on the utilization and effective-
ness of various protection
methods in Wellhead Pro-
tection Areas.
Rebecca Hanmer, Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of
Water, comments that, "Wellhead protection is central to
everything we need to do to protect ground water. It will help
us make sense out of what we are doing m this country to
prioritize our protection activities. In fact, wellhead protection
mil tell us if we are spending our resources in the right places
and on the right activities."

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Pa£_2_
STATE SHOWCASES
NEBRASKA

Something New for Nebraska
With a focus on examining ground-water
threats from non-point sources of pollu-
tion, such as nitrates and pesticides, Ne-
braska recently initiated its Special Protec-
tion Area (SPA) program. Department of
Environmental Control (DEC) staff have
taken to the field to complete domestic
and irrigation well samplings in three
Nebraska communities showing evidence
of nitrate contamination.
Ready for Action
What will the State do if its ground-water
studies reveal that serious action is neces-
sary? Under a 1986 Nebraska law, the
State has the authority to designate a
problem site as a SPA. If a serious prob-
lem exists, the appropriate Natural Re-
sources District (NRD) will step in and
develop an action plan to address the
problem. The action plan requires farm-
ers to reduce the amount of commercial
nitrogen fertilizer that is used and also
includes management plans and education-
al training for farmers. Thanks to the
DEC and Nebraska Association of Re-
sources Districts, the State's 24 NRDs can
look forward to a manual that will serve
as a blueprint for developing their action
plans.
Efforts Continue
Committed to this program, the State has
budgeted about $30,000 to $50,000 for
completing each SPA study. In coming
years, wells in other communities will be
sampled, based on a priority list establish-
ed by the DEC. Factors such as affected
population, existing ground-water quality,
availability of alternative water supplies,
and hydrogeological characteristics will be
considered when determining future study
areas. The SPA program is a new tool
that will aid the State's continued effort to
protect its valuable ground-water re-
sources.
NEW JERSEY
A Comprehensive Approach
New Jersey officials recognize that com-
plex problems require innovative, com-
prehensive solutions. As a result, the
¦N'ew Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection is developing a new program
targeted at establishing interim protection
areas around community drinking water
wells. The New Jersey Geologic Survey
is evaluating several criteria, including the
geology and the amount of water with-
drawn, to determine wellhead area size.
Local and State Implementation
After designating interim wellhead areas,
the State will use existing regulatory au-
thorities to restrict potentially hazardous
activities. For example, underground stor-
age tanks may require secondary contain-
ment in interim wellhead areas. The
State will work with local government
officials (e^, local planning boards) to
encourage local restrictions on hazardous
activities within these areas. Individuals
wishing to locate potentially hazardous
activities within them will be responsible
for showing that their activity does not
threaten ground water.
Public Input
New Jersey officials will seek public input
in 1989 as they begin to construct the
framework for their interim WHP Pro-
gram. By 1990, regulations to implement
the program should be in place. Over
time, as site-specific hydrogeological stud-
ies are conducted, the interim WHP areas
will be modified to reflect more accurately
local conditions.
LOCAL SPOTLIGHTS
politan area, officials are facing a number
of tough choices in identifying a final
potential wellfield area. Urban water
supply needs may compete with agricul-
tural operations and the management of
the Everglades National Park. Considera-
tion has even been given to the use of the
brackish artesian aquifer that lies below
the surficial Biscayne Aquifer. Because of
costs and technical problems, however, the
county anticipates relying on the Biscayne
Aquifer.
The Final Tasks
Planning officials are targeting early 1990
for meeting Environmental Impact State-
ment and other requirements. In the
meanwhile, the county is gearing up to
protect the preliminary site through source
controls and other WHP requirements.
By designating the site as 2m "interim
protection area", Dade County planners
hope to ensure that a clean ground-water
supply will be ready and usable when
their vision becomes a reality.
BIG SIOUX AQUIFER,
SOUTH DAKOTA
DADE COUNTY,
FLORIDA
A County with Foresight
Florida's Dade County, with one of the
first and most innovative WHP Programs
in place, now also has a vision of a new
wellfield. If things go as planned, the new
wellfield will be able to supply 140 million
gallons per day. This will not only meet
the county's current water demands, but it
is expected to also provide an excess
supply for contingency purposes until the
year 2010. Their current planning effort,
the West Wellfield Planning Project, will
ensure that this vision becomes a reality.
Their project, including new wells and
excess capacity for contingency purposes,
represents two milestones toward a com-
prehensive WHP Program.
A Range of Options
Because of the rapid growth and sensitive
environment found in the Miami metro-
Meeting the Challenge
A shallow aquifer covering more than
1,500 square miles and threats from ni-
trates, pesticides, and petroleum are pro-
viding a pressing challenge to the local
governments of eleven counties in eastern
South Dakota. The challenge, to protect
the Big Sioux Aquifer through strong,
uniform land-use controls, is being met
head on by local officials
Involving the Public
Brookings County will kick off the new
year with public meetings to discuss the
proposed model ordinances covering both
wellhead areas and the entire shallow
aquifer. The foundation for the proposed
ordinance will be a 1986 ground-water
protection ordinance developed jointly by
the city of Brookings and Brookings
County, South Dakota. Feedlots and
waste storage areas are among the facilit-
ies that may be prohibited near wellheads
as a result of the ordinance.
Working Together
Once developed, the Brookmgs County
model will be modified for use in the ten
additional counties. Local agencies, such
as the East Dakota Water Development
District, are lending a hand by (continued)

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Page 3
encouraging use of the model ordinance.
Technical assistance from EPA Region
Vni for the initial pilot project and detail-
ed hydrogeologic maps from the South
Dakota Geological Survey are providing
the counties of eastern South Dakota the
support they need to meet their ground-
water challenges.
RATHDRUM PRAIRIE/
SPOKANE VALLEY
AQUIFER, IDAHO
AND WASHINGTON
Interstate Alliance for Water
Planning officials in the Idaho and Wash-
ington counties and municipalities overlay-
ing the Rathdrum-Spokane Aquifer have
straddled political boundaries to protect
their common resource. Their spirit of
cooperation has enabled them to aggres-
sively implement new WHP techniques.
Protecting the Aquifer
Faced with increasing urban sprawl, the
Panhandle Health District in Idaho and
the Spokane County Water Quality Man-
agement Office in Washington are assess-
ing non-point sources of ground-water
pollution and developing control programs.
With a common goal of protecting the
aquifer, planners have developed aquifer
sensitive overlay zones, a critical materials
handling ordinance in Spokane County,
sanitary sewer construction programs, and
sewage management agreements.
Looking to the Future
Planning staff have a full calendar for the
next three years as they undertake a study
of innovative WHP techniques. Related
activities on the horizon include creation
of an aquifer-wide computerized data
base, storm water management and critical
materials handling programs in northern
Idaho, and active public participation.
DAYTON, OHIO
A Vote for Wellhead Protection
Three cheers for the city of Dayton, Ohio
for unanimously passing a model WHP
Program in 1988. Joining hands in this
one-and-one-half-year effort were con-
cerned citizens, the Chamber of Com-
merce, and interest groups such as the
Sierra Club
Key Elements
Dayton decided that a three-pronged
approach consisting of a zoning ordinance,
notification requirements, and a WHP
fund would result in an effective, manage-
able program. Their approach is ingeni-
ous in that it integrates ail three elements
-- the notification requirements lead to
zoning of regulated substances and target-
ing of funds to priority problems.
Innovation Throughout
How do you develop an effective program
that also ensures compliance? The city
responded to this difficult question by
using built-in economic incentives to pro-
mote compliance. For example, the city
will allow an industry to purchase proper-
ty within a Wellhead Protection Area
(WHPA) from an existing industry and
use regulated substances on that property
as long as that use is equivalent to or less
intensive than the first company's use of
regulated substances. Industries that hope
to sell property, therefore, have the incen-
tive to notify the city of all their activities
to ensure that their property should be
available to similar industries. The city's
willingness to be innovative should result
in increased participation by notifiers.
MONITORING
HEADQUARTERS
UNDERGROUND
STORAGE
TANK
UPDATE
A.
1o—o-1
(ZD
Tank replacement takes off
The signs are visible in many communities
that EPA's Office of Underground Storage
Tanks (OUST) has maintained a busy
schedule through the last several months.
Owners and operators of many gasoline
service stations are replacing their old,
leaky underground storage tanks (USTs)
with newer, corrosion resistant ones.
Programs developed by OUST are making
such replacements necessary Among the
Office's recent achievements are the fol-
lowing:
•	Requirements for State UST program
approval;
•	Technical standards for tanks containing
either petroleum or regulated hazardous
substances;
•	Guidance for the technical requirements,
•	Guidance on financing State UST prog-
rams; and
•	Guidance on developing State programs
for financial responsibility.
The guidance on technical standards is
now available in the form of a handbook
titled 'Musts for USTs."
Polluters Will Pay
One of the Office's current priorities is to
develop regulatory programs to ensure
that owners or operators of USTs have
the financial resources to pay for any
damages that may result if their tanks
leak. OUST has already issued final
specifications for making owners and
operators of petroleum-containing USTs
financially responsible for cleaning up
releases and paying damage claims The
Office also is considering developing simi-
lar requirements for USTs used to store
chemical products. For further informa-
tion, call EPA's RCRA/Superfund Infor-
mation Hotline 1 (800) 424-9346.
AGRICULTURAL
CHEMICALS
IN GROUND WATER
Proposed Pesticide Strategy
In February 1988, EPA proposed a strat-
egy for managing pesticide use to protect
ground-water resources and to prevent
unreasonable risks to the public health or
the environment. EPA's strategy envisions
State management plans as a key com-
ponent in protecting ground-water supplies
from unacceptable contamination. The
strategy also calls for using drinking water
standards, maximum contaminant levels
(MCLs), as the key reference points for
determining unacceptable contamination.
Federal and State agency coordination is
also an integral part of the proposed
strategy EPA will establish certain basic
protection measures that will be applicable
across the country, and the States will
take the lead in tailoring management
programs for local needs
EPA followed up its release of the strat-
egy (Agricultural Chemicals m Ground
Water: Proposed Pesticide Strategy') with
a meeting of State and local commission
representatives last June 7th in Washing-
ton. Before the end of 1988, all EPA Re-
gional Offices are scheduled to meet with
State agencies to take the next steps in
formulating State management plans

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Page 4
Regional Offices
of Ground-Water Protection
Bfflon.CKy
Telephone No.
1
Boston
(617) 565-3600
2
New York
(212) 264-5635
3
Philadelphia
(215) 597-2786
4
Atlanta
(404) 347-3866
5
Chicago
(312) 353-1490
6
Dallas
(214) 655-6446
7
Kansas City
(913) 236-2970
8
Denver
(303) 293-1703
9
San Francisco (415) 974-0831
10
Seattle
(206) 442-1216
EPA
Headquarters
(202) 382-7077
For additional information on Region-
al and State articles, please call the'
appropriate Regional Office.
DECEMBER
CONFERENCE
An EPA-sponsored National Conference
on Wellhead Protection, to be held in
December in New Orleans (see the front
page for details) will highlight EPA's
leadership role and State programs, bring-
ing together in one forum approaches,
start-up ideas, and information on cutting-
edge technology. "The December Confer-
ence will serve as an excellent forum for
the exchange of ideas," predicted Ms.
Marian Mlay, Director of EPA's Office of
Ground-Water Protection (OGWP) "It
will be a chance for States and localities
to share strategies, as well as to get a
clearer understanding of the importance of
wellhead protection."
REGIONAL
AND
STATE
PARTNER-
SHIPS
Combined Resources
How is the Federal effort to protect the
nation's underground drinking water sup-
plies implemented? Only through the
combined resources of EPA Regions,
States, and countless local communities
can the use of the nation's fragile ground
water be protected against the threat of
contamination. This partnership will be
strengthened as new efforts, such as Well-
head Protection, take form in the coming
months. The side by side working rela-
tionships between EPA's Regional offices
and States are particularly important in
this effort.
EPA'S Diverse Regional Role
EPA's 10 Regional offices are the Agen-
cy's primary points of contact with the
various State agencies that are entrusted
with the implementation of federal
ground-water policies. Regional offices
ensure consistent application of these
policies and appropriate use of federal
funds by working closely with the water
resources, health, natural resources, and
environmental staffs in State government.
Assistance is provided in many forms,
such as training seminars for delineation
of wellhead protection areas, review of
Sole Source Aquifer petitions and regu-
lated projects, assistance in grants applica-
tion procedures, and development of
ground-water protection strategies. Re-
gional personnel work with Indian Tribes
to assure EPA understanding of tribal
issues in program development and to
assist in the development of tribal pro-
grams to protect ground water. Policy
workshops and surveys of local govern-
ment activities assist the States and Tribes
in developing effective ground-water pro-
grams.
Sharing of technical information and
maintaining continuous policy dialogue
among the interested and affected parties
typifies the team work required to ensure
the successful protection of the nation's
ground-water supplies.
USER FRIENDLY
COMPUTER
SOFTWARE
EPA's Office of Ground-Water Protection,
in cooperation with the Office of Informa-
tion Resources Management, is supporting
an effort to improve STORET, the main
EPA data base containing ground-water
and surface water data. The project
focuses on increasing the "user-
friendliness" of STORET, especially for
data retrieval. Improvements will include
developing a user-friendly menu structure
for STORET and enhancing remote user
dial-up communications. OGWP antici-
pates that the STORET enhancements will
be available to all system users by Decem-
ber 1988. In the spring of 1989, STORET
users also can look forward to a series of
water data system training forums spon-
sored by OGWP and the Office of Water
Regulations and Standards which will
provide guidance concerning the use of
the STORET enhancements.
Office of Ground-Water Protection Publications
(Telephone (202) 382-7779 to order these documents.)
Recently Issued:
•	Developing a State Wellhead Protection Program • A User's Guide to Assist State Agencies Under the
Safe Drinking Water Act
•	Bibliography of OGWP Publications
Available soon:
•	Guidelines for Developing Contingency Plans for Wellhead Protection Programs
•	Local Tools for Wellhead Protection
•	Financing Wellhead Protection on the Local Lei el

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