EPA 908-R-02-014
Spring 2002
A Publication of The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8 Ecosystem Protection Program
EnmionraeHtaiPratesbon
Agency
U.S.EPA
999 18th Street Smte 300
8tP.R-.hP
Denver, CO 80202-2466
In this Issue:
The NEW Brownfields
Watershed Initiative:
Encouraging Successful
Partnerships
Watershed Management:
DATA! We need DATA!
EPA Region 8 2002
Consolidated Funding
Process Update
EPA Guidelines for Managing
Onsite / Decentralized Water
Systems
Ecological Assessment -
What It Is
10th National Nonpoint
Source Monitoring Workshop
Web Highlights
Coalbed Methane in EPA
Region 8
1
2
2
4
4
5
6
6
7
The General Iron Works Site will use the
City of Englewood's Brownfields
Revolving Loan Fund to conduct an
environmental investigation that will
ultimately lead to redevelopment.
The NEW Brownfields
~David Ostrander, EPA Region 8
Maybe you have heard about brownfields,
maybe not. Brownfields started as one
small grant to a community in Ohio to help
them find a solution to abandoned
industrial properties that were a blight on
their community. From that, it has grown
into a significant initiative within state and
local governments, EPA and other federal
agencies. First and foremost, brownfields
was and is a concept, that real or perceived
environmental contamination keeps
developers and lenders from redeveloping
old industrial sites. But don't let this
concept constrain your views on what
brownfields is and is not, as you will read
later.
In January of this year, President Bush
signed into law the new Brownfields
Revitalization and Environmental
Restoration Act. EPA now has an official
brownfields program, and funding
authorization to go with it. As with all
legislation, there are many complexities
related to this act, but there are a few key
things to know:
• The law provides for grants to states,
tribes,local governments and other
governmental entities for the
assessment of brownfields sites and
grants for establishing cleanup
revolving loan funds.
• NEW with this law is the authority to
award cleanup grants to non-profits.
• Many new types of sites are eligible
for assistance, including some
petroleum contaminated sites, and
sometimes sites under other regulatory
authorities, such as the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA).
• Mine scarred lands are specifically
included as eligible brownfields sites.
• Grant funds can be used to assess/
monitor the health impacts of children,
pregnant women and other sensitive
populations.
• The creation of, preservation of, or
addition to a park, a greenway,
undeveloped property, recreational
property, or other property used for
nonprofit purposes is a consideration in
selecting pmjects-brownfields are not
just urban industrial sites!
EPA sees many new opportunities with this
brownfields law to assist more
communities, especially rural areas and
mining impacted lands. We encourage you
to contact the regional office if you have
any questions about brownfields and how
(Continued on page 2)
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(continued from page 1)
this program may apply to your environmental problem.
For more information, please contact Karen Reed,
Brownfields Coordinator, at (303)312-6019 or
reed.karen@epa.gov or visit our web page at
http ://www.epa.gov/region8/land waste/bfliome.html
Watershed Initiative: Encouraging
Successful Watershed Partnerships to Protect
and Restore Water Resources
-Contributed by Stacey Eriksen, EPA Region 8
Americans depend on clean water for drinking, clean
beaches for swimming, and a healthy environment to
support fish and other wildlife. The good news is that
many communities around the country have united to
protect their watersheds, using approaches that make
sense for their local area. Those efforts have yielded
inspiring results-cleaner beaches, restored fish and
wildlife populations and waterways that attract visitors,
businesses and families. EPA has asked Congress to
invest $20 million in grants for community-based
watershed approaches in 2003. These funds will support
efforts in up to 20 watersheds and technical assistance
for other communities nationwide.
Experience shows that partnerships for protection work.
The strongest candidate communities will involve a
broad spectrum of affected interests in achieving clean
and healthy watersheds, such as representatives from
private landowners, public interest groups, industry,
academic institutions, concerned citizens and local
government. The initiative will focus on watershed
resources that provide highly valuable services to
support human health, economic stability, ecosystem
integrity, recreational opportunity, natural or cultural
significance, or other important services, and will be
able to show environmental results in a short time.
The Governors are being invited to help design the
details of the program, and EPA plans for the states to
take a leadership role in nominating candidate
watersheds. This ensures that environmental objectives
are well integrated with those for economic stability and
other social goals. EPA is seeking the views of
Congress, States, local governments, agricultural groups,
environmental groups, industry, and watershed
practitioners in developing the details of how this
initiative will be designed and implemented. Four
listening sessions were held in Washington DC (May
14,15, 22, 29). More information is available at
http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/initiativefs.html
You are invited to comment on this budget proposal by
reviewing it in the Federal Register at http://www.epa.
gov/fedrgstr/EPA-WATER/2002/Mav/Dav-23/
wl2968.htm
For more information please contact Karen Hamilton at
(303) 312-6236 or hamilton.karen(5),epa.gov
Watershed Management: DATA! We need
DATA!
~Karen Hamilton, EPA Region 8
This is the fourth article in a series describing how the
Clean Water Act is linked to watershed planning and
implementation. The previous articles described the
Clean Water Act components that are analogous to a
generic watershed plan, water quality standards, and
TMDLs (total maximum daily loads).
Water quality data and what it means is one of the very
first things asked for from people who are working to
understand their watershed. Collecting and managing
water quality data and then turning it into information is
a key component to any watershed planning and
implementation process. When collection is designed
and carried out well, data and the information developed
from it can:
• Let you know what you are starting with.
• Tell you how close to your goals (such as water
quality standards) you are;.
• Explain where improvements need to be made, how
much and for what reason (such as calculating a
total maximum daily load allocation).
• Evaluate how well your work to clean up the
watershed is going.
• Show what needs to be protected from activities that
could threaten functions of water bodies.
• Recommend what changes to your actions need to
be taken to improve results.
• Display trends over time.
One good place to start looking for data and information
is a state's 305(b) report. HUH???? What is THAT????
Section 305(b) of the Clean Water Act requires the state
water quality agency to produce a report that describes
the water quality of their waters every two years. This is
the state "305(b) report." This report describes the water
quality of rivers, lakes, estuaries, and reservoirs in terms
of the uses that the quality of the water in the state is
supposed to support. Examples of designated uses that
water bodies can support (given good water quality)
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include fishing, swimming, drinking water, and
agriculture. These designated uses are a part of the
water quality standards set for a water body (see Natural
News Spring 2001). The report describes whether those
uses are being supported by the water quality. Below
are the web sites to the EPA Region 8 state 305(b)
reports or information on how to obtain water quality
data. Many state water offices have different divisions
for groundwater and surface water so you may have to
look in two places to get information on both.
http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/op/wqcc/
waterstatus2002/3050))tableofcontents.pdf
From these state reports, EPA then produces the
National Water Quality Inventory Report to Congress
(305(b) report). This is the main way that EPA uses to
inform Congress and the public about general water
quality conditions in the United States. This document
characterizes our water quality, identifies widespread
water quality problems of national significance, and
describes various programs implemented to restore and
protect our waters. You can access it at:
http://www.epa.gov/305b
Each state may have slightly different survey methods
and water quality standards. Therefore, comparisons of
water quality between states may be inappropriate.
Combining many states' reports into a Regional
summary allows EPA to determine the extent of
differences between each state's monitoring program.
The EPA Regional summary is also used to determine
Regional water quality problems, new and/or beneficial
techniques for monitoring and assessing water quality,
and interstate water quality issues.
The 305(b) reports are excellent places to begin to learn
about your state's water quality monitoring and
assessment program. In these reports you will learn
what the state's approach to understanding state water
bodies is and what the main components of the program
are. You will also find out what the recent advances,
issues, and developments in monitoring and assessment
are. You can also obtain a big picture view of key
information about your watershed. These reports link
monitoring data, standards and the list of impaired water
bodies (303(d) lists; see Natural News spring 2001 and
winter 2002). At the website of some states, you may be
able to obtain some monitoring data or generate maps of
monitoring sites. Colorado is beginning to make its data
available in a spatial format, for example. For raw data,
have a look at EPA's STORET web site:
http://www.epa.gov/storet
You will likely find that the groundwater and wetlands
water quality components are weak in many overall state
monitoring programs. However, most states receive
Water quality monitoring (305b) data was used to
determine sources of impairment affecting recreation
on the South Platte River in Denver.
insufficient funding to conduct in-depth, comprehensive
monitoring programs continuously throughout the state.
They may rely on rotating through the major water basins
on a multi-year cycle for more in-depth monitoring while
maintaining some lighter level of monitoring state-wide.
Most states bolster their monitoring programs by
coordinating their needs with monitoring activities of
other water programs (e.g., nonpoint source projects),
agencies and organizations, but this is a laborious task.
Data must be used very carefully with a full
understanding of its original purposes and limitations.
Consequently, some organizations may be reluctant to
release data if they are concerned data will be used
incorrectly. Conversely, organizations may be reluctant
to use data that doesn't have a complete description of
how it was collected and analyzed (this description is
called metadata).
Watershed groups can provide data that is valuable to the
state monitoring program when the data arises from well-
designed and conducted volunteer efforts that have
approved quality assurance plans. With technical
assistance from EPA, the state, US Geological Survey,
the state volunteer monitoring program, or other
organizations, watershed groups are capable of
developing rigorous scientific data that can be used for
the most scrutinized assessments such as total maximum
daily load allocations, water quality standards changes,
and the 305(b) reports.
For information about your state's 305(b) report:
CO: Sarah Johnson (303) 692-3609.
MT: Bob Barry (406)444-5342.
ND: Mike Ell (701) 328-5214.
SD: Trish Kindt (605) 773-3351.
UT: Tom Toole (801)538-6859.
WY: Mark Conrad (307)777-5802.
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EPA Region 8 2002 Consolidated Funding
Process (CFP) Update
~Pam Dougherty, EPA Region 8
This is the second year that the Region 8 Ecosystems
Protection Program and Water Program have used a
redesigned competitive funding process which offers
"one-stop-shopping" to applicants by sending out one
Request for Proposal with funding available through the
following four grant programs:
•Regional Geographic Initiative (RGI) Multi-media
Funding;
• Wetlands Protection Project Grants;
• Water Quality Project Grants;
•Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Program Grants.
This effort was in response to numerous requests from
our customers to simplify and streamline our grants
process. The fiscal year (FY) 2002 CFP Request for
Proposal went out in October, and in December we
received 143 proposals, totaling $9.6 million in requests.
Following several months of extensive review and
evaluation, by staff from three Region 8 Offices,
financial assistance totaling $3,100,000.00 will be
awarded to 78 (out of the 143) proposals. Funded
projects support restoration of impacted watersheds,
protection of pristine or high value watersheds or
ecosystems, and water quality improvement. We are
currently in the middle of the Grants Application process
and are scheduled to make the majority of awards by
June 15th, 2002.
For additional information regarding this year's process
or updates on next year's process, please visit our
website at http://www.epa.gov/region8/
community resources/ecoprotection/newgranthtml
For more information, please contact Pam Dougherty,
Program Coordinator at (303) 312-6012 or
dougherty.pam@epa.gov
PROTKT WATER
A \ !OUR
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communities in meeting water-quality and public health
goals. Although the program is voluntary, EPA is
recommending that a basic level of onsite systems
management (eg., system inventory and awareness of
maintenance needs) be implemented by all states and that
higher levels of management (eg., maintenance contracts,
operating permits, management entity operation and
maintenance) be implemented locally where there is a high
risk of environmental degradation or a threat to public
health through onsite systems usage.
The Management Guidelines are a set of recommended
practices needed to raise the level of performance of
onsite/decentralized wastewater systems through improved
management programs. Five separate "model programs"
are presented as a progressive series, with management
requirements becoming more rigorous as the system
technologies become more complex or as the sensitivity of
the environment increases. Each model program includes
program elements and program activities needed to
achieve the management objectives.
EPA recognizes that states, tribes, and local governments
need a flexible framework and guidance to best tailor their
management programs to the specific needs of the
community. These model programs are not intended to
supercede existing federal, state, tribal, and local laws and
regulations but rather be a complement to them.
The Management Guidelines will be published in 2002.
More information on the Management Guidelines can be
acquired at http://www.epa.gov/owm/decent/or by
contacting Rich Muza at (303) 312-6595 or
muza. richard(5),ep a. gov
-i chatter, chatter as i
ffcw to Jcln the
brimmintt river, fcr
men may ccme and
men mayec9 out toe en
forever.
-Lent Tennyscn
-frcm TheBrcck, 1887
Ecological Assessment - What It Is
~Karl Hermann and Eric Hyatt, EPA Region 8
Ecological assessment is the process of determining and
reporting ecological status, condition, and trends, as well
as, the factors that influence condition or may influence
the future condition. It is the first of two components in
the ecosystem approach, the second being ecosystem
management opportunities.
Focused on ensuring a sustainable economy and
sustainable environment, the ecosystem approach
attempts to gain a comprehensive understanding of
ecosystems, how we use them, what factors affect them,
and finally, optimal management and stewardship. A
successful ecological assessment process provides
relevant information to a variety of stakeholders that
empowers them with an understanding of the existing
state (condition) of the environment and the abilities to
make effective ecosystem management decisions.
There is an interrelationship between ecological systems
and sustainable economies. An appropriate ecological
assessment process employs the best available
information and sound science to gain an understanding
of the multidimensional aspects of natural systems and
anthropogenic (human induced) stresses on those
systems.
There are a couple of key elements for successful
assessments. First, a necessary holistic style approach
requires expertise from a number of disciplines.
Therefore partnerships with other agencies and entities,
are highly desirable and perhaps critical for success.
Secondly, no matter how good the analysis and
interpretation in the assessment process, without effective
communication of relevant information to the
stakeholders for the practice of ecosystem management,
the value is lost.
Ecological Indicators
Ideally, the ecological assessment process is iterative. In
this way, trends can be monitored and adaptive
management can be effectively practiced. In order to
accomplish this, a primary assessment tool set is the
employment of ecological indicators. Designed properly,
indicators can be associated with assessment and/or
measurement endpoints and can provide status
information with respect to that issue(s). The amount or
percent of resource in a given area is an example of an
indicator. A direct measure is a measurement endpoint
and an indirect measurement is an assessment endpoint.
Monitored over time, the indicator may show loss or gain
of the resource. Understanding the ecosystem dynamics,
the loss of a particular resource may imply loss of a
(Continued on page 6)
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(Continued from page 5)
habitat, etc. Likewise, stressor indicators can show
increase or decrease of a particular ecological stress over
time (e.g., impact of anthropogenic (man made) nitrogen
releases overtime).
Employing Ecological Assessment in EPA Region 8
EPA Region 8 is promoting an ecological assessment
framework to employ as 'the way it does business'. The
framework provides a logical approach to identify issues,
develop assessment goals and questions to be answered,
analyze and interpret information, and to effectively
report the findings to relevant stakeholders. Currently,
several Region 8 projects incorporate the framework.
Future plans for broader use include the upcoming
Regional State of the Environment Report.
For more information please contact Karl Hermann at
or 303-312-6628 or hermann.karl@epa.gov
10th National Nonpoint Source Monitoring
Workshop: Monitoring and Modeling from
the Peaks to the Prairies
~Contributed by Kim Larson, EPA Region 8
September 8-12,2002, Beaver Run Resort,
Breckenridge, Colorado
Overview
This year's workshop offers a great opportunity to share
accomplishments and ideas in nonpoint source (NFS)
monitoring and modeling in a beautiful setting, autumn
in the Rockies. The focus will be on the outcomes of
Section 319 National Monitoring Program projects and
similar innovative efforts.
The agenda includes three days of technical sessions and
presentations. A one-day field trip will feature stream
restoration and legacy mines along with other local
technical tours.
Session Topics
•Stream Restoration
•Inactive Mine Remediation
•NPS Modeling
•Best Management Practices Implementation (BMP) and
Evaluation in Agriculture, Silviculture and
Urban/Construction
•Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Development
•Public Information and Education
Questions?
Please contact Tammy Taylor at
tavlor@ctic.purdue.edu or (765) 494-1814.
"To trace the history of a river or a
I raindrop... is also to trace the history \
of the soul, the history of the mind
descending and arising in the body.
In both, we constantly seek and
stumble upon divinity, which like
feeding the lake, and the spring be-
\ coming a waterfall, feeds, spills,
falls, and feeds itself all over again.
~&retel Ehrlich-From Islands, The
Universe, Home, 1991
Web Highlights
~Contributed by Stacey Eriksen, EPA Region 8
You gotta check out this web site "Watershed Weekly"
which features Videos that highlight the work of Local
Watershed organizations, as well as a video on how to
start a WS organization, and other cool stuff...
http://www.greenworks.tv/watershed weekly/index.
htm
River Network, helping people understand, protect and
restore rivers and their watersheds.
http://www.rivernetwork.org
The new EPA Watershed web site is at:
http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/
Environmental information about your neighborhood is
just a few clicks away using Envirofacts data
"warehouse" that offers a single point of access to a
wide range of environmental data collected by EPA.
Users can search by facility name, geographic location,
ZIP code, or Standard Industrial Code classification.
Enviromapper generates maps using data from
Envirofacts. http://www.epa.gov/enviro
The award-winning Window to My Environment
combines state-of-the-art interactive maps with links to
federal, state and local environmental data to provide
users with detailed information on environmental issues
and conditions affecting their community or location of
interest. Users enter a ZIP code or city and state to
receive information. Window is currently available in
Regions 3, 5, 6, and 8, and will be expanded nationwide
by the end of FY 2002.
http://www.epa.gov/enviro/wme
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Six new TMDL fact sheets focusing on water quality
have been added to the NACD (National Association of
Conservation Districts )Web site at
http://www.nacdnet.org/govtaff/tmdl/FactSheets.htm
The fact sheets, produced as part of a cooperative project
with EPA, include the following topics: 319 grants,
constructed wetlands, market-driven approaches to
conservation, leveraging funds, a unified national
animal feeding operation strategy and the Clean
Water State Revolving Fund.
The Pew Oceans Commission's new release "Coastal
Sprawl: The Effects of Urban Design on Aquatic
Ecosystems in the United States," links sprawl to
declining coastal health. The report is available at
http://www.pewoceans.org/
The Brookings Institution's Center on Urban and
Metropolitan Policy has compiled a report on "Open
Space Protection: Conservation Meets Growth
Management." The report provides an overview of the
nature, quantity and objectives of open space programs
in the U.S. and, using existing literature, examines how
they may affect the shape and form of metropolitan
areas. The report can be viewed at
http://www.brookings.edu/urban
New web site dedicated to Low Impact Development.
http://www.lid-stormwater.net/
GreenBiz.com, a program of the National Environmental
Education & Training Foundation, announces key new
partnerships with leading environmental and business
groups. The goal is to produce free, content-rich Web
sites to help mainstream companies align environmental
responsibility with business success.
http ://www.greenbiz.com
Coal Bed Methane in EPA Region 8
~Ayn Schmit, EPA Region 8
There are a number of current activities ongoing in the
Region 8 office pertaining to coal bed methane (CBM)
development. The following are updates on a few key
activities.
EPA's "Economic Impact Analysis of Disposal
Options for Produced Water from Coalbed Methane
Operations", aka the "best professional judgement"
analysis
An EPA contractor is conducting this analysis to support
EPA and states in determining appropriate permit limits
for the discharge of water produced from coal bed
methane development. The analysis will look at the cost
and feasibility of a variety of different options for
managing CBM produced water, including injection,
impoundment, and treatment by reverse osmosis. The
current schedule calls for the release of a draft report in
August-September, with a public meeting to be held in
the Powder River Basin to facilitate public input on the
draft document. EPA hopes the document can be
finalized by December 2002. For more information
please contact Mike Reed at 303-312-6132 or
reed.mike@epa.gov
Cheyenne Tribal Water Quality Standards
EPA Region 8 has been working with the Northern
Cheyenne Tribe for some time to assist the Tribe in its
development of water quality standards. The Tribe
proposed standards in late 2001, and held a public
hearing in January 2002 to take comment on their
proposed standards. Recently the Tribe submitted an
application to EPA for "Treatment as a State" under the
Clean Water Act. A tribe must be approved for
Treatment as a State prior to submitting water quality
standards to EPA for approval as Clean Water Act
standards. The Tribe has been responding to the public
comment they received, and is preparing to take their
final standards back to their Tribal Council for adoption
in the very near future. Once adopted by the Council,
the standards will be submitted to EPA for review and
approval. For more information, please contact Barb
Burkland at (406) 457-5009 or
burkland.barbara@epa.gov
EPA Comments on the Wyoming and Montana Draft
Environmental Impact Statements for Coal Bed
Methane Development in the Powder River Basin
EPA provided comments to the Bureau of Land
Management on their Draft EISs for coal bed methane
development. To view EPA's comment letters, see our
website at: http://www.epa.gov/region8/compliance/
nepa/nepadocs/nepadocs.html
Off-channel reservoir for coal bed methane
development near lower Prairie Dog Creek, Powder
River Basin, Wyoming
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Volunteer Monitoring
Tina Laidlaw (406) 457-5016
laidlaw.tina@epa.gov
Wetlands
Paul Mclver (303) 312-6056
mciver.paul@epa.gov
Watersheds and Community-
Based Environmental Protection
Marc Alston (303) 312-6556
alston.marc@epa.gov
Ground Water
Darcy Campbell (303) 312-6709
campbell.darcy@epa.gov
Nonpoint Source Pollution
Kris Jensen (303) 312-6237
iensen.kris@epa.gov
EPA Region 8 Environmental
Information Service Center and
toll free number
1-800-227-8917
Natural News
Editor: Stacey Eriksen
Layout: Greg Davis
If you have an article concerning ecosystem protec-
tion, community based environmental protection, or
watersheds; we would like to hear from you! Please
contact: Stacey Eriksen (303) 312-6692 or
eriksen.stacey@epa.gov
We need your help in updating our mailing list in
order to keep Natural News coming to you!
Please contact: John DiPentino (303) 312-6594
or dipentino.iohn@epa.gov or snail mail to him
at the return address below
Conserve our natural resources, please share your
copy with a friend or recycle.
Ecosystem Stewardship on the web: http://www.epa.gov/region8/communitv resources/steward/est.html
U.S. EPA
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8EPR-EP
Denver, CO 80202-2466
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