2009 OWM Annual Accomplishments Report ------- Message from the Director I am pleased to present the 2009 OWM Annual Accomplishments Report, which high- lights some of our many achievements this past year as we strive to preserve and pro- tect our nation's waters. Among our accomplishments in 2009, OWM continued to make significant progress in promoting sustainable infrastructure and water efficiency. OWM's Sustainable Infra- structure Program continued to provide critical outreach, training, and leadership in the areas of effective utility management, asset management, and energy management, helping utilities manage the challenges facing our nation's water infrastructure. In addi- tion, WaterSense, the Agency's premier program for encouraging national water effi- ciency, continued to expand its suite of WaterSense-labeled products to include the first water-efficiency specification for an entire new home and the first ever commercial building product—flushing urinals. WaterSense labeled products are saving Americans more than 36 billion gallons annually. In 2009, OWM and our partners also made significant progress in ensuring timely in- vestment of the unprecedented $4 billion appropriation in financial assistance for wastewater utilities under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) of 2009. Working with the private sector, local governments, and states, OWM has worked quickly to ensure that all are prepared to properly utilize the funding by Con- gress' February 2010 deadline and that all projects meet ARRA requirements. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit program remains a criti- cally important tool for Clean Water Act protections. In 2009, OWM continued its efforts to implement the 2008 concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) rule, which is helping to reduce nutrient and sediment loads impacting the health of our waterways. OWM also undertook a significant review of surface coal mining actions in central Ap- palachia and the first ever scientific analysis of pollutant discharges from commercial fishing vessels and non-commercial fishing vessels to better evaluate the impacts of these sources on our nation's waters. Finally, OWM and our partners made great strides in implementing President Obama's Executive Order on Chesapeake Bay Restoration and Protection, releasing, in Novem- ber 2009, a draft coordinated strategy for bay protection and restoration. As we look to the future, daunting challenges remain—failing infrastructure, economic struggles at the state and local levels, and unregulated sources of pollution. However, with the help and support of our partners from other federal agencies; state, tribal, and local governments; and nongovernmental organizations, we continue to work to meet these challenges, ensuring better water quality for generations to come. James A. Hanlon, Director Office of Wastewater Management Cover photos, with the exception of the center photo, courtesy of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. ------- OWM Mission To help meet the nation's clean water goals by ensuring that appropriate regulatory standards, voluntary manage- ment approaches, informa- tion, financial resources, and technical assistance are pro- vided to states, communities, and regulated entities. Contents Message from the Director 2 OWM Mission 3 About OWM 4 Program Highlights 6 Results Areas Integrity—We aspire to the highest levels of fiscal and scientific reliability for our staff, programs, and re- search. Efficiency—Through stra- tegic planning and prioritiz- ing and establishing realistic goals, OWM has a success- ful track record, delivering substantial environmental Clean Water State Revolving Fund 7 WaterSense Program 8 Wet Weather/Stormwater Program 9 Sustainable Infrastructure Program 10 Rural Program 11 State & Regional Program 12 State & Tribal Water Pollution Control Grants 13 Industrial Program 14 Sustainable Communities 15 Results—Setting realistic goals and reaching or sur- passing those goals is the cornerstone of OWM's stra- tegic plan. ------- OWM Leadership James Hanlon, Director Randy Hill, Deputy Director Planning, Information & Resources Management Staff Ben Hamm, Director Municipal Support Division Sheila Frace, Director Bill Anderson, Deputy Director Sustainable Communities Branch Kellie Kubena, Chief Sustainable Management Branch Phil Zahreddine, Chief State Revolving Fund Branch George Ames, Chief WaterSense Branch Veronica Blette, Chief Water Permits Division Linda Boornazian, Director Deborah Nagle, Deputy Director State and Regional Branch Tom Laverty, Chief Martha Segall, Asst. Chief Municipal Branch Connie Bosma, Chief Rural Branch Allison Wiedeman, Chief Industrial Branch Marcus Zobrist, Chief About the Office of Wastewater Management Clean Water is the ultimate goal of all Office of Wastewater Management (OWM) programs. Overall, our programs are designed to ensure that not only is our water safe to drink, but that our surface waters and aquatic eco- systems protect human health; support economic and recreational activi- ties; and provide healthy habitat for fish, plants, and wildlife. Our office sup- ports EPA's goals for clean and safe water and healthy communities and ecosystems. While OWM helps regulate and promote effective and responsible waste- water treatment, our programs consist of more than just wastewater man- agement: • Since its inception, more than 20 years ago, the Clean Water State Revolving Fund programs have provided more than 24,600 low- interest loans for wastewater treatment, control of nonpoint source pol- lution, and estuary protection. • Through WaterSense, we are helping to raise national awareness of water as a scarce resource; encourage water efficiency among utilities, manufacturers, retailers, and consumers; and make it easy for consum- ers to find products and services that save water while ensuring prod- uct performance. • Our Green Infrastructure initiative focuses renewed attention on a blossoming approach to stormwater management and treats stormwa- ter as a valuable resource rather than as a problem. It promotes the use of green roofs, rain gardens, porous pavements, and other tech- niques that result in improved water and air quality, energy and costs savings, enhanced water supplies, habitat creation, and source water protection. • The National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program controls water pollution by regulating point sources that dis- charge pollutants into our surface waters. • Our Stormwater Program oversees the control of stormwater runoff through the issuance of NPDES stormwater permits and provides out- reach and support to EPA Regions and states on issuance and over- sight of those permits. It also educates local governments, industries, builders, and the public about the impact stormwater has on our local waterways and how to keep pollutants out of stormwater. • Under our Sustainable Infrastructure Program, OWM is promoting widespread adoption of better management practices, water efficiency, full-cost pricing, and watershed approaches to reduce costs and in- crease system investments. • Through our Sustainable Communities Program, OWM is providing outreach and targeted technical and financial assistance to small com- munities and tribal communities to help find the assistance that they need to address their wastewater treatment needs. ------- How We Do Our Work Our Partners The Office of Wastewater Management (OWM) and its staff of more than 110 employees promote effective and responsible water use, treatment, disposal, and management and encourage the protection and restoration of watersheds. OWM is comprised of an Immediate Office of the Director; the Water Permits Division (WPD); the Municipal Support Division (MSD); and the Planning, Information and Resources Management Staff (PIRMS). Source: USDA/NRCSImage Gallery JVLSD manages the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program; assists small communities and Indian tribes, U.S./Mexico Border communities, and Alaska Native Villages; and implements special appropriations acts pro- jects. The division maintains and regularly updates inventories and cost estimates of existing and needed future municipal wastewater treatment works and capital investments to meet the goals of the Clean Water Act. In addition, the division publishes technical information about conventional and innovative municipal wastewater collection systems and treatment technologies and provides support and technical assistance to EPA Re- gions and states to promote the proper management of on-site and decen- tralized wastewater systems nationwide. Through the WaterSense pro- gram, it also is promoting a national ethic of water efficiency and market enhancement for water-efficient products, programs, and practices. In 2009, MSD underwent a structural reorganization to more effectively meet its goals and responsibilities. In addition to creating a separate branch for the WaterSense program, MSD has also made adjustments to the exist- ing branches by strategically shifting several responsibilities and providing new titles that more accurately reflect the branches' core missions. These changes will ensure that MSD is well positioned to provide the needed sup- port for the cost-effective management of community water resources. >V PD provides national program direction to the National Pollutant Dis- charge Elimination System permit, pretreatment, and sewage sludge man- agement programs under sections 401, 402, and 405 of the Clean Water Act, including: development of regulations, policy, and guidance; develop- ment of national strategies; implementation management; compliance as- surance; and overview of Regional and state operations. The division also coordinates with the Office of Science and Technology in the development of national standards for point source controls, indirect dischargers, and biosolids use and disposal. EPA Regional Offices State, Interstate, Tribal, and Local Programs Water and Wastewater Agencies Non-government Organizations Private Industry Regulated Community Academic Institutions Private Citizens Budget In FY 2009, OWM's programs, including state and tribal as- sistance (excluding American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funding), accounted for more than $974 million, or nearly 13 percent of EPA's budget. Through its programs and initiatives, OWM promotes compliance with the require- ments of the Clean Water Act (CWA). Under the CWA, OWM works in partnership with EPA's Regions, states, local governments, and tribes to regulate point source dis- charges into surface waters such as wetlands, lakes, riv- ers, estuaries, bays, and ------- Our Work The NPDES Permit Program Clean Water State Revolving Fund Clean Watersheds Needs Survey Sustainable Infrastructure WaterSense Water Efficiency Program Onsite/Decentralized Waste- water Systems Program Innovative Management Systems (EMS, Asset Management, CMOM, etc.) Infrastructure Grants (Congressional Earmarks) Outreach, Technical Assistance, and Training Programs State and Tribal Program Assistance (CWA Section 106) Small Communities U.S./Mexico Border Wastewater Treatment Technologies Water Quality Cooperative Agreements (104(b)(3)) Highlights — 2009 Results Clean Water State Revolving Fund — Clean Water state Revolv- ing Fund (CWSRF) programs provided $5.2 billion in 2009, which included $430 million from the American Reinvestment and Recover Act (ARRA), to fund water quality protection projects for wastewater treatment, nonpoint source pollution control, and watershed and estu- ary management. To date, the CWSRFs have provided $74 billion, funding 24,688 low-interest loans.1 Source: USDA/NRCSImage Gallery ARRA Implementation — OWM made great strides in designing and imple- menting policies, guidance, and training materials to help states apply for the $4 billion in ARRA funding obligated by Con- gress for the CWSRF programs. By the end of 2009, almost 1,400 funding agreements had been signed in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, totaling more than $2.96 billion, and EPA was well situated to have all funding under con- tract by Congress' February 2010 deadline. Green Infrastructure — OWM collaborates with ERA'S Office of Wet- lands, Oceans, and Watersheds in the development of technical guidance for federal facilities on implementing stormwater runoff requirements for federal projects under Section 438 of the Energy Independence and Security Act. This guidance will help reduce water quality problems from stormwater runoff from development and redevelopment at federal facilities. Implementing the Chesapeake Bay Executive Order — OWM worked to help implement President Obama's May 2009 Executive Order on Chesapeake Bay protection and restoration. OWM, participating in a cross- Agency effort, developed and reviewed key sections of the report, The Next Generation of Tools and Actions to Restore Water Quality in the Chesapeake Bay, which indentifies recommended pollution control strategies and actions to protect and restore the bay watershed. Priority Permits — EPA and author- ized states exceeded the national commit- ment for issuing priority permits by 50 per- cent, issuing more than 1,110 priority per- mits in FY09. This is the fourth consecutive year the national goal has been exceeded. WaterSense — The WaterSense pro- gram released its final single-family new home specification, creating the first na- tional, voluntary water-efficiency specification for an entire new home. Wa- terSense-labeled new homes will be 20 percent more water efficient than typi- cal new homes. Source: USDA/NRCS Image Gallery Tribal Section 106 Program — OWM published a status report for the Tribal Section 106 Program, highlighting tribal achievements over the pro- gram's 20-year history in developing comprehensive, effective water quality programs and improving and protecting water quality in Indian Country. CWSRF National Information Management System. U.S. EPA, Office of Water. Data is reported on an annual basis, covering the period from July 1 to June 30. ------- Clean Water State Revolving Fund Clean Water State Revolving Fund In 2009, Clean Water State Revolving Fund pro- grams provided $5.2 billion, which included $430 million in ARRA funding, for 1,971 loans to com- munities for water quality protection projects. These projects included wastewater treatment, nonpoint source pollution control, and watershed and estuary management. CWSRFs offer low interest rates, flexible terms, and assistance to a variety of borrowers and partnerships with other funding sources. Over the last 22 years, CWSRFs have funded $74 billion through 24,688 low-cost loans for a variety of important water quality pro- jects that help communities meet environmental standards and ensure pub- lic health.2 New Employee Training Workshop OWM is committed to providing Regional and headquarters SRF staff with the resources necessary for effective program management. To support this commitment, a training workshop was held in Chicago, Illinois, from May 5 - 7, 2009 that provided basic training to new employees on conducting over- sight of the SRF programs. Participants were shown how to review core SRF documents, including intended use plans and annual reports as well as the proper procedure for conducting annual onsite reviews. 2009 CWSRF PISCES Awards The 2009 PISCES Awards (Performance and Innovation in the SRF Creat- ing Environmental Success) recognized states that have shown exceptional leadership and effectiveness in protecting water quality and financial integ- rity through the CWSRF program. A PISCES Award was presented to one state from each of the ten EPA Regions. These recipients demonstrated outstanding performance, creativity, and integrity in the CWSRF program. This was the fifth consecutive year that OWM has recognized PISCES Award winners. Recipients were recognized and presented with their awards at the national SRF workshop hosted by the Council of Infrastructure Financing Authorities in Seattle, Washington, in November 2009. 2009 CWSRF Conference The 2009 CWSRF conference took place on July 14 -15 in Chicago, Illinois. This national conference was organized to provide CWSRF managers and senior staff the opportunity to discuss the strategic management of the CWSRF programs. Participants explored how best to integrate water quality focused management with CWSRF financial management and how to use the CWSRF to maximize public health and water quality protection benefits. With approximately 130 attendees from EPA headquarters and Regional offices as well as managers and staff from 38 states, the conference pro- vided an excellent opportunity for participants to network with colleagues from across the country and share fresh ideas about collaboration, innova- tion, and what the future of the CWSRF should look like. Sustainable Communities Partnership Plans are underway for the CWSRF to play a critical role in the HUD-DOT- EPA Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities by sponsoring a CWSRF pilot program. Under this program, several states will receive tech- nical assistance from EPA to modify or expand their CWSRF programs to encourage development under the principles of the sustainable communities partnership. The goal is to use the results and lessons learned from the pilot program to promote more widespread adoption of practices that encourage states to reinvest in their existing infrastructure systems. At the conclusion of the pilot program, EPA will publish a best practices guide for all CWSRF programs that wish to adopt the principles of sustainable development. 2 CWSRF National Information Management System. U.S. EPA, Office of Water. Data is reported on an annual basis, covering the period from July 1 to June 30. 3 CWSRF Benefits Reporting System. U.S. EPA, Office of Water. American Reinvestment and Recovery Act Implementation Signed February 17, 2009, the Ameri- can Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provided an unprecedented $4 billion in funding for CWSRF pro- grams to construct high-priority waste- water infrastructure projects. States were required to provide at least 20 percent of their grants for projects that addressed green infrastructure, en- ergy or water efficiency, or environ- mentally innovative activities. During 2009, OWM designed and implemented policies, guidance, and training materials to assist states in applying for ARRA funding and to make modifications to its tracking and reporting systems to accommodate new ARRA and Office of Management and Budget requirements. OWM also visited 49 out of the 51 CWSRF pro- grams, providing additional support to the states' efforts in implementing ARRA. EPA's progress in implementing ARRA has been significant. By the end of December, nearly 1,400 fund- ing agreements had been signed, in all 50 states and Puerto Rico totaling more than $2.96 billion. Over $700 million went to fund green infrastruc- ture, energy or water efficiency, and environmentally innovative projects. The Agency is on track to have all of the Recovery Act Clean Water funding under contract by the February 2010 Congressional deadline. OWM's ef- forts have been vital to ensuring that all of the clean water federal stimulus funding is reaching communities, fund- ing desperately needed projects to build and restore water utilities and create and save jobs.3 ------- lEPA fWaterSensel OF THE YEAR Partner of the Year Awards More than 1,000 WaterSense partners help Americans save 36 billion gallons of water each year. EPA named five of them as Wa- terSense Partners of the Year for 2009, each in one of four catego- ries: Promotional Partner of the Year (Large Utility): Cobb County Water System, Marietta, GA; Promotional Partner of the Year (Small Utility): James City Service Authority, Williamsburg, VA; Manufacturer Partner of the Year: Kohler Co., Kohler, WS; Retailer of the Year: Lowe's Companies, Inc., Mooresville, NC; and Irriga- tion Partner of the Year: Brian Vinchesi, Pepperell, MA. Partnerships and Outreach More than 1,600 organizations and individuals have partnered with WaterSense to help advance its mission of saving water for future generations. Their efforts, combined with those of the EPA, have increased awareness of the need for water efficiency, in- creased availability of Wa- terSense-labeled products that save water and perform well, and raised the visibility of the Wa- terSense brand. To spread the word about WaterSense, the pro- gram relies on its Website (http:// www.epa.gov/WaterSense/), which was redesigned in Decem- ber; public service announce- ments; staff-authored articles in trade and consumer publications; and other media coverage. In 2009, our combined media out- reach efforts have resulted in more than 1.6 billion media "impressions" with a correspond- ing advertising value totaling more than $32.5 million, more than doubling of the exposure earned by the program in 2008. WaterSense Program WaterSense has quickly become a national symbol for water efficiency among utilities, plumbing manufacturers, retailers, and consumers, saving Americans more than 36 billion gallons annually. As of the end of December 2009, more than 1,500 bathroom sink faucets and faucet accessories and 400 toilet models had earned the Wa- terSense label, which helps consumers make informed decisions when buying water-efficient products. First Commercial Building Product In October, EPA released its first WaterSense specifica- tion for a commercial building product — flushing uri- nals. These WaterSense-labeled urinals will use 50 percent less water than standard urinals, which could save a business 40,000 gallons of water per year for every model installed. WaterSense for the Commercial and Institutional Sector The WaterSense program sought input on a potential WaterSense commercial and institutional program in 2009. As a first step, the program released a white paper, "Water Efficiency in the Commercial and Institutional Sector: Considera- tions for the WaterSense Program," which summarized the best available re- sources that EPA can use for planning activities to support the sector. New Homes In December, EPA released its final WaterSense single-family new home speci- fication, creating the first national, voluntary, water-efficiency specification for an entire new home. EPA worked with hundreds of stakeholders over a three-year period to develop the specification, which was designed to complement existing green building programs. WaterSense-labeled new homes, which will be 20 percent more water efficient than typical new homes, must be independently inspected and certified by an EPA-licensed certification provider. The new homes will feature WaterSense-labeled plumbing fixtures, ENERGY STAR- qualified appliances (if installed), water-efficient landscaping, and hot water delivery systems that deliver hot water faster, so homeowners don't waste wa- ter or energy waiting at the tap. WaterSense-labeled Showerheads In September, the Agency released a draft WaterSense specification for showerheads for public comment. With the specification finalized in early 2010, consumers will soon find WaterSense-labeled showerheads and be able to reno- vate their bathrooms with a full suite of WaterSense-labeled products—toilets, faucets, and showerheads. As one of the leading uses of water in the home, showering accounts for nearly 17 percent of residential indoor water consumption. By installing the high-efficiency showerheads, the average household could save more than 2,300 gallons of water and enough energy to power their television use for about a year. Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers In November, EPA released its draft WaterSense specification for weather- based irrigation controllers, marking the first irrigation product to be considered for the WaterSense label. Once the specification is finalized, homeowners and irrigation professionals will be able to retrofit with WaterSense-labeled irrigation controllers, which create or modify irrigation schedules, to meet landscape wa- ter needs based on real-time weather data. Replacing a standard timer control- ler with a WaterSense-labeled controller could save more than 11,000 gallons of water annually. ------- Wet Weather/Stormwater Program Urban wet weather sources remain an important EPA priority because of the potential impacts on human health and the environment. Urban wet weather sources are among the most significant sources of water pollution today that EPA can address through the Clean Water Act. Adverse effects from wet weather are typically tied to the condition, type, and extent of the infrastructure. Regulatory Programs Incorporate Green Infrastructure Approaches Increasingly, green infrastructure approaches are being incorporated into storm- water permits. In 2009, two stormwater permits were finalized, in Anchorage, Alaska and in West Virginia, requiring the inclusion of green infrastructure ap- proaches. These approaches provide enhanced environmental benefits by re- quiring that discharges from all new development mimic natural hydrologic con- ditions. Also in 2009, OWM and EPA's Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds jointly released the Technical Guidance on Implementing the Stormwater Run- off Requirements for Federal Projects under Section 438 of the Energy Inde- pendence and Security Act for federal facilities stormwater management. The technical guidance provides background information, case studies, and guid- ance on meeting the new stormwater runoff guidelines. Green Infrastructure Workshops and Webcasts In 2009, OWM conducted a series of workshops and Webcasts for municipal managers and others on how to manage wet weather events with green infra- structure. Nine in-person workshops were held throughout the country. In addi- tion, a series of six Webcasts were held on a variety of topics, including the benefits of green infrastructure; revising local, plans, codes, and ordinances; water harvesting; models and calculators; site planning and design considera- tions; funding and incentives; and retrofits (i.e., green streets). All Webcasts are available for viewing on OWM's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Sys- tem program training Website (www.epa.gov/npdes/training) and for download as podcasts. EPA Promotes Green Capitols Project The Agency is working to promote the Green Capitols Project, which facilitates and highlights green infrastructure retrofits in and around state capitol buildings. EPA has provided design assistance to several state-municipal partnerships committed to implementing wet weather management projects using green in- frastructure approaches on capitol grounds and streets and sidewalks. Green Infrastructure Publications Five installments of the Green Infrastructure Municipal Hand- book series were released in 2009. The series provides rela- tively short, easy to read "how to" information on topics of interest to municipal managers. The topics covered include: retrofit policies, rainwater harvesting policies, incentive mechanisms, green streets, and the Water Quality Scorecard (in partnership with EPA's Smart Growth program), a tool to evaluate and modify local codes and ordinances to facilitate implementation of green infra- structure. In 2009, Green Jobs Training Catalog, the Green Streets Conceptual Design Guide, and electronically distrib- uted bimonthly bulletins. ------- Sustainable Water Leadership Program EPA redesigned its long-standing CWA Recognition Awards program to recognize utilities that are mov- ing toward sustainable operations. The new "Sustainable Water Lead- ership Program, or SWLP," will focus on effective utility manage- ment, water and energy efficiency, and watershed approaches, includ- ing source water protection. Under the SWLP, wastewater, drinking water, and stormwater utilities, as well as managed decentralized systems, will be able to earn rec- ognition for sustainable practices as well as awards for outstanding efforts in topic areas, which EPA will select for each awards cycle. EPA will announce the first Recog- nition of Sustainable Water Sys- tems in fall 2010. Sustainability Policy Based on directions contained in the President's FY 2010 budget, OWM led an effort to develop a draft SRF Sustainability Policy for the Clean Water and Drinking Water SRF programs. Working with a group of leading utilities and state SRF managers, the draft policy was submitted to OMB in September 2009. The draft policy stresses the importance of ensur- ing that projects receiving federal SRF funds emerge from sustain- able planning processes and em- ploy best management practices and are tied closely to community Sustainability goals. Clean Watersheds Needs Survey (OWNS) States, territories, and the District of Columbia completed 2008 data entry in April using the new CWNS Data Entry Portal. In June, EPA hosted state and Regional CWNS coordinators at the CWNS 2008 End of Survey Meeting in Wash- ington, DC. Participants provided suggestions for improving the data collection process, reviewed the CWNS 2008 Report to Congress, and began plans for CWNS 2012. The CWNS 2012 State-EPA Work- group was initiated in November. The CWNS 2008 Report to Con- gress was delivered to OMB for review in October. Sustainable Infrastructure Program Our nation's water infrastructure systems are aging, and much of it will be reach- ing the end of its useful life in the next 20 to 40 years. To address the mounting needs, OWM is partnering with other EPA offices and across the sector. Our Sustainable Infrastructure Program aims to change the way the country views, values, and manages its water infrastructure. This was a year of great progress for the program, and some of the accomplishments are highlighted below. Effective Utility Management Building on the ground-breaking agreement with six national associations to pro- mote effective utility management in the water sector, OWM worked with industry partners to release a number of tools that all parties are promoting. To accom- pany the "Effective Utility Management: A Primer for Water and Wastewater Utili- ties," which walks through a description of the 10 attributes of effective utility management and a simple procedure for prioritizing those areas of most impor- tance to a specific utility, EPA and our partners released an on-line interactive version of the primer, which can be used both in a workshop setting and also by individual utilities on site. In early spring 2009, the partnership released an initial set of case studies and sponsored a pre-conference workshop on Effective Utility Management at WEFTEC 2009 and at the WEF/AWWA Utility Management Conference. Asset Management OWM continued to expand its efforts to move asset management approaches into the mainstream of utility practice. In 2009, OWM continued its ongoing na- tional training program with seven two-day sessions. Workshop materials were expanded and compiled into a stand-alone training CD, serving as both a take home package for workshop participants and a resource for those unable to at- tend the sessions. During 2009, OWM began the process of working in conjunc- tion with a major university to present the workshop through distance learning, which will be available in the fall of 2010. In addition, OWM began development of a more advanced course that will focus on the developing risk assessment and optimal renewal techniques, which will be available in September 2010. In 2009, OWM also collaborated with EPA's Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water as they released the Check Up Program for Small Systems (CUPSS), free asset management software that is geared towards small drinking water and wastewater facilities. In addition, OWM has an ongoing collaboration with the Department of Transpor- tation to foster the cross-sector process and practice of asset management. OWM worked in collaboration with its counterparts at Federal Highways to de- velop and publish case studies on five communities that are leading edge exam- ples of cross-sector asset management. Additional outreach is underway with several other federal agencies to increase cross-agency collaboration. Energy Management Using the energy management guidebook developed in partnership with EPA Region 1, OWM completed three additional workshops in Regions 3, 6, and 8. To date, OWM has sponsored a total of 11 workshops with over 1,000 partici- pants. As a result of these workshops, the EPA Regions are working with over 100 utilities to help them develop energy management programs based on the energy management guidebook. This work is helping to spark both awareness and progress towards energy efficiency across the country. In addition, to promote the implementation of energy conservation and recovery at wastewater treatment facilities, OWM is developing two studies that include technical and financial information on various technology options. The first fo- cuses on energy conservation measures and high-efficiency equipment and op- erational modifications that result in energy savings with reasonable payback periods. The second focuses on combined heat and power technologies for pub- licly owned treatment works (POTWs) that utilize anaerobic digestion to produce digester gas. Both studies are being developed, and final reports will be available by fall 2010. 10 ------- Rural Program The rural program strives to protect and improve water quality by developing and implementing National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) programs that target rural areas and rural populations. The program develops regulations, policies, technical implementation guidance, and outreach for EPA Regions, states, and the general public. Significant achievements in 2009 in- clude the following: 1 NPDES General Permit for Pesti- cide Discharges EPA's Aquatic Pesticides rule, promul- gated on November 27, 2006, was va- cated by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals on January 7, 2009. The court ruled that discharges of chemical pesticides that leave a residue and discharges of all bio- logical pesticides will be required, as of April 9, 2011, to obtain NPDES permits. EPA estimates that the Sixth Circuit's ruling will affect approximately 365,000 pesticide applicators nationwide that perform 5.6 million pesticide applications annually. The court's decision covers, at a minimum, the following pesticide uses: mosquito and other flying insect pest control, aquatic weed and algae control, aquatic nuisance animal control, and forest canopy pest control. During the past year, OWM has worked closely with the Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances to collect and analyze data on pesticide ap- plications (including labeling requirements, pesticide uses, best management practices employed to minimize the impact of pesticides on water quality, and existing state water quality standards for pesticides). EPA has drafted an NPDES Pesticides General Permit that it will issue for areas where EPA re- mains the NPDES permitting authority. The draft permit will be available for public review and comment in spring 2010. OWM has collaborated closely with its co-regulators so that states will be able to develop their permits by April 2011 also. Implementing the 2008 CAFO Rule In 2009, OWM worked to provide a clear and consistent understanding of the 2008 revised concentrated animal feeding op- eration (CAFO) rule through various public outreach efforts, such efforts included a widely attended public Webcast, regular conference calls with the Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution Con- trol Administrators, and many sector- specific presentations at various national meetings, including the National Cat- tlemen's Beef Association and the 2009 International Poultry Exposition. Addi- tionally, OWM hosted a three-day training course for 65 Regional and state regulatory authorities to provide information on how to review nutrient manage- ment plans (NMPs) and include terms of the NMPs in the permit. OWM also continued to work with EPA Regions and states to provide ongoing, EPA-sponsored technical support through an $8 million grant that provides live- stock operations with nutrient management plans and environmental assess- ments at no cost to the operations. OWM assisted authorized states with pro- gram implementation including NPDES permit and program reviews for Illinois, New York, Maryland, Missouri, and Pennsylvania as well as Regions 6 and 10 in their development of EPA CAFO general permits. Accordingly, in 2009, OWM began revising existing guidance for permit writers and producers on the CAFO regulations to reflect the 2008 revisions. Source: USDA/NRCSImage Gallery Chesapeake Bay Protection & Restoration On May 12, 2009, President Obama issued Executive Order 13508 on Chesapeake Bay Pro- tection and Restoration. The Executive Order set 2009 dead- lines for EPA to develop a Water Quality Report, referred to as the "202(a) report," and for seven federal agencies to develop a Draft Strategy for Protecting and Restoring the Chesapeake Bay. To develop the water quality report and draft strategy, OWM led four cross-office workgroups, on animal agriculture, stormwa- ter, POTWs and onsite systems, and worked in consultation with the states, DC, and key stake- holders. OWM assisted in developing the next generation of federal initia- tives to be included in the report and strategy to reduce pollution in the Bay watershed from con- centrated animal feeding opera- tions, municipal stormwater, wastewater treatment facilities, and onsite disposal systems. 11 ------- Priority Permits In 2009, EPA and authorized states issued 1,118 priority permits, ex- ceeding the national commitment of 743 permits. Permit Backlog Reduction For the third year in a row since OWM began tracking the backlog in 1999, states and Regions met the national goal of 90 percent current for individual and non-stormwater general permits. Permit Quality Reviews OWM continued to assess the integrity of the national NPDES program by performing permit qual- ity review (PQRs). In 2009, PQRs were conducted in Regions 6 & 10. Action Items Since 2005, Regions, states, and territories have committed to ap- proximately 331 action items. These action items were identified during the 2004 Permitting for Envi- ronmental Results review of state and Regional NPDES permitting programs and the most recent PQRs and help improve program integrity and effectiveness. By the end of FY09, 229 of the action items (69%) were completed. Petitions to Withdraw State NPDES Programs The Petition Response Team man- ages an Agency-wide effort to re- solve petitions asking EPA to with- draw the authority of states that administer the NPDES permit pro- gram. In 2009, petitions to withdraw three state programs (in Washing- ton, Michigan, and Pennsylvania) were resolved. Since 2001, a total of 23 withdrawn petitions have been resolved. State & Regional Program The State & Regional Program provides technical and policy support to help imple- ment the NPDES program. Through coordination with states and EPA Regions, the program guides consistent and effective translation of water quality goals and stan- dards into permit limits and conditions. It resolves legal barriers that prevent opti- mal program implementation and provides proactive and consistent management of external legal drivers. It also provides timely information on the integrity of the NPDES program implementation while working cooperatively to produce efficient processes and measurable results. Chesapeake Bay Executive Order OWM has taken an active role in implementing the Chesapeake Bay Executive Order. OWM developed and reviewed key sections of the report titled, The Next Generation of Tools and Actions to Restore Water Quality in the Chesapeake Bay. These sections related to challenges, policy, and future regulatory actions in the bay. OWM also has been providing ongoing technical expertise to the workgroups tasked with creating guidance for implementing the Chesapeake Bay Total Maxi- mum Daily Load (TMDL). Mountaintop Mining In 2009, EPA initiated a comprehensive review of surface coal mining in central Appalachia focusing on Clean Water Act Section 402 and 404 permitting, stemming from the Memorandum of Understanding among the U.S. Department of the Army, the U.S. Department of the Interior, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Implementing the Interagency Action Plan on Appalachian Surface Coal Mining (June 11, 2009). Working with EPA Regions 3, 4, and 5, OWM conducted a permit quality review for surface coal mining NPDES programs in Kentucky, West Virginia, Ohio, and Tennessee. In addition, OWM staff worked with staff in OW, OST, OWOW, ORD, OGC, OECA, and the Administrator's Office to develop guidance for better environmental permitting of surface coal mines. Climate Change Building upon the 2008 National Water Program's Climate Change Strategy, OWM continued assessing how climate change will affect the NPDES permit program and is developing a white paper to evaluate how to adapt the current NPDES pro- gram to address the impacts of climate change. Urban Waters In March 2009, EPA introduced the Urban Waters initiative to focus on helping communities, particularly underserved communities, to reconnect with and revital- ize their water environments. OWM has been involved in several Urban Water workgroups and is developing workplans for such topics as integrating green infra- structure into stormwater management plans, reducing combined sewer overflows, and promoting wastewater operation certification training. NPDES Permit Writers Training Course In 2009, the NPDES Permit Writers Training was held in five locations (Phoenix, AZ, Portland, OR, Austin, TX, Atlanta, GA, and Woodbridge, VA) and provided basic NPDES training to approximately 200 students. This course is EPA's principal tool to provide state and EPA permit writers with a comprehensive understanding of the core tenets of the NPDES permit program and to promote consistency across the states and Regions. The course has expanded and evolved over the past 20 years to address program changes and is highly rated by participants. NPDES Permit Writers Web-Based Training In 2009, seven modules from the classroom version of the NPDES Permit Writers Training were converted into a narrated, Web-based training format and posted on EPA's NPDES Website. State and EPA Regional permitting staff, as well as stake- holders and the public, can now access this training and learn the basics of EPA's recommended approach for developing NPDES permits. This Web-based training was well received by state permitting agencies that have had difficulty sending staff out of state to attend classroom training. Efforts to convert all of the modules to the Web-based format are continuing, and we hope to complete the series in 2010. 12 ------- State & Tribal Water Pollution Control Grants Section 106 of the Clean Water Act authorizes EPA to provide federal assis- tance to states (including territories and the District of Columbia), interstate agencies, and Indian tribes to establish and implement ongoing water pollution control programs. Prevention and control measures supported by water quality management programs include ambient water quality monitoring, water quality standards development, total maximum daily load development, NPDES per- mitting, enforcement, advice and assistance to local agencies, and the provi- sion of training and public information. State Water Pollution Control Grants Increasingly, EPA and states are working together to develop basin-wide ap- proaches to water quality management. The Section 106 Grant Program is helping to foster a watershed protection approach at the state level by looking at states' water quality problems holistically, and targeting the use of limited finances available for effective program management. In 2009, more than $175 million in Section 106 Grant funding was provided to states and interstate agencies to help restore impaired water bodies. Tribal Water Pollution Control Grants For tribes, Section 106 grants are a cru- cial, dedicated source of funding for de- veloping, maintaining, and expanding programs designed to control, prevent, and eliminate water pollution. Tribes be- gan receiving Section 106 funds in 1989. Since then, the tribal set-aside has grown from less than $1 million to approximately $25 million, in 2009. Of the 562 federally recognized tribes, approximately 377 meet the criteria to receive Section 106 funding, and 67% (252) of these tribes are currently eligible to receive grants. Tribes across the country are using Section 106 grants to identify and proac- tively address water quality priorities and concerns. Tribes can use Section 106 grants for a wide range of water pollution control activities, including: as- sessing water quality on tribal lands, establishing water quality goals and ob- jectives, conducting regular monitoring and data reporting, and implementing quality assurance processes to ensure data reliability. State and Tribal Water Monitoring Initiative In 2009, OWM continued its work with EPA's Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds to enhance state monitoring strategies and implement a multi- year statistically valid survey of the nations waters. Using approximately $18.5 million per year, OWM and OWOWare working with states and tribes to en- hance their water quality monitoring pro- grams and report on water quality monitor- ing data collected through the statistically valid surveys. This will allow EPA, states, and tribes to continue to report on the con- dition of the nation's waters and make sig- nificant progress toward assessing trends in water condition in a scientifically defensi- ble manner. In 2009, the National Lakes Assessment was completed. This assess- ment will provide the first ever baseline study of the condition of the nations lakes. Tribal Section 106 Program Status Report In December, the Agency published a status report for the Tribal Section 106 Program, which highlights tribal achievements over the program's 20-year history in developing com- prehensive, effective water quality programs and improving and pro- tecting water quality on tribal lands. Tribal Water Quality Programs: Using Clean Water Act Section 106 Funding to Protect Water Resources ST.IIUS Report The Tribal Water Quality Programs: Using Clean Water Act Section 106 Funding to Protect Water Re- sources Status Report: • Provides an overview of tribal water quality programs, • Describes the critical water quality activities that tribes fund with Section 106 grants, • Highlights the rapid growth of the program over the past 20 years, • Outlines current and future challenges facing tribal water programs, and • Illustrates how tribes have used this funding to protect water resources across the country. 13 ------- Industrial Program Contaminants OWM, in coordination with EPA Of- fice of Water's Office of Science and Technology, EPA's Office of Re- source Conservation and Recovery, and WM Healthcare Solutions, Inc., sponsored two Webinars in 2009 on emerging contaminants. The Webinar topics included efforts to investigate and control dental mercury amalgam discharges to publicly owned treat- ment works, the management of unused Pharmaceuticals, and EPA's proposed universal waste rule. Both Webinars have been archived and can be accessed at: http:// cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/outreach.cfm? program_id=0&otype=1. Wastewater discharges from industrial sources may contain pollutants at levels that affect the quality of receiving waters. OWM's industrial program works to protect and improve water quality through technology-based and water quality-based permitting. Stormwater, pretreatment, and industrial permitting are within its scope. As part of the NPDES permit program, it establishes specific requirements that control the pollutant discharges from industrial sources. Development of Draft Report to Congress on Vessel Discharges On March 8, 2009, EPA proposed a report to Congress on vessel dis- charges, a first of its kind scientific analysis of the level of pollutants in wastewater discharges from commer- cial fishing vessels and other non- recreational vessels less than 79 feet. The results of the study will be provided to Congress in a report summarizing the findings as to the nature and extent of the potential effects of the discharges, including determinations of whether the discharges pose a risk to human health, welfare, or the environment, and the nature of those risks. Congress mandated that EPA evaluate the impacts of vessel discharges subject to regulation under the NPDES Vessel General Per- mit in July 2008. The sampling survey was required of EPA by Congress by Public Law 110-299. Since significant data were not available from existing data sources for most discharges, OWM staff designed and implemented a vessel discharge sampling program. Through this sampling program, the team collected wastewater pollut- ant characterization data for nine vessel discharges sampled from a total of 61 vessels (one to five discharges sampled per vessel), resulting in more than 22,000 analytical results being obtained from the survey. These samples were collected in 15 different towns and cities in nine separate states, representing several major regions in the United States. The common vessel classes priori- tized for evaluation were: commercial fishing vessels and tenders, tugs/towing vessels, water taxis/small ferries, and tour boats. Another critical component of EPA's sampling program was gaining a better understanding of shipboard proc- esses, equipment, materials and operations that contribute to the discharges, as well as the discharge rates, duration, frequency, and location. I Vessel General Permit Imple- mentation OWM has led the effort to implement the recently issued Vessel General Permit for many vessels larger than 79 feet. These efforts have included launching an electronic notice of in- tent (NOI) system for vessels and ' creating publically available search- able interfaces of these NOIs (available at: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/vessels/ vesselsnoisearch.cfm). As of March 2010, over 46,000 NOIs have been re- ceived by EPA. Additionally, outreach efforts have included OWM staff present- ing to over 3,000 individuals at conferences and on Webcasts. 14 ------- Sustainable Communities Small, rural communities (i.e., communities with fewer than 10,000 people), Indian reservations, and communities along the U.S./Mexico border have historically ex- perienced difficulty in achieving Clean Water Act goals, due in part to lack of re- sources and technical expertise. The Sustainable Communities program aims to provide small and underserved communities with the financial and technical assis- tance and education necessary to achieve sustainable, appropriate, and cost- effective water infrastructure. Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) In FY09, RCAP continued to carry out its mission to help rural people improve the quality of life in their communities by assisting small, lower income rural communi- ties to resolve water supply and waste disposal problems and needs. The organi- zation provides technical assistance, training, and information dissemination, and coordinates community leaders and outside agencies in this effort. In FY09, RCAP held 81 training workshops for nearly 1,309 community leaders in 33 states and territories. RCAP served about 97,000 people through 81 technical assistance projects in 83 communities. RCAP has successfully leveraged and combined fund- ing from other state and federal loan programs, such that for each dollar that EPA invested in RCAP for wastewater, about $7.17 was spent for communities to have a wastewater system installed or updated. U.S./Mexico Border Program In 2009, the U.S./Mexico Water Border Infrastructure Team received an EPA Na- tional Awards Gold Medal from Administrator Jackson for their exemplary work to improve the quality of life for millions of residents in the U.S./Mexico Border area. Public health and environmental concerns due to raw sewage exposure are shared by both countries along the border. Incidence rates for dysentery and hepatitis are significantly higher in border communities than the U.S. national average. EPA and its partners (the Border Environment Cooperation Commission, the North American Development Bank, CONAGUA- Mexico's Water Commission, and state and local governments) have created the capacity to eliminate 300 million gallons per day of raw sewage from the environment. Through FY09, the Agency has invested $535.7 million in construction funds for 84 water infrastructure projects with a total con- struction cost of $1.6 billion. Fifty-one of the 84 projects have completed construc- tion and are providing often first-time drinking water and/or wastewater service to border residents. Program investments through FY09 have provided an additional 178,950 homes with access to wastewater sanitation, exceeding the program's long-term commitment of connecting 172,681 homes by 2012. Water Sector Competency Model In cooperation with EPA's Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water, American Waterworks Association, and Water Environment Federation, OWM worked to develop a "water sector competency model," which defines the skill-sets for water- sector jobs. The model is now available on the CareerOneStop Website. Compe- tency models are used by the Department of Labor's (DOL's) Employment and Training Administration to assess career- and skill-development needs. Submission of the water sector model represents a big first step towards orienting the multi- billion dollar DOL training conduit towards water workforce development. Partnerships to Improve Management of Septic Systems In 2009, the decentralized program made great strides in encouraging cooperation among stakeholders with regard to better management and maintenance of septic systems, which are so critical for protecting human health and the environment. For the first time, two major stakeholders in the decentralized field, the State Onsite Regulators Alliance and the National Environmental Health Association, held their annual meetings together to provide maximum opportunity for coordination and education for their members as well as coordination with the EPA staff that held a Regional forum at the same meeting. In addition, the EPA Regional Coordinators met with their respective states in order to better coordinate efforts and to offer their assistance. The 14 decentralized partners also held their annual face-to-face meeting in Washington, DC, and shared information regarding ongoing partnership activities for the purpose of their 2010 workplan. Alaska Native Village (ANY) Program With support from Region 10, the ANV program has coordinated with the Drinking Water and Clean Water Indian Set-aside Programs to in- crease the percentage of homes in Alaska with drinking water or sewer services from about 60 percent in 1993 to nearly 92 percent. Alaska has also quickly processed stimulus funds from the American Resources and Recovery Act. As of the end of December, three of the six com- pleted ARRA projects are in Alaska. The program utilized findings from the Office of Management and Budget's Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART) reassessment to substantially improve program accountability and ultimately re- ceived a significantly improved score. A Web-based project track- ing system has been implemented, a program management procedure was developed, and a more mean- ingful program efficiency measure was developed in coordination with OMB. Clean Water Indian Set-Aside (CWISA) Grant Program The CWISA program awarded $70 million in grants to Indian tribes for the planning, design, and construc- tion of wastewater treatment facili- ties in Indian Country in 2009, $60 million through the American Re- covery and Reinvestment Act. Over 19,000 homes in tribal lands re- ceived assistance from the CWISA Program to meet basic wastewater needs, and as of the end of Decem- ber, 94 of the 95 CWISA ARRA tribes had signed memorandums of agreement with the Indian Health Service (IMS) identifying ARRA project scope and milestones. The program continues work with the Inter-Agency Tribal Infrastructure Taskforce to address the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals and coordinates approaches to improve access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation in Indian Country by working closely with staff from EPA's Office of Ground- water and Drinking Water and Of- fice of International & Tribal Affairs and IMS. 15 ------- We welcome your comments! Thank you for your interest in the OWM annual report. We welcome all comments and suggestions about how we can make this report a more useful and informative document for our readers. Please send comments to qude.karen@epa.qov or: Karen Gude Communications Coordinator Office of Wastewater Management U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Mail Code 4201M Washington, DC 20460 16 ------- |