EPA Evaluation of Virginia's 2012-2013 Milestone Progress and 2014-2015 Milestone Commitments to Reduce Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Sediment Overview Two-year milestones are short-term objectives under the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (Bay TMDL) accountability framework used to assess progress toward restoration goals while allowing jurisdictions to flexibly adapt their Watershed Implementation Plans (WIPs) to meet those goals. When fully implemented, the seven WIPs will ensure all practices necessary to meet water quality standards in die Chesapeake Bay will be in place by 2025. By 2017, jurisdictions should have practices in place that would achieve 60 percent of necessary pollutant reductions compared to 2009. Pollutant Reduction Progress and Future Targets by Source Sector According to the data provided by Virginia, die state achieved its 2013 milestone targets for nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment. Virginia finished the 2012-2013 milestone period more than 2.4 million pounds ahead of schedule for nitrogen reductions, more than 500,000 pounds ahead of schedule for phosphorus reductions, and 74 million pounds ahead of schedule for sediment. Virginia's 2014-2015 milestone wastewater strategy and best management practice (BMP) commitments for other source sectors would reduce nitrogen by nearly 7.9 million pounds, phosphorus by more than 1.1 million pounds and decrease sediment by nearly 404 million pounds by die end of 2015, compared to die 2009 baseline. 80 70 60 50 40 "§ 30 <£ J 20 is 05 10 Nitrogen Loads and Goals 10 Phosphorus Loads and Goals to A "O Q_ e .Q 1 2 III as 25 y/J t r -g 15 Z3 £ Sediment Loads and Goals 2009 2013 2015 Baseline Mlestone/Progress Target/Milestone Agriculture 2017 2009 2013 2015 2017 Baseline Milestone/Progress Target/Milestone Target 2009 2013 2015 2017 Baseline Milestone/fYogress Target/Milestone Target ] Urban Runoff Wastewater v] Septic Forest* " Forest includes other sources Note: 2013 milestones and 2013 progress are based on 2010 conditions. For additional information on pollution reduction progress, commitments, and BMP see http://stat.chesapeakebaY.net/milestoiies 2014 Oversight Status I I Ongoing l l Enhanced I I Backstop Agriculture: Urban/Suburban: Wastewater: Trading/Offsets: Ongoing Oversight Enhanced Oversight Ongoing Oversight Ongoing Oversight For full details on EPA's evaluation of Two-Year Milestones, visit the Chesapeake Bay TMDL website. ------- EPA Evaluation of Virginia's 2012-2013 Milestone Progress and 2014-2015 Milestone Commitments to Reduce Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Sediment 2012-2013 Milestone Progress and 2014-2015 Milestone Review The EPA review of progress toward meeting 2012-2013 milestones shows Virginia has achieved most of its numeric milestones. Virginia met the targets, in part, because of greater than expected wastewater reductions. Additional emphasis on improving implementation in Agriculture, Urban/Suburban Stormwater and Septic sectors will be needed to stay on track to meet its WIP and Bay TMDL commitments by 2025. Virginia's anticipated reductions for the 2014-2015 milestone period should keep it on track to meet die 2017 target of having practices in place to achieve 60 percent of reductions necessary for nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment. Strengths ¦ Launched new Virginia Enhanced Conservation Initiative, providing $4.8 million in cost-share funds and reimbursing farmers up to 100 percent to install stream fencing systems ¦ Significantly increased resources available for local governments to manage stormwater ¦ Implemented amendments to Virginia Fertilizer Law, including zero phosphorus in lawn maintenance fertilizer ¦ 2013 General Assembly approved bond authorization including $101 million to fund grants for wastewater plant upgrades and up to $75 million for Combined Sewer Overflow control projects ¦ Committed to review and correct data on BMPs reported to the Chesapeake Bay Program - a critical step within the program's midpoint assessment ¦ Will complete evaluations of approximately 460 remaining Small Animal Feeding Operations (AFOs) by 2015 ¦ Will assess the remaining 48 facilities that have applied for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) permits to determine their requirements by October 31, 2014 and commits to issue three CAFO permits by December 31, 2015 ¦ Will complete development of a system to track, verify and report homeowner-installed BMPs ¦ Will institute reissuance of the Watershed General Permit including reduced limits in the James River basin consistent with the Bay TMDL wasteload allocations Shortfalls ¦ Virginia did not issue any CAFO permits as committed to by September 2012 and later deferred to December 2013; this milestone has been carried over to the 2014-2015 milestones ¦ Virginia did not issue the 10 remaining, expired Phase I Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permits and is therefore not on track to have practices in place by 2025 to meet TMDL allocations for stormwater within Phase I localities Issues to Address ¦ Increase implementation of priority agricultural practices resulting in greater nitrogen and phosphorus reductions in order for the Agriculture sector to stay on track to meet the 2017 goals ¦ Issue remaining, expired Phase I MS4 permits in 2014 and fulfil its WIP commitments to have all practices in place by 2025 ¦ EPA expects to see more aggressive implementation of practices to manage urban and suburban stormwater, including infiltration and filtration practices Potential Federal Actions and Assistance EPA will maintain "Ongoing Oversight" for the Virginia sectors of Agriculture, Wastewater and Offsets and Trading. EPA will also maintain "Enhanced Oversight" for die Virginia Urban/Suburban Stormwater sector. EPA will work with Virginia to ensure EPA grants are used to immediately address high priority needs, in particular reissuance of expired Phase IMS4 permits. EPA is supporting trading and offset tracking systems and the jurisdictions' development/enhancement of their BMP verification programs. EPA will fiirdier work to enhance federal partners' participation in die milestone commitment process. For the full details of EPA's evaluation of Virginia's 2012-2013 milestone progress and 2014-2015 milestone commitments, please see Virginia's Full Evaluation Report. ------- |