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Protecting and preserving the aquatic
ecosystems and water resources of
Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico,
Oklahoma, Texas, and Tribal lands
within Region 6

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A Message from the Director

Dear Colleagues, Partners and Friends,

It gives me great pleasure to share with you our 2014 EPA Region 6 Water
Quality Protection Division (WQPD) Performance Summary Report.
Within these pages you'll find an overview of accomplishments made
during the year, part of our effort to ensure that all waters in Region 6
meet designated uses and all citizens have access to safe drinking
water. Each part of our Division is represented, highlighting the
various programs, projects, and initiatives for which they have
responsibility.

Of course, implementation of water programs in Region 6 relies on the
on-going partnerships we have in the states of Arkansas, Louisiana,

New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas and in Tribal lands within our Region. We also rely on collaborative
efforts with our other federal partners, local governments, private sector, and academia who contributed
to the milestones noted on this report.

I hope you find the articles contained in this look at 2.014 both interesting and informative. Please
note that you'll also find an article at the end of this document which projects how current efforts are
forming our work for 2015.

To obtain an electronic copy of this report, please download it at www.epa.gov/regiori6/water.

William K. (Bill) Honker, Director

Water Quality Protection Division, EPA Region 6

Contents

About the Water Quality Protection Division	2

Performance Summary	3

EPA Region 6 Innovations and Best Practices	3

Assistance Programs Branch.....			4

Ecosystems Protection Branch		6

NPDES Permits and TMDLs Branch	8

Planning and Analysis Branch		 	10

Source Water Protection Branch	 	12

Division Front Office	 	13

Division Director's 2015 Look Ahead.......... 				15

All photos in this document by EPA unless otherwise noted.

1

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2014 Water Quality Protection Division Performance Summary Report

About the

Water Quality
Protection Division

Organization and Leadership: William K. (Bill) Honker, Director

David F. Garcia, Deputy Director

The Water Quality Protection Division (WQPD) is staffed by 151 employees. The Division is managed by the Director,
Deputy Director and five Associate Directors that provide oversight of the water programs in Region 6. The WQPD communicates EPA's
National and Regional operating guidance to the States and Tribes and assists them in developing comprehensive water programs through
Federal funding and technical assistance. With these and other resources, States have developed the capability to assume Federal water
programs through delegation agreements. Technical and financial assistance is also provided to local agencies and Indian Tribes.

The regional water programs managed by the WQPD include water quality planning, public water supply, groundwater protection,
State revolving funds, wastewater infrastructure activities for the U.S.-Mexico Border program and NPDES permit issuance oversight,
to name just a few. These and other programs are managed by the Division's Front Office and five branches:

Assistance Programs Branch	¦	Ecosystems Protection Branch

Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF)
Programs, State and Tribal Water Quality Grant Programs,
Wetland Program Development Grants, U.S.-Mexico
Border Environment Infrastructure Fund (BEIF) Program,
Performance Partnership Agreements and Grants

NPDES Permits & TMDLs Branch

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) Permits Program, Total Maximum Daily
Load (TMDL) Program, Stormwater Program, Green
Infrastructure

Water Quality Standards, Monitoring and Assessment,
Nonpoint Source Program, Marine & Wetlands Programs,
Coastal and National Estuary Programs, Ocean Dredged
Material Disposal Program

Planning and Analysis Branch

Strategic Planning, Permit Issuance and Public Meetings
& Notices, Partnerships & Communications, Geographic
Information Systems (GIS), Climate Change, Water
Conservation Initiatives, Surface Water Center

Source Water Protection Branch

Public Water Supply Program, Underground Injection
Control (UIC) Program, Sole Source Aquifers, Tribal
Drinking Water and UIC Programs, Ground Water Center

Division Front Office

Division Management, Quality Assurance Officer,
Agricultural Coordinator, Urban Waters

The organizational chart for the Water Quality Protection Division can be found on the web at

http://www. epa. gov/region6/water/aboutus.htm.

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2014 Water Quality Protection Division Performance Summary Report

Performance
Summary —

Each year EPA's Office of Water conducts an assessment of the end of the year results for all National Water Program performance
measures to determine progress in meeting the goals outlined in the Agency's Strategic Plan and National Water Program Guidance.
The performance measures quantify progress toward environmental and public health goals of key program activities, along with
management challenges in meeting or not meeting program commitments. Overall in FY2014, EPA Region 6 met all Key Performance
Indicators and 88% of the 40 Region 6 performance measures. Some Region 6 notable measures include 100% of the tribal facilities
covered by National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits are considered current and 100% of the community water systems
have undergone a sanitary survey within the past three years (five years for outstanding performers). EPA's overall performance highlights
and challenges (which includes Region 6) are available on the Internet at http://water.epa.gov/resource_performance/performance/.

EPA Region 6 Innovations
and Best Practices

Best practices are profiled by the EPA Office of Water to communicate success stories across the National Water Program,
share innovative approaches and replicate positive outcomes in public health and environmental protection.

EPA Region 6 FY2014 Nomination

Plan Reviews, Training & Technical Assistance, and Tribal Leadership Involvement

The Region 6 Tribal Drinking Water Program implemented a robust Plan Review Program for water construction projects and stepped
up training, technical assistance and visibility with tribal leadership. Implementing the Plan Review Program has improved community
water system compliance with 89% of the percent of tribal population served at the end of FY2014 in compliance with health-based
standards compared to 78% in FY2013.

Noting issues in the field that could have been prevented through plan review, Region 6 determined it was more effective and efficient
to prevent improper construction, than to react after a sanitary survey. Region 6 conducts plan reviews voluntarily and proactively in
the absence of regulatory authority. Some specific actions include tailored trainings for our tribes to help prepare for a sanitary survey
and leveraging our trainings with others. By devoting time beyond our normal assistance, we found these practices put us "on the
ground" with assisting the Tribes to address water system issues.

The EPA National Water Program Best Practices database contains practices starting in 2006 and is located on the web at
http://water.epa.gov/resource_performance/performance/National-Water-Program-Best-Practices-Database-Full-List.cfm.

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2014 VN^ter Quality Protection Division Performance Summary Report

Assistance



Branch

The Assistance
Programs Branch
is responsible for
management and
oversight of water
program assistance
agreements awarded
to states, tribes,
universities, non-profit
organizations| and
other government
agencies.

Providing Clean Drinking Water for Cyndie Park Residents

For years the Cyndie Park II
Water Supply Corporation's
water system near Corpus
Christi, Texas has lacked
proper chlorination facilities
necessary to deliver clean
and safe drinking water to its
residents, in addition, Cyndie
Park ll's drinking water has
exceeded the allowed levels
for arsenic, total dissolved
soiids, and chlorides. After
many unsuccessful attempts to modernize their drinking water system,
EPA, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), Nueces County, the
City of Corpus Christ! and the United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA) collaborated to find a workable alternative. Nueces County Water
Supply Corporation (WSC) offered to expand its drinking water lines 4
miles to connect 53 residents in Cyndi Park. Funding from the TWDB's
2014 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Intended Use Plan
will pay for the first phase with an estimated $200,000 for the planning
phase in loan forgiveness from their DWSRF's Small Systems Program.
This program is only a few years old and is the result of TWDB's creative
approach to cutting their unliquidated obligations (ULO) balance. USDA
is offering $30,000 necessary to complete the preliminary engineering,
environmental information documents. The hope is that the partnership
and project will serve as an example of proactive collaboration.

Partnering for a Sustainable Source of
Drinking Water in Las Vegas, New Mexico

Over the past several years, the New Mexico Governor's office has
declared a state of emergency for Las Vegas, New Mexico as a result of
severe drought. This drought has resulted in an inadequate supply and
source of drinking water, thereby impacting the residents of Las Vegas.
Las Vegas' capacity to store water is 60 days.

EPA Region 6 working with the EPA headquarters,
the New Mexico Finance Authority (NMFA),
and the City of Las Vegas achieved a precedent
setting use of the DWSRF to enlarge the Bradner
Reservoir, Las Vegas' primary drinking water
source. The DWSRF program has historically
considered such projects as ineligible for DWSRF
funding. The $30 million dollar Bradner Reservoir
project, was the catalyst for a precedent setting deviation which has
paved the way to allow other communities affected by climate change
to use federal funds to protect public health. This approval has national
implications as other communities faced with drought and other severe
issues have expressed interest in pursuing deviations to the DWSRF.

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Cyndie Park Water Well

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2014 Water Quality Protection Division Performance Summary Report

EPA and State Partner for Texas Drinking Water Infrastructure

Responding to EPA Region 6's Program
Evaluation Report suggestions to make
substantive programmatic changes; the
TWDB revised many program aspects that
sped up the federal draws of their drinking
water state revolving funds.

Several years ago, the agency separated
funding between Planning, Acquisition and
Design (PAD) loans and Construction loans.

PAD commitments must now close within
six months (originally a year.) Construction
commitments must now close within one
year. Limiting the amount of funding available
to an individual entity is no longer required.

Other changes include revamping marketing
efforts, improving project invoice submittal
and payment processes, just to name a few.

Historically, the program advertised their
annual loan capacity at a very conservative
rate of one to two years of annual allotment.

As a result of the significant efforts put forth by TWDB, their rate of assistance provided as a percentage of funds available continues
to steadily increase. The ULO reduction enabled communities that were in immediate need of infrastructure funding to use the
funds; thereby, resulting in a measurable increase in public health protection. This substantial ULO reduction was cited by EPA
in its discussions with Congress and helped demonstrate that the DWSRF was truiy needed, and any reduction in drinking water
appropriations would have a significant impact on the drinking water community.

EPA Provides Wastewater infrastructure to Border Communities

In FY2014 the EPA Region 6 U.S.-Mexico Border Program provided over 6,000 wastewater connection for the City of
Miguel Aleman, Tamaulipas, Mexico. The purpose of the project was to eliminate the exposure to waterborne diseases
while reducing the risk of natural resource contamination due to untreated wastewater discharges from the deteriorated
wastewater collection system in the city's downtown area. The project included the construction of a new lift station,
collection system, and a new force main to the wastewater treatment plant. The project has provided environmental and
human health related benefits by eliminating over 1.0 million gallons per day of untreated wastewater discharges to the
city's residential common areas and to the Rio Grande.

Photos: City of Miguel Aleman

System improvements were made that support adequate collection, conveyance and treatment of wastewater for residential service connections.

EPA Region 6 and Texas Water Development Board worked together
on revisions to the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program.

5

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2014 Water Quality Protection Division Performance Summary Report

Nonpoint Source Water Quality Restoration Success

This was an exceptional year where Region 6 states submitted a total
of 23 success stories. Waters previously impaired by nonpoint source
pollution (NPS) are now partly or fully meeting water quality standards,
bringing the Regional cumulative total to 81. These successes are
examples of strong partnerships between the states and EPA as well as
others such as Natural Resources Conservation Service, conservation
districts and watershed groups and are indicative of highly effective
state NPS programs. These water quality restoration successes would
not have been possible without the dedicated efforts between Region 6
staff and the partnership with the states to encourage and support these
restoration efforts. EPA's role in identifying program priorities, careful
grants management, helpful technical assistance to the states, and
frequent coordination with HQs, were integral to the successes achieved.

Nonpoint success stories can be found on the web at

http://water. epa. gov/polwaste/nps/success319/.

EPA Assistance in Developing RESTORE Act Projects

The RESTORE Act dedicates 80 percent of all administrative and
civil penalties related to the Deepwater Horizon spill to a Gulf Coast
Restoration Trust Fund and outlines the structure by which the funds are
used to restore and protect the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries,
marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, coastal wetlands and economy of
the Gulf Coast region.

The Gulf of Mexico Program Office (GOMPO) hosted a senior advisor
from the EPA Region 6 WQPD to serve a 5 month detail as part of a
Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program. The advisor's
task was to coordinate Gulf Coast restoration projects and programs
for EPA-sponsorship in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil
spill of 2010. The advisor along with regional staff developed projects
for consideration for funding by the RESTORE Council that would foster
job training in environmental fields, and worked with a Gulf state in
developing a proposal for control of aquatic trash in the Gulf. The
advisor collaborated with GOMPO staff to develop a business plan that
included linked, synergistic or expandable projects that the Program
Office might manage with RESTORE Act funding, or share duties to
best use EPA's expertise. The EPA Region 6 WQPD was proud to lend
senior executive-level expertise and advice in crafting strategic planning
measures for the program office and its support to develop proposed
restoration projects.

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Ecosystems

Protection

Branch

The Ecosystems
Protection Branch
manages the Regional
water quality and the
wetlands protection
programs to meet
national goals of
preservation and
protection of surface
waters and their uses
in the inland, coastal
and estuarine areas.

6

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2014 Water Quality Protection Division Performance Summary Report

Region 6 Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site Trend Assessment Monitoring

EPA performs scientific survey activities in offshore waters on research vesseis to help protect our ocean and coastal environments
and the creatures living in and near the water. EPA Region 6, in partnership with the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USAGE), is
responsible for managing over 24 Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites (ODMDS) off the Louisiana and Texas Coast. The ODMDS were
designated by EPA for use by the USAGE for placement of sediment dredged from navigation channels to maintain channel depths.

All dredged material must meet EPA criteria for ocean disposal before placement in an ODMDS. EPA science teams perform trend
assessment surveys of the ODMDS site in Region 6 to confirm that dredged material is disposed of properly and to evaluate and assure
that no impact of dredged material has occurred on the marine environment.

Under the direction of Chief Scientist Dr. Jessica
Franks, a team of scientists and contractors
conducted an ocean survey offthe coast at Galveston,

Texas from October 11-16, 2014, on board the
research vessel Pelican. The objective of the survey
was two-fold. Sediment was collected from the
historical Galveston reference site and surrounding
area to be analyzed, as well as determine the grain
size. Results will be used to evaluate if the reference
site will remain suitable or if a new reference area
will be needed. Tissue from clams and worms were
collected from three areas in the vicinity of the
Galveston ODMDS and analyzed in accordance with
our Regional Implementation Agreement between
EPA and the USACE New Orleans and Galveston
Districts. Results will be used to develop screening
levels for the evaluation of bioaccumuiation data
from navigation channel sediments.

EPA scientists and contractors conducted
surveys aboard the Pelican.

EPA and Partners Complete Two Year Field Study of Water Resources

fjr	jif	Region 6 and partners from the States of Oklahoma

f	and Texas, the University of Houston-Clear Lake

and the United States Geological Service conducted
field surveys in support of EPA's 2013-2014 National
Rivers and Streams Assessment. The collaborative,
probability-based study provides information on the
1 1	ecological condition of the nation's rivers and streams

and the key stressors that affect them, both on a
national and regional scale. Using consistent sampling
and analytical procedures to ensure that results
can be compared across the country and over time,
Region 6 and its partners performed over 200 surveys
during the two year study at randomly selected sites
within the region. To meet study goals and overcome
Harvesting fish tissue for analysis Of contaminants.	technical and logistical challenges, regional personnel

and partners shared sampling resources, knowledge
and experience. For more information on the National Rivers and Streams Assessment and other EPA-sponsored water
resource studies, please visit http://water.epa.gov/type/watersheds/monitoring/aquaticsurvey_index.cfm.

7

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2014 Water Quality Protection Division Performance Summary Report

NPDES Permit Issuance and Permit Resolutions in Texas

The NPDES program has long been a cornerstone of the Clean Water Act
(CWA), and has been responsible for significant improvements to the Nation's
waters. As the states assume program responsibilities, EPA's role has changed
from direct implementation to state program oversight to ensure consistency
with the CWA. In Region 6, the authorized programs in Arkansas, Louisiana,
Oklahoma and Texas issue permits to approximately 17,000 facilities. EPA
Region 6 continues to maintain the highest rate of permits that are current
(97%) for state-issued permits among all EPA Regions.

EPA Rate of Current State-Issued Permits
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These high rates are partly due to EPA Region 6 working closely with the
states. In 2014 EPA reached resolution on long term permit concerns related
to implementation of pH and temperature water quality standards in Texas
permits. This same year there were over 100 permits pending resolution due
to these two specific issues. EPA Region 6's NPDES Permitting Program and the
State Program representatives, after long negotiations, developed permitting
strategies for pH and temperature implementation that allowed the permits to
move forward, with 65% of pending permits resolved. More importantly, a path
forward is in place to resolve the remaining pending permits and implement
protective requirements in future permits. Because the Texas Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System permits address water quality standards for pH
and temperature, the waters in Texas are better protected.

Annual Pretreatment Workshop

The 30th Annual Pretreatment Workshop, held in Fort Worth, Texas, from
August 4-7, 2014, was organized by a volunteer association of industrial
pretreatment professionals from each of the EPA Region 6 states. The
annual conference provides an opportunity to learn about new issues
at wastewater treatment plants and to gain perspective on common
pretreatment issues at the local level.

The Pretreatment Program is a cooperative effort between federal, state and
local regulatory environmental agencies. It's objective is to protect Publicly
Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) from pollutants that may interfere with
plant operations. The program also seeks to prevent the pass-through of
untreated pollutants, thus improving reuse opportunities for wastewater
and sewage sludge.

In EPA Region 6 there are 146 approved Pretreatment Programs regulating
285 POTWs. In total, these POTWs have the capacity to treat over 4.1 billion
gallons of water each day. Furthermore, EPA Region 6 is currently home
to more than 2,000 regulated industries which contribute over 204 million
gallons of industrial wastewater a day to POTWs. The 2015 conference is
scheduled to be held in Fort Worth from August 4-6.

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NPDES
Permits
& TMDLs
Branch

The NPDES Permits
& TMDLs Branch
reviews wastewater
permits in authorized
states, issues
NPDES permits in
New Mexico and
unauthorized areas,
and establishes and
approves TMDLs in
Region 6.

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2014 W^ter Quality Protection Division Performance Summary Report

Modeling Center of Expertise

The NPDES Permits and TMDLs Branch continued
the process of establishing a Modeling Center
of Expertise. The purpose of the center is to
become a resource for the WQPD, The Branch's
computer with advanced computational and
graphics capabilities houses software for the most
cutting edge models, including watershed and
3D hydrologic models as well as geospatial tools.
It also serves as a repository for the Region 6's
multi-jurisdictional models, such as Grand Lake
and the Illinois River Watershed.

In November 2013 the Branch hosted its first Water
Quality Modeling Conference and Workshop,
bringing together participants from all the Region 6
states, as well as nationally recognized academics.
The Branch anticipates hosting similar conferences
and workshops bi-annually. TMDL staff associated
with the center have taken on leadership roles within
EPA's National Water Quality Modeling Workgroup.

The Center has also benefitted the NPDES permitting
program providing the means to conduct dispersion
modeling in the Gulf of Mexico, including assistance
for three oil and gas NPDES permittees. Individual
NPDES permits issued for New Mexico by Region 6
include dissolved oxygen modeling.

The Center actively provides technical assistance
to Region 6 states. As an example, the Arkansas
Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has
relied on Region 6 staff to inform and train permit
writers on the use of dissolved oxygen models for
NPDES permits. The Center's work was recognized
by EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy during 2014.

EPA Issues Middle Rio Grande Stormwater Permit

in 2014 EPA Region 6 issued the Middle Rio Grande Watershed Based
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit that establishes
requirements to reduce pollution carried by stormwater run-off and restore
portions of the Middle Rio Grande that are impaired. Currently, the Middle
Rio Grande does not meet water quality standards for E. coli, PCBs, gross
alpha, dissolved oxygen, and temperature and is listed as an impaired water
body under the CWA. These impairments keep the Rio Grande from fully
supporting its designated recreational and aquatic life beneficial uses.

The permit covers MS4s in 18 jurisdictions within the watershed. It includes
requirements designed to maximize efforts to manage stormwater within
the watershed and it encourages (but does not require) collaboration and
combined programs among the local jurisdictions. It also encourages and
provides the flexibility to select lower-cost, readily available control practices
to significantly reduce pollution from stormwater run-off that flows into the
Rio Grande throughout communities in the watershed.

To address runoff pollution and water quality restoration the permit
incorporates post-construction stormwater quality requirements ensuring
the hydrology associated with new development and redevelopment
sites mimics to the extent practical, the pre-development hydrology of a
previously undeveloped site. The
permit encourages the use of
stormwater controls that infiltrate,
evapotranspire or harvest the
rainwater, as to allow the natural
flow of rainwater, through a
combination of surface water and
groundwater paths to the Middle
Rio Grande. Implementation of
the post construction standard
in the proposed permit is vital to

reducing pollutants in Stormwater The Middle Rio Grande Stormwater Permit

Hkrhargpq to better nrotert the encourages water harvesting practices that can
mscnarges 10 oener protect tne potentially redLlce demand on drinking water

Middle Rio Grande.	supply systems.

Green Infrastructure

The Branch continues to increase opportunities to share information about green infrastructure (Gl) in Region 6. In 2014 the Division
participated in a large number of outreach opportunities to educate students, designers, communities and the public at large on

the benefits of Gl practices. Region 6 also participated in low impact
development competitions throughout the Region to encourage
and promote these benefits. The Division developed a Region 6
Gl web page to showcase real, on-the-ground project examples
that have been inplemented throughout the Region, EPA Region 6
incorporated Gl sessions into its annual stormwater conference and
held proactive dialogue with several MS4 communities on how to
incorporate Gl into their MS4 permits. At the conference, projects
received recognition through the first EPA Region 6 Gl poster
competition. The Branch also developed new permit language and
provided workshops to communities in urbanized areas of New
A roadway project featuring green infrastructure in Harris County, Texas Mexico requiring Coverage Under MS4 permits.

Learn more about green infrastructure projects in Region 6 at http://www.epa.gov/region6/water/npdes/greeninfrastructure/index.html.

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2014 Water Quality Protection Division Performance Summary Report

Climate Change Adaptation Implementation

The Planning and
Analysis Branch
is composed of
three teams: the
Partnerships and
Communications
Team, the Permit
Processing Team, and
the Water Information
and Analysis Team.
Each team performs
a diverse range of
functions to support
the work of the Water
Quality Protection
Division.

Climate Change 22
Adaptation
Implementation Plan

n-c- .Region 6

CleaffiEnergy&

GimateOiiJfjgc

WorkGroup

EPA Region 6, under the leadership
of the WQPD and with the assistance
of the Clean Energy and Climate
Change Workgroup, produced its
first Climate Change Adaptation
Implementation Plan. This plan fulfills
the requirement of the White House
Council on Environmental Quality
and the Administrator's Policy on
Climate Change. The Plan includes
a vulnerability assessment, priority
actions, measuring and evaluating
performance, and working with tribes
and other sensitive populations.

The Division's climate change managers participated in a Climate
Ready Utilities workshop for the City of New Orleans in May 2014,
A Climate Change Planning Pilot Scenario was held in Albuquerque
led by the Department of Transportation (DOT) in August 2014. The
Region also participated in the Houston Climate Change Adaptation
National Exercise Program led by the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) in October 2014.

Energy Management and Sustainability at
Water and Wastewater Utilities

Several energy management
workshops were held during 2014 for
water and wastewater utilities.
Sessions were designed to help utilities
reduce their energy consumption and
to help their systems become more
sustainable.

Branch staff partnered with the Texas
Manufacturing Assistance Center at
The University of Texas at Arlington
to conduct quarterly workshops with
utilities in the Dallas-Fort Worth
Metropiex, and also partnered with
the Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC) to conduct
two-day workshops in El Paso, Texas, and Brownsville, Texas, with
utilities along the U.S.-Mexico border. This outreach effort interacted
with 23 utilities and a total of 120 attendees at the workshops.
Energy management topics were presented from the ISO 50001
Energy Management Systems manual, EPA's Ensuring a Sustainable
Future: An Energy Management Guidebook for Wastewater and
Water Utilities, and EPA's Energy Star Guidebook. Topics covered
commitment by upper management, forming an energy management
team, developing an energy policy, assessing energy performance,
funding energy management projects, considering net zero and
renewable energy projects, conducting energy audits, developing an
energy management plan, and the role of energy service companies.

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2014 Water Quality Protection Division Performance Summary Report

Region 6 Surface Water Center

The Surface Water

Center continues S U f f 3 C 6 I W 3 t 6 f
to provide training,	Center

i	i . i ¦ I	EPA Region 6

analysis and technical

expertise on Geographic Information System (GIS) and
data related projects. Highlights of the year include the
completion of three EPA skills marketplace projects, review
of thirteen GIS-related Quality Assurance Project Plans, and
the determination of critical flow conditions for twenty-two
Texas oil and gas NPDES permits, which involved recalculation
of critical flows for all stream gages in Texas. Other major
projects completed include various projects for the
Albuquerque Urban Waters Initiative and MS4s, and support
of the development of nutrient criteria for New Mexico.

Permit Processing Activities

The Permit Processing Team's number one priority is to issue
public notices and permits for the NPDES and UIC programs,
and consistently works on a variety of related activities to
support the permitting process.

In FY2014 the Team issued 89 permits, 32 NPDES and 57
UIC. They reviewed 363 State draft NPDES permits, mailed
out hundreds of copies of permit documents to requesting
stakeholders, and published seven Federal Register Notices.
Staff served as the point of contact for all Major/Minor
Municipal/Industrial Upgrade/Downgrade permits.

The Team also coordinated and provided timely completion
for 332 Freedom of Information Requests and Controlled
Correspondence items.

WaterSense New Homes Program Offers Water Savings to Dallas-Fort Worth

EPA's WaterSense Program continues to build a national brand for water efficiency that underscores the importance of water
efficiency in Region 6. As a voluntary partnership program, EPA Region 6 enlisted 30 new WaterSense Partners for FY2014.
Region 6 has 151 WaterSense Partners and 193 Irrigation Partners.

To bring awareness to EPA's WaterSense Labeled New Home Program, Region 6 partnered with theTexasAgriLife Research and
Extension Center and the Dallas Home Builders Association to develop a WaterSense Builders Symposium. The symposium,
entitled Understanding the WaterSense Labeled New Home, was held on March 26th, 2014. The event increased program
awareness to builders, municipalities, utilities, city council, city code enforcement, city
planners and landscape architects. It also promoted the building of water efficient
homes in our communities that are in harmony with other green home energy saving
efforts. WaterSense labeled homes use 40% less water than the average home,
saving about 50,000 gallons a year for a family of four.

Nationally, WaterSense and its partners have helped Americans save 757 billion
gallons of water and $14.2 billion on water and energy bills since the program's
inception in 2006.

EPA

*

WaterSense

EPA Region 6 at Earth Day Texas

WQPD continues to serve as the lead
for Region 6 Earth Day activities.

, th rv ¦ ¦ ,. , nsifc EARTH DAY

In 2014 the Division coordinated
the Region's participation in Earth
Day Texas, which claims to be the mw
world's iargest Earth Day event. The

festival hosts nearly 60,000 attendees and features over 800 exhibits focused
on conserving natural resources and protecting the environment. The Region's
exhibit space featured a large-format video display which visualized EPA's overall
mission and function, offering a range of web resources to help connect attendees
to the environment where they live, work and play. Region 6 employees from
various programs were on hand to converse with the public throughout the
two day event.

11

United States
Environmental Protection

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2014 W^ter Quality Protection Division Performance Summary Report

Source
Water
Protection
Branch

The Source Water
Protection Branch
manages the
Public Water Supply
Supervision and
Underground Injection
Control programs under
the Safe Drinking Water
Act. It is also responsible
for the implementation
and coordination of the
EPA Region 6 Ground
Water Protection
Program.

Goliad Aquifer Exemption

The Branch led the development of a final decision that balanced
protection of groundwater resources with energy development in
Goliad County, Texas. In response to litigation, Region 6 solicited
public comment on a 2012 decision to exempt a portion of the Goliad
Aquifer from protection under the SDWA to allow in-situ mining
of uranium. Unlike most exemptions previously approved by the
Region, the Goliad Aquifer had numerous drinking water wells close
to the area proposed for exemption. Following extensive outreach to
gain additional input, including a public hearing, the Division issued
a revised decision in 2014 which reduced the exempted area but
allowed the proposed mining activity to begin. In developing this
decision, the Branch developed innovative methods for assessing
potential water well impacts, as well as conducting an unprecedented
public engagement process for an aquifer exemption. The technical
as well as procedural approaches used in this case will impact the
review of aquifer exemption requests nationwide.

Seismicity Report

In response to the growing number of seismic events thought to be
related in increased injection well activity in Oklahoma and Texas, the
Groundwater/UIC Section, working through the National Technical
Working Group, led the incorporation of two levels of technical
comments to produce a report entitled "Minimizing and Managing
Potential Impacts of Injection-Induced Seismicity from Class II
Disposal Wells: Practical Approaches." Producing the report involved
including both expert panel comments and comments stemming
from a peer review. The Section also provided ongoing technical
support to states grappling with induced seismicity issues, including
both programmatic and specific project support. Expert members of
the Section were also recruited by both the Ground Water Protection
Council and IOGCC to participate on their seismicity workgroup.

Drinking Water Compliance for
Tribes and Non-Tribal Systems

Continued compliance assistance, operator training and
infrastructure funding assistance at Tribal Drinking Water Systems
resulted in a surge in the population of tribal community members
receiving safe drinking water. Over a one year period, drinking water
compliance jumped 12%, resulting in 89% of all tribal community
members having access to safe drinking water. Ten tribal training
classes were provided in 2014, including classroom and on-site
trainings in New Mexico and Oklahoma. These have helped over
100 Tribal operators achieve or maintain compliance with the Safe
Drinking Water Act through improved understanding, operations,
and the certification of operators. In addition, about thirty tribal
sanitary surveys and seven plan review services, resulted in
improved Region 6 tribal compliance. Similar compliance assistance
and infrastructure funding efforts in Region 6 states also resulted in
89% of the population having access to safe drinking water.

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2014 W^ter Quality Protection Division Performance Summary Report

Division
Front Office

The Water Quality
Protection Division
Front Office oversees
management of
Division resources.
It also provides
coordination for a
variety of Regional and
national cross-program
initiatives.

Agriculture

Waters of the U.S. Outreach:

Proposed Rule Change

On April 21, 2014, EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE) published a proposed rule change in the federal register
regarding the definition of Waters of the U.S.. The proposal was
developed to offer greater consistency, certainty, and predictability
nationwide by providing clarity in determining where the Clean
Water Act (CWA) applies. These clarifications would cut costs and
reduce delays in CWA permit processes and protect waters that
are vital to public health, the environment and economy. The
process for making these improvements is transparent, based on
the best available science, consistent with the law, and included
the opportunity for public comments until November 14, 2014.
In addition, under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
signed on March 25, 2014 by EPA, USDA and USACE, 57 NRCS
conservation practice standards were identified as being exempt
from the CWA Section 404 permits issued by the USACE. These
practice standards are part of an established farming operation to
be implemented to enhance water quality and ensure consistency
and predictability for the public.

Several listening sessions were held in the Region on the Proposed
Rule and the Interpretive Rule. These included sessions with the
Soil & Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) and leadership in the
states of Arkansas, New Mexico, and Texas. Additional activities
included collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Food
and Forestry, Louisiana State University, and EPA Region 6 for
sessions in southern Louisiana (City of Crowley) and northern
Louisiana (City of Winnsboro). The Proposed Rule was discussed
during the Regional Tribal Operations Committee meeting held
in Dallas,Texas. In addition, theTexas Agriculture Council (Austin,
Texas) invited the Region and a senior Headquarters official to
discuss the Proposed Rule in August 2014.

Region 6 Agriculture
Committee Highlights

A report which highlights Region 6
activities of interest to the agricultural
community is published on a regular
basis. The report covers a variety
of EPA programs and initiatives. An
updated report is currently being
compiled for release during 2015. This
document can be found on the web at
http://www.epa.gov/region6/water/agriculture/index.html.

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2014 Water Quality Protection Division Performance Summary Report

Urban Waters Federal Partnership

Urban Waters in New Orleans

The Urban Waters Federal Partnership (UWFP) continues to support local priorities identified by the New Orleans/Lake
Pontchartrain Urban Waters Partnership (the Partnership) in 2011. These priorities initially included five focus areas
that span reconstruction of facilities destroyed by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to education and outreach efforts that
communicate the significance of the Lake Pontchartrain ecosystem. Specific projects identified include the Lafitte Greenway,
the University of New Orleans Coastal Education and Research Facility, the West End Pier, the New Canal Lighthouse,
Pontchartrain Beach, and the East End Area. Examples of successes in 2014 supporting these projects include:

•	Facilitation of a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of New Orleans and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS) which provides the framework for the city to construct a pier and other recreational amenities on the Bayou
Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge with direct access to Lake Pontchartrain.

•	Award of a $127,794 grant by the USFWS through the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for reconstruction
of the West End boat launch that was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

The UWFP is also supporting the local initiative to develop sustainable
water management practices in the city. Examples of this support
include the partnering of the UWFP with EPA's Office of Research
and Development to conduct an Urban Soils Assessment of the city's
soils to identify capacity for stormwater infiltration through green
infrastructure practices.

EPA also awarded over $338,000 in Urban Waters Small Grants
to six projects that focus on education and outreach efforts and
data collection related to green infrastructure practices and urban
wetlands monitoring and assessment.

Urban Waters in the Middle Rio Grande Watershed

During its inaugural year, the Middle Rio Grande UWFP took steps to
develop community relationships, leverage funding opportunities,
and to support local priorities identified by the partnership. These
priorities initially included three broad themes of water and storm
water management, community and economic development,
and environmental education and employment. Specific projects
identified include the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge,
Bridge Boulevard Redevelopment Plan, USAGE Middle Rio Grande
Restoration project, Sunport Extension project, and the Climate
Change Scenario Planning project. Examples of successes in 2014
that support these projects include:

•	Numerous meetings of the Urban Waters Federal Partnership were hosted by EPA and HUD. Updates on the status of
federally-funded projects were presented during these meetings,

•	Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell met with the local Congressional delegation and approximately 25 other federal, state,
and local partners to discuss the Middle Rio Grande Conservation Initiative.

•	An $8 million Federal Lands Access Program grant was announced by Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx. The
grant will be used to develop trails to the new Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge, one of the project areas in the
Middle Rio Grande Urban Waters Federal Partnership.

•	Three public information workshops on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process were hosted by EPA and HUD.

A drilling rig is used for the collection of samples as part of
the EPA Office of Research and Development's
Urban Soils Assessment.

The Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge

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2014 Water Quality Protection Division Performance Summary Report

EPA Converses with Students
about Climate Change

A 2014 Earth Day outreach event featured NASA, NOAA
arid EPA scientists conversing with students about climate
change. The event was broadcast live using the state-of-
the-art Digital Learning Network (DLN) at NASA'S Johnson
Space Center and Goddard Space Flight Center to 6th to
12th grade students throughout the Unites States. The
event provides an educational and motivational message
about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics) topics and the benefits of staying in school,
while simultaneously representing science as fun and
exciting for the young students.

Green Meeting Tool Kit

EPA Region 6 is working toward comprehensively reducing the
printing of material typically distributed during conferences and
meetings to assist our efforts in reducing our environmental
footprint. This supports the Agency's response to goals outlined
in Executive Order 13514: Federal leadership in Environmental,
Energy and Economic Performance.

A Region 6 Green Meeting Tool Kit was devised in 2014 to help
automate meeting tasks from the moment participants register
to the time they receive their
certificates of attendance.

It also gives meeting and
conference planners a step
by step process for reducing
paper use. The too! kit was
initially designed and used
at the 2014 Region 6 Quality
Assurance Conference.

Division Director's 2015

Look Ahead

William K. (Bill) Honker, Director

Water Quality Protection Division, EPA Region 6

As we build on 2014 successes, we have some exciting changes ahead for 2015. We are working on several fronts to improve the
efficiency of our efforts, both internally and with our state partners.

Since EPA has seen an agency-wide reduction in staff, we will be reorganizing the Division to align our management team and structure
with reduced staffing levels and to improve our effectiveness. Our name will be shortened from "Water Quality Protection Division"
to "Water Division". We will reduce our structure from 5 Branches to 4, with the staff and functions of our current Planning and
Analysis Branch distributed among the other four Branches, We will also have a new Outreach and Sustainability Team in the Division
Office, with a Team Leader who will improve our focus on, and coordination of, outreach and sustainability work across the Division.

We will also be using Lean and Six Sigma Process Improvement approaches to improve our efficiency to deliver quality products
and results sooner and with less resource investment. We hope to "Lean" several of our work processes during 2015.

We will continue our focus on Making a Visible Difference in Communities in 2015, working with other programs in the Region, as
well as with our state, tribal, and federal partners. We look forward to continuing our work with our Natural Resource Damage
Assessment (NRDA) and RESTORE partners to benefit Gulf Coast recovery as we approach the fifth anniversary of the Deepwater
Horizon spill. We will continue our focus on Urban Waters partnership efforts in New Orleans, Albuquerque, and San Antonio and will
expand our efforts to encourage Green Infrastructure approaches in communities across the Region.

In the water quality arena, our focus will continue to be on reducing nutrient loadings and impacts from urban stormwater and
nonpoint sources. In drinking water, our focus will continue to be improving compliance rates across the Region, especially among
tribai drinking water systems.

continued

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2014 Water Quality Protection Division Performance Summary Report

Division Director's 2015 Look Ahead (continued)

Sustainability and Climate Change will be major areas of focus in 2015. Water seems to be the area which has communities most
focused on finding sustainable approaches, especially in drought-stricken areas of the Region. We have many communities pursuing
innovative approaches to reuse of treated wastewater, as well as developing new sources of water through desalination and other
methods. We will continue to work with our state partners to provide technical assistance and funding flexibility where possible to
assist in these efforts. We will also look for opportunities to promote Green Infrastructure approaches to enhance sustainability of
water resources in the Region.

Climate change also impacts the Region most markedly in water, whether in drought impacts to communities and agriculture or in
sea level rise in coastal areas. We will continue to strengthen our relationships with agriculture to provide assistance where possible
in response to drought adaptation. We will also focus our efforts under CWPPRA, NRDA, and RESTORE to assist coastal restoration in
Louisiana and Texas.

EPA Region 6

Water Quality

Protection

Division

Our Mission:

The mission of EPA is to protect human health arid to safeguard the natural environment.
Working in partnership with States, Tribes and other stakeholders, the Water Quality
Protection Division focuses its resources on protecting and preserving the aquatic
ecosystems and water resources of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and
Texas, as well as the Tribal lands located within our Region.

Our Vision:

Our vision is to provide leadership and assistance to support protection and
restoration efforts so that all waters in Region 6 meet all designated uses, and all
citizens have access to safe drinking water.

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United States
Environmental Protection
\f hI	Agency

United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6
Water Quality Protection Division (6WQ)
1445 Ross Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75202

This report is available online at:

www.epa.gov/region6/water

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