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Request for Comments on New EPA Draft Guidance Document: National Management Measures to Control Nonpoint Source Pollution from Hydromodification
EPA is pleased to announce the availability of a new draft guidance
document: National Management Measures to Control Nonpoint Source Pollution from Hydromodification. This technical guidance and reference document is appropriate for use by state, territory, and tribal managers, as well as the public, in the implementation of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution management programs in streams, lakes, estuaries, aquifers, and other waterbodies affected by hydromodification. At this time, EPA is requesting public comments on the draft document (See Federal Register Notice at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-WATER/2006/July/Day-17/w11248.htm).
The draft guidance enhances and updates the technical information contained in EPA's 1993 Guidance Specifying Management Measures for Sources of Nonpoint Pollution in Coastal Waters, published under section
6217(g) of the Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments of 1990 (CZARA). Whereas the 1993 guidance was regulatory, this document does not set new or additional standards for either CZARA section 6217 or Clean Water Act section 319 programs.
The draft guidance contains information on management measures and corresponding practices that EPA considers effective for managing hydromodification and reducing nonpoint source pollution of surface and ground water. The document discusses the broad concepts of assessing and addressing water quality problems on a watershed level, and presents recent technical information about how certain types of NPS pollution can be reduced effectively. Because it is national in scope, the guidance does not address all practices or techniques specific to local or regional soils or climates. Implementation of the guidance will result in increased use of scientifically sound, cost-effective hydromodification management measures, and will support states in their efforts to implement their Nonpoint Source Control Programs.
Comments should be sent to:
Chris Solloway
Assessment and Watershed Protection Division (4503T)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20460
Non-US Postal Service comments should be sent to:
Chris Solloway
Assessment and Watershed Protection Division
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EPA West, Room 7330 N
1301 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004.
Faxes should be sent to (202) 566-1437. Comments may also be sent via email to Solloway.chris@epa.gov.
You can get more information about the guidance or download the document (in PDF format) at http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/hydromod/index.htm Copies of the complete draft can also be obtained by request from Chris Solloway at the above address, by e-mail at Solloway.chris@epa.gov , or by calling (202) 566-1202.
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EPA 2006/2007 Request for Proposals for Capacity Building Grants
In addition to supporting on-the-ground watershed projects through TWG [Targeted Watershed Grants] implementation grants, the TWG program also supports the development and dissemination of tools, training, and technical assistance to strengthen the effectiveness of community-based partnerships working across the country to achieve clean water goals. In 2006, EPA will award $3.2 million in capacity building grants to up to seven leading training organizations to help local watershed groups develop critical skills necessary to improve watershed health. EPA invites organizations that have expertise in watershed training and local capacity building to submit proposals by October 16, 2006. http://www.epa.gov/twg/capacity.html.
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NC Passes Law to Protect Private Drinking Water Wells
New Law Mandates Statewide Inspections of New Residential Drinking Water Wells
Raleigh - Gov. Mike Easley today signed into law House Bill 2873, “An act to require permitting and inspection of new private drinking water wells and to require water quality testing of private drinking water wells.” The legislation was sponsored by state Reps. Verla Insko (D-Orange) and Lucy Allen (D-Franklin) as well as Sen. Bob Atwater (D-Chatham).
“Making sure our citizens have safe, clean drinking water is a top priority to ensure healthy communities and a high quality of life,” said Easley. “This new legislation provides important protection for our citizens who get their drinking water from wells.”
About 2.7 million North Carolinians rely on wells for their drinking water. It is estimated by the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources that there are 500 new residential drinking wells drilled each week. Under the new law, counties will be required to enforce minimum statewide standards through local well programs with the use of permits and inspections. Before receiving final approval for drinking, well water will be tested for 17 different possible contaminants as well as for bacteria and acidity.
Clean water advocates, along with county representatives and homebuilding and real estate interests, worked together to support the legislation. Earlier this month Easley signed the state budget into law that included $1.1 million to help counties get these programs up and running. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources will help counties enforce standards and assist them in starting new well inspection programs.
“Several groups and organizations came together to develop a workable program to protect the public health,” said Easley. “Their concern and cooperation was critical to passing this bill.”
The three legislators who sponsored the bill said it is an important step for public health. “There is no more basic issue for public health than providing safe drinking water,” said Rep. Verla Insko.
“This is a common-sense approach that addresses an important health concern, particularly for those who live in the rural parts of our state,” said Rep. Lucy Allen.
“With the money appropriated in the budget, counties will be able to quickly apply this important public health program,” said Sen. Bob Atwater.
State health officials estimate it will take about two years to fully phase-in the new program. The legislation becomes effective today, but counties will have until July 1, 2008 to have local well programs in place.
and an Editorial on NC Legislation:
Friday, August 4, 2006
Well Legislation
Winston-Salem Journal
New legislation that the state legislature passed last month should mean safer drinking water from wells. But what's really needed is more expansion of public water systems.
Under the new legislation, counties will be required to monitor the construction of new wells for private homes and small businesses, and test for a number of contaminants in new drinking wells. It will take two years for the regulations to take effect, so all involved will have plenty of time to adjust to the changes.
And they're certainly needed.
Consider that nearly half of the private wells in Yadkin County that were tested at random last year had some type of bacterial contamination. Yet Yadkin and many other counties don't have local well ordinances. In Yadkin, as the Journal's Michael Hewlett reported recently, county health inspectors just make sure that wells being drilled comply with state law and aren't being built near septic systems or in other problematic areas.
Other counties have been more progressive. Forsyth County monitors new well construction. And last month, the Appalachian District Health Department in Alleghany, Ashe and Watauga counties adopted rules that regulate the construction, repair and abandonment of private wells. Those rules take effect Jan. 1 in those counties. There's also a requirement for testing for contaminants.
The changes could mean prices will go up. Well permits are $85 in Yadkin County now, but they're $290 in Forsyth, where inspectors monitor well construction.
To their credit, legislators approved $1.1 million to help counties comply with the new legislation and to hire five additional state employees to help the counties. "So it doesn't hit them cold, we're finding ways to help them ease into it," said Terry Pierce, the director of the N.C. Division of Environmental Health.
That's good, because the regulations should mean safer drinking water for many people.
But what's really needed is more expansion of public water systems. Yadkin is working toward that, and should continue to do so.
Because in the long run, public water systems enhance an area's quality of life by bringing clean water to all, and doing it efficiently. Yet as long as the state has wells, better regulation of them is good and needed.
USDA Ag Air Quality Task Force to Meet in Harrisburg, PA on August 30-31
USDA AGRICULTURAL AIR QUALITY TASK FORCE TO MEET IN PENNSYLVANIA
WASHINGTON, Aug. 16, 2006-U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Air Quality Task Force will hold a meeting Aug. 30-31 in Harrisburg, Pa.
to discuss current issues facing agriculture and the potential impacts to air quality from agricultural operations.
The meeting will be held at the Harrisburg Hilton Hotel, One North Second Street, Harrisburg, Pa. It is open to the public and USDA will allow each speaker up to five minutes for an oral presentation. Written comments also will be accepted.
"This task force has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the importance of air quality issues," said Merlyn Carlson, USDA's Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment. "Task force members are very interested in hearing from the public about air quality issues and innovative solutions to address them." Carlson will chair the August meeting.
The Agricultural Air Quality Task Force advises the Secretary of Agriculture on agricultural air quality issues. Its mandate is to strengthen and coordinate USDA's air quality research efforts and identify cost-effective ways to help the agriculture industry to improve air quality and meet federal and local air quality emissions requirements.
Producers, academics, industry representatives and other experts in agriculture and air quality comprise the task force. Representatives from various USDA agencies-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Forest Service, Economic Research Service, Agricultural Research Service and Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service-also participate on the task force.
Additional information about the Agricultural Air Quality Task Force can be found at http://www.airquality.nrcs.usda.gov/AAQTF or by contacting Diane Gelburd, NRCS Designated Federal Officer at 202-720-2587 or e-mail diane.gelburd@wdc.usda.gov.
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Stream Restoration in the Southeast: Accomlishments and Opportunities
Stream Restoration in the Southeast: Accomplishments and Opportunities The Westin Charlotte - October 2-5, 2006 Please note that the early registration deadline is September 12. http://www.ncsu.edu/sri/2006conference/
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