Understanding and Managing TMDLs™
Prepare for TMDL implementation and its impact on your organization!
Under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act, states, territories, and authorized tribes (collectively known as “states”) are required to develop lists of impaired waters; and establish priority rankings and Total Maximum Daily Loadings (TMDLs) for those waters. TheUnderstanding and Managing TMDLs™ course is perfect for those needing a clear understanding of the EPA’s use of Water Quality Based Decision Making.
The Understanding and Managing TMDLs™ course is presented in an understandable, structured and logical format. Group discussions, breakout sessions, and discrete training modules are used to make the course interesting and engaging. Students are provided with handouts for each module, which provides references, examples of representative documents, and other useful tools. Special attention is given to regional requirements and case studies. Attendees will learn about the purpose and evolution of Section 303, EPA’s implementation of Section 303 requirements, TMDL compliance management approaches, and where TMDLs are headed.
Topics covered include:
- History and evolution of the Clean Water Act (CWA)
- The Purpose and Evolution of Section 303
- EPAs Implementation of Section 303 Requirements
- The Impact of Litigation on WQS and TMDLs
- High Quality Waters
- TMDLs Developed with WQS as a Basis
- TMDLs and Environmental Management
- The Future of TMDL Regulation and Management
Course Agendas are Subject to Change
Day One
- Introduction
- What is a TMDL?
- Why is it needed?
- How is one developed?
- Background
- The historic impetus for the CWA
- Today’s CWAs and its relevance
- The power of the Citizen Suit Provision
- The purpose and evolution of Section 303
- What is Section 303
- What are Water Quality Standards and TMDLs – How are they used
- What is the significance of the 1972 Amendments
- What was Congress’s role
- The Water Quality Act of 1987
- EPA’s Implementation of Section 303 requirements
- EPA – There is too much else to do
- Establishing the basis for authority
- Eligible waters
- The question of providing a scientific basis for regulation
- How to Implement?
- Nonpoint sources – nonpoint source becomes point source permit issues (stormwater)
- The impact of litigation on WQS and TMDLs
- What was the impetus of the TMDL litigation?
- Differing state responses to litigation
- The importance of the TMDL settlement in the Mid Atlantic Region – Differing approaches:
- Delaware/Maryland/Pennsylvania
- The TMDL as Rule!
- Where does it gain its authority?
- How has EPA created an enforcement structure for TMDLs
- The ultimate enforceability of TMDLs
- Citizen suits as a means of achieving enforcement goals
Day Two:
- The TMDL opposite – High Quality Waters
- Tier II and Outstanding natural resource waters and their relevance
- The Antidegradation Clause
- The relationship between High Quality Waters and TMDLs
- TMDLs developed without WQS as a basis
- The nutrient dilemma
- The development of Numeric Nutrient Criteria
- Regional Nutrient TMDL case studies (Establishment and implementation)
- The Chesapeake Bay TMDL
- Grand Lake St. Mary’s – Ohio
- The Florida Nutrient problem
- Other types of TMDLs
- TMDLs and Environmental Management
- The concept of impaired waters management
- TMDL Compliance Management approaches
- The EMS as a TMDL compliance Tool
- Site specific approaches
- The Use Attainability Analysis
- Site Specific Alternative WQ Criteria
- How do TMDLs impact permit processes?
- New permits and renewals
- Impacts to point source discharge permits
- Alternate discharge criteria
- Nutrient Trading as a tool
- Offsetting new impairments
- Where are TMDLs Headed?
- General observations on the future of TMDL regulation and management
- Expanded use of the watershed based TMDL
Jim Slater is a certified planner throught the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and a certified Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP) through the Institute for Professional Environmental Practice. He has more than 30 years experience applying environmental planning, engineering, science, and resource management skills to facility operations, energy development, resource management, and environmental compliance. He is an expert in the management of MS4 and TMDL compliance and is experienced with life cycle analysis, environmental management system (EMS), and sustainability planning. Jim has brings his experience managing Federal and state compliance with NEPA, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Superfund, and other legislation, for several organizations.
Jim also served for nearly 20 years as the Director of the Department of Natural Resource Protection for Carroll County, Maryland, directing a variety of regulatory programs including solid waste management, water resource management, and storm water management. He also served as principal author of a county-wide solid waste management plan and as compliance officer, providing inter-agency compliance assistance support in a variety of environmental regulatory programs. Jim has extensive experience with water quality regulation, including both NPDES and TMDL programs. He has also been directly involved with water quality criteria management, with more than 15 years experience as county TMDL coordinator.