MPCA Overview. Tim Scherkenbach Deputy Commissioner. Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee. January 27, 2011.

Transcription

1 MPCA Overview Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee Tim Scherkenbach Deputy Commissioner January 27, 2011 lppt-4bsy11

2 Presentation Overview MPCA Organization MPCA Programs 2

3 MPCA Mission Working with Minnesotans to protect, conserve and improve our environment and enhance our quality of life. 3

4 MPCA Citizens Board 9-member Citizen Board Appointed by governor Makes decisions on rules, environmental review and controversial regulatory issues Meets 1 day/month Commissioner is chair 4

5 MPCA Organization ~920 staff St. Paul and 7 regional offices Detroit Lakes Brainerd Duluth Willmar St. Paul Marshall Mankato Rochester 5

6 Federal authority for: Air facility regulation Superfund cleanups Tank regulations Hazardous waste management Industrial and municipal wastewater treatment Stormwater regulation Large feedlot regulation Solid waste regulation 6

7 Air Land Water Assistance Program Program MPCA Divisions Commissioner s Office Industrial Regional Municipal Remediation Environmental Analysis & Outcomes Prevention and Assistance Data and Performance Management Operational Support 7

8 Air Programs 8

9 Air programs Vision: Minnesota s air is clean and clear. Ambient air Monitoring, modeling and standards Air regulatory Assistance, permitting, compliance and enforcement 9

10 Ambient air program Provides credible air data and information to inform MPCA decisions both regulatory and nonregulatory Identifies air pollutants, places, sources through monitoring and modeling Develops strategies to reduce air pollution and meet standards Operates prevention programs to reduce air pollution 10

11 250% Trends: metro area % Percent of NAAQS 150% 100% NAAQS 50% 0% NO2-Annual (1971) NO2 1-HR (2010) SO2 1-HR (2010) O3 8-HR (2008) CO 1-HR (1971) CO 8-HR (1971) PM2.5 Annual (1997) PM HR (2006) 11

12 MnRISK Inhalation Risks All pollutants Point sources: permitted facilities Non-point sources: wood burning, dry cleaners, gas stations, other small businesses Non-road mobile sources: boats, trains, farm equipment, ATVs On-road mobile sources: cars, trucks, buses

13 Air regulatory program Permits and inspects more than 3500 facilities emitting air pollutants Compliance rate: 95 percent Increasing federal requirements Small business ombudsman 13

14 Major air program challenges Address new federal air quality standards Exceeding one or more of these standards may lead to non-attainment designation by EPA Implement new federal regulations into permits Reduce health risks posed by key pollutants Recognize mobile and non-point sources as a major part of the problem 14

15 Land Programs 15

16 Land programs Vision: Minnesota's land supports healthy ecosystems and sustainable land uses. 16

17 Land programs Superfund Petroleum Remediation Closed Landfills Voluntary Investigation and Cleanup Solid waste Emergency Response Tank Inspection Hazardous waste Cleanup Management Prevention 17

18 Cleanup programs Superfund Petroleum remediation Closed landfill Voluntary Investigation and Cleanup 18

19 BioBusiness Center, Rochester From contaminated site to biobusiness mecca 19

20 Management programs Solid waste Emergency response 20

21 Prevention programs Tank inspections Hazardous waste management 21

22 Major land program challenges Increase recycling and waste reduction Manage toxic and hazardous waste generated by households Find less-toxic-chemical options for use by business, while allowing them to stay competitive Find incentives to reduce petroleum tank leaks Complete construction at closed landfills to end environmental impact to groundwater 22

23 Water Programs 23

24 Water programs Vision: Minnesota has clean, sustainable surface and groundwater. 24

25 Water programs Surface water ambient Groundwater ambient Water quality standards TMDL/Watershed Protection Nonpoint source Municipal/Industrial Wastewater Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems Municipal/Construction/Industrial Stormwater Feedlots 25

26 Clean Water Fund programs Clean water fund provides resources for: Surface water ambient Groundwater ambient TMDL/watershed protection Implementation 26

27 Watershed approach Watershed monitoring

28 Number of Major Watersheds Surface and ground water ambient programs Watershed Monitoring Sampling Year Watersheds Underway Watersheds Completed % of total (completed and underway) Target 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 28

29 Lake and stream transparency: citizen monitoring 29

30 TMDL/watershed protection program Water restoration and protection Conducts and oversees water quality studies (TMDLs) Works with stakeholders to develop and put cleanup plans in place 30

31 Water permitting programs Subsurface sewage treatment Stormwater Feedlot Municipal and Industrial wastewater 31

32 Phosphorus in municipal wastewater: trends and projections Phosphorus Loads (Metric Tons/year) 4,000 3,500 3,000 2,500 2,000 1,500 1, Phosphorus Strategy Minnesota River Basin General Phosphorus Permit BAU Phosphorus Rule Metropolitan WWTP 1 mg/l Effluent Limit 2013 Actual Municipal Phosphorus Load (MT/y) Projected Phosphorus Load Assuming No Phosphorus Treatment (MT/year) Projected P Rule & TMDL Implementation Phase-In Period MT/year)

33 Water nonpoint source program Provides watershed protection grants and loans Pass-through funding with MPCA oversight Uses Federal and State funds 33

34 Major water program challenges Reduce nonpoint impacts by working with agriculture and the public Complete Federally-required TMDLs so development can continue Prioritize work to obtain most value for the dollars Minnesota has more needs than funds from feedlots to wastewater infrastructure Measure success along the 25 year timeframe of the Clean Water Amendment funds 34

35 Assistance Programs 35

36 Assistance programs Focus across environmental media: air, water, and land 36

37 Toxics reduction program Electronic waste Household Hazardous waste On-site burning Pharmaceutical disposal 37

38 Community and business assistance Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP) Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP) program Retired Engineers Assistance Program (RETAP) 38

39 Diesel Retrofits Retrofit ~3000 vehicles Emission reduction in tons Environmental and economic savings 225, ,000 gallons of diesel Up to $1 million for fleet owners 4.1 Reduced tons of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and fine particulates 71 Carbon dioxide Nitrogen Oxides Small particulates Tons

40 Major assistance program challenges Focus assistance on activities providing highest return on investment and environmental benefit Engage business community in sharing lessons learned Achieve participation by citizens and businesses in managing waste in the safest manner Provide individualized assistance to avoid formal regulatory tools 40

41 Tim Scherkenbach Deputy Commissioner Presenter Presenter Title Presenter Phone Presenter 41