NPDES & ALGAE CONTROL It s s Not All New ALGAL TOXINS POND SCUM POLITICS

Transcription

1 NPDES & ALGAE CONTROL It s s Not All New Jim Schmidt & Harry Knight ALGAL TOXINS POND SCUM POLITICS an Arch Chemicals, Inc. company

2 FEDERAL LAW OBJECTIVES CWA (Clean Water Act) to improve water quality FIFRA to ensure pesticides meet acceptable risk standards for the protection of the user, the public & the environment NPDES Permits are to allow some acceptable level of pollution with an ultimate goal to eliminate it.

3 ALGAL IMPACTS ON WATER QUALITY Increased total suspended solids (TSS) Turbidity / clarity Raise ph levels Cause fluctuations in D.O. Toxins?

4 WHICH HAS A GREATER NEGATIVE IMPACT ON WATER QUALITY? The Algae... or the Algaecide?

5 TAKE HOME MESSAGE FOR NPDES PERMIT COMPLIANCE

6 Previous Topics in Review (2001) ALL COPPER PRODUCTS ARE NOT CHELATED EQUAL (2002) Reservoir Algae Management - Eagle Creek Reservoir - (2004) IT S NOT SIMPLY POND SCUM ANYMORE ALGAE (2007) Algae are Aquatic Plants Too... We Demand Equal Treatment!

7 We ve been in a Green Industry long before it became trendy. This places the APM industry in a favored position under the Economic Recovery Plan

8 Pond Scum Economic Stimulus Package for the APM Industry Algae is a reliable, renewable, adaptable, persistent resource. It creates needs for research funding. It generates additional student interest in our discipline. It supports those companies who manufacture, sell and apply algaecides.

9 Pond Scum Politics Why is bad science like dirty politics? Blame Distrust Excuses Opinions (vs. facts) Poor Decisions Un-kept Promises Unexpected Outcomes

10 Algal Toxins Political Action Steps Where does the algal management step fit? MANAGEMENT IGNORE Pawnee Lake Chlorophyll HEALTH ADVISORY TOXIC ALGAE PRESENT IN THIS WATER NO Full Body Contact Avoid Ingesting Lake Water Monitor Small Children & Pets Avoid Concentrations of Algae POLICIES MONITOR RESEARCH ENFORCEMENT REGULATIONS Discovery Action Timeline Disaster

11 ALGAL TOXINS Who s s involved? / Who s s in charge? International Federal State Local Local Government Stakeholders Professional Media Groups Media Are algal toxins considered more of a threat to the environmental or to human health?

12 International WHO Toxic cyanobacteria in water: A guide to their public health consequences, monitoring and management Edited by Ingrid Chorus and Jamie Bartram /resourcesquality/toxicyanbact/en/ United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO) CYANONET is a Global Network for the Hazard Management of Cyanobacterial Blooms and Toxins in Water Resources.

13 Federal Agency Invovlement Cyanobacterial (Blue-Green Algal) Blooms: Tastes, Odors, and Toxins Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List and Regulatory Determinations Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), other freshwater algae, and their toxins Harmful Algal Blooms Program Identification and Initial Screening of New Compounds to Control Harmful Algal Blooms by Angela G. Poovey and Michael D. Netherland Algal Toxins in Pond Aquaculture November 2008 John H. Rodgers, Jr. SRC Pub. No. 4605

14 State Initiatives What you should know about blue-green algae Michigan... if DNR receives information from the State Laboratory of Hygiene (SLOH) on the presence of high counts of blue-green algae, or on the presence of blue-green algal toxins, this information will be shared with appropriate state and local agencies, and with appropriate DNR staff. Spills & Kills Division Nebraska The Arizona Game and Fish Department has implemented cooperative efforts that give Arizona the best chance to mitigate the impacts of these events and address the potential for future outbreaks. The department is coordinating efforts to monitor fish kills and also to manage the recreational fisheries in these waters with the lake authorities and managers, state agencies, and other stakeholders. These monitoring, management and research efforts are significant and important.

15 Local Government County Health Departments Lake Districts / Water Management Dist. / etc. Cities, Towns, Villages, etc. Public Water Utilities

16 Stakeholders Water Users & Professional Groups A National Agenda for Drinking Water Introduction Safe Drinking Water Standards The Honorable Barack Obama President Elect of the United States Recommendation: fully utilize the deliberative, science-based regulatory processes outlined in the Safe Drinking Water Act to set health-protective standards for drinking water, and reject legislative prescriptions for decisions that should be made through the regulatory process.

17 HOMETOWN HEADLINE NEWS Anywhere, USA New York s Toxic Algae Blooms ESF Leads New Study SYRACUSE, N.Y. In the northeastern United States, August brings ripe corn, shorter days and blue-green algae blooms toxic enough to kill humans. HERALD TRIBUNE October 1, 2006 Researchers worry about algae toxins in water supply By CATHY ZOLLO H-T SCIENCE WRITER SARASOTA -- Toxin-emitting blue-green algae blooms in Florida's fresh water prompted scientists and public health experts to call for research to understand how they can protect people from what could be a looming health threat. Corvallis Gazette Times July 3, 2006 Algae causes health concerns By the Associated Press MEDFORD Waterway managers throughout Oregon are scanning the surface of the state s many lakes this summer, looking for any evidence of the blue-green algae that toxicologists across the country are calling an emerging public health issue.

18 Integrated Efforts Harmful Algal Research and Response: A National Environmental Science Strategy

19 Bail-Out Package for Aquatic Plant Managers

20 THANK YOU ANSWERS?.. Opinions? Criticisms?