Overview of PADEP 2014 Integrated List of All Waters (from Draft 2014 Pennsylvania Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report )

Transcription

1 Overview of PADEP 2014 Integrated List of All Waters (from Draft 2014 Pennsylvania Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report ) Background PADEP uses an integrated format for Clean Water Act Section 305(b) reporting and Section 303(d) listing. The 2014 Pennsylvania Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report (Integrated Report) satisfies the requirements of both Sections 305(b) and 303(d). Section 305(b) Section 305(b) of the federal Clean Water Act that requires states to provide an assessment of water quality. Section 303(d) The term, "303(d) list," is short for the list of impaired waters (stream segments, lakes) that the Clean Water Act requires all states to submit for EPA approval every two years (even-numbered years). Section 303(d) of the Federal Clean Water Act and 40 CFR Part 130 require states to identify waters which would still be impaired, even after the appropriate technology has been applied to point sources and requires best management practices are in place for nonpoint sources. Waterbodies that do not meet water quality standards after this evaluation are placed on 5 of the Integrated Waterbody List. Assessed Uses Each waterbody must be assessed for four different uses as defined in PADEP 's rules and regulations at 25 Pennsylvania Code Chapter 93 (Water Quality Standards) in Section 93.3 Protected Water Uses. The four include Aquatic Life - maintaining flora and fauna indigenous to aquatic habitats; Water Supply - protection of ambient water quality for possible use as a potable water supply; Fish Consumption - protects the public from consuming tainted fish, and Recreation - relates to water contact and boating Each use may have different water quality criteria for individual chemical constituents and each use requires a different type of stream or lake assessment. Organization of PADEP s Listing for the entire Commonwealth In addition to the 305(b) narrative, the water quality status of Pennsylvania s waters is presented using a five-part characterization of use attainment status. The listing categories are: 1: Waters attaining all designated uses. 2: Waters where some, but not all, designated uses are met. Attainment status of the remaining designated uses is may be unknown because data are insufficient to categorize the water or it may be impaired. 3: Waters for which there are insufficient or no data and information to determine if designated uses are met. 4: Waters impaired for one or more designated uses but not needing a total maximum daily load (TMDL). These waters are placed in one of the following three subcategories: o 4A: TMDL has been completed. o 4B: Expected to meet all designated uses within a reasonable timeframe. o 4C: Not impaired by a pollutant and not requiring a TMDL. 5: Waters impaired for one or more designated uses by any pollutant. 5 includes waters shown to be impaired as the result of biological assessments used to evaluate aquatic life use. 5 constitutes the Section 303(d) list EPA will approve or disapprove under the Clean Water Act. (Emphasis added) 1

2 Chester County Streams On the 2014 Integrated Report, streams in Chester County are listed in the following Categories: 1 (waters attaining all designated uses) 2 (waters attaining at least one use) 4A (TMDL has been completed) 4C (not impaired by a pollutant and not requiring a TMDL) 5 (impaired waters requiring a TMDL) Attached: Excerpts of Listings for Chester County streams as they appear by in the 2014 Integrated List. References: 1. Draft Integrated Water Quality Report 2014, web page, PADEP, rated_water_quality_report_-_2014/ /8/2014) 2

3 1 Waterbodies, Attaining Some Uses (Excerpt Only) 2014 DRAFT Pennsylvania Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report - Streams Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report; List 1: All Uses Attained, 3

4 2 Waterbodies, Attaining Some Uses (Excerpt Only) 2014 DRAFT Pennsylvania Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report - Streams Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report; List 2: At least One Use Attained, 4

5 4a Waterbodies, Approved TMDLs (Excerpt Only) 2014 Pennsylvania Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report - Streams Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report; List 4a: Approved TMDLs, 5

6 4c Waterbodies, Pollution not Requiring a TMDL (Excerpt Only) 2014 Pennsylvania Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report - Streams Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report; List 4c: Pollution not Requiring a TMDL 6

7 5 Waterbodies, Pollutants Requiring a TMDL (Excerpt Only) 2014 Pennsylvania Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report - Streams Source: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 2014 Pennsylvania Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report; List 5:Pollutants Requiring a TMDL, 7