Term
|
Definition
formerly known as Federal Water Pollution Control Act
-controlled by EPA
-requires any applicant for a federal permit to conduct any activity resulting in discharge pollutant to obtain certification from their state; KNOWN AS Water Quality Certification
-Amendment set up NPDES |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System was set up in 1972 amendment of clean water act
-permit program to control discharge of pollutants from point source, focused on industrial wastewater and municipal sewage, and stormwater discharge
-also established Nationwide Urban Runoff Program(NURP) to identify characteristics of storm water discharged through municipal, separate storm water systems (MS4s) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Established through Clean Water Act/NPDES
-one purpose was to identify chracteristics of storm water discharge through municipal, separate storm sewer systems (MS4s)
-Stormwater runoff from residential, commercial, and light industrial areas were evaluated.
-data showed stormwater containing same conventional pollutants and toxins regulated by profess outfalls and POTWs, exceeding EPA water standards
-Pressured EPA in 1980's to issue NPDES permits for all storm water discharges, but permitting would be overbourdening, so compromise was made.
-1987 CWA amendment by Congress, issue permits for storm water discharges in 5 categories:
1.) Facilities under NPDES permit already
2.) Facilities in industrial activity
3.) LArge >250,000 population municipal separate storm drain systems
4.) Medium 100,000> population <250,000, storm water systems
5.) Facilities that EPA determines storm water discharges contributing to violation of water quality or "signficant contributors" of pollution to water to U.S.
-1992 EPA issued 2 baseline general permits- Construction and industry
-Phase II in 1999 required permitting for "light" industrial facilities, small construction and municipalities |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
-Clean Water ACt permit to regulate discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of US, including wetlands near waters.
-Permit administered through US Army Corps of Engineers |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| NPDES apply only to stormwater charge in to waters of US or a combined (storm/sanitary) sewer system. |
|
|
Term
| Construction Activities Subject to NPDES permitting |
|
Definition
-5 acres or more
-"disturbs large tracts of land will involve the use of heavy equipment such as bulldozers, crenes, dump truck, dynamite, removes trees, bedrock, installs roads, drainage systems and holind gponds."
- 1 to 5 acres added later(not under 5) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
-August 7, 1995, final amendment to NPDES expanding permitting requirements including phase II:
-Commercial, retail, light, industrial
-Construction UNDER 5 ACRES
-Municipal storm drain systems serving FEWER THAN 100,000 people
-Oil/Gas and silvicultural and agricultural are EXEMPT, for agriculture this is only for CROPS |
|
|
Term
| TMDL definition and 3 steps |
|
Definition
SECTION 303(d) of Clean Water Act
-Total maximum daily loads
-guide application of state water quality standards to waterbodies and watersheds.
-defines amount of particular pollutant that a water body can assimilate on daily basis w/o violating applicable water quality standards. \
-Three steps:
1) identify quality limited waters, every state lists waters that will not meet water quality standards
2) Establish Priority waters/watersheds: states prioritize waters for TMDL development
3) Develop TMDLs, for listed waters, every state must develop TMDLs that will achieve water quality standards
-TMDLs include: Point source/non-point source, naturally occurring sources, sum of all 3
-TMDL plans address: waterbodies impaired, cause of impair and plan to remedy or prevent impairment. |
|
|
