NEBC Managing Stormwater Conference MRB v3 · PDF fileNEBC Managing Stormwater Conference ... –Snapshot of our permit universe ... • Directed DEQ to work with Blue

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NEBC Managing Stormwater ConferenceJune 20, 2017

Water Quality Permitting Program Update

Keith Andersen | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

An Overview• Today’s Presentation:

– Introduction – 2015 Budget Note– Snapshot of our permit universe– Review and status of project

• 1200-Z Permit Update– Development– Noteworthy changes


2015 Budget Note• Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Natural Resources expressed concerns with backlog

• Directed DEQ to hire consultant to recommend improvements

• Directed DEQ to work with Blue Ribbon Committee, Legislature


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NPDES Permit Universe


Individual - Domestic221, 4%

Individual - Industrial 134, 3%

General - Storm Water1981, 39%

General - Everything Else 2703, 54%

Individual NPDES Permits


Minor Industrial112, 32% Minor Domestic

143, 40%

Major Industrial22, 6%

Major Domestic55, 16%

Municipal Storm Sewer23, 6%

Consultant’s Report• March 2016: MWH started project• April 2016: Initial interviews held• September 2016: Initial findings delivered • October 2016: Draft Implementation Plan delivered • December 2016: Final Implementation Plan delivered

Stakeholders provided input at each step


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What’s the Problem?• Consultants identified several key issues

– Lack of centralized authority– Lack of coordination between planning and permitting– Complex and expensive nature of necessary engineering AND regulatory solutions


Key Takeaways• Problems are complex • Solutions will require stakeholder and legislative participation, insight• Timing of DEQ action items depends on resources• Report is comprehensive and well-researched• DEQ and EQC are committed to following through on report


Consultant’s Recommendations• Centralize decision making for permits• Improve data management for permit issuance• Improve permitting integration with standards, TMDLs• Reallocate staff to emphasize issuing timely, legal permits • Improve accountability and transparency


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Moving Forward• Internal process improvements underway• Evaluating and planning for collaboration opportunities with stakeholders

• Engaging with legislature and stakeholders about opportunities that require leadership outside DEQ


Current Projects• Process Mapping and streamlining• Data Bridging• Permit Readiness Review• Technical Assistance Definition and Implementation• Stakeholder Engagement discussion


Process Mapping• Reviewed existing process with an eye toward improvements• Improve sub-processes identified• Develop process map that will be implemented statewide


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Data Bridging• Goal is to have necessary data ready for permit writer from outset

• Key parts:

– What data is necessary for permit writing?– Where is that data?– How can we readily and consistently extract that data?– Develop and make routine a process to extract and package data– Use staff other than permit writers to extract and package data


Readiness Review• Key information is compiled for each individual permit

• Key parts:

– Complete application– Data completeness or availability – Community capacity– Possible regulatory barriers

• Readiness score assigned to aid in planning


• Report recommended DEQ permit writers do less technical assistance– How do we do that?– How do we move forward to ensure constructive and productive conversations?


Technical Assistance/Stakeholder Engagement Review

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Future Actions• Ongoing internal process improvement

• Permit writers assigned only permit writing tasks

• Considering section realignment

• DEQ Director Whitman and leadership team considering reorganization to media divisions

• Future concerns include availability of capital and technical expertise for communities, DEQ staff resources, external drivers


What does this mean for Stormwater?• Staff reassigned• New DEQ stormwater lead manager: Christine Svetkovich

• Lessons learned from individual permit program improvement project will be applied to other permit areas

• Reorganization of media divisions will have implications across water quality programs


Questions

Keith AndersenSpecial Advisor to the Director for Water Program [email protected]

Visit www.oregon.gov/deq; search “WQ Permitting Program Review”


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Mark Riedel-BashStormwater Program Coordinator

DEQ’s Stormwater General Permit Program

Mark Riedel-Bash | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality



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Permitted Sites1200-A 2161200-C 992

1200-Z/COLS 812

Total 2020



Permitted Facilities 1200-Z 677

1200-COLS 1301200-COLSB 31200-ZN 2

Changes to Industrial Stormwater Permit• Renewal of 1200-Z permit

• Reassignment of 1200-COLS permits


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Noteworthy Changes• Portland Harbor cleanup requirements

• Change in water quality standard for copper

• Evaluation of metal benchmark values– Risk-based benchmarks– Technologically achievable


Geo-region Unit Copper Lead Zinc

Cascades mg/L 0.004 0.019 0.048

Coastal mg/L 0.011 0.040 0.102

Columbia River mg/L 0.050 0.146 0.274

Columbia Slough mg/L 0.017 0.218 0.368

Eastern mg/L 0.038 0.036 0.092

Portland Harbor mg/L 0.020 0.054 0.151

Willamette Valley mg/L 0.011 0.013 0.038

Proposed Benchmark Developments



Cascades mg/L 0.019

Coastal mg/L 0.040 0.102


Columbia Slough mg/L 0.218 0.368

Eastern mg/L 0.038 0.036


Willamette Valley mg/L 0.013

Metals Benchmarks Evaluation


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Cascades mg/L 0.020 0.019 0.090

Coastal mg/L 0.020 0.040 0.102



Eastern mg/L 0.038 0.036 0.090






Cascades mg/L 0.020 0.019 0.090

Coastal mg/L 0.020 0.040 0.102

Columbia River mg/L

Columbia Slough mg/L 0.020

Eastern mg/L 0.038 0.036 0.090

Portland Harbor mg/L 0.020





Cascades mg/L 0.020 0.019 0.090

Coastal mg/L 0.020 0.040 0.102



Eastern mg/L 0.038 0.036 0.090





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Cascades mg/L 0.020 0.019 0.090

Coastal mg/L 0.020 0.040 0.102

Eastern mg/L 0.020 0.036 0.090



Regional mg/L 0.020 0.015 0.090






Regional mg/L 0.020 0.015 0.090

Proposed Statewide Metal Benchmarks


Noteworthy Changes • Submit updated SWPCPs by Oct. 31, 2017

• Additional permit language:– to address pH sampling– monitoring waivers

• Notification of additional Portland Harbor facilities

• Electronic submissions for DMRs and paper DMRs


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• Tier I Corrective Action Response Applies to statewide benchmarks, sector specific

benchmarks, or impairment pollutants

• Tier II Corrective Action Response Based on 2nd year geometric mean evaluation Applies to statewide benchmarks

Corrective Action Requirements


Mark Riedel-BashStormwater Program Coordinator

[email protected]

503-229-5185

Visit www.oregon.gov/deqSearch “Stormwater”

Questions


NEBC Managing Stormwater Conference MRB v3 · PDF fileNEBC Managing Stormwater Conference ... –Snapshot of our permit universe ... • Directed DEQ to work with Blue

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