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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
Keith Andersen | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
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
Keith Andersen | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
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NPDES Permit Universe
Keith Andersen | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
Individual - Domestic221, 4%
Individual - Industrial 134, 3%
General - Storm Water1981, 39%
General - Everything Else 2703, 54%
Individual NPDES Permits
Keith Andersen | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
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
Keith Andersen | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
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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
Keith Andersen | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
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
Keith Andersen | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
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
Keith Andersen | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
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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
Keith Andersen | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
Current Projects• Process Mapping and streamlining• Data Bridging• Permit Readiness Review• Technical Assistance Definition and Implementation• Stakeholder Engagement discussion
Keith Andersen | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
Process Mapping• Reviewed existing process with an eye toward improvements• Improve sub-processes identified• Develop process map that will be implemented statewide
Keith Andersen | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
6/21/2017
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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
Keith Andersen | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
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
Keith Andersen | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
• 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?
Keith Andersen | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
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
Keith Andersen | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
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
Keith Andersen | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
Questions
Keith AndersenSpecial Advisor to the Director for Water Program [email protected]
Visit www.oregon.gov/deq; search “WQ Permitting Program Review”
Keith Andersen | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
6/21/2017
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Mark Riedel-BashStormwater Program Coordinator
DEQ’s Stormwater General Permit Program
Mark Riedel-Bash | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
DEQ’s Stormwater General Permit Program
Mark Riedel-Bash | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
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DEQ’s Stormwater General Permit Program
Mark Riedel-Bash | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
Permitted Sites1200-A 2161200-C 992
1200-Z/COLS 812
Total 2020
DEQ’s Stormwater General Permit Program
Mark Riedel-Bash | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
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
Mark Riedel-Bash | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
6/21/2017
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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
Mark Riedel-Bash | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
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
Mark Riedel-Bash | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
Geo-region Unit Copper Lead Zinc
Cascades mg/L 0.019
Coastal mg/L 0.040 0.102
Columbia River mg/L 0.050 0.146 0.274
Columbia Slough mg/L 0.218 0.368
Eastern mg/L 0.038 0.036
Portland Harbor mg/L 0.020 0.054 0.151
Willamette Valley mg/L 0.013
Metals Benchmarks Evaluation
Mark Riedel-Bash | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
6/21/2017
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Geo-region Unit Copper Lead Zinc
Cascades mg/L 0.020 0.019 0.090
Coastal mg/L 0.020 0.040 0.102
Columbia River mg/L 0.050 0.146 0.274
Columbia Slough mg/L 0.020 0.218 0.368
Eastern mg/L 0.038 0.036 0.090
Portland Harbor mg/L 0.020 0.054 0.151
Willamette Valley mg/L 0.020 0.013 0.090
Metals Benchmarks Evaluation
Mark Riedel-Bash | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
Geo-region Unit Copper Lead Zinc
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
Willamette Valley mg/L 0.020 0.013 0.090
Metals Benchmarks Evaluation
Mark Riedel-Bash | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
Geo-region Unit Copper Lead Zinc
Cascades mg/L 0.020 0.019 0.090
Coastal mg/L 0.020 0.040 0.102
Columbia River mg/L 0.020 0.040 0.120
Columbia Slough mg/L 0.020 0.040 0.240
Eastern mg/L 0.038 0.036 0.090
Portland Harbor mg/L 0.020 0.040 0.120
Willamette Valley mg/L 0.020 0.013 0.090
Metals Benchmarks Evaluation
Mark Riedel-Bash | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
6/21/2017
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Geo-region Unit Copper Lead Zinc
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
Willamette Valley mg/L 0.020 0.013 0.090
Metals Benchmarks Evaluation
Regional mg/L 0.020 0.015 0.090
Mark Riedel-Bash | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
Geo-region Unit Copper Lead Zinc
Columbia River mg/L 0.020 0.040 0.120
Columbia Slough mg/L 0.020 0.060 0.240
Portland Harbor mg/L 0.020 0.040 0.120
Regional mg/L 0.020 0.015 0.090
Proposed Statewide Metal Benchmarks
Mark Riedel-Bash | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
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
Mark Riedel-Bash | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
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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-Bash | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
Mark Riedel-BashStormwater Program Coordinator
503-229-5185
Visit www.oregon.gov/deqSearch “Stormwater”
Questions
Mark Riedel-Bash | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality