Group Memory
January 4, 2001

Agenda

1:15 p.m. Agenda Review and Introductions

1:30 p.m. Legislative Update

1:45 p.m. WQCC Update (Paul Frohardt)

2:15 p.m. Effluent Dominated Water Supply (Dave Akers)

2:30 p.m. EPA Approval/Disapproval of Basic Standards (Paul                Frohardt)

2:40 p.m. Nutrient Criteria Update (Greg Parsons)

3:00 p.m. Work Group Check-in/Updates
               TMDL (Phil Hegeman)
               External Proposals
               Reasonable Potential (Dave Akers)
               Mixing Zone
               Basic Standards Implementation (Paul Frohardt)
               Stormwater (Pat Nelson)
               Nonpoint Source Funding (Greg Parsons)
               Ammonia Criteria (Tad Foster)
               Nutrient Criteria (Dave Holm)

3:15 p.m. Next Meeting Agenda

3:30 p.m. Adjourn

Legislative Updates

• Senator Evans is working with the Water Congress on a possible water supply bill which would address front range needs and some western slope needs. It may be a study bill that calls for a pilot project on "banking" water. Draft of a bill will be available by January 25th.
• There may be a bill to establish a permanent water committee
• Senator Andrews may draft a bill to expand the CWCB WQCC Update
• The South Platte River water quality standards rulemaking for final action will be delayed until the February meeting
• The commission has sent a letter to the joint agriculture committee recommending briefings on the Basic Standards Regulation revisions and the Storm Water Phase II Regulations.
• There was an informational hearing on the Cheraw Lake Control Regulation in December (the discussion is ongoing)
• The Commission will continue its discussion of Confined Animal Feeding Operations regarding the new federal regulations in late 2001
• A multi-agency meeting is scheduled for February 14th to assist various State Boards and Commissions in learning more about each other.
• The February Commission meeting will probably be moved...Check the Web site for further information [Update: the meeting will be on February 13] www.cdphe.state.co.us/op/wqcc/wqcchom.asp
• Triennial Review Process-the Division is currently analyzing the schedules (e.g., Should the Lower Colorado and Upper Colorado schedules be moved together?)
• The Commission's 2001 Retreat will be on June 11 in the Steamboat Springs area
• The WQCC reviewed policy 96-2 regarding human health based standards at its December meeting; the Commission agreed to several revisions to make sure the policy is consistent with the basic standards changes
• 2000 305(b) report was approved with the provision that the 2002 305(b) report include additional efforts to factor in outside interests/input
• An informational hearing was held on January 8 on the Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund Rules and the Domestic Waste Water Treatment Grant Funding System; no changes are being considered at this time.
• The New Commission Website address is: www.cdphe.state.co.us/op/wqcc/wqcchom.asp

Effluent Dominated Water Supply (Dave Akers)

The Division will facilitate a discussion by:

1. A Scoping Process (represent broad interests) They are in the process of applying for an EPA grant (by January 12th) to provide for facilitation, expert consultants, and a literature review
   
   
2. Examining the sources and impacts once the problem has been quantified. They will look at the problem broadly, not necessarily just limiting the discussion to effluent dominated streams. The economic impacts and "reasonableness" of remedies will examined.

EPA Disapprovals (Paul Frohardt)

• The EPA disapprovals of the Basic Standards adopted by the WQCC concern six chemicals that are Group "C" carcinogens. The disapproval was based on the Commission not adopting standards based on carcinogenicity. Until the disapproval is resolved, the state law on this standard is in effect because the Commission, as a practical matter, determined that the chemicals named are not currently present in stated surface waters. The Commission will hold a meeting in February to get public input on how the Commission should react to the EPA disapproval.

Nutrient Criteria Update (Greg Parsons)

• Refer to the December 29th announcement on the website: http://www.epa.gov/ow/new.html
• Partial list of numbers is available
• A guidance document to the State should be available from EPA by March

Water Quality Forum Work Groups

TMDL: next meeting is on February 13th 1:30—3:30 p.m., CDPHE (may be changed if WQCC meeting changes) [Update: this meeting is being moved to February 12 at the same time and place.]

External Process: Next meeting March 5, 12 p.m., DRCOG

• Are identifying major problems/issues
• There is agreement that changes are needed to the current system with the WQCC (particularly with water quality standard proposals)
• There is also agreement that the public needs to be better educated about the WQCC process
• The work group will put a "straw man" policy on paper for further discussion

Reasonable Potential: Next meeting will be in March (TBA)

Mixing Zone: Next meeting will be at the end of January (TBA)

• WQCC adopted the recommended regulations in October 2000
• The guidance document that tracks these new regulations is being revised
• The work group will receive the document for review in January and will meet soon thereafter.

Basic Standards Implementation: Next meeting on January 22, 9 a.m. - noon, Cleere Room, CDPHE.

• Some implementation is already taking place
• The tables that list "table values" are being updated so that standards are consistent
• The group is working on antidegradation and recreation classification guidance

Stormwater: Next meeting date TBA

• The major work of working group has been completed
• The group is currently determining if there is further need to meet

Nonpoint Source Funding: next meeting will be in Spring 2001 (TBA)

• After analyzing the possibility of getting funds from the State Legislature, there is agreement that a better understanding of the funding required is needed.
• The group is beginning to quantify needs and will be coordinating the needs assessment with national and local efforts.

Ammonia Criteria: Next meeting TBA

• A related group (chaired by John VanRoyen) is working on a draft scope of work for a study of how the EPA criteria would fit in Colorado's system. The study may come through the Colorado Wastewater Council. Proposed Scope of Work has an end of January deadline.

Concern: Need to address lagoons and the impact of the ammonia criteria.

Nutrient Criteria: Next Meeting TBA

Monitoring Council : Next meeting on January 22, Clear room, 1- 4 p.m., CDPHE

Water Quality Forum Meeting: March 5

(February meeting is canceled)

Proposed agenda items:

• Legislative Update
• WQCC Update
• Nonpoint Source Program changes
• Changes to Triennial Review Schedule
• Green industries of Colorado Water Task Force Update
• Nutrient Criteria Numbers (if available)
• Set Retreat dates