March 5, 2001

Group Memory
March 5, 2001

Agenda

1:15 p.m. Agenda Review /Introductions

1:20 p.m. Web site Update (Jeanne Work)

1:30 p.m. Announcements/Legislative Update (Sara Duncan/all)

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

2:00 p.m. Nutrient Criteria and Process Update (Kathy Hernandez)

2:35 p.m. Changes to the Triennial Review schedule (Paul Frohardt)

3:00 p.m. Break

3:10 p.m. Nonpoint Source Program Changes (Laurie Fisher)

3: 40 p.m. Effluent Dominated Water Supply Grant Proposal
(Dave Holm)

3:55 p.m. Development of New Drinking Water Regulations
(Chet Pauls)

4:25 p.m. Retreat Dates and Agenda Development

4:45 p.m. Next Meeting and Agenda Items

5:00 p.m. Adjourn

Web site Update (Jeanne Work)

The WQF needs a new volunteer to manage the WQF web site—Jeanne will be leaving soon for maternity leave. Pat Nelson with CH2M Hill might be willing to take on these duties. Jeanne will coordinate transition with Pat and others as needed.

Announcements/Legislative Updates

Thornton will be looking at Regulation 62 regarding Effluent Dominated Water Supply

SB 161—Currently in appropriations. Bill would fund a study that would conduct a statewide water needs assessment and inventory alternatives available and interruptable water supply

SB 66—Senator Gordon’s bill which is currently in the House Agriculture Committee. This bill reconfigures and limits the Cherry Creek Water Quality Authority.

SB 148 and HB 1225—Are the only growth bills thus far to move forward. They emphasis regional growth management. House bill has been amended to exempt water supply agencies from regional planning (a consulting role only).

HB 1240—Addresses water rights application requirement to landowners by Water Court Clerk

HB 1354—Outgrowth of Governor’s effort addressing agricultural land. Pertains to the selling/leasing of water as a study in the Arkansas River Basin with a 5 year sunset. Specifies a public/private entity to run this "water bank".

SJR 4-5—Joint resolution for the water/power authority re; SRF/Drinking water

SB ?—A bill to condemn trails and water has moved forward to House without the condemnation of water

HB 1032—This bill regarding the permit backlog program is currently in the Governor’s office

HB 1246—Would allow Counties to accept grants on behalf of small communities

A bill will be introduced regarding recreation instream diversions. It would specify need to go through CWCB for recommendation before it goes to Water Court

HB 1217—a bill sponsored by Mark Larson regarding county health department sewage enforcement authority.

Water Quality Control Commission Update (Paul Frohardt)

There has been a new round of Commission appointments: Martha Rudolph and Paul Grundemann. March 15th is the tentative date for confirmation of new appointments.

There is an appeal by Trout Unlimited and Earth Justice on the 401 Certification regarding Arapahoe Basin snow-making diversions (Case was dismissed).

A Nonpoint Source impact resource document (for local governments) may be developed. This decision will be part of the March Commission meeting.

The Commission annual retreat has been rescheduled for June 6-7, 2001 in the Dillon area

The DIMP Standard hearing will be scheduled at the March Commission meeting

April Commission Meeting will include:

Informational Hearing on Design Criteria for Wastewater Treatment Works

Triennial review process options

Informational briefing regarding the status of the efforts of the Colorado Ground Water Quality Protection Council [update: now postponed]

Work sessions on Basic Standards and Colorado water quality monitoring and information needs

Nutrient Criteria and Process Update (Kathy Hernandez)

The handouts for this presentation are available on this website

For further information:

EPA HQ—Deb Hart: 202/260-0905
Region 8—Kathy Hernandez: 303/312-6101
Colorado—Bob McConnell: 303/692-3578
www.epa.gov/ost/standards/nutrient.html

If you have any data sets that you think should be included, please call Kathy Hernandez or e-mail her at hernandez.kathryn@epa.gov

The State has great concern that the "reference reach" philosophy of EPA’s nutrient criteria will require tremendous resources in order to agree on the data sets.

Triennial Review Options (Paul Frohardt)

Information is posted on the WQCC web site.

Participant comments:

Triennial reviews regardless of changes may require increased staffing

Does EPA support these changes?

The issues go beyond staffing; the basin reviews have become huge in terms of materials to digest

Concern—the WQCC needs to get more input before moving forward on options

Concern—if process is lengthened, will lay-people be able to participate?

Additional option—longer time before notice and rulemaking with the Division making a proposal earlier in the process.

Concerned about a 5-year cycle because growth requires us to look sooner

Option 1—concerned that there would be site-specific issues that would over run the WQCC meetings

Option 1—see that this option could work if you utilized issues scoping

Option 1—seemed to address concerns best, option 2 has some problems (e.g., Prioritizing issues)

Like and dislike option 1 for its timeline. Need more time but we may lose some people tracking the issues.

When looking at options, consider: 1) How does this fit with permit schedules, and 2) The tenure of a 1-term commissioner (a 3-year cycle).

Would a five year cycle be impacted by nutrient criteria or visa versa?

Concern: a 5-year time frame would be a long time to wait if a party had a concern about the water quality.

WQCC will be meeting on March 13th to discuss these options

Nonpoint Source Program Changes (Laurie Fisher)

Handouts available upon request.

Effluent Dominated Water Supply Grant Proposal (Dave Holm)

The proposal and the presentation handout is available upon request.

Development of New Drinking Water Regulations (Chet Pauls)

Handout available upon request.

Information will be available soon on the web site: http://www.cdphe.state.co.us and will include:

The Regulatory Development Schedule

Stakeholder meeting dates and agendas

Stakeholder meeting summaries

Draft regulatory language

Next meeting: May 8th, 1:15 - 5: p.m. , DRCOG

Legislative and WQCC Update
Thornton presentation
Green Industries Presentation (45 minutes)
Triennial Review Schedule
Monitoring Council (WQMC)
303(d)/TMDL working group update
Other working group updates
Permit Fee update
Retreat draft agenda

WQF 2001 Retreat: July 12 - 13 (Winter Park)

Possible topics:

EPA Direction (HQ-level person)
State Permit Fee update