June 26-27, 2002

Water Quality Forum
DRCOG - June 26-27, 2002
Group Memory

Retreat Participants:

Bob McConnell (WQCD), Sarah Johnson (WQCD), Steve Glazer (HCCA/SC), Sara Duncan (Denver Water), Mark Pifher (Trout, Witwer, Freeman), Vic Lucero (City of Thornton), Jim Ruff (Boxelder Sanitation District), Dennis Hanson (City of Thornton), Lee Johnson (Westminister & Board of W.W. of Pueblo), Sue Ellen Harrison (City of Boulder), Jeannette Hillery (League of Women Voters), Chuck Wanner (San Juan Citizens Alliance), Russell Clayshulte(DRCOG), Dave Akers (WQCD), Christine Johnson (Xcel Energy), Paul Frohardt (WQCC), Jill McConaughy (CRWCD), Pat Nelson (CH2M Hill), Nettie Rosenthal (Colorado Springs), Cathy Shugarts (South Platte Coalition for Urban River Evaluation), Bob Fiehweg (Summit Technical Resources, Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site), Jeani Frickey (Colorado Farm Bureau), Carl Houck (Carollo Engineers), Caroline Bradford (Eagle River Watershed Council), Eileen List (City of Grand Junction), Mary Fabisiak (City of Northglenn), David Holm (WQCD), Tony Trumbly (Colorado Attorney General), Dick Parachini (WQCD), Robert Sakata (WQCC), Dave DuBois (NFRWQPA), Tad Foster (Law Office of Tad Foster), Amy Woodis (Metro Wastewater Reclamation District), Barbara Biggs (Metro Waterwater Reclamation District), Dave Merritt (CRWCD), Bahman Hatami (CWCB), Richard Fox (Colorado Watershed Assembly), Nat Muillo (EPA), Chris Treese (CRWCD), Cindy Brady (City of Aurora)

Wednesday, June 26, 2002

10: 00 a.m. Introductions, Agenda Review and Agreement

10:30 a.m. Issues Scan (see attached draft list), Review and clarify issues, Add additional issues (if needed)

12:00 p.m. Lunch

1:00 p.m. Environmental Protection Agency -- Nat Miullo--New Priorities and Direction

1:45 p.m. Colorado Water Quality Control Division - David Holm

2:30 p.m. Break

2:45 p.m. Stakeholder Perspectives (10 minutes/perspective):

1. 1-2 hot issues concerning water quality

2. What is your vision?

A. Agriculture - Jeanie Frickey, Colorado Farm Bureau
B. Industry - Pat Nelson, CH2Mhill
C. Environmental Community
-Steve Glazer, High Country Citizen's Alliance
D. Regional Water Quality Planning Agency
- Russell Clayshulte, DRCOG
- Dave DuBois, NFRWQPA
E. Colorado Watershed Assembly, Richard Fox

4:30 p.m. Stakeholder Perspectives: Municipal Issues

F. Municipal Wastewater
-Eileen List, City of Grand Junction

4:45 p.m. Announcements, Tomorrow's Agenda

5:00 p.m. Adjourn

Thursday, June 27, 2002

7:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast

8:00 a.m. Start ups/Agenda Review

8:10 a.m. Stakeholder Perspectives Continued

G. Water Supplier Perspective
-Sara Duncan, Denver Water
-Vic Lucero, City of Thornton
H. Storm Water Discharges Perspective
- Mary Fabisiak, City of Northglenn

9:00 a.m. Break

9:10 a.m. WQF Business Matters
- Overall WQF Improvements
- Financial Status Report
- WQF meeting dates for 2002-2003
- Standing Committee Confirmation

9:00 a.m. Break

9:15 a.m. Working Group Process
--evaluation and expectations

10:00 a.m. Brainstorm: Funding Options for State Water Quality Programs

10:45 a.m. WQF Work Plan for 2002 - 2003
noon Working Lunch

1:00 p.m. Identify ongoing and new WQF Work Groups

1:15 p.m. Working group assignments
-Select chair
-Determine next meetings/topics

1:45 p.m. Next steps and meeting evaluation

2:00 p.m. Adjourn

Groundrules

· One person talk at a time
· No personal attacks
· Listen for understanding rather than disagreement
· Speak up about disagreements/no surprises/O.K. to disagree

A. Misery is optional! (We can change the agenda, take more breaks, etc.)

2002 ANNUAL RETREAT ISSUES SCAN

To develop a Colorado Water Quality Forum work plan for the coming year, we hope to:

1. Add any additional issues to this list.
2. Complete a triage review of the finalized list to identify:
a. Issues for work groups or other proactive CWQF attention;
b. Issues for monitoring or informational briefings only;
c. Issues that are not a priority for CWQF attention at this time.

Issues List:
1. 2001-2002 CWQF work groups:

a. Surface Water Basic Standards Implementation (Paul Frohardt)
b. TMDL/303(d) issues (Phil Hegeman)
c. Funding Issues (Dave Holm)
d. Permit Issues (Dave Akers)
e. Nutrient Criteria (Bob McConnell)
f. Commission Rulemaking Process (Paul Frohardt)
g. Continuing Planning Process (Barbara Biggs)
h. Sediment Guidance (Bob McConnell)
i. Impacted Water Supply (Dave Akers)
j. Temperature Standards (Dave Akers)
k. Aquatic Life Classifications (Bob McConnell)

2. Upcoming Water Quality Control Commission rulemaking hearings:

a. Arkansas/Rio Grande water quality standards revisions (07/02).
b. CAFO Control Regulation (08/02).
c. Procedural Rules (10/02).
a. Oil/Gas Site Specific Hearing (9/02)
b. DIMP standards revisions (12/02).
c. Colorado Discharge Permit System Regulations (01/03).
d. Regulations for Effluent Limitations (04/03) ?
e. Upper/Lower Colorado River water quality standards revisions (07/03)

3. Upcoming Water Quality Control Commission informational hearings:

a. Biosolids Regulation triennial review (08/02).
b. 2002 Section 303(d) List (09/02).
c. Recreation Classification Guidance (TBA).
d. South Platte River standards Issues Scoping Hearing (10/02).
e. Continuing Planning Process Handbook (10/02).
f. Colorado River salinity standards triennial review (11/02).
g. Upper/Lower Colorado River standards Issues Formulation Hearing (11/02).
h. NWCCOG Section 208 Plan update (11/02).
i. Yampa Basin Watershed Plan (Section 208 Plan) (11/02).
j. Pretreatment Regulations triennial review (01/03).
k. Site Application Regulations routine review (03/03).
l. Dillon Reservoir Control Regulation triennial review (03/03).
m. CAFO Control Regulation/CDPS Regulations issues (04/03).

3. New proposed federal TMDL regulations **

4. Arid West Water Quality Research Project.

5. WQCD study of arid west issues.

6. Ammonia criteria implementation into water quality standards **
--Waste Water Utility Council Report/Update

7. Discharge permit program backlog reduction.

8. New EPA bacteriological criteria implementation guidance?

9. Colorado Water Quality Monitoring Council status

10. Follow-up regarding EPA water quality standards disapprovals.

11. Proposed "Good Samaritan" Act ** (9/02)

12. ISDS Steering Committee recommendations implementation.

13. Colorado Ground Water Quality Protection Council.

14. Source Water Protection Program.

15. EPA's proposed Sanitary Sewer Overflow Regulations/CMOM Program Requirements/SSO Response Plans/Permitting of Satellite Collection Systems **
(After the regulations are out--01/03?)

16. Mercury standards and compliance ** (11/02 or 01/03?)

17. Implementation of narrative standards.

18. Stormwater Phase II implementation.

19. Whole effluent toxicity test methods ** (11/02)

20. Talent Irrigation decision

21. Refined designated uses/use attainability assessments (UAAs)

22. Interim Permit Policy Consideration ** (11/02)

23. Drinking Water Funding Issues

24. Farm Bill, re: water quality project possiblities (9/02)

25. National Disaster Water Quality Issues (drought, fire, etc.) (9/02)

26. Coalbed Methane (11/02)

Stakeholder Perspectives

The following stakeholders gave brief 10 - 15 minute presentations about the hot issues concerning water quality and their vision for the future. [Handouts are available upon request]

A. Agriculture - Jeani Frickey, Colorado Farm Bureau
B. Industry - Pat Nelson, CH2M Hill
C. Environmental Community
-Steve Glazer, High Country Citizen's Alliance
D. Regional Water Quality Planning Agency
- Russell Clayshulte, DRCOG
- Dave Dubois, NFRWQPA
E. Colorado Watershed Assembly, Richard Fox
F. Municipal Wastewater
-Eileen List, City of Grand Junction
G. Water Supplier
-Sara Duncan, Denver Water
-Vic Lucero, City of Thornton
H. Storm Water Discharges
-Mary Fabisiak, City of Northglenn

Administration Working Groups

Agreement was reached on the following administrative committees and members:

Executive committee
Jeanette Hillery, Robert Sakata, Don Carlson
Agenda Committee
Paul Frohardt, Mark Pifher., Jeannette Hillery, Vic Lucero, Barbara Biggs, Pat Nelson
Website committee
Pat Nelson, Paul Frohardt, Barbara Biggs, Sue Ellen Harrison

Water Quality Forum Evaluation

What has worked?

Post cards/web site
Set schedule/set date
Good Attendance
What could we do better?
Need to include more industry folks to learn about WQF
Talk to AG forum (Barbara Biggs)
Other stakeholders should be more involved including:
1. Watershed groups more
2. CACI
3. Waste Water Utility council (use e-mail)
4. Club 20-water committee folks
5. More environmental groups
6. CCI
7. Local Affairs
8. Stock Growers
9. BLM
10. B.O.R.
11. CML (Geoff Wilson?)
Add WQF to WQCC Bulletin
Meeting Calendar good, but meetings get cancelled at the last moment
Each e-mail needs work group name on it (add to subjects list)

Working Groups Process Evaluation
Each working group needs a "secretary/coordinator" to write up summaries of meeting, get dates of meetings to Paul Frohardt and emails to group (decision reached, major issues)
WQCC has concerns about workgroups:
1. Are they representative of diverse groups?
2. How much staff time? Too much?
Be more selective in choosing workgroups (can WQCC have a say? WQCC needs to exercise restraint in asking for workgroups)
Commission members will sit in on high priority work groups but will not try to preempt the group on policy issues
Division staff are ultimately responsible to produce a report for WQCC based on work group
WQCC want more frequent updates on work groups
Concern: All work groups do not have to reach consensus, some items can come forward for WQCC decision
Division staff are doing the bulk of work, should it be? Yes-- but work group participants need to react or bring issues forward
We need to focus on the near term deadlines because Division Staff are too busy. If a longer term is needed, perhaps non-division staff should drive the committee
We have lost "expert" testimony with current work group process
1. Work groups should consciously think about expertise needed
2. Perhaps the commission should sponsor a work session
· We need a one page description for work groups
1. Committee work should stop (and committee disbanded) when agreement is reached or when they agree to disagree then move forward to WQCC

State Funding of Water Drinking Water Program
Situation:

Colorado needs a system by system "compliance" document
The Budget is currently $1.3 million of Federal dollars and $500,000 of State money (basic primacy with 75% Fed share and 25% state share)
Need more money to support program to implement program or EPA may be poised to take back primacy from the State.
Will be losing budget in all probability in next year's general fund
1. Need $3 million in next 12-15 months
Conclusion:
A working group of the WQF will be formed to address this issue

2002 - 2003 Water Quality Forum Working Groups
Surface Water Basic Standards Implementation (Paul Frohardt)
1. Next meeting- August 6th, 2002 1:00 pm DRCOG
2. Add to committee list: Mary Fabisiak, Christine Johnston
NonPoint Source Funding (Carl Norbeck and Dick Parachini)
1. Add to list: Jeani Frickey, Jeannette Hillary, Eileen List (via e-mail)
Permit Issues (Dave Akers)
2. Add to list: Eileen List via e-mail, Amy Woodis, Sue M., Pat Nelson, Christine Johnston
Nutrient Criteria (Bob McConnell)
3. First meeting will be in July- TBA
4. Add to list Jeani Frickey, Eileen List, Nat Miullo, Pat Nelson, Sara Duncan
Commission Rule Making Process (Paul F.)
1. Next meeting: August 6th, 2002 at DRCOG
Continuing Planning Process (Barbara Biggs)
Sediment Guidance (Bob McConnell)
1. Add to list: Ray Tenney (rtenney@crwcd.org), Jeani Frickey, TBA, Jill Mcconaughy, Todd Harris, Eileen List (via e-mail)
Impacted Water Supply (Dave Akers)
2. First meeting July 25th, 9:30-12:00
3. Pat Nelson, Sara Duncan, Eileen List (via e-mail)
4. Vic Lucero - Coordinator
Aquatic Life Classification (Bob McConnell)
1. First meeting-August, TBA
2. Committee Members: Ray Tenney (rtenney@crwcd.org), Paul Frohardt., Jill McConaughy, Lee Johnson, Mary Fabisiak, Steve Glazer, Eileen List, Sara Duncan, Christine Johnston, Jeani Frickey, Nat Miullo, Chuck Wanner, Barbara Biggs, Todd Harris, Paul W., Pat Nelson, Mark Pifher, Tad Foster, Nettie Rosenthal, Bob Fiehweg
Drinking Water Structure/Funding Issues (Dave Akers and Chet P.)
1. Paul Frohardt., Russs Clayschulte, Lee Johnson, Sara Duncan, Carl Houck, Eileen List (via e-mail), Chris Rudkin, Sue Ellen Harrison, Vic Lucero, Nettie Rosenthal, Mark Pifher, Cindy Brady, Barbara Biggs
Section 309 Study Advisory Group (Carl Norbeck)
2. First meeting July 24th, 2002 at 9:00 am
3. Paul Frohardt, Co-coordinator
4. Barbara Biggs, Co-coordinator
5. Cindy Brady, Bahman Hatami, Jill McConaughy, Russell Clayschulte, Sue Ellen Harrison, Tad Foster, Vic Lucero, Mark Pifher, Tony Trumbly, Nettie Rosenthal, Bob Feihweg, Lee Johnson, Mary Fabisiak, Jeani Frickey, Pat Nelson, Eileen List, Christine Johnston, Nat Miullo, Jerry Raisch, Sue Morea-CDM, Steve Glazer, Robert Sakata

2002-2003 Water Quality Forum Meeting
September 23rd, 2002- November 25th, 2002
January 27th, 2003
March 24th, 2003
May 19th, 2003
June 26th-27th, 2003- Leadville/Eagle County back up dates are June 30th July 1st 2003 (Dave Holm will contact Geoff Grubbs ASAP to set date)
Have industry tour?

Next Steps
Paul will post comments regarding EPA draft strategies on standards criteria under "new items" on WQCC web site for review for WQF (by July 1st), comments need to be back by July 3rd. Also, comment on bacteria/biological criteria will be on website
Get link to Water Quality Monitoring Council web site

BIN items
Do we want to look into how much fish consumption is there in Colorado relative to National Standards? (current assumption is that it is the same)
Salinity/AG lands/TMDL process-is there a role?
Selenium issues
Should we be moving 208 program to be more of a nonpoint source program?
Should we consider a new board or consolidated board for safe drinking water act? (beyond the board of health)