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EPA reaffirms December 2010 deadline


June 21, 2010  by Manure Manager

NEWS HIGHLIGHT

EPA reaffirms December 2010 deadline
As part of the process for restoring
the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, the EPA has reaffirmed the federal-state
commitment to establish the Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) – or
pollution diet – by the end of this year.

June 21, 2010, Philadelphia, PA – As part of the process for restoring the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, the EPA has reaffirmed the federal-state commitment to establish the Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) – or pollution diet – by the end of this year.

The bay TMDL will set limits on nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment throughout the 64,000-square-mile watershed. Backed by a strong accountability framework, the Bay TMDL includes state action plans, a series of two-year commitments, close monitoring and, if necessary, federal accountability measures to spur progress.

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On June 11, EPA regional administrator Shawn M. Garvin reaffirmed to the six watershed states, the District of Columbia and others, the schedule ahead.

The EPA has adjusted the schedule based on conversations with the States and DC. The EPA is also providing additional financial and technical assistance, and offering detailed guidance to help jurisdictions develop strong implementation plans and accelerate on-the-ground action.

While in the process of refining the computer simulation models, the EPA has adjusted the process to allow the jurisdictions to meet the end-of-year deadline and have all control measures in place to restore the bay and its tidal waters by 2025, with 60 percent of the work completed by 2017.

By July 1, the EPA will allocate the pollution limits for nitrogen and phosphorus among the six watershed states and the District of Columbia, allowing for potential load changes from model updates. By August 15, the EPA will assign allocations for sediment.

The new schedule eliminates a previous requirement for jurisdictions to submit preliminary draft Watershed Implementation Plans by early June. The states and the district will now complete their draft Phase I Watershed Implementation Plans – outlining how they will meet the pollution limits – by September 1.

The EPA will issue a draft TMDL for a 45-day public comment period on September 24. The final Phase 1 implementation plans are due November 29, and the EPA will establish the bay TMDL by December 31.

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