Date: 03/10/2010
Final
Water Quality Control Division
COMMITTEE ON JOINT AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
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07:38 AM -- Water Quality Control Division
Patty Wells, Chair of the Water Quality Control Commission, introduced members of the commission and staff. Ms. Wells distributed Attachment A and explained the mission of the division and explained the history of the Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund. The fund is used to provide loans to municipal governments for wastewater treatment and transmission infrastructure projects. Currently, loans to municipal or quasi-municipal entities totaling over $200 million from the fund are in place. She discussed the need for funding for nonpoint source and stormwater pollution control projects. Ms. Wells answered questions from the committee and discussed the possibility for nonpoint source pollution control projects relating to agriculture.
07:51 AM
Steve Gunderson, Director of the Water Quality Control Division, discussed who pays for the cleanup of superfund sites.
07:53 AM
Peter Butler, Vice-chair of the Water Quality Control Commission, explained Colorado's 303(d) List. Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act requires that every two years, states develop and submit to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) a list of surface waters that are not meeting one or more water quality standards established by the Water Quality Control Commission. He explained that they also put together a monitoring and evaluation list for waters that are monitored to determine whether they should be added to the list. After the EPA approves the state's 303(d) List, each state must prioritized the waters on this list and develop a "total maximum daily loan" (TMDL) calculation for each pollutant. The 303(d) lists and TMDLs are explained further in Attachment B. Mr. Butler answered questions from the committee about TMDLs relating to mining areas, and whether waters could be listed for low flows.
08:06 AM
Mr. Gunderson discussed selenium impaired waters in the state, especially those in the Uncompaghre Valley.
08:08 AM
Mr. Butler discussed federal Good Samaritan legislation regarding cleanup of mining sites that is sponsored by U.S. Senator Mark Udall. Mr. Butler also described some mining cleanup projects that the Animas River Stakeholder Group has been involved in. The committee discussed writing a letter of support for the federal Good Samaritan legislation.
08:12 AM
Mr. Gunderson responded to a question from the committee about how organic matter from beetle killed trees may affect water quality.
08:15 AM
Gary Teague, Water Quality Control Commission, discussed the development of nutrient criteria. He explained that nutrients found in surface waters act as pollutants by contributing to undesirable algae growth, which can be harmful to recreational, aquatic live, and water supply use. Attachment C describes the development of nutrient criteria further. He answered questions from the committee regarding different criteria.
08:34 AM
The committee discussed the process of developing nutrient criteria and the treatment of impaired waters.
08:38 AM
The committee adjourned.