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Standards and Hearings Update For Permits Webinar

October 16, 2020

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Cadmium Rulemaking Hearing

Regulation Nos. 31 -38

December 9, 2019

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Cadmium Rulemaking Hearing

Regulation Nos. 31 -38

  • First rulemaking for a 10-Year Water Quality Roadmap parameter - statewide approach
  • Outreach through the roadmap workgroup
  • Technical Advisory Committee worked through technical topics
  • Replaced Colorado’s existing criteria (adopted in 2005)

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Duration

Equation*

Standard (µg/L) at Hardness (mg/L)

25

400

Acute

cfa*e(0.9151[ln(hardness)]-3.1485)

0.82

9.15

Acute(trout)

cfa*e(0.9151[ln(hardness)]-3.6236)

0.51

5.69

Chronic

cfc*e(0.7998[ln(hardness)]-4.4451)

0.15

1.20

*Cfa = 1.136672-[(ln(hardness))*(0.041838)]

Cfc = 1.101672-[(ln(hardness))*(0.041838)]

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Adapting EPA’s Criteria to CO

  • EPA’s 2016 cadmium criteria are protective of freshwater aquatic life nationwide
  • On a statewide basis, it is possible to refine the standards to be protective of specific types of communities
    • E.g., with or without trout, warm or cold, etc.
    • Acute standard lowered to protect trout is more stringent than necessary to protect Colorado’s warm water aquatic life
    • EPA’s recommended chronic criterion is protective of all aquatic life, with no Colorado-specific adjustments needed

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Summary: Division Proposal

*at hardness >45 mg/L

Comparison of Colorado’s current standards and the division’s proposed standards, calculated at a range of hardness values.

Duration

Equation*

Standard (µg/L) at Hardness (mg/L)

25

100

200

400

Current Colorado Cadmium Standards

Acute

cfa*e(0.9151[ln(hardness)]-3.1485)

0.82

2.74

5.01

9.15

Acute(trout)

cfa*e(0.9151[ln(hardness)]-3.6236)

0.51

1.70

3.11

5.69

Chronic

cfc*e(0.7998[ln(hardness)]-4.4451)

0.15

0.42

0.72

1.20

Proposed Colorado Cadmium Standards

Acute(warm)

cfa*e(0.9789[ln(hardness)]-3.443)

0.75

2.74

5.23

9.98

Acute(cold)

cfa*e(0.9789[ln(hardness)]-3.866)

0.49

1.79

3.43

6.54

Chronic

cfc*e(0.7977[ln(hardness)]-3.909)

0.25

0.72

1.21

2.03

*Cfa = 1.136672-[(ln(hardness))*(0.041838)]

Cfc = 1.101672-[(ln(hardness))*(0.041838)]

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Summary: Division Proposal

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Summary: Division Proposal

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Thank you to the TAC members!

Jessica DiToro Leonard Rice Engineers, Inc.

Dan Guth GEI Consultants, Inc.

Mindi May Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Dave Moon U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Suzanne Pargee GEI Consultants, Inc.

Kyla Reiner Colorado Parks and Wildlife

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Triennial Review Rulemaking Hearing

Regulation No. 38

June 8-9, 2020

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Routine Review Cycle

Reg No. 31

34/35

32/36

38

33/37

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Triennial Review Elements

Review new information related to:

          • Use classifications
          • Standards to protect the uses
          • 304(a) or other criteria (Exhibit C)
          • Site-specific standards
          • Temporary modifications
          • Discharger specific variances (DSVs)
          • Antidegradation designations
          • Updates to Reg. 31 in 2016

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WQCD Proposal Summary

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Cells highlighted in orange indicate outstanding issues

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Administrative & Informational Hearing

Regulation Nos. 31 & 85

Policy 17-1

October 12, 2020

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WQCD Recommendations - Reg 85 and 31 (and 32-38)

  • Propose RMH for November 2022 to consider:
    • adoption of lakes nutrient criteria in Reg 31 and statewide adoption of standards for certain lakes/reservoirs, as well as chlorophyll a standards for all waters
    • changes to Reg 85 as it relates to source investigation
  • Do not propose changes to the voluntary NPS provisions in Reg 85 in 2022
  • Consider additional outreach and education mechanisms for nutrient reductions

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WQCD Recommendations - VIP

  • Extend the expiration date for Policy 17-1 to December 2022
  • Do not propose major changes to Reg. 85 and Policy 17-1 as it relates to the VIP in 2022
  • Minor clarifications will be identified and suggested for changes in November 2022
  • Discussions regarding minor changes and update on data analysis - May or Aug WQ Roadmap Meetings 2021

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Basic Standards

Regulation Nos. 31 -38

June 14, 2021

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Review and Reconsider Methodologies

  • Discharger Specific Variance provisions
    • Conform with 2015 EPA rule revisions
  • Dissolved oxygen
    • “Adequate refuge” concept related to temperature standards in lakes and reservoirs
  • Site-specific standards
    • Longevity planning
  • Temporary modifications
    • Predicted (vs demonstrated) compliance problems
    • Consideration of other tools for regulatory relief
    • More specific elements of plan to resolve uncertainty and reporting
    • Consideration of bi-annual review frequency

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Next Steps

  • Work through the issues with the Roadmap Work Group, TACs, and all interested stakeholders
  • At November 2020 Reg. No. 31 Issues Formulation Hearing, present complete list of issues to be addressed in June 2021

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Questions?