GWPC National Ground Water Strategy Committee

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GWPC National Ground Water Strategy Committee
Kevin FrederickWyoming DEQGWPC Board
MemberCo-Chair of the Region 8 Workgroup and the
NGWSC
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Region 8 Ground Water Protection Strategy Work
Group

• The Need for Renewed Emphasis on State, Tribal,
  and Federal Ground Water Protection Programs

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Background State, Federal and Tribal
Ground-Water Protection Programs 1980s

• Collaborative Relationship - EPA HQ and Regional
  Office Ground-water Protection Branch
• Advocate for ground-water protection and
  management in EPA Regional and HQ Offices
• State/EPA Work plans
• Coordinated activities between state and federal
  programs
• Regularly scheduled coordination meetings
• Provided Technical and Financial Support
• 15 of CWA Section 106 funding to states had been
  dedicated to support state ground-water
  protection programs
• 10 of CWA Section 319 grant funds dedicated to
  ground-water projects

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State Program Maintenance Support 1980s and
90s

• Development of state ground-water quality
  standards, ground-water classification systems,
  and related ground-water protection regulations
• Ambient Ground-water Monitoring Programs (CWA)
• Ground-water discharge permits
• CAFOs
• POTWs, Septics
• LUST Programs
• Non-point source project grants
• Coordination with federal and state agencies on
  ground-water quality issues and plans

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1980s and 90s Cooperative Initiatives

• Wellhead Protection Programs (SDWA)
• State Mgmt. Plan for Pesticides in Ground-water
  (FIFRA)
• Aquifer Characterization (CWA)
• Ground-water Sensitivity and Vulnerability
  Mapping
• Ground-water Monitoring Programs
• Comprehensive Ground-water Protection Plans
  (EPAs Ground-water Protection Strategy for the
  90s)
• Source Water Assessment Programs (SDWA)

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Devolvement of State, Federal, and Tribal GW
Protection Programs 1990s

• Shifting of human and financial resources to
  surface water programs and drinking water
  protection programs
• Surface water monitoring
• TMDLs
• Source Water Assessments
• 1996 EPA re-organization dissolved the
  Ground-Water Branch (OGWDW)
• Staff re-assignments

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2000 Today The Silence Was Deafening

• EPA 2003 Strategy
• GWPC Comments
• ASIWPCA Comments
• EPA State Water Quality Monitoring Strategy
• 2003 Guidance
• Discontinued development and publication of the
  Ground Water Report to Congress GWPC began
  filling that gap

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Region 8 Ground-Water Protection Strategy Work
Group

• Region 8 States
• Colorado
• Montana
• North Dakota
• South Dakota
• Utah
• Wyoming
• Region 8 Tribes

• Federal Agencies
• EPA Region 8
• OGWDW
• Superfund
• Tribal Assistance Program
• GW/SW
• USGS
• USFS
• GWPC
• NGWA

Kevin Frederick and Mike Wireman, Co-Chairs
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State, Federal and Tribal Concerns

• Erosion of financial capacity and technical
  expertise
• Reduced coordination among agencies and programs,
  both state and federal
• Dispersion of regulatory and non-regulatory
  responsibilities in a piecemeal fashion across
  federal, state and local agencies
• Reductions in ground-water staff.

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7 Common Themes States and Tribes

• Ground-water protection and management programs
  are fragmented
• There is a need for national-level leadership for
  state ground-water protection programs
• Additional resources are necessary for effective
  ground-water protection
• We do not communicate the importance of ground
  water very well, or to the right people
• The lack of monitoring data is an obstacle to
  resource management and planning
• We must stress the importance of science in
  effective ground-water management
• Drought effects are measurable and significant

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How Our Regional Issues Compared Nationally

• State and federal ground-water protection and
  management programs are fragmented
• Dedicated and reliable federal funding sources
  (SDWA Section 1429) are necessary for effective
  ground-water protection
• States inabilities to fund ground- water
  monitoring programs is an obstacle to resource
  management and planning

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Work Group Conclusion

• EPAs most recent strategy for State/Tribal/Federa
  l ground-water protection efforts and programs
  should continue to serve as the model
• Goals
• Principles

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Work Group Developments2004 - 2006

• Informal Steering Committee
• EPA
• States
• NGWA
• GWPC
• Regularly scheduled conference calls
• Planning and development
• Annual Meetings (3)

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Work Group Developments2004 - 2006

• White Paper
• Executive Summaries
• Statement of Objectives

•  
• White Paper
• SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF GROUND-WATER RESOURCES
• RENEWED EMPHASIS ON STATE, TRIBAL, AND FEDERAL
  GROUND-WATER PROTECTION PROGRAMS
•   
• Prepared by
•  
• Ground-Water Protection Strategy Work Group
• USEPA Region 8, Region 8 States and Tribes, USGS,
  USDA
•  
•  
• December, 2005
•  

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Work Group Priorities

• Develop Communication Strategy
• Collaborative relationships
• Determine current status of State/Tribal
  ground-water protection programs
• GWPC - NGWA Survey
• Increase coordination with State/Tribal/Federal
  Watershed Management Programs
• GW/SW Interaction
• TMDLs

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Simultaneous Efforts at GWPC Development of the
Ground Water Report to the Nation A Call to
Action

• 2003 Board decided on Report topics
• GWPC Ongoing Efforts to Survey and Characterize
  State Ground Water Programs
• State members grappling with same issues as the
  Region 8 Work Group
• GWPC Participating on the Region 8 Workgroup

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GWPC Ground Water Report to the Nation A Call
to Action

• To improve protection and conservation of
  ground water by heightening the awareness of
  ground water as a resource and critical component
  of the ecosystem, human health and economic
  vitality.

• Not just a report!
• Tool for action
• Status of ground water quality and quantity in
  the U.S.
• Identify current problems with ground water
  protection
• Make specific recommendations for improvement

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Report Sections

• A Call to Action - Overarching
• Ground Water Use Availability
• Ground Water Resource Characterization and
  Monitoring
• Source Water Protection
• Land Use Planning and Development
• Stormwater Management
• Underground Storage Tanks
• On-site Wastewater Treatment Systems
• Underground Injection Control
• Abandoned Mines

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Overarching ChapterRecommended Actions

• To Congress
• Take legislative action, including
• Appropriating the funding necessary to ensure the
  development and implementation of a national
  ground water protection strategy.
• Clearly defining ground waters coverage under
  the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act
  1429.
• Requiring explicit coordination between Clean
  Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act programs.
• Directing that USEPA support state efforts to
  protect and manage ground water.

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Overarching ChapterRecommended Actions

• To USEPA
• Include more attention to ground water in the
  national water strategy, giving it scientifically
  appropriate weight with surface water with
  respect to programmatic emphasis, funding,
  research support, and public visibility.
• Utilize existing federal laws as the statutory
  basis and funding authority for protecting and
  conserving ground water as a component of
  watersheds and ecosystems, including the
  reestablishment of an active ground water
  protection program.

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Overarching ChapterRecommended Actions

• To Governors and State Legislatures
• Support and authorize statewide ground water
  protection and conservation laws, regulations,
  and regulatory agencies and programs that
  recognize ground water as a critical component of
  state economies, watersheds, and public health
  protection.

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Taking It National with GWPC

• Discuss efforts and products of the Region 8 task
  force with other States and Regions
• Utilize existing GWPC network and contacts garner
  information and seek input from all States
• Provide a venue for EPA Regions, as well as EPA
  HQ, to participate
• Combine efforts to advocate for implementation of
  the GW Reports Recommended Actions