LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY | Secretary Aurelia S. Giacometto
A DEPARTMENT OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
TCEQ has been developing Numerical nutrient criteria in coordination with an advisory workgroup and other public participation. EPA has mandated that states incorporate numerical nutrient criteria in their water quality standards. In June 2010, TCEQ adopted new numerical nutrient criteria for 75 reservoirs based on chlorophyll a concentrations and these new criteria were submitted to EPA for review. Also in June 2010, TCEQ completed new procedures to evaluate and control potential nutrient impacts from proposed wastewater discharge permits. TCEQ is now conducting additional studies and evaluations to develop potential numerical nutrient criteria for selected streams, rivers, and estuaries in Texas. Numerical criteria for these other types of water bodies will also be developed and considered with extensive public participation. On November 27, 2006, the TCEQ sent a revised and expanded version of the "Nutrient Criteria Development Work Plan for the State of Texas," dated November 3, 2006, to EPA. The plan is currently being updated to reflect progress towards nutrient criteria development. Information on the plan revisions and versions are available on the Nutrient Criteria Development Advisory Work Group webpage. Once completed, the plan will be submitted to the EPA by the TCEQ. The current draft of the Plan reflects comments received during the public comment period that ended June 22, 2012. On June 30, 2010, the Commission adopted numerical nutrient criteria for 75 reservoirs. The water bodies are listed in §307.10 (Appendix F) of the 2010 Standards. In addition, the Commission approved screening procedures for nutrients in the revised Procedures to Implement the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards.
Established in 1973; United States’ chief statute to conserve endangered or threatened species and their ecosystems; When a species is designated as threatened with extinction, a recovery plan is developed to protect it from further population declines; The plan could include restrictions on cropping practices, water use, and pesticide use.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency publish the “Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Manual”. This document can be used to provides up-to-date information on onsite wastewater treatment system (OWTS) siting, design, installation, maintenance, and replacement. It reflects significant advances that the expert community has identified to help OWTSs become more cost-effective and environmentally protective, particularly in small suburban and rural areas. In addition to providing a wealth of technical information on a variety of traditional and new system designs, the manual promotes a performance-based approach to selecting and designing OWTSs. This approach will enable States and local communities to design onsite wastewater
CO-OPS provides the national infrastructure, science, and technical expertise to monitor, assess, and distribute tide, current, water level, and other coastal oceanographic products and services that support NOAA's mission of environmental stewardship and environmental assessment and prediction. CO-OPS provides operationally sound observations and monitoring capabilities coupled with operational Nowcast Forecast modeling.
Strategies for addressing nutrient pollution and hypoxia include tiered collaboration starting on the field with landowner through cooperation with federal agencies. Hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico is a serious national water quality issue. Successful frameworks for addressing hypoxia must include tiered collaboration starting on the field with the stakeholder (landowner)and travelling all the way through to Federal cooperation. Frameworks must cross state boundaries and work toward a common goal. Strategic implementation plans for states draining into the Gulf of Mexico should be compatible, comparable, and consistent if successful nutrient reduction is to occur.
Statistical analysis tool used evaluate pollutants and determine TMDLs. Primarily used for conservative parameters.
Initiated under the Clean Water Act of 1972 requires that individual states are responsible for cleaning up polluted waterways and are required to meet state water quality standards; Each state can take action to eventually decrease hypoxic zones in the nation, such as compliance with the Clean Water Act’s Total Maximum Daily Load program; Major focus on agricultural runoff