303(d) List and TMDLs Development

Under Section 303(d), states and authorized tribes must identify waters for which a water quality standard has not been met, even after required minimum levels of pollution control technology have been adopted. Such waters are considered "water quality-limited" or impaired waters. In addition, EPA guidance provides for listing threatened waters for which readily available data and information show that the water body is currently meeting standards, but that there is a trend toward impairment within the next listing cycle (2 years).

Consistent with the Clean Water Act's (CWA) overall objective to "restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the Nation's waters" (Section 101(a)), states and tribes are required under Section 303(d) to identify, prioritize, and establish TMDLs for such waters — impaired waters. EPA construes this requirement to apply to waters with water quality that is threatened with impairment as well.

Key Point. After a State/Tribe adopts its water quality standards, it should regularly monitor the condition of water bodies within its boundaries. Regular monitoring provides information to help states/tribes identify and prioritize impaired and threatened waters. 

For waters identified in their Section 303(d) lists, states and tribes must calculate the maximum amount of a pollutant allowed to enter an impaired water body, known as the loading capacity, so that the water body will meet and continue to meet the State/Tribe's water quality standards for that particular pollutant. These pollutant loadings are calculated in total maximum daily loads (TMDLs), and their development is essential to a State/Tribe's long-term planning for achieving the objectives established by their water quality standards.

Key Point. A TMDL is a "tool" for conducting a waterbody-specific analysis that uses current water quality conditions to guide pollution control actions focused on meeting water quality standards. The TMDL analysis characterizes the relationship between pollution sources and waterbody conditions to develop a pollutant load that — when allocated among the various pollutant sources — would allow the water body to meet water quality standards. 

Resource. For a range of information on TMDLs, including laws and regulations, technical resources, and guidance, visit EPA's website on Impaired Waters and TMDLs

303(d) List: Identifying Impaired/Threatened Waters

As a fundamental step for addressing impaired or threatened waters, Section 303(d) and EPA regulations require a State/Tribe to do the following:

• List the impaired/threatened waters within its boundaries that require development of TMDLs. Then for each water body, identify the pollutants causing or expected to cause the impairment, which will be the focus of the TMDLs.

In this first step, as established by the regulation, each State/Tribe must identify "water quality-limited segments still requiring TMDLs within its boundaries" for which (a) technology-based effluent limitations, (b) more stringent effluent limitations, and (c) other pollution-control requirements "are not stringent enough to implement any water quality standards (WQS) applicable to such waters." (40 CFR 130.7)

The assessment of impaired waters has traditionally been a process defined by the State/Tribe, and thus can vary in approach and complexity. Regardless, the process must consider "all existing and readily available water quality-related data and information" (e.g., information included in watershed plans and other types of water quality management plans) (40 CFR 130.7(b)(5)).

Key Point. The 303(d) list submission to EPA must include a description of the methodology that the State/Tribe used in developing the list, a description of the data and information considered, and a rationale for any data or information left out of its assessment (see 40 CFR 130.7(b)(6)).

Key Point. While approaches vary for identifying impaired/threatened waters and the pollutants at issue, States/Tribes typically use both existing information and new data collected from ongoing monitoring programs to assess whether water quality standards are being met and to detect water quality trends.

Resource. For more information on impaired waters lists, see the Overview of Impaired Waters and Total Maximum Daily Loads Program.

303(d) List: Prioritizing Impaired/Threatened Waters

After compiling the list of impaired/threatened water bodies, States/Tribes determine the priority ranking of waters for TMDL development. Under Section 303(d)(1) prioritizing the list must take into account the following for each water body (or segment):

• Severity of the pollution.
• Uses to be made of such waters.

States and tribes may consider other factors such as:

• Risk to human health and aquatic life.
• Degree of public interest and support.
• Recreational, economic, and aesthetic importance.
• Vulnerability or fragility as an aquatic habitat.
• Immediate programmatic needs (e.g., wasteload allocations needed for permits coming up for revision or for new or expanding discharges).
• Court orders and decisions relating to water quality.
• National policies and priorities.

Resource. For more on considerations involved in prioritizing, see EPA's Guidance for Water Quality-Based Decisions, Chapter 2

States/Tribes must develop a priority-ranked list of impaired or threatened waters. The regulation recognizes that not all water quality problems can be addressed at once. Nonetheless, the expectation is that over time a State/Tribe will develop and implement TMDLs for all impaired/threatened waters identified within its boundaries. Thus, each State/Tribe must establish multi-year schedules that address near-term development of TMDLs for high-priority waters as well as eventual TMDL development for other waters on the list.

Key Point. EPA recommends that rankings be either in the form of a scheduled TMDL completion date or a ranking such as high, medium, or low. With this type of approach, the most severe water quality problems or most toxic pollutants need not always be given the highest priority for TMDL development if circumstances warrant a lower priority (e.g., source identification analysis needs to be completed before TMDL is developed). 

Key Point. The regulations require the State/Tribe to determine schedules for the development of TMDLs (40 CFR 130.7(d)(1)). EPA recommends, however, that the TMDLs be developed as expeditiously as practicable.

Key Point. The TMDL development schedule must identify high-priority waters that will be "targeted for TMDL development in the next two years" (40 CFR 130.7(b)(4)). While there is no time frame established by statute or the regulations for completion of TMDL development, EPA guidance recommends an 8-to-13 year time frame that runs from the water's initial listing as impaired or threatened.

Key Point. EPA has 30 days to approve or disapprove the state/tribe's 303(d) list submission. If EPA disapproves the list, the Agency has 30 days to establish the state/tribe's list.

Water Quality Reporting Requirements under CWA

States/Tribes must submit the 303(d) list of impaired/threatened water bodies to EPA by April 1 of all even-numbered years. With each biennial submission, the State/Tribe should indicate which water bodies have been added or removed and which water bodies were assessed since the last submission.

In addition, Section 305(b) requires that every 2 years States/Tribes provide EPA with a description of the water quality of all waters within the State/Tribe's boundaries, including rivers/streams, lakes, estuaries/oceans, and wetlands. The submission must be made by April 1 of all even-numbered years, and EPA must transmit the reports — together with an analysis thereof — to Congress.

Further, Section 314 requires States/Tribes as part of their 305(b) report to submit information to EPA on the water quality status of all publicly owned lakes, including extent of point source and nonpoint source impacts due to toxics, conventional pollutants, and acidification.

The State/Tribe may also include a description of the nature and extent of ground-water pollution and recommendations of State/Tribal plans or programs needed to maintain or improve ground-water quality.

303(d) Submissions: Integrated Report Format

EPA recommends that States/Tribes submit their list of impaired or threatened water bodies in an "integrated report" that also includes their required submissions under Section 305(b) and Section 314. Using the Integrated Report format to submit this information every 2 years satisfies the requirements under all three sections of the Clean Water Act. The submission must be made by April 1 of all even-numbered years.

Key Point. The Integrated Report format provides the public and other interested stakeholders with a comprehensive summary of water quality status for all of a State/Tribe's waters. This integrated approach allows a water quality manager to demonstrate the State/Tribe's progress on identifying water quality problems, on developing and implementing restoration actions, and — ultimately — on achieving water quality standards in all of the State/Tribe's waters. 

Resource. For more on the Integrated Report format, see EPA's Guidance for 2006 Assessment, Listing, and Reporting Requirements Pursuant to Sections 303(d), 305(b), and 314 of the Clean Water Act

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Resource. See also EPA's Assessment Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Tracking and Implementation System (ATTAINS), an online database that provides information reported by the States to EPA about the conditions in their surface waters.

303(d) Submissions: Integrated Reporting Categories

With the Integrated Report option, EPA encourages States/Tribes to use a five-category system for classifying all water bodies (or segments) within its boundaries regarding the waters' status in meeting the State's/Tribe's water quality standards. The categories are listed below. The classification system uses designated uses as the basis for reporting on water quality.

The waters from Category 5 constitute the Section 303(d) list of impaired or threatened waters within the State/Tribe's boundaries.

Key Point. EPA developed the multi-category classification system to help States/Tribes to report on incremental progress toward attaining water quality standards.

Key Point. States/Tribes may establish additional subcategories to refine their classifications further. For example, under Category 3, subcategories could be used to distinguish between segments for which no data/information is available and segments for which data/information is available but insufficient for making a use-support determination. At the Federal level, EPA has offered Subcategory 5m as a voluntary approach for listing waters impaired by mercury mainly from atmospheric sources. 

For national summary information about impaired waters based on biennial reporting, visit EPA's website titled National Summary on Impaired Waters and TMDL Information.

TMDL Development: Introduction

A TMDL is a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a water body (or segment) can receive and still meet the state/tribe’s water quality standards—and an allocation of that amount to the pollutant’s sources. In this way, the TMDL provides the basis for establishing water quality-based controls that should provide the pollution reduction necessary for a water body to meet the standards.

A TMDL is the sum of the allocations to sources that cause or threaten a water body with impairment, and includes a margin of safety to account for uncertainty in the response of the water body to loading reductions. Pollutant sources include both:

• Point source (PS). Pollutant loads discharged at a specific location from pipes, outfalls, and conveyance channels from either municipal wastewater treatment plants or industrial waste treatment facilities. Point sources can also include pollutant loads contributed by tributaries to the main receiving water stream or river.

• Nonpoint source (NPS). Pollution that is not released through pipes but rather originates from multiple sources over a relatively large area. Nonpoint sources can be divided into source activities related either to land or water use, including failing septic tanks, improper animal-keeping practices, forestry practices, and urban and rural runoff.

TMDL Development: The Basic Calculation

A TMDL is a calculation defined by this basic formula:

TMDL = ΣWLA _i + ΣLA_i + MOS

That is, a TMDL is the sum of the following.

• Waste load allocation (WLA).  Total amount of pollutant from existing point sources (e.g., sewage treatment plant, industrial facility, stormwater).

• Load allocation (LA). Total amount of pollutant from existing nonpoint sources and natural background (e.g., farm runoff, atmospheric mercury).

• Margin of safety (MOS). This is used to take into account lack of knowledge concerning the relationship between effluent limitations and water quality. It can be expressed as an explicit factor (e.g., percent of total, such as 10%) or an implicit factor (e.g., conservative assumption in modeling).

Summary of TMDL Development Activities

Resource. For more information on TMDL development activities, see the Overview of Impaired Waters and Total Maximum Daily Loads Program. 

TMDL Development: Documentation and Review

The TMDL document must include components required by statute or regulation. EPA guidance recommends additional components.

Resource. See also EPA's guidelines for reviewing TMDLs

Key Point. Under the CWA, States/Tribes are primarily responsible for developing TMDLs. EPA is required to review and approve or disapprove TMDLs developed and submitted by States/Tribes within 30 days. If EPA disapproves a State/Tribe's TMDL, EPA must establish such TMDL within 30 days.

TMDL Implementation: Pollutant Source Control Mechanisms

TMDLs are not self-implementing under Section 303(d); however, existing implementation mechanisms vary depending on the source of the pollutant(s):

• Point sources. Allocations to point sources get implemented through permits that are consistent with the WLA in the TMDL. These permits are enforceable under the Clean Water Act through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Permits are issued by EPA or States/Tribes with delegated authority.

• Nonpoint sources. There is no federal enforcement program for control of nonpoint source pollution. Nonpoint source controls are primarily implemented through State/Tribal and local nonpoint source management programs. Some of these State/Tribal or local programs have regulatory enforcement authority.

Key Point. Although states are not required under Section 303(d) to develop TMDL implementation plans, many states include them with the TMDL or develop them as a separate document and EPA does not approve or disapprove them. Evaluations of TMDLs with implementation plans have shown greater success in achieving water quality objectives. TMDL implementation plans provide additional information on how point and nonpoint sources are being controlled-or should be controlled in the future-to meet the relevant water quality standards. 

Resource. For information about point source pollution and the NPDES permits program, visit EPA's NPDES webpage. See also the NPDES module in this online training.

Resource. For information about nonpoint source pollution, visit EPA's Polluted Runoff (Nonpoint Source Pollution) webpage.

303(d) List and TMDLs: Public Participation

Public participation is required as part of the development of 303(d) lists and TMDLs. For instance, landowners, watershed organizations, government agencies, and other stakeholders often assist with the process.

Participation may include the following:

More generally, the public is encouraged to become involved in the TMDL process by joining (or starting) a watershed, lake, or river association. Such groups can provide opportunities to monitor water quality, identify pollution sources, and identify possible control actions.

Resource. For more information, see EPA’s webpage on Volunteer Monitoring

Resource. For guidance on third-party TMDL development, see the Water Environment Federation’s Third-Party TMDL Development Tool Kit. Exit

Summary

• States and Tribes are required under CWA Section 303(d) to identify, prioritize, and establish TMDLs for impaired waters as well as those with water quality that is threatened with impairment. States/Tribes must submit the 303(d) list of impaired/threatened water bodies to EPA every 2 years.

• In addition, Section 305(b) requires that States/Tribes submit a description of the water quality of all waters in the State/Tribe's boundaries. Further, Section 314 requires States/Tribes as part of their 305(b) report to submit information to EPA on the water quality status of all publicly owned lakes.

• EPA encourages States/Tribes to submit their list of impaired or threatened water bodies in an "integrated report" that also includes their required submissions under Section 305(b) and Section 314. Using the Integrated Report option to submit this information satisfies the requirements under all three sections of the CWA.

• States and Tribes must develop TMDLs for each water body/pollutant combination identified on the 303(d) list. The allocations to point and nonpoint sources in the TMDL provide the basis for establishing water quality-based controls that—when implemented — should result in attainment of standards.

• The TMDL document must include components required by statute or regulation. EPA guidance recommends additional components.

• TMDLs are not self-implementing. Rather, existing implementation mechanisms vary depending on the source: Point source controls are enforceable under the NPDES permit program. Nonpoint source controls are primarily implemented through State/Tribal and local nonpoint source management programs.

Quiz

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