4/15/09 DISCUSSION DRAFT
Organization of Toxics Stakeholder Group
Description: A diverse group of stakeholders who will be most affected by policies and regulations related to reducing toxics in Oregon’s environment and most able to assist with those reductions.
Charge: 1. Review data, information, and draft products compiled and produced by DEQ.
2. Serve as a sounding board, provide input to pollutant priorities, sources & inventory analysis
3. Consider and recommend programs & actions to close gaps identified in DEQ’s Gap Analysis.
Core Membership: Tribes, ACWA, AOC, LOC, Special Districts, Environmental Groups, Industry Groups, Forestry and Agricultural groups, Fishing groups
• 1 person/organization for Core Group as active participants
• Open meeting/audience format for other than core group members
Resource Advisors: DEQ (water, air and land programs), DHS, ODF, ODA, and other agencies as needed.
Pollutant Category Subgroup
(e.g., Personal Care Products Subgroup)
Pollutant Category Subgroup
(e.g., Pesticides Subgroup)
Pollutant Category Subgroup
(e.g., Legacy Contaminant Subgroup)
Toxics Stakeholder Group
WQS/NPDES Rulemaking Workgroup
Pollutant Category Subgroup:
Includes diverse, cross-media representation from Toxics Stakeholder Group, as appropriate. Core members or DEQ may identify others within their agency/ organization that would be best to participate and provide research & technical input.
Charge: Provide input for each step of the development of the Toxic Reduction Strategy based on pollutant category and report findings to the Toxics Stakeholder Group at the conclusion of each step.
Will focus on:
EQC Directives 3 & 4
WQS/NPDES Rulemaking Workgroup:
Includes members of the Toxics Stakeholder Group interested in the numeric human health criteria and the application of the criteria to point source discharges through NPDES permitting.
Charge: Provide input on revised human health criteria for existing pollutants in WQS, and explore options for environmentally meaningful and cost-effective application of the criteria to NPDES dischargers, including source reduction programs, regulatory framework for facilitating/allowing offsets or trading with nonpoint sources, and others.
Will focus on:
EQC Directives 1, 2 & 4 (and some 3)
DEQ’s Toxics Reduction Strategy Steps
Outline of DEQ’s Toxics Reduction Strategy Work with Stakeholders
Work of WQS/ NPDES Workgroup
Work of Stakeholders
1. Identify Pollutant List Target Date: May 30, 2009
• DEQ cross-media effort to develop initial list of Agency priority pollutants
• DEQ will consider existing Agency “Priority” lists
Pollutant Subgroups
• Identifying where pollutants originate
• Identifying how pollutants travel to/from locations in environment
• People who have technical expertise
WQS/NPDES Proposed Rule
Target Draft: November 2009
• Provide input on rule to revise human health criteria;
• Identify opportunities for NPDES permittees to reduce toxics at source or offset by reducing nonpoint sources;
• Identify rules needed to allow these implementation strategies as alternative to WW treatment;
Toxics Stakeholder Group (TSG)
• Comment on initial Agency list of priority pollutants
• Refine membership of TSG once know list of pollutants
2. Source Identification Target Date: July 30, 2009
• DEQ will compile known information about sources of pollutants
• DEQ provide overview of pathways of contamination, exposure
Pollutant Category Subgroups
• People who have technical expertise in category
• Identify where pollutants originate
• Identify how pollutants travel to/from locations in environment
WQS/NPDES Members
Participate in pollutant category subgroups, as desired
3. Inventory of Current Strategies Target Date: Oct 30, 2009
• DEQ will develop initial state-wide inventory of toxics reduction programs and activities
• Initial evaluation of current regulatory, voluntary and incentive-based program for their effectiveness and for gaps
Pollutant Category Subgroups
• People with knowledge of regulations and policies
• Programmatic review based on pollutant categories
• Contribute to evaluation of effectiveness of current programs and gaps
Toxics Reduction Strategy Steps
4. Identify New Toxics Reduction Opportunities
Target Date: November 30, 2009
• DEQ will propose new toxics reduction opportunities to address gaps
• DEQ will evaluate its existing authorities to address identified gaps, and whether any new authorities are needed
Toxics Reduction Strategy Steps
Steps
Toxics Reduction Strategy Steps
Review need to revise WQS/ NPDES rules where needed (may or may not be current Rulemaking Workgroup)
6. Refine Strategy, Implement Recommendations
Refine Strategy: 2010
• DEQ will work with other entities as appropriate
• Additional workgroups may be formed with interested stakeholders to develop and put in place recommended rules and programs
Pollutant Category Subgroups
• Rank recommendations into High/Medium/Low
• Provide feedback to TSG for overlap and overall priority
Pollutant Category Subgroups
• Identify new toxics reduction opportunities to address identified gaps
• Build on and provide feedback on new toxics reduction opportunities to address gaps
• Determine whether there are existing legal authorities to implement new reduction opportunities
5. Develop Draft Recommendations
Draft Strategy: December 31, 2009
• DEQ will draft implementation recommendations for integrated toxics reduction activities
• DEQ will propose methods for measuring implementation effectiveness
• DEQ will provide estimated costs and possible funding mechanisms
• Recommendations could include multi-media rules to authorize/facilitate activity or to address a focused need