West Branch Susquehanna River Watershed Tmdl
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WEST BRANCH SUSQUEHANNA RIVER WATERSHED TMDL Clearfield, Indiana, Cambria, Centre, Clinton, Cameron, Elk, Potter, Tioga, Lycoming, Union, Northumberland, Montour, Sullivan, Bradford, Columbia, McKean, and Wyoming Counties Prepared for: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection July 2, 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 3 Location .................................................................................................................................... 3 Segments Addressed in this TMDL.......................................................................................... 4 Clean Water Act Requirements ................................................................................................ 4 Section 303(d) Listing Process ................................................................................................. 5 Basic Steps for Determining a TMDL...................................................................................... 5 Watershed Background............................................................................................................. 6 Permits in the West Branch Susquehanna Watershed .............................................................. 7 AMD METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................. 10 Water Quality Data ................................................................................................................. 11 TMDL Endpoints.................................................................................................................... 12 TMDL Elements (WLA, LA, MOS)....................................................................................... 13 Allocations Summary.............................................................................................................. 13 RECOMMENDATIONS.............................................................................................................. 20 Statewide Reclamation Efforts ............................................................................................... 20 Reclamation Efforts in the West Branch Susquehanna River Watershed .............................. 23 Public Participation................................................................................................................. 27 Future TMDL Modifications .................................................................................................. 27 Changes in TMDLs That May Require USEPA Approval..................................................... 28 Changes in TMDLs That May Not Require USEPA Approval.............................................. 28 References..................................................................................................................................... 29 FIGURES Figure 1. Aluminum Concentrations Pre- and Post-removal (from Spyker, 2009)..................26 TABLES Table 1. 303(d) Listed Segments .............................................................................................. 3 Table 2. Coal Mining Permits in the West Branch Susquehanna Watershed........................... 8 Table 3. Industrial Permits in the West Branch Susquehanna Watershed................................ 9 Table 4. Applicable Water Quality Criteria............................................................................ 12 Table 5. West Branch Susquehanna River Watershed Summary ........................................... 14 ATTACHMENTS Attachment A. West Branch Susquehanna River Watershed Maps............................................30 Attachment B. Excerpts Justifying Changes Between the 1996, 1998, and 2002 Section 303(d) Lists and Integrated Report/List (2004, 2006)....................................................43 Attachment C. Method for Addressing 303(d) Listings for pH ..................................................46 Attachment D. TMDLs by Segment............................................................................................49 Attachment E. Water Quality Data Used in TMDL Calculations.............................................143 Attachment F. Method for Calculating Loads from Mine Drainage Treatment Facilities from Surface Mines ...................................................................................................153 Attachment G. TMDLs and NPDES Permitting Coordination .................................................158 Attachment H. Allocation Summary Table for the Barnes and Tucker Treated Scenario........161 Attachment I. TMDL by Segments for the Barnes and Tucker Treated Scenario...................167 Attachment J. Comment and Response....................................................................................241 2 INTRODUCTION This report presents the Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) developed for segments in the West Branch Susquehanna River Watershed (Attachment A). These are done to address the impairments noted on the 1996 Pennsylvania Section 303(d) list of impaired waters, required under the Clean Water Act, and cover three segments on that list (Table 1). The West Branch Susquehanna River is listed as impaired for metals and pH. All impairments result from drainage of abandoned coal mines. The TMDL addresses the three primary metals associated with abandoned mine drainage (iron, aluminum, and manganese) and acidity. Table 1. 303(d) Listed Segments State Master Plan (SWP) Subbasins: 08A, 008B, 08C, 08D, 09A, 09B, 09C, 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D HUCs: 02050201, 02050202, 02050203, 02050204, 02050205, 02050206 Year Miles Use Assessment Segment PADEP Stream Designated Data Source EPA Designation ID ID Stream Name Use Source 305(b) Code Cause Code 1996 79.7 Aquatic * 7170 18668 West Branch WWF 305(b) AMD Metals Life Susquehanna River 1996 50.57 Aquatic * 7480 18668 West Branch WWF 305(b) AMD Metals Life Susquehanna 1996 3.0 Aquatic * 7190 18668 West Branch WWF 303(d) AMD Metals Life Susquehanna 1996 12.76 Aquatic * 7517 18668 West Branch WWF 303(d) AMD Metals Life Susquehanna 2002 8.37 Aquatic * 11104 18668 West Branch WWF 303(d) AMD Metals Life Susquehanna 2002 20.04 Aquatic * 11106 18668 West Branch WWF 303(d) AMD Metals, Life Susquehanna Thermal 2002 7.55 Aquatic * 11120 18668 West Branch WWF 303(d) AMD Metals Life Susquehanna 2004 12.54 Aquatic * 4352 18668 West Branch WWF 303(d) AMD Metals, Life Susquehanna Siltation 2006 1.80 Aquatic * 12857 18668 West Branch WWF 303(d) AMD Metals Life Susquehanna AMD = Abandoned Mine Drainage WWF = Warm Water Fishery See Attachment B, Excerpts Justifying Changes Between the 1996, 1998, and 2002 303(d) Lists and Integrated Report (2004, 2006). The use designations for the stream segments in this TMDL can found in PA Title 25 Chapter 93. Location The West Branch Susquehanna River mainstem is located on the U.S. Geological Survey 7.5 minute quadrangles of Carrolltown, Barnesboro, Burnside, Mahaffey, McGees Mills, Curwensville, Glen Richey, Clearfield, Lecontes Mills, Frenchville, Karthaus, Pottersdale, Snow Shoe NW, Keating, Renovo West, Farrandsville, Glen Union, Lock Haven, Jersey Shore, Linden, Williamsport, Montoursville South, Muncy, Allenwood, Milton, Lewisburg, and Northumberland, Pa. The major urban areas consist of Williamsport, Montoursville, Jersey Shore, Lock Haven, Renovo, Clearfield, and Lumber City. State Highways 879 and 120 travel parallel to the river through most of the watershed. State Highways 144, 970, 453, 36, U.S. 3 Routes 219, 322, and Interstate 80 are some of the major roads that bisect portions of the mainstem of the West Branch Susquehanna River. Numerous township roads provide access to the West Branch Susquehanna River and its tributaries. Segments Addressed in this TMDL The West Branch Susquehanna River is affected by pollution from AMD. This pollution has caused low pH, and in some cases, high levels of metals in the watershed. The TMDLs will be expressed as long-term average loadings. Due to the nature and complexity of mining effects on the watershed, expressing the TMDL as a long-term average gives a better representation of the data used for the calculations. Clean Water Act Requirements Section 303(d) of the 1972 Clean Water Act requires states, territories, and authorized tribes to establish water quality standards. The water quality standards identify the uses for each waterbody and the scientific criteria needed to support those uses. Uses can include designations for drinking water supply, contact recreation (swimming), and aquatic life support. Minimum goals set by the Clean Water Act require that all waters be “fishable” and “swimmable.” Additionally, the federal Clean Water Act and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA’s) implementing regulations (40 CFR 130) require: • States to develop lists (Section 303(d) lists) of impaired waters for which current pollution controls are not stringent enough to meet water quality standards (the list is used to determine which streams need TMDLs); • States to establish priority rankings for waters on the lists based on severity of pollution and the designated use of the waterbody; states must also identify those waters for which TMDLs will be developed and a schedule for development; • States to submit the list of waters to USEPA every two years (April 1 of the even numbered years); • States to develop TMDLs, specifying a pollutant budget that meets state water quality standards