Volume 5, Number 1 Winter 2007– 08 Interstate Water Report T H E N E W S L E tt E R O F NE I W P C C – T H E N E W E N G L A N D I N T ERS TAT E W AT E R P O L L U ti O N C O N T R O L C O M M I SS I ON TALE OF A TMDL INSIDE NEIWPCC and States File High-Profile Plan to Reduce In Pursuit of Mercury Control: Mercury in Our Waters A Power Plant’s Story ..........................3 Case for the Courts: The Battle by Susy King, NEIWPCC Over EPA’s Mercury Rule ......................8 A Promising New n October 24, after nearly two years of Stormwater Partnership ......................9 planning and preparation, NEIWPCC and Caught on Camera: NEIWPCC the Northeast states officially submitted O Marks a Milestone (or Two) ...............10 the Northeast Regional Mercury TMDL to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The TMDL, which Anglers Help Sustain a Species ..........14 stands for Total Maximum Daily Load, identifies spe- Frank Talk on Water Conservation .....16 cific steps to be taken to reduce mercury in the region’s waters. By statute, EPA has 30 days after the submittal NEIWPCC Drinking Water and Tanks of a TMDL to either approve or disapprove it. If EPA Programs in New Hands ....................19 rejects the plan, the agency has another 30 days to devel- op an alternative TMDL. As this issue of IWR went to press, EPA had yet to announce its decision on the mer- ing it to be a potent neurotoxin that poses a particular cury plan, but the delay was to be expected. In the past, risk to developing fetuses. Concern increased as aware- EPA has taken longer than 30 days to consider a TMDL, ness grew of how easily mercury enters the environment particularly when the issues are complex—which is cer- and our bodies. Mercury primarily originates from air tainly the case with this submission. pollution sources such as coal-fired power plants, munic- The TMDL is a new step in the fight against an ipal waste combustors, and sewage sludge incinerators. old problem—mercury pollution in Northeast water- Once in the air, it over time falls directly into surface ways. For years, mercury contamination has led states waters or onto land, where it can be carried by runoff to issue guidelines on just how much of various types Hochbrunn/NEIWPCC S. into waterways—a phenomenon known as atmospheric of fish can be safely eaten. Throughout those years the Aiming High Dramatically reducing the mercury emitted by deposition. Once in the water, bacteria convert the metal challenge has been how to solve the mercury problem so coal plants across the country is a key goal of the Northeast to methylmercury, a form that bioaccumulates in fish consumption advisories are no longer necessary. Regional Mercury TMDL implementation plan. and other aquatic organisms. When we eat the fish, we’re The Northeast states haven’t shied away from the exposed to the mercury inside. challenge. Rather, they’ve put tremendous effort into near and far. The way the TMDL came together is a clas- With this information in mind, and a sense of successfully reducing mercury within their borders. But sic case study in what can be achieved when the states the growing threat from mercury, the Conference of the other parts of the country have been slow to follow— and NEIWPCC work together in pursuit of a common New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers and that’s a problem when you consider how much of goal. (NEG-ECP) Committee on the Environment released a the mercury in the Northeast originates from sources regional Mercury Action Plan in 1998. The plan identi- outside the region. AN INSidiOUS FOE fied steps to address those aspects of the mercury prob- With the TMDL, the states are trying a powerful The Northeast states had long been aware of the prob- lem in the region that are within the region’s control or new tactic to reel in mercury emissions from sources lems caused by mercury, due to plentiful research show- continued on page 4 GROWING CONCERN Forum in Maine Reveals What We Know About PPCPs by Stephen Hochbrunn, NEIWPCC o to the new Pharmaceuticals and Personal industry experts, and others to disseminate Care Products section on EPA’s website, click and evaluate the latest scientific information G on “Frequent Questions,” and you find this: on PPCPs in the water environment. “The importance of individuals adding chemicals to the “This conference is providing an environment has been largely overlooked.” That appears opportunity for an interdisciplinary approach to have changed. Judging by the number of people at the to PPCPs,” said Nicholas Anastas of the 2007 Northeast Water Science Forum and their intense Massachusetts Department of Environmental interest in the discussions, the issue of PPCPs is not being Protection, and a member of the conference overlooked anymore. planning team. “It’s bringing together a wide Rapt Audience The seats are filled as the presentations begin at the 2007 “I want to be informed about PPCPs,” said Jeanne range of people to discuss an emerging issue Northeast Water Science Forum, which focused on pharmaceuticals and Christie, executive director of the Association of State that needs attention.” personal care products. Wetland Managers, and one of more than 150 confer- Anastas, who also spoke at the confer- ence-goers who filled an expansive room at the Holiday ence, was looking to broaden his already Inn By the Bay in Portland, Maine, for the forum on extensive knowledge of the topic. Others, such groundwater, and their effects on aquatic and human August 8 and 9. NEIWPCC took the lead role in develop- as Christie, were there to get a basic understanding. health; what we’ve discovered about how to treat and ing and coordinating the event, which carried the theme “I’m just trying to figure it all out,” she said. remove them from the waste stream; and what we “Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products: State of the Both came to the right place. Throughout the know about how to keep them out of wastewater in the Science.” It brought together scientists, regulators, water forum, the talk was about nothing but PPCPs—what first place through drug take-back programs and other and wastewater professionals, environmental advocates, we’ve learned about their presence in surface waters and continued on page 12 Page PB Page 1 IWR, Winter 2007-08 FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THE CLIMATE CHALLENGE t is impossible to go through any day, and certainly any week, and not Executive Director be exposed to discussions in every medium of communication on the Ronald Poltak Isubject of global climate change. Two themes permeate these discus- sions. First, global warming is unequivocal; second, global warming may Deputy Director present the greatest challenge the civilized world has ever faced. In order to Susan Sullivan meet the challenge, we must change our habits and we must develop new technologies to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Established by an Act of Congress in 1947, the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control The majority of the scientific community has concluded that global Commission is a not-for-profit interstate agency climate warming is contributing to a myriad of serious impacts, both that utilizes a variety of strategies to meet the water- direct and indirect, on our natural resources. These include, but are not related needs of its member states—Connecticut, limited to: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, • Increased earth surface temperatures. Rhode Island, and Vermont. NEIWPCC coordinates activities and forums that encourage cooperation • Increases in sea level. among the states, educates the public about key water issues, supports scientific research projects, trains • Decreases in sea and land ice. environmental professionals, and provides overall • Increases in extreme weather events. leadership in water management and protection. While NEIWPCC’s initial emphasis was on surface • Increases in flooding and drought. water protection, the Commission now also devotes • Population declines in native species; increases in invasive species. substantial attention and resources to such matters as wetlands restoration, nonpoint source pollution, In 2001 the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers endorsed and adopted a climate water allocation, and underground storage tanks. change action plan. It was both strong and bold in pledging a regional commitment to address the issue. The plan New England Interstate Water called for the implementation of programs to substantially reduce the levels of greenhouse gas emissions in the Pollution Control Commission region (mitigation), as well as a process to address the consequences of climate change (adaptation). While we in 116 John Street the region have been in many respects “out front” on this issue, and have as states committed significant resources Lowell, MA 01852-1124 to it over the past six years, much remains to be done. Tel: 978-323-7929 Most observers agree that damages will increase as warming continues. And many, if not most, of the Fax: 978-323-7919 change-related consequences are tied to water. For all of us who work for and care about our precious water [email protected] resources, the challenge ahead is daunting. Simply stated, we must make it a top priority to develop mitigated www.neiwpcc.org water resource management strategies with a strong adaptive emphasis. To not do so would be to ignore what is increasingly undeniable—climate change is real and unavoidable. Sincerely, Interstate Water Report Ronald Poltak NEIWPCC Executive Director Editor Stephen Hochbrunn, NEIWPCC Designer Ricki Pappo, Enosis – NEW RELATIONSHIP The Environmental Outreach Group NEIWPCC Joins Research Foundation Interstate Water Report (IWR) is published by by Marianna Vulli, NEIWPCC NEIWPCC.