EPA Holding TMDL "Listening Sessions"

On October 23-24, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency held the first of five "listening sessions" on its Total Maximum Daily Load regulatory program, concerned with regulating non-point-source discharges affecting the nation's waterways. According to EPA, "the purpose of the meetings is to get stakeholder perspectives on key issues associated with the TMDL program and related issues . . . and to identify/discuss ideas about how to address issues in the TMDL and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System programs." The first four meetings address specific themes; the final meeting, in Washington, DC, is "all issues."

The inclusion of forest operations under the TMDL program was temporarily averted during the highly controversial process that concluded in late 2000. As a result of subsequent litigation, EPA's date for promulgating a "final" TMDL rule, presumably a more comprehensive one, has been delayed to April 30, 2003. EPA's "listening sessions" are part of this promulgation process.

A timetable for the "listening sessions" follows:

• Oct. 22-23 (Chicago, IL) Theme: "Implementation of TMDLs Addressing Nonpoint Sources"

• Nov. 1-2 (Sacramento, CA) Theme: "Scope and Content of TMDLs"

• Nov. 7-8 (Atlanta, GA) Theme: "EPA's Role, the Pace/Schedule for Development of TMDLs, and NPDES Permitting Pre and Post TMDL"

• Nov. 15-16 (Oklahoma City, OK) Theme: "Listing Impairs Waters"

• Dec. 11 (Washington, DC) Theme: "All Issues"

More detailed agendas for each meeting, as well as instructions for registering to participate, are available at www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/meetings/ or by contacting Anne Weinberg, Mail Code 4503F, US EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460; 202/401-4078; weinberg.anne@epa.gov.

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