SRRTTF Data Management Pilot Project: Request for Proposal

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The Administrative Contracting Entity for the Task Force (ACE) has sent out a Request for Proposal for Pilot Project developed by the SRRTTF Data Management Work Group and approved by the Task Force.
Technical questions on the package should be directed to Mike Hermanson at (509)477-7578 or by email at MHermanson@spokanecounty.org.
Proposals are to be submitted to Chris Page (c.page@wsu.edu) by C.O.B on November 11, 2016. (the date for submittals has been extended to 11/11/16, was originally 11/4/16).

srrttf-data-pilot-project_rfp-oct-2016

Task Force Data:
–  2014 Spokane River Study
–  2015 Spokane River Study
–  2016 Spokane River Monthly Sampling

DRBC Database Files:
–  data_management_in_support_of_tmdl_efforts_padep-final
–  drbc-data-checker-version-3-final
–  ecoc-boeing-dry-2015-pmp_12aug15
–  ecoc-boeing-wet-2015-pmp_20aug15
–  ecoc-boeing-wet-2015-pmp_20nov2015
–  h5g24422
–  h5h23408
–  h5k24409
–  location
–  updating-steps
–  updatingfigures

Ecology News: CSPA Reporting Rule Update

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Interested Stakeholders,

Comment Letters Available

Ecology posted stakeholder comment letters on the public involvement page of the CSPA Rule website.  We are currently evaluating requests from stakeholders to add or delist CHCC chemicals. Our evaluation process is explained in a document posted above the comment letters.

We have completed our initial evaluation of stakeholder requests to add or delist CHCCs in the CSPA Reporting rule. Our initial evaluation is based on whether the comment included evidence, such as full scientific references and web links, that a chemical does or does not meet the same basic criteria used to create the list in the 2011 rule. We will further evaluate chemicals if that evidence is forthcoming.  We will continue this evaluation and provide more detail at the October 25thworkshop.

Upcoming Stakeholder Workshop

You can find details for the October 25th stakeholder workshop on the public involvement page of the CSPA Rule website. The meeting agenda, webinar information, presentation materials, and handouts will be added as links to this page before the meeting (with a listserv notice). Two documents are provided at this time for interested stakeholder review:

As we continue to plan for the October 25th meeting, it would be helpful to have an idea of the number of people attending in person.  This will help us with room selection and visitor parking limitations. Please send me an RSVP for those planning to attend the meeting here in Lacey WA. We will send out webinar information (via this listserv) before October 25th.

30-day Public Comment Period ends November 5th

Ecology will accept comments on the preliminary draft rule language and potential CHCC list changes until November 5, 2016.

We plan to share a second draft of the rule language and CHCC list changes in December (with another opportunity to comment).  We plan to hold a webinar in early January to go over the second draft of the rule and CHCC list.

Please call or email if you have questions.

Kind regards,

Kara J. Steward

Hazardous Waste & Toxics Reduction Program

360-407-6250 direct | kara.steward@ecy.wa.gov.

Ecology News: Wenatchee River PCB and DDT Source Assessment

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The Wenatchee River has had some of the highest concentrations of PCBs in fish tissue measured in Washington State. This report details the findings of a study which assessed concentrations of PCBs and DDT in water, biota, and sediment throughout the Wenatchee River basin during 2014-2015. The study identified two chemically-distinct sources of PCBs to the Wenatchee River, one located near the City of Cashmere and the second near the City of Wenatchee. The main known sources of DDT to the Wenatchee River are within the Mission and Chumstick Creek sub-basins. Follow-up actions include: further source tracing for PCBs and DDT to refine locations and additional research on the bioaccumulation of toxics in the Wenatchee River.

The significant finding in this study was that PCBs in biofilms were significantly correlated with dissolved PCB concentrations in the river.  See Pages 35-39.

There will also be a second report for Phase 2 of the source assessment.

Weblinks:

Report
https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/SummaryPages/1603029.html 

QAPP
https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/SummaryPages/1403117.html

Addendum #1
https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/SummaryPages/1503107.html

Addendum #2
https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/SummaryPages/1603116.html

 

October 12, 2016 Technical Track Work Group Meeting

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The next meeting of the SRRTTF Technical Track Work group is:

Date: Wednesday October 12, 2016
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Location: Washington Department of Ecology
N. 4601 Monroe St.
Spokane, WA 99205
Click here for a map.

Call In Number: 800-704-9804 Participant Code: 34863442#

Meeting Documents:
–  SRRTTF TTWG 10.12.16 Meeting Summary – DRAFT

–  tech-track-wg-agn-10-12-16-revised3
–  srrttf-comprehensive-plan-year-one-worksheet
–  PCBs-and-CSPA_Kara Steward
– Ecology News: CSPA Rule 
– Ecology News: Wenatchee River PCB and DDT Source Assessment

October 12, 2016 Education and Outreach Work Group Meeting

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The next meeting of the Spokane River Regional Toxics Task Force Education and Outreach Work Group is:

Date: Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Time: 1:30 p.m – 3:30 p.m. 
Location: RiverKeeper
35 West Main, Suite 300 Spokane WA

Click Here for a map.
To connect by phone:
Dial: 509-335-2277
Conf. ID: 9330138
Meeting documents:

Some important dates/deadlines to put on your calendars!

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Comprehensive Plan:

  • First round of comments on the First Full Draft are due by 5 pm PST on October 7th.
  • Dave Dilks will provide a summary of comments by October 24th. A Revised Full Draft will be posted by October 26th (The next full Task Force meeting).
  • Next round of comments due by 5 pm PST on November 2nd –- These comments/revisions should focus on the changes included in the October 26th
  • Final Draft out on November 9th — Final Full Draft to be completed by the November 16th, Full Task Force meeting.
  • If Final draft is not approved in November then final approval will be on the agenda for the December 14th, Full Task Force meeting.

10/5 TSCA work group 10 am -12 pm (WA Dept. of Ecology)

  • Review of TSCA past efforts and future actions.

10/5 Data Management Work Group 1 pm – 3 pm (WA Dept. of Ecology)

  • Topics for discussion:
  • Pilot Project Update
  • EIM Update
  • Continue discussion/update SRRTTF Data standards

 10/12 TTWG 10 am -12 pm (WA Dept. of Ecology)

10/12 Education and Outreach Work Group Meeting 1:30 pm -3:30 pm (Riverkeeper)

  • Education/Outreach actions in Comprehensive Plan

10/26 Task Force meeting 9:00 am -12:30 pm (Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District Office)

October 5, 2016 SRRTTF Data Management Workgroup Meeting

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The next meeting of the Data Management Work Group Meeting is:

Date: Wednesday October 5, 2016
Time: 1 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Location: Washington Department of Ecology
N. 4601 Monroe St.
Spokane, WA 99205
Click here for a map.

Agenda

  • Pilot Project Update
  • EIM Update
  • Continue discussion/update SRRTTF Data standards

srrttf-data-management-work-group-notes

towey-microsoft-outlook-memo-style

Evaluation-Worksheet-Notes-0808016.pdf

Data Management Workgroup Notes 080816 DRAFT

Old Business

Blank Correction Recommendations: (path forward discussion)

  • Gather data
    • Who is doing what method currently and why?
      • Permittees
      • Ecology Permits
      • Ecology EAP
      • Ecology Duwamish
      • Ecology TCP
      • Other?
  • Point of application
    • Generic “one size fits all” for Task Force
    • Flexible on project by project basis
  • How to communicate censoring
    • QAPP
    • Report
  • Laboratory Considerations
    • Reporting of Laboratory data
    • Considerations when lab uses multiple blanks

• Protocol for Releasing Task Force Data (this is an old item we haven’t addressed yet)

Call In Number: 800-704-9804 Participant Code: 34863442#

October 5, 2016 TSCA Focus Group meeting

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The next meeting of the SRRTTF TSCA Focus group is:

Date: Wednesday October 5, 2016
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Location: Washington Department of Ecology
N. 4601 Monroe St.
Spokane, WA 99205
Click here for a map.

AGENDA TSCA Workgroup Meeting October 5 2016

srrttf-tsca-workgroup-october-2016-notes

Task Force Letter to EPA

2015 EPA Letter of Response to Task Force

2012 ECOS Resolution

2012 Letter to Spokane River Keeper

Polychlorinated Biphenyls: Reassessment of Use Authorizations Docket

potential-topics-for-reassessment-of-use-reauthorizations

EPA Rulemaking Activities under Lautenberg

Call In Number: 800-704-9804 Participant Code: 34863442#

Policy 1-11 revisions process: public workshop on November 14th

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States are required, under the Clean Water Act, to regularly assess their waters to meet sections 303(d) and 305(b) of the Clean Water Act.  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved Ecology’s September 2015 submittal of our latest Water Quality Assessment on July 22, 2016. 
 Ecology started the next water quality assessment process this last winter with:
 
  1. A call for water quality data and information collected through December 2015 that will be used for the next assessment of fresh and marine waters in Washington.
  1. A 60-day scoping process to solicit ideas on areas of the Water Quality Program Policy 1-11,Assessment of Water Quality for the Clean Water Act Sections 303(d) and 305(b) Integrated Report,  that need to be reviewed and updated.  This Policy guides how Ecology uses data to determine the water quality status for individual waterbodies.
With EPA’s recent approval of Washington’s Water Quality Assessment, Ecology will begin a public process to revise Policy 1-11 based on the comments we received during the scoping process.
 
To launch the Policy 1-11 revisions process, we will hold a public workshop on November 14th  to orient people to the Water Quality Assessment Policy and to the key issues we will be looking at and possibly revising based on the outcome of further discussions and analysis.  The Policy 1-11 Public Workshop will be held from 10:00am – 4:00pm at the auditorium of the Ecology Headquarters building in Lacey.  We will also conduct the workshop as a webinar so that people who choose not to attend in person at the Ecology building in Lacey can participate by calling in from their respective location.  This will be an introduction/kick-off meeting to provide background information on the Assessment and how Policy 1-11 is used. It will also lay out the process we will use to look at possible changes to that policy based on scoping comments that were received.  If you are interested in participating, please save the date on your calendar. 
Agenda and more information on the November 14 Public Workshop & webinar will be coming soon.
Background information on the Policy 1-11 revisions public process, including a summary of the scoping comments that were received and copies of the comment letters, can be found on Ecology’s website at: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/303d/proposed/index.html.
Questions or comments about the assessment or Policy 1-11 should be directed to Patrick Lizon (email:  patrick.lizon@ecy.wa.gov; phone: 360-407-6782).
 
Thank you for your interest in protecting water quality in Washington State.
 
Susan Braley
Watershed Management Section
Phone: (360) 407-6414

Funding Opportunity: Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities

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“EPA is requesting letters of interest for a new round of Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities technical assistance. We will select 25 communities to receive targeted assistance to help overcome barriers to smarter, more environmentally and economically sustainable growth. This assistance will help communities, local governments, and tribal governments improve their capacity to implement smart growth and other approaches that protect the environment, improve public health, and expand economic opportunity.”

https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/building-blocks-sustainable-communities#2016rfli 

  • Letters of Interest Deadline: 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on October 12, 2016.