David Cozad, US EPA Region 7, EPA Enforcement and Next Generation Compliance, Missouri Water Seminar, September 10-11, 2015, Columbia, MO

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPA Enforcement and Next Generation

Compliance

David Cozad, Regional Counsel

US EPA Region 7

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Compliance Challenges

Pollution

Noncompliance

Information gaps

Larger universe

Budgets declining

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The World is Changing

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Technology Paradigm Change


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EPA Region 7’s KCWaterBug


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Mobile app providing real-time water quality data in the Kansas City area

using USGS innovative approach for estimating bacteria concentrations

based on basic water quality parameters.

Technology Opportunities

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Advances in information and monitoring technologies:

“make the invisible visible”

inform industry, government, and the public

enhance ability to prevent, reduce, treat or avoid pollution

drive compliance through transparency and accountability


Next Gen Compliance Tools

Advanced monitoring

E-reporting

Transparency

Third party verification


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Advanced Monitoring Technologies

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Real-time monitoring – knowing about pollution as it’s happening

Facility feedback loops – preventing pollution before it happens

Fenceline monitoring

Community monitoring

Remote sensing


Monitoring buoy in Charles River collects and transmits data


Advanced Water Monitoring: E-Flow

E-flow monitors

Flow detection/notification

Flow height

Flow depth/velocity

Examples:

City of Seattle NPDES Permit

City of Harrisburg CSO Consent Decree

Washington DC CSO Consent Decree

St Louis CSO/SSO Consent Decree


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Advanced Monitoring: Real-time Ambient WQ Monitoring

Mostly screening level/indicator technology to date

Rapid advances and emerging technology

Well developed technology exists for continuous, real time monitoring for BOD, TSS,

temperature, pH

Microbial Source Tracking

Examples:

Logan Airport NPDES Permit: Real-time, continouos monitoring required during winter (deicing runoff)

Middle Rio MS4 Permit: Continuous monitoring for DO, temp at select locations; endangered species concerns

San Antonio Consent Decree: microbial source monitoring required


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Real-time Monitoring


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Advanced Monitoring

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An example from flaring enforcement


Electronic reporting 14

Ohio NPDES e-

reporting success

story

NPDES e-

reporting rule


0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun

Reporting Month

NPDES DMR Compliance in Ohio FY 2009 - 7/08-6/09

% eDMR usage

Per

mit

Vio

lati

on

s

Faci

litie

s u

sin

g eD

MR

Increased Transparency

Evidence that effective

transparency drives

performance

SDWA Consumer

Confidence Reports


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Study on effect of mailing compliance reports

Transparency Examples

Web posting of data and documents:

Logan Airport NPDES Permit

Middle Rio Grande MS4 permit

St Louis Consent Decree

City of Seattle NPDES Permit

CSO email/text alerts:

New York Sewage Pollution Right-to-Know Act

Chicago NPDES Permits (notification of CSO diversion to Lake Michigan)

City of Cambridge NPDES Permit


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Next Gen in Civil Settlements


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Since January 2015, EPA civil enforcement staff must consider Next Generation Compliance tools in all cases and include them in settlements when appropriate

Next Gen in Settlementss: Region 7 Examples

St Louis/MSD: E-flow monitoring, web posting

Coastal Energy: Leak detection monitoring/remote notification

Doe Run: Third Party Verification

Roquette: Third Party Verification


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EPA Proposed Rule for Petroleum Refineries

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Refineries must conduct

ambient fenceline

monitoring

Data available to public

Action level exceedances

require corrective

measures

U.S. Environmental Protection Agen

Coal Ash Rule

Transparency

Third Party Certifications


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