# Presentation: 223062

## Support of the Framework for Monitoring 

**Support of the***** *****Framework***** *****for***** *****Monitoring***** ***

**Office of Management and Budget**
**March 26, 2003**

## Clean Water Act – Standards to Controls

**Notes:**
This is our standard slide for introducing the standards-to-pollution control process.

It is  used here to emphasize the kinds of things EPA stresses under the CWA.

This is also often referenced as a “Framework.”

Major concern is FUNDING state programs

## Overall EPA Monitoring Objectives

**	****Monitoring to serve assessments at multiple scales:**
**National scale: Condition of waters**
**State scale: Regulatory programs**
**Watershed scale: Management & protection decisions**
**Source scale: Control requirements****	**

**Notes:**
EPA builds monitoring programs because of the important role states play under the CWA.

Elements of a State Monitoring and assessment Program follow the Council’s  Framework very closely
The match up is shown below

In EPA’s Elements:		 			The Council Framework
Monitoring Program Strategy				Not covered
Monitoring Objectives	.   .   .   .   .   .   .   .	Develop Monitoring Objectives
Monitoring Design   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .	Design Monitoring Program
Water Quality Indicators  .   .   .   .   .   .   .	Collect field and lab data
Quality Assurance			
Data Management   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .	Compile and Manage Data
G. Data Analysis/Assessment	.   .   .   .   .   .	Assess and Interpret Data
H. Reporting		  .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .	Convey findings and evaluate program
I. Programmatic Evaluation   .   .   .   .   .   .   .	Convey findings and evaluate program
J. General Support and Infrastructure Planning	Not covered

## Overall EPA Monitoring Objectives

**Build State monitoring programs that can**
**Describe status and trends & rank existing and emerging problems**
**305(b), 303(d)**
**Support management and regulatory programs**
**Based on standards**
**Protect critical waters**
**Source water, Chesapeake Bay, etc.**

**Notes:**
EPA builds monitoring programs because of the important role states play under the CWA.

Elements of a State Monitoring and assessment Program follow the Council’s  Framework very closely
The match up is shown below

In EPA’s Elements:                        The Council Framework
Monitoring Program Strategy	         Not covered
Monitoring Objectives	.   .   .   .   . Develop Monitoring Objectives
Monitoring Design   .   .   .   .   .   . 	Design Monitoring Program
Water Quality Indicators  .   .   .   . Collect field and lab data
Quality Assurance			
Data Management   .   .   .   .   .   . Compile and Manage Data
G. Data Analysis/Assessment	.   .   . Assess and Interpret Data
H. Reporting		  .   .   .   .   .   .   . Convey findings and evaluate program
I. Programmatic Evaluation   .   .   .   . Convey findings and evaluate program
J. General Support and Infrastructure Planning .   . Not covered

## Develop Monitoring Objectives

**EPA Produces Guidance on the Data Quality Objectives Process**
**Encouraging the formation of state and regional monitoring councils**
**Maryland, Virginia, Texas, Oklahoma, **
**Colorado, Wisconsin, Montana, Lake **
**Michigan Chesapeake Bay, New England**
**Other technical tools for states**

**Notes:**
Data Quality Objectives are written in OEI’s Quality Program

Monitoring Councils:

We are currently performing an evaluation of state and regional monitoring councils to determine to better understand the roles they can play in state programs 

## Design Monitoring Program

**Newly Combined State 305(b) and 303(d) reports**
**Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Policy**
**Consolidated Assessment and Listing Guidance**
**State monitoring networks**
**EMAP assistance in probabilistic design**
**Models to bridge cover unmonitored areas**
**Refined methods **
**Biological resources,  Wetlands**

**Notes:**

This is AWPD Stuff

Pressing to get the assessment answers we want while recognizing that we can’t monitor everywhere, and that we need to expand the features that we monitor

The Coastal Condition Report resulted from EMAP probabilistic designs along the coast

Refined Methods include our work to enhance biological monitoring and to better characterize wetlands

Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology: 

Guidance To Assess WQS Attainment and Identify Impaired waters using:

Chemical Indicators 
Biological Indicators
Toxicity Indicators
Bacteria  Indicators
Habitat  Indicators

## Design Monitoring Program

**A major concern is state capacity and funding**
**States spend $138 million on ambient monitoring annually**
**Only 37% is Federal funding**
**$100 million short of the need**
**Many clearly need help **
**NAPA Study reinforces these concerns**

**Notes:**

This is AWPD Stuff

Pressing to get the assessment answers we want while recognizing that we can’t monitor everywhere, and that we need to expand the features that we monitor

The Coastal Condition Report resulted from EMAP probabilistic designs along the coast

Refined Methods include our work to enhance biological monitoring and to better characterize wetlands

Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology: 

Guidance To Assess WQS Attainment and Identify Impaired waters using:

Chemical Indicators 
Biological Indicators
Toxicity Indicators
Bacteria  Indicators
Habitat  Indicators

## Collect Field & Laboratory Data

**Nearly all ambient water data is collected by states and USGS**
**EPA does innovate**
**EPA Pioneered *****Rapid Bio Assessments***
**New guidance on the use of ecosystem data to set nutrient standards**
**EMAP field methods**

## Compile &Manage Data

**STORET Database **
**Stores data & metadata**
**Water quality**
**Biological measures**
**Data from States, Superfund, EMAP, Forest Service, National Park Service**
**EPA Data Standards based on the Council’s *****Water Quality Data Elements***** **

**Notes:**
STORET is used in EPA’s regulatory programs

Major grants to state information systems will bring data into STORET through Central Data Exchange process,
Allowing states to use their own (often older) data systems.

## Compile &Manage Data

**STORET Database is free to users, but is sustained by EPA**
**STORET funding down % since 1996**
**STORET staff down to 5 FTE**
**The current budget may not be sustainable if competing responsibilities become mandatory **

## Compile &Manage Data

**Continuing support for comparable data structures**
**National Hydrography Dataset**
**USGS partnership**
**Uniform Watershed Boundaries**
**With USGS and USDA**

**Notes:**
Emphasis is on Data Structures

## Convey Findings & Evaluate Programs

**Program evaluations are becoming a part of EPA’s Strategic Plan**
**State program reviews called for in the *****Elements *****Guidance**
**EPA prepares summaries using its WATERS software**
**EPA reports include:**
- Coastal Condition Report, Report on the Environment

**Notes:**
Monitoring has long noted the need to refine monitoring designs based on experience

## Collaborate Communicate& Coordinate

**Support for the National, State and Regional monitoring councils**
**Supporting volunteer monitoring**
**Support for many technical workshops on monitoring methods**
**Soon to establish a monitoring council inside EPA**

**Notes:**
All o f this setting the expectation of collaboration and coordination in monitoring

## Future Support of the Framework

**Future Support ****of the Framework**

**EPA Report on the Environment**
**New interest in indicators of progress**
**Design of a National Survey to complement state assessments**
**FY03 funding of $4 million**
**FY04 monitoring initiative to follow**
**Reformatted National Water Quality Report**
**Work with ASIWPCA and ECOS**

**Notes:**
Report on the Environment = new interest in indicators

## Reference Sites

**Reference Sites**

**Elements of a State Water Monitoring and Assessment Program http://www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring/elements/**
**NAPA: Understanding What States Need to Protect Water Qualityhttp://www.napawash.org/pc_economy_environment/ongoing_stwaterquality.html**
**Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology–Toward a Compendium of Best Practiceshttp://www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring/calm.html**
**National Coastal Condition Report http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/nccr/National Environmental Methods Index: www.nemi.gov**