502 EAST 9th STREET / DES MOINES, IOWA 50319-0034

515-281-5918 FAX 515-281-8895 WWW.IOWADNR.GOV

July 8, 2009

Mr. Glenn Curtis

Chief, Wastewater and Infrastructure Management Branch

United States Environmental Protection Agency

901 North 5th Street

Kansas City, KS 66101

Subject: Vessel General Permit (VGP) and Recreational Vessel Permit (RGP)

Request for Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 401 Certification

Dear Mr. Curtis:

After reviewing a request from the American Waterway Operators for a revised State 401 Water Quality 

Certification, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources has issued the enclosed Certification. 

If you have any questions or comments about the certification or any conditions contained therein, please 

contact me at the address shown below or call (515) 281-6615.

Sincerely,

Christine M. Schwake

Environmental Specialist
IOWA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

SECTION 401 WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION

Certified Projects:

US Environmental Protection Agency National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permits:

 General Permit for Discharges Incidental to the Normal Operation of Commercial and Large Recreational 

Vessels

 General Permit for Discharges Associated with Recreational Vessels

US Environmental Protection Agency No.: EPA-HQ-OW-2008-0056

State 401 Water Quality Certification, Application Log No.: 08-Iowa-07-03-S

Water quality use designations:

Existing surface water uses and the level of water quality necessary to protect the existing uses will be 

maintained and protected. All waters of the state are classified for protection of beneficial uses. At a 

minimum, all surface waters in Iowa, including those designated for Class “A”, “B”, and/or “C” are classified 

for the following general uses: livestock and wildlife watering, noncontact recreation, crop irrigation, and 

industrial, agricultural, domestic, and other incidental withdrawal uses.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has issued this State 401 Water Quality Certification 

pursuant to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 

may not issue a permit authorizing discharges into the waters of Iowa until the IDNR has granted this 

certification under Clean Water Act Section 401. Section 401 Certification represents the IDNR's concurrence 

that the project certified is consistent with the Water Quality Standards of the state of Iowa as set forth in 

Chapter 61, Iowa Administrative Code.

Subject to the attached conditions, incorporated by reference herein, the IDNR has determined that there is 

reasonable assurance the proposed activities will be conducted in a manner that will not violate water quality 

standards of the state of Iowa.

Prepared By: Date Executed: July 8, 2009

Christine M. Schwake, IDNR, Wallace State Office Building, Des Moines, IA 50319-0034 (515) 281-6615

CONDITIONS:

1. Permittee is responsible for securing and for compliance with such other permits or approvals as may 

be required by the IDNR, federal, state, or local governmental agencies for the project activities 

described.

2. If the vessel discharges oil or hazardous substances in the water, immediately call the U.S. Coast 

Guard at 1-800-424-8802 and the IDNR Emergency Response Unit at 1-515-281-8694.

3. It is illegal for anglers to possess, introduce, purchase, sell, or transport aquatic invasive species in 

Iowa except when a species is being removed from watercraft or equipment, is caught and 

immediately killed or returned to the water from which it came, or is being transported in a sealed 

container for identification purposes. It is also illegal to introduce any live fish, except for hooked 

bait, into public waters.

4. It is illegal to dump trash into federally controlled or state waters.
United States Environmental Protection Agency

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System

Vessel General Permit for Discharges Incidental to the Normal Operation of Commercial Vessels and Large Recreational Vessels

General Permit for Discharges Associated with Recreational Vessels

US EPA No. EPA-HQ-OW-2008-0056

Page 3

5. It is illegal to discharge oil or hazardous substances into the water.

6. Oil may not be dumped into the bilge of the vessel without means for proper disposal.

7. Oil waste must be disposed of at an approved reception facility. On recreational vessels, a bucket or 

bailer is adequate for temporary storage.

8. Recreational vessels with installed toilets must have an operable marine sanitation device on board. 

All installed devices must be U.S. Coast Guard-certified.

9. The United States Coast Guard’s Mandatory Practices for all vessels with ballast tanks on all waters of 

the United States, regardless of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Entry (33 CFR 151.2035(a)) must be 

followed.

COMMENTS:

1. The U.S. Coast Guard states that the ballast water management practices shall not jeopardize the 

safety of a vessel, its crew, or its passengers. If the master of a vessel decides the practices would be a 

threat to safety, stability, or security due to adverse weather, vessel design, equipment failure or any 

other extraordinary condition. All vessels, however, must discharge only the minimal amount of 

ballast water operationally necessary and ensure ballast water records accurately reflect any reasons 

for not complying with the mandatory requirements. (For Coast Guard’s Standards, see 

www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/mso/ans.htm )

2. To view the handbook of Iowa Boating Laws and Responsibility, see www.boated.com/ia/handbook/wastedischarge.htm .

3. The following actions will help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species from recreational 

vessels: Inspect the boat, trailer, and equipment and remove any visible plants, animals, or mud 

before leaving a water body.

 Drain water from the boat, motor, live well, bilge, waders, hip boots, and bait containers before 

leaving a water body.

 Avoid running engine through aquatic plants. Remove aquatic plants, animals, and mud from water 

intake grate, steering nozzle, watercraft hull, trailer, waders, hip boots, and fishing equipment.

 Run the engine for 5-10 seconds on the trailer to blow out excess water and vegetation from the 

internal drive and then turn off the engine.

 Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash. Never release fish, animals, or plants into a water body unless 

they came from that water body.

 Rinse or dry the boat, trailer, and fishing equipment to remove or kill species that were not visible 

when leaving the water body. Before transporting to another water body, rinse with high pressure 

and/or hot (104 degrees) water or dry for at least five days.

 Learn to identify aquatic nuisance species and report any suspected sightings to the nearest IDNR 

fisheries station.