Fields of Opportunities ~ S TAT O F I O ~ ~NA 

TERRY E. BRANSTAD, GOVERNOR DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES 

KIM REYNOLDS, LT. GOVERNOR CHUCK GIPP, DIRECTOR 

June 18, 2012 

Ms. Karen A. Flournoy 

Director, Water, Wetlands and Pesticides Division 

United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7 

901 North 5t" Street 

Kansas City, KS 66101 

Subject: Sma11 Vessel General Permit (sVGP) 

Request for Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 401 Certification 

Dear Ms. Flournoy: 

After reviewing your request for State 401 Water Quality Certification, the Iowa Department of Natural 

Resources 11as issued the enclosed Certification. 

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

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

Sincerely, 

eL~ 0'1. S'4.,o'~ 

Christine M. Schwake 

Environnlental Specialist 

502 EAST 9`hSTREET / DES MOINES, IOWA 50319-0034 

515-281-5918 FAX 515-281-8895 WWW.IOWADNR.GOV 
IOWA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES 

SECTION 401 WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION 

Certified Projects: 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permits: 

0 General Permit for Discharges Incidental to the Normal Operation Associated with Recreational 

Vessels 

US Environmental Protection Agency No.: EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0150 

Small Vessel General Permit (sVGP) 

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: , fC'1k4A)044*_Date Executed: June 18, 2012 

Christine M. Schw_aTce, 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. All discharges to waters of the state of Iowa from vessels covered by the VGP shall not cause a violation of Iowa 

Water Quality Standards, as found at Iowa Administrative Code 567 — Chapter 61. 

http: / /www.iowadnr.,Sov/InsideDNR/RegulatoryWater/ WetlandsPermitting.aspx 

3. If the vessel discharges oil or hazardous substances in the water, immediately call the National Response Center 

at 1-800-424-8802 (or contact them through their website at: www.nrc.uscg.mil ) and the IDNR Emergency 

Response Unit at 1-515-281-8694. 

4. 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. . 

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

installed devices must be U.S. Coast Guard-certified. 
United States Environmental Protection Agency 

National PolIutant Discharge Elimination System 

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

US EPA No. EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0141 

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-rn/mso/ans.htm) 

2. To view the handbook of Iowa Boating Laws and Responsibility, see www.boated.com/ia/handbook/wastedischa!:Ze.ht . 

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. 

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

body. 

0 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. 

0 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. 

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

from that water body. 

0 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. 

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

station.