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DOD Protocol & Guidance forConducting Integrated Facility

Watershed ImpactAssessments

Developed by the USAEC for DOD

Presented by Georgette MyersU.S. Army Environmental Center (USAEC)

Heather Cisar, LMINDIA Conference – April 9, 2003

Agenda

§ Protocol DevelopmentàBackground

àApproach

àObjectives

àImplementation

àBenefits for DoD

§ Overview of FinalProtocol

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Background

Why Develop a DOD WatershedAssessment Protocol?§ Integrated Federal Strategies &

Agreements & New ComplianceRequirements§ Crosswalks Between Regulations§ Automation Of Data Collection &

Reporting§ Watershed Approach Used To Address

Regulatory Requirements§ No Standard DoD Approach Exists

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WATER QUALITY

RCRA

SDWATOSCA

ESA

CAA FIFRA

CWA CERCLA

Haz.Waste&MaterialStorage,Landfills,OB/OD,SludgeMgmt

Cleanup &Restoration

Drinking Water Treatment & SourceWater Protection, Pesticide Application,

Deposition from Air Emissions

Construction &Maintenance,WastewaterTreatment

Storm waterRunoff fromMissionActivities

Land Use Planning to ProtectSpecies & Habitat

NEPA

Approach - Step 1:Determine the Need

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Approach (cont.)

§ Step 2: Determine Best Practices toIncorporate into Protocol• Review existing studies & Provide

Recommendations on Methods to Usefor DOD Protocol

§ Step 3: Test Protocol at FiveInstallations• Army: Ft. Stewart, McAlester• Navy/Marines/Air Force: Mayport;

Beaufort; Moody

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Objectives

§ Provide Standard Methods EasilyModified to Site Conditions§ Provide Step-by-Step User Friendly

Product That Is Web Interactive§ Use Key Performance Metrics to

Determine Current Conditions &Track Results§ Identify and Assess Potential

Impacts of an Installation’s LandUse Conditions and Activities toWatershed

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Objectives (cont.)

§ Involve Stakeholders§ Provide Prioritized List of

Installation Impacts & Solutions § Enable Easy Access to Wealth of

Existing Data§ Identify Innovative Yet Proven

Solutions§ Identify Partnerships & Funding

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Implementation

§ Implement at Installations That Are:• In Impaired Watersheds or Source Water

Protection Zones• Have Recurring Non-compliance Under

Any Regulation That Identifies WaterQuality Issues or will have newrequirement due to TMDL development

• Identified by DOD As Mission EssentialInstallations

§ Re-evaluate Based on TMDL 303dList Schedule

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Benefits to DOD Facilities

§ Holistic Approach toEnvironmentalManagement andPlanning

§ Use by All PillarsCould ReduceRedundancy

§ Allows QuickResponse toAddressing DODEnvironmentalIssues &Requirements

§ ProvidesJustification forFuture POMs

§ Assist DOD inPrioritizing byMission, ComplianceStatus, and FutureStationing / Re-Alignment

§ Could Assist in theReduction ofEnvironmentalLiabilities

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Overview: Final Protocol Phases

Phase 1Quick

ScreeningAnalysis Phase 2

Assess Receiving Watersheds Conditions

and Key Progress Metrics

Phase 3 Assess Potential

Impact of Installation Activities

A. Develop a baseline of physical characteristics

B. Identify potential impacts activities

Phase 4Identify Cost-Effective

Solutions to Mitigate HighPriority Impacts

Phase 5Identify Partnerships &

Funding Sources

Phase 6Implement Solutions,

Track Progress & ReassessOn a Regular Basis

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Phase IQuick Screening Analysis

See Handout

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Phase II: Develop a WatershedPriority Score (WPS)

Using EPA’s Indicator Watershed ScoreIdentify Installation’s Watershed Using EPA

Surf Your Watershed

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http:// http:// www.www.epaepa..govgov//wateratlaswateratlas/geo//geo/maplistmaplist.html..html.

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Phase III. Develop a TotalActivity Burden Score (TABS)

§ Identify Installation PhysicalCharacteristics§ Develop “Activity Impact Score”

(AIS)§ Add WPS and AIS= TABS§ Develop Baseline and Prioritize

Activities§ Integrate with GIS

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Sample GIS OutputValidation of Site Activities in Relationship

to 303(d) Listed Impaired Waterbodies

Watershed boundaries

Significant ActivitiesImpaired waterbodies

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Phase IV. Develop Solutions

GoalGoal:Reduce Activity Impacts (TABS) to

the greatest amount for the leastamount of cost

ApproachApproach:Select Innovative Solutions That Are

Low Cost, Low Maintenance &Effective in Reducing Pollutants in

Water Bodies

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Phase V. Identify Partners

Guidance for Potential PartnersGuidance for Potential Partners§ Regulators§ Citizens Groups§ Private Landowners

Reasons for PartnershipsReasons for Partnerships§ Technical Expertise§ Provide Media Relations§ Support Educational Programs

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Phase VI. Implement Solutions,Track Progress & Reassess

àTracking key performancemetricsàReducing installationenvironmental burden score

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•Identify Funding Sources•Template for Project Sheets•Method for Tracking Progress

QUESTIONS?

GEORGETTE MYERSUSAEC

410-436-1218EMAIL: Georgette.Myers@aec.apgea.army.mil