1) TCWN WORKING FOR YOU: Oil Fire on the Obed Wild and Scenic River
2) ACTION ALERT: Your support is needed to prevent oil spills!
3) EVENT: Community Wide Creek Cleanup in Knoxville
4) INFO NEEDED: Info Needed for Sierra Club's TDOT Road Project Inventory
5) INFO NEEDED: Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy Needs your Help
6) RESOURCE: Protect Water For Life
7) RESOURCE: Microbiology Current Issues: Water Quality
8) RESOURCE: Science in Your Watershed by USGS
9) RESOURCE: Clean Water Act Web-Based Training Module
10) RESOURCE: Report: Sprawl Compounds Water Crisis in Drought-Stricken Cities
11) TRAINING: Get in the know with our TMDL 101 training!
12) GRANTS: EPA Announces Water Quality Cooperative Agreement Grant Opportunities
13) GRANTS: $1.5 Million Security Grant Solicitation from EPA
14) PUBLIC NOTICE: Availability of Proposed TMDL for Fecal Coliform in Cane Creek
15) PUBLIC NOTICE: Aquatic Resource Alteration Permit (ARAP) Notices
16) PUBLIC NOTICE: NPDES Permits
17) PUBLIC NOTICE: TDEC General Permit for Discharges to Treated Groundwater
18) PUBLIC HEARINGS: NPDES General Permit for Phase II MS4s

1) TCWN WORKING FOR YOU: Oil Fire on the Obed Wild and Scenic River
Following the tragic oil spill on the Obed Wild and Scenic River in July, TCWN immediately evaluated permitting for new oil wells in Tennessee. Upon review, TCWN found the permitting process inadequate and made a series of recommendations to the Governor to update our state policies and regulations to prevent such a tragedy in the future. Responding to our request, the Governor's office submitted a letter to TDEC requesting public hearings and the formation of a study group to revise permitting requirements. TCWN has continued to track this issue and kept in contact with the Governor's office and the with committee appointees to make sure new permit standards will protect our waters in the future. The State is now seeking input on these new standards. We need your support to make sure that protective measures get approved. Given the influence of the oil and gas industry public participation is paramount. Please read the Action Alert below and plan on making comments either at the public hearing, through the mail, or on the web. Please pass the action alert on to any interested parties. Thank you.

2) ACTION ALERT: Your support is needed to prevent oil spills!
In the wake of the oil spill and fire that polluted and closed a section of the Obed Wild and Scenic River in Morgan County, the State has imposed interim protective requirements and appointed a committee to develop recommendations for laws, regulations, strategies, and/or technologies to avoid oil spills in the future. A number of conservation groups, as well as representatives from the oil and gas industry, have met with committee appointees and submitted recommendations. Clearly the oil and gas industry is very influential. The State is seeking public input, and a strong showing of people who support environmentally responsible drilling practices is vital. Please make your voice heard to help protect the Obed Wild and Scenic River, the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area and other precious natural resources! Here's what you can do:
1. Come to the State's public hearing, and bring your family and friends. The meeting, Tuesday, December 3, will start with an informal open house from 5-7pm, where citizens can talk with State officials, ask questions, and give feedback. A more formal presentation and public hearing will follow from, 7-8:30pm. We need a large crowd of concerned citizens! The hearings will be held at Wartburg's Central High School (on Hwy. 62 just southeast of the junction with Hwy. 27)
2. Provide input to the State in support of stronger environmental protection during drilling activities. Log on to http://www.state.tn.us/environment/epo/oilandgaspolicy/, where the State has posted proposed changes, oil spill photos and maps, as well as links to pertinent laws and regulations. To submit comments, click on "Submit Ideas..." or send them to Dodd Galbreath, TDEC Policy Office, 401 Church St, 21st Floor, L&C Tower, Nashville, TN 37243, fax: 615-532-0120. Detailed comments are welcome, but you don't need to dive into complicated regulations to formulate recommendations. Here are some major points you could address:
a. The public needs better notification of and opportunity to comment on drilling permit applications.
b. Much wider buffer zones are needed between drilling sites and rivers or streams.
c. The Division of Water Pollution Control should have a role in inspecting drilling sites, evaluating drilling permit applications, and developing erosion control and pollution prevention measures for drillers.
d. Increase the bond amount that drillers must post to ensure well and site reclamation and/or establish an oil spill contingency fund.
e. Increase funding to support strengthened State oversight and enforcement.
NPCA has a sample letter and more information at its TAKE ACTION site: http://www.npca.org/take_action/action_alerts/
3. Send a letter to the editor of your local paper. Together, we can exert a strong influence to preserve clean water, fragile ecosystems, and pristine wilderness areas. Please contribute your voice!

3) EVENT: Community Wide Creek Cleanup in Knoxville
This is the 8th annual Community Wide Creek Cleanup on December 7th 9AM-1PM. There are opportunities to volunteer in North, South, East, West, and Downtown Knoxville. To find a site near you, visit www.waterqualityforum.org, or call 865-523-2358.

Source: CAC AmeriCorps

4) INFO NEEDED: Info Needed for Sierra Club TDOT Road Project Inventory
Jeff Barrie is compiling a list of all the controversial road projects in Tennessee for Sierra Club. To the best of your ability, please send him a list of all controversial road projects you're aware of (highway number/nickname/location), including any information about local citizen groups or individuals that have organized opposition to these roads (include names and contact info, if available).
Contact Jeff Barrie at 615-438-5060 or [email protected]

Source: WatchDOT

5) INFO NEEDED: Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy Needs your Help
IATP is looking for help in their work on the human health effects of factory farms. Once it is collected, they will make this information available via their website. They need your help collecting the following information:
a. Copies of health ordinances related to Concentrated animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), from your state, county or township. The goal is to compile a web-based resource, searchable by keywords, of these ordinances.
b. Names of physicians, nurses, dieticians, veterinarians or other health professionals who are interested in the public health impacts of CAFOs, or otherwise engaged in your organizing work.
c. If you know of anyone who either works or lives on a CAFO, or nearby a CAFO, and has suffered an drug resistant infection, particularly drug-resistant case of Salmonella or Campylobacter food poisoning, and they'd like to share their story, please have them call David Wallinga, M.D.

Please contact Dr. Wallinga with this information or questions:
David Wallinga, M.D., MPA
Antibiotic Resistance Project Director
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
[email protected], Ph 612-870-3418, fax 612-870-4846

Source: Clean Water Network November 2002 Progress Report

6) RESOURCE: Protect Water For Life
As EPA's National Water Program continues to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act, the spotlight has turned on the safe drinking water message. During the months of November and December, there will be an exhibit that highlights the new theme, "Protect Water for Life." Remember Dec. 16 marks the 29th Anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more information visit either web site at www.epa.gov/safewater/ or www.epa.gov/water/yearcleanwater, or you may also contact Charlene Shaw at 202-564-4635.

Source: Clean Water Network WaterNews 11/13/02

7) RESOURCE: Microbiology Current Issues: Water Quality
http://www.microbeworld.org/htm/cissues/waterq/wqual_0.htm
This well-designed Web site from the American Society for Microbiology offers a comprehensive introduction to microbial contamination of the water supply. Visitors to the site will find information on water-borne pathogens and the diseases they cause, where our drinking water comes from, how water becomes contaminated, scientific advances that could make our water supply safer, and much more. The information in this Web site is clearly explained and does not require an active interest in microbiology to hold one's attention.

Source: The NSDL Scout Report for the Life Sciences, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2002. http://scout.wisc.edu/

8) RESOURCE: Science in Your Watershed from USGS
http://water.usgs.gov/wsc/
Provided by the US Geological Survey, this Web site is intended to help users "find scientific information organized on a watershed basis" for use in "characterizing, assessing, analyzing, and maintaining the status and health of a watershed." More specifically, Science in Your Watershed "provides rudiments of a decision-support process by making accessible recent case studies of projects that have occurred, publications produced, databases and information assembled, and providing access to free and nearly free software tools for manipulating spatial information." Surf Your Watershed is a search tool that allows users to locate a particular watershed by name, general location name, or with maps. Additionally, the site includes dozens of links to related educational information, basic instructions for using GIS-based programs, a Water Glossary, and more. Planners and science researchers alike should find this Web site
exceedingly useful.

Source: The NSDL Scout Report for the Life Sciences, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2002. http://scout.wisc.edu/

9) RESOURCE: Clean Water Act Web-Based Training Module
The Office of Water's Watershed Academy has made available a web-based training module called Introduction to the Clean Water Act. Users may go through the entire 65 slide course on the CWA in sequence, on the web at http://www.epa.gov/watertrain/cwa/, or you can jump to the particular Clean Water Act program of interest by going to the CWA Big Picture by linking to: http://www.epa.gov/watertrain/cwa/slide.htm.

Source: Clean Water Network November 2002 Progress Report

10) RESOURCE: Report: Sprawl Compounds Water Crisis in Drought-Stricken Cities
Nationwide, paved-over land sends billions of gallons of water into streams and rivers as polluted runoff, rather than into the soil to replenish groundwater. This groundbreaking report published jointly by American Rivers, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and Smart Growth America, Paving our Way to Water Shortages: How Sprawl Aggravates the Effects of Drought, estimates the extent of this phenomenon in 18 rapidly growing cities.

The report is available on-line at:
<http://www.amrivers.org/landuse/sprawldroughtreport.htm>

Source: Clean Water Network November 2002 Progress Report

11) TRAINING: Get in the know with our TMDL 101 training!
Help your members learn how to make the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) program work for their favorite river or lake: co-host an activist training with the national Clean Water Network!

The Network can do anything from a one or two day stand-alone training to a session at a meeting you've already planned. We work with you to design a training that suits the needs of the area - we can cover organizing ideas, policy issues, technical issues, and more. Network staff can do the training and/or bring in experts on specific technical issues -- depending on your needs.

The trainings use our TMDL handbook The Ripple Effect, state specific information, and actual TMDLs from the area and around the country to make the problem and the solution real for people. Plus, they're fun!

Want to take your Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) work to the next level? We can help! Advanced TMDL trainings and one-on-one opportunities are available. Because of the in-depth nature of this advanced work, we can only take on a limited number of advanced projects!

Contact Merritt Frey today at [email protected] or 208-345-7776 to discuss opportunities.

Source: Clean Water Network November 2002 Progress Report

12) GRANTS: EPA Announces Water Quality Cooperative Agreement Grant Opportunities
EPA intends to award an estimated $3.1 million to eligible applicants through assistance agreements. The agreements will range in size from $10,000 up to $500,000 for Water Quality Cooperative Agreements. These agreements are for unique and innovative projects that address the requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES) program with special emphasis on wet weather activities such as storm water, combined sewer overflows, sanitary sewer overflows, and concentrated animal feeding operations. EPA is also looking for projects that enhance the ability of the regulated community to deal with non-traditional pollution problems in priority watersheds.

From the initial applications received, EPA estimates that 30 to 35 projects may be selected to submit full applications.

The Agency also intends to make available at least $200,000 per year of the annual appropriation for Water Quality Cooperative Agreements, from FY 2001 through FY 2005, for projects which address cooling water intake issues to include technical and environmental studies. For FY 2003 it is expected that $250,000 will be available for projects addressing cooling water intake issues.

EPA will accept initial proposals until 5 p.m. Eastern Time, December 30, 2002.

Text of Federal Register notice:
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register&docid=02-27705-filed

Source: Clean Water Network November 2002 Progress Report

13) GRANTS: $1.5 Million Security Grant Solicitation from EPA
Nonprofit organizations are encouraged to apply for $1.5 million in grants to provide technical assistance to drinking water systems that supply water to less than 50,000 people. As part of the Agency's critical water infrastructure protection initiative awards of up to $300,000 per eligible nonprofit organization will provide no-cost training to state, tribal or local agencies on activities such as vulnerability assessments and emergency response plans. The Office of Water request for applications is posted on the water security website at www.epa.gov/safewater/security and the solicitation will also be published in the Federal Government's Business Opportunities. For further contact Andy Bielanski at 202-564-3824.

Source: Clean Water Network WaterNews 11/19/02

14) PUBLIC NOTICE: Availability of Proposed TMDL for Fecal Coliform in Cane Creek
TDEC Division of Water Pollution Control, has Announced the availability of Tennessee's proposed total maximum daily load (TMDL) for fecal coliform in the Cane Creek watershed, which drains to the Hiwassee River. Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act requires states to develop TMDLs for waters on their impaired waters list. TMDLs must determine the allowable pollutant load that the water can assimilate, allocate that load among the various point and nonpoint sources, include a margin of safety, and address seasonality.

Cane Creek is listed on Tennessee's final 1998 303(d) list as not supporting its designated use classifications due, in part, to discharge of fecal coliforms from Septic Tanks and Grazing Related Sources. The TMDL utilizes Tennessee's general water quality criteria, recently collected site specific water quality data, continuous flow data from a USGS discharge monitoring station located in the vicinity of the watershed, and a calibrated dynamic water quality model to establish allowable loadings of fecal coliform which will result in reduced in-stream concentrations and attainment of water quality standards. The TMDL requires reductions on the order of 98% for the Cane Creek Watershed.

Technical questions regarding this TMDL should be directed to the following members of the Division of Water Pollution Control staff:
Dennis M. Borders, P.E., Watershed Management Section, 615-532-0706
Sherry H. Wang, Ph.D., Watershed Management Section, 615-532-0656

Persons wishing to comment on the proposed TMDL are invited to submit their comments in writing no later than January 9, 2003 to:
Division of Water Pollution Control
Watershed Management Section
7th Floor L & C Annex
401 Church Street
Nashville, TN 37243-1534

Source: www.state.tn.us/environment/new.htm

15) PUBLIC NOTICE: Aquatic Resource Alteration Permit (ARAP) Notices
The following is a list of current public notices from TDEC of permitting decisions, public hearings, and rule-making activities. Public comment and participation are encouraged on all of these issues. Comments on any issue are welcome at any time and may be made by sending e-mail to [email protected]

November 15, 2002
NRS 00.316 Summertown Utility District, proposed water supply withdrawal, Buffalo River, Lawrence County

NRS 02.133 Shelby County Airport Authority; 650 feet of encapsulation, Hurricane Creek, Shelby County

NRS 02.252 City of Manchester; sewer line crossing, Little Duck River and unnamed tributary, Coffee County

NRS 02.318 TDOT, SR 88 Bridge replacement, channel relocation, unnamed tributaries to Black Creek, Crockett County TDOT#17006-1223-944

NRS 02.388 Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority; 480 feet of encapsulation, unnamed sinking stream, Davidson County

NRS 02.393 City of Germantown, overflow channel, unnamed tributary to Nonconnah Creek, Shelby County

NRS 02. 408(A-B) TDOT, SR 448 Bridge construction, Sevier County TDOT#78024-1208-04

NRS 02.424 TDOT, SR 32 Bridge Replacement, channel relocation, Long Creek, Jefferson County TDOT#45011-1216-94

Source: www.state.tn.us/environment/new.htm

16) PUBLIC NOTICE: NPDES Permits
TDEC has posted the following draft environmental permits and to solicit comments and information necessary to evaluate the potential impact of the proposed activities on human health and the environment. Submit comments by mail to TDEC, Division of Water Pollution Control , 6th Floor, L&C Tower, 401 Church St, Nashville, TN 37243, Attn: Public Notice Coordinator, by fax number (615) 532-0503, or by E-mail at [email protected] Comments must be received by December 16, 2002.

Proposed Modifications
Applicant: Loretto STP
Permit: TN0065501 Major Discharger: No
Location: Busby Road, Lawrence County, Loretto, TN 38769
Description: Treatment of municipal sewage. Permitting reuse of treated effluent for golf course irrigation.
Effluent: treated municipal wastewater from Outfall 001 and/or to a golf course for irrigation
Receiving: Shoal Creek at mile 38

Applicant: Clarksville STP
Permit: TN0020656 Major Discharger: Yes
Location: 15 Quarry Road, Montgomery County, Clarksville, TN 37040
Description: Modification of the design flow from 15 to 25 MGD to maximize treatment of combined sewer flow.
Effluent: Treated municipal wastewater from Outfall 001, and treated combined wastewater from Outfall 001 and the Gallows Hollow and McClure Street combined sewer vortex separators.
Receiving: Barkley Reservoir at Cumberland miles 125.0, 125.4, and 126.2

Proposed Reissuances
Applicant: Trunkline Gas Company-Dyersburg Compressor Station
Permit: TN0072966 Major Discharger: No
Location: 1224 Bonicord Road, Dyer County, Dyersburg, TN 38024
Description: Natural Gas Transmission
Effluent: Misc. non-process wastewater and storm water runoff from Outfall
Receiving: unnamed tributary at mile 1.4 to Nash Creek at mile 3.0

Applicant: Paris STP
Permit: TN0061271 Major Discharger: Yes
Location: Henry County, Paris, TN 38242
Description: Treatment of municipal sewage
Effluent: treated municipal wastewater from Outfall 001
Receiving: mile 0.5 of unnamed tributary to Bailey Fork Creek at mile 6.2

Applicant: Duncan's Landing
Permit: TN0060780 Major Discharger: No
Location: Lake Lane, Knox County, Knoxville, TN 37917
Description: Activated sludge
Effluent: treated domestic wastewater from Outfall 001
Receiving: Fort Loudoun Lake (Tennessee River) at mile 635

Applicant: Hampshire Coin Laundry
Permit: TN0060291 Major Discharger: No
Location: 4126 Hampshire Pike, Maury County, Hampshire, TN 38461
Description of: laundry wastewater through Outfall 001
Effluent: laundry wastewater through Outfall 001
Receiving: McClannahan Branch at mile 0.2 to Hampshire Creek at mile 2.6

Applicant: Magic Wand Car Wash
Permit: TN0056898 Major Discharger: No
Location: Hwy 93, Sullivan county, Kingsport, TN 37660
Description of: Carwashes
Effluent: treated process wastewater from Outfall 001
Receiving: Horse Creek at mile 9.8

Applicant: Lewisburg STP
Permit: TN0022888 Major Discharger: Yes
Location: 401 Woodside Drive, Marshall County, Lewisburg, TN 37091
Description of: Treatment of municipal sewage
Effluent: treated municipal wastewater from Outfall 001
Receiving: Big Rock Creek Mile 16.8

Applicant: UCAR Carbon Company, Inc.
Permit: TN0002275 Major Discharger: No
Location: Santa Fe Pike, Maury County, Columbia, TN 38402
Description of: Carbon and Graphite Products
Effluent: production process water, boiler blowdown water, storm water, pumped groundwater, air compressor system, physical testing and public facilities through Outfalls 001, 002, and 003
Receiving: Duck River at mile 129.4

Source: www.state.tn.us/environment/new.htm

17) PUBLIC NOTICE: TDEC General Permit for Discharges to Treated Groundwater
TDEC has provided notice of its intent to issue the NPDES General Permit for Discharges of Treated Groundwater Associated with Underground Storage Tank Remediation ("UST GP"). A general permit is one designed to apply to a category of sources that involve the same or substantially similar operations, discharge the same types of wastes, and require the same or similar permit conditions and monitoring provisions. The current UST GP expired on January 19, 2002, and will be reissued. The UST GP authorizes discharges of effluent from treatment of groundwater that has been contaminated by petroleum from an underground storage tank to surface waters. Those facilities/sites currently covered under the UST GP will be required to make timely applications for the UST GP (30 days following the effective date of the reissued UST GP)

The division has scheduled a Public Hearing regarding the issuance of the UST GP for Thursday, December 19, 2002, at 2PM (c.s.t.), in the Ruth Neff Conference Room on the 17th Floor of the L&C Tower, at 4th Ave. and Church St. in downtown Nashville, 37243-1534.

Written comments on the draft UST GP may be sent to [email protected] or to TDEC, Water Pollution Control, Attn: Vojin Janjic, 6th Floor, L&C Annex, 401 Church St, Nashville, TN 37243-1534.

For more information regarding UST Notification visit www.state.tn.us/environment/permits/noteust.htm
For more information regarding the permitting program visit www.state.tn.us/environment/permits/index.html

Source: www.state.tn.us/environment/new.htm

18) PUBLIC HEARINGS: NPDES General Permit for Phase II MS4s
TDEC has provided notice of its intent to issue the NPDES General Permit for Discharges from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s). The general permit is designed to cover discharges of storm water runoff from Phase II MS4s, including city and county-operated MS4s and those operated by regulated military bases. In Tennessee, there have been 84 Phase II MS4s identified.

Information on the Phase II program can be found at www.state.tn.us/environment/wpc/storm2o/MS4II.htm

The Division has scheduled three public hearings to receive comments on issuance of the Phase II MS4 general permit for the following times and locations:

December 17, 2002, Memphis, 1:30 pm CST, University of Memphis-Engineering Building Auditorium (south of Central Ave.; 1st bldg west of Curlin St.)

December 18, 2002, Knoxville, 1:30pm EST, 2700 Middlebrook Pike, Large Conference Room

December 19, 2002, Nashville, 5:30pm CST, 401 Church St., L&C Tower, 17th Floor, Ruth Neff Conference Room.

You may make written comments on this draft permit to TN Division of Water Pollution Control, Attn: Robert L. Haley, III, 6th Floor, L&C Annex, 401 Church St., Nashville, TN 37243-1534. You can also submit comments at the public hearings or by e-mail to [email protected] Comments must be received by December 31, 2002.

Source: www.state.tn.us/environment/new.htm