Compiled Responses For Advisory Committee Questionnaire
| Question 1: Source Water Protection & Relationship With Other Water Quality Programs | ||
| RESPONDENT | COMMENTS | WDEQ RESPONSE |
| Michael Stull, WAM | New Developments and DEQ's future plans for these topics. | Addressed by Gary Beach, Administrator, WDEQ/WQD |
| Jack States, Member Non-Point Source Task Force, Public Sector Representative | Identification of Wyoming municipalities that appropriate drinking water, all or a portion thereof, directly from surface water sources (and therefore may be overlooked in assessing and protecting Well Head sources). | (See Handout) |
| Mark Opitz, NRCS Casper, WY
|
The NRCS may be a good source for non-point source programs on agricultural land. There may also be good information that may be used for SWAP, such as land use, and the Technical Guide may contain practices to address for SWAP. | Existing information that can be used to complete a Source Water Assessment (i.e. Delineate, Inventory, and Determine Susceptibility) should be used whenever possible, rather than developing new sources of information. |
| Ted Bartke, USGS | How Does SWAP program relate to TMDL program? | Addressed by Gary Beach, Administrator, WDEQ/WQD |
| Karen M. Larsen, League of Women Voters |
Avoid Duplication Avoid Neg Impacts on Programs working well now. |
Completing Source Water Assessments (i.e. Delineation, Inventory, Susceptibility Determination) should be coordinated with local governments to eliminate duplication of efforts or work that they have completed themselves. |
| Martha S. Horn (for Janie Nelson), Oil & Gas Conservation Commission |
For our information in keeping with our responsibility to eliminate the possibility of oil & gas operations impacting source water protection areas. | According to the SDWA legislation, the information obtained during Source Water Assessments (i.e. Delineation, Inventory, Susceptibility Determination) must be made available to the public. The Advisory Committee is tasked with helping to develop an approach that meets this objective. (Refer to p. 2-22 of the SWAP Guidance document) |
| James C. Case, WY GS |
My concern or interest is the relationship between source water protection and wellhead/aquifer protection. | Source Water Protection occurs when a community (or other owner/operator of a Public Water System) uses the information obtained through a Source Water Assessment (i.e. Delineation, Inventory, Susceptibility Determination) to develop a local plan to protect the drinking water supply, from contamination; the drinking water supply may be supplied by a well (i.e. groundwater) or surface water. Wellhead/Aquifer Protection involves using the same types of information, but for the protection of groundwater supplies only - not surface water supplies. |
| David Zelenka, WWDC | N/A | |
| Floyd Field, WARWS | N/A | |
| John Barnes, State Engineer's Office |
How will the source water program work into water quantity and the water rights system. | John Barnes, State Engineers Office |
| Rick Schuler, BLM |
I think that a lot of folks understand portions of each program but fail to understand how they all relate and the interrelated nature of their administration - a comprehensive understanding is needed. | Addressed by Gary Beach, Administrator, WDEQ/WQD |
| Ken Hamilton & Jeff Lundberg |
How does 401 permit on Fed. Grazing affect or interact w/source water protection. What authority does the municipality have to regulate outside of municipal boundary under WY statutes. | (See Handout) |
| Question 2: Who Benefits from Implementing Source Water Assessment and Protection and How | ||
| RESPONDENT | COMMENTS | WDEQ RESPONSE |
| Michael Stull, WAM | N/A | |
| Jack States, Member Non-Point Source Task Force, Public Sector Representative | Direct beneficiaries are the municipalities that have multiple source water supplies that are potentially threatened by non-point source pollution. Many are cities that cannot afford either assessment or mitigation costs but are faced with present and future drinking water problems. | Municipalities that have implemented SWP Plans may also benefit from reduced sampling costs. EPA has estimated Wyoming's Public Water Systems may save more than $1 million every three years by having some sampling requirements waived. |
| Mark Opitz, NRCS Casper, WY
|
I am not familiar with the required monitoring program in place now that could possibly be replaced by SWAP. | Public Water Systems (PWS) are now required to monitor for both chemical and bacteriological contaminants. Some of these monitoring requirements can be waived for those systems that have implemented SWP plans. (See Above) |
| Ted Bartke, USGS | N/A | |
| Karen M. Larsen, League of Women Voters |
Addressing Cost/Benefit Concerns. | Cost/benefit estimates have been developed for public water systems that rely upon groundwater wells; WDEQ has developed two Fact Sheets describing the potential savings and the potential costs that might be avoided when PWSs implement SWP plans. EPA has also developed cost/benefit reports. (See Handouts) |
| Martha S. Horn (for Janie Nelson), Oil & Gas Conservation Commission | N/A | |
| James C. Case, WY GS | It is important to document how benefits are achieved. | Noted. |
| David Zelenka, WWDC | N/A | |
| Floyd Field, WARWS |
Would like local examples of process and benefits list with potential cost saving with SWP and without? | Cost/benefit estimates have been developed for public water systems that rely upon groundwater wells; WDEQ has developed two Fact Sheets describing the potential savings and the potential costs that might be avoided when PWSs implement SWP plans. EPA has also developed cost/benefit reports. (See Handouts) |
| John Barnes, State Engineer's Office | Same | |
| Rick Schuler, BLM |
Not only who benefits but who (what entities) have to invest additional effort in project evaluations (during EISs & RMP) or project management. | It's not possible to predict how entities will be affected if a PWS or community decides to implement a SWP plan at the local level. The effect upon the entity will likely be determined by the requests or requirements of the local governing body. |
| Ken Hamilton & Jeff Lundberg | N/A | |
| Question 3: Other Concerns and/or Information Needs | ||
| RESPONDENT | COMMENTS | WDEQ RESPONSE |
| Michael Stull, WAM |
I am concerned that funding the source water program using earmarked funds in the state revolving fund legislation will kill that bill. Opposition was very vocal on this issue. | WDEQ believes the earmarked funds can be used to assist small communities in developing local plans to protect their drinking water supplies. Without such funding many of these smaller systems would not be able to afford to develop such plans. |
| Jack States, Member Non-Point Source Task Force, Public Sector Representative | N/A | |
| Mark Opitz, NRCS Casper, WY |
N/A | |
| Ted Bartke, USGS | Voluntary program versus regulatory program. Relationship between voluntary state program with regulatory EPA program. Responsibility for source identification and responsibilities of all parties if source outside source-water protection area. How to keep SWAP plans simple and straightforward to non-technical local administrators. | The SDWA Act requirement that states develop a Source Water Assessment Plan does not apply to Wyoming since it does not have primacy for the drinking water program. There are no requirements for implementation of SWAPs at the local level. The potential contaminant source identification portion of a SWAP applies only to those potential sources that lie within the delineated source water area. |
| Karen M. Larsen, League of Women Voters |
I have just begun to digest the information as I was not, unfortunately,
at the first meeting. My basic concerns are to look at ways to protect water sources that
involve the public and users in decisions. Collaborative solutions are better long term
solutions, when possible. I am also concerned how this ties in with other programs and the
chance to combine resources. There will, no doubt, be more questions as I become more involved. Thank you for the opportunity to be involved in this issue. |
The Advisory Committee is encouraged to look for efficiencies in all aspects of developing the SWAP. |
| Martha S. Horn (for Janie Nelson), Oil & Gas Conservation Commission |
This agency needs whatever information becomes available through the SWAP. We use the information to inform oil & gas operators when they have to take steps to avoid having impact on fresh waters. We also use the information to determine who might be responsible for impacting fresh water and impose mitigation requirements on guilty parties. This information is also helpful in settling disputes. | Local Source Water Assessments (i.e. Delineation, Inventory and Susceptibility Determination must be made available to the public. |
| James C. Case, WY GS | ||
| David Zelenka, WWDC |
The WWDC is a participating agency with WDEQ and WSLIB in securing federal money for the State Drinking Water Revolving Loan. The Source Water Assessment Program is a function eligible for funding under the revolving fund program. To t he extent that your program is compatible with and comprehensive enough to meet the SDWRF criteria, it will be sufficient enough for our needs. | |
| Floyd Field, WARWS |
Concerns: Cost, time table, regulatory, effectiveness, cooperation - individual, local, county, state. | Most, if not all of these will be dependent upon the approaches that this Advisory Committee determines appropriate for Wyoming's Source Water Assessment Plan. |
| John Barnes, State Engineer's Office | N/A | |
| Rick Schuler, BLM |
Time consuming program requirements, if these exist, will likely pose a concern for industry and land management agencies that are required to "timely" process (analyze & approve) proposed projects. Please discuss the nature and scope of probable controls and their likely effects. | A discussion of the types of management approaches, both voluntary and
regulatory, that local governments may wish to adopt for protection of their drinking
water supplies can be found in Section IV and Appendix L of Wyoming's Wellhead
Protection Guidance Document. The Source Water Assessment Plan (SWAP) to be developed with the input and assistance of the Advisory Committee should describe the procedures used to complete the assessment (i.e. Delineation, Inventory, Susceptibility Determination), not how the assessment will be used by local governments - that decision remains with the local governing body. |
| Ken Hamilton & Jeff Lundberg | ||
| Question 4: Delineation of Source Water Protection Areas | ||
| RESPONDENT | COMMENT | WDEQ RESPONSE |
| Michael Stull, WAM |
An explanation of the process. |
Presentations on the process of delineating groundwater supplies and drinking water supplies will be given. For further information, refer to Section II and Appendix D of Wyoming's Wellhead Protection Guidance Document. |
| Jack States, Member Non-Point Source Task Force, Public Sector Representative | It is likely that Wyoming municipalities in the categories above may be unaware of kinds and (potential) sources of contamination of their surface and/or well drinking water for which their purification systems are inadequate. The areas involved may be extensive and the hazards may be periodical or seasonal, never-the-less exceeding water quality standards. | The decision to use, or not use the information provided in a Source Water Assessment (i.e. Delineation, Inventory, Susceptibility Determination) is left up to the municipality. |
| Mark Opitz, NRCS Casper, WY |
I need to know which PWS are surface water and which are groundwater. Of the PWS that are surface water, is that a direct diversion from a stream (name of stream & diversion point), or a reservoir (name of reservoir and location). | (See Handout) |
| Ted Bartke, USGS | Is SWAP going to start with aquifer protection and expand to groundwater and surface water protection or start with groundwater and surface water protection? If the latter, how will surface water delineation be addressed? | The SWAP simply describes how Source Water Assessments (i.e. Delineation, Inventory, Susceptibility Determination) will be performed for wells and surface waters that supply Public Water Systems (PWS). There are a variety of options (presented today) for the delineation of surface water supplied systems - the Advisory Committee should help in deciding which option Wyoming prefers to implement. |
| Karen M. Larsen, League of Women Voters | What areas are presently defined? What scale are areas- stream, watershed, etc. |
We know that many communities are interested in developing plans to protect their drinking water supplies, however we don not know how many have delineated their source water areas. |
| Martha S. Horn (for Janie Nelson), Oil & Gas Commission | We need to be kept informed of all source water protection areas, all wellhead protection areas and all sole source aquifer areas. | The Advisory Committee should consider OGCC's need for information when formulating an approach on how the Source Water Assessment information will be made available to the public. |
| James C. Case, WY GS | Again, I am interested in delineation of source water protection areas vs. delineation of wellhead/aquifer protection areas. | Presentations on delineation approaches will be given. |
| David Zelenka, WWDC | N/A | |
| Floyd Field, WARWS | Procedures to determine area. | Presentations on delineation approaches will be given. |
| John Barnes, State Engineer's Office | Same | |
| Rick Schuler, BLM |
Please explain the process and the manner in which these may be protected by mandatory review and control; any voluntary controls? | A discussion of the types of management approaches, both voluntary and
regulatory, that local governments may wish to adopt for protection of their drinking
water supplies can be found in Section IV and Appendix L of Wyoming's Wellhead
Protection Guidance Document. The Source Water Assessment Plan (SWAP) to be developed with the input and assistance of the Advisory Committee should describe the procedures used to complete the assessment (i.e. Delineation, Inventory, Susceptibility Determination), not how the assessment will be used by local governments - that decision remains with the local governing body. The selection and adoption of 'management approaches' is a local government decision. |
| Ken Hamilton & Jeff Lundberg | How far up the creek/river can or should a source water protection area extend? | It can vary: presentations on delineation approaches will be given. |
| Question 5: Identification of Potential Contaminant Sources Within Source Water Protection Areas | ||
| RESPONDENT | COMMENT | WDEQ RESPONSE |
| Michael Stull, WAM |
The process used to ID these sources and what interested parties are involved during the identification process. | Various alternatives for ID'ing potential sources of contaminants exist, as well as the degree to which interested parties are involved. The Advisory Committee has a great deal of flexibility in determining which approach Wyoming should use. (See p. 2-15 and Appendix E of SWP Guidance Document) |
| Jack States, Member Non-Point Source Task Force, Public Sector
Representative |
Variable runoff and erosion of watercourses upstream of the appropriation site may deliver agricultural fertilizer, organic wastes, pesticides and herbicides. Agricultural, mining and industrial waste dumps may be cut through delivering unanticipated pollutant loads. Petroleum products incorporated in snow and rain and flushed through cities into watercourses are increasingly a significant but not fully assessed source of contamination (i.e. city of Jackson). | Noted. |
| Mark Opitz, NRCS Casper, WY |
What potential sources of contamination to PWS have already been identified? I believe that spills, i.e. pipelines, railroad, highways industrial, and agricultural should be identified as potential sources to both groundwater and surface water PWS sources. | See Appendix E of SWP Guidance Document and Table III-1 of Wyoming's Wellhead Protection Guidance Document. |
| Ted Bartke, USGS | How will surface water delineation be addressed? Entire basin? | Presentation to be given. |
| Karen M. Larsen, League of Women Voters | What programs/processes are being used/considered to proactively address contamination potential. | |
| Martha S. Horn (for Janie Nelson), Oil & Gas Commission |
We need the information for use in evaluating areas and administering our own programs. | The Advisory Committee should consider OGCC's need for information when formulating an approach on how the Source Water Assessment information will be made available to the public. |
| James C. Case, WY GS |
My concern or interest is the relationship between source water protection and wellhead/aquifer protection. | Source Water Protection occurs when a community (or other owner/operator of a Public Water System) uses the information obtained through a Source Water Assessment (i.e. Delineation, Inventory, Susceptibility Determination) to develop a local plan to protect the drinking water supply, from contamination; the drinking water supply may be supplied by a well (i.e. groundwater) or surface water. Wellhead/Aquifer Protection involves using the same types of information, but for the protection of groundwater supplies only - not surface water supplies. |
| David Zelenka, WWDC | N/A | |
| Floyd Field, WARWS | N/A | |
| John Barnes, State Engineer's Office | Same | |
| Rick Schuler, BLM |
Compare and relate this to existing programs i.e. aquifer vulnerability studies? | Aquifer vulnerability maps may be one tool that can be used to help determine the susceptibility of the drinking water supply to potential sources of contaminants within the source water area. |
| Ken Hamilton & Jeff Lundberg |
What criteria will be used for contaminant identification? | See p. 2-15 of SWP Guidance Document. One criteria that can be used is a determination as to whether a potential source of contamination is considered to be 'significant'. |
| Question 6: Susceptibility Determinations for Source Water Protection Areas | ||
| RESPONDENT | COMMENTS | WDEQ RESPONSE |
| Michael Stull, WAM | N/A | |
| Jack States, Member Non-Point Source Task Force, Public Sector Representative | The sources described above, and others, need to be identified and evaluated. Information can be obtained through cooperative assessments with other programs, e.g. TMDL's impaired streams etc.. | |
| Mark Opitz, NRCS Casper, WY |
I am not familiar with any of the methods that are used to determine susceptibility of PWS to contamination. What methods are used in Wyoming for both surface water and groundwater? | Presentation to be given. |
| Ted Bartke, USGS | Relate WHP programs to SWAP, especially how to include surface water susceptibility. | Presentation to be given. |
| Karen M. Larsen, League of Women Voters | See above. | |
| Martha S. Horn (for Janie Nelson), Oil & Gas Conservation Commission | We need the information for use in evaluating areas, and administering our own programs. | The Advisory Committee should consider OGCC's need for information when formulating an approach on how the Source Water Assessment information will be made available to the public. |
| James C. Case, WY GS | N/A | |
| David Zelenka, WWDC | N/A | |
| Floyd Field, WARWS | How will "susceptibility" be determined? What will be the basis? Will it be local in scope or broad based? Will we include all programs active in this area? | See p. 2-18 and Appendix F of SWP Guidance Document; the determination of susceptibility will be left up to the Advisory Committee and the criteria established in the guidance document. |
| John Barnes, State Engineer's Office | Same | |
| Rick Schuler, BLM |
Characterize this process and the roles of various entities. | See p. 2-18 and Appendix F of SWP Guidance Document; the determination of susceptibility will be left up to the Advisory Committee and the criteria established in the guidance document. |
| Ken Hamilton & Jeff Lundberg | ||
Chapters
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7
Glossary |
Acronyms
Appendices
A |
B |
C |
D
Wyoming's Source
Water Assessment Guidance Document Contents