Monitoring, Assessment and TMDLs

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EPA-Established TMDLs in Progress

Although most TMDLs are adopted by states, territories, or authorized tribes and then approved by EPA, EPA also establishes TMDLs in some cases if:

EPA disapproves TMDLs submitted by states, territories, or authorized tribes
States, territories, or authorized tribes do not submit TMDLs in a timely manner
EPA is required to do so pursuant to litigation settlements or judicial orders
States ask EPA to establish TMDLs for a particular water body

EPA is currently in the process of developing TMDLs for several waters in California. EPA is developing these TMDLs in cooperation with the State of California, pursuant to consent decrees which require EPA to establish certain TMDLs for water bodies in California.

Draft documents for EPA-established TMDLs will be posted here when they become available.

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Los Angeles Consent Decree TMDLs

Extension Of Consent Decree Deadline

A short extension of the consent decree deadline was granted to allow further discussion of the proposed terms of these TMDLs with stakeholders and to address public comments on the proposed TMDLs. The deadline for USEPA to approve or establish these TMDLs has been extended from March 24, 2013 to July 2, 2013. The short extension, which does not reopen the public comment period, is for the remaining TMDLs covered by the Consent Decree: Malibu Creek and Lagoon, Ventura River Estuary and Reaches 1, 2, 3 and 4. For more information, please see the Notice of the Extension.

Notice of the Extension (PDF) (4 pp, 100K)

Modification to LA Consent Decree

In 2009 and 2010, EPA determined a modification to the TMDL consent decree was appropriate and in the public interest so we sought to reach agreement with Heal the Bay, Inc., Santa Monica Baykeeper, Inc., and NRDC to modify some terms of the decree (Heal the Bay et al. v. Browner, No. C98-4825 SBA (N.D. Cal.). Briefly, Heal the Bay and Santa Monica Baykeeper (“Plaintiffs”) and EPA reached an agreement whereby 14 TMDL projects would be removed from the list of TMDLS governed by consent decree’s schedule, and 4 TMDLs would be added, resulting in a net decrease of 10 TMDLs that EPA is required to establish or approve under the consent decree. In addition, the deadline for EPA to establish or approve 7 other TMDLs will be extended by one year.

In April 2010 EPA notified interested parties that such an agreement had been reached and provided information to those parties regarding that agreement. This document provides EPA’s notification and responses to public comments (PDF) (18pp, 193k) received on the consent decree modification.

On Sept. 2, 2010, the U.S. District Court approved the modification to the consent decree, therefore EPA must either establish or approve State adopted consent decree TMDLs on or before March 24, 2012 or 2013. EPA, in consultation with the Los Angeles Regional Board, has revised the schedule for consent decree TMDL completion. This schedule is approximate (PDF) (1pp, 23k) and may be revised as long as any changes are consistent with timeframes outlined in the modified consent decree.

Los Angeles Consent Decree TMDLs Public Workshop - January 25, 2010

On January 25, 2010, EPA Region 9 staff held a public workshop in our Southern California Field Office presenting information on TMDLs to be established by EPA R9 or adopted by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board in the next two years.

The workshop described the need for EPA to establish TMDLs in addition to the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board's effort towards completing and adopting TMDLs. Due to a Consent Decree between EPA and local environmental groups (Heal the Bay Inc., et al. v. Browner, et al. C 98-4825 SBA, March 22, 1999), the State or EPA must complete TMDLs for all waterbodies identified on California's 1998 303(d) Impaired Waterbody List for the Los Angeles region by March 24, 2012. Due to the state's significant resource constraints and its longer administrative process, EPA must assist the State and complete TMDLs by the decree deadline.

At the workshop, EPA provided a short presentation (PDF) (25 pp, 260K) describing the Los Angeles Consent Decree and the remaining TMDLs to be completed, including the specific waterbody/pollutant combinations to be adopted by the Regional Board and those to be established by EPA. The presentation was followed by a Q&A with the public.

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Malibu Creek and Lagoon TMDLs

EPA Public Workshop May 1, 2013

EPA will be holding a public workshop on May 1, 2013 to discuss the Malibu Creek and Lagoon TMDL on Sedimentation and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Community. Please see the Public Notice for details.

Public Notice (PDF) (1 pp, 10K)

Draft Malibu Creek and Lagoon TMDLs Available for Public Review

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting public comments on the draft Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for Malibu Creek and Lagoon. Malibu Creek and Lagoon are on California’s list of polluted waters for the following impairments: sedimentation and benthic community impairments. In this TMDL, EPA also re-evaluated the 2003 EPA Established Malibu Creek Nutrient TMDL based on new information in the Watershed for nutrient data collected since 2003. Based on the new detailed data and analyses, EPA is proposing to revise the total nitrogen target.

Invitation to Comment
The comment period is now closed, EPA has received comment letters and is preparing a response to comments.

Public Meeting

A public meeting for the Malibu Creek and Lagoon TMDLs was held on Monday, January 14, 2013.

Contact Information
Cindy Lin (lin.cindy@epa.gov)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Southern California Field Office
600 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1460
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Tel. (213) 244-1803
Fax (213) 244-1850

Public Notice of Draft TMDLs for Malibu Creek and Lagoon (PDF) (1 pg, 100K)
Malibu Creek and Lagoon TMDLs for Sedimentation & Nutrients to address Benthic Community Impairments (PDF) (196 pp, 5M), plus Report Appendices (PDF) (90 pp, 4M)

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Ventura River Reach 3 and 4 TMDLs

Draft Ventura River Reach3 and 4 TMDLs Available for Public Review

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) solicited public comments on the draft Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for Ventura River Reach 3 and 4. Ventura River Reaches 3 and 4 are on California’s list of polluted waters for the following impairments: pumping and water diversion related water quality impairments.

Invitation to Comment

During this comment period of the Draft TMDL, USEPA invited comments from those entities impacting the assimilative capacity of Reaches 3 and 4 to provide additional information on the direct, indirect or a clear lack of impact from such activities on the water quality condition.

EPA will prepare a document summarizing how public comments were considered in the final TMDL decisions. The summary of comments and responses will be available at this website when the final TMDLs are established.

Public Meeting

A Public Meeting for the Ventura River Reach 3 and 4 TMDLs was held on Monday, January 14, 2013.