Current through Vol. 42, No. 1, September 16, 2024
(a) In the course of determining applications
for stream water permits, the Board evaluates or calculates runoff data,
available stream gauge data, lake storage volumes and dependable yield data for
reservoirs, and the watershed above the proposed diversion point. The Board
protects against degradation by appropriating no more than the mean annual flow
of a stream. After July 1, 2000, the Board will also evaluate whether an
application will cause a potential impact on beneficial uses.
(b) In the course of determining maximum
annual yields of groundwater basins, the Board assumes 100 percent development
within the basin; this ensures a longer basin life because current basin
development is typically less than 20 percent of the entire basin. The maximum
annual yield procedure also identifies potential sources of contamination
within the basin. The basin studies will further determine the level of decline
in storage in the basin which could impact historic low base flow discharge
such that flow in that stream could potentially begin to be reduced due to
groundwater withdrawals. In the course of determining applications for
groundwater permits where the maximum annual yield has been determined, the
Board protects against degradation by limiting the permitted withdrawal to the
maximum annual yield allocated to the land covered by the permit, and avoiding
withdrawal that would cause contaminated groundwater or surface water to be
moved into groundwater that is not already contaminated.
(c) The Board's Clean Water SRF loans for
projects comply with antidegradation standards and lead to maintaining water
quality where beneficial uses are supported, removal of threats to water
quality where beneficial uses are in danger of not being supported, and
restoration of water quality where beneficial uses are not being supported,
based upon the following procedures:
(1) In
the course of determining eligibility of applications, the Board reviews the
proposed project's consistency with water quality management plans developed
under sections 205(j), 208, 303(e), 319 and 320 of the Clean Water Act. The
Clean Water SRF Integrated Priority Ranking System ranks projects for funding
based on human health protection, the "fishable/swimmable" goals of the Clean
Water Act, the WQS, and Oklahoma's Nonpoint Source Management Program led by
the Oklahoma Conservation Commission. All projects are placed on a five-year
Clean Water SRF Project Priority List and funded in priority order. Proposed
projects receive points based on the four major factors of project type, water
quality restoration, water quality protection, and readiness to proceed, all as
provided in
785:50-9-23.
(2) Wastewater projects under Section 212 of
the Clean Water Act are reviewed by Board staff engineers for compliance with
applicable DEQ rules, including but not limited to the Public Water Supply
Construction Standards in OAC 252:626 and the Water Pollution Control Facility
Construction rules in OAC 252:656; and consistency with the system owner's 208
water quality management plan, NPDES permit, and sludge management plans, if
required by DEQ, all designed to protect the beneficial uses of the receiving
waters. Approval of preliminary engineering design is made by the Board
following approval by DEQ. Additional preventative measures may include, but
are not limited to, design measures to prevent erosion during construction and
to prevent wastewater bypasses during construction.
(3) Recipients of loans for Section 212
wastewater projects are required to construct the projects in accordance with
plans and specifications approved by DEQ and the Board. The recipients are
required to employ a full time resident inspector. The projects are
periodically inspected by the Board staff during construction . Upon
completion, the project is placed into operation, at which time it is evaluated
by the consulting engineer and DEQ for compliance with construction and
discharge standards.
(4) Recipients
of loans for Section 319 NPS pollution control projects are required to
implement the projects in accordance with State-approved BMP to control
pollution for various NPS categories in accordance with TMDLs or other plans
established to control NPS runoff.
(d) The Board's loans from revenue bond
proceeds for construction of projects comply with antidegradation standards and
lead to maintaining water quality where beneficial uses are supported, removal
of threats to water quality where beneficial uses are in danger of not being
supported, and restoration of water quality where beneficial uses are not being
supported, based upon the following procedures:
(1)
Pre-approval procedures.
Sections
785:50-7-1 and
785:50-7-2 of
the OAC provide general rules and criteria for review and approval of proposed
bond loan projects. Among other requirements, the project is reviewed for
feasibility and identification of water quality mitigative measures necessary
to protect the beneficial uses of receiving waters. These measures may include,
but are not limited to, design measures to prevent erosion during construction
and to prevent wastewater bypasses during construction. Additionally, all
projects are reviewed by Board staff engineers for compliance with applicable
rules of the DEQ, including but not limited to the Public Water Supply
Construction Standards in OAC 252:626, and the Water Pollution Control Facility
Construction rules in OAC 252:656; and for consistency with the system owner's
208 water quality management plan, NPDES permit, and sludge management plans
issued by DEQ, all designed to protect the beneficial uses of receiving waters.
Approval of preliminary engineering design is made by the Board following
approval by DEQ.
(2)
Procedures following approval. After a revenue bond loan project
is approved by the Board, it is monitored to assure it is constructed in
accordance with planning documents and plans and specifications approved by the
Board and DEQ. Loan recipients are required to employ a full time resident
inspector to oversee construction progress. In addition, construction projects
receive periodic oversight from a consulting engineer and the Board staff
engineer. Upon completion, the project is placed into operation, at which time
it is evaluated by the consulting engineer and DEQ for compliance with
construction and discharge standards.
(e) The Board's emergency grants for
construction of projects comply with antidegradation standards and lead to
maintaining water quality where beneficial uses are supported, removal of
threats to water quality where beneficial uses are in danger of not being
supported, and restoration of water quality where beneficial uses are not being
supported, based upon the following procedures:
(1)
Pre-approval procedures.
Section
785:50-7-5
of the OAC provides a priority system which ranks proposed emergency grant
projects for review and approval according to certain factors and criteria.
Among other requirements, the project is reviewed for feasibility and
identification of water quality mitigative measures necessary to protect the
beneficial uses of receiving waters. These measures may include, but are not
limited to, design measures to prevent erosion during construction and to
prevent wastewater bypasses during construction. Additionally, all projects are
reviewed by Board staff engineers for compliance with applicable rules of the
DEQ, including but not limited to the Public Water Supply Construction
Standards in OAC 252:626 and the Water Pollution Control Facility Construction
rules in OAC 252:656; and for consistency with the system owner's 208 water
quality management plan, NPDES permit, and sludge management plans issued by
DEQ, all designed to protect the beneficial uses of receiving waters. Approval
of preliminary engineering design is made by the Board following approval by
DEQ.
(2)
Procedures following
approval. After an emergency grant project is approved by the Board, it
is monitored to assure it is constructed in accordance with plans and
specifications approved by the Board and DEQ. Emergency grant recipients are
required to employ a full time resident inspector to oversee construction
progress. In addition, construction projects receive periodic oversight from a
consulting engineer and the Board staff engineer. Upon completion, the project
is placed into operation, at which time it is evaluated by the consulting
engineer and DEQ for compliance with construction and discharge
standards.
(f) The
Board's Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP) Grant Program for construction of
projects complies with antidegradation standards and leads to maintaining water
quality where beneficial uses are supported, removal of threats to water
quality where beneficial uses are in danger of not being supported, and
restoration of water quality where beneficial uses are not being supported,
based upon the following procedures:
(1)
Pre-approval procedures. Sections
785:50-8-3
and
785:50-8-4
of the OAC provide general rules and criteria for review and approval of
proposed REAP projects, while Section
785:50-8-5
provides a priority system which ranks proposed REAP grant projects according
to certain factors and criteria. Among other requirements, the project is
reviewed for feasibility and identification of water quality mitigative
measures necessary to protect the beneficial uses of receiving waters. These
measures may include, but are not limited to, design measures to prevent
erosion during construction and to prevent wastewater bypasses during
construction. Additionally, all projects are reviewed by Board staff engineers
for compliance with applicable rules of the DEQ, including but not limited to
the Public Water Supply Construction Standards in OAC 252:626 and the Water
Pollution Control Facility Construction rules in OAC 252:656; and for
consistency with the system owner's 208 water quality management plan, NPDES
permit, and sludge management plans issued by DEQ, all designed to protect the
beneficial uses of receiving waters. Approval of preliminary engineering design
is made by the Board following approval by DEQ.
(2)
Procedures following
approval. After a REAP grant project is approved by the Board, it is
monitored to assure it is constructed in accordance with plans and
specifications approved by the Board and DEQ. REAP grant recipients are
required to employ a full time resident inspector to oversee construction
progress. In addition, construction projects receive periodic oversight from a
consulting engineer and the Board staff engineer. Upon completion, the project
is placed into operation, at which time it is evaluated by the consulting
engineer and DEQ for compliance with construction and discharge
standards.
(g) In
carrying out its various clean lakes programs, the Board complies with
antidegradation standards, and leads to maintenance of water quality where
beneficial uses are supported, removal of threats to water quality where
beneficial uses are in danger of not being supported, and restoration of water
quality where beneficial uses are not being supported, in the following ways:
(1) The Board participates with
municipalities and federal agencies in conducting lake water quality
assessments and studying the problems causing impairment or
pollution.
(2) The Board makes
recommendations for removal of pollutants, watershed restoration and management
activities, and controlling nonpoint source pollution through implementation of
best management practices.
(3) In
some instances the Board enters into contracts for implementation of pollution
control measures on threatened or impaired waterbodies.
Added at 18 Ok Reg 3379,
eff 8-13-01; Amended at 22 Ok Reg 1607, eff 7-1-05; Amended at 25 Ok Reg 1455,
eff 7-1-08
