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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />ChaDter III <br /> <br />Existina Resoonsibilities. Authorities. and Proaramsfor <br />Control of Nonooint Sources <br /> <br />~, <br />..... <br />(.ft Introduction <br />~ <br /> <br />The goal of Section 319 of the Clean Water Act is to control nonpoint sources <br />of water pollution. In order to achieve this goal roles of regulatory <br />authorities, responsibilities of land management agencies, and the <br />applic8bility of various funding programs must be analyzed to find the proper <br />approach for control of 'these problems. A number of agencies located at the <br />local, state and federal levels of government are currently involved in or ' <br />have responsibility for nonpoint sources control. In most cases no additional <br />authority, will be required to solve nonpoint source water problems. The <br />Object of this chapter is to define the existing structure of nonpoint source <br />control authorities and programs which may be utilized for specific nonpoint <br />abatement projects. <br /> <br />I. State Water Oualitv Reoulatorv Authoritv <br /> <br />The control of water quality in Colorado is established in the Colorado Water <br />'Quality Control Act (CRS 25-a-10l). This law provides regulatory and <br />administrative power to the Colorado Department of Health to control water <br />quality. The Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC), established 'by the law, <br />may adopt regulations necessary for the protection of water quality. <br /> <br />$ection 25-6-205, control Reaulations specifically empowers the WQCC with this <br />regulatory authority which may include control of nonpoint sources. This <br />regulatory power may be used to either control specific nonpoint sources which <br />affect waterbodies or may set quality standards which protect water bodies and <br />may thereby require control of nonpoint sources to achieve those standards, <br />Regulations may also be adopted which provide an administrative procedure for <br />voluntary actions designed to control nonpoint sources. These regulatory <br />authorities offer avenues for control of nonpoint sources when voluntary, <br />incentive or other nonregulatory measures have failed. Examples of regulatory <br />control of nonpointsources in Colorado include the 'Lake Dillon (4.1.0 'of WQcc <br />regulations) and Cherry Creek Reservoir (4.2.0 of WQCC regulations) phosphorus, <br />control regulations. An example of regulation which allows voluntary actions <br />is 4.5.0 of the WQCC regulations, .Passive Treatment of Mine Drainage <br />Regulations." <br /> <br />The Water Quality Control Division of the Department of Health is the <br />administrative body charged with protection of water quality in Colorado. The <br />Division is responsible for the issuance of discharge permits, enforcement of <br />WQCC adopted regulations, and monitoring water quality in Colorado. <br />Significant in this regard, from a nonpoint source perspective, is the <br />issuance of permits for stormwater discharge. This Federally mandated program <br />will be in place by 1992 and will provide for permits to control urban runoff <br />quality in major metropolitan areas. <br /> <br />The Division also administers the Passive Treatment of Mine Drainage Control <br />Regulation which provides a method for voluntary control of nonpoint source <br />abandoned/inactive mine pollution. <br /> <br />Page 24 <br /> <br />., <br /> <br />": <br />" <br />',' <br /> <br /> <br />~ <br />