WSP08256

• File Number: 8272.100.60
• Description: Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 10/1/2002
• Author: CRBSCF
• Title: 2002 Review - Water Quality Standards for Salinity - Colorado River System
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

vehicle uSe. The impact of these uses on salt contributions to the river system needs to be better
understood.

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Analysis ofBLM Effort

Congress has, by law, instructed that the BLM should prepare a report to Congress outlining
a BLM program for salinity control. That report is in review and had not been released at the time
of the writing of this report. Future efforts planned by the BLM to control salt contributions from
lands administered by the agency may be better understood upon the release of the report. In past
triennial reviews, there has been reported tons of salt controlled by BLM efforts. It has now come
to be understood by the Forum that the BLM does not know ifits management oflands over the last
several years has resulted in more or less salt being contributed to the river from these lands. If, in
fact, more salt is being contributed then it would be inaccurate for the Forum to credit past favorable
actions and to project, at this time, salt savings by BLM management in the future. Therefore, this
report does not predict gains or losses with respect to salinity control by BLM efforts.

Environmental Protection Agency

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits are issued by EP A for
the two non-delegated states in the Basin (Arizona and New Mexico), and for all Indian tribes. In
Arizona, the State drafts the permits for Arizona waters consistent with the Forum's NPDES policies.
The State also provides the public notices. EP A Region IX issues the state-drafted Arizona permits
and drafts and issues permits for tribal waters consistent with the Forum's policies. EP A Region IX
issues permits for Navajo lands in all three EP A regions. EP A Region VI drafts and issues permits
for Tribal and State waters in the New Mexico portion of the Basin consistent with Forum policies.
EP A Region VIII issues the NPDES permits for Indian facilities in Region VIII's portion of the
Colorado River Basin, and all federal facilities within the State of Colorado. Salinity requirements
for these permits are reviewed and added where needed during the permit re-issuance process.

State Programs

Overview

A major element of the state programs is the ability of the Basin states to cost-share in the
Reclamation and the USDA programs. This allows, for additional funds to be made available from
the Basin states' fund through up-front cost-sharing to move the salinity control effort ahead. At
current federal funding levels, the Basin states contribute about $8 million each year. Basin states'
funds are available to cost-share in a larger program if federal dollars were to be increased.

The states' portion of the Plan of Implementation, as set forth in this and earlier Forum
Reviews, also includes effluent limitations on industrial point source discharges with the objective

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