From: Edwards, Susan (DEQ)
Sent: Friday, February 05, 2010 10:58 AM
To: Pillis, Lewis (DEQ); Foster, Kip (DEQ)
Subject: RE: jackson river TMDL meeting
Lewis,
Thank you for putting together a summary of the meeting.
I didn't bring home my notes from the meeting but will review them on Tuesday and see if I need to make any additions.
 
The biggest thing I came away with is that we should have in hand the draft TMDL document within the next 7-10 days for review.  Jason Hill would like us to give it a 'fresh eyes' review particularly looking for discharges that aren't included & others that have now ceased discharge.  This will allow some clean-up prior to the Public Meeting on March 4th at the Alleghany County Administrative Offices.  I think Jason indicated the meeting is at 6:30 p.m.
 
Jason said that the Philadelphia Academy had dome the DEQ training for sampling techniques for Periphyton so there should be a good interface with the data they gathered for MeadWestvaco's DO model. 
The 3-year study to measure the effects of pulsing Gathright releases on the downstream community will provide field validating modeling work.  Always a challenge when considering the complexity of natural conditions to even the most dynamic of models.
I would like to see what they are proposing to sample in water quality parameters in addition to metals.  Specific water quality battery of parameters are of interest to us to supplement the monitoring group's numbered scores. 
 
I recall Jason also brought up some new EPA field monitoring stations in the area.
 
Jon Langford commented that the County is combining the nutrient loads of Lower Jackson & Low Moor to comply with the Chesapeake Bay Nutrient GP.
 
Thanks, Susan

From: Pillis, Lewis (DEQ)
Sent: Thursday, February 04, 2010 4:43 PM
To: Foster, Kip (DEQ)
Cc: Edwards, Susan (DEQ)
Subject: jackson river TMDL meeting

The meeting went smoothly, here are the major items I noted.  Susan may have a different view though.

 

Jason stated the plans for a 3 year study of the Jackson around the WTP and Covington specifically looking at impacts from pulses planned from the Lake.  He noted that they will have to release from the lake bottom to get the flow they need, 3000 cfs, and it could cause the river to get murky.  Among other things they will look at dissolved metals, TDS sulfate and chloride that could impact the WTP.

 

I think Jason said the agreement with the corps has been signed, however, Arthur Butt noted there were still a couple of financial items to clear up.

 

T. Botkins mentioned that the proposed hydropower structure, via Jim Price, has been proposed in different forms for years and don’t count on it to provide a means to discharge pulses from the lake without taking water off the lake bottom.  He brought up the fact that their proposed orthophosphate limit, 0.21 mg/l, is below the technology limit, which is for WWTPs.  Their situation should  be different since they are not treating sewage and they add phosphorus to the WWTP.  WWTPs limit is a little higher at 0.5 mg/l.

 

Near the end of the meeting Jon Lanford said that Covington was not going to upgrade to meet the Bay limits.  It was noted that buying credits will not help them meet the TMDL limit.  Once the Lower Jackson plant comes on line in May or June 2011, Covington will be remaining problem.   I asked if NPS discharge from the Covington landfill [enters Dunlap crk] had enough impact that adding BMPs could increase Covington’s allocation.  Jason said that Dunlap showed very low TP so that it had little impact on the model.

 

Jon also said that the Patrick Henry Boys home is connecting to the County sewer.

I sent Jason Sponaugle DMR data so they can mention this discharge in the TMDL.

 

Lewis Pillis, P. E.

Water Permit Writer

VA DEQ

3019 Peters Creek Rd

Roanoke, Va  24019

540-562-6789