Project Summary

Nutrient Criteria Development

1. Project ID
Name	Nutrient Criteria Development
Region	Gulf of Mexico Region
State	MS
Location	Mississippi Coast
Date of this update	9/14/00

2. Problem(s) addressed (check one or more)

Habitat Restoration/Protection
Wetlands
River systems
Beaches/Dunes
Offshore areas
Mangroves
Assisting Species at Risk
Pollution Mitigation Development of water quality standards for nutrients
Non-Point Source Pollution
Other (describe)

3. Project description (100 words or less)

By December 2003, states are required to adopt water quality standards for nutrients. A state may use nutrient criteria developed by EPA or some other defensible nutrient standards development process. The Commission on environmental Quality is responsible for adopting water quality standards in MS. However, due to the complexity of this issue, a collaborative process is needed to gain input from a broad base of experts. This collaborative process can be most readily accomplished by forming a Nutrient Task Force to assist and advise MDEQ in making the best decision for MS as a whole in establishing nutrient water quality standards.

The NTF would be comprised of state and federal agency personnel with extensive knowledge of the role of nutrients in the environment. The size of the NTF should be approximately 7-10 people. The role of the NTF is an advisory capacity. The NTF should assist and advise the MDEQ in its responsibility to develop nutrient water quality standards.

4. Goals/Benefits (quantify where possible using measures of success list) Was a cost-benefit study conducted for this project? yes/no If yes, provide a summary of findings.

5. Partners (include each participant's responsibilities - funding, permitting, etc.)

Federal
Lead:
Others:
Non Federal
State government:
Local government:
Private industry:
Public interest groups:
Educational Facility:

6. Funding/Contributions (organization and amount)

Cash

Federal

Non Federal

State government
Local government
Private industry
Public interest groups

Total

In-Kind Services (hours, equipment, or other forms of assistance and estimated dollar value)

Volunteers (number of people and hours, and estimated dollar value)

7. Legislative authorities used by each participant

8. Value added by Coastal America Partnership including Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) goals achieved through this collaboration (500 words or less)

9. Project Status

Feb-April 2000	MDEQ in-house review of process, contact team members for NTF
April 2000	Activate NTF May 2000 Bring in contractor
Sept 2000	Final data collection plan
Oct 00-Sept 2001	Data collection (contractor to do monitoring)
Dec 2001	EPA Regional Criteria to be Published
Jan01-Oct 2002	NTF data assessment including new monitoring data
Nov 2002	NTF recommendations to MDEQ on standards
Jan 2003	MDEQ issues draft standards
Feb 2003	Commission approval for PN
March 2003	Public Notice
April 2003	Public Hearing
Oct 2003	Commission Approval
Dec 2003	Final Standards adopted

Initiation date:
Completion date:
Current stage (Initiated - I, Underway - U or Completed - C)

10. Contacts

Project Manager	Leslie Barkley Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality PO Box 10385 Jackson, MS 39289-0385 601-961-5667 601-961-5376 (fax) Leslie_Barkley@deq.state.ms.us
Others

11. Any additional information/comments