EPA & USDA Collaborations on WQT

Water Quality Trading Roadmap Tool: The Roadmap is an online resource from USDA & US EPA that provides information on water quality trading in one searchable database.

Aug 1, 2016: “EPA and USDA Pledge Actions to Support America’s Growing Water Quality Trading Markets.” Full Article.

Dec 3, 2013: “USDA, EPA Partnership Supports Water Quality Trading To Benefit Environment, Economy.” Full Article.

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Regulations & Guidance:

1. EPA Water Quality Trading Webpage

• Significant Guidance Documents for Water.
• Frequently Asked Questions about Water Quality Trading.
• 2014: EPA’s Water Technology Innovation Blueprint: Ten Market Opportunities and Full Report.
• 2013: Senate Hearing: EPA Says Water Quality Trading Consistent With Clean Water Act.
• 2009: Water Quality Trading Toolkit for Permit Writers.
• 2008: Water Quality Trading Evaluation: Final Report.
• 2007: Wetlands and Water Quality Trading: Review of Current Science and Economic Practices with Selected Case Studies.
• 2006: TMDL Implementation: Characteristics of Successful Projects.
• 2004: EPA Water Quality Trading Assessment Handbook.
• 2003: EPA's Final Water Quality Trading Policy: Federal Register Issuance.
• 1999: Summary of U.S. Effluent Trading and Offset Projects. Environomics for US EPA Office of Water.

• 1999: Results of Water-Based Trading Simulation. Chuck Marshall, for Office of Science and Technology.

• State Development of Numeric Criteria for Nitrogen and Phosphorus Pollution.
• State Adoption of Numeric Nutrient Standards: (1998 - 2008).

2. EPA Watershed-based NPDES Permitting Webpage:

• NPDES Water Quality Trading: Basics and Policy.

• NPDES Water Quality Trading: Frequently Asked Questions.

• Case Studies:

  • Long Island Sound (Connecticut): General Permit for Nitrogen Discharges.
  • Rahr Malting Company (Minnesota): Final Permit.
  • Neuse River Compliance Association (North Carolina): Final Permit.
  • Tualitan River Watershed (Oregon): NPDES Permits.
  • Chesapeake Bay Watershed (Virginia): Watershed-based general permit for nutrient discharges and trading.
• 2005: EPA webcast seminar: Introduction to Trading for Water Quality Protection.
• EPA Water Quality Trading Newsletters.

3. Additional EPA Publications & Links:

• Compensatory Mitigation (Clean Water Act Section 404): Webpage.
• 2011: EPA Memorandum: Achieving Water Quality through Integrated Municipal Storm/Wastewater Plans.
• 2011: Improving Our Regulations: A Preliminary Plan for Periodic Retrospective Reviews of Existing Regulations. US EPA.
  • 2011: Comments from the Institute for Policy Integrity, NY, on EPA’s Preliminary Plan for Periodic Retrospective Reviews of Existing Regulations.
  • 2014: Progress Report for the Final Plan for Periodic Retrospective Reviews of Existing Regulations .
  • 2016: Progress Report for the Final Plan for Periodic Retrospective Reviews of Existing Regulations.
• 2010: Nutrient Control Design Manual. United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). EPA/600/R-10/100.

Targeted Watershed Grant (TWG) Program

TWG Program Home Page

US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Web Resources for Environmental Markets

• Understanding Environmental Markets
• Water Quality Markets
• Resources for Producers and Landowners
• Resources for States and Localities
• Quantification Tools
• Other Market Resources

Guidance Documents

June 2015: Building a Water Quality Trading Program: Options and Considerations, Version 1.0: Point-Nonpoint Trades. A Product of the National Network on Water Quality Trading, with USDA as a technical advisor.

USDA Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) Program:

USDA NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Home Page

USDA Farm Bill

• USDA Farm Bill Webpage
• 2014 Agriculture Act
• Conservation Measures (including market-based incentives) 
• Resources: Northeast Midwest Institution

Additional USDA Publications & Links

• Water Quality Trading: Social and Legal Issues.