Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2007

EPA’s Role in Protecting Coastal Water Quality

June 6, 2007 Economics of Coastal Communities Panel

Craig Hooks, DirectorOffice of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds

US Environmental Protection Agency

Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2007

Protecting and Restoring Ocean/Coastal Water Quality and Ecosystems

• Clean water is essential for healthy coastal communities

• Economic benefits of ocean and coastal waters and ecosystems are significant

• Benefits depend on clean water and healthy ecosystems

• Water quality and living resource degradation in many coastal watersheds is a problem

• Threats come from various activities, including those far upstream

Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2007

• EPA’s role in coastal communities:

– Subcommittee on Integrated Management of Ocean Resources (SIMOR)

– National Estuary Program

– Green infrastructure in coastal communities

Today’s Presentation

Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2007

The Ocean Action Plan—Integrating Federal Activity

• SIMOR—interagency body promoting Federal agency collaboration

• Work plan targets four priority areas– Regional collaborations– Science/management integration– Enhance resource management to improve use and

conservation– Enhance ocean education

Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2007

National Estuary Program

Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2007

NEP National Coastal Condition Report

Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2007

Green Infrastructure in Coastal Communities

Pervious Parking

Green Roof

• Cleaner, Cheaper, Smarter– Uses or mimics natural processes

– Generates ecological services

– Keeps water on-site, out of sewer systems

– Reduces combined sewer overflow and stormwater discharges to rivers, streams, estuaries, and coasts

– Eliminates significant discharges of sediment, pathogens, and other pollutants

Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2007

Green Infrastructure

• Helps coastal communities:– control stormwater and

combined sewer overflows– comply with permits and the

Clean Water Act– protect sources of clean

drinking water– keep beaches and shellfish

beds open– save money on traditional

concrete & steel treatment technologies

Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2007

Green Infrastructure

• Growing list of coastal communities:

− Portland (OR)− Seattle (WA)− Chicago (IL)− Philadelphia (PA)− New York (NY)− Prince George’s Co. (MD)− Emoryville (CA)− Warsaw and Stafford counties (VA)

Seattle Green Street

Boston City Hall Green Roof

Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2007

• Green Highways Partnership– Diverts flow to medians and rights of way– Protects critical habitat– Uses recycled materials– Promotes permeable

pavements, and other cutting-edge technologies

Green Infrastructure

Prince George’s County, MD

Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2007

Thank You

For more information: EPA – http://www.epa.gov/owow

SIMOR – http://ocean.ceq.gov

NEP – http: //www.epa.gov/owow/estuaries