1. Water Quality Trading in Washington Helen Bresler (360) 407-6180

2. Water quality trading must meet three objectives: Comply with Washington’s water quality standards and the Clean Water Act. Result in water quality trades that are verifiable and fully enforceable. Promote cost-effective water quality protection and restoration.

3. Where are we in the process? Idaho has a trading policy. Washington is developing one—Spokane will be the pilot. The state programs may not be identical, but will be compatible. Will be designed to allow cross-border trading.

4. Key Principles Credits are generated by controlling pollution beyond what is required by a load or wasteload allocation. Technology-based effluent limits cannot be met by trading. Trading may not result in exceedence of water quality standards, violation of antidegradation requirements, or cap established by TMDL. Credits should be generated and used within the same time period.

5. Key Principles Pollution controls used for trading must be secured using binding legal instruments. Must have system in place to ensure compliance— record-keeping, inspections, enforcement. Regularly assess results to modify and improve the program. Provide adequate public notice and program transparency.

6. Tasks to accomplish Determine what qualifies as a trade. Identify actions and activities that may be used for trading in the Spokane watershed. Quantify the reductions expected from the identified actions and activities. Establish trading ratios.

7. To help us make progress together Take a look at EPA’s trading page http://water.epa.gov/type/watersheds/trading.cfm http://water.epa.gov/type/watersheds/trading.cfm And Idaho’s guidance http://www.deq.state.id.us/water/prog_issues/waste_water/pollutant_trading /pollutant_trading_guidance_0710.pdf