ODEQ

October 16, 2000

Water Quality Standards Review, 1999-2002

Technical Advisory Committees
DEQ will establish Technical Advisory Committees to assist the Department with the
collection and assessment of scientific information pertinent to the standards under
review or other standards related work being conducted during this review cycle. The
technical committees may assist with literature review, the synthesis of relevant scientific
information and the drafting of issue papers. Depending on the parameter, technical
reviews may include identifying the most sensitive beneficial uses, determining the
constituent levels needed to protect the use, considering natural variability and potential,
and considering cumulative or synergistic effects. The technical committees will help the
Department identify and evaluate scientifically defensible standard alternatives for
review by the PAC. Policy questions that arise during technical committee discussions
will be forwarded to the policy committee.
DEQ intends to establish the following technical committees: 1) Temperature, 2)
Biocriteria and 3) Toxicants. The Department may also establish a technical committee
for nutrients and pH. Another workgroup is expected to help us with the bull trout
temperature criterion.
DEQ will seek regionally recognized technical experts from academic institutions, public
agencies and the private sector to serve on the technical committees. Expertise may be
demonstrated by a combination of educational credentials, research publication and work
experience. The individual should be recognized as an expert by others in their field of
expertise.
Temperature Technical Committee
Lead Staff:

Debra Sturdevant

Expected start-up:

November, 2000

Targeted expertise:

fish biology, fish physiology, aquatic ecology, hydrology, fluvial

geomorphology, environmental engineering

Primary tasks:

1. Develop temperature criteria for native cool and warm water

species.
2. Review technical information developed by the EPA regional
temperature project and identify questions or concerns.
3. Conduct a technical evaluation of the temperature criteria
guidance developed by the EPA regional temperature project.

4. Conduct a technical evaluation of any temperature criteria

alternatives proposed by the Department or the PAC, and identify
any alternatives the technical committee believes the Department
should consider.
Please Note: The EPA Region 10 temperature criteria project utilizes a technical
committee and a scientific peer review panel as well. The EPA technical committee is
comprised of agency personnel from state, federal and tribal governments. The scientific
peer review panel includes technical experts from non-governmental organizations. The
peer review panel was selected and is being managed by Oregon State University faculty
under contract from EPA.
The role of DEQs temperature technical committee is not to duplicate the efforts of the
EPAs technical groups. Rather, the role of the DEQ committee is to evaluate and
comment on the products of the EPA project and, possibly, to identify and evaluate
alternatives the DEQ committee believes are protective of Oregon waters and should be
considered. Also, there are specific tasks the DEQ must complete that are outside the
scope of the EPA project. The temperature technical committee will assist the
Department with these tasks.
Biocriteria Technical Committee
Lead staff:

Rick Hafele

Expected start-up:

fall, 2000

Targeted expertise:

aquatic ecology, fish biology, aquatic invertebrate assessments,

biostatistics

Primary tasks:

1. Assist the Department in evaluating bioassessment

methodologies and developing appropriate procedures for
collecting and analyzing biological data.
2. Advise the Department on the development and proposal of
numeric biocriteria for specific eco-regions.

Toxicants Technical Committee

Lead staff:

Martin Fitzpatrick

Expected start up:

2001

Targeted expertise:

aquatic ecology, fish biology & physiology, fish toxicology,

human health (biology, physiology), human toxicology,
environmental chemistry

Primary tasks:

1. Evaluate the EPA criteria for the 8 priority pollutant (pesticides)

not yet adopted by DEQ to determine whether they are protective

for Northwest species and for human health
2. Make a recommendation as to whether DEQ should adopt the
EPA criteria or consider more stringent criteria.
3. If the recommendation is to consider more stringent criteria,
recommend to the Department criteria the committee believes are
protective and appropriate for Oregon.
Nutrients & pH Technical Committee
Lead staff:

Martin Fitzpatrick

Expected start up:

Unknown

Targeted expertise:

aquatic ecology, fish biology & physiology, limnology,

environmental chemistry

Primary tasks:

1. Assist the Department with our participation in the development

of EPA Region 10 nutrient criteria.
2. Assist the Department in evaluating the EPA criteria and
alternatives and making a recommendation for criteria that are
protective and appropriate for Oregon.
3. If time allows, consider adjustments to the pH criteria for the
Crooked River basin and selected coastal basins, making
recommendations to the Department as to whether these standards
should be revised.

Bull Trout Workgroup

Lead staff:

Manette Simpson

Expected start up:

2001

Targeted expertise:

stream ecology, fish biology with particular expertise in bull trout

biology, behavior, habitat requirements and distribution

Primary tasks:

1. Review information on the current and historic distribution of

bull trout and their life history requirements.
2. Recommend to the Department the geographic area (stream
reaches) and time periods to which the temperature criterion for
bull trout should apply in order to ensure the long term viability of
present bull trout populations in the State.