July 8, 2009

Mr. Glenn Curtis 

Chief, Wastewater and Infrastructure Management Branch

United States Environmental Protection Agency

901 North 5th Street

Kansas City, KS  66101

Subject:		Vessel General Permit (VGP) and Recreational Vessel Permit
(RGP)

		Request for Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 401 Certification

Dear Mr. Curtis:

After reviewing a request from the American Waterway Operators for a
revised State 401 Water Quality Certification, the Iowa Department of
Natural Resources has issued the enclosed Certification.  

If you have any questions or comments about the certification or any
conditions contained therein, please contact me at the address shown
below or call (515) 281-6615.

Sincerely,

Christine M. Schwake

Environmental Specialist

IOWA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

SECTION 401 WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION

Certified Projects:

US Environmental Protection Agency National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System Permits:

General Permit for Discharges Incidental to the Normal Operation of
Commercial and Large Recreational Vessels

General Permit for Discharges Associated with Recreational Vessels



US Environmental Protection Agency No.:  EPA-HQ-OW-2008-0056

State 401 Water Quality Certification, Application Log No.: 
08-Iowa-07-03-S



Water quality use designations:

Existing surface water uses and the level of water quality necessary to
protect the existing uses will be maintained and protected.  All waters
of the state are classified for protection of beneficial uses.  At a
minimum, all surface waters in Iowa, including those designated for
Class “A”, “B”, and/or “C” are classified for the following
general uses:  livestock and wildlife watering, noncontact recreation,
crop irrigation, and industrial, agricultural, domestic, and other
incidental withdrawal uses.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has issued this State
401 Water Quality Certification pursuant to Section 401 of the Clean
Water Act.  The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may
not issue a permit authorizing discharges into the waters of Iowa until
the IDNR has granted this certification under Clean Water Act Section
401.  Section 401 Certification represents the IDNR's concurrence that
the project certified is consistent with the Water Quality Standards of
the state of Iowa as set forth in Chapter 61, Iowa Administrative Code.

Subject to the attached conditions, incorporated by reference herein,
the IDNR has determined that there is reasonable assurance the proposed
activities will be conducted in a manner that will not violate water
quality standards of the state of Iowa.

Prepared By:

Date Executed:	July 8, 2009

Christine M. Schwake, IDNR, Wallace State Office Building, Des Moines,
IA 50319-0034    (515) 281-6615

CONDITIONS:

Permittee is responsible for securing and for compliance with such other
permits or approvals as may be required by the IDNR, federal, state, or
local governmental agencies for the project activities described.

If the vessel discharges oil or hazardous substances in the water,
immediately call the U.S. Coast Guard at 1-800-424-8802 and the IDNR
Emergency Response Unit at 1-515-281-8694.

It is illegal for anglers to possess, introduce, purchase, sell, or
transport aquatic invasive species in Iowa except when a species is
being removed from watercraft or equipment, is caught and immediately
killed or returned to the water from which it came, or is being
transported in a sealed container for identification purposes.  It is
also illegal to introduce any live fish, except for hooked bait, into
public waters.

It is illegal to dump trash into federally controlled or state waters.

It is illegal to discharge oil or hazardous substances into the water.

Oil may not be dumped into the bilge of the vessel without means for
proper disposal.

Oil waste must be disposed of at an approved reception facility.  On
recreational vessels, a bucket or bailer is adequate for temporary
storage.

Recreational vessels with installed toilets must have an operable marine
sanitation device on board.  All installed devices must be U.S. Coast
Guard-certified.

The United States Coast Guard’s Mandatory Practices for all vessels
with ballast tanks on all waters of the United States, regardless of
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Entry (33 CFR 151.2035(a)) must be
followed.

COMMENTS:

The U.S. Coast Guard states that the ballast water management practices
shall not jeopardize the safety of a vessel, its crew, or its
passengers.  If the master of a vessel decides the practices would be a
threat to safety, stability, or security due to adverse weather, vessel
design, equipment failure or any other extraordinary condition.  All
vessels, however, must discharge only the minimal amount of ballast
water operationally necessary and ensure ballast water records
accurately reflect any reasons for not complying with the mandatory
requirements.  (For Coast Guard’s Standards, see   HYPERLINK
"http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/mso/ans.htm" 
www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/mso/ans.htm  )

To view the handbook of Iowa Boating Laws and Responsibility, see  
HYPERLINK "http://www.boat-ed.com/ia/handbook/wastedischarge.htm" 
www.boat-ed.com/ia/handbook/wastedischarge.htm  .

The following actions will help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive
species from recreational vessels:  Inspect the boat, trailer, and
equipment and remove any visible plants, animals, or mud before leaving
a water body.

Drain water from the boat, motor, live well, bilge, waders, hip boots,
and bait containers before leaving a water body.

Avoid running engine through aquatic plants.  Remove aquatic plants,
animals, and mud from water intake grate, steering nozzle, watercraft
hull, trailer, waders, hip boots, and fishing equipment.

Run the engine for 5-10 seconds on the trailer to blow out excess water
and vegetation from the internal drive and then turn off the engine.

Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash.  Never release fish, animals, or
plants into a water body unless they came from that water body.

Rinse or dry the boat, trailer, and fishing equipment to remove or kill
species that were not visible when leaving the water body.  Before
transporting to another water body, rinse with high pressure and/or hot
(104 degrees) water or dry for at least five days.

Learn to identify aquatic nuisance species and report any suspected
sightings to the nearest IDNR fisheries station.

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 ref date Error! Reference source not found. 

502 EAST 9th STREET / DES MOINES, IOWA 50319-0034

515-281-5918      FAX 515-281-8895      www.iowadnr.gov



United States Environmental Protection Agency

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System

Vessel General Permit for Discharges Incidental to the Normal Operation
of Commercial Vessels and Large Recreational Vessels

General Permit for Discharges Associated with Recreational Vessels

US EPA No. EPA-HQ-OW-2008-0056

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