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Notice of Availability: Draft Guidance on Implementing the Water Quality-Based Provisions in the Combined Sewer Overflow Control Policy

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

 [Federal Register: January 3, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 2)]
[Notices]
[Page 364-365]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03ja01-47]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6928-1]


Notice of Availability: Draft Guidance on Implementing the Water
Quality-Based Provisions in the Combined Sewer Overflow Control Policy

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice; availability of draft guidance.

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SUMMARY: This document announces that the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is publishing Draft Guidance On Implementing The Water
Quality-Based Provisions in the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control
Policy. The guidance is designed to address questions raised since the
publication of the CSO Control Policy in 1994 on integrating the long-
term control plan (LTCP) development process with the water quality
standards review. As outlined in the guidance, EPA will continue to
implement the CSO Control Policy through its existing statutory and
regulatory authorities. The guidance cannot impose legally binding
requirements on EPA, States, Tribes, or the regulated community. It
cannot substitute for Clean Water Act (CWA) requirements, EPA's
regulations, or the obligations imposed by consent decrees or
enforcement orders.

DATES: Public Comments: All public comments on the draft guidance must
be received on or before March 5, 2001. All comments should be
submitted in writing to the address listed below.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Timothy Dwyer, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, ICC Building (MC 4203M), 1200
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460. Commenters are also
requested to submit an original and 3 copies of their written comments
as well as an original and 3 copies of any attachments, enclosures, or
other documents referenced in the comments.
    EPA will also accept comments electronically. Comments should be
addressed to the following e-mail address: dwyer.tim@epa.gov.
Electronic comments must be submitted as an ASCII, WordPerfect 5.1/6.1/
8 format file and avoid the use of special characters or any form of
encryption.
    Interested persons may obtain a copy of the guidance from the
Office of Wastewater Management's website (http://www.epa.gov/owm/
cso.htm) or by contacting the Office of Water Resources Center at 202-
260-7786 (e-mail: center.water-resource@epa.gov); mailing address is:
Office of Water Resources Center, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
RC-4100, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460. Please
request, ``Draft Guidance on Implementing the Water Quality-Based
Provisions in the Combined Sewer Overflow Control Policy'' (EPA Number
833-D-00-002; December 2000).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Timothy Dwyer, Office of Wastewater
Management, Water Permits Division, MC 4203M, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue,
NW, Washington, DC 20460, Telephone: 202-564-0717.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA issued the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO)
Control Policy in April 1994 (59 FR 18688). To date, EPA has released
seven guidance documents and worked with stakeholders to foster
implementation of the Policy. The CSO Control Policy calls for the
development of a long-term control plan (LTCP), which includes measures
that provide for compliance with the Clean Water Act including
attainment of water quality standards. The CSO Control Policy provides
that the LTCP should be coordinated with the review and revision, as
appropriate, of water quality standards and implementation procedures
on CSO-impacted receiving waters. This process is intended to ensure
that the long-term controls will be sufficient to meet water quality
standards (59 FR 18694).
    As part of EPA's FY 1999 Appropriation, Congress directed EPA to
develop guidance on the conduct of water quality standards and
designated use reviews for CSO-receiving waters, and urged EPA to
provide technical and financial assistance to States and EPA Regions to
conduct these reviews. In response, EPA hosted three stakeholder
listening sessions in the Spring of 1999 and an experts workshop on
September 24, 1999. The purpose of these meetings was to obtain
participants' views on the impediments to implementing the water
quality-based provisions in the CSO Control Policy. The guidance
addresses many of the stakeholders' concerns, and recommends actions
that EPA, State and Interstate Water Pollution Control

[[Page 365]]

Directors, and CSO communities can take to address their concerns.
    The objective of this guidance is to lay a strong foundation for
integrating CSO long-term control planning with water quality standards
reviews. Reaching early agreement among CSO communities, States, EPA,
and the public on the data to be collected and the analyses to be
conducted to support the long-term control plan development and water
quality standards reviews can facilitate the review of water quality
standards and the reconciliation of water quality standards with an
affordable, well-designed and operated CSO control programs.
    The guidance describes the process for integrating LTCP development
and implementation with the water quality standards review. This
process is the centerpiece of EPA's renewed commitment to assure that
both communities with combined sewer systems and States participate in
implementing the water quality-based provisions in the CSO Control
Policy. The CSO Control Policy anticipates the ``review and revision,
as appropriate, of water quality standards and their implementation
procedures when developing CSO control plans to reflect site-specific
impacts of CSOs.'' Integrating CSO long-term control planning with
water quality standards reviews requires extensive coordination among
CSO communities, States, EPA, and the public. Although this
coordination is an intensive iterative process, it provides greater
assurance that CSO communities will implement affordable CSO control
programs that support the attainment of appropriate water quality
standards.

    Dated: December 20, 2000.
J. Charles Fox,
Assistant Administrator for Water.
[FR Doc. 01-113 Filed 1-2-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

 
 

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