WaterNews for August 6, 1998

WaterNews is a weekly on-line publication that announces publications, policies, and activities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water.

Inside this week's WaterNews:
1) White House Announces Aid To North Carolina for Pfiesteria Fish Kill
2) Proposed Revisions to Regulations for Class V Wells

1) White House Chief of Staff Announces Aid to North Carolina for Fish Kill

White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles today announced $365,000 in new federal resources to help the state of North Carolina respond to a major fish kill on the Neuse River, and said a pending agreement with the state will provide up to $221 million more to help farmers develop long-term strategies to reduce water pollution that may contribute to such fishkills.

Federal officials who joined Bowles for the White House announcement said outbreaks of Pfiesteria and other harmful marine organisms are likely this summer along portions of U.S. coasts. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Carol Browner and Dr. D. James Baker, Under Secretary of Commerce and Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, described the Administration's coordinated strategy for anticipating and responding to such outbreaks, and called on Congress to assist those efforts by fully funding the President's Clean Water Action Plan. More information about Pfiesteria can be found at http://www.epa.gov/owow/estuaries/pfiesteria/pfiesteria.html.

2) Proposed Revisions to the Underground Injection Control Regulations for Class V Wells

On July 29, EPA published in the Federal Register Proposed Revisions to the Underground Injection Control Regulations for Class V Wells. Underground Injection Control (UIC) Class V Injection Wells are typically shallow disposal systems that are used to place a variety of fluids below the land surface, into or above underground sources of drinking water. This proposal expands upon the regulatory requirements already in place that prohibit the endangerment of underground sources of drinking water and requires Class V well owners and operators to submit basic inventory. This proposal covers wells in Source Water Protection Areas (SWPA) because waste disposal wells in these areas pose the greatest risk to public health. The Federal Register notice can be found on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/uic/c5-fr.html. Additional information about Class V wells can be found at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/uic.html.

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