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WaterNews for September 3, 1998WaterNews 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) STORET Water Quality Data System ModernizedToday EPA announced the modernization of STORET, EPA's STOrage and RETrieval system for water quality data. The new, modernized system is designed to better meet the emerging data and information needs associated with watershed protection. It will serve as EPA's principal repository for marine, freshwater, and biological monitoring data and as the standard data storage system within EPA's Office of Water. To receive a copy of the new STORET, E-mail STORET@epa.gov. For more information about STORET, visit the STORET web site at http://www.epa.gov/owow/STORET/. 2) EPA Issues Overview of America's Drinking WaterToday EPA issued a report describing the nation's progress toward meeting the goal that all Americans have safe water to drink. The report outlines information on public water system compliance with drinking water standards in 1996 and the steps taken since the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments. The report finds that the majority of the population served by public water systems -- approximately 86 percent -- drink water that meets EPA's health-based standards. For a copy of the report, visit http://www.epa.gov/safewater/highl.html. 3) Draft Guidance for Federal Consistency with State Nonpoint Source ProgramsOn August 26, EPA published draft Federal Consistency Guidance with state nonpoint source management programs in the Federal Register. The federal consistency provisions in Section 319 of the Clean Water Act authorize each state to review federal activities for consistency with the state nonpoint source management program. If the state determines that an application or project is not consistent with the goals and objectives of its nonpoint source management program and makes its concerns known to the responsible federal agency, the federal agency must make efforts to accommodate the state's concerns or explain its decision not to. The purpose of the guidance is to support closer coordination among state and Federal agencies, improve implementation of nonpoint source management programs, and more effectively protect water quality. EPA is requesting comment on the Federal Consistency Guidance for 90 days. The Guidance is available on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/owow/NPS/. 4) Acting Assistant Administrator for Water Testifies on BeachesOn August 6, 1998, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment held a hearing on H.R. 2094, the Beaches Environmental Assessment, Closure, and Health Act of 1997. EPA's Acting Assistant Administrator for Water, J. Charles Fox, testified in support of the legislation. The bill contains provisions addressing state adoption of EPA's 1986 bacteriological criteria, research to support more comprehensive indicators and more expeditious monitoring methods, and monitoring and notification requirements for Great Lakes and coastal recreation waters. The testimony can be found at http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/beaches/new.html on the Internet. Please forward this message to your friends and colleagues who share an interest in water-related issues and would like to hear from EPA's Office of Water. To subscribe to the WaterNews listserve:
A welcome message will appear in your email box once you are officially subscribed. WaterNews will be sent to you at the end of each week. If you encounter difficulties subscribing to this list server or if you would like to be taken off the WaterNews list server at any time, please send your E-mail address to Gloria Posey at Posey.Gloria@epa.gov.
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