WaterNews for October 28, 1999

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. House Hears Testimony on the Nation's Clean Water Program
2. President Clinton Announces Protections for Forests
3. Girl Scout Water Drop Patch Project Unveiled
4. Comment Period Extended for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations Permitting Guidance
5. Gulf Hypoxia Task Force Meeting

1. House Hears Testimony on the Nation's Clean Water Program

On October 18, J. Charles Fox, Assistant Administrator for Water, testified before the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on EPA's national water program. The Assistant Administrator discussed the Clean Water Action Plan, Clean Lakes program reauthorization, and proposals to amend the Clean Water Act. For a copy of the testimony, visit http://www.epa.gov/ocirpage/testimony/101899cf.htm on the Internet.

2. President Clinton Announces Protections for Forests

On October 13, President Clinton launched an effort to preserve millions
of pristine acres within America's national forests. President Clinton
directed the US Forest Service to develop, and propose for public
comment, regulations to provide appropriate long-term protection for most
or all of the currently inventoried "roadless" forest areas, and to
determine whether such protection is warranted for any smaller
"roadless" forest areas not yet inventoried. The new rule proposed
by the U.S. Forest Service would prohibit road building in more than 40
million acres of "roadless" area, from the Appalachian Mountains to the
Rockies to the Sierra Nevada.

This is the completion of a key action under the President's Clean Water
Action Plan. For the President's memorandum to the Forest Service, visit
http://www.pub.whitehouse.gov/uri-res/I2R?urn:pdi://oma.eop.gov.us/1999/10/13/5.text.1. on the Internet.

3. Girl Scout Water Drop Patch Project Unveiled

EPA announced the release of a new Water Drop Patch Project, a
collaborative effort between the Girl Scouts of the USA and EPA. The
project, which began as a pilot in the Washington, D.C. area, is now
national. The project includes twenty different watershed activities in
which Girl Scouts can get involved. Once they complete a requisite
number of activities, Girl Scouts earn a water drop patch to wear on
their uniforms.

To assist with the program, EPA published a Water Drop Patch Project
booklet with detailed background information on watersheds, polluted
runoff, wetlands, groundwater, and drinking water. The booklet is
available on EPA's Web Page at http://www.epa.gov/adopt/patch on the
Internet

4. Comment Period Extended for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations Permitting Guidance

The comment period for the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) permitting guidance has been extended by 30 days to November 24, 1999. In August, 1999, EPA published a draft guidance manual and example NPDES permit for permitting authorities, key actions of the USDA-EPA Unified National Strategy for Animal Feeding Operations. To review the CAFO permitting guidance, visit http://www.epa.gov/owm/afoguide.htm on the Internet.

5. Gulf Hypoxia Task Force Meeting

The Gulf Hypoxia Task Force, comprised of States, Tribes, and Federal agencies, will hold its fifth meeting November 18, 1999, in Chicago. The meeting is open to the public, but space is limited. For more information visit http://www.epa.gov/msbasin/whatsnew.html on the Internet.

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TRY OUR OTHER WEBSITES: EPA has redesigned its nonpoint source website. Visit http://www.epa.gov/owow/NPS on the Internet.
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