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WaterNews for June 8, 2001WaterNews 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) EPA Releases 2000 Update on Nation's Fish Advisories 1) EPA Releases 2000 Update on Nation's Fish Advisories EPA has released its annual update of the National Listing of Fish and Wildlife Advisories. The 2000 list indicates a 7% rise in fish consumption advisories over 1999. This increase generally reflects more extensive coverage by state monitoring programs, as well as improvements in data collection and monitoring methods. Approximately 23% of the Nation's lake acreage and 325,500 river miles were under fish consumption advisories during all or part of 2000. All Great Lakes (which are not included in the lake acreage figure) and their connecting waters were also under advisory, as were 71% of coastal waters, including 20 National Estuary Program sites. To view the fact sheet, go to http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/fish/advisories/factsheet.pdf. (no longer available) 2) Health Care Practitioners Receive Fish Advisory Outreach Materials EPA and the U.S. Public Health Service are distributing new fish advisory outreach materials to health care providers throughout the country, to educate their patients about recently developed national guidelines for fish consumption. The materials, including brochures and posters, explain that some fish may contain levels of mercury which could have adverse health effects for young children. The EPA and FDA recommendations for limited fish consumption are specifically addressed to pregnant and nursing women, women who may become pregnant, and small children. The guidelines indicate that these groups should not consume shark, swordfish, king mackerel, or tilefish, but may safely consume limited quantities of other fish. For more information on EPA and FDA guidance for fish consumption, go to www.epa.gov/waterscience/fishadvice/ on the Internet. 3) National Watershed Forum, Arlington, VA, June 28 to July 1, 2001 Representatives from watershed initiatives around the country will gather in Arlington, Virginia next week, for the first National Watershed Forum. The Meridian Institute, in collaboration with EPA, designed the Forum to be an unprecedented event to give voice to the broad diversity of stakeholders concerned with the future of watersheds in America. Delegates at the Forum will share their visions for the future of our nation's watersheds and frame recommendations for future policies and actions. The recommendations will be delivered at the Forum to a critical group of senior decision makers from government and the private sector. For more information on the National Watershed Forum, go to http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/conferences.html. 4) EPA Releases Report on the Clean Water State Revolving Fund EPA has released an update on the progress of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), the low-interest rate loan program available under the Clean Water Act. The CWSRF has provided over $30 billion to improve water quality since its inception in 1987. While the traditional emphasis of CWSRF loans has been on municipal wastewater treatment systems, the report notes that states are increasingly using the CWSRF to finance programs for watershed protection projects, including land purchase, wetlands enhancement, and reducing polluted runoff. Also, nearly half the states use CWSRF funds to leverage additional financial support, allowing states to award an average of about $3.2 billion annually over the last five years. The report, Financing America's Clean Water Since 1987: A Report of Progress and Innovation (EPA-832-R-00-011), can be viewed at http://www.epa.gov/owm/cwfinance/cwsrf/progress.pdf (PDF) or ordered by calling the National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP) at 1-800-490-9198.
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