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WaterNews for July 20, 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 To Improve Impaired Waters Rule
1) EPA To Improve Impaired Waters Rule EPA Administrator Christie Whitman announced this week that the agency will propose an eighteen-month delay to the July 2000 rule concerning total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for polluted waterbodies. During this period EPA will undertake a broad public process to determine what substantive changes should be made to the July 2000 rule and to the TMDL program as a whole, to more effectively restore the Nation's waters. In the interim, EPA and the states will continue to identify impaired waters and develop TMDLs under existing regulations. EPA is taking this action because of ongoing controversy surrounding the July 2000 rule, including legal challenges brought by many organizations, and in light of a recent National Academy of Sciences study on the TMDL program. EPA will take comments on the proposed delay starting in about 2 weeks, and will make a final decision on the proposal prior to September 30, 2001. For more information on the TMDL program go to http://www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/ on the Internet. 2) Public Forums on BEACH Act Grants Guidance EPA, in conjunction with the Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrators (ASIWPCA) and the Coastal States Organization, is sponsoring a series of public forums on the draft National Beach Guidance and Grant Performance Criteria for Recreational Waters document. Under the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act (BEACH Act) of 2000, coastal and Great Lakes states can apply for grants to develop and implement beach water quality monitoring programs, including notification of the public when health hazards exist. To be eligible for BEACH Act implementation grants, state programs must be consistent with the performance criteria outlined in the guidance document. The forums will assist stakeholders in understanding the draft guidance and in preparing public comments to submit to EPA. Forums will be held in Wilmington, Delaware (July 31); San Diego, California (August 3); Jacksonville, Florida (August 21); New Orleans, Louisiana (August 23); and Chicago, Illinois (August 23). For more information on the forums and to register, see http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/beaches/meetings/forums.html. The draft guidance will be available in late July. For additional information, contact Mimi Dannel at dannel.mimi@epa.gov. 3) EPA Seeks Public Comment on Arsenic Drinking Water Regulation As part of its evaluation of the standard for arsenic in drinking water, EPA is requesting public comment on the analyses it used in developing the standard published on January 22, 2001, and on issues related to arsenic risk and the costs and benefits associated with a maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 3, 5, 10, and 20 parts per billion (ppb). EPA will consider public comments along with the results of independent panels on arsenic risks, costs and benefits, allowing the agency to develop a strong and affordable arsenic standard that is considerably more protective than the current 50 ppb standard. The public comment period will extend until October 31, 2001. See http://www.epa.gov/safewater/arsenic.html for more information on the request for comment and the arsenic rule review process.
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