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WaterNews for January 7, 2003WaterNews 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
Upper River Clean Up DecisionThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources recently signed a document called a “Record of Decision.” The document describes the final cleanup plan for two sections of the Fox River from Little Lakes Butte des Morts to Little Rapids in Green Bay, Wisconsin. For further information please visit the following websites at www.epa.gov/region5/sites/foxriver, www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/wm/lowerfox/ Agency Actions to Improve Mitigation and Further the Goal of “No Net Loss” of WetlandsThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in conjunction with the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Interior, and Transportation strengthened their commitment to achieve the goal of no net loss of our Nation’s wetlands with the release of a comprehensive action plan and improved guidance to ensure effective, scientifically-based restoration of wetlands impacted by development activities. EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman said “these actions affirm this Administration’s commitment to the goal of no net loss of America’s wetlands and its support for protecting our Nation’s watersheds.” The National Wetlands Mitigation Action Plan lists 17 action items that the agencies will undertake to improve the effectiveness of restoring wetlands that are impacted or lost to activities governed by clean water laws. A revised Regulatory Guidance Letter leads the list of action items in the National Wetlands Mitigation Action Plan. Crafted with input from the Federal agencies that play a role in wetlands protection, the Corps’ Regulatory Guidance Letter will improve wetlands restoration implemented under the Clean Water Act in support of the Administration’s “no net loss of wetlands”goal. Copies of the National Wetlands Mitigation Action Plan and the Regulatory Guidance Letter, as well as links to related documents are available at the Corps and EPA websites at: www.usace.army.mil EPA Staffer Becomes Executive DirectorAfter serving eighteen years at EPA, James D. Taft will head to the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA) to serve as their new Executive Director of ASDWA effective Feb. 1, 2003. Mr. Taft is currently the Associate Branch Chief of the Targeting and Analysis Branch within EPA’s Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water. He has been responsible for developing a number of chemical regulations for drinking water and for developing regulatory tools to support those regulations. Jim’s knowledge, fairness, and respect for staff and co-workers will be missed very much. Technology Transfer ConferenceIn celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, and the Coastal Zone Management Act in the month of January 2003, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is focusing on our nation's vital coastal and ocean waters. As part of the "Year of Clean Water" celebration, EPA is sponsoring a “Emerging Technologies, Tools, and Techniques to Manage Our Coasts in the 21st Century” conference on Jan. 28-31 in Cocoa Beach, FL, to examine current and emerging coastal and ocean management tools, techniques, and strategies, as well as to consider mechanisms for enhancing our ability over the next 25 years to protect and manage coastal ecosystems in the face of new challenges. The conference is organized around four broad themes: assessment, management, restoration, and measuring results. Interested parties are invited to attend this conference. Details regarding registration, the agenda, and other conference details can be found at: www.tech-transfer-conference.com . Help Develop ProtocolsThe Environmental Protection Agency and American Water Works Association Research Foundation will be conducting an “expert” two day workshop on Jan. 15 and 16 called “Develop a Protocol for Reliable Genetic Methods for the Detection of Viruses, for Use in EPA’s Water Programs” on Jan. 15 and 16. The workshop will explore ways to standardize a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay method for detecting waterborne pathogens. The two-day workshop will be held at the Andrew W. Breidenbach Environmental Research Center, located at 26 W. Martin Luther King Dr., Cincinnati, Ohio. For registration information, please contact Susan Bjork, The Cadmus Group, Inc. at 617-673-7166(p), 617-673-7001(f) or email sbjork@cadmusgroup.com. Subscribe to WaterNewsPlease 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: Send an email message, leave the subject line blank, and address it to: In the body of the message write: Subscribe WaterNews firstname lastname (Please leave one blank space between each word, do not include any other message, and use A welcome message will appear in your email box once you are officially subscribed. Following your welcome message, you will begin to receive WaterNews once a 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. We welcome any comments that you may have.
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