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WaterNews for August 12, 2003G. Tracy Mehan, III 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
EPA Helps Launch World Water Monitoring DayTo ensure that Americans and citizens around the globe have clean water for domestic, agricultural, commercial and recreational uses, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is partnering with America’s Clean Water Foundation and the International Water Association to urge people around the world to test the quality of their streams, lakes, wetlands, and coastal waters. The first World Water Monitoring Day will be held Oct. 18, 2003. EPA Assistant Administrator for Water G. Tracy Mehan III, Roberta Savage, President of America’s Clean Water Foundation, and Andrew Speers, representing the International Water Association, London, England, held a news conference on Friday at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. to announce the first World Water Monitoring Day and to talk about the importance of monitoring water quality by collecting and analyzing water samples and using adequate data to protect the world’s water resources. "At this time we do not have sufficient information to provide a national answer to characterize the condition of waters and watersheds in the U.S.,” said Mehan. “We risk flying blind if we aren’t able to get dramatic improvements in water quality monitoring and data to support wise management decisions." Roberta Savage, President of America’s Clean Water Foundation said, "As the creator of National Water Monitoring Day, America’s Clean Water Foundation was delighted by the participation of more than 75,000 Americans in 2002. Now in 2003 we have the opportunity to work with the International Water Association, the US Environmental Protection Agency and other federal partners, state and interstate agencies, watershed organizations and individuals throughout the world to promote personal stewardship and individual responsibility for the integrity of our world water. Our goal is to involve people throughout the world in this annual event and establish a base line for evaluating water quality trends." Andrew Speers, who represented the International Water Association, said, "World Water Monitoring Day is about raising awareness at the global level of the importance of water to us all and the quality of the environment in the local community. World Water Monitoring Day is a perfect example of thinking globally and acting locally." Volunteers of all ages will perform four key tests to measure dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity/clarity and temperature. They can then enter their findings on the Web. Test kits may be ordered through America’s Clean Water Foundation at www.watermonitoringday.org. In 2002, the first National Water Monitoring Day was held to mark the 30th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act. More than 75,000 Americans participated in monitoring events and educational programs throughout the U.S. Additional information is available online at www.watermonitoringday.org. Free Water Quality Trading Assessment Handbook- Now Available OnlineThe Environmental Protection Agency has made available the Water Quality Trading Assessment Handbook online at www.epa.gov/r10earth. An innovative EPA policy encourages water quality trading as a business-like way of focusing on cost-effective, local solutions to pollution problems. This 90-page screening tool can help you investigate whether this tool is right for your watershed. The handbook guides you through a structured assessment of trading opportunities. It looks at the environmental, economic, and technical factors that influence your ability to create a water quality trading market. For a hard copy please call 202-553-1200. To learn about national trading activities visit www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/trading.htm. To speak with someone about water trading call Claire Schary at 206-553-8514. Information Collection Request (ICR) to Conduct Surveys on No-Discharge ZonesEPA published a notice in the Federal Register on July 22 announcing that an Information Collection Request (ICR), entitled "Surveys to Determine the Effectiveness of No-Discharge Zones for Vessel Sewage and Marine Sanitation Devices," had been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR requests approval to conduct a series of surveys to determine the effectiveness of no-discharge zones for vessel sewage and marine sanitation devices in removing harmful pollutants from the waste stream of the device. Separate surveys were developed for each of the targeted audiences: boaters, marina owners and operators, States, marine sanitation device manufacturers, and Coast Guard accepted independent labs. The information gathered from the surveys will be used to support future vessel sewage discharge program modifications. The Federal Register notice can be viewed at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-WASTE/2003/July/Day-22/f18613.htm. The public comment period on the ICR closes on August 21. For more information, contact James Woodley at 202-566-1287. Office of Water Surveys State Nutrient StandardsEPA has announced the results of its survey of nutrient standards adopted by states, tribes and territories. Every state has narrative standards that protect the waters from conditions that might indicate nutrient problems, and some states have nutrient standards that specifically recognize eutrophication (a frequent result of nutrient overenrichment) as a problem. Numeric criteria for turbidity is the most common nutrient parameter, and the next most common is total phosphorus in lakes and rivers. You can download the complete document from the Internet at http://epa.gov/waterscience/criteria/nutrient/statesummary.htm. EPA Awards $1 Million to Support Information Center for Water SecurityEPA recently awarded the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies $1 million in an assistance agreement to support the Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center (WaterISAC). WaterISAC provides America's drinking water and wastewater systems with a secure Web-based environment for early warning of potential threats -- and a source for the most current information about water system security. WaterISAC provides utilities with a wide array of information and tools to assist utilities in identifying and assessing threats, including assistance in vulnerability assessments and emergency response plans, which are required by law for many systems. For more information on WaterISAC, please go to the website at www.waterisac.org.
Interior Secretary Announces New Senior Policy Advisor and Executive DirectorInterior Secretary Gale A. Norton announced that Rock Salt, the current executive director of the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force, will become her senior policy advisor and program coordinator on Everglades issues on Oct.1. Col. Greg May, who is retiring as commander of the Jacksonville District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will become the new executive director of the task force. To read the full press release visit http://www.doi.gov/news/030805a.htm. 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 your actual name- i.e. Subscribe WaterNews Robert Jones) A welcome message will appear in your email box once you are officially subscribed.
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