News

• EPA Authorizes the State of Alaska to Assume Water Quality Permitting Authority

• EPA Region 10 is soliciting proposals that will use EPA's national watershed contract or an Interagency Agreement that could include a wide range of activities such as developing total maximum daily loads (TMDLs or surface water quality improvement plans), affecting tribal interests, on federal lands and/or on multi-jurisdictional waters or that help states meet their legal obligations and/or TMDL schedule; measuring the effectiveness of the TMDLs that will lead to improved future TMDLs; preparing restoration plans to meet the requirements for Category 4b of the Integrated Report on waters affecting tribal interests, federal lands, or multi-jurisdictional waters. EPA especially encourages proposals that apply biological monitoring protocols and biocriteria (including narrative biocriteria) in listing, TMDL development and implementation that would lead to improved TMDLs. Proposals are due November 17, 2008. For additional details, e-mail Jayne Carlin at carlin.jayne@epa.gov.

• EPA Region 10 is soliciting proposals to support research, studies, experiments, training, investigations and demonstration projects that will improve the capacity of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington States and Tribes to effectively and efficiently develop total maximum daily loads (surface water quality improvement plans) for impaired waters located in these States. Proposals are due December 8, 2008. For additional details, e-mail Jayne Carlin at carlin.jayne@epa.gov.