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Water Quality Criteria and Standards Newsletter
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
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| United States Environmental Protection Agency |
Office of Water 4305 |
EPA-823-N-96-003 APRIL-JUNE 1996 |
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WATER QUALITY STANDARDS REGULATION
INTERIM DRAFT ANPRM
On February 27,the Office of Water released for comment an interim draft of its Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the water quality standards regulation (ANPRM). Copies were sent in early March to representatives in each State and Territory, more than 100 Indian Tribes, and numerous environmental advocates, industry and municipal representatives and interested parties. In making this interim draft available, EPA provided the opportunity for all interested parties to become involved in the development of the ANPRM at an early stage. Later this year, EPA will publish in the Federal Register the revised ANPRM that reflects this input. EPA with help from the public will try to identify possible amendments to the regulation and new guidance or policy that may be needed to address three objectives: 1) facilitate State and Tribal implementation of holistic and integrated watershed-based water quality planning and management; 2) enhance State and Tribal capability to incorporate current criteria and water quality assessment science into their water quality standards programs; and 3) improve the regulation so that it may be implemented more effectively. Through this review and resulting changes to the regulation, and/or its supporting policy and guidance, EPA expects to facilitate further water quality improvements locally and nationally.
By the end of May, EPA had received a substantial number of comments on the scope of the document and the characterization of the issues. EPA appreciates these suggestions on any mission issues in the ANPRM and on ways to characterize the issues. EPA is not seeking public comments on final positions on the ANPRM issues will be requested later when the ANPRM is published in the Federal Register. Contact: Rob Wood, 202-260-9536.
ELIZABETH SOUTHERLAND MARGARET J. STASIKOWSKI ACTING DIRECTOR, STANDARDS DIRECTOR, HEALTH & & APPLIED SCIENCE DIVISION ECOLOGICAL CRITERIA DIVISION