Clean Water Advocacy - News Releases - March 11, 2002
For Immediate Release: March 11, 2002
Contact: Alexandra Dunn, 202/533-1803, AMSA
AMSA Issues Collaborative Report to Aid in Integrating Water Quality
Lists
The Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies (AMSA), the Federal Water Quality
Coalition (FWQC) and the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) have joined forces on a
key publication released today at the ASIWPCA Mid-Year Meeting to provide states with
suggestions on preparing the next round of integrated water quality listing reports. AMSA
believes the document — Preparation of Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and
Assessment Reports (the Report) — will become a helpful tool to states
as they develop "Integrated Reports" under a November 19, 2001 EPA Listing
Guidance. The guidance recommends that states combine their Clean Water Act §303(d)
lists of impaired waters with the §305(b) water quality reports.
AMSA is a national trade association representing over 270 of the nation's publicly owned wastewater treatment utilities serving the majority of the sewered population in the United States and collectively treating and reclaiming over 18 billion gallons of wastewater every day. AMSA members are environmental practitioners dedicated to protecting and improving the nation's waters and public health. AMSA's members will also be substantially affected by the change to an integrated reporting program as well as by the changes to the total maximum daily load (TMDL) rule currently undergoing EPA review.
AMSA's Executive Director, Ken Kirk, says, "the joint effort of diverse groups to prepare the Report demonstrates that a broad coalition of interests want to make sure that Integrated Reports are based on careful evaluation of adequate data. AMSA wants to ensure that municipal treatment works and the data they have compiled are given full consideration by states as they develop their Integrated Reports, which will be the basis of future discharge limits on our member utilities."
Because EPA's Listing Guidance is general, this Report addresses with great specificity a number of issues that states will face when revising their listing methodologies and developing their 2002 and subsequent Integrated Reports. The Report's recommendations are grouped in the following categories of issues: (1) Pre-Listing Evaluation of Water Quality Standards; (2) Collection of Data and Information; (3) Evaluation of Existing Data and Information; (4) Development of Integrated Reports; and (5) Delisting Procedures. Copies of the Report can be downloaded from AMSA's web site at http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/advocacy/wqmar/. AMSA looks forward to working closely with the States, EPA and other stakeholders to ensure that Integrated Reports set a strong, accurate foundation for the TMDL program and the nation's water quality progress.
In addition to contacting AMSA's General Counsel, Alexandra Dunn, for additional information, FWQA's Fred Andes at 312/214-8310 and AFBA's Don Parrish at 202/484-3603 are also available to answer you questions.
1816 Jefferson Place, Washington, DC 20036-2505 • 202.833.AMSA • 202.833.4657 FAX