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January 9, 1998
EPA/USDA Outline Clean Water Action Plan PrinciplesOn Jan. 7th, EPA Assistant Administrator Bob Perciasepe and the USDA Under Secretary for Natural Resources and the Environment Jim Lyons provided AMSA and other local/state constituent groups a preliminary outline of the interagency Clean Water Action Plan being developed in response to Vice-President Gore's October 17 clean water directive (see AMSA Regulatory Alert RA 97-24). According to Perciasepe and Lyons, the final Action Plan will include the following ten key principles: 1) strengthen clean water standards, 2) link clean water to healthy people, 3) use watershed management approaches, 4) restore watersheds not meeting clean water goals, 5) build bridges between water quality and natural resource programs, 6) respond to growth pressures on sensitive coastal waters, 7) prevent polluted runoff, 8) make federal land management a model for others to follow, 9) improve water quality information and citizen right-to-know, and 10) practice environmental justice.
The Action Plan is not expected to launch any new regulatory programs other than those already underway. However, Perciasepe and Lyons firmly acknowledge that development of the Action Plan has fostered increased EPA and USDA coordination, and provided both agencies a vehicle for increased funding for clean water programs. In fact, one of the most promising developments arising from the Vice President's clean water directive is the potential for expanded program funding in 1999. EPA, USDA and other agencies have been pressing the administration for additional funds to implement the directive's clean water goals and are very optimistic that their efforts will be successful. Potential applications of additional funds may include: watershed assistance grants, grants to states, and expanded clean water program support.
An increased emphasis on watershed management and nonpoint source pollution control is also expected in the Action Plan. Perciasepe noted several items to help restore watershed health, build partnerships, and construct a framework for watershed management, including: 1) the promotion of unified watershed assessments among EPA and USDA programs (e.g., TMDLs, source water assessments, technical agriculture committees, USGS assessments), 2) a requirement for states to identify watersheds with greatest need for attention in the 1999-2000 period, 3) establishment of a National Watershed Council comprised of federal, state, and local representatives, and 4) availability of watershed assistance grants. Also noted were plans to better define the term "reasonable assurance" within the TMDL program to encourage allocations of loading reduction to nonpoint sources, and efforts to enhance state 319 programs.
Other specific initiatives to be highlighted in the Action Plan include EPA's: 1) mercury control strategy, 2) persistant bioaccumulative toxics strategy, 3) beach criteria development, 4) development of eco-regional nutrient criteria, and 5) expanded fish advisory guidelines. The Action Plan is expected to be submitted to the Vice President on February 16, 1998. AMSA members will receive a copy of the Action Plan when available.
On January 9, EPA published their proposed stormwater Phase II rule in the Federal Register. Copies of the proposal, signed on Dec. 15 by EPA Administrator Carol Browner (see FaxAlert 12/19/97), will be transmitted to the membership this week.
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