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May 1, 1998

EPA Announces Plan on Water Quality Criteria and Standards

This week, EPA’s Office of Science and Technology announced the upcoming release of a plan for working together with states and tribes to enhance and improve the nation’s water quality criteria and standards program. The plan, called the Water Quality Criteria and Standards Plan – Priorities for the Future, describes six new criteria and standards program initiatives that EPA, states, and tribes will embark on over the next decade.

The plan will be used as a guide in the development and implementation of criteria and standards and will provide a basis for enhancements to the total maximum daily loads (TMDL) program, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, nonpoint source control, wetlands protection and other water resources management efforts. The plan will also help prepare the foundation for the clean water initiatives included in the Clean Water Action Plan.

Priorities of the Plan

According to the plan, the Office of Water will emphasize and focus on the following priority areas for the criteria and standards program over the next decade:

  • Developing nutrient criteria and assessment methods to better protect aquatic life and human health;
  • Developing criteria for microbial pathogens to better protect human health during water recreation;
  • Completing the development of biocriteria as an improved basis for aquatic life protection;
  • Maintaining and strengthening the existing ambient water quality criteria for water and sediments;
  • Evaluating possible criteria initiatives for excessive sedimentation, flow alterations, and wildlife;
  • Developing improved water quality modeling tools to better translate water quality standards into implementable control strategies; and,
  • Ensuring implementation of these new initiatives and improvements by the states and tribes partnership with EPA.

The plan cites the fact that approximately 40% of the nation’s waters still do not meet water quality goals and about half of the nation’s 2000 major watersheds have water quality problems as evidence of the essential need for improved water quality standards. The plan is anticipated to briefly describe the water quality issues and concerns that the new criteria initiatives will address. For each initiative, the plan will explain key objectives to be accomplished, the critical activities necessary to achieve the objectives, and the roles of the states and tribes in implementing the plan. AMSA members will be given details on how to obtain a copy of the plan as soon as it becomes available.

AMSA’s Summer Conference, Water Quality Criteria & Standards . . . Facing Challenges, Making Choices, will focus its sights on similar issues. Taking place July 14-17, in Colorado Springs, Colo., the conference will feature numerous panel discussions addressing water quality criteria and standards. Specific topics to be explored during the conference include: beneficial use designations, criteria development, compliance and enforcement, as well as TMDLs, permitting, and source water protection. A flyer on the upcoming conference will be distributed to members in mid-May.


Ø This week, AMSA welcomed two new agencies to the membership: Thorn Creek Basin Sanitary District of Chicago Height, Ill., and Howard County Department of Public Works, Ellicott City, Md. AMSA extends its thanks to all members who are playing an active role in recruiting new members and building AMSA’s clout in Washington at this important juncture for our nation’s clean water programs.