To: Members & Subscribers From: National Office Date: February 14, 1997 Re: RA 97-4 ANPRM For Water Quality Standards Revision In Jeopardy
AMSA recently learned of concerted efforts by both the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrators (ASIWPCA) to pressure EPA not to proceed with plans to publish the long-anticipated advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) to revise the water quality standards regulation. In separate letters to Robert Perciasepe, the Agency's current Assistant Administrator for Water, both NRDC and ASIWPCA argued that the ANPRM would weaken the water quality program (see attached letters).
In response to these concerns, AMSA Executive Director Ken Kirk met with Mr. Perciasepe to strongly encourage EPA to proceed with their plans to notice the ANPRM. As a follow up, AMSA submitted a letter to the Assistant Administrator outlining our concerns and recommending that EPA use the ANPRM to integrate watershed management in the water quality standards program and encourage dialogue on the key issues of uses, criteria, antidegradation, and general policies (see attached letter).
AMSA's National Office has developed a mechanism to assist with the review of the anticipated ANPRM. We encourage members to send letters to Assistant Administrator Perciasepe encouraging EPA to proceed with its plans to notice the ANPRM in the Federal Register. Letters should be sent to:
Robert Perciasepe
Assistant Administrator for Water (4101)
Office of Water
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
(202) 260-5711 FAX
Copies of any letters sent by AMSA members should also be forwarded to the National Office, c/o Sam Hadeed or FAXed to (202) 833-4657.
ATTACHMENTS:
- NRDC Letter to Robert Perciasepe ASIWPCA Letter to Robert Perciasepe (Please call AMSA’s National Office at (202) 833-AMSA for copies of the attachments