Watershed Management
Revisions to TMDL Regulations and Guidance
Background: Under CWA Section 303(d), states are required to identify waters in which technology-based effluent limitations are not sufficient to meet water quality-based standards, and requires states to develop TMDLs for these waters which will ensure that applicable water quality standards are met. Under Section 303, EPA must develop TMDLs when states fail to do so. In November 1996, EPA convened a federal advisory committee of stakeholder interests to develop recommendations concerning needed changes to the agency’s TMDL program implementation strategy, as well as TMDL-related policies, guidance, regulations and priorities.
Status: On July 28, 1998 the TMDL advisory committee released its final recommendations to EPA. Members will receive the report via an upcoming Regulatory Alert. AMSA still has serious concerns with the final report language concerning the TMDL allocation process and its references to "enforceability" of controls. AMSA has scheduled a meeting with EPA on August 5 to discuss its concerns, and assess how EPA will use the Committee’s recommendations. EPA plans to propose revisions to its TMDL program regulations and accompanying guidance in November 1998 and will finalize these revisions in October 1999. CONTACT: Mark Hoeke, AMSA 202/833-9106 or Don Brady, EPA 202/260-5368.
EPA Advances Clean Water Action Plan Goals for Fish Consumption Safety
Robert Perciasepe, then Assistant Administrator for Water, and Lynn Goldman, Assistant Administrator for Pollution Prevention and Toxic Substances recently sent letters concerning fish consumption advisories to the heads of all State Environmental Agencies, State Public Health Agencies, and Natural Resource Management Agencies, and to the leaders of all tribes that operate the national water program. The letters are the next step in implementing the Clean Water Action Plan's goal to have nationally consistent processes for monitoring fish tissue and communicating fish consumption advisories. The letters emphasize the importance of a risk-based fish consumption advisory program to protecting public health, especially the health of women of child-bearing age, children, and people who for economic or cultural reasons eat large amounts of locally-caught fish. It asks the states and tribes to review their existing fish advisory program and compare it to the EPA's National Guidance on Fish Consumption Advisories. The mailing includes a camera-ready and electronic copy of the brochure "Should I Eat the Fish I Catch? A Guide to Healthy Eating of the Fish I Catch," developed by EPA and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, United States Public Health Service. CONTACT: Jeff Bigler at 202-260-1305.
Related Items of Interest
F On July 30, 1998, President Clinton announced the first 14 rivers for designation as American Heritage Rivers, including: the Blackstone and Woonasquatucket Rivers (MA, RI); the Connecticut River (CT, MA, NH, VT); the Cuyahoga River (OH); the Detroit River (MI); the Hudson River (NY); the Upper Mississippi River (IL, IA, MN, MO, WI); the Lower Mississippi River (LA, TN); the New River (NC, VA, WV); the Potomac River (DC, MD, PA, VA, WV); the Rio Grande (TX); the St. Johns River (FL); the Upper Susquehanna and Lackawanna Rivers (PA); and the Willamette River (OR). Each community supporting an American Heritage River will be given federal resources to catalyze their community’s work on behalf of a restored, revitalized river.