Water Quality Standards

Water Quality Standards are a critical part of working towards the goal of fishable/swimmable waters in the United States. Network members are active in writing and submitting comments on the water quality standards regulations and in defending their water quality standards from attacks.

Issue(s):

EPA Announces a Schedule of Public Meetings on Hydraulic Fracturing Research Study

June 18, 2010

Policy

Press Release

Issue(s):

Pollutants (toxins, pharmaceuticals, etc.)

Water Quality Standards

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is hosting four public information meetings on the proposed study of the relationship between hydraulic fracturing and its potential impacts on drinking water. Hydraulic fracturing is a process that helps production of natural gas or oil from shale and other geological formations. By pumping fracturing fluids (water and chemical additives) and sand or other similar materials into rock formations, fractures are created that allow natural gas or oil to flow from the rock through the fractures to a production well for extraction.

Listening Sessions on EPA’s Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) and Peak Flows Policy

June 16, 2010

Policy

Issue(s):

Impaired Waters (TMDL)

Pollutants (toxins, pharmaceuticals, etc.)

Runoff

Water Quality Standards

On June 1, 2010, EPA published a notice in the Federal Register seeking stakeholder input to help EPA determine whether to modify the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) regulations as they apply to municipal sanitary sewer collection systems and sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) in order to better protect the environment and public health from the harmful effects of sanitary sewer overflows and basement back ups.

Amendment Would Halt Critical Water Quality Protections in Florida

June 11, 2010

Policy

Issue(s):

Water Quality Standards

An amendment, being proposed by US Representative Crenshaw (FL) is circulating through Congress, which would prevent EPA from issuing court ordered numeric nutrient standards for the state of Florida, according to an op-ed in today’s Miami Herald. A copy of a letter addressed to House Appropriations Chairman David Obey (WI) and signed by numerous state and national groups urging the Committee not to adopt the Crenshaw amendment can be found

EPA Proposes New Permit Requirments for Pesticide Dischargers

June 2, 2010

Policy

Issue(s):

Agriculture

Impaired Waters (TMDL)

Pollutants (toxins, pharmaceuticals, etc.)

Runoff

Water Quality Standards

* *EPA Press Release June 2, 2010 * * *WASHINGTON** -* The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a new permit requirement that would decrease the amount of pesticides discharged to our nation's waters and protect human health and the environment. This action is in response to an April 9, 2009 court decision that found that pesticide discharges to U.S. waters were pollutants, thus requiring a permit.

EPA to Initiate Rulemaking to Reduce Harmful Effects of Sanitary Sewer Overflows

May 28, 2010

Policy

Issue(s):

Pollutants (toxins, pharmaceuticals, etc.)

Runoff

Water Quality Standards

EPA Press Release

May 27, 2010

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is initiating a rulemaking to better protect the environment and public health from the harmful effects of sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) and basement backups. In many cities, SSOs and basement backups occur because of blockages, broken pipes and excessive water flowing into the pipes. SSOs present environmental and health problems because they discharge untreated wastewater that contains bacteria, viruses, suspended solids, toxics, trash and other pollutants into waterways. These overflows may also contribute to beach closures, shellfish bed closures, contamination of drinking water supplies and other environmental and health concerns.

Water Quality Standards

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