Washington -- Making some final revisions, the EPA completed a rule intended to finish the job of cleaning up rivers, lakes and bays throughout the U.S. If a recent legislative effort to delay the new rule is effective, the rule won't take effect until Oct. 1, 2001.
The July 11 action is aimed at protecting the health and livelihood of the more than 90 percent of the American population that lives within 10 miles of a polluted body of water. It targets the greatest remaining source of water pollution in the United States -- uncontrolled runoff.
EPA Administrator Carol M. Browner said, "Americans want and deserve clean beaches and safe waters in which to swim and fish. Yet, 40 percent of America's waters are still too polluted. Some 20,000 river segments, lakes and estuaries across America do not meet water quality goals for protecting health."
More than 90 percent of the American people live within 10 miles of a polluted body of water. EPA and the states have identified more than 20,000 river segments, lakes and estuaries across America that do not meet water quality standards.
In response to comments received after the initial proposal, EPA agreed to a number of changes in the program, providing the states with new flexibility in implementing the program. These changes include dropping provisions that could have required new permits for forestry, livestock, and aquaculture operations, significantly enhancing state flexibility, giving states four years instead of two years to update inventories of polluted waters, and allowing states to establish their own schedules for when polluted waters will achieve health standards, not to exceed 15 years.
Despite Administration objections, Congress added a legislative "rider" to delay the clean water rule while it was undergoing review and revision after a public comment period. The Administration has called on the Congressional leadership to eliminate the delay, which was added into the emergency supplemental spending bill just before the July 4th recess.
The Administration was expected to sign the final clean water rule despite the legislative delay; however, EPA is making the effective date for the program coincide with the end of the delay, or Oct. 1, 2001.
EPA has upgraded today's final action to "major rule" status under the Congressional Review Act, allowing Congress ample time to review it if they choose.
President Clinton announced the proposed program to bring cleaner water to all Americans last August. The final program announced and signed June 11 comes after four years of extensive consultation with states, local communities, and agricultural, environmental and industrial groups.
When the rule takes effect, water pollution problems will be addressed on a state-by-state, river-by-river basis. After EPA, the states and local communities develop cleanup plans, states and local communities will have flexibility to determine how best to meet cleanup goals by setting their own TMDLs, or total maximum daily loads. TMDLs establish allowable limits to reduce the pollution that flows directly into a water body.
The plan builds on the successful cleanup models of the Great Lakes and the Chesapeake Bay, using measurable targets to achieve real reductions in water pollution.
For more information, visit EPA's web site.
