EPA Releases Draft Strategy for Clean Water

EPA is inviting the public to comment on the agency’s draft strategy to protect and restore our nation’s lakes, streams and coastal waters. The strategy, “Coming Together for Clean Water: EPA’s Strategy for Achieving Clean Water,” is designed to take the next leap forward in furthering EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson’s key priority of protecting America’s waters.

EPA’s strategy was developed by considering input and ideas generated by approximately 100 clean water leaders who discussed two priority areas, healthy watersheds and sustainable communities, and shared their perspectives on how to advance the EPA’s clean water agenda. EPA is now inviting the public to consider and provide their comments on the approaches outlined in the strategy.

Public comments on the draft strategy should be submitted by September 17. EPA will review all comments and post a final strategy later in the year.

More information on the draft strategy and to comment: http://blog.epa.gov/waterforum/

EPA to Hold Listening Sessions on Potential Revisions to Water Quality Standards Regulation

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold two public listening sessions on potential changes to the water quality standards regulation before proposing a national rule. The current regulation, which has been in place since 1983, governs how states and authorized tribes adopt standards needed under the Clean Water Act to protect the quality of their rivers, streams, lakes, and estuaries. Potential revisions include strengthening protection for water bodies with water quality that already exceeds or meet the interim goals of the Clean Water Act; ensuring that standards reflect a continued commitment to these goals wherever attainable; improving transparency of regulatory decisions; and strengthening federal oversight.

Water quality standards are the foundation of the water quality-based approach to pollution control, including Total Maximum Daily Loads and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits. Standards are also a fundamental component of watershed management.

The public listening sessions will be held via audio teleconferences on August 24 and 26, 2010, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. EDT. At the sessions, EPA will provide a review of the current regulation and a summary of the revisions the agency is considering. Clarifying questions and brief oral comments (three minutes or less) from the public will be accepted at the sessions, as time permits. EPA will consider the comments received as it develops the proposed rulemaking.

EPA will also hold separate listening sessions for state, tribal and local governments.

EPA expects to publish the proposed revisions to the water quality standards regulation in summer 2011.

More information: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/standards/rules/wqs/listening.html

Office of Water Web Site Launch

The site you are visiting was just launched by the EPA Office of Water. For more information and to provide feedback, please visit Our New Web Site.

Drinking Water Strategy Forum - Starting Monday, August 16, discuss how EPA can best implement the four parts of our new drinking water strategy.

Greenversations - Read thoughts and conversations on a variety of environmental topics on EPA's employee blog.

Our Mission:

The Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW), together with states, tribes, and our many partners, protects public health by ensuring safe drinking water and protecting ground water.

We will accomplish this mission using the following principles:

• Prevention as an effective approach;
• Risk-based priority setting for new and existing regulations, based on sound science, quality data in reliable databases, and quality methods and standards;
• Partnership and involvement of public and private organizations, citizens, and communities;
• Flexibility and effectiveness in implementation while maintaining a national public health baseline;
• Accountability of all parties through public participation and accessible information; and
• Results documented and presented clearly.

The Office of Science and Technology (OST) is one of five water offices at EPA. We set national environmental baselines for the quality of the Nation's waters. We help ensure the latest water pollution science and best available control technologies to support Office of Water program goals to keep water safe and clean.

Every year under the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act, OST produces regulations, guidelines, methods, standards, science-based criteria, and studies that are critical components of national programs that protect people and the aquatic environment.

EPA's Office of Wastewater Management (OWM) oversees a range of programs contributing to the well-being of the nation's waters and watersheds. Through its programs and initiatives, OWM supports the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, commonly known as the Clean Water Act, by promoting effective and responsible water use, treatment, disposal, and management and by encouraging the protection and restoration of watersheds.