Basic Course: Key Concepts (Module 6.f)

Revisiting Approved Standards: Purpose of State/Tribal Review

After EPA approval of water quality standards, the State/Tribe is required to continually review its approach to water quality protection—at least once every 3 years.

The requirement prompts States/Tribes to reassess whether their standards should be revised or expanded in light of new information to more fully address the purposes of the CWA:  "[T]o protect public health or welfare" and "enhance the quality of water."

Key Point. In reviewing its standards, a State or Tribe must examine any water body (or waterbody segment) with designated uses that do not encompass the CWA 101(a) goal uses. If new information indicates that these uses are attainable, the State/Tribe must modify its standards accordingly

Concepts Applied. Read how the concept of periodic review and revision of standards was written into the Tribal water quality standards for Pueblo of Acoma in New Mexico (PDF) (55 pp, 2.4 MB, About PDF).