EPA Releases Strategy for Achieving Clean Water, Seeks Comments by Sept. 17

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a draft regulatory and enforcement proposal Aug. 20 regarding the Clean Water Act. The proposal seeks to enlarge the scope of the Clean Water Act, including expanding new rules and regulations aimed at cleaning and protecting water bodies.  

The report states: “Over the last 30 years, stressors have shifted, as demonstrated by EPA’s National Aquatic Resource Surveys. …Sources of these stressors vary regionally, but the main national sources of water degradation are: agriculture, stormwater runoff, hydrology and landscape modifications, municipal wastewater, and air deposition. EPA’s strategy must now meet these shifting needs and priorities….Across the board, under the Clean Water Act, EPA will more fully utilize regulatory tools and enforcement to address a number of water quality challenges. Where problems are identified, EPA seeks to apply the best cost-effective standards available, eliminate loopholes, increase the regulatory universe, and set performance standards through robust modifications to current regulations.”

The EPA is seeking public comments on the plan, which are due on Sept. 17. ACWA is currently preparing comments.  

The proposal is available here.