The Environmental Protection Agency has announced it will work in partnership with state and local governments to develop common sense, flexible solutions for cleaning up the 40 percent of the nation's waterways that still don't meet the goals for public-health protection.

The Clinton Administration's final clean water rule 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. And it will have a significant impact on development costs and property values in the areas it impacts.

The plan is geared toward addressing the greatest remaining source of water pollution in the United States -- uncontrolled runoff. Working together, the EPA and state governments already have identified more than 20,000 river segments, lakes and estuaries across America that do not meet water quality standards to protect public health.

The plan, which builds on the successful cleanup models of the Great Lakes and the Chesapeake Bay, uses measurable targets to achieve real reductions in water pollution. It supports a credit trading system like that used in the acid rain program to ensure cost-effectiveness. And it allows maximum flexibility for state and local governments to develop cleanup plans.

This marks the first time ever that water pollution problems will be addressed comprehensively on a state-by-state, river-by-river basis. The EPA, the states and local communities will work together to develop cleanup plans tailored specifically to the protection of their own local water bodies.

State and local governments will have maximum 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 body of water.

The EPA's plan finishes the job of cleaning up rivers, lakes and streams, and comes after a recent legislative effort to delay its implementation. Over the agency's objections, Congress added a legislative "rider" to block the clean water rule, which was undergoing review and revision after a period of public comment.

"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," said EPA Administrator Carol Browner. "The time has come to move forward and live up to the promise of the Clean Water Act by making our waters fishable and swimmable once again."

EPA agreed to a number of changes in the program in response to the comments received after its initial proposal, including those from members of Congress. In general, the changes provide the states with significant 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.

The rule is set to take effect on Oct. 1, 2001 to give Congress ample time to review it if it chooses.

Published: July 18, 2000

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