823F03011
&EPA
United States Environmental Office of Water
Protection Agency 4301 T
FACT SHEET
Strategy for Water Quality Standards and
Criteria: Setting Priorities to Strengthen
the Foundation for Protecting and
_ Restoring the Nation's Waters _
The Office of Science and Technology (OST) in USEPA 's Office of Water is releasing the "Strategy for Water
Quality Standards and Criteria: Setting Priorities to Strengthen the Foundation for Protecting and Restoring
the Nation 's Waters. " Water quality standards and criteria are the foundation for a wide range of programs
under the Clean Water Act. The strategy contains priority strategic actions that OST will undertake in
collaboration with other EPA offices, states and authorized tribes over the next 6 years to strengthen and
improve this foundation.
Background
The strategy is the product of a wide-ranging review of the existing water quality standards and criteria
program within the context of all clean water programs. The review focused on clean water goals, mandates
and authorities, and EPA's current strategic goals for clean water and other strategic planning efforts. The
review also focused on major needs of the current EPA water quality standards and criteria program and key
programs linked to it. These include water quality monitoring, total maximum daily loads (TMDLs), National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, nonpoint source programs, oceans and wetland
programs, and source water protection. The review reflects the results of more than 50 listening sessions with
over 350 people during April-September 2001 and recent recommendations from the National Research
Council, the General Accounting Office, and EPA's Inspector General. The listening sessions included both
in-person and telephone interviews with states, EPA program offices, and stakeholder groups.
What the strategy does and does not do
The strategy is intended solely as a planning document for OST. As described more fully in the strategy
document, the strategy does not impose legally binding requirements on EPA, states, tribes or the regulated
community. While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the discussion in the strategy
regarding these requirements, the obligations of the regulated community are determined by statutes,
regulations, or other legally binding requirements.
What are the expected outcomes from the strategy?
The actions in the strategy are designed to fill major program gaps to achieve critical environmental results,
They include:
« Helping states strengthen water quality criteria for three pollutants (sedimentation, pathogens, and
nutrients) that are responsible for an estimated 40 percent of water quality impairments nationally;
* Strengthening and maintaing the scientific foundation of water quality programs, including targeting
criteria development for specific pollutants of highest importance;
* Clarifying for states how to implement key scientific and technical components of standards and
criteria when regulating discharges;
» Establishing important technical and policy linkages between the water quality standards and criteria
program and other programs such as those that protect drinking water and,
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• Broadening participation in the water quality standards and criteria program with states and other
stakeholders.
What are the strategic priority actions?
The strategy describes and sets milestones for the following ten strategic actions of highest priority:
1) Issue implementation guidance for the 1986 bacteria criteria for recreation.
2) Produce and implement a strategy for the development of pathogen criteria for drinking water and
recreational use.
3) Produce and implement a strategy for the development of suspended and bedded sediment criteria.
4) Provide technical support to states and tribes for developing and adopting nutrient criteria and
biological criteria.
5) Develop and apply a systematic selection process to produce new and revised water quality criteria
for chemicals to address emerging needs.
6) Complete the national Endangered Species Act consultation with the federal Services on existing
aquatic life criteria.
7) • Provide technical support, outreach, training and workshops to assist states and tribes with designated
uses, including use attainability analyses and tiered aquatic life uses.
8) Provide implementation support concerning technical issues affecting permits and TMDLs, beginning
with technical support and outreach concerning the duration and frequency components of existing
water quality criteria.
9) Identify any drinking-water source waters whose water quality standards do not protect the use, and
work with EPA regions, states, and tribes to correct any deficient standards as soon as possible.
10) Develop a web-based clearinghouse for exchanging information on critical water quality standards
issues, beginning with antidegradation.
How may I obtain a copy of the strategy?
A pdf version of the strategy is available for viewing and downloading from the OST web site at:
www,epa.gov/waterscience/standards/strategv. Additionally, limited copies of the complete document
entitled "Strategy for Water Quality Standards and Criteria: Setting Priorities to Strengthen the Foundation
for Protecting and Restoring the Nation's Waters " are available from the address below. Please request
document number EPA-823-R-G3-01G.
National Service Center for Environmental Publications
P.O. Box 42419
Cincinnati, Ohio 45242
1-800-490-9198
www.epa.gov/ncepihom/ordering.htm
How may I obtain more information?
For more information on the "Strategy for Wafer Quality Standards arid Criteria: Setting Priorities to
Strengthen the Foundation for Protecting and Restoring the Nation's Waters,"" please contact:
Scott Ireland
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Water Quality Standards Branch (43 051)
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20460
202-566-0402
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