United States
                        Environmental Protection
                        Agency
  Office of Water
  4305
November 1996
EPA-823-F-96-011
         EPA
                         FACT SHEET
                             WATER QUALITY STANDARDS FOR PENNSYLVANIA
  Abstract
  The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is establishing new water quality standards that are
  applicable to all surface waters of the United States, including wetlands, within the Commonwealth of
  Pennsylvania.  EPA is establishing the standards to comply with a federal court order.  By taking this
  action, EPA is promulgating an antidegradation policy consistent with Federal requirements. The rule will
  afford the citizens of Pennsylvania the opportunity to designate waters of the Commonwealth into
  categories which will receive enhanced protection.  The rule will also set the "floor" of water quality
  protection in the Commonwealth.
 Federal Authority

 Under the Federal Clean Water Act (CWA), States
 have the primary responsibility for developing and
 implementing water quality standards for surface
 waters within their boundaries. This legislation
 requires EPA to review and approve or disapprove
 State-adopted standards and to promulgate
 standards for States if they do not adopt acceptable
 water quality standards.

 Background

 In June 1994, EPA disapproved several aspects of
 the Pennsylvania's water quality standards. While
 the State continued to work toward the  adoption of
 approvable water quality standards within a
 regulatory-negotiation process, EPA was sued by
 the Raymond Proffitt Foundation to promptly
 propose Federal replacement standards for
 Pennsylvania, as required by the CWA. In April
 1996, the Federal District Court ordered EPA to
 satisfy the requirements of the CWA and to
 promptly establish standards for Pennsylvania.
 EPA proposed the rule in the Federal Register on
 August 27, 1996, and held a public meeting and
 accepted public comment until October 16,1996.
 Under CWA, EPA must promulgate the final rule
 within ninety days of proposal, or in this case
 November 27, 1996.

 Pennsylvania is currently working to amend its
 antidegradation program—maintaining the best
 features of its current program and improving areas
that EPA disapproved.  However, given the
 Commonwealth's regulatory  process, it will take
 from 9 to 18 months to have a final rule. EPA has
worked with he Commonwealth in preparing the
federal rule and will continue to work with them the  •
 developing their amended rule to ensure it meets
 CWA requirements.  Once Pennsylvania completes
this process, EPA will withdraw the federal rule.
 EPA's Action

 In accordance with the court order, EPA is
 promulgating new water quality standards for
 Pennsylvania in the FederalRegister. Pennsylvania
 protects its surface waters through its Special
 Protection Waters Program. EPA's rule ensures
 that Pennsylvania's program fully meets Federal
 requirements. Specifically, this rule establishes a
 three-tiered antidegradation policy consistent with
 Federal minimum requirements for State water
 quality standards. The antidegradation policy will
 ensure that:
 • existing instream uses and the level of water
  quality necessary to maintain those uses are
  protected;
 • high quality waters are afforded adequate
  consideration before lowering of water quality is
  allowed; and
 • the citizens of the Commonwealth have  the
  opportunity to protect Outstanding National
  Resource Waters.

Additional Information

 For additional information, you may contact Mrs.
 Evelyn S. MacKnight PA/DE Branch, Office of
Watersheds, Water Protection Division, U. S.
 Environmental Protection Agency, Region  3 Office,
841 Chestnut Building, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215)566-5717.

The entire Federal Register notice may be viewed
on the Internet, as follows:
http://www.epa.gov/EPA-WATER.

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