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            UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
                           WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460
                                                          OFFICE OF
                                                          WATER
        EPA's Whole Effluent Toxicitv (WET)  Control Policy


     In July  1992, EPA released a national policy on the control
of whole effluent toxicity  (WET) in National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) permits.  This policy reflects the
Agency's experience during the last five years in implementing
the Clean Water Act and existing regulatory requirements.  EPA
expects the policy to promote greater national consistency in the
control of WET.

     This policy, which was released in print form under the
title "Whole  Effluent Toxicity (WET) Control Policy: Policy for
the Development of Effluent Limitations in National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System Permits to Control Whole Effluent
Toxicity for  the Protection of Aquatic Life", document number EPA
833-B-94-002, is also available in electronic form.

     Persons  with modems may dial into and register to use EPA's
Nonpoint Source Bulletin Board System (NPS BBS), on which the
policy is stored.  The NPS BBS is accessible via modem at
301 589-0205  (in Maryland).  The file is located in the [F]ile
library, under the "public uploads" menu.  The file name for the
policy document is "WET.ZIP".  There is no online charge to use
the NPS BBS,  but you must pay any long-distance telephone access
charges for the modem access.  Communications parameters for the
BBS are N-8-1.  Once on the BBS,  you may use the "L" command to
locate the uploaded file by its name.

     If you have any questions about the WET policy or use of the
Nonpoint Source BBS,  please contact EPA Office of Wastewater
Management's Kevin Rosseel (202 260-3715) or Traci Brown
(202 260-8487).

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