'A823/B-95-004
United States
Environmental Protection
EPA-823-B-95-004
September 1994
PROTECTION
\ AGENCY
DALLAS, TEXAS
LIBRARY
Introduction to
Water Quality
Standards
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OVERVIEW
In response to widespread public concern about the condition of our
Nation's waters, the United States Congress enaeted landmark
legislation in 1972. This statute, the Federal Water Pollution
Control Act Amendments of 1972 [referred to as the Clean Water
Act of 1972 (CWA)], expanded and built upon existing laws
designed to control and prevent water pollution. Successive
amendments to the 1972 CWA (the Clean Water Act of 1977 and
the Water Quality Act of 1987) have continued to strengthen the law
to better protect our Nation's waters.
Water quality standards are the cornerstone of a State's water
quality management program. States and Indian Tribes set water
quality standards for waters within their jurisdictions. Water quality
standards define a use for a waterbody and describe the specific
water quality criteria to achieve that use. The water quality
standards also contain antidegradation policies to protect existing
water quality. These are the goals by which success is ultimately
gauged for a given waterbody or watershed.
This publication provides general information about the water
quality standards program. It is intended to serve as an introductory
document for the general public and for those unfamiliar with the
water quality standards program. This document also informs the
reader about where to obtain additional information about water
quality standards. The document also contains a Glossary of terms
used in this publication as Appendix A. It also contains terms and
concepts commonly associated with water quality standards. Terms
found in the Glossary are printed in bold face italic type at their
first use, as above.
We would appreciate knowing if this publication has been helpful to
you. Please take a few minutes to complete and return the Reader
Response Card located at the end of this document.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
page
Overview
Dedication
I Introduction
II Uses of a Waterbody
III Water Quality Criteria
IV Antidegradation Policy
V Water Quality Standards
on Indian Lands
VI Adoption of Water Quality
Standards
VII For More Information
Appendix A Glossary
Appendix B List of 307(a) Priority
Toxic Pollutants
Attachment Reader Response Card
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Dedication
This publication is dedicated to David K. Sabock, Chief of the
Water Quality Standards Branch, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) from 1979-1995. Dave will retire at
the end of 1995 after more than 35 years of dedicated Federal
service. He has been the driving force and the guiding light
behind the water quality standards program at EPA and its
predecessor organizations. Dave has made significant
contributions to improvements in the Nation's water quality
during his long and illustrious career. He has been an
inspiration to and has guided the careers of many colleagues
during his tenure at EPA. We expect that his golden years will
be as vigorous and energetic as the last three and one-half
decades that he devoted to public service. We, his many
associates and friends, wish him well in his future endeavors.
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Section I: Introduction
Part A: Definition and Purpose of Water Quality Standards
Water quality standards are laws or regulations that States and
Indian Tribes authorized to administer the program adopt to enhance
water quality and to protect public health and welfare. Water
quality standards provide the foundation for accomplishing two of
the principal goals of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act
Amendments of 1972 [commonly referred to as the Clean Water Act
(CWA) of 19721. That is to:
• restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and
biological integrity of the Nation's waters; and
• where attainable, to achieve water quality that
promotes protection and propagation of fish, shellfish,
and wildlife, and provides for recreation in and on the
water. This goal is commonly known by the
expression "fishable/swimmable".
States report to the U.S. Environmental Agency (EPA) and Congress
under a specific part of the CWA, known as Section 305(b), on
whether these goals are being achieved. (Under Section 305(b),
States report to EPA once every two years on the condition of their
waters. EPA compiles the data and submits a report to Congress on
the status and condition of the Nation's waters.)
A water quality standard consists of three elements: (1) the
designated beneficial use or uses of a waterbody or segment of a
waterbody; (2) the water quality criteria necessary to protect the use
or uses of that particular waterbody; and (3) an antidegradation
policy. (Each of these elements is discussed in this publication.)
Examples of designated uses are recreation and protection of aquatic
life. Water quality criteria describe the quality of water that will
support a designated use. Water quality criteria may be expressed
as either numeric limits or a narrative statement. An
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antidegradation policy ensures that water quality improvements are
conserved, maintained, and protected.
Water quality standards apply to surface waters of the United
States, including wetlands. Surface waters include rivers, streams,
lakes, oceans, estauries, and wetlands; they do not include ground
water.
Part B: Statutory Authority for the Water Quality Standards
Program
The water quality standards program is authorized under Section
303(c) of the CWA (33 U.S.C. 1313(c)). The current regulations
implementing this section of the CWA were published initially in
the Federal Register (FR) on November 8, 1983 (48 FR 51400).
The specific language of the regulations can be found in the Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) in Chapter 40, Part 131.
(The Federal Register is a periodical published by the U.S.
Government. It includes all proposed and final regulations issued by
EPA and other federal agencies. The number preceding the letters
"FR" in the citation refers to the volume of the Federal Register, and
the numbers after FR indicate the page number. The Code of
Federal Regulations contains all EPA and other regulations that have
received final approval. This document is abbreviated as CFR. The
numbers in CFR citations refer to chapters and parts: each chapter
customarily includes all the regulations in a given policy area such
as water quality standards, while each part within a chapter is a
specific subject within that policy area.)
The water quality standards program was strengthened in two
significant ways with passage of the 1987 Water Quality Act
amendments to the CWA. First, Section 303(c)(2)(B) of the CWA
requires States to adopt numeric criteria for specific toxic pollutants
that appear on a priority pollutant list [Section 307(a) of the CWA].
(Priority pollutants are compounds and families that are among the
most persistent, prevalent, and toxic chemicals. A list of priority
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pollutants appears as Appendix B.) These toxic substances are those
for which EPA published Section 304(a) criteria recommendations.
These toxics, if discharged to a waterbody or are present in
sufficient concentrations in a waterbody, could compromise or
interfere with the waterbody's designated use. On December 22,
1992, EPA imposed Federal chemical-specific, numeric criteria for
priority toxic pollutants on 14 States that failed to adopt their own
criteria, as required by Section 303(c)(2)(B) of the CWA. This
action brought all States into compliance.
Second, Section 518 of the 1987 CWA gives EPA the authority to
approve Indian Tribes to administer the water quality standards
program on Reservation Lands. Section 518 also required EPA to
develop a mechanism for resolving disputes when an Indian Tribe
and a State adopt different water quality standards on a common
body of water. On December 12, 1991, EPA issued Amendments to
the Water Quality Standards Regulation that Pertain to Standards on
Indian Reservations (40 CFR 131.6 and 131.7). The Amendments
establish qualification criteria for Indian Tribe administration and
describe a conflict resolution mechanism.
Part C: Establishing Water Quality Standards
The 50 States, the District of Columbia, U.S. Territories
(Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Palau, the Virgin
Islands, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands), and Indian Tribes authorized to administer the program
adopt water quality standards for each waterbody within the State,
territory, or tribal boundary. (Throughout this document, the term
State is used to mean any of the above jurisdictions.) EPA may also
establish water quality standards where a State fails to do so. A
single water quality standard need not be applied to the entire
waterbody (for example, for the entire length of a stream); different
water quality standards may be set on different segments of the
same waterbody.
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EPA reviews new or revised water quality standards that States
adopt to determine whether the standards meet CWA requirements.
EPA also reviews the standards of each State to ensure that they do
not interfere with attainment of standards in waters shared with
another State or waters located in another State downstream. If
EPA disapproves a State's water quality standards, or determines
that a new or revised water quality standard is necessary to meet the
requirements of the Act, EPA may issue water quality standards to
which the State is bound. EPA provides technical guidance,
program grants, and assistance to the States to help them carry out
the requirements of the program.
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Section II: Uses of a Waterbody
Part A: Designated Uses and Existing Uses
The water quality standards program categorizes water uses in two
ways: designated uses and existing uses. A designated use is the
legally applicable use specified in a water quality standard for a
watershed, waterbody, or segment of a waterbody. A designated use
is a use that, presently, may or may not be met or "attained". All
pollution control activities are designed to attain the designated uses.
An existing use is the use that has been achieved for a waterbody on
or after November 28, 1975, and that requires the most stringent
criteria. (This is the date when the original water quality standards
regulation took effect.)
Understanding the distinction between existing and designated uses
is fundamental to understanding the standards program. An existing
use for a specific waterbody is one that has been attained; that use
and the water quality necessary to continue supporting that use must
be protected and maintained. Designated uses, on the other hand,
may be changed upon finding that the use cannot be attained, but
only after conducting a Use Attainability Analysis (UAA), described
in Part C of this Section. Changing a designated use also results in a
change to the applicable water quality criteria.
Part B: Typical Uses of a Waterbody
Typical uses of waterbodies include public water supply,
propagation of fish and wildlife, recreation, agriculture, industrial
processes, and navigation. EPA does not recognize waste transport
as an acceptable use. Designated or existing uses for wetlands may
include providing habitat for endangered species or mitigating the
effects of flood waters.
A special designated use category is Outstanding National Resource
Waters (ONRWs). These waters are high quality or ecologically
unique waters such as those within the jurisdiction of National and
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State Parks and wildlife refuges. ONRWs are waters that are
ecologically important, unique, or sensitive (such as swamps or hot
springs), which the commonly applied use classifications and
supporting criteria do not always serve to protect. No new or
additional discharges can occur in ONRWs. Some States have a
special use category called State Resource Waters, which may allow
limited changes in water quality as long as the changes do not affect
the characteristics that support the use designation.
Part C: Establishing Designated Uses
States are responsible for establishing designated uses of a
waterbody. Categories of designated uses vary by State. Each State
develops its own use classification system based on the generic uses
cited in the CWA (see Section I, Part A). States may designate uses
such as cold water fisheries or particular species to be protected, for
example, trout or bass. States may also designate special uses to
protect sensitive or valuable aquatic life or habitat.
Figure 1 below illustrates an example of a use designation. In this
case, the waterbody depicted is a cold water stream, and the
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designated use is aquatic habitat. The stream system is appropriate
for sustaining the brook trout depicted in the figure because it has
undercut banks, a gravel stream bed, and overhanging vegetation.
Uses may be revised during periodic State reviews of the water
quality standards, which, by law, are required at least once every
three years. The public must have an opportunity to comment on
changes in uses and EPA must approve any changes.
When establishing a designated use that does not meet the
"fishable/swimmable" goal, States perform a use attainability
analysis (UAA) to determine the achievable uses of a waterbody. A
UAA is a structured scientific assessment of the physical, chemical,
biological, and economic factors that affect the attainment of a use.
Consisting of a waterbody survey and assessment and an economic
analysis, if appropriate, the UAA enables the States to answer the
following questions about the conditions of its waters:
• What is the existing use to be protected?
• To what extent does pollution (as opposed to physical
factors) contribute to impaired use?
• What level of point source control is required to
restore or enhance the use? (The term "point source"
refers to pollution resulting from discharges into
receiving waters from any discernible confined and
discrete conveyance such as a pipe, ditch, or sewer.)
• What level of nonpoint source control is required to
restore or enhance the use? (The term "nonpoint
source" refers to pollution sources that are diffuse and
do not have a single point of origin. Run-off from
agriculture, forestry, and construction sites are
examples.)
While UAAs are the responsibility of the States, the actual studies
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may be performed by other entities (e.g., consultants hired by the
States or Indian Tribes). States are encouraged to consult with EPA
before the analysis is initiated and frequently while it is being
conducted. EPA's Regional Offices can provide additional
information about UAAs (Section VII of this document contains a
list of the Regional Offices and the States and Territories covered by
each region). A State may also elect, at its option, to conduct a
UAA even when designating fishable/swimmable uses, simply to
document the reasonableness of the designation and the attainability.
Part D: Changing Designated Uses
States may modify a designated use when its attainment is precluded
because of one or more of the following factors:
• naturally occurring pollutant concentrations;
• natural, intermittent or low-flow water levels;
• anthropogenic conditions or sources of pollution that
cannot be corrected or for which corrective measures
would cause more deterioration of the environment than
would leaving the conditions or pollutants in place;
• dams, diversions, or other hydrologic modifications;
• physical conditions associated with the natural features of
the waterbody, unrelated to quality, that impede
protection of aquatic life; or
• more stringent controls than those required by Sections
301(b)(l)(A) and (B) and 306 of the CWA would result
in substantial and widespread economic and social
impact.
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Section III: Water Quality Criteria
Part A: Definition of Water Quality Criteria
The phrase "water quality criteria" has two definitions under the
CWA. First, under Section 304(a), EPA publishes water quality
criteria that reflect available scientific information on the
concentrations of specific chemicals in water that protect aquatic life
or human health. These criteria are intended to provide protection
for all surface waters on a national basis and may be used by the
States as a basis for developing enforceable water quality criteria as
part of their standards. The general public sometimes mistakenly
views these criteria as the "standards." In a legal sense, a water
quality standard must also contain a designated use and an
antidegradation policy.
Second, water quality criteria are elements of water quality standards
adopted by a State under Section 303(c), which describe the quality
of water that will support a particular use. When properly selected
criteria are met, they are expected to protect the designated use. As
a practical matter, most States for most pollutants adopt EPA's
Section 304(a) criteria recommendations as part of their legally
enforceable water quality standards.
Part B: Forms of Criteria
Water quality criteria are expressed in either numeric form or
narrative form. Numeric criteria are expressed as chemical
concentrations or conditions (such as pH or turbidity) in water
which should protect designated uses. Concentrations of chemicals
or other pollutants are typically expressed as a weight, measured per
liter, such as jttg/L (micrograms per liter) or mg/L (milligrams per
liter). Micrograms are much smaller than milligrams: one milligram
equals 1000 micrograms. An example of a numeric criterion is
dissolved oxygen > 5.0 mg/L (stated in English, this narrative
criterion means that the amount of oxygen dissolved in the water
should be equal to or greater than 5 milligrams per liter).
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Section 303(c)(2)(B) of the CWA requires States to adopt numeric
criteria for priority toxic pollutants. The 126 individual priority
toxics are listed in Appendix B to this document.
Narrative criteria are expressed in concise statements, generally in a
"free from" format. EPA aesthetic narrative quality criteria, for
example, state that "all waters should be free from substances
attributable to wastewater or other discharges that: (1) settle to form
objectional deposits; (2) float as debris, scum, oil, or other matter to
form nuisances; (3) produce objectionable color, odor, taste, or
turbidity; (4) injure, are toxic to, or produce adverse physiological
responses in humans, animals, or plants; and (5) produce undesirable
or nuisance aquatic life." Similarly, the phrase "free from toxic
pollutants in toxic amounts" is derived from the national goal
statement in Section 101(a)(3) of the CWA. An example of a
narrative, biological criterion is natural background conditions shall
be maintained.
Part C: Site-specific Criteria
Site-specific criteria are either numeric or narrative criteria adopted
for a particular site that reflect environmental conditions at that site.
The EPA Section 304(a) guidance on water quality criteria, which
are intended to provide protection for all surface waters on a
national basis, is broad. These broad criteria can be tailored to
reflect localized, site-specific conditions. Site-specific criteria are
sometimes justified because:
• species inhabiting a given site may be more sensitive or
less sensitive than those used by EPA to develop Section
304(a) criteria;
• water chemistry (e.g., pH, hardness, temperature,
suspended solids) at the site may differ substantially from
the water used in the laboratory for developing Section
304(a) criteria, affecting toxicity of the chemicals to the
organisms in the water; or
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• EPA may not have a criteria recommendation for a
pollutant adversely affecting the designated use at a
particular location.
Part D: Developing Water Quality Criteria
EPA publishes, as guidance, Section 304(a) criteria which reflect the
most current scientific information available regarding pollutant
effects on human health and aquatic life. The criteria, which have
no force of law, are published as guidance documents to assist the
States and Indian Tribes in setting water quality standards. Human
health criteria provide guidelines that specify the potential risk of
adverse effects to humans due to substances in water. Aquatic life
criteria are designed to protect all aquatic life, including plants and
animals.
The criteria guidance documents issued by EPA contain two major
types of information:
1. scientific data on the effects of pollutants on human
health (including recreation) and aquatic life; and
2. quantitative concentrations or qualitative assessments
of pollutants in water that will generally ensure water
quality adequate to support a particular use.
The document, Quality Criteria for Water 1986, contains summaries
of all contaminants and conditions for which EPA has developed
criteria recommendations. The current edition is known as the
"Gold Book." This document may be obtained for a fee from the
National Technical Information Source (NTIS) or the Education
Resource Information Center (ERIC) (complete ordering information
is contained in Section VII of this document).
EPA considers effective State water quality standards programs to
include both numeric approaches and narrative approaches. In the
case of toxic pollutants, for example, numeric criteria for specific
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chemicals are appropriate in circumstances where the cause of
toxicity is known, or when human health effects are associated with
a specific concentration of the toxic pollutant. A narrative standard
may be suitable when a specific pollutant is identified as impairing
the quality of the waterbody (such as reducing fish populations), but
a numeric criterion is not specified in State standards. Narrative
standards can also be used when the chemical(s) causing the toxicity
is unknown. As a specific standards program matures and more
definitive data become available, narrative criteria can be replaced
with numeric ones.
Anyone may propose a site-specific criterion to a State. A
municipality or a private company may conduct the work to support
a site-specific criterion. The State must review the data and the
procedures used to collect and analyze the data. The State must
then make the determination whether to adopt site-specific criteria.
If adopted, the State must submit the site-specific criteria to EPA for
review and approval or disapproval. The State may use methods
that are less scientifically rigorous than EPA's, but the methods
must be defensible (as required by 40 CFR 131.11).
Guidance, developed by EPA, for deriving site-specific water quality
criteria starting with EPA's Section 304(a) criteria can be obtained
from EPA's Health and Ecological Criteria Division at the address
listed in Section VII. Guidelines for Deriving Numerical National
Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of Aquatic Life, published
in October 1984, is available from NTIS (publication number PB85-
227049). States are also urged to consult with the appropriate EPA
Regional Office (listed in Section VII) before beginning to develop
site-specific criteria.
Part E: Water Quality Criteria for Protection of Human Health
Water quality criteria have been established to protect human health
from most toxic pollutants ingested by consuming aquatic organisms
(such as fish containing mercury). The criteria are based on the
assumption that humans consume 6.5 grams of contaminated aquatic
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organisms daily and that the average body weight of a human is 70
kg or about 150 pounds. These criteria use other standardized
factors for each pollutant, which are derived from laboratory studies.
EPA is now revising its human health criteria, which will encourage
more State and local input on risk management decisions.
EPA's water quality criteria for fish consumption are distinct from
the limits developed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
and serve a different function. The EPA criteria for protecting
human health are non-regulatory, scientific recommendations for
ambient levels in water, which if not exceeded, will ensure that safe
levels are maintained in edible aquatic organisms. ("Ambient"
refers to the existing conditions in the waterbody.) The FDA action
levels are regulatory numbers used to prohibit the sale of edible
aquatic life when contaminant concentrations in the edible portions
of the organisms exceed the FDA limit.
Part F: Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of Aquatic Life
The development of national numerical water quality criteria for the
protection of aquatic life is a complex process. After a decision is
made that a national criterion is needed for a particular material, all
available information concerning the impact of that material on
aquatic life is collected; this can include experimental and laboratory
testing data. There are two types of criteria which may be
established: "acute," which cover short-term exposures such as
spills, and "chronic," which cover long-term or permanent
exposures. One or both of the acute and chronic criteria may be
related to other water quality characteristics, such as pH,
temperature, or hardness. Separate criteria are developed for fresh
and salt waters.
Part G: Other Criteria—Preserving Biological Integrity
In addition to human health and aquatic life criteria, EPA is
developing biological and sediment criteria to further the CWA
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goal of protecting the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of
the Nation's waters. Biological criteria are narrative or numeric
expressions that describe the desired biological condition of aquatic
communities inhabiting particular types of waterbodies. Sediment
criteria address the toxicity of different sediment types in different
environmental settings; controlling sediment pollutant concentration
helps prevent harmful chemicals from accumulating in the tissues of
animals in the food chain.
While each type of water quality criterion has a different protective
focus, human health, aquatic life, biological, and sediment criteria
are complementary. No single criterion value or number will
guarantee protection of all forms of life. Collectively, these four
types of criteria provide a valuable tool for protecting the physical,
chemical, and biological—and ultimately the ecological—integrity of
the Nation's waters.
Figure 2 below shows how use designation and criteria can be
applied to different waterbodies (in this case a stream, lake, and
wetland) within a watershed.
Figure 2
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Section IV: Antidegradation Policy
Part A: Origin and Purpose of Antidegradation Policies
EPA's water quality standards regulation requires States and Indian
Tribes to adopt a policy that conserves, maintains, and protects
existing uses and the water quality necessary to protect these uses.
This policy is known as the antidegradation policy. Established by
the Secretary of Interior in February 1968 before the creation of
EPA, the policy was incorporated into the water quality standards
regulation issued by EPA in November 1975. The policy was
clarified and included in the water quality standards regulation
published in the Federal Register on November 8, 1983 (48 FR
51400); the specific code is contained in 40 CFR 131.12. Section
303(d) of CWA establishes Congressional recognition and approval
of EPA's antidegradation policy.
Part B: Federal Antidegradation Requirements
The water quality standards regulation requires States and Indian
Tribes to adopt an antidegradation policy that
• maintains existing uses of a waterbody or segment
and the level of quality necessary to protect the use
(known as Tier 1 waters);
• protects high quality waters (unless certain conditions
are met). High quality water is that which exceeds
levels necessary to support propagation of fish,
shellfish, and wildlife as well as recreation in and on
the water (these waters are also known as Tier 2
waters); and
• provides special protection for Outstanding National
Resource Waters (ONRWs)(also known as Tier 3
waters).
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Many States designate Outstanding State Waters instead of ONRW;-
to provide additional protection while allowing for limited
discharges.
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Part C: State Antidegradation Policies
States and Indian Tribes are required to adopt an antidegradation
policy and methods for their implementation. The policy need not
be formally adopted into the State's water quality standards, but it
must be specifically referenced in the standards regulation so that its
relationship to the standards is clear.
EPA has the authority to review State and Tribal antidegradation
policies and to issue such policies if a State or Indian Tribe fails to
adopt an antidegradation policy that is consistent with the CWA.
Implementation plans may be disapproved by EPA if the plans
contain provisions that may result in violating the intent, spirit, and
requirements of the antidegradation policy.
Issuance of a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) permit by a State or an Indian Tribe serves as an example
of how EPA may disapprove the implementation of an
antidegradation policy. (Section 402 of the CWA, the National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, is the EPA program that
controls the discharge of pollution from point sources by requiring
that a person or organization discharging any type of waste into a
surface water obtain a NPDES permit from EPA, and limit their
discharges to the limit contained within the permit. EPA has the
legal authority to delegate its permit granting role to the States and
Indian Tribes.) If a State or Indian Tribe, for example, fails to apply
its antidegradation policy when it issues an NPDES permit, EPA
may object to the permit as not meeting the requirements of the Act.
The State or Indian Tribe may then be barred from issuing the
permit until steps are taken to comply with the antidegradation
policy. Citizens may also challenge any permit in State court on the
grounds that it does not comply with the State's or Indian Tribe's
antidegradation policy. Additionally, EPA may determine
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that the State's or Indian Tribe's antidegradation policy is, in fact,
inconsistent with EPA requirements (40 CFR Section 131.12). In
this case, EPA would issue an antidegradation policy for waters in
the State or Reservation Lands.
The antidegradation policy has been developed so that it minimizes
adverse effects on economic growth and development and at the
same time protects CWA goals. Federal regulations are not intended
to result in standards that are so stringent that compliance would
cause severe economic impacts. The antidegradation policy does not
prohibit lowering of water quality. It does, however, establish a
public process for considering the relevant factors before doing so.
Part D: Antidegradation Policy and Wetlands
States and Indian Tribes are expected to fully apply their
antidegradation policies to wetlands. Wetlands are defined in the
CWA as those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or
ground water at a frequency and duration to support, and under
normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation
typically adapted to life in saturated soil conditions. Wetlands
generally include marshes, swamps, bogs, and similar areas.
The antidegradation policies should provide for the protection of
existing uses in wetlands and the level of water quality that is
necessary to protect those uses, similar to antidegradation policies in
other waters. In the case of using wetlands for disposing dredge
and fill material (such as materials that might result from
development of highways and airports, or from construction of dams
and levees), EPA follows a slightly different interpretation of
existing uses. EPA recognizes that Congress intended for some fill
to occur in wetlands, as long as the discharged materials do not
result in significant degradation as defined in the section of the
CWA that concerns permits for dredge and fill materials [Section
404(b)(l) guidelines in 40 CFR Part 230)J. These guidelines
establish a process to ensure that impacts to wetlands are avoided,
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minimized, and mitigated. States may, of course, adopt stricter
requirements for wetland fills in their antidegradation policies.
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Section V: Water Quality Standards on Indian Lands
Part A: Requirements for Water Quality Standards Programs on
Indian Lands
Before an Indian Tribe is granted authority to administer a water
quality standards program, the following criteria must be met:
• The Indian Tribe must be recognized by the Secretary
of Interior.
• The Tribe must have a governing body with
substantial duties and powers within a defined area
(including authority to conduct governmental
functions such as ensuring the health and welfare of
an affected population).
• The water quality standards program must include
managing and protecting water resources within the
borders of the Indian Reservation.
• The Indian Tribe must have the necessary
management and technical skills to implement an
effective water quality standards program or must
submit a plan to acquire those skills.
The Tribal application to administer the program must be submitted
to the EPA Regional Administrator, who informs all neighboring
governmental entities that the application has been received. The
Regional Administrator allows 30 days for comments on the Tribe's
application. (Locations of EPA Regional Offices and the States
covered by each are contained in Section VII.) States and other
Federal entities participating in the review cannot veto the
application. EPA independently evaluates the application and
promptly notifies the Tribe in writing whether it qualifies to
administer the program. No statutory requirement exists that
requires an Indian Tribe to apply for the water quality standards
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program, nor is there a deadline by which applications must be
submitted.
Part B: The Issue Dispute Resolution Mechanism
The December 12, 1991 Amendments to the Water Quality
Standards Regulation That Pertain to Standards on Indian
Reservations (40 CFR 131.6 and 131.7) set forth procedures to
resolve unreasonable consequences that may arise when an Indian
Tribe and State adopt different water quality standards on a common
body of water. EPA has established mechanisms for resolving
disputes between Indian Tribes and States, but prefers that Indian
Tribes and States resolve disputes without EPA involvement.
The "issue dispute resolution mechanism" is a way for EPA to
resolve issues that arise as a result of States and Indian Tribes
setting different water quality standards on common bodies of water.
Dispute resolution actions involving water quality standards must be
consistent with one or more of the following options:
a. Mediation. The EPA Regional Administrator may appoint a
mediator who can be an employee of EPA or some other Federal
agency, or another appropriately qualified individual. The
mediator, acting as a neutral facilitator, encourages
communication and negotiation among disputing parties, and
may establish advisory panels to study the problems and
recommend a solution. The advisory panel must consist of
members from the affected parties. The mediation procedure
and schedule is determined by the mediator in consultation with
the parties to the dispute.
b. Arbitration. The EPA Regional Administrator may appoint an
arbitrator or arbitration panel (which disputing parties must
approve) to settle the dispute. Arbitrators and panel members
may be EPA employees, employees of other Federal agencies, or
other individuals with appropriate qualifications. Individuals
serving in this capacity who are Federal employees must act
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independently of their agencies. Arbitrators and panelists
must be versed in the water quality standards program and
understand the political and economic interests of the Indian
Tribes and States involved.
At least one private or public meeting must be held with the
parties. The arbitrator or panel must solicit information on
how fulfilling the requirements for obtaining a permit affect
entities that discharge into a water body, comparative risks to
public health and the environment, economic impacts, water
uses, water quality, and other factors relevant to the dispute.
After considering these factors, the arbitrator or panel
provides a written recommendation for resolving the dispute
to the affected parties and the EPA Regional Administrator.
Disputing parties need not accept the recommendation unless
they voluntarily entered into a binding agreement to do so.
If a party to the dispute believes that the arbitrator or panel
has recommended an action that is inconsistent with the
CWA, the party may appeal the recommendation to the
Regional Administrator in writing. The appeal must include
the statutory basis for altering the arbitrator's
recommendation.
Dispute Resolution Default Procedure. A default procedure
is available when disputing parties refuse to participate in
either mediation or arbitration. In such an event, the EPA
Regional Administrator may appoint a single official or panel
to review information related to the dispute and issue a
written recommendation for its resolution. Recommendations
issued by EPA resulting from this default procedure have no
force of law.
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Part C: Options for Establishing Water Quality Standards
Indian Tribes have three options for establishing water quality
standards for waters under their jurisdiction:
• They may negotiate a cooperative agreement with an
adjoining State to apply that State's water quality
standards to the Reservation Lands. A cooperative
agreement can include any provision agreed upon by the
two parties; or
• they may adopt the adjacent State's water quality
standards with or without modifications; or
• they may develop and adopt their own standards to
account for unique Tribal uses and needs.
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Section VI: Adoption of Water Quality Standards
Part A: Processes For Establishing Water Quality Standards
The process for developing, reviewing, adopting, and implementing
water quality standards on land under the jurisdiction of States and
Indian Tribes is the same. The overall requirements are specified in
the CWA and the water quality standards regulation issued on
November 8, 1983.
Each State and Tribe has its own legal and administrative
procedures for adopting water quality standards; there are no
standardized procedures. The CWA requires States and Indian
Tribes to hold one public hearing and to involve the public in
reviewing and revising water quality standards.
The governmental entity responsible for adopting State or Indian
Tribal water quality standards varies from State to State and Tribe
to Tribe. In some States, water quality standards are adopted by
the State legislative body and signed into law by the Governor. In
others, standards are adopted through an administrative agency
rulemaking procedure which may be subject to legislative oversight.
For Indian Tribes, the governing Tribal body or authority is
responsible for adopting water quality standards on Reservation
Lands.
One approach to water quality protection considers the whole
aquatic system, including other resource management programs that
address land, air, and water to successfully manage problems for a
given aquatic resource. This approach—the watershed protection
approach—encourages States and Indian Tribes to work collectively
to manage high priority water quality concerns, to coordinate
among various interests, and to devise solutions for local
conditions. States and Tribes define the goals in the watershed, or
waterbody, of concern and can adopt these in their water quality
standards. Goal selection is driven by stakeholder involvement in
the process.
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Part B: Status of the Water Quality Standards Program
All 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Territories
have developed water quality standards. Some Indian Tribes have
been authorized to administer the water quality standards program
and have approved water quality standards. The number of Tribes
that may eventually assume responsibility for the program is
unknown.
Part C: Reviewing, Revising, and Adopting New Standards
Section 303(c) of the CWA requires States to hold public hearings
at least once every three years to review applicable water quality
standards and, if appropriate, to adopt new standards. In
conjunction with EPA, States select waterbodies for which water
quality standards are to be reviewed in-depth. Selection is based on
the following sources of information:
• a list of impaired waters, Section 304(1). This list
comprises two types of waters: first, those in which
water quality standards cannot be met because of the
presence of toxic pollutants; second, those in which the
following uses cannot be maintained or achieved. This
category includes public water supplies, agricultural and
industrial uses, the protection and propagation of a
balanced population of shellfish, fish and wildlife, and
recreational activities in and on the water. The second
category also includes any waters that present a threat to
public health.
• reports on the condition of the waters within the
boundaries of each State (Section 305(b) Reports). These
reports, required biennially for each State, describe the
water quality of all navigable waters in the State, as well
as the nature and sources of pollution to the waters
during the preceding two years.
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• waters identified as not meeting water quality
standards (Section 303(d) Lists). This section requires
States to list those waters for which (1) the
limitations on effluent discharges (or releases of
pollutants to a waterbody) are not stringent enough to
implement water quality standards for the waters and
(2) the limitations on thermal discharges (effluent
with elevated temperatures) are not stringent enough
to ensure protection and propagation of a balanced
indigenous (native) population of shellfish, fish, and
wildlife.
• waterbody segments where major NPDES permits are
to be issued; and
• priorities within a watershed.
Additionally, waterbodies with water quality standards that do not
meet the requirements of the CWA (i.e., do not provide for the
protection of aquatic life or recreation) must be reexamined every
three years. States must review their standards to determine if new
scientific and technical data may be available which have a bearing
on their standards. Further, environmental changes and economic
development over time may warrant the need for a review. Where
States have not adopted standards that provide for the protection of
aquatic life or recreation, the State must periodically review
standards to see if the "fishable/swimmable" uses can be attained.
In addition, States may have adopted water quality standards
without sufficient data to determine whether the uses were
attainable. Finally, changes in the CWA or EPA's regulations may
necessitate State review of their standards to ensure continued
compliance with Federal requirements.
States may use several ways to determine the appropriateness of a
water quality standard. Generally, States will review intensive
water quality survey and monitoring data, and any other information
for a waterbody, to determine if uses are impaired or if water
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quality criteria are exceeded. If uses are impaired or criteria
exceeded, States will evaluate whether more stringent controls are
needed to attain the water quality standard or whether the water
quality standards are appropriate.
Part D: EPA's Role Following State or Tribal Adoption of
Standards
The Governor or Tribal Authority (or designee) submits the State's
or Tribe's officially adopted standards to the appropriate EPA
Regional Administrator for review. The Regional Administrator
reviews the standards to determine compliance with the CWA and
implementing regulations. The Regional Administrator may
approve or disapprove (in whole or in part) State or Tribal water
quality standards based on the review. If the standards do not meet
CWA requirements, the Regional Administrator must inform the
State or Tribe of the changes needed to bring the standards into
compliance. If the State or Tribe does not make the required
changes, EPA begins a process that results in the promulgation
(i.e., the issuance of a legally binding standard) of a Federal water
quality standard for the affected waters. Meanwhile, the standards
adopted by the State or Tribe remain in effect until the promulgation
process is complete or the State adopts revised water quality
standards. These requirements are listed in 40 CFR 131.6.
In addition, EPA is required under the Endangered Species Act to
consult with the Fish & Wildlife Service (F&WS) and the National
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to determine if adverse effects to
threatened or endangered species are likely. The F&WS is part of
the U.S. Department of Interior, and the NMFS is part of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The
Endangered Species Act (ESA) was enacted in 1973. The ESA and
subsequent amendments are intended to protect and preserve plants
and animals whose populations have been threatened or impaired by
the actions of humans.
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EPA may also issue Federal regulations when the Administrator
determines that a new or revised standard is necessary to meet the
requirements of the CWA. Federal water quality standards are
withdrawn when States or Tribes adopt standards that meet the
statutory and regulatory requirements. At the present time, Federal
actions of this type remain in force in Arizona, the Coleville
Confederated Tribes Indian Reservation in Washington, the San
Francisco Bay/Delta, and in 14 jurisdictions in the National Toxics
Rule.
When issuing water quality standards that are binding on a State or
on Tribal Lands, EPA must adhere to the same substantive
requirements as the State or Tribe for adopting standards.
Additionally, EPA at a minimum must
• publish the proposed water quality standard in the
Federal Register,
• solicit public comments on the proposed standard,
• hold a public hearing,
• analyze and incorporate public comments, and
• publish the final water quality standard.
Part E: Enforcing Water Quality Standards
Water quality standards are not directly Federally enforceable under
the CWA, but they provide a basis for establishing discharge limits
in NPDES permits and Section 404 permits (those permits that
allow for the disposal of dredge and fill material into surface
waters). The permits are legally enforceable. Failure to comply
with NPDES or dredge-and-fill permit limits can result in
enforcement action. States, however, do have the option, under
Section 510 of the CWA, to make water quality standards directly
enforceable.
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Part F: The Role of the Public in Setting Water Quality Standards
The public has a vested interest in our Nation's water quality.
Open hearings on water quality standards provide an opportunity for
the public to become involved in the water quality standards setting
process. Citizens may make recommendations on improvements or
modifications in the standards during the public hearing process.
Public hearings are a powerful vehicle through which citizens may
make their concerns known to public officials. States and Indian
Tribes are required by law to hold hearings at least once every three
years.
Part G: Available Guidance and Assistance
In addition to publishing Section 304(a) criteria guidance, EPA
develops other informational materials to help the States and Indian
Tribes meet the requirements of the water quality standards
program. Such informational materials include technical
publications, newsletters, and videotapes. Guidance materials are
supplemented by training programs, technical assistance,
workshops, meetings, and other forums conducted by EPA
personnel. EPA personnel are also available for consultation. EPA
encourages a free exchange of information in the Federal-State
effort to clean-up and protect the Nation's waters. (Section VII of
this document tells you where additional information about water
quality standards and criteria can be obtained.)
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Section VII: For More Information
EPA's ten Regional Offices (listed on page 31) can provide detailed
information about the procedures by which an Indian Tribe may
qualify for water quality standards program authorization. EPA is
also available to provide technical information as Indian Tribes
begin to develop water quality standards affecting Reservation
Lands.
Information on the water quality standards of a given State may be
obtained from the State's Water Pollution Control Agency or its
equivalent or directly from an Indian Tribe. Information may also
be obtained from the Water Quality Standards Coordinator in each
Regional Office identified on page 31.
You may also contact EPA at the following address for more
information about water quality standards, including schedules for
training programs and technical assistance workshops, documents
and videos.
Specific information about water quality standards may be obtained
from
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Office of Science & Technology
Standards & Applied Science Division
401 M Street, SW (4305)
Washington, DC 20460
(202) 260-1315
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Specific information about water quality criteria, including, site-
specific criteria, may be obtained from
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Office of Science & Technology
Health & Ecological Criteria Division
401 M Street, SW (4304)
Washington, DC 20460
(202) 260-0658
To purchase a copy of Quality Criteria for Water 1986, containing
summaries of all contaminants and conditions for which EPA has
developed criteria recommendations, contact
National Technical Information Center
U.S. Department of Commerce
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
(800) 553-NTIS
Order Number: PB87-226759
or
Education Resource Information Center
1929 Kenny Road
Columbus, OH 43210
(800) 276-0462
Order Number: D-760
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EPA Regions
77777
EPA Regional Water Quality Standards Coordinators
Region 9 Water Division
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco. CA 94105
(415) 744-1997
(415) 744-1078 (fax)
AZ, CA, NV, HI, Palau,
Guam. American Samoa,
N Mariana Islands
Region 1 Water Division
JFK Federal Building
Boston, MA 02203
(617) 565-3539
(617) 565-4940 (fax)
CT. ME. VT. MA, NH. RI
Region 5 Water Division
77 West Jackson
Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60604-3507
(312)353-9024
(312) 886-7804 (fax)
IL, IN. OH. MI. MN, WI
Region 2 Water Division
290 Broadway
New York. NY 10007
(212) 264-5685
(212) 637-3772 (fax)
NJ, NY. Puerto Rico.
Virgin Islands
Region 3 Water Division
841 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 597-4491
(215) 597-3359 (fax)
DE, DC, WV, MD, PA.
VA
Region 4 Water Division
345 Courtland Street. N.E
Atlanta. GA 30365
(404) 347-3555 x6633
(404) 347-1799 (fax)
AL. FL, GA, TN, KY, NC,
SC, MS
Region 6 Water Division
1445 Ross Avenue
First Interstate Bank
Tower
Dallas. TX 75202
(214) 665-6643
(214) 665-6689 (fax)
AR, LA, NM, OK. TX
Region 7 Water
Compliance Branch
726 Minnesota Avenue
Kansas City. KS 66101
(913)551-7441
(913) 551-7765 (lax)
IA. KS, MO. NE
Region 8 Water Division
999 18th Street
Denver. CO 80202-2405
(303) 293-1586
(303) 391-6957 (fax)
CO. MT. UT. ND, SD,
WY
Region 10 Water Division
(WS-139)
1200 Sixth Avenue
Seattle. WA 98101
(206) 553-0176
(206) 553-0165 (fax)
AK, ID, OR. WA
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APPENDIX A: GLOSSARY
This glossary includes terms used in this document and additional terms that are frequently
used in discussions of water quality standards
The Act-refers to the Clean Water Act (Public Law 92-500, as amended (33 USC 1251, et
seq.) (40CFR 131 3)
acute—refers to short-term exposures to pollutants
Administrator—refers to the Administrator of the U S. Environmental Protection Agency
ambient—refers to existing conditions in a waterbody
anthropogenic—generated or caused by the actions of humans
antidegradation policy-policy required by EPA's water quality standards regulation that
States and Indian Tribes must adopt to conserve, maintain, and protect existing uses and the
water quality necessary to protect these uses; the policy was established by the Secretary of
Interior in February 1968 before the creation of EPA and incorporated into the water
quality standards regulation issued by EPA in November 1975
aquatic life criteria—guidelines designed to protect all aquatic life, including plants and
animals
arbitration—a dispute resolution process in which an individual or panel recommends a
solution to an issue arising between two parties. The solution recommended by the
arbitrator can be binding on the parties if they choose to make it so.
attain—achieve or reach (as a water quality goal)
background conditions—natural conditions, conditions not affected or influenced by the
activities of humans
biological integrity—the condition of the aquatic community inhabiting unimpaired water
bodies of a specified habitat as measured by community structure and function
biological criteria—narrative or numeric expressions that describe the desired biological
condition of aquatic communities inhabiting particular types of waterbodies
chronic—refers to long-term exposures to pollutants
Code of Federal Regulations-a publication of the U.S. Government that contains all EPA
and other regulations after they have received final approval. Referred to as "CFR."
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ignatcd use—that use defined in water quality standards for each water body or segment
sther or not the use is being attained
:harge limits-any restriction on quantities, rates, and concentrations of chemical.
'sical, biological or other constituents which are discharged from point sources
:harge—the addition of any pollutant(s) to navigable waters from any point source.
dge material—material resulting from activities such as the widening
Jeepening of channels, building of canals, construction of levees
ilogy (ecological)—the study of the interrelationships of organisms and their environment
uent—waste material discharged into the environment, including waters of the United
tes
sting use-the use that has been achieved for a waterbody on or after November 28,
75
ieral Register—a publication of the U.S Government that includes all proposed and final
.ulations issued by EPA. Referred to as "FR."
material—earth used for embankments or as backfill
od and Drug Administration—the U.S. Government agency that establishes limits used to
ihibit the sale of edible aquatic life when the concentrations of contaminants exceed
;citied levels
sitat—the environment occupied by individuals of a particular species, population, or
immunity
man health criteria—guidelines that specify the potential risk of adverse effects to humans
e to substances in the water
drology (hydrologic)—the science dealing with the properties, distribution, and circulation
water both on the surface of and under the earth
ipaired waters—waters that fail to meet applicable water quality standards or to protect
•signaled uses (such as fishing or swimming)
dian Tribe or Tribe—any Indian Tribe, band, group, community recognized by the
:cretary of the Interior and exercising governmental authority over a Federal Indian
eservation
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Indian Reservation (Reservation, Tribal Lands)—all land within the limits of any Indian
reservation under the jurisdiction of the U S Government, notwithstanding the issuance c
any patent, and including rights of way running through the reservation
indigenous—existing, and having originated naturally, in a particular region or environme
Issue Dispute Resolution Mechanism—the procedure contained in the Clean Water Act fo
resolving conflicts between States and Indian Tribes that adopt different water quality
standards on a common body of water
mediation—a dispute resolution process in which a neutral or impartial individual attempt
to facilitate a solution to a dispute arising between two parties by encouraging
communication and negotiation
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System—the EPA program that regulates point
source discharges through the issuance of permits to discharges and enforcement of the
terms and conditions of those permits
navigable waters—the waters of the United States, including the territorial seas
nonpoint source pollution—pollution sources that are diffuse and do not have a single poii
of origin; run-off from agriculture, forestry, and construction sites can be non-point sourc
pollution
organic substance—carbon-containing substances in plant and animal matter; high
concentrations are often found in municipal and industrial wastewater and in surface runo
organic chemicals refers to a manufactured chemical used for controlling weeds and msec
pests; many are considered to be carcinogenic
Outstanding National Resource Waters—the highest quality waters of the United States;
waters of exceptional ecological significance that are important, unique, or ecologically
sensitive
permit—legal authority to carry out a regulated activity
point source pollution—pollution resulting from discharges into receiving waters from any
discernible, confined, and discrete conveyance, such as a pipe, ditch, or sewer
priority toxics or pollutants-those substances listed by the Administrator under Section
307(a) of the Clean Water Act
promulgate—to make known or public the terms of a proposed regulation, or to put a
regulation into action or force
Regional Administrator—the senior official in an EPA Regional Office
rulemaking—the process by which regulations or laws are enacted
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iment(s)—transported or deposited particles derived from rocks, soils, or biological
enals
iment criteria—narrative or numeric expressions that describe the desired condition of
imerits in particular types of waterbodies, sediment criteria address the toxicity of
erent sediment types in different environmental settings
tes—includes the 50 United States, District of Columbia, Guam, Commonwealth of
•no Rico, Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and
nrnonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Indian Tribes that EPA determines
lify for treatment as States for the purpose of water quality standards
ute (statutory)—a law (having legal force)
'ace waters—bodies of water on the surface of the earth, including lakes, rivers, streams,
lands, etc.
ic substance/pollutant—substances (or pollutants) that, after discharge and upon exposure,
estion. inhalation, or assimilation into any organism, either directly from the
'ironment or indirectly by ingestion through food chains, will, or on the basis of
irmation available to the Administrator, cause death, disease, behavioral abnormalities,
icer, genetic mutations, physiological malfunctions (including malfunctions in
roduetion) or physical deformations, in such organisms or their offspring
; Attainability Analysis—a structured scientific assessment of the factors affecting the
u'nment of the use which may include physical, chemical, biological, and economic
tors as described m Section 131.10(g)(40 CFR 131.3)
ter quality standards—provisions of State or Federal law which consist of a designated
• or uses for the waters of the United Sates, water quality criteria for such waters based
in such uses, and an antidegradation policy; water quality standards are intended to
>tect public health and welfare, enhance the quality of water, and serve the purposes of
Clean Water Act
ter quality criteria—criteria published by EPA under Section 304(a) for specific
smicals in water intended to provide protection for aquatic life and human health in all
-face waters on a national basis, elements of water quality standards adopted by States
der Section 303(c), which describe the quality of water that will support a particular use
iters of the United States-refer to
(1) all waters which are currently used, were used in the past, or may be susceptible to
use in interstate or foreign commerce, including all waters which are subject to the ebb
and flow of the tide;
(2) all interstate waters, including interstate wetlands;
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(3) all other waters such as intiastate lakes, rivers, streams (including intenmttentstreams
mudflats, sandtlats, wetlands, sloughs, prairie potholes, wet meadows, playa lakes, or
natural ponds the use or degradation of which would affect or could affect interstate or
foreign commerce, including any such waters.
(i) which are or could be used by interstate or foreign travelers for
recreational or other purposes;
(ii) from which fish or shellfish are or could be taken and sold in
interstate or foreign commerce;
(iii) which are or could be used for industrial purposes by industries i
interstate commerce;
(4) all impoundments of waters otherwise defined as waters of the United State
under this definition,
(5) tributaries of waters in paragraphs (1) through (4) of this definition.
(6) the territorial sea; and
(7) wetlands adjacent to waters (other than waters that are themselves wetlands,
identified in paragraphs (1) through (6) of this definition "Wetlands" are defm
as those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a
frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstanc
do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soi
conditions. Wetlands generally include marshes, swamps, bogs, and similar are
Note. Waste treatment systems, including treatment ponds or lagoons designed i
meet the requirements of the Act (other than cooling ponds as defined in 40 CF
423.! l(m) which also meet the criteria for this definition) are not waters of the
United States.
watershed-the region draining into a river, river system, or other waterbody
wetland-those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a
frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do
support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions;
wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar areas
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APPENDIX B
LIST OF SECTION 307(A) PRIORITY TOXIC POLLUTANTS
Acenaphthene
Acenapthylene
Acrolein
Acrylonitnle
Aldrin
Antimony
Anthracene
Arsenic
Asbestos
1,2 Benzanthracene
Ben/ene
Benzidme
Benzo (A) Pyrene (3,4
Benzopyrene)
3,4 Ben/.ofluoranthene
Benzo (K) Fluoranthene
1.12 Benzoperylene
Beryllium
Bromoform
(Tribromomethane)
Bromomethane (Methyl
Bromide)
4 Bromophenyl Phenyl
Ether
Cadmium
Carbon Tetrachlonde
(Tetrachloromethane)
Chlordane
Chlorobenzene
(Monochlorobenzene)
Chlorodibromomethane
(Halomethane)
Chloroethane
(Monochloroethane)
Chloroethyl Ether (Bis-2)
1 Chloroethoxy Methane
(Bis-2)
2 Chloroethyl Vinyl Ether
4 Chloro-3-Methylphenol
Chloromethane (Methyl
Chloride)
Chloroform
(Trichloromethane)
2 Chlorophenol
Chloroisopropyl Ether
(Bis-2)
2 Chloronaphthalene
4 Chlorophenyl Phenyl
Ether
Chromium (HEX and TRI)
Chrysene
Copper
Cyanide
4,4 DDT
4,4 DDE
4,4 ODD
Dibenzo (a,h) Anthracene
1,2 Dichlorobenzene
1,3 Dichlorobenzene
1,4 Dichlorobenzene
3.3 Dichlorobenzidme
1,1 Dichloroethane
1,2 Dichloroethane
1.1 Dichloroethylene
1.2 Trans-Dichloroethylene
Dichlorobromomethane
(Halomethanes)
Dichloromethane
(Halomethanes)
2,4 Dichlorophenol
1.2 Dichloropropane
1,3 Dichloropropylene
Dieldrin
2,4 Dimethylphenol
Diethylphthalate
Dimethylphthalate
2.4 Dmitrotolucne
2,6 Dinitrotoluene
2,4 Dimtrophenol
Dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD)
1,2 Diphenylhydrazme
Alpha EndoMilfan
Beta Endosulfan
Endosulfan Sulfate
Endnn
Endrin Aldehyde
Ethylbenzene
Fluorene
Fluoranthene
Heptachlor
Heptachlor Epoxide
Hexachloroethane
Hexachlorobenzene
Hexachlorobutadiene
Hexachlorocyclohexane
(Lindane)
Hexachlorocyclohexane
(Alpha)
Hexachlorocyclohexane
(Beta)
Hexachlorocyclohexane
(Delta)
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene
Ideno (1,2,3-cd) Pyrene
(PAH)
Isophorone
Lead
Mercury
Naphthalene
Nickel
Nitrobenzene
2 Nitrophenol
4 Nitrophenol
4,6 Dinilro-2-Methylphenol
Nitrosodimethylamine N
Nitrosodiphenylamme-N
Nitrosodi-N-Propylamine-N
PCB 1242
PCB 1254
PCB 1221
PCB 1232
PCB 1248
PCB 1260
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PCB 1016
Phenol
Pentachlorophenol
Phenanthrene (PAH)
Bis (3 Ethyl Hexyl)
Phthalate
Butyl Benzyl Phthalate
Di-N-Butyl Phthalate
Di-N-Octyl-Phthalate
Pyrene (PAH)
Selenium
Silver
1,1,2,2 Tetrachloroethane
Tetrachloroethylene
Thallium
Toluene
Toxaphene
1,2,4 Tnchlorobenzene
1,1,1 Trichloroethane
1,1,2 Trichloroethane
Trichloroethylene
2,4,6 Tnchlorophenol
Vinyl Chloride
(Chloroethylene)
Zinc
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