United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
4305
January 1996
EPA-823-F-96-001
FACT SHEET
PROPOSED WATER QUALITY STANDARDS FOR ARIZONA
Abstract
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing various water quality standards
that are applicable to surface waters in the State of Arizona. EPA is proposing the standards
to comply with a federal court order. By taking this action, EPA establishes water quality
standards for certain waters associated with mining-related impoundments that are currently
exempt from Arizona water quality standards. The proposal designates the fish consumption
beneficial use for approximately 100 water bodies where that use is not currently applied, and
makes certain provisions in the State's standards related to "practical quantitation limits"
inapplicable for Clean Water Act purposes. The proposal also provides for the implementation
of State narrative water quality standards pertaining to taodcity, nutrients, and the effects of
mercury on wildlife.
Federal Authority
Under the federal Clean Water Act,
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 September 1993 and April 1994, EPA
disapproved six aspects of the Arizona
water quality standards. While the State
continued to work toward the adoption
of approvable water quality standards,
EPA was sued by the Defenders of
Wildlife to promptly propose federal
replacement standards for Arizona, as
required by the Clean Water Act. In
November 1995 the Federal District
Court ordered EPA to satisfy the
requirements of the Clean Water Act
and propose standards for Arizona by
January 31, 1996.
ProposedLReyisions
In accordance with the court order, EPA
is publishing proposed water quality
standards in the Federal Register to
replace portions of the Arizona water
quality standards rules that were adopted
by Arizona in February 1992. EPA will
conduct a public hearing on February 29,
1996 to take comments on the proposed
standards and the related implemen-
tation guidance, and will accept written
comments until March 8, 1996.
The State of Arizona is currently in the
process of adopting its own water quality
standards and implementation
procedures that are substantially similar
to those EPA is proposing. When
Arizona completes its adoption process
and EPA approves the State standards,
the federal standards will not be needed
and EPA will withdraw the standards.
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Costs and Benefits
The proposed set of
standards will have
minim 1 economic costs
and benefits because the
standards are not major
changes to the existing
prograia The proposed
standards will establish
standards for waters that
are exempt from State-
adopted standards due to a
State rule related to mining
impoundments and they
will add protection to
people eating fish caught
from 100 specific perennial
streams.
The proposed standards, and the related implementation guidance, will assure that the
most up-to-date scientific laboratory methods are used to measure dischargers’
compliance with the standards. The proposed standards will aiso include detailed
guidance on measuring compliance with the State’s narrative standards for nutrients,
toxicity, and the protection of wildlife from mercury contamination.
Additional information
For additional information, you may contact Mr. Gary Wolinsky, Permits and
Compliance Branch, Water Management Division U. S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Region 9 Office, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 744-1978.
The entire Federal Register notice may be viewed on the Internet, as follows:
http://www.epa.gov/EPA-WATER The notice contains detailed information on how the
public can comment on these proposed standards.
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