In an ongoing effort to assure effective implementation of the Water Quality Standards (WQS) established under the Clean Water Act (CWA), EPA published a proposed rule for public comment in the Federal Register on September 4, 2013.  The proposed revisions would require states and tribes to obtain Administrator or appropriately delegated approval authority for the anti–degradation methods used to protect water quality.  EPA is accepting comments for this proposed structure and an alternative whereby states and tribes may opt out of a formal review.  Beyond Administrator approval for new or revised WQS, the FR proposed rules address designated uses, triennial reviews, anti–degradation, variances to WQS, and compliance schedule authorizing provisions.  The comment period will remain open until December 3, 2013.

To see the full FR notice, visit http://bit.ly/WQStReCl.