On March 7, 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency disapproved New York's revised water quality criteria for fecal coliform and total coliform (i.e., recreational criteria) as not being protective of the primary contact recreation designated use in certain waters around New York City and not being based on sound science. Following such a disapproval, the EPA is required to promptly prepare and publish” proposed standards under the Clean Water Act. Here, the EPA would propose scientifically defensible and protective recreational water quality criteria for these waters. In the event that the state submits, and the EPA approves, recreational criteria for these waters in New York, the EPA would no longer be obligated to proceed with criteria for such waters. The state is working on developing revised water quality standards to address the EPA’s 2018 disapproval action.