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EPA/OW | RIN: 2040-AF62 | Publication ID: Fall 2024 |
Title: Federal Baseline Water Quality Standards for Indian Reservations | |
Abstract: On April 27, 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator signed a proposed rule to establish water quality standards for certain Indian reservations that do not have WQS under the Clean Water Act. This rule will help advance President Biden’s commitment to strengthening the nation-to-nation relationships with Indian country. Fifty years after enactment of the CWA, over 80% of Indian reservations do not have this foundational CWA protection for their waters. Addressing this lack of CWA-effective WQS for the waters of potentially more than 250 Indian reservations is a priority for the EPA, given that WQS are central to implementing the water quality framework of the CWA. Promulgating baseline WQS would provide more scientific rigor and regulatory certainty to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits for discharges to these waters. Consistent with the EPA’s regulations, the baseline WQS include designated uses, water quality criteria to protect those uses, and antidegradation policies to protect high quality waters. The EPA consulted with Tribes in the summer of 2021 during the pre-proposal phase and in the summer of 2023, concurrent with the public comment period associated with the proposal. The EPA accepted public comments on the proposed rule between May 5, 2023, and August 3, 2023. The EPA also conducted two public hearings. The first was held June 27, 2023. The second was held July 12, 2023. | |
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) | Priority: Other Significant |
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda | Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Final Rule Stage |
Major: No | Unfunded Mandates: No |
CFR Citation: 40 CFR 131 | |
Legal Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1313(c)(4)(B) |
Legal Deadline:
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Timetable:
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Additional Information: . | |
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No | Government Levels Affected: Federal, State, Tribal |
Small Entities Affected: No | Federalism: No |
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No | |
RIN Information URL: https://www.epa.gov/wqs-tech/promulgation-tribal-baseline-water-quality-standards-under-clean-water-act | |
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No | |
Agency Contact: James Ray Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water Mail Code 4305T, 200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460 Phone:202 566-1433 Email: ray.james@epa.gov Danielle Anderson Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water Mail Code 4305T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460 Phone:202 564-1631 Email: anderson.danielle@epa.gov |