Regulacje i polityka gospodarcza · 07/12/1998

National Recommended Water Quality Criteria

EPA is publishing a compilation of its national recommended water quality criteria for 157 pollutants, developed pursuant to section 304(a) of the Clean Water Act (CWA or the Act). These recommended criteria provide guidance for States and Tribes in adopting water quality standards under section 303(c) of the CWA. Such standards are used in implementing a number of environmental programs, including setting discharge limits in National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. These water quality criteria are not regulations, and do not impose legally binding requirements on EPA, States, Tribes or the public. This document also describes changes in EPA's process for deriving new and revised 304(a) criteria. Comments provided to the Agency about the content of this Notice will be considered in future publications of water quality criteria and in carrying out the process for deriving water quality criteria. With this improved process the public will have more opportunity to provide data and views for consideration by EPA. The public may send any comments or observations regarding the compilation format or the process for deriving new or revised water quality criteria to