Notice of Availability of National Management Measures to Protect and Restore Wetlands and Riparian Areas for the Abatement of Nonpoint Source Pollution and Request for Comments

Résumé

EPA has developed and is requesting comment on draft technical guidance for protecting and restoring wetlands and riparian areas from sources of nonpoint pollution and using vegetated treatment systems (vegetative filter strips and constructed wetlands) for controlling nonpoint source pollution. This guidance is intended to provide technical assistance to state program managers and others on the best available, economically achievable means of protecting and restoring wetlands and riparian areas from nonpoint source pollution. Additionally, this guidance provides technical assistance for state program managers on the use of vegetated treatment systems to control nonpoint source pollution. The guidance provides background information about nonpoint source pollution, including where it comes from and how it enters the Nation's waters. It also presents many examples of how to protect and restore the many functions of wetlands and riparian areas from the impacts of nonpoint source pollution. The guidance concludes with a variety of illustrations for using vegetated treatment systems to control sources of nonpoint pollution. Reviewers should note that the draft technical guidance is ent