Proposed Revisions to the Water Quality Planning and Management Regulation, and Revisions to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Program and Federal Antidegradation Policy in Support of Proposed Revisions to the Water Quality Planning and Management Regulation

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On August 23, 1999, EPA issued two proposed rules to revise, clarify and strengthen the current regulatory requirements for identifying impaired waters and establishing Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) under the Clean Water Act: revisions to the Water Quality Planning and Management Regulation (64 FR 46012); and revisions to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program and Federal Antidegradation Policy (64 FR 46058) in support of the revisions at 64 FR 46012. These proposed regulatory revisions address issues of fundamental importance to cleaning up our Nation's polluted waters. Listing impaired and threatened waters and establishing TMDLs are fundamental tools for identifying remaining sources of water pollution and achieving water quality goals. Clean-up plans developed consistent with these regulatory proposals will help to restore the health of thousands of miles of river and shoreline and make millions of lake acres safe for their designated uses. EPA sought comment on both sets of proposed rules by October 22, 1999. In response to comments from the public requesting additional time to fully analyze the issues and prepare comprehensive comments, EPA ex