July 21, 2006

Provided by the Water Environment Federation, Alexandria, VA

EPA Proposes Short-Term Regulatory Revisions and Clarifications of Lead and Copper Rule
In the July 18 Federal Register, EPA proposed seven targeted regulatory changes to the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR) for lead and copper.   The proposed revisions are intended to strengthen the implementation of the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) in the following areas: monitoring, treatment processes, customer awareness, and lead service line replacement. The proposed changes do not affect the basic requirements of the LCR, the lead or copper maximum contaminant level goals, or the lead and copper action levels.  The proposal is an outgrowth of EPA's March 2005 drinking water lead-reduction plan, which was developed after analyzing the efficacy of the regulation and how states and locals were implementing it.  EPA is accepting public comments submitted by September 18.  The proposed rule is at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-WATER/2006/July/Day-18/w6250.pdf.  (SRT)

EPA Releases Draft Guidance on National Management Measures to Control Nonpoint Source Pollution from Hydromodification
EPA announced in the July 17 Federal Register that is requesting comment on draft technical guidance for managing nonpoint source pollution from hydromodification. The term hydromodification refers to an activity that alters the geometry and physical characteristics of a stream or river in such a way that the flow patterns change. This guidance is intended to provide technical assistance to states, territories, authorized tribes, and the public for managing hydromodification and reducing nonpoint source pollution of surface and ground water. The guidance provides background information about nonpoint source pollution from activities associated with channelization and channel modification, dams, and streambank and shoreline erosion. It discusses the broad concepts of assessing and addressing water quality problems on a watershed level, and it presents up-to-date technical information about how to reduce nonpoint source pollution from hydromodification. Comments must be received on or before October 16.  To view the Federal Register notice, visit: http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-WATER/2006/July/Day-17/w11248.htm.  The complete text of the draft guidance is available at
http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/pubs.html.  (SJH)
 
New Guide Available on Water Quality Trading for the Agricultural Community
This week the Conservation Technology Information Center released a guidance to help agricultural advisors understand how water quality trading works and why producers may want to participate.  The guide, Getting Paid for Stewardship: An Agricultural Community Water Quality Trading Guide, was developed under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  It introduces the key elements of the trading process, provides a fact sheet for producers, lists references for additional information, and includes a water quality trading example.  The guide is available at http://www.conservationinformation.org/?action=learningcenter_publications_waterqualitytrading (SRT)

Water Resources Development Act Reauthorization Approved by Senate
On July 19, the Senate voted to reauthorize the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA).  Last reauthorized in 2000, WRDA authorizes a variety of national water-related projects, including flood, storm and shoreline protection; environmental restoration; and improvements to waterway and port infrastructure. The House passed its version of the bill (H. 2864) last year; the next step is for the House and Senate to resolve the differences between the two bills before a final vote.  Both measures include a provision to complete and operate two electric barriers in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal to prevent Asian carp and other invasive species from reaching the Great Lakes.  Scientists have warned that Asian carp could decimate Great Lakes fisheries.  “This is truly welcome news,” said Tom Huntley, chair of the Great Lakes Commission. “Invasive species represent what many believe is the number one threat now facing the Great Lakes ecosystem, with Asian carp at the head of the pack. This barrier will help us ‘close the door’ on these invaders and protect our lakes and our region’s beloved sportfishing tradition." (SRT)

Quote of the Week: "Water is life's matter and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water." ~Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, Hungarian biochemist and Nobel Prize Winner for Medicine.

This Week in Washington is provided by the Water Environment Federation, Alexandria, VA. To receive This Week in Washington by e-mail, contact Lisa Jones, (703) 684-2400 ext. 7741, ljones@wef.org. For more information on this week's stories, please contact the WEF staff whose initials appear at the end of the item in which you are interested. TW –Tim Williams (703) 684-2437, twilliams@wef.org; SRT - Sharon Thomas, (703) 684-2423, sthomas@wef.org; SJH - Sam Hadeed (703) 684-2418, shadeed@wef.org; PS-Patricia Sinicropi (703) 684-2416, psinicropi@wef.org. This Week in Washington is available on-line at http://www.wef.org/GovernmentAffairs/TWIW/.