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U.S. EPA PROPOSES RULE TO RESTORE CALIFORNIA TOXICS CRITERIA

Release Date: 7/28/1997
Contact Information: Paula Bruin, U.S. EPA, (415) 744-1587

     (San Francisco)--The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) today announced a proposed rule to reinstate water quality criteria for toxic pollutants for California's inland surface waters, enclosed bays and estuaries.  The California Toxics Rule will comply with the Clean Water Act by restoring criteria for priority toxic pollutants until the state completes new water quality control plans.

     "As in other parts of the country, many of California's monitored rivers, lakes and estuarine waters have elevated levels of toxic pollutants," said Felicia Marcus, western regional administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "Controlling toxic pollutants in surface waters is necessary to protect public health and the environment.  California is the only state in the country without a complete set of criteria for priority pollutants at this time.  This measure is essential to fill the gap while California works to complete its own rulemaking."

     The public is invited to attend public hearings in San Francisco and Los Angeles to discuss the rule.  The hearing in San Francisco will begin at 1 p.m., September 17, 1997, at U.S. EPA, 75 Hawthorne St. (first floor conference rooms).  The hearing in Los Angeles will begin at. 1 p.m., September 18, 1997,  at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, 111 N. Hope St. (across from the Los Angeles Music Center).
 
     The rule is part of a long established water quality program, not a new regulation, and is necessary to ensure that progress on reducing toxics does not slow down because of a lack of water quality criteria and to ensure that limits for toxic pollutants are included in new and reissued permits. As a result of the rule, water quality standards will be established for California which will enable permit writers to set limits for toxic pollutants discharged from industrial and municipal wastewater outfalls and will help reduce polluted runoff from industrial activities, urban growth and agriculture.  Priority toxic pollutants refer to over 100 chemicals including mercury, dioxin, selenium and PCBs.

       U.S. EPA is working closely with state and local agencies to facilitate the readoption of water quality criteria and implementation procedures.  California has been without water quality standards for priority toxic pollutants for inland surface waters, bays and estuaries, inconsistent with the Clean Water Act, since 1994 when a state court decision invalidated the state's water quality control plans adopted in 1991.  This gap has led to uncertainty for both the environmental and discharger communities.

       The public may also comment on the proposed rule by submitting written comments,
postmarked by September 26, 1997, to:

      Diane E. Frankel P.E. Esq.
            California Toxics Rule Project Manager
            U.S. EPA
      75 Hawthorne St.
            San Francisco, CA 94105

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