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PA EPA REACHES AGREEMENT ON CALIFORNIA RIVERS

Release Date: 03/14/97
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PA EPA REACHES AGREEMENT ON CALIFORNIA RIVERS

FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 1997

EPA REACHES AGREEMENT ON CALIFORNIA RIVERS

On Friday, March 7, EPA reached agreement with 14 California environmental and fishing industry groups on establishing pollution reduction targets for 18 river basins along California's north coast. The pollution reduction targets will be established by the year 2007 by the state of California or EPA. The California agreement was filed in federal district court in San Francisco. The federal Clean Water Act provides a method for assessing environmental problems in a watershed and identifying pollution reductions needed to protect drinking water, aquatic life, recreation and other uses of rivers, lakes and streams. The pollution reductions targets are called "Total Maximum Daily Loads" (TMDLs). This is the second agreement concerning TMDLs. On Jan 17, EPA's Philadelphia office reached agreement with two West Virginia groups on TMDLs for over 500 waterways. Nationally, there are over 20 pending or active lawsuits under this Clean Water Act program which requires biennial evaluations of state waters and pollutant limits for those waters determined to be impaired. To improve the program within states and at the national level, EPA is committed to working with all parties to produce sensible agreements that promote environmental benefits within a reasonable time frame. For additional information on the California settlement, call Dave Schmidt at 415-744-1578.

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