EPA Crafting Guide To Turn Narrative Nutrient Criteria Into Numeric Limits

摘要

EPA is crafting guidance to advise states on how to turn narrative water quality criteria for nutrients that most states rely on into strict numeric permit limits - an interim approach that the agency recently began pushing states to implement while they struggle to craft their own numeric criteria. The agency recently floated a worksheet to states on the host of complicated issues the guide will address, including determining whether facilities have a "reasonable potential" to contribute to a water quality exceedances and other complicated methodological issues that must be addressed as regulators work to "translate" narrative criteria into numeric limits. Relevant document is available on lnsideEPA.com. Seepage 2 for details.