Proposed Rules. Notice, request for comment; re-opening of comment period

Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Action: Notice, request for comment; re-opening of comment period
Citation: FR Doc. 02-17238 · FRL-7243-3

Summary

On May 15, 2002, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) invited public comment on its proposed Policy on Water Quality Trading (“proposed policy”). Today's action extends the due date for comments to July 15, 2002. The purpose of the proposed policy is to signal EPA support for soundly designed water quality trading programs developed by States and Tribes. Another purpose is to propose program components that EPA believes are appropriate for trading programs to be soundly designed and to operate successfully. In addition, the proposed policy is intended to address issues left open and limitations encountered implementing projects under EPA's January 1996 Effluent Trading Policy and May 1996 draft Framework for Watershed-Based Trading (EPA 800-R-96-001). Water quality trading is a voluntary incentive-based approach to more efficiently protect and restore the nation's waters. The proposed policy addresses trading to maintain water quality in unimpaired waters, trading in impaired waters before development of a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) and trading to meet TMDLs. While the focus is on nutrients and sediment, the policy also discusses the potential for trading other pollutants under certain circumstances. The proposed policy is available for review at http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/trading.htm

Dates

The Agency requests comments on the proposed policy posted at http://www.epa.gov.owow/watershed/trading.htm . Comments must be received or post-marked by midnight on Monday, July 15, 2002.