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Western States Water Council Water Quality Committee Washington, DC March 28,2006 Another priority is ensuring water quality monitoring and measuring - - for such things as pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs). Early detection for threats that may come about to our water systems. Advancing regional coastal collaborations -- such as the Chesapeake Bay. Work with states and local communities. Gulf of Mexico issues - focusing on the needs to accelerate the clean up, and with loss of wetlands. Integration of water quality and water quantity is a growing challenge for us all. The agency has specific responsibility for water quality. Water transfers are becoming a big issue. NPDES permits. Water transfers do not require NPDES permits. Transfers are very important across the West.. Proposal will become public, and there will be an opportunity to comment. What is your prognosis on the timing of a proposed rule? . It is on its. way to OMB any day now. They have 90 days, but we've encouraged them to shorten their review period to a month. . Bill Staudenmaier: The agency issued apolicy statement last year at some point? Brent Fewell: That's right. Will codify that memorandum. Tom Stiles: The Ann Klee memo is right on line. There are 3 circumstances where the transfers issue has been raised: Miccosukee, Catskills, Pennsylvania. Brent Fewell: The CW A does not require permits according to the memo. In Pennsylvania's case, they may be able to use state authorities to continue to embark permits and certainly that would not be an authority under the Clean Water Act to require those. In the future, states may use their own authorities. Tom Stiles: If a state wanted to use 402 authorities, are they stymied? Brent Fewell: Go back and look at the memo. I cannot get into the specifics. Linda Boornazian: We will be calling states once the regs are out. Brent Fewell: Another role we have with the issue of water quality and wat~r.quantity relationships is Environmental Impact Statements. More and more frequently I'm having visits 4 .