1998 Work Plan of the Western States Water Council

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WATER QUALITY COMMITTEE 1. CLEAN WATER ACT REAUTHORIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION A. "GOOD SAMARITAN" PROVISION FOR ABANDONED MINES Work to date: Over the past several years, the Committee has been actively engaged in efforts to amend the CWA so as to allow states to clean up abandoned mine sites without incurring full responsibility under the CWA for attainment of water quality standards. Several committee members have been involved in a task force convened by the WGA to craft legislative language to carve out an exemption for such "good Samaritan" activities by state governments. In 1996, ongoing efforts were presented before the National Governors' Association and attempts to address the concerns of certain environmentalist organizations were made. Since 1995, the task force has also been working with the EPA to attempt to craft solutions to the "good Samaritan" problem under the existing CWA. Late in 1996, interest in renewing those efforts with the EPA was renewed among task force members. 1998: The Committee will continue to actively participate in WGA efforts involving this issue. Should acceptable language be found for the proposed amendment, the Committee will prepare for Council consideration a letter, resolution or position statement in support of it. Estimated work days: 3 B. ARID AREAS PROVISIONS Work to date: The Committee has also been involved in WGA task force efforts to tailor CWA requirements for and areas of the nation, primarily the West. These primarily entail crafting exemptions from water quality standards for waters with seasonal, ephemeral or wastewater - dominated flows. An additional area of emphasis supported by the WGA is encouraging beneficial reuse of water or wastewater reclamation under the reauthorized CWA. Various efforts at enacting and area provisions have been attempted under CWA reauthorization attempts over the past several years. In 1995, the and areas provisions as developed by WGA and WSWC efforts were incorporated into H.R. 961. In 1996, after it became evident that a comprehensive CWA bill was not forthcoming, a portion of these provisions passed the House under H.R. 2567, a stand -alone bill which would have exempted constructed conveyances from certain water quality requirements under the CWA. However, the Senate did not act on these bills. Arid area provisions have been crafted and presented to the National Governors' Association for consideration in ongoing clean water package negotiations. 1998: The Committee will continue to support efforts to establish appropriate water quality standards for waters with seasonal, ephemeral or wastewater- dominated flows and for 1