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<br />002995 <br /> <br />WATER QUALITY COMMITTEE <br />WORK PLAN <br />2002 <br /> <br />1. CLEAN WATER ACT REAUTHORIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION <br /> <br />The Committee will work to further the Council's views as expressed in its CW A reauthorization <br />position as opportUnities are presented. In addition, the following specific items regarding the CW A will <br />receive particular attention. <br /> <br />A. "GOOD SAMARITAN" PROVISION FOR ABANDONED MINES <br /> <br />Work to date: Over the past several years, the Committee has been actively engaged in efforts to amend <br />the CW A so as to allow states to clean up abandoned mine sites without incurring full responsibility under <br />the CW A for attainment of water quality standards. Several committee members have been involved in <br />a task force convened by the WGA to craft legislative language to carve out an exemption for such "good <br />Samaritan" activities by state governments. <br /> <br />In late 1997 and 1998, efforts were made to refine the language in order to have the proposal introduced <br />in Congress. In 1999, under the leadership of the WGA, efforts continued to secure introduction of Good <br />Samaritan language in the Congress with the result that Senator Max Baucus (O-MT) introduced a WGA- <br />supported Good Samaritan bill, S. 1787, together with Senator Campbell (R-CO) and Senator Oaschle (D- <br />SO). On June 21, 2000, Governor Janklow testified on behalf of WGA in support of S. 1787 during a <br />hearing in the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommiuee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Water. <br /> <br />2002: The Committee will continue to actively participate in WGA efforts involving this issue, including <br />seeking reintroduction of S. 1787 in the Senate, and working for companion legislation to be introduced <br />in the House. Additionally, Rep. Udall (O-CQ) has been working with environmental groups to develop <br />a Good Sam bill to be introduced in the House. The Committee will work with WGA to bring the various <br />interest groups, EP A, and the states together to discuss and hopefully resolve any major differences <br />between the competing bills to facilitate enactment of Good Sam legislation during the 107th Congress. <br /> <br />B. ARID AREAS PROVISIONS <br /> <br />Work to date: The Committee has also been involved in WGA task force efforts to tailor CW A <br />requirements for arid areas of the nation, primarily the West. These primarily involve establishing <br />appropriate water quality standards for waters with seasonal, ephemeral or wastewater-dominated flows. <br />An additional area of emphasis is encouraging beneficial reuse of water or wastewater reclamation under <br />the reauthorized CW A. Various efforts at enacting arid area provisions have been attempted in conjunction <br />with CW A reauthorization efforts over the past several years. <br /> <br />2002: The Committee will continue to support efforts to establish appropriate water quality standards for <br />waters with seasonal, ephemeral or wastewater-dominated flows and for constructed conveyances by <br />participating with the WGA. Specifically, the Committee will also seek to lend support as appropriate, to <br />bring together the western states, EPA and appropriate stakeholders to discuss the issues associated with <br />water quality standards for water bodies unique to the arid West, and will facilitate discussions on <br />appropriate strategies to protect water quality in arid areas. This will be achieved through: (1) organized <br />