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. . .: W- e ~ w HISTORY OF WATER RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (continued) "1. It is recommended that: A salinity policy be adopted for the Colorado River system that would have as its objective the main- tenance of salinity concentrstions at or below levels presently found in the lower main stem. In implementing the salinity policy objective for the Colorado River System, the salinity problem must be treated as a basinwide problem that needs to be solved to maintain Lower Basin water salinity at or below present levels while the Upper Basin continues to develop its compact-apportioned waters." "II. The salinity control program as described by the Department of the Interior in their report entitled 'Colorado River Water Quality Improvement Program,' dated February 1972, offers the best prospect for implementing the salinity control objective adopted herein." The conferees further suggested that the Water and Power Resources Service should have the primary responsibility for investigation, planning, and implementing the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program with the assistance of the Office of Saline Water and the EPA at the Federal level. 2. The Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 The object of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (Public Law 92-500) is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation's waters. It declares that the national goals are to eliminate discharge of pollutants into navigable waters by 1985 with an interim goal of attaining by July 1983, water quality which provides for the protection and propagation of fish, shell- fish, and wildlife and for recreation in and on the Nation's" water. The Act authorizes the EPA, after cooperation with other Federal agencies, State water pollution control agencies, interstate agencies and municipalities and industries involved, to prepare or develop comprehensive programs for preventing, reduc ing or el iminat ing the po llut ion 0 f the navigable waters and ground waters and improving the sanitary condition of surface and underground waters. Some of the more important aspects of the Act briefly explained are as follows: The Act authorizes the EPA to provide grants for research or demonstration projects and construction of treatment works to Federal agencies, states, or private organizations. It also authorizes the EPA to publish and revise from time to time, water quality criteria and to revise standards to include intrastate as well as interstate streams. The law also provided that by July I, 1977. the best practical water pollution control technology must have been applied followed by the best avai lable technology economically achievable by July 1, 1983. Section 402 of the Act provides for the Governmental regulation of pollutant discharges through a mandatory permit program, monitoring, inspection, and periodic reporting. Section 404 requires those dischargers of fill or dredge material into a navigable stream to obtain a permit from the Corps of Engineers. 17