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w. '00" 0') CD control program., The ARS is performi ng research in the areas of water application, soi~s management, and development of salt-tolerant crops. The Extension Service is carrying out educational programs to advise irrigators on water, soil, and crop management in saline areas. .r"~~~lJ\\!i~~~j,ll'~~ii\Q,,%li$"'lii~ji\'iiWtl'o/~;\@{I~'!J!li';11ll;~i)"'~lj!1i;~triJ:~n~';i't;~ s es ta b 1 i shed by Public Law 93~320. It receives reports from the various Federal agencies working on the salinity control program and makes recommendations to the Secretaries of the USDI (Department of the Interior) and USDA, and the Administrator of,the EPA on the progress of implementation of the salinity control program specified in Public Law 93-320. Th'eColbradoRiverBasi n Sal i nity Control Forum was established in 1973 to promote efforts to maintain salinity concentrations"'atdl"belbw"'the 1972 levels found in the lower mainstem while allowing the Basin States to con- tinue to develop'their compact-apportioned waters. The Forum's initial activity was to coordinate the States' development and adoption of salinity standards for the Colorado River as required by Public Law 92-500. The Forum is composed of w~ter resource and water quality representatives appointed by the Governor of each of the Basin States. 'j: s. o :it ,~ ,. ;:! j .~ 'p , In 1977, the Forum adopted a policy concerning the discharge of TDS (total dissolved solids) from point source municipal and industrial discharges, which was later approved by EPA. The seven Colorado River Basin States, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, have an important role in the salinity control effort. ,They are responsible for the control of discharge of TDS from point discharges through the NPDES permit program. California, Colorado, Nevada and Wyoming have authority to issue all types of NPDES permits; New Mexico and Atizona prepare permits and forward them to EPA for issuance; and Utah issues its minor industrial permits while EPA handles the major industrial permits. The States have primary responsibility for the ~doption and enforcement of water quality' standards. The numeric criteria (standards) established at Hoover Dam, Parker Dam, and Imperial Dam are 723 mg/L, 747 mg/L, and 879 mg/L, respectively. I~ addition to NPDES permits, the States have developed water quality management plans to conform with the requirements of Section 208 of the Clean Water Act. In September 1980, the Forum adopted a policy for the use of brackish and/or saline water for'industrial purposes. The policy encourages the use of brackish or saline water whenever practical. In 1982, the ForQm developed their "Intercepted Ground Water Policy for Implementation of the Colorado River Salinity Standards Through the NPDES Permit Program." This policy expands the previous 1977 discharge policy to consider intercepted ground water and more clearly defines the type of information to be submitted by the discharger. 6 .,.'_' i. .1..1-.: ._i;; '.iL_ 1., 1 "'.--.