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<br /> <br />Title n created a salinity control program for water quality in the United States. Primary <br />responsibility for the federal program was given to the Secretary of the Interior, with the Bureau <br />of Reclamation (Reclamation) being instructed to build and investigate several salinity control <br />units. The Secretary of Agriculture was instructed to support the effort. within existing <br />authorities (see page 4.1 regarding the specific authorizations set forth in P.L. 93-320). <br /> <br /> <br />In 1984, the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act was amended. These <br />amendments (P .L. 98-569) directed the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture <br />to give preference to the salinity control units with the least cost per unit of salinity reduction. <br />The Lower Gunnison Basin Unit, Colorado, and the McElmo Creek Unit (as a part of the <br />Dolores Project), Colorado, were both authorized. The Crystal Geyser Unit, Utah, authorized <br />in 1974, was de-authorized. <br /> <br />A major provision of the amendment was the authorization of a voluntary onfarm salinity <br />control program administered by the Department of Agriculture. As part of this program, the <br />Secretary of Agriculture may allow for the voluntary replacement of incidental fish and wildlife <br />values foregone as salinity reduction practices are implemented. <br /> <br />The Forum is composed of representatives from each of the seven Basin states appointed <br />by the governors of the respective stales. The Forum was established for the purpose of <br />interstate cooperation and to provide the states with the information necessary to comply with <br />the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) regulation, 40 CFR, Part 120, entitled ~ <br />Ouality Standards. Colorado River System: Salinity Control Policy and Standards Procedures <br />and Section 303(a) and (b) of the Clean Water Act. A copy of the regulation is included in <br />Appendix A. <br /> <br />The 1975 standards report includes a detailed discussion of the legislation and events <br />leading to the establishment of basin-wide salinity standards with numeric criteria for the lower <br />main stem of the Colorado River. The standards were adopted by all of the Basin states and <br />subsequently approved by the EPA. The 1978, 1981, 1984, 1987 and 1990 reports reviewed <br />the numeric criteria included in the 1975 report and concluded that no change was warranted. <br />However, the plan of implementation in each report was updated to reflect changes in the <br />salinity control program since 1975. <br /> <br />The plan of implementation, as set forth in this and earlier Forum Reviews, includes <br />effluent limitations for industrial point source discharges with the objective of no-salt return <br />whenever practicable. On February 28, 1977, the Forum adopted the "Policy for <br />Implementation of Colorado River Salinity Standards Through the NPDES Permit Program." <br />This policy provides guidance for the regulation of municipal and industrial point source <br />discharges. On September 11, 1980, the Forum adopted a policy to encourage the use of <br />brackish and/or saline waters for industrial purposes where it is environmentally sound and <br />economically feasible. A third policy dealing with intercepted ground water was adopted by the <br />Forum on October 20, 1982. On October 28, 1988, the Forum adopted a fourth policy which <br />addresses discharges from fish hatcheries. All of the Forum policies are included in <br />Appendix B. . <br /> <br />Nothing in this report shall be construed to alter, amend, repeal, interpret, modify, or <br />be in conflict with the provisions of the Boulder Canyon Project Act (45 Stat. 1057), the Boulder <br /> <br />1-2 <br />