WSP07982

• File Number: 8021
• Description: Section D General Correspondence - Western States Water Council
• State: CO
• Basin: Statewide
• Date: 1/8/1993
• Author: Western States Water
• Title: Western States Water 1993 - Issues 973-1024
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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February 12, 1993
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TIlE WEEKLY NEWSLETfER OF TIlE WESTERN STATES WA1ER COUNCIl.

WESTERN
STATES WATER

Creekview Plaza, Suite A-201 /942 East 7145 So. / Midvale, Utah 84047 / (801) 561:5300 / FAX [phone]

editor - Tony Willardson

typist - Carrie Curvin

WATER QUAliTY

Alaska

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Just before the Bush Administration left office it
ordered EPA to create a new Region XI that would be
comprised solely of the state of Alaska, according to
Inside EPA. This action could have significant impact
on numerous environmental decisions. Some
observers believe that the move was a favor to Alaska
Congressmen and Senators who have asserted the
need for an approach to Alaska's environmental issues
different from the approach used in the other states,
especially with respect to wetland protection. There is,
however, much speculation that the Clinton
administration will reverse the order.

Ground Water

Former EPA Administrator William Reilly released
EPA's final 'National Guidance for Comprehensive
State Ground Water Protection Programs [CSGWPPs]'
on January 19. The guidance is intended to 'assist
States in their efforts to comprehensively protect the
nation's ground water resources, and provide a
framework for a strong state-federal alliance.' EP A has
been working with state officials, and others, for
approximately a year and a half to prepare the
guidance.

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The goal of CSGWPPs is to ensure comprehensive,
systematic protection of ground water resources, with
prevention of contamination as a primary objective, 'by
establishing priorities and approaches based on the
unique and varying characteristics of ground water
resources and potential contamination threats.'
Reilly's letter accompanying the guidance noted,
'Comprehensive programs are intended to bring
coherence to the diverse, and sometimes conflicting,

chairman - Dave Kennedy
executive director - Craig Bell

array of federal, state and local approaches to
protecting ground water' and ....to empower States
with the primary role in coordinating all ground water
related programs...[which] will require changes in a
number of key Federal programs.'

It is unclear how the CSGWPP guidance will be
viewed by new EPA officials. Mr. Reilly states, 'As
soon as possible, the EPA [Ground Water Policy]
Committee will bring to the attention of EPA's new
leadership the recent endorsements of the guidance's
poliey by the National Governors' Association
Committee on Natural Resources...and several national
associations of state executive branch officials, as well
as individual State officials. The committee will point
out that these endorsements are contingent upon a
commitment by EPA, during implementation of the
guidance, to recognize and address the longer-term
issues of: securing greater State flexibility; achieving
federal program consistency; seeking more effective
State program funding; assuring a negotiated
endorsement process; moving toward greater ground
water and surface water program integration; and
providing a means for State review and feedback to
EPA on the agency's progress in supporting the
comprehensive approach.' For information call the
EPA Ground Water Protection Publication Request
Line at [phone].

Watershed Protection

EPA and the Association of State and Interstate
Water Pollution Control Administrators (ASIWPCA)
have commenced a joint effort to examine state
initiatives to adopt and integrate watershed
management approaches into water quality programs.
The effort is based on growing interest in watershed
approaches evidenced by a number of changes that
are underway in state water quality programs. The