The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency seeks comment on policy approaches for addressing “baseline” issues in watersheds with EPA-approved total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) where policymakers would like to pursue water quality trading as a regulatory option for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit compliance. These policy approaches may also be of interest to stakeholders as they promote market-based mechanisms to water pollutant control.
This proposed policy relates to nonpoint source pollutant trading where the entity is expected to meet its TMDL allocation. Under the administration’s regulation “waters of the United States,” groundwater is not a regulated water of the United States as a potential point source of contamination, but contaminated groundwater may be treated as a nonpoint source of contamination under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act.
Comments must be received before November 18.
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