NGWA recently responded to two proposed regulations potentially affecting groundwater:
The Clean Water Act Hazardous Substance Facility Response Plans rule deals with local response to pollutant spills and releases affecting navigable waters. As many water systems are near rivers and coastal areas, NGWA observed that facilities near these systems should also be considered in response plans, particularly with wellhead protection areas being designated that may include surface aquatic features in protecting human health and the environment.
The Locatable Minerals in National Forests and Grasslands rule addresses possible furtherance of mining in national forests and grasslands managed by the Forest Service. NGWA raised key points of these upland forests and lands being source waters for downgradient wells and streams, the need to incorporate state review of mining plans to protect groundwaters, adequate hydrogeologic characterization of potential mining areas, and provision for sufficient monitoring and financial resources to address remediation, if needed.