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...EPA in partnership with tribes
We are committed to the goals and principles of our Indian
Policy. We recognize that Indian tribes and Native Alaskan Villages
face serious human health and environmental problems. Protection of the
Nation's waters is an enormous task. We are responsible for developing
sound, scientifically defensible standards, criteria, advisories, and
guidelines under the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act.
We are working with Indian Tribes, our
regions, other federal agencies, and states to protect the health
and environment of waters in Indian Country.
Our Indian Strategy (PDF, 101KB), part of
the 1997 Strategic Plan sets objectives to meet the goal of clean and
safe water in Indian country. We have several guiding principles to support
the Strategy’s implementation, including:
- providing the appropriate tools to tribes and ourselves to implement
water programs in Indian country;
- devoting continued senior water program management support and involvement;
and
- identifying resource levels required to accomplish the commitments
in this Strategy, redirecting resources where possible, identifying
additional resource needs, and seeking to obtain necessary resources
through our budget process.
Water Quality Standards:
Water quality standards are the foundation of the water quality-based
control program mandated by the Clean Water Act. Water Quality Standards
define the goals for a waterbody by designating its uses, setting criteria
to protect those uses, and establishing provisions to protect water quality
from pollutants. A water quality standard consists of four basic elements:
- Designated uses of the water body (e.g., recreation, water supply,
aquatic life, agriculture),
- Water quality criteria to protect designated uses (numeric pollutant
concentrations and narrative requirements),
- An antidegradation policy to maintain and protect existing uses and
high quality waters, and
- General policies addressing implementation issues (e.g., low flows,
variances, mixing zones).
See the repository
of documents for authorized Tribal Water Quality Standards
Water
Quality Standards programs where you live
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