**OCT**
               DEC
				**JAN**52007
               2008
				**2010****14 captures**
           9 Oct 08 - 15 Jul 10
   Close
       Help


Jump to main content.

Water Quality Standards
 Recent Additions | Contact Us 
			**Search:** 
				All EPA 
				This Area You are here: EPA Home
		Water
		Water Science
		Water Quality Standards
		
		Laws 
                    and Regulations > Fact Sheet: Proposed Puerto Rico 
                    Water Quality Standards


---



Laws & Regulations **Federally Promulgated Standards** Proposed Water Quality Standards for Puerto Rico Fact Sheet (EPA-823-F-03-013) October 2003 Summary
                Background
                About the proposed regulation
                How to Get Additional Information or to Submit 
                  Comments Summary The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing water quality 
                standards that establish a designated use of primary contact recreation 
                (swimming) and bacteria criteria to protect that use for six embayments 
                and an area called the "coastal ring" in the Commonwealth 
                of Puerto Rico. EPA is proposing this designated use and bacteria 
                criteria to ensure protection for recreation in the water. Background EPA's water quality standards regulations require states to designate 
                uses for all water bodies within their jurisdiction. Designated uses determine what water quality criteria apply 
                  to specific water bodies.
                The Clean Water Act sets a national goal of "... water 
                  quality which provides for the protection and propagation of 
                  fish, shellfish, and wildlife and recreation in and on the water 
                  ..."
                EPA's regulations interpret that goal requiring that water 
                  quality standards provide for "fishable/swimmable" 
                  uses unless they have been shown to be unattainable through 
                  a use attainability analysis. Three environmental groups (CORALations, American Littoral Society, 
                and the American Canoe Association) sued EPA in February 2002, 
                alleging, among other things, that EPA actions had triggered a 
                mandatory duty under section 303(c) of the Clean Water Act to 
                prepare and propose regulations setting forth revised water quality 
                standards for any coastal waters that remained classified for 
                secondary contact recreation and did not meet CWA goals of fishable/swimmable. In August 2003, the Court ordered EPA to propose revised water 
                quality standards for those coastal waters which are currently 
                classified as Class SC waters (i.e., secondary contact recreation) 
                within 60 days (by October 14, 2003) and to finalize those standards 
                within 90 days of proposal. About the proposed regulation EPA's proposal to establish a designated use for swimming, in 
                addition to criteria for bacteria, will require that these waters 
                be protected for swimming: Mayaguez Bay, Yabucoa Port, Guayanilla 
                and Tallaboa Bays, Ponce Port, San Juan Port and all coastal waters 
                from 500 meters seaward to a maximum of 3.0 miles seaward (the 
                coastal ring). Puerto Rico plans to collect data and conduct analyses over the 
                next year to determine whether the swimming use is attainable 
                in these waters. If, after EPA promulgates these standards, the Commonwealth completes 
                the analyses or designates the waters for swimming in accordance 
                with EPA's regulations, EPA will review the submission, and approve 
                the action, as warranted, and publish a rulemaking withdrawing 
                the federally promulgated standards. This rule imposes no direct costs. While some facilities discharging 
                to these waters may need to alter their pollution control measures 
                to meet the bacteria criteria limits, EPA does not expect significant 
                impacts to dischargers. How to Get Additional Information or to 
                Submit Comments You can view the material in the official public docket from 
                9:00 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday, at EPA's Region 2 offices 
                in New York and Puerto Rico: 290 Broadway, New York, New York, 
                10007, and 1492 Ponce De Leon Avenue, Suite 417, Santurce, Puerto 
                Rico, 00907. Ask for Proposed Water Quality Standards for Puerto 
                Rico, ID No. OW- 2003-0072. You can also find the document on the EPA Internet at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/ 
                or use EPA's E-DOCKETS at http://www.epa.gov/edocket 
                to submit or view public comments. Refer to the Federal Register 
                notice for instructions on submitting comments. EPA will hold a public hearing on this proposal on November 6, 
                2003, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM and from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the 
                Universidad Metropolitana (UMET) Theatre, Ave. Ana G. Mendez, 
                Km 0.3, Cupey, Puerto Rico 00928. If you need special accommodations, 
                including wheelchair access or a sign language interpreter, contact 
                Wayne Jackson (212-637-3807) at least 15 days before the hearing 
                so that we can make appropriate arrangements. Models | TMDLs | Permits | Water Quality Criteria | Monitoring


---

Local Navigation Water Science Home
		Water Quality Standards Home
		Basic Information
		Where You Live
		Recent Actions
		Laws & Regulations
		Policy & Guidance
		State, Tribal & Territorial Standards
		Database
		Training, Meetings & Educational Materials
		Partnership with Tribes


---

EPA Home
		Privacy and Security Notice 
		Contact Us


Jump to main content.