APPENDIX B 

Chronological Summary of 

Federal Water Quality Standards 

Promulgation Actions 

WATER QUALITY STANDARDS HANDBOOK 

SECOND EDITION 
Appendix B - Summary of Federal Promulgation Actions 

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 

STANDARDS AND APPLIED SCIENCE DIVISION 

JANUARY 1993 

CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY OF 

FEDERAL WATER QUALITY STANDARDS 

PROMULGATION ACTIONS 

STATE DATE 

1. Kentucky 

2*. Arizona 

3. Nebraska 

12/2/74 

6/22/76 

6/6/78 

4. Mississippi 4/30/79 

STATUS-REFERENCE ACTION 

Final 

Final 

Final 

Final 

39 FR 41709 Established statement in WQS 

giving EPA Administrator authority 

to grant a temporary exception to 

stream classification and/or criteria 

after case-by-case studies. Also, 

established statement that streams 

not listed in the WQS are 

understood to be classified as 

Aquatic Life and criteria for this 

use to be met. 

41 FR 25000 Established nutrient standards for 

11 streams. 

43 FR 24529 Redesignated eight stream segments 

for full body contact recreation and 

three for partial body contact 

recreation and the protection of fish 

and wildlife. 

44 FR 25223 Established dissolved oxygen 

criterion for all water uses 

recognized by the State. 

Established criterion for a daily 

average of not less than 5.0 mg/1 

with a daily instantaneous minimum 

of not less than 4.0 mg/1. 

(9/15/93) B-1 
Water Quality Shmiards Handbook - Second Edition 

5. Alabama 1 l/26/79 Proposed 44 FR 67442 ProposaI to reestablish previously 

approved use classifications for 

segments of four navigable 

waterways, Five Mile Creek, 

Opossum Creek, Valley Creek, 

Village Creek, and upgrade the use 

designation of a segment of Village 

Creek from river mile 30 to its 

source. 

6. Alabama 2/ 14180 Final 45 FR 9910 Established beneficial stream use 

classification for 16 streams: 8 

were designated for fish and 

wildlife, 7 were upgraded to a fish 

and wildlife classification, 1 was 

designated as agricultural and 

industrial water supply. Proposed 

streams classification rulemaking 

for 7 streams withdrawn. 

7. North Carolina 4/ l/80 Final 45 FR 21246 Nullified a zero dissolved oxygen 

standard variance in a segment of 

Welch Creek and reestablished the 

State’s previous standard of 5 mg/l 

average, 4 mg/l minimum, except 

for lower concentrations caused by 

natural swamp conditions. 

8. Ohio 1 l/28/80 Final 45 FR 79053 (1) Established water use 

designation, (2) establish a DO 

criterion of 5 mg/l for warmwater 

use, (3) designated 17 streams as 

warmwater habitat, (4) placed 111 

streams downgraded by Ohio into 

modified warmwater habitat, (5) 

revised certain provisions relating 

to mixing zones (principally on 

Lake Erie), (6) revised low flow 

and other exceptions to standards, 

(7) amended sampling and 

analytical protocols, and (8) 

withdrew EPA proposal to establish 

a new cyanide criterion. 

9. Kentucky 12/9/80 Final 45 FR 8 1042 Withdrew the Federal promulgation 

(withdrawal) action of 12/2/74 after adoption of 

ppropriate water quality standards 

by the State. 

B-2 (9/ 15193) 
Appendix B - Swnmary of Federal Promulgation Actions 

11. Ohio 

10. North Carolina 11/10/81 Final 

(withdrawal) 

2/16/82 Final 

(withdrawal) 

12. Nehaska 7126182 Final 

(withdrawal) 

13. Alabama 1 l/26/82 Final 

(withdrawal) 

46 FR 55520 

47 FR 29541 

47 FR 32128 

47 FR 53372 

14. Idaho 8/20/85 Proposed 50 FR 33672 

15. Mississippi 4/4/86 Final 51 FR 11581 

(withdrawal) 

16. Idaho 7114186 Final 51 FR 25372 

(withdrawal) 

17. Kentucky 3/20/87 Final 50 FR 9102 

Withdrew the Federal promulgation 

action of 4/l/80 following State 

adoption of a dissolved oxygen 

criterion consistent with the 

Federally promulgated standard. 

Withdrew Federal promulgation of 

1 l/28/80 because it was based on a 

portion of the water quality 

standards regulation that has been 

determined to be invalid. 

Withdrew Federal promulgation 

action of 6/6/78 after adoption of 

appropriate water quality standards 

by the State. 

Withdrew the Federal promulgation 

action of 2/14/80 following State 

adoption of requirements consistent 

with the Federally promulgated 

standard. 

Proposal to replace DO criterion 

downstream from dams, partially 

replace Statewide ammonia 

criterion, replace ammonia criterion 

for Indian Creek, and delete 

categorical exemption of dams from 

Antidegradation Policy. 

Withdrew the Federal promulgation 

of 4/30/79 following State adoption 

of requirements consistent with the 

Federally promulgated standard. 

Withdrew portions of proposed rule 

to replace DO criterion 

downstream from dams and delete 

categorical exemptions of dams 

from antidegradation rule since 

State adopted acceptable standards 

in both instances. 

Established a chloride criterion of 

600 mg/l as a 30-day average, not 

to exceed a maximum of 1,200 

mg/l at any time. 

(9115/93) B-3 
Water Oulitv Stand&s Handbook - Sccmd Edith 

18. Idaho 

19’.Coleville 

Indian 

Reservation 

20. Kentucky 

21’. 12 States 

2 Territories 

22. Washington 

7/25/88 Final 53 FR 27882 

(withdrawal) 

7/6/89 Final 54 FR 28622 

41319 1 Final 56 FR 13592 

(withdrawal) 

12/22/ 92 Final 57 FR 60848 

7/6/93 Final 58 FR 36141 

(withdrawal) 

Withdrew portion of proposed rule 

which would have established a 

Statewide ammonia criterion and a 

site-specific ammonia criterion 

applicable to lower Indian Creek 

since State adopted acceptable 

standards. 

Established designated uses and 

criteria for all surface waters 

on the Reservation. 

Withdrew the Federal promulgation 

of 3/20/87 after adoption of 

appropriate WQS by the State. 

Established numeric water quality 

for toxic poIlutants (aquatic life and 

human health). 

Withdrew, in part, the Federal 

Promulgation of 12/22/92 after 

adoption of appropriate criteria by 

the State. 

l Final federal rule remains in force 

SUMMARY OF FEDERAL PROMULGATION ACTIONS 

Total Number of Proposed or Final Rules 22 

Final Standards Promulgated 10 

Withdrawal of u Standards 8 

Federal Rules Remaining In Force 3 

No Action Taken on Proposals or Proposal Withdrawn 3