9/10/2014 Water Quality Standards Handbook 1 Handbook 1 US EPA 

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Water Quality Standards Handbook 

NEW IN 2014: UPDATED CHAPTERS 

The Water Quality standards Handbook is a compilation of the EPA's watar quality standards (WQS) program guidance including recommendations for statas, authorized 

tribes, and tarritories in reviewing, revising, and implementing WQS. The guidance in this Handbook supports the EPA's WQS regulations at 40 CFR part 131. 

The Water Quality standards Handbook was first issued in 1983 and provided a compilation of the EPA's WQS guidance to-date. 

In 1994, The Water Quality standards Handbook: Second Edition was issued and rBtained all of the guidance in the 1983 Handbook unless such guidance was specifically 

revised in subsequent years. The 1994 Handbook also contained new EPA guidance that was developed between 1983 and 1994. 

In 2007 and 2012, the EPA updated the online version of the Handbook to incorporate minor enhancements including links to additional information and resources that the 

EPA developed subsequent to 1994. However, the text of the chapters did not change from the 1994 Handbook. 

In 2014, the EPA updated the online version of the Handbook to raflacl: amant EPA guidance and streamlined the text to make the document more user friendly. 

The 2014 update also reflects currant technology that allows the Handbook to serve as an online "living document.• As such, the EPA will update the online Handbook as new 

guidance becomes available and will not publish a new printed edition. 

For any questions related to the guidance in this Handbook, please contact us. Copies of any referenced document can be obtained by clicking on the hyper! ink or visiting the 

Policv and Guidance: Befetvnce Ubraty wabpage. 

Browse the Water Quality Standards Handbook 

• Chapter 1: General Provisions 1 Print Version CPDFl (18 pp. 9891<) (updated 8/1994) 

• ChaDier 2· Designation of Uses I prjnt Yersjon <PPFl (22 pp, 845KJ (updated 811994) 

• Chapter 3: Water quality Criteria 1 Print Version !PDF> (38 pp, 7831<) (updated 8/1994) 

• ChaDier 4· Antjdegradation I Print \fersjon cpDFl (11 pp, 6491<) (updated 811994) 

• Chapter 5: General Policies 1 Print Version CPDFl (14 pp, 718K) (updated 811994) 

• Chapter 6: Provision for Review and Revision of Water Quality Standards 1 

Print Version CPDFl 

(9 pp, 6611<) (updated 812014) 

• Chapter 7· The water-Qyaljtv Based Agoroach to Pollutjon Control I prjnt \fersjon CPDEl (1 o pp, 8991<) (updated 811994) 

• Chapter 8: Requirements for Indian Tribes 

• Cover Page. Tabla of Contents, and Glossarv CPDFl (21 pp, 126MB) 

• References CPDEl (10 pp, 6501<) 

• Appendices 

o Appendix A: Water Qyalitv Standards Reoylation !pQFl (2.3MB) 

o Appendix B: Chronoloolcal Summary of Federal Waler Qualltv Standards promulgation Acts fPDFl (2421<) 

o Appendix C: Bjo!ogjcal Cdterja· National Program Gyjdance for Surface Waters CPPEl (4.5MB) 

o Appendix D: National Guidance: Watar Quality Standards for Wetlands !PDFl (4.5MB) 

o Appendix E: An Agomacb fur Evaluating Nymerjc Water Qyality Cdterja fur WeUands Prolection cppFl (2.9MB) 

o Appendix F: Coordination batwean the EPA. Fish & Wildlife Services and National Marina Fisheries Service CPDFl (8861<) 

o Appendix G: QuesJjgns and Answers gn Antidearadation CPPEl (1.3MB) 

o Appendix H: Derivation ofth& 1985 AQuatic Life Criteria CPDFl (1.5MB) 

o Appendix 1: list of EPA Wa\er Qyalitv Cdterja Documents <PQFl (2241<) 

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this page. See EPA's PDF 

~to learn more. 

o Appendix J: Altachments of O!lice to Water Policy and Technical Guidance on lnteroretation and lmolementalion of Aquatic Life Metals Criteria CPDFl (UMB) 

o Appendix K: Procedures for the Initiation of Narrative Bioloaical Criteria !PDFl (1.1MB) 

o Appendix L: ln!f!rim Guidance on Dat&rmination and usa of Water-E!fect Ratio§ for Metal• CPDFl (13.3MB) 

o Appendix M: Economic Guidance for Water Quality Standards 

o Appendix N: lntegralad Rjsk lnfonnatjon 5vatem Backoroynd Paoer CPDEl (1.0MB) 

o Appendix 0: Reserved !PDF) (22K) 

o Appendix P: list of 126 CWA Section 307Cal Pdorjty Jgxjc Pollutants cppFl (150K) 

o Appendix Q: Wetlands and 401 Certification CPDFl (4.BMB) 

o Appendix R: Policy 0n the yse of Bjo!ggjcal AsseHmenls and Cd!f!ria jn the Water Qyality Prooram CPDEl (1.1 MBJ 

o Appendix S: Reserved (pDF) {22K) 

o Appendix T: Use Altajnabiljty Analvsjs !pQFl (4.1 MB) 

o Appendix U: List of EPA Reolonal Water aualttv Standards Coordinators CPDFl (981<) 

o Appendix V: Water Qyaljty Standards Prooram pgcyment Reqyest Forms CPPEl (9841<) 

o Appendix W: Uodate Request Form for WQS Handbook: 2nd EdiUon (PDF) (99K) 

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