A handful of programs have been established, some with promising results. Still, there are few examples of pollution trading for water programs. Others will be watching. The EPA considers nutrients to be one of the leading causes of water quality problems nationwide. The success, and pitfalls, of any program will be carefully scrutinized.
Big questions loom.
Someone would have to oversee trades to make sure reductions take place. Some believe trades should only take place between nearby sources, while others support trading from one river basin to another. And those are just a few issues. Working through consensus, the team required an agreement by all members on how different issues should be addressed. It recently released a draft nutrient trading guidance document that is available for review through Oct. 27.