This means that at best the regulation cannot be executed until after October 2001. The 14-month delay allows a review of the measure. The president s signature on the bill comes three days after NCBA sent a letter to the White House urging him to sign it. While the law bars EPA from using monies for new TMDL regulations from fiscal years 2000 and 2001, the issue has become complicated. EPA signed the final TMDL rule on Tuesday, July 11.
TMDL regulations determine how water quality issues are addressed.
The new rule broadens EPA s authority. It mandates that EPA approve a state s determination of which waterways are impaired and when and how they are cleaned. Since the EPA has declared the new TMDL regulation a major rule, Congress can approve it or overturn it. There is currently a great deal of speculation as to what Congress may or may not do, Burns said. At this point, we simply don t know.