Opinion ID: 393673
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Salinity Control Efforts to Date

Text: 15 Federal and state salinity control efforts for the Colorado date back twenty years. In an effort to address the salinity problem, the basin states joined with EPA and its predecessor agencies, in enforcement conferences. Studies of the nature of the salinity problem as well as methods to alleviate its significant impact were undertaken. With the passage of the Water Quality Act of 1965, which mandated the states to adopt general water quality standards, the states and federal government began working together to evaluate the feasibility of and need for the development of water quality standards for salinity. 19 The record indicates that in 1971 EPA published a report which recommended that salinity criteria be established at several key locations throughout the River basin. In April 1972, EPA and representatives of the seven basin states unanimously recommended, inter alia, that: (1) a salinity policy be adopted for the River system having as its objective the maintenance of salinity levels at or below concentrations found in 1972 in the River's lower main stem; (2) treatment of salinity be viewed as a basinwide problem; and (3) a high priority be assigned to certain water quality projects with the objective of achieving stabilization of salinity levels in the lower basin at the earliest possible date. 20 16 After passage of the FWPCA Amendments in 1972, EPA, pursuant to Section 303(a) (1), began to review all current state water quality standards. As part of this review, EPA, in January 1973, notified six of the basin states that establishment of complying water quality standards for salinity would be required. 21 In June 1974, EPA proposed regulations establishing its Salinity Control Policy Standards and Procedures, 39 Fed.Reg. 20703-20704 (June 13, 1974), and after completion of the requisite notice, comment, and hearing procedures, the agency promulgated final salinity regulations in December 1974. 39 Fed.Reg. 43721-43723 (Dec. 18, 1974), 40 C.F.R. §§ 120 et seq. (1974). 22 The salinity regulations included three major elements: (1) maintenance of salinity levels in the lower main stem at or below the average level during 1972, 40 C.F.R. § 120.5(b) (1974); (2) adoption by the states of numeric criteria for appropriate points on the River system, 40 C.F.R. § 120.5(c)(1) (1974); and (3) development by the states of a plan to implement the standards, 40 C.F.R. § 120.5(c)(2) (1974). The regulation, in addition, required each basin state to establish specific numeric criteria by October 18, 1975. 40 C.F.R. § 120.5(c) (1974). 17 In June 1975, prior to the EPA deadline, the Forum issued the Proposed Water Quality Standards for Salinity Including Numeric Criteria and Plan of Implementation for Salinity Control. This report was modified in August 1975 and was subsequently adopted by each of the basin states as their water quality standards for salinity and related plans of implementation. After a public comment period, EPA, in November 1976, determined that the plans and water quality standards met the requirements of the Clean Water Act. Section 303(c) of the Act requires a review of these standards at least once every three years. 18