The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a change to its procedures for seeking public comment when Region 7 revises a state impaired waters list after disapproving the state's submittal.
Effective immediately, EPA Region 7 will provide public notice on the Internet at www.epa.gov/region7, in addition to notifying the media, elected officials and interested parties. Previously, Region 7 published public notices in newspapers of general circulation throughout a state.
Region 7 Administrator John B. Askew said, "With the increasing use of the Internet, we consider it a better way to reach the public than a one-day notice in a local newspaper. We want to reach as many people as possible because impaired waters are a concern for all of us."
The Clean Water Act requires states, territories and authorized tribes to develop lists of impaired waters every two years. By law, the EPA must approve or disapprove those lists. If disapproved, the EPA is required to seek public comment on the agency's listing decisions.
Source: U.S. EPA
