H.R. 3934: Water Quality Standards Attainability Act

This bill, known as the Water Quality Standards Attainability Act, proposes amendments to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, specifically targeting the review of water quality standards in states. The primary objectives of the bill include:

Public Hearings Requirement

The bill mandates that states hold public hearings to discuss and review water quality standards that apply to any body of water receiving discharges from municipal combined storm and sanitary sewers. This aims to ensure community input and transparency in the decision-making process regarding water quality.

Review of Water Quality Standards

The amendments will require that these reviews include:

• An evaluation of water quality standards for bodies of water receiving discharges from combined sewer systems.
• Consideration of whether control measures for combined sewer overflows are cost-effective and appropriate.

Enhancements to State Review Processes

The legislation specifies that:

• Instead of only the Governor of a state conducting reviews, the responsibility will encompass a broader state review process.
• Results of these reviews must be made accessible to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
• When developing or revising water quality criteria, the EPA must consider the cost and availability of treatment technologies that may be needed to comply with these standards.

Focus on Treatment Technologies

The bill emphasizes that in creating or modifying water quality criteria, the costs and commercial availability of necessary treatment technologies must be assessed. This aims to ensure that the standards set are feasible and consider existing technology capabilities.

Overall, the Water Quality Standards Attainability Act is designed to enhance public participation, improve the review of water quality standards, and ensure that economic factors are taken into account in environmental decision-making related to water quality.

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